Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil frowned at that comment. "I'm not sure if I should respond honestly to that," he said softly. "Not that you would have driven them nuts, but ..."

He was half tempted to say that her father was the one who was good at that. Earendil certainly was still annoyed with him, though he knew it would be best to keep it to himself.


Haldia smiled at Ryu and waved back. "Haldia," she replied. "Haldia Hun'lyl."

She hadn't heard the name, but she assumed that he was there with Kara and Donovan. She pointed at Ryu and then at Naida. "Y... yhou ... she ..." She frowned, trying to think of the word. She couldn't, so she simply pointed at Lin. "With?"

Earendil glanced up at Lin, then sighed. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be so negative about it," he murmured. "I've only seen your father a few times before, but I don't remember him being like this before. I don't know what's gotten into him today."

He could sort of see why Donovan was acting the way he was, but there were limits that had been crossed a long time before Earendil had put an end to it.


Haldia smiled back at Ryu. "Sisterr," she repeated, nodding. She pointed at Naida. "Auch ... als ... also ... sisterr?" she asked curiously.

Seeing all the visitors was interesting to her, and she was curious to know how they were all related.

Earendil stared at Lin. Did she honestly not understand that Donovan had been getting at him, not her? He had been taking great pleasure in embarrassing Earendil.

No, he realized, Lin wouldn't see that. She hadn't even noticed how flustered he had been getting. Though he had been just as bad; once he had returned from his conversation with Shael, Lin had been acting strange, and he honestly didn't know if it had started before or during his conversation with Shael.

"If that wasn't sappy," he murmured finally, "I don't know what is."


Haldia had seen Feng coming up behind Ryu, but she hadn't expected her to jump on him. Still, it was funny, and she laughed. She didn't have to ask about their relationship: they looked so much like each other that it was clear.

And behind Feng was Aliya, looking the same as always, even though she had fully grown grandchildren. Behind her was River, skipping along happily.

"Hey, I know them!" the little girl beamed, tugging on her grandmother's hand and pointing at Haldia, Earendil and Lin. "I talked to them yesterday!"

Earendil smiled. "Not bright? As in he would threaten and possibly maim me for doing so?"

Somehow he could see that happening, or at least being threatened. In a way, he wished Donovan were more personable ... but on the other hand, it didn't particularly matter, since he had already made up his mind that he would not act on his emotions. That he could not act on his emotions.


Aliya laughed at Naida. "Hello, Naida!" she beamed. "Come, you need to meet my second granddaughter!"

River grinned at Naida. She had the same brown hair and dark skin as her father, and the same excited eyes. She waved. "It's nice to meet you!" she beamed. "It's fun to have visitors here! We haven't had anyone new in a while 'cept yesterday but now we have all kinds of fun visitors here!"

Earendil smiled softly. "Yeah ... I guess I can sort of see that."

Inwardly, he wished the man would find a different way to show it, though. One that was less obtrusive.


River giggled. "I like that, too!" she grinned. "I like to meet new people and see new places and learn new things!"

Aliya laughed and tweaked her granddaughter's nose playfully. "She's more like me than either of her parents," she grinned. "Alyse and Timaeus are both so reserved."

Earendil smiled and put his hand over Lin's. "Most of the time," he murmured, "I'm pretty good at letting things pass. With the father I have, Valar know I have to be easy going to be able to live with him. Today .... it was just a whole different story. I don't think I've ever lost my temper like that before."

He chuckled softly. "Think it means something?" he teased her, half wondering if she would even understand what he was talking about.


River was excited about the idea. "I want to play, Grandmama! I want to play with her!"

She ran forward towards the river, but Aliya grabbed her by the hand to stop her.

"You need to be home for dinner soon," she said firmly. "There's no time to swim. Perhaps tomorrow."

"Awww ..."

Earendil watched Lin closely. Was it possible that she may have figured it out? No ... from the look on her face, the lack of that certain something in her voice ... no, she couldn't know. If she did, she wouldn't be so nonchalant about it. Would she?

Impossible.

He sat up and stretched, choosing to avoid the question. "We should probably also get back to the ranch, it's a long way back, and Aliya was right, it's close to dinner time. I'm sure Haradhel will be waiting for us."

He took his feet out of the water and shook them off, then stood up and held a hand down to Lin to help her up.

Haldia spotted the movement, and she wondered if it was time for them to leave. She dove back into the water and started swimming back to them.


River clapped her hands together excitedly. "Yes! We can play tomorrow!" she beamed. "I'll see you tomorrow then, okay Naida? I'll see you here!"

Aliya laughed. "Yes, you will. Now come on, your father will be here soon to get you. Back to the house now."