Glorfindel was tall and slender, with handsome features, beautiful golden hair, bright and keen eyes, a voice as melodious as music, wisdom brimming between his brows, and a noble, elegant demeanor, more like a knowledgeable Elven sage than a warrior.
As a High Elf born in the Years of the Two Trees, having bathed in their light, he exuded a holy radiance like an angel.
Living in seclusion in Rivendell, he rarely came out to meet guests, mostly staying in the library or his own palace.
Now, upon hearing that his long-lost dagger had reappeared, this Elf made a rare appearance.
"Elrond."
"Mithrandir, it has been a long time."
Glorfindel greeted Elrond and Gandalf gracefully, his voice pleasant and melodious.
"Glorfindel, my friend, your radiance is as ever." Gandalf also greeted him happily, clearly familiar with this Lord of the Golden Flower.
Everyone was awestruck by the radiance of this reborn Elf, and even the Dwarves quieted down.
Luke also looked at Glorfindel with admiration.
This Elf was not mentioned much in the original work, but after his glorious death in the First Age, he was reborn, with power and abilities equivalent to a Maia, making him arguably one of the most powerful Elves in Middle-earth at the moment.
If he, like Gandalf and other Maia, were not forbidden from using overly powerful magic and were only allowed to assist the forces of Middle-earth against Sauron's Dark forces, Sauron would probably not have lasted this long.
After exchanging pleasantries with Gandalf, Glorfindel's gaze turned to Bilbo, primarily to the dagger in his hand.
"May I see it?"
"Uh... of course!" Bilbo awkwardly handed over the dagger.
Glorfindel took the dagger, his eyes filled with memories and sorrow.
"I once thought it had fallen into the abyss with the Balrog, I never imagined I would see it again one day."
Seeing the uneasy hobbit before him, a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes, and to the other's surprised expression, he returned the dagger.
"I have lost this dagger for countless years, and for you to find it now means you are destined for it. May it serve you well."
"Thank you." Bilbo breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought the dagger would be returned to its original owner, but he did not expect the original owner had no intention of taking it back.
This dagger was a gift from Luke, and he did not want to lose it.
Glorfindel did not stay long at the feast. After seeing his former dagger, he bid farewell and left.
Bilbo, on the other hand, became the center of attention at the feast, drawing everyone's gaze.
Especially the dagger in his hand, which had the achievement of slaying a Balrog and was also the weapon of the famous Lord of the Golden Flower, Glorfindel.
Possessing such a divine weapon, everyone was very envious and covetous.
Luke was also happy for Bilbo.
But what made him even happier was that his system finally reacted.
"Hogwarts Sign-in System: Location Rivendell, do you wish to sign in?"
"Sign in." Luke silently recited in his mind, without changing his expression.
"Sign-in successful, congratulations on obtaining the first edition of 'The Book of Spells'!"
Before his eyes appeared a thick spellbook that only he could see.
"The Book of Spells" is another spellbook written by Miranda Goshawk, the author of the "Standard Book of Spells" series, which are the Charms Class textbooks at Hogwarts.
Or it could be said to be the predecessor of the "Standard Book of Spells" series.
"The Book of Spells" records most of the spells in the magic world, truly a spell encyclopedia of the magic world.
It not only contains all the spells available on the market in the magic world but also a portion of curses.
Upon its initial release, this spellbook was immediately suppressed by the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry of Magic believed that many spells in the book were dangerous and unsuitable for publication.
Therefore, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, all curses and some powerful offensive and destructive spells were removed from the book, eventually leading to "The Book of Spells" being translated into seventy-two languages worldwide. And under Miranda Goshawk's re-editing, it was divided into the "Standard Book of Spells" series for Hogwarts first to seventh years.
Previously, Luke had been somewhat constrained in combat because the spells he mastered were mostly defensive, making it difficult to achieve instant kills.
Now that he had obtained "The Book of Spells," he felt as if it were a godsend, instantly completing what he needed.
He would not even have to worry about running out of spells for a long time to come.
If it weren't for the fact that he was still at the feast, he would have immediately found a quiet space to study the contents of "The Book of Spells."
Meanwhile, at the feast, the Dwarves, after drinking too much, completely revealed their true nature.
The Dwarves found the Elves' soothing music unpleasant, like funeral dirges, so Bofur directly stood on the table and loudly sang the Dwarves' songs.
The other Dwarves also applauded and cheered, banging various utensils to create all sorts of noise, and even throwing food at each other.
Their chaotic and wild behavior made the surrounding Elves look at each other in dismay.
Elrond, at the head table, frowned slightly, but his good upbringing prevented him from saying anything.
However, Gandalf, who had just praised the Dwarves as descendants of the Durin folk, all noble, proper, and exceptionally well-mannered, was embarrassed, looking as if he wished he didn't know them.
Luke was also quite speechless at the moment, only wanting the feast to end quickly so he could learn the content of "The Book of Spells" as soon as possible before leaving Rivendell, to make himself stronger.
After the feast, Gandalf and Elrond had matters to discuss.
The Dwarves were roaring drunk and remained in the banquet hall entertaining themselves.
Bilbo wanted to tour Rivendell.
Luke, on the other hand, found a quiet terrace, seemingly relaxing, but his eyes and attention were focused on "The Book of Spells" in front of him.
The book contained numerous spells, including advanced spells like the Patronus Charm and the Undetectable Extension Charm, in addition to basic and practical ones.
What Luke was most concerned about, naturally, were the offensive spells and curses that had been specifically removed by the Ministry of Magic.
Among offensive spells, the Blasting Curse was a very powerful spell.
It could cause the cursed object to explode violently, with a force equivalent to tens of kilograms of TNT explosives.
Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter, to escape Sirius's pursuit, used this spell to blow up an entire street.
There were also the Sandstorm Hex, the Severing Charm, the Arrow-Shooting Charm, and others, all of which were powerful offensive spells.
As for curses, from minor ones like the Stinging Hex, the Nail-Growth Curse, the Bone-Swelling Charm, to major ones like the Entrail-Expelling Curse and the Extraction Charm, these were already spells within the Dark Arts. If used properly, they could also produce different effects.
Luke first chose a spell that interested him: the Patronus Charm.
The Patronus Charm is an advanced white magic spell, the incantation for which is "Expecto Patronum." It can summon an corporeal animal Patronus, capable of combating Dark creatures like Lethifolds and Dementors.
There were no creatures like Lethifolds or Dementors in Middle-earth, but creatures like the wights he encountered before, and the Nazgûl, were Dark creatures.
Dark creatures are naturally countered by white magic, and Luke believed that if he mastered the Patronus Charm, encountering Dark creatures like wights again would be much easier to deal with.
He carefully read the theory about the Patronus Charm in the book, and once he understood it well enough, he began to try chanting the spell.
"Expecto Patronum!"
He tried hard to recall happy memories in his mind, waving his wand accordingly.
Silver mist sprayed from the tip of the wand, but it remained only a silver mist, unable to take shape, and quickly dissipated due to distraction.
Luke was not disappointed by this and chanted the spell once more.
This time, more and more silver mist sprayed out, gathering into a large mass of dazzling silver light, like a light cocoon, as if something was gestating within it.
However, perhaps because Luke's happy memories were not enough, the corporeal Patronus image was slow to materialize.
Luke withdrew the magic and stopped to rethink.
He believed he had thought of all the happy memories he could, but the Patronus was still not forming, which left him somewhat puzzled.
Could it be that the Patronus Charm required other factors besides happy memories?
"Patronus Charm, Patronus…" Luke's eyes lit up.
The Patronus Charm contained the word 'Patronus', so besides needing happy memories, it must also require a firm will to protect when casting the spell.
It was just that the book only mentioned recalling happy memories when casting the spell, which made him overlook this simple issue.
Having found a new approach, Luke did not hesitate and cast the Patronus Charm again.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Many happy memories flashed continuously in his mind, from his previous life and this one.
Then he thought of what he, Bilbo, and Gandalf were about to face, and a strong desire surged within him, a longing for himself and those he cared about to survive.
Silver mist surged from the wand, growing denser and denser, enveloping Luke's surroundings in a vast whiteness.
Finally, the silver mist condensed into a large, silvery-white bird, flapping its wings and circling around Luke, releasing positive energy that made one feel hope and happiness in its presence.
"Is this… an owl?"
Luke looked at his Patronus with some surprise.
Its large eyes and unique ear-like feathers were entirely the image of an owl.
As soon as Luke reached out, the owl Patronus flew down and landed on Luke's arm, without any weight, affectionately nuzzling his face, appearing very nimble and lively.
"What truly exquisite magic!" A voice came from behind Luke.
Luke turned to see two young Elves approaching.
They were handsome and looked exactly alike, with equally dark hair; besides their headbands, one gold and one silver, it was almost impossible to tell them apart.
The two Elves looked at the silvery-white translucent owl on Luke's hand, their gazes filled with admiration and awe.
"Guests from afar, we are the sons of Elrond."
The Elf with the gold headband spoke.
"I am Elrohir."
"This is my brother, Elladan."
Elladan, wearing the silver headband, nodded to him politely and gracefully.
These are Elrond's twin sons? The only pair of twin brothers among Elves?
Luke didn't expect to see them so soon and also nodded in greeting.
"Greetings to both of you, I am Wizard Luke, from Weathertop."
"We have long heard of your renown, Black Robe Wizard Luke," Elrohir said with a smile, "Your deeds have spread across the wilderness: the Huorn's tree-feller, the bane of the Wights, the Trollslayer, Orcsbane, and the one who made Amon Sûl reappear on Weathertop overnight after it was destroyed."
"Such great achievements are even known among us Elves."
"This rumor is too exaggerated." Luke gave a wry smile.
"There is no need to be so modest, Wizard Luke." Elrohir looked disapproving, his blue eyes discerning everything, "I can feel that your achievements are by no means false; this is something worthy of praise."
Should I say, as expected of Elrond's sons? Such keen insight.
Meanwhile, Elladan, at his side, was interested in the wand in Luke's hand.
"Wizard Luke, the staff in your hand is different from those of other Wizards I have seen. Would you satisfy my curiosity?"
"This is a wand, different from the staffs Gandalf and others use."
Luke explained, and as he looked at the two, he actually felt a surge of curiosity.
He wondered if Elves could use his wand?
As far as he knew, although Elves were a magical race, their magic was mostly manifested in creating items with magical power, such as the Silmarils and the Three Rings, as well as forging Elven swords like Orcrist and Bilbo's dagger.
Except for High Elves like Elrond and Galadriel, who had rich experience and had accumulated powerful strength and a deep understanding of magic over long ages, and could cast powerful spells.
Most Elves could not cast spells directly like Wizards, but instead chose to fight with weapons such as swords, bows, and arrows.
Or rather, Elven magic was more reflected in their superior physical qualities, and a deeper understanding of the world and nature, discerning the essence of all things.
So, with curiosity, Luke handed the wand to Elladan and taught him the simplest spell.
"Lumos!"
Elladan waved the wand and softly chanted the spell.
Under the gaze of the three, a cluster of white light faintly emerged from the tip of the wand.
That faint light seemed tiny, yet it made all three instantly widen their eyes.
"I succeeded!" Elladan said with some excitement.
As young Elves, Elladan and his brother had little experience and their understanding of the world and nature was not yet profound enough; naturally, they could not possess powerful abilities like their father Elrond, such as summoning floods.
Now, succeeding in casting a spell for the first time, this was an extraordinary experience for him.
Subsequently, Elrohir also tried with the wand and successfully made the tip of the wand light up.
"What a wonderful experience!"
"It's just a pity that this wand seems to resist us a bit, making it difficult to cast spells."
Elrohir reluctantly returned the wand to Luke and said.
Luke's surprise at this moment was no less than theirs; he hadn't expected these two Elves to actually succeed in casting spells with his wand.
This meant that if they had corresponding wands, these Elves possessed the ability to cast spells.
It might even mean that these Elves could transform from warriors into mages in an instant.
Thinking this, a scene instantly appeared in Luke's mind: on the battlefield, Elves uniformly waving their wands, shouting spells like Expelliarmus and Petrificus Totalus, routing the opposing Orc army.
Luke quickly shook his head; he couldn't think about it anymore.
The imagery was truly too bizarre and didn't fit the Middle-earth aesthetic at all.
----
On another terrace in the distance,
Elrond and Gandalf had also watched the entire process.
"How do you feel, Lord Elrond?" Gandalf asked with a chuckle, "Has my companion brought you a surprise?"
"Indeed, it is a very great surprise!" Elrond took a breath, his gaze admiringly fixed on the distant figure.
"It seems I need to have a formal conversation with this young Wizard."
Luke was invited by Lindir, Elrond's secretary, to Elrond's palace, accompanied by Elrohir and Elladan.
Inside the palace, Gandalf was also present.
"Father," the two elven brothers bowed to Elrond.
Seeing his twin sons, Elrond nodded, his eyes filled with love.
He and his wife, Celebrian, had two sons and one daughter; his wife had been ambushed and abducted by Orcs at the Redhorn Pass in the Misty Mountains while on her way to Lothlórien to visit her parents, enduring both physical and mental torment.
It was the twin sons who ventured deep into the Orc lairs of the Misty Mountains to rescue their mother, Celebrian.
However, her spirit and soul were severely wounded, so she could only sail west across the sea to the Undying Lands of Valinor, hoping to heal her pain.
As for their youngest daughter, Arwen, she was cared for by her maternal grandparents, Celeborn and Galadriel, and lived long-term in Lothlórien.
Therefore, only the twin sons remained by his side, living with him.
"Lord Elrond, what can I do for you?" Luke asked curiously after greeting him.
"Wizard Luke, may I see your wand?"
Hearing this request, Luke was somewhat surprised and looked towards Gandalf.
Gandalf smiled and nodded.
Seeing this, Luke did not hesitate and handed over his wand.
Elrond took the wand and examined it carefully, his face showing increasing astonishment.
"Truly an excellent invention, combining magical wood with magic-infused materials; a simple combination, yet it can produce special magical effects."
"If I'm not mistaken, is the wand made from the willow of a Huorn? As for the core..."
"The core is made from a strand of hair from Goldberry, the River Daughter, and a whisker from Tom Bombadil," Luke explained.
Elrond suddenly understood, and with keen interest, he gripped the wand and elegantly waved it.
The waterfall outside the palace was swept by a gust of wind, condensing into a tall water horse that charged into the hall, creating a cool breeze, then rushed out again, leaped high, and plunged into the river valley below.
"Very good!" Elrond evaluated with satisfaction, "Although your wand does not significantly amplify power, it is an excellent tool for channeling magic; even an underage elf can cast decent magical effects with your wand."
He returned the wand to Luke.
"Luke, would you be willing to craft wands for us?"
"Of course, as a condition of the transaction, we promise to give you a satisfactory reward."
"This..." Luke hesitated upon hearing this, glancing at Gandalf, who showed no particular attitude or expression.
"Lord Elrond, I am very willing to craft staves for the elves. However, crafting wands is quite time-consuming, and I am currently on an expedition with my companions, so I'm afraid I don't have much spare time to craft wands."
This was not Luke trying to shirk the task; after all, he hadn't even delivered the wand he promised Gandalf yet.
Gandalf's grapevine wand had been carved, but the core remained elusive. Earlier, when he was in the Troll Forest, he tried using Troll nerves for a wand , but it was a very poor match for Gandalf, so he had to give up.
Hearing Luke's answer, Elrond waved his hand.
"Time has no impact on us; we can certainly wait until you finish this expedition—a few years, a few decades, or even a few centuries, we can wait."
Luke was surprised to hear this; he had forgotten that elves were immortal, and quickly waved his hand: "It doesn't need to be that long. After this mission is over, I can agree to craft wands for Rivendell."
"However, the process of crafting wands is intricate. How many wands do you need me to make? If it's too many, I'm afraid I won't be able to do it."
Hearing Luke agree, Elrond's face broke into a smile.
"There's no need to feel troubled, Wizard Luke; you only need to craft wands for my two sons."
Luke breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"That's fine."
"However, you will need to prepare the magical wood and magical materials for the wands yourselves; I will only be responsible for crafting the wands ."
Elrond readily agreed, then asked in return:
"Luke, you've helped us, what do you require in return?"
Before Luke could answer, Gandalf winked at him, cleared his throat, and spoke first: "Lord Elrond, Luke wishes to possess a wand, but the magical gemstone for it has not yet been found. Do you have any information about magical gemstones?"
Luke opened his mouth, not expecting Gandalf to make such an exorbitant demand on his behalf.
He instantly felt his face flush, worried that Elrond would think this was his idea.
Magical gemstones were incredibly precious; even if he crafted a thousand staves for Rivendell, it probably wouldn't be worth the value of a magical gemstone. Moreover, he was only crafting two staves for the elves now.
However, to Luke's relief, Elrond did not find the exchange unequal or get angry after hearing it.
Instead, he shook his head.
"Unfortunately, Rivendell does not have a habit of collecting gemstones, so we do not have the magical gemstones you seek here."
"However, I recall Lady Galadriel in Lothlórien having a few precious gemstones in her collection. I will contact Lady Galadriel and convey your request to her; as for whether she will agree, I cannot guarantee it."
Then his gaze shifted to Gandalf.
"But with you, Gandalf, given your relationship with Lady Galadriel, there should be a good chance of obtaining a magical gemstone."
Gandalf nodded upon hearing this, indicating his willingness to help.
After discussing the staves, Elrond's topic shifted to the Dwarves.
Although Thorin and the Dwarves tried to conceal the purpose of their expedition, they could not hide it from Elrond, who had lived countless years.
And Gandalf had no intention of hiding it from Elrond, so he sent for Thorin, intending to give the map to Elrond for deciphering.
"Our affairs are not concerned with elves..." Even at this point, Thorin was unwilling to show the map to Elrond; he still harbored hostility and distrust towards elves.
Gandalf, seeing this, became somewhat angry.
"My heavens, Thorin, put away your dwarven stubbornness and show the map to Lord Elrond."
"This is an heirloom of my people, and it is my duty to protect it, including its secrets," Thorin stubbornly refused.
"Don't give me that dwarven stubbornness again; your arrogance will one day be your downfall!" Gandalf said forcefully, "The one before you is one of the few in Middle-earth who can read that map; show him the map."
Thorin raised his head, his face grim, and stood in a stalemate with Gandalf, neither willing to yield.
Luke and Elrond, meanwhile, remained silent, quietly observing.
Finally, Thorin was the first to lower his head, taking the map from his Arms and handing it to Elrond.
Elrond paid no attention to Thorin's attitude; after taking the map, he began to examine it carefully.
As one of the wisest Elven sages in Middle-earth, deciphering information on a map was effortless for Elrond; he recognized the writing on the map at a glance as the ancient dwarf secret script—Moon Letters—and knew how to interpret it.
"Moon Letters only appear under moonlight, and they must match the phase and season, exactly consistent with the moon phase on the day they were written," Elrond explained.
"These letters were written on a Midsummer's Eve, nearly two hundred years ago, by the light of a new crescent moon."
"Your visit to Rivendell seems to have been fated," Elrond looked at Thorin, "Fate favors you, Thorin Oakenshield, for tonight the same moonlight shines."
Elrond led everyone to a crystal table, placed the map on it, and the Moon Letters on the map were revealed by the refracted moonlight.
"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the key-hole."
Hearing the information Elrond deciphered and translated, Thorin no longer cared about his pride, furrowing his brow as he pondered the information given by the map.
The information provided by the map was already very clear: they needed to reach the Lonely Mountain on Durin's Day, and then, when the last light of Durin's Day shone upon the keyhole, use the key to open the entrance to the Lonely Mountain and enter it.
Having obtained the method to enter the Lonely Mountain, Thorin was already impatient to depart, determined to reach the Lonely Mountain before Durin's Day.
But Gandalf stated that they needed to stay in Rivendell for a few more days.
This was because he had summoned the members of the White Council to discuss how to deal with the appearance of the Witch-king of Angmar and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur.
Thorin was very dissatisfied with this; he only wanted to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and did not care about other matters.
So he was already prepared to leave Gandalf behind and lead the others to continue their journey from Rivendell.
As for Luke, he spent these days with Elrohir and Elladan, and under the guidance of these two Elven brothers, he visited places such as gardens, libraries, and forges, and even met the future King Elessar—Aragorn.
However, at this time, Aragorn was only a little boy of about ten years old, and his name was not even Aragorn, but the Elven name Estel, meaning "Hope," raised by Elrond.
Looking at the little boy who was as close as brothers with Elrohir and Elladan, Luke couldn't help but think of their sister, Arwen, who lived far away in Lothlórien.
He wondered if these two brothers would still be so close if they knew he was the one who would marry their sister Arwen, and even make Arwen give up her immortal Elven life?
As the White Council meeting was about to begin,
Luke thought he would leave with the Dwarves first, but Gandalf approached him first, wanting to take him to the White Council meeting.
"Gandalf, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
After all, he was not a member of the White Council, so why attend this meeting?
Gandalf shook his head, "Your presence is needed at this meeting, and some matters require both you and me to confirm them for greater persuasiveness."
Seeing Gandalf's insistence, Luke no longer refused.
It just so happened that he also really wanted to meet the members of the White Council, as each member among them was a great figure, and it was a rare opportunity for them to gather together.
Moonlit night, the highest garden in Rivendell.
Luke followed Gandalf to the stone pavilion in the garden.
Upon entering, he saw a tall, incomparably beautiful Elf standing in the moonlight, radiating a hazy glow, with a noble and elegant demeanor.
She wore a magnificent white robe, and her bright golden hair, shimmering with silver light, cascaded like a waterfall; her eyes were bright and deep, revealing wisdom and mystery, as if they could see into people's hearts.
"Mithrandir."
Seeing Gandalf, a smile appeared on her face, and instantly, the surroundings seemed to become even brighter.
"Countless years have passed."
"Lady Galadriel."
Gandalf nodded and praised, "Years may have changed me, but they cannot change the Lady of Lothlórien."
Lady Galadriel's smile deepened, her beauty even more dazzling than the moon in the sky.
Luke was also stunned by Galadriel's beauty; she was the most beautiful Elf he had ever seen, surpassing human understanding of beauty, with an unparalleled charm in every gesture and smile.
However, looking at Galadriel, whose smile blossomed due to Gandalf's single compliment,
If he didn't know she had a husband, he would have suspected the relationship between these two.
But no sooner had he thought this than the Elf lady opposite seemed to sense something and turned her gaze, landing on Luke.
Meeting those eyes that seemed to penetrate people's hearts, Luke's heart skipped a beat; he quickly cleared his mind and bowed to her, thereby avoiding those penetrating eyes.
Gandalf, beside him, proactively introduced Luke, "Lady Galadriel, this is my companion Luke, Black Robe Wizard Luke; my own talent and mastery in magic cannot compare to his."
"Greetings to you, Lady Galadriel, may the light of the stars always shine upon you!" Luke formally greeted her again.
"Black Wizard?" Galadriel looked at him with curiosity and scrutiny.
"Young Wizard, why do you not dare to look me in the eye?" A voice suddenly echoed in Luke's mind. Yet, Galadriel opposite him did not speak, only her eyes showed a hint of profound meaning.
"Is it because you have secrets and do not wish me to see them?"
Telepathy? Luke instantly jolted.
Confirming that the other party was speaking to him telepathically, he quickly tried to say in his mind, "Of course not, Lady Galadriel, I simply cannot look directly into your beautiful eyes; they are like the brightest Star of Eärendil in the sky, dazzling to behold."
How could he say that he was just speculating about her relationship with Gandalf and was afraid of being seen through?
Then he raised his head and looked directly at her, trying to make his expression more sincere.
Galadriel's smile deepened, as if pleased by Luke's compliment.
"Sly young Wizard, you have a glib tongue."
Galadriel seemed to have teased Luke enough and stopped speaking in his mind telepathically.
"Young Wizard, once this journey is complete, you are welcome to visit Lothlórien."
Then, to Luke's surprised gaze, she extended a slender hand towards him, opening her palm to reveal an emerald green gem radiating light.
"This is?"
"This is the Elessar, also called the Elfstone; it contains the light of the sun and can be used as the core of a staff."
"This is truly too precious!" Luke hesitated to accept it; he could feel the powerful magic contained within the gem, and if it were used to make a staff, it would undoubtedly create a powerful one.
Moreover, he remembered that this gem was eventually given by Galadriel to Aragorn as Arwen's dowry and a gift for Aragorn's kingship.
Now, upon just meeting, she was giving such a precious magical gem?
Even out of respect for Elrond and Gandalf, it shouldn't be this much, should it?
After all, he saw that both Gandalf and Elrond showed surprise, clearly not expecting Galadriel to give this gem.
"Take it." Galadriel's voice was gentle but carried an undeniable power.
By the time Luke came to his senses, the gem was already in his palm, radiating a warmth like the sun.
"However, I also have a condition," Galadriel said.
"What condition?"
Luke immediately looked up; hearing a request, he felt a sense of relief.
"I need you to craft a magical wand for Arwen."
What kind of request is that?
Luke was speechless.
A magic wand for an Elven Gem, what's the difference between that and a free gift?
Then, under Luke's surprised gaze, Galadriel gently cut her hair with her hand, and a strand of bright golden hair, shimmering with silver light, fell into her hand.
"Elrond told me the components needed for a magic wand, let these be the core materials for Arwen and their wands."
Luke took the strand of hair and felt as if stars were shining in his hand.
It truly lived up to its reputation as hair that even Fëanor, the creator of the Silmarils, had once requested as a gift. As a Light Elf who had been bathed in the light of the Two Trees, and the most powerful elf in Middle-earth, even a few strands of her hair possessed extraordinary power.
Luke was both surprised and delighted. This strand of hair contained five individual hairs. Three of them could be used to make wands for the three siblings: Elrohir, Elladan, and Arwen.
Of the remaining two, one could be used to try and make Gandalf's wand.
But the last one was a bonus.
He had essentially benefited from Arwen and their connections, gaining an honor that even Fëanor, the creator of the Silmarils, had never received.
Luke plucked a nearby leaf, transformed it into an exquisite silk handkerchief using Transfiguration, carefully wrapped the strand of hair, tucked it into his chest, and then solemnly assured Galadriel:
"Madam, please rest assured, I will certainly craft a powerful magic wand for Princess Arwen and them."
Galadriel smiled upon hearing this.
But in such a pleasant atmosphere, there was always someone who would ruin it.
"Gandalf, why did you bring an irrelevant person to such an important occasion? You're becoming increasingly unreliable."
An old voice, tinged with a hint of mockery, came from not far away.
A tall, somewhat gaunt old man in white robes appeared, holding a staff, his face stern and dignified.
Gandalf's joyful expression upon seeing Galadriel instantly changed, but he still forced a smile, turned to the newcomer, and nodded politely: "Saruman, it's been a long time."
Then he proactively introduced Luke: "This is my friend, Black Robe Wizard Du Yi'er. He is not an irrelevant person. I brought him to this meeting for a reason..."
"Black Wizard?" Saruman interrupted Gandalf, his sharp eyes sweeping over Luke, then a look of disdain appeared on his face. "Gandalf, when did you get to know such a third-rate sorcerer? Learned a few magic tricks and dare to call yourself the Black Wizard?"
Gandalf took a deep breath and gave Luke an apologetic look.
Saruman had always been at odds with Gandalf; Luke was completely implicated this time.
Luke shook his head slightly at Gandalf, not particularly bothered by Saruman's ridicule and belittlement.
He looked directly at the White Wizard before him, his expression fearless and unafraid. After all, he had already seen Saruman's eventual downfall.
As the only White Wizard among the five Wizards who actively came to the continent of Middle-earth, Saruman's strength and status were the strongest, and he was also the leader of the White Council.
However, Saruman's magnanimity and shrewdness were limited. After learning that Círdan the Shipwright had given Gandalf the Ring of Fire, narya, among the Three Elven Rings, instead of him, he became extremely jealous of Gandalf and had always been at odds with him.
He even secretly wanted to forge a Ring of Power that surpassed the Three Elven Rings.
It was just that Saruman did not possess Sauron's forging skills to create a powerful Ring of Power, so he turned his covetous gaze to Sauron's lost one ring.
He had even tried to find the one ring in the Anduin River, where it was lost.
But in the end, he found nothing.
Although Saruman had not yet fallen into darkness and colluded with the Dark Lord Sauron.
But it wouldn't be long before he would use the Palantír in his hand to connect with the Dark Lord Sauron.
Therefore, Luke did not pay too much attention to him. Why bother with unnecessary disputes with someone who was destined to die?
Moreover, the other party was currently the leader of the White Council, and his strength was even greater than Gandalf's. Directly confronting him would only be disadvantageous to himself.
Saruman frowned, displeased, watching Luke dare to look him directly in the eye.
But constrained by his identity as the leader of the White Council, he merely coldly expelled him: "Irrelevant person, leave this place. This is not where you should be."
"Saruman, Luke was invited by me," Gandalf said in a deep voice, "He is related to what I'm about to say, he is a witness to the Nazgûl, and also a powerful helper!"
"Nazgûl? Gandalf, are you joking?" Saruman sneered, "In the Battle of Mordor, these Nazgûl disappeared along with Sauron's defeat. Now you say you and this third-rate Wizard saw the Nazgûl?"
"But the fact is, not long ago, when we were passing through the Barrow-downs, we encountered the Witch-king of Angmar, who was possessing a wight!" Gandalf argued, "And Radagast also brought news that a necromancer appeared in Dol Guldur, and a relic belonging to Mordor—the Morgul-blade—was also found."
Saying this, he took out the Morgul-blade he carried with him and placed it before everyone.
Seeing this weapon radiating dark power, Elrond and Galadriel, who had remained silent, instantly looked solemn.
"This is the sword forged for the Witch-king of Angmar," Galadriel recognized, "After the fall of the Kingdom of Angmar, the men of the North sealed his body and all his possessions together in the High Downs of Rhudaur, buried deep beneath the rocks, never to see the light of day."
Elrond also frowned tightly, disbelievingly saying, "This is impossible. That tomb was sealed with powerful spells and would never be opened. How did this sword come out of there?"
Both of their gazes converged on Gandalf.
"The seal won't be opened, but what if someone can summon him?" Gandalf said, "You and I both know his master behind him. If that person wills it, no matter where they are, they can be summoned to his side."
"Nonsense!" Saruman said angrily, "Sauron has long been defeated, and he can no longer regain power."
"The one ring he relied on was also lost in the Anduin River, perhaps long ago swept into the ocean by the river, nowhere to be found. It's impossible for him to return."
"But the problem is, we saw the Witch-king of Angmar, and his power is still strong. Luke encountered him once on the Barrow-downs, and later we even encountered an army of wights controlled by him on the Great East Road. We saw this with our own eyes, I couldn't be mistaken!"
"This is just your personal opinion." Saruman stubbornly insisted, then glanced at Luke again, "Plus the words of a third-rate sorcerer with no credibility, this is simply not enough to be evidence."
Being repeatedly called names, Luke was not without temper. He spoke, "Since Wizard Saruman believes this is not enough proof, then I do have a way to prove that what Gandalf said is true."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Luke, even Gandalf was a little surprised.