The doors were guarded on the inside, the stocky dwarves standing to the sides with their armour and weaponry. They looked at the company of six with fierce eyes, surveying their situation.
"What is your business here?" One of the dwarven guards asked. He was no taller than any of their shoulders, and yet he held such power over them.
"We wish to enter the mountain," Soobin spoke, taking a step in front of Yeonjun.
"Many wish to enter," the dwarf stated. "What makes you special?"
"One of our company is injured. We seek aid. We wish to seek shelter with a friend inside the mountain," Soobin told them, standing tall.
The dwarf didn't move an inch. He simply shouted a command in Khuzdul to another dwarf guard behind him who responded in Khuzdul before turning on his heels and marching further into the mountain. The first guard stood unmoving, his gaze freezing the company in its spot. He rarely blinked and his brows remained lowered, his eyes sharp. His armour was pure gold, glittering elegantly in the light of the day. His golden armoured boots were thick and chunky and they had intricate designs, ones that weren't replicated on any of the other dwarves. He must've made his own armour. Dwarves prided themselves on their craftsmanship so it was not rare for them to be seen wearing garments made by their own hand with patterns only they could replicate. His chest plate was especially intricate, built like scales that covered his chest allowing for movement. His arms were covered in the very same metal and his weapon had an intricately carven wooden handle that rest in his hand perfectly. The patterns etched into the wood flowed from the top to the bottom like a waterfall. It seemed out of place considering dwarves were not people to bother using wood for any reason.
Footsteps that had long since faded, now grew louder as they approached once again, the second dwarf marching beside the first.
"The king will see you now," the second dwarf declared, swivelling to the side along with the first dwarf to create a path for the company to move through.
"The king?" Beomgyu questioned. "We have no business with the king."
"If you have business in the mountain, you have business with the king," the second dwarf responded, his tone firm, his gaze remaining in front of him. "Enter, or leave."
The company shared a quick glance, nowhere near long enough to communicate before Soobin stepped inside, the darkness from the mountain engulfing him.
The second dwarf escorted them through the mountain. The bridge was made of a dark brick and the walls of splintered stone. The mountain pass was lit with torch light that lit only the bridge, leaving the dark chasm below an inky black abyss. They could hear the distant clinking of pickaxes on stone below them, no doubt the dwarves searching for gems in the walls of the mountain. The only other sounds to be heard were those of the metal armour of the dwarf that escorted them and the clicking shoes of the rogue on the stone bridge as they crossed. The further into the mountain they stepped, the closer the walls grew in, containing beautiful geometric designs that must have taken a long time to carve. The sounds of the pickaxes on stone had faded as they approached what must've been the middle of the mountain.
The path grew thinner and into sight came a great dwarven king in his throne, a throng of his men lined neatly by his side, arms folded in front of behind them.
"What business does such a group have in my kingdom?" The king asked, his gravelly voice travelling certainly over the space between them.
From their vantage point, the company could see the architecture of the mountain, the staircases that led to rooms or homes of the dwarves that travelled there. The dwarrowdams were stocky, but dressed elegantly as if they were the ones in audience with the king. Some had easily visible braids plaited in there hair, finished off by a small bead, one that typically signified a courting gift. There was one particular dwarrowdam whose hair beads matched those sewn into her dress. A courting gift from her beloved no doubt.
The rogue was the first to move, bowing deeply. Her harsh wince at the placement of her feet in the devilish shoes could be heard by the company and the dwarven guard who stood beside them, but guaranteed it was unable to be heard by the dwarven king who sat impatiently, a single brow raised at the display of respect.
"My lord, we come from Eboncross," Soobin started, joining the rogue in her display. "We have had a run in with the elves in the south and they have wounded one of our company. We beg for hospitality," he finished, bowing his head lower as if to accentuate his point.
"Why would you beg of our help? We have no wish to make enemies with elven kind. Their feud with mankind is well enough."
"Your highness, we do not ask for your alliance. We beg for hospitality. You see, our rogue risks infection and we have lost everything to the elves." Taehyun spoke up this time, bowing his head as well.
"And we are supposed to provide this for free?" The king asked, his quirked brow quirking even higher.
"Of course not. We haven't any monetary supply at the moment, but we can work. Little tasks perhaps. Anything that would allow us to provide what rations we need," HueningKai offered, bowing his head.
The king took a moment to think, looking over the company, his eyes narrowing on the two who had yet to lower their heads for him.
"Dwarves are not known for being hospitable," he stated, shifting in his throne.
"We-"
"You will speak no words, mentalist," the dwarven guard hissed, his swords grazing Beomgyu's side. "To put our king under a spell is an offence beyond offences."
"How could you tell he was a mentalist?" Taehyun asked curiously.
The dwarven guard looked for a moment, observing Taehyun with sharp eyes, seeing nothing but genuine curiosity.
"If you have dealt with the southern elves, you must know that detect magic is a valuable spell that can be used in many ways. You'd do well to hide your eyes next time you attempt to manipulate someone," the dwarf told Beomgyu.
"You place your pride on a pedestal," the king cut in, speaking above everyone else. His eyes were narrowed on Yeonjun, whom he had read like a book.
"I know not of what you speak," Yeonjun responded.
"It is only those with the arrogance of a prince who refuse to bow to those above them. You would do well to shield your identity better, prince of Eboncross."
It felt like Yeonjun's heart stopped as he stared into the eyes of the king. Perhaps he was not as unrecognizable as he had originally thought.
"Tell me, prince, what is your business being so far from your kingdom?"
"My business is my own to know," Yeonjun challenged.
"Save me from your stubbornness!" The rogue exclaimed under her breath. "You wish to see us all killed?!"
"You would do well to listen. In a common mind rests common sense."
"We venture to Hellspost. We wish to find the lost treasure," Yeonjun told the king after another moments hesitation.
"You make it seem easy," the king said, raising a brow regally.
"With the trials we have faced as of late, it will prove to be anything but," Yeonjun replied, finally dipping down into a bow, Beomgyu following suit.
"And help you recover from such trials, we will. One of my guards will show you to your rooms. Another will show your rogue to the royal healer." The kings gruff voice floated gently above them.
"My rogue will not leave my sight," Yeonjun demanded, standing straight once again, his sharp eyes sending daggers towards the king.
"You ask for help, yet when it's offered you respond with hostility," the king commented.
"Please forgive him," the rogue began, deepening her bow. "We have not had much luck in trusting the help of kings, despite a kind facade. He is riddled with anxiety and paranoia. So much so that he forgets your hospitality."
"If I am to offer you help, you are to offer me trust. I will bring you no harm. You have my word," the king told him.
"How am I to know that your word will be enough?" Yeonjun asked, his eyes growing sharper as he challenged the king.
"You will not know. That is why I ask for your trust."
Yeonjun took a moment to assess the situation and the begging eyes of not only the injured rogue, but also those of the others in his company. Eyes that begged for him to trust. Eyes that worried for their injured.
"Alright."