Tamlin felt eyes on him, from Sharia's bedside all the way to the Council chamber, but he was a Prince, had grown up under scrutiny.  He knew he would need to be used to that sensation, even more so than usual after moving into the Demon lands, where he might be the first Dark Elf seen in centuries.  So he kept to himself, and tried not to stare in return.<br/><br/>Minas had brought papers of her own, detailing the Demons' end of the deal: the promise of Sharia's continued health, arrangements regarding the cure for the Wasting Death, and insurance of Tamlin's protection once he was under the Demons' care.  She laid them out, her approval already stamped on the items, and took her time reading over what Riasa had offered, before handing it to the snake Demon beside her.  He took longer, scanning the document carefully, his tongue flitting in and out of his narrow mouth.<br/><br/>Tamlin found himself wondering if perhaps the snake was to be his husband, dark eyes catching on that forked tongue and looking away at the papers on the table instead.  It was possible, or maybe another Demon not present...  He glanced at the Demons behind Minas, hesitating on the massive shape of the white Demon, the one with those pale eyes like chips of ice.  Lakes in winter...  The prince looked away, and tried not to fidgit under the table, his hands unsure.<br/><br/>The elvish documents concerned the lands being ceded over to the Demons, including several locations previously treated as ceremonial or important in other aspects, and also shared access of the rivers and trade routes that wound through the kingdom.  Overall it was a decent amount, actually added up to about a sixth of the Dark Elf territory.  The decision had been extremely difficult, and many were still in shock and anger.  But, whether they admitted it or not, the elves were desperate; if such a deal is what it took to get the help and support they needed, then that was it.<br/><br/>Riasa and Verun read over the parchments Minas handed them, heads bowed over the words in quiet contemplation.  They occasionally spoke to each other, the elvish fast and a little archaic, if only to keep their conversation a bit more private.  Naviin read them as well, stony faced and impassive; there was nothing to change, nothing they could do.  Even if the elves had noticed the disparity and inequality of the agreement...  Again, they were desperate.<br/><br/>The King and Queen eventually nodded their heads at each other, in concurrance.  They were not happy, not in the least, but neither objected to anything in Minas' papers.  She may no longer own the mountains, but the mountains were about all the Elves had left.<br/><br/>"They are accepted," Riasa said, carefully rearranging the documents to be signed momentarily.  Then she placed her hands together on the table, and almost casually began the conversation Tamlin had been worrying over in his head since the beginning of all this.<br/><br/>"It is understood and agreed upon that a union will take place, between Prince Tamlin--" The elf sat up straighter in his seat upon hearing his name, ears flat but kept level and overall doing his best to appear respectable.  "-- and the Demon of your choosing.  The marriage will stand as a physical representation of a new era of cooperation and peacekeeping, and we hope to see it flourish along with both our kingdoms in the coming years."<br/><br/>Flowery, empty talk; everyone knew it, but it was still said.  King Vuren would have spoken, but it was clear that Minas would not respond to him, only his wife, so instead he busied himself with signing the treatise agreements: an Elvish seal alongside a Demon one.  Riasa continued, ever so lightly tilting her head, her burnt-orange eyes bright.  "Who have you chosen for this honor?"<br/><br/>While Tamlin was now as attentative as he could possibly be, Naviin leaned into his seat, wanting no part in this conversation.  It was a different kind of insult, this disgusting wedding; it was one thing to be robbed impartially, held in the vicelike grip of desperation, but it was another thing entirely to have his brother shipped off into the wilderness to live with beasts.