Middle-Earth: Kaen, Lord of Light

When Kaen learned that Gandalf had arrived in Eowenría with the dwarven expedition from the Battle of the Five Armies, he immediately dispatched Old Jack to the city of Azure Spring to receive them.

"Oh! It's been far too long, dear Gandalf! You've not visited us in an age," said Old Jack, his weathered face breaking into a broad smile.

"And you look as hale as ever, Old Jack. That gladdens my heart," replied Gandalf warmly.

The two old friends embraced without hesitation, a reunion long overdue. After a few brief exchanges, Gandalf began introducing the members of the company.

"This is Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, grandson of Thror—heir to the Kingdom under the Mountain.

"These are Kili and Fili, sons of Thorin's sister—young, spirited dwarves with bright hearts and sharper blades.

"This is Balin, eldest among us, a dwarf of wisdom and counsel…

"And this," he said, motioning to the small figure behind them, "is Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. Not a dwarf, but a hobbit—smaller still, yet far more agile. Our dear burglar."

Gandalf then gestured toward their host. "And you, my friends, are standing before the Minister of Eowenría—the Chief Administrator of the realm. A wise man and loyal servant of the crown."

With introductions complete, the company followed Old Jack, who guided them deeper into the Ashenwood Forest, toward the heart of the realm—Elarothiel.

The journey would take three days.

Two days from Azure Spring to Elariel, and another day from there to Elarothiel.

Upon their arrival at Azure Spring, Old Jack offered a proud tour.

"This," he said, spreading his arms wide, "is now the largest and most populous city in the kingdom. It once was a village of barely two thousand souls. Under His Majesty's rule, it has grown to over twenty thousand."

"The people here speak not the Northern tongue, but a new language forged by our king himself—Anglian, a treasure of our land. Through it, we have given rise to new poems, new songs, and tales of our own making."

"Oh heavens above!" exclaimed the dwarves in astonishment.

Thorin asked, "You mean to say… your king created an entirely new language?"

"Indeed," Old Jack said with a nod and a chuckle. "And that's but the beginning. The bricks beneath your feet, the cement, the binding lime—these are his designs."

"They are stronger than stone, lighter than timber, and easier to transport. Our cities rise faster than ever before."

Balin, the elder dwarf, knelt and ran his hands across the paving stones. "Remarkable… utterly remarkable."

Bilbo, wide-eyed, whispered, "These streets are cleaner than any I've seen, almost like the gardens back in the Shire. If only there were flowers—I'd gladly call this place home."

—

After leaving Azure Spring, the group rode on toward Elariel.

As they journeyed, vast farmlands unfolded before them, stretching across the plains like a golden sea.

Gandalf, gazing at the changed landscape, murmured, "When last I passed through here, this was barren and desolate. Now it is rich with life."

Old Jack smiled. "His Majesty has always placed the needs of his people first. He never ceased expanding the cultivated lands. Now, our soil yields three harvests a year, and our granaries overflow."

"Three harvests?" the dwarves gasped in unison.

"Does that mean there's no famine here?" Fili asked, incredulous. "No fear of hunger?"

"By Durin's beard," Balin whispered, "that defies belief."

Bilbo blinked. "So I'd only need a little plot of earth to feed myself forever?"

Thorin murmured, almost to himself, "If we had such lands… no dwarf would ever go hungry again."

Gandalf remained silent for a moment, then said, "Kaen is ever a mystery. Beyond the near-overflowing sense of justice within him, I cannot say what drives him—but perhaps that alone is enough."

—

Elariel appeared like a jewel set in a field of gold, surrounded by endless grain. The wind stirred the wheat, and it rolled in waves like the sea under sunlight.

Old Jack pointed ahead. "This is Elariel, once a village laid to waste by trolls. After the king slew them, he rebuilt it from the ground up."

"Today, it is the kingdom's chief grain supplier. This one town alone can feed the entire realm."

He continued, "And it is not alone. We now have four such towns, each placed at the corners of the Ashenwood Forest."

"Each is protected by royal soldiers and serves as a bastion to guard the heart of the forest—Elarothiel."

"High walls, ample grain, and full armories defend every one."

The dwarves and hobbit were awestruck. Though Kaen's realm was smaller in land than many great kingdoms, it was evidently rich beyond imagining.

Led by Old Jack, they mounted again and took a small forest path behind Elariel, riding toward the very center of the woods.

"This land," Jack explained as they rode, "was once the Troll-woods, ruled by a dark kingdom of Orcs and stone trolls."

"But then His Majesty led five hundred warriors deep into the forest at the height of winter. They faced enemies twentyfold their number. With cunning and brilliance, the king ordered the dead branches set ablaze—burning away the darkness itself."

"Thus the forest came to be known as the Ashenwood Forest. Upon the battlefield, we built our capital—Elarothiel."

—

At last, as the company rode along the winding woodland paths, they reached the heart of the forest. What lay before them took their breath away.

The hidden valley that once bore the scars of war had, in just half a year, been transformed into a glorious city-state.

On the sheer cliffs encircling the valley, the trees had been felled to carve out a road of pure white stone, circling the entire basin.

Four white watchtowers stood tall at the cardinal points. Each tower held one hundred soldiers and offered an unobstructed view across the entire forest canopy.

To the south, the old obsidian gate had been torn down. The crude Orcish fortress was gone.

In its place stood a grand wall—one hundred meters wide, fifty meters high—fashioned from black basalt and engraved with countless glowing runes of protection.

Even the great gate itself was cast of a mithril-infused alloy, etched with runes that made it both unbreakable and operable by mortal hands.

Along the top of the wall stood at least ten watchtowers, each armed with heavy siege ballistae.

Fully armored guards patrolled the black gate. Rangers came and went, vanishing into the woods on patrol.

Every visitor who set foot here for the first time was rendered speechless by its splendor and might.

"Heavens…" someone whispered.

Even the dwarves and the hobbit were stunned—and Gandalf himself was visibly moved.

Thorin spoke in hushed tones. "I cannot fathom what might bring down such a fortress—short of dragonfire."

Gandalf's gaze was deep. "Even then… a single dragon may not be enough."