The City of Waters, also known as the "Water Capital."
When it was founded, it immediately became one of the largest cities in the history of Middle-earth.
In this capital where three rivers converge, there stands a dazzling white sky garden where rainbows almost always shimmer, a massive lighthouse bright enough to rival the daylight, and a majestic statue that overlooks the entire region.
When news of it spread through the songs of poets and the records of travelers, many people instinctively assumed those wandering folk were exaggerating again, trying to make themselves sound more worldly.
But this time, those who were questioned did not argue back. They simply told the skeptics to go see it for themselves.
And so, many people set out.
One ship after another sailed past the lighthouse and statue, entering the city.
For the visitors, every corner of this place was too dazzling to take in. Open or close their eyes, all they saw was splendor. No matter how they turned their gaze, they couldn't escape it.
They sighed in admiration: for once, the poets and storytellers had been literal, without adding exaggeration.
Of course, the Water Capital was not merely a scenic city to admire.
At its very center stood a massive shipyard, and within it, the most eye-catching vessel, a great flagship guarded on all sides by countless warships, constantly reminded people that this was not just a peaceful garden. When necessary, it could transform into the most powerful city of war.
"Compared to this place, Lake-town is just a little village."
In the year 2972, Bard rarely spared time to visit the eastern lands.
At that moment, he and Garrett sat together in a small wooden boat, Bard rowing in the front, Garrett idly fishing in the back.
Rowing takes some skill, but for the man holding the oars now, that was no challenge.
Having grown up in Lake-town as a boatman, often ferrying empty barrels back from Mirkwood, Bard's boating and rowing skills were unquestionable, clearly a seasoned hand.
Yet after a while, he couldn't help but set down the oars, leaning back.
"Whew..."
He caught his breath, wiped his sweat, and sighed at the passing of time.
In the past, this short trip was nothing to him. He could row a boat full of dwarves from north to south, then back again.
But now...
"Let me take over."
Garrett took the oars, letting Bard rest at the back.
The white-haired Bard didn't insist. He simply sat back, enjoying the breeze, turning his head slightly to admire the scenery on both sides.
Splash.
The water rippled as the boat drifted slowly forward.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Bard squinted, something catching his eye.
Pointing ahead, he asked doubtfully, "That man... is that a wizard? In a white robe, he's looking this way."
"Oh?"
Garrett turned his head, following Bard's gaze.
And there he saw a stern old face.
Saruman.
He was waving in their direction.
Garrett turned his head away.
Ah, Bard, why must your eyesight be so sharp!
"Don't look. It brings misfortune."
But it was too late.
"I saw you see me! Are you planning to ignore me?" Saruman shouted from the shore.
Ah.
With no choice, Garrett steered the boat closer to where Saruman stood.
"Our wise one has been visiting quite often lately."
"Has he?" Saruman's gaze locked on Garrett as he stepped off the boat, sparing only a brief glance at Bard behind him.
"To mortals, this time might feel long. But to me, it is not."
A wizard's words always carried more than one meaning.
Garrett didn't respond, and instead asked, "So what brings the White Wizard here this time?"
"Nothing much."
Saruman shook his head.
"I simply heard the scenery here was beautiful, so I came for a stroll."
Listening to Saruman, Garrett felt a flicker of doubt.
Could his intentions really be so simple?
He couldn't help glancing at the space above Saruman's head.
[Reputation: +103.2]
Eh?
This fellow's contribution to the territory was actually positive.
Interesting.
That meant he truly had done something beneficial for the development of the land, and not just a little.
With that thought, the suspicion on Garrett's face faded, and his attitude visibly softened.
"That's more like it. That's how one should treat a guest."
Saruman lifted his head proudly.
"You've finally learned how to be polite."
"From the way you talk, you make it sound like I've been some sort of savage. I've always known how to treat guests properly."
"Is that so? Then why do I feel like I've never been well received?"
"That's your own fault."
"And you've never been wrong yourself?"
The two of them refused to yield to each other, bickering as they walked.
Bard, on the other hand, was already used to such sudden quarrels.
For him, not only was it normal for Garrett to argue with the old wizard, even if he suddenly snatched the White Wizard's staff and ran off, he wouldn't be surprised.
Just as he was mid-argument with Saruman, his vision flickered for a moment, and he suddenly sensed that something had changed.
Instinctively, he looked up. Saruman's reputation had dropped ever so slightly.
"What did you do?"
"Me?"
Saruman looked puzzled.
"I didn't do anything."
"No, you definitely did. This is my land, Saruman. Nothing you do here can escape my notice."
"Put away your suspicions. If you think I've done something, then go see for yourself, instead of asking meaningless questions here."
"..."
Garrett was silent for a while.
Though Saruman's reputation had dipped a little, it was still positive overall.
He couldn't really latch onto such a minor change.
Perhaps the wizard had indeed done something questionable behind the scenes, but since there was no evidence, there was nothing to go on.
Without proof, at most he could confront the old man directly.
But that was pointless.
And if he overdid it, the old wizard might actually snap, and that could cause problems for him... mostly reputational ones, like being accused of picking fights for no reason.
"...Fine."
He decided not to press further.
"Then enjoy the city as much as you like. Take in the sights, and if you get tired, you can stop at Dale for tea. Refreshments will be waiting for you there."
"That's better."
Saruman nodded, then parted ways with Garrett, wandering off to explore elsewhere.
Garrett's gaze followed him for a moment, but soon drifted away, his thoughts elsewhere.
Seeing Saruman reminded him of Isengard, and of Rohan.
How was Rohan faring now? And where was Aragorn?
He hadn't heard word of him in ages. For more than a decade it was as if the man had vanished, gone without returning.
"How is Bain these days?" Garrett suddenly asked.
Rather than distant matters, he chose to focus on those closer at hand.
"He's doing well. Oh, though I don't think I've told you this yet. Just last year, a few months back, his first child was born. A boy. He already has a name: Brand."
Bard's face beamed with pride.
"I hadn't heard a thing."
Garrett scratched his head, the news catching him off guard.
"Well, you've been busy with affairs here these past years, never visiting Dale. Of course you wouldn't know."
Bard continued, "And I only learned about Brand's birth a bit late myself. At the time I was surveying some castle ruins north of the Carrock. They say the place once belonged to the ancestors of the Éothéod."
"Beorn asked for my opinion, and just last month we were still discussing whether to rebuild that castle, turn it into a forward fortress against Gundabad and the Grey Mountains."
As Bard spoke, Garrett unfolded a map.
So Bard's visit wasn't without purpose after all.
Truly, the man's arrows never missed their mark.
"So that's where it is."
Tracing the location on the map, Garrett slowly spoke the name, "Framsburg."
That place did indeed appear in certain chronicles. There had once been a stronghold of the Éothéod there, but later they all migrated south to aid Gondor against its enemies, saving the realm. In return, they were granted land by Gondor and founded Rohan.
The fortress itself was abandoned, left in ruins. With no claim on it now, it could be seized directly.
"Then go ahead and do it."
After a brief pause, Garrett gave his answer.