Welcome to Gaia! ::

"He must be," Aliya giggled. "He hasn't napped during the day in almost a year."

She watched her son tenderly for a moment, but made no move to take him back into her arms.

"I've never seen him so peaceful with anyone else," she murmured.

Before anyone else could say anything, a tall, dark figure appeared out of the treeline beyond Ulani and Ulrich's house. He had short-cropped black hair, dark skin, and brown eyes, and he was very muscularly built. He was dressed in forest garb and had weapons and a bag hanging from his back.

"Excuse me," he called out, jogging over to the group, one arm outstretched in greeting, "can you help me?"

Aliya's brow furrowed in confusion, but she nodded and rose to her feet. "What would you like, stranger?" she called back.

A light appeared in Lothiriel's cloudy eyes and her mouth slowly widened in a smile.

The man slowed as he approached them. "My name is Beren," he introduced himself, bowing his head politely and touching his forehead with two fingers. "I was taken by the slavers as a child and rescued by those who live at Haven ... I'm looking for that place again, I would like to offer my services."

Aliya blinked. "Well ... the ranch is over that way," she pointed, "but ... seriously? One of the kids we rescued?"

A slow grin spread over her face. Besides Shael, they didn't know the fate of a single one of the children that had come through the ranch. Until now.

Beren's face lit up at Feng's words. "Yes! I remember her!" he exclaimed. "The human child! Is she here, too? I've been looking forward to seeing everyone again!"

Aliya giggled. "Yes, she's at the ranch today. Why don't you wait here a moment, I'll have my son take you there."

And she rose to her feet and headed once more for the house.

Beren's smile grew wider, and he bowed his head again.

"Thank you very much," he said sincerely. "I've been waiting since I was a child for the day that I could return here ... when I was taken back home, my parents had been killed, so I lived with another family ... but ... those dreams ... I had so many dreams ... I had to come back here, I had to ... just had to."

He chuckled softly.

"I must sound mad," he admitted, kneeling to rest a bit.

The man's face flushed slightly. "Aye ... the same dreams that I had when I was still here. It's ... nothing, it's just something that I have to work out on my own."

"She's coming here," Lothiriel said suddenly, softly, her eyes so clouded that they were almost white.

Pen and Beren stared at her, one confused and one hopeful.

"Huh?" was all Pen could say.

"Oh, come now," Lothiriel laughed softly, her cheeks tingeing pink as she tugged on one of her ringlets, "if I told you it would ruin the surprise. Just give it time and you'll see."

The door of the house opened once more and Alya stepped out, followed by Adanedhel. As Aliya paused to close the door again, Adan jumped off the porch and ran towards the group.

"Hi!" he said brightly to the stranger. "You heading to the ranch? I have to go for my lessons, too, I can take you there! By the way, I'm Adanedhel! "

Beren smiled at Adan and nodded his head. "My name is Beren," he introduced himself to the boy. "I would like it very much if you would be my guide."

Adan grinned. "Okay, let's go then! See you later, Mama!" And he started running off towards the trees, the newcomer following swiftly after him.


Aliya's eyes followed the two as they disappeared. "Interesting," she murmured softly. "I remember him ... barely. That was ... a very long time ago ..."