Welcome to Gaia! ::

Deep beneath the palace in Tor Karad, the labyrinth was silent and dark. True, there were torches lit, but they provided only a meager light in the blackness that was the seemingly endless miles of catacombs. It was rare that anyone ever ventured down into these depths, and with reason: it had been set up as a trap to ensnare those who tried to enter the castle from underground.

Suddenly, in the blackness, a light began to glow, and without warning a section of the wall seemed to be replaced with a bright door-like frame.

"Hey, I don't remember this from the last time we were here!" came a young voice as people began to step through the portal. Andarien was one of the first to pass through, and his eyes were wide behind his large brass goggles as he looked around at the completely unfamiliar surroundings.

"It's not a place people generally go," his father told him, coming after him. "Now go quickly, there are plenty more people who need to come through and we'd rather not wait a week for them."

An exquisitely decorated leather chest clutched tightly in his hands, Andarien stepped out of the way to allow the rest of their group to pass through the portal between the worlds of Gaia and Arda.

The nekos were the last to pass through, and after that the portal closed and the light faded, leaving the group in the darkness of the corridors.

"Follow me," Earendil beckoned the others.

Dark or not, he knew his way around the labyrinth with his eyes closed. He'd been going through it for ninety years, after all.

He would have volunteered to make some light for the others using his gift, but he wasn't sure how much magic Andarien's lenses would block out and he didn't want to test it at the moment.

The nekos of course could see more than the others, with their feline vision, and so they took up the rear to make sure no one would get lost or left behind.

With no further sources of light, it was slow going - especially with all of their baggage - but eventually they reached the stairs that led them up into the main floor of the palace.

"You know," Earendil chuckled to Lin as they reached the main hallway, "it's downright odd to be coming home like this, and having to have my presence announced."

He sent a guard to do just that - announce their presence to the family - and then ushered them all towards the dining room.

"Not quite true," Earendil chuckled. "This is the second time I've returned like this. It's just the first time since we were married."

"Is that Earendil's voice I hear?" came a soft voice from around a corner just ahead of them. In a moment, Luthien came around the corner, her eyes sparkling brightly.

Earendil laughed. "Hello, Mother. I see word hasn't reached you, yet."

"Nako!" Andarien beamed. He set his chest down and let go of Lin's hand, then ran forward and gave his paternal grandmother a hug.

"Goodness!" Luthien exclaimed with a laugh. "Don't tell me this is Andarien!" She hugged him back. "You've grown so much in such a short time!"

Andarien giggled. "I sure did!"

Luthien made up for Miyuki's inability to give her a proper hug by wrapping one arm snugly around her and hugging her firmly from the side, keeping the egg safe.

"It's wonderful to see all of you," she told the whole group, smiling widely. "Come, we must see about getting all of you settled in. I'm afraid you've only just missed breakfast, but if you're hungry we could have something brought for all of you ..."

"It's okay, Nako," Andarien beamed, picking up his chest again. "We just finished breakfast, too."

"Eon?" Luthien repeated curiously.

"Eon is my Pokemon," Andarien explained to his grandmother. "He's going to be my protector when he gets strong."

He looked over at Miyuki. "He's in his Pokeball in my pocket. I'll let him out once we're in our rooms."

He wondered if he was still going to be sharing a room with Miyuki. He knew the rooms would be big enough, but they'd had separate rooms in Gaia.

"I agree," Luthien nodded. "A very wise idea. And are you going to be taking others with you on your journey? I believe Aethos-sola and Senator Luk still need to return home ..."

"We will send messages out to them that we are here," Earendil explained, "and when they arrive - with anyone else who will be going with them - then we will be leaving. Until then, we shall remain here, Mother."

Luthien's eyes sparkled brightly. "Wonderful. And Daeron and Iorlas are also here ... it will be wonderful to have the entire family here for a while!"

"They're doing very well," Luthien smiled warmly. "After you all returned to Lin's world, they came back here and they've been staying with us since."

Earendil arched one eyebrow. That was amazing, for Daeron.

Luthien laughed at the look on his face. "Yes, I know. I was as surprised as you when they came back so soon. But it's been lovely, having them here. And even your father has been fantastic. Iorlas was rather anxious when they first arrived, but I think I can safely say she feels comfortable here now."