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"Just a few streets down," Halmir was the one to speak up. "Unless it's moved."

"Nope!" Amalirahc grinned. "How did you know?"

"I'll have you know, I grew up here," Halmir laughed, punching Amalirahc's shoulder playfully. "It wasn't so long ago as you might think."

Halmir laughed at the look on Miyuki's face. "I wasn't born in the army, you know," he grinned.

"Grandpapa," River sighed, rolling her eyes. "Don't be silly."

Halmir laughed aloud at that comment. "Indeed I could have!" he agreed quite cheerfully. He turned and waved to the tanner so that they could leave. "Until we meet again, Master Tanner!" he said warmly, and led the children towards the door.

River waved over her shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Master Jeremiah!" she said brightly.

Amalirahc was too busy looking strangely at Miyuki to bid the tanner farewell. "What difference does it make where he was born?" he asked curiously. "I was born on a ship on a different continent, but I'm me. So Halmir is Halmir, no matter where he was born."

It was a concept that was clear as crystal to him, but that many people - especially in this city - simply did not understand.

"Then I don't understand why you make it sound like it matters," Amalirahc shrugged.

Halmir chuckled softly and put one hand on Amalirahc's head. "I'm sure that's not what she meant," he said calmingly. "Probably just the fact that we've been here a few days and I hadn't mentioned it yet."

Not to mention the fact that he had more or less been letting Amalirahc lead them around, though to be fair, that was more because he knew how much Amalirahc liked to do so.

Amalirahc stared at Miyuki a moment longer, then shrugged. "Okay."

It wasn't in him to make a big deal of things. It was a waste of energy. He didn't really understand why Miyuki got worked up about things sometimes.

Halmir smiled at Miyuki. "Well, I know that Amalirahc likes to be helpful, so I saw nothing wrong with allowing him to lead us for the most part."

"He does know quite a bit," Halmir agreed readily. "For a visitor."

But before he could explain that remark, they had arrived at the florist's shop. The florist, a pretty young woman who knew a lot about flowers and their meanings, helped Amalirahc to pick out an Eglantine - or Briar - Rose for his mother. She also used a touch of magic to keep it fresher longer before sending them off.

The next day, River insisted on returning to the city on her own, and despite their misgivings, Halmir and Arthael allowed her to do so. She came back safely, which relieved them greatly, her parents' gifts in hand.

The next several days passed in much the same manner: the children went often to the city to play with their new friends (though none of the children of Chansond'eau ever warmed up to them as much as Jess and Jasta, even though Jasta only showed up every third or fourth day at most), and someone or other was constantly making trips into the city for fittings, picking up orders, or simply looking around.

Amazingly, Ioreth caused no more trouble - or rather, nothing noteworthy, other than causing the odd spill - and even Iorlas allowed herself to relax eventually. Alena and Elros spent quite a bit of time with Lord Jaxon and Lady Kirahn, and Wren spent quite a bit of time with absolutely everyone, listening to stories and learning about the places that she hoped one day to visit with them.

Finally, after nearly two weeks in the city, all of the clothes from the tailor's were finished, and nearly everyone had something brand new to wear. About the same time, Jeremiah finally sent word through Jess that his family was available to visit the palace for dinner. This sent River into endless squeals, as she had been impatient for them to come.

The day arrived that Jeremiah and his family would come for dinner, and the king and queen made sure that the palace was ready for them: extra clean, a banquet fit for royalty prepared. Though they weren't expected for a while yet, River was already wearing her new dress. It had a dark pink bodice, thick-strapped and bare-shouldered, and had light pink flowers on it. The skirt was the same light pink, but plain. The dress itself was made of silk, and the half-length sleeves were sheer. As a finishing touch, her grandmother had added a sheer white scarf, which was in turn complemented by a necklace and crown of pink flowers braided together. Overall, River felt like a princess, despite the fact that she wasn't one.

Even Arthael had put on her new dress: with darker skin than her granddaughter, she wore a dress of a striking violet that matched her single eye, with golden trim and lacing, and long, white sleeves. Halmir had not been permitted to see it before she put it on, and for a full ten minutes at least, he was positively tongue-tied.

He of course had his own new clothes, though he hadn't allowed his wife to make him anything too elaborate: a simple crimson tunic, gold-trimmed, with black pants and boots.

River, ready for the evening, and quite excited, was finally shooed from the room she was sharing with her grandparents so they could finish getting ready and, too antsy to just wait, she headed off to find Miyuki so that they could find a way to pass the time.

Andarien was also dressed up in his nice new clothes (one of the many sets he had gotten from the tailor, though by far the fanciest). When he saw Miyuki heading for the door, he got to his feet and toddled after her calling out "Mi! Mi!"

Earendil had been getting Andarien ready, and himself was still in his regular clothes. He watched as the little boy ran after his sister (well, toddled after her, anyways).

"Should we let him go with her?" he asked Lin. "We still both need to get ready ourselves ..."

And Andarien didn't get to spend a lot of time with Miyuki, really. She was always off with her friends or for lessons or something. She was definitely not the clingy girl she had been when he and Lin had first married.

Earendil grinned at Lin and winked at her. "Sounds good to me," he said cheerfully. "I think it would be good for all of us."

Andarien caught up with Miyuki and grabbed her kimono with both hands, grinning up at her, his violet eyes shining brightly. "Mi!"

On the other side of the door, River had arrived and was excited to see Miyuki. She knocked at the door, and while she waited for an answer she couldn't help but twirl excitedly, her long skirt billowing out around her.