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Ivy grinned at Miyuki. " 'Malirahc wanted to play, so we were playing hide-and-seek in the vineyard!" she replied brightly. "I won!"

"That's because you blend better than I do," Amalirahc shot back, reaching behind himself and tickling her ribs.

Ivy squealed and slid off his back, wrapping her arms around herself for protection. "Hey! That's not fair!"

Ivy stuck her tongue out at Daemon. "Only with 'Malirahc!"

He'd been there to visit before, and the two were old friends (and friendly rivals).

Amalirahc moved to sit down beside Miyuki, and Ivy sat across from them. "So what did you do today, Miyuki?" Amalirahc asked her with a grin. "We didn't see you anywhere!"

Not that they were looking; they'd been busy playing, after all.

"Pish, that's all boring stuff." Amalirahc wrinkled his nose in distaste. "If you want something interesting, check out what Laer does in the kitchen. She makes really good buns and pastries and pies and stuff!"

Ivy was in complete agreement with him. "Ninako is teaching me to bake, too," she said solemnly, sitting on her knees. "Someday, I'm going to be able to cook just as good as her and Nako!"

"What about your mama?" Amalirahc asked. "She cooks good, too!"

"But she doesn't cook often," Ivy replied quickly. "She helps Ada in the field mostly." She grinned at Miyuki. "That's how they met! Mama was a field hand and Ada worked in the field when he was little!"

Ivy grinned at Miyuki, her dark eyes sparkling brightly. "Just wait until you try it!" she boasted. "Nako always serves kids' wine with our meals, and it's so much better than the grown-ups' wine!"

Suddenly she pointed past Miyuki and Amalirahc. "Oh, look! Sylvar and your brother are back!"

The dark-haired young man and the little blond-haired boy were heading towards the yard where everyone else was waiting for them. Sylvar was carrying Andarien, who was listening with utmost fascination to what the older boy was saying.

Andarien did indeed hear Miyuki, but it was a few seconds before it registered that she had called his name, and when he looked over at her, he gave her only a quick glance before once more giving Sylvar his undivided attention.

Ivy giggled. "Sylvar must be happy. He likes to talk but usually he can't find anyone to listen to him."

Ivy shrugged. "Sylvar knows a lot," she said simply. "It could be anything. But maybe we'll find out, it looks like they're coming this way."

Even if Andarien wasn't looking where he and Sylvar were going, Sylvar was paying close attention, since he didn't want to trip or run into anything and drop the boy. He headed towards the children, assuming that Andarien would want to sit with his family.

"... and the interlocking cogs work all of the machinery which means that we don't have to keep having people work the different parts, or horses," he was explaining. "The power of the water does all the work and makes things work much more smoothly and consistently."

"Will you show me?" Andarien asked, his wide eyes hidden by the massive goggles he was wearing.

Sylvar chuckled. "Of course." He grinned as he sat down next to his sister and put Andarien on the bench beside him. "Hello, all. Sorry we're late."

Sylvar pointed off at one of the other tables. "They're right over there," he replied, switching to the Common Tongue easily, which earned both him and Daemon a glare from Andarien. "Should I go tell them we're back?"

"Probably," Ivy spoke up, rolling her eyes. "Ninako won't let anyone eat until she knows everyone's here."

With a chuckle, Sylvar stood up, leaving Andarien on the bench. "I'll be back then," he grinned, heading over to where Earendil and his father were talking.

Andarien brightened up the moment Daemon switched to Common Elvish to speak to him, and he nodded vigorously. "Sylvar was showing me how the wine is made and all the machines that they use here so that they don't have to do all of the work themselves!" he exclaimed excitedly. "And he showed me the cogs and gears and all those kinds of things! He even took me to the water wheel!"

Of course, he was completely unaware that Daemon probably wasn't used to hearing all the technical words in Common Elvish, and prattled on as if everyone knew the language as well as he himself did.