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If Shiro had spent more time with Amalirahc, he might have labeled him with ADD or something similar, but Kaito was the one who had spent time with the boy, and who knew him well.

"Was he like this on your other trip?" River asked Miyuki curiously, shifting her position so that she was sitting sideways on the bench and looking at her friend.

River looked thoughtful. "Do you think he knows how to write?" she asked curiously. "I mean ... I don't think Leyenda would let him go without at least some lessons, but ... I don't think Kelirahc writes, either, so maybe Amalirahc doesn't think he needs to learn, either."

She knew that even though she was born and raised in the middle of nowhere, her parents would never imagine letting her grow up without knowing how to read and write. It wasn't about practicality, perhaps, or necessity, but it just made sense.

River nodded thoughtfully, looking off in the direction in which Amalirahc had disappeared. Suddenly she grinned at Miyuki. "I really hope I can go sailing with all of you the next time you go," she said sincerely. "But I really hope Mama and Papa and everyone else will come too. It's a bit lonely without them."

Not that she felt alone, but she did miss her family. She was still a child after all.

River tilted her head. "Maybe," she had to conclude. "Jasmine is quiet when people are around, but she likes to have some adventure, too. Not that anyone would know it. And Brooke is like Amalirahc. She's always on the move and wanting to do new things. And I know Papa would go anywhere if Mama went, so I guess it's up to Mama ..."

Little did she know that her own mother had once dreamed of traveling, until she'd gotten married.

River looked anxiously. "But I want to see the other places, too, the places you've been already!" she protested. "Besides, we have to take Uncle Luk back home, so that means that we have to at least go to Caras Galadhon! And we'll have to take Aethos-sola back to his home, and -- and I'm sure Haldia and Kelirahc would like to go see their friends too!"

She really wanted to see all of those places, very badly.

She fell quiet suddenly, and when she spoke again, her tone was subdued, quiet. "And I want to meet Rhea."

She'd heard a lot about Rhea, but she'd never gotten the chance to meet her - at least, not that she could remember. She had been very young indeed when Rhea had gone off.

River beamed. "I hope Mama will agree to go!" she said hopefully.

"I'm sure she will," Arthael said, appearing behind River and putting her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Now River, your grandfather and I were hoping to go see the weaponsmith, did you want to come with or do you want to go with Miyuki for the afternoon?"

"With Miyuki!" River said immediately, looking up at her grandmother with a grin.

Arthael chuckled. "All right then. Make sure it's all right with Earendil and Lin first."

"I will!"

Arthael looked doubtfully at her granddaughter. "Riv-"

"MamasaidIcouldlearnifIfoundateacherthatdoesn'tblowthingsup," River blurted as fast as she possibly could.

That just made Arthael laugh. "Well, if that's what she said, then all right," she chuckled. "You just behave yourself."

"I will," River promised again.

In the end, all three children were given permission to go visit the alchemist, on the condition that if she were busy, they would not bother her but simply visit Haldia and Celeb. They were given permission to go on their own, but Shiro also wanted to go along with them, to share recipes and so on.

So, tablet in hand, Shiro went with the three children to the house of Elarinya.

"Hello!" the widow greeted the group cheerfully. "Welcome! Come in, come in. I suppose you're here to visit Celeb and Haldia?"