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"Those all sound like good possibilities," Eldrin mused, "but I was thinking more fitness training, not weapons training. Weapons training is nothing if you haven't the strength, speed or endurance to use your weapons. Perhaps I'll come down tonight and speak with a few people about whether they would be willing to help out."

He glanced towards the windows. "On the condition that the storm lets up, of course."

"Kaito is also one of the laziest people we know," Earendil reminded Lin dryly.

Eldrin chuckled. "Well, it's up to you, then. But if you'd like to bring them up here while you're still here, I'd be happy to work with them. Though if you're going to start by focusing on archery, there is a range at the bottom of the mountain now."

"It's very new," Eldrin explained. "Time constraints for the princesses made it difficult for them to come up here to practice ... so we built a range down below for them."

Even Earendil hadn't known about that. "Well, perhaps we'll have to check it out once the children have their new bows," he smiled.

Andarien nodded. "Yeah, then we can see if I can really do that," he added. "I tried one at Uncle Triton's but it was too strong for me."

Earendil chuckled. "Well, we'll make sure to get one that really suits you," he promised the boy.

Andarien was running down the hall towards the library to fetch Miyuki from her lessons with Lancaeriel just before lunch. Eon was bounding after him, hot on his heels.

"Mi! Mi!" Andarien called out when he saw her emerging from the library. "Everyone else has arrived! Come on, Mi, let's go see them!"

He grabbed her hand and started running towards the tower stairs, but as he had already been running for a bit, he was not going terribly fast.

"If they're not, they will be soon, because it's almost lunch time!" Andarien grinned. "Sir Valdemar said that they've been here a while but that no one wanted to interrupt our lessons so that's why they didn't tell us!"

He let go of Miyuki's hand so that they could each go down the stairs safely. After all, running on stairs wasn't very safe in the first place, but when two people did it holding hands, that was even less safe.

Eon squealed at Andarien, protesting at his speed and lack of care.

"Yeah but think how much we have to show them," Andarien pointed out. "We both grew and we both have new pets!"

He slowed down a bit, though - partially due to Miyuki's words, partially due to Eon's protests, and partially because he was indeed growing very tired from all the running.

Everyone had already assembled in the dining hall, which was now a very crowded place.

Shiro and Kaito were talking with Wren, while Tinuviel and Aranel had Aethos and Alassëa in conversation. Aranxia had found River right away, and River was introducing Jess, Jasmine and Brooke. (Interestingly, River was a bit dressed up, wearing a nice dress and everything - though the fact that she and Jess were holding hands might explain that.)

Ruel and Luthien were chatting with Timaeus and Alyse, while Atalya and Reave were laughing with Halmir, Arthael, Luk and Emile. Daeron and Iorlas were catching up with Kelirahc and Leyenda (who was holding a dark-skinned infant in her arms), and next to them, Amalirahc (who had grown in the past year and was now the same height as Miyuki, after her growth) was looking rather bored.

His eyes lit up when he spotted Miyuki and Andarien in the doorway, and he cried out "Miyuki!" and ran to greet her.

"So have you," Amalirahc grinned, his golden eyes sparkling brightly. "And Andarien, wow! You're way taller than you were!"

Andarien grinned at Amalirahc. "Yeah! Mi and me grew just a few weeks ago!"

Amalirahc laughed. "Neat. And guess what! I'm a big brother now!" He beamed at the two of them. "You have to come see my little sister, she's so cute! Come on, this way!"

He turned and beckoned for the two of them to follow him through the crowd of people.

Andarien knelt and picked up Eon. With so many people in the room, he didn't want the eevee to be stepped on by accident.