"I should leave."
On the third day after returning to Gondor, Levi bid farewell to the Steward's family and Thengel's household.
"The caravan's goods are almost sold out, so I might as well travel elsewhere with them."
"You must visit often. Gondor's gates are always open for you."
Ecthelion grasped Levi's hands with both of his, with genuine reluctance. This sentiment wasn't mere courtesy or pretense.
"Same here, come find me anytime."
Thengel also came forward with his family. He said with a warm smile: "Traveling with you was very pleasant and relaxing. I'll never forget it for the rest of my life."
Hearing Thengel's words, Ecthelion also stepped closer: "I heard about what happened in Rohan. Ha! That was quite unique. If there's another such trip next time, please be sure to include me."
"I'd really like to experience traveling with you too. Actually, I haven't left Gondor for quite some years..."
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at his old father.
"Ahem." Turgon coughed from the side.
"There are still many responsibilities you need to handle. We'll discuss this matter later."
Ecthelion visibly deflated.
He was no longer that ambitious young man who could lead great armies everywhere. Now he was over sixty—his body gradually aging—seeing that Turgon was about to pass down his position.
Once Ecthelion truly became Steward, there would be no chance for travel at all—every affair in Gondor, large and small, would depend on him. From a security standpoint, his subordinates wouldn't easily let him venture out either.
If he still wanted to wander around, he could only do so in these few remaining years.
"Perhaps there will be opportunities."
After lightly embracing several people, Levi planned to go find the caravan.
But just as he turned around, he felt a prickling sensation from behind.
He turned back again.
Oh right, he'd said goodbye to everyone except he'd forgotten that old Steward standing at the edge.
So Levi placed his hand on his chest and extended it forward.
This was elven etiquette, meaning "embrace."
After all, even his name was taken from the elven High King. Turgon naturally understood this gesture's meaning and returned the salute in kind.
Later this scene was painted by Gondorian artists—carefully framed and hung in the Steward's bedchamber as a memorial.
It recorded the friendship between Levi and the Steward, even Gondor itself. Its value was immeasurable. Countless people sought channels everywhere just to glimpse it.
"This time I really should go."
Under clear skies, several people watched Levi leave until his figure disappeared at the end of the steps.
Northern market of Minas Tirith.
Now residents had finished buying what they needed, their demands mostly satisfied. Caravan members packed up, waiting only for one person to appear before departing.
"Didn't expect to have a chance to travel with the lord."
On the wagon, two apprentice Rangers were quite excited.
"You think we might encounter something special—like in adventure stories? Meeting powerful enemies, guards fighting desperately to protect the lord—"
When mentioning protecting the lord, one Ranger named Arvin suddenly paused.
The other Ranger, Alwen, also looked at him strangely.
"Protect the lord? You really dare to think that! Read fewer of those nonsensical storybooks!"
"Can't I just think about it..."
Protecting the lord... the possibility of this happening wasn't very high.
If it were other countries or forces, it might be possible. Looking at those kings, princes, lords, and such, which one doesn't bring at least a full team of well-equipped guards when going out?
But for Roadside Keep and even the free city-state forces as a whole, this situation was completely reversed.
Roadside Keep and Dale combined—probably all their territories' armies together—couldn't match their own lord in fighting ability. The question of who protects whom was completely backwards.
"How did the goods sell?"
As they were discussing, Levi was already walking over, waving.
"Pretty well."
Caravan leader Charlie reported: "Our goods sold out completely. The Gondorian people really liked them. Using money from selling goods, we bought quite a few local specialty products. Everyone will like these things."
"Good, not bad."
Levi nodded.
Neither asked about profit, nor did the other report exactly how much money was made.
Obviously, for Roadside Keep, whether lord or citizens, their focus wasn't on this. With Levi's intentions as the standard, this had become their top-down mindset.
If asked, it's because it's unnecessary and useless.
One could only say, As long as everyone's happy.
"Then let's depart!"
"Yes!"
Those responsible for sales in the caravan as well as guards, including the two Rangers, all gathered at the convoy's front, standing in neat military formation and responding together.
"My lord, which way do we go? Return by the original route?" Charlie inquired.
"North, to Dale!" Levi announced.
"North..."
Charlie looked at the map, his gaze moving up from Gondor's position.
Hiss.
"Are we really going that way?"
Going north meant either going through the Dead Marshes and stone-filled hills or taking the main road in front of the Black Gate.
The former could avoid dangerous Mordor armies, but the terrain was impassable. The latter, mentioning the Black Gate, meant it was definitely Mordor's doorstep, full of orcs.
Neither of these was a good place.
"It's fine; let's just take the main road. That's how I came."
Levi took the map and indicated: "From the North Road all the way to North Ithilien, then onto the Harad Road, past the Black Gate, then the Anduin Road, and you can reach the wilds of Rhovanion. This is the shortest route."
"From there go north a bit more and you'll reach Lake-town. You haven't been there yet, right?"
"Indeed, I haven't been there."
When this batch of caravan members set out, the sky road wasn't officially in use yet. Actually, it still isn't even now.
The culprit was the lord before them. Everyone insisted on waiting for his return before holding the completion ceremony.
Regarding the territory belonging to the free city-states on the other side of the mountain, residents of both cities were quite curious. Most people's knowledge of the situation beyond the mountain was merely in the "heard about it" category. They had some impression but never had a chance to go.
But soon these two places would be directly connected, a round trip taking only a few days. One could imagine that exchanges between the two places would be quite frequent then.
But curiosity aside, from a responsible attitude, Charlie still expressed concern about road conditions.
Though theoretically this route was the shortest with the most stable road conditions, since ancient times no caravan dared take this route. Even struggling through wind and snow to climb mountains and high passes, they wouldn't pass through here.
"It's fine; just go ahead. If anything happens, I'll handle it."
Levi patted his chest, making a guarantee.
Charlie nodded. "Understood. We follow your lead."
Everyone in the caravan was filled with determination at this moment.
Black Gate, here we come!
Rumble rumble...
The convoy left the White City, beginning to head north under Gondorian citizens' gaze, passing by the White City's outpost fortress, the beacon hill Amon Dîn closest to the White City, then crossing bridges through Cair Andros island in the middle of the Anduin River, also greeting the Gondorian garrison on the island.
A few days later, the group reached the North Ithilien border, stepping onto the ash-filled war plain, Dagorlad.