Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sir Valdemar was glad to see Lin's hand waving about, and to hear her voice calling out to him, because otherwise he wasn't sure if he would have known where to turn or who to talk to. He made his way over to her (very carefully) and sat down next to her.

"Welcome back, Lin," he said warmly, raising his voice a little in order to be heard over all the noise. "I take it you had a good trip?"

Sir Valdemar laughed. "It's that obvious, I see. Yes, I saw, and I am indeed amazed. Who are they? Where are they from?"

His eyes were eager, as they always were when he was going to be learning something new.

Sir Valdemar blinked at Lin. "The woman from the ranch ... then the rumours about her are not true? Her hair did not become the colour of fire because of her gift?"

In a way he was disappointed, because it had been a fascinating story. On the other hand, if it was a racial thing, then it was also fascinating, because it meant that she was not originally from this continent.

He blinked again. "Wait, then she is from Amon Darthir as well?" he asked, amazed.

Sir Valdemar listened intently to the story, nodding now and again, and looking very thoughtful. It told him a lot, actually, perhaps even more than Lin realized, since he also knew much of the history of the Westland, having lived through much of it himself.

When he learned that she was the daughter of the king, he shook his head slowly. "I do not know how it happens," he murmured, "but Lin, you always have the strangest news about the people of Haven. Lord Aragost, and now Princess Aerin ... Elros ..."

And if Sir Valdemar had been surprised earlier, now he was completely shocked.

"Alena?" he repeated, his face turning pale. "Alena of the Light Elves? Of the second generation of elves? Her?"

It was clear that he knew her, but could he dare hope that it was the same woman?

"I thought she had died, or sailed on, or ... or something," he murmured, his eyes misting over. "When we separated ... when the Dark Elves left the Light Elves ... that was the last that I saw or heard of her. Since that time, nothing ..."

He passed his hands over his eyes, then looked back at Lin. "And she has a message for me, you say?" he asked her, hardly daring to hope.

Sir Valdemar looked over at Earendil. It was clear that his mother had taken possession of him and wasn't going to be letting him go anytime soon, but he desperately wanted that letter. He mulled it over for a moment, then came to a decision. He rose and walked over to the two of them, then leaned in close and whispered to Earendil. Earendil grinned and dug into his bag, pulling out the letter and handing it to Sir Valdemar. The historian smiled and bowed and returned to sit next to Lin.

"After all this time, it simply requires knowledge of how to handle her Highness," he smiled mischievously at Lin.