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Vergil pouted, but when he thought about it, it made sense. After all, if it took them forever to get ready, then they wouldn't be ready in time, and they wouldn't be able to leave on time - and then it would just take them longer to get there.

"Okay," he agreed, hopping off the table and running back over to Cindy. He put his arms up for her to pick him up. "Let's go."

"Have a wonderful trip," Haradhel said warmly. "And be sure to give Rhea our love, and tell her we miss her out here!"

"From all of us," Elrohir added.

Aurin smiled warmly as he stepped towards the door. "I will be certain to tell her," he promised. "You can count on it."

Once they were outside again, Aurin whistled for Skyel, and in a matter of seconds the enormous roc arrived and settled onto the ground for them to climb up.

"By the way," Aurin commented as he tied Vergil in once more, "I am not certain if you were aware, but you will not be our only guests when you are there. Princess Arwen and Prince Roydon are also there with their family, as are Prince Earendil and Lin and their daughter."

"I am certain they would like that as well," Aurin smiled as he strapped himself in. "Though it may be a while until they return, Prince Earendil finished his work and wanted to give Her Majesty some time to see if she would be fine without him, so while Prince Shea and Prince Mikhail are finishing the city, he and Lin and the others are heading to Nauros to visit Haldia."

He glanced over his shoulder at Cindy. "Ready?" he asked.

When they returned to the valley, Shael and Adonai had already spoken with Ulani and Ulrich and were busy packing. The rest of the day passed very quickly, and early the next morning, they were off on the long journey back to the island.

Meanwhile, on Nauros, the travelers had just finished a full week of visiting, and by this time, even Kelirahc was ready to leave again. They had all seen the most interesting parts of the island, and Kelirahc and Leyenda had visited with all of Kelirahc's old friends, and Haldia had said her goodbyes to the elders. All that was left was for them to pack up and leave.

"In a way, it feels like we've just arrived," Earendil mused as he helped to take down the shelter that had been erected for the crew on the beach. "But on the other hand, it also feels like we've been here a while."

"Considering the chaos," Kelirahc spoke up, "it was enough."

Cald hadn't caused them any more trouble, and after Haldia had burned gifts from her other suitors as well, the three of them - Cald, Krendren and Durin - had been quite unfriendly to the lot of them.

"I am ready to go," Haldia said solemnly.

"It will be," Earendil grinned. "I'm looking forward to seeing how Aerin is doing on her own. Well, without me, I should say." He chuckled softly. "She's not really on her own, she's got Rhea and Alena to advise her, after all. More advisers than most rulers."

"I am looking forward to seeing them all again," Haldia admitted. "Even seeing Amon Darthir once more. I would like to see how it has changed."

"If there are any shops up to visit," Earendil quipped with a laugh. "I'm sure they will have made progress by the time we get back, but I doubt the entire city will be rebuilt by then. There might be something, though."

He chuckled softly. "And Miyuki and Amalirahc will have new stories to tell their friends."

They finished with the shelter, and Arwen and Roydon began to organize the crew to bring everything to the ship.

Haldia looked around. "If you want, I can fly you to the ship," she offered.