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Amalirahc had spent a very boring afternoon in the castle. He hadn't been able to find anyone really worth talking to or hanging out with, and the academic mysteries that the castle offered - the library, observatory, conservatory, and work rooms - didn't interest him in the least. He would have asked to go to the city, but he knew he should wait for Miyuki and River, at the very least; and besides that, he didn't want to bother his parents. His mother was feeling unwell again, which irritated him.

As it was, he was wandering the corridors looking for someone to do something with.

Amalirahc had been wandering slowly down a corridor with his hands jammed deep into his pockets when he spotted Miyuki at the other end of the corridor. A light appeared in his golden eyes, and he burst into a sprint so that he could get to her quickly.

"There you are!" he exclaimed, skidding into a stop just in front of her. "I've been looking for you everywhere! Where were you? I'm so bored! River's gone too I don't know where she is and mostly everyone else is still in their rooms and I can't find anything to do!"

"She wasn't there when I looked," Amalirahc replied sourly. He thought about it for a moment, then sighed. "But I guess that was a while ago."

And the more he thought about it, the more it was possible that he hadn't looked well enough: he had just sort of poked his head in the door, and the library was quite a large place, to be fair.

"But I couldn't find Maeglin or Lalwen either," he added. "But I found Queen Lothiriel and King Estel!"

"Busy," Amalirahc replied with a heavy sigh. "But they were in the throne room so I guess that's all I can expect. I wasn't allowed to stay and watch though. But they did promise they would be with us for dinner!"

This last bit he said rather hopefully, as if he somehow doubted that they would be present.

"Did you see anything interesting in the tunnels?" he asked then, changing the subject.

One side of Amalirahc's mouth turned up in a half-smile. "I dunno ... it still sounds kinda boring to me. D'you want to play a game or something? Princess Wren gave me that box of hers, she said someone might as well play with the toys since she really can't anymore."

He wasn't interested in architecture or mechanics. He liked action.

Amalirahc frowned. "I already checked," he reminded her; then he sighed. "Fine. C'mon, it's this way."

He turned and started leading her down the corridor. Just as they turned a corner, a large set of double doors opened wide. Two guards stepped out, a man between them, his wrists and ankles chained. He glared at the children, but before he could say anything, the guards yanked him down the corridor.

Amalirahc held Miyuki back as a stream of other elves passed out the door and down the corridor after them. Finally came the king and queen themselves, both of whom looked somewhat tired. Estel followed after the procession of elves, but Lothiriel turned to Miyuki and Amalirahc.

"Well," she smiled at the children. "Hello. Welcome."

"Oh, yes," the queen smiled warmly. "Tired, but otherwise quite all right. It was a long trial, that's all."

Amalirahc tugged on Miyuki's sleeve and leaned over to whisper in her ear: "Miyuki, that's Queen Lothiriel. You should bow to her!"

Lothiriel laughed softly and put one hand on Miyuki's shoulder. "Don't worry about it," she grinned. "I had forgotten that you were only a babe the last time you were here. Sometimes it is a curse, Seeing so much. It becomes so easy to forget that others do not share your knowledge or your memories."

She presented herself more formally. "Queen Lothiriel Aldrich. A pleasure to see you again, Miyuki."

She eyed Amalirahc. "I would suggest that perhaps he might have warned you before I approached of who I am, but I suppose I ought not put too much faith in the sense of a boy who interrupted a trial."

"The guards didn't say I couldn't go in," Amalirahc pouted.