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Earendil couldn't help but chuckle, though it wasn't nearly as lighthearted as it usually was. He couldn't help but think ahead to the confrontation that would have to take place eventually ...

As it turned out, the inn had four bath rooms, and so it was no trouble for them to use two of the rooms right away. When they emerged, most of the rest of their group had returned to the inn as well, and were sitting in the dining room and waiting for the others to order their food. Leyenda and her family; Arthael and Halmir with River; Luk, Emile, Aethos and Alassëa; Shiro and Kaito: the only ones who weren't back yet were Leilani, Aric, Remiel, Iorlas and Daeron.

"Hey! Hey! There they are!" River exclaimed excitedly, pointing at Earendil and Lin and their children. "Miyuki! Miyuki! Come on, come sit with me and Amalirahc!"

"I sure did!" River beamed. "Look!"

She held up a necklace that was hanging about her neck. It was gold and amethyst, and contrasted beautifully against her olive skin. She was very proud of it.

"Grandmama bought it for me today!" she giggled, still holding it up for Miyuki to see. "She said that I didn't get anything for myself on the trip and that I should get something, and especially if we're going to be visiting the royal palaces while we're traveling I should have something pretty to wear!"

Amalirahc rolled his eyes. "It's pretty, sure," he agreed, "but we don't have anything like that and we go to royal palaces all the time."

River stuck her tongue out at him. "Yes, but you're of royal blood and I'm not," she retorted. "It's different for you!"

"See?" River stuck her tongue out at Amalirahc again.

Amalirahc rolled his eyes and threw up his hands in defeat. "Whatever." He started muttering to himself in the ancient tongue, something about girls and not making sense.

River turned her attention back to Miyuki. "Grandpapa said something about getting a dress, too, but I don't know about that," she confided to her.

"That's true," River admitted thoughtfully. "I always thought that if I start wearing dresses I won't be able to do the same things as I always do, but you do just as much as me, I think, and you wear dresses ..."

Her violet eyes grew thoughtful. "Maybe ... maybe I could try it," she said, her tone doubtful.

As she spoke, the group was joined by the remainder of their members: Leilani and Aric with Remiel, Aethos and Alassëa, and, trailing in behind the others, Iorlas.

River was about to reply to Miyuki's comment when she saw that she no longer had her friend's attention. "What's going on?" she asked, her smile fading. "What happened?"

When the group came in and started to sit down, Earendil called out Iorlas's name and motioned for her to come and sit across from him and Lin. She did so, and from her smile it was clear that she had no idea what had happened only the hour before.

"Hello," she greeted the two warmly. "How was your afternoon?"

Iorlas blinked at Lin, taken completely by surprise by her statement, and it took a moment for what she had said to sink in. At first she could only stare, but finally her mouth decided to work and the first thing she said was a very strong curse word that no one had ever heard her say before and which attracted stares from those who were sitting closest to her.

Earendil was one of the people who were staring, and before he could say anything, Iorlas said, in a very low tone and with a very worried look, "What did she do?"

Iorlas lowered her head and held it in her hands, and for a long time she was silent.

"Iorlas, don't take it the wrong way," Earendil said, finally finding his voice back. "We're asking because we care. We haven't known you long, it's true, but you are our friend. It's not your fault that she does these things, but if you're taking the blame for it, you could be in danger ..."

Iorlas shook her head. "There ... is no way to explain," she said, almost in a whisper. "Not in a way that anyone would understand ..."

Iorlas was still silent. Earendil tried to be patient, but he wanted to know what was going on as well - and he was worried about her.

"Iorlas ..." he said gently.

The woman shook her head. "I'm sorry. I can't. There's very little that I actually can tell you ..."

"Then at least tell us that." Earendil's voice was soft but firm.