Chapter 353: Gathering at the Roadside Castle

"So, how is the situation in Isengard?"

In an open space outside the castle, the three of them found something to sit down and rest, and held an impromptu meeting.

Facing Gandalf's question, Levi recalled and said, "It was very peaceful and a little weird. Saruman was not there, and there was no sign of the Ringwraiths."

"What is certain is that the defenders of Dunlún have rebelled, and now they obey Mordor. I have reason to suspect that something is wrong with Uruk as well."

“This is really…”

"You reap what you sow." Gandalf used a more appropriate word for Levi.

"I tried to persuade him, but he didn't listen and even wanted to fight me."

Aragorn said, "This incident tells us that even wise men can become foolish when their eyes are covered."

"A wise man."

Gandalf muttered the word indignantly.

"Saruman is indeed very wise, but the trouble is that his wisdom is never used in the right way."

"If he had listened to others' advice and put aside his arrogant and mean attitude, things wouldn't have come to this."

As he spoke, Gandalf's eyes suddenly fixed on Levi's hand.

"If I'm not mistaken, that's Saruman's ring?"

"I was just about to tell you about this."

Levi took off the Star Ring and threw it into Gandalf's hand.

The loss of his power made him feel a little lost, but he quickly adapted to it.

"I have some vague sense through this ring, but this sense is too vague for me. Perhaps you can interpret it."

Gandalf frowned and looked carefully at the pure white Star Ring on his hand.

There was a familiar power in the ring, the same power that had brought him out of the tower.

Pure, flawless, with a hint of brutality.

The adaptability with Saruman can be said to be quite high.

"That is what I said, the wisdom of Saruman."

He held the ring in front of his eyes and looked at it carefully. He said, "If we had not fought at that time, the Ringwraiths would not have been a threat to Saruman at all."

"It's a pity that it's too late."

"It's not too late."

Levi also looked at the ring and said, "There is still a chance to make up for it - did you feel the guidance I mentioned?"

Gandalf thought for a moment and nodded slowly.

"East, in the east, east of the Misty Mountains, a dark place where the sun never shines."

"Can you be more specific?" Levi asked.

"Not too far, not too close either. There's only one place that meets these characteristics."

Gandalf uttered a place name: "Black Forest, Dol Guldur."

"It's about the same as I guessed."

Levi took the Star Ring and said, "It is unlikely that the Ringwraiths will take him back to Mordor. The journey is too long and there is no way to conceal the movement."

"If they were crossing a certain airspace, there would be news, but neither our scouts nor our allies saw anything."

"Hmm...it seems that the danger level of Dol Guldur needs to be raised to a higher level."

"ah--!"

Just as the three were thinking about their next move, a frightened cry suddenly came from the side.

"What's wrong?"

Levi stood up and asked loudly.

"Dragon, there is a dragon!!"

The four hobbits were so anxious that they kicked their legs and ran behind the three men.

Even from a distance, Levi could see the disgust in the little pinkie's eyes.

He didn't even look at the four people.

It looked as if the four hobbits had woken him up.

Gandalf protected the four people and said, "Okay, don't be afraid. That's not the evil dragon in the story. It's a kind dragon raised by Levi himself. His name is Little..."

"Behrdan."

A voice came over.

Old Gandalf was forced to speak by the taciturn Pinkie.

"Well, his name is Behrdan."

Gandalf corrected immediately.

Aragorn looked surprised.

"It turns out that little...Behrdan can speak. I haven't heard it once in decades."

"He just doesn't like to talk."

Li Wei explained: "Don't underestimate Xiaofen. He has read as many books and learned as you."

"Besides, Xiaofen is a dragon, and dragons have strong learning abilities. Even if he doesn't go to school, he should be able to learn it if he listens to it often."

While waving his hand to push away the big claws that Xiaofen was pulling at him, ignoring Xiaofen's anxious eyes and shaking head, Levi continued:

"And think about the dragons that have been recorded in the past, including Smaug who once occupied the Lonely Mountain, and Skarsa the Worm who drove away the dwarves in the Grey Mountains and was killed by the ancestors of the Rohan. They can all speak human language, but no one has ever taught them to speak."

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"Little Pink?"

I have to say that some of the Hobbits know how to grasp the key points.

"Is that your name too?" Pippin turned his head immediately.

Xiaofen also glared at him at the first moment, but that look was not fierce at all and had no deterrent effect at all.

Gandalf stood up and said, "Show some respect, Pippin. Beheldan is much older than you. He is your elder."

"Don't call him Xiaofen. That was his nickname when he was a child. It's no longer applicable now."

"All right."

Pippin nodded in response, but it was unclear whether he really heard it.

But after this battle, the fear of Xiaofen disappeared. They gathered around Xiaofen curiously and talked to him.

But it was obvious that Xiaofen didn't seem to want to pay attention to them. He just turned around and buried his head in his wings, pretending not to hear anything people outside said.

It's so noisy and annoying.

The most pleasing person among this group of guests is the gray-robed wizard.

Xiaofen thought about it and felt helpless.

The relaxing time under the Maolong tree was soon broken.

A ranger who returned from the front line found Levi and brought some news.

These news made Levi frown.

After thinking for a moment, he made a decision:

"Abandon Carn-dûm and retreat to the Wall."

"That dilapidated fortress that has lost its witchcraft protection has little defensive capabilities. There is no need to guard it there."

"Let everyone withdraw. I will go there myself to see what is going on."

"What's wrong?"

Noticing the change in Levi's expression, Gandalf stood up and moved closer.

"It's still news from the Northern Wasteland Snowfields. There are more and more demon wolves and ogres active north of Angmar. They can be seen almost everywhere."

"And in addition to these things, there are some very strange and weird guys who appear."

"What?"

"Oak."

"Oak, what's so surprising about this?"

Gandalf was puzzled.

"It's just that there's really nothing surprising about Oak."

Levi turned his head and signaled the ranger next to him to speak.

"They wear armor that is old and corrupt, but they are more vicious than any Orcs ever seen."

The ranger said to the two, "Those orcs on the snowy plains look no different from ordinary orcs, but I always feel that they have no sense. Although orcs all look ferocious and violent, they can at least communicate with their former enemies."

"And these orcs in the northern wastes are more like madmen."

(End of this chapter)