Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil exchanged a look with Lin. He had been told what Iorlas's plan was.

"Well, she has some business that she'd like to take care of before she comes along with us," he explained. "Something that can only be taken care of out here."

He hopped up on the wagon and sat next to Andarien, making sure there was room for Lin as well.

"Why is that, Nana?" Andarien asked curiously.

Earendil laughed. He knew what Lin meant.

"Such excitement," he grinned. "Us married ... a second child now ... Daeron courting ..."

"Your mother will be jumping for joy," Nadya spoke up as she and Gion approached the wagon to bid farewell to their guests. She smiled warmly at the family. "She has been waiting for this for decades, though I'm sure she'd all but given up on Daeron."

"Up you come," Earendil smiled, holding one hand down to Daemon to help him up into the wagon.

"We wish you all safe journey," Nadya smiled at them. "Daemon, we are going to miss you. We'd really gotten used to having you around."

Gion grinned up at Daemon, but there were tears in his eyes. He was sad to see Daemon go. They had been together for a long time now, nearly a century.

Gion touched his heart lightly with two fingers and then swept his fingers outwards towards Daemon, a gesture indicating that he was returning the thanks.

"From us as well," Earendil added, "thank you for all that you've done for us."

"It was a pleasure," Nadya replied warmly. "Do come again."

"We will!" Andarien chirped eagerly. His mind was already filled with the idea of coming back and checking out the mechanics again. He couldn't get enough of it!

And off they went.

Two days' steady travel brought them to the base of the mountain where Tor Karad was located. River was intrigued by the ruins of the old city, but her curiosity was nothing compared to Andarien's fascination. Though they passed through the ruins without stopping, Andarien was leaning over the edge of the wagon the entire time, goggled eyes wide to take in as much as he could.

Then they were heading up the mountain road that would take them into the city. Andarien was glad for his goggles as they made their way up the road: not because the city was glowing with magic, but because the desert sun shining on the brightly polished marble shone brightly into his eyes.

"Wow," he breathed in amazement. "It's so pretty!"

Earendil chuckled. "Just wait until we're inside," he winked.

"Indeed it is," Earendil smiled at Lin. He stretched. "I'd probably best sit up front so that we don't get stopped at the palace."

"Oh, can I sit up front with you?" Andarien asked eagerly, hopping to his feet. Like Amalirahc on the ship, Andarien had learned to walk easily on the wagon, despite its bumps and sways.

Earendil chuckled. "If you like. Will your mother join us too?"

Andarien grabbed Lin's hands. "Nana! Come sit up front with me and Ada!" he said excitedly.

Since it was getting on in the day, most of the streets were fairly empty, and so they made good time to the castle. There, the gates were opened for them, and very soon they were inside while servants emptied their wagons for them.

"This is where you live, Earendil?" River asked, her eyes taking in everything around them as they headed inside.

Earendil had to check himself before answering. "It's where I lived," he corrected her. "Now I think it's safe to say that I don't have a set home. Traveling and all that, after all."

"Right."

"Ada, is this where you were little?" Andarien questioned.

Earendil couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, that's one way of putting it," he agreed. He sent a servant off to find his family and let them know that the group had arrived, and then started them off towards the dining hall. After all, they couldn't head to their rooms to wash or rest or anything - most of them didn't have rooms yet!