The Shadow's army was gathered already as they entered.  The places of honor were held by the various spawn, from the almost human ones such as Halae to some every bit as monstrous as Gore had been.  Gathered about each of the spawn were slaves, naked and watching with either horror and despair or mind-broken acceptance like Ana.  And there were also the various bestial races, many more of them than the spawn, giving the Shadow even more numbers.  Some were large and twisted, clearly minor spawnlings themselves, but most had no excuse save the darkness of their hearts for their allegiance.<br/><br/>As they carried her forward toward the sickly hearthtree, Halae came into view, dressed in a gown of deep red and holding a leash attached to the heavy collar that was all Tristan wore as he knelt at her side.  His hands were bound and chained to the collar as well, but his eyes were smoldering with hate for the spawn who stood resting one booted foot upon his calf to keep him kneeling.<br/><br/>Standing beneath the tree was the Shadow, naked as always and nearly glowing in his unholy glory.  His scales glistened like pearls, and the gold of his hooves and horns and claws gleamed.  His fur was vibrant, flowing down his back in a cascade that was perfect in it's chaos.  And as he watched Lauralana, that mighty shaft between his legs stirred and rose to its own fullness, sending murmurs throughout the assembled host as the powerful musk of his arousal filled the air and stirred those gathered.  He reached over to run his hand along the hearthtree, reaching up to take one of the stunted silver-skinned fruits and pluck it from the branch, holding it out towards his captive as she was carried up to join him beneath those wilted branches.<br/><br/>Lauralana could feel the power flowing from the hearthtree.  With each step closer to it, more of its power trickled into her.  It was weak and fouled, like sunlight filtered through a dingy window, but it flowed into her and began to slowly wash away the unnatural lethargy that the aged spawn's incantation had managed to invoke.  The rings flared as they leeched at this new source of energy, but even those points of fire could not sap the strength faster than it entered her body.  By the time she was brought before the assembled host, the elven woman's body was once more her own.<br/><br/>