Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Well, probably not surprised now," Leyenda laughed. "We sent them a letter a few weeks ago, and they wrote back just yesterday to say they are ready for us whenever we arrive, and looking very forward to having us."

Earendil grinned at Lin. "So happy yes, surprised, no," he winked at her. "We do make progress when you're not here, believe it or not. Granted, it isn't as fun, but ..."

He shrugged.

"There is that," Earendil agreed with a chuckle. "But like Sir Valdemar said, you always have some sort of surprise when you visit. So in a way, it's not surprising."

He winked at her. He was teasing, of course. He was excited about Miyuki.

"So when are we going?" Leyenda asked eagerly - she had after all still been in the bath chamber when Kelirahc had asked the same question.

"Day after tomorrow," Earendil replied. "So be ready."

"Oh, they're always back for dinner," Leyenda agreed. "I don't know about what they do during the day, but they're always gone from breakfast until dinner."

Amalirahc was back with the ball again, and he plopped it into his father's lap. "Bah!" he said, giggling.

Kelirahc chuckled and rolled the ball away again, this time in a different direction. With a squeal, Amalirahc chased after it again.

"So what were you two planning on doing this afternoon?" Leyenda asked Lin and Earendil. "How long have you been here?"

"Make sure you don't forget about visiting Regan," Leyenda laughed. "She's been asking about you just about every day since you left."

"I do not understand why she would continue to ask us," Kelirahc spoke up in a very puzzled tone. "We told her every day that we did not know when you would return, and that there was no way for us to know ... yet she persisted in asking."

"Excitement," Earendil shrugged. "She's very excitable."

Earendil chuckled softly. "Shall we say it runs in the family?" he grinned at her.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"I will get it," Kelirahc smiled, rising from his chair and moving to do just that. He opened the door slightly and spoke with someone for a moment, then nodded and turned back to the others.

"We have visitors," he told them. "All of us are requested to come to the conservatory immediately."

Earendil chuckled and scooped Senka up again, rising to his feet and waiting while Leyenda picked up Amalirahc as well.

"Tell them we'll be right there," he grinned at Kelirahc.

Kelirahc smiled and nodded, then turned to speak with whoever it was at the door.

"Ready?" Earendil asked Lin, glancing down at her.

Everyone headed downstairs together, to the first floor conservatory.

They weren't the only ones there: in fact, it appeared that they were even the last ones there. Even Ruel had left his underground forge and was already there, as were Luthien, Tinuviel and her two daughters (Aranxia was six, and very shy, and hadn't even shown herself the last time Lin had been there), as well as the king and queen.

Leyenda and Kelirahc felt a bit awkward, considering that they had no idea who the guests were, but the moment Earendil saw them, his eyes grew wide and filled with excitement.

"Grandmother! Grandfather!" he exclaimed, rushing forward to greet them.

It was indeed Garrick and Serenity, who had appeared for the first time in a few decades to visit their family.