In this room, worn by the passage of time and exuding a quaint simplicity.
Ino half-lay on a bed covered with straw, while an oil lamp on the table quietly burned, its flame flickering gently with the wick.
Next to the bed, a ceramic teapot and matching teacup floated in the air. Though there was no visible fire, wisps of steam continuously rose from the spout, emitting a faint tea fragrance.
The simple room exuded a unique charm, with the candlelight, teapot, and sparse furnishings creating an atmosphere of tranquility and peace, as if one could forget all worries and noise.
After the battle of Helm's Deep, despite it being an unintended act, the substantial rewards still surprised him.
The changes in Boggart were just the beginning. Outside the valley, the plains were shrouded in a haze of fear affecting over ten thousand people, a haze so thick by dawn that it nearly formed a canopy.
The flames and the Patronus Charm had also transformed.
During the return journey that afternoon, the collective pure emotions of the Rohirrim, who had survived a catastrophe, caused the flame of redemption to undergo a fundamental change—it gained life.
Ino was very familiar with this phenomenon.
It was similar to the time before Fide was born, when absorbing the curses and resentments of the Dance of Snowflakes, the flames showed the first signs of life.
Though unexpected, it seemed logical. Among the over ten thousand Rohirrim, more than half had been rescued by him while crossing the plains; these people had truly experienced pain.
And precisely because of this profound pain, they cherished the hard-won peace even more.
The victory in war and the arrival of peace brought these pure emotions together.
The flames, surprisingly, ignited themselves.
It was like when the wood and temperature reach a certain point, it can spontaneously combust without human intervention.
Honestly, he hadn't anticipated any of these changes, not even a basic thought.
Yet they happened naturally, as if prearranged.
Ino slowly sat up from the bed covered in dry straw. The ceramic teapot, which had been waiting patiently, obediently poured warm tea into the cup.
Sipping a cup of fragrant black tea, he turned his gaze to the flame in the oil lamp.
Unlike the birth of Fide, when there was an independent azure flame.
The flame now, imbued with vitality, burned quietly within the bronze oil lamp. This flame, less than an inch high, seemed to contain a formidable power.
During the return journey, the moment this flame appeared out of thin air, Ino was moved. To others, it might have seemed like a weak flame.
But in his eyes, it contained a vast emotion, no less powerful than the joy of harvest when he first cast the Patronus Charm.
It was probably the people's yearning for peace, their longing for a tranquil life, and more importantly, it embodied the power of 'life.'
Human life and reproduction inherently involve the vitality of nature. The birth of an infant and the sprouting of seeds are all centered around vitality.
"Two extremes! Now Fide has a companion…"
Ino sighed, looking at the flame in the oil lamp.
Fide embodied despair and destruction, while the current flame embodied hope and vitality.
...
Time flowed like water.
The next morning, the first rays of dawn spread like fine threads across the sky, heralding the arrival of a new day.
Edoras, the ancient capital of Rohan, resembled a withered old tree sprouting new shoots after a spring rain.
After a night of rest, everyone began their busy day.
In the room, listening to the rising cacophony outside the window, Ino opened his eyes.
After a simple wash, he started preparing breakfast.
Honestly, if it weren't for Rohan's need to revive its industries, he wouldn't want to eat the few remaining foods in his suitcase.
But there was no choice; in Rohan now, not only were there no markets, but even basic housing arrangements were incomplete.
The original residents of Edoras aside, the remaining five thousand elderly, women, and children needed proper arrangements since their homes had been destroyed by the war.
Sending them back now would be tantamount to murder.
...
On the old wooden table.
A plate of sliced ham, a portion of cheese, and a pot of boiling black tea.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just as he finished setting the breakfast, there was a gentle knock on the door.
Though surprised by the early morning visitor, Ino stood up to open the door.
Outside stood a tall, white figure.
"Ha ha, good morning! I hope I'm not disturbing you," Gandalf greeted with a smile.
Although surprised by the early visit, a guest at the door must be treated with hospitality.
"Good morning, Gandalf! Please come in," Ino invited, stepping aside.
"I apologize for the early visit, but I really had nowhere else to go," Gandalf said, sitting dejectedly on a long bench.
"If you have nowhere to go, you're always welcome here! In a couple of days, I plan to set up a stall in Edoras, and you can come help. I'll pay you," Ino said, following the conversation, though he didn't believe Gandalf's words.
"That would be an honor, but now is clearly not the right time," Gandalf regrettably shook his head at the invitation to the stall.
Though he expected the refusal, Ino used it as an excuse to end the conversation.
He always had a reserved attitude towards Gandalf.
With increased strength, looking back at the past gave him a sense of enlightenment.
A hundred years ago at Beorn's farm, disguised as an adult with Polyjuice Potion, in hindsight, this disguise was probably long seen through.
A clear example: if old Davis from Hogsmeade could sense something was wrong, there was no reason Gandalf couldn't.
But what happened? Not only did Gandalf help the dwarven company through Mirkwood, but he also planned to give him the sword that slays enemies.
Giving a weapon to a child not even as tall as the sword?
Honestly, after thinking it through, his feelings towards Gandalf became very nuanced.
Though Gandalf was strictly speaking a good person, even a great person, his greatness was terrifying.
Unlike Dumbledore's sacrifice, Gandalf always focused on the big picture, disregarding individual feelings.
This reminded Ino of Muggle computer games where the character's main mission is to overthrow the Dark Lord, always running for justice.
But what about the character? They never cared about the civilians in the game.
A clear example: after Rohan was severely weakened and had just fought the battle of Helm's Deep, Gandalf still urged them to aid Gondor.
To this end, Gandalf even lit the beacons of Gondor.
In the original story, this scene might have been inspiring, symbolizing the lighting of hope.
But from another perspective, it was like putting Théoden on the spot.
Not sending troops would be seen as betrayal.
Sending troops would be draining Rohan's last reserves.
Under the guise of righteousness, no one considered the lives of the Rohirrim.
No one thought about how many would return to their homeland after this battle.