Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil put one arm around Lin's shoulders and pulled himself to his feet. He swayed dizzily for a moment, but he held tightly to Lin, and after a moment he steadied himself.

"Slowly," he murmured, shuffling forward without lifting his feet from the floor. He didn't know if he would remain upright if he lifted them, and he didn't feel ready to try. This was already going to be a challenge.

Despite the small steps and their slow pace, Earendil had to ask Lin to pause a few times before they finally reached the table with the food, and then he needed her help again to sink gently into one of the chairs.

"Thanks," he smiled warmly at her.

Before he could get any food, though, there was another knock at the door. Andarien looked at the door over his shoulder.

It was indeed Kyrie, and she had Lin's bag slung over her shoulder.

"I have all your things," she said when Lin opened the door. "Do you want them here? Or do you want them in the room you'll be going in once Earendil's up?"

She held the bag out to Lin. "I took the liberty of just putting everything in one of the tents and putting the tent in your bag."

Kyrie nodded.

"How is he doing, by the way?" she asked quietly. Being as she was still in the hallway, she couldn't see that he was sitting by the table now. And Earendil, still having trouble hearing, couldn't hear her asking after him.

Kyrie nodded and sighed. "Lin, I can't tell you how sorry I am for having brought you here," she murmured. "I wasn't thinking straight. I know it's no excuse. I'm so, so sorry."

She was visibly upset - not in the same way she'd been when the White Elf had been brought to her husband for help, not quite in the same way she'd been when the Dark Elf had died in the clinic; but she was shaking, and she looked frustrated.

"Perhaps so," Kyrie frowned, "but I didn't give you enough information about the General, I didn't tell you what he was really like. If I'd told you ... if I hadn't insisted on not flying ..."

In the room, Andarien tapped on his father's knee to get his attention and pointed towards the door. Earendil leaned back in the chair and looked over his shoulder, and when he saw Kyrie in the doorway with Lin he smiled.

"Kyrie!" he called cheerfully. "Come join us!"

Kyrie didn't look convinced, but she let Lin lead her into the room.

"Hi there, Earendil," she said loudly, putting on a smile and waving to him. "How are you feeling?"

Earendil tilted his hand and shook it slightly. "Better. Still weak, but better. I can tell who you are, that's progress, right?"

Andarien was grinning widely, but Kyrie sighed and the sadness returned to her eyes.