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And it was indeed very soon that the instruments were brought out - flutes and small harps, tambourines, a few tiny drums that were played with the fingers ... everyone had an instrument of some sort. Not all of them played, however: the women and girls right away began to dance around the fire, their skirts flashing their bright colours and making the dark night seem quite cheerful.

Regan, being an adventurous child, got up and toddled over to join in, squealing happily and clapping her hands along with the music, jumping in little circles. It wasn't long before Tinuviel and Aranel joined in, drawn by the laughter and the music.

Kaito sat with Earendil, and the two of them seemed to be chatting relaxedly, neither of them showing any interest in joining the dance - though they were watching.

After a few minutes of letting Lin watch, Levi got to his feet and held out one hand to her, grinning at her. "It's very simple," he winked. "Pretty much just do what ye want, come on!"

Levi laughed and tugged Lin forward into the light of the fire. "That simple," he grinned, holding her hands tightly and swinging her in a circle. "Come on!"

The men playing the instruments laughed and called out to Levi in their own language. Levi ignored them, but he winked at Lin as he whisked her around with the others.

Kaito leaned over to Earendil, and when Earendil answered his question he laughed -though Earendil didn't look too amused.

The music and dancing continued for several hours, until Regan fell asleep in Kaito's lap, and Kaito fell asleep leaning against Earendil, essentially trapping him where he sat.

The Rovers took turns playing the instruments and dancing, but Levi didn't take a turn with the instruments, preferring to dance with Lin for as long as she would let him.

At long last, the music ended, and the Rovers put their instruments away. While mostly everyone else prepared to go to sleep for the night, Levi led Lin towards the river and sat down in the short grass at the edge of it, patting the ground next to him and inviting Lin to sit as well. This earned him a dirty look from Earendil, but the prince tried to hide it in the same moment.

While Levi chatted away with Lin, Earendil looked down at Senka. He didn't answer her right away, but reached down and started petting her, scritching behind her ears as well.

"I should keep it to myself," he murmured softly. "It's not my place."

He smiled faintly. "What do you think?"

Earendil chuckled softly and picked up Senka, moving her to his lap so that he could sit more comfortably, what with Kaito still leaning against his shoulder and all.

"Does kitty keep things to herself?" he asked with a trace of a smile.

Earendil nodded and kept petting Senka. "I'm not sure I trust that man," he said softly. "And even if he can be trusted, his interest in Lin is dangerous. There is every chance that they will never meet again, and even if they do she will not have changed, but he will be older. One thing about Rovers ... they spend their entire lives traveling, so when they bond with people, they bond fast ... and even if they don't stay with the people they bond with, it is permanent."

He sighed and kept stroking Senka's back. "I'm worried for her."

Earendil scritched Senka under the chin. "You are a very smart cat," he murmured. "You're very right. I'm not. As I said, the Rovers create bonds with people very quickly ... for a boy ... man of Levi's age ... he is of the age where he will be looking for a suitable woman."

He paused. "I know Lin doesn't mean to be giving him encouragement, she probably doesn't even realize it ... but his interest in her is clear."

And it bothered him, and he had a feeling it was bothering him more than it should.

Earendil blinked. "Longer but more direct?" he asked, confused now. "That makes no sense ..."

He trailed off thoughtfully. Beat around the bush ... he had heard that phrase before ...

"You mean, she might not know because he hasn't asked her directly about a relationship?"