I told you so.

"How can you tell where you are going Gerda? All these tunnels look the same to me." Aes responded after having been through what looked to him to be the same tunnel a few times. 

The torch he held in his hand did little to help him to sus out the difference in all the tunnels he traveled in. Each indistinguishable from the next.

"When you've been living here as long as our clan has, you get a good idea of the land. It's just ahead, the big crisscross." Gerda replied. 

Her big frame effortlessly hoisting her great axe over her shoulder after having pointed it's head at the exit before them.

"Did we have to leave Gerlinde and Gerhild behind? I miss them already!" Robbin stated in a sulk as he offered the least amount of effort to hold himself upright. His arms swinging from side to side, following in his own melancholic manner.

Morgan was still lost in thought, she had now taken to covering her mouth instead of fingernail biting. She had yet to break from the trance she had put herself under.

"Course! If something 'appened to 'em then we wouldn't be the three Gs no more! Someone has to carry on the Grinning Skull clan! if you gotta get watery eyed about it, just give em babes of their own when you're done with your Qwest!" Gerda gently admonished Robbins attitude.

"being a father... It's a nice thought."  Robbin stated quietly to himself, blushing slightly. He leaned back up then pulled his hood down to hide his reaction from everyone along with his sincere smile.

The small opening ahead of them opened up the world around them as they moved through it. They now trod on a rocky path that acted like a bridge to an opening on the other side. More alarmingly was the surroundings of this rocky path.

Looking over the side of the path Aes could spy an enormous chamber. Multitude of rocky paths as bridges connecting opening and entrances everywhere across the enormous chamber. Each lower than the next, some overlapping underneath another, others above; making a cross pattern. There were innumerable paths each leading to somewhere Aes had yet to know.  

The path they were on was but one of many in this hub of passages. Surprisingly each path was adorned with torches, on both sides of the entrances and exits. Some person or people had frequently traversed these routes, but as to who? It was just another question Aes did not have an answer for.

While his thoughts first turned to Gerda and her clan, he reasoned the sheer amount of bridges here would take too long for them to adorn with a clan as modest as it is. There had to be a population of people here who would have need for the illumination for their frequent travel. Apart from them, he could see no other people here let alone a population.

There was no light that escaped in the bowels of the chamber which hid it's secrets in an ocean of dark. The only illumination that there was, was an ominous red glow that would gobble up the dark, revealing what looked to be the ruins of an underground city of some sort. Before disappearing once again to set free the dark it consumed.

The glow had a rhythm to it, making it look like the mountain itself had a heart beat.

"Impressive isn't it, my mate? I was just as surprised when I first found the big crisscross. See 'hat rubble that looks like a city? heard it used to have shorties, small but cleva. Dunno what happened to 'em. Elders said one day they disappeared outta nowhere. Well, the bridge just above it is the one you want. Heads straight into a opening in the forests before Eversun."  Gerda sounded proudly puffing out her chest again while beating it once with her free hand.

"I must admit. It truly is a wonder, I never thought I would ever see such a sight. Would it not take time to make our way through all these passages?" Aes asked sensibly enough much like a straight edged reasonable person would.

Gerda gave a knowing grin, as if she knew he would say that.

"You fink so? 'ats where the short part comes in shortcut!" Gerda voiced mischievously before backing up a bit.

With a bigger room to get a good run up for her action in motion, she broke out into a sprint before leaping off rocky path; opposite to where Aes was. 

"What are you doing Gerda!?" Aes blurted out in a panic.

"She's lost it." Robbin added watching everything unfold behind him.

*Thud* 

Only to land on another similar path, a small ways underneath and to the side of their previous location.

"How's about that!? GAHAHAHA! Now 'ats a short cut! Course we can't do that all the way down. It's fasta than walking all that way around!" Gerda guffawed out with pride.

*whistle* "That's some girlfriend you have there Aes. Nice one." Robbin said jokingly with a pat to Aes' back.

Before deftly followed suit across, being no stranger to acrobatics.

"I have my vow! I mean to keep it!" Aes spouted out incredulously.

Aes began to back up initially until he noticed one of there own who had been so quiet, suddenly speak. Moving into action.

"...Girlfriend?" Morgan returned from wherever her mind went as she caught that word in the air. An irritated look returning along with it.

"Tch! What did I tell you Greta or Greda or whatever your name is!? I have laid claim to him!" She shouted as she grabbed Aes by his arm just before his take off.

Gerda guffawed once again. Not bothered in the least from the revival of her rival. Her next words mirroring this.

"GAHAHAHA! Welcome back! Miss Witch Morgan!"

"Listen here you- no No NO NO NO! Dark Lady preserve me. AES!? Where have you brought us?" Morgan stopped herself as she, much like Gerda instantly recognized this place. Though the things she recognized struck a primal terror into her.

"We shouldn't be here! The path we were going to take was longer but safer. I made doubly sure to specifically avoid taking this path!" Her knees began to wobble. She leaned against Aes to keep herself upright.

"What is wrong Morgan?" Aes asked as he held her up. Gerda gave him the side-eye for it.

"This place, it used to be the underground city of the dwarven people. Among the great scholars of Eversun it was researched that they were beset by a fiend general under the Archfiends command. 

The ores that the dwarves used to build their tools which in turn built their kingdom, to smith the magical weapons the knights of Eversun used in their war. It was condensed magic given form.

The fiends coveted it above all else but never mind that! There were hushed whispers in the debate halls of Eversuns finest mages that after the fiend general slew every last dwarf, he slumbers in the city below it to this day!

We can not be here! If we wake him, it is likely we meet our doom!" Morgan explained almost all at once as the words came pouring out of her in just as much of a rush as she wished she could leave in.

Aes paused for a bit, putting down his torch. Promptly picking Morgan up into a princess carry position once again.

"Even if it is as you say, we are out of options. I give you- All of you, my word. I will see to it you will all make it to see Eversun. Should this doom find us. It shall not meet you." Aes stated valiantly before leaping off with Morgan in his arms.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Morgan screamed at the top of her lungs. 

*Thud*

Aes reached the other side, putting down Morgan on her feet. She conversely did little to keep herself up. Instead opting to crumble to the ground in despair. Her body shivering.

"You're insane! You've all lost your minds! I'm in a party of loons!"

Gerda looked disappointed at Aes but otherwise said nothing.

"Is aught a miss Gerda?" Aes inquired innocently catching the meaning in her look.

"Humph! next time you're carrying me!" Gerda demanded.

"I do not think I could, you are taller, more muscled. It would prove difficult for me." Aes replied innocent to the insult he added to the injury.

"Alright fine! I will carry you then next time!" Gerda rebutted before leaving down the path in a huff.

"Did I say something wrong?" Aes stated, now his confusion only worsening as he watched her go.

Robbin placed a single sympathetic hand on Aes' shoulder.

"Aes..." Robbin started.

"Yes?" 

"I told you so."