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"All right then, just follow me," Wren grinned, mounting her horse. She started off at a quick pace, and Earendil flicked the reins at their horse to start after her.

They quickly left the marbled pathway of the palace and headed off across the grass, going around the palace and continuing away from it.

"Beautiful grounds," Earendil commented to Lin as they bounced along. And indeed it was: gardens and flowers and trees, birds and butterflies and blossoms, and not a cloud in the sky: it was so different from the Southland desert that he had grown up with.

They continued for a solid half hour at the same pace, and just as their horse was beginning to show signs of tiring, Wren motioned for them to stop.

"We'll leave the horses and the cart here," she told them as she dismounted. "They can't come further anyways, and they can use the rest."

Earendil pulled the horse to a stop and stepped down, then helped Lin and the children down as well. They had stopped just outside of a grove of trees, in an open meadow, and there was a small creek bubbling just to the east of them.

Wren grinned at Miyuki. "Miles away from the palace, near the edge of the grounds. If we were to go all the way through the trees here, we would see the wall, but from inside the trees it feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. It's also the northernmost part of the city, so beyond the wall is a small area of guarded space, and then is the city wall, and beyond that is a few miles of forest and then Northland."

"So close?" River asked, surprised, coming up behind Miyuki with Amalirahc close behind.

Wren smiled. "We're basically the border between the Westland and the Northland here."

"Which makes sense, considering it took us a few months to finally reach here," Earendil spoke up.

"Come this way," Wren urged them, dropping her horse's reins so that it wouldn't wander too far. She beckoned towards the trees. "I think I spent most of my time here growing up. It's still my refuge when I need one."

Wren laughed at Miyuki's question. "Well, yes, it is far away, but there are many places that are far from the palace. Mostly I come here because it's quiet, it's peaceful ... and it's private. I can do what I like, and I don't have to worry about keeping an image for people."

"That, I can understand," Earendil said knowingly. "Though of course I've kind of shattered that requirement for myself."

Amalirahc looked up at him curiously. "Why? You don't do stupid things like some people."

Earendil chuckled. He was of course referring to his marriage to Lin, and the adoption of the children that were now theirs. He just grinned at Lin, though, and didn't say anything.

Wren led them through the trees until they reached an open glade. Flowers grew in bunches here and there, and the creek burbled through one edge of the glade. Near the creek, a rope ladder was dangling, and even though it blended very neatly into the trees, it also seemed out of place in the place that was otherwise nothing but nature.

"Welcome to my hideaway," Wren grinned, sweeping one hand out, inviting the others to walk around as they pleased.

Wren looked around, her eyes bright. "It's the most beautiful place I know," she murmured.

The rope ladder led up to a flet - or rather a series of flets - just like in Nauros, that went around all of the trees that ringed the glade. These ones however had low rails on the edge of them so that neither items nor people could fall over the edge.

"Wow," Amalirahc smiled blissfully, his eyes just about glazing over with rapture as he looked up. "It's like Haldia's old home ..."

Or course he hadn't been there when it had been his father's home, only Haldia's.

"Really?" River asked excitedly. "Let's go up there!"

"Move over so we can come up, too!" Amalirahc called up to her, starting up the ladder after her.

"Don't forget me!" River called out, right behind Amalirahc.

Wren laughed, watching the children. "By the Valar, if only for this, I'd love to have children of my own someday. Well, I'm going to have to eventually, but still."

Andarien was watching the children with interest, his expression one of concentration as he watched them going up the rope ladder. He looked up at Lin and pointed at the children. "Mi!" he said, as if asking if he could follow after his sister.

"True," Wren grinned, looking back at the children. "On that note, I spoke with my father last night. He's actually considering allowing me to go with you when you leave here. I think he might actually let me go, too: I know he's anxious for me to settle down, and I told him the chances of me finding that someone are better if I'm out there meeting people."

She laughed. It startled Andarien, who looked at her in alarm for a moment before he nuzzled Lin back. He put his cheek to her shoulder as if he were going to fall asleep, but then he pointed up again and said, "Mi!"