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 Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 6:44 pm
"Yea...." Lin murmured thoughtfully, "That would be a good time to travel. How far into the season are we currently?"
She had no idea when during winter they were in at the moment or how long it would be until spring.
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Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 6:51 pm
"Almost over," Arthael replied as she began to eat. "There are only about two weeks left, then is stirring - if you're anxious to set out, stirring isn't bad for traveling. Just make sure you're heading south or east first, the Westland will be wet and cold for a while after that, and the Northland will be especially cold. It's really only good for travel in high summer."
"I think we were planning on starting in the Southland and making our way around," Earendil ventured, looking at Lin for confirmation. "So stirring, Southland ... spring, Westland ... summer Northland and Eastland?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 6:58 pm
Lin thought about it, she had never been to the Eastland during the summer (as far as she could remember) it sounded hot, but do-able.
"That sounds like a plan," Lin nodded in agreement.
Two weeks wasn't that long actually.
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Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:11 pm
"So how have you been, Lin?" Arthael asked, changing the subject. "It's been a long time since we've seen you, at least a decade - and unlike the other times, you've actually been in our world during that time. How was that?"
They already had Earendil's version of things, but that of course would be different from Lin's.
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Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:23 pm
Lin grinned, "It was wonderful, to be able to see Amon Darthir again after Aerin came back was amazing to see. Just to actually live there a while, I've always visited the different cities the portals lead to, but I only stay there for maybe a week, or two, or just a day as when I was learning high elven. So it's a different perspective to be living there for over a year."
She paused and glanced at Miyuki who was watching all the adults, but like any child probably tuning the grown ups out for the most part.
"It's also different when you're re-teaching what you know or just learned about a place to someone else."
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Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:30 pm
"And how was it compared to when the king was ruling the land?" Halmir asked. "I mean the people, the city, all that. The tradespeople. The common folk. How are they different?"
A change in rule would change so many other things ...
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Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:46 pm
"More lively," Lin summed it up that way, "When the men were allowed to see their families again, the population just boomed. There were so many children when we went back, yes there were children before, but now a lot more people. There are more people about on the streets, going about their daily lives."
Lin grinned putting a hand on Miyuki's head.
"While we were there, they had actually a playground for children, and Miyuki went there often to play with the other children there."
Miyuki grinned, "We took turns making lunch for everyone!"
It probably stood out to her, because it reminded her of home in that aspect.
"People are just happier, the city now finally is expanded, it doesn't seem so crowded and there isn't that fear anymore now that the gnomes are gone. It's much improved, but I also think the biggest change we haven't seen yet. Under the old king from what I managed to gather he needed so much control over his people that things had to have reason, no matter what it is a person does. That kind of rule not only suppressed, but their creativity and innovation was suppressed as well in order for him to maintain control. Without the king, I think the biggest changes will come within the next generation or two, now that people are free to creativity think without reason."
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Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:58 pm
"They don't have many resources on that island," Luk commented. "It will be better for them now that they have ships and can get resources from other lands, but they don't even have much to trade with. Rock, really, is it. They've enough trees for their people, but no extra, the wildlife is next to none because of the rocs ..."
"Where are you going with this?" Earendil asked, honestly confused. Hadn't they been talking about inventions and creativity?
"Only that without many resources, they will have neither the time nor the items that are required to create new things," Luk pointed out patiently. "Caras Galadhon has much that none of the other lands have for one reason, and one reason alone."
He paused. "Two reasons. First because we have humans who live a long time, and so there's a need for it; and second, because we have resources that none of the other lands have even heard of. Just as Lin's land, Gaia, must have."
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Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 8:38 pm
"While I would have to admit, the lack of raw resources will be an issue, but I'm also thinking of this in more simpler terms. Think about the herbal drinks to ward off stomach sickness and help keep people warm, it suggests herbs and a knowledge of them that does not exist at least in the Four Lands. We also don't know what other materials does exist on that island yet, it might not be a lot of it, but it might be unique enough to be tradable."
She remembered the cave that they had been shown on their trip, some of the craftmanship was amazing, and she also believed they would come into their own culture eventually, something they could claim as their own beyond just being the tamer of rocs.
"That being said, Sky Elves can only summon fire. Yes, they have all the other elven gifts, but the other gifts that elves here take advantage of like healing, they do not have. There could be a need because they lack other types of gifts to create what cannot be found here. Really it's too soon to say what will happen."
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 5:17 am
The others remained silent while Luk thought about it. Arthael and Halmir had learned early that the half-human was used to living alone, and having quiet to think, and it had been something new for them to give him that quiet when he needed it.
"Agreed," he said finally, nodding at Lin. "On the other hand, their knowledge - about the drinks, for example - once shared will no longer be their own, so such a treasure will only be able to be shared for benefit once. It will not benefit them long, unless the herbs required grow only in their land. On the other hand, after so many centuries of having nothing but fighting, they do have the opportunity to trade services such as bodyguarding, soldiering and training for things that they need, and those are things for which there will always be a need. And I have to say, their weapons are of a fair quality," he added. "Far different from Caras Galadhon. My sword broke the first time I had a lesson in using it."
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:17 pm
"To be fair," Lin pointed out, "Caras Galadhon is very peaceful, the only other place that can match that is Nauros. Even Gaia, with all it's diversity isn't without danger. It's just we're not likely to have an all out war with each other, and a lot of people keep to what they call the "old ways" so even if no one uses it, there's still a training in hand to hand and in the blade."
That and she found for some reason or another, modern weaponry never seemed to mix well with magic. It probably also had to do with the fact Gaians had a love of the old weapons, the sword, the bow and so forth.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:20 pm
"True," Luk agreed again. "Even so, I did need a replacement sword. Most importantly for our traveling, since anything can happen in the wilderness ... but also because, when I return, I will need it for our ceremonies. Though there has not been a single fight in all my life there, the sword is still a symbol of governmental power."
"Father made one for him," Earendil spoke up. "We didn't even ask him to, he just did. And not just any sword, either - littinum. I can't figure out what came over him ... he's been doing strange things like that since we came back."
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:30 pm
It said something when Ruel did something really nice and it comes off as him doing 'strange things'.
"Strange things?" Lin repeated, "Define strange things, I admit that is above and beyond what your father would do for a complete stranger, much less a visitor like Luk, but it sounds like he's just being really nice. Which I guess in itself, is a bit strange, but..."
"Neko is nice!" Miyuki pipped up which made her mother stop her train of thought.
Lin looked at Miyuki and then at Earendil and then just shrugged. They had, while she and Miyuki spent the week in the Southland attempted to introduce (or re-introduce) Miyuki to Earendil's family as her family. That had gone over oddly well with Ruel, very well actually.
"Okay... I'm going to repeat myself and not hesitant, your father is being nice, not strange."
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:35 pm
"That's exactly what I mean," Earendil replied calmly. "You know what he used to be like. He refused to acknowledge your presence for decades, I swear he looked like he wanted to kill someone when I told him of my feelings for you ... and you know his sentiments about intermarriages."
For Miyuki's sake, he didn't add anything else. He didn't want her to get any bad impressions, not when Ruel was being so good now.
"So for him to give Luk, a half-elf, half-human, a gift fit for a king ... to say the least is very out of character for him," he concluded. "He's never been civil before, let alone so generous and welcoming. Those kinds of strange things."
There were others, but again, he didn't want to give Miyuki any bad impressions.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:48 pm
"I have to admit it's a bit much after not seeing him for about over two years," Lin admitted, "But I mean look at the leaps and bounds he made in the past several decades. He's on good terms with his sister, he thinks Lore is a great guy and Lore can pass for a Westernlander with long ears, and likes their kids."
Which, from what she remembered from her fading childhood wasn't so good at all.
"And actually," she pointed out, "He did acknowledge my presence once, when I was a little girl giving out candy canes, which I admit might been a combination of me wearing your sister's hand me downs and attempting to speak high elven for the first time, but it was something. I think he just needs to be reminded sometimes we're all people, and maybe someone did while we were gone. I'm surprised you didn't ask your mother about it."
Miyuki really didn't get anything that her ada was saying, because neko had been talking to her mommy too. Though it sounded like sometimes her neko could be a bit silly, but that's okay everyone is a bit silly sometimes.
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