A new year arrived.
In the second year after the 'Kings' Tour,' early spring—the old Rhovanion outpost was completed, East Bight had become covered with greenery, and the forest's gap was filled.
From then on, the name 'East Bight' passed into history. The world map welcomed an update.
Mirkwood was whole again.
However, the cartographers didn't yet understand one principle: when a certain great lord decided to expand, map updates came very quickly indeed.
After completing the old Rhovanion outpost, construction teams continued pushing south along the old Rhovanion Road. As they went, they refined the road, giving it the Free Peoples' characteristic style.
In the future, people passing through could tell at a glance where this road led.
Mid-year, the construction team discovered at the North Undeep a campfire site, a tree with yellowed leaves, and a small house.
"This is it—the lord's marker."
With the campfire camp as their center, the construction team immediately began work. Various facilities and buildings rose from the ground one after another at remarkable speed.
Before long, this became a settlement of considerable scale. Unlike other places, facilities here were more functional, basically all serving transportation and engineering construction.
Of course, one could definitely live here—living conditions were quite good, just not as lively as other towns, nor as prosperous.
When the North Undeep camp had reached a certain scale and the great bridge from North Undeep to Rohan's Wold had begun construction, orcs came upon hearing the news.
They monitored the North Undeep for some time. After discovering that person truly wasn't here, some orcs began scheming.
"It's all civilians—no military at all."
"Haha, only some builders and road crews..."
"Let them work in my belly!"
"I can't stand it anymore—kill them!"
After again confirming that person wasn't here and the North Undeep indeed only had construction teams, not even a single guard squad, the orcs launched a night raid.
Then they watched all construction team members switch to armor and take up weapons in an extremely short time.
They transformed on the spot into a well-trained army.
The engineering director transformed into a rather talented military commander.
That night the orcs screamed quite miserably.
"Retreat quickly, retreat—we fell into a trap!"
Fell into a trap?
"No."
The engineering director—or rather, temporary military commander—shook his head, refuting the orc leader's panicked words.
"This is just the most basic quality of a Free Peoples citizen."
"All units, listen—counterattack!"
The engineering team counter-chased the orcs, driving them past the South Undeep all the way to the rugged hills near the Argonath before stopping.
This terrain was truly unsuitable for pursuit.
Cross these rugged hills and you'd reach the Dead Marshes—too dangerous and unnecessary.
"Withdraw!"
The engineering team withdrew. The orcs were thoroughly beaten senseless.
"What kind of people were they exactly?"
Intelligence about Free Peoples citizens updated significantly.
"When launching attacks on any Free Cities residents, preparation must meet formal battle standards."
"Must treat every citizen as regular military soldiers."
After one battle at the North Undeep, the orcs became remarkably docile.
North Undeep was henceforth included in the territorial range.
By year's end, it had already formed a new small city with walls and various defensive measures.
Inside the city and surrounding areas grew many trees—lush and verdant from afar, like an oasis in the desert.
Though the color wasn't perfectly healthy, with leaves and grass slightly yellowed, it had its own unique charm.
Simultaneously, the bridge to Rohan was also connected, and the South Undeep camp also began construction.
Residents proposed renaming these two places.
North Undeep would be called River North City, South Undeep called River South City.
River North and River South.
Hearing these two names, Levi, who was drinking tea, nearly choked.
Seeing Levi probably wasn't very satisfied with these names, renaming the North and South Undeeps was temporarily shelved. The namers couldn't figure out why the lord wouldn't adopt these names.
Clearly they had the highest support rate.
Year 2960: South Undeep construction completed. Between the north and south cities appeared a major road paved along the river. The two cities and various roads centered on North Undeep, connecting north to the old Rhovanion Road, leading directly to Dale.
Southward, a great bridge led directly to Rohan's Wold. The Wold connected to Rohan's Great Road, which led straight to Rohan's capital.
Later, this sturdy bridge connecting the Wold and North Undeep was called the 'North Bridge.'
Past North Bridge, entering the Wold meant Rohan's territory. Construction projects here might be slightly more difficult, but fortunately many things were already in place—no need for engineering teams to build from scratch.
When the great bridge was completed, the gap between Rohan and many northern regions was bridged. Henceforth, personnel movement became incredibly smooth.
The first merchant caravan thus crossed the bridge and river, climbed the Wold, traveled to Rohan's many towns, then headed south along the Great Road all the way to Rohan's capital.
After caravans made the circuit, everyone knew of this new passage's existence.
The Great Road connecting Rohan's north and south became frequently traveled.
Perhaps many who'd never left their homeland still didn't know where the Free Peoples' various cities specifically were, but they knew to reach North Bridge and take the Great Road.
Past North Bridge lay one of the Free Peoples' many thriving cities.
With the establishment of North and South Undeep's two small cities plus the old Rhovanion outpost, the land from Dale to the Brown Lands' edge was all encompassed in Levi's territorial range.
The Free Peoples thus gained a new administrative district: Rhovanion District.
This area mainly referred to a patch of land east of Mirkwood and two cities in the Brown Lands.
Anduin Valley, Dale District, Rhovanion, Roadside Keep, Riverside Keep...
From this point, the Free Peoples' overall territorial area was no less than Gondor or Rohan—even larger.
Unknowingly, it had surpassed both, becoming Middle-earth's most territorially vast human power.
Perhaps removing the limiting word 'human' would still be accurate.
Levi also gained a new title:
[Lord of the North]
Northern humans lived prosperous, peaceful lives under his protection, while his allies also benefited from their prosperity—at least they were no longer troubled by material shortages.
Actually, due to his extraordinarily high reputation, some people privately and quietly called him 'High King of the North.' But since he himself never showed interest in coronation or kingship, everyone just used this title privately without spreading it too widely.
"This is truly... quite reassuring."
In the Woodland Realm's palace, Thranduil looked at the brand-new map, nodding slightly with approval.
Now all land east of Mirkwood and west of Dorwinion was Levi's territory.
Within this territory, to the north were Roadway Town, Lake-town, and Dale; to the south were Rhovanion Outpost (actually its scale also compared to full cities, with even more garrison forces than ordinary cities), plus three fully armed cities at the North and South Undeeps blocking any approach.
Whether Mordor or the Easterlings wanted to attack, they'd have to face at least three of these six incredibly solid cities before threatening Mirkwood behind them, or the Lonely Mountain beyond.
But to capture these six cities—how easy was that?
Setting aside their formidable defenses, don't forget the nearby allies.
Excluding those too far to provide timely support, just these nearby powers alone: Mirkwood, Erebor, Rohan, the Iron Hills...
Once fighting started, none would sit idle.
Moreover, support speed was incredibly fast—within days reinforcements could reach the front lines.
If enemies didn't immediately capture the city under attack, then just wait—they'd suffer terribly from the combined response.