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"I guess we'll find out when we get back," Leyenda replied. "Kelirahc will be able to tell us. Just remember that we've got a crew of nearly one hundred to help out - I'm sure we'll have the time we need to build a proper shelter if we need to."

They were already nearly back, the beach was in sight just ahead of them. Flying was so much quicker than walking ...

Rhea was waiting for them anxiously when they returned, and when they landed she was already there, hands up to take Earendil from Kelirahc as the Night Elf handed him down.

"What happened?" she asked worriedly. "Is he all right? Are you all all right?"

Leyenda hopped down from the dragon's back. "We're fine," she assured her, "and Earendil is just asleep. Too much magic ... I'll have to apologize when he wakes up. We honestly didn't think anyone would be worried about us."

Rhea blinked as she draped Earendil's arm around her shoulders. "How far away were they?"

Leyenda giggled sheepishly. "The volcano ... about a day away ..."

"That is far," Rhea frowned. "What were you doing there?"

Leyenda looked over at Kelirahc and grinned, then turned back to Rhea. "Just exploring. There are some marvelous lava tunnels, they're absolutely amazing!"

Leyenda nodded as the dragon vanished, and Kelirahc took Earendil from Rhea and began to head back towards the shelter.

"When the volcano erupts, I guess it leaves behind these tunnels," she explained, "and after the lava has gone through they're left behind. They're perfectly round, it's amazing to find something so perfectly geometrical in nature. There are lots of them ... and the rock that they're made of is different from any rock I've seen before."

"Probably, knowing him," Leyenda agreed. "He knows just about everything that there is to know. At least, it seems that way sometimes."

As they approached the shelter, Arwen noticed them, and she came rushing over, seeing Earendil draped over Kelirahc's shoulders.

"What happened?" she asked anxiously. "Is he all right?"

Relief washed over Arwen's face. "Thank the Valar," she breathed softly. "I could never have explained it to Aunt Luthien if anything had happened to him." She motioned towards the shelter. "Here, let him rest out of the sun."

She smiled at the others then, now that her panic over Earendil was over. "Welcome back, Lin. Leyenda. Kelirahc."

Kelirahc smiled and bowed his head respectfully before he started towards the shelter once again, Earendil still on his back.

Arwen looked at Kelirahc, who nodded. "Half year ... six moons, big rains," he explained. "Inland, flood on river ... here no flood, but big rains make shelter fall. Must make big shelter, strong shelter. Stay safe for big rains."

Arwen nodded. "I'll talk to Roydon about it. But for now, I would like if all of you would stay here until we know what's going on and what we have to do to prepare for the rains."

"We'll stay here," Leyenda promised immediately. "Don't worry about us."

Arwen looked at her daughter. "As if that's possible," she murmured as she rose to her feet again. And without another words she headed off towards where her husband was talking with some of the crew.

Leyenda sighed and sat down, leaning against her husband. "Now what?" she asked in general.

Rhea looked at Lin. "Didn't you have some questions you wanted answers to?"

"In the trees?" Rhea repeated, her eyes lighting up. "Fascinating ... like the elves always used to, in the time of the Two Trees ..." She turned to Kelirahc. "What's that like, living in the trees?"

Kelirahc had to think for a moment to gather his thoughts and translate them into the language that they all understood so well. "It ... is ... very nice," he replied slowly. "We live in ... um ... how you say ... fieljüm ..."

"Flets," Rhea translated with a nod.

Kelirahc nodded. "Flets. Flet wood platform, high in trees ... is safe, no one fall, not even little ones."