Third Age 2947, Midsummer's Day.
Peaceful Rivendell was a little different from usual, with a bit more liveliness.
A very formal letter of visit, sent three days prior by a large snowy owl, arrived before Lord Elrond of Rivendell.
The sender was Gandalf, representing Lord Luke of Weathertop, formally proposing to Elrond for his beloved daughter Arwen, and would arrive in Rivendell today to discuss with Elrond.
The Elves in Rivendell already knew about the feelings between Luke and Arwen, and had seen them on dates, but hearing that Luke was coming to propose to their Evenstar Lady, they felt very complex.
Arwen held an extremely high status among Elves; she was the only daughter of Lord Elrond of Rivendell and Princess Celebrian of Lothlórien, and the granddaughter of the Noldor Elf Princess Galadriel.
Elrond was a Half-elf, holding an important position and influence in Middle-earth.
And Galadriel was an even more powerful and ancient Elf, possessing extraordinary strength and wisdom.
Arwen was called "Evenstar" and "White Princess of the Noldor," the Morning Star in the hearts of the Elven folk, regarded as the "reincarnation of Lúthien," possessing beauty like Lúthien.
She wore the great and magically powerful Elven jewel "Evenstar."
And the most complicated ones were Arwen's two elder brothers—Elladan and Elrohir.
Although they were mentally prepared, they didn't expect that rascal Luke to be so impatient to marry their sister so quickly.
It was a pity that their father had already agreed.
Otherwise, according to their ideas, it wouldn't be too late to delay for a thousand or two thousand years.
Anyway, their Elven lives were long, and Luke could now live forever, so there was no need to rush at all.
"Hey, Elladan, how do you think Luke and his party will come to Rivendell? Through the fireplace?" Elrohir asked his twin brother.
Elladan thought of the not-so-grand way of Floo Powder travel, shook his head, and guessed, "Today is an important day. If he doesn't want to appear disheveled, he definitely won't choose that method."
"Then will he ride his Dragon over?"
"It's not a war or a show-off. What kind of thing is it to bring a Dragon over?"
Just as the two brothers were guessing how Luke and his party would arrive in Rivendell, Elrond, sitting in a high position, looked up at the sky, showing a hint of surprise and a smile.
"The guests have arrived, Lindir. Prepare to receive them," Elrond instructed his secretary Lindir, who was beside him.
Hearing Elrond's words, the Elves present all followed his gaze, curiously looking up at the sky.
Under the keen eyes of the Elves, they soon discovered a small white dot appearing in the distant clouds on the horizon.
As the white dot grew larger and larger, the Elves immediately showed surprise.
In the distant sky, twelve white winged horses pulled a magnificent golden carriage, flying towards Rivendell.
The twelve winged horses were robust, twice the size of ordinary horses, entirely silver-white, shining brightly in the sunlight.
The carriage's main structure was cast from gold, then assembled with mao long tree wood, carved with patterns of Hogwarts Castle, the Two Trees of Valinor, Dragons, Great Eagles, and Basilisks, and various mysterious runes were drawn on the carriage body with Mithril.
The carriage rapidly descended from the sky, arrived in Rivendell, and then landed on a wide, straight white road.
The winged horses folded their huge white wings, and after trotting for a distance, finally stopped in front of the stone bridge.
Driving the carriage were two human coachmen dressed in blue uniforms. Although both tried to maintain a calm and proper demeanor, their flushed faces and excited eyes still revealed their agitation.
They were two coachmen Luke had hired from among his subjects, specifically responsible for driving the flying carriage and caring for these twelve winged horses.
Although they had driven many times at Weathertop before, their skills were already very proficient.
But driving the flying carriage across a thousand miles today, carrying their Lord to the Elven territory of Rivendell, still made them extremely excited and thrilled.
The two coachmen jumped off the carriage, bowed deeply towards Elrond in the distance, then one of them took a wooden ladder from the carriage for people to disembark;
The other returned to the carriage and opened the door from the outside.
Then he stepped back, respectfully waiting for the people inside to come out.
On Rivendell's side, Secretary Lindir, along with several Elven attendants, waited in front of the stone bridge at the entrance.
As the carriage door opened, with the Elves' keen eyesight, they immediately saw a huge space hidden within the carriage, so deep that they couldn't see the end of it.
The first to emerge was Gandalf.
Today, he was no longer in his usual simple grey robe, but had changed into a subtly exquisite long robe. Although it still had a grey base color, the material used was tough spider silk, interwoven with silver threads, reflecting silver light in the sun.
He wore a pair of grey dragon-hide boots, which made no sound as he stepped on the ground.
His hair and beard were also neatly groomed.
He stepped down from the carriage, smiling as he greeted the waiting Lindir: "Long time no see, Lindir. I didn't expect you to be waiting for us. We're not late, are we?"
"Mithrandir," Lindir greeted elegantly, smiling and shaking his head, "You've arrived just in time. Lord Elrond asked me to come and welcome you."
While the two were greeting each other, Bilbo Baggins also emerged from the carriage.
He was also dressed splendidly, in a well-fitting brown-yellow suit. Although he usually didn't wear shoes, he now wore a pair of dragon-hide shoes.
However, due to his short stature and wide feet, it looked like a child wearing adult shoes, which was somewhat amusing.
Bilbo looked at the scenery of Rivendell with excitement and nostalgia, then followed closely behind to disembark from the carriage.
Finally, Luke came out.
He wore the crown of wisdom on his head, and the gems on the crown sparkled with the light of wisdom.
He was dressed in exquisite and magnificent Elven attire, with a magic cloak adorned with starlight over it, the Evenstar necklace shining with starlight hanging on his chest, and high boots made of dragon-hide on his feet.
This attire made him incredibly dazzling and eye-catching.
Lindir looked at Luke's appearance, also showing a look of admiration.
This outfit was chosen for Luke by Gandalf, with Bilbo also offering some suggestions. Their goal was to dress Luke splendidly, making him the undisputed protagonist of the day.
Now, seeing the amazed expressions of the surrounding Elves, Gandalf and Bilbo were filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Luke, looking at his bejeweled appearance, also felt a bit helpless. He stepped down from the carriage and greeted Secretary Lindir with a familiar smile.
"Lindir, thank you for waiting. Where are Lord Elrond and the others?"
Lindir's attitude towards Luke was very gentle. He smiled and replied, "The Lords are currently in the banquet hall. Please follow me."
With that, he led the way for them.
As for the winged horses, they were entrusted to the two coachmen and other Elves to care for.
There were already several winged horses in Rivendell that Luke had gifted to Arwen, Elrond, and others, which had always been very popular and beloved by the Elves.
Now, with twelve more winged horses, the Elves were even more delighted.
The two human coachmen didn't even need to do anything; other Elves proactively took over their work, led the two overwhelmed coachmen to be entertained, and then began caring for these winged horses.
On Luke's side, led by Lindir, he, Gandalf, and Bilbo arrived at the banquet hall.
In the banquet hall, besides Elrond at the head, many Elves had gathered, all watching the three who entered.
Being watched by so many Elves, even Luke inexplicably became nervous.
Bilbo became even more flustered, almost walking with his hands and feet moving together.
Only Gandalf remained unaffected, as calm as ever, leading Luke and Bilbo with a smile, walking unhurriedly into the banquet hall.
"Lord Elrond, it's been a long time," Gandalf performed a greeting.
Luke and Bilbo followed behind Gandalf, also bowing.
As Luke's representative, Gandalf was now in charge. Luke didn't need to speak; everything else was left to Gandalf.
Although Elrond already knew the purpose of their visit, he still asked, "Mithrandir, what brings you here today?"
Gandalf, with a broad smile, announced loudly, "I am here today for a beautiful matter, concerning the happiness of two young people! And also concerning the friendship between two races and two powers!"
As he spoke, his voice amplified, so that everyone in the entire banquet hall could hear him.
"I, on behalf of Lord Luke, Lord of Weathertop and Isengard, and Lord of Dragons, formally visit you to seek your permission to betroth your beloved daughter Arwen to him, as he has long admired her."
With that, he stepped aside, making way for Luke to come forward.
Luke was a bit nervous at this moment. He took a deep breath, and then, under everyone's gaze, bowed once more to Elrond and said:
"Respected Lord Elrond, I hold a deep love for your daughter Arwen. Her beauty, kindness, and wisdom have captivated me. I swear by my honor and the name of my family that I will protect her with my life, give her the respect and affection she deserves, and make her the happiest woman. I earnestly request you to betroth her to me. I am willing to give everything I possess to ensure her rights after marriage."
He had practiced these words many times before, and now, speaking them again, they carried an added solemnity.
At this moment, Gandalf, standing nearby, once again announced loudly: "And to show his sincerity, Luke has also brought three treasures as betrothal gifts. These three gifts will belong to his wife and their descendants after the marriage!"
When he said this, Gandalf couldn't help but marvel at Luke's generosity.
Immediately, he took out an exquisite, jewel-encrusted Mithril box from his pouch.
At the same time, Bilbo and Luke also took out their prepared boxes.
Bilbo was the first to open the box in his hand.
Inside lay a golden cup.
Gandalf simultaneously began to describe the golden cup's abilities.
The Elves present, hearing Gandalf's description and feeling the magical fluctuations emanating from the golden cup, were all astonished.
Elves have long lifespans and are well-traveled, so they could naturally discern the preciousness and extraordinary nature of this golden cup.
Such a treasure would be enough to become a family heirloom even among Elven families.
They hadn't expected Luke to be willing to offer it as a betrothal gift.
Even though these treasures would ultimately return to the groom's hands with the bride, the ownership belonged to the bride, and the groom had no right to dispose of them.
The first betrothal gift was so extraordinary, making many Elves even more curious about what the remaining two would be.
Amidst the anticipation of many Elves, Gandalf opened the box in his hand.
Inside lay a black gem the size of a finger.
The Elves involuntarily craned their necks to look, all curious about this treasure.
"This is the resurrection stone. It can summon the souls of the dead…"
As soon as Gandalf spoke of its ability, the Elves immediately murmured in low voices, all looking in disbelief at the obsidian-like stone in the box.
Some Elves, who had experienced the death of loved ones, even looked at the resurrection stone with longing.
Finally, Luke opened the box in his hand.
Lying inside was the Philosopher's Stone.
Gandalf also introduced the abilities of the Philosopher's Stone.
Upon hearing that the Philosopher's Stone could grant eternal life, the Elves, though surprised, were not as shocked by that as by its ability to turn stone into gold, given that they were already immortal.
But no matter what, it was still a very precious treasure.
Luke presented three supreme treasures as betrothal gifts all at once, which greatly astonished the Elves present.
Even Elrond rarely showed a surprised expression.
Luke had mentioned the Philosopher's Stone before in Isengard, so Elrond was not surprised by it. But he hadn't expected Luke to also offer the golden cup and the resurrection stone as betrothal gifts.
While this surprised Elrond, it also made him very happy.
The fact that Luke could offer these supreme treasures as betrothal gifts showed his regard and cherish for Arwen.
As her father, how could he not be happy?
Even the Elven twins, Elladan and Elrohir, had a change in their attitude towards Luke. Their initial reluctance transformed into deep blessings.
Elrond stood up, a gentle smile on his face, and nodded, saying, "I agree to your marriage."
Hearing this, Luke was overjoyed.
Gandalf clapped his hands happily, looking at the giggle Luke with a look of relief and blessing.
Bilbo clapped his hands, his face flushed with excitement, as if it were his own wedding.
The Elves present also applauded, smiling and offering their blessings.
Then, Gandalf, as the proxy and elder, began to discuss and negotiate the engagement and wedding dates with Elrond.
Luke, meanwhile, was led out of the banquet hall by his two brothers-in-law, who held him by his arms, one on each side.
Luke was a bit flustered, wondering if these two were going to beat him up for running off with their sister.
Should he just meekly wait to be beaten? Or should he fight back?
But if he fought back, offending his two brothers-in-law, they might secretly cause trouble and delay his marriage to Arwen for decades or even a century, he feared.
Elladan and Elrohir seemed to have read Luke's thoughts.
"Alright, stop guessing. We're not here to train you today," Elladan said.
"We brought you here to meet someone," Elrohir added.
"Meet someone? Who?" Luke was taken aback.
"You'll know when you get there," they didn't explain further.
Seeing this, Luke stopped pressing and followed them into the dense forest deeper into Rivendell.
Within the dense forest, there was a flower-filled meadow, with the golden Elanor unique to Lothlórien, and the white Niphredil.
And surrounded by flowers, there was a marble statue as tall as a person.
The statue was lifelike, with a very gentle and beautiful smile, looking somewhat similar to Arwen.
And beneath the statue, Arwen sat there, weaving a beautiful flower crown from various flowers.
Hearing the movement, Arwen turned to look, and seeing Luke and the two twins, she showed a gentle smile.
For a moment, she overlapped with the statue.
"You've arrived."
"Go on." The twins pushed Luke, then turned and left.
Luke hadn't seen Arwen in the banquet hall earlier and wondered where she was, not expecting her to be here.
He stepped across the meadow and came to Arwen's side.
Arwen placed the woven flower crown on the statue, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
Luke looked at the statue, which bore some resemblance to Arwen, and had already guessed, "Is this your mother?"
Arwen nodded, reminiscing, "This is my mother, Celebrian. After Mother left, Father personally carved this stone statue. Whenever it's Mother's birthday or the day she left, he would come here alone, stay quietly for a day, or gaze towards the West."
Luke took her hand and said gently, "That means Lord Elrond loves your mother very much."
"I know." Arwen nodded, gazing at her mother's statue, a little sad, "I'm just wondering if I'll ever have a chance to see her again?"
"Definitely!" Luke replied with certainty, "Once the strife in Middle-earth ends, we can take a ship to Valinor and reunite with Lady Celebrian."
Luke knew that with the defeat of Sauron and the coming of the Age of Men, the Elves would all migrate west.
Moreover, since Arwen had not chosen to give up immortality this time, she was naturally qualified to go to the holy land of Valinor in the West, and thus would not have to endure the longing and suffering of loved ones separated by vast distances.
Arwen's sadness lessened slightly upon hearing this, but seeing Luke, another worry arose.
She could sail west to Valinor, but what about Luke?
Valinor was no longer in the world of Arda. To go there, one needed the permission of the Valar.
However, the only human to date who had received the grace of the Valar and gone to live in Valinor was the human hero Tuor, the father of Eärendil, and Arwen's great-grandfather.
After the Fall of Gondolin, Tuor built the great ship "Eärrámë" and sailed with his wife, the Elven princess Idril, to the Undying Lands in the West.
Finally, Tuor received the grace of the Valar, his destiny was joined with the Noldor Elves, and he gained immortality.
As for Eärendil, who also received grace, he was a Half-elf, not human.
And would Luke have this opportunity to receive the grace of the Valar and be allowed to go to Valinor?
Arwen had no confidence in this.
Luke looked at Arwen's expression, knowing her worries, and also knowing that if he couldn't go to Valinor, Arwen would surely give up the chance to go West and choose to stay in Middle-earth with him.
However, Luke was not worried about this, as he knew that after the War of the Ring in the future, Frodo, Bilbo, Sam, and Gimli the Dwarf, were all allowed into Valinor.
There was no reason why he shouldn't be able to.
If all else failed, when Sauron was defeated in the future, he would contribute more and earn a ticket to Valinor.
Seeing Arwen still looking troubled, Luke gently lifted her chin, making her meet his gaze, with an unmistakable tenderness and focus in his movements.
"Alright, don't think so much. Trust me! Lord Elrond has agreed to let me marry you. Aren't you happy?"
Arwen smiled at his words, her eyes filled with extreme tenderness.
"I am very happy."
"Then let's go! We need to hurry to the banquet hall. Otherwise, I'm worried that if we're not there, Lord Elrond might delay our wedding for decades just to keep you longer, and I'd cry myself to death!"
Arwen let Luke pull her hand, running quickly. Seeing Luke's worried expression, her face was full of indulgent tenderness.
When Luke and Arwen arrived at the banquet hall, Gandalf and Elrond had just finalized the engagement and wedding dates.
The engagement date was set for the Harvest Festival, three months later, on September 21st.
As for the wedding, it was set for next year, September 21st, 2948.
"That long?!" Luke exclaimed, blurting it out.
Seeing Luke's clearly dissatisfied expression, Gandalf said exasperatedly, "You should thank me! If I hadn't argued so strongly, Lord Elrond even wanted to postpone the wedding for several more years! You'd be dying of impatience then!"
"Ah? Cough, cough… I think this timing is fine." Luke immediately changed his tune, fearing Elrond might change his mind again.
Gandalf shook his head. Young people, they can't even wait this long.
Bilbo watched from the side, chuckling happily.
However, Gandalf, perhaps addicted to matchmaking, turned to the happily oblivious Bilbo and asked, "Bilbo, you're not young anymore. Do you have anyone you fancy in the Shire? If you do, I'll be your proxy and make sure you get a wife!"
"Huh?" Bilbo hadn't expected the fire to suddenly turn on him. He quickly shook his head wildly, his face full of rejection.
"No, Gandalf, I'm perfectly happy on my own! Thank you!"
"That's a pity then. If your treasures have no heir, I'm afraid they'll fall into the hands of your distant relatives," Gandalf said with a regretful expression.
Hearing Gandalf's words, Bilbo paused, and couldn't help but recall his cousin Otho Sackville-Baggins and his cousin's wife Lobelia Baggins, who had previously coveted his house.
He suddenly felt that perhaps he should consider finding an heir to inherit Bag End and his property after his death.
Otherwise, he would rather donate all his property than let that greedy couple benefit.
And Luke thought that Bilbo was now 57 years old. Although hobbits lived longer than ordinary humans, with an average lifespan of 90 to 100 years.
But without the one ring to extend Bilbo's life, he probably wouldn't be able to live until the end of the War of the Ring, as in his original fate.
So Luke thought that for Bilbo's 57th birthday, he would give him a bottle of elixir of immortality as a gift.
Moreover, Bilbo's birthday was on September 22nd, conveniently the day after his engagement, and a birthday banquet could be held for Bilbo at Weathertop.
Thinking this, Luke didn't immediately inform Bilbo, planning to give him a surprise then.
Turning back to the main topic,
After Luke and Arwen's wedding date was set, the couple officially announced the marriage to the public.
At the banquet, Luke used the golden cup to conjure a feast of delicious dishes for everyone, instantly bringing the banquet atmosphere to its peak.
The fame of the golden cup spread from the Elves to the Dúnedain, and then to various races throughout Middle-earth.
Along with it, the resurrection stone and the Philosopher's Stone also spread.
And the legends grew more and more fantastical: that the golden cup could bring people back from the dead, the resurrection stone could revive the deceased, the Philosopher's Stone could conjure mountains of gold, and so on.
This made countless people marvel at Luke's devotion to Arwen, and also filled them with curiosity about these three treasures.
It even attracted some greedy individuals who tried to secretly sneak into Weathertop to steal one of these three treasures.
Some tried to steal the golden cup, to rule the world with its power.
Some stole the resurrection stone, to revive departed loved ones with it.
Sometimes they stole the Philosopher's Stone, attempting to gain eternal life.
But the ultimate outcome was, without exception, complete failure.
They couldn't even get close to the Castle, being stopped by the Black Lake surrounding Weathertop and becoming food for the great Kraken.
The Lord is getting engaged!
This news spread from Weathertop's Hogwarts Castle, throughout Hogsmeade and Bree City at the foot of the mountain.
Suddenly, the residents of the territory became lively, as if it were New Year's.
For Luke's subjects, this was a long-awaited event.
Because only when the Lord married and had an heir, and Hogwarts Castle had an inheritor, could Amon Sul and Bree enjoy long-term peace and stability, free from unforeseen changes.
Thus, Hogsmeade and Bree City were adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, and shops celebrated with discounts.
This news also spread to the Eriador region through traveling merchants and travelers.
While the subjects at the foot of the mountain were in an uproar, Hogwarts Castle remained as serene as ever.
After returning from Rivendell, Luke began busily writing invitation letters.
According to custom, the engagement would be held at the bride's family's residence, and Luke would need to attend with his friends and family.
Gandalf and Bilbo, of course, were indispensable.
Then there were friends like Legolas, the Elf Prince of the Woodland Realm, Balin, the Dwarf Lord of Moria, Beorn the Skin-changer of the Anduin River Valley, and Bard, the Lord of Dale, who could not be overlooked.
Even Thorin Oakenshield, the Dwarf King of Erebor, and the other Dwarf teammates from the original Erebor expedition, Dain Ironfoot, the Lord of the Iron Hills who had met him once and gifted him dragon armor, Calenmir, the Elf Lord from the Far East, the two Blue Wizards Rómestámo and Morinehtar, and Radagast the Brown Wizard, all needed to be sent an invitation letter.
Gandalf and Bilbo both stayed at Hogwarts, helping Luke.
The great snowy owls of the Owl Tower entered a busy period, carrying invitation letters to all corners of the world.
Besides writing invitations, Luke also worked with Gandalf to design the Thunderbird's magic circulation system.
Gandalf was very interested in Luke's concept of such a "Thunderbird" magical creature, stating directly that once such a creature appeared, it would surely be favored by Manwe, the King of the Valar.
After all, a Thunderbird that could control storms, create rainfall, and release lightning could be said to naturally master weather magic.
Manwe, the King of the Valar, was the lord of the sky and atmosphere, capable of commanding wind, rain, and clouds, and was known as the King of Arda's Air and Winds.
From a certain perspective, the Thunderbird's power was compatible with that of Vala Manwe, making it more suitable as Manwe's messenger than the Great Eagles.
Luke and Gandalf had previously designed the Phoenix's magic circulation system. With that foundation, the initial part of designing the Thunderbird's magic circulation system did not encounter too much difficulty.
However, they were ultimately blocked by the core part of the magic circulation system.
As the owner of Narya, the Ring of Fire, Gandalf had a very profound understanding of fire. In particular, the Phoenix's abilities and the power of the Ring of Fire subtly aligned.
Therefore, designing the Phoenix's magic circulation system was not too difficult.
But the Thunderbird's magic operation method was completely different from the Phoenix's. Although Gandalf could summon lightning attacks, his understanding of lightning was not as deep as his understanding of fire.
In the Transfiguration classroom, Luke was performing Transfiguration on an Acromantula.
Under the effect of Transfiguration, the Acromantula transformed into the appearance of a Thunderbird, with an eagle-like head, two pairs of wings, and two long tail feathers trailing behind.
After transforming its appearance, Luke continued to transform the internal magic circulation.
Just as the Transfiguration was halfway complete, a violent conflict occurred within the magic circulation system.
Accompanied by the painful hissing of the Acromantula, which had transformed into a Thunderbird, there was a bang, and with a lightning explosion, the Acromantula was blown to smithereens.
Luke timely cast a Shield Charm, protecting himself and Gandalf, which blocked the aftershocks of the explosion.
Seeing the experiment fail, Luke was not disappointed. He turned and worked with Gandalf to re-improve the magic circulation route.
Then he once again took out an Acromantula and conducted a magic Transfiguration experiment.
With each experiment, the Acromantula was either blown to smithereens or transformed into monsters such as a feathered spider, a strange bird with spider legs, or an eagle-headed spider covered in dense eyes.
Luke waved his hand and sent these transformed monsters to Herpo's Chamber of Secrets as snacks for him.
Then he continued to mess with the Acromantula.
Acromantulas reproduce very quickly; a single Acromantula can lay hundreds of spider eggs at a time. Although Luke intentionally controlled their numbers, the Acromantulas kept in the tower were already too numerous, and several expansions of space using the Undetectable Extension Charm were no longer enough.
So Luke felt no pity when he messed with the Acromantula.
As time passed day by day.
Luke finally succeeded in transforming an Acromantula into the likeness of a Thunderbird.
This was not just a simple external Transfiguration, but a true transformation into a Thunderbird.
Even with a counter-Transfiguration spell, it remained in the form of a Thunderbird.
Moreover, the Thunderbird could even emit faint electric sparks.
But Luke still frowned deeply, not satisfied with this achievement.
This was far from the Thunderbird in his imagination; let alone creating storms and thunderstorms, the full power of its electricity could be easily blocked even by the most basic Shield Charm.
"Alright, Luke, don't be discouraged. We had no reference for this Thunderbird, and to give it the ability to discharge electricity in just a few months is already quite good," Gandalf comforted him.
"This kind of experiment itself requires a bit of luck and inspiration. We have plenty of time, so there's no need to rush."
"Luck and inspiration?" Luke's eyes lit up, and his tightly furrowed brow relaxed.
He smiled and nodded in agreement, "Gandalf, you're right. We do need a bit of luck, so after the Felix Felicis is made, we'll try again then."
Gandalf smiled upon hearing this, "I'm really looking forward to how magical the Felix Felicis you're making is, to be able to grant luck to people. This is more wondrous than all magic!"
"Once the Felix Felicis is made, I'll send you a bottle too, Gandalf," Luke promised.
The two temporarily put aside the Transfiguration experiments and began preparing for the upcoming engagement day.
Luke's invitations had gradually received replies.
Legolas, the Elf Prince, Bard, the Lord of Dale, Beorn of the Anduin River Valley, and Balin, the Lord of Moria, all gladly accepted the invitation.
However, Thorin, the Dwarf King of Erebor, and Thengel, the King of Rohan, both stated that they were busy with national affairs and would send representatives to the engagement, promising to attend the wedding in person.
The two Blue Wizards residing in the Far East also couldn't come due to constant activity from the Easterling tribes recently.
Círdan of the Grey Havens in the West also needed to transport a group of Elves across the sea to the West, and thus couldn't attend Luke's engagement banquet. He specially sent a box of pearls formed from Merperson tears as a blessing.
September 20th, the day before the Harvest Festival, and also the day before the engagement.
Legolas, Bard, Beorn, and others arrived at Hogwarts Castle through the fireplace.
Luke, the Mayor of Hogsmeade, Lachie, the Mayor of Bree City, Brog, the leader of the Dunlendings, and several citizen representatives, all successively arrived at Weathertop.
The Castle became lively.
In the banquet hall, humans, Elves, Dwarves, and hobbits gathered.
The original expedition team to Erebor, with the exception of Thorin Oakenshield, reunited once again.
This also included Kili, the Dwarf who was with the She-Elf Tauriel.
Since leaving Erebor, they had been traveling throughout Middle-earth, recently residing in the Blue Mountains where Dwarves once lived.
Upon receiving Luke's invitation, he came with his Elf wife Tauriel to attend.
Legolas had always regarded Tauriel as family, and seeing her again, looking so happy, he was also very pleased.
As for the Dwarves of the expedition team, besides Kili leaving Erebor to live with Tauriel, Balin also lived in Moria with Oin, Ori, Bifur, and other Dwarves, so they hadn't seen each other for a long time.
At this reunion, they all happily embraced each other, and also didn't forget their former teammates Bilbo, Gandalf, and Luke.
While congratulating Luke, the Dwarves also generously presented a pile of gold, silver, and jewels as gifts.
Especially Balin, as the Lord of Moria, even presented a magnificent suit of armor crafted from Mithril.
Everyone toured Hogwarts Castle.
They witnessed the ever-burning Guldur Fire, candles floating in mid-air, a ceiling that looked like the sky outside, moving staircases, a herb garden like a miniature world, Fire Salamanders in the fireplace, and the magical portraits hanging on the corridor walls.
All the guests watched in amazement the talking and moving portraits, and tried to communicate with them.
Seeing that these portraits were no different from ordinary people, and even had their own tempers and habits, everyone was even more astonished.
What shocked everyone the most was the golden mao long tree and the silver Holy White Tree in the Castle garden, which, bathed in the setting sun, emitted dazzling golden and silver light, enveloping the entire Castle in radiance.
A sweet scent, carried by the breeze, permeated everywhere, invigorating everyone.
Such a sight left everyone deeply awestruck, lingering and reluctant to leave.
Time quickly moved to the next morning.
Everyone donned their finest and most dazzling attire, gathering by the fountain in front of the banquet hall entrance, filled with excitement and smiles.
When they saw twelve tall, white winged horses pulling a golden, opulent carriage, everyone gasped, gazing at the winged horses with admiration.
Even the Dwarves had to admit that these winged horses were incredibly beautiful.
"Alright, everyone, quickly get in the carriage! We mustn't keep our hosts waiting!" Gandalf was the first to walk towards the carriage, calling out loudly to the crowd.
Gandalf today had changed into a white robe, looking like the future White Wizard Gandalf.
Hearing Gandalf's words, everyone quickly tidied their appearance, then lined up and successively entered the carriage.
There were twelve Dwarves present, including Balin, Fili, and Kili; the Elves Legolas and Tauriel; the hobbits Bilbo and Drogo Baggins (Frodo's father); Beorn the Skin-changer; the human Lord Bard and his son; also Brog, the leader of the Dunlendings; Larry, the Mayor of Hogsmeade; Lachie, the Mayor of Bree City; plus Gandalf and Luke himself, making a total of twenty-three people.
If you include the two coachmen, it would be twenty-five people.
"Is there only one carriage? Won't it be crowded?" The Dwarf Bombur looked at his bulky figure, then at the carriage, muttering in confusion.
But as he climbed into the carriage and stepped inside, Bombur's eyes immediately widened in a gasp of surprise.
Inside was indeed a huge space; let alone fitting their twenty-three people, even ten times that number would still seem spacious.
The carriage was enormous, with a thick wooden floor neatly arranged with many sofas and tables, and even a fireplace burning with flames.
A huge crystal chandelier hung upside down from the high ceiling.
The ceiling and sides of the carriage were transparent, allowing a view of the outside.
Everyone was either sitting or standing, curiously looking around, except for Bilbo and Gandalf, who were more composed as they had ridden in it once before.
At this moment, Luke was wearing the crown of wisdom, a white, form-fitting Elven robe, a dragon-skin belt inlaid with blue gems around his waist, exquisite dragon-skin boots, and various accessories.
This outfit was chosen by Gandalf and Bilbo, among others, to ensure Luke was the most dazzling protagonist of the day.
Luke sat upright in the main seat, looking calm, but his gaze was distant, his thoughts having long since drifted elsewhere.
The others tacitly did not disturb him.
When Gandalf and everyone else were ready, he shouted 'Depart!' out the carriage door.
The next moment, the carriage began to move, but to everyone's amazement, there was no disturbance inside; not even a ripple in the drinks on the table.
Twelve winged horses pulled the carriage swiftly forward, simultaneously spreading their wings and taking flight.
As the carriage accelerated, its wheels gradually lifted off the ground, then it soared over the high Castle walls and into the sky.
Watching the carriage move further and further away from the Castle ground, everyone's eyes widened as they looked outside, feeling incredibly thrilled.
"What's that?" Kili, the Dwarf who had been staring out the window, suddenly noticed two rows of fully armed guards on twelve Hippogriffs chasing after the carriage, and he let out a gasp of surprise.
The others were also drawn by his voice and looked towards the back of the carriage.
Brog, the leader of the Black Barbarians, who was also in the carriage, proudly introduced, "Those are Hippogriffs bestowed upon us by Lord Luke. Since His Lordship is going to Rivendell for his engagement, we naturally must show our support!"
Upon hearing Brog's words, everyone was filled with envy. These Hippogriffs looked mighty and extraordinary, and they were extremely formidable, making them excellent mounts. Who wouldn't want one?
Luke was also surprised to see the Black Barbarian warriors riding twelve Hippogriffs behind the carriage.
He had not known about this beforehand, unlike the others.
Looking at the calm Gandalf and the much more composed Bilbo, he instantly understood.
Clearly, this was another surprise.
Gandalf noticed Luke's gaze and chuckled smugly, "Today is your engagement. Rivendell must have many Elves, so we must be grand and not tarnish your reputation as Lord Luke!"
"When Bilbo and I were planning, we originally intended to wake Smaug from your cellar to join Sulond in support. However, we reconsidered, thinking that bringing a Dragon might be more of a fright than a surprise, so we abandoned that plan." Gandalf still looked a little regretful as he said this.
Luke glanced at the somewhat embarrassed Bilbo beside him, and then at Gandalf, and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
He was going to get engaged, not to abduct a bride; there was no need for such an all-out display.
Meanwhile,
In Hogsmeade below the mountain,
The residents watched as twelve winged horses pulled a carriage away from Hogwarts Castle, followed closely by twelve Hippogriffs.
Their eyes widened, and they cheered excitedly.
They knew that the Lord was going to the future Lady's home for the engagement.
Although they regretted not being able to witness the Lord's engagement ceremony, everyone eagerly awaited the wedding ceremony a year later.
According to custom, the wedding ceremony would be held at the groom's residence and would be even livelier.
At that time, as his subjects, they would all have the opportunity to witness the Lord's wedding ceremony.
Meanwhile, the traveling merchants, travelers, bards, and others from outside the city watched the carriage soaring through the sky, along with the winged horses and Hippogriffs, and couldn't help but feel awestruck.
Even a painter quickly captured the stunning scene of the carriage flying away from the Castle and into the sky, then painted it.
Eventually, this painting was bought and collected, passing through many hands. Long after the Elves' footsteps had vanished from this continent, it became a famous painting, bearing witness to ancient legends.
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The carriage sped eastward through the clouds.
Inside the carriage, everyone couldn't help but exclaim in surprise as they looked at the clouds seemingly within reach outside the window, and the tiny buildings on the ground below.
Balin glanced at the ground and immediately declared his heart couldn't take it, so he lay down and avoided looking down.
The carriage flew along the East-West Road on the ground, soaring over vast desolate lands, skimming across the Clearspring River, passing through the Trollshaws, and arriving high above the Bruinen River.
"We're almost at Rivendell. Everyone, tidy up your appearance. We must be presentable and not bring shame!" Gandalf looked at the scenery below and then addressed the group.
Immediately, the Dwarves, who had been sitting and standing sloppily, began to tidy themselves up.
"Bombur, stop eating! Crumb dust is all over your beard!"
"Bofur, lift your donkey hoof! You've stepped on my new shoes and dirtied them!"
...The Dwarves busied themselves in a flurry.
Fili watched his younger brother Kili, who was enjoying the spectacle, and with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he chuckled and said loudly:
"Kili, I remember the last time we passed through Rivendell, you took a liking to an Elf. Do you have any thoughts about going there this time?"
Hearing Fili's words, Kili instinctively looked at his wife Tauriel and quickly and flusteredly defended himself, "Tauriel, believe me, I didn't! Fili is talking nonsense!"
The other Dwarves, enjoying the drama, chimed in, "We remember too! He said that Elf was pretty good-looking and even winked at them!"
Seeing Tauriel's smiling expression, Kili felt a chill, and he quickly shouted, "Tauriel, the Elf they're talking about was a male! Believe me!"
Tauriel immediately looked at him with a strange expression.
This made Kili's face flush red, unsure what to say.
Seeing this, the Dwarves burst into laughter.
The other people present also couldn't help but smile, watching the scene with amusement.
The atmosphere became joyful and relaxed.
Beyond the Bruinen River lay the territory of Rivendell.
Under the control of the coachman, the winged horses pulling the carriage quickly descended, rushing into Rivendell.
The Elven soldiers on lookout in Rivendell blew their horns.
At this time, Rivendell was also very lively.
In addition to the Elves residing in Rivendell, Elves from Lothlórien, Lindon, the Woodland Realm, and even Dorwinion in the Far East had gathered here.
As the Lord of Rivendell, Elrond held extremely high prestige and status among the Elves of Middle-earth, and he possessed the bloodlines of the Noldor, Vanyar, and Sinda Elves, maintaining close ties with various Elven races.
Now that Elrond's daughter was getting engaged, many Elves had specially come to offer their blessings.
Melodious Elven songs echoed through Rivendell, narrating an ancient love story—the tale of the Elven princess Lúthien and the human hero Beren.
The Elves sang ancient poems while decorating various places with all sorts of fresh flowers and soft vines.
The sky had not yet darkened, but lanterns were already hung everywhere, sparkling with silver light, like countless stars adorning the cliffs on both sides of Rivendell.
Even the waterfalls and rivers at the bottom of the valley seemed to be under magic, every drop of water filled with the rhythm and harmony of nature, playing magnificent and mysterious music.
Under the gaze of many Elves, twelve white winged horses pulling a golden carriage skimmed low over the water, as if walking on it, and drove towards the white avenue.
Behind them, twelve majestic Hippogriffs followed closely, like loyal guards.
The winged horses landed first, folded their wings, and buffered quickly forward.
The carriage followed, its golden wheels leaving two tracks on the ground.
Finally, the carriage stopped before the stone bridge that crossed the river, leading to the Last Homely House.
A coachman jumped down from the carriage and set up a wooden ladder to facilitate disembarking.
Another opened the carriage door and then stepped back to wait.
On the other side of the stone bridge, Lindir, the secretary, and the Elven attendants were already waiting.
Upon seeing the carriage stop, they proactively walked over.
Under the gaze of the Elves, Gandalf stepped out first, then smiled and greeted Lindir.
Then came Bard, Lord of Dale, Balin, Lord of Moria, and the Dwarves, the Elf Tauriel, Legolas... as each person stepped down from the carriage, Luke was the last to emerge.
"Lindir, it's been a long wait!" Luke said with a smile.
Lindir nodded respectfully to Luke, his manner friendly, and he gestured, "Please follow me."
The winged horses and carriage, along with the Hippogriffs and Black Barbarian warriors, remained in place. Then, led by Luke, everyone proceeded together to the banquet hall.
The banquet hall was already filled with many Elves.
At the head of the hall, in addition to Elrond, Galadriel and Celeborn were also present, and even the reclusive Lord Glorfindel had come.
Arwen wore a butterfly crown, made entirely of mithril, inlaid with sparkling gems and diamond chips, and three layers of tassels made of white beads hung by her Elven ears.
She wore a beautiful and elegant white Elven gown, leaning against her grandmother Galadriel.
The moment she saw Luke enter, a radiant smile appeared on her face, and her entire being brightened, exuding a soft glow.
Luke also saw her at first glance, and then his eyes could no longer look away... Under the new moon and starry night, in the gardens of the Last Homely House.
The Star of Eärendil in the sky became exceptionally brilliant, as if it too was watching over this place.
The Elves and guests present stood on either side, watching the couple surrounded by flowers.
Elven maidens sang in unison of the love of Lúthien and Beren, while Elven musicians played beautiful and lingering music on various instruments.
Everyone wore smiles, sincerely wishing the couple well.
Witnessed by all, Luke took out a silver ring he had crafted himself and placed it on Arwen's hand.
Arwen also took out a sparkling silver ring and placed it on Luke's hand.
When Gandalf announced their engagement as husband and wife-to-be,
Luke embraced Arwen and kissed her impatiently.
Everyone applauded, and the Dwarves, who had been trying to maintain decorum, completely let loose, cheering loudly and singing their Dwarven blessing songs.
The voices of a dozen Dwarves completely drowned out the singing of the Elven maidens and the sound of the harps, but no one minded their impropriety; they all smiled kindly, praising their sincere blessings.
The starlight was bright, the singing continued all night, and a joyful atmosphere enveloped Rivendell, lingering for a long time.