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"Ah, I see," Elros smiled. "Is she like your sister, then? I mean, does she have the same ability, whatever it is?"

He couldn't think of any other reason why she wouldn't be able to return home like her daughter.

Serenity smiled as she approached the two of them, but her smile was hesitant, wavering.

"Hello, Lin," she greeted the child. "It's been a very long time ..."

Her brows furrowed in confusion, and she murmured, "A very long time ..." She looked around at everything around her. "What is all of this? Where did it come from?"

Then she turned back to look at the elf Lin was with and her face flushed slightly. "My apologies, sir ... my name is Serenity ... as I'm sure you could tell." She smiled at Lin again, then looked back at the elf. "And who might you be?"



Elros picked Lin up and tucked her into the crook of his arm, then stood and bowed his head politely to Serenity. "My name is Elros. This ranch is owned by this young one's father, Donovan ... though it appears that you already know him." He raised one eyebrow.

Serenity smiled at Lin. "Southland," she replied. "Visiting my son, Gion ... I don't think you've met him, though, have you?" She looked thoughtful.

"Lin tells me that you and your daughter have a unique ability," Elros ventured curiously. "May I inquire as to its nature? I've been around for a very long time, and there's little that I have not seen, yet Lin promises me that it's something that no one else can do."

Serenity looked sharply at Elros, then looked at Lin. "Just what have you been telling him?" she asked cautiously.

Serenity nodded, and a pained expression crossed her face. "Yes," she murmured softly, "she told me about that ..." She sighed, then glanced sharply up at Elros. "However, I've been deemed a demon by enough people, I don't need to be chased out of one of the last places I have sanctuary."

Elros blinked. "A demon?" he repeated. "I'm afraid I must confess that I can't see why anyone would think you were a demon, no matter your ability."

"Forgive me if I'm not very trusting," Serenity replied cautiously, "but I've been through too much, been betrayed by too many people."

Serenity blinked at Lin, then reached out to take her from Elros's arms.

"Did you say Elrohir?" she asked dumbly. "Elrohir ... is he ... no ... he's back at the palace ..."

Elros raised one eyebrow curiously. "Do you know my Lord?" he asked Serenity gently, looking at Lin (since he had a feeling Serenity was a little too shocked for some reason to be able to answer).

Serenity paled at Lin's words and hastily handed her back to Elros. "I think it would probably be a good idea if I left now," she stuttered, backing away slightly, "because however this goes down, it will not end well."

"Wait!" Elros said quickly, reaching out and grasping her wrist. "What's going on? Lord Elrohir is one of the best men I know, why are you afraid of him?"

Serenity stopped resisting then and stared at Lin blankly, caught between the emotions of fear and amusement and reflecting neither.

"What?"

Elros looked worried now. "Perhaps we should take you inside to see," he suggested softly. "I know Lady Haradhel always teases him about having been a jerk - her words, not mine - but he's honestly one of the most tolerant elves I know of ... and believe me, I've known many."

Serenity's stare turned towards Elros now. "Lady who?"

At Lin's words, Serenity grew paler and paler until her knees gave out beneath her and she fell, disbelieving, to the ground. Her lips moved, but no sound came out, and unlike when the same thing happened with Elros, there was no image, no magic.

Elros looked at Lin doubtfully. "I think we should take her inside," he murmured, "let her rest ... I'm not sure why, but I think she's in shock." And he held his hand right in front of her so that she could climb onto it and let him lift her to his shoulder. That way he would be able to carry Serenity.