#353 - The gathering of roadside forts

"So, what's the situation at Isengard?"

Outside the castle, in an open space, the three found something to sit on and started a temporary meeting.

Faced with Gandalf's question, Li Wei recalled and said, "It's very calm, a bit eerie. Saruman isn't there, and there's no sign of the Ringwraiths."

"What's certain is that the Black Men of Dunland garrison there have rebelled and now obey Mordor. I have reason to suspect that the Uruk-hai there are also compromised."

"This is really…"

"Hoist with his own petard," Gandalf offered, providing a fitting phrase for Li Wei.

"I tried to advise him properly, but he wouldn't listen and even tried to attack me."

Aragorn said from the side, "This tells us that even 'wise men' can have their eyes blinded and become foolish."

"Wise men."

Gandalf muttered the word, somewhat disgruntled.

"Saruman is indeed very wise, but the problem is that his wisdom is never used for the right purposes."

"If only he could listen to advice and put aside his arrogant and harsh attitude, things wouldn't have come to this."

As he spoke, Gandalf suddenly fixed his gaze, his eyes landing on the ring on Li Wei's hand.

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

"I was just about to talk to you about that."

Li Wei took off the Ring of Power and tossed it to Gandalf.

The departure of the power made him feel slightly lost, but he quickly adjusted.

"Through this ring, I have some vague feelings, but these feelings are too ambiguous for me. Perhaps you can interpret it."

Gandalf frowned, carefully examining the flawless white Ring of Power in his hand.

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

Pure, flawless, with a hint of violence.

Its compatibility with Saruman was remarkably high.

"This is what I mean by Saruman's wisdom."

He held the ring up to his eyes and examined it, saying, "If we hadn't fought, the Ringwraiths wouldn't have been able to threaten Saruman at all."

"But it's all too late."

"Not yet."

Li Wei also looked at the ring and said, "There's still a chance to make amends—about the guidance I mentioned, do you feel it?"

Gandalf thought for a moment and slowly nodded.

"East, in the east, east of the Misty Mountains, a dark place where the sun doesn't shine."

"More specifically?" Li Wei pressed.

"Not too far, nor too close. There's only one place that fits these characteristics."

Gandalf spoke the name of a place: "Mirkwood, Dol Guldur."

"That's about what I guessed."

Li Wei took the Ring of Power and said, "The Ringwraiths are unlikely to take him back to Mordor. The journey is too far, and the commotion can't be concealed."

"If they crossed any airspace, we would have received news, but neither our scouts nor our allies have seen anything."

"Hmm… it seems the danger level of Dol Guldur needs to be raised a few levels."

"Ah—!"

Just as the three were contemplating their next move, a cry of fear suddenly came from the side.

"What's wrong?"

Li Wei stood up and asked loudly.

"Dragon, there's a dragon!!"

The four hobbits were frantically kicking their legs, rushing behind the three of them.

From a distance, Li Wei could see the little pink dragon's disdain.

It didn't even look at the four of them.

It looked more like the four hobbits had woken it up.

Gandalf protected the four hobbits, saying, "It's alright, don't be afraid. That's not some evil dragon from stories. That's a gentle dragon raised by Li Wei himself. Its name is…"

"Beherdan."

A voice came over.

The taciturn little pink dragon forced old Gandalf to speak.

"Yes, its name is Beherdan."

Gandalf immediately corrected.

Aragorn looked surprised.

"So little… Beherdan can speak. I haven't heard it once in decades."

"It just doesn't like to talk."

Li Wei explained, "Don't underestimate the little pink dragon. It has read and learned as much as you have."

"Moreover, the little pink dragon is a dragon. Dragons have a very strong learning ability. Even if it doesn't go to school, it should have learned a lot just by listening."

Waving away the big claws that the little pink dragon was pulling over, ignoring the little pink dragon's anxious eyes and the shaking of its big head, Li Wei continued:

"And if you think about the dragons recorded in the past, including Smaug, who occupied the Lonely Mountain, and Scatha the Worm, who drove away the dwarves in the Grey Mountains and was killed by the ancestors of the Rohirrim, they could all speak human languages, but no one taught them to speak."

"Little pink dragon?"

It must be said that the hobbits knew how to grasp the key points.

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

The little pink dragon glared at him immediately, but the look wasn't fierce at all, lacking any deterrent power.

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

"Don't call him the little pink dragon. That was his childhood name, and it's no longer appropriate."

"Alright."

Pippin nodded in response, not knowing if he really understood.

But after this, the fear of the little pink dragon dissipated, and they curiously surrounded the little pink dragon, talking to it.

However, it was clear that the little pink dragon didn't seem to want to pay attention to them. It curled up and buried its head in its wings, ignoring whatever the people outside said.

So noisy, it was annoying the dragon to death.

The gray-robed wizard was the most pleasing of all these guests.

The little pink dragon thought, feeling helpless.

The relaxation time under the Mallorn tree was quickly broken.

A ranger returning from the front line approached Li Wei, bringing some news.

The news made Li Wei frown.

After thinking for a moment, he made a decision:

"Abandon Carn Dûm and retreat to the Long Wall."

"That dilapidated fortress, which has lost its magical protection, has little defensive capability. There's no need to defend it."

"Have everyone retreat. I'll personally go and see what's going on."

"What's wrong?"

Noticing the change in Li Wei's expression, Gandalf got up and came over.

"It's still news from the northern Waste snowfields. The wargs and trolls active north of Angmar are increasing, and they can be seen almost everywhere."

"And besides these things, some very strange and eerie fellows have appeared."

"What?"

"Orcs."

"Orcs, what's so surprising about that?"

Gandalf was puzzled.

"It's just that Orcs are indeed nothing to be surprised about."

Li Wei turned his head, signaling the ranger beside him to speak.

"They wear corrupt and dilapidated armor, but they are more ferocious than any Orcs I've ever seen."

The ranger said to the two of them, "Those Orcs in the snowfields look no different from ordinary Orcs, but I always feel that they have no reason. Although Orcs are all ferocious and violent, the enemies of the past could at least communicate."

"But these Orcs in the northern Waste are more like madmen."