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"Luk is also a leader in his country," Luthien pointed out. "Even at his most prejudiced, Ruel is wise enough to know when to show respect, even if it is not sincere."

Then she smiled. "But for the first time, I think I can believe you when you say that he will get used to you. I only wish I knew what happened to him. I am very grateful for it, whatever it was."

Earendil grinned. "I'm sure Daeron will be grateful for it as well, once he arrives," he said. "We don't know when he'll be coming, but I would imagine within a few weeks at least."

This was something that had not come up at dinner, and Luthien's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Really?" she asked, excited again.

Luthien squealed - not an ear-piercing squeal, but an excited squeal nonetheless. "It's been decades since we've seen him!" she exclaimed. "How is he doing?"

Earendil chuckled down at Lin. "Would you like to tell her the good news or shall I?" he asked her with a wink.

Earendil laughed. "Very well then," he grinned. He turned to Luthien again. "Mother, when Daeron arrives, he will not be alone. He will be accompanied by a lovely young lady with whom I believe he has fallen quite deeply in love."

He braced himself for the inevitable squeal, but it didn't come. Luthien was so taken by surprise that she was entirely speechless.

Luthien's mouth opened and closed a few times before she finally found her voice again.

"Decades it's been since we've seen him," she said weakly, "but he was always so disgusted with the people he'd met, the women especially, that he swore he would never marry."

"I always said the same thing," Earendil pointed out. "It's simply a matter of meeting the right person."

"True," Luthien laughed, her smile returning. "So. Tell me about her."

Earendil added a bit here and there, and Luthien looked more and more giddy by the moment. By the time they were finished telling her about all they safely could, she was just about glassy-eyed.

"You two," she laughed. "You really know how to bring good news. You should come more often! Though I suppose you wouldn't have quite as much news to give then."

"Probably not," Earendil chuckled. "But don't scare her off, Mother. She's rather a shy person and you don't want to overwhelm her."

"I'll do my best," Luthien promised, "but that's about all I can safely say. I'm excitable. Things like this happen so rarely nowadays that when they do happen, it's difficult to contain myself."

"And here I always thought you were one of the only sane people here at the palace," Earendil teased his mother.

"And I'm sure I shall do the same," Earendil chuckled. "Yes. To bed with us."

"I'll accompany you inside," Luthien offered. "I'd like to see Grandmother again before I go to bed." She started back towards the door with them. "Nothing terribly important, just a quick question."

She smiled at Earendil. "While you're in the city, you should visit your friends. They've been asking after you."

"But of course," Earendil winked at Lin. "There are many visits to make."

When they reentered the castle, Luthien bid them good night, assured them once again of how glad she was that they were there and how welcome Lin was to the family, and then headed off to find the queen.

Earendil and Lin then headed off to find the children. Andarien had fallen asleep already and was curled up, still fully clothed, on the couch in Miyuki's bedchamber. He had his musical egg tucked against his body, but the music has long since ceased to play.