Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lin's eyes lit up, she really did like that book, just because it showed such interesting things. She wondered what other things about the First Age she hadn't seen yet.

"Yes!" she exclaimed with a while smile, "That would be so neat, and Storm and Starr like magic."

Earendil laughed at Storm and Starr. "I'm sure it'll be all right," he grinned. "Sir Valdemar's the only one who will be doing magic in there. Though I could show you some later, if you'd like."

He knew Lin liked his magic, and though he was far past the age where he always wanted to show off just for the sake of showing off, he wanted to let these kids get as much enjoyment out of this trip as they could.




Atalya looked solemn as they rounded the corner that led to the main door of the castle, and even the sunlight that streamed in from the enormous windows in the ceiling could not serve to chase the shadows away from her face.

"He has, at last count, at least three children," she replied. Her face darkened. "And all from different women. He shamed not only himself and those women, but the rest of the family."

As if she hadn't already had enough problems.

"I still need to learn, maybe I could learn when I get a bit older," Lin looked forward to that, even though she would rather learn the type of magic more similar to what those at the school learn, "But it'll be okay Starr, Storm is right, as long as you don't use magic it's okay."

At least Storm was acutally not bending the truth this time, she had overheard the last time they got caught.

"I should probably warn you," Atalya added in a quiet voice as she led them out of the castle and into the courtyard, "it's best not to mention his name. It would only cause anger and arguments all around."

And they went outside.

The courtyard was not much different than it had been the last time Elnara had been there. The same flowers bloomed in the same vibrant colours, the path was still lined with the same beautiful bushes, and far inside, nearly to the opposite wall, the brook still burbled through, clean and cool and clear.




Sir Valdemar smiled and nodded. "Yes," he agreed softly. "Let's go." He led them from his study and down the hall towards the library. As they went, he wondered which section he should show them this time.

Lin watched as things passed watching the guards to see if they were any if she might recongized. She didn't know after all if they changed the guards around every once in a while, or if there were any new guards. She supposed if they starred at her more than usual they were new.

"Do you think your Daddy missed me?" Lin looked up at Earendil, though the twinkle in her eye would tell a person she was not that serious about it.

Atalya smiled faintly and gave the others some room to look around.

"Luthien should be in here somewhere," she murmured. "It's safe for the children to explore, if they wish. There's nothing to hurt themselves on, nowhere to get lost."



They entered the library, and Sir Valdemar left the others at the door while he went through the shelves to get the book that Lin wanted. It didn't take long - it was closer to the front, and one of the thickest: and he eased it off the shelf carefully and brought it to the desk at the front of the room.

"Well," he smiled, setting it down gently and running his fingers lovingly over the cover, "what would you like to see? There's the creation, both of the land and of the elves; there's our old home, which you already saw, Lin; or there's the later history. Crossing the seas, life with the Valar ... later on the wars and destruction, but I think we'll not look at that."

He looked down at Lin. "Well?" He would let her choose.

Lin looked thoughtful for a moment, she tilted her head for a moment and thought.

"The creation," she finally decided.

Though she was far too young to really understand what it all meant, she knew being from a young race that this was something interesting. Seconds were not an old race and she wanted to tell Trisha later.