Welcome to Gaia! ::

Haldia grinned widely and nodded, glad that she could at least make herself understood even if she couldn't speak the language with much success. She swam a bit closer to Naida so that they could start side by side.

"Rr ... rreddy?" she asked Naida, her golden eyes sparkling with excitement.


Earendil looked over at Lin, then chuckled and reached over and ruffled her hair affectionately. "You sure do," he grinned. "But it's a good thing, really. Life at the palace is too quiet. I can't deny that today was a bit too busy for me, but the quiet life isn't for me, either."

Haldia grinned. "Go!" she shouted; and she dove into the water again, striking out as full speed. It wasn't long before she was streaking through the water, almost as if there weren't any resistance.

Earendil smiled at Lin and leaned back on his elbows. "Someday," he murmured. "I don't know when, I don't know where. But palace life isn't for me. Politics isn't for me. It's nothing but a hidden ratrace. I think Daeron had it right, travel around, settle down somewhere where he can actually be useful."

He hesitated, as if he were going to add something, but then he thought better of it. Enough had been said today about love and families, he was glad to have those discussions over for now.

Earendil smiled. "Yes ... well, she's missed me for the past six years, I think she's gotten used to it. Besides, she's got Tinuviel and her family. With two granddaughters to fuss over, I'm sure she'll be fine."

He looked at Lin and tilted his head slightly. "What would you do if I left? I mean, if I were to end up somewhere that isn't near any of the portals?"

Not that he was intending on it, but he was sort of testing the waters.

Earendil smiled. "That's nice to know," he said sincerely. "I mean ... I'm not planning on going anywhere else, not to settle or anything ... But it does mean a lot to me that you feel that way."

He chuckled and watched as Haldia and Naida raced away down the river. "I know people think I'm mad. But ... I don't know. I don't know if I'll ever settle down."

At least, not while he was single, which would quite possibly be ... never.

Earendil chuckled. "I don't think the man is alive who has seen everything," he replied. "I'm going to be eighty one tomorrow, but even if I were to travel for the next hundred years, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to see everything. And you know that you're welcome to come along, and Miyuki. I wouldn't dream of going without you two."

He closed his eyes and lay back on the dock, folding his hands behind his head and making himself comfortable.

"As long as you want to come, that is," he added, cracking one eye open and looking up at her.

Earendil's smile widened. "Sounds like we're going to be stuck together for a while," he chuckled, teasing her. "Of course, there are worse people to be stuck with."


Meanwhile, Haldia and Naida were nearing their mark. They were going with the current, and that helped them, and both of them were going quite quickly. Haldia surfaced for one final breath of air before picking up her pace for the final stretch. She hadn't had such a workout in a while, and her arms were aching, but she felt good, and she was enjoying herself as she hadn't in a while.

Earendil opened his eyes again and watched Lin as she looked at Miyuki. His gaze was warm, and he smiled slightly.


Haldia was just a stroke behind Naida, and she slapped her hand against the rock before she climbed up onto it to catch her breath. She grinned up at Naida.

"Good race," she said in her own language; and then, trying her English, she said, "Es goot."

Earendil's smile widened slightly. "If she's anything like you," he murmured, "she'll be just fine. Look how you turned out. Nothing wrong with you."

He was proud of how she had turned out, and he was glad to have been a part of it - though he would never take credit for any part of her raising.


Haldia giggled at Naida, amazed at her energy. She was startled when she heard the male voice, and she looked around sharply to see where it was coming from. She spotted Ryu on the shore, and she tilted her head slightly at him.

"Who are you?" she asked curiously before realizing that he probably wouldn't speak her language. Shaking her head, she tried again. "Uhm ... wh ... who es?"