Welcome to Gaia! ::

"We've been doing smashingly well," Reuben grinned. "Thanks to the ranch, people are traveling again, they're feeling safe again. So we've been getting more business in these past few years than ever before - even with a second inn opening up just a few streets over!"

"We don't begrudge them the competition, though," Rayna added. "We wouldn't be able to handle everyone on our own. You bunch took up the rest of our rooms, and Aurin and Rhea had to come into our personal area!"

Since it was already partway through the morning, the group stayed there for a short while longer, visiting with Rhea's aunt and uncle; but when work finally called them away, they got their things together once more and got ready to leave again. Soon they were on their way.

Rhea also put a spidersilk cloak over her head on their way to the castle, but the rest didn't bother: they were used to the heat (except for Aurin, but he at least was used to the elements).

It being autumn, it wasn't terribly hot, and they made good progress up to the castle gate. They identified themselves and were admitted immediately.

The first person they ran into was Estel, with a very young child in his arms: a girl, about four years old. The king was very pleased to see them all, and he grinned widely at them.

"Welcome, welcome!" he said warmly. "Lin, it's been such a long time since we've seen you, welcome back! Caranthir. Rhea!"

Unfortunately those were the only ones he knew, and he had to wait to be introduced to the rest, a task which Rhea undertook right away. Once everyone had been introduced, the king led them forward into the castle.

"Come on," he laughed, "let's get to the sitting room. Probably one of the few rooms big enough for everyone to visit at once! Ah, and by the way," he added with a grin, "this is our youngest granddaughter, Lalwen."

Lalwen smiled shyly and waved at everyone.

Earendil chuckled and picked up the bonnet off the ground, and since he knew Miyuki was just going to throw it away again he held onto it as they followed Estel to the sitting room.

When they got there, there were already a few people waiting for them: Amora was there with her sister, Elia, who was now a young woman, and sitting between them was another young girl, about eight years old. She stared at the group as they walked in, and before anyone else could speak, she spoke up:

"There really are black elves!"

The girl blushed and stuck her tongue out at Lin.

Kelirahc chuckled as he sat down with Leyenda, who set Amalirahc down on the floor so that he could run around. "Perhaps it is not so surprising when you think that it is the first time that our kind has been in this land," he grinned at Lin.

Amora laughed. "But we are a family of Seers, Kelirahc," she winked at him. "Maeglin is of the third generation of seers. We know much before we ever see it."

"Though that's the first thing Maeglin's ever Seen," Elia added with a warm smile.

Leyenda cleared her throat. "Well ... it seems all of you know all of us already," she spoke up, "but who are all of you?"

Estel, who had sat down with Lalwen, took it upon himself to introduce everyone.

"Everyone," he smiled as Lalwen climbed down from his lap and ran towards Amora, "this are our daughters, Amora and Elia. Between them is Maeglin, Amora's secondborn."

"Considering the last time we met, I was barely older than Maeglin, and Elia had just been born?" Amora asked Lin, her eyes sparkling brightly. "In the nineteen years that have passed, surely you must have expected some change."

"Mama! Mama!" Suddenly a boy charged into the room, his voice urgent. "Mama, there's people coming! There's people coming!" He grabbed Amora's hand and tried to tug her off the couch. "Come on, we have to meet them!"

Amora giggled and tugged the boy (who looked about twelve years old) into her lap, and pointed at the various visitors that were scattered about the room. "You mean them?" she asked him.

The boy's eyes grew wide. "Yeah!" he exclaimed. "Hi!"

The boy grinned at Lin. "Egleriad," he replied. His aunt nudged his arm, and he amended, "Prince Egleriad."

He stared at Lin for a moment. "Are you Naida's sister?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "And Jair and Iris's aunt? They were here a few years ago ..."