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Amara grinned, watching as Earendil kept talking with Miyuki.

"I must say," she murmured, sounding quite amused, "this promises to be fun ..."

Earendil blew on his cider until it stopped steaming, then took a small sip to test it. Still too hot for Miyuki, but he drank some of it. After all, she would be better off drinking out of an emptier cup than a full one.

Earendil chuckled at Miyuki. "Just wait a bit longer, it's still too hot for you," he told her. He drank a bit more of it and blew on it some more, then tested it one final time before he held it to Miyuki's lips.

"Careful now," he murmured. "Slow ..."

Amara studied Earendil intently. She shared Ulrich's gift of thought transference, and he had kept her well-informed of what had been going on in the valley and at the ranch. She was well aware of what was going on with Lin and Earendil, and she thought it was sweet, at least on Earendil's part.

Earendil held the mug carefully, making sure Miyuki didn't tip it too far. It wouldn't do to have her spill all over herself. While it wasn't hot anymore, it would still be startlingly warm for her.

"Don't spill," he chuckled, lifting the cup a bit higher so that it wouldn't pour out of the corner of her mouth.

Amara probably would have kept watching the two of them for a while, but Fletcher spoke up, startling her out of her reverie.

"Will you be staying for dinner?" he asked, looking towards Lin.

Fletcher nodded, then chuckled softly. "Well, we'll see what the weather does," he grinned. "It sounds as if it's getting windier again."

The windows and shutters were tightly closed for protection, but they could hear the wind whistling slightly around the corners of the door.

Amara smiled at Lin. "Well, you just make yourselves comfortable," she invited everyone. "I'll go look at my materials and see what I have. I haven't made a doll in a while, so I'm not sure what I have left. Still, I'll do my best."

Earendil chuckled at Miyuki and set the mug aside. "Sounds like you've had enough for now," he grinned. "You're going to get a tummy ache if you're not careful."

Earendil just kept laughing and started patting Miyuki on the back, trying to work the hiccups out of her.

Amara smiled at Lin and rose from her seat. "Then I shall be back shortly," she murmured; and she headed down a hallway into a back room.

"She did," Earendil chuckled. "Poor girl. I don't think she likes it very much."

"Kids never do," Fletcher spoke up from where he was still whittling away by the fire. "But she'll get used to it eventually." He smiled up at them. "Have you all been enjoying your time here?"

"It's my first visit here, other than that week or so before we went to the Eastland," Earendil offered. "I like it here. Most of the time it's quite peaceful, relaxed."

Fletcher smiled. "That's why we've stayed here through the ages," he murmured softly. "It's the most peaceful place we've been."

He looked at Haldia. "She seems very quiet," he commented with a bit of surprise.

Haldia blinked at him and apologized in the Ancient Tongue.

"She doesn't speak any of our languages," Earendil explained with a soft smile. "She knows only the Ancient Tongue, which hardly anyone else knows."

Haldia nodded and added, "You can tell him I've been enjoying myself here as well. Especially the snow. Though I do wish there were more people who would speak my language."

Earendil smiled and translated for Fletcher. He was well aware that he was the only one who spoke to her in her own language on a regular basis. He was aware that it was because most everyone else was trying to help her to learn their language, but he wanted her to feel comfortable, more at home.