Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Is Celeb still there?" Leyenda asked urgently. "What's going on now?"

If Earendil had asked her to keep an eye on Miyuki, she assumed that meant that they should stay here, but she didn't want to. She wanted to go see her brother and her husband and make sure they were all right.

Meanwhile, Earendil and Lin had reached the fires of the elders, and Earendil was looking around for Alaundil. As the head of the elders, she should be around somewhere ...

He spotted her talking with one of the villagers, and headed over to her. "Alaundil?" he said when he was close enough.

Alaundil smiled at the person she was talking to, then turned to Earendil and Lin. "Yes?"

"Incident?" Alaundil repeated, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. She touched two fingers to the mark on her shoulder, and a phoenix appeared. It flapped in place for a moment, then took to the air, going ahead of them to where Kelirahc and Cald were waiting.

"Tell me what happened," she said firmly, starting forward, clearly expecting them to follow.

Leyenda nodded slowly. Celeb was being looked after, and she wasn't able to go check on Kelirahc. There was nothing she could do for the moment.

She looked down at the children and sighed. "Come," she murmured, herding them along in front of her as she headed towards the rest of the villagers. "Let's see about getting you something to eat. There's nothing else for us to do right now."

Alaundil listened without interruption, never questioning, never doubting what Lin was telling her. Earendil had nothing to add: Lin was quite thorough.

When they once again reached the clearing, Kelirahc was watching over Cald and his dragon. The dragon had looped itself into a circle, and in the middle of its body was Cald, who had enough space to pace a bit, but not enough to get speed to climb or jump over the dragon. Alaundil's phoenix was also there, hovering just above Cald, watching over him as well.

When Alaundil came into the clearing, however, Kelirahc made his dragon vanish, leaving Cald unshielded in front of Alaundil.

The phoenix flew to Alaundil and perched on her shoulder. Its flaming body did not bother her, and Earendil wondered if it was even true flame.

"Cald," she said sternly, "is what they have told me true?"

Cald looked uneasy. "What did they tell you?" he asked in reply.

Once more, Earendil went through the explanation, just as Lin had done, leaving nothing out, adding nothing new.

Once Earendil had finished summing up, Alaundil looked at Cald once more and waited expectantly.

Cald nodded, but then he lifted his chin defiantly. "He would not follow the way of our people," he told Alaundil haughtily. "What there is, is for all to share."

"Foolish boy." Alaundil shook her head in disappointment. "That is not what we are about. Here on this island, yes, we are blessed with resources, and so we have no need to hoard, there is every reason to share ... but first and foremost, Cald, the way of our people is respect. Respect of persons. That is what sets us apart, Cald. And what meager belongings we do have, we also respect. You would not take the hut of another, Cald, nor their clothes, nor their hunting supplies, not without their permission. In your many long years, you have yet to learn ... respect of persons is the most important quality in anyone."

Cald's golden eyes flashed with anger in the light of the moon. "And what of him?" he quipped. "He was the one who dealt the first blow!"

"The first physical blow," Alaundil replied calmly, "but hardly the first blow of all. Do not shift the blame, Cald, for here it is all your own. Now come. You must come before the elders and receive your punishment."

Her phoenix took flight and went behind Cald as if ushering him forward, and Cald and Alaundil headed back towards the village.

Earendil nodded and took Lin's hand, holding her close as they started back towards the village as well.

Kelirahc walked with them. "I always knew Cald wanted Haldia," he murmured as they walked. "But I never imagined he would go this far. With anyone."

Kelirahc nodded. "Yes, I heard some rumours when Leyenda and I were waiting for you in the village," he acknowledged. "Apparently it started when she returned from her trip. I am told that the reason it never happened when I still lived here was because everyone expected that I would be the one to marry her, and they did not dare to interfere."

He smiled faintly at Lin. "But now I have no hesitation in asking her to leave again, and stay away. By her own admission, she is willing to leave. If she had not returned home and experienced this, I do not think she would have."

"So do I," Kelirahc murmured sadly as they reached the village again. "I always had such fond memories of this place ... it was home. It is where I grew up. Where my friends are. People who raised me as their own son. I do not want memories such as these to mar it."

Earendil reached over and put one hand on Kelirahc's shoulder comforting. "Don't you worry," he grinned. "The rest of the visit will be good. I'm sure of it."

Kelirahc smiled. "Thank you. Yes, I am certain that you are correct." He looked around. "Now. Where are Leyenda and Amalirahc?"