Sheyan smiled gently at the agitated Segimli and sat him down onto the stool beside him.
At present, Segimly looked exceptionally uneasy and his nostrils flared like an ox as he huffed vigorously. He continued stammering.
"Y-y-you-you"re s-ssay-saying...."
Sheyan gestured for the sullen looking and crippled bartender to pour a gla.s.s of wine. He then placed it before Segimli and chuckled.
"Refrain from being anxious my friend. We have the luxury of time, come, drink this first."
Segimli panted heavily and regained his breath before drinking the mug of wine in one gulp. However, his countenance instantly changed spectacularly. It was as though his facial features had contracted in together, as the dwarf"s braided beard trembled incessantly.
A full eight seconds later, he exclaimed resolutely.
"For the love of Mahal!! I sincerely beg you to never allow such a devilish drink from sullying my tongue, even if my longevity of a hundred years is on the line. This is practically defaming the good name of wine!"
"But it cured your stutter." Sheyan smiled and continued. "I know what you"re thinking. Thus, I can now officially answer you. Yes, and I am not deceiving you."
"You really can find enough mithril and adamantium??" Segimli inhaled a breath of chilling air to remove the sour taste in his mouth.
Sheyan nodded and answered.
"Indeed my dear Segimli. If I"m not wrong, this the sixth time you asked me that, and I"ve answered exactly six times. I don"t wish to encounter a seventh time."
"What do you want in return?" Segimli inquired urgently.
"Any powerful weapon regarding spatial magic!" Sheyan declared. "The more the merrier."
"What about the mithril and adamantium?" Segimli scratched his hand in embarra.s.sment and replied. "Although we are friends, but, this, the clan elders do not know you. Therefore, what if, err....."
"I know you have your doubts and worries, after all, my name is unknown throughout Middle-earth. Hence, I"ve prepared some essentials as keepsake." Sheyan calmly a.s.sured and stood up. He brought Segimli into a rear room and opened a seemingly mediocre-looking chest.
Instantly, a warm and gentle glow permeated into Segimli"s pupils. He began stuttering once again.
"M-M-Mother Earth! The tiara of that twilight elf. To forge that requires immense efforts and even three immortal divine arts have been embedded onto it. The jadeite and magic prowess employed to craft this is indeed a grand masterpiece of art."
"How much do you reckon this is worth?" Sheyan calmly asked.
Segmili bluntly replied.
"A town in Gondor or any normal flouris.h.i.+ng town of ten thousand."
Sheyan laughed and continued.
"Good. Take this as collateral, let your clansmen decide if they trust me. When it is time to gather the spatial magic equipments and you realize that I am a liar, then retain this precious tiara as recompense."
"Then we have an agreement, my friend." Segimli declared forthrightly. Us dwarves possess an artifact that can create a teleportation magic array, which is the blessing of Mahal. You will get what you desire in three days. Wait! You didn"t steal this tiara from the twilight elf did you?"
Sheyan smiled wryly and shook his head.
"Do you think I possess such herculean might to wrestle this from a twilight elf?"
Still, this young dwarf issued a stubborn look of disagreement on his face.
Fortunately, Sheyan was long prepared. After clapping, the elder elf, Annenia Cyathea, and a few other elves marched over. They bowed politely at Sheyan and announced to the young dwarf.
"The twilight elf"s tiara in Protector"s hand was personally given by lordess Sunstrider. There is no doubt that he is innocent."
Sheyan glanced at Segimli and added.
"If I were you, I would be preparing to gather the spatial magic equipments. Otherwise, my friend, you will be faced with an awkward predicament of exchanging something not of worth. I"ll be back in a week with your desired mithril and adamantium."
"Fine fine, I"ll go contact my clan." Segimli shrugged his shoulders helplessly. Yet just when he was about to leave the tavern, he swung around abruptly and inquired worriedly. "You really can find enough mithril and adamantium??"
Sheyan imploded within. "...this is the seventh time! Did you treat what I said just now as bulls.h.i.+t! Lil" s.h.i.+t!!"
Half an hour later, Sheyan and Reef led a group of elves and finally arrived before the enormous oaken tree, sacred tree Sindalor.
Not only was the hidden expert, Annenia Cyathea, part of this elf group, the formidable s.p.a.ce wizard Elder Desirese Roots was also present.
Sheyan pressed his palm against the sacred tree Sindalor and communicated with Melody.
"Elrond and Glorfindel is presently hard pressed from all sides. According to sources, Elf King Thranduil of Mirkwood and Galadriel, Lady of Lothlórien, are both journeying over due to Elrond"s injuries. Moreover, various major factions of Middle-earth have dispatched renowned physicians to Rivendell. Therefore, your safety is guaranteed at least before this event concludes!"
"Mn." Melody replied with her typical delicate voice. "I believe you, my protector. I have been unceasingly longing to see you, to lean against your shoulder."
"I long for that too." Sheyan sincerely replied. "Yet this opportunity is fleeting. Hence, you must bear with this grievance and remain in Rivendell to attract the attention of others. With this chance, I will be free to carry out something of utmost importance. After accomplis.h.i.+ng that, I will return to reunite with you."
Following that, Sheyan turn around and issued to the group of elves.
"Our destination is where our Lordess, Melody Sunstrider, was taken captive previously; a place used to breed Uruk-hais with an impressive wizard tower erected there. Can anyone identify it?"
Next, the reply he received left Sheyan in great shock. This was because nearly most of them had been there, including Elf Elders Annenia and Desirese. It was a h.e.l.lish place they personally devastated.
According to the elves, the journey there would require roughly a day and a half. Sheyan was immediately overwhelmed with shock. The memory of his imprisonment during the previous visit to this world was still fresh in his mind. After being captured by the orcs and Uruk-hais, they had marched for at least two and a half days before reaching Saruman"s wizard tower!
However, this duration was actually reduced to a day and a half! This was extremely astonis.h.i.+ng to him.
At this moment, Melody offloaded another surprise onto Sheyan.
"Perhaps this journey can be shortened a little."
She then broke off the spirit connection between her and Sheyan. Following that, one could distinctly sense a flow of magical prowess swiftly condensing atop the sacred tree Sindalor. This archaic and ma.s.sive tree begun inheriting Melody"s strength and channelled it incessantly through the roots and into the surrounding ground.
A second later, an over ten meters tall English Yew tree nearby begun swaying. Then, it dislodged itself from the soft soil. One could observe its tree bark wrinkling up as branches rapidly extended forth. Dazzling white rays pierced out endlessly from its bark as the tree"s body transformed.
A mystifying power congealed around the soil and finally streamed into the roots of this English Yew tree.
A mere ten or so seconds later, a herculean yet meek giant ent stood before Sheyan and the elves. Its leafy arms drooped down as it stood amicably.
"This is the ent Farrell. He will a.s.sist you, and the journey to and fro will only require two days. More crucially, although that sinister encampment is in ruins, those vile orcs and Uruk-hais still dwell within the Misty Mountains. Sir Farrell will be a good aid against the forces of evil."
Melody"s voice carried a sliver of fatigue and a strand of gratification; evidently, she was happy to contribute a little to this operation.
The rest of the elves then cheered unanimously.
"The eternal sunlight guide us always!"
Following that, everyone climbed onto the branches and shoulders of the giant ent, Farrell, and utilized dangling vines to tie around themselves.
Afterwards, Farrell proceeded with large strides towards the ruins of Saruman"s wizard tower with astonis.h.i.+ng speed.