"It sounded very tempting, but you would have to figure out how to persuade them yourself..." Elrond hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
"So you agreed to maintain the trade route from End Bridge to Fengyun Peak?" Roland smiled.
"I think you may have remembered incorrectly. Please come with me..." Elrond gave Roland a deep look and sighed.
"Your plan was flawless, but you had most likely overlooked something..." Elrond pointed at the map.
"..." Roland glanced at the map, and his eyelid suddenly twitched. He bared his teeth awkwardly, because he had overlooked the road from Brunan Ferry Crossing to End Bridge. People might not recognize that stretch of road by name alone, but the landmark it ran beside was the Troll Forest where the Company of Thorin had first encountered danger!
"Rivendell is willing to contribute for our friends in the east, but Fengyun Peak is too far away. Rivendell's troop strength is limited. Our Rangers can only ensure safety beyond End Bridge." Elrond pointed to the area marked on the map between the Hoarwell and Loudwater Rivers.
"The Troll Forest?" Roland's eyes lit up. It was fine for Hidden Valley to take it over. Trolls were no simple creatures; although they feared sunlight, they could still pose a grave threat to passing travelers.
"Yes. Hidden Valley's troop strength is limited, and we are powerless to patrol and maintain order any farther away!" Elrond said sincerely. This man, likely the pinnacle of combat power in Middle-earth at present, clearly understood that Roland's predicament was neither alarmism nor a lie. He could sense Roland's sincerity. As the one who least wanted that bunch of trash to crawl out of the darkness again, Elrond naturally did not want the Northern Territory's fool with deep pockets to collapse. The