Minas explained Illisun's purpose, the assurance of her words balanced out by the predatory glint in her smile and eyes, and then she promptly demanded to move on with the proceedings.  She wanted to get to the practical elements of the treaty, the parts that would matter for her and her kind.<br/><br/>Riasa inclined her head in acknowledgement, and she and Vuren began to lead the way back out of Sharia's bedchamber.  The Dark Elves might have seemed cold, which was not entirely untrue, but they had no intention of showing affection-- and therefore weakness-- in the presence of strangers.<br/><br/>Tamlin slipped forward and squeezed Sharia's thin hand, careful and tender to avoid hurting her fragile fingers.  It was just a moment, and then he had to let go; he was reluctant to leave her so tired and sick and confused, but he didn't have a choice.  There was more to talk about, and it included him.<br/><br/>His reluctance was palpable as he let go of his sister, who was too weak to do anything but let him, and the Prince followed the rest of the mismatched party, leaving the toad Demon with Sharia and the guards outside the door.<br/><br/>The little parade traveled back down from the tower, back into the heart of the castle, finally ending their journey at the council room: a large, spacious chamber with a high, domed ceiling.  Strange images from Dark Elvish history decorated the walls; in an effort to be tactful, some of the murals had been repainted or discreetly covered with less offensive tapestries.  It would not do to show paintings of Demons under attack or being defeated and driven from their homeland when trying to enter into peaceful relations with them.<br/><br/>The King and Queen took their places at the center table, gesturing for Minas and her companions to be seated as well; the table was oval-shaped, and each side sat opposite the other.  Naviin sat stiffly, spine ramrod straight and the glare in his eyes thinly veiled.  Tamlin sat on the other side of his parents, happy to be away from Naviin's anger.<br/><br/>And now it was time.  A lawman of the court appeared, carrying rolls of parchment detailing the initial agreements and the basic skeleton of the treaty; he placed the items in the middle of the table, accented with some quills and an inkwell, then stepped back and settled himself in a corner of the room, to wait until called upon again.  Riasa unfurled one of the scrolls, smoothing the surface to hold it open, and offered it to Minas to inspect.<br/><br/>"This contains the original agreements proposed," she began, while Vuren observed the Demons across the table with an intent, watchful stare.  There had been plenty of back-and-forth regarding what both sides had asked for, but right now the items of contention had been stabilized.  Any last minute changes were best to be avoided, though neither Vuren nor Riasa were so naive as to think they might not happen.<br/><br/>Tamlin had been involved in the inital discussion only up to what concerned him specifically; he was not heir to the throne, was not part of the deeper talks regarding the pressure from the High Elves.  He knew the marriage was to act as a visible, physical representation of the treaty, and he would be a permanent Dark Elf liaison for the Demons... but he did not know who he would be marrying.  That had been left up to the Great Queen to decide, and so far, Tamlin had seen nothing to suggest she would be kind in her pairing.<br/><br/>She was full of rage, as she had a right to be.  The prince suspected that rage and bitterness might spill over into her decisions-- she might not be able to hurt his mother and father directly, but she could easily hurt him through whoever she chose, in hopes the pain would filter over to the King and Queen.  Unlikely, since Tamlin was a second son, disposable.  His parents wouldn't feel a thing.