Welcome to Gaia! ::

Artemis smiled warmly at Miyuki. "Hello! It's great to see you all again! We thought for sure that you wouldn't be back, at least at first. But then Aerin-sol returned, and-"

He broke off suddenly and glanced over at Aethos, and fear flickered in his eyes. He shook his head. "Forget I said anything. Forgive me."

Earendil blinked and looked down at Lin. "I'm starting to get the feeling that I can see why Aethos doesn't see any changes since Aerin took over," he murmured softly so that only Lin could hear.

Artemis looked torn. He wanted to speak with them, but his fear of Aethos was keeping him silent. At least, on what he truly wanted to say.

"Well ... we have been doing well since my father returned," he offered, though his voice wasn't as cheerful as it had been the moment before. "He comes home every night now, and he doesn't have to leave every day, sometimes he's even home for a week at a time! And we don't have to worry about the gnomes anymore ... on the whole, everything has been better for the last few years."

Aethos had picked up one of the leather bags and was pretending to study it. He couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation that was going on behind his back, but he didn't want them to know that he was listening.

Artemis nodded. "And Mama can't help with the shop anymore, at least not much. I have to more little brothers since you were last here, so she's really busy with them. But she taught me everything she knows about leather working, so now I'm the one who makes everything for the shop!"

There was pride in his voice, and rightly so. The quality of the items was no less than it had been those years before when they had been there.

"And it's nice, because even though I've grown up," he went on, "I'm not forced to join the Wing Riders. I love my father, and I have a lot of respect for him and for his work, and I do enjoy a flight now and again - but the life of a soldier isn't for me. I like working with my hands. This is where I want to be, where I want to stay."

Earendil chuckled softly. "And it looks as if your dream might come true," he said warmly. "From what I understand, your people are at peace now."

"We are," Artemis beamed, growing more comfortable again. "Aerin-sol has given us a peace which we have never known."

Artemis chuckled. "Yes ... you can definitely tell that the soldiers all returned home at the same time," he grinned. His expression turned curious. "Is the city going to be expanded now? I heard rumours about that several years ago, but nothing ever came of it ..."

Earendil smiled widely, glad that he could deliver some good news. "That is the reason we're here," he told the boy. "We are helping Aerin-sol to redesign and rebuild the city so that it will be able to hold your people for many generations to come."

Artemis's green eyes lit up brightly with excitement. "Truly? That is most welcome news! There is so little space anymore, new families have nowhere to live ... this is wonderful news!"

"Well, I'll have to help out with some of it as well," Earendil reminded Lin, "though Shea and Mikhail will be doing most of the work."

Artemis beamed at Earendil. "Then I thank you in advance for all that you're doing for our people," he said warmly, bowing his head respectfully, though not with the fear which he had shown for Aethos. "You are truly a good man."

Aethos blinked down at Miyuki, startled at finding her standing right next to him. She was so quiet ... of course, he had been paying attention to the conversation, but still!

"Yes," he replied, looking at the bag in his hands. "I suppose it is."

He had a feeling that he should be saying more, but he had never interacted with children before, and he had no idea what to say or do.

Earendil smiled warmly at Artemis. "Thank you. And please, Artemis, give our respects to your parents. The boots that your mother made for me are still as good as the day I bought them. She is skilled indeed."

Artemis beamed proudly. "I shall do that, sir," he said warmly. "Thank you."

"A pillow?" Aethos was startled again. "Why on Arda would you use a bag as a pillow? It's for putting things in, not resting your head on!"

Miyuki was really throwing him for a loop. Of course, he had never had to compromise before.

Artemis smiled and waved to Lin and Earendil. "I look forward to it!" he replied happily.

Lin was right: Aethos really didn't understand Miyuki at all. He just kept staring at her, his attention quite focused, until at last he simply shook his head and turned to Lin and Earendil.

"Are we done here?" he asked them, his tone slightly impatient. In truth, he was a bit sore that Artemis had called Earendil a good man, but not him. He didn't understand why the boy would have said that.