Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil smiled and leaned against the back of the bench. He put one arm around Lin's shoulders, holding her close, and with his other hand he brushed Miyuki's hair away from her forehead.

"It's a long way up, isn't it?" he murmured softly. "Nearly as high as Amon Darthir, I'm sure, but straight up instead of a hill."

Earendil grinned. "I have to admit, my legs are a bit more tired than usual, but I'll just have to remedy that by coming up here every day again after you've returned to Gaia."

He felt out of shape - which was a strange feeling for him.

Earendil smiled faintly and brushed Miyuki's hair away from her face.

"I really can't," he murmured softly. "I'm sorry. If I were to leave here, I would be missing so much time in my own world ... years, possibly."

He swallowed. When he stayed behind, he missed them for those years, just as his family would have missed him. Either way, someone was going to miss someone. Perhaps in the future he would go with them sometime ... but for now, he needed them to go alone.

"Maybe someday," he smiled.

"Someday," Earendil smiled again. He patted Miyuki on the head. "So. All rested up? Ready to go meet your great-uncle? And you can see where I trained when I was younger! Even your mommy trained here a few times."

"Then off we go," Earendil chuckled, putting one hand on Miyuki's shoulder to steady her. "Easy now, the air's a bit thinner up here."

Sure they were used to it from flying, but when they were flying they weren't exerting themselves.

He led them down the path that led to the training facility. There were trainees in the middle of a workout, but it wasn't a formal lesson, and Eldrin was observing only.

He grinned when he saw the three of them. "Earendil!" he beamed. "It's about time you came to see me again! I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten about me!"

Eldrin grinned. "Lin, it's been forever since I've seen you. You've grown into a lovely young woman. And this ..."

He knelt down next to Miyuki, his brown eyes warm. "This must be Miyuki. I've heard quite a bit about you, you're very special you know."

"Of course you are," Eldrin beamed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You're my grand-niece! And to my reckoning, that makes you very special."

Earendil chuckled. "Miyuki, this is my uncle Eldrin, your great-uncle. He is my mother's brother."

"Well, I suppose that depends on what language you want to use," Eldrin grinned. "In High Elven, you would say nako-tol, or you could just call me uncle."

Earendil smiled at Miyuki. "It's up to you," he told her.