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Even the king chuckled at Celeb's outburst, and he winked at the boy. "That's why I'm sending him, and not someone else," he grinned. He looked over at the side door of the room as a line of servants came in, pushing carts of food. "And now," he smiled warmly, "let the feast begin."

And he took his seat.

Earendil chuckled and turned to Lin. "You know," he grinned at her, "I had a feeling something was going on with those two, ever since Rhea told us about him taking her to that dragon's cave."

Earendil nodded. "I just hope that they can be together in the end," he murmured back softly. "Aurin will have to come back here, eventually. And Rhea ... well, she is an only child, and I know her parents would want what is best for her, but for them to let their only child go to where they may never see her again ..."

He shook his head. "I just don't know. I am hopeful for them, though."

When the meal was over, Alena rose from her seat and headed over to Lin and Earendil.

"When you return," she murmured, kneeling between them so that it would be a private conversation, "are you still willing to bear messages for me to Valdemar and Elros?"

She had asked them when they had first arrived, but that had been two years previous, and she didn't even know if they would remember, let alone if they would still be willing.

"You could think nothing but ill of us if we were to back out now," Earendil chuckled softly.

Alena looked pleased and relieved. "Thank you." She held out two folded sheets of paper, which were sealed with a wax seal, bearing the symbol of the kingdom, a flaming sword. Each of the letters were labeled with the name of their addressee.

"Please, give these to them when you can," she said warmly. "I am forever in your debt."

Earendil smiled. "No more than we are in yours, for the hospitality that you have shown us during our time here." He took the letters from her and tucked them into his tunic. "We will deliver these as soon as we can."

Alena smiled warmly at the two of them. "Thank you very much."

She looked around as the others began to get ready to leave, and straightened up. "I will not see you again before you leave," she smiled sadly, "and so I bid you farewell."

She touched her forehead with two fingers and flicked them away in the gesture that Earendil had shown her from his own people. Earendil chuckled and returned the gesture. "Farewell, Lady Alena. May our paths cross again."

And then they were off again, heading back towards the ship - at least, most of them were. Aurin still had to get his things, and Rhea went with him to help him pack. The rest of them though headed back to the ship, and, since everything was prepared for their departure, most of them headed back to their quarters.

Earendil wasn't quite ready to head below deck, however. He wanted to fix the image of the island in his memory before they left, and so he stayed up on deck, leaning against the railing and staring at the island that they were going to leave behind.

Earendil chuckled softly, still looking at the island as he answered Lin.

"I have to admit," he murmured softly, "I had never thought to find anyone else out here. You would think that somewhere, there would be records of these people leaving the Westland, at the very least ... but there was nothing. Even Sir Valdemar didn't seem to know. Valar know, I asked him about it enough times."

He chuckled softly. "I just think it's amazing. Not only that we were able to find two different cultures out here, but Leyenda, and perhaps even Rhea, were able to find something much more than just another culture."

Earendil smiled warmly. "It has been a very long time since I have seen Uncle Elrohir," he murmured. "I will be very glad to see him again. And Haradhel. I'm glad she is out there, though, she is doing much better there than in the city. As for the others ..."

He hesitated, then smiled down at Lin. "I hope that I can meet them someday and learn all about them. You talk about them all the time, but ... I don't know them. Ulani, Ulrich, their family ... Rhea's family. Saki. The fighters. It's a world away for me."