Welcome to Gaia! ::

Amora giggled. "Mother does look very much like my grandmother," she affirmed, "and I know I look a lot like Mother. Father says it's the curly hair."

She wrapped a ringlet around one finger, then pulled it down until it sprung back up again. "I don't know. Hair is hair. I icani see other similarities, but ..."

She mused over the other facts Lin had told her. "So ... my cousin Celebor is living there with his family now ... well, I suppose he's not quite my cousin, is he?" She laughed softly. "Very well, then, second cousin. And Great-Uncle Elrohir ... and then several very distant relatives ..."

As they approached the gate to the second courtyard, she appeared deep in thought.

"Oh?"

Amora looked curiously at Lin as they entered the castle at last. The moment they were indoors, she reached up and pulled down the scarf that was over her head, letting it rest against her back instead.

"What do you mean?"

Amora shook her head slowly. "So much in so little time," she murmured. "If not for that time difference, I would love to visit your world ... to learn about your world ..."

She paused, then added, "But I can see your point. About not being able to see it being just the two of them. I suppose it's all what you're used to, but even with me being five years older than Pengolodh I still can't imagine not having him around."

She led them towards a set of stairs, where they would have to go up one flight.

It was a lot of twists and turns, but the two girls finally made it to Amora's bedchamber to wash up and change their clothes before they then were able to head to the dining room - all told, by the time they got there, they were beyond late.

"You're in trouble now!" was the greeting they got from Pengolodh when they finally made it to the dining room. "Two whole hours late! You're lucky I didn't starve to death!"

"Pengolodh," Estel said sharply, frowning at his son. "Enough. You've eaten, don't bother the girls."

Pengolodh was not placated. He was clearly quite annoyed with having to wait around for them to return.

"I'm sorry, Father," Amora said softly, lowering her head slightly. "Lin ordered a custom piece from Lanaea, and you know how she is ..."

Lothiriel, who was sitting next to Estel and cradling their youngest son in her arms, laughed softly. "We do," she smiled. "Don't worry about it. Come, sit, you must be hungry."

Lothiriel smiled at Lin. "Don't worry about it," she said firmly. "Lanaea enjoys her work more than anyone I know, and if you ordered a custom piece from her then I'm sure she took quite a long time to make sure all of the details were perfect."

She giggled softly. "The final product will be better than you imagined, I promise you that. I know of no one in the Four Lands who can equal her skill, even Ulrich."

Amora looked around as she moved to take her seat. "Where is Elia?" she asked curiously.

"Bed," her father replied. He glanced sidewise at Pengolodh. "And you should be heading there too."

Pengolodh folded his arms across his chest. "Not til you and Mother come," he said firmly.

Amora leaned closer to Lin. "He has trouble sleeping if Mother and Father don't both tuck him in," she confided quietly in English. "He hasn't been sleeping well for a few days, since Mother's been in bedrest, but it's logical that now that she's up and about a bit, he'll want her to tuck him in as well."

Age after all had nothing to do with sleeping abilities - it was a personality thing. Everyone just hoped that he would grow out of it someday.

"You still need a bath before bed," Lothiriel told Pengolodh firmly. "Go. We will be there soon enough."

Without any further protest, Pengolodh bowed his head respectfully, then rose from his chair and left the room.

"So, Lin," Estel said brightly, looking at her now that Pengolodh was gone, "why don't you tell us what you think of our fair city?"