Thorin looked at Gandalf and nodded slightly, "I know your name. Arthur has also mentioned you to me. So what do you mean by a side door?"
Gandalf did not immediately take out the map and key. Instead, he said, "I once saw your father, Thráin. He entrusted me with two items that can help you find and enter the side door of Erebor."
However, when Thorin heard Gandalf's words, he immediately stood up from his seat.
But he didn't care about the items Gandalf mentioned. Instead, he eagerly asked, "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 very sorry, Thorin. When I met Thráin, the news of his disappearance hadn't spread yet, so I don't know where Thráin went after giving me the items. Thráin and I were last seen south of the Moria Gate, near the Black Lands. He had a team of loyal dwarf warriors with him at the time."
Thorin sat down again, disheartened, "This is the same as the last news of my father. This doesn't help me find him."
Arthur cleared his throat at this moment and said, "Thorin, since your father entrusted Gandalf with such important items for entering Erebor, it shows that he, like you, hasn't forgotten about reclaiming Erebor."
Gandalf also said in a low voice, "Yes, Thorin. The news about Thráin has been too long. All news about him has been rumors. Don't think of it in terms of despair."
Thorin gently closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled. When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to his usual dignified appearance.
"Then let's talk about the items my father left behind," Thorin said.
Gandalf smiled, "It's a map of Erebor and a key, Thorin. You can now look for and gather your people, and wait for my news. When the time is right, I will inform you when you should go to Erebor."
Thorin asked, "The right time, why? Why not now?"
Gandalf narrowed his eyes, "Because the time of prophecy has not yet arrived. 'If the birds of old return to Erebor, the reign of the Dragon will end.' Therefore, you need to wait now, and I also need time to find a burglar. This is a wizard's request, Thorin Oakenshield."
Thorin fell silent after hearing Gandalf's words.
But Arthur asked at this moment, "Gandalf, I've been wanting to ask since just now, why do you keep emphasizing 'burglar'?"
Gandalf replied with a smile, "Yes, a burglar. I naturally want this agile burglar to find where the door to Erebor is and be able to steal the arkenstone from the Dragon. I don't think anyone likes to face a giant Dragon directly, so having a burglar steal what we need is best."
Arthur stroked his chin, "If it's just stealing things, I think I can do it too."
It's just taking something without disturbing the enemy, and even if he's discovered, it's fine. Arthur said he's very good at running away.
Gandalf looked over, scrutinizing Arthur in surprise, "You have this skill too? That's not like your style."
Even Thorin showed an incredulous look.
Arthur curiously retorted, "Then what do you think my style should be like?"
Thorin replied without hesitation, "A warrior who can take on a thousand, and a very generous and enthusiastic friend."
Gandalf thought carefully and said, "I probably think you are a calm and upright Knight. Stealing is an act that can hardly be associated with you."
Arthur was a little embarrassed by their indirect compliments and quickly said, "Uh, I'm not a professional burglar either. It's just that I happen to have an item that can help me do similar things."
As he spoke, a dark, glossy, rolled-up cloth amulet suddenly appeared in his hand.
It was the [Concealing Veil], which Arthur obtained from a Black Knife Assassin after defeating him.
Thorin had no reaction, but Gandalf felt the magic of this veil.
Gandalf asked, "What can this veil do? I can feel a special power attached to it."
Arthur explained as he walked out of his seat and slowly squatted down, "This is called the [Concealing Veil]. As long as I squat down, I can completely hide my figure, like this."
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure suddenly disappeared in front of Thorin and Gandalf.
Thorin's eyes widened, and Gandalf also praised in surprise, "Very clever invisibility technique, it's like he has completely disappeared from this world. Arthur, where are you now?"
Arthur's voice came from behind them, "I'm here."
He voluntarily stood up, dispelled the invisibility effect, and held the Concealing Veil in his hand, smiling, "How about it? With this, I should be able to smoothly steal the arkenstone, right?"
Thorin nodded. He thought it was fine.
But Gandalf had a strange expression, hesitated, and seemed to want to say something.
Arthur asked directly, "What's wrong, Gandalf? Is there something wrong with the Concealing Veil?"
Gandalf couldn't help but look at Arthur a few more times and still said, "There's nothing wrong with the Concealing Veil. The problem is Erebor."
Thorin showed a puzzled expression, "What could be wrong with Erebor? I can guarantee that there are no treasures in the mountain that can see through Arthur's invisibility. If the 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 are a dwarf, Thorin. Therefore, the side door your father knew about must also be specifically for dwarves. It certainly won't be as tall and wide as the main gate."
Oh, crap.
Arthur realized, "You mean my size won't allow me to squeeze into the dwarves' secret passage… Can I not even get in if I squat down?"
Gandalf said, "Uh, I don't know about that. You can try squatting down. Maybe you can get in, maybe not. But to ensure we don't waste time, it's best to bring another burglar whose size is similar to the dwarves."
Thorin searched his mind for the warriors he knew but found that they were not suitable to be burglars at all.
Gandalf saw what Thorin was thinking from his face and said with a chuckle, "You don't have to worry about the choice of burglar, Thorin. I promise to recommend a trustworthy burglar to you as a companion for this expedition."
Thorin could only nod.
Then Gandalf carefully observed Thorin's hands on the table again, as if deep in thought, his aged face growing serious.
Thorin noticed Gandalf's gaze and spread his hands, saying, "What's wrong with my hands? The look you just gave me was as if you were searching for something."
Gandalf instinctively wanted to light his pipe, but remembering he was indoors, he could only reluctantly put it down, uncomfortably fumbling with 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," Arthur said, noticing this. He had long since realized Gandalf had a bit of a smoking habit.
Gandalf showed a look of relief, first smiling and nodding to Arthur, then skillfully pulling out a tobacco pouch from who knows where, taking out some tobacco that emitted a peculiar aroma.
Arthur was somewhat familiar with the scent of this tobacco and asked, "I've smelled this kind of tobacco in Hobbiton."
Gandalf, while stuffing the tobacco into his pipe, snapped his fingers to light it. After taking a comfortable puff and exhaling, he said, "Yes, that's right, this is premium tobacco from the Shire. If you want some, I can save a few portions for you."
Arthur shook his head, "Put the tobacco aside. If you don't answer Thorin's question soon, I'm afraid you won't enjoy that smoke."
Gandalf coughed a few times, tapped his pipe, and quickly looked at Thorin, saying, "I was trying to find a ring on your palm."
"A ring?" Thorin's expression changed. It was clear he understood what ring Gandalf was referring to.
Gandalf nodded, "That's right, the ring your grandfather wore, one of the Seven Rings given to the Dwarven Lords in ancient times. Where is it now?"
Thorin straightened up in his seat, his mouth slightly agape, then finally shook his head and said, "My grandfather... before going to the battle of Moria, he gave it to my father."
Gandalf exhaled a puff of smoke, the smoke swirling around his face, making his expression unfathomable: "So, Thráin disappeared with that Dwarven Ring?"
Thorin nodded silently.
Gandalf also remained silent, instead taking several more puffs, puffing out clouds of smoke.
Soon, Gandalf had finished the tobacco in his pipe, stood up, and patted himself down, saying, "It seems I won't be able to stay for lunch today, Arthur."
Arthur asked, "What's wrong? Why the sudden rush?"
Gandalf said, "It was my oversight. The last time I saw Thráin, I should have urged him to protect the Dwarven Ring. Of the Seven Dwarven Rings, four were devoured by Dragons, and two were taken before the great war of Mordor. The last one has now also disappeared without a trace along with its owner. This is a very serious problem. I must go to the place where I last saw Thráin to search for his whereabouts."
Thorin immediately stood up as well, eagerly saying, "Then please allow me to go with you. Thráin is my father. I must see him alive or his body."
Gandalf paused, his wise, pale blue eyes looking at the other party, pleading, "I understand your feelings, Thorin. But your current task is to gather warriors willing to go to the Lonely Mountain with you, while I will search for your father during this time. When I find him, I will notify you immediately. Please trust a wizard's promise; they never break their word. When you find enough people, take them to Hobbiton. I will draw a Rune symbol like an 'F' on the door of the burglar I've chosen."
Thorin clenched his fists tightly, then quickly released them, only able to say, "Alright, I'll listen to a wizard this once."
Gandalf had little luggage. After taking his limited dry rations and water skin, he bade farewell to Arthur and Thorin at the main gate of Stormveil Castle.
Arthur watched Gandalf ride away on the white horse he had arrived on, and only after he was out of sight did he look down at Thorin beside him, "It feels like all of you are always in such a hurry. You just arrived, and Gandalf is already rushing off."
Thorin's thoughts were still on what Gandalf had said about his father. His gaze was fixed on the distant place where Gandalf had disappeared, his handsome face showing an emotion that was either longing or something else, and he hadn't clearly heard what Arthur said.
Seeing this, Arthur gently patted Thorin's shoulder and said, "You came too suddenly this time. I haven't had time to notify Fili and Kili. Do you want to go see them? I can guarantee they are absolutely different now."
Thorin came back to his senses, thought of Fili and Kili, and his expression softened. He laughed heartily at Arthur, "Alright! I've seen the letters they sent, saying you found them a really great teacher to guide them. Besides telling you about the Dwarven Kingdoms not supporting me, I also brought Fili and Kili's tuition fees with me this time. It's on me. Should I give it to you now?"
After he finished speaking, he reached into his embrace.
Arthur shook his head to stop him, "Don't give the tuition to me, give it to Fili and Kili's teacher. He is also a compatriot from my homeland, and his strength is similar to mine. To be honest, he really likes Fili and Kili these days. He tells me every day that they grit their teeth and persevere through the terrifying training."
Upon hearing the praise for Fili and Kili, Thorin first showed a proud smile, then said with some concern, "Can their bodies handle it?"
Arthur laughed, "If it's anything else, I can't guarantee it, but in terms of physical health, I can say that apart from the Erdtree's territory, there's no other place like this that can heal the body so well, without even leaving hidden injuries."
Thorin recalled the first time he met Arthur, who had healed his injured compatriots in just a few movements, and he relaxed.
Just as Gandalf and Arthur bid farewell and set off to find Thráin's whereabouts, Rogier and D, who had departed earlier, also arrived near the Shire.
D pointed to the place upstream where lively human voices could be faintly heard and asked, "Is that Hobbiton?"
Rogier took out a map from his embrace, checked it, and nodded, saying, "If we haven't strayed along the river, then that is indeed Hobbiton."
D looked at Rogier with dissatisfaction, then pulled the reins of the packhorse laden with goods, and as he walked forward, he said, "When are you going to get rid of this habit of saying meaningless nonsense? Yes means yes, no means no. You always have to repeat other people's questions."
Rogier put the map back into his embrace and followed with a smile, "Because I'm really not sure if it is or not."