The winding upward road, the spiraling track dedicated to minecarts, and the gear-powered lift platform made with borrowed dwarven technology, these made up the main entrance of this skyway.
Unlike regular roads on the ground, an aerial road came with inherent natural risks, its sheer height, for instance, and the stable operation of its various facilities.
But all of these had solutions.
A proper road must be accompanied by a host of facilities, things like lighting and safety railings were essential. Then there was the maintenance of the up-and-down routes, though that part didn't cost much.
If the lift platform had been built through standard procedures, there might still be a slight risk of malfunction, say, due to aging parts or fatigue in a component, but when something was assembled from parts crafted by Garrett himself, the only way an accident could happen would be through human error.
In terms of stability, it was maxed out.
He stayed on this road for several days, and during that time, he completed the most difficult and complex starting segment. What remained was mostly repetitive, mechanical labor.
Upon hearing the news, Bard rushed over without delay and looked up once more in awe.
A towering stone pillar stood tall on the ground, supporting a short stretch of road above. The road was smooth and level, with torch-lit lamps lining the sides and solid safety railings to prevent accidents.
At the start of the road, there was also a small cabin, which could serve as a temporary resting place.
"Even if you don't continue building it further, just this section alone already qualifies as a marvel," Bard said.
"This doesn't count as a marvel," Garrett replied.
He recalled some history and said, "Have you heard of Khazad-dûm? Or Moria, as it's now called?"
"I know of it. I heard it's now infested with dark creatures, a den of orcs and all kinds of monsters."
"It wasn't always like that. Khazad-dûm, its underground city was massive, stretching from the western edge of the Misty Mountains all the way to the east. It reached up to the mountaintops and down to underground rivers. The entire thing was grand and spacious, without any corner-cutting. It was a true wonder, a hall of marvels, known across Middle-earth."
Compared to Khazad-dûm, everything he had built, the fortress tower, Wayfort, even his entire territory, was tiny in scale.
And even that was only possible because he possessed the unique abilities of his nature. It was hard to imagine how much time it took to build something as massive as Moria, and how it was even accomplished.
Compared to him, that was a true, unbelievable wonder.
Bard tried to imagine it.
A vast and immense hall cutting through the Misty Mountains, it would be many times larger than Rivendell and Erebor combined.
"Dwarven craftsmanship truly is incredible," he couldn't help but marvel.
"Indeed. So, do you still think this project is unbelievable or impossible to complete?"
"No, I've never thought it couldn't be done."
"Good. Then it's time to get to work."
Garrett led Bard, the newly appointed project director for the road construction, toward the entrance, explaining the function of each component along the way.
The upward road, designed for a gradual incline.
The spiraling minecart track, mainly for transporting materials or blocks. Of course, if someone wanted to experience the thrill of spinning at high speed, they could ride it too.
After introducing those two, Garrett stepped onto a lift platform and invited Bard to join him.
The platform was extremely stable, and the ascent and descent process was enclosed. It was equipped with multiple safety mechanisms, though unlikely to ever be needed, they were installed anyway. There was even a pool of water at the bottom.
Multiple layers of safety, and an exceptionally strong load-bearing capacity. Just how strong? The stronger the pressure, the stronger it became.
As the two of them stepped on, the platform didn't wobble in the slightest, it felt as steady as standing on solid ground.
Garrett pulled a lever.
Click.
The platform began to rise at a moderate pace.
For him, or for dwarves who were used to mining, this sensation was completely ordinary. But for Bard, it was somewhat more thrilling.
The moment the platform began to move, he felt a slight dizziness.
As someone brave enough to climb a high tower and challenge a dragon, who could ignore external distractions to land precise shots, Bard's courage was beyond question. He certainly didn't suffer from fear of heights.
But this feeling of weightlessness was something new. After all, he had never been in a dwarven mine, nor had he ever ridden their lifts or cable cars.
"A strange sensation. I've only ever heard of things like this."
After a few deep breaths, he gradually adjusted.
"Now you've experienced it. And you'll be using it quite a bit from now on," Garrett said.
Soon, the platform reached the top. The two stepped out, feeling the breeze high above the ground.
Bard took a deep breath and walked to the edge, gripping the railing as he looked out over the sea of trees glistening under the sunlight.
"That's the true woodland, not the so-called 'Mirkwood' people speak of, but Eryn Lasgalen, the Wood of Greenleaves..."
As a descendant of the former Lord of Dale, Bard knew some of the older histories.
"It's beautiful... grand and breathtaking. I truly feel sorry for the king of the Woodland Realm. The power of spiders and certain dark forces has corrupted much of the forest, forcing them to retreat into their halls."
"In the past, if they wanted to go out, it was mostly by river, or along a few well-trodden paths. And even those weren't entirely safe."
Even orcs could eventually make their way to both sides of the river.
"But now—"
"Everything will be different," Bard finished his sentence.
Clang.
Garrett placed an iron golem on the ground. It would serve as a guard, patrolling and protecting the entrance.
"The Woodland Elves are actually quite eager to communicate."
"It's just that, over the years, they've suffered repeated invasions from dark creatures and constant threats from enemies. It forced them to close themselves off and remain on high alert toward the outside world."
"That said, when it comes to friends, they're warm and welcoming."
Looking toward the halls in the distance, Bard agreed, "I can tell. That king might seem aloof on the outside, but he's actually a deeply compassionate person. I've never figured out how to repay him."
"Haven't some merchant ships from Dorwinion arrived recently? Just send him more good wine," Garrett suggested.
"All right, I'll do that."
After confirming the construction route, Bard quickly gathered the road workers who had been waiting back in Lake-town and brought them to the entrance.
The townspeople stood in front of what was technically a load-bearing stone pillar but looked like pure artistry. They glanced at each other and let out a collective gasp.
"We're going up there?"
Someone couldn't help but ask.
"Yes," Bard replied. "If anyone has a fear of heights, they may step back now. No one will be forced to do this."
He swept his gaze across the group. No one said a word. But he had already seen their answer in their eyes: Backing out before even trying? That would be far too embarrassing.