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"Very," Ahren smiled, squeezing Shiara's hand tightly. "I have to be honest, it was quite violent and there were many deaths on both sides - no one from us, fortunately - but there were a great number of dwarfs who were against the slavery from the start. They have been moved now, closer to the Eastland, and now Lothiriel and Estel are in charge of them, though they also receive men from both the Westland and Southland to help with it."

"That is not all of it, Ahren," Shiara said softly, looking up at him and frowning. "Tell her the rest."

"Nothing bad," Ahren assured Lin, putting one hand on Shiara's shoulder. "It seems very peaceful now, but we're just in a lull. The calm before the storm, as some might say. There are troops in the south, scouting out the human Southland. Though we did rescue about one hundred and fifty children and young adult elves from the dwarfs, we fear there are many more down there instead."

"When I was there, I heard talk," Shiara spoke up, her voice shaking slightly. "They always told me that I was one of the lucky ones ... that I was with them instead of with the humans. The humans had many more of us, and treated them much worse ..."

"Perhaps not as permanent slaves," Ahren said darkly. "They would likely ... dispose of them once they grew up."

He scowled. "But they do have elven slaves, and the reason they have gotten away with it for so long is simply because we have been focusing on the dwarfs. I agree it was necessary, but now we must turn our eyes south, rather than north. We have won the battle, but the war is yet before us."

"We're going to try to avoid it," Ahren said quietly, "but it may not be possible. We're hoping that their king can be reasoned with. If, on the other hand it turns out that he is in league with them, or supporting them, or has a notion of stopping us from doing anything about it ... then I'm afraid it will indeed be war."

Hopefully not a great war, there had been too many of those already: but a war nonetheless.

"That wasn't nice," Earendil laughed as he came into the room. He knelt down and tickled Miyuki's sides. "Let it go!" he grinned.

Shiara giggled, watching the three, though she made no move to join in. She liked watching people who could live so carefree, even if she couldn't bring herself to do so yet.

Haldia was right behind Earendil, and she peeked over his shoulder into the room. "I think Kelirahc and Leyenda are going to be a while," she told Lin, "are we going to wait for them or are we going to meet everyone else now? I am eager to meet this other one who knows our language ..."

SHe didn't mean to sound pushy or anything, but she felt a bit left out in the other room: not that it was intentional on the part of the others, but she simply wasn't family like they were.

Earendil grinned at Lin, poking Miyuki on the nose. "I have to admit, I'm looking forward to finally meeting him," he admitted. "You've told me so much about him ... well, not everything," he grinned, winking at her. "But enough to make me curious."

"So that's a yes?" Haldia asked, arching one eyebrow. She had understood him, even if she couldn't reply in the same tongue.

"We'll see you later," Ahren nodded. "We'll probably talk with Leyenda and her family for a while. If there's not as many people in there now, it's better." He glanced down at Shiara, who blushed slightly.

"I think that would be fine," she murmured, rising to her feet.

"Off we go then," Earendil grinned, picking up Miyuki and tossing her lightly before catching her again. "Come on, you."