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Earendil nodded and looked around for her friends. "Looks like they're all sitting over by Leyenda and Kelirahc," he said, pointing them out to her.

River and Jess were still sitting where they had been before, still talking and laughing; Amalirahc was sitting next to them and just listening; and Jasta was sitting right beside Amalirahc, fast asleep with her head on his arm.

Earendil looked at Lin. "Shall we get Andarien from Shiro then? Or leave him here for now, since we wouldn't be able to get anyone to watch him in the room?"

"That's true," Earendil nodded. "Off we go, then."

Eregon took the lead, leading Earendil and Lin out of the banquet hall and down the corridor towards the stairs. They made their way quickly to the second level and headed to the door of the room where Elros and Alena were staying. He knocked on the door, and after a moment, Elros opened the door.

"Your Majesty," he greeted the king, bowing low. He straightened again. "May I be of service?"

"Perhaps," the king replied, "but I believe your wife is the one we need."

Elros blinked, confused and curious, but he opened the door wider and stepped aside. "Come in," he invited them.

Alena was bent over the cradle that Shiloh was using while they were there, just tucking the blanket around the little girl. Once Shiloh was tucked in, she moved silently to join the others by the door.

"She's just fallen asleep again," she whispered. "Please keep your voices down."

The king nodded. "Perhaps we should talk in the hall," he suggested quietly. "We need your expertise."

Alena exchanged a glance with her husband, then turned back to the king and nodded. "As you wish," she murmured.

"I'll stay with Shiloh," Elros assured her, and with a final bow to the king, he headed over to sit next to his daughter.

Alena joined the others out in the hallway and once the door was closed again, she turned to them expectantly. "Yes?"

Alena listened carefully to the story, not looking particularly surprised at any point, though she was quite interested. It had been a long time since she had heard of any such magic, let alone known of it being used.

"I can think of only one person who would have such capabilities," she said quietly, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "And I thought she had died even before Elros and I were separated. I mean, she could have been reborn, and if she recovered her memory of her first life ..."

She closed her eyes, trying to remember. Twenty five thousand years was a long time to recall something, after all.

"I wish I could see her and find out," Alena smiled. "She was one of the druids, who studied - for a time - at Altak-Bet Ainúl. She was different from many of the others, though ... instead of recklessly trying out more and more magic, trying to find what limits she could break, like the others, she concentrated on a single study at a time, making sure she understood something inside and out before she even ventured to try testing it. Only she ever tried to be safe in what she studied."

Eregon shifted his weight from one leg to the other, and Earendil took the cue.

"How does that pertain to the situation?" he asked, sparing the king from asking the question.

Alena lowered her eyes slightly. "I apologize, it really doesn't. Um. Anyway, she is the only one who would have enough knowledge to perform such a spell as you seem to be describing to me. I can't say for certain, since I didn't see what happened, but ... it seems to me that as long as Ioreth can keep her instincts curbed, she will be fine. But when she attempts to actually harm someone ... I would venture to guess that it's a rebound spell, that what she tries - not desires, but actually tries - to do to someone else ... happens to her instead."

"In this area, at least," Alena agreed in a soft murmur. "But you said that it was only thirty years ago that Ioreth and Iorlas were put under this spell - or collection of spells, which it sounds more like. If that kind of magic is being used so recently, then there must be some sort of trail for us to follow, to find out who it was."

She would love to find out as well, but she unfortunately would be unable to do her own investigation. She was married now (well she always had been but now her husband was with her), and she had a daughter, and they had an obligation to continue to the Eastland as quickly as they could so that Elros could resume his position, if they would take him.

Alena smiled sadly. "I know. Perhaps when we leave here, I will leave word with some of the people in the city, and if they see her they can direct her to the Eastland. It is the best that can be done in the situation."

She looked at the king. "Is there anything else you wished to know, Your Majesty?" she asked him.

Eregon looked at Lin. "Are you satisfied?" he asked her. She would know best how much information they needed, and what type.