"There you go, good boy. You are as lovely as your brother, aren't you?" Seonghwa cooed at Mulberry. The gryphon nudged his beak into Seonghwa's shoulder fondly, staying still to endure his gentle hands strapping the saddle to his back. Seonghwa dipped under a wing to make sure it was secured properly, and Wooyoung's talons screeched over the stone behind them when he came scurrying.

"Let me do that!" He shrieked, trying to push Mulberry off from Seonghwa, but the elf was unperturbed as his hair got stuck in his feathers. The gryphon scoffed at Wooyoung's pitiful attempts.

"You're injured; just sit down and wait," Seonghwa tutted. Though Hongjoong's magic had rightened Wooyoung's wing, it was still sore and he shouldn't strain himself.

When Wooyoung didn't dare argue back at his wife, Yunho and Buddy rushed to his aid.

"Then let me do it!" The knight exclaimed, similarly mortified to see Seonghwa do manual labour. But to the elf, this was as friendly a gesture as fixing Mingi's collar for him.

The glint in Mulberry's eyes ridiculed their obedience to their serene ruler.

Buddy also pushed in, nudging his nose against the saddle and then bumped into Seonghwa's crotch. Giggling, Seonghwa nudged his maw away. The dog whimpered, unsure how to help, but ready and in position.

"I'm not helpless, my darlings. Grant me the occasional task." With that, he yanked the buckle shut and Wooyoung's eyes widened at the unexpected strength in the movement.

Downtrodden since he came too late, Yunho helped Buddy find his way back out between all their legs. Crius awaited them with the wooden box and once Seonghwa brushed his hair behind his ear, everyone was ready. Mingi already throned on his stag, and San guided the loose rope around its head in his hand. One by one, they guided their mounts into the safe enclosure of the box.

Patient until they settled, Crius didn't mention why Astraios wasn't there today to help him. Though his punishment wouldn't have been severe, enough titans heard of the incident that he was banished from seeing the envoy. Though Wooyoung assured he was strong and made it out, he could have perished so easily, or lost his wings. Seonghwa was glad to keep a distance from the curious child.

Crius carried them to the edge of their territory, far beyond the ruins of their forgotten buildings. Though the forest was still scarily oversized and every winter berry was large, like Seonghwa's entire body, he would miss this place. It was magical, and the titans had become unexpected friends.

When Crius released them from their confinements, he crouched before them. The world trembled, but Seonghwa didn't fear the rumbling anymore. Now, he associated it with friends.

"Farewell, star born. We will be in contact," he said, and, though his voice didn't get warmer, it carried more understanding for the tiny races before him and their urgency for peace.

Seonghwa bowed gracefully.

"Visit me soon. I look forward to meeting you again."

Satisfied, Crius returned to their hidden community and Seonghwa's husbands called their goodbyes after him. Soon, the earth calmed, and it was time to go home.

Giddy with their success, they grouped up, took Seonghwa into their midst and set off. The journey back was still dangerous, but faith winged their step. As they paced away from the territory of their new, powerful friends, Seonghwa couldn't help his smile. It was less so in triumph but in joy to bring good news and harmony to his people.

In the days the group spent underground and sheltered by the forest, the snow piled up on the fields. Spreads of white reminded Seonghwa of their journey through these lands years ago, and he turned to make sure all of his husbands were safe and swaddled in their coats. Buddy pranced along their sides merrily and Wooyoung rested his wing on Mulberry's back.

So glad to have them by his side, Seonghwa pondered about his condition back then and now.

He lied to them on that day as well. About his injury, about the agony Morana caused in his womb. Back then, Mingi cried out of fear for him and Seonghwa's heart stung when he remembered his desperate grip around his body.

Seonghwa lowered his eyes. His fingers didn't freeze in the cold as he ran them over his unicorn's neck, caressing her.

"I wanted to apologise," he spoke up and though he was quiet, everyone listened. His soldiers politely averted their ears, expressions blank as they searched the ground for signs of danger.

"Hongjoong was right. I am treating our bond unfairly. Consistently so. Expecting you to confide in me while also hiding my true feelings."

"What? No-" Wooyoung began, but he fell quiet when Seonghwa glanced at him with a weak smile. Yeosang didn't refute him either. He could tell.

After watching the sparse snowflakes dance from the skies for a moment longer, Seonghwa found the right words.

"Hongjoong has the ability to read my mind. While Yeosang has known me since I was a child. I know you others have found it unjust before. That they seem to have knowledge you can't access." Seonghwa sighed to himself, but before they could drown him in hasty reassurances to brighten his glow, he continued. "And that was unfair of me. It shouldn't require reading my mind to gain insight into my thoughts. When I ask you about your well-being, I rely on your answers. The same way you deserve my honesty."

When they all stared at him with gigantic eyes, Seonghwa chuckled about the pure innocence of their devotion. Even if he mistreated them, they adored him. The tables were versed from what Seonghwa feared to become for his diplomats for so long. A mindless wife, just there for pleasure and servitude despite his role in the empire.

"I apologise for not waking you when I feared for Wooyoung. And I apologise for the many times before when I thought my dismissal was reassuring, yet created another barrier between us. In my role as a leader, I... I learned to veil the truth in moments of fear. And I still shall, but to my folk, not to the loves supporting me. You cannot be equal to me if I don't let you in. I won't leech from your support any longer without granting you the same back."

When the confidence to do better filled his chest, Seonghwa straightened.

"I'm trying, I promise. I might not improve immediately, but I will do my utmost for you, so we may meet on equal footing," he vowed with a smile. Hongjoong nodded to himself, satisfied, and San elegantly bowed his head, proud yet accepting of Seonghwa's any decision.

While Jongho pondered the meaning of that message, Yeosang sent Seonghwa a wink.

Even Seonghwa, in his immaculate grace, always kept learning. He made mistakes, and he encountered unexpected situations. This relationship developed a lot since they first met and Seonghwa wanted to show he cared just as much, grew just as much.

And if Yeosang knew one thing about him, it was that Seonghwa would never tire of learning.

"Please be patient with me," Seonghwa pleaded. "And hopefully soon, you won't have to fear in darkness anymore."

Mingi, especially. The others could witness the bent of Seonghwa's shoulders, the flutter of his lashes when he was overwhelmed. But Mingi had none of that. He relied so heavily on the words Seonghwa told him.

The others nodded, stunned the elf admitted a flaw so openly, but also giddy about what it meant for the future. In growing together was the greatest commitment to love.

Wooyoung scratched his head.

"I don't understand everything you just said, but I feel very loved and I also love you. I promise not to get abducted again," he winced, thinking this was his fault.

Seonghwa's chiming laughter delighted them all and eased the tension off their shoulders.

"It means to be more open with you all. So Hongjoong doesn't fulfil an unrealistic role that you could never hope to obtain."

"I'm fine with knowing more than they do. My abilities can help you best," the sorcerer deadpanned, and Seonghwa sent him a fond smile. Though he got a cocky scoff in return, his sorcerer meant well. He looked most pleased now that this topic had been openly discussed.

Instantly offended, Wooyoung ruffled his feathers through his link with Mulberry.

"That's what it was! He was stealing information and tending to you before you ever got to ask the rest of us! It's his fault, Seonghwa! Don't ever think you did anything wrong. You are perfect."

Immediately, the squabbling started again, but Seonghwa was at ease with it. He watched his family interact full of love and he promised himself to value each of their opinions the same, and to seek the ones who could provide the support he needed.

Wooyoung fiercely defended his honour while Yunho swooned about how mature and graceful Seonghwa was even in acknowledging liability. Meanwhile, Jongho nodded to himself.

"This is good. I gathered a lot of information myself, but it is good to talk to those who can't."

"What do you mean 'who can't?!'" Wooyoung began his rampage anew and Seonghwa snickered. By his side, Hongjoong's smile had grown much softer than in recent days, and his frown eased.

"Keep it up, Damiana. We will need every insight now that the titans promised their alliance. The potential war and saving the elves will wear on you, so feel free to pick a shoulder to rest against," he muttered. When Seonghwa's lips pulled into the rare crooked smile he would never show to the court, Hongjoong's magic coiled around him, praising Seonghwa with a scent of honey and marigolds.

"Though I expect you to remember who can help you best. My ways to unwind will work on you without flaw," the sorcerer continued with his prior arrogance, and Seonghwa snickered with him. The fur of his hood framed his face and the dark of his hair lovingly, swallowing the snow tumbling from the skies.

"I will bring it up to you as soon as the need arises," Seonghwa hummed. The teasing tilt to his voice brought the faintest blush to Hongjoong's cheeks, and he ripped his gaze away.

Mingi muttered to Yunho and a moment later, the human steered their mounts through the crowd of doting husbands around Seonghwa.

"Get off your high horse for a moment, charlatan, we need to get through," he asked of Hongjoong and with a devastating glare, Hongjoong fell back to mutter with Yeosang. Knightly in his duty, Yunho steered Mingi's stag to Seonghwa's side and then retreated once it trotted along Seonghwa's unicorn peacefully.

Picking up on the elf's aura, Mingi dared a careful smile. The band with the gem around his horn twinkled against the snowy air.

"I am here for you," the demon offered. He often hung behind, often didn't understand the world of politics and war like Hongjoong's educated mind did.

But that didn't make him less. And Seonghwa's chest felt full and happy, as if a tree were growing inside of him when he witnessed Mingi's devotion.

"As am I. Let's be equal in our care for one another."

"You didn't speak to us before because you thought we would be worried? Wanted to shelter us?" Mingi made sure he understood and Seonghwa lowered his head in shame.

"I'm sorry for leaving you in the dark when I promised to be your light. I blinded all of you and abused your trust in me."

But Mingi shook his head.

"It's fine," he whispered. "I know it's difficult to speak up sometimes."

A lump hung in Seonghwa's throat and he gulped against it, steeling himself all that kind understanding on Mingi's features.

"I'm just saddened to hear you were afraid all this time. That you hid away alone when we could have helped. It's a pain I know all too well and I... I would be honoured to offer the same reassurance to you as you offered to me. I hate knowing you were lonely while we laughed in the next room."

"Mingi," Seonghwa muttered, choked by the tears quelling in his eyes, but Mingi knew and his blind hand found Seonghwa's face to brush them away.

"It's fine now, yes? Let's go home and we will be there for you. I will talk to Morana, too, so she is lenient with you." Humour tilted his voice and Seonghwa had to laugh despite his vulnerability. As he kissed Mingi's palm, he looked forward to it.