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Elrohir couldn't help but chuckle, overhearing Lin's comment about Celebor and Ruel.

"You know, if that does end up happening, I'd love to be there to see it," he grinned at the others - but before anyone oculd respond, the door opened and a guard appeared. Whereas normally he would have asked to know their business or announce them to the queen, he simply smiled and stepped to the side, now used to members of the family (and the Winters family) who would come and go at any given time.

"Hello, Nako!" Elrohir called out, stepping into the queen's study.

She was, as usual, seated behind her desk, but hearing Elrohir's voice, she rose to her feet, her eyes and her smile bright.

"Welcome back!" she said warmly, arms outstretched. "Come in, come in - I want to see you all!"

Serenity and Beren held back a bit so that Elrohir and Haradhel and their family could enter first. Serenity of course was still feeling uneasy (a feeling that had only grown as they had walked through the corridor, considering the looks she was getting from the guards), and Beren, though he was glad to be home (in a manner of speaking) knew how awkward it would be both for him and for Serenity, and so he stayed back with her and didn't rush her.

Arwen of course was right up there with her father, while Ahren stood back a bit with Haradhel and Arahad. Haradhel had never gotten used to being in the same room as the queen, and still, after three decades, hadn't gotten over her training. She was holding Arahad back: the boy wanted to explore everywhere, and it was all she could do to keep him from running off. Ahren had simply calmed down as he had grown, and though he was eager to be there and meet his family as well, he had the patience to realize that not everyone could speak at the same time.

Elrohir was the most comfortable with the queen, and obviously knew her the best, and so it was he who first stepped forward to greet her, Arwen right on his heels.

"Nako," he said warmly, hugging her gently. "It's wonderful to see you again. I'm sorry we could not have come sooner."

Atalya laughed softly and hugged Elrohir tightly. "It has been far too long," she agreed, her dark eyes sparkling joyously, "but never mind that. You are home again, you made it safely. That is what matters the most."

She looked up, expecting to greet Haradhel next, and the wonder in her eyes was obvious when it was Arwen who bounded energetically over to her and just about pounced on her to give her a hug.

"Ninako!" the teen giggled, apparently not at all tired from the long journey.

Elrohir chuckled. "This is Arwen, our secondborn," he introduced her.

Arahad meanwhile seemed to be just noticing Feng, his attention focused for the first time since their arrival. "Hey, I know you, don't I?" he blinked up at her, poking at the phoenix on her leg. He was six years old now, and even though he had only been an infant when he had last seen her, he had vague memories of bouncing ... and fish.

Lin looked between the Queen and the older couple. She wondered if she should say anything? Well she supposed Atalya would find out soon enough, since Beren apparately looked a lot like he did in his past life. She figeted it a bit before going back over to Serenity and Beren.

"Coming?"

"But a lot of things are cute!" Feng mocked protested.

It wasn't her fault that she even thought Arahad was being very cute at this current moment.

Naida giggled at her mother's tone, "Silly Mommy, life is cute right? That's why everything is cute."

Well that was one way of putting things.

Arahad looked curiously at Naida. "I don't think I know you," he said in a puzzled tone. He looked up at Haradhel. "Do I know her?"

Haradhel shook her head. "No, Arahad, you don't," she affirmed. "We just met her today for the first time."

Arahad grinned. "Mkay, then I can remember that."

Serenity smiled nervously at Lin. "Well ... it's not as if we have much of a choice anymore," she murmured so softly her voice was barely audible. She slipped her hand into Beren's and squeezed it tightly.

Beren smiled at Serenity reassuringly and squeezed her hand in return, then turned his eyes to the queen and stepped forward bravely, pulling Serenity after him.

"Hello," he said softly to the queen once he was closer. "I hardly know what to call you ..." His eyes were tender, and he pulled Serenity close. "In my past life, you were my mother ... I am Beren now, and I have been born anew ... and I have been reunited with my wife and my children ... younger than them though I am ..."

His expression grew slightly anxious, and he looked at Atalya nervously. "I know I have no right to ask this ... but ... will you also accept me once more as the son that I once was?"

Lin looked up at the adults with a hopeful gleam in her eyes. She knew how hard this was for the both of them, so she really, really hoped things would go well. Besides she still liked Beren as much as she ever did, even if she wasn't prone to following him around.

"Aww.... we're not that funny are we?" Feng murmured putting a hand upon Arahad's head, "We just fine a lot of things fun or funny, or just happen to be happy a lot."

She smiled back at him not minding that he was laughing at all.

"Better to be happy than to be sad," Naida added, something she had learned from her mommy, which might explain why she was quite a bit like her mommy.