"Mithrandir, my friend, what brings you to the Woodland Realm?"
In the magnificent great hall of the Woodland Realm's palace, Thranduil greeted Gandalf while gracefully descending the marble steps, ensuring his guest wouldn't need to crane his neck upward during their conversation.
"Nothing of great urgency, Your Majesty. I'm simply passing through to gather some information."
"Oh? What do you wish to learn?"
"I would like to ask you about recent activities at Dol Guldur."
Gandalf spoke in normal tones at first, then took two deliberate steps closer, lowering his voice to a confidential whisper:
"And regarding Saruman, this is a personal question I'd like to pose. Has he visited Dol Guldur recently?"
Thranduil studied Gandalf with penetrating intensity.
"No. After the assault on Dol Guldur not long ago, he has never returned to that accursed place."
"Though that might change in the future, since the shadow being driven from Dol Guldur is also a very recent development."
"If he or anything else of significance arrives, I will inform you immediately."
Gandalf nodded with genuine gratitude and sincerely expressed his thanks.
Obviously, compared to that White Wizard who only sought wisdom while never repaying others' generosity, anyone with even slightly discerning judgment would choose to trust this humble Gray Wizard far more readily.
After concluding this sensitive topic, Thranduil returned to Gandalf's earlier inquiry, saying:
"Dol Guldur shows no unusual activity worth noting. My scouts have been monitoring it continuously. After Sauron's departure, the orc forces scattered like leaves in a storm, and no dark creatures currently occupy the fortress."
"I see. That covers everything I wanted to ask."
After delivering this report, Gandalf remained standing in place without moving toward the exit.
Thranduil observed him with growing curiosity, considered the situation thoughtfully, then said:
"Since you've traveled all this way, Mithrandir, why not remain here for a few days as our honored guest?"
"Gladly."
Gandalf agreed immediately without the slightest hesitation, as if he had been eagerly waiting for precisely these words.
This eager acceptance made Thranduil even more intrigued by his guest's unusual behavior.
"This is quite unlike your customary style. I assumed you would depart hastily after gathering intelligence."
"Is there something in the Woodland that particularly concerns you?"
One corner of Gandalf's weathered mouth curved upward slightly as he replied with obvious cheerfulness:
"Something that concerns me deeply, there is indeed, but he hasn't arrived yet."
"Hasn't arrived yet?"
"Yes, but it should be soon."
Gandalf gazed eastward with expectant eyes, his vision seeming to pierce through the hall's stone walls and the towering mountains beyond them, settling somewhere deep in the forest's mysterious depths.
"My intuition tells me something significant will happen here."
"An event not to be missed."
Thranduil regarded Gandalf with resigned understanding.
"A wizard's pronouncements are always like rolling thunder on the distant horizon, foretelling the arrival of something that demands serious attention."
"I hope what you speak of isn't some terrible calamity."
"No, definitely not. I'd stake my beloved pipe on it."
After their brief but meaningful exchange, Thranduil gestured gracefully, and the Woodland Realm's aide approached with swift efficiency to escort Gandalf to comfortable guest quarters.
Not long after Gandalf's conversation with the Woodland King had concluded, in a place within Mirkwood completely shrouded by unnatural shadows, firelight flickered sporadically through the gloom. Severed limbs and charred flesh lay scattered across the forest floor like grotesque decorations. Large patches of ground were slick with viscous fluid that had burst from countless spider corpses.
Stepping on the mess felt exactly like walking across slime blocks.
[Title Obtained: Spider-bane]
The enchanted long sword reflected cold light from some unknown source, piercing the darkness. Though the illumination was a barely perceptible weak radiance, in the spiders' compound eyes it appeared unusually bright and threatening. A single glimpse seemed capable of blinding them permanently.
The surviving spiders had completely lost the courage to face this terrible sword and its merciless wielder. From this day forward, the appearance of either would send them into uncontrollable trembling.
"The path flows much more smoothly now."
After this sword-mediated negotiation, when Levi cleared spider webs blocking forest paths, the arachnids never again emerged to voice objections or mount resistance.
It wasn't until long after Levi had departed and crossed the Enchanted River that the remaining spiders dared to tentatively emerge from their hiding places, carefully re-weaving their webs with nervous haste.
"Your Majesty, Levi Stonecraft has arrived."
Almost the instant Levi reached the main entrance of the king's magnificent palace, a guard rushed back to deliver his report. To save precious time, he omitted all the impressive titles and legendary achievements that typically preceded Levi's name.
"Quite a remarkable number of friends have been visiting recently."
Thranduil remarked with casual interest, then reflected more carefully and felt something significant was developing.
Could the matter Gandalf had cryptically mentioned involve Levi?
Considering this possibility, he rose from his throne and walked purposefully toward the main entrance.
Gandalf made the identical movement, though in truth, rather than suddenly deciding to move, he had been positioned by the entrance for quite some time.
Old Gandalf sat comfortably on a small tree stump near the palace's main gates, contentedly smoking his pipe. Almost at the first instant the great doors swung open, he directed his keen gaze toward the approaching figure.
When he clearly identified the visitor, he couldn't suppress a knowing nod of acknowledgment.
"Gandalf."
Levi expressed genuine surprise at the unexpected encounter.
"I didn't anticipate seeing you here. How was your investigation in the Anduin valley?"
"Not particularly productive."
Gandalf carefully tucked away his pipe and rose to walk alongside Levi with familiar companionship.
"I suspect that accursed thing is no longer hidden in that river valley, and moreover, it is most likely not lost in the sea either."
"I share that assessment," Levi replied with agreement.
"There's also another troubling matter concerning Saruman, the White Wizard you encountered in Rivendell. I recently visited his tower and discovered some rather disturbing things. I haven't mentioned this to anyone yet..."
"Greetings, Levi, my valued ally. How have you been faring recently?"
Halfway through his confidential revelation, a clear voice suddenly rang out from the distance. Both men looked up to see Thranduil approaching with swift, elegant strides while offering his warm greeting.
Seeing the king personally emerge to welcome him at the main entrance, Levi felt genuinely surprised by such honor. He responded with appropriate courtesy:
"Quite well, thank you. Your Majesty also appears to be in excellent spirits. I imagine something particularly good has happened recently."
"Some genuinely good things have indeed occurred."
Thranduil smiled with obvious satisfaction and nodded meaningfully, as if intentionally displaying some source of private joy.
Gandalf beside them truly couldn't discern anything particularly different. He continued the conversation diplomatically:
"Forgive me for not noticing immediately, but your complexion seems remarkably improved compared to when we last met."
Although Gandalf had failed to observe the subtle change, Levi's eyes were exceptionally sharp and observant.
He was all too familiar with that small red flower adorning the king's brow.
"I hope such good fortune will continue to flourish."
He spoke these words with deep, meaningful undertones.
After exchanging simple pleasantries, the three companions soon found themselves seated around an ornate table, studying each other with curious interest.
All seemed to possess things they wanted to discuss, but none felt quite ready to speak first.
Finally, Levi broke the contemplative atmosphere, retrieving a detailed map to display before Thranduil.
Gandalf also craned his neck with obvious curiosity to examine the charts.
"Actually, I've been planning to construct a road recently, a major thoroughfare from Dale to Roadside Fort. These are my two primary territories, and I hope they can be properly connected."
"By the way, Roadside Fort is located here."
Levi pointed to a specific spot west of the Misty Mountains.
Thranduil mentally calculated the optimal road-building route, then recalled a long-neglected pathway in Mirkwood, gradually guessing his ally's purpose for this diplomatic visit.
He observed thoughtfully: "This distance doesn't appear close at all. It's certainly not a small engineering project."
"Indeed, it's far from a small undertaking."
Levi explained with careful precision: "As you can clearly see, the road I want to build may need to pass through the northern half of Mirkwood, which happens to fall within the Woodland Realm's sovereign jurisdiction."
"That's exactly why I've come to speak with you personally."