"Sirena why would she be upset about Erik leaving town?" David
"Erik took Ondina with him, and Sirena and Mimmi are taking it really hard." Zac
"Oh well then I had better see if I can find her. Maybe I can do something to help." David
"I'm sure that she would really appreciate you being there for her during such a difficult time." Zac
"Carly can you cover for me? I need to find Sirena." David
"Sure what's going on?" Carly
"Sirena is really upset, because Ondina moved out of town with Erik." David
"Say no more I'm on it." Carly
"Thanks Carly you're the best." David
Carly smiles, and gets to work while no one noticed that Cam was eves dropping on their conversation. Zac leaves the café to find his very distraught sister.
Before Zac has a chance to find Mimmi Cam walks up to him, and says.
"So what was that you were saying about Erik leaving town?" Cam
"Yeah he got called out of town on short notice, and took Ondina with him." Zac
"Cool one less fish-chick to interfere with us figuring out what the merman chamber does." Cam
"Forget about it we're not doing that anymore." Zac
"What we are this close to figuring out what the merman chamber does, and you want to just quit?" Cam
"The chambers dead Cam. So drop it ok." Zac
"That's why we need to turn it on." Cam
"No it's literally dead. We gutted it stripping the chamber of all the moonstone powering it." Zac
"Well we need to put it back before the next full moon." Cam
"We can't because Erik took it with him, and Erik's gone for good." Zac
"That's impossible people don't just disappear forever someone always finds them, and we need to be that some one." Cam
"We can't, because he is so far out of your reach that you'll never find him." Zac
"Why where is he?" Cam
"Somewhere he can never come back from, and we can't get to without being called." Zac
"So it's over just like that." Cam
"Just like that." Zac
Cam walks away looking more dejected than he ever was before, and Zac goes to find his upset sister.
Back on Arda Cleo is trying to help Erik and Ondina adjust to the fact that Arda is a lot safer than Earth especially where Land People are concerned, but they are having a hard time coming to grips with these facts. So Cleo decides that a trip to Rivendell is in order. The three of them swim up up the Brúinen, and are at Rivendell after only half a days travel. When they walk through the gates Lindir walks down a set of stairs, and says.
"Ah Cleo, It has been sometime since the Sea Children have been guests in the Hidden Valley. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit." Lindir
"Lindir I figured that a nice relaxing visit to Rivendell would help these new comers adjust to the fact that the animosity of Earth does not exist on Arda." Cleo
"It would be my pleasure to help you in this endeavour. Please follow me." Lindir
Lindir shows them to their rooms to refresh themselves after their journey with the promise that he will take them on a tour of the city. As soon as Lindir is gone Ondina looks at Cleo, and says.
"How could you reveal yourselves to Land People it goes against every rule I know." Ondina
"Yes, but that is on Earth things are different here." Cleo
"It can't be that different." Ondina
"It is. Our people are friends with two of the three races of Land People that make up the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth." Cleo
Ondina takes a deep breathe, and very carefully thinks about what Cleo is saying about the way things work on Arda. Rita did say to learn the ways of their new pod, and nothing bad has happened so far so she will trust that they will be fine on this trip among these supposedly friendly Land People.
Back on Earth David has finally managed to calm Sirena down, and now she is swimming back to the pod to tell them that it is safe to come home now. When she gets there Veridia swims up to her with a curious look on her face, and says.
"What brings you back to the pod?" Veridia
"I have good news for the pod." Sirena
"Well what is it?" Veridia
"Mako is ours again." Sirena
"You managed to break the merman's connection to the island?" Veridia
"Yes we did." Sirena
"How did you do that?" Veridia
"We gutted the merman chamber, and sent the moonstone very far away." Sirena
"Where did you send it so we can stop the mermen from getting their hands on it in the future." Veridia
"I'm certain that will not be a problem." Sirena
"Why is that Sirena?" Veridia
"Because the moonstone is in the ocean on another world." Sirena
"How is that even possible?" Veridia
"The sea god of the other world took Ondina and Erik to live in his ocean, and they brought the moonstone with them." Sirena
Veridia looks skeptical at the mention of the merman, but discusses it with the rest of the council anyway. The council reaches the decision that since the chamber has been disassembled that it is now safe for the pod to return to Mako. Their banishment has also been lifted, and the pod will be back at Mako by the next full moon.
Back on Arda Ondina and Erik are stunned by how different things actually are here compared to Earth. The Elves are quite friendly towards them and are showing no signs of wanting to hurt them what so ever. They are slowly realizing that everything that Cleo has told them is actually true. The trip to Rivendell is scheduled to last to the end of the week which is four days away. As they are taking a walk in the city they see a red haired Elf playing what looks like a water game with Cleo. They decide to investigate, and walk up to them before saying.
"So whose the elf with the powers of a Sea Child?" Ondina
"Oh hi Ondina. This is Charlotte, and she doesn't just have the powers of a Sea Child she is every bit as much of a Sea Child as you or me." Cleo
"How is that possible?" Erik
"It is the will of Ulmo. I was given the choice whether to be mortal or Immortal, and I chose to be Immortal." Charlotte
Before either of them have a chance to respond someone walks up behind them, and says.
"And because of that choice the Sea Children have the Immortality of Elves without actually being Elves themselves." ?
As soon as Charlotte sees who was speaking she touches her forehead as a sign of respect, and says.
"My Lady." Charlotte
"No need to be so formal my adopted granddaughter." ?
Charlotte flushes from embarrassment, and Cleo says.
"Lady Galadriel it's so good to see you again." Cleo
"As it is to see you Cleo daughter of the sea." Galadriel
Erik and Ondina step forward to meet this new elf from a different city.
To say that Erik and Ondina were unnerved by Lady Galadriel is a big understatement. It kind of freaked them out to meet an actual mind reader, but they eventually become somewhat comfortable around her. Ondina and Erik are slowly learning the ways of the Númenorian pod, and they find themselves hoping that their friends will come and join them here on Arda. Erik is just glad that Ulmo brought him here before he did something to ruin the friendships he made on the Gold Coast. The more he thinks about his friends on Earth the more he hopes that Ulmo will bring them here to Arda as well. Erik knows that Ondina greatly misses her friends especially Mimmi. Erik does everything he can to make sure that their life here is as happy as possible, and Ondina is happy here with him even if she is sad and wistful at times. Lady Galadriel has invited them to come and visit her in Lothlorien on their way to visit at least one home of the Dwarves. Erik and Ondina want to personally investigate the friendliness of the races of Land People that their pod is allied with. Since they are going to be going to two cities of the Elves Erik and Ondina think that it would only be fair for them to visit two cities of the Dwarves.
After the Sea Children have finished their visits in the cities of the Elves they are swimming up the Andúin toward the cities of the Dwarves. When they make it up the Andúin to Long Lake the Sea Children remember what Charlotte said about the King of Erebor being ill with a sickness of the mind, and decide to be cautious around him, but very open with the Dwarves in general. The Sea Children swim across the lake, pull themselves out of the water on the far shore, and steam dry themselves before walking toward Erebor. When the Sea Children arrive at the gates of Erebor a guard looks at them approaching the gates, and says.
"Halt! State your business strangers." guard
Cleo steps slightly forward, and says.
"We are Sea Children come to visit our friends in the Mountain." Cleo
"And who are these friends?" guard
Before Cleo has a chance to respond someone walks up behind the guard, and says.
"Let them in!" ?
"Open the gates." guard
The gates are opened, and the Sea Children walk into the Dwarf city.
The person who vouched for them is walking with them through the city, and when they are somewhere they will not be over heard the Dwarf turns to them, and says.
"What brings three Sea Children to the gates of Erebor?" ?
"My friends here are new to Arda, and they have been having a hard time accepting the fact that here on Arda not all Land People are to be feared; So it was suggested that I take them to the cities of our allies and show them." Cleo
Their guide breathes a sigh of relief, and says.
"My name is Thorin son of Thrain, and you are?" Thorin
"Cleo pleased to meet you." Cleo
"Likewise." Thorin
"I'm Erik." Erik
"Ondina." Ondina
Thorin raises an eyebrow at the rudeness of Erik and Ondina, but shrugs it off since there was no one around to see it.
Thorin shows them to the same set of guest rooms as the one that Miss Charlotte uses when she comes for a visit. Thorin gets the feeling that Cleo's friends are not normally so rude, but either way it will be amusing to watch them explore the city, and meet his people while they are here for this visit. The thing that constantly worries Thorin is his grandfather's sickness of the mind pretty soon there will be nothing left of the Dwarf that he once knew. Thorin remembers how the Sea Children posses very powerful magic, and gets the idea that maybe they can help his grandfather. Thorin decides that he will ask Cleo about it when he escorts them to dinner.
Dinner time comes, and Thorin escorts his guests to the dinning hall by a very seldom used route. When he is certain that no one is listening Thorin turns to Cleo, and says.
"My grandfather's sickness of the mind is a constant worry to me, and I am wondering if the magic of the Sea Children can heal him before there is nothing left of the Dwarf I once knew?" Thorin
Cleo thinks about this, and is filled with compassion for the Dwarf. Cleo knows that the answer she has is probably not the answer that the Dwarf wants, but hopes it will give him hope all the same. Cleo sighs, and says.
"As of right now there is not, but Charlotte is in Rivendell working with Lord Elrond to develop a power to cure the dragon sickness, or any other sickness of the mind from anyone so afflicted." Cleo
Thorin is slightly relieved that some one he trusts is working on a way to help his grandfather, but he must know how the work is going before allowing himself to much hope for his grandfather's return to health. They continue to walk while making sure that no one is listening to this conversation, and Thorin says.
"So the Elves are helping Miss Charlotte to craft a new magic skill that should be able to help my grandfather, and how is the work going if I may ask?" Thorin
"As far as we know the work is going very well, but we have no time frame on when the skill will be finished." Cleo
Thorin breathes a sigh of relief, and the fires of hope burn bright in him once more. Thorin turns to Cleo, and says.
"At least someone is working on a solution. Is there anything I can do to thank you for bringing me this good news?" Thorin
Cleo thinks over the offer, gets an idea of the perfect payment, and says.
"Charlotte had this locket made for me; Could you make another one?" Cleo
Thorin looks at the locket around Cleo's neck, and recognizes his grandfather's craftsmanship. Thorin smiles at Cleo, and says.
"I can and I will as a token of gratitude for what you have done for me. May I see the locket, and I will get to work on the new locket after breakfast tomorrow." Thorin
Cleo nods with a smile, takes off the locket, and hands it to Thorin who puts it in his pocket before continuing toward the dinning room.
The Sea Children's visit passes in merriment, and the Sea Children are taking a short swim to the Iron Hills. The Sea Children told Thorin that since they visited two cities of the Elves that it is only fair that they visit two cities of the Dwarves, and Thorin suggested that they visit his cousin in the Iron Hills. The Sea Children are swimming down the River Running, and arrive at the Dwarf city quickly since they are fast swimmers. When they are within walking distance of the city the Sea Children pull themselves onto the shore before steam drying themselves, and walk towards the Dwarf city remembering who they need to ask for when they get to the gate. When they get to the city they are impressed by the craftsmanship of the Dwarves. The guard notices them approach the gate, and says.
"Halt! What business do you have here?" guard
"We have come to see Dain son of Nain by the recommendation of Thorin son Thrain." Cleo
The guard thinks about this, and says.
"Open the gate." guard
The three Sea Children walk through the gate, and are escorted to Dain's apartment, and are asked to wait while a page goes to fetch Dain.
When Dain arrives at the apartment he sees what looks like a man and two women. Dain closes the door behind himself, and says.
"Why would my cousin send three people from the race of men to see me?" Dain
Cleo giggles, Ondina looks insulted, and Erik looks like he is getting angrier by the second before saying.
"We are not of the race of men." Erik
"What are ye then?" Dain
"We are Sea Children." Erik
Dain's eyes go wide as he realizes that their city has just been visited by the children of Ulmo, and how