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"Then the only thing we can do is talk to him about it when we see him again," Earendil concluded. "Is he easy to talk to? I mean, approachable?"

He hoped that he was. He was anxious to know what was going on.

Earendil nodded. "Then all we can do is try," he shrugged.


Soon it was time for lunch, and as everyone was leaving the table, Elros appeared in the doorway. He stood to one side while everyone filed out, evidently waiting for someone.

Earendil glanced at Lin. Was this their opportunity?

Earendil followed behind Lin, keeping silent as she spoke to the tall knight.

Elros smiled at Lin, his eyes shining with recent tears.

"No, Lin," he said softly. He reached down and clasped her free hand with both of his, and squeezed them tightly. "You have given me the best news that I could ever have hoped to receive. You have returned to me the greatest treasure that this world could ever offer ... my wife."

Earendil blinked and stared at the man. The only thought that was going through his mind was ... whaaaaaaa?

Elros chuckled at Lin's reaction. "You can see then why it was such a blow to me," he smiled. "To have thought that she was dead these thirty thousand years ... and to find out that she is indeed still alive ..."

He shook his head. "I must speak with His Majesty. I have sworn to serve him for as long as I am needed ... but I am afraid that I must break that oath. I must return to my wife's side ... to be here without her was torture, but to know that she lives and remain here would be death."

Elros smiled. "You will have to visit once everything is settled," he murmured. "I understand that it is chaos right now, but that will change."

He paused and looked at the rest of the people who were still in the dining hall. "And on that note ... which one, pray tell me, is Princess Aerin?"

Elros nodded. "I will speak with them first and get more detail," he murmured. "Then I must speak with the king."

He bowed his head to Lin and Earendil. "With any luck, I shall speak to you again soon. Until then, good day."

And off he went to talk to the foreign princess and her strange companion.

Earendil looked down at Lin. "Wife?" he asked her, still in disbelief.

"That's true," Earendil admitted with a soft chuckle. "Usually it is bad news when someone reacts like that to something. Though I suppose that Lothiriel and Estel may see it as bad news ... they're about to lose their right hand man."

After the royal family, Elros was the one in highest command, after all. His loss would be a great loss to the entire kingdom.

Earendil pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Well ... do you think Rhea would know?" he asked. "I mean, she grew up with him at least for a while, right?"

Though there was no one else there who would be able to tell ... unless ...

"What about Lothiriel or any of her children or grandchildren?" he asked. "They're all seers, they've all lived with Elros for a very long time now ... do you think they would have known?"