A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

We were relentlessly pursued by Borg. Qili was struck by a Mogul arrow and nearly died from the poison. You weren't there, but it was the medicine I prepared that saved his life.

Finally, the day of Turin arrived, but Thorin and his companions couldn't find the secret door. You weren't there, so I took out... the Magic Compass and found the keyhole.

What's most outrageous is that you weren't there when we were fighting Smaug to the death. It was I who expended a huge amount of magic and a magic crystal to set a trap in Lake-town to kill it.

The repeated "you weren't here" hit Gandalf's heart hard, making him so embarrassed that he couldn't lift his head. The words "I'm sorry" just slipped out. After all, he had left so freely, but most of the pressure had fallen on Aaron, a young boy, which was somewhat unfair.

"Although your apology wasn't very sincere, I'll still accept it reluctantly."

But what I want to say is that I've already shown respect for the elderly by refraining from hitting you. What gives you the audacity to ask me to exert myself further?

Gandalf: ......

Chapter 277 Iron-Foot Army, Give It Some Face

Gandalf turned his face away sadly. He never expected that after living for so long, he would be rendered speechless by a child.

But thinking of the great war that could break out at any moment and affect the safety of Middle-earth, he still shamelessly said, "Gaius, at this time, you are the only one I can count on."

"The first time I saw you, I had a feeling that the peace of Middle-earth would likely fall upon your shoulders."

"Heh!" Aaron sneered, giving him a disdainful look. "I don't have any sense of mission, and I don't want to be any kind of savior, so don't try to fob me off with that kind of talk."

“How can this be considered perfunctory?” Gandalf said, sounding slightly anxious.

"Don't force me to despise you, Gandalf."

I admit you are a good person, have a great sense of the big picture, and are worthy of respect.

"But a good person can be so cunning that they can make a bad person weep. Even if I have some skills, I'm still just a child. You can't take advantage of me all by yourself!" Aaron said, somewhat speechless, then started counting on his fingers, "King Elrond, Queen Galadriel, Saruman, Redagast—aren't they all stronger than me? Why don't you go ask them?"

Gandalf's face twitched slightly, and he forced an awkward smile. "Queen Galadriel has exhausted her magic and is extremely weak right now. King Elrond is protecting her, Saruman is out stopping Sauron's plot and we don't know when he'll be available, and as for Redagast, he's gone to get reinforcements, so... you understand?"

Hey!

Aaron felt as if a million alpacas were stampeding through his mind.

He thought that if the sky fell, the tall guy would hold it up, but he never expected that the tall guy would dodge even faster than him.

"I'm sorry, I've done enough, and I don't want to take any more risks," Aaron said seriously. "You've really come to the wrong person."

No matter how capable I am, I'm just one person. Against an army, I'll only be crushed and can't help at all.

“I don’t want you to face an army head-on,” Gandalf explained. “There will be a chaotic battle ahead, and I need someone highly mobile who can move freely between the elves, dwarves, and men to provide timely support on the battlefield.”

Gaius, you are powerful; no one is more suitable than you.

Aaron blinked, then immediately shook his head and said, "Impossible. Who do you think I am? I just want to get as far away from the battlefield as possible."

Gandalf, to be honest with you, at this point, my choice to stay and face this with you instead of running away with my buckets is already more than enough.

“Within our power,” Gandalf quickly added.

“If that’s what you mean…” Aaron paused slightly, “it’s not entirely impossible.”

Gandalf breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile finally appeared on his face. "Get some rest!"

After Gandalf left, Aaron leaned against the city wall, feigning sleep, but his attention was focused on the system's task panel:

Defeat the orc army;

The reward for completing the task is 2000 magic points; there is no penalty for failure. Do you accept this offer?

"Accept it, just let nature take its course."

......

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight appeared in the east.

The entire expedition team followed Thorin up the city wall, where a short distance away stood the fully equipped golden-armored elf army and the human troops from Lake-town.

Thranduil, the Elvenking, rode a giant stag, with Bard riding a white steed beside him. The two slowly passed through the center of the army and arrived at the front.

Because of the agreement reached last night, Thranduil and Bard exercised restraint by stationing their troops in front of Vale, leaving a large buffer zone between them and Iluber.

"Hmph!" Thorin sneered at their troops. "This is a demonstration."

“No, Thorin, that’s not it,” Gandalf said wearily. “They’re just on guard against an army of orcs that could appear at any moment.”

"Really? Where are they?" Thorin said nonchalantly. "I haven't seen a single dire wolf, let alone an orc army."

Although you have reached an agreement with them, their fundamental purpose remains unchanged: to seize the wealth of our people.

"Thorin Oakenshield, can you please stop valuing gold so much?"

“Call me King,” Thorin said coldly. “I am King.”

Gandalf sighed deeply. He knew that Thorin was having mental problems, becoming increasingly autocratic and refusing to listen to anyone.

But with a formidable enemy at hand, the dwarves, elves, and humans absolutely cannot afford to fight.

"Has the Ironfoot Army not arrived yet?" Bilbo asked.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a black raven flew over and landed on the city wall.

"Here they come," Thorin said with a smug smile.

The sound of orderly footsteps came from the distant hillside, and a large army of dwarves slowly approached, led by King Dann riding a ferocious wild boar.

The Ironfoot Army is an elite force of dwarves, whose combat strength and numbers are no less than those of the combined forces of elves and humans.

The dozen or so dwarves on the city wall cheered loudly; the arrival of the renowned Ironfoot Army had greatly boosted their morale.

"Is this the dwarf king of the Iron Hills?" Bilbo asked. "He doesn't seem very happy."

“Dann, Thorin’s cousin,” Gandalf said, “is even more… irrational than Thorin.”

"I'm more curious why he's riding a wild boar?" Aaron asked, puzzled. "It doesn't quite fit the image of a king!"

“Dann doesn’t care about that,” Thorin laughed. “What he likes is the boar’s charge; its close-combat charge is almost unstoppable, much better than a horse.”

"That doesn't matter, but Thorin, don't forget what you promised us."

"I know, I know." Thorin waved his hand. "I will make him try his best to restrain himself, but if the elves and humans are not sensible and refuse to withdraw their troops within two days, then there is nothing I can do."

The Ironfoot Army stopped in front of River Valley City, facing off against the combined forces of elves and humans at a distance of 100 meters.

Dane looked at Thranduil, his mockery undisguised. "Good morning, everyone."

If you're willing to give me a little time, I have a small suggestion: could you all... get out of my way?

"Get out of here, all of you! Get out now!" Dane roared, instilling a sense of fear in the people of Lake Long, whose population was less than one-tenth that of the elves.

“Calm down, Lord Dain,” Gandalf called out.

Dane turned to look at the grey-robed wizard on the city wall, “Gandalf the Grey.”

"Get these beggars out of here, or I'll make them bleed to death!"

“Dwarf, there’s no need for humans and elves to go to war. The orc army is marching here. Keep your men calm.”

“I cannot remain calm in the presence of elves.” Dann showed no mercy, pointing his hammer at Thranduil, “especially that treacherous woodland elf, whose only wish is to bring suffering to my people.”

If he dares to stop us, I'll twist his head off and see if he dares to grin like that again.

Upon hearing this, Thranduil's lips curled into a cold smile.

With a single hand raised, all the archers of the elven army drew their bows and aimed at the Ironfoot army opposite them.

"Stop! Don't be impulsive!" Aaron shouted, then Apparated to the front of the two armies. "King Thranduil, don't forget what we said yesterday."

“I would very much like to resolve this dispute peacefully,” Thranduil said calmly, “but you’ve seen Dain’s attitude. He’s the kind of person who’s always pushing his luck. It’s better to reason with him using swords.”

"The bigger picture is what matters. Think of the white gem, Your Majesty," Aaron reminded him. He understood Thranduil's feelings perfectly; he wouldn't be able to bear it either.

But now, no matter what, we must exercise restraint. You may feel good firing this volley of arrows, but a major battle will be unavoidable.

Thranduil took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure, and restored the elven troops to their original formation.

"Who are you?" Dane asked curiously. "Which wizard? You're not Gandalf the Grey's apprentice, are you?"

Upon hearing this, Gandalf gave an awkward laugh.

He would be overjoyed if he had such a disciple.

"Don't misunderstand," Aaron shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare to be his apprentice, otherwise I probably wouldn't be able to have a single good day, and I'd have to take care of him in his old age."

Dane paused for a moment, then, thinking of Gandalf's tattered grey robes, nodded almost unconsciously.

Gandalf was very famous, but he didn't live a very good life. Taking on another apprentice would only make his living standards worse.

“Then get out of the way, or I’ll kill you too,” Dane said, then looked at the Ironfoot Army behind him. “Get ready, let these bastards taste our power. Form an attack formation.”

“Wait a minute,” Aaron said immediately, then took out a jet-black key. “I want to ask you to restrain your army, just to give it some face.”

"The key? How did it end up in your hands?" Dane asked, his eyes wide.

“It was a gift from me to him, Dane,” Thorin explained from the city wall. “Aaron Gaius is the dwarves’ truest friend; you cannot harm him.”

“Thorin,” Dane said, somewhat puzzled, “that key is a heirloom passed down from the Turin family.”

"It has completed its mission, and now it only represents the friendship of the dwarves."

Dane nodded thoughtfully, his gaze towards Aaron now filled with a hint of respect.

"Everyone, form an attack formation and defeat them."

"Wait, why are we still fighting?"

“Everyone, pay attention.” Dane gave him a reassuring look and added, “Avoid the dwarf guests when you attack.”

Aaron was completely dumbfounded. "You can do this?!"

Seeing the Ironfoot Army take up their battle formation, Aaron quickly snapped back to reality and turned his gaze to Thorin.

Thorin hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Dann, don't rush into action."

"Why?" Dane asked, puzzled. "Thorin, when did you become afraid of the elves?"

“You know me, I have never been afraid of them,” Thorin said in a deep voice. “I may not give elves any face, but I will give my friends the necessary respect.”

Therefore, I decided to give them a few days to determine whether there would be an orc attack; if not, we could fight later.

Chapter 278 The Dwarves' Courage, the Elves' Pride