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"Oh," Egleriad blinked. "I see. Sort of like how I can't learn to play the harp until I'm big enough for it, and that's not something that I can carry around either."

He paused thoughtfully. "Mama has one in the conservatory," he murmured, "do you want to see?" He looked up at Lothiriel cautiously. "May we?"

Lothiriel smiled at her grandson. "If you're careful, you may," she nodded.

Amora smiled faintly at Iris. She could understand, it seemed that Iris was at least as active as Maeglin, perhaps more so. But it just was not safe around the infant.

"If you want to play, Maeglin can take you outside," she suggested. "Actually," she mused to herself, "it would probably be better if you had someone watching you. If you want to play outside, I'll have someone take you."

She smiled at Iris. "Do you want to play outside?"

Jair thought about it for a moment. He was starting to feel a little bit guilty about having come here without anyone from home knowing ... but then again, he thought, if he didn't enjoy himself, it wouldn't even be worth it. He grinned. "Yeah, I'm coming," he agreed. He muttered the words of his spell, and his tail split into two legs, and he hopped eagerly to his feet.

Besides, he mused, if he could keep his mind busy, maybe he wouldn't even feel guilty.

Egleriad grinned. "Wonderful, come this way then, it's just down the hall!" He beckoned for Jair and Naida to follow him, and led them out of the room.


Amora laughed at Iris. "I'll call someone to take you to the courtyard then," she smiled, putting one hand on Iris's head. "You can't get into too much trouble out there, I'm sure."

Maeglin looked excited. "Papa take us outside?" she asked eagerly.

Amora shook her head. "Papa has to work," she replied with a smile. "Sir Elros will take you outside." She looked down at Iris again. "Sir Elros knows your daddy, too."

Egleriad led the two down the hall to a room that had not yet been finished when Lin had last visited. It was a large room, and three walls were glass, as well as the ceiling, so that plenty of light could be let in. There were plants growing in pots around the edges of the room, save where there were doors that led to the outside. There was a harp and a stool at one end of the room, and along one wall was an assortment of other instruments. The middle of the room was filled with chairs, for people to watch, and the first half of the room was empty, for anyone who wanted to dance.

"There's the harp," Egleriad pointed as he led the two over to it. "It's almost as big as I am, but when I grow I'll be able to learn how to play it properly."


Amora smiled. "Sir Elros used to live where your auntie Lin visits a lot," she explained. "He did such a good job there, that when my parents came here and became king and queen, they asked him to help them."

Egleriand stepped up to the instrument and ran his fingers ever so lightly across the taut strings, filling the room with the soft tones of music. "I think it's the most beautiful instrument there is," he smiled softly. "I wish I didn't have to wait so long to learn to play it, but until then I do have my lyre."

He turned towards the side wall, where there were a few lyres of different sizes on display in a row along a shelf. "It's over there."



At that moment, Elros arrived, and he bowed low as he entered the presence of the queen and princess. "You called, your highness?"

Amora smiled at Elros. "Yes, Sir Elros. Iris and Maeglin would like to play in the courtyard. I know this is different from your usual duties, but Iris is a special case ... she is Triton's daughter."

Elros looked at the neko, his icy blue eyes sparkling warmly. "I see," he murmured. He knelt on one knee so that he wouldn't be as imposing a figure to Iris. "Hello," he smiled, holding out one hand to her, palm up. "So you are the daughter of Triton ... it is a great pleasure for me to meet you."

Jair looked at the instruments closely. "Could you play something for us?" he asked Egleriad.

The young prince blushed slightly. "Well ... I'm not very good," he murmured, rubbing his toes against the floor.

Jair grinned at him. "I bet you're better than you make out to be!" he said encouragingly.


Elros chuckled softly. "Then you and I can be friends, yes?" he smiled warmly at her. He straightened up again and held out his other hand to Maeglin. The little girl beamed and ran to his side, but since she couldn't reach his hand very well, she clutched at his cloak, holding it instead.

Amora laughed at the sight. "Well, off you go then," she smiled at them. "Not too long, though, Sir Elros, it will be time for Maeglin's nap soon."

Elros bowed his head. "As you wish, your Highness."

Egleriad bowed his head slightly. "As you wish," he murmured softly. He reached for one of the lyres, one that was just about the size of his head, and sat down on the floor, crossing his legs. He set the lyre in his lap and propped it against his chest, then touched his fingers to the strings and began to play.

His eyes were closed as he played, his head tilted slightly towards the instrument, and he plucked out a soft tune that made Jair think of some of the celtic cds that Serenity would listen to back home. It was very pretty - but then, Jair didn't have an ear for music, and liked just about everything.


Elros reached down and took Iris's hand, and then he turned and led the two girls out of the library and down the hall, in the same direction as the others had gone.

As they passed by the conservatory, Maeglin peered through the glass to see who was playing the music. She grinned up at Elros. "Eggy!" She pointed at the glass, where the three children could be seen on the other side.

"That's really pretty," Jair smiled as Egleriad continued to play.

Egleriad stopped and looked up at Jair, blushing deeply. "You really think so?" he asked. "I made so many mistakes ..."

Jair chuckled. "You're the only one who can tell."

Egleriad frowned. "My teacher can tell. She always points them out to me."



Maeglin giggled and pointed for Iris. "Eggy! He play nice!"

Elros smiled down at the girl. "Prince Egleriad will be a wonderful musician one day," he said proudly. "He works hard, and he is improving quickly." He looked down at the two girls. "Shall we continue outside? You can watch from out there as well."