Tarnes's conversation with the Gondorian merchant caravan went exceptionally smoothly, even more smoothly than he had expected.
When the merchant leader first saw those two members of his caravan bowing and scraping as they brought Tarnes over, he immediately knew they must have caused trouble.
Otherwise, given those two men's personalities, while they would maintain proper respect when meeting the lord of the Golden Tree, they wouldn't act like his servants as they were doing now.
So the merchant leader prepared mentally to be held accountable by Tarnes, but unexpectedly, the man opened by asking whether Gondor was suffering from Orc invasions and offering to provide some assistance.
The option of "refusal" simply didn't exist in the merchant leader's mind. The moment Tarnes finished speaking, he nodded vigorously and agreed immediately.
This was, after all, the sixth wizard to appear in Middle-earth and the only one who actively hunted dark creatures like Orcs.
Tarnes might not realize it, but his reputation in other human kingdoms was probably about to surpass Gandalf and Saruman.
When people mentioned Gandalf, everyone knew him as a kindly old man who worked tirelessly everywhere, maintaining relationships between various nations and races.
As for a certain White Wizard, people's impression of him was simply: "Oh, he lives in a tower at Isengard."
But when people talked about Tarnes, it was all about how many Orcs he had killed where, and how many homeless refugees his territory had taken in.
And thanks to the Dwarves' spreading of news, everyone knew Tarnes was helping the Dwarves slay dragons and reclaim the Lonely Mountain.
This immediately set him apart from the two wizards mentioned above.
As for Radagast the Brown and the two Blue Wizards who had never appeared, because they hadn't made any major commotions for so long, some people weren't even aware they existed.
In any case, this merchant leader felt that being able to secure a wizard's help for Gondor would definitely be a great achievement when he returned home.
Thinking this, the merchant leader looked at Tarnes with fervent eyes, though he still controlled his excitement in his tone and asked politely, "Lord Tarnes, how do you plan to resolve Gondor's Orc problem?"
Tarnes didn't answer directly but asked in return, "If you have full authority to represent Gondor in discussing this matter with me, then I don't mind telling you."
The merchant leader immediately calmed down and quickly shook his head. "I certainly don't have that qualification, but please tell me when you plan to depart for Gondor. I'll immediately inform the Steward upon my return."
Tarnes roughly calculated in his mind how long it would take to resolve the urgent matters Melina had planned and said, "At the latest within two months, I'll personally set out for Gondor."
"Very well, Lord Tarnes. I'll convey this message for you," the merchant leader responded respectfully.
Then he paused, glared fiercely at those two members of his caravan, and said with a forced smile, "Lord Tarnes, did these two have some unpleasant encounter with you? I apologize on their behalf first."
The two merchants hung their heads, not daring to speak. Tarnes's gaze swept over them both as he briefly explained the situation, then said to the merchant leader, "They're from Gondor after all. If I were to deal with them and word got out through certain parties, it would inevitably affect relations between the Golden Tree and Gondor, so I think it's better to let your own people handle it."
After listening, the merchant leader quickly said, "Thank you for your mercy and kindness. I'll punish them according to Gondorian law. Please rest assured."
After saying this, his expression became quite grim as he looked at the two merchants.
Tarnes waved his hand. "Don't punish them too harshly either. They've already apologized to me earnestly. Regarding when I'll depart for Gondor, I'll have someone write an official letter for you to deliver to the Steward of Gondor on my behalf."
After chatting casually with the merchant leader for a few more minutes and learning some news about Gondor from him, Tarnes departed.
After leaving, Tarnes brought Melina directly back to the empty Royal Capital Leyndell, arriving at the Golden Tree's location.
He needed to purify the two rings Bernahl had given him. After summoning Melina, Tarnes had been too excited and forgotten about it, only remembering this unfinished task when he was in Stormveil Castle's lord's hall.
Under the gentle golden light beneath the Golden Tree, two rings lying quietly in Tarnes's right palm emanated very obvious dark auras.
Melina looked at the rings with furrowed brows. After careful observation, she said, "The curses placed on these two rings are too malicious."
Hearing this, Tarnes asked curiously, "Can you tell what kind of curses are on them?"
Melina answered Tarnes's question gently. "Yes, because the curses aren't created through pure sorcery or incantations, but utilize some soul power."
Tarnes had a realization. "So they're related to souls. No wonder you can tell."
Melina nodded and continued, "Though I don't know what specific results the curses would cause, I know that once someone wears these rings, their body, mind, and soul would all be controlled by the rings' true master, losing their autonomous consciousness. Unable to live or die as they wish."
Then Melina paused briefly and added, "Moreover, I can sense that these two rings seem to have a weak connection to some entity. Like the relationship between a king and vassals. I believe there should be another ring with much stronger soul power that can control these two rings."
Tarnes looked at the rings in his palm with surprise several more times. "Doesn't that mean these rings were forged from the very beginning specifically to better control whoever wears them?"
Melina agreed. "Yes, that's what I think too, which is why I said the curses placed on them are very malicious. Whoever forged these rings must be very evil or extremely ambitious."
A chill of fear flashed through Tarnes's heart as cold sweat broke out on his back. He murmured, "It's fortunate that Bernahl and Igon didn't immediately put them on after obtaining these rings, or I might have lost two good friends."
While thinking, Melina agreed, "...If they had worn them, though they would gain enhanced physical attributes and power in the short term, their souls would also be irreversibly corrupted until captured by the rings' true master, becoming their puppets."
Tarnes sighed. "I just don't know if the golden blessing can remove the curses on these two rings."
Melina replied, "Removing the curses would be equivalent to removing the remnant soul traces on the rings. Golden blessing is, in some sense, energy related to souls, so it can definitely dispel these curses. But it will inevitably affect the rings' own ability enhancements for the wearer, possibly even turning them into ordinary rings."
Tarnes shrugged. "Such malicious curses are better removed. As for ability enhancements, though I'm interested, I dislike the negative effects even more. I have no intention of becoming someone else's puppet."
As he spoke, he closed his eyes and communicated with the Golden Tree through his spirit and soul.
The Golden Tree responded almost instantly to Tarnes's communication. From Melina's perspective, the golden fragments falling from the twin Golden Tree's branches became much more numerous.
Tarnes coaxed the Golden Tree like calming a pet, then asked, "Can you remove the curses on these two rings?"
The Golden Tree naturally couldn't answer Tarnes in words, but it gave an answer through action.
Substantial golden blessing gathered in Tarnes's right palm. The dark aura rising from the two rings grew increasingly dense until it coalesced into a gaunt, tall, menacing armored figure that roared silently at the approaching golden blessing.
But the Golden Tree paid it no heed. The next instant, massive amounts of golden blessing crashed like giant waves onto the two rings, and the dark aura vanished without a trace.
Several minutes later, the golden blessing gathered in Tarnes's palm was gradually absorbed by the two rings, and the silver-white rings even turned pure golden as a result.
Tarnes blinked in confusion. "That's it?"
The Golden Tree swayed its branches slightly, using the rustling of leaves as an affirmative answer.
After carefully observing the two rings that had turned golden, Melina said, "Yes, the uncomfortable curses on the rings have disappeared. And... it seems that because the Golden Tree actively infused golden blessing into the rings, they can still provide a certain degree of physical attribute enhancement to whoever wears them, though not as powerful as when the rings still had curses."
Hearing this, Tarnes put on one of the rings himself to test it, then took it off with a smile. "Indeed so. However, this level of enhancement isn't very useful for people like me and Bernahl. It might show obvious effects on an ordinary person. And it has an additional function: when the wearer faces dark or curse-type attacks, the ring's inherent golden blessing can protect the master until the blessing within is exhausted, after which they'd need to return to Golden Tree territory to replenish the blessing."
He then stored the rings and said, "They make nice reward items. I remember a Storm Knight was suffering greatly from wounds caused by Nazgûl. I was worried about what reward to give him. Perfect timing. These rings that dropped from the Nazgûl can go to him."
Melina nodded. "Good idea. Well, the ring curses have been cleansed. Time to move on to the next item on the agenda."
Tarnes raised his right hand with one finger extended, wagged it left and right, whistled for his spirit steed to summon Torrent, then extended his hand to Melina. "Don't rush. It's mealtime now. How about trying what the Elves of this world eat?"
Melina placed her soft, warm hand in Tarnes's palm and said quietly as he helped her onto the saddle, "I don't really care much about food, but since you're recommending it, I'm willing to give it a try."
While riding Torrent, Tarnes said to Melina, "Don't worry. I don't know if it's because Elves live too long, but they're very particular about food. When I was in Rivendell, I ate quite a few delicious dishes. Same thing in the Woodland Realm. Food prepared carefully by Elves is always delicious."
Melina leaned against Tarnes's back and replied quietly, "Mm."
When Tarnes appeared before Estel, the little boy showed a happy expression.
But he didn't forget to straighten his clothes before walking very politely to Tarnes, performing an Elven greeting, and asking, "Teacher Tarnes, why have you come? Are you here to see Brother Elladan and Brother Elrohir?"
Tarnes didn't neglect the boy's bow because of his young age but returned the greeting properly before lifting Estel into his arms and smiling, "Yes and no. I came mainly for you, Estel."
Sitting on Tarnes's arm, Estel blinked. "Me?"
Tarnes had walked to the wooden table outside and set him on a wooden chair. "Right. Don't you want to learn swordsmanship from me? I happen to have free time today, so I came to teach you. Otherwise, when I leave Golden Tree territory in a few days, wouldn't I be breaking my word?"
Estel said very sensibly, "Human adults seem so busy. Not at all like my brothers, who never seem to hurry about anything."
"Because compared to our lifespans, humans are like mayflies, far too brief. And humans wanting to accomplish their goals within limited lives naturally appear very busy." Elladan's magnetic voice came from inside the house as he appeared in the doorway.
He bowed to Tarnes with a hand to his chest, then looked curiously at Melina holding Tarnes's hand and asked politely, "It's an honor to meet you, Lord Tarnes. I am Elladan. My father Elrond asked me to convey his greetings. May I ask how to address this beautiful lady traveling with you, whose voice is like a golden oriole's song?"
Melina didn't release Tarnes's hand but returned Elladan's Golden Tree royal courtesy with one hand, saying warmly, "I'm called Melina. I help Tarnes with all his affairs."
Elladan could hardly miss Melina's feelings for Tarnes and smiled inwardly, though he maintained normal courtesy on the surface.
Just then, urgent "thump thump thump" footsteps came from inside, and Bilbo's short, adorable figure appeared in the doorway, looking excitedly at Tarnes. "Tarnes? How did you know I was here? Wonderful. I just learned some new dishes from the Elves today. You absolutely must stay and try them."
"Uh, alright!"
Tarnes paused, then smiled slightly and nodded in agreement, going along with the situation.