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Earendil chuckled, though he was a little puzzled. This wasn't the Lin he had known and grown up with. The Lin he was used to wouldn't put off guessing, but simply blurt out her guesses. Then again, he supposed this wasn't exactly the most appropriate time ... right under their noses, even though they didn't speak the language.

"We could always just ask," Kelirahc pointed out. "If they don't want to answer, they could always just say so."

To him it was so clear-cut, so common sense ... but his people were so peaceful that it didn't even occur to him that they might take offense.

Aethos was explaining to Alena how Earendil and Haldia had showed up the day before, and how Rhea and Lin had come and straightened things out. He was very truthful, and made no effort to lessen his stupidity, shouldering the blame for Earendil and Haldia's mistreatment entirely.

Alena was nodded thoughtfully all through his explanation. "Admittedly, one can't be too cautious," she murmured, "but if you mistook the black girl for a gnome ... honestly, if you weren't an elf I would wonder about your eyesight."

Rhea snickered. "Pardon me for asking, but is there any way the two of you could be related?" she asked, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I have to admit, I have never seen anyone who would dare speak to their ruler like that."

Aethos shook his head, and Alena laughed at the idea. "No, not at all," she grinned. "No, I am but the royal historian, and once in a while I double as the king's adviser."

"Except when Father isn't home," Aethos added, "then she's my adviser."

Rhea shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't see," she said apologetically. "As an adviser, or as a historian, whatever position it might be, should not the ruler as well as his family be shown the utmost respect?"

Before Alena could reply, Aethos cut in, "In any other instance, yes: however, she raised me and sometimes mistakes herself for my dearly departed mother, rather than simply my tutor."

"You can't deny that you ask for it," Alena replied simply.

Even Earendil had to admit, that made slightly more sense ... though he still couldn't imagine Sir Valdemar, who had tutored him, acting in such a manner.

Aethos smiled at Lin and nodded. "When I was young, Mother was the ruler in Father's absence. And once my brother Aeolus came, she was busier than ever ... she died when Aerin was born, when I was ten years old. So really, Alena is almost the only mother I have ever truly known."

"But when His Majesty returns, it is always back to business," Alena laughed. "But he knows what it is like when he is not here. Sometimes I think he encourages it, and only pretends not to when he is here. I'm not certain, but I believe that he likes the idea that there can still be amusement in a land torn by war."

"It's a very optimistic view," Rhea agreed.

"It does," Earendil murmured softly in the Common Tongue. So often, he had thought that life at the palace where he lived could use more excitement ... it almost made him envious.

"At any rate," Alena said, putting one hand firmly on the first sola's shoulder, "you have duties to attend to. Aethos-sola, if you will give me charge of your guests for now ..."

Aethos nodded. "It is done. They have some questions for you, we were going to search for you after they had eaten anyways. Please see to it that their questions are answered to their satisfaction."

Alena bowed her head. "As you wish."

Aethos turned to the visitors and bowed slightly. "I shall see you again this afternoon," he promised them; and then he turned and strode out of the room, placing his helmet back on his head as he vanished.

Alena smiled and sat down in the chair that the first sola had just vacated. "Now," she murmured warmly, folding her hands together. "Please, continue until you have eaten your fill. And if you could, would you please tell me how it is that you arrived on our island in the first place? We have not seen anyone from the continent in ... I daresay ten thousand years."

"Except for him," Alena laughed. "How could I have overlooked him? He is indeed ... unique ..."

Her laughter faded into a fond smile. "Yet he gave us no news, no indications of ... anything ... but that he knew of a way to save Aerin-sol's life. And of course, in light of that, we dared ask no questions. We didn't dare use the time ... she was so near death, so near ..."

"I would imagine that might cause you to overlook his sudden appearance," Rhea mused. Since of course they would have more things on their minds ...