Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rhea giggled. "Yes, I know. But for now, it will do."

Rhiannon began to squirm again, and this time Rhea's rocking did nothing to calm her. Soon she began to cry, and Rhea looked at her visitors apologetically.

"I need to feed her before Xion wakes up," she murmured. "But perhaps I'll see you later, all right?"

Earendil nodded and put one hand on Miyuki's shoulder. "Rest up," he told her. "Come on, Miyuki. I'm going to take you to Leyenda, you'll be having your lessons with Amalirahc today."

Earendil smiled at Miyuki. "Mummi and I will be getting ready for your swimming lesson this afternoon. So this morning, you can go with Amalirahc and his family to the city for your lesson, and if there's time you can play with your friends for a bit, but then we're going to meet you at the beach and have a picnic lunch and then have your swimming lessons, all right?"

With a description like that maybe she would want them to prepare her swimming lessons every day. Not that Earendil would complain.

Earendil chuckled softly as he led Miyuki from the room. "Where will I meet you again, Lin?" he asked her in High Elven, one of the languages Miyuki had yet to learn.

He didn't know if Lin had things to get from her room, or something from the kitchen - she had said something about hot water the day before - and she he didn't know where she wanted him to wait for her.

Earendil nodded. "All right. I'll see you there shortly." He gave her a warm smile, then turned back to Miyuki. "Off we go!" he said cheerfully. "And remember, listen to Leyenda just as if it was your mother, all right?"

He started down the hall with her, taking her back to the dining room.

It didn't take long for Earendil to bring Miyuki to Leyenda and the others, and after making sure that they would be at the beach before lunch, he hugged Miyuki goodbye for the morning and headed off to wait for Lin at the entrance to the courtyard.

Considering that he didn't even know what tea was, he had no idea what to expect for the morning. But Lin had seemed excited, and he had a feeling it was going to be something good. He was excited, too, though only the smile on his face and the light in his eyes showed it. Other than that, he was the picture of calm.

He reached the door to the courtyard and leaned against the wall, waiting for Lin to come.

Earendil was looking outside when Lin came around the corner, but an instinct told him to turn and look behind him, and when he did he spotted Lin standing there, all dressed up and carrying the tray. His eyes widened slightly and his mouth opened in surprise and amazement, and for a moment he couldn't move. Quickly, he realized what he must look like, and he clamped his mouth shut.

"By the Valar," he breathed. "I ... Lin, you ... you're ..."

Beautiful was the word he wanted to say, but it was even more than that. A slow smile spread across his face and he stepped forward slowly, taking the time to drink in the sight of her all dressed up.

"I thought you didn't like dressing up," he teased her with a smile, moving to join her. "Would you like me to help carry anything?"

If he had known she was going to dress up, he would have as well. Too late for that, he mused.

"This way," Earendil smiled, putting one hand lightly on her shoulder so that he could guide her without making her lose her balance. He would do what he could to guide her so that she wouldn't trip.

Whereas the courtyard in the Southland palace tended towards the natural, here the courtyard was mostly marble, with carefully tended flower gardens spotting it here and there. In the center of the courtyard was a marble gazebo with ivy climbing up the posts and over the roof. Inside the gazebo was a short marble table, designed for kneeling around. There were pillows for kneeling or sitting on, and it was to this table that Earendil led her.

"Careful the steps," he murmured as they reached the edge of the gazebo.