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"That would be interesting, too," Earendil agreed. "But not today, today there isn't enough time. We could perhaps approach Shiro about it when we go to look for Lancaeriel."

he was really curious now to know what Lancaeriel and sir Valdemar were researching so frantically.

"And Andarien is probably with him," Earendil chuckled. "I'm happy, though, to see how quickly Andarien is learning so much. Considering we didn't really teach him much in his first few stages ... it's good that he can pick up so quickly."

He was already reading and writing - very well in High Elven, fairly well in Common Tongue, and beginning to learn in Common Elvish - and of course his grasp of mechanics and numbers was already beyond what most people would ever expect to need in a lifetime.

"And that he understands what's going on around him and doesn't feel inadequate," Earendil added, thanking Iorlas once more in his head for the gift she'd given their son.

"On that thought," he added, "he should be working on his physical training, too, while we're here. We need to get him a bow or two as well. Now that he's grown, it will be worth getting him a few of different strengths for him to grow into. But if we let him get used to not having to train every day, it's going to be harder to get him started later on."

"Maybe we should just take him to meet Uncle Eldrin," Earendil grinned. "See if he can do anything with Andarien."

He knew that he had the ability to be a good trainer - he had helped with training some of the Home Guard after all, the elite of the elite - but he knew that he wouldn't be able to treat Andarien as he treated those trainees, just because he was his son.

"I'm sure if we present it as another visit, he'll never suspect," he added as they headed up the stairs that was the closest to the studies. "Though even if he doesn't like it, he's got to learn not to let it put him in a bad mood. That kind of attitude isn't going to help him in life."

Earendil nodded. The question hadn't come up since Andarien had grown, so they really couldn't say at this point.

They approached Earendil's old study, and Earendil let the conversation die out. The last thing they needed was for Andarien to overhear them.

"Hello," he called instead as they reached the door.

Shiro and Andarien were both still in the study, as was Eon, but now the Eevee was awake and sitting on Andarien's lap while he worked.

Andarien looked up from his work. "Hi! Look what I've got done already today!" He held up a sheet of paper covered with sketches of gears and other parts put together in some sort of mechanical design. The parts were labeled in his writing, painstakingly small and neat, showing that he had to have spent an immense amount of time on the formation of the letters that were still so new to him.

Shiro chuckled, his tail flicking back and forth with amusement. "He's obsessed," he grinned cattily.

Shiro laughed. "Nope. It's going very well. He's picking up on things very quickly."

Earendil chuckled softly. "Good. Anyways, Shiro, Miyuki had something she wanted to ask you."

He smiled down at Miyuki and nodded for her to go ahead and ask.

Shiro tilted his head curiously, one ear flicking back and forth.

Shiro's red eyes gleamed brighter at Miyuki's suggestion, and he nodded eagerly. "I'd like that very much," he agreed. "Do you have an idea of when you would like to go?"

"Old city?" Andarien piped up, confused. He didn't know what they were talking about.

Earendil looked at his son. "You remember the last time we were here, when we were coming to the city and when we left again, at the bottom of the mountain there was all piles of stones and stuff?"

Andarien nodded.

"That's where this city used to be," Earendil went on. "About a century ago, there was a large war, and the city was destroyed. It was rebuilt up here on the mountain. But if you go down to the ruins of the old city, you can still see where there were houses, and the old castle, and everything."

He himself had never really taken the time to explore the old city, though it had been in his mind as one of those things he would have liked to do someday.

Looked like 'someday' might have finally arrived.

"But that brings me back to my original question," Shiro spoke up again. He looked back at Miyuki. "Do you have in mind a specific time when you'd like to go?"