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The king nodded solemnly. "Unhappily, that is something that I know firsthand," he murmured. "It is the very reason why we are out here."

He smiled again. "But that is past. Thank you. Though I may wish to speak to you again soon about my daughter, I cannot speak only with you at the moment."

He turned to Arwen and Roydon and the others. "Master Shiro has been telling me about your land," he said warmly. "It seems that much has changed since we left."

For a while, Arwen told the king about the changes that had occurred since he and his people had left: how the land had been split into four kingdoms, and four lands, and a bit of the history that had taken place, the changes in rulers, the wars, the fact that both races of elves were accepting of the other now ...

By the time they finished talking, half of Leyenda's hair was braided - Celeb had gotten bored, and she was holding him on her hip, within easy reach for him to play with her hair.

At long last, however, the king decided that it was enough, at least for that time, and he turned to everyone else again. "come," he smiled at them, "you must join me for my meal."

Earendil smiled and bowed to the king. "Thank you, sire," he said. "We accept gratefully."

Everyone laughed at that, and Alena and the king looked on blankly. Earendil translated for them, and explained that Senka was always craving fish, and they laughed as well.

"Luckily for her," Alena smiled, "fish is a regular part of our diet. It's hard to have a meal here without it. Which, I have to say, Masters Shiro and Kaito seem to enjoy quite a bit as well."

Earendil chuckled softly. "Hardly surprising, considering they are also part cat."

"Follow me." Alena motioned for everyone to follow after her, and she led them out of the room and down the hall back towards the dining room.

Earendil walked next to Lin. "Well, that was a bit ... surprising," he murmured to her. "I thought for sure he would be more formal than anyone, what with how everyone always acted ... other than Alena of course. Though even she was strangely formal with him ..."

From how Aurin reacted, I would have thought very strict," Earendil shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he's just being lax with us because of how his son treated us on our arrival."

As they walked down the hall, however, he noted that every time they saw someone,, that someone would stop and bow, remaining immobile and keeping their head down until the king was quite a ways past them. It was respect such as was not known, even in the Southland.

"I'm really starting to think it's just us," he mused, glancing over his shoulder as they continued on their way.

Then again, the majority of them were royalty ...

"Which is why I think he might be this lax just for us," Earendil murmured back. "I mean, back home, everyone bows when a member of the family passes - other than the guards, they have to remain vigilant of course - but they don't stay bowed until we're out of sight, we see faces."

He wondered if there were something about this king that were special. After all, no one had acted like this for Aethos the previous week.

"Maybe," Earendil murmured softly in reply.

When they arrived at the dining room, the king invited them all to take a seat. Without the king needing to give any instruction, the meal was brought in and served.

"I have to say," Earendil commented to Lin as he began eating, "I rather like it when they're being hospitable. A lot better than I like being held by them."

Earendil laughed. "Of course it is. Come, Lin, you're being rather serious today."

From the end of the table, the king called out, "Prince Earendil, what is it that you seem to find so amusing?"

He looked curious, and Earendil chuckled softly and smiled. "Nothing, your Majesty. I was merely commenting on the difference between your Highness and Aethos-sola."

The king seemed somewhere between amused and sad. "Yes, I had heard about my son ... though I am certain his will was in the right place, he has yet to learn to think with his head and his heart."

Earendil smiled at the king. "Your Majesty need not be troubled, he has indeed shown us great hospitality of late."