"What mauled you, and why didn't you call for help?"

Seonghwa glanced up. He crouched on the floor before Morana's bed, helping the girl get dressed in her clothes to play in the grass. She stubbornly clutched San's sheep to her chest, making it difficult to close her vest. Doe onyx eyes sparkled up at Yeosang when he offered her a daisy.

Though the dryad smiled at the girl, his eyes clung to Seonghwa's neck. He didn't hide the marks San left, proud to show off their love. His purple gown whispered around his pale skin and made its spots stand out.

Seonghwa brushed Morana's hair behind her pointed ears and ran his thumbs over the cute tips of her horns. She started growing a second pair, right beneath the first. These would curl around the sides of her head instead of the top; Mingi could already tell. So endeared by their sight, Seonghwa took her hand and stood. Aodhán awaited them in the foyer with Jongho and Yunho.

"I did, actually, but no one bothered to show up."

With a caw, Onyx hopped off Morana's shelf to sail towards them. The raven perched on Seonghwa's shoulder, clicking his beak in joy at his shining jewellery.

Concerned, Yeosang watched Seonghwa's step. It was just a tad slower than any other days, just tentative enough not to count as fluid but as cautious of his limits. The others wouldn't notice a difference, but Yeosang had keen eyes, and he had known Seonghwa for over three centuries.

"Was this yesterday? With San? Mingi heard you wailing and came to mine and Hongjoong's room in worry, but Hongjoong said everything was fine. Was he wrong? Did he hurt you? Should we have intervened?" Alarm tinted the dryad's flowers a watchful red. He copied his expression in colours from Jongho's crystal language, but the thorns sprouting along his arms were entirely his own.

And they meant he felt threatened. Or rather, protective of any threat against Seonghwa.

Endeared by his loyalty as much as Mingi's concern and Hongjoong's ability to read Seonghwa so well, Seonghwa led them down the stairs to his excited son. Today, Seonghwa promised his babies to show them the winter butterflies. Yunho looked similarly curious and Seonghwa envisioned the two to match their dogs with their figurative wagging tails.

As Seonghwa floated down the stairs with Morana at his hand, he hummed reassuringly at Yeosang.

"San would never hurt me."

"He was never this rough with you. Or... was he?" Suddenly insecure if he missed out on abuse right underneath their noses, the dryad reached for Seonghwa's free hand. He sought the elf's serene expression for a lie, but Seonghwa granted him an uplifting smile. His fingers naturally weaved between the soft and bendable branches of the dryad's hand.

"San and I know how far we can go. I feel good, Yeosangie. Anything that happened was wanted."

Not convinced, the dryad glanced at San's door. Since the other husbands mostly witnessed San's angelic virtue, it was difficult to imagine the darkness lurking in its depths. For that reason, it always made Seonghwa's stomach tingle and, for that very same reason, his danger couldn't be estimated by the clueless harem.

San didn't show himself. After pampering Seonghwa with kisses and comfort all night, the seraph excused himself in the morning to attend to his training. Seonghwa let him go after a last yearnful kiss, and he rested his sore body at peace until it was time to rise. Though San offered to send for the healers or retrieve a therapeutic potion, Seonghwa refused. He enjoyed the echo of San's touch in his body. San had blushed at that confession.

"Are you sure you are all right?" Yeosang whispered to Seonghwa before Yunho was in earshot. The dryad's thorns retreated into his skin, since honesty between them was sacred. Yeosang was welcome to read beyond Seonghwa's farce, but he also learned Seonghwa spoke true in case of hidden issues.

"I am," Seonghwa crooned at him, swinging their hands between their bodies. Morana huffed as she climbed the stairs, and her adorable sight appeased Yeosang.

"Fine," he gave in. Then, with a glance at Yunho, he added under his breath: "Just be careful."

"Always, my dear. You know me."

Pacified, the dryad accepted his fate. Seonghwa didn't doubt he would prick an extra wooden ear from now on when San visited Seonghwa's chambers, but that was fine. Seonghwa was safe in his seraph's arms.

Yunho enclosed Seonghwa in a cosy hug and kissed his cheek as soon as he was close enough. Morana was eager to let go of him and grab Aodhán's hand instead and the two stood at the ready for their adventure, fiercely holding onto each other. Despite their difference in race, their elven core connected them and granted them adoration for one another.

"Jongho is waiting outside. How are you today, dove?"

Seonghwa linked his free arm with Yunho's and Buddy watched over their kids scurrying ahead on their short little legs. The adults followed slower as the little group made their way through the tall corridors.

"Now that you have recovered from the ritual, I would like to plan our journey to the Ruins of Gods as soon as possible. I know it is soon, and we had little time to celebrate, but while time doesn't pressure your bodies anymore, it certainly pressures for war. I will meet with my advisors in the evening."

Yeosang gave him a look. He chided Seonghwa should have picked one or the other, getting taken apart by San or relevant political meetings. When Seonghwa stifled a grin, the dryad rolled his eyes.

"I understand. Do you need us to be there?" Oblivious, Yunho guided Seonghwa into the gardens. The grass was soft, wet with dew under Seonghwa's feet. They made for Jongho's favourite spot, and Morana jumped in joy when the distant sound of his music welcomed them.

"I will brief the rest of you once the irrelevant palace talks are out of the way. But I will bring Hongjoong along to speak for our security. The land of the titans borders directly with the orkish marches," Seonghwa replied. Yeosang waved a branch at Jongho once he was in sight. The golem huddled over his xylophone and his Pebble stood by his side as if to judge upon his skill.

The two kids raced ahead with their animal companions to greet their stony friend. Something in Seonghwa yearned to check the training grounds for San, but he held back. Today, he wanted to spend time with the others.

"Sounds good. I will make sure Mingi is at the ready. These trips strain him, yet he insists on coming along." Yunho frowned to himself, but Seonghwa caressed his hand with reassuring fingers.

"I will speak to him later. Have you seen Wooyoung today?"

"He departed early to see Mulberry but he might be back in time to witness the early winter butterflies," Yeosang helped. Wooyoung reported to him as if Yeosang were the second in command of their tribe and though Seungyoun did his best to catch the same information for Seonghwa, Yeosang enjoyed having such importance. And being regarded as Seonghwa's right hand.

Chuckling, Seonghwa hugged Jongho in greeting. The golem's stony embraces were ever so careful.

"Can I show you my new melody?" He asked before they could depart to the nearby forest.

"Please," Seonghwa invited as he sunk onto the ground, resting his feeble legs while Jongho played for them. Morana and Aodhán danced with Buddy and Onyx picked at the Pebble, trying to figure out if she was alive or not.

Jongho's music told stories in the same way Seonghwa's singing soul conveyed his feelings. When Seonghwa closed his eyes, he could see the mountains and glens Jongho described without words. Could witness the changing of the seasons and the murmur of the water. The golem articulated his wonder with new animals, with the skies that were so unreachable yet so fascinating to him. And about Seonghwa. He talked a lot about Seonghwa.

About this beautiful, untouched being that threaded the earth and its mists. About how he seemed to come directly from those night skies Jongho liked to marvel at and about his otherworldly grace.

The moon elf was a marvel to the golem, so unexplained and unique even after the time they spent with one another. And whenever Jongho played his music about him, it sounded as sweet as the song of his castle it mixed with.

When Jongho ended his tale, he let the mallet glide off his xylophone. His crystals shone in yellow as he tilted his head, waiting for their verdict.

Yunho and the kids gave him raging applause.

"Pretty!" Morana cheered, slinging herself over Jongho's lap without fear of his rough exterior. The golem shyly caressed her hair, lifting his hand with utter caution until it barely skimmed her dark curls. He learned to smoothen his touch with his crystals and mosses and was less afraid to play with the kids ever since.

"I also liked it. Your tales are a marvel," Yeosang smiled. The golem showed his happiness in orange and then tilted his head at Seonghwa through the grinding of his head on his shoulders.

"And how did you like it, Seonghwa?"

"It was phenomenal," Seonghwa admitted as he caressed his hand over Jongho's arm. Though the golem didn't feel the touch, he liked it when he received the same treatment as the rest of the harem. "Your stories are magnificent and this is such a touching way to tell them. If you ever wish to perform in the town, tell me. You can convey your tales to the people; they would love to hear."

"Maybe one day," Jongho agreed, satisfied. He stood and loaded the two hopping kids into his arms. They loved to ride along with him, felt as if the mountains were moving when Jongho carried them.

Together, they made for the forest to search for the early winter butterflies. They were fickle beings, most not birthed from their cocoons yet. But their fuzzy bodies were white as snow and their wings so translucent one could see through them.

While his kids played with the fairies and searched the forest for the winter butterflies, Seonghwa flattered Jongho on his music. They cheered together when Aodhán found the first butterfly and cupped it in his hands to bring it over. His legs ran so quickly he stumbled, but Yunho caught him and everyone huddled together to look at the peaceful bat of wings in Aodhán's little hands. Morana's weight on Seonghwa's lap brought a welcome warmth, a hominess of family.

He wanted to stay and spend more time with his home, praise his children and his husbands, but while they lived at peace, the orcs plotted.

Blissful as life was right now, Seonghwa couldn't lose his goal from sight.

"Can I keep it?" Aodhán asked when the butterfly didn't try to leave. Seonghwa pondered the little being and its limited mind, that barely knew how to communicate for food.

"You can bring it home. Perhaps it will like the gardens. But let it leave if it wishes to," the elf suggested and his son beamed. He carried the butterfly with the greatest care as they sought for a second one for Morana.

Later, Wooyoung joined them from his trip and hung from Seonghwa's side as he babbled about his day. The elf indulged him, purring and caressing Wooyoung's hair until he blushed an adorable pink.

The evening ultimately brought them home. With his babies exhausted from the chase and snuggled into Jongho's arms, they returned to the castle.

Hongjoong awaited Seonghwa in the foyer for their meeting. He had Mingi with him and Seonghwa bid the others a good night before he joined them. The tall demon hung his head, so Seonghwa grasped his hands in concern. Dark shadows rimmed his haunted eyes.

"He was distressed about you last night," Hongjoong explained. He wore green velvet today, looking dashing by the demon's side.

"I heard. I'm sorry, my sweet. Everything is fine, so thank you for worrying about me."

Mingi nodded, not so shaken anymore, but Seonghwa could tell he cried when he first heard him and thought him hurt.

Feeling so torn between affection and guilt, Seonghwa embraced him.

"You never are this loud for me," Hongjoong also threw in. "Hadn't I known, I would have stormed in and put him in chains."

"Don't," Seonghwa chided gently as he pulled back from Mingi. "Thank you for reassuring them, Hongjoong. Shall we? I will catch up with you soon, Mingi."

With a nod, the demon trotted away to find his daughter and ask her about the butterflies. In the meantime, Seonghwa linked his arm with Hongjoong's and they ascended the stairs together.

Contrary to Yeosang's understanding, envy simmered in Hongjoong's eyes.

"He better watch himself," he just said at Seonghwa's questioning gaze. Then he marched them to their meeting without another word.