Welcome to Gaia! ::

Idhril blinked at Ruran, confused now. "But ... but you were just born!" she protested. "How can that be a bad day?"

Though she was flattered that he thought she had made it better.

"I would love to paint something on you," she told him happily. "But what would you like me to paint? I can't do very much ..."

Ruque watched Kanis closely and nodded. "Okay, I'll try that," he murmured, plopping his pineapple on top of his meat. He opened his mouth as wide as it would go and took a bite.

Again he mused silently, trying to keep his mouth closed as he chewed, and finally he swallowed and grinned at Kanis. "Yeah! Lots better!" he agreed cheerfully. "Like us!"

He blinked. "Like us?" he repeated, confused now.

Celebor's spine began to tingle slightly as Niyana moved her hand, and he dug into his food to keep from breaking out into the goofy grin he knew was waiting below the surface.

"Oh," he remembered suddenly, swallowing and looking over at Niyana, "we were going to visit the goddesses and ask them if you could learn that water breathing spell, weren't we?"

And he grinned at her knowingly.

Elnara smiled at Niyana. "You don't need magic of your own to make Celebor's stronger," she explained, knowing she hadn't spoken clearly before. "It's just the bond that you have, that he can draw from your love and your spirit, that would make him stronger - and it goes both ways, that your bond with him will I'm sure make you physically stronger still. It's a state of mind, not anything ... literal, I suppose."

Idhril blushed hotly and focused her eyes on her food. "Thanks," she murmured, slightly embarrassed. She adjusted the collar of Celebor's shirt around her neck to let some of the heat escape and then picked up some of her food. "And if you want," she added, looking back at her nephew, "you can paint on me, too ... your mother is a very good painter, I bet you will be too."

Ruque was positively beaming as he continued to eat. His sister really knew how to make him feel good! He admired her very much, he decided. He wanted to be like her someday.

Celebor chuckled softly and finished his meal. "We'll figure out something, I'm sure," he murmured to Niyana, squeezing her knee slightly before rubbing the inside of her leg again.

Elnara smiled at Niyana. "I'm sure you'll find some magic to do," she said encouragingly. "The goddesses can give you any spell you want, don't limit yourself before you even try."

Idhril giggled. "Good! Then it's a deal. As soon as everything's ready, we will paint on each other!"

She noticed that Niyana looked as though she wanted to start cleaning up, and she popped her last bite into her mouth and chewed it quickly. She didn't want to miss a moment of the painting!

Ruque giggled and patted his stomach once his food was gone. "Mama makes good food," he agreed with Kanis. "Maybe she can teach us, too!"

Wouldn't that be neat? Then he could help her out even more!

Celebor finished his food and, his eyes locked on Niyana's and sparkling brightly, put both of his hands on her leg, rubbing it in such a way that it was like a massage.

"Should I take the kids outside first?" he offered. "Then they won't be in the way, and it will be their first time outside ... well, for all of them except Aras."

He chuckled softly. He would never forget seeing her running out to greet him in the tall grass. She could have gotten lost so easily ... but it seemed as though she had no fear.

Elnara smiled and rose to her feet. "I'll help you," she offered to Niyana. "It will make it all go faster."

Idhril jumped to her feet and giggled. "Come on, Joruri!" she called brightly, turning to the marionette. "We're going to go outside and paint each other! Let's go!"

And she reached out one hand to help him to his feet.

Ruque giggled and scrambled to his feet. "Maybe we can help with cleanup too!" he exclaimed - and he turned and looked up at Niyana. "Mama, can we help clean up?" he asked, his green eyes sparkling brightly with hope.

Jair's eyes glowed with excitement. "I can't wait!" he exclaimed, looking at Niyana. "Soon ... so soon ..."

Celebor chuckled softly and rose to his feet, moving to pick up his brother. "Well, we have to wait outside for her, so let's go," he grinned. He motioned to the other children as well. "Come on, we're going to go out into the grove and wait for your mother, and then we'll all do some painting, all right?"

Elnara smiled and moved to begin picking up the leftover food from the children.

Idhril giggled and nodded. "Yes, paint on each other! You don't have to if you don't want to though - oh! You have a cute little cricket! Did you find it in here?"

She knelt next to him and put her head on his knees, giggling up at him and looking at the cricket that he was holding.

Jair grinned at Kanis. "Thanks," he told her apologetically, "but Celebor's got me. Next time, 'kay?"

He wiggled his tail a bit, eager to go outside and be painted on.

Celebor chuckled. "Want a ride with him?" he asked Kanis with a grin.

Ruque nodded eagerly and started to pick up all of the leaves that the food had been served on.

"Where do they have to go, Mama?" he asked her brightly. "In the fire pit?"

Elnara giggled at her grandson and threw the leftovers into the fire pit, then looked to Niyana to see what else she should do.

Idhril blinked at Joruri, then gaped at him, her mouth wide with shock.

"Kill it?" she gasped finally, once her mouth decided to work again. "No! Of course not!"

She sat up again and put one hand on his arm, her golden eyes reflecting her worry. "I would never ask you to kill anything, ever," she told him softly. "Ever. I promise."

Her eyes turned sad. "Did your old master make you do horrid things like that?" she asked him quietly.

Aras heard her name being said, and her eyes sparkled as she listened to her sister's words. "Yes! Please Daddy, will you carry me?"

Celebor laughed. "Absolutely," he agreed, lifting Aras to his shoulder. "Now let's head outside, hm?" He grinned at his daughters and set off for the grove, making sure not to step near Kanis.

Ruque grinned and hopped off the table, falling onto the pile of leaves in his arms, but he got up and kept going without missing a beat. He was proud to be able to help the way he was, and it was with a cheerful grin that he threw the leaves into the fire pit.

"Now what, Mama?" he asked Niyana eagerly.

Elnara smiled. "Of course," she agreed, and headed off into the work room to get the desired items.

Idhril put one hand on Joruri's head. "No ... don't kill it," she told him softly. "I'm sure Mama's not angry with you ... she never gets angry unless we're in danger ... you didn't make any mistakes, it's all right."

She patted his hair lovingly. "I'll take care of you, don't worry," she assured him, pressing her lips to the top of his head.

Once they were all outside, Celebor set Aras and Jair down in the grass. He had made sure to flatten it out during the previous week in preparation for the children's arrival, so he wasn't worried about them getting lost in there.

"Now what shall we do while we wait for your mother?" he asked Aras and Kanis brightly.

Ruque giggled at Niyana. "I'm okay!" he told her happily. "It didn't hurt!"

He climbed up into Niyana's hand and sat down, holding her thumb so that he wouldn't fall. "I can help!" he nodded eagerly. "I can carry things!"

Idhril giggled a bit, feeling Joruri's lips on her neck ... it tickled her, but at the same time it made her feel very warm inside, and very happy.

"I'm just me," she smiled at him, stroking his wings tenderly. "Not too kind. Just me."

Elnara smiled at Niyana and nodded. "I think I did," she affirmed, holding up the packets she had found. "But I'm afraid I'll need another hand to carry the brushes."

Ruque looked up at Niyana eagerly. "I can carry brushes!" he volunteered. "But you might have to still carry me, there might be a lot of them and I don't know if I could walk with a big armload ..."

At her question he giggled. "How can I have a favourite colour, Mama? There are so many of them and I bet I haven't even seen them all yet!"

Celebor set Aras and Jair down on the grass as well and sat down, relaxing against one of the trees.

"This is where you can get your exercise," he smiled at Kanis. "Train yourself. Work on becoming faster, stronger ... just by practicing. And maybe later, after our guests are gone, we can do a bit of real training, what do you think?" He winked at her.

"Can I too, Daddy?" Aras asked, her eyes shining brightly. "I want to, too!"