In the early Second Age, the entire northwestern region of Middle-earth was covered by vast primeval forests, and the woods of the Eriador promontory were only a part of this great forest.
The inhabitants of the forest were indigenous humans related to the House of Hareth.
However, with the return of the Numenoreans to Middle-earth and the outbreak of the War of the Elves and Sauron, the ancient forest suffered devastating destruction.
This was because the Numenoreans over-logged for shipbuilding, while Sauron sent troops to set the forests ablaze.
Thus, in the late Second Age, many surviving forest natives fled to Eriador.
These forest natives survived and continued to live to this day, becoming a secretive hunting people.
Arthur had already arrived in the City Lord Hall with Rogier and D. He greeted Nepheli Loux, who had just finished handling other Morne Castle affairs, and at the same time sent someone to call Edgar over to listen to Rogier and D's report together.
Although for Nepheli Loux, this was the second time she had heard it.
Arthur tapped the table with his hand, making a crisp sound, and Rogier, understanding, closed his mouth, questioning him with his eyes if he had any questions.
Arthur voiced his doubts: "I listened to your and D's introduction about Eriador, and it doesn't seem like anything special. Why do you say it's terrible?"
Rogier let out a good-natured laugh, and after glancing at the armor on D, he said, "That's because after we encountered those hunting people, they wanted to hunt us. Of course, it's also possible that the style of Darian's armor scared them."
D retorted discontentedly, "This has nothing to do with my armor. You also saw how these people live like savages. Both men and women wear vests made of animal hides, exposing their chests, with rough vines wrapped around their waists, a simple animal hide skirt for their lower bodies, and sandals woven from tree bark on their feet… If it weren't for their appearance, I would have thought they were some Misbegotten or demi-humans."
Arthur pondered for a moment and asked, "So, the people in Eriador are still in a primitive tribal state?"
Rogier nodded: "That's right. The information I told you was also obtained after we defeated those savages who wanted to hunt us. The only fortunate thing is that we can understand their language, and they can understand what we say."
At this moment, Edgar, who was now the Deputy City Lord of Morne Castle, spoke in a deep voice, "Lord Arthur, if you want to reclaim these savages, I'm afraid it will take a lot of effort. I'm not referring to military reclamation; defeating these savages is simple, but the important thing is how to make them submit and civilize them after defeating them."
D also agreed: "The people within Eriador are truly difficult to communicate with. Even after knowing that we are humans like them, they still want to hunt us and treat us as food; it's simply incomprehensible."
Arthur looked at Rogier: "What do you think?"
Rogier shrugged: "This time I also agree with Darian. The natives in the Eriador forest are extremely xenophobic and have a low level of civilization. And there's nothing special about that place; leaving these natives alone won't affect the Erdtree in any way."
Arthur nodded: "Understood. We'll leave Eriador alone for now."
Then he cleared his throat and told everyone in the City Lord Hall about the matters concerning Thorndale and his plan to find Gandalf later.
"Nepheli Loux, Stormveil Castle will be under your management, which is like returning the city to its rightful owner. After all, it was originally the Storm King's castle, wasn't it?" Arthur looked at Nepheli Loux and said with a smile.
Nepheli Loux listened quietly, then also smiled: "Yes, this way I can return Morne Castle to Edgar. This castle is most familiar to him, so he should naturally manage it."
Edgar immediately said, "No, Lord Nepheli Loux is joking. Your current understanding of Morne Castle is no less than mine. Your management these past few days has filled me with admiration, truly worthy of the Storm King's name."
Nepheli Loux waved her hand, then her expression became serious as she said to Arthur: "Arthur, I'm afraid your plan to find Gandalf will have to be put on hold for now. In the days you've been away, there's something else you don't know about, concerning the dwarves."
Upon hearing this, Arthur became somewhat nervous.
He cautiously asked, "Related to the dwarves? They haven't finally started fighting with the Elves, have they? No one was hurt, were they? What about the Elves?"
The only thing that could make him immediately give up searching for Gandalf was probably if the dwarves and Elves had finally started fighting.
Nepheli Loux was stunned, understanding that Arthur had misunderstood, so she quickly explained: "You misunderstood. Although the dwarves and Elves in the territory don't see eye to eye, they live in peace. They've set their own boundaries and live in their respective areas, and there haven't been any major conflicts. Uh, well, there have been minor disagreements, but they're just arguments, nothing physical."
Arthur finally relaxed and asked, "Then what is this matter about the dwarves you mentioned?"
Nepheli Loux replied: "The situation is this: a week after you led the Misbegotten away from here, the dwarf named 'Fili' came back with a large number of wagons. He said he was here to conduct trade with our Erdtree as per his teacher's agreement."
Arthur nodded thoughtfully: "Yes, there was such a thing. And then? Did something unexpected happen?"
Nepheli Loux continued: "No, it didn't. Our trade with the dwarves has been very smooth, and several more dwarves have stayed, forming a commercial district specifically for trade with the dwarves. Although they didn't trade for the ores or gems they wanted, the fruits, vegetables, and the golden eggs and wool produced by the Erdtree have made them very satisfied. Ahem, but that's not the main point. The point is that Fili found me and left a message for you."
Arthur asked with interest, "What did that kid Fili say?"
Nepheli Loux said: "He said that around the middle of next month, which is mid-July, his uncle Thorin will be coming."
Arthur was somewhat surprised: "Thorin? Why would Thorin come?"
Nepheli Loux speculated, "I'm not sure about that. Fili didn't elaborate, only saying it was to thank you, that he was coming specifically for that. Perhaps when you left, you helped some dwarves on the way?"
Arthur grew even more confused: "Wait, thank me? But I didn't see any dwarves on my way back from Thorndale."
Nepheli Loux shrugged: "Anyway, it's nothing bad. We'll know when the time comes."
…
Time passed steadily, neither too fast nor too slow, reaching mid-July of the year 2939.
The Golden Tree Territory, like the unseen and intangible passage of time, developed steadily.
The new Misbegotten had already been summoned by Arthur in the remaining days of June and swiftly sent to Limgrave Greatbridge with supplies.
The lion hybrid also sent a winged hybrids back with a letter, reporting on the situation in Thorndale. Aside from orcs occasionally coming to seemingly scout for intelligence and being discovered and shot down by the winged hybrids on patrol in the sky, everything else was normal.
Nepheli Loux returned to Stormveil Castle, and the Stormhawks patrolled the skies of the Golden Tree Territory.
These favored children of the storm could see farther and report information to the Kingrick Royal Army patrolling on the ground in a timely manner.
In the period before Thorin's arrival, Arthur also drew manpower from the Golden Lineage to build roads between Stormveil Castle, Morne Castle, and Fort Haight.
The sparsely populated land of Minhiriath lacked everything but stone, so Arthur didn't have to worry about a shortage of stone for road construction.
Rogier and D were sent out again by Arthur, this time heading to Halbarad, another ruin that Elrond had requested Arthur to rebuild.
Arthur felt that if the orcs dared to carry out repair work in Thorndale, then they had no reason not to rebuild Halbarad, which was in the same river basin.
And regardless of whether the orcs were there or not, Halbarad was a place they would have to visit sooner or later, so it was better to let Rogier and D go ahead and check the situation.
Before departing, Rogier himself joked that he had become Arthur's "exclusive pathfinder."
However, D didn't object this time and quite liked Rogier's self-proclaimed title.
And on the very day Arthur received the reply from the lion hybrid, the news of Thorin's arrival reached his ears as he meditated beside the Erdtree.
"Arthur, praise be to you! My dear friend! Thank you for giving Fili and Kili such powerful sorcery!"
As soon as Arthur saw Thorin's handsome face, which seemed out of place among the other dwarves, the other party came running over with a joyful smile, giving him a big hug.
And from the carriage that Thorin had disembarked from, Fili and Kili also appeared, both surprised to see their Uncle Thorin, who rarely showed such happiness.
Arthur, while returning the smile and bending down to hug Thorin back, muttered in his heart.
Powerful sorcery? Is he talking about those Prayers I taught them?