Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Prison is where people go when they've broken the law," Earendil explained as they began their walk. "Small room with bars so you can't get out. So if you break the law - the rules that the king or queen makes - then you go to prison for a set amount of time."

He looked down at Miyuki. "Sometimes, if you have a bad ruler, they make laws that don't make any sense. And sometimes if they're very foolish, people can end up in prison for no true reason."

Earendil chuckled. "True enough. But that king is gone now, and they have a good queen here. It won't be happening anymore."

It made him feel a lot better to know that, too. It was safe to visit here now - and he was certain that the people of the nation would be much happier now, as well. Families united, husbands able to be with their wives ...

They walked nearly an hour before they reached the first wall they had to pass through - the middle wall, the one that would lead them to the city - and as the last time they had been there, there were two guards on each side of the gate. There was a difference, however: the gate was wide open, and the guards, while alert, were talking amongst themselves.

"Here goes," Earendil murmured softly to Lin, giving her hand a tight squeeze before he stepped forward.

Earendil was sure Lin was right. Just looking at the guards, he could see that things were very different than they had been before.

As the group approached, the guards stood at attention - though they all broke out into smiles as well.

"Welcome, Lords of the Continent!" one of them said in a very cheerful voice. "Your return is anticipated!"

"Much has changed since your previous visit," a second one added with a warm and welcoming smile. "You will find things to be much more hospitable now."

"That's good," Earendil smiled warmly back at the men. "And I thank you for your warm welcome. We look forward to staying and helping to move your people forward."

All four of the men looked pleased at that, and they all bowed their heads respectfully. "May the blessings of the Valar be upon you," the first one said again, and they motioned for the group to pass through.

Earendil chuckled and squeezed Miyuki's hand as they headed through the gates and towards the city. "They were talking to us," he grinned at her. "My uncles and I are princes in our land, and we live on the continent - so they called us lords of the continent. Perhaps not entirely accurate, but welcoming words indeed."

He grinned at Lin. "I would say things are quite a bit nicer this time 'round, wouldn't you?"

The city rose before them, looking the same as it had before.

"We weren't arrested ..." Earendil laughed. "I'm glad Aerin returned. I know she didn't want to, but I'm glad she did. I'm sure everyone here is glad that she did."

"After the stories you've told us," Mikhail spoke up from behind them, "I'm glad too. Being thrown in prison for telling them who you were ... absurd."

Earendil chuckled. Of course, he had just finished telling her that prison was for bad people.

"They thought I was lying to them when I said I was from the Southland," he told Miyuki, "and when I told them that I am a prince. They didn't believe me, so they locked me up. But when they realized that I wasn't lying, they let me out and apologized."

He had a feeling it was more because Lin and Rhea knew Aerin so well, rather than because of the mistake, but he couldn't change that.

He looked at Lin. "Should we go through the city or around the city?" he asked her. "Through would take more time ..."