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Earendil was wearing his formal clothes from his own country, which was almost the equivalent of a military leader: black pants and boots, a white silken shirt with loose sleeves, and a fire-blue sleeveless overcoat, all trimmed in gold, and with a black belt holding it all together around his waist.

He spotted the children at the bottom of the stairs as he ushered Lin carefully down the staircase, and he chuckled softly. "Now that's what I call a welcoming committee," he grinned.

Andarien's eyes sparkled brightly when he heard his father's voice, and he looked up to see Earendil and Lin together. He let go of River and Miyuki's hands and started walking to the stairs. "Ada! Nana! Ada! Nana!" he exclaimed.

River giggled at Lin and Earendil. "Not really, Andarien's just impatient," she replied.

Andarien looked up at Miyuki and smiled at her. "Mi! Ada, Nana!" he exclaimed, pointing up the stairs at the two.

River giggled. "Very impatient," she corrected herself.

Andarien paid no attention to Miyuki, but when he arrived at the stairs he put one knee on the first step and used his hands to push himself back to his feet.

"Andarien!" River exclaimed, darting forward and picking him up. "No, it's not safe!"

"If there were a railing, I would say let him try it," Earendil spoke up. He arrived at the bottom of the stairs and took Andarien from River. "He's going to have to learn to use the stairs sometime."

"Yes, the stairs there are safer," Earendil agreed. He looked at the girls. "Are you going to come to the banquet hall with us?"

River looked at Miyuki. "Well ... I'd like to wait here for Jess and his family," she admitted. "But if you want to go with your family, Miyuki, don't let me hold you back."

She knew she was probably more excited about the visit than anyone else, and she didn't want to make Miyuki wait with her if she didn't want to.

River's smile widened. "Thanks," she said warmly. She clasped her hands together. "I don't know why, but even with how excited I am, I'm a bit nervous."

She giggled girlishly and fidgeted with her dress.

Earendil chuckled. "Well, we'll see you in the banquet hall then."

He shifted Andarien to one arm and held out his other for Lin to take. "Coming?" he smiled at her warmly.

Once Earendil and Lin had gone off, Elros and Alena greeted the girls as they passed by, as did Leilani and Aric. Luk and Emile passed a few minutes later, and even the two of them had dressed up. Luk, in addition to his clothes, was wearing his senatorial sash across his chest, the black silk a stark contrast against his white satin kurta-style outfit, trimmed in a pale cream colour. Emile on the other hand was simply wearing a freshly washed and pressed dark blue tunic over a white shirt, and dark pants.

A few minutes after they had passed, Halmir and Arthael appeared, Halmir in his black pants and crimson shirt, and Arthael in her violet and white dress. Halmir had helped her with her hair, and in addition to the progressive braid she had in, she also had a white flower with violet-tipped petals just above one ear.

"Oh, Grandmama!" River squealed. "I've never seen you dressed up before! You're so pretty!"

Arthael chuckled softly. "Thank you, River. Still waiting on Jess and his family?"

River pouted. "Yes."

Halmir laughed. "You're being impatient, River. They're not late. You just insisted on preparing early."

River stuck her tongue out at her grandfather just as the enormous entrance doors opened and two guards stepped inside, one at each side, surrounding four golden-haired elves.

Jeremiah was dressed in formal black, shirt and pants, with a green over-vest. Jess was dressed in the same pants and vest, but his shirt was white. Jasta's hair was pulled back in a half-pony, and it had been curled so that it fell in ringlets down her back, and she was wearing a red and gold salwar - a dress-type shirt that went almost to her knees, sleeves that went to almost to her wrists, and loose golden pants. A golden, satin scarf finished the look, giving her a stylish appearance that made her look older than she was.

The fourth person was clearly Jeremiah's wife, the children's mother. Though both of the children had many of her gentle features, Jasta was the one who looked much more like her. She had large blue eyes, soft and welcoming, very friendly. Her hair was a lighter blond than the rest of her family, almost a white-blond, and fell in natural waves to her waist. She was wearing an outfit like her daughter's, teal and silver instead of red and gold, and like Lin's hanfu, it had silver butterflies and swirls all over it.

There was one other thing of note about her: she was quite visibly pregnant, perhaps weeks away from delivery.

River just about squealed when the family entered the hall, and she turned her attention immediately from her grandfather.

"You made it!" she exclaimed, barely remembering not to pounce on anyone.

River couldn't help but blush at that, and Jeremiah and his wife chuckled softly, as did Halmir and Arthael.

"Grandmama, Grandpapa," River said, clasping her hands behind her back and smiling shyly, "this is my- our - friends, Jess and Jasta, and their father, Master Jeremiah and ..."

She trailed off. She hadn't met their mother yet, and didn't know her name.

"Jacinthe," Jeremiah finished for her, pronouncing the j almost like a z.

"Jacinthe," River repeated softly. She paused a moment, then added, "Everyone, this is my grandfather, Halmir, and my grandmother, Arthael."

"And that's Miyuki," Jasta added, looking up at her mother and nodding at Miyuki.

The woman smiled warmly and nodded. "It gives me great pleasure to finally meet you," she said softly, her tone gentle and motherly. "Jess and Jasta have been telling me all about you girls. I apologize that we could not come sooner, but ... well, circumstances prevented it."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, too," Arthael replied graciously. "River has been speaking of almost nothing else these two weeks but her new friends."

River's blush grew deeper. "Grandmama ..."