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"Why don't you lower your bow, and we can talk," Elrohir suggested, lowering his sword slowly. "Clearly there's been some sort of misunderstanding here. I think we can work it out, we're all civilized people."

The man stared at them for a few moments, then with a short nod, he lowered his bow and returned his arrow to the quiver on his back. "Very well."

He spoke over his shoulder, and the other person stepped out from behind the tree. It was a woman, and in her arms she clutched an infant close. She didn't speak, but stepped close to the man as if using him as a shield.

"Lead on," the man said shortly.

Earendil held Lin close as they started back, and he couldn't help but watch the couple with the infant curiously as they headed towards the house. Who were they? Where had they come from? It was clear that they were indeed a couple - the man had his arm around the woman and child protectively, closer than even a brother would dare.

"You're just in time to join us for dinner," Elrohir spoke up, trying to get the people to relax a bit. "You will join us, won't you? My wife and daughter-in-law prepared it special, since we have other guests joining us tonight."

Haradhel, Shiara and Ahren had all sat down to eat as well. There was no point in worrying until she knew what was going on: after all, everyone on the ranch was a well-trained fighter - even Shiara by this time. They would be fine, she was certain.

When the door opened, Haradhel jumped to her feet to find out what had happened. "Elrohir," she called out, heading to the door.

Earendil and Lin had been the ones to step inside first, followed by the unknown couple, and Elrohir brought up the rear - Elberon had headed back to his quarters for the night.

Elrohir smiled faintly at his wife. "We have some more company for dinner," he told her gently but firmly. "If you wouldn't mind setting a few more places ..."

Her eyes filled with confusion, Haradhel turned to do as her husband had asked.

Earendil hugged Miyuki, feeling a rush of relief, though he couldn't quite explain why.

"We're back," he murmured. He straightened again and smiled down at her. "Now come, let's go eat dinner. And we're going to speak Common Elvish now, all right? That's what our guests speak, just like your friends in Amon Darthir."

He headed to the dining room with her and Lin.

The newly arrived couple exchanged a glance and followed after them.

As everyone settled into their seats, the newly arrived man watched Elrohir and Earendil suspiciously while the woman looked around anxiously, almost nervously, all the while clutching the infant close. The infant was sleeping, it seemed, which explained why it had been silent so far. Both of the adults looked weary, a bit ragged, as if they had been traveling for a long while.

"Allow me to introduce everyone here," Elrohir smiled, setting his sword aside. "My name is Elrohir, and I live here with my family. My wife, Haradhel, met us at the door, and here is my son, Ahren, and my daughter in law, Shiara. And this is my nephew, Earendil, and his wife, Lin, and their daughter, Miyuki."

The man nodded at each introduction, his face expressionless even when Lin was introduced as Earendil's wife and Miyuki as their daughter.

"My name is Aric," he said quietly. "My wife is Leilani, and this is our son, Remiel." After a pause, he asked, "How long has this operation been here?"

Elrohir nodded. "Sixty two years come spring," he clarified. "There used to be a problem with humans and dwarfs stealing children from the various elven cities and taking them north to be their slaves, so the ranch was founded to stop them. It took half a century, but we did it, and now we're just functioning as a ranch."

The man nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on Elrohir. "And is this the only area that has been developed like this?" he asked slowly. "Are you the only ones in the area?"

At the mention of Ulani and Ulrich's names, the woman's eyes lit up brightly, and she grabbed at her husband's arm excitedly. "They are here!" she exclaimed. "I told you that they would still be here! Just as they said they would be!"

Aric blinked. "Children and grandchildren and greatgrandchildren?" he repeated. His eyes filled with awe, and he looked over at his wife. "All right, all right, so you did," he murmured. He smiled for the first time. "So it was worth the trip."

Leilani giggled and turned to the others, her eyes bright. "Ulrich is my brother," she told them warmly. "In all the years that we lived out here, nothing ever changed. When we saw the ranch here, we wanted to check it out before moving on - that was when you came after us."

"That's quite relieving to hear," Aric murmured, smiling softly at his wife. "Anything could happen in three thousand years."

"That was the last time we saw my brother and his family," Leilani spoke up. "We're thankful that they're still alive and still here."

"Though it makes me curious to know what else has happened in our absence," Aric said with a gentle smile. "The world is much changed from what it once was. When we were children, we Westlanders never even knew about the Dark Elves ... now there is one upon the throne of our land."

"My father's sister," Elrohir grinned.

Aric and Leilani blinked at him in surprise. "You are also of the Aldrich family?"