Perhaps because he had the dwarves for company, Arthur did not feel bored despite the monotonous scenery along the way.
Because Dwalin and the other dwarves always remained cheerful and enthusiastic, and when they rested, they would weave catchy folk songs with simple, easy-to-understand melodies based on the current situation.
They would even use their eating spoons and plates to form simple percussion instruments to play harmonious tunes for the folk songs they wove!
Especially Fili and Kili, the two dwarf brothers, it seemed like it was their first time leaving the Blue Mountains for such a remote place. Coupled with Arthur's own mysterious aura, they chattered a lot with Arthur along the way about dwarves and the Blue Mountains.
Of course, Arthur also told them some of his experiences in The Lands Between.
Dwalin, after occasionally hearing a conversation between Arthur, Fili, and Kili, also quietly followed along.
Eventually, it developed into a routine where every time the dwarves rested and ate, they would eagerly hold cups filled with ale, waiting for Arthur to tell stories of his adventures in The Lands Between.
Even the chef, who was busy starting the fire and cooking, kept his ears perked up while working.
Arthur noticed that Fili and Kili, these two young dwarves, liked to listen to stories of heroes from The Lands Between and were often moved by those tales.
So Arthur recounted the stories of his friends and foes he had met in The Lands Between to Fili and Kili.
While narrating these character stories, Arthur discovered that Fili, as the elder brother, preferred the story of Morgott, the Omen King, guarding the lonely city alone, while Kili, the younger brother, preferred the story of Iron Fist Alexander, the warrior jar, constantly rising from setbacks to challenge strong enemies and surpass himself.
This might be due to the different personalities of the elder and younger brothers.
These past few days, Arthur also learned of Fili and Kili's identities from Dwalin.
Fili was being groomed by Thorin as a royal heir, so Thorin was stricter with him. Arthur could perceive that Fili, compared to Kili, was much better at restraining his curiosity and paid more attention to his words and actions.
Kili, on the other hand, was more like a carefree ray of sunshine; whether happy or upset, it was clearly displayed on his face, and this was especially true when he listened to stories. When he heard a happy story, he would laugh loudly; when he heard a sad story, he would silently shed tears; when he heard an exciting story, he would become highly emotional.
Arthur could tell that Thorin clearly wanted Kili to grow up carefree, without the burden of royal responsibilities.
Amidst the aroma of food, the folk songs of the dwarves, and Arthur's epic tales of heroes, the carriage convoy safely arrived outside the city ruins where the Erdtree was located.
Oh, and special thanks to the orcs for not spoiling the fun by disturbing them, otherwise, they wouldn't have arrived smoothly within Arthur's estimated travel time.
"Everyone, we're almost there."
Under the clear afternoon sky, Arthur enthusiastically shouted to the dwarves behind him, whose faces showed a hint of fatigue.
Then he dismounted, patted Torrent affectionately, and blew a whistle to recall it into its horse Whistle.
Dwalin shouted a few words in concise dwarvish, and the full-speed carriage convoy gradually slowed down but did not stop.
Kili was the first to ride his horse to Arthur's side, but what he saw was a city ruin that had been eroded by time for at least several hundred years.
He paused slightly, then asked straightforwardly, "Arthur, is your homeland just these stones?"
Dwalin, hearing Kili's question, coughed heavily.
"Slap."
Fili was a step behind Kili and happened to hear Kili's somewhat reckless question. He looked up and slapped his younger brother on the back of the head.
Then he gave Arthur an apologetic look, surveyed the ruins before them, one after another, submerged by trees and green grass, and changed the subject, asking, "Where should we park the carriages next, Arthur?"
"Just follow the road at the entrance. You won't have to walk long before you naturally find where to go. Kili, these ruins are just remnants left behind by the local people, they have nothing to do with my homeland. I didn't take what you said to heart." Arthur said gently, making Kili, who was worried about saying the wrong thing and looked flustered, breathe a sigh of relief.
Dwalin nodded, signaling his compatriots to cautiously drive the carriages slowly into the city ruins as Arthur had instructed.
The wooden wheels rolled over grass a fist-high, leaving deep ruts in the dirt.
Arthur walked at the front of the convoy, leading the way for Dwalin and the others.
But very soon, there was no need for guidance.
Because Dwalin, Fili, Kili, and all the dwarves in the convoy could see a tall Erdtree and the trees that seemed to be dyed gold from afar.
"Are those all gold?" Kili was the first to exclaim, the dwarf's nature drawing them to the golden scene.
Fili squinted, scrutinizing carefully, and finally shook his head: "Not gold, just leaves that have turned golden."
Arthur heard the dwarves' exclamations and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
He was also very happy, and after ten days, the Erdtree had grown about three or four meters taller than when he had left.
The Erdtree seemed to notice Arthur's return, emitting an even brighter golden glow, its branches swaying without wind, welcoming its master.
The Godrick soldiers guarding the Erdtree immediately noticed the Erdtree's unusual movement. Two Godrick soldiers holding crossbows immediately stood up from the watchtower of the outpost, scanned around, and saw the convoy from afar, as well as Arthur in his distinctive Blaidd, the Half-Wolf armor at the very front.
The Godrick soldiers' spirits lifted. One remained on the watchtower, while the other hurried down the watchtower to report his discovery to the Knight Captain.
"Arthur is back? And he brought back a convoy carrying supplies?" Nepheli Loux, who was doing push-ups, heard the Godrick Knight's report, and her crimson eyes lit up, sweat trickling down her wheat-colored abs.
She immediately stood up, picked up the battleaxe placed on a nearby stone, and went with the Godrick Knight to greet him.
On the other side, the dwarves' heartbeats quickened as they approached.
Their gaze was fixed on the Erdtree, which seemed to belong only in legends, its trunk shimmering with dazzling luster under the sunlight.
Above its canopy, golden-yellow leaves swayed gently in the wind, making a rustling sound, like shimmering waves in a golden ocean.
Dwalin carefully stepped onto the ground covered with golden grass, marveling at the golden splendor.
Kili, whose curiosity was the strongest, squatted down and gently touched the grass with his fingers, feeling the softness that plants should possess.
He couldn't help but pluck a blade of grass and examine it closely in front of his eyes. The golden grass stem glowed softly in the sunlight, not with the dazzling brilliance of gold, but with a serene beauty.
Seeing Kili's actions, Fili, with Thorin not around, also couldn't resist his curiosity and gently plucked a leaf from a low-hanging branch.
The other dwarves also followed suit, carefully plucking a few golden leaves or a few blades of golden grass from branches or the ground.
Their bearded faces were filled with curious and excited smiles; although these golden grass and golden leaves were not real gold, they were beautiful enough for them to keep as souvenirs.
Although Arthur wanted to remind them that ten days ago, these golden grass and golden leaves were just ordinary weeds and green leaves, with no collection value.
But seeing the dwarves so happy, he didn't have the heart to burst their bubble.
Well, when they return, he'll give them some truly meaningful trinkets.
Arthur thought to himself, then surveyed his surroundings.
The stone houses nearby, which were previously covered in vegetation, seemed to have been cleaned up by Nepheli Loux and the soldiers she led during the days he was away. It looked more like a place where humans lived than a desolate wilderness, unlike when he left.
A path wide enough for carriages had also been cleared on the ground. Following the path, Arthur saw Nepheli Loux leading Godrick Knights over.
Then he heard Nepheli Loux's welcoming voice.
"The breeze caressing my face tells me that the great King has returned to his homeland. Welcome back, Arthur." Nepheli Loux walked quickly, opened her arms, and gave Arthur a warm hug.
Then she released Arthur and looked at the dwarves behind him, who were observing her with curious eyes.
The Godrick Knights who arrived with her, upon seeing Arthur, saluted and then stood still like statues, holding their greatshields and long spears, not moving an inch.
Nepheli Loux had never seen dwarves before. When she saw these dwarves whose height only reached her waist, she thought they were the short-bodied evil soldiers of The Lands Between.
But soon Nepheli Loux realized they were completely different from the evil soldiers who were self-conscious about their height. Arthur also noticed Nepheli's confusion and whispered, "These are dwarves. They brought the supplies we need."
Nepheli Loux nodded and welcomed the curious dwarves, saying, "Thank you for your help. May the wind always bless you. My name is Nepheli Loux, a subordinate of Elden Lord Arthur. You can call me by my first name, Nepheli."
Upon hearing Nepheli Loux's words, Fili looked sharply at Arthur and asked in surprise, "Wait, Arthur. She called you 'Elden Lord.' Are you actually a King? Then I didn't show you the proper respect on the way..."
He thought about his casual, laughing conversations with Arthur throughout their journey, and then recalled Thorin's warnings to him, and instantly felt a little uneasy.
Dwalin felt the same, though Kili was somewhat carefree and found the reactions of the other two a bit strange.
Arthur took off his helmet and took a breath of fresh air.
After hearing Fili's words, he was a little speechless. Finally, he shook his head and said with a smile, "The Fili I know isn't this timid. He should be happier to arrive in a friend's homeland. Isn't Thorin also your King? You didn't see him putting on any airs in front of you. What's more, you came to help me voluntarily, so I should be the one thanking you."
Kili also felt it was nothing and nodded repeatedly as he listened to Arthur's words.
Fili and Dwalin exchanged glances. Considering Arthur's easygoing demeanor throughout the journey, the tense expressions on their faces relaxed.
Arthur did not continue to chat but instead waved at the motionless Godrick Knight, giving an order, "Go find three soldiers to help the dwarves unload the grain and livestock. Among them are experts in raising livestock and cultivating crops. You should provide them with as much space as possible according to their requirements."
After receiving Arthur's order, the Godrick Knight forcefully poked the ground with the end of his spear as a knight's salute, then left.
Arthur then turned around and called out to Fili, Kili, and Dwalin, warmly inviting them, "This is not the place for idle talk. Let's go somewhere else. You can also admire the Erdtree from a closer distance."
"As you wish," Fili nodded, and the three dwarves followed Arthur towards the Erdtree.
Nepheli Loux then proactively walked beside Arthur, reporting the intelligence from the days he was away, "In the past few days, orcs have launched two more night raids. But their numbers were not as large as the first time, and their bodies were absorbed by the Erdtree."
Arthur's expression instantly became serious, "Two more attacks? What are our casualties? Did we leave any alive to interrogate them about the reason for their attacks?"
Nepheli Loux first nodded, then sounded a bit exasperated when talking about the reason for the attacks.
"These orcs couldn't even get into the outpost. When their numbers couldn't overwhelm us, the orcs, despite their coordinated efforts, were no match for the Kingrick Royal Army. Not to mention the support from Rogier and me."
"As for survivors, we left one each time. But they all said that they saw the light emitted by the Erdtree when passing by at night and decided to attack temporarily because they thought there were humans here. Honestly, it's the first time I've heard such an absurd reason for an attack."
Arthur's mouth also twitched, remembering Gandalf's assessment of orcs: they exist to destroy peace and create slaughter.
The conversation between the two was not deliberately hushed, as it was not a secret that needed to be hidden.
Therefore, upon hearing that Arthur's homeland had been attacked by orcs again, Fili asked, "Arthur, may I say a few words? About orcs."
Arthur nodded readily, "Of course, Fili. I am not very familiar with orcs, and I welcome any reminders from a dwarf like you who knows them well."
Fili said, "Arthur, if I heard correctly, your rebuilt homeland here has suffered at least three orc night raids. If the first and second times might have been accidental encounters by orcs, the third time was definitely not accidental. orcs are not unorganized beasts. If several of their groups disappear consecutively in one place, their commanders behind them will definitely notice that location."
Arthur stopped, his expression becoming serious, and he even half-crouched, asking Fili, "Please continue, Fili."
Fili swallowed, then said, "My uncle Thorin told me that not all orcs are brainless fools. Some of them know how to use tactics. Our Durin kin once suffered a huge setback at the hands of an orc, with heavy losses. So I'm worried that the orcs who attacked your homeland the third time were deliberately trying to scout your defenses, after all, few people would think orcs know how to use their brains."
Dwalin also spoke in his gruff voice after Fili finished, "Fili is right, there are very cunning orcs among them."
Kili, though a bit out of the loop, nodded to everything Fili said.
Nepheli Loux, at this moment, also recalled the scene of the last orc attack because of what the dwarves said, and her expression changed as she said, "Speaking of which, during the third attack, about nine orcs seemed to be desperately trying to break into the outpost, completely ignoring the Godrick soldiers who were intercepting them. I was at the scene at the time, so I remember it quite clearly. The survivor we left was also one of them."
Fili and Dwalin exchanged glances, and the former spoke, "Arthur, if that's truly the case, then during the third night raid, several orcs must have not participated in the battle but instead hid in the shadows to observe the situation here. The fourth attack will probably be the orcs' general assault. All the orcs and wargs in this land of Minhiriath might participate. At that time, there will probably be hundreds of orcs and wargs."