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"Considering we've just returned, I think we could make a stop at the sweet shop, couldn't we?" Earendil grinned at Lin. "I'm afraid I've got something of a sweet tooth, and it's been a while since we've been to one."

Luk smiled at Miyuki. He had grown comfortable with everyone on the trip over, and he was fond of the child.

"I do," he told her. "Really, not much is needed to be happy, or to have pleasure ... but to look at pretty things is one of the greatest pleasures there are."

Of course, he wasn't one for company, so that stood to reason.

Luk chuckled softly at the look on Miyuki's face. It seemed he had only succeeded in confusing her - but at least she had gotten the gist of what he'd said.

"Like flowers," he agreed. "They are very beautiful. But there are many other beautiful things to look at ... a rainbow after a heavy rain ... the ocean after a storm ... to see two people truly in love ..."

He smiled warmly. "These are some truly beautiful things."

Earendil smiled and squeezed Lin's hand. "And really, we should see if there's anything Luk would be interested in seeing," he murmured. "I mean, it's his first time seeing a new place, really."

Luk smiled at Miyuki. "Yes. Like your mother and father," he agreed. "Beautiful. And all the more so because of who they are - they're not afraid to let people know that they love each other."

He had been warned of the attitudes of most of the elven nations, and he understood what a scandal the two of them were creating.

Earendil pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Yes ... well, and it would be good for us as well to get to know the new city a bit, seeing as the new city is so different from the old."

Luk smiled and patted Miyuki on the head. "Perhaps when you are older, you'll understand," he told her. "As things are, I'm not sure even I do, so I'm afraid that's all I can tell you right now. You'll have to ask your parents if you want to know more."

He would leave it to them to decide how much to tell her.

Earendil followed Lin's glance, and he smiled when he saw Luk pat Miyuki on the head. It seemed that they were becoming friends, and that made him feel good - for both of them.

"Now," Earendil murmured, "what's first?"

There was no sign up yet, so it must have been one of the newest of the shops. Peering in the large store-front window, he saw an assortments of leather works for rocs and people: jesses, bags, a few pairs of boots, and so on.

"Tannery," he grinned at Lin. "Come, boots for all." He held the door open for everyone.

Luk smiled down at Miyuki. "After you," he said, bowing as if she were royalty - which she technically was, even though he really was just teasing her.

Earendil laughed as he followed Luk and Lin into the shop.

Luk wasn't really looking for much in particular, but he was curious to see what sort of wares the city had. He tagged along behind Miyuki, still smiling at her reaction to his bow.

"Have you been here before?" he asked her with a smile.

"And how do you like your bag?" Luk asked, picking one from the display and examining it closely. "I wonder how they cure the leather ... this is amazingly soft ..."

Artemis, the young man who had been a child the first time they'd visited, was in a back room, but when he heard voices he came out behind the counter to see who it was.

"Welcome back, my lord and lady," he said warmly when he saw Lin and Earendil. "I heard you were on a trip. I'm glad to see that you've returned safely."

Luk laughed. "Yellow, is it?" he grinned. "A very pretty colour, indeed! Bright and cheerful!" He turned the bag over in his hand. "I wonder if I should get a new bag," he mused. "It is wonderfully good craftsmanship ..."

He looked down at Miyuki. "What do you think?"

Artemis smiled at Lin and came around to the front of the counter. "If you like, if you have the time, I can take your measurements presently," he offered.