Hogwarts Castle, garden, under the twin mao long tree and white tree.
The garden was a riot of flowers, with vines magically growing and intertwining to form tall arches, from which flowers constantly sprayed colorful, sparkling pollen.
The flowers and plants in the garden swayed continuously with the music.
The golden mao long tree and the silver white tree, as if congratulating the newlyweds, bloomed out of season with lush golden and white flowers, emitting a faint glow, like golden sunlight and silver moonlight intertwined, showering down upon everyone.
The falling petals lingered in the air, drifting and dancing like flowing water and silk, passing around and through the guests, or coalescing into the form of flower fairies, who, while flying in the sky, also scattered petals towards the newlyweds.
A sweet fragrance wafted around, invigorating people and subtly easing fatigue and hidden ailments.
Under the twin trees, a branch extended from each tree, intertwining to form a golden and silver arch, from which light silk curtains hung down.
Luke stood under the arch, wearing the shining crown of wisdom on his head, a magnificent and elegant silver-white robe with gold trim, and the Evenstar necklace on his chest.
Under the gaze of everyone, accompanied by melodious music, Elrond walked towards Luke, holding Arwen's arm, then solemnly placed Arwen's hand into Luke's, and stepped aside.
The officiant, Gandalf, was beaming, as if he had never been so happy, standing on the platform to preside over the wedding for the couple.
His voice was as clear as a bell, reaching the ears of every guest present, and he requested the witness of Varda, Queen of the Stars, and Manwe, King of the Valar.
Varda was the chief of the Valier; she created the stars, so that the first sight the Elves beheld upon awakening was the stars in the sky, and they held her in great reverence and affection.
As if in response to Gandalf's words, the stars in the sky became much brighter, and at the same time, three giant eagles flew from the east, circling above the castle.
This scene caused a gasp of astonishment among the onlookers, and Gandalf also showed surprise, but then his smile deepened.
During the wedding ceremony, Luke and Arwen each removed their silver engagement rings and replaced them with gold rings.
The gold ring Luke had prepared for Arwen this time was a small, exquisite double-banded gold ring, one band with dewdrops, the other with engraved stars, interlocked.
This ring was a new ring Luke had reforged from Saruman's ring of power, under the guidance of Celebrimbor's soul.
The new ring not only retained the ability to amplify power but also had the effect of bringing good luck to the wearer.
The ability of this ring was inspired by Felix Felicis, so it would not be an exaggeration to call it the Ring of Luck.
Of course, this good luck was not omnipotent, nor could it change major dangers or misfortunes; it could only make one's life smoother and provide small strokes of luck.
Even so, it was Luke's first truly meaningful ring of power he had forged.
The moment he placed this Ring of Luck on Arwen's finger, a golden flower fell from the mao long tree, blown by the wind to land perfectly in her hair, as if she had adorned it with a golden flower, adding a touch of nobility.
At the same time, a silver fruit fell from the white tree, landing in Arwen's hand.
Looking at the fruit in her hand, which seemed to be made of pure silver, Arwen showed a surprised expression, then bloomed into a radiant smile.
She carefully put away this white tree fruit, then placed the gold ring she had prepared on Luke's right index finger.
Seeing the ring on his hand, Luke also showed surprise.
The ring was slightly heavy and simple, with a distinct Elven pattern style, and a black gem was embedded on its face.
That gem was the resurrection stone, one of Luke's betrothal gifts.
The moment he put on the ring, Luke felt something different.
The resurrection stone seemed to be enhanced by the effect of the ring.
Previously, to summon the soul of a deceased person with the resurrection stone, one could only summon those with whom one had an emotional connection.
Luke was able to summon Celebrimbor by obtaining memories and emotions about Celebrimbor from Lady Galadriel, and then grafting them onto himself with memory magic to achieve the purpose of summoning.
But such a method was troublesome, and doing it too much could easily lead to him becoming schizophrenic, or even developing multiple personalities like Gollum.
But now, this resurrection stone ring no longer had such restrictions; he could completely summon any deceased person he wished to summon.
Moreover, he could also see the Netherworld and its creatures, and enter the Netherworld through the ring.
Seeing Luke's delighted expression, Arwen explained with a smile, "This was personally forged by my grandmother, combining the resurrection stone with the ring to enhance the resurrection stone's abilities; I contributed a bit to the design."
Luke then remembered that Lady Galadriel was a Noldor princess, and Fëanor, the creator of the Silmarils, was her uncle.
The Noldor were skilled in craftsmanship, and as a Noldor princess, Galadriel's craftsmanship was clearly also very superb.
After exchanging wedding rings and reciting their vows, Gandalf joyfully announced the completion of the wedding to everyone.
Immediately, everyone applauded and cheered, and countless brilliant magic fireworks shot into the sky and exploded.
Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn, Glorfindel, and other Elves smiled, looking at the newlyweds with abundant blessings.
Amidst everyone's cheers, Luke put his arm around Arwen's waist and kissed her deeply.
"Arwen, you are finally mine!" Luke murmured, his heart full of joy.
Arwen was also beaming with happiness, her eyes full of love, and she nodded gently, "Yes, I am yours, and we will be together forever!"
Looking at his wife's beautiful face and those rosy red lips, Luke felt a momentary surge of desire.
However, he temporarily suppressed the restlessness in his heart, intertwined his fingers with Arwen's, and faced the crowd, accepting everyone's blessings and cheers.
They walked down the wedding platform, along a red carpet towards the castle banquet hall, and the people of Amon Sul and Bree along the way automatically parted, bowing and kneeling in reverence and adoration.
For the people of Luke, from today onwards, they would have another Lady, and they were even beginning to anticipate news of a new life from the castle.
Luke and Arwen both gently nodded to the people along the way, having a good impression of these simple folk.
Surrounded by the crowd, they arrived inside the castle, once again greeted by the onlookers and blessings from the portraits along the way, and even exchanged blessings with their own portraits.
The banquet lasted for three days and three nights before the guests gradually departed.
The residents of Amon Sul and Bree successively descended the mountain, returning to their homes in groups.
But this grand and dreamlike wedding became an unforgettable memory for them for the next year, and perhaps forever.
As for the guests personally invited by Luke, they left through the Floo Network or returned home via the one-time Portkeys Luke provided.
Among them, Denethor II, the Regent of Gondor, saw the importance of the Floo Network and repeatedly invited Luke to visit the Capital of Gondor before leaving, requesting that the Floo Network also be applied to the Capital of Gondor at that time.
Luke, thinking he had not yet checked in at the Capital of Gondor, accepted Denethor II's invitation, promising to visit Gondor when he had time and complete the check-in incidentally.
The last to leave were the Elves of Rivendell and Lothlórien; Elrond, Galadriel, and others declined Luke's invitation to stay, some riding flying horses away from the castle, while others returned directly to Rivendell and Lothlórien through the fireplace.
Speaking of pegasi, Luke originally gifted six pegasi in total to Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Galadriel, Celeborn, and Arwen.
The elves were very fond of these creatures, so they set aside their reserve and directly selected a batch of the finest steeds to form a harem for these pegasi, attempting to breed more pegasi.
The result did not disappoint the elves; the combination of pegasi and steeds had a fifty percent chance of conceiving pegasi.
By now, half a hundred pegasi had been bred, and they were still trying to breed more.
For this, the elves even set their sights on the twelve hybrid pegasi Luke had bred. In the year after the engagement, these pegasi stayed in Rivendell under the care of the elves, and each one formed its own harem.
Luke even worried that his pegasi might be drained, and it would be embarrassing if they couldn't even pull the flying carriage anymore.
Getting back to it, after the last group of people, including Elrond, left, only Luke and Arwen remained in the castle.
Without outsiders present, Luke completely relaxed.
Without giving Arwen time to feel sad, in a startled cry from Arwen, he immediately picked up his wife and, impatient, ran into the bedroom and closed the door... In these past few days, with Arwen's elders like Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn around, Luke didn't dare to act recklessly.
Not to mention his two brothers-in-law, along with Legolas, Balin the dwarf, and others who were enjoying the show, deliberately forced him to drink.
If it were ordinary alcohol, he wouldn't be afraid, but he was drinking wine brewed by the Dorwinion elves, a type of alcohol that even King Thranduil would feel intoxicated by.
Thus, Luke was successfully plied with drinks by these fellows, and even Bilbo contributed.
So when Elrond and the others were about to leave, Luke made a perfunctory attempt to keep them, but inwardly he was cheering.
Luke and Arwen frolicked in the castle for a month, finally reappearing before everyone with reluctance.
Inside the castle, besides the two masters, Luke and Arwen, there was also the butler Edward, and a host of attendants and servants.
Everyone was happy that the castle had a new mistress, especially one as beautiful and elegant as an elven princess.
Everyone who met Arwen, without exception, was captivated by her beauty and noble, elegant demeanor. They affectionately called her "Lady of the Manor," "Lady Arwen," or "Lady Evenstar."
Luke entrusted all the affairs of the castle to Arwen's management and took her to the cellar treasury, where she met Smaug and saw the treasures within, and he handed her the key to the treasury.
Smaug, knowing Arwen's importance to his master, directly fawningly selected the most beautiful gem from the treasures and proactively presented it to Arwen.
Luke, seeing this, raised an eyebrow. This stingy dragon was so generous for the first time, which made him look at him in a new light.
After entrusting the castle's affairs to Arwen, the mistress, Luke immediately took her on their honeymoon trip.
According to Arwen's wishes, Luke transformed the golden, magnificent flying carriage into an ordinary, elegant wooden material, and chose a pegasus, concealing its wings. Thus, with one horse and one carriage, they set off from the castle, carrying the two of them.
The carriage followed the road down the mountain towards Amon Sul. To avoid attracting the attention of the city's residents, Luke cast an invisibility spell on themselves and the carriage.
Thus, Luke and Arwen quietly entered Hogsmeade.
They moved through the bustling streets, surrounded by people coming and going, various shops, the constant sounds of hawking, bargaining, and children's laughter.
Besides local residents, many traveling merchants, travelers, adventurers, and bards appeared in the city.
The wedding a month ago was still the main topic of discussion for most people. Amidst the envious expressions of outsiders, local residents proudly and excitedly recounted the scene of the wedding.
Arwen and Luke sat in the carriage, and she curiously observed the lively scene outside. This was different from the tranquil atmosphere of Rivendell and Lothlórien where she had lived since childhood, carrying a vibrant, energetic aura.
This sight made Arwen feel both novel and a little longing, because she was a half-elf, with a part of human blood flowing in her veins, which made her less transcendent and detached like an elf, and more human in emotion and warmth.
Therefore, she did not have the same natural detachment from human life as other elves.
Seeing Arwen's interest, Luke took her out of the carriage, and they began to stroll through the city streets.
Because of the invisibility spell, the people around them did not notice them; even if they did, they would only take them for an ordinary couple and forget them in an instant.
They moved through various shops and stalls. Arwen was very interested in the human handicrafts; even if they weren't as exquisite and beautiful as those made by elves, she could still find various forms of beauty in them.
Luke, meanwhile, accompanied her, responsible for paying and carrying things.
He had taken a good amount of gold coins from Smaug before leaving, enough for them to spend lavishly for a long time.
So Luke was very generous. If Arwen looked at something a bit longer, he would simply wave his hand and buy it.
And he also had a spatial bag, so he didn't have to worry about not being able to carry too many things.
After shopping, they went to the lakeside to watch a painter at work and bought the freshly completed painting.
Then they came to the central square to enjoy some performances by street artists. Arwen was especially amazed by their fire-breathing and sword-swallowing acts, remarking that they were even more magical than magic.
Luke was not stingy with rewards for these street artists who managed to please Arwen, directly giving them a few gold coins.
The street artists were immediately overjoyed and repeatedly thanked them, almost breaking the effect of the invisibility spell.
Afterward, they arrived at the Leaping Horse Inn's branch in Amon Sul.
The owner here was the son of Butterbur, the owner of the Leaping Horse Inn, and this tavern he ran was also the liveliest in Amon Sul.
Inside the tavern, Luke and Arwen sat in a corner and ordered two mugs of ale.
By the tavern's fireplace, a bard recited his self-composed poem aloud, accompanied by a harp.
And the bard was singing about the legend of Luke taming the great dragon.
As Luke's subjects, they were proud of their Lord's great achievements, so even though they had heard it countless times, they still listened to the bard's story with great relish.
When they heard the thrilling parts, they involuntarily gasped with worried expressions; when they heard that the Lord was gaining the upper hand, they all cheered with delight, completely engrossed in the story.
Luke, listening to the bard's story with its constant thrills and dramatic twists, could only give a thumbs-up to these bards.
No wonder they made a living from this; compared to their story, he felt that his actual experience of subduing Smaug was rather less impressive.
Then he looked at Arwen, who was also listening with great interest, and found it amusing.
After staying in Amon Sul for a day, Luke and Arwen took the carriage and left, heading west along the Great East Road.
Luke and Arwen's carriage traveled west along the main road.
They stayed in Bree City for two days.
And met with Lucky, the Mayor of Bree City, there.
Given the previous siege of Bree by wights and the inability to call for timely assistance, Luke added a Floo Network to several public fireplaces in Bree City, including the municipal building.
These were connected to the fireplaces in Amon Sul and Hogwarts Castle, serving as emergency contact channels.
Unlike Amon Sul, which developed its advantages from tourism and its proximity to Hogwarts Castle, Bree City was more like a trade hub, with developed commercial trade.
Goods from all over Middle-earth could be found there, from the wines of Dorwinion in the Far East to the horses of Rohan and the weapons and armor of Gondor.
Leaving Bree, Luke and Arwen continued west.
They made a brief stop at Barrow-downs, where Luke directly cast Fiendfyre, turning all the remains in the tombs into ashes.
This was to prevent the Witch-king of Angmar from defiling the sleepers there with dark magic again, denying them peace even after death.
They then continued their journey, and as they passed the Old Forest, the Pegasus, which had been walking, spread its wings and pulled the carriage, skimming over the treetops of the Old Forest and flying south.
Tom Bombadil and Goldberry, who lived in the Old Forest, seemed to have known of their arrival in advance, warmly welcomed them, and had prepared a sumptuous dinner.
Arwen and Goldberry hit it off immediately, and Luke also discussed the one ring with Tom.
Having failed to find the one ring last time, Sauron would certainly not give up willingly and would continue to search in secret.
Luke would feel guilty if he brought trouble to Tom and Goldberry, as he was the one who suggested Tom guard the troublesome one ring in the first place.
Although even if Sauron himself came, he might not be able to take the one ring from Tom, repeatedly disturbing their reclusive life would also be a hassle.
Tom was very cheerful about this; if he didn't want to, no one would be able to find the place, and the Old Forest itself was a natural barrier, with the Huorn trees blocking anyone who wished to enter the forest.
Even ringwraiths would find it difficult to enter the Old Forest.
After staying a few days at Tom and Goldberry's house, Luke and Arwen bid them farewell and traveled down the Withywindle River, eventually circling to Bucklebury on the west side of the Old Forest.
They first visited Drogo Baggins, who lived there.
Drogo Baggins was now married to the daughter of the Brandybuck Chieftain, the leader of Bucklebury, and it was unclear when the future protagonist, Frodo, would be born.
After visiting Drogo Baggins, they went with them to visit the Brandybuck family.
They didn't stay long in Bucklebury; after one night, Luke and Arwen bid farewell to Drogo Baggins and the Brandybuck family and walked north along the Brandywine River, returning to the East-West Road.
Crossing the Brandywine Bridge, they continued west, passing through several hobbit villages, and finally arrived at Hobbiton.
They drove along the winding road towards hobbit Hill.
Looking at the beautiful pastoral scenery along the way, both felt refreshed and immersed in the tranquil rural environment.
The hills here were covered with neat green grass and many wild flowers, and even the trees seemed to have been affected, becoming much shorter.
There were also many Smials dug into the hills, like rabbit holes, with round doors and windows painted in bright, natural colors, like cute glasses and mouths, making it seem as if they had arrived in a fairy tale kingdom.
"I really like it here," Arwen said with a bright smile, admiring the surrounding scenery.
Luke put his arm around Arwen's waist and agreed with a smile, "I like it here too; it's a pure land. When I first woke up, I was here, and I met Bilbo, who took me home and entertained me. Otherwise, I might have wandered around hungry."
He then told Arwen all about his experiences living in Bag End back then.
The carriage followed the road and finally stopped outside the small courtyard of Bag End.
Bilbo was sitting in front of the door, basking in the sun, reading a newspaper, and smoking his pipe.
He was immediately attracted by the tall white steed pulling the carriage; the horse was as white as snow, reflecting light in the sunlight.
It was his first time seeing such a beautiful white horse, taller and more slender than other steeds, and it seemed to have no footsteps on the ground, floating as if it were about to fly, as if it had no gravity.
When he saw the carriage stop in front of his yard, Bilbo looked puzzled; how could this carriage be driverless?
But when the carriage door opened and Luke and Arwen stepped out, Bilbo's face immediately lit up with surprise.
"Luke! Arwen!" Bilbo put down his newspaper and pipe and hurried over. "How did you come to the Shire?"
Luke jumped out of the carriage, helped Arwen down, then leaned down and hugged Bilbo, saying with a cheerful smile, "Arwen and I are on our honeymoon trip, and we happened to pass through the Shire, so we came to see you. Are we welcome?"
"Welcome! Of course, you are very welcome!" Bilbo said happily, then enthusiastically invited them both inside.
At the door, Bilbo also smiled and reminded Arwen, "Arwen, be careful of the door frame and beam. It's not very friendly to tall people here. Luke and Gandalf both hit the beam before."
Arwen glanced at her husband, who was carefully lowering his head, and nodded with a smile.
Once inside Bag End, Luke quickly cast magic to raise the height of Bag End significantly; otherwise, with his current height of two meters, the ceiling height of Bag End would be even less friendly to him.
Bilbo was overjoyed by the arrival of Luke and Arwen, almost emptying his pantry, laying out all sorts of food before them, and even wanted to run to the market to buy fresh vegetables, but Luke stopped him.
The two stayed for three days at Bilbo's enthusiastic insistence, exploring Hobbiton and the surrounding scenery, and then, after Bilbo's reluctant farewell, they continued west again.
They passed through the Shire's capital, Michel Delving, made a brief stop, and then continued west, finally leaving the Shire's borders.
Eventually, they arrived at the end of the East-West Road—Grey Havens.
Círdan, who had just sent off a group of elves to the West, warmly received the two.
And looking at the steamships docked in the Gulf of Lune, this magical sight of steam combined with magic not only astonished Arwen but also surprised Luke.
Luke had not expected Círdan's progress in steamship research to be so rapid in just a few years.
Now, almost all ocean-going vessels used steam engines, capable of fast navigation without human or wind power.
In the boilers of the steam engines, the elves burned unextinguishable flames forged with magic; as long as water was added, they would continuously have power.
Therefore, the Teleri elves, skilled in navigation, now sailed further and wider in the ocean.
Since Aman, where Valinor is located, was moved into another dimension by Ilúvatar, the Creator God, only by taking the Straight Road could one reach Valinor.
Otherwise, sailing west would only lead back to the starting point.
Because the current world of Arda is spherical.
And besides Middle-earth, this world also has the legendary Land of the Sun and Land of Darkness.
The Land of the Sun is also known as the Far East, a continent in the Far East of Arda, corresponding to Aman in the far west, separated from Middle-earth by the East Sea, and is the land of sunrise.
The Land of Darkness, on the other hand, is a continent formed by the splitting of Middle-earth during the War of Wrath, located southeast of Middle-earth, a land whose conditions are entirely unknown, existing only in name.
These two continents, even the ancient Elves only knew of them by name.
And ever since Ilúvatar, the Creator God, bent the world of Arda into a sphere, the Land of the Sun, once located in the far east, and the Land of Darkness, once in the southeast, both became continents further west than Aman, which is itself in the far west.
Theoretically, by sailing continuously westward, it would be possible to reach the Land of the Sun or the Land of Darkness.
However, even Círdan, the most skilled shipbuilder, could not construct a ship sturdy enough to dimensional travel the entire ocean and reach the Land of the Sun.
The immense waves were powerful enough to snap masts and shatter even the strongest ships.
Now, with the steam engine and steel shipbuilding, these sea-loving Elves are attempting to find the Land of the Sun across the ocean, or even circumnavigate the world of Arda, completing an unprecedented feat in maritime history.
Listening to Círdan describe the Teleri Elves' maritime plans, Luke secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.
Had he inadvertently ushered in the Elven Age of Sail?
At the same time, he also grew curious about the legendary Land of the Sun and the Land of Darkness.
He wondered if there were humans or other species living in these two places.
After staying in Grey Havens for over a week, and visiting Halonde Port and Forlindon Port, Luke and Arwen bid farewell to Círdan and set off on a large ship, sailing out of Lune Bay and heading south.
Their destination was Pelargir, Gondor's largest port.
The large ship sailed for a full month before finally reaching Gondor's Bay of Belfalas.
According to the Elven ship captain, this was only possible because the new ship was powered by a steam engine; otherwise, at the speed of the old sailing ships, even with favorable winds, it would have taken at least two months.
During their month at sea, Luke and Arwen did not get bored. They either enjoyed sea fishing on the ship or temporarily flew off the ship to explore nearby islands.
They even used the Bubble-Head Charm to venture into the sea, or simply used Human Transfiguration to transform their legs into fish tails and grow gills, allowing them to breathe underwater and move with greater ease.
This unexpectedly attracted the curiosity and observation of several Oarni (Merperson).
These Oarni are sea spirits, just as Tom Bombadil's wife, Goldberry, is a river spirit of the Withywindle. They serve the Maia Ossë and his wife Uinen of the sea.
Their hair shone as white as flowers, their skin was fair, and they wore soft, water-woven garments. Their lower bodies were long, beautiful fish tails, allowing them to move at incredible speeds in the sea, like phantoms, without stirring a single ripple.
These Merperson were very curious about the two who had transformed to resemble them, and even after learning it was magic Transfiguration, they did not become distant. They were particularly fond of Arwen.
Because Arwen's grandfather, Eärendil, was loved by the Merperson when he lived at the Mouths of Sirion in his youth. The Merperson taught him the arts of shipbuilding and swimming, and gifted him a silver cloak that would never get wet.
It is also said that Eärendil's ship, Vingilótë, was aided by Merperson during its construction, and even when Eärendil sailed to Valinor, Merperson guided him through the sea.
As Eärendil's granddaughter, the Merperson also loved Arwen, gifting her pearl necklaces from their necks.
These pearls were formed from the tears of the Merperson, far more precious than ordinary pearls, and also one of the ingredients for Felix Felicis.
Upon finally arriving at Pelargir in Gondor, Luke and Arwen bid farewell to the Elven captain and once again drove their carriage from the dock into the port city.
Pelargir is located upstream of the Anduin River delta, at the confluence of the Anduin River and its tributary, the Sirith River.
This is the base of the Gondor Navy, and due to previous pirate attacks, the port defenses were tight.
Luke and Arwen did not intentionally use the Disillusionment Charm this time, so their appearance at the port immediately drew everyone's attention.
Arwen's transcendent beauty and elegance, in particular, made everyone feel ashamed of themselves, not daring to approach.
Until finally, the Naval Commander stationed at the port was alerted.
Upon learning Luke's name, the Naval Commander dared not be negligent and immediately invited Luke and Arwen to be guests at his residence.
After all, as a high-ranking official of Gondor, he had naturally heard of Luke, and not long ago, their Regent had personally attended Luke's wedding.
Luke accepted the Naval Commander's invitation and went to the residence with Arwen as guests.
[Hogwarts Sign-in System: Location Gondor - Pelargir, do you wish to sign in?]
The system gave a long-awaited prompt.
Luke's eyes lit up, and he immediately confirmed in his mind.
[Sign-in successful, congratulations on obtaining the method for making the Sorting Hat!]
Sorting Hat? Luke was a little surprised.
He didn't need houses here, so what would he do with a Sorting Hat?
Although a little disappointed, Luke was still interested in the inherent characteristics of the Sorting Hat itself.
As a magical hat with self-awareness, capable of speech, composing its own music and lyrics, and making house assignments based on each student's characteristics and strong inner desires.
It could be said to be a life form with self-awareness and the ability to think independently.
This was not the same as magical portraits. Magical portraits are essentially dynamic images composed of memories. Although they can converse with people, they cannot answer anything beyond their memorized content, nor can they create or think of new things.
The Sorting Hat, however, can not only speak and sing, spending a whole year composing new songs for the start of term, but it also communicates with new students in a humorous or serious tone. Its sorting songs are different every year, and it even pokes fun at the school's past or present, full of personality.
Such a magical item already touches upon the realm of alchemical life.
If he could gain insights through the creation of the Sorting Hat, he might be able to create alchemical automatons and other things in the future, thereby possessing loyal, intelligent, and thinking magical assistants.
Obtaining the method for making the Sorting Hat made Luke feel that his journey was worthwhile.
He and Arwen toured the port for several days, then left Pelargir, heading north towards Gondor's Capital, Minas Tirith.
They traveled slowly, stopping to admire the scenery of Gondor along the way.
The carriage had a spacious interior, complete with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom, so they did not need to look for inns to stay. They would stop whenever they found a beautiful spot.
The intelligent winged horses also did not require a driver; they only needed to be told the direction and destination, and they would pull the carriage themselves.
Traveling at such a leisurely pace, a journey that would normally take two or three days ended up taking them half a month before they finally arrived at Minas Tirith.
Looking at the magnificent city built into the mountainside before them, Luke and Arwen expressed their admiration.
The tall city gates were cast from bronze, adorned with reliefs of the Kings of Gondor and the white tree, exuding a sense of historical weight, both ornate and solemn.
When Luke and Arwen's carriage arrived at the city gate, a row of Gondor attendants proactively stepped forward to greet them.
"Noble Lord Luke and Lady, welcome to Minas Tirith! His Highness the Regent has ordered us to await your arrival here, please follow me," a leading attendant respectfully said.
Luke was not surprised that the Regent of Gondor knew of his arrival. After all, the Naval Commander of Pelargir, as a confidant of the Regent, would certainly send news of his arrival to the Regent immediately.
Not to mention, there was also a palantír in Minas Tirith that could observe the situation throughout Gondor.
So, driving the carriage, guided by the attendant, he entered the city.
Minas Tirith was built on a mountain, tiered, backed by the White Mountains, and had seven levels.
Each level had independent walls and entrances, which were also sturdy bronze gates. Since its establishment, it had never been breached, thus it was considered the spiritual symbol of Gondor.
Following the winding road upwards, the carriage passed through gate after gate and finally arrived at the Royal Castle on the seventh level.
Here were important buildings such as the Tower of Ecthelion, the Royal Palace of Gondor, and the Great Hall of Feasts.
Especially in the center of the fountain courtyard in front of the Royal Palace, there stood a white tree that had long been withered.
When the carriage arrived before the white tree, Luke dismounted and helped his wife, Arwen, down as well.
Because there was also a white tree on Weathertop, Luke and Arwen couldn't help but look at this withered white tree.
Even though it had been withered for a long time, this white tree showed no signs of decay, remaining as white as jade.
"This is Gondor's third white tree. When Gondor was ravaged by the Great Plague, the second white tree unfortunately withered. King Tarondor, the twenty-seventh king, replanted a new sapling. Until the death of Belecthor II, the twenty-first Ruling Steward, this white tree also withered and has remained so to this day."
Denethor II, the Regent's son who had previously attended Luke and Arwen's wedding, walked down the palace steps and smiled as he introduced them to the two.
"I didn't expect to meet again so soon, Wizard Luke, Lady Arwen, welcome to Minas Tirith!"
Luke and Arwen exchanged pleasantries with Denethor II, and then, under his guidance, came into the Ruling Hall of the Royal Palace.
They met Regent Ecthelion II, who was seated on a black stone chair.
Behind him, at a higher position, was a canopy made of white marble, shaped like the Kingdom's crown. On the wall behind it was carved a flourishing, jewel-encrusted white tree of Gondor.
Hundreds of years ago, due to the disappearance of the last king without an heir, coupled with infighting within the royal family, no successor with pure bloodline could be found to inherit the throne.
Thus, Gondor began to be governed by the Steward, entering a period of regency, and the rule of the Gondorian royal family ended.
The first Regent swore to guard the throne until the king's return, so a new throne was set up below the main throne to show loyalty to the King of Gondor.
Therefore, successive Regents chose to sit below the main throne, becoming "uncrowned kings" with royal power but no royal title, ruling Gondor.
"Welcome, welcome to Gondor, Wizard Luke. I have long heard of your great name, and seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary!" said Regent Ecthelion.
Ecthelion II, over sixty years old, still looked robust and spoke with a deep voice.
He welcomed Luke and Arwen in a friendly manner.
Upon seeing Arwen, he also felt very impressed and respectful.
As the Regent of Gondor and also a descendant of the Númenóreans, he naturally knew that Elros, the founder of the Kingdom of Númenor, and Elrond, the father of the elf lady before him, were brothers.
In a sense, the elf lady before him had historical ties with the Kingdom of Gondor and its royal family, so she could be considered an "ancestor."
Not to mention Elrond held a crucial position in Middle-earth.
So, if Luke earned Ecthelion II's respect based on his powerful strength, Arwen completely earned Ecthelion II's respect due to her special status.
"Your Highness the Regent, I have long heard of your duty to protect Gondor. Today, my wife and I are traveling in Gondor. If we have caused any disturbance, please forgive us," Luke said formally with a nod.
Arwen also gracefully bowed, silently standing beside Luke.
"There is no need to be so polite, Wizard Luke. Gandalf and I are also friends, and he speaks very highly of you. We have not met before, but now that you have come to Gondor, we naturally welcome you most heartily!" Ecthelion II proactively walked down from the throne and said with a smile.
Then he turned to his son, Denethor II, and instructed, "We have distinguished guests today. Go tell the staff to prepare a banquet to welcome our guests."
Denethor II nodded and turned to arrange for the staff.
Ecthelion then continued to say to the two, "Since you have come to Minas Tirith, please stay here for a few more days so that I may fulfill my duties as host."
"Thank you then, Your Highness the Regent!" Luke accepted Ecthelion's kindness and thanked him.
Subsequently, under Ecthelion's guidance, they went to the banquet hall to attend the feast together.
At the banquet, hosts and guests enjoyed themselves, and the atmosphere was friendly.
As the banquet atmosphere reached its climax, Regent Ecthelion said with a somewhat solemn expression:
"Wizard Luke, you must have seen the withered white tree in the fountain courtyard. The white tree is a symbol of Gondor's royalty. Since the white tree withered, successive ancestors have tried to find a new white tree, but all have been unsuccessful.
And your Hogwarts Castle possesses a living white tree, so I have an impertinent request: I wish to ask for a white tree fruit to replant it in the courtyard, replacing the withered white tree that is there now."
Hearing Ecthelion's words, Luke did not refuse, but still reminded him, "Your Highness the Regent, I can certainly give you a white tree fruit, but its growth conditions are extremely demanding. You must be prepared for it possibly never sprouting."
Ecthelion nodded, sighed, and said, "I know. I just want to fulfill a last wish of my ancestors. If it doesn't sprout, I will accept my fate."
Seeing this, Luke said nothing more, took a silver fruit from his spatial pocket, and handed it to Ecthelion.
The white tree was very much like a tree of destiny, bound to the destiny of a certain person or country. Just like Gondor's white tree, when Gondor was strong, the white tree flourished, but when it declined, the white tree would wither.
The current Gondor was inevitably weakening, and Luke had a premonition that even if a white tree seed were planted, it would be difficult for it to take root and sprout.
Unless the kingdom regained its vitality, only then might the seed awaken and take root and sprout.
[Hogwarts Sign-in System: Location Gondor - Minas Tirith. Do you wish to sign in?]
The System also reacted at this moment.
Luke silently thought, "Sign in."
[Sign-in successful, congratulations on obtaining Bloodline magic!]
Bloodline magic? Luke was stunned for a moment, but after receiving the knowledge and memories, he couldn't help but be overjoyed.
Bloodline magic, more precisely, should be bloodline transplantation magic, which is the fusion of magical creature bloodlines with one's own to gain certain abilities.
Abilities like Parseltongue, Metamorphmagus, Veela's allure, divination talent, and blood curses, as well as the Dumbledore family's ability to summon a Phoenix, all originate from bloodline magic.
There's even a legend in the magic world that the birth of Wizards originated from ancient humans transplanting the bloodlines of magical creatures, or interbreeding with humanoid magical creatures like Veela, thereby acquiring the ability to cast spells.
This also explains why Wizards possess various unique magical talents, such as the Slytherin family having Parseltongue, the Dumbledore family being closely linked to the Phoenix, the Trelawney family possessing divination talent, and various other magical abilities like affinity with animals and plants.
Of course, this notion is scoffed at by pure-blood families in the magic world, regarded as absurd, and not accepted by most people.
But now, with this bloodline magic, this legend might not be groundless.
What surprised Luke even more was that with this bloodline magic, he could not only fuse other bloodlines to gain abilities from other races, but also allow ordinary people to fuse magical creature bloodlines, thereby acquiring spell-casting abilities.
In that case, he could completely create his own Wizard race in Middle-earth!
Thinking of this, Luke became excited.
Everyone has a sense of belonging. Although he had two cities and tens of thousands of subjects, these subjects were all ordinary people, and as a Wizard, he naturally had a barrier with ordinary people.
And while his relationship with the Elves was good, they were not of the same race after all, and he could not fully integrate into the Elves and become one of them.
As for Wizards like Gandalf and Radagast, although they are called Wizards, they are essentially Maiar, a lesser deity.
Therefore, Luke belonged neither to ordinary humans, nor to Elves, nor to 'Wizards' like Gandalf.
Now that he could create a race belonging to him, he couldn't help but feel joyful.
As Luke's closest lover, Arwen sensed Luke's joy radiating from within, and a little puzzled, she softly asked, "Luke, is there something that makes you happy?"
Luke snapped back to reality, looked at Arwen's concerned expression, and with a bright smile, squeezed her hand, "I just had an unexpected gain, a huge surprise that could change the situation in Middle-earth!"
Although Arwen didn't know the specifics, seeing Luke so happy, she was happy for him too.
After the banquet, Luke and Arwen stayed overnight in the Royal Palace.
The next day, Ecthelion II buried the white tree seed Luke had given him at the root of the withered white tree, hoping it would take root and sprout, bringing new life to Gondor.
However, it was clear that this dream was unlikely to be realized in his lifetime.
After his passing, and even during the reign of his son, Denethor II, this white tree seed never stirred, disappointing them greatly, making them believe it would never sprout.
It wasn't until Sauron's downfall and Gondor's new king in the future that this seed, buried for nearly a century, would reawaken, breaking through the soil to take root and sprout.
Of course, that was a long time in the future, so let's not dwell on it for now.
Luke and Arwen also witnessed the burial of the seed. They both could feel the seed entering a deep slumber, and even watering it with fountain water showed no sign of awakening.
However, neither of them spoke of it. Afterwards, accompanied by Denethor II, they toured the various buildings and sights of the Capital.
They stayed in Minas Tirith for a week, then officially bid farewell to Regent Ecthelion II, leaving again by carriage, heading north along the main road.
They passed through the Gondor plains and arrived at the city of Osgiliath on the Anduin River.
This was once Gondor's earliest Capital, spanning the Anduin River. A year ago, the Mordor army poured out of the Minas Morgul fortress, raided Osgiliath, and then laid siege to Gondor's Capital.
It was only with the aid of Gandalf and Rohan that the Mordor army was repelled, and the West District of Osgiliath was recaptured.
However, the East District on the east bank of the Anduin River had to be regretfully abandoned because the Gondor army lacked the strength to hold it.
A year had passed, and the West District of Osgiliath still bore the scars of war, and the bridge spanning the river had been repaired.
As for why the bridge was repaired, giving Mordor the opportunity to cross and attack the West District?
Apart from Gondor's unwillingness to abandon the East District, it was more to concentrate the pressure of the Mordor army's attacks on Osgiliath.
Osgiliath was garrisoned by the Gondor army.
Luke and Arwen's arrival was not hindered, and the commanding general of the city even personally invited them as guests.
Luke successfully completed his check-in here, obtaining the manufacturing blueprint for the Vanishing Cabinet.
After completing the check-in, he was about to leave and continue north to Rohan.
He just happened to encounter a contingent of nearly a thousand Orcs from Minas Morgul attempting to harass Osgiliath.
The well-trained and skilled Gondor defenders repelled these Orcs, a situation that clearly occurred frequently here.
However, seeing these Orcs, Luke suddenly had an idea.
"Arwen, wait for me here. I'm going somewhere for a moment to give these Orcs a big gift," Luke whispered to Arwen.
Arwen did not stop Luke, nor did she ask where he was going, but gently urged, "Then be careful, and remember not to put yourself in danger."
Luke nodded, kissed her forehead, "I know, I'll be back soon."
With that, he directly transformed into a Phoenix, turning into a streak of fire and disappearing.
When he reappeared, he was already above the Minas Morgul fortress.
Minas Morgul is located in the Mountains of Shadow and is a stronghold for the Pass of Cirith Ungol leading to Mordor. Its original name was Minas Ithil, the sister city of Minas Tirith. After Sauron's forces captured it, it was renamed Minas Morgul.
Luke's Phoenix form appearing above Minas Morgul immediately attracted the attention of the Mordor soldiers in the fortress.
They all shot arrows at the Phoenix, trying to shoot it down.
Luke transformed back into human form, hovering in the air with his flying cloak, and without a word, unleashed Fiendfyre towards the fortress.
This time, Luke had no intention of controlling the Fiendfyre. With destruction in mind, he wantonly set fires everywhere.
The uncontrolled Fiendfyre was like a fierce tiger breaking free from its cage, spreading rampantly, constantly devouring the Mordor soldiers in the fortress.
For a time, various screams were incessant.
The Fiendfyre grew fiercer and fiercer, taking the forms of Dragons, Balrogs, and Basilisks, burning everything flammable, and even attempting to turn on Luke.
Luke snorted coldly, directly repelling the Fiendfyre that sought to devour its master.
Then his gaze turned to the highest tower of Minas Morgul, and with a Blasting Curse, he destroyed the tower, revealing the ringwraiths hidden within.
As Mordor's outpost, Minas Morgul's strategic location was very important, so Luke was not surprised that a ringwraiths was stationed here.
The exposed ringwraiths regarded Luke as a formidable enemy and dared not confront him directly, immediately retreating into the Netherworld.
After all, two ringwraiths had already been eliminated by Luke, and the ringwraiths already had a psychological shadow of him.
However, Luke's goal this time was not the ringwraiths. After completing his check-in, he immediately apparated away.
Leaving behind a raging Fiendfyre to wreak havoc in Minas Morgul, devouring tens of thousands of Mordor soldiers in the fortress and turning them to ashes, and spreading to the surrounding areas.
Rumble, a black cloud, dark as ink, rapidly spread from the center of Mordor. The black cloud instantly covered Minas Morgul, accompanied by lightning and thunder, directly bringing down ominous black rain, emitting a smell of sulfur and acid.
The originally fierce Fiendfyre rapidly withered and shrank, gradually extinguishing under the black rain.
And those surviving Mordor soldiers were not spared either, being corroded and melted one by one, dying in agonizing pain.
Minas Morgul instantly became a desolate land, with even the buildings constantly corroding and collapsing.