Welcome to Gaia! ::

The shopkeeper smiled and waved at Miyuki, but as she didn't seem to be seeking his attention, he continued his conversation with Jess.

River heard Miyuki's footsteps, and she glanced up from her browsing. She grinned and meandered over to her friend, sidling quietly up beside her.

"Good morning," she murmured, keeping her voice down. "Lovely day, eh?"



The woman smiled softly at Lin. "Perhaps we should begin by finding somewhere comfortable to sit," she suggested. "The booths are meant for an individual or couple, and there are no more chairs by my desk. There is a smaller room, just there" -she pointed off at a doorway between two of the bookcases- "and it's meant for children, so it is far more comfortable."

"You're certain you don't need to be at the door?" Earendil asked, concerned.

Amanya shook her head. "I will hear, and people rarely come here."

River grinned. "Great. Uncle Luk took us all out yesterday to see the memorial he built for our great-grandparents. He made it himself, it's pretty impressive. And Father's letting Jess and I go off more on our own, I think he's starting to trust us more."

She giggled at that. "He's so silly sometimes."

Then she became more serious again, and beamed at Miyuki. "And what have you been up to?"



Amanya took them towards the smaller room, her steps casual and comfortable.

"Now, you were asking about where to begin," she murmured, taking them into the room. "I would suggest the beginning - but the beginning of Arkandia? Or of Caras Galadhon?"

The room was a story room for children, and as such, there was a large chair for the storyteller to sit in and several cushions and pillows for the children, as well as a large circular rug in the middle of the floor. There were shorter bookshelves around the walls in here, with smaller, thinner books. There were small windows all around the outside wall in here, many of them; and there was plenty of light.

River's eyes gleamed. "You came to the right place," she confided to Miyuki. "Jess is learning about the method they use here to treat the leather to get it the way they do. He says it's very high quality. Not as soft as the leather in Amon Darthir, but still very high quality. And they're more complicated, too. I mean, they've got pockets and stuff, and there are different styles - so different from anywhere else we've been!"

Her expression turned curious. "What kind of experiments are you going to do?"


Amanya sat in the chair as if it were her own (which it probably was), and Earendil began to arrange the cushions and pillows so that he and Lin could sit together comfortably while they listened.

The scholar did not wait for Earendil to finish getting comfortable before she began. She turned her eyes towards the windows, and a far-off look came over her face, as if she were losing herself in thought.

"Arkandia is an ancient continent," she began, "though your own continent is older. The elves were first created there, and then, a while later, they were created here. So while we are essentially the same creatures as you - well, Earendil least - we do not have the same ancestors."

Earendil was surprised, both that she knew about the Four Lands - and quite well it seemed - but also by the difference between the elves here and the elves of the Four Lands.

"Are there other differences?" he couldn't help but ask.

Amanya smiled faintly. "Some. Eru learned from his experiences, and there are a few differences."

River nodded. She remembered the sand storm well. She had lost quite a bit in it as well, though she had found much of it back. Damaged, but back. She was most grateful that she'd found her bag back. It was the one that had been a gift from Jess, and it meant a lot to her.

"Well, they've got quite the selection here," she smiled. "Come, shall we take a look?"



Amanya pursed her lips, then shook her head.

"He told us some, yes," she replied softly, "but we also have some knowledge from those who have visited there. The visits have been few, but we make a point of learning about other nations. Most have returned, though there are a few that stayed. Some simply vanished, and we do not know what happened to them."

River linked her arm with Miyuki's and strolled over to the bag section with her. As she'd promised, there were all kinds of bags: shoulder bags, handbags, rucksacks, slings and more.


Amanya blinked at Lin. "Those who visited needed to blend with those they intended to study," she replied softly. "Light Elves visited Light Elves; Dark Elves visited Dark Elves; and Humans visited Humans. Our intention was to learn and remain undetected. Our only wish here is to be left alone, to live our lives in peace. We are content to remain separate from the other continents, just as we are separate from the other countries here in Arkandia."

With Miyuki looking at the bags, River headed over to stand with Jess. Most of the conversation was so technical that it went over her head, but she was interested in listening anyways.



Amanya smiled and nodded slowly. "I cannot say for certain," she murmured, "but I believe it has been ... perhaps half a century since the last of our scouts returned. If you would like, I could check the archives for you for your next visit."

Earendil smiled. "We would appreciate that, if it's not too much work," he told the woman. "I think we are both curious to learn if we might know one of the people who were there."

Amanya nodded. "Then I shall do so. It is no trouble at all."

River grinned at Miyuki when she joined her. "Find what you were looking for?" she asked. Then she noticed that Miyuki hadn't brought any bags with her. "Maybe not. Too bad."



Amanya smiled and nodded. "Yes. Differences. Well, to begin with ..." She turned to Earendil. "Immortal as you are, your people still fear one disease. Is this true?"

Earendil nodded. "One of three ways we can die."

Amanya spread her hands in front of her. "We are immune."

River winked at Miyuki. "Shall I see if Uncle Luk can get Jess some leather to make you a bag?" she grinned. "I'm sure Jess wouldn't mind. He's been dying to try out some of the new methods he's learned on this trip. I can tell."

Hearing part of the conversation, Jess turned away from the shopkeeper, midsentence, and looked at River, a bemused expression on his face. "Are you volunteering me for things?" he asked her.

River beamed at him innocently. "Only things you want to do."


Amanya tilted her head slightly at Lin. "You seem surprised."

Earendil looked down at Lin. "Have you been told about the three ways elves can die?" he asked her curiously. "Elves of the Four Lands, I suppose I should say. Two methods for the elves here?"

He glanced up at Amanya, who nodded her agreement.