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Earendil gazed down at the two, watching them quietly. He saw the look in Miyuki's eyes, and he understood exactly what she meant. But how does one explain to a child so young that certain things are not acceptable?

"Well," he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "I think I can honestly say I know how that feels. And that I'm sure you're right."

"No, it's ... not that," Earendil shook his head. "I just ... find it very hard to get across what I'm trying to say sometimes, and ... allow myself to be discouraged far more easily than I would like. That's all."

He tried to smile at her, with mixed results. "Really, don't worry about it. It's not your fault."

Earendil smiled faintly. "It shows that much, does it?" he asked softly. He sighed. "I know ... it's just ... it's difficult to say something, but it's not much less difficult to keep quiet. And whenever I try, the words just don't come."

And it was frustrating for him, because he knew he had many opportunities, none of which he ever took advantage of.

Earendil looked thoughtful at that. It was true, he had all the time in the world - provided he didn't somehow get himself killed. But ... knowing that Lin was going to be leaving ... even knowing that she was going to return eventually, just knowing that she would be leaving him yet again, left a sadness in his heart. Yes, he had all the time in the world, but how much more of it did he want to spend without her?

"Lin," he said softly, looking at her anxiously, deciding to get it over with once and for all, "do you-"

"Cider!" Fletcher's cheerful voice interrupted them yet again. The blond elf grinned down at the three of them. "I wasn't sure if you wanted some for Miyuki as well, Lin, so I filled another cup partway. Might take a few minutes to cool down for her though."

Earendil twitched and looked away again. Someone, somewhere, hated him. Very much.

"Quite welcome," Fletcher grinned, sitting down on the nearby couch. He leaned back and rested his arms on the back of the couch. "So, did you have fun outside? I saw some sort of fort around a little pile of snow."

Earendil sighed inwardly and leaned back in his chair. He was trying not to feel resentment towards his host, but really ... he was never going to be able to talk to Lin at this rate.

"Ah," Fletcher grinned. "That sounds like fun. Doesn't quite look finished, though. But after all, forts are rarely done in one go. One does tend to get wet and therefore cold when one is out in the snow for so long - especially when you're out sitting in it."

Earendil watched the fire silently, half listening to the conversation but mostly busy with his own thoughts. Things were going to have to change ... he had to tell Lin eventually. Things simply couldn't continue as they were. It was simply not working.

Kara had been right.

"Oh, you made forts back in your own world?" Fletcher asked, pleased. "In the snow as well? Or out of other materials? I recall when I was young, out in Ebonscarp, my friends and I would make forts out of scraps of wood from the carpenter's shop. What fun we had!"