Upon hearing Luke's praise, Bard smiled. After exchanging pleasantries, they quickly got to the main topic.
Bard said, "The dwarves wanted to contact you but had no direct means, so they forwarded their message through me. They are currently in the city—if you wish to meet them, I can send someone to notify them right away."
Luke nodded. "Then I'll trouble you with that!"
Soon, the dwarves were escorted to the lord's manor by Bard's attendants.
"Lord Bard."
"Wizard Luke."
The arriving dwarf, Balin, bowed slightly in greeting to the two.
"It's been a long time, Balin. How have you been?" Luke asked warmly.
As the eldest among the dwarves, Balin was wiser and more composed than the others, and Luke had always held a favorable impression of him.
Balin chuckled cheerfully. "I've been well! The Lonely Mountain has been reclaimed, the Durin's folk have returned one after another, and I no longer have to worry about being buried in a foreign land after death!"
"By the way, Luke, the craftsmen you requested—we've already prepared them for you. However, the journey from the Lonely Mountain to Weathertop is too long and perilous, so we could only ask you to come to us instead."
"Also, Lord Dáin Ironfoot has finished forging the dragon armor and entrusted us to deliver it to you."
Hearing Balin's words, Luke's eyes lit up. "Everything's ready? Where is it?"
"All in the Lonely Mountain. If you wish, Luke, you can take them with you immediately," Balin replied.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go now!" Luke could hardly contain his eagerness. After bidding farewell to Bard, he mounted his flying broom and took Balin with him to the Lonely Mountain.
Experiencing the flying broom again, Balin was thrilled. Along the way, he asked Luke about Bilbo's whereabouts and was delighted to hear that his hobbit friend had returned to his homeland.
The two soon arrived before the gates of the Lonely Mountain. The gates had been restored to their former grandeur, with armored dwarf guards stationed at the entrance and patrols along the walls.
Since they were here, it was only natural to meet Thorin. With Balin, a dwarf elder, leading the way, Luke smoothly entered the Lonely Mountain and eventually reached the great hall.
Unlike the past, when only Thorin and a dozen or so dwarves remained, now the Lonely Mountain was bustling with dwarves—those who had returned from the Blue Mountains and other scattered Durin's folk. At last, the kingdom had regained the lively atmosphere of a true dwarven realm.
Thorin sat high upon his throne, with his nephew Fíli, the heir, standing beside him.
"Long time no see, King Under the Mountain—Thorin Oakenshield," Luke said, inclining his head slightly while leaning on his staff.
From his throne, Thorin nodded in acknowledgment. "Wizard Luke, it has been too long. You look even more impressive than before."
Then he waved and ordered the dwarf craftsmen to be summoned.
"Long ago, I made a promise to you, Wizard Luke, that I would help you build a castle. Now, I shall fulfill that vow. I will send a thousand dwarf craftsmen to accompany you back, and they shall remain until the castle is complete."
"My cousin, Dáin Ironfoot, has also sent the finished dragon armor and entrusted me to deliver it to you. Balin will take you to retrieve it shortly."
Hearing that Thorin had so readily arranged a thousand craftsmen for him, Luke was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Luke's address was filled with genuine respect.
With so many dwarf craftsmen, he was certain his Hogwarts Castle would be completed in no time.
Afterward, Luke followed Balin to retrieve the dragon armor.
The armor was placed alone in a spacious hall. The moment Luke laid eyes on it, his expression was one of awe.
It was an enormous set of silver armor, fully encasing a dragon from head to tail.
The armor was assembled from several parts, yet thanks to the dwarves' masterful craftsmanship, it remained flexible and movable. Intricate patterns adorned its surface, reflecting dazzling silver light under the glow of torches.
Majestic and imposing, the armor exuded an overwhelming presence. One could only imagine how fearsome Smaug would look wearing it!
Gazing at the colossal armor, Luke marveled silently.
How had the dwarves forged such a massive suit capable of fitting a dragon? How many tons of metal had they used? No wonder it was stored in such a vast hall—any smaller room would never have been able to contain it.