Led by the Gondor officer, Arthur and his group, apart from routine inspections, were not met with much obstruction and were quickly led to the outside of the Great Hall where the Regent resided.
Dihail was politely stopped by the Gondor guards outside the Great Hall, and he, in turn, cooperated by dismounting and handing the reins of his steed to them.
When the Gondor guard led Dihail's mount to Arthur, intending to lead Torrent to the stables, Torrent, with a hint of disdain, avoided him, causing the guard to feel awkward.
After waiting for Melina to dismount, Arthur gently said to the guard, "Oh, don't worry about my mount; it's not like ordinary horses."
After he finished speaking, he blew his whistle again. To the guard's astonishment, Torrent transformed into a cluster of golden particles and vanished before him, causing the guard to regard Arthur with reverence.
"Don't mind it too much; it's just a little trick of a wizard," Arthur waved his hand and said with a smile.
Just then, the Gondor officer hurried over, spoke a few words to the guard, and then looked at Arthur and the other two: "His Excellency the Regent has heard that the Lord of the Erdtree brings detailed information about Mordor and is already waiting for you inside."
Arthur nodded, took out a Warming Stone glowing with a warm golden light from his spatial backpack, and handed it over: "Thank you for your help on this journey. This is a Warming Stone; placing it near someone who needs healing will take effect, and it might even help with your son's illness."
The officer's eyes showed a hint of excitement, but his upbringing allowed him to control this emotion, not showing any gaffe. Instead, he respectfully thanked Arthur: "No, I merely did what I should have. On the contrary, I should thank you for your benevolence and generosity."
Then, with extreme care, he took the Warming Stone with both hands and placed it inside the breastplate in his bosom, then made an inviting gesture and said solemnly, "Please."
The Gondor officer led Arthur and his companions to the second doorway inside the Great Hall and then took his leave. The guards at the second doorway stepped forward, just about to say something, when a resonant voice came from within: "There's no need to check them for weapons. Arthur is a friend of Gandalf and, like him, a powerful wizard. If he intended to do anything, you wouldn't discover it."
The guards immediately stopped, retreated to their original positions, and opened the large doors for Arthur and his companions.
Above the lintel, the emblems of successive Regents intertwined with the long-faded royal crests, speaking of the transmission of power in the dim light.
Stepping into the palace, the light suddenly brightened, its vastness reminding Arthur of the palaces forged by the dwarves. The dome hung high above the light, allowing one to clearly see every meticulously carved pattern by the master craftsmen.
Supporting this colossal space were rows of colossal pillars, several people wide, their surfaces not smooth but roughly chiseled with bas-reliefs of Gondor's founding kings and legendary heroes.
Those majestic faces and scenes of battle, illuminated by the light, seemed to come alive, as if history itself was whispering.
The throne itself was carved from a single block of deeply colored, almost ink-black jade-like stone, elevated upon several wide stone steps.
It was massive, heavy, with stark, rigid lines, its back as straight as a sword's spine.
However, the seat that should have belonged to the King was now empty, covered only by a dark velvet cloth, symbolizing the Regent's authority.
This vast emptiness was like a silent wound, hanging over the solemnity of the entire hall.
The Regent's actual seat was to the right of the steps below the throne, a plain, unadorned solid wood chair, just large enough for one person, and only one person.
Eregion, the Regent of Gondor, appeared as a smiling middle-aged man, though time and power had carved angles into his face, giving him an overall air of majesty.
He spread his arms, welcoming Arthur and the two others who had entered: "I have long heard that the Lord of the Erdtree is a man of exceptional talent. Gandalf also described your appearance to me, but only by truly seeing you can one understand how pale and powerless words are in their descriptions. Those words simply cannot express your appearance. If I had a daughter, I would surely marry her to you."
Does he praise people like this right off the bat?
Arthur was inwardly surprised by the other party's praise, and Melina, behind him, could not help but reveal a slight smile after hearing Eregion's words.
However, when Melina heard the last sentence, the smile on her lips receded.
On the contrary, Arthur felt a faint trace of killing intent suddenly emanate from Melina behind him.
The Regent clapped his hands, and the male attendants standing to his left and right immediately brought in a stone table just large enough for four people, along with four chairs that looked very valuable and were inlaid with various jewels.
And the maids, after the attendants had finished, orderly carried trays, placing fresh dishes, wine, and fruits upon the table.
Eregion clapped his hands again. Both attendants and maids, upon hearing his applause, respectfully backed out of the palace. The large doors closed, and the palace suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of their four breaths.
It was Eregion who broke the silence, sitting down and inviting the three: "Sit, I like to eat something while talking; it also helps me think."
Arthur and Melina had no psychological burden; as guests, they followed the host's lead and immediately took their seats.
Dihail, on the other hand, knelt on one knee to Eregion as a gesture of thanks, somewhat nervously, before timidly taking his seat.
Eregion noticed Dihail's nervousness, picked up a glass of wine, and smiled gently at him: "Don't be nervous. I recognize you, Talion's son. Your father resisted the enemies of Mordor at the Black Gate, earning Gondor much time to breathe. I remember all his merits."
Then he changed the subject, drank the amber liquid in his glass, and looked at Arthur, asking: "I just don't know why the Lord of the Erdtree would suddenly come to Gondor with him?"
Arthur had no intention of exchanging pleasantries; instead, he succinctly stated: "Sauron has appeared in Mordor. I want to know Gondor's next move."
"Clang—"
The golden wine cup quietly fell from Eregion's hand, landing on the stone table with a crisp sound. The wine spilled onto his splendid attire, making Eregion react, his brow furrowed.
"I lost my composure."
Eregion said, maintaining a calm tone, then clapped his hands again.
The maids outside heard the applause and, bowing their heads, respectfully entered with a change of clothes, quickly helping Eregion change.
Meanwhile, the attendants decisively brought in a new stone table, replacing the previous one, and just as quickly refilled it with delicacies.