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Miyuki wasn't the only one who was glad to see land: though Luk's people were obviously quite skilled seamen, he himself had never been on the water, and since his mother and step-father's disappearance had gained something of a fear of the open ocean, where there was no land in sight. So the moment they reached the dock, he was the first one on land, holding his bag tightly in one hand.

Haldia and Kelirahc had flown the non-crew to shore.

"We might as well head straight to the castle," Earendil suggested, "since it's going to be a while before the others are ready to come along."

He looked over at Luk. "You all right?"

Luk looked back at Earendil and nodded, but from the way he was breathing, it was clear that he was not all right. He was panting slightly, though not from heat or exhaustion: he had held in his fear for a week, and now his body was letting it all out.

Luk looked over at Lin, his blue eyes wide.

"I'm okay," he told her, though it sounded as if he were also trying to convince himself. He swallowed hard. "I ... don't like the ocean."

Haldia patted him lightly on the shoulder. "You will get used to it," she assured him with a smile. "It is not frightening after a while."

"All the same," Luk replied, "I'm happy to be on land again." And he looked down at the ground beneath his feet as if he wanted to kiss it.

"Come on," Celeb spoke up, putting one hand on Luk's shoulder. "Let's head up to the castle. They've got some drinks that can help calm you down."

"I don't drink alcohol," Luk said quickly as he started after Celeb.

Celeb just smiled. "They aren't alcoholic," he promised.

Earendil reached for Lin's hand so that he could walk with her. Miyuki, he mused, probably needed to run and get rid of some energy. She was just too hyper at the moment.

Amalirahc was much the same. He let his parents carry his bags as he took off up the path towards the city, arms outspread and shouting at the top of his lungs.

"For the sake of our ears," Keliarhc quipped, "I am glad that we are back on land."

"So this is Amon Darthir," Luk mused as they followed the path. He looked around them. "It is ... different from what I had imagined. Very ... open."

Of course he had never seen it, only heard of it.

Luk nodded slowly. "From what I understand, it is a miracle that the people survived as long as they did. I'm looking forward to seeing how they live."

He shivered slightly as a breeze picked up. It was the middle of Fading by this time, and in a matter of weeks it would be winter: the air was getting colder, and the leaves on the trees on the far side of the lowest wall were already bright shades of gold. Luk pulled a cloak from his bag and wrapped it around himself.

"Ah," Earendil murmured, "I had forgotten ... yes, we were all prepared, since we had known for about a year before you came that we were going to have to come here, but you had expected to stay in the Southland when you came this time, didn't you?"

"At least they don't get a lot of snow here," Celeb reminded Lin. "Light dusting, remember?"

Earendil frowned at that. "You're both going to need one," he said thoughtfully. "I would suggest that we get one for her as soon as we arrive at the city. The days are only going to get colder from here in."

"I would ask Alena for material," Leyenda suggested. "She always knows where to get everything."