“Never seen elves like these before, all of ‘em are the same height as dwarves.” Muttered Molin under his breath as their group was rushed through the party by the elven woman who had come up and spoken to them. There was a small area off to the side of the food table, a screen that the group could get behind to change their outfits. They were dressed far too raggedy to attend whatever ceremony was going on at the moment, or at least that was what the military elf had said to them. That didn’t matter too much when it came to their impaired companion, Twe still needing the medical attention Molin had promised him.
“Alright so the ceremony is still supposed to happen when the sun gets to the peak, but you have to be ready for your cue or everything could be thrown out of order.” The military elf commented as she had each of them stand behind the privacy screen before magic began to dance across her fingertips. Before a spell could be cast the remaining MeltBlazes got in a defensive position to try and protect their brother. “‘Old on! Ain’t no elfy magic gonna touch us! Don’t know what in da hell yer talkin’ about, but we don’t like yer kind.” Dum growled at the elf before Velua cleared her throat.
“Ah, what my colleague is sayin’... we ain’t never been to this dungeon before. We don’t know what normally happins ‘ere.” She said, a little nervousness in her way of speaking that the men had not previously heard in her. She was a very boisterous woman with a determined edge, but suddenly in front of this elf she was as timid as a dormouse. Molin said nothing and instead tried to get the boys to put down their brother for a bit more attention. Hopefully, their familial bonds would distract them from the fact they were currently surrounded by a dwarf’s worst enemy.
The elf took in a deep breath before nodding, realizing that she was going a bit too fast for the delvers to understand what was going on. “Right. Of course, where are my manners? This is the annual ceremony of unity, where all members of both courts celebrate the beautiful world gifted to us by the dungeon and maintained by our most gracious queen.” She explained with a smile as she began to walk in a circle around Velua. She was taking in everything about the dwarf, wanting to understand what outfit she would be wearing during the ceremony.
Velua couldn’t help herself from taking in the sight of the elf at the same moment, her fair skin, that smart purple uniform, and even the gods damned cape had so much personality. It was also interesting that her hair was such a colorful shade of red, much more vibrant than Velua’s coppery color. She didn’t know what to do, even in their travels they hadn’t managed to encounter any of the fey-descended folk. Now after traveling through a mostly empty continent, braving weather and witchcraft alike, the mighty Velua WatchfulBronze felt that she was shaking in her boots as sweat pooled down her back.
“Aye, but what does that have ta do with us?” Velua asked as she watched the elf standing in front of them once more. She was contemplating something, but the dwarven lady could not read what was going on behind those shining gray eyes.
“Well, the only way that the ceremony can proceed is if outsiders come to share in the feast, then we present the queen with your offerings. If she is pleased with what you’re willing to part with, then you will be guided to the end of the floor, so that you might gain the bountiful treasure at the end.” She said with a smile before Molin piped up, the older dwarf seeming to be uncertain about this offer.
“Well, that sounds all fine and good, miss…” “Arabella” “Miss Arabella. But yer dungeon would allow us to skip rooms? That don’t sound very… dungeon-like.” He commented, Velua swallowing the dryness in her throat before nodding in agreement. It wasn’t like a dungeon to ever offer something that would benefit the delvers, since that meant they would exit with their lives and without the dungeon sucking them dry of stamina and mana.
“This doesn’t happen often, it’s a yearly celebration. One lucky group who delves in here is allowed to bypass the floor and continue in the dungeon proper. We don’t know how much longer we are going to be able to do this as the introductory floor, so… please make it special?” Arabella asked with a sweet smile that made Velua feel as if she was melting within her armor, the beauty of the elf making her heart thrum in her chest.
“I say that I will give it a try, on one condition. Our man was injured by a monster in tha river, we need him healed ‘fore we can continue. Can ya heal him if’n we participate in yer little ceremony?” Velua asked, trying to be at least somewhat a leader at the moment to make sure that her associates were properly cared for. If they could get the dungeon to heal them, then that would save them time and resources. The dwarven Lady put out her hand for a shake, it was clear that she was trying to be genuine with the dungeon born individual.
Arabella looked at the hand for a long second and tilted her head slightly, seeming to be listening to something before giving a nod. “Of course, we have the perfect treatment to ease his pain.” She smiled as she brought up her hand and shook Velua’s, the soft fair skin of the fey folk meeting the rough calloused dwarven hand. Velua could feel what her ancestors had always warned her about when it came to dealing with the fey and elves. A deal was struck, and now both parties were bound to it lest they come to divine retribution. She shuddered slightly and tried to shake off the foul feeling, her instincts telling her to kill the elf before any part of the deal could come to fruition. She battled those feelings down, confident that the beautiful military fey would not so harshly act against them. Then again, that could easily be her own secrets twisting her judgment against the goals as stated.
Molin and the others were about to protest before she cast a glare at them, not having any argument on what was supposed to be her expedition. It helped that they didn’t truly have a leg to stand on when it came to arguing. One way or another Twe needed to be tended to, and trying to fight their way from this large a congregation was tantamount to suicide. The Dungeon must have known this, and that was why there were so many in one place rather than spread out battles across the floor. They had failed rule number two of Dwarven Dungeon Delving. Master the Dungeon, don’t let the Dungeon master you.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Now, for your outfits.” Arabella said with a smile as she brought up her hands and particles of mana began to flow from her, the color being a dull gray to match her aura no doubt. It spread across them and the entire party found their outfits had changed. Velua’s sensible leather armor now was a flowing bronze-colored dress, glittering as if it had been freshly smelted from a rich vein of ore. Her hair was delicately braided into a crown upon her head, with the excess becoming a long braided tail at the back where the two lines met. She looked better than she had on her Delve Day, and a cursory touch of the material allowed her to understand the illusion did not remove her weapons or actual armor.
She cast her eyes towards the men, all of which had their beards combed, their hair slicked, and wearing fine suits that matched the colors of their families. Molin’s was a glittering sterling while the brothers found themselves in shining red, the same color as forge fire their family were known for withstanding. She had never thought that the MeltBlaze men could look good. Turns out she was somewhat right, in the fact that they had to be enchanted just to look presentable.
“Alright, now about me man-” Velua was cut off as the two individuals in the black feather cloaks appeared around the changing screen. Now that she got a better look at them she could understand that they were different from all the other fey at the party. While Arabella, the couple at the front, and the guards had a more sun kissed appearance, these two were pale. It wasn’t a sickly pale, like what happened when Dwarves dwelt too deep for too long. Their skin was closer to a fresh parchment than anything, and their eyes were such piercing shades of green. The man approached Twe, looking him over and nodding slightly before he waved over his female companion. She nodded in turn, the large cone-like hat tipping forward as she approached and reached into her feather cloak. She produced a small vial of murky yellow fluid. “Drink.” She commanded Twe, the dwarf having been kept silent by his brothers as the first of the two fey examined him.
“Yer bloody nuts thinkin’ ahm gonna drink some elven brew. Yer not gonna make me.” Twe growled despite the pain in his abdomen, Velua rolling her eyes at the response. As the other two brothers chimed in with agreements, she approached and took the vial from the strange fey. She popped the cork before stomping hard onto Twe’s foot.
“Ya daft bitch! Tha-” He spluttered and choked as Velua dumped the contents of the vial down his throat so that he could get the treatment that he needed. After a few minutes of coughing and spitting, the bellyaching dwarf finally started behaving like an adult again. “Actually… don’t hurt no more.” He muttered as he brought a hand up to his midsection and touched where he knew the wound to be, finding that there was no pain no matter how hard he pressed.
Velua was satisfied by that, looking at the two strange fey and smiling. “Thank ya very much fer yer help. Truly.” She said with a nod before both of the cloaked figures gave a gentle bow, seeming to not be the talkative sort. With that silent action, the two returned to the party, leaving the dwarves with their fey guide.
“Alright, with that sorted we need to get you all to your places. The ceremony is going to start any minute and we have been dallying far too long.” Arabella said after producing a time piece from her pocket, checking it over for a moment before nodding. She exited from behind the screen and waved the dwarves to follow. Velua was right behind Arabella, then was followed by Molin and lastly the brothers. They were chatting away despite the fact they had no place to make noise during this event. Velua would have turned and said something, but Molin leaned forward to speak instead.
“Yer playin’ dangerous games, my lady. Fey ain’t sensible folk, and their words always weigh more than the entirety of their bein’. Don’t make no more deals, lessin’ you want to live in this dungeon forever.” Molin whispered to her, trying to get her to understand that this wasn’t the same as a party in the king’s court.
“Right, got it. No need to worry, Molin.” She commented, though she wasn’t exactly focusing. As she looked forward at the fey, admiring the soft looking red locks of the woman, she couldn’t help but feel her mind wander. She wouldn’t mind to live in a dungeon, and the idea of being around such a beautiful fey day in and day out would hardly be a bad thing. She was so within her own world, she did not notice Dum swipe a cupcake off of a nearby tray. The pastry was shoved into his back where he would no doubt bring out later to snack on like the bottomless pit he was.
The five of them were brought onto the stage not far from the massive tree that still shaded over the entire venue. The shadows were starting to get deeper as the sun began its gentle path down towards the west. The two most elven of the party stood at the center of the stage, smiling brightly and wearing the most extravagant outfits of the entire party. The man’s suit looked like sheafs of the night sky had been cut down just to dance across his lapels, stars winking in and out of existence as he smiled with a bright charisma and his lime hair combed into a mop of spiraling curls. The woman wore a sundress that seemed to be rays of golden sunshine gently sewn together, making the outfit seem immaculate as she was near the point of crying from happiness. Her own green hair was straight, gently brushed to be long flowing locks that spilled around her shoulders.
Arabella positioned the dwarves on either side of the pair, with the brothers all being on the groom’s side while she, Molin, and Velua were standing on the side of the bride. Velua’s initial assessment seemed to be correct. This was a wedding, and for some reason the dungeon folk wanted delvers to be among the honored on the stage. She was about to ask what happened next before Arabella spoke up. A hush went over the crowd as all eyes, big and small, turned to look at the stage, waiting to hear what the military fey had to say.
“Fey of Red’s Dungeon, we are gathered here today to honor the wedding of Wisfell and Emdarling. We have those from beyond the walls of this dungeon here so that they might recognize this union within and outside of our humble home. Red watches over us this day, for the terrors within the temple beyond our mighty Oak have not come to sully this occasion. To officiate the wedding, and celebrate the peace of seelie and unseelie within our court. Our gracious Queen shall now exit and stand before us all.” Arabella spoke aloud, all of the gathered minions clapping excitedly while the dwarves exchanged glances.
Arabella waved her hand towards the base of the Oak, the entrance into some chamber lighting up with sparkling pink fairy fire. All in attendance stood, waiting for their matriarch to make her presence known and begin the ceremony. Seconds turned into minutes, and worried glances began to be shared amongst the fey. One of the guards, a fey in a blue bowtie, rushed into the tree and looked around for the Queen. He came out as pale as the feather-clad fey also in attendance. “The Queen is missing! She’s been kidnapped!”