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"And maybe Rhea's grandparents will be back by then as well," Leyenda smiled. "They sound like wonderful people, I would very much like to meet them as well."

She knew there were many others on the ranch as well, but those were the people that she had heard the most about - and she had to admit, Ulani and Ulrich sounded like some very colourful characters.

Leyenda smiled at Lin. "It sounds to me like there's a story behind this," she said hintingly, raising one eyebrow slightly.

Earendil chuckled. "Yes, please tell us, Lin. It's a long walk before I can do any work anyways. A story would pass the time."

It was early evening when they finally arrived at what Kelirahc told them was their destination. There didn't seem to be anything special about the area he had brought them to, save that the trees seemed abnormally tall.

"We are here," the night elf announced, stopping the group. He looked upward, and a warm smile crossed his face. "There."

High above them, at least thirty feet from the ground, the canopy of leaves was hidden from view by a series of platforms. It was a little odd, but in the fading light, they almost seemed to be glowing with a soft blue light ...

Instead of answering, Kelirahc cupped his hands around his mouth and called upwards. For a moment there it seemed as though no one was there or no one had heard him, but suddenly something was thrown over the edge and fell towards the ground. Leyenda flinched away instinctively, covering her head with her arms, but Kelirahc reached out and grabbed the item before it could hit the ground.

It was a rope ladder.

Kelirahc smiled and held it out to Lin. "Like to go first?" he offered.

The platform was quite large - easily the size of four or five of Kelirahc's huts - and had the space for at least six people to lay down, or twelve or so standing. There were no railings around the edge, but there were some things piled in one corner - some bags, some blankets, and several large baskets.

There was one person on the flet: Haldia; and though it was clear she wasn't exactly impressed by the fact that Kelirahc was bringing more strangers to their village, it was also clear that she was trying to hide her annoyance. She smiled at Lin and held out one hand to shake.

"Welcome," she said softly. "We did not expect you to come ..."

Haldia was surprised to hear Lin reply in her own language. She had merely spoken out of custom and politeness, but she was glad now that she did. She had spoken with Kelirahc at length, as well as the elders, and despite the fact that she didn't like how fast her best friend had gotten married - and how secretly - she had promised herself that she would be friendly with the foreigners.

"I see Kelirahc has been teaching you our tongue," she said with a smile, shaking Lin's hand and then moving out of the way so that the others would have room to come up after Lin. "You are a very quick learner, to know it so well in only four moons."

Earendil was the next one up, and Haldia looked at him curiously. He hadn't come the first time, and she hadn't seen him before.

Earendil, still on his knees from having just climbed over the edge, bowed his head to Haldia respectfully.

"I am happy to meet you, Haldia," he said, trying to be formal but losing it in his poor translation. "My proper name is Earendil Aldrich."

Haldia blinked and bowed back at Earendil. She had been taught to respect that name. "And I am Haldia Hun'lyl," she replied politely. "It is an honour to have you."

The next one up the rope ladder was Leyenda, her eyes bright with excitement as she climbed over the top.

Leyenda laughed as she moved aside to make room for Kelirahc to come up as well. "I think it's pretty amazing," she admitted, "though it'll be something to get used to the height."

She peered over the edge at the jungle floor far below. "Other than being up on the dragon, I don't think I've ever been up so high."

Kelirahc joined them then, and once he was up he held out one hand to Leyenda to help her to her feet. There was quite a bit of standing room - even Kelirahc's head had a few feet of space above him. Then he turned to Haldia and greeted her in their language.

"I was wondering if you would be coming back," Haldia smiled at her friend. "Are you back to stay?"

Kelirahc shook his head. "For a while," he replied. "While Prince Earendil works on his map, we will be stationed here for a time. But when the time comes that his map is completed, I will be leaving with Leyenda and her family."

Haldia blinked in surprise. "You're ... leaving?"

"It will be quite a while yet," Earendil put in before anything could happen. "With the rain, I will be slow, and I think I still have half the island to finish ..."