Chapter 346 Puzzled
After a while.
Sam sat obediently in the back while Frodo whispered with Gandalf.
"Sam has always been interested in stories about elves. He, Pippin and Merry have all sneaked a peek at Uncle Bilbo's book."
"Forgive him, Gandalf. I am sure he did not mean it."
Gandalf nodded, showing his trust.
That's true. Sam was the child that I watched grow up. How could this naive fat hobbit have any bad intentions?
They both looked back.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Sam quickly asked: "Frodo, are you leaving?"
His eyes were a little wet.
"In fact, we had a premonition a long time ago. Not only me, but also Pippin, Merry, and Fredegar. We always felt that one day you would suddenly leave without even saying hello..."
Listening to Sam's story, Frodo smiled helplessly.
"Good Sam..."
"Now you don't have to separate."
Unlike Frodo, who seemed to have learned this kind of relaxation from no one, Gandalf remained tense.
He stared at Sam and said, "Samwise Gamgee, now that you know this, I can't let you go easily."
"You know, this is a matter of great importance."
So at daybreak, three people, one adult and two children, set out from Hobbiton and headed east.
"You two must be careful. The enemy has many eyes and ears, including birds flying in the sky and beasts walking on the ground..."
"Be sure to hide it, Frodo, and do not wear it, or evil things will be attracted to it."
"This ring always wants to return to its owner. It can't wait to be found."
Patting Frodo on the shoulder, Gandalf mounted his horse and prepared to leave first.
"Wait, Gandalf, where are you going?" Frodo asked from behind.
"I have to inform other allies. This matter is of great importance. We must gather opinions and discuss it carefully."
"I will come to you when I finish my work. You must not wander around before I come back."
"Also, when necessary, you can seek help from the rangers. It doesn't matter if you can't recognize which ones they are. If you really can't do it, just shout Levi's name and the rangers will pop out to find you."
"Well... As for the attitude, that's another story. Anyway, nothing will happen."
After giving all the necessary instructions, Gandalf suddenly rode away.
Frodo looked at Gandalf who was almost out of sight and exclaimed: "That horse is much faster than any pony in the Shire."
"I agree." Sam nodded.
After a moment, he added, "I just don't know if he will sprain his waist."
"Maybe it has flashed several times."
As the two hobbits walked, they talked behind their backs about the old wizard who had just left.
And Gandalf...
He travelled southwards, along the great road paved with stone bricks, until he reached Isengard.
Saruman happened to be free at that time, and the two of them strolled in the orchard together.
Gandalf told him all the news he knew.
Saruman frowned and confirmed again: "Is this true?"
"Absolutely."
Gandalf replied: "Levi and I discovered it together, so there is no mistake."
"That's pretty serious."
Saruman frowned instinctively.
"Now where is the ring? Where is it? It won't be in Levi's hands, right?"
"Of course not. It is in the hands of a hobbit now and is being kept well."
"That's good."
Saruman breathed a sigh of relief.
"If Levi were to get together with the One Ring, I dare not imagine what he would do."
Gandalf shook his head and spoke for Levi, "But we should still give him some trust. Levi and I have both seen the One Ring firsthand, and he did not show much emotional fluctuation."
"Humph, who knows if there are surging desires underneath his calm appearance."
Saruman expressed disdain.
Gandalf glanced at him and felt that this man might be introducing himself.
"And you, Gandalf."
"I?"
"The ring has been right under your nose for decades, but you didn't notice it at all. I have to wonder if you've been poisoned by tobacco."
Gandalf just curled his lips at this.
"But it's still in time. We still have the strength to fight Sauron. Levi's army is..."
"Oh, Levi, you only know how to rely on him?" Saruman mocked again.
"Don't you have any other way except relying on the power of others?"
"I…"
Gandalf was about to open his mouth to refute, but was interrupted by Saruman's action.
"My friend, I have to tell you something."
"Although due to the protection of the Lord of the North, the minions of the enemy have not been able to cross the line of defense over the years, Sauron also seems to be very low-key and his presence is not strong..."
"But he has made some progress over the years. From what I have discovered, he has already quietly recovered most of his strength, which is by no means comparable to what he was a few decades ago."
"Even without the Supreme Ring, even if he cannot possess a physical body, his spiritual power has almost recovered to its strongest point."
As they discussed, they gradually entered the tower and climbed all the way to the room on the top floor.
"His sight can penetrate most of Middle-earth, that huge eye surrounded by flames. The army he gathered is difficult to resist even if the Free Cities, Gondor, and Rohan are tied together."
"That's not necessarily the case." Gandalf disagreed.
"No, Gandalf, you know what I mean. You have also discovered the ancient evil in the North Wastes, right?"
"Don't think that I am isolated from the news because I stay in the tower all day. I know everything. Moreover, I have made a lot of preparations."
"Prepare?"
Gandalf caught a key word.
"Yes, ready."
Saruman stood up, opened the door, and invited Gandalf to go out to the terrace.
"I am not like you, Gandalf. You only rely on the strength of others, but I am different. I will use my own strength and achievements to directly defeat Sauron so that he will know who is the real strong one."
"Saruman, you..."
Roar! A roar of excitement came from under the tower, and a large number of soldiers walked out of the fortress and gathered in the open space under the tower.
"Darklander."
Gandalf recognized those people and frowned:
"You have allied yourself with the Dunlendings? They are not easy to deal with, and they are not necessarily keen on fighting against Sauron."
"These guys have a precedent. When faced with Sauron's invasion, they once surrendered to him."
"That is not your concern, Gandalf. They serve me faithfully now, under a blood oath."
"Okay, I believe you." Gandalf nodded.
"But even so, the Dunlendings are not a huge force. Even if they come out in full force, all of them combined cannot defeat half of Rohan's cavalry."
"Perhaps you are right."
Saruman glanced at Gandalf and said, "But I have more cards up my sleeve."
"It's time to show you the results of my research over the past few decades."
"Come out, my soldiers!"
The thunderous demonic sound watered the earth and spread deep into the ground.
Gandalf looked down, his eyes gradually widening in disbelief.
Groups of tall and strong orcs were seen walking out of the forest and from underground passages, and gathering under the tower in an orderly manner.
The number...at least tens of thousands.
There is a white handprint above their heads.
"Saruman, Saruman!!!"
They shouted the name of Saruman and showed their loyalty to the white figure at the top of the tower as if they were worshipping a god.
"Saruman!"
Gandalf shouted as well, but his voice was full of anger and confusion.
"How could you do something that goes against the nature of living beings?"
(End of this chapter)
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