Thorin looked Gandalf over and nodded slightly: "I know your name—Tarnes has mentioned you to me. So what do you mean by this side door?"
Gandalf didn't rush to take out the map and key, but said: "I once met your father, Thrain. He entrusted me with two things that can help you find the Lonely Mountain's side door and enter it."
However, upon hearing Gandalf's words, Thorin immediately stood up from his seat.
But he didn't care about what Gandalf mentioned. Instead, he asked urgently: "My father? Where did you see him? Many people say my father is dead, but I don't believe it—he's just missing."
Gandalf pursed his lips: "I'm sorry, Thorin. When I encountered Thrain, news of his disappearance hadn't yet spread, so I don't know where he went after giving me those things. My last meeting with Thrain was south of Moria's gates, near the borders of Dunland. He had a company of Dwarf warriors loyal to him at the time."
Thorin sat back down dejectedly: "This is the same as the last news I received about my father. This doesn't help me find him."
At this point, Tarnes cleared his throat: "Thorin, since your father entrusted Gandalf with important things for entering the Lonely Mountain, it shows he, like you, hasn't forgotten about reclaiming it."
Gandalf also said in a low voice: "Yes, Thorin. News about Thrain has been too long in coming—all information about him has been rumors. Don't think in terms of despair."
Thorin gently closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled. When he opened his eyes again, he had regained his usual dignified appearance.
"Then let's discuss what my father left behind," Thorin said.
Gandalf smiled: "It's a map of the Lonely Mountain and a key. Thorin, you can now seek out and gather your people, waiting for my message. When the time is right, I'll notify you when to depart for the Lonely Mountain."
Thorin asked: "The right time—why? Why can't it be now?"
Gandalf narrowed his eyes: "Because the prophesied moment hasn't yet arrived: 'When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end.' Therefore, you must wait now, and I need time to find a burglar. This is a wizard's request, Thorin Oakenshield."
After hearing Gandalf's words, Thorin fell into silence.
But Tarnes asked at this moment: "Gandalf, I've been wanting to ask since earlier—why do you keep emphasizing 'burglar'?"
Gandalf replied with a smile: "Yes, a burglar. Naturally, I want this nimble burglar to find where the Lonely Mountain's door is and steal the Arkenstone from beside the evil dragon. I imagine no one likes facing a dragon directly, so having a burglar steal what we need would be best."
Tarnes stroked his chin: "If it's just stealing something, I think I could do it too."
It's just taking something without alerting enemies, and even if discovered, it doesn't matter—Tarnes considered himself very good at running away.
Gandalf looked over, examining Tarnes with surprise: "You have such skills? That doesn't seem like your style."
Even Thorin showed disbelieving eyes.
Tarnes asked curiously: "Then what do you think my style should be?"
Thorin replied without hesitation: "A warrior who can take on a thousand enemies and a very generous, enthusiastic friend."
Gandalf thought carefully and said: "I suppose I think of you as a calm and upright knight. Theft is something I can hardly associate with you."
Tarnes felt somewhat embarrassed by their indirect praise and quickly said: "Uh, I'm not a professional burglar either—I just happen to have an item that can help me accomplish similar things."
As he spoke, a dark-colored cloth talisman with a glossy surface suddenly appeared in his hand.
Concealing Veil—this was something Tarnes had obtained from a Black Knife Assassin after defeating them.
Thorin showed no reaction, but Gandalf sensed the veil's magical nature.
Gandalf asked: "What can this veil do? I can sense a special power attached to it."
While explaining, Tarnes walked out from his seat and slowly crouched down: "This is called Concealing Veil. Just by crouching down, it can completely hide one's form, like this."
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure suddenly vanished before Thorin and Gandalf's eyes.
Thorin's eyes widened immediately, while Gandalf also praised in amazement: "Very sophisticated concealment technique—it's as if you've completely disappeared from this world. Tarnes, where are you now?"
Tarnes' voice came from behind them: "I'm here."
He voluntarily stood up, canceling the invisibility effect, and smiled while holding the concealing veil: "How about it? With this thing, I should be able to successfully steal the Arkenstone, right?"
Thorin nodded—he thought it was fine.
But Gandalf's expression was strange, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Tarnes asked directly: "What's wrong, Gandalf? Is there a problem with the concealing veil?"
Gandalf couldn't help but look at Tarnes several more times before saying: "There's nothing wrong with the concealing veil—the problem is with the Lonely Mountain."
Thorin showed a puzzled expression: "What problem could there be with the Lonely Mountain? I can guarantee there are no treasures inside that could see through Tarnes' invisibility. If the evil dragon is sleeping, it won't even know someone has entered."
Gandalf shook his head repeatedly: "No, that's not the problem. What I mean is, you're a Dwarf, Thorin. Therefore, the side door your father knew about must be specifically designed for Dwarf use—it certainly won't be as tall and wide as the main gate."
Oh, damn.
Tarnes realized: "You mean with my build, I can't squeeze through the Dwarf secret door passage... even if I crouch down, I still can't get through?"
Gandalf said: "Uh, I'm not sure about that. You could try crouching down—maybe you can get through, maybe not. But to ensure we don't waste time, it's best to bring along a burglar whose build is similar to the Dwarves."
Thorin searched his mind for warriors he knew, only to discover they weren't burglar material at all.
Seeing what Thorin was thinking from his expression, Gandalf said with a chuckle: "You don't need to worry about finding a burglar, Thorin. I guarantee I'll recommend a trustworthy burglar as a companion for this expedition."
Thorin could only nod.
Then Gandalf carefully observed Thorin's hands resting on the table, as if thinking about something, his aged face becoming serious again.
Thorin noticed Gandalf's gaze and spread his hands: "What's wrong with my hands? Your expression just now looked like you were searching for something."
Gandalf instinctively wanted to smoke, but remembering he was indoors, he reluctantly put it down and uncomfortably fingered his pipe.
"If you want to smoke, please feel free. I wanted to tell you last time that I don't have so many rules here," Tarnes said, noticing this. He had long ago discovered Gandalf's smoking habit.
Gandalf showed a relieved expression, first smiling and nodding to Tarnes, then skillfully producing a tobacco pouch from somewhere and taking out some tobacco with a distinctive aroma.
Tarnes found the tobacco's scent somewhat familiar: "I smelled this kind of tobacco in Hobbiton."
While stuffing tobacco into his pipe and snapping his fingers to light it, Gandalf took a comfortable puff and exhaled before saying: "Yes, that's right—this is premium tobacco from the Shire. If you want some, I can leave you a few portions."
Tarnes shook his head: "Put the tobacco aside. If you don't answer Thorin's question soon, I'm afraid you won't smoke peacefully."
Gandalf coughed a few times, tapped his pipe stem, and quickly looked at Thorin: "I was looking for a ring on your palm."
"A ring?" Thorin's expression changed—clearly he understood what ring Gandalf meant.
Gandalf nodded: "That's right, the ring your grandfather wore—one of the Seven Rings given to the Dwarf lords in ancient times. Where is it now?"
Thorin straightened in his seat, opened his mouth slightly, then finally shook his head: "My grandfather... before marching to the battlefield of Moria, gave it to my father."
Gandalf exhaled smoke, the vapor swirling around his face, making his expression unpredictable: "So Thrain disappeared along with that Dwarf ring?"
Thorin nodded silently.
Gandalf said nothing more but took several more puffs, wreathed in smoke.
Soon, Gandalf had consumed all the tobacco in his pipe. He stood up and brushed himself off: "It looks like I can't stay for lunch today, Tarnes."
Tarnes asked: "What's wrong? Why the sudden rush?"
Gandalf said: "I wasn't careful enough. When I last saw Thrain, I should have warned him to protect the Dwarf ring. Of the Seven Dwarf Rings, four were consumed by dragons, two were taken before that great war with Mordor. Now the last ring has also disappeared with its master, vanishing without a trace—this is a very serious problem. I must go to the place where I last saw Thrain to search for his trail."
Thorin immediately stood up as well, saying urgently: "Then please let me go with you. Thrain is my father—I need to see him alive or see his body."
Gandalf stopped his movements, his wise pale blue eyes looking at him pleadingly: "I understand your feelings, Thorin. But your task now is to gather warriors willing to go to the Lonely Mountain with you, while I search for your father during this time. If I find him, I'll notify you immediately. Please trust a wizard's promise—they never break their word. When you've found sufficient people, take them to Hobbiton. I'll mark the door of the burglar I select with a rune mark like an 'F'."
Thorin clenched his fists tightly, then quickly relaxed them, only able to say: "Fine, I'll listen to a wizard's words this once."
Gandalf didn't have much luggage. After taking limited provisions and a water bag, he bid farewell to Tarnes and Thorin at Stormveil Castle's main gate.
Tarnes watched Gandalf ride away on the white horse he'd arrived on, and only after he disappeared from sight did he look down at Thorin beside him: "It feels like everyone is always in such a hurry. You just arrived, and Gandalf has already left in haste."
Thorin's thoughts were still on Gandalf's words about his father. He gazed toward the distance where Gandalf had disappeared, his handsome face showing emotions that might have been longing or something else, not clearly hearing what Tarnes said.
Seeing this, Tarnes gently patted Thorin's shoulder: "You came too hastily this time—I haven't had a chance to notify Fili and Kili. Want to go see them? I guarantee they're completely different now."
Thorin came back to himself and thought of Fili and Kili. His expression softened as he laughed heartily at Tarnes: "Great! I saw the letters they sent, saying you found them an excellent teacher to guide them. Besides telling you about those Dwarf kingdoms not supporting me, I also brought Fili and Kili's tuition fees. I have them with me. Should I give them to you now?"
As he spoke, he reached into his coat.
Tarnes shook his head to stop him: "Don't give the tuition to me—give it to Fili and Kili's teacher. He's also a compatriot from my homeland, with strength comparable to mine. Honestly, he's quite fond of Fili and Kili these days, telling me daily how they grit their teeth and persist through that terrifying training."
Hearing praise for Fili and Kili, Thorin first showed a proud smile, then said somewhat worriedly: "Can their bodies handle it?"
Tarnes smiled: "I can't guarantee other things, but regarding physical health, I can say that aside from the Golden Tree territory, there's no second place like this that can nurture bodies so well that not even hidden injuries remain."
Thorin thought of his first meeting with Tarnes, how he had quickly healed injured compatriots, and relaxed.
Just as Gandalf bid farewell to Tarnes and the others and set out to search for Thrain's whereabouts, Rogier and D, who had departed earlier, also arrived near the Shire.
D pointed to a place upstream where lively voices could faintly be heard: "Is that Hobbiton?"
Rogier took out a map from his coat, compared it, and nodded: "If we haven't taken a wrong turn following the river all this way, that's indeed Hobbiton."
D looked at Rogier with dissatisfaction, then pulled the reins of the pack horse carrying large amounts of goods, walking forward while saying: "When will you fix this habit of saying meaningless nonsense? Yes means yes, no means no—why must you repeat other people's questions?"
Rogier put the map back in his coat and smiled as he followed: "Because I'm really not certain whether it is or not."
[Chapter Complete]
***
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