Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ruel stared at the infant, who was still whimpering, though he had stopped crying in his mother's arms. His face was almost impassive, though it seemed as if he didn't quite know what to think. The child most strongly resembled his father, with the white hair, golden eyes, and dark skin, but on the other hand, his skin wasn't quite as dark as Kelirahc's.

Then again, he thought, what could be? Only the darkest night. He had never seen anything as black as the skin of Kelirahc and Haldia.

"Welcome home," he said finally, his expression not changing.

Earendil almost sighed with relief. He hadn't known what to expect from his father, really, and he was glad that he wasn't making an issue of the halfblood boy. Then again, his father had been changing a lot since the incident with Lamthanc.

"Thank you," he smiled softly at his father. "We're happy to be here."

"And then we're getting something to eat," Storm added.

"And then a rest," Starr finished with a smile.

Ruel looked over the group once more. "Why don't you just go on to the dining hall and have something to eat," he suggested slowly. "I can find Grandmother and have her come to you there. You wouldn't all fit in her study anyways ... especially not with all of your things ..."

"Sounds like a plan," Earendil agreed. "I don't know about everyone else, but I'm famished. Oh, and if you're going to be bringing messages, will you ask Sir Valdemar to come down? We have a message for him as well that we promised to deliver as soon as we arrived."

Ruel nodded. "I'll also find your mother," he told him. "She will be glad to have you back."

And so the group made their way to the dining hall.

They were just about to step inside when suddenly Earendil was pounced from behind by a very tall and thin girl with long, black hair and a lovely dress.

"Nana-tol!" she squealed, squeezing him tightly. "You're home!"

Earendil just about fell over backwards, trying to pry her arms from around his neck, and when he finally did get her off him, he turned around and stared at her, eyes wide, mouth agape.

"Regan!?!?!"

Regan giggled and spun around, showing off for everyone. "Well, I am fifteen now," she winked at Lin. "Just about a grown up!"

She pouted. "And I hardly saw you before you went away! You were here and busy and then you were gone!"

Earendil laughed. "That's what happens when you're always stuck in lessons," he grinned at her. "Now come on, we were just going to get a bite to eat before Ninako and Mother come down."

"Good idea, you won't be able to eat once they come," Regan grinned. "They won't let you stop talking!"

Regan pffed with her lips and headed into the dining hall with the rest of them. "Of course I want to hear all about what you've been doing!" she exclaimed. "But things happening around here? Surely you jest! Nothing ever happens here."

Earendil coughed, then laughed. Her age was showing clearly: she was far too young to know any of the many adventures that had taken place here.

Earendil chuckled. "Perhaps another time. Right now, I'm sure you want to hear all about our trip."

Regan grinned at him, her brown eyes sparkling brightly. "No. Right now, I want to know who all of these people are. Then where they're from and how they ended up with you. And THEN you can tell me about the rest of your trip."

Earendil laughed heartily. He had missed his niece. He introduced everyone and answered all of her questions, and by the time he had finished, Luthien and Atalya had arrived, and it started all over again.

But by the time Sir Valdemar made it to the dining hall, Luthien especially would not let Earendil give attention to anyone else, and Atalya was busy talking with Leyenda and her family. It was after all the first time she was meeting her great-great-granddaughter.

So when Sir Valdemar walked into the hall, it was very loud and very chaotic. He stared at everyone, taken completely by surprise not only by the noise and by the number of people who were present, but also by the variety of races, two of which he had never seen before. He stared at Kelirahc and Haldia, then at Aurin. He didn't know where to go or who to talk to first ...