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Earendil nodded. "Come on over and I'll help you up," he told her, kneeling and making a stirrup with his hands so that he could give Miyuki a lift up. The horses were tall after all, and there was a good chance that Miyuki would never be able to climb up on one on her own.

Earendil helped Miyuki up onto the horse, and then he headed over to join Lin and Andarien on the wagon. Halmir and Arthael were driving that wagon, and Kaito had decided to drive the other, and as soon as Earendil was sitting down, they were off.

By the time they were a few hours into the desert, Andarien had fallen asleep curled up in Lin's lap. It didn't take long for boredom to settle over the group. Traveling in the desert was very different from traveling through the forest: at least in the forest there was shade and something to look at other than the endless sea of sand.

Earendil found himself staring curiously at Lancaeriel, who was riding in the same wagon as him and his family. Even after their weeks in the Eastland, she was still a mystery, and couldn't help but wonder who she was and what her past was.

Earendil blinked and looked at Lin. He had to think about what she'd said for a moment before he remembered what it meant. She'd used the phrase before, but only rarely, and the first time it had been slightly different. Then he smiled at her.

"Sorry," he murmured softly. "Curiosity getting the better of me. I know we have the uncanny tendency to meet the most fascinating of people ... and knowing that Lancaeriel was the one who changed Iorlas and Ioreth ... I'm curious."

What was her past? Where had she learned such magic? He couldn't imagine that something like that would be a magic that one could be born with.

"And even physically she's so different from anyone we've ever seen," Earendil pointed out. "Especially considering the fact that she claims to be from the Four Lands. I don't know that I would call her a Light Elf, though."

Her skin, eyes, everything was too light. And yet she didn't look like the white-skinned elves of Caras Galadhon either.

Earendil laughed at that. "I suppose we could. It's a bit awkward though without Miyuki or Andarien awake to excuse - or at least give excuse to - personal questions."

Because really, these things were none of his business. He was just so used to finding out about people.

"Indeed," Earendil grinned. "Perhaps we should wake Andarien."

Though it was probably better not to, as the boy tended to try to avoid Lancaeriel because of the way she appeared when he looked at her. Besides that, he wasn't nearly as curious as Miyuki. Or him or Lin, for that matter.

"Or not," he chuckled.

Andarien stirred slightly in his sleep as Lin stroked his hair. He shifted slightly and snuggled closer to Lin before falling back into a deeper sleep.

Earendil looked down at the boy tenderly. "At least that's something we can help him with," he murmured sadly. "Learning about magic and Sight and such things ... that's possible. I only wish we could help him as easily with his training and his languages."