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Earendil looked around and nodded his agreement. "Wonder what brought that on," he commented idly.

Andarien was more or less following Miyuki, though he was mostly fascinated by the candies that were in the shapes of animals. How had they managed that? He was curious. There had to be a trick to it somehow ...

Andarien stood on his tippy toes to see what Miyuki was pointing out to him, and when he saw the delicate runes in the candy, his eyes grew wide with amazement.

"I wish I knew how they made all this!" he pouted.

Earendil was still looking around to see what had changed when footsteps announced the arrival of the others again. He turned and smiled when he saw Haldir entering the shop.

"Prince Earendil!" the candy maker exclaimed, clearly overjoyed to see his friend again. "Welcome home!" He came around the end of the counter and gave Earendil a hearty shake of the hand. "How have you been, dear friend?"

Earendil smiled. "Excellently. Of course, you know my wife, Lin," he added, taking Lin's hand and tugging her gently closer.

Surprise registered briefly in Haldir's eyes, but very quickly it was replaced with pleasure and amusement.

"Indeed," he said warmly. He bowed to Lin, holding one hand out to her. "Welcome back, your Highness. Please, accept my congratulations on the occasion of your marriage."

Andarien turned and looked at the man who was now talking with their parents. He seemed very friendly, friendlier even than the man who had first been behind the counter when they'd entered the shop.

Haldir shook Lin's hand, not quite as hard as he'd shaken Earendil's (which was probably a good thing). "I think I know what you mean," he smiled ruefully. "I only wish I could help somehow."

As if on cue, Fennel returned with Halaleel, the latter of whom was hobbling forward with one arm around Fennel's shoulders. In her other hand, she had a cane, and the reason for her walking aids was quite obvious: beneath her skirt, one ankle was bound with bandages.

When she saw Earendil, her eyes lit up momentarily, but when she spotted Lin her expression darkened.

Halaleel seemed surprised by Lin's concern, but she smoothed over her surprise and replied softly, "Thank you, but I'm afraid I won't be walking for a few weeks on my own."

"I wish you a speedy recovery," Earendil said sincerely.

Halaleel's expression softened slightly. "Thank you. And how have you been, Prince Earendil?"

It was Earendil's turn to smile again. "Very well, thank you Halaleel. Lin and I are married now, which is one of the biggest changes-"

He didn't bat an eye when Halaleel's expression turned shocked, but rather kept on going.

"-and as I was about to tell your father when you came out, these are our children, Miyuki and Andarien," he finished, indicating the children.

Andarien wasn't sure he liked the look on the lady's face, and he sidled up to Lin (since she was slightly further away from Halaleel) and took her hand shyly.

Halaleel forced a smile at the family, though it still seemed strained. "Hello, your Highness," she replied to Miyuki. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

She looked at Andarien, and she couldn't help but giggle softly at how cute he was acting. Her entire expression changed with the giggle, and she actually looked kind. She waved slightly to Andarien, who, now that Halaleel looked nicer, smiled and waved back.

"How long have you been in the city?" she asked then, looking back to Lin and Earendil.

"See?" Fennel spoke up, grinning at Halaleel. "I told you I saw them yesterday going up the street." He looked at the others. "There were a lot of other people with you," he added, and his tone made it sound like it could be an implied question.

Earendil smiled. "Yes, we have quite the sizable traveling group. Not all of us are here yet, though, we're waiting on two or three others."

Andarien looked up at Earendil. "Two or three?" he repeated, confused. "Uncle Daeron, Iorlas, and Lancaeriel ... that makes three!"

Andarien frowned up at Lin in confusion, but he didn't say anything more.

Just then the front door opened, and a mother with three young children entered the shop. Haldir called a greeting to the new customers, and then turned back to Lin and Earendil. "Shall we take a seat in the back?" he asked them. "Then we can relax a bit more."

The moment he mentioned leaving the room, Andarien grabbed Lin's hand and clung to it as if it was a lifeline.

Fennel took his place behind the counter of the shop, and Haldir took his daughter's arm around his shoulder to help her back to the back room. Earendil let Lin and Andarien go ahead of him, and before he left the room, he called to Miyuki in English (to make sure she would understand, since her High Elven was still rather poor), "Are you going to join us, Miyuki?"

The mother and children were looking at the candy, and though the mother glanced up when Earendil spoke, the children, all of them quite young, paid no mind to the other visitors at all.