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Chapter 290 - Chapter 293: Westward Journey

Kael and Arwen's carriage traveled westward along the road.

They stayed in Bree for two days.

While there, they met with Mayor Butch.

Given the last time Bree was besieged by barrow-wights and couldn't call for aid in time, Kael added Floo Network connections to several public fireplaces in Bree, including the municipal building. These connected with Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle's fireplaces as emergency contact channels.

Unlike Hogsmeade, which catered to tourism and thrived thanks to its proximity to Hogwarts Castle, Bree was more of a trade hub with flourishing commerce.

Goods from all over Middle-earth could be found here—Dorwinion wine from the far east, Rohan horses, and Gondor weapons and armor.

Leaving Bree, Kael and Arwen continued westward.

They briefly stopped at the Barrow-downs where he released Fiendfyre, turning all the remains in the tombs to ash.

This prevented the Witch-king of Angmar from ever again using dark sorcery to defile those resting here, denying them peace even in death.

Then they continued on. Passing the Old Forest, the pegasus that had been walking spread its wings, pulling the carriage over the treetops and flying south.

Tom Bombadil and Goldberry, living in the Old Forest, seemed to have known of their coming, receiving them warmly and having prepared a sumptuous dinner in advance.

Arwen and Goldberry hit it off immediately. Kael also discussed the One Ring with Tom.

After his last unsuccessful search for the Ring, Sauron would definitely not give up and would certainly continue searching secretly.

If this brought trouble to Tom and Goldberry, Kael would feel guilty, since he had originally suggested Tom safeguard this troublesome Ring.

Even if Sauron came personally, he probably couldn't seize the Ring from Tom, but repeated disturbances to their seclusion would still be troublesome.

Tom was quite cheerful about this—if he didn't want visitors, no one could find this place. Moreover, the Old Forest was a natural barrier; the Huorns would turn back anyone who tried to enter.

Even the Nazgûl wouldn't easily enter the Old Forest.

After staying several days at Tom and Goldberry's home, Kael and Arwen bid them farewell, traveling down the Withywindle River before circling to Buckland west of the Old Forest.

They first visited Drogo Baggins, who was living there.

Drogo Baggins had married Primula Brandybuck, daughter of Buckland's Master Gorbadoc Brandybuck. Perhaps one day he would father the future Ring-bearer, Frodo.

After visiting Drogo, they visited the Brandybuck family as well.

They didn't stay long in Buckland—after one night's rest, Kael and Arwen bid farewell to Drogo and the Brandybucks, traveling north along the Brandywine River, returning to the East-West Road.

Crossing the Brandywine Bridge westward, passing through several hobbit towns, they finally reached Hobbiton.

Following the winding roads toward Hobbiton Hill, seeing the beautiful pastoral scenery along the way, they both felt refreshed, immersed in this peaceful rural environment.

The hills here were covered with neat green grass, blooming with many wildflowers. Even the trees seemed affected, becoming much shorter. There were many small houses excavated into hillsides, with round doors and windows painted in bright colors—looking like arriving in a fairy tale kingdom.

"I really like it here," Arwen said with a bright smile, appreciating the surrounding scenery.

Kael embraced Arwen's waist, smiling in agreement. "I like it here too. This is untouched by war. When I first awakened, I was here and met Bilbo, who brought me home and hosted me. Otherwise I might have wandered homeless and hungry."

He then recounted his experiences living at Bag End to Arwen.

The carriage followed the road, finally stopping outside Bag End's small courtyard.

Bilbo sat before his door, reading the newspaper in the sun while smoking his pipe.

His attention was immediately drawn to the tall white steed pulling the carriage—snow-white, its coat gleaming in the sunshine.

This was his first time seeing such a beautiful white horse—taller and more slender than other horses, moving with unusual grace, each step precise and soundless.

Seeing the carriage stop before his gate, Bilbo looked puzzled—the carriage appeared driverless.

When the door opened and Kael and Arwen emerged, Bilbo was delighted.

"Kael! Arwen!" Bilbo put down his newspaper and pipe, quickly running over. "What brings you to the Shire?"

Kael jumped from the carriage, helping Arwen down, then bent to embrace Bilbo, smiling cheerfully. "Arwen and I are on our honeymoon. We're just passing through the Shire, so we came to see you. Are we welcome?"

"Welcome! Of course, most welcome!" Bilbo said happily, then enthusiastically invited them inside.

At the door, Bilbo warmly reminded Arwen, "Watch the doorframe and beams. My place isn't very friendly to tall folk. Kael and Gandalf have both bumped their heads on the beams before."

Arwen glanced at her husband carefully ducking his head, nodding with a smile.

Once inside Bag End, Kael quickly cast spells, raising the ceiling height considerably. At his current height of two meters, Bag End's ceiling was even less friendly to him.

Bilbo was overjoyed at their arrival, almost emptying his stores, setting all kinds of food before them. He even wanted to run to town to buy fresh vegetables before Kael stopped him.

At Bilbo's enthusiastic insistence, they stayed three days, touring Hobbiton and the surrounding countryside before continuing westward amid his reluctant farewell.

After passing through the Shire capital of Michel Delving and a brief stay, they continued west, finally leaving the Shire's borders.

Ultimately they reached the East-West Road's end—the Grey Havens.

Círdan, having just transported another batch of westward-bound elves, warmly received them.

Looking at the steamships moored in the Lhûn Gulf, this magical sight of steam and magic combined not only amazed Arwen but also greatly surprised Kael.

Kael hadn't expected that in just a few years, Círdan's steamship research had progressed so rapidly.

Almost all ocean-going vessels now employed steam engines, requiring neither manpower nor wind power to sail quickly.

The steam engine boilers burned with magical flames forged by elves that never extinguished. Just by adding water, they had continuous power.

The seafaring Teleri elves could now sail much farther across the seas.

Since Aman, which contained Valinor, was moved by Ilúvatar into another dimension, only the Straight Road could reach Valinor.

Otherwise, sailing continuously westward would only lead back to the starting point, because Arda had become spherical.

Besides Middle-earth, this world also had the legendary Lands of the Sun and the Dark Lands.

The Lands of the Sun, also called the Far East, were a continent in Arda's far east mirroring western Aman across the world, separated from Middle-earth by the Eastern Sea—the land of sunrise.

The Dark Lands, formed from Middle-earth's fragmentation during the War of Wrath, were located southeast of Middle-earth—a completely unknown land known only by name.

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