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Arahad continued to laugh at the two mermaids. "Yeah, you're that funny!" he assured them, poking at Feng's arm. "But Mama says I laugh at too much things so maybe it's just that." And he giggled again.

Beren smiled warmly and relaxed, returning the queen's embrace.

After a moment, Atalya released him and stretched one hand out to Serenity as well. "And now both of you are not only back together," she smiled through tears, "but back here as well. The entire family together ... for the first time ever."

Serenity's eyes were troubled. "But not Riordan," she said softly.

Atalya's eyes clouded, and her tears dried slightly. "No," she agreed in a murmur. "Not Riordan. The fool." She shook her head sadly.

Beren shuffled his feet awkwardly, then attempted to alleviate the sadness. "What about Amalthea?" he asked brightly. "Is she coming? And Eregon?"

Atalya brightened immediately. "Amalthea is, yes, and her son, but Eregon cannot leave his kingdom. They should be arriving in a few days, I would imagine."

"Who's Amalthea?" Lin couldn't help but ask.

She thought she knew everyone in the family, though hearing of a kingdom did clue her in a bit. Lin thought she had heard something about it, but wasn't so sure.

Feng shook her head, some of her long hair falling over one shoulder. There was a sort of soft light to her eyes, perhaps because she thought of life a bit differently than others, and she had a whole view on laughing and joy.

"There are not so nice laughs out there, laughs that are done by force, or done because someone is being mean. A really nice laugh you can hear that person being happy or delighted. Those are very nice laughs."

Arahad thought about it for a moment, then grinned and nodded, still pulling on the tip of one ear. "Okay," he agreed, "I guess that works. Then that means you have a nice laugh, too, because you laugh because something's funny or because you're just happy, and you're not being mean or anything. Right?"

He liked the sound of that.

Beren looked at Serenity thoughtfully, a habit that stuck even though the queen was more likely to know. "What was it, Elessar? Eless ..."

Serenity giggled. "Ander," she corrected him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ander. Elessedil is their family name."

Beren flushed with embarrassment. "Right," he chuckled softly. "I knew that."

The queen smiled, her tears finally drying. "And I've asked Ander to bring his daughter," she added softly. "I believe she's close to Daeron's age."

"Wow... this is like a clan gathering..." Lin murmured thoughtfully.

She had to think about it, Amalthea was Atalya's daughter who had a son... which would make him Atalya's grandson.... who had a daughter, which would make her Atalya's great-granddaughter. Having that figured out, she understood better now.

It also occured to Lin while thinking about this, that she knew very little about the Westlanders... even though she spent a great deal of time around them back in the Borderlands. She added this to the list of places to travel, maybe their captial city.

"Can't wait to meet everyone," she grinned.

"Is that so?" Feng looked up at Haradhel with a grin.

She couldn't help it, there was something funny in that. He must really look up to his mother, she thought to herself.

Serenity smiled at Lin. "No," she agreed, shaking her head in amusement, "you weren't. Of all the things that have happened to me in my life ... and that's the time I faint."

Beren raised one eyebrow. "That's a first ... but you were always stronger than most ... and if what I'm piecing together from Lin's comments is correct ..."

His face screwed up into a thoughtful look, as if he were trying to puzzle through something. "That would have been quite a shock."

Atalya smiled. "It appears we all have stories to tell. But let me greet the rest of Elrohir's family, and then we can go and talk. We will have to have a room made up for you ... we do not have one prepared yet."

Arahad nodded seriously at Feng. "Papa says the most important thing to know, is how to say 'yes Mama' except he says 'yes dear' instead."

Haradhel looked at Feng, her expression one of complete innocence.

Lin nodded, "Right," she stepped aside and looked to see what everyone else was doing.

She knew Arwen already had her hug, but she wanted to see what Ahren was up to. She liked spending time with Ahren, even though she had growing up spent more time with Adan. Then there was Arahad, whom she didn't know what to make of quite yet.