Vuren and Riasa were not fools; they knew that, if she so chose, the Demon Queen could rip them apart and destroy everything they had built-- everything they had built on the lands they had stolen, the blood they had spilt, the lives they had taken.  She could eliminate them entirely, but there was a worse enemy still, and it was better to play along.<br/><br/>Her laughter brought little gasps from the crowd below, so surprised at the sound; even Naviin's attention was momentarily distracted, eyes flicking to the Queen's needle-sharp teeth as she barked her amusement.  Tamlin's ears tucked back against his skull as he listened.  The sound was not a happy one.<br/><br/>Then, she refused any attempts at courtly manners, and instead demanded to see the princess-- as a main source of strife in this situation, the Dark Elf princess's health was a key concern.  The King and Queen acquiesced with grace, simply inclining their heads and leading the way, their sons tagging along behind.  Naviin's steps were hard, while Tamlin's were soft against the stone.<br/><br/>No further words were shared once inside the castle walls.  The elves had worked diligently, carving out room by room until they had a grand network built around a central chamber: many halls scattered throughout, hundreds of rooms for all purposes, but the Princess's chamber was in one of the towers, secluded and private.  As they walked through the halls, decorated with tapestries and mirrors and all manner of adornments meant to illustrate wealth and power, the decorations grew less abundant, but no less luxuriant.  Just because this part of the castle was intended only for nobility, it did not mean they lowered their tastes.<br/><br/>Dark Elves were everywhere as the tiny parade walked by, bowing to their lords and staring openly at the Demons with wide, astonished eyes.  The servants scattered, and the courtiers did the same, though a bit more discreetly as they ran.<br/><br/>The Princess's rooms were guarded by a pair of soldiers, the best available.  The two women-- they were women, even though they wore armor and looked much more formidable than any Dark Elf maiden seen yet-- held their ground at the sight, until the King and Queen stepped forward and motioned for them to lower their spears.  The two women, a redhead with a healed, broken nose, and a brunette with striking green eyes, obeyed without hesitation, and opened the doors.<br/><br/>Inside was dim, lit with several lamps and lanterns scattered about; it was dangerous to open the windows, lest a chill get in and finish the Princess off.  The space was filled with items from her life: an easel, books scattered about, all kinds of odds and ends she liked.  And in the bed, so swamped by the blankets and so withered by her disease, lay the Princess herself.<br/><br/>Sharia's eyes were closed.  For a moment, Tamlin's panic increased as he feared she was dead, they'd come too late, but finally she stirred just enough to prove she was still alive.  Her face, once joyful and full of smiles, was pinched thin, and her breathing was erratic and wavering.  The King and Queen stopped at the foot of the bed, while Naviin hung back and Tamlin stayed as unobtrusive as possible.<br/><br/>No one spoke.  There was nothing to say.  The King stared at the shell of his daughter, and the Queen turned her gaze to Minas once more.  "Please, do what you can."  Riasa could not ask Minas to cure her child because of any goodwill-- there was none...  But she asked anyways.  In this battle, she was defeated.