Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil stood up after Lin and followed her over to Tinuviel.

"Good morning," Tinuviel smiled at the two of them. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to spend more time with the two of you. How have you been enjoying your visit back here?"

Earendil pulled out a chair for Lin. "We've been well."


Aranxia's eyes widened, and she shook her head slowly. "Of course," she murmured. "That makes sense. Why didn't I think of that?" She smiled. "I never want to ask them what they're doing. I don't want to interrupt them, they're always so busy ..."

Tinuviel pursed her lips thoughtfully. "It's been a while since we've needed that kind of tutor," she murmured. "And you want lessons for both Miyuki and Andarien, you say?"

Earendil nodded. "Yes. And I'm going to assume that's going to mean separate tutors."

"If you want them to learn before you leave for your trip, yes," Tinuviel confirmed. She sighed and rested her forehead in one hand, closing her eyes to think. "Now ... who could we find on such short notice ..."

She fell silent as she considered the thought.


Aranxia giggled softly. "There's a thought. They have been late for meals quite often. More often lately, to be honest. Honestly, if I didn't know now that Lancaeriel is looking for her husband, they might be giving people ideas."

After a few moments, Tinuviel raised her head and looked back at Lin and Earendil.

"Leave it to me for today," she requested, "and by tonight hopefully I'll have found someone for you. Is that all right?"

"Of course," Earendil assured his sister. "I know you're busy as it is. Even if you just think of some names and let us do the asking, that would be fantastic."

Tinuviel's eyes sparkled with amusement, and she laughed softly. "Oh, Earendil. You've always been like this, but now that you're married it's only gotten stronger. Stop being so considerate of everyone else or you'll never get anything!"


Aranxia stared at Miyuki. "You're joking, right?" she asked. She put one hand to her mouth to hold back a giggle. "I mean, they spend so much time together, missing meals and everything together, that if someone didn't know better, they might think that the two of them were romantically interested in each other!"

She cleared her throat to get rid of the giggle that was trying to burst out. "Sir Valdemar always treats everyone the same," she explained. "Respectful, no matter their station or rank. Polite. Honest. Helpful. But he always remains ... distant, if you know what I mean. He doesn't let you get close to him. But Lancaeriel ... it's different with the two of them. I don't know if you've noticed it, but he lets her take his arm sometimes, and he's always comforting her ... things he doesn't usually do with people."

Tinuviel smiled. "Don't worry about it. By the time you're back for dinner, I'll have news for you, one way or the other."

"Looks like today might be a busy day after all," Earendil chuckled.


Aranxia was quiet for a moment as she thought about that. She didn't know that Sir Valdemar and Lancaeriel had known each other for such a long time. She knew that Lancaeriel had been through a few reincarnations, and that she was quite old - but the fact that Sir Valdemar had introduced her to her husband the very first time was news to her.

"So they really go back," she mused. "That certainly explains a bit."

She paused, her dark eyes staring unseeingly into her plate. "I wonder ... but it's not my business."

Earendil blinked down at Lin. "Did I say something funny?" he asked her. He recognized that she was amused, but he didn't know what for.


Aranxia shook her head. "Yes ... well, I was just wondering about their history together ... I mean, beyond the fact that he introduced her to her husband, and that they've known each other for a long time. What sorts of things they did and all that. But it's not my business, so I really oughtn't ask."

"Oh, I do, do I?" Earendil grinned and tilted his head slightly, grinning at Lin playfully. "And if I try to do too much, whose fault is that for not stopping me? Hmm? As I recall, you do come with me on all of my tasks."

Tinuviel laughed again. "By the Valar, you and Daeron are two of a kind."


Aranxia's eyes glowed at the suggestion. "Then I shall do that during my lesson today, if Sir Valdemar is awake enough."

She looked over her shoulder to see if the historian would be arriving at breakfast yet, but no such luck.

Tinuviel rolled her eyes. "Have you not?" she asked in return. "Every day. I admit, Earendil doesn't do it as often as Daeron ... and Daeron is getting slightly better, I suppose ... and I do have to thank Iorlas. At least now when Daeron is ... how shall I put this delicately ... over dramatic, we know he's doing it in fun. Sometimes it's hard to see, but Iorlas always seems to know. As for Earendil ..."

She eyed her brother. "It's rare, yes, but there are times ..."


Aranxia shrugged one shoulder and finished off the last of her breakfast. "If not, they'll feed themselves eventually. If Sir Valdemar is late for lessons, though ... well, then I'll be worried about him."

She dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. "Whenever you're ready then, we can go to my room."

Tinuviel stared at Lin. "You see it in Daeron, but not in Earendil?" she questioned. She shook her head incredulously. "Lin, you really must get to know your husband better."

"Hypocrite," Earendil murmured under his breath, though he was clearly amused.

Tinuviel laughed again. "So there's a bit of our father in all of us," she grinned. "It keeps life interesting." She glanced down the table at her daughters. "At least they're more like Mother than Father. And Aranxia especially is like Aranel. Quiet, yes, but practical and very intelligent."


Aranxia nodded. "Sure. I'll wait here for you, then."

She leaned back in her chair and motioned for Miyuki to go ahead and talk to her parents.