Welcome to Gaia! ::

Luk raised his eyebrows and shook his head slowly. "I'll take your word for it."

Earendil chuckled softly and turned back to Aerin. "At any rate, if he could have a room so that he could put his things away," he requested, "then I think he might like to talk to Rhea a bit. Or Shael and Adonai, we saw them, too."

Aerin smiled warmly. "Of course. Lady Alena, if you would ..."

Alena bowed her head respectfully. "Of course, Your Majesty. Luk, if you would follow me ..."

Earendil looked at Lin innocently. He hadn't been laughing at her, he had been amused by Luk; but now he was just amused at the look she was giving him. It was tempting to stick his tongue out at her, but now was neither the time nor the place, so he didn't.

"Come on," he grinned instead. "We should put our bags away so that we can take Luk to see Rhea as soon as he's ready."

Aerin nodded. "And Prince Earendil," she added, "after dinner, if you are not too tired, if we could perhaps talk for a while?"

Earendil smiled and bowed. "As you wish," he agreed.

Alena motioned towards the door. "Come, let us get you a room," she said to Luk.

Earendil reached for Lin's hand before following after the two.

"So Alena," Earendil asked as they walked, "did anything interesting happen while we were gone? I mean, other than Shael and Adonai and Cindy and Vergil coming."

Alena tilted her head slightly as she led them forward. "Well ... not a lot, I don't think," she replied softly. "The construction of the city is going very well, things have been running quite smoothly ..."

"It is true," Alena said warmly. "Lords Shea and Mikhail are some of the best leaders I have seen when it comes to construction. And their designs are such that with the same amount of rock with which we began, the people will have more space in their homes."

"It will be," Alena agreed. "And I believe that the people will be much happier. These past two years have been full of change for them, but it has all been change for the better, I believe. And it makes me feel better about leaving it in Her Majesty's and Rhea's hands."

Earendil blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ah, I had forgotten you did not know yet," Alena laughed. "While you were gone, we heard from Queen Lothiriel and King Estel. It took many days of discussions, but Elros and I will be returning with you, so that he can take his position as their Captain once more."

"Everything is fine," Alena assured Lin with a soft laugh. "Everything is fine. But it seems that while Elros was there, they grew quite used to having him there ... and now that he is gone, they find that things just are not the same."

She smiled. "Things will be just fine here. Rhea knows as much as I have ever known, and she is better equipped to deal with matters that will arise here. As for me ..." She shrugged. "If Queen Lothiriel desires my services as a counselor, I will be happy to serve her as well. And if not ... I have been doing this for twenty thousand years. I am ready to settle down and live my own life. Now that Elros and I are together again, we would like to start a family as well, and I would like very much if I could make that my focus."

Her smile softened. "I know I do not look it, Lin," she murmured softly, "but I am old. I grow weary ... and now that there is nothing more to fear from the former king, I find myself ... needing to rest. No more duties. No more work."

"I look forward to that," Alena said warmly, her eyes bright. "I hope you find occasion to visit often."

They arrived at last at an empty room that was right next to Earendil's room. "Here, Senator Luk," Alena said, stopping at the open door and motioning for him to go on in. "This will be your room. I hope it is to your liking. We were not expecting you, so it is not quite ready yet; but soon enough I'm certain that it will be prepared."

Luk stepped into the room and looked around. It was as large as Lin's and Earendil's rooms, just as furnished, and it was clean.

"It looks more than ready for me, my lady," he replied. "But thank you."