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"Considering she's never been here before," Daeron guessed, "I'd say she saw that person she thought she recognized before."

Just a guess on his part, but if it weren't something like that, or something important, he was sure she would not have just run off. Not without saying anything.

He smiled at Miyuki. "I'm sure she'll let us know when she gets back."

"Then maybe she'll meet us there," Earendil suggested. "It's about the best we can do. She said she would meet us."

"If she doesn't come by the time we're done there, I'll stay behind and wait for her," Daeron decided. He pointed ahead of them. "There it is."

He had been here on his previous journeys, though admittedly it had been a long time.

Daeron chuckled at Miyuki. "I've been as many places as your parents, at least in the Four Lands," he told her. "And more times than them. I used to travel quite a lot. It wasn't as nice then as it is now. Traveling companions I should say."

"Ever met up with any of your former companions before?" Earendil asked curiously.

Daeron's eyes narrowed. "Yes. And I hope not to do so again."

"Yes, well, Lothiriel also had the Gift to know who to travel with and who not to travel with," Daeron replied easily. "Not all of us are so fortunate."

Earendil couldn't hold back a chuckle as he opened the door to the carpenter's shop for them, but he didn't say anything. He had heard stories.

Andarien was immediately intrigued by the smell in the shop. He hadn't been to a wood shop before, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of the scent of woodchips and varnishes. It wasn't bad, but he wasn't sure it was overly good either. He looked around the shop.

The carpenter, Lanaea, was kneeling on the floor and working on very carefully carving into the side of what looked like it might end up being a bookshelf or something similar. Her shimmering golden hair was tied back to keep it out of the way, but tendrils of sawdust and wood shavings were caught up in it nonetheless. Aside from her, the shop was empty until the travelers entered.

"Well she also likes jewelry so it makes sense she would like something just as pretty to put things in," Earendil grinned.

At the sound of voices, Lanaea looked up from her work and smiled at her visitors.

"Welcome," she greeted them warmly. "Or welcome back, perhaps I should say."

Lanaea pushed herself to her feet and brushed the wood shavings off her knees. "It's been quite a while since I've seen you," she murmured. She smiled at Miyuki. "I remember you, though you were just an infant the last time you were here. And it looks as if you've added to your group again."

She looked curiously at Andarien, who was staring at the carving she was working on from about half a foot away from it.

Andarien looked up at the sound of his name and blinked at the carpenter, who was smiling down at him.

"Hello," she greeted him warmly.

Andarien kept staring at her, motionlessly for a moment; but then he inched backward, away from her. Being put into the spotlight made him nervous. It didn't help that he wasn't very familiar with the language she was using.

He was saved from having to answer, however, when the door of the shop opened and closed, distracting Lanaea from him. She turned away from him and greeted the new arrivals.

Iorlas had arrived, and she was not alone: she had with her another woman, someone who, since the two had their arms linked together, she apparently knew well. This new woman was slightly taller than Iorlas, and a Light Elf. Her hair was very pale, paler than even the usual platinum blond, and her eyes, rather than the usual green or blue of the Light Elves, were a cloudy gray. Her lips, a pale hue of lavender, matched her clothes, which were lavender with white trim.

Once they were inside, rather than releasing her, Iorlas led her over to Daeron, Lin and Earendil, smiling at the three of them.

"Prince Daeron Aldrich, Princess Lin Winters Aldrich, Prince Earendil Aldrich," she introduced everyone, "this is Lancaeriel. Lancaeriel is a dear, dear friend of mine ... and quiet possibly the best person I have ever known."

The others echoed Lin's greeting, and Lancaeriel smiled warmly at them all. "Thank you," she said softly. "It's a great pleasure to meet all of you." She looked around and tilted her head slightly when she saw Miyuki and Andarien. "Iorlas, you missed a few, I think."

Iorlas laughed softly. "So I did. Miyuki and Andarien Winters Aldrich, they are the children of Lin and Earendil."

Andarien was strangely fixated by this new woman, and he kept staring up at her. She looked different from other Light Elves ... lighter than most, if that was possible. He knew nothing of sensing magic, so he had no idea how much she reeked (figuratively speaking) of power.

"Hi ..." he said shyly, pressing against Lin's leg and trying to hide in her clothes.