Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aethos smiled and nodded as Miyuki introduce each of the young people.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," he told them sincerely. "And this is my future wife, Alassëa.

There was wonder on the teens' faces as they bowed respectfully to Alassëa.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Alassëa-sol," Arya said politely.

Alassëa shook her head and held out one hand to stop the group. "Please, I am not a sol yet," she told them. "I'm just plain Alassëa. But if you wouldn't mind, could you please all say your own names? I'd like to match voices to names so that I can remember all of you ..."

She smiled warmly, but Miyuki's friends exchanged confused glances. Clearly they had not yet realized that Alassëa could not see them, and therefore had not been able to connect faces to names when Miyuki had introduced them.

"Ah, I see," Arya murmured softly. "All right, then. I'm Arya."

"Her fiance, Elwin."

"Yacob."

"Yacob's fiancee, Rayne." Rayne was positively beaming when she said it.

"Sheena."

"Sheena's husband, Mylar."

"Selene."

"Rowen."

"Chervin."

Alassëa paused for a moment, then repeated everyone's names and relationships without faltering once.

Aethos was eying her curiously. "How do you remember that so quickly?" he asked her.

"The same way I remember everything else," she retorted. "Because I have to."

Andarien giggled.

"Perhaps," Alassëa smiled back, "but it also developed out of necessity, I think. Just like my ability to communicate with my falcon. Learn or die."

"Die?" Selene gasped, despite herself. "Why?"

Alassëa tilted her head in Aerin and Caranthir's direction. "Perhaps that is a story best left for another day," she said softly. "It is rather a long one, and I believe we are on a schedule today. You are quite welcome to join us, if you like, though I'm afraid it may not be very exciting."

The young people looked at each other uncertainly. They had been pleasantly surprised so far by the sola and his fiancee, but would that extend to a prolonged visit?

Aethos saw their hesitation and smiled. "Honestly, if you have other things to do, we understand," he assured them. "But you are most welcome to join us, and we would be glad to hear of how things have been in the years since I have been away."

"He is right, you know," Caranthir added with a grin. "He's already caught up on the governmental changes, it would be good for him to hear about how things have been from the citizens' point of view."

Selene tried not to look too incredulous as she held back a smile. "If you insist."

"So where are you headed?" Sheena asked as the group set of again.

"To the tailor's," Alassëa replied. "Aethos tells me wedding clothes are in order but if what I'm told about Queen Aerin is true ..."

"Oh, you can count on it," Caranthir grinned, winking at the others.

Alassëa laughed. "Then I've a feeling I'm in for a whole new wardrobe."

"At least we'll have good company," Alassëa said cheerfully.

Honestly, she didn't get the same joy out of clothes shopping that Miyuki did ... of course, she couldn't see the colours or styles so aside from the feel of the fabric and the fit of the clothes, it meant little to her.

It was a pleasant walk to the tailor's, and Miyuki's group of friends very quickly warmed up to Alassëa, if a bit more slowly to Aethos himself. Of course, once they arrived at the tailor's, Alassëa was kept too busy to talk.

"So how long are you going to be here this time?" Rayne asked Miyuki curiously. "With how things are going here, I'm sure your father doesn't have to help out anymore."

Selene laughed softly. "So it sounds like you'll be here a while."

"Until Stirring, I hope," Arya added eagerly. "That's when Elwin and I hope to marry, and it would be wonderful if you could be there!"

Yacob and Rayne beamed at each other. "Three weeks for us," Rayne said excitedly.

"But who is Lancaeriel?" asked Selene curiously. "Someone who wasn't here last time."

"It sounds like you have several different people with you now," Elwin spoke up. "You never had an aunt the last time you were here, either, I think."

"Never mentioned an uncle then, either," Sheena added with a smile.

"Or teachers," giggled Rayne. "How many teachers do you have, and what do they teach you?"

Miyuki's friends were surprised.

"You can learn magic that you weren't born with?" Rayne asked enviously. "I've always wanted to do more than firecasting!"

Selene was eying Alassëa in confusion. "How can she use a quarterstaff?" she asked quietly, trying not to let Alassëa overhear. "She's blind ..."

If Alassëa didn't hear, it wasn't because of her hearing, but because the tailor was fussing over her and keeping her very busy. Aethos overheard, however, and he smiled - a bit smugly, if truth be told - and sidled up to the group.

"I have a proposition to make," he murmured, just about making Selene jump in surprise. "You find the best quarterstaff fighter in the land - I'll give you a week to do so - and we'll see if Alassëa will agree to a spar. Then you can see for yourself."

"I'll only spar if you don't bet this time," Alassëa called over her shoulder.