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"They are," Estel agreed. He's definitely not like Aliya's youngest boy ... I don't belive I've ever actually really met him. Not talked with him, anyways ... though Serenity tells us that he's changed now."

Lothiriel tilted her head slightly, then smiled up at Lin. "I believe I hear him coming," she murmured. "Why don't you give me back Celebrindor, and go and meet him?"

Estel smiled and held his arms out to Lin to take the infant back from her.

As soon as Estel had his youngest son safely in his arms, he turned and lay him carefully on the bed nest to Lothiriel so that they could both continue to rest.

"Come," he smiled at Lin, nodding once more towards the door. He turned back to his wife and smiled warmly at her, then turned and headed towards the door.

A few moments later, an excited voice began to drift through the doorway.

"And then you go like this!" the voice exclaimed excitedly in elvish. "And when they block like this, you go like this, and if they do this instead, then you have to do this kind of tricky thing like - like this ..."

There was a soft chuckle. "Indeed, young prince. You are a quick learner."

Just as Estel and Lin peeked out the door, the boy appeared at the top of the stairs and began heading in their direction. He had short black hair that stuck out in every direction, and he had Lothiriel's thin face and bright eyes. A smudge of dirt crossed his cheek, and his entire face shone with sweat and pride.

"Ada!" he cried, waving happily upon seeing Estel. "Ada! I learned new things today!"

He stopped short when he spotted Lin and stared unashamedly, suddenly very quiet.

The guard following him nearly tripped over him, and had to grab at the wall to keep his balance. "My lord prince," he protested in surprise; and then he looked up to see what had caused the boy to stop. He blinked at Lin, and blinked again, and then a smile crossed his face, wide and happy. "Lin!" he exclaimed.

It was Elros.

As Lin approached them, Pengolodh edged backwards to the wall and shuffled along it towards his father, his eyes fixed distrustingly on Lin. Estel chuckled softly and put one hand on his son's shoulder, then knelt and spoke quietly with him.

Elros smiled warmly at Lin. "Do not take it personally," he told her softly, his voice calm and reassuring. "He does not take well to strangers ... and especially as you are human, well."

His smile grew wistful. "But he will come around ... eventually." He chuckled again softly. "But how are you doing, Lin? And your family? It has been such a long time since I have heard from any of you ..."

Elros was glad to hear about Lin's family, and as she asked about how he was doing, he looked to Estel silently. The king nodded and smiled warmly. "Have her back for lunch," he murmured, gently guiding Pengolodh into the room that they had all just left.

Elros smiled widely down at Lin. "I am doing very well here, indeed," he said warmly. "Their majesties are very good to me ... to all of their people. I am honoured to have been asked to be a part of what they do here."

He motioned for her to follow him down the hall. "At the moment, there is another young man that is training to become a Captain as well, so my position is occupied," he added, "and so I have been spending quite a bit of time with Prince Pengolodh ... usually just taking him from place to place, though there are times when I join in his training. He is very astute when he wants to be ... I believe that he will someday be as strong as his parents."

Elros chuckled softly. "He has a good heart," he smiled. "I think he has just heard too many stories of wars and betrayals ... and he has a vivid imagination. He trusts few outside of his own family. Though I believe," he chuckled again, "he may be a little wary yet of Prince Celebrindor, as young as he is."

They passed a hallway that was cordoned off, and in the distance the sound of construction could be heard.

"Would you like to see where I work?" he asked Lin, smiling warmly down at her.

Elros chuckled softly, his ice blue eyes sparkling brightly. "I thought you might," he smiled warmly. "This way. I should warn you ... at the moment it is quite easy to get lost in here, so it might be a good idea not to wander on your own. The construction tends to make one disoriented."

They passed down another corridor, ducking into a room and through it to yet another corridor.

Elros nodded. "And you have nothing to which to compare our position," he agred. "Do not worry about it. I will not let you get lost, nor would anyone here."

He led her through another maze of rooms and corridors, until at last they reached a flight of stairs.

"This way," he smiled, motioning for her to go first. "At the bottom of these stairs is a door ... we will take that door outside."