Chapter 371: Elven King's Hall
Chapter 371: Elven King's Hall
Mirkwood had few paths, with most of the forest remaining in its natural, untouched state. However, Liam moved through the woods with ease, keeping pace with the Elves around him.
After a while, the surrounding Elves relaxed their guard, sensing the natural aura emanating from Liam. Neither the humans who had aligned with evil nor the Ogre-Orcs could be so attuned to nature.
Soon, everyone began to chat. Little Puppet and Tauriel hit it off well, and Liam’s stories of his adventures across various worlds fascinated the Elves, who had spent centuries secluded in the forest. Particularly when he recounted how he had used the Power of Nature and Plants to defeat the Evil Undead in one world, their shared sense of purpose and camaraderie grew. Through this conversation, their bonds strengthened rapidly.
Since everyone could travel quickly through the forest, an hour later, Liam noticed a moss-covered stone path beneath his feet.
Stepping onto this path, the Elves seemed much happier, as it signaled they were nearing home. They traversed numerous treacherous valleys, forests, swamps, and streams, finally reaching a swift, six- to seven-meter-wide stream.
The stream was spanned by a narrow stone bridge without railings, and on the other side was a steep stone slope. Directly opposite the bridge stood an ornate stone gate, guarded by several armored Elves wielding spears.
Unlike the typical imagined Elf dwellings, the Elven Court in Mirkwood was an underground structure, built to honor Mithlond, the City of a Thousand Caves.
Soon, under Legolas’s guidance, Liam met the master of this place, Thranduil. Thranduil was a handsome man, dressed in an exquisite silver robe, with a crown of red leaves and berries woven into his golden hair.
After speaking with his son, Thranduil said in a magnetic voice, “Welcome, Friend of Nature. I can see the favor of nature upon you, and I believe your words to be true. As long as you harbor no ill intentions, I agree to trade with you.”
Liam was then led by Legolas and Tauriel to a spacious area where many Elves were coming and going.
“Where are we?” Rose Crystal asked, flying in the air. Perhaps because this world had few creatures capable of flight without wings, and due to her beautiful appearance, the passing Elves looked at her with curiosity, making her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
“This is the Grand Plaza of the Elven King’s Hall. The people usually gather here to socialize and trade what they need. That’s why my father had me bring you here,” Legolas explained.
“So, I can display my goods?” Liam asked. Seeing Legolas nod, Liam began to take out items from various worlds.
Considering the Elves’ preferences, this time the products were not industrial tools. Instead, they were a variety of Mystic Plants and extraordinary materials, along with some high-end luxury items such as porcelain and lacquerware.
Soon, these exotic goods caught the attention of the passing Elves. Liam, not solely motivated by profit, used magic to announce that knowledge, interesting items, or even stories that piqued his interest could be used as trade. Tauriel’s team, along with Legolas, who were idle, were hired by Liam to help set prices in exchange for a set of magical seeds.
Liam found that Sunlight Mushrooms and Sunlight Sunflowers were the most popular items, with many Elves eagerly planting them around their homes. Once they learned how to use Sunlight Crystals, with the aid of their Nature Magic, the underground city was bathed in sunlight within just a few hours.
Liam felt that the Elven King's Hall had completely lost its previous mysterious aura, but Tauriel dismissed the mysterious stillness in Liam's mouth with disdain.
"We elves have always loved nature and sunlight. We only moved our capital underground due to safety concerns after certain incidents. This doesn't mean we enjoy the gloomy environment. The sunlight you brought has made everyone feel like we've returned to the golden age when we lived on the surface. Can't you see more and more people coming out? This clearly shows our preferences."
Indeed, as the sunlight spread further, more and more elves appeared in the vicinity. Eventually, even Thranduil was alerted. After understanding what had happened, Thranduil signed a large order with Liam, almost depleting Liam's stock of Mystic Plants. He realized he could use these Mystic Plants to build a green barrier in Mirkwood, making it bright again.
"But, Thranduil, this forest is so vast. It might take over 100 years to complete such a grand goal", Liam pointed out the biggest flaw in the elf king's plan as he handed over the planting methods and seeds of several plants.
"No worries", the elf king replied cheerfully. "As a future Immortal Being, you should gradually get used to our lifestyle. Otherwise, your days ahead will be very difficult. I believe allowing you to do business is one of the best decisions I've made in the past few centuries. Your arrival has made today the happiest day for my people in centuries."
Following the direction of his finger, every elf's face was lit with joy. Many elves outside had already started singing, dancing, and playing instruments. Several elves also brought food and wine, clearly preparing for a feast.
"It's been so many years since we've been this happy", Legolas remarked. In this atmosphere, Liam and Rose Crystal also joined the celebration.
Unlike a few hours earlier, the underground city, previously full of stone, was now filled with the green plants Liam had brought from several worlds. Combined with the illumination from the Sunlight Crystals, it now felt like being in a forest.
At the elves' invitation, Liam and Rose Crystal enjoyed an absolutely sumptuous feast. Contrary to expectations, the elves here still ate meat. However, all the food was somewhat bland, but the cooks' skills were exceptional (after all, the virtually immortal elves had plenty of time to master various skills), allowing Liam to appreciate the natural flavors of the ingredients.
This trade lasted a whole week, and Liam reaped tremendous benefits. Thranduil granted Liam access to all the city's libraries, and even allowed him to visit the most secret Chamber of Secrets to view the notes and letters left by Celebrimbor when he forged the Three Rings of the Elves.
After recording everything he was interested in, Liam went to the palace to bid farewell to Thranduil. In their previous conversation, Liam learned that Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield had been seen discussing the reclaiming of Lonely Mountain at the Prancing Pony Inn a few days ago. This meant that the events of The Hobbit were about to begin in a year.
Knowing this timeline, Liam decided to explore other places. He felt he could accomplish some things during this time.
(End of Chapter)
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