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A look of great annoyance crossed Vergil's face, but he let go of Amalirahc obediently. Like a shot, Amalirahc was off, running through the crowd to catch up with the rest of their friends.

"There he goes," Leyenda laughed as they caught up with Miyuki and Vergil finally.

Earendil chuckled as well. "He's never seen anything like this, has he? I'm sure he must be very excited." He smiled down at Lin. "For that matter, you've never managed to make it to the Festival of the Enderi back home either, have you?"

Vergil peered around the tall elves. "Where's Mother?" he asked anxiously.

Vergil scooted over to Cindy's side. He'd had fun in the parade, but Aerin's speech, made entirely in Common Elvish, reminded him that he was lost without people who wouldn't speak his language - and Miyuki and Amalirahc (Amalirahc especially) tended to get caught up in the language when they were with the other children.

Earendil smiled at Miyuki and patted her on the head. "The Enderi are the days of the year that aren't a part of any month," he explained, realizing that he hadn't really taught her the elven calendar before, and he wasn't sure how well Lin knew it.

He turned around and motioned for her to climb onto his back so that he could give her a piggy-back ride. "Since they're not any day of the week either, it's a celebration, a three-day festival! All of the people in the whole city turn out. You'll see what it's like today, but only it lasts three days and not just one!"

Earendil straightened and shifted Miyuki on his back to make it easier to carry her, then started forward. He explained about the weeks, how there were a different number in each month, and how the months fit neatly into full weeks, without leftovers; but as there were five days left afterwards to fill the year, with six days required to make the week, one day was chosen as the first of the year, one day as the last of the year, and the other three were in the middle, not part of any month, nor a day of the week, but five individual days; and how every twelve years was a leap year and the days of the Enderi doubled.

By the time he finished explaining, they had reached the main area of celebration, and there were already several things going on, even in just the area where they were: dances and music and contests and games and food and all manner of fun.

"What would you like to do first?" he asked Miyuki and Lin, grinning.

Earendil grinned. "Games it is," he agreed.

The games that had been constructed were games of skill, with prizes that could be won. There was a ring-toss, a bag-toss, darts, and other games. Prizes were anything from trinkets to high-quality items.

"Pick something," Earendil grinned up at Miyuki.

"All right," Earendil agreed cheerfully. He veered off in that direction, making sure LIn was still with them.

"Welcome," the elf running the game greeted them as they arrived. "My name is Remiel! Would you like to try at our game, sir?"

"Actually, my daughter would," Earendil replied, kneeling so that Miyuki could hop off his back.

Remiel smiled warmly at Miyuki. "Well, come on up," he told her brightly. "Here, I'll give you five of these rings," and he did so, "and then you try and toss them onto these sticks. If you get them all, you win a prize. Go ahead."

He set the five rings on the counter and motioned towards the children's level of the game: five small posts on a slanted board so that they would be less likely to bounce off again.

The man smiled at Miyuki and collected the rings back again. "Would you like to give it another try?" he asked her. "There is no line yet, you are welcome to if you like."

Earendil looked down at Miyuki. "What do you say, Miyuki?" he asked her with a smile. "Another try?"

Remiel smiled and passed the rings across the counter once more. "Here you are," he said warmly. "Go ahead."

Earendil put one hand on Miyuki's shoulder and knelt next to her. "Would you like a suggestion?" he asked her with a soft smile. "Something that might help you a bit?"