The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 249 The Final Decision, Helm's Deep

As dusk fell, Edoras was clearly visible.

The six-month journey has finally come to an end.

The crowd of over five thousand people erupted in cheers in an instant, and long-lost smiles appeared on their tired faces.

The procession moved forward slowly.

Unlike the others, Ino spotted Edoras's heavily armed soldiers very early on.

To avoid misunderstandings and conflicts, he drew his wand from his horse and pointed it to the sky.

"Flames are raging!"

Countless orange flames erupted, and in just a few seconds, a huge fireball with a diameter of more than ten meters appeared in the sky.

Under the spell that revealed the mark, the flames gradually dispersed and gathered, and a character composed of burning flames appeared in the sky—

We are the people of Rohan.

The appearance of the huge characters relieved the soldiers guarding Edoras, but they remained in place until they received orders from the king.

"They mean no harm!" Gandalf said, holding his staff and gazing at the flames burning in the sky.

As a servant of the Secret Fire, and the holder of the Na'ya, one of the Three Rings of the Elves—the Ring of Fire—Gandalf saw far too much in the flames.

Hope, redemption, longing, love and being loved...

These flames are not something that dark forces can control; in fact, they are inherently in stark opposition to darkness.

As Gandalf finished speaking, a dozen or so light cavalrymen suddenly charged out from the massive army.

As the Rohan horses galloped, within minutes everyone could clearly see the faces of the cavalrymen.

"Theojard! My son!"

Since being freed from Saluman's control in the morning, Theodon, who had been expressionless all day, finally showed his true feelings at this moment.

……

The Third Age, Spring of 3019.

The nearly desolate and decaying capital of Rohan finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Within a day, not only did King Theodon regain his former wisdom, but their crown prince, the second marshal of Rohan, Theojed, also returned to the capital.

Similarly, thousands of Rohan subjects accompanied them.

A spacious council chamber.

Countless torches were lit, providing ample light to the area.

Unlike the somber atmosphere before, everyone now wore a faint smile.

After greeting familiar faces, Ino sat quietly in a corner of the council hall, listening to the discussions and decisions.

Unlike the original story where he was devastated by the loss of his son, Theodon is now full of confidence.

It seems that while things remained the same, everything changed.

……

Why are you sitting here all alone?

A crisp voice rang in her ears, and Ino couldn't help but turn around. What she saw was long golden hair and a beautiful face.

"My name is Éowyn, the niece of King Theodon," Éowyn said again.

Whether it was the earlier arrangement of the accompanying women and children or the brief eavesdropping just now, Éowyn had already learned the whole story.

She traveled alone from the Isin River in the west into Rohan, traversing half the steppe in six months. During this time, she not only annihilated countless dark minions but also saved thousands of Rohan's people, including her cousin Theojed.

The rescued more than 5,000 people were transported to Edoras unharmed without any supplies.

This miraculous feat fulfilled all her fantasies about heroic deeds.

But at that moment, Éowyn discovered that this legendary hero was not participating in the king's council, but instead was sitting quietly alone in a corner.

at the same time.

When Ino heard the girl in front of him say her name, her story vaguely came to mind: a female warrior who was no less than any other woman.

However, upon hearing the other party's question, he also shared his own thoughts:

"I am merely a passerby, and it is in my inconvenient to participate in the council that determines the fate of Rohan. Moreover, I have known your uncle Theodon for fifty years, so I cannot say anything that might interfere with his decision."

"Fifty years ago?" Iowa's eyes widened.

She had assumed the other person was around her age, but it turned out to be another case where their appearance didn't match their age.

"Yes! Fifty years ago." Ino nodded slightly.

"I am a painter. I once painted for Theodon. You can also choose to have me paint for you for a fee of one gold coin."

……

In casual conversation, time always slips away unnoticed.

Just as he was talking to Éowyn about a young king who inexplicably stole cream toffee, a majestic voice suddenly rang out.

"I didn't steal your candy; I wrote you an IOU! I've waited fifty years for you because of that!"

"Have you reached an agreement?" Ino looked around.

They discovered that Theodon had somehow appeared standing to the side, along with Gandalf and Legolas, all familiar faces.

"It's all decided! We'll set off tomorrow and retreat to Helm's Deep!" Théoden sighed softly.

"Whether it's defending the city or not, it avoids unnecessary sacrifices!"

Ino wholeheartedly agreed with Theoton's decision.

The Rohan cavalry are very powerful, but if there are cities to defend, there is really no need to launch an offensive on the plains.

At this moment, Gandalf spoke up, saying, "Your growth in just one hundred years is astonishing, and your actions are even more so. Thank you for everything you have done for Middle-earth."

"You're too kind. I just followed my heart and did what I wanted to do."

Enoch looked at Gandalf calmly. He used to be unable to see through him, and in his mind, he always saw an old man in a gray robe.

Now, upon seeing Gandalf again, he could vaguely see a radiant figure through his white robes.

Although the dazzling light was somewhat blinding, it was not unbearable.

However, considering that such a gaze might be somewhat impolite, after a brief eye contact, Ino took the initiative to shift her gaze to the elf prince Legolas beside her.

The conversation among them filled Iowa with curiosity.

She thought fifty years was a long time, but who would have thought that things would go back a hundred years?

……

Time flows like water, and the night is short and peaceful.

When the dawn of the next day shone once more on Edoras and across the vast Rohan plains, all the dark creatures, except for Saruman's orcs, chose to retreat.

The bells of Rohan's capital rang again, this time not as a warning bell, but as a rallying bell.

As the bell tolled, everyone, carrying their packed bags, silently left their homes.

They all knew the purpose of their trip: to retreat to Helm's Deep, the last stronghold of Rohan.

Five hundred cavalrymen, led by Theojed, have set off to serve as scouts and clear away any obstacles along the way.

Similarly, Ino followed behind on his flying broomstick.

After all, the journey in the story was not smooth, and Saluman even sent out a considerable number of wolf riders to wait for an opportunity to strike.

Xiao Di will share again: Gamp's Law of Elemental Transformation

This is a fundamental law of transformation in the magical world: wizards can transform objects or create things.

It is important to note that food is the first of the five exceptions to the "Gamp's Basic Law of Transformation"—it is impossible to conjure up delicious food out of thin air.

But if you know where the food is, you can summon it; if you already have some, you can transform it or increase it.

(End of this chapter)