"Finished shopping?"
"Mm, finished."
"That pastry shop owner is still so enthusiastic, and his skills are even better than before."
Levi reached into the basket and handed Bard a piece of what he considered the most delicious pastry.
"The latest pastry developed by that chef. How is it?"
"Quite good."
Bard couldn't help nodding while eating, raising his eyebrows. You could tell he really liked it.
"If you like it, eat more. There's plenty."
"Still need some moderation."
After finishing one piece, Bard didn't eat any more.
"It's almost mealtime. I need to save some room for a proper meal."
"Alright."
Levi put away the basket with all the bread and pastries, followed Bard to find a tavern, and had a simple, nutritionally balanced meal of roasted meat with vegetables, plus a piece of bread.
This combination was quite a classic tavern set meal. Most people planning to have a hearty meal would choose this combination.
If it still wasn't enough, they'd add a bowl of thick soup with a hard bread roll soaked in it, letting the crispy bread crust absorb some broth. This was also quite a representative way of eating.
"Hello, give me a cup of mead."
After finishing the food on his plate, Levi called over a passing waitress and ordered drinks.
"Alright... oh! It's Lord Levi..."
The waitress covered her mouth in surprise, trotting to the counter to get a wooden cup and fill it with fresh, foamy honey beer.
Since Levi brought back two bees from Beorn, honey was no longer something that needed importing. Both Roadside Keep and Dale territory had dedicated beekeeping facilities, usually planted with cherry trees.
Initially, residents responsible for beekeeping would be startled by those square bees as big as human heads, but after confirming they'd never use their tail stingers unless actively attacked, residents grew bolder. Sometimes they'd even touch them when encountered on the road.
After all, these big, fat bees were quite cute just from appearance.
Gulp... gulp...
"Ahh."
"This feels really good."
Setting down his empty cup, Levi sighed with satisfaction.
Having some honey beer after a meal was truly refreshing.
"Another cup."
He couldn't help drinking a bit more.
"Won't you have some?"
While drinking, Levi asked Bard, who sat across from him, having ordered another bowl of soup and a hard bread roll.
"Mm... better not. I have many things to do this afternoon. I need to stay clear-headed."
As always, Bard remained disciplined and knew moderation.
"Alright."
Setting down his cup, Levi didn't insist, just munched on a carrot while waiting for Bard to finish eating.
Crispy.
After confirming Levi really just wanted to wander around, Bard stopped watching him and called a carriage in Dale to return to Lake-town and continue handling his endless large and small affairs.
Watching Bard leave, Levi stood in place thinking for a while, then turned and left Dale, walking toward Erebor's main gate.
Guards near the gate stepped aside and bowed slightly.
This was treatment equal to the King under the Mountain.
After several years away, Erebor remained splendid and lively. Listening carefully, you could still capture echoing hammering sounds from within the mountain.
The dwarves continued as before, digging deeper with Erebor as a starting point, continuously developing the vast mountains behind.
Don't think the Lonely Mountain was just this small. Actually this was only an entrance. The interior space and development potential were no smaller than outside human and elven kingdoms.
After all, behind the Lonely Mountain was an entire massive Grey Mountain range. The dwarves' development of that range was still just a tiny corner.
Yet the wealth accumulated from developing just this corner had repeatedly attracted dragons, both fire-breathing and non-fire-breathing ones.
Walking across the bustling marketplace and magnificent bridges, when he reached the great hall, sure enough, Thorin was there.
"Haven't seen you for some time."
Catching sight of Levi from the corner of his eye, Thorin immediately turned with a smile to greet him. The subordinate who'd been discussing matters also paused and turned to greet him with some helplessness.
No matter what they were discussing or how important it was, nothing had higher priority than this person.
If someone else came visiting, Thorin might say 'sorry' and ask them to wait while he finished urgent business before receiving them.
But the current situation was like this. Whatever was at hand could wait. Deal with it later.
"Indeed, some time. How have you been lately?"
The two shook hands.
"Same as usual. Many things to do, very busy, but I'm glad to be this busy every day because everything's developing in a good direction."
"That couldn't be better."
"Have you eaten?" Levi habitually asked.
Thorin paused.
"Oh, actually no."
"Too many things. I always forget about this. Now that you mention it, my stomach's reacting too. It is rather hungry."
"What about you?"
Thorin suggested: "Want to grab something to eat together?"
"I've eaten, but I don't mind eating more."
Soon they moved to a table.
Before long, a distinctly dwarven feast arrived: generous portions of fragrant bone-in roasted meat alongside several bread rolls. True to form, no vegetables or fruit accompanied the hearty spread.
"Try dipping in this sauce."
Thorin tore off a piece of meat and handed it over, pointing to a dish of clearly high-fat sauce mixed from butter, meat drippings, and other seasonings.
The combination nearly overwhelmed Levi with that one bite.
"Enough, enough, no need to give me more. I'll have some ale instead."
Drinking the cool ale, Levi felt somewhat better.
Unlike honey beer's refreshing quality, dwarven ale was another feeling entirely.
"Crisp."
"I feel like I could eat another piece of meat."
"Then eat more. After all, you need to eat well to have strength for work."
After saying this, Thorin handed Levi another piece of meat, then busied himself with food on his own plate, eating in big bites.
That sight made even Levi's appetite surge, except it looked rather dry.
"Why not have some ale?"
"Ale?"
Thorin shook his head: "I'm afraid not now. As you can see, many things are waiting for me to handle. I must finish eating quickly to deal with earlier matters, or they'll chase me to my doorstep again next time."
"Truly hard work."
Levi shook his head, silently finishing his remaining ale.
"Speaking of which, do you have some business coming here this time?"
"Nothing special, just wanted to see a friend."
"Well, thanks for your concern. Being able to see you amid day-to-day busy life makes me happy."
The brief lunch ended. Upon standing, Thorin was immediately cornered by the dwarf who'd been talking with him earlier, continuing the matter interrupted by Levi's arrival.
Setting down his cup and stretching, Levi walked out of Erebor's main gate and took a deep breath.
Still felt rather stuffed.
But honestly, aside from being greasy, it tasted quite good.
This kind of thing... the first bite was enjoyment, the second was satisfaction, and after that it became somewhat torturous.
When hunger was low, it was fine. He could eat however much came, even pure fat, with the desperation of someone starving.
But when satiation was full, it was better to forget it.
"Sigh."
Sighing for no reason, Levi returned to Dale again. Sometimes wandering the plaza looking at statues commemorating the 'Dragon Slayer' and 'Dragon-shooting Archer,' sometimes going to the palace at the top, gazing at the Lonely Mountain and Ravenhill from heights.
After that, no one saw his figure in the city anymore.
Whoosh.
At night, when warm yellow light from roadside lanterns replaced sunlight, the day's noise and busyness temporarily ended. People returned home to chat about rumors and interesting stories in warm houses.
It was then that a grey figure entered a certain alley, straightened his robes, and sat on some steps.
Like years ago, tossing his staff against the wall like a clothesline pole.
"You look like you've been sitting here for some time."
Gandalf lit his pipe, so a faint light arose, drawing out the statue-like person from darkness.
"For a while indeed."
Levi sighed: "Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
A seemingly fresh pastry was handed over.
"Still made by that chef."
"Oh, thanks, very good. He's improved." Gandalf nodded while chewing.
"So why does our Grey Wizard come visiting?"
"A wizard is never late." Gandalf answered irrelevantly.
"Late?"
"I mean when something happens or someone needs help."
"Perhaps."
"Journeys always have endings."
Gandalf stared at smoke rising from his pipe: "Death is a path everyone must walk, an unavoidable path."
"But this doesn't mean people can't begin the next journey."
"When life reaches its end, darkness will engulf consciousness, and all senses will become nothing."
"But after that, you'll catch..."
"What?"
"A newborn's cry and light reappearing before your eyes."
Levi suddenly smiled.
Eru was merciful, granting humans freedom. All human souls dying in Middle-earth could escape Arda's constraints, leave the noisy mortal world, or go to other worlds.
Also, humans were the only race who could decide their own fate, unlimited by the Great Music.
"I understand."
He took a deep breath and stood up.
Faint firelight flickered.
"Let's get something to eat. I'm a bit hungry." Levi suggested.
"Me too."
Gandalf touched his stomach, responding: "You don't know how many roads I've walked this past month or how much trouble I've encountered... scolded and driven away in Rohan, served undercooked poisonous mushroom soup while visiting Gondor, chased by orcs all the way across the Brown Lands. This world's gone mad."
"Sounds truly eventful. How about we find a place to drink and you tell me about your recent adventures?"
"I'm afraid not." Old Gandalf shook his head.
Now Levi was really unhappy.
"How come even you... tell me what you're so busy with?"
"Busy looking for you."
Gandalf complained: "Why do you think I'm here? Bard and Thorin drove me out of the house to use what they called 'wizard senses' to find you."
"Huh?" Levi was somewhat stunned.
"Don't take people for fools. Some things are obvious at first glance."
Lightly shaking his pipe, Gandalf extinguished it and hung it on his staff: "They came over as soon as they finished work today but couldn't find you anywhere."
"Come back with me now. Tonight's party can't be missing its main guest."