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Vergil climbed up onto the table and tried to grab some food off Arahad's plate, but Arahad pushed him aside, grinning.

Haradhel and Elrohir looked at Aurin in alarm. "Is everything all right?" Elrohir asked worriedly. "Did something happen?"

"No, no," Aurin assured them, "there is nothing to worry about. Everyone is fine. Rhea is just homesick for her family, that is all."

And her family included Cindy - after all, Cindy had tutored her for probably thirty five years.

"But it's Arahad!" Vergil protested, grinning.

Arahad chuckled. "It's fine, Cindy. He tries every time he comes." Sure it was rare that he was there, but he did try every time. It had become a game for them.

Haradhel eyed her son, but she smiled at Cindy. "Well then you'll have to say hello for all of us," she told her.

"We'll have to see if we can't find some sort of gift," Ahren grinned. "It's a big thing, after all - having your first child. Especially when it's twins!"

Aurin laughed. "Well, we are indeed excited," he agreed.

Haradhel held up one finger. "Wait right there, I know just what you need," she told him; and without waiting, she left the room.

It wasn't long before Haradhel was back, with four soft and fluffy blankets folded in her arms. They were fleece, and smaller than regular blankets, and she held them up one by one to show Aurin.

"I made these in hopes of saving them for grandchildren," Haradhel smiled, holding up a white blanket with red roses on it, "but since who knows when that's going to be happening," she went on, holding up a blue blanket with white roses, "you should have them, since you have two of your own." She held up a third blanket, this one white with blue-hilted swords, and then the fourth, which was green with brown and black horses on it.

Arahad rolled his eyes. "I know you're counting on me for that, Mother," he told her, "but I told you. There just aren't any girls around here. Literally."

Ahren and Shiara exchanged a glance, and Shiara lowered her eyes as Ahren took her hand. Essentially, the two were married, they shared a bed and everything; but she was still so mentally scarred by her captivity that there were no physical relations between them, and Ahren was certain it would be a long while. Not that he minded.

Arahad chuckled. "Maybe someday. Right now I'm happy where I am. Besides, it's not like there's a rush, right? I'll find someone someday."

"I didn't have to travel to find my wife," Aurin grinned as he helped Haradhel fold the blankets once more. "She came to me."

"See? There you go!" Arahad laughed. "I can just wait around and someday she'll fall right into my lap!"

"Yes," Aurin replied, his eyes twinkling brightly, "but the point is that I did not have to travel. I just had to wait twelve thousand years."

Elrohir was astonished. "So long?" he asked. "I would never have thought it."

Haradhel laughed. "Come now, you do know the ages of most of our employees, don't you?" she grinned at him. "There is no way to tell someone's age just by looking at them." She looked back at Aurin. "I hope you find these blankets useful," she told him sincerely.

Aurin smiled warmly and bowed his head. "I am certain we shall," he replied. "Thank you very much."

"Oh, we'll help out with that, too," Haradhel smiled warmly at Cindy. "Everything will be well taken care of, dno't you worry about a thing. When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow!" Vergil beamed. "And we're going to fly on the roc! And I get to go with too!"

Arahad laughed. "You?" he grinned, poking at Vergil's stomach. "You better make sure you're tied on tightly, or you're going to fly on your own!"

"I can imagine," Haradhel smiled. "At least it will be quicker than our trip here was. When Elrohir and I were first married and came out here, I mean," she added. "It was several weeks of travel on horseback." She turned to Aurin. "How long will it take you to get back there?"

"Five days," Aurin replied. "That is if we do not stop, which we probably will not have to. As long as we have food and water to keep us for five days, we will be fine."

Aurin smiled and nodded. "Yes. And perhaps we should return to the valley, Shael and Adonai will be waiting for us, I'm sure. And we should rest while we can ... the next week is going to be quite demanding."

"Already?" Vergil cried. "We just got here!"