Moon Runes [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

Gandalf and Elrond walked over together, chatting and laughing.

Morgan stood up to greet the two of them, losing all interest in further exploring Rivendell, and sat back down by the campfire instead.

Participating in main storyline interactions was the best way to increase the world exploration progress of his Time Traveler System.

This had been proven to him several times already; Morgan would not miss such an occasion.

Besides, he had yet to witness the dispute between Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield.

Although the two had already argued once earlier this morning at the temporary wilderness camp, it was a pity that Morgan had been training and missed it.

"Kili, pass me a skewer."

Morgan sat back by the fire and reached out to Kili for a skewer of roasted sausages.

"Morgan, weren't you going to enjoy the night view of Rivendell? I'll go with you."

Fili, the young dwarf nearby, chimed in loudly.

Morgan shook his head, holding up the sausage to gesture. "I think this smells better."

"Haha, Morgan, you've got that right."

Gloin the dwarf laughed out loud, reached over to take a few skewers of sausages that Bofur had just prepared, and handed them to Morgan, shouting, "One skewer of roasted sausage isn't enough, take these."

"Taking my sausages again? Can't you do it yourself?"

"Haha, Bofur, don't be so stingy. There are plenty here; just make some more."

"Here, I'll treat you to a roasted potato."

"Damn it, that was one I just finished too!"

"Haha."

The dwarves before the campfire laughed and joked.

Beside the fire, Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield were discussing something.

Morgan roasted his sausage while dealing with the chatter of the dwarves around him, his eyes occasionally lifting to look at the two leaders of the Company who were in conversation.

Balin, the white-bearded dwarf beside him, seemed to realize that Gandalf bringing Elrond to find Thorin Oakenshield was not a simple matter, and he was watching the two of them intently.

Noticing Balin's actions, Morgan grabbed some fruit wine from the side and gestured to him.

Balin snapped out of his thoughts, realized his demeanor was a bit off, smiled at Morgan, picked up his cup to clink it against Morgan's, and downed it in one gulp.

"Are you worried about something, Balin?"

Watching Balin, who seemed to have more to say, Morgan looked toward the nearby Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield, who were talking with stern expressions, and smiled as he spoke.

"Morgan, what do you think those two are talking about?"

Balin did not answer Morgan's question directly; he picked up the bottle to pour himself another glass and asked Morgan in return.

"You surely know better than I do what they are talking about, don't you?"

Morgan didn't answer either, but asked back with a smile.

"They already argued once this morning."

Balin shook his head, gestured with his cup to Morgan, and downed it again.

"But problems must be solved."

Morgan spoke softly, finished the wine in his cup, wiped the stains from his lips, and continued, "I think Gandalf said one thing very correctly today."

Balin: "What was that?"

Morgan: "If we want to succeed, we need to use some strategy."

"Of course, you have your own ideas."

"No matter what you decide in the end, I will support you."

Morgan smiled and poured himself another full glass.

The fruit wine of Rivendell was far sweeter than it was alcoholic.

With his current constitution, Morgan felt he could keep drinking like this forever and never get drunk.

"Perhaps you and Gandalf are both right, but..."

Balin shook his head with a smile as he began to speak.

"You don't need to mind my words, Balin, I know too little."

"Just as I said, no matter what you decide, I will support you."

"Come, cheers."

Morgan interrupted Balin, filled his glass again, and raised his own with a smile.

"Regardless, thank you, Morgan. You are an excellent warrior."

"A bounty hunter."

"Haha, it's all the same. Come, cheers."

"Cheers!"

Morgan and the dwarf Balin were chatting happily by the fire.

Not far away, Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield were also locked in a heated argument.

Gandalf: "Please, Thorin, bring out the map."

Thorin Oakenshield: "Our affairs do not require the interference of Elves!"

Gandalf sighed in frustration: "Good heavens, Thorin, show the map to King Elrond!"

Thorin Oakenshield remained unmoved: "That is the legacy of my people and me. My duty is to protect it, including our secrets."

Gandalf took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, his beard trembling: "Do not make me fret over your stubbornness any longer!"

"Your arrogance will surely be your undoing one day!"

"Do you have any idea that you are standing right in front of one of the few people in all of Middle-earth who can decipher that map?"

"Put aside your pride and show it to King Elrond!"

Gandalf's chest heaved as he suppressed his rage, speaking in a low, stern voice to Thorin Oakenshield.

As the dispute between Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield intensified, the dwarves gathered around the campfire quickly fell silent.

Everyone present looked at the two arguing, none daring to speak a word.

King Elrond stood quietly to the side.

Listening to his old friend and that Thorin Oakenshield bicker, his patience was being steadily worn thin.

Although he was interested in the map Gandalf had mentioned, he was helping primarily because of Gandalf's request.

Otherwise, no matter how broad-minded or magnanimous he might be, he would still hold a grudge against this Thorin Oakenshield.

As Gandalf's voice trailed off.

Neither of them spoke for a moment, and the scene fell into a dead silence.

After a long while, Thorin Oakenshield finally made a move, reaching into his tunic to pull out the pale yellow parchment scroll.

"Thorin, do not give it to him."

Seeing Thorin Oakenshield swayed by Gandalf, the white-bearded Balin immediately stepped forward, trying to reach out and stop Thorin Oakenshield.

The grievances between Durin's Folk and the Elves were too deep; the entire company of dwarves held no fondness for Elves, and Balin was no exception. He had even personally experienced the betrayal of their Elven allies sixty years ago when that dragon invaded the Lonely Mountain.

Thorin Oakenshield pushed Balin's hand away and walked straight toward King Elrond with the map in hand.

As the King of Durin's Folk, he was proud, stubborn, and his hatred for Orcs and his hostility toward the Elves who had betrayed their allies ran deeper than any other dwarf.

But as the King of Durin's Folk, he always kept in mind the mission to reclaim the Kingdom Under the Mountain, Erebor, and to restore Durin's Folk.

For the sake of his people, any other dwarf might not have to bow their heads to the treacherous Elves to beg for their help.

But he alone could not!

Because of his people, and because he was the King of Durin's Folk.

The responsibility he carried was as heavy as a thousand tons.

Taking the pale yellow parchment scroll handed over by Thorin Oakenshield.

King Elrond opened the scroll, looked at the map, and recognized it instantly: "Erebor."

"Are you very interested in this map?"

Thorin Oakenshield asked King Elrond in return, his expression sour.

"It is primarily for academic research. You know, such ancient artifacts usually contain hidden messages."

Seeing Thorin Oakenshield about to speak, Gandalf quickly interjected to explain, giving Thorin Oakenshield a reassuring look.

"I recall you can read Ancient Dwarvish, correct?"

Gandalf asked King Elrond, who was already observing the map.

King Elrond did not speak, merely examining the ancient map repeatedly.

He had heard from Gandalf before that this map held a secret.

He raised the map in his hand, looked toward the full moon on the horizon, and began to observe it carefully.

Soon, King Elrond spotted the clue and slowly uttered a few words.

Gandalf's face brightened, and he immediately asked: "Moon Runes?"

"Yes."

"To read Moon Runes, one must use the moonlight of the same season and the same shape of the moon as when they were written."

King Elrond looked up and said to the group.

"Can you read them?"

Thorin Oakenshield asked, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

"Of course."

King Elrond curled his lips into a smile and turned to walk toward the open-air viewing terrace in the distance.

Thank you to the reader "Green Lotus Dao Song" for the two thousand tip again, much appreciated~~~