Yeosang and Jongho didn't dawdle once Seonghwa sent his harem off to rally their forces. Their journey would take the longest since they travelled on foot, so they departed immediately. Yeosang needed little sleep since he recharged from the sun and Jongho could march without a pause, so they left on the same evening to visit the adjacent Glistening Walnut Grove first. Thus, they strolled through the night under a gorgeous starry sky and pondered its constellations since Jongho saw different ones than what Yeosang learned during his classes. The golem made them up himself, bringing new meaning to the same stars, and he was eager to learn the version of the scholars and astronomers.

It was one of their favourite diversions when they spent time together. Contemplating the shine so far above, unreachable to them and yet ever so present in their life through Seonghwa's character.

They were already a far journey from the cave of the titans when they realised they forgot something.

"Wasn't it our turn to bring Pebble along? Where did she wander off to?" Yeosang wondered, looking around behind them. He could swear the golem had followed them when they initially left the caves. But ever since then, she had disappeared.

Jongho was nonchalant. There was never a need to worry about his daughter since she was near indestructible unless a mage wanted to mess with her. In the past, the golems had been treated as servants of the mages, similar to the dwarven sentries. But ever since the empire declared them beings able of their own distinct thought and behaviour, no one dared mess with them.

"She must have found something more interesting to explore. I will introduce her next time," Jongho figured. Like Morana, there was no holding Pebble back, hence they got along with each other so well. Still, sometimes Yeosang wondered what she saw on her many journeys. Many golems were lazy and liked to rest, but Pebble was always wandering around somewhere. Would she slow down once she got bigger?

"Sounds good," he just said, bemused by the wilful golem youngster. They continued their walk into the edge of the grove, close already thanks to the titans carrying them to the border first. Among the normal sized trees with their familiar fruits and animals, the peace that overcame Yeosang was more charming than ever.

Once the sun broke through the clouds, they picked a small clearing to take a rest in so Yeosang could recharge.

"Let's sit here for a while. It's a nice spot," the dryad invited his friend and Jongho sprawled out, losing any distinct limbs to become a formless rock. Yeosang stretched his roots into the earth by his side, soaking up its nutrients. His green crown glowed with fresh intensity and the mushrooms sprouting down his bark attracted animals.

They would reach the grove soon, barely at its edge now. Sylvia already knew of Seonghwa's survival, but this was the final call for the assembly. The golems might be harder to convince, unless they heard the news from somewhere.

As they relaxed in the warm rays of the sun, Jongho's melodic voice came from somewhere inside his unmoving shape.

"How are you feeling? The orcs' hubris frightened you," he asked, so in tune with their emotions now that he easily read them off Yeosang, too. With San and Hongjoong, he was still often unsure. San barely changed his expression when something hurt him and Hongjoong disguised his feelings with sarcasm. Neither of which Jongho understood easily, even if he had his very own ability for humour.

Yeosang knew the behaviour of his plants gave him away easily, but he wasn't offended by being scrutinised. Among elves, one learned to embrace their nature, including negative emotions.

"I saw Seonghwa in those poor elves. Had to remember how his brother marked him as their property and wanted to send him there. Some elves there had the same burn scar. Yongguk might have sold them to the orcs." Yeosang scowled at the earth beneath them, caught up in the rage of the memory. He hadn't pointed out the scars, praying Seonghwa wouldn't see them. He suffered enough.

"I imagined what would have happened if it had been him. If we found him there, instead of in that forest, all those years ago. They might not have allowed him to be physically harmed, since they would have prided themselves on their celestial elf. So they would have broken him to their will, which is just..." He couldn't even finish that thought. The imagination twisted his insides with revolt. Every orc that ever encountered Seonghwa threatened to own him, to break him. He would have suffered so much under their hands, just because of his heritage. It had become almost normal to hear how people wanted to hurt him, and Yeosang hated it.

He gathered his thoughts, his breath. Jongho was a good listener, so he kept quiet and gave Yeosang the time he needed.

It didn't happen. Seonghwa fought back and Yeosang could battle the orcs with him. And while the beautiful elf might never be fully safe from abusers, the biggest threat was gone. Yeosang needed to celebrate this grim triumph.

"A long time ago, I was afraid Seonghwa would allow the same to happen within this harem. He regarded it as his duty to be a husband to them, to listen to their whims. That's why I was so suspicious of everyone but you. Seonghwa wouldn't have told them off, thinking he had to serve. Even you realised how much his empathy can hurt him."

Yeosang remembered begging Seonghwa to defend himself if someone ever tried to hurt him. To call the guards, Yeosang, his father, anyone. But Seonghwa smiled that serene smile and told him it was a political union and he could bear the pain so long as their people were safe.

That was a few months before the marriage, while the tournament was ongoing. Yeosang had ignored Seonghwa for two days after that, angry that he couldn't help and sad that Seonghwa submitted himself to that duty.

"Thankfully, they aren't like that," Jongho pointed out, and Yeosang sighed with relief.

Mingi had been their biggest fear. He could have been a contemptuous demon owning the crown behind closed doors, making Seonghwa crawl for him, and no one would have stopped him. Since the marriage didn't matter so long as the political situation was fulfilled. It was a huge gamble. When they ended up with Mingi, Yeosang had been so relieved. On the other hand, he had been bothered by Hongjoong and his blatant attempts at seduction. Back then, Seonghwa was a trophy to him. A challenge to win.

But they got better. All of them got better.

"No. Some were worse than others, but they all proved their affection for him. It honestly saves Seonghwa from so many bastards, that charm," Yeosang chuckled, but he was also exhausted by always fretting about his dear friend. Seonghwa attracted as much luck as he attracted misfortune.

"I'm sure your position as his best friend with the might of a tree at your disposal also kept them behaved," Jongho guessed, and Yeosang also speculated. Some didn't take him seriously since he didn't compete for Seonghwa's favour, but San certainly respected him more once he learned of his close relationship with the prince. Perhaps he wasn't intimidated, but he was aware of how Yeosang's relationship with Seonghwa mattered.

"Maybe... Either way, Seonghwa is happy now. And the elves are free. That's more than we ever dared ask for. I merely wish him to be safe."

As always. And, as always, Seonghwa might earn his safety soon. But it was only ever a matter of time until new problems would arise. As always in life.

"You love Seonghwa a lot," Jongho said out of nowhere, and Yeosang had to laugh. It sounded like Jongho only just realised, but that was fine. Yeosang was the person closest to Seonghwa, no matter whether he took the others to bed or had children with them. Their bond was deeply anchored in their past.

"I suppose I do. Love comes in many shapes. This family taught me that much. I know you love him just as much," Yeosang hummed at Jongho and the rock looked as pleased as a faceless rock could look. Sometimes, he tried so hard to be like them and to appeal to Seonghwa. But none of that was necessary. Him listening, caring, staying by Seonghwa's side when he could simply leave to explore or sleep; all of those things were proof of his love.

"But I don't have the knowledge of what he was like as a little elf," Jongho replied, crystals a sad blue since he couldn't catch up on that knowledge himself unless Hongjoong invented time travel for him.

Yeosang was always glad to share, however, so long as Seonghwa didn't mind. The elf was too humble to talk about himself, thinking it didn't matter. When truly, it mattered to everyone.

"True. Those are my precious memories," he teased Jongho nonetheless.

He remembered Seonghwa when he was young. His ears too big for his head and his hair always reaching to his feet since his mother was saddened whenever she saw it cut. Seonghwa always got tangled with branches and feathers, carrying a whole bird's nest home with him after they played outside in the gardens. He liked to say he looked like Yeosang with it. One time, when a bird actually landed in the mess of his hair, he wanted to run inside to show his father how he was like a dryad, but the bird got startled and fluttered away immediately.

Young Seonghwa cried a lot, but never threw a tantrum. He cried because he couldn't connect with the earth like Yeosang could, futilely digging his fingers into the ground. He cried when he heard that caterpillars died to turn into butterflies, and he cried when the fairies of the forests teased him fondly.

Whenever he didn't cry, he sang crookedly. Prettier than others his age, but still not perfect.

He grew into such a beautiful being. But Yeosang would always remember him for who he was.

"Nothing like the orcs will ever happen again. The demons are quarrelsome, but they are wiser than the orcs. Especially once the news of the orcs getting wiped out reaches them. Could happen to anyone since Seonghwa proved he fights back now," Jongho said to soothe Yeosang's distress, and Yeosang resurfaced from his fond memories. The vision of a young Seonghwa beaming at him with his crooked grin while he proudly showed Yeosang a ladybug he found eased his spirits.

"Unfortunately, Mingi's role as a diplomat won't convince them of peace. So Seonghwa will have to make other arrangements. But maybe the demons can be convinced somehow. We have time so long as they stay peaceful. Before the allies haven't agreed on how to deal with them, nothing will change. Good, that Mingi doesn't miss home," Yeosang sighed. None of them could predict the reaction of the demons if the empire came back together, especially under Seonghwa's rule. The demons were traitors in the public eye, and their new ruler might prefer war over an apology. So far, the spies near the Cavern of Nightfall hadn't reported any change in leadership, but it was only a matter of time until they needed someone to tell them what to do.

And for many of them, that person wouldn't be Seonghwa. They still disliked the elves, regarded them as weak or even as pretty trophies to play with. After Seonghwa defeated them once, submitting meant dishonour.

"Mingi is strong. Perhaps he can come up with something," Jongho considered and Yeosang slowly retreated his roots from the earth when the clouds drew in front of the sun and a cold breeze rustled through his leaves.

"He is. And once he does, we can help him with his beastly condition. Shall we continue our walk?" Yeosang suggested and Jongho gladly pieced himself back together into a shape that could march the lands. They walked into the forest together, relishing its scent greeting them as they wondered what the future might bring.