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"I know that when River was little, she would use old crates to make little mazes for herself in the ranch yard," Fletcher grinned. "It really is amazing what you can see from up here ... she seems like such a boisterous young girl. So different from her sister. But in the winter, all of the children and even many of the adults here like to play in the snow - as long as they're not the ones who have watch duty."

He chuckled. "They're the ones that usually like to avoid the snow on their time off."

"Oh, it's quite fun at times," Fletcher grinned, "though we're careful not to invade anyone's privacy too much. Who knows more than Amara and myself the value of privacy? That is after all why we're up here."

At least, it was one of their reasons.

"But at the very least, we know the people who are living near us, and we know a bit about them," he added, "so really mostly it's not just entertainment. That's just a bonus."

"Hm?" Earendil blinked and glanced over at Lin. "Oh ... yes, I'm all right," he murmured. "Just ... thinking. That's all." He smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry about me. One of these days I'll get things figured out, and then I'll be back to normal."

Or so he hoped. Still, he didn't need Lin to worry about him. She should enjoy her time here as well.

Fletcher blinked. "Oh dear, should I have brought some for you as well, Earendil?"

Earendil chuckled softly. "No, thanks. I'm fine."

He hadn't asked for any, and he couldn't help but wonder if Lin was a bit distracted as well, if she had forgotten that.

Earendil smiled and watched Lin trying to teach Miyuki a new word. She was a quick learner, and he had every confidence that she would be speaking soon enough. And at least she was distracted with the cider, rather than wanting to be spoiled by him again.

He heard a movement on the other side of the room and looked up to see Haldia entering from the hallway. She had just woken up, but she looked wide enough awake. She had already brushed her hair and changed her clothes, and she looked ready for a new day - even if it was more than half over.

"Sleep well?" he asked her with a warm smile.

She smiled back at him and nodded, moving to sit next to Lin on the couch. "Very."

"Ah, you're awake," Fletcher beamed. "Cider?"

Haldia nodded. "Please."

He understood the nod, and he grinned. "Coming right up." And he headed off towards the kitchen again.

Haldia giggled. "Ci-der," she grinned, pointing at the cup. "It's a nice warm treat after being outside - or just plain good when you first wake up."

Earendil chuckled. "You sound as if you're trying to sell it to someone."

Haldia laughed. "No, just having fun."

Haldia chuckled softly, watching Lin and Miyuki. "Perhaps I should try to learn the Common Tongue with Miyuki," she quipped. "Maybe I will have more luck than I have been having so far."

Which was very little, as far as she was concerned.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it," Earendil smiled at her. "You're doing fine, you just don't have confidence in yourself, that's all."

"Thanks," Haldia said dryly, "but to me the mystery is why I can understand it so well and still not be able to put a single sentence together."

"If I may make a suggestion," Earendil spoke up. "Haldia, your vocabulary is extensive, you know most of the words that you're looking for. I think that the biggest problem you're having is with the sentence structure. The sentences are formed differently in our two languages."

"And how does knowing that help me?" Haldia asked, genuinely confused.