Bear School Astartes

”But I really didn’t expect it.”

Gandalf looked at Lann’s long blade at his waist with a rare and astonished expression.

”It’s incredible that Lady Galadriel would share the light from that crystal vial with you. It’s an incredibly precious thing.”

”I didn’t expect it either.” Lann held the hilt of the long blade at his waist with a sigh, ”Without the Light of Airendil, I would have been entangled with Smaug for who knows how long and how much effort.”

Gandalf puffed on his pipe while speaking.

”This will be a powerful weapon against evil.”

”Bathed in the Light of Airendil, even Morgoth would feel the pain of burning.”

”Lady Galadriel still has half the light in the crystal vial at her hand, plus the starlight that connected with me that night.” Lann suddenly raised an eyebrow as if remembering something. ”Did this light not kill Sorun directly?”

”Not that easy.”

Gandalf’s ancient face bore eyes filled with vitality, eyes steadfast and gentle, unwavering in the face of temporary failure, and neither bewildered nor arrogant by momentary victory.

The Old Wizard spoke calmly.

”Sorun’s strategy differs from Morgoth’s. He’s better at preserving himself and secretly corrupting the heart and linking with darkness. Without destroying that crucial ring, Sorun is impossible to eliminate.”

”During the final alliance battle, we had the chance to do this, but unfortunately, no one understood the deep essence of Sorun’s power at the time, so the ring was spared, leading to today’s situation.”

Even though it was just a hair’s breadth from eradicating the enemy, Gandalf still spoke with only a hint of regret in his tone.

Not radical, nor stubborn.

If one’s spirit and will aren’t strong enough, such past remorse would be enough to destroy a person. Yet Gandalf could quickly return to a normal state of action.

Lann nodded, no longer dwelling on the issue.

”Sorun has been driven out, so what does the Holy White Council have in response?”

”Sorun has been driven eastward, likely lurking in Mordor.” The Old Wizard tugged at the silver scarf dragging near the ground, wrapping it around his neck again.

”Saruman voluntarily requested to track his traces and stationed in Isengard.”

”However, distant water won’t quench present thirst, we should focus on the present.”

By the time Lann returned from negotiating in the Lonely Mountain, it was already afternoon.

They agreed that gold would be transported in the first batch before the sunset, so the townspeople were hurrying to make preparations for receiving the gold.

The ruins of the River Valley City, already busy and chaotic, became even busier.

Everywhere were the shouts of men and women needing manpower here, needing wood and herbs there.

In the bustling and hopeful atmosphere, even this long-abandoned city’s ruins now seemed somewhat lively.

”But things are still uncertain.” Lann brought Gandalf to a not-high watchtower overlooking the River Valley City, just facing the Lonely Mountain.

The Demon Hunter pointed at the lofty snow mountains in the distance, and the angular Lonely Mountain Kingdom gate dug from the mountain’s foot.

”Sorlin has informed his cousin in the Iron Hills, which was his reason for delaying. Although I’ve steadied the humans and Elves here, if the Dwarf army arrives, the complexity of the situation will soar.”

”Ironfoot Dain... My goodness.” Gandalf’s feelings of distress were quite apparent upon hearing this news.

Even the pipe smoke puffed simultaneously from his nostrils and mouth.

”Is this Dwarf troublesome?”

”Troublesome? Compared to him, I think Sorlin is truly a reasonable person!”

Now, Lann felt his teeth were aching.

More stubborn than Sorlin; he must be a gem among Dwarves.

”We mustn’t let Dain come headlong!”

Given Gandalf’s constant reminders to gather forces upon witnessing the advancing Beastman army, he now dared not easily allow the Ironfoot Army to descend here.

”He wouldn’t care about anything!”

Compared to the Ironfoot Army’s strength, Gandalf believed their arrival would spark trouble.

”Someone must go to coordinate.” Lann calmly laid out the situation, analyzing it. ”Having known about the Ironfoot Army first, we can preemptively approach and persuade.”

”But Dain...” Gandalf looked troubled.

”At least Dain hasn’t entered the Lonely Mountain yet and doesn’t have dragon-sickness. He may be more stubborn than Sorlin before, but compared to current Sorlin, he’s certainly rational.”

Lann cast a sidelong glance at Gandalf.

”You must go.”

”What?!” The Old Wizard exclaimed like choking on a fly.

While exclaiming, he angrily jabbed at Lann’s shin with his Magic Staff.

”This job for me? I can’t do it! The person to approach Dain must be clear-headed, skilled in debate and thought, and adept at controlling social situations. That’s your job!”

”We don’t have anyone available now, you know that, Gandalf.”

Lann felt the Old Wizard’s staff jabbing at his leg, speaking indifferently.

”Sorlin has already fallen prey to dragon sickness. If no one keeps an eye on him, who knows what he might do impulsively? They promised more gold, but if they don’t deliver, do you think the townsfolk of Long Lake Town can be persuaded? They’ll rip him apart inside Lonely Mountain!”

”Or do you think you can persuade Sorlin, who’s afflicted with dragon sickness? If you could persuade him, shouldn’t you have already persuaded his grandfather Thror? Why would Smaug have come?”

The Old Wizard said nothing, just put his pointed hat on his head and puffed on his pipe continuously.

That was a silent agreement.

Lann had won a small victory, feeling pleased.

”Dane will surely recognize you, the famous Grey-robed Wizard. When the Dwarves start transporting gold down, you should find someone who can speak with Dane and go along, then it should basically be settled.”

Out of consideration for the old man, Lann offered a final suggestion.

But just as he was about to head down, he heard Gandalf’s deep and serious voice behind him.

”You must be careful, Lann.”

The Old Wizard’s voice no longer carried the light-hearted jest of friendship; the smoke from his pipe no longer transformed into various beautiful shapes under magic, but remained as plain smoke.

The Demon Hunter’s previously relaxed descent paused slightly.

”While I was imprisoned in Dorguldu, you should have been battling Smaug.”

”The master of the vile dragon and Beastmen had already formed an alliance, so when it died, Sorun sensed something and made preparations.”

Gandalf released a long puff of white smoke.

”Though he was banished by Lady Galadriel to the East somewhere, it isn’t difficult for a being like him to channel his power.”

”I previously mentioned that Beastmen will bring destruction to all of us...’all of us’. Do you understand?”

The Demon Hunter nodded silently, but his steps resumed their previous rhythm.

”I understand, but if I stopped acting due to risks... I’d have long stopped in some nameless place, Gandalf.”

Lann turned slightly, waving with a smile toward the Old Wizard.

”You always have to do something, right?”

At that moment, the light of the approaching dusk streamed through the cracks in the broken walls of the small tower, almost as if prearranged, casting it on Lann’s side.

The relieved and fearless smile on his face seemed to shine in the light.

Gandalf’s lips holding the pipe moved silently for a moment, before he again clenched his pipe tightly and also revealed a smile.

By dusk, a crowd led by Bard was already waiting in front of the gates of the Lonely Mountain Kingdom.

The makeshift gates built by the Dwarves were made of polished stones stacked together with no opening or closing function.

So the gold could only be sent outside using baskets.

The Dwarves carried basket after basket of gold out from Lonely Mountain’s treasure chamber, panting as they moved it onto the gates before lowering it.

Though tiring work for distributing wealth, each Dwarf was happier than they were at the gates in the morning.

Just like they said before: at least their conscience is clean.

Moreover, the money was really not much compared to the gold inside Lonely Mountain.

Even though Sorlin gave the order to distribute the promised wealth, this decision, forced by Lann, was not well-received mentally or spiritually, especially as he was afflicted by dragon sickness.

Now, he sat atop the pile of gold in the treasure chamber of Lonely Mountain, not speaking and issuing no further orders.

Thus, the Dwarves just carried out the agreed tasks.

Receiving the gold sounded simple, but carrying it out involved many details.

For instance, the Dwarves had to accurately tally how much was carried out, and the townsfolk of Long Lake Town needed to record how much they received for cross-referencing.

To prevent what’s seemingly a satisfactory decision from becoming unclear and planting seeds of conflict for the future.

So not only did the gold come down, a few people also had to come down to oversee the handover.

The townsfolk of Long Lake Town were already elated for receiving funds for a renewed life, surprisingly seeing the Dwarves celebrating too.

Joyful emotions seemed infectious and compounding.

They cheered, loaded the gold onto wagons, and sang poems as they moved toward River Valley City.

The townsfolk of Long Lake Town wanted to hold a celebration, and the Dwarves naturally joined in.

The Dwarves were indeed stubborn, suspicious, and rude, but they were also warm-hearted, sincere, and open-minded.

Being able to turn an awkward situation into one of unburdened conscience, the Dwarves thus happily joined the fun.

Except for Bombo, who was thrown out midway for overeating, nothing else unexpected happened.

The Elves didn’t participate in the celebration because the things they wanted, the Lonely Mountain Dwarves hadn’t returned to them.

Additionally, Thranduil didn’t want the whole River Valley City ruins to be left without vigilance.

He didn’t trust Gandalf’s words much, but more so felt that the Wizard was exaggerating.

The matters likely existed, but by emphasizing them, it could save those Dwarf friends from him, so why not?