The next morning, Hiccup and the others set off towards Orzammar, but they made a slight detour to the place where Sten and his brethren were ambushed. It was noon when they reached the campsite, and they could definitely see some rotting corpses that were clearly qunari.

However, someone beat them to it an old man was scavenging of what remained of the corpses. The old man looked down when he saw them and immediately stood his ground against them.

"Back off! I was here first!" he said.

"What are you doing?" Hiccup asked.

"What's it to you? I wasn't bothering nobody. And I was here first."

"You're surrounded by corpses," Hiccup pointed out.

"They're mine! …Not literally, you understand. They're not my bodies. I mean, I only got one, and I'm not dead or nothing. But I was here first!"

Hiccup folded his arms. "There's something wrong with you."

"I get that a lot."

"Just answer my questions, and we'll be on our way," said Hiccup.

"All right, if it'll make you leave my spot quicker."

"Have you found any swords?"

The old man looked at him, curiously. "Why, you looking to buy one?"

"No, but my large and angry friend here is," said Hiccup gesturing to Sten.

Sten growled at the old man angrily, causing him to back away quickly.

"I don't know anything about any sword," he said quickly. "To be honest, the place was picked clean when I got here. I got part of a glove the wolves didn't you too badly, though! I think it was a glove, anyway… I know. Don't say it, I got cheated. I knew the guy who was here before me. He sold me this spot. Said he'd found giant in all kinds of crazy valuables. He didn't mention that he'd take everything but the bones and the dirt already. His name's Faryn. Squirrelly little bastard, if you ask me. Which you didn't. But I said it anyway."

"If he sold you this spot does that mean you own the land?" Hiccup asked.

"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "That some freeholder or other. He just told me about the looting rights. I'm not building a house here or nothing. He was going to Orzammar, he said. I imagine he's gotten there by now. If you find him, tell him I sent you! It'll scare the piss out of him."

"We were heading in a direction anyway," said Hiccup.

"Still think he'll be there?" Ragnar asked.

"Possibly, if what Gobber says is true."

It wasn't until afternoon when they finally reached the mountain where the gates to Orzammar laid. Once there however they saw dozens of merchants, mostly dwarfs, just sitting around outside the gate.

"Looks like Gobber was right about the gates been shut," said Astrid.

"The doors have always been rather recluse, they always allowed merchants and dignitaries to visit," said Hiccup.

Fishlegs looked at him. "That's right, I forgot, you visited Orzammar once.

"Just after Calian became king, he was invited by King Endrin, and my father accompanied him and brought me along for the ride," said Hiccup. "I actually saw one of their Provings."

"What's a Proving?" Snotlout asked.

"It's a tournament that the dwarfs hold in order to honour their ancestors," said Astrid.

"Shouldn't you know this, you do have dwarven ancestry," said Fishlegs.

"I'm awesome enough already, I don't need to know about dwarves and their silly traditions," said Snotlout dismissively.

Hiccup then turned on him. "I suggest that you don't insult the dwarfs about their silly traditions what they might hack you into pieces. While we're there you let me do the talking and keep your mouth shut or else you might lose your tongue."

"Yes, sir," said Snotlout looking quite taken aback.

The first thing they did before making their way to the gate and searched for this merchant Faryn, a few people pointed them in the right direction and the approach to stand.

"Stop right—" He stopped when he saw Sten. "Maker's breathe! Ah, I beg your pardon, friend, you… ah… startled me a bit."

"We're looking for a qunari sword," said Hiccup.

He frowned. "Kyun-what? I'm sorry, I… ah… I don't know what that—"

"Where is my sword?" said Sten frustrating.

"I… ah… don't know what you mean, sir?"

"I've given to him if I were you," Hiccup advised.

"I…, I don't have it!" he said quickly. "I swear by Andraste's knickers! I sold it on my way here!"

"Who did you sell it to?" Hiccup demanded.

"A dwarf near Berk. Dwyn, I think his name was."

Astrid looked up. "I know him."

Hiccup looked at her. "You do?"

"Before my brother became a knight, my family were farmers, but things were tough after the rebellion. The Asgardians scorched the fields made it difficult for us to grow anything, my father was forced to get a loan from Dwyn a very big one. A few years ago, he came to collect, but my father didn't have the money to pay it off. To pay off my brother to part in a tournament hoping to use the prize money in order to pay off our debt and it worked, and then my brother became a knight."

"He said that he was a collector of weapons and I swear he does have the sword," said Faryn.

"We'll see," said Sten.

"You mean to say that we've been going around in a wild goose chase for this sword!" Snotlout yelled.

"And we can't go back until after we get our alliance with the dwarfs," Hiccup added. "Now let's get to the gates and see we can't get an audience with the King."

The gates were enormous and carved right into the mountain, there were only a few guards outside the gate. Hiccup then notice that they seem to be arguing with a group of knights and judging from the emblem on their armour they were under the command of Drago.

"More of Drago's knights," said Astrid.

"Let's hope this doesn't end up like last time," said Hiccup.

"What happened last time?" Fishlegs asked.

"They attacked us, and we killed all but one of them," said Ragnar.

"They even attacked me, and I hadn't joined the group back then," Heather added.

"They would be stupid to attack us in front of the dwarfs," said Astrid. "I mean killing a group of Grey Wardens in front of their greatest ally, not the best way to win them over."

"I don't think they're going to win them over regardless," said Valka.

She was right; the dwarven guards were denying the knight access to the city.

"Veata! This land is held in trust for the sovereign dwarven kings," said the guard. "I cannot allow entry at this time."

"King Drago demands the alliance of the deshyr or lords or whatever you call them in your Assembly!" said the leader of the Knights. "I am his appointed messenger."

"I don't care if you're the king's wiper, Orzammar will have none, but it own until our throne is settled."

Hiccup then stepped forward. "I have an urgent need to talk to your king."

"Who doesn't? I don't get in, so no one should," said the Knight.

"Think highly of yourself, don't you?" said Speedfist.

"Orzammar has no king," said the guard regretfully. "Endrin Aeduan return to the Stone not three weeks ago, sick over the loss of his sons. The Assembly has gone through a dozen votes without agreeing on a successor. If it is not settled soon, we risk a civil war."

"Another civil war, one was bad enough now we have one underground," said Ragnar.

"Me and my companion Grey Wardens," said Hiccup as he reached into his satchel to grab the treaty for Orzammar. "This treaty obligates Orzammar to aid us."

The Knight's eyes widened as they Handed over the treaty. "The Wardens killed King Cailan and nearly doomed Midgard! They're sworn enemies of King Drago!"

"So Drago is calling himself King now, I thought he was just the King Regent," said Astrid folding her arms. "He's not lying to the dwarfs about his position just so that he can gain their allegiance."

"How dare you slander King Drago!" the knight roared. "Do you honestly believe that you Grey Wardens can enter Orzammar by just showing a piece of paper?"

"Well, that is the royal seal," said the guard as he examined the treaty. "This means only the Assembly is authorised to address it. Grey Warden, you may pass."

The Knight's mouth fell wide open as the guard handed back the treaty.

"You were saying?" Astrid smirked.

"You're letting in a traitor! And a foreigner?" the knight roared. "In the name of King Drago eyes and you execute this… stain on the honour of Midgard!"

"The only stain on Midgard's honour is you," Astrid glared. "You serve a tyrant, traitor and a liar how you demanded the dwarfs to do your own dirty work? The dwarves are part of a separate nation to the rest of Midgard by ancient treaties so you cannot demand anything from them."

The knight glared at her then looked at the rest of them. "You… you'll hear of this. King Drago will have you're quartered!"

"I'm shaking in my boots," said Snotlout.

The knight and the rest of his party been left angrily leaving the mountain.

The guard looked genuinely pleased that they were gone. "You are free to enter Orzammar, Grey Warden, though I don't know what help you will find."

The large gate opened in they walked right through.

Pass the gates they found themselves in a long corridor filled with statues of dwarfs.

"Those are the statues of the Paragons," said Hiccup.

"Para-what?" Snotlout blinked.

"Oh, they are just simply the embodiment of what it means to be a dwarf," said Tuffnut.

"Dwarfs do not worship a god as we humans all or the elves do. Instead, they look to their ancestors to give them strength, and a paragon embodies them," said Ruffnut.

"They're correct," said Fishlegs blinking at them. "I also understand that when someone is made paragon, they actually create their own household. Every single dwarven noble is descended from one of these Paragon."

"So it's not wise to cancel their ancestry," said Hiccup. "Also keep in mind towards having a strict caste system also very few dwarfs inside the city even step foot outside."

"One of the dwarfs we saw at the gate and those merchants?" Astrid asked.

"The guards were sent outside by the Assembly, so they still have a caste, but those merchants they don't have one in here. You see when a dwarf stepped outside they turn their back on the Stone and so they are cast out."

"And the Stone?" Astrid asked.

"I believe the dwarfs believed they were created by the earth, but they don't worship her my a god," Heather explained. "Also the dwarfs have something they call a stone since, which they believed to be the Stone guiding them through the earth. Those born on the surface don't seem to have this ability, which is why they shunned by the dwarfs here."

"Even though they are their constant lifeline," said Hiccup. "The dwarven merchants here sell their goods to the merchants outside and they, in turn, sell them goods like food, drink and different kinds of materials which they can't get underground."

"I'm not sure I like this caste system," said Astrid.

"Nor do I, and sadly there's nothing we can do about it," said Hiccup. "We need to head to the Assembly to find out what's going on and then plan on it move."

They then entered the city itself, and it was majestic, the entire place was illuminated by lava pools and streams that flow through the mountain. They could see thousands of buildings made of pure stone carved into the mountain itself and hundreds of different bridges that span all around them.

"Whoa," said Astrid in wonder.

"That's exactly what I said when I first saw the city," said Hiccup.

"Yes, but I don't think there were some heavily armed towards basing one another in the middle of the Plaza," said Valka.

Everyone quickly turned towards her direction and saw that there were two groups of dwarfs standing in the middle of the Plaza. One of them was quite young with a short brown beard, and the other was elderly with a long white beard.

"It is the Assembly who makes a king, and a king who nominates his successor," said the old man. "None of it carries in the blood."

"Or, as now, when someone tries using the Assembly to pull a coup," the young dwarf glared. "Who's to say my father said in his final hours when the usurper Harrowmont was the only one by his side?"

"I'll have you thrown in prison!"

"You've bitten off more than you can chew!"

A dwarven then stepped forward. "Handlers! Separate these deshyrs in the Diamond Quarter! I will not have Bhelen incite a riot!"

One of Bhelen's guards then drew an axe. "You'll not speak that way about the man who should be king!"

Then before the man could do anything, the guard knocked him off his feet with his act and then slammed it right down on his chest, killing him. In the commotion, Harrowmont and the deshyrs ran off, and Bhelen then walked off with his men.

"That was intense," said Heather.

Astrid looked Hiccup. "What just happened?"

"I'm not completely sure, but I think we saw the two candidates to be the next king," said Hiccup.

A dwarven guard then approached them, and angrily looked at the mess. "Veta, surfacers! I am bid to let you walk the commons, but keep your place. Warden or not, I want order."

"Too late for that," Astrid muttered.

Hiccup looked at the guard. "I came here for Orzammar's assistance against the Blight."

"Surfacer problems. Well, we have no king to hear you. You can join a shouting at the Assembly in the Diamond Quarter if you want. Bunch of deshyr lords bickering over sand. Bhelen, Harrowmont… is one so different? No Paragons here."

"It sounds like Bhelen and Harrowmont the ones we need to talk to," said Hiccup looking at the others.

"They've caged themselves for fear of each other. As you've seen, keeping order down here among us working people is dodgy. No place for a proper lord. Bhelen speaks through his second, Vartag Gavorn, in the Assembly. Lord Harrowmont speaks through Dulin Forender from his estate."

"Can a city function like this?" Astrid asked gesturing to all the blood.

"See, that's why I don't want your surfaces seeing our worst. You'll think that's all we are. The market is thin but busy, and tavern never closes. Bad blood is usually kept to the Proving. Should toss Bhelen and Harrowmont in there, sort this all out in a hurry."

"We best make our way to the Assembly, we can find out more from there," said Hiccup as he turned to the others.

On their way to the Assembly, they asked several people about what was going on. A woman who was close to the previous king and was a candidate of being a white one of his sons and she mentioned that Bhelen killed his eldest brother Trian and then framed it upon Endrin's favourite son, Duran. She also questioned whether King Endrin died in his bed or was poisoned.

A merchant was a staunch supporter of Bhelen, he mentioned that the kings of the wanted to to do massive reforms. He wanted to open up more to the surface world and be more lenient towards the strict caste system. He also was quick to point out that Harrowmont was a strong traditionalist, and if he was made king, he would close the gates permanently have the choice.

Neither candidate seemed to be ideal and the choice and get any easier when the end of the Assembly. The deshyrs fat read each other's throats, and the steward was doing everything he can to maintain order.

"Your mind has gone to dust if you think we should pass such a writ. Half our houses would go broke without surface trade."

"The proposal is only effective until we have a king to ensure we are respected by the surfaces!"

"Leaving you conveniently position to take over all contracts. I'll see your head on a pike, first!"

"Deshyrs, lords, and ladies of the Assembly, I've already doubled the guard to prevent violence," said the steward tiredly. "Must I summon more?"

"Steward Bandelor, Bhelen's sympathisers our tying our hands with trivialities! They may as well open as to the sky!"

"I suggest we put the matter to a vote," said a noble lady.

"And I suggest you have a taste of my family's mace—"

"Enough!" Bandelor roared slamming his staff on the ground earning everyone's attention. "The Assembly is in recess until the members can regain control of their emotions!"

With that the members, the Assembly left the chamber leaving only a very tired Bandelor who allegedly had a good night sleep for several days.

"Stone-forsaken fools and dusters…" he growled and noticed Hiccup and the others. "I'm sorry. This is the Assembly of the Clans. Only deshyrs and the occasional guests of state are allowed in."

"You don't recognise a Grey Warden or two?" Hiccup gesturing to himself and Ragnar.

"Forgive me, I am so exhausted," said Bandelor apologetically. "I completely forgot about the message from the gate guard. Welcome to Orzammar, Warden. I hope you forgive our unrest. The loss of our king has hit us hard. Respect for your role is great, but you will receive a proper hearing until we have a king on the throne."

"Is there any way we can break this stalemate?" Hiccup asked.

"I must admit, Warden, I am at a loss myself," he admitted. "It lies with Prince Bhelen or Lord Harrowmont, and they are slow to trust anyone in these uncertain times. I wish there was more than I could do for you, but alas we are where we are."

Bandelor then left the chamber, leaving all of them completely alone, which gave them a chance to discuss their plan of action in private.

"It becomes clear that the only way we're going to get help from the dwarfs is by nominating a king," said Ragnar.

"You suggesting that we interfere in politics here?" Hiccup stared.

"Normally I wouldn't suggest a thing, but what choice do we have?"

"He's right, besides this is no different than what we're doing on the surface," Astrid pointed out.

"The difference being is that I'm one of the candidates and we are technically on foreign soil," Hiccup reminded her.

"But if we do nothing a civil war could start right here, and many lives will be lost," Heather pointed out. "There's already so few dwarfs, a single war could endanger their entire people."

Hiccup sighed. "You've made your point, the question remains who should we support? Prince Bhelen or Lord Harrowmont."

"It's crystal clear that Prince Bhelen is a dishonourable rouge, just look what he did to his brothers," said Speedfist.

"But Harrowmont is an old man, he may have been a great general once, but I very much doubt that he had the strength to rule," said Eret.

"How about we don't start a civil war of our own," said Ragnar quickly. "I think we can all agree on that evil one of them can provide us with the men needed for our cause. However, it's not just that we should be concerned about the well-being of the dwarfs as well."

"Ragnar is right, we need to decide who is best suited to become king," said Valka. "The ageing dwarven traditionalist or the backstabbing idealist."

Hiccup closed his eyes and thought about this, both sides made an excellent point about each of the candidates, and he wished that he had a third option. However, there was no denying that the dwarfs were declining fewer births and fewer warriors and those that came down to their strict traditions. If Orzammar was to rise than it needed to walk down a new path and so he was only one choice.

"We have to support Bhelen," said Hiccup.

"You sure?" Speedfist asked.

"I do wish I had another option, but Ragnar is right we need to think about what is good for Orzammar. Bhelen maybe the least trustworthy of the two, but his reforms could very well save the dwarfs from themselves."

"I hope you know what you're doing," said Astrid.

"So do I," said Hiccup.

At Aresgan, Drago's messenger to Orzammar had returned with the bad news.

"How dare they allow a traitor to enter their gates and leave our envoy in the cold!" Devi roared furiously.

"Don't tell me you are expecting something different, dear sister," said Tyrell. "The Grey Wardens are stored allied with the dwarfs of Orzammar, of course, they would let them through their gates."

"Well their traps now, we can ambush them the moment they exit from the mountain," said Devi.

"But there would be a waste of manpower," said Viggo. "We do not know when they will come out, by all record the situation in Orzammar is quite grim. Besides, the main gate is not the only exit and entrance to Orzammar, there are the Deep Roads which means they can appear just about anywhere in Midgard."

"Viggo is right, daughter," said Drago. "Our forces will be better spent putting down the rebellions."

"And the darkspawn," Tyrell added.

Devi glared at all of them and then stormed out.

"I wonder where she gets that temper," said Viggo looking towards Drago.

"If you have something to say, say it," said Drago.

"I just want to know what you were thinking when you send that messenger," said Viggo leaning towards him. "Not only did he demanded that the dwarfs to let him in, but he also demanded them to execute Hiccup on the spot and mentioned you were king."

Tyrell nodded. "Yes, I think you chose a poor candidate to be your messenger. The way that he was talking it almost seemed as if he was talking to a bunch of squatters. The mountain and its surroundings along with everything below it belongs to the dwarfs by ancient treaties, they are practically another foreign land."

Drago growled at the two of them. "You questioning me?"

"Of course not, we just wish that you had informed us that you are sending the messenger," said Viggo.

"Not that it would make any difference," said Tyrell. "I very much doubt that even if they had been respectful, they wouldn't have been able to enter. Hiccup is able to enter into places we cannot and can demand help. I think we might be a little out of our depth."

"Enough!" Drago roared. "I am still King Regent, and I will do what I must to protect our country, don't you forget that!"

He then walked off, leaving Viggo and Tyrell alone.