Welcome to Gaia! ::

Egleriad had to think about it for a moment. It had been a number of years ago, after all.

"Um ... wrong ... door?" he suggested. "Something like that."

Amora laughed. "That was just after Lalwen was born. It was quite cute, Maeglin was four at the time and she and Iris hit is off very nicely."

"Look at the bright side," Amora smiled. "At least they ended up here instead of where they were intending to go - the Borderlands. I think that if they had ended up there, they would never have been able to find Iris back."

"As it was," Maeglin grinned, "Elros watched us while we played in the courtyard! It was fun!"

Earendil started at the mention of Elros's name. "That reminds me," he spoke up. "We have a message for Elros. Is he nearby?"

Amora looked thoughtful for a moment, but before she could speak, Elia blurted, "He's on his way to the mess hall for lunch."

Earendil chuckled. "Seems as if there's nothing that you don't know," he grinned. "Is it possible to bring this message to him?"

"We can have it brought," Estel spoke up, "unless you would prefer to deliver it yourself?" He arched one eyebrow at Earendil, waiting for his answer.

Earendil thought about it. "Perhaps it would be best," he nodded. "Lin, coming with?" He looked down at her and waited for her answer.

Earendil was glad. He after all had never met Elros, and he thought it might be a bit strange if he would deliver a letter to him, especially a letter as personal as he suspected this one might be.

"I'll take you!" Maeglin piped up, hopping up off the couch. "This way!"

Maeglin led Lin, Miyuki and Earendil out of the room, down a hall, past the library, and into smaller corridors which obviously were not meant for most people. Gone were the decorations, gone were the tapestries, and it was down this hall that the soldiers' mess was.

"Here!" the girl grinned at them, bringing them to the door. "He should be right in there!"

Earendil chuckled. "Thank you, Maeglin," he smiled back at her. "You're very helpful."

She giggled. "Thanks! But I better stay here so that you can find your way back again, it's easy to get lost in here!"

Earendil looked at Maeglin. "So ... do we knock? Or just go right in?" he asked curiously

Maeglin laughed, and instead of answering, she slipped around him and opened the door. "Elros!" she called out into the room. "Someone here to see you!"

A moment later Elros stepped out of the room, and his icy blue eyes filled with surprise and then pleasure as he spotted Lin.

"Look at you," he smiled widely. "All grown up ... and a daughter now ..." He chuckled softly and put one hand on her shoulder. "Welcome, Lin. It has been a long time indeed."

Elros smiled at Earendil. "Aldrich?"

Earendil smiled back. "Cousin to Queen Lothiriel," he explained. "Our fathers are brothers." He dug into his bag and rummaged around for the letter. "On our trip, we found an island called Amon Darthir," he explained as he searched. "We found someone there who knows you."

He found the letter and held it out to Elros. "Here."

Elros took it, his expression curious. "I'm afraid I can't imagine who it might be," he said as he slid his finger beneath the seal to open it.

Earendil looked back at Lin and grinned. What? he mouthed at her. Didn't she like surprises? It would just be fun to see his reaction.

At least, until Elros fell against the wall, his eyes wide, looking very much as if he had stopped breathing. His face was pale beneath his tan.

Earendil blinked at him. "Sir Elros?" he asked hesitantly.

Maeglin looked up at the man. "Sir Elros!" she shrieked, slapping her hands over her mouth. "Sir Elros!"