Welcome to Gaia! ::

Haradhel smiled softly at Gaunt. "Don't be embarrassed. Serenity has a habit of not fully explaining some things that she takes for granted."

She leaned back against the counter, folding her arms across her chest and began to explain patiently. "Our continent is called the Four Lands, because there are four main areas: the Northland, Eastland, Southland, and Westland. I suppose the Borderlands, where we are, can be called a land, but it doesn't really belong to any one nation. But we are one world, one land. However ... the Winters family has a series of portals, as I'm sure you must have seen. One leads here. One to the Southland. And others to other places, though not in this world."

She smiled. "It gives them easy access to the two main places they visit in our world, without the months of travel in between. It's a few thousand miles from here to the Southland. Time difference is not the reason I can't see my daughter anymore, merely distance."

She paused. "And if you have any questions, you can feel free to ask anyone you like," she added. "Serenity would probably be best to help you, but we all like to try."

Haradhel had to hesitate and think about that question.

"We could," she said softly, "and it has been suggested ... but ... for one, I don't feel comfortable with the idea of leaving our world. The second portal is in the labyrinth below the palace in the Southland, where Elrohir's grandparents live - Serenity's great-grandparents. Strictly speaking, we could go. But to leave our world, even for a few moments ..."

She shook her head. "No. And really we could ride down there in a matter of weeks, but we have a responsibility up here, to do what we can to stop the slavery."

Haradhel smiled. "Thank you. We've had too many accident with magic in our own world, I don't know what would happen in another."

Suddenly Serenity appeared in the doorway, wearing a thin silk dress, white, her still-wet hair in a loose braid over one shoulder. "I'm finished with the bath," she said quietly. "Haradhel, I assume you're going to be filling all three tubs now?"

Haradhel nodded. "I'll be right back," she smiled at the others, and then she headed towards the doorway and disappeared.

Serenity blinks. "I'm ... sorry?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? I ... don't understand ..."

She moved to stand beside Gaunt, her eyes dark, puzzled, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

Serenity blushed, then put her hand to her mouth and giggled softly, her gray-green eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Um," she giggled, "there's only one bathing room here ... it has three tubs in it, but since I'm the only girl I of course would wash alone ... the three of you are all boys, so it's fine if you all bathe at the same time ... I thought, at least ..."

She leaned over and kissed Gaunt's forehead, careful not to touch him too much since she had just made herself un-smelly.

Serenity blushed. "That's right ... I had forgotten that Arwen moved away from here ... but from what I understand, the place where she lives isn't even near a portal, anyways."

She giggled and kissed his cheek lightly. "Now go on and get yourself clean," she grinned at him. "You too, Ian, Prince. Squeaky clean. Ah."

She held her bag out to Gaunt. "There's extra clothes in there for Ian, he can find them himself after he's clean. And Ian ..."

She turned her head to look at her son. "Wear your own clothes. My shirts are not night clothes for you."

Ian's face turned red and he looked up at the ceiling in embarrassment. "Yours are softer," he mumbled, "better for sleeping."

Only a short while later, Haradhel had everyone sitting at one of the tables in the dining room (despite the space, she liked everyone to sit together after all, they were a family). She had already served the food and invited everyone to start eating by the time the front door opened and closed and a voiced called out a greeting in Elvish.

"Prepare for questions," Serenity murmured to Gaunt under her breath; but her eyes were sparkling mischievously. Apparently the questioning was going to be amusing - at least for her.

Haradhel called back to her husband in Elvish, then added, "And we have guests, so hurry up and sit down."

Elrohir appeared suddenly in the doorway of the dining room, tall and black-haired just like the rest of his family, his skin bronzed from more than just the sun. His clothes were wrinkled and a little dirty, but he didn't smell very much, amazing considering the size of the ranch.

"Mm, guests," he grinned, his dark eyes sparkling mischievously. "Welcome back, Serenity. It's wonderful to see you again. How is the family?"

Serenity smiled back at her uncle. "Good," she said warmly. "All of them good. And growing."

She put one hand on Ian's back and smiled widely. "My son, Ian," she introduced him. She would have introduced Gaunt and Prince as well, but she knew her uncle would prefer them to introduce themelves, or at least have Gaunt introduce them. It was one of his quirks, one of the ways he got to know people.

Ian grinned up at Elrohir. "So you're my uncle, huh?" he beamed. "You're tall."

Taller than the others.

Elrohir chuckled. "So I am," he agreed. "Good to meet you. Welcome to the family."

He turned to Gaunt and held out one hand. "Elrohir Aldrich," he said warmly. "And you?"