Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Humans are a stubborn race, Lin," Earendil said quietly. "At least, in our world they are. If there is a war, it will be because talks have not helped."

"This has simply been going on for too long," Arthael nodded her agreement. "For over one hundred years now, children have been going missing, and many of them will have been killed, and those who were rescued will never be the same."

"But it wouldn't be a war like the Great Wars would it?" Earendil asked her.

Arthael smiled and shook her head. "Probably more of an invasion type war. We go in, take what is ours, and kill only those who fight back. Of course, it wouldn't quite be an invasion ... at least, not for the sake of the land."

Earendil put one hand on Lin's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "We try not to kill when we don't have to," he smiled at her. "Don't you worry."

Arthael looked down at Miyuki and smiled. "So this is your daughter?" she said lightly, changing the subject. "She's adorable."

Arthael chuckled softly. "Word was out last night already about her, I'm sure the whole ranch knows, and the valley as well. Everyone's anxious to meet her. And I'm not sure if anyone at all was surprised."

Earendil smiled and watched silently. He had been surprised ... surprised and shocked, and for more reasons than he had let on. Still, he was glad of Miyuki. She was adorable, and now that Earendil was over his surprise he was quite comfortable with the idea of Lin having a daughter. Adopted daughter.

"Believe it or not, yes," Arthael replied, perfectly serious. "What happened with Aerin? All we know is that she came in crying last night, and Caranthir stayed with her until she fell asleep."

Earendil blinked. Crying? Well that would explain why she hadn't been able to prevent herself from falling asleep, but still ...

Arthael nodded thoughtfully, taking a seat and motioning for Earendil and Lin to make themselves comfortable in the living room. "Well ... I can see that being emotional," she admitted thoughtfully, "but personally I would imagine it to be more of a ... happy emotion. She seemed very distressed though. I can't pretend to understand that."

Earendil sat down on the couch. "Perhaps you don't need to," he suggested softly. "When it comes down to it, the details aren't what matter. Even we're in the dark on this one. But even if you were just to speak with her, and let her know that you are supporting her, even without knowing the details, that may help her in itself."

"Oh, but Caranthir requested that she be left alone until tomorrow," Earendil added quickly. "She's sleeping for the first time in ..." He looked over at Lin. "How long?"

Just about since she had come to this land, wasn't? Close to four hundred years, or three hundred and fifty or so?

Arthael's brow furrowed. "If she's been using the elven sleep for so long, would she even be awake tomorrow?" she asked. "Usually it requires that whomever uses it, once they do sleep, they must sleep for the same amount of time that they were awake before they will be free of it ..."

"Caranthir didn't seem worried," Earendil remarked, "though that was also my understanding of it, yes. But perhaps she knows of a way to bypass that? Or perhaps she wasn't using the elven sleep at all. There are methods of remaining awake that resemble elven sleep, but aren't, and that don't require the same sacrifice."

Arthael's eye narrowed as she looked at him. "I have never heard of any such method." And she was older than him, it stood to reason that she should know.

"Are you sure?" the prince challenged her. "You know that when we sleep with our eyes open, we function as if we were awake, but we are actually asleep, resting, regenerating. Perhaps that is what she was doing. And that is only one possibility. Who knows?"

Arthael nodded again. "Then we shall see what comes of it, and see what condition she is in tomorrow," she decided. Not that there was anything they could do about it, either way.

"We should let Celeborn know that she needs to be taken off the duty roster for a few days at least," she murmured. "Well, I'll do that later, then. Can't leave the fire."