The Tarnished in LOTR with Elden Ring

Night had fallen, but the Golden Tree territory remained brilliantly illuminated.

Within Stormveil Castle, which usually slept in tranquility, the folk songs sung by the Dwarves now echoed.

The melodies drifted from windows flickering with dim yellow light, with musical notes blooming in the night sky, flying toward the streets and into the heavens.

Tarnes loved these Dwarves—they seemed perpetually full of energy, naturally entertaining, bringing joy to people.

In the lord's hall, Thorin watched his compatriots, who had gotten carried away with drinking and were now standing on dining tables and clapping along to the songs, and said somewhat embarrassedly to Tarnes, "Sorry, my kinsmen are causing you trouble."

Tarnes looked at the lively hall with a face full of smiles, saying without concern, "It's fine, Thorin. This city hasn't been this lively in a long time—let them make merry a while longer. Besides, the tables they're dancing on are cleared of food, so they're not wasting any grain."

Thorin glanced at his Dwarf compatriots, who had begun playing throwing games, accurately tossing fruits, cheese, and ham into each other's mouths, and slowly smiled, "My kinsmen haven't relaxed like this outside the Blue Mountains in a long time, Tarnes."

Then he saw Kili wanting to join the Dwarves' food game, and his expression changed slightly.

Fortunately, Fili, noticing Thorin's expression, promptly pulled Kili back. While raising his wine cup, he elbowed Kili in the waist. Kili looked down and saw Fili's meaningful glance, then glanced toward Thorin before immediately sitting back down and pretending to diligently attack the bacon on his plate.

Only then did Thorin's expression return to normal.

The lord's hall hosting the banquet contained not only Dwarves but also some Golden People and Mills' group.

As for the Elves sent by Elrond to help, they had not participated in this banquet.

Tarnes had gone to invite them, and the Elves had originally agreed readily, but after hearing Thorin's name, they politely declined Tarnes' invitation.

"We don't want discordant voices to appear at your banquet, respected wizard," the lead Elf explained gently. "The Durin's folk, led by Thorin Oakenshield, once had conflicts with another branch of our people far away in Mirkwood. The Dwarves' stubbornness and prejudice would certainly treat us as compatriots of Mirkwood, so to prevent such misunderstandings, we won't disturb your banquet. May you have a pleasant evening, Lord Tarnes."

Therefore, aside from the Elves, only humans and Dwarves attended the banquet.

The demi-humans remained in their own caves—rather than attending human-hosted banquets in sturdy castles at night, they preferred resting in deep, spacious caverns.

During this time, Tarnes hadn't forgotten the demi-human petition Kenneth Haight had submitted before going to Lond Daer.

Not long after his return, he had summoned a demi-human queen.

This demi-human queen, whose standing height rivaled that of a troll, very rationally expressed her gratitude to Tarnes before happily leading the demi-humans to settle peacefully in the countryside near Moen City.

If one could call it peaceful settlement when the demi-humans gathered around their queen during the day and slept beside her at night.

Anyway, Kenneth Haight, who knew demi-humans best, said this was normal demi-human life.

The banquet's afterglow drifted away with the night wind, and the Golden People's laughter gradually dissipated in the air. The clock hands silently passed, the banquet hall's lights began to dim, and in the tranquility, the Dwarves' snores rose and fell.

Their sleeping forms sprawled haphazardly between tables and chairs, appearing both bold and uninhibited.

Not a trace of food remained on the gold and silver tableware—these Dwarves had truly managed to play while wasting no grain whatsoever.

The Golden People, their faces still glowing with residual joy, bowed to Tarnes in the main seat before quietly bidding each other farewell.

They remembered these Dwarves—that simple, pure joy requiring no pretense.

Mills and the others also greeted Tarnes before returning home.

Outside the lord's hall, the night was deep with scattered starlight.

The moonlight, infected by the banquet's liveliness, seemed to sway gently as well.

Thorin and Tarnes came outside together. The former, mindful of his image, hadn't drunk excessively, so he hadn't collapsed on the floor like the Dwarves in the hall.

As for Fili and Kili, unfortunately, they were now snoring loudly.

However, his flushed cheeks still betrayed Thorin's somewhat intoxicated state.

He enthusiastically grabbed Tarnes' arm, looking up at the bright moon in the star-studded night sky: "I'm truly happy today, Uncle Tarnes."

"Being happy is good," Tarnes agreed with Thorin's words.

He hadn't drunk, so he remained clear-headed.

Thorin's fingers slowly loosened as he turned around, his gaze dreamily falling upon the twin Golden Trees so close at hand.

Their branches and leaves were luxuriant, emanating gentle, peaceful radiance. Those points of light flickered in the night like countless stars, adorning all of Stormveil Castle like a golden dream.

The surrounding air became soft due to the Golden Tree's radiance. A gentle breeze passed through, causing the treetops to sway lightly with rustling sounds as golden grace fragments quietly fell.

"The magnificent Golden Tree," Thorin whispered in admiration. "Its radiance shines even in the deepest night, like an eternal sun, constantly bringing people hope and warmth."

Hearing Thorin's praise, Tarnes smiled slightly.

The golden radiance before him seemed to open a door to past memories for Thorin, leading to that golden age in his recollections.

Thorin's voice was low with a tremor, like distant echoes carrying endless longing for bygone days: "Uncle Tarnes, do you know? This golden radiance reminds me of the Lonely Mountain. The Lonely Mountain once flowed with countless gold, with Dwarves, humans, and Elves all gathering near it. The Dwarves worked diligently, excavating gold veins buried deep underground, while humans and Elves sang in the green fields at the mountain's foot."

Thorin's words filled the air with a strange atmosphere, as if the Lonely Mountain's glory was right before them, that flowing gold seeming to appear before his eyes.

"But the mountain of accumulated treasure ultimately attracted the covetous gaze of the northern evil dragon. It brought flame and death, destroying the human towns below the mountain, with the breath of death still wandering among those ruins. Then it broke into the Lonely Mountain and occupied it. My kinsmen were thus driven from their homeland, losing their pride, wandering homeless all these years." Thorin's voice gradually grew low.

Thorin's fists clenched tight, his knuckles white, as if he could still hear that evil dragon's terrifying voice.

Tarnes listened to Thorin's nostalgic account, gazing into the distance as if to penetrate time's tunnel, returning to the former Lonely Mountain, seeing that Dwarf homeland once prosperous but now desolate.

Before his eyes appeared a scene of towering mountains, with golden riverbeds within the great mountain, yet an evil dragon lying prostrate upon them in slumber.

Tarnes gently patted Thorin's shoulder: "Your homeland will surely bloom with its own radiance again, just like mine, Thorin."

"Yes, it will, it will." Thorin took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

Then Tarnes asked, "Speaking of which, when do you plan to depart for the Lonely Mountain after the council ends?"

Thorin showed a troubled expression: "I can't say for certain—it depends on the council results in half a year. If the seven kingdoms' Dwarf representatives disagree, I'm afraid we'll have to wait another year or two. If they agree... honestly, before coming to find you, I had little confidence they would agree."

Tarnes smiled and gestured for Thorin to relax: "Why the lack of confidence? That doesn't sound like the Thorin I know."

"Because 140 years ago, in 2799, we Dwarves had just ended a war with Orcs—the Battle of Azanulbizar." Thorin showed a dim expression: "Though that war ended in Dwarf victory, it was a pyrrhic victory. On the night of victory, there was neither feast nor song—only about half the Dwarves could still stand or had hope of recovery. That war's trauma still affects us today."

Tarnes nodded thoughtfully: "I see. If the seven kingdoms' representatives agree to your plan, it means they must prepare for war with a dragon. This is probably something the Dwarf kingdoms, still not recovered and rested, are unwilling to face."

Thorin nodded and smiled at Tarnes: "You're absolutely right, Uncle Tarnes. So I'm truly happy that you can stand beside me in support."

Tarnes said: "Though you might not believe it, in my homeland, I actually slew many dragons. I don't know the situation with that dragon deep in the Lonely Mountain, but past experience tells me that using armies to confront such sky lords isn't a good choice. I'm not looking down on your Dwarf warriors, Thorin, but please believe me—many people, when facing a dragon swooping down from the sky, become so frightened they forget to breathe. Those with insufficient mental fortitude face such behemoths only to die in vain."

Thorin was silent for a moment, but memories in his mind told him Tarnes wasn't wrong.

Most people, even well-trained warriors, had stood frozen in place when Smaug attacked.

Thorin said with difficulty: "You're right. What I need isn't an army, but warriors full of courage who fear no death."

Seeing Thorin's state, Tarnes feared he might go from one extreme to another and quickly said: "You misunderstand my meaning. I'm just saying armies can't confront dragons head-on, but they can still provide support. For instance, after entering the Lonely Mountain, if we severely wound the dragon and it's determined to escape, we'd indeed have difficulty stopping it given its size. But what if we had skilled archers lying in ambush outside?"

Simply put, Tarnes was advising Thorin not to bring armies to face Smaug head-on.

Thorin's eyes brightened: "Yes! We Dwarves once forged Black Arrows capable of piercing dragon scales—we could set up several windlasses in ambush at the main entrance."

Then Thorin frowned: "But we didn't forge many Black Arrows then, and the forging techniques... I'll search for them when I return—I should still be able to find them. I also need to select warriors to enter the Lonely Mountain with me who can severely wound the evil dragon..."

Tarnes smiled: "Don't rush, Thorin. Take it step by step—you're not facing that evil dragon tomorrow. As for warriors capable of severely wounding the dragon, choose a few from those you trust. I'll also select about three candidates. I guarantee you, these three are absolutely great heroes worth ten thousand each."

Thorin's brow relaxed because he thought of Nepheli Loux, whom he'd met today, and smiled: "I cannot refuse your kindness. Moreover, I promise you that after reclaiming the Lonely Mountain, you'll absolutely have a share of the treasure within."

However, Tarnes didn't realize that Thorin assumed he would send Nepheli Loux. His dragon-slaying candidates were others entirely, and he already had definite targets in mind.

Thorin breathed in fresh air again and said to Tarnes: "It's getting late. I'll go inside and wake Fili and Kili. As representatives of Durin's royal house, these two got carried away and actually got drunk at the banquet—I really haven't educated them properly."

While silently praying for the Dwarf brothers in his heart, Tarnes followed behind Thorin, smiling: "For the sake of me being their teacher, Thorin, let them relax a bit."

Thorin replied helplessly: "Fine, but just this once."

When Tarnes re-entered the lord's hall, the servants responsible for cleaning looked somewhat troubled at the snoring, intoxicated Dwarves on the floor.

They were His Majesty Tarnes' important guests, so the servants didn't dare forcibly wake them, fearing it would displease the Dwarves.

"Don't worry about them. Dwarves are sturdy enough—just let them sleep here," Thorin said to Tarnes, seeing the servants' dilemma.

Tarnes instructed the servants: "Then bring some blankets to cover them."

"Yes, Your Majesty Tarnes." The servants bowed slightly and departed.

Tarnes glanced at Thorin, then at the sleeping Dwarves below, pointing: "Do you want to sleep here with them, or go to the room I've prepared for you?"

Thorin looked at Kili, who had turned over to hug his leg while talking in his sleep, showed an expression of not wanting to look, sighed lightly, and gently extracted his leg: "I don't want to sleep on the cold floor. Besides, how could I refuse a room prepared by a wizard?"

[Chapter Complete]

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