Welcome to Gaia! ::

That sort of surprised Lin, because she knew that Elnara's grandparents had come from an island across the seas. Granted that island was inhabitable, they didn't dare land near it seeing the plants were still black from whatever had caused it in the first place.

"Several, in fact some married into the Aldrich family in both branches. Uhm... Leyenda, daughter of Arwen, Elrohir's eldest married Kelirahc who is from Naruos, he's a Night Elf, they have a son named Amalirahc, and the last we heard Leyenda was pregnant so it'll be interesting to hear the news when we go back. Rhea, Ulani and Ulrich's granddaughter now lives on an island called Amon Darthir, she married Aurin who is a Sky Elf from there... they have twins but they could have had more children by now for all we know."

She paused to think if she forgot anyone in terms of marriage, and she didn't think so.

"And on our last sailing trip we got a bit laidway and was brought to Caras Galadhon, which is on a completely different continent, and wow... there are a lot of different elves there I didn't know existed, which I wonder why they exist there and not in the Four Lands, but that's getting off topic. So we met Luk, who is the half brother of Arthael who is a fighter at Haven. Luk, has both human and elven blood in him as interracial marriages are quite common in that particular city state. Which is really interesting, there's actually more to that, but I think I'm rambling a bit...."

Her thought process was interrupted by chuckling and she looked up to see that Elnara had been joined by Lore. Lore's eyes sparkled with amusement because he knew that kind of rambling.

"Don't worry, some of us have been there and done that," he assured her.


Hana, who watched Andarien carefully because she was afraid he was going to cry since he didn't react at all. Leaned over to her brother and murmured.

"I think you broke him."

"Oh!" Hana smiled and bowed her head slightly, "Sorry about that, I'm Hana and this is my brother Garrick."

She lightly whamped him because it was kind of his fault that Andarien was like that.

"We're your cousins," she explained.

Well, Hana was bright enough to know that, that wasn't completely accurate. They were more like great-cousins or something or another. Technically they were cousins by blood to Andarien's father, but it was so much easier (and they were technically Winters as much as they were Aldrichs) to just say they were his cousins.

Before she could say more on the matter though, the doors to the dining room opened again and the rest of their family who had been cooking in the kitchen. They came in with piles of steaming dumplings of three varieties and stir fried noodles.

Hana blinked, "But we kids get a table all to ourselves over there."

She pointed to the table where some of the "younger" children (though that was a relative term) were sitting. It had always been a highlight for children old enough not to sit with their parents, it kind of made them all grown up being able to pick out their own food and everything.

Though even Miyuki didn't head over there, but that was because she was rarely in Gaia to really experience a full on family dinner and her first one she was with her mother. On the other hand if one wanted to technical, Miyuki was borderline too old to be at the children's table anyways.

The table was occupied with the quartet jokingly known as the perma children. This included the overly wise Krys, innocent Iumina, out spoken Lilac and serious Jace. There was also Mia, though no one in the family really considered Mia a child, she just liked taking on the mannerism of one. Even mischievous Masako didn't seem very child like. In truth, besides Hana, Garrick and Andarien, the only other true children at the table was Iris and Jin.

Jin had never known life without Elnara or the existence of the Four Lands but he didn't remember his time there having been a baby and all. Looking to be ten years of age, Jin was already concerned with what he was going to do with his life. He hadn't decided quite yet to be honest.


Fortunately for Andarien, Lin did notice that he was being pulled to the children's table, which made sense, but she knew how shy he was. So she leaned over to Miyuki and asked if she could grab Andarien. Her mother would want to see him.

Miyuki waved through the people who were getting settled to their seat. Taking just a small pause to say hello. She had grown up with these people for a small (granted very small) portion of her life so she was familiar with them.

Finally she got the children's table.

"Andarien!"

Miyuki took half a step back at the force in which he hugged her. Looking around it occurred to her that about half of the family were magic users of some degree and they did have a few people she knew were really strong in the field. She checked to make sure he had his goggles first, since he had a habit of not wearing them if he didn't think there was a need to.

Not that she could blame him, those things made him look bugged eye.

"It's okay, just close your eyes and I'll lead you back, everyone is sitting so you won't bump into anyone," she told him careful to hold him close.

"I should have reminded you to take your goggles."

And Miyuki wasn't just saying that, she knew how the family was, and she knew very well at least half of the family is magical.

"I'll ask ada and mommy if I can go get your goggles," she told him as she led him to the main table.

She didn't see their grandmother yet so maybe she would have time...

A tap on her shoulder caused her to look up to see their great-grandfather Daemon.

He was holding Andarien's goggles and looking quite sheepish.

"Sorry for going into your room without permission but I had a bit of a premonition that you might need this," he told the children gently.