One by one, Seonghwa's allies arrived at their grand meeting in the forests near the Crystal Sphere. Some, he could expect, and they arrived early to help him out, like the titans and the nymphs. But others were a rare sight. When Seonghwa sent out his husbands to talk to their people, he didn't expect everyone to succeed, just hoping the invitation came across even to those who refused.

However, by the time the stars guided Seonghwa to their encampment, Hongjoong and San were already there with their people and shooing them about. They might not be fond of a new empire or the elves as rulers, but they readily helped when Seonghwa greeted them with deep bows.

Mingi and Aodhán helped him with the camp and the twins once San brought them back from their quest. While their older brother watched with Sunny over the little ones, Mingi helped the nymphs hang up lights in the near trees and they praised him for his handsome height and his help until the demon recoiled into himself with shyness.

Seonghwa's elves were here. He gathered them from the nearby villages, found their rebels that resisted the hunts after the war and tried to rebuild in charred land. Found those hiding among the trees and in the caves of animals. They joined with their lost families and shared each other's stories. Though some of the orcs' prisoners were still too feeble to join them, Seonghwa gladly sent word to them every day to update them on their progress with his own words.

The dwarves arrived next. Seonghwa sent them a letter to invite them and they brought his bird back in person since it didn't find the way out through the mines. Nozurri Greyback led his people, marching up in a spectacular heavy coat and golden threads woven into the pleats in his hair. He brought gifts for Seonghwa, jewellery of the finest silver and a long dress that flowed like light dancing over a gem. Seonghwa accepted them with a deep brow of gratitude, smiling soothingly at San's and Hongjoong's eyes on him.

Everyone settled in as Seonghwa arranged their environs for them. Yunho and Wooyoung appeared with their people and they brought mayhem, but Seonghwa created enough shared space the fractions could meet in when they didn't want to sit in their own corners.

The golems and dryads were slowest, so they arrived last. Sylvia brought a handful more elves of those she granted refuge in her lands and only one golem joined their occasion, but he would be enough.

It was bustling in the forest. The animals nearby peered at them curiously, comfortable around the soothing magic of the elves as the forest dared to unfurl from its year-long fright. Fairies attended their laughter and Mulberry and his fellow gryphons played with the dogs of the humans.

San brought his sister and Crown Prince Rowan two days before the official date, and King Richard greeted Seonghwa with polite esteem. Even before they discussed anything, so many praised his strength and celebrated his survival. They had many questions about where he had been and what had happened that night, but Seonghwa was glad to respond to them all. Aleera, the golem youngster, wandered among the others and learned about the world away from his home. He had great interest in Seonghwa's kids, and the twins liked to babble about their nonsense to him while he nodded gravely.

Seonghwa spent time with each of their fractions, thanked them for their coming and made sure no fights broke out among them. But his grace was blessed by a full moon each night, making him shimmer until they forgot all conflict.

On the morning of the big day announced to their allies, Seonghwa rose early with the sun to match their waking times. He ate with his family in their shared space, where anyone could join them, and the leaders of their allies made a good example and sat with him. They exchanged stories and laughter and though some tense comments fell, everyone was in good morals.

Around noon, it would be time. So Seonghwa retreated to the big tent Hongjoong created for their family to get ready, brushing out his hair and putting on his most beautiful outfit to dazzle in their midst as the moon they looked up to.

He was still perched in front of his mirror when Yeosang suddenly approached him with an urgent look on his face. As soon as Seonghwa spotted his grimacing reflection, he let his brush sink and turned his way. Worried hands reached for the dryad.

They were stronger than ever right now. But they were all crowded into one space. If someone attacked, they easily wiped out so many leading figures. Would Hongjoong's magic hold?

But Yeosang's concern was much more startling.

"Morana is gone," the dryad confessed to Seonghwa without beating around the bush and Seonghwa blinked at him with surprise. Yeosang's fingers clutched to his and some of his flowers had wilted with his distress, so it was serious.

"What? Didn't she intend to stay in the Ruins of Gods until our return?"

"I sent Hongjoong there this morning to check on her. She's gone and Thistle is looking mighty suspicious. He brought her here," Yeosang summarised in a rush. When he tugged on Seonghwa's hands, the elf rose to accompany him outside.

"Then where is she? Did she catch up with any of you?" Where else could Morana go? All her friends were here, and this was the largest adventure she could miss out on. Seonghwa understood if she wanted to have private time with Thistle and hide from the masses of people, but there was nowhere else to leave.

"She didn't. I asked everyone before coming to you. No one saw a trace of her," Yeosang fretted. Morana was strong. She always found her way back, and Seonghwa trusted her. But if she went out alone while no allies were around, she had no places to find shelter in if something happened.

"The talks are about to start. We can't send anyone we trust to search for her. Can you track her somehow?" Sometimes, she carried sending stones so Hongjoong could find her. It was something Seonghwa had insisted on after she went alone to kill his brother, but Morana liked to conveniently forget the jewels back home, claiming she was not a child that needed supervision.

Now, with time to short before the biggest meeting in over a decade, it would have been all too handy.

"Not this far. Mingi lost her scent. She only has Onyx with her."

They found Thistle in front of the tent. Yunho was kneeling by her side, trying to coax an answer out of her gently, but the goblin girl defensively shook her head, trying to hide behind her hair. When Seonghwa appeared, her eyes sparked at his beauty, but then she looked even more miserable.

Seonghwa put on his most gentle of smiles as he knelt before her in the soft grass. The goblin wisely stayed out of sight from the crowd, avoiding to be mistaken for a foe. Best she stayed in their tent after this conversation.

"Thistle? What was she up to this time?" Seonghwa asked her, stern but with a soft voice. The goblin bit her lip, sorry to deny him but standing firm with her friend.

"I-I promised her not to tell..." she stuttered, cornered by the three of them.

It was reassuring that Morana seemed to have formulated some sort of plan and confided in Thistle. That meant she didn't get kidnapped. But her timing was risky and if something happened to her while they were busy with her meeting, no one could come to her aid. If she had at least taken that jewel...

"She might be in danger, so you have to tell us now. We can't let everyone here wait," Seonghwa explained to her and Thistle peered up at him from her deep green eyes, worried now as well. Which meant they hadn't communicated since Morana left.

Ultimately, her concern succeeded her loyalty, and she slumped with a sigh. So she opened her mouth to confess.

"She wanted to-"

"Alarm! Attackers in the forests!"

Seonghwa surged up to his feet at the sudden call. A seraph guard was rallying up their people, rushing through the treetops to warn them of the nearing danger.

Yunho immediately made for his sword and Yeosang protectively moved in front of Seonghwa in the direction they were marching from. The sound of voices and heavy footsteps scared away the animals and the fairies.

But who could it be? More lost orcs who discovered their camp?

Hongjoong popped up by their sides. His wards glittered a warning gold in the air, indicating the dome that would turn them to ashes if they came too close. Right behind awaited San's people with their swords drawn. Hlin and her gryphon-borns also dashed over, axes ready in their hands.

But when the intruders emerged between the trees, no one could believe their eyes. They were demons, a bunch of eight, all towering with their frightening horns and grim expressions. Though armed, they hadn't drawn their weapons, and they slowed at the barrier.

And, of course, Morana had to be at their tip with a cheeky grin on her lips.

"You worry too much, emmya. See, here I am. Safe and in one piece!" She called over to him, and Seonghwa was speechless for a moment.

Hongjoong didn't trust the sight.

"What happened here? Are they using you as a hostage?" He barked as their other allies gathered around, curious and vigilant about the demons. Their folk hadn't moved from their caves in such a long time. Why now? Why would Morana tell them where to find them?

Seonghwa loathed to think his own family might betray him, but it happened once. He caught himself in the same delusion again, thinking Morana would never do that to him.

"Your daughter greeted us at the Cavern of Nightfall, Moon Emperor," one of the demons spoke, and Mingi flinched where he had also strayed to the source of noise. His eyes were wide with fear, so Yunho hurried over to him to reassure him that Morana was in one piece and no one was attacking.

Seonghwa glanced at Thistle, who looked mighty relieved. So this had been Morana's plan.

She was so much more cunning than they thought.

"She drove a fair bargain. Our people have been suffering since the war and we needed leadership. Morana offered herself to govern us as our queen until we get in order. She promised we could join your talks here if we behaved."

Stunned, the crowd studied their darkspawn princess. They barely knew of her survival, and she was already making trouble. And Seonghwa was rarely so baffled by her abilities.

"Demon Queen?" Hongjoong echoed and Morana nodded proudly.

"I proved myself to them and want to speak for their people. They promised to stay in line and they are aware of how they will be squashed if they don't. You can check if we have been followed, but this is everyone I brought and they didn't harm me on our way here."

Indeed, she looked unharmed. Nicer dressed than she was before, even, donning a garment of black leathers that complimented her frame. The demons behind her looked almost demure, following the darkspawn girl around.

"She tamed the demons?" Yeosang muttered to himself, and Hlin's laughter broke the silence next.

"That's the kid we knew, back with her people! Look, emperor, she became another of your diplomats! Can you send her away now?"

"Of course not," Seonghwa hastened to say as he stepped closer to the wards, showing his trust. "They are genuinely here to talk about another alliance? To fix past mistakes?"

Morana shrugged.

"If they attack you once they are in, I will help you slaughter them. They promised it to me, too."

The humans looked mighty impressed by her courage, and it made sense to Seonghwa why the demons picked her. Why her promises were better than war and why her relationship to Seonghwa could profit them.

He was willing to try it.

"Then they are welcome to speak their minds for our conference. We were about to start," Seonghwa invited and Hongjoong opened a gate for them to step through. The crowd moved back watchfully, not trusting the demons intruding in their space.

But they didn't do anything. Just stuck to Morana and endured the malicious stares from others.

Seonghwa exchanged a look with his daughter. She beamed back at him with a toothy grin before she marched ahead with her demons to prepare some extra chairs.