Naviin's calm grew more and more brittle as the Demons approached, each step incensing him further.  Tamlin wondered at the fact he hadn't snapped, he seemed strung so tightly, a bow at its breaking point... and the prince couldn't really blame him.  This was unprecedented, would have never happened if not for outside forces pressuring them to work together instead of against each other.  And Naviin... he wasn't good at working with others.<br/><br/>Up close, the Demons were even more intimidating: huge, so much larger than what Tam could have imagined, he couldn't help his gaze landing on the teeth, the claws, the horns, all viciously sharp and ready to maim, to kill.  It seemed perhaps the largest Demon, the white one with the pale blue eyes, had recognized Naviin.  Did he remember fighting him?  Did he remember giving him that scar...?  Tamlin glanced between the two, the one just vaguely curious while the other used all his strength of character to keep himself under control, and wished to be anywhere else.<br/><br/>The Queen's eyes sharpened as Minas spoke to her instead of her husband, bright and alert in her small face, and her pointed ears flicked in surprise, making the earrings dripping from them dance.  Not what had been expected.  Then Riasa smiled, a flash of white teeth in her dark face-- they looked small and squared off, totally useless as a weapon or means of protection, which matched the rest of her relatively petite nature, even for an elf.  But all her looks belied an iron will, strong as her husband's and possibly stronger.<br/><br/>She decided she liked Minas already.  "We had good bones to start with."  If the Demon Queen was going to be cheeky, why not reciprocate?  Perhaps the Elvish cold politeness was not the way to make inroads in this situation.  The King, pleased with the formalities having been satisfied, waved a hand graciously at the myriad of servants down below, who began to shift about.<br/><br/>"You and your entourage must be tired," he began, though he did not expect a response.  Vuren didn't know much about the way Demons thought, the way they operated in their little societies, but he did understand they had a reverence for women.  If Minas wanted to speak with Riasa rather than he, that was acceptable.  "We have rooms prepared, and a feast planned this evening.  Your whole retinue is of course welcome."<br/><br/>"We are very grateful for your presence," added Riasa, her voice soft and low.  It was obvious she meant it, and not only because of the Demonic senses-- her child was deathly ill, the kingdom was in peril, and their old enemies were in fact their only hope.  She had no reason to hide that hope, and it showed in her eyes, a deep burnt orange hue that simmered with depths fit for a monarch.  Riasa had never seen battle, not like her husband, but she had done plenty of fighting of different kinds, and still did on occassion.<br/><br/>"Please, come inside and see the rest."  The Dark Elf queen turned to the side, extending a hand towards the entrance to the castle, offering Minas and her companions the honor of entering a place no Demons had ever set foot in.  "We have much to discuss, and little time to do so."