Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil laughed. "Considering that almost everyone speaks the common tongue, it shouldn't have been a problem," he chuckled. "Father was the only one who didn't. But even still, you would have been fine with learning only High Elven, but even that didn't satisfy you! You had to learn Common Elvish as well, and now you even know the Ancient Tongue. I've got to be one of the very few people in this world who still knows more of its tongues than you. But even in your other world, you know so many of the languages! You have to know more languages than anyone else in either world!"

"Shiro doesn't count," Aliya grinned at Lin. "He's a whole different story."

"Grandmama!" River's voice came suddenly from the kitchen. "It's bubbling!"

Aliya laughed. "I had her keep an eye on dinner for me," she winked at the others. "I'll be back. By the way, were you planning on staying for dinner? You're quite welcome, if you like."

Aliya smiled widely. "Good," she nodded. "I'll be back shortly, just have to check on dinner."

"And River," Amdir quipped.

"And River," Aliya laughed as she headed into the kitchen.

Earendil chuckled softly. "I take it she has a habit of getting into trouble when left alone?"

"Only if she's left alone for long periods of time, usually," Amdir smiled back. "Otherwise, she's just excitable, and when she gets too hyper accidents tend to take place."

"She loved it," Amdir grinned. "No one has ever had enough patience to stay with her and watch over her for as long as she wanted to swim, so she was quite delighted that she didn't have anyone telling her to get out of the water today. She came out of her own accord about an hour ago, she's just barely dry now."

Soon, the front door opened and Adonijah and Adwin entered the house. Both of them stopped and visited with Earendil and Lin - even Adonijah spoke a bit - and then it was soon time for dinner.

Dinner was a simple affair, venison stew and fresh bread, but it was delicious. Conversation was plenty and lighthearted. Once the meal had been cleared away, though, it was time for Earendil, Lin and Miyuki to go back to the ranch for the night. After bidding everyone a good night, they started back.

"It was," Earendil smiled warmly as they drew near to the ranch. "A wonderful day. I could hardly ask for a better one."

Even with all the visits, and hardly any chance to relax, it had been very enjoyable. He didn't hold much thought for celebrating birthdays, but now, looking back, he reflected that if he could have had a birthday wish, it would have come true with the day that had just passed.

Earendil's smile grew slightly wider. "You know I never put stock in birthdays being a special day or anything," he murmured, "but ... today, I guess I feel a bit ... different. More special."

He glanced down at her, but he didn't dare tell her why.

Earendil chuckled at Lin and reached over to ruffle her hair affectionately.

"It's good," he grinned at her. "I have to admit, I was a bit leery this morning when we set out. But it turned out to be a wonderful day after all. But," he added, putting his hands back in his pockets, "I think I'm also ready for a good night's sleep and then a day just to wander and explore a bit. Instead of going from one place to the other constantly, I mean."