Welcome to Gaia! ::

Pengolodh chuckled softly. "She may do just that," he agreed. "I suppose we'll find out, if you do have the opportunity to visit again."

It was a long walk back to the palace, but the sun was beginning to lower ever so slightly in the sky, and the hottest part of the day was past, which made it more bearable for those who had not been raised in the desert. Despite that, the sun was still very high when they finally arrived.

It seemed that their arrival had been expected. Lalwen, Amora's youngest child, was waiting for the three of them just inside the castle gate. She had washed and changed her clothes since lunch, and her still-wet hair was braided down her back.

"Welcome back," she greeted the three of them with a warm but shy smile. "Uncle Pengolodh, Grandmother asked me to let you know that she wishes to speak with you again before you return home for the evening."

"I'm certain we will, if you have the opportunity to return here," Pengolodh replied warmly. "It was wonderful to meet you, and you as well, Long. I wish you a safe trip home, both of you."

And with that, he headed off in search of his mother.

Lalwen turned to the two men and smiled softly.

"Are you returning home?" she asked them, brushing away a stray tendril of hair from her face. "Or did you wish to see anyone else before you left?"

After all, she had no idea where her uncle had been taking them.

"Should what?" Lalwen asked, tilting her head and smiling teasingly at Daemon the way her father always did to her when she answered a question ambiguously. "Return home or visit with someone else?"

Her dark eyes sparkled with amusement, though her tone remained as soft as when she had first greeted them.

"All right, then," Lalwen giggled softly. "I'll take you back to the portal."

She started leading them down the corridor, walking slowly enough that she could walk beside them instead of in front of them. Conversation was easier that way.

"Did you enjoy your visit to our city?" she asked the two of them softly, smiling gently at them. "If I'm not mistaken, it was your first time here."

At least in person.

Lalwen grinned smugly at Daemon. "Perhaps a bit warmer than you're accustomed to?" she teased him.

She was young, she was inexperienced, and her Sight was weak at best, but some things were just plain common sense.

Lalwen smiled softly. "I'm sure I would feel the same about the cold in your home," she assured them. "Don't let it bother you too much. Would you like something cold to drink before you go? It is cooler in the tunnels, of course, but it is also a bit of a walk."

She was certain they would remember - they had taken that walk just that morning after all - but it really was just a matter of being polite.

Lalwen smiled warmly at the two. "This way then," she said graciously, taking them to the right when they reached an intersection in the corridor.

The dining hall was in this corridor, but she bypassed it and headed directly to the kitchen, which had a small door just around the next corner. It was a bustling, busy place, despite the fact that dinner for the royal family would not be for several more hours; and even though it was so busy, only a few seconds had passed after Lalwen opened the door that one of the servants approached, bowing and smiling widely.

"Good afternoon, Princess Lalwen," he greeted her respectfully. "How may I serve you?"

Lalwen returned the smile. "Some water for our guests, Sol," she said politely.

With another bow, the man went off to fetch the requested drinks.

Lalwen was listening to the conversation, her head politely turned away, as she was not a part of it, but when Long made the comment about Daemon being burnt, she blinked and could not help but turn to inspect him.

"Oh, dear," she murmured softly, her brow furrowing slightly, "he's right ... your face, Daemon ... if you would like, we do have a salve we can put on it."