Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Perhaps Shiro would know, he seems to know just about everything about most things," Daeron suggested. "At any rate, we are finished with the business that we came for. Are you hungry for lunch, Miyuki? Or would you like to stop anywhere else?"

"If no one objects, I would like to stop by the jeweler's before we return to the palace," Iorlas spoke up shyly, a light blush spreading over her cheeks. "Not necessarily before we eat, but before we return."

She smiled softly and averted her eyes. "It's been a while, yes, but ... old habits die hard."

"And there is nothing wrong with that," Daeron said firmly. "I leave it to you, Miyuki. Where would you like to go next?"

Daeron was delighted. "We can see Nineko and Ninako."

Iorlas smiled warmly. "That would be nice. And very close, too. Just at the next corner."

She enjoyed visiting the inn. It was a much more familiar setting for her than the castle, and though she was getting more and more comfortable at the castle, she did prefer smaller places.

"Iorlas and I have tried to make a point of visiting at least once a week," Daeron explained to Miyuki.

"We missed one week, though," Iorlas added. "I wasn't feeling well." She smiled sheepishly. "I'm still getting used to being an elf. I mean truly being an elf. It's very different from being one temporarily."

"Ninako and Nineko would love that," Daeron smiled widely. "They really do deserve to see more of us."

"They do," Iorlas murmured softly. "They're so kind and warm ..."

Really, until she had met Daeron and the rest of their group, she had never really known people to be particularly kind or welcoming.

Iorlas and Daeron exchanged a thoughtful look.

"Well ... you all left in early spring of last year," Daeron mused, "and we left the Borderlands shortly after you ... and it was slow traveling, I think it took us ... a month and a half? Two months?"

"Two months full," Iorlas nodded.

"Two full months to get here," Daeron went on. "So we arrived ... the end of summer, I guess. Or late summer. And it's the middle of spring now, so ...three and a half months. A little more than half a year."

"I'm sure he's handling it just fine," Daeron smiled. "After all, he's been gone from home for much longer. And this time he didn't get any new nieces. The only real change is that now Iorlas and I are married."

If there had been a huge change - births, deaths, unexpected marriages - Daeron felt that Earendil would have been more affected by the time difference. But things were pretty much the same as they had been when the family had left.

"Thank you," Iorlas smiled at Miyuki as she and Daeron stepped past their niece and into the inn.

They were a bit ahead of the lunch rush, so the inn was quiet at the moment. A few of the inn's workers were setting the tables, and Soronume was bustling about, making sure everything was just so. Rigel doubtless was in the kitchen, making sure that the right food was being prepared in its proper quantities.

When the door closed behind Miyuki, Soronume looked up from her work, and a wide smile spread across her face when she saw who had entered.

"Well, it's about time you all came to visit!" she teased the three as she made her way over to them. "Daeron especially, it's been a week and a half since your last visit."

Daeron chuckled as his great grandmother greeted them all with a kiss to both cheeks. "We've been a bit distracted of late, Ninako. Earendil and his family have come back."

"Yes, I know," Soronume grinned, eying Miyuki. "Earendil and Lin have been here to visit. They promised to take the children soon, but they haven't so far." She reached out one hand to Miyuki. "But you're here now, so now I only have to bother your parents to bring Andarien with them."

Soronume laughed and gave Miyuki's hand a soft squeeze. "I know, I know. And you've been gone for a long time, and you're going to be leaving again soon ... ah, well. We still see you more than our own daughter. I shouldn't complain."

"And people say I'm dramatic," Daeron laughed. "Now I know where I get it from."

Soronume waved a finger in his face. "Don't you get me started, young man. You ran off when you were still a boy, just about, and the only reason you've come back is to show off your beautiful wife to your family."

Iorlas blushed, and Daeron pushed his great grandmother's finger out of his face. "Come on, you know that's not true," he protested. He paused, then amended, "Well ... maybe it is ... but still! At least I'm here."

"Yes, you are," Soronume agreed. "Now come, let's go find that husband of mine and get some lunch while we have some time."

She started off towards the door that led from the dining room to the kitchen, beckoning for the others to follow.