Sunrise woke them all the next morning.

They had a good veggie breakfast and got packed up to hopefully make it back to the castle today. They might make it there by evening. It would be nice to sleep in actual beds again.

Sil had been gone from the castle so long that he felt very homesick. It would be awhile before he traveled again.

The castle was becoming a home for the Gelflings. They called it their home now, but it still wasn't like their original homes on the landscapes. It mainly just needed to be kept clean, like any home to make it look nice.

Aughra and the Chanter should be expecting them home anytime now. Fizzgig was more than ready to have Kira back home again. He missed her so much.

As the group walked through the former Spriton Plains, there was nothing but blaring sunlight down upon them. They were all quiet as Sil led the way home. They were making much progress with very little stopping throughout the day.

They entered the lowlands that would take them back to the castle by evening. When they saw the castle on the painted horizon, it began to feel like a relief. Almost home.

It felt like an eternity before they got to the castle's bridge and entered the old transport area. The carriages were still waiting to be used.

Getting into the castle finally, everyone sighed in relief.

Jen and Kira turned to the others. Sil too.

"Thank you all for coming with us on such a dangerous mission. We commend you well for everything you did to help us." Jen said proudly.

"Yes. What Jen said. Gelfling guards did excellent work escorting us. You all free to go do what needs doing around castle as we go celebrate being home again." Sil declared. "Jen and Kira can go do what want."

"What are you going to do?" Kira asked.

"Go to bed chamber. Check things out. Join for dinner soon." Sil said.

"Okay then. We'll be off." Kira stated.

Sil headed to his room. Jen and Kira went to the Podling area to greet their surrogate family.

The Podlings were glad to see that they were back. Fizzgig especially. He jumped into Kira's arms happily and began licking her face.

"I missed you too." she laughed.

"Was there any success?" Aughra asked as she joined them.

"Yes. We met other survivors on the other side of the ocean. But they said they weren't coming back as long as a Skeksis is still here." Jen explained to her.

"Aughra don't blame them. But at least there is Gelfling on other side of big water." Aughra stated.

"They said we could visit anytime, just leaving Chamberlain here." he said. "How's my Master Chanter?"

"He is good. He was injured while you were gone. Care to explain?" she asked.

"Chamberlain was injured too. A cut leg from trying to escape a creature. He's ready to just be here for awhile. I think we are too. Taking a break from all these dangers. I think we have enough Gelfling here to make this a happy home. Were they taking good care of the castle while we were gone?" Jen asked.

"Yes. Aughra make sure they keep to their chores. Keeping place up. Cooking. Building. Guarding. Many things. Concerts. Fun." Aughra stated.

"Where is the Chanter?"

"He is out doing evening singing. Be back for dinner. Soon." she said.

Jen wanted to reunite with his one master.

Kira and her foster mother were happy to be united again too. She was curious about how it all went. There was success in finding other Gelfling, but disappointment when getting them to come back here to make it the more, the merrier. They simply didn't trust the Chamberlain.

Oh well.

The Chanter soon came in for the night and he and Jen had a reunion as well, telling him what happened.

The other Gelfling were happy to hear that they were allies on the other side of the ocean.

…..

The Chamberlain made it to his room and he began to get out of his robes. He decided to take a bath first and stayed in his lighter garments. He avoided the big bash of Gelflings and Podlings celebrating being home right now.

The warm water felt so good after being gone for so long, and he smelled something terrible. He had gone through river water lately, and smelled like fish. His robes were taken to be washed. The only ones in the bathing room were Podlings.

With this bath, Sil took off all his clothes to have them washed. He had some spare robes to use for when he would get done. He would join the others for dinner later. He was sure he would sleep good tonight in his own bed, for how much he had missed it.

When he later joined them, there was already quite a party going on. He had a reserved seat, as he always did. He only ate veggies when at these parties. He was glad for excitement, but a lot of his energy for right now was spent. Podlings sure had lively music, and some Gelflings were musicians too. He would be heading to bed shortly after the dinner part was over. The others could party for awhile longer, but not keeping him up.

….

When everyone later departed for their nightly bedtime, Jen and Kira finally made it to their private bedroom. They could finally be alone together, save Fizzgig. He didn't want to let her out of his sight.

The couple just spent the night together as they regularly did. Jen gave Fizzgig the benefit of spending his first night back with his 'mom,' but he wanted to spend tomorrow night really alone with her. This was just a time for celebrating to be home and just all they had accomplished, with at the very least, making contact with other Gelflings, even if they hadn't wanted to come back. It had been their choice.

The next day was just back to the same usual routine. Chores around the castle.

…

The Beta Gelflings were getting closer all the time to the castle. They had just gotten off of the Swamp of Sog, and were now entering the Endless Forest. It might be another day or two before they got to their destination.

This clan had about fifty Gelfling. Seleya was proud to be leading it. Her sons and daughters were quite good in battle.

Seleya did want an honorable approach, but she was still doubtful of the Skeksis that she knew lived at the castle. He had to be dethroned in her mind. Skeksis could not be allowed to rule again. Thra rightfully belonged to Gelfling, not Skeksis. As well as Mother Aughra. They didn't know where she was, but if they saw her, would talk to her too.

….

Podlings were outside making a village for themselves. If they were to be farmers for the castle, they needed their own fields outside the castle. For the first trine, they had been trying to figure out where to put the best seeds in the ground to see if they would grow.

There was some fertile land behind the castle. This was where they were going to grow a lot more of their food.

Chamberlain was in one of the hallways, admiring their work from there. He wouldn't deny them that. That way, there would be vegetables grown all the time. But he needed meat too.

Some of the Drenchen Gelflings were comfortable hunting for him. Sil told them that he wanted some animal specimens brought back here for the sake of him having protein that he had to have. The Scientist's lab was empty of all life at the moment. It had been used before to hold animals, as well as prisoners. But now, Sil wanted animals in there again for variety of food choices for himself. The lab was not to be gone into unless there were prisoners or animals used for his meat choices.

A party of five Drenchen and two of the other clan went on a hunting party to go collect some animals from the wilds. Sil had deemed them his specific hunters since they had hunted some of the best specimens for him. He decided to take a hunting trip with them, to make sure that some of the best ones were caught for his meals. He would leave Jen and Kira in charge while he was gone.

Sil also did want to see some rebuilding of the Gelfling numbers. Of course, that would take awhile to do so. But recently, two Gelfling females had fallen pregnant while Sil, Jen and Kira had been away on their travels. It was a start.

Older children helped with the day to day chores. Youngest childlings were looked after by babysitters. Though parents had to keep them in baby carriers on their backs during the day.

Even though Sil knew that there was another Maudra within the group living here now, that was fine and all if Talia wanted to still be one to be looked up to among her kind, but Sil had other plans.

That night, at dinner, Chamberlain stood up. He stomped his scepter to get everyone's attention. "Attention! Your emperor has announcement to make." he declared.

The Gelflings all quieted down and listened to him. Podlings stopped serving for the moment.

"As your emperor, and now of being back here after so long and so many doings trying to find Gelfling allies, and knowing friends, Jen and Kira are not last of Gelfling race, to make official, by Chamberlain's decree, they be All-Maudra Gelfling leaders above all. They help Chamberlain bring Gelfling race together again." Sil proclaimed. "To new Gelfling leaders!" Sil made a toast. He had seen it done before.

The other Gelflings were proud of the two young ones having helped bring them together too. They all raised their glasses in the toast too. "To Jen and Kira!" The group all cheered in unison.

Jen and Kira couldn't help but blush, but felt proud of themselves too. And now, Chamberlain had made it official, as their emperor. It had been something they had been awaiting to hear for so long.

Aughra was proud of them too. They had accomplished so much in so little time since the Great Conjunction, and so far, SkekSil seemed to be keeping his word that he was in fact, their friend. He had also helped to bring them together as well. She saw that he wasn't quite as lazy as the old emperor had been about leaving the castle.

Sil found that with all his travels, with all the weight gone, he was able to move about more freely, despite still wanting to wear all his usual robes. He loved looking elaborate. That would never change. But hopefully, life would never get too dull.

Sil and the group of Drenchen left the castle after dinner for their hunting trip.

…

Unknown to the castle occupants, up on a hill stood Seleya's clan of fifty Gelfling. They were ready to take the castle back. They didn't see the six occupants leaving. Sil included.

"Are we going to attack, Mother, or are we going to take the diplomatic approach?" her oldest daughter, Marak, was at her side.

"We did the diplomatic approach over on our continent. If we attack, we would be viewed as enemies for sure." Seleya replied. "And who knows what the Skeksis will do."

"There is only one Skeksis they said. With our weapons, we could put the Skeksis in his place." one of her sons, Rahn, declared.

"We need to show this Skeksis that we Gelflings are not to be messed with. Come on, Mother! We can't back down now. We need this battle. Since he is one of the old ones. He needs a good lesson." another son, Smed, exclaimed. He was antsy for a war.

After some consideration, she agreed. "We take the diplomatic approach, then attack from within."

"What of the Crystal?" one of the guards spoke up.

"The Crystal won't do anything to stop us. If we took charge of its powers, it would be ours to help control everything, but we will first take this castle." Seleya declared.

"Do you think the Skeksis and his group are back yet from their sea travel?" Marak asked.

"Surely, they are. We'll find out. But either way, we will take their clan down. And don't kill anyone. Just hold them prisoner until we know otherwise." Seleya ordered.

Her people began to hide themselves for the night and get some rest. They would have a big day planned for the occupants of the castle tomorrow morning.

…..

That night, Kira made Fizzgig stay with Ydra, as she wanted some real alone time with Jen for the first time since they had returned.

They were celebrating their love as well as all they had accomplished thus far, and with the gift of what the Chamberlain had bestowed upon them. They were more in charge of the Gelfling charges now, but Sil would still hold the highest decrees of all above them, should any problems come about among the Gelfling race.

Sil would still hold orders on judgments with him being emperor.