Soon, all of Morana's uncles had gathered near the tree. Their crates were stacked, the gryphon Mulberry was saddled, and the golden dog running around her human uncle wagged his tail at everyone in excitement. Seonghwa was kneeling on the cold stone ground before his kids, telling them his goodbyes to depart without them. Thistle awkwardly idled at the fathomless depths of the cave while they talked.

Emperor Seonghwa had four children in total. Aodhán was his half-human son, Morana had her scary-looking demon father, and the youngest twins were sweet and angelic. The two were still small, able to run around and swing wooden swords, but with innocence still gleaming in their mismatched eyes. Today, they were tear-filled as Seonghwa hugged them goodbye, whispering gently that he would return to them soon. 

The emperor couldn't take his two small kids along for his mission; that much Thistle understood. It was a tearful goodbye, and Thistle could hear the hurt soul of the moon elf, the song like ice wavering and stuttering as he fought his pain to part from them. 

Too often, that man parted from family. It was the reason for Morana's entire youth spent alone.

Seeing elves grieve reminded Thistle of her own emmya. She barely remembered her now, every memory of her features hazy, but she had been just as gentle and her soul just as pained when she gazed upon Thistle.

Thistle fiddled with her fingers. She heard Seonghwa's promise that he would meet with the twins during his travels. That he would come back soon. Saw how the two kids sobbed and hugged his neck because they didn't want to say goodbye. 

Morana was more mature about her farewells, but maybe because she was planning something. She hugged her athair, then her other uncles and let her demon father hold her against his massive form for a long time, soothing his distress of saying goodbye. She was gathered and strong while Aodhán sniffled by her side.

Wooyoung was ever so full of energy at the scene of misery. He clapped his hands to bring the twins into a hug, closing his wings around them to squeeze them to his chest tightly.

"Come now, we will be back sooner than you think! We can make a stop here before we move on, yes? I know your lessons are so boring, but if you go there, you can blackmail Seonghwa later into giving you a reward. Always works for me." He winked at them sneakily, making the boys snicker before they rushed off to be picked up by their father. 

Thistle made sure never to get too close to the seraph or the fancy mage by his side. She remembered how they picked her up once, threatening to kill her. Though she was accepted as a friend now, she still shuddered at their sight. Any danger that approached this family got incinerated.

Thistle turned her gaze from them when something bumped into her leg. Pebble was standing next to her at the edge of the platform, looking out over the cave. Just as disinterested and not one to say goodbye.

After a while, they finally got moving. The kids stayed behind and Thistle joined them when one of the massive one-eyed titans brought over a box to transport them all to the exit. Seonghwa kissed everyone's cheeks one last time and even caressed his slender, cool fingers through Thistle's hair, leaving her scalp tingling.

"Take care of each other. We will be back soon," he smiled sadly as the twins were clutching to Morana and trying to hide the sobs blushing their cheeks with gold. Pitiful little things. 

"I'll look out for them," Morana grinned with that same perfect smile. And perhaps her uncles only didn't notice it as odd since they were saddened to leave. 

Thistle saw Yeosang raise a mossy brow at her, but he didn't address it. Together, they wandered off to deal with the titans. The kids, Pebble and Thistle stayed behind with Sunny, Aodhán's dog, and Onyx on Morana's shoulder. 

Seonghwa looked back at them with Yunho by his side, waving and telling them to take care when the titans carried them off. No doubt, his fragile elven soul would be just as shattered to leave. 

Thistle knelt next to one of the twins - their names were Lonan and Fiorello, but she never knew which was which - and gently rubbed his back to make it better. Aodhán also offered his healing magic to soothe their dissonant souls. Wings drooping and crystalline eyes crying for their parents, they stuck to their remaining group. 

"Everything is ready. We wait until they gained some distance, then we strike," Morana whispered as soon as the adults were out of earshot. She looked smug about not having been caught, not too worried about parting for now.

Aodhán glowed with his excitement for mischief, but he was more hesitant.

"Won't Hongjoong send us right back?" 

Mages had many incredible powers. Life as a goblin didn't come with much, aside from blending well with the earth and having some sense for nature and carnage. Sometimes, Thistle imagined a life of being born into a happy elven family. Wondered who she would have been.

But Morana always assured her she was perfect as she was. Sometimes with kisses.

Thistle ducked her head to hide her blushing cheeks. 

"Not if we convince them we can serve a purpose. You have to be the magical assistant Hongjoong always needs. And I am their scout. Thistle will be practical for the second part of the journey, when they visit the orcs. For now, she can distract Seungyoun, so we break out."

A chill spread in Thistle's insides. Orcs were scary. Brutal and cruel. She didn't want to go anywhere near them. Couldn't fight one even if she tried. 

Morana smiled to soothe her fear.

"Don't worry, Thistle. I eavesdropped on Yeosang and my emmya last night. They are visiting the dwarves first. Once they go to the orcs, more will stay behind, so you can be with the twins. Just help my emmya plan their attack for a while, so he forgives us."

"I don't like leaving them alone," Aodhán admitted, his hand in the other twin's hair. They were too young to understand their older siblings' ploy, but maybe that was for the best. They looked entirely too sweet and angelic to travel into war-stricken lands. 

"They aren't alone. Seungyoun is here for them, and Thistle too. Not to mention all these huge titans to entertain them." Morana jabbed her thumb over her shoulder, where the servant of the imperial family was slowly making his way over from the tree. He had a bad leg after the war, but he was kind and he knew how to take care of the little ones. 

"Unless you wanna stay?" Her brow challenged her brother to chicken out, but Aodhán gulped before he shook his head of golden curls.

"Never," he insisted, eyes clear with determination again. Satisfied, Morana grabbed Thistle's hands, engulfing her smaller fingers. 

"Good. Then we wait a few days and by the time we can leave, the twins will be just fine being with Seungyoun. Come on, Thistle."

Thistle was pulled along without much to add. They dashed past Seungyoun to sit under the tree together to eat, while Aodhán soothed the twins and took them to play something with the servant. Sunny was good at cheering them up, so Thistle and Morana had a few quiet minutes to themselves. 

"So, once your athair is out on the path, you will follow him with Obsidian?" Thistle guessed, proud of herself when Morana nodded.

"Yes. It will be like our usual adventures. I only need to take Aodhán along because he insists on coming."

When Thistle frowned because the sun elf was anything but a fighter, Morana fed her a raspberry with a giggle.

"Don't worry, I will make sure he doesn't join the trip to the orcs. Nothing that chick can stomach."

Perhaps it was for the best. Thistle enjoyed the raspberry melting on her tongue while Morana sprawled out in the grass by her side. Sleepy eyes were directed at the tree over them, lush and green thanks to Yeosang. It was massive, matching the cave, but the lower branches created a lovely roof over them. An oversized bee curved around the ever-green leaves. 

Morana cushioned her head with her arms so her horns wouldn't get in her way. She had two pairs of them, one arching towards the back of her head and up, the others curling around her forehead. Thistle had touched them before, awed by the hard texture and how they connected to Morana's skull. Neither of them ever saw any demon aside from Morana's father since they all disappeared into the earth, but Thistle could tell Morana was the prettiest of them all.

"Thistle, do you want to get married after all this?"

The question came out of nowhere and Thistle snapped from her marvelling. She took a moment to understand the words, then she looked down at the girl with surprise.

"Huh?"

Morana turned her head, studying the goblin girl with those breathtaking starry eyes. Her fingers came up to caress through Thistle's hair. As always, leaves and dirt were stuck in there, but she still wore the small braids Morana did for her the last time they met. When Morana noticed them, a smile danced over her lips. 

"I will be empress one day and I will need diplomats like my emmya. A bunch of goblins fled their tribes and receive education in elven communities now. They don't have a kingdom to ally with, but I'm sure they would be relieved to know I have one of theirs by my side," Morana explained, and Thistle was helpless. She knew Seonghwa married his husbands for peace with their races, but he also loved them dearly, so the lines blurred. What would she and Morana be? Could a goblin marry? Wouldn't people hate seeing Thistle by her side?

"I know nothing about politics," Thistle protested, leaning closer when Morana tugged on her gently. She settled down to curl up against Morana's cool skin, steady against her shoulder, with her fingers caressing through Thistle's hair. 

"Wooyoung doesn't either, but my emmya still married him. You will be fine," Morana assured her, and Thistle had to giggle. 

She understood how similar they were. Born of an orc and of a demon, both of their kind were common results of brutality and abuse. This empire might not like a darkspawn empress to follow her father's footsteps. But if anyone could prove she was worthy, it was Morana. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a goblin with her.

Thistle was happy if he could stay with her for a long time. Even better if she served a purpose.

"Then I think I would like to marry you. We can be together every day then, right?" Thistle craned her head to look at Morana, one arm slinging over her middle to hug her close.

The pretty darkspawn girl grinned back at her.

"Absolutely. Like my emmya and his husbands. Yeosang was also his friend before they married."

Thistle liked that. She always wanted a family like that. Warm and full of people and laughter. Loneliness didn't suit her, but even if it was just Morana and no big crowd, Thistle was happy. Felt that warmth. 

"I like that," Thistle chirped and with a fond huff, Morana pulled her back down against her shoulder. Her lips ghosted a kiss over the drooping tip of Thistle's ear, not risking a public kiss while that sneaky servant was watching. 

"Not yet, but one day. If I have to marry strangers, I also want you by my side. No one gets to stop me."

And from how Thistle knew Morana, no one could. It was nice to have this promise. Thistle owed Morana her life, and she wanted to dedicate that gift back to the princess. Perhaps she was no great guard or advisor or helpful in any other way, but she could be there when Morana was lonely and needed company.

They rested together and looked into the tree, just enjoying each other's presence and the moment of peace. Soon, they would have to trick Seungyoun to sneak out of the cave and catch up with Morana's family for another adventure. But until then, Thistle enjoyed breathing Morana's scent and playing with her fingers.