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Earendil saw in the way that Miyuki didn't want to look at him how much this was bothering her, and it made his chest hurt. He wished that he could have been there to help her, to take care of those kids - but at the same time he realized that he couldn't protect her from everything, and that there were some things that she would have to learn the hard way.

Of course, he didn't realize just how bad it had been either.

"I see," he murmured softly, wishing he knew the words to say. "Will you tell me what happened?"

"Worse?" Earendil pressed gently. "How so?"

He wanted the whole story from her. He couldn't help her if she didn't tell him everything - or at least, her entire perception of what had happened. After all, everyone would have their own perceptions.

Earendil frowned. That was indeed much worse than Miyuki had first made it sound.

"And then what happened?" he asked softly, wanting the full story before he gave her advice or comfort.

Earendil reached out and put one hand on Miyuki's shoulder, pulling her close for a one-handed hug while they walked.

"It's something that's hard to realize, and really quite impossible to understand ... but there are some people who really believe that those who are different from them can't be their equal," he murmured. "There is nothing wrong with being different. It doesn't make you any less of a person. If there is one thing that makes someone less of a person than anyone else, it's the way they treat others."

He smiled down at her gently. "How do you feel about Amalirahc coming to your defense?"

Earendil nodded slowly, giving himself some time to think before responding.

"One thing you don't have to worry about," he said firmly, "and that is that Amalirahc and River did nothing wrong, just as you did nothing wrong. If anyone at all tries to get them into trouble for it, you send them straight to me, or to Princess Wren, all right?"

He bit his lip thoughtfully, then added, "You are right, though. A lot of grownups do give us funny looks as well. Some of them are rude to us, and some of them don't like us in their shops."

He was thinking in particular of the jeweler who had so clearly wanted them gone.

"We can't change them, and they're not going to listen to anything that we say," he continued. "The best thing that we can do is simply be polite in return and show them what real courtesy and kindness are.

"I agree with you wholeheartedly," Earendil replied. "But remember, not everyone is like that. There are people like Jess everywhere, people who don't care that you're different. Those are the people that you can learn the most from, and that will be friends for life."

He smiled at her. "And those people will stand up for you when it counts, just like Amalirahc did."

Just then the group arrived at the tailor's, and Kelirahc held the door for everyone as they headed inside. It was a fair-sized shop, and the front wall and both side walls were covered, ceiling to floor, with bolts of material of all sorts of colours and designs. There were some mannequins, two working tables, and, at the back wall, two changing booths closed off by curtains for customers to try on the clothes that they were being made for them.

At one of the tables, a gentleman was sitting and working. He was dressed very well, in pale green robes with golden yellow trimmings, embroidered with leaves and birds. The fingers of his right hand were calloused from years of needlework, and the corners of his eyes were wrinkled deeply.

"Welcome," he called out when he heard the door open and people step in. "I'll be with you in just a moment."

"Come on, Miyuki," River said, grabbing Miyuki's hand. "You can help me pick something!" She giggled. "I can't believe I'm actually excited about this."

"Maybe it's a sign that you're growing up," Arthael deadpanned, looking over the bolts with her single eye.