Everything was a bit delayed but it ended up working out for everyone. Mainly because they would be putting the gate in Helmbrig just before the coronation. That was the original plan; it just needed to be sped up because of the war.
Meaning they would be perfectly placed if Horus wanted to step over. Which was clear they were not in a position to actually stop.
They had been able to take the castle without much being spread somehow. There were wild rumors about the war everywhere, and it was hard to take them all seriously. Their particular rumor would have sounded like one of the most unbelievable. A sneak attack on Helmbrig and taken within hours by an army of monsters? It would seem almost laughable to many.
A tightening of border crossings was happening everywhere as well. So fewer people being allowed in was not too unexpected by anyone.
