"You're unhappy after just one criticism?"
Luke looked at the eaglet, who was now taller than him, and patted its head in amusement.
"I heard from Edward that you haven't been eating properly lately. So you've been mooching off Arwen, huh?"
Súlond, caught red-handed, avoided Luke's gaze like a guilty child.
Ever since Luke moved his nest from the tower to the Mallorn tree, Súlond had grown close to Arwen, who often stayed in the treehouse, and frequently received treats from her.
Now spoiled by the refined tastes of elven cuisine, he naturally preferred her food over plain dried meat.
"Come now, Luke, Súlond is still just a child. If he likes lembas, I'll simply make more for him," Arwen interjected, stroking the eaglet affectionately.
"Besides, he's still growing and needs the nourishment. The energy in lembas will help him develop."
Well, if both parties were willing, what could he say?
Still, Luke couldn't help but envy the bird nuzzling against Arwen.
Talk about being outdone by a bird—I haven't even tasted lembas yet, and here he is eating it like a regular meal!
"Arwen, would you like to visit the Woodland Realm?" Luke suddenly invited.
Arwen blinked in surprise. "You're going to the Woodland Realm?"
Luke nodded. "After the giant spider infestations, they're planning a counterattack to purge Mirkwood. Legolas is returning to join the fight and invited me along. I've already agreed."
Without hesitation, Arwen replied, "Then I'll go too. Aside from Rivendell and Lórien, I've never visited other elven realms."
A smile spread across Luke's face.
"Then get ready—we leave tomorrow."
Beside them, Súlond let out a series of urgent "kree-kree" sounds.
Luke rolled his eyes. "What are you butting in for? You can't even fly yet. Going to Mirkwood would just make you spider food."
Súlond huffed, turning his back on Luke and giving Arwen a pitiful look.
But even Arwen shook her head this time. "Súlond, you're still too young for battle. Stay here and wait for us. When we return, I'll make you Mallorn nut cakes from Lórien."
Somewhat mollified, Súlond eventually quieted down—but only after bargaining for an extra month's worth of lembas.
Watching this, Luke sighed. Spare the rod and spoil the child.
The once pitiful eaglet, nearly abandoned by his kind, was now being utterly spoiled rotten.
The Next Day
After instructing Edward to stay behind and care for Súlond, Luke, Arwen, Legolas, Ellohir, and Elrohir set off for Mirkwood.
Beorn, meanwhile, had long since returned to the Anduin Valley to tend to his livestock.
Before leaving, Luke brought along a small trunk—prompting curious glances, though no one asked.
Traveling via the fireplace network, they arrived one by one in the halls of the Woodland Realm.
Thranduil was already waiting.
"Welcome, Lord of Amon Sûl, to the Woodland Realm!"
Descending from his throne, Thranduil spread his arms in an elegant gesture of greeting. He then acknowledged the three elven siblings with equal warmth.
"And to my kin—Ellohir, Elrohir, and Arwen!"
Clad in resplendent armor for the coming battle, Thranduil exuded both nobility and a sharp, commanding presence.
"King Thranduil, it has been too long. I must thank you again for your previous gift," Luke said, gesturing to the white gem brooch on his chest—a token of the Silvan elves' blessings, enhancing communion with nature and granting the forest's protection.
Seeing the brooch, Thranduil's smile deepened. "No thanks are necessary. If anything, I should be grateful for your guidance of Legolas. He seems far more vibrant—and advanced—than when I last saw him."
His gaze lingered on Legolas with paternal pride, easily discerning the magical prowess he had gained under Luke's tutelage.
Legolas, however, frowned at his father's battle-ready attire.
"Father, are we launching the attack today? Why the urgency?"
Thranduil's expression turned grave.
"The spawn of Ungoliant are cunning. They've sensed our movements and are summoning reinforcements from the southern woods. To prevent them from organizing, we must strike swiftly and decisively."
"Then allow me to fight alongside you!" Legolas declared firmly.
Thranduil agreed without hesitation before turning apologetically to Luke and the others.
"I regret that I cannot host you properly today. Once the battle is won and the forest cleansed, I shall hold a feast in your honor."
Luke shook his head. "No need for formalities, Your Majesty. We came at Legolas' invitation to lend our strength. When you march, we march with you."
Ellohir, Elrohir, and Arwen nodded in agreement.
Thranduil accepted their offer gratefully. This purge of Mirkwood's spiders would benefit from their aid.
At the sound of a horn, the full might of the Woodland Realm's warriors assembled.
Legolas joined the vanguard, while Luke, Arwen, and the twins rode alongside Thranduil.
Luke found himself atop a massive elk—one of Thranduil's own steeds, and the gentlest of the herd. The antlered mount was a novel experience.
"If you fancy it, the elk is yours," Thranduil offered casually.
Luke declined with a laugh. 'My castle's already turning into a menagerie.'
As the king's focus shifted to the impending battle, Luke's attention was drawn to his brooch.
Within the forest, its power awakened. The trees seemed to breathe around him, their whispers revealing the land's secrets—the rustle of leaves, the scuttle of insects, fleeing creatures…
And the giant spider lurking high in the branches ahead.
Before Luke could shout a warning, elven arrows had already found their mark. The spider fell, swiftly dispatched by a blade.
The entire exchange took mere seconds.
No need for my alert, Luke mused. In Mirkwood, the elves are in their element.
Yet as the warriors moved on, leaving the spider's corpse behind, Luke turned to Thranduil.
"Your Majesty, might I claim these spider remains?"
Thranduil raised an eyebrow. "To what purpose? Their kind taints the earth even in death."
"Their venom has uses—potent antidotes, magical enhancements," Luke explained, holding up a vial of eerie green fluid. "And their nerves may serve as wand cores."
In truth, he had greater plans.
These spiders, akin to Acromantulas but deadlier, were a treasure trove of rare ingredients.
He intended to capture live specimens for breeding—before Mirkwood's purge rendered them extinct.
As for the carcasses?
They'd make fine meals for his basilisk, Herpo.
Dark creatures like these, toxic to most, were a delicacy to the serpent. The last two spiders Luke had kept had triggered a growth spurt in Herpo after consumption.
So this trip served dual purposes: aiding Legolas and stocking up on pet supplies.
With a flick of his wand, Luke summoned the spider's corpse, harvesting its venom before vanishing the remains into an expanded pouch.
Ellohir watched curiously. "Planning alchemical experiments?"
Luke grinned. "Among other things."
After all, why waste good ingredients?