Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Oh, they're both doing fine - now," Haradhel replied with a smile. "Luk is enjoying himself, and getting to know his nieces and nephew ... and of course his sister. Arthael ... she had a time of it. You know how attitudes are here. At least, in the main places where elves live. She grew up with the firm belief that intermarriages are wrong ... and then she found out that she's the product of one. So that was hard for her. But no one here has treated her any differently because of it, so that I think helped her to accept it. That, and the fact that Luk really is a good guy, and he's been telling her about her parents."

"You might try the stables," Haradhel suggested. "Aethos has been taking riding lessons, they might be there."

Even though it was difficult to ride in the snow, the stable was more than large enough for riding inside. They had a whole arena in there after all - for training, riding, and even the odd show that some people liked to put on once in a while.

"See you," the others replied, as Lin and Miyuki left.

The stables had been expanded since the last time Lin and Miyuki had been there, and they were now almost double the size. The paddock had been moved and expanded as well, though it was difficult to tell with all the snow that covered even the fences.

Inside, the new space had been made into a new arena, while the old space had been converted into new stalls. There were simply that many horses now, despite sales. Around the arena was a walled off area, like bleachers, where others could sit and watch what was going on. Elberon was teaching Aethos to ride, and Earendil was sitting on the far side with Elros and Alena - who was holding a fire-haired baby in her arms.

Earendil's eyes lit up brightly when he saw Lin and Miyuki approaching him, and he stood up quickly and spread his arms wide.

"Miyuki!" he exclaimed, just as excited to see her as she was to see him. "You made it! I was starting to wonder how long you would be gone!"

He chuckled softly and hugged Miyuki tightly. "Welcome back. Did you have a good trip?"

Earendil sat down again and set Miyuki on the bench beside him. "For me?" he asked, grinning. He held it in one hand and held it up for inspection, though in the stable's dim interior it was hard to see all the details. He tilted his head slightly.

"What is it?" he asked, turning it around to inspect it.

Earendil chuckled. "I'll have to try it out once we head back inside then," he grinned. "I'd try it here and now, but I don't want to spook the horses."

He leaned across Miyuki and kissed Lin on the cheek. "Welcome back."

He hadn't greeted her yet, and he didn't want to pass up the opportunity.

Earendil grinned. "And Elros and Alena are hoping to come with us on our journey as well, at least as far as the Eastland. Truth be told I think they're hoping it will be our last stop. Maybe we should start with the Southland then? And then head to the Westland, Northland and then the Eastland?"

He didn't want to have to send Elros and Alena back before Alena could see how much the land had changed in the past several thousand years since she'd left, after all.

Earendil chuckled. "Yes, we will," he agreed. "And this is going to be as new for me as for you. The only one that's been to all these places before is Elros - and he's not saying much about any of it. Of course," he added, his grin growing wider, "he's been a bit distracted of late."

He nodded to where Elros and Alena were still watching Aethos and Elberon, the fire-haired baby in Alena's arms.