Welcome to Gaia! ::

As they approached the courtyard, they could hear birds chirping, loudly enough that it had to be several of them.

"Sounds like a lovely time for a walk," Iorlas murmured softly.

"It does," Daeron grinned. "Let's see who's out there."

When they stepped outside, a flock of colourful birds took flight, leaving behind a shower of feathers. Aranxia had been standing in the middle of them all, and the wind from their wingbeats ruffled her dark hair as they vanished into the bright sky. There was a paintbrush in her hand, and an easel behind her, and as she turned to see what had startled the birds she was careful to make sure that neither item touched the other.

"Oh, Nana-tol," she smiled, her dark eyes bright. She was clearly not too annoyed by the fact that the birds were gone. "Hello, everyone. Isn't it a beautiful day?"

A light blush sprinkled across Aranxia's cheeks, and she nodded and turned back to her painting.

"Well ... sort of," she murmured. "You're welcome to come and see."

Daeron and Iorlas took advantage of her invitation immediately, stepping forward to take a look.

Only the middle of the canvas had any colour on it. In the center of the canvas was Earendil and Lin, their arms linked, their backs to the viewers. They were walking through what was quite clearly the courtyard, and it was even possible to tell exactly where in the courtyard they were by the detail on the trees and flowers around them. Aranxia had been adding the birds in around them, almost like a border, and the rest of the canvas was blank.

But it was also clear now why Aranxia did not compare her skill with her grandmother's: while the details were very realistic, there was almost an ethereal look about it; as if rays of light were coming from the sky and bathing Earendil and Lin in a heavenly glow. Luthien filled her completely, and kept it very real rather than adding anything extra like that.

Aranxia blushed at Miyuki's praise, but she looked up from her easel and pointed further into the courtyard. "They should be by the stream somewhere," she replied softly. "That was where they were heading when I saw them."

Hence their position in the painting.

Aranxia smiled softly. "You've been gone quite a while," she reminded her cousin. "You were not here for lunch, and even that was a while ago. But they are still here. I've been this close to the door the entire afternoon so far, and no one else has come past here."

She giggled softly. "That's why the birds came. They always come when there's no real movement in the courtyard."

She eyed the Eevee in Miyuki's arms. "By the way, have you named your pet yet? Shiro told us that it had hatched, and that you'd grown."

Aranxia smiled. "I see. Well, be sure to let us know when you do choose, won't you? I think we're all curious as to what it's going to be called."

Daeron chuckled softly. "That's the same question you've been getting all day," he teased Miyuki. "Might want to name her soon so that people can stop asking."

"Don't rush her," Iorlas chided him. "Sometimes it takes a while to think of the right name."

"I'm sure you will," Aranxia said warmly. She turned back to her painting. "Don't feel that you have to go, but I'm going to finish my painting."

"Do you mind if I watch?" Iorlas asked.

Aranxia giggled. "Of course not, Nana-thel. But Nana-tol has to promise not to distract you."

"I'll be good," Daeron promised with a chuckle.

Earendil and Lin in the meanwhile were having some alone time whilst in the privacy of the courtyard. The trees and bushes made excellent walls, Earendil had found out long since, while the open air allowed for advance warning when other people might be approaching.

Which meant of course that by the time Miyuki found them, they were quite ready for her to find them.

"Well, look who finally showed up," Earendil chuckled in the Common Tongue when Miyuki came into view.