Welcome to Gaia! ::

Daeron chuckled at the children. What an interesting way to introduce everyone, he thought.

"Earendil is my younger brother," he told Lin with a smile. "My name is Daeron ... you must be the one who comes every once in a while to attempt to climb the mountain. Earendil should be here any time now, if you're looking for him."

He had to wonder about the other two children, though. Their names were ringing a bell, but he didn't know why ...

"Who is your mother?" he asked them curiously. Obviously they were from Gaia, but with all the people there, and all the people who visited, they could be anyone's kids.




They arrived at the sitting room finally, and Atalya took a seat in a comfortable chair. A manservant appeared at her side, and she requested the drinks. He bowed deeply and left the room quickly.

"Sit," she invited Lore and Elnara warmly, indicating the couch and chairs. "Wherever you would like."

Lin smiled, "You're the one who likes Nina a lot," she replied back at him, "Nina won't stop chattering about that sometimes."

Though Nina was awfully bored without Daeron, she liked to hang around that one, Lin thought to herself.

Daeron's eyes grew wide and his expression grew to one of ecstasy. "Nara-thel?" he questioned eagerly. "At last! Did Nina come, as well?"

He hadn't seen either of them since he was four years old, which was more than twenty years ago now, and though he didn't really remember either of them, he still remembered his affection for both of them, and his disappointment when they had left so suddenly.



"I would have to say, a while after he met Haradhel," Atalya replied to Elnara's question. "At first he worried about the things she did, but she convinced him to join her in her activities, and he just sort of ... calmed down."

Of course, there was a lot more to it, but that wasn't her place to tell.

"What about you?" she asked eagerly, changing the topic. "How is life in Gaia for you? How did you two happen to meet?"

Lin shook her head, "No... Daddy says one heart attack was enough."

Though she didn't know what he meant by that, though it was Donovan's way of saying one less headache at a time. He was sure between Lin, Nina and whoever else, Elnara might kill him for it.

"And apparently a lucky one," Atalya smiled, nodding. Her expression, though, seemed to have grown slightly sad within the last few seconds, and grew even more so as she looked at Elnara.

"So you've a new family now," she murmured softly. "That's ... good."

But her tone didn't quite match her words.




Daeron tilted his head curiously at Lin, slightly confused. "I'm afraid I don't know what that means," he told her. "But something not very good, I'm assuming."

At that moment, the door opened again and Earendil entered the room. His hair had been cut since the last time he had seen Lin, and it was now barely past his shoulders. Other than that, however, he hadn't changed - and likely wouldn't for the rest of his life.

"Lin!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Welcome back!" He darted forward and scooped her up, swinging her around and chuckling; then he held her in his arms and looked down at the two winged children who were still on the floor. "And who are these two?" he asked curiously.

"Whee!" Lin laughed, now that was fun she thought as she giggled and clung to his arms.

Her eyes sparkled for things had not changed ovelry that much with her, out of all the Seconds she had met, she had only enjoyed the company of one other that was not part of her family.

"Ah.. those are my niece and nephew," Lin explained, "You know, Nara-sissy's kids."

Atalya smiled. "I shall have to be content with what I get," she quipped; then she laughed. "Queen of the nation, and the one thing that I most desperately desire is out of my reach. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't just pass it off to Tinuviel once she's ready ... I'm sure it would be best for the kingdom, anyways, considering how the people feel about me."

Her eyes grew wide, and she put one hand to her mouth as she looked at Elnara. "I'm sorry," she murmured apologetically. "I shouldn't be speaking of it so ... that was to be your place, until you left ..."



Earendil's grin widened. "Ada-thel's children, eh?" he said brightly. "Wonderful!" He grinned at Lin. "Would you like to show them around with me?" he offered. "You can show them all of your favourite places!"

"Of course," Lin replied with a smile, there were lots of places she liked to play and hang out in.

Though she thought about something, there was one favourite place she would like to go.... but that would be pushing it wouldn't it?

"All of my favourite places?" she asked looking up at him.