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"Got him?" Earendil grunted, his muscles straining.

The other children helped Lin by grabbing Yacob's other arm and helping her pull him out.

Though it had taken six children to lift the rock, Earendil was managing fine on his own - for the moment.

Earendil carefully lowered the rock to the ground, then knelt at Yacob's side, next to Miyuki.

"Are you all right?" he asked the boy anxiously.

Yacob nodded, but his lip was quivering, and it was clear that he was trying his hardest not to cry.

Earendil looked up at Lin. "I should take him to his parents," he said quietly.

Earendil scooped Yacob into his arms. "No, Miyuki," he said firmly, turning towards her. "You-"

He broke off, realizing finally what was different about her. Immediately, he set Yacob down again, then pulled off his shirt and stuffed it over Miyuki's head to cover her up - since her own dress was no longer doing the job.

"By the Valar, do all growths have to happen at the most inopportune times?" he asked rhetorically.

"If you wouldn't mind waiting a bit until we can get someone else to watch the children," Earendil suggested. "I don't think it's a good idea to leave them alone now, and Yacob really needs looking after. Another hour won't hurt, she would have to wait for clothes anyways. And my shirt is long enough."

It went down to Miyuki's knees, actually, even covering all but the tips of her many tails.

"I'll be quick," he added, picking up Yacob once more. "I promise."

Earendil nodded. "I'll see you shortly." And he turned and headed back into the city, Yacob in his arms.

It was less than an hour later when he returned with some of the other mothers, who, after seeing what had happened to Yacob, wanted to keep a better eye on their children. Once they were settled, Earendil picked up Miyuki and took Lin's hand, and they started back towards the castle.

Earendil grimaced. That was information he really didn't need to know - not without context.

"Yacob will be fine, he just won't be out for a few days while he recuperates," he replied. "And though I'm tampted to lecture you on being careful when you play, and especially about playing with construction items, I do realize that it probably wasn't your fault. You grew. That would be enough to throw anyone off balance."

It was just that damned timing.

Earendil sighed. "I would like to say no, but that's not fair either. It's just because I worry about you. So let's just say ... be very careful, all right? I don't want anything to happen to you, or to the other children."

He stroked her head gently. "I just worry about you because I care about you."

Earendil hugged Miyuki tightly. "Thank you," he murmured softly.

By the time winter came, Aerin no longer needed Earendil, though the construction was still going full force. Kaito was still busy keeping records of everything that was going on, Shea and Mikhail were hard at work, and the port had been finished and the first ship was in the process of being built. Still, the Sky Elves who wanted to be sailors would have to learn how to sail before the Continentals could leave, and one day, Earendil had a suggestion.

"Aerin," he said at breakfast one frosty morning, "since the construction will still be a while, and most of us have no work left, I was thinking. Perhaps it would be a good idea for us to take our trip to Nauros now, while the construction is going on, and then those who would like to be sailors from your country can have a chance to learn from experienced sailors how to sail, and we can get our visit in now, rather than later."

Aerin looked thoughtful. She put her chin in her hand and tilted her head slightly. "I think it would be fine," she murmured. "And it would give me an idea of how well I've learned what you've been teaching me for the past year or so. By the time you returned, I would have an idea if I needed to relearn anything or make any more changes."