Fifteen minutes later there was a knock on the palace door. 

"Someones here, I'll get it.' Willow said and dashed for the door.

"Who is it?' Lily called to her. 

"It's Rune, mom.' She called back down the hall. 

"Hello everyone, am I early?" He asked.

"Not that early. Oh, this here is a friend of ours, Haze." Lily said to him. 

"Great to meet you." He said to her.

"You as well." 

"Come on, we'll go in the courtyard while we wait for the others to get here.' Willow said to him and Haze.

"Anything you wish.' 

Haze quickly followed along. 

Once they'd been out there a good half hour, slowly more of their guests began to arrive. 

      The empress helped greet the guests so that Lily and Colin could entertain. The first to arrive was Trinity, followed by Dawn. She sent them out to the courtyard with Willow and the others.