Though Freya was anxious, she didn't despair. Protected by the group, she huddled onto the cart, resting her bruised limbs as she nursed some tea Hongjoong heated for her. She didn't mind Jongho's stares, thankful when Yeosang tugged a blanket around her shoulders.

"It was dangerous to attempt flight. What if they had caught you?" The dryad asked, familiar to the elf, who knew of the deep friendship between Yeosang and Seonghwa. She shook her head with a shiver.

"Death is merciful. I much preferred it over staying any longer. Some break easily, but those who hold out feel once they wear down. When I noticed I wouldn't be sane much longer, I-" Freya huddled into herself, unable to relive the horrors that were so fresh on her mind.

"Take it slow. You are free now, so you can rest. We will make sure you won't have to go through any of that ever again," Yeosang murmured. Though they only had the vague understanding history gave them and no direct report, the cruelties she lived through stood written on Freya's face.

Once they returned, she needed medical aid. Someone to talk to, and someone to tend to her body. If she was pregnant at the moment, they needed to figure out whether it was safe to keep the goblin child. Seonghwa would personally see to her recovery.

The group rode on, cautious of the lands marred by war and past structures of the orcs. The stench of rotting meat hung in the cold air, but no traps sprang at them. Hongjoong's step was secure and Wooyoung circled in the skies above, on the lookout for the camp Freya described to them. By now, Kane had either made it back or took a last break at a nearby shelter. If they found him before he entered the safety of his camp...

Seonghwa glanced at the spear by his side. He would hate to use it, witnessed enough suffering in the disagreement with the dryads. Though he wished for eternal peace, he feared the belligerence of the orcs.

While Yeosang distracted Freya by catching her up with matters in the Crystal Sphere - aided by Jongho's occasional comments - San steered his mighty stag to Seonghwa's side. Though his eyes never left the elf and had become a constant source of warmth on Seonghwa's nape, he liked to check in occasionally. Straight and well-trained, he sat in his saddle, trained body vigilant but not tense.

"Seonghwa," he addressed the elf, keeping the love names to the peace of privacy. When Seonghwa threw him a fleeting smile, the seraph's frown lessened.

"How are the others holding up? I am so occupied guiding us I forget to check on the others. Is Mingi all right?"

Amused at this always being Seonghwa's first concern even when they were out in the barbaric orc lands, San hummed.

"Everyone is doing fine. Yunho finds it chilly out here, but Hongjoong sustains the heat he and Mingi need to survive. Though he has yet to meet us eye to eye, your sorcerer proved most helpful."

Listening in, Hongjoong scoffed on the other side of the cart. His golden eyes flared like those of a dragon but no ire lay in them.

Seonghwa dared a chuckle.

"I had hoped to ease the competition between you, but having this second child merely flared it. I know you also wish to succeed over him," the elf said. He settled his hand on his stomach and San's eyes dropped to it, attracted to the healthy swell of life.

"It's his or mine. Since we both made an effort, a certain feeling of triumph carries with the birth. Without regarding you or the child as objects, of course. Accomplishments, mostly."

Intrigued, Seonghwa turned his head to face San, trusting his unicorn to follow with the group. Seonghwa's hair was braided up today, pulled away to expose his tall ears and regal features free from all sparkle. His subtle glow was solely his own.

"What holds me back from having another child with the one who doesn't triumph now? My children make me happy and there is no need to shatter your pride."

Charmed by their husband who carried an empire and yet so much adoration for them in his heart, San cast his smile toward the ground. The sight of his dimples softened Seonghwa's constant stress. He wanted to wrap his arms around San, wanted to bury his face in the soft white fur of his collar, but all of that had to wait until they were safe.

"Nothing, Your Majesty. You will shine your light upon us and we are your loyal believers. Yet I cannot help but be childish about my devotion for you. Let me be proud of the fruit of our love," San hummed. Composed as ever, he didn't lean in even when Seonghwa craved to kiss him.

The elf sighed, restricted by his duties and his stomach.

"I look forward to each of your reactions. There will be no doubt whose child this is, and I know you two to be more inclined to possessiveness than Yunho."

San opened his mouth to speak up, but Seonghwa fell in with a knowing grin.

"Even you, with all your virtues. There is no faulting that. I'd adore seeing you with our child on your arm."

Affected by that confession, San sought his words. He didn't argue, but his eyes were inflamed with a new passion. They found Seonghwa's stomach, addressing the child inside.

"You better be mine. Or else your mommy and I will be very busy soon," he rumbled, as threatening as he dared being with an unborn child.

Giggling, Seonghwa cupped his stomach. He got a kick in return, unfortunately more reminiscent of Hongjoong's aggressive way of showing love rather than San's.

"You heard him, didn't you? It's on you what happens with me." Not that Seonghwa would mind. San's promises were enticing and even if they got a child later, Seonghwa would get treated well. Even now, the blush glistening on his cheeks distracted him from their bleak surroundings.

"Tell us if you need breaks. Even if you have time, you're at the point where your body is restricted by the pregnancy. If Hongjoong's magic isn't enough and you need a massage..." San let the offer hang in the air. At Seonghwa's benign smile, he accepted defeat.

"I promise to tell you if things get too much. For now, I am splendid. It's easier than Aodhán's magic."

This pregnancy had been messy in a different way. Seonghwa had been sick in his first couple of weeks and he had more difficulties sleeping and eating. Though the effects were natural, he supposed there was no skipping all complications.

Since San knew there was no arguing with Seonghwa about his rest, he complied. He sent Seonghwa a mysterious smile, promising to catch up on kisses later when they had the time and privacy. Then he steered his stag back to Freya's side, silently watching over the injured elf.

Seonghwa focused on their route, in better spirits now that San eased his mind. Occasionally, he glanced into the skies to make sure Wooyoung was there and they followed the right path. The landscape bathed in snow offered few landmarks to remember for the way back, but Seonghwa didn't plan to linger once their interest was resolved. Their trail would still be fresh for them to follow.

They paused once, if only shortly to replenish their strength and feed the mounts. While they cooled off in the snow, Seonghwa rested his heavy body on a blanket. The others provided him with everything he could ask for and Hongjoong supplied one of his healing potions that distracted Seonghwa from his kicking child.

"Let's ride until dawn and find cover among the trees. Even if these forts look abandoned, I don't trust them to shelter us," Seonghwa told the officer. They had an approximate guess about the distance to the fort Kane steered to, but no map to orient themselves.

Freya agreed with a nod. Her eyes were hollow, though some might returned to her limbs.

"Their tunnels connect the cave system. That's how they keep attacking each other, mostly at night. I remember the fires when I changed owners... I thought it would be my last day," Freya whispered. Hongjoong suggested whisking her a sleeping spell to ease her agitated mind, but Freya was afraid of becoming trapped in her nightmares. Even during daytime, she feared to rest in this foul land.

Seonghwa understood, suffered along with her.

"The trees are our best bet. We can find cover there and scout the situation from safety," Yunho said. He sent a soothing smile at the round. Thankful, Seonghwa inclined his head. His hand wove into the mane of his unicorn, grounding himself in her heat. She flicked her ears at him, comforting him where an animal was usually the first to submit to fear. Even she knew he needed to keep calm for the baby.

They chased after the orcs for a few more hours but couldn't catch up. Their cautious thread on the snow and rounding the nearby settlements robbed them of the speed they could have used for their favour otherwise. Seonghwa pondered sending a message bird after them to stagger them, but he didn't want to give away their presence. If Kane considered them easy prey, gathered so close to their caves, he might come with his entire tribe.

Before the sun set, they tucked away in the protection of the trees. Wooyoung and San circled through the skies, making sure they spotted no danger nearby. Though they would need to fly occasionally during the night so the night guard wouldn't give their location away by wandering the fields outside the group of trees, they didn't complain. While Hongjoong disguised their nearby trail, the rest of the group set up camp. Seonghwa huffed when he sunk into the furs spread out for him. His body ached, and this child knew no pause.

"Why so restless, little one? Are you so eager to meet us?" They were persistent, he could tell that much. Oftentimes, he reached out through the link of their souls, but he was brusquely denied where Aodhán snuggled close to relish in the security of his parent. Torn about whether this was Hongjoong's child after all who sought another magic than his, Seonghwa rolled to his side.

"Soon. Don't be so impatient. Once this is done, we will go home and tend to you," Seonghwa promised, voice a melodious hum to soothe the flailing. He huffed when he got a kick in response. Elves were rarely warriors but this one sure picked their career.

Yeosang crouched next to Seonghwa to hand him a bowl of soup. They avoided making a fire, relying on the stones heated by Hongjoong's touch. Guards perched in the surrounding trees, observant of the area.

"You're grimacing. Feeling sore from the ride?" Yeosang asked, concerned about switching places on the cart. When Seonghwa got up with the dryad's help to slurp on his bowl, he hummed. Warmth spread in his stomach.

"Babe's kicking. Aodhán spoiled me. This is no magic but the purpose behind each hit is almost insulting," Seonghwa snickered. Yeosang glanced down at him with fond eyes.

"If San's the father, they will get reprimanded upon birth."

No doubt about that.

A rumble from below distracted them. Thinking it was his stomach, Seonghwa lifted his bowl, but the soup spilt over his chin when his body trembled. Surprised, he looked down on himself, worried about his condition, but he wasn't the only one. Yeosang frowned at the trees, rustling with ghostly whispers. Jongho pressed a palm to the ground as if listening for it.

"The world is trembling," he muttered. "It's as if an old golem just roused."

"There are no golems here, though," Seonghwa replied, getting up. The shaking wasn't so bad they couldn't stand but bad enough for them to be concerned about their rest. The water sloshed in their flasks and the weapons on the cart clinked against each other.

Seonghwa turned to Hongjoong whose eyes were twin flames in the dark night. He opened his mouth to ask him to stretch out his magic and see if they stumbled onto the lair of a sleeping dragon when something erupted right behind the sorcerer. It burst from the earth like a fiery mountain, but instead of fire, it gave way to a towering figure with brawny muscles.

A light flamed in Hongjoong's fingers when he whipped around. Crumbs of earth fell from the intruder and clotted in a long, white mane. It was partly braided, partly stuck to his rough features adorned by tusks and gleaming eyes.

Seonghwa stumbled back, reaching for his spear on instinct.

The moment the orc struck down one of the frozen elves, his fear proved right.

"An attack!"