The night wind was so refreshing, and the glow of the Erdtree was so bright.
Golden light overshadowed the moonlight as Arthur, Nepheli Loux, and Rogier cleared weeds from the surrounding architectural ruins.
Most of the buildings in this city ruin were merely abandoned, not damaged, so they could still be used if the weeds and insects that had crept inside were driven out.
That was provided these buildings hadn't been shoddily constructed in the first place and could withstand the test of time.
Otherwise, they would have had to camp outdoors near the Erdtree tonight.
"If you don't mind, I can also lend a hand. I don't want to sleep on the grass tonight either; if possible, I'd also like a warm house to shelter from the wind and rain," Gandalf said proactively when he saw Arthur' actions.
Then he looked up at the cloudless night sky and the bright moon, joking, "Though it doesn't look like it's going to rain tonight."
"But too much cold night wind is indeed bad for the body. I accept your help in my heart, but it's not my style to make an old man do physical labor," Arthur replied, his voice echoing in the night. "We'll help you tidy up an extra room for rest first, and then you can just go in and rest."
Gandalf took a puff from his pipe and exhaled, then stood up nimbly: "An old man? A normal old man wouldn't be riding a horse alone in Minhiriath, sir Arthur. And it's just simple weed clearing; with the help of a wizard, the efficiency is higher than you imagine."
He emphasized the words "wizard" and stood up, patting his gray robe.
Then Gandalf picked up his staff and pointed it at a stone house not far from him, covered in vines and weeds.
The next moment, white light emanated from the tip of the staff, and the vines on the stone house began to move from the walls to other places, while the weeds burrowed back into the soil.
Rogier saw this and couldn't help but praise, "Very practical Glintstone Magic, and indeed different from The Lands Between's magic."
Arthur, seeing a wizard of this world cast Glintstone Magic for the first time, nodded in agreement with Rogier.
Wherever Gandalf's staff pointed, the vines and weeds receded, revealing the stone house's original appearance.
Soon, in just a few minutes, he had cleaned the stone house.
Under the gaze of Arthur, Nepheli Loux, and Rogier, Gandalf picked up the firewood that hadn't yet been thrown into the bonfire, bent down, and ducked into the stone house. Soon, flickering firelight appeared from the door and windows.
Gandalf then came out and invited Arthur and the others, "Come, the stone house is big enough for us, and I really have a lot to talk to you about."
Arthur didn't immediately agree but first glanced at Nepheli Loux and Rogier.
Nepheli Loux, with her red eyes, spoke first: "In that case, you two go in and talk to this wizard. I'll stay outside and keep watch, guarding the Erdtree. Besides, I'm not very good at talking."
Rogier smiled faintly: "Communication is actually very simple. If you have time, I can teach you some speaking techniques, which is the art of language."
Nepheli Loux quickly shook her head: "No thanks. Compared to persuading with words, I still trust my axe more. My foster father tried to teach me these things, but he eventually gave up. I still think killing enemies directly with my axe is more suitable for me."
Rogier was momentarily at a loss for how to respond to Nepheli Loux.
At this moment, Arthur let out a kind laugh, then patted Rogier's shoulder, took Torrent's reins, and walked first towards the stone house where Gandalf was: "Don't make it difficult for her, Rogier. Let's the two of us go in and talk to this wizard."
Rogier adjusted his hat brim, nodded slightly to Nepheli Loux, then followed behind Arthur.
The warmth of the flames dispelled the chill of the night, the light of the Erdtree spilled outside, and the interior of the house was illuminated by the bonfire Gandalf had lit.
Arthur did not return Torrent to the horse Whistle. Instead, he tied its reins outside the house, took some dehydrated vegetables, a piece of ham, and a water skin from the bag on his back, then took out a frying pan and entered the house.
Rogier had already entered the house before Arthur. At this moment, Gandalf, sitting by the bonfire, looked over, and the two spellcasters greeted each other simultaneously.
"Hello." "Good evening."
Both stopped at the same time, seemingly apologetic for having spoken over each other.
Rogier gestured with his hand, making a "Please go first" motion, and Gandalf chuckled, saying, "Although I've told sir Arthur my name, this swordsman doesn't know it yet. You can call me Gandalf, I am a wizard."
After an elegant bow, Rogier didn't mind the dirt marks on the ground and sat down cross-legged directly.
With a smile on his lips, he said to Gandalf, "My name is Rogier. However, I am not really a swordsman, but a sorcerer. Swordsmanship is not what I am best at."
Gandalf also smiled: "Swordsmanship isn't what I'm good at either."
Arthur entered at this moment, heard Gandalf's remark, glanced at the calluses on the other's hand, and without commenting further on the topic, looked straight ahead.
He held up the things in his hand and asked, "Can I borrow your fire to cook something?"
"Of course, no problem." Gandalf assented, and thoughtfully picked up a few fist-sized stones from beside him, setting up a simple stove for Arthur to place his frying pan on.
Arthur thanked him, placed the frying pan on it, then unscrewed the water skin and poured the cold water into the frying pan, preparing to boil the water first.
As he did these things, he simultaneously said to Gandalf, "If you have anything to ask, now's a good time, Wizard Gandalf. Oh, by the way, how has Bilbo been doing lately? Is he still hiding in Bag End, continuing to write his book?"
Gandalf's grizzled eyebrows twitched: "Actually, you don't need to keep testing me; you should be able to feel that I bear you no ill will, sir Arthur. Although Bilbo has the idea of writing a book, he hasn't put pen to paper. Because the world is not in his book or map, but outside his window. He has never been outside to see the world with his own eyes, so how can he write a book that satisfies him?"
Only after Gandalf finished speaking did he realize that Arthur had completely dropped his guard.
Rogier then spoke with a smile: "I apologize to you on behalf of Arthur, old sir Gandalf. He has been through many things, so he is very cautious. But please believe me, once you gain his true friendship, Arthur will never disappoint you."
Gandalf said, "I believe that, after all, you are someone who can give friends invaluable amber pendants and sharp swords. Although Bilbo himself didn't realize that the two items you gave him were valuable enough to buy one-eighth of the Shire, that magical pendant, which can ward off most diseases and prolong life, would surely be fought over if those greedy people knew about it."
While waiting for the water to boil, Arthur smiled when he heard Gandalf mention Bilbo: "But I believe, knowing Bilbo, he certainly didn't wear it; he just casually placed it somewhere in his home."
Gandalf also smiled: "Yes, when I found this pendant, it was openly placed on Bilbo's desk in his study, surrounded by ink and quills. And that brass-colored short sword he placed in the storage cabinet by the door, as if it were an ordinary item. hobbits are always amazing; this race seems to be naturally uninterested in treasures, only interested in food."
Arthur nodded: "Yes, even though I only stayed for a short night, Bilbo already ate four meals in front of me: one in the evening, one at night, and two in the morning."
After he finished speaking, he and Gandalf fell into a brief silence simultaneously, then looked at each other's eyes and laughed.
Arthur then reached out his hand and said with an apologetic tone, "I'm sorry, Gandalf, it was my fault for doubting you for so long."
Gandalf paused for a moment before reaching out and grasping his hand, saying in a comforting tone, "It doesn't matter; sufficient vigilance is an excellent quality. More importantly, you haven't lost a heart that trusts others."
Then Gandalf released Arthur's hand, and then felt something small and cold fall into his palm.
Arthur saw Gandalf notice the item in his hand and said, "A small compensation, I hope you like it."
Gandalf looked at the pendant in his hand, which was identical in style to the one in Bilbo's home, except the red amber in the middle had been replaced with blue amber.
What Arthur gave to Gandalf was indeed the Blue Amber Medallion, an item in The Lands Between that can slightly increase the wearer's maximum magic.
Gandalf felt the pendant with his hand, sensing the mysterious power within it. Wearing this pendant would help him concentrate more while reading or thinking.
As for the most important effect of increasing magic capacity, Gandalf overlooked it because he had no use for it.
Perhaps Lady Galadriel could use this.
Gandalf thought to himself, then looked at Arthur, opened his mouth, and finally sighed, "I now suspect that there's another person who doesn't know how precious this pendant is, sir Arthur. You are truly full of so many magical things, it's beyond my imagination."
At this moment, the water in the frying pan had boiled. Arthur dropped the hard but savory block of ham into it, then looked up at Gandalf: "There will be many more unexpected things; just try not to be too surprised when you see them later."
Then Arthur adjusted his sitting posture and asked, "So, Gandalf, what do you want to tell me?"
While carefully putting away the Blue Amber Medallion, Gandalf said, "Hmm... I actually wanted to ask if you were friend or foe, but now it seems the answer is clear, and there's no need to ask."
Arthur asked curiously, "Why would you think to ask me that question? I thought you'd ask about that Erdtree."
Gandalf replied, "That is your secret. Everyone has their own secrets, and as long as it doesn't harm Middle-earth, I have no desire to know. Although I admit I am curious about it, if you don't offer to tell, I won't ask. However, if you do offer, I wouldn't mind knowing the origin of that tree."
Arthur felt a bit dizzy: "So, do you want to know or not? Do all you wizards speak in riddles like this, or is it just you?"
Gandalf chuckled and said, "My colleagues have also mentioned this issue to me. But let's put the Erdtree issue aside for now. I'll answer your previous question."
Then Gandalf sat up straight, his expression becoming serious: "Sir Arthur, the reason I wanted to clarify whether you are friend or foe is because this land is not entirely safe. Darkness lurks beneath the light, and in the caves, forests, and mountains that we cannot see, evil forces are breeding."
Arthur didn't feel anything at first after hearing this. It's just conflicts on the land, aren't there conflicts in The Lands Between too? Nothing special.
But Gandalf's next sentence made Arthur frown deeply.
Because Gandalf said, "The darkness and evil I speak of are not the conflicts you imagine, but true enemies rooted deep within this land. I believe you must have seen those ugly and terrifying orcs, haven't you? Did they attack you directly without giving you any chance to speak?"
"Because they are evil creatures, they will unconditionally attack any creature different from themselves. They don't care if attacking you will bring them benefits; they just feel joy in killing. Moreover, these orcs do not have the option of peaceful coexistence, because evil is their nature."
Rogier also frowned after hearing this, then looked at Arthur: "According to Gandalf, they will find us sooner or later."
Arthur nodded.
Gandalf continued, "It seems you believe what I said, which makes me feel relieved. Therefore, to resist the deep-rooted evil and darkness in this land, I need to gather as many helpers and forces as possible. That's why I came to confirm whether you are friend or foe, sir Arthur. I am very fortunate that you are a friend of Middle-earth."
If I weren't a friend of Middle-earth, perhaps the Creator God in my dream wouldn't have let me fall into this world.
Arthur thought to himself.
Then he asked, "So where are you going next, Gandalf?"
Gandalf said, "I am going north. There is an evil Dragon named Smaug, who is slumbering in the Lonely Mountain. And the Lonely Mountain is the homeland of the dwarves. I am worried that this evil Dragon might cooperate with some dark and evil entity, which would plunge the entire north of Middle-earth into war."
He paused, then looked at Arthur: "If that time truly comes, I hope you can help those displaced people and give them the courage to rebuild their homes."
However, Arthur's confused reply made Gandalf's expression turn to surprise.
Arthur said, "An evil Dragon? Since you know he's there, why not just go and slay him?"