Ten minutes later Colin returned with the silver and lavender platter of coffee, mugs and nectar juice for his only child.

   "Here we are ladies."  He said, serving beverages to all of them. 

   "How has our empress been?" H asked her.

"Not bad just busy with a lot of creatures." She told him.

"Ah, not too much we hope." Lily added, taking a sip.

"No, I had help."  She said taking a full gulp of the coffee.

"Oh, Amberosia." The queen implied.

"Not just her. The Warlock Brethren came to help..Well, some of them." She admitted.

"What was going on that you needed them?" Colin asked, worried for her.

"We were getting a lot of dark halflings. My apprentice wanted to make sure it wasn't some kind of underworld war taking place." She explained to them both.

"So everything's okay?" Lily asked.

"Yes, there are a handful of critters that have left the underworld...They don't want to be evil anymore. They are really trying to change." She stopped, taking a gulp of the deliciously sweet fae java.

"That's a new development." Colin remarked.

"Some have come to us to ask how to be better. I read the intent before I help them." Ralvania pointed out. 

Colin filled up the mugs and played with his little girl while the two women talked.

"So when will everyone get here?" Ralvania asked.

"Another half hour. I told you an earlier time so we could catch up, before this palace becomes a home for the magically insane." Lily joked.

The empress let out a good laugh. Lily had always found humorous ways to put things, no matter the situation. She loved that about her. Lily was like the daughter she never had.