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Earendil gave her a few minutes to think and reflect, then, speaking softly so as not to break her concentration, he continued with his directions.

"Think about things you might have done that you regret," he murmured very quietly. "Things you might have done that could have hurt others, physically or emotionally ... words you regret ... actions ... think of any guilt you might harbor even if others have forgiven you for what you might have done ... then put your hands in the water and wash your hands free of all of it ... wash away the unwanted past ..."

Earendil watched and waited patiently as Lin washed her hands. When she was getting near finished, he continued.

"Turn your mind to the places you've gone. Think of them ... of what happened in these places, of what you did there, of what you learned. Then wash your feet - only your feet. Wash the dust and dirt of the places you've been, put them behind you. Remember what you have learned, but do not keep the burdens of these places with you."

Earendil watched her, poised to help if she needed him. They were getting towards the end of the ritual, but he wouldn't rush it. He had no idea if Miyuki was going to want to do it as well, but she wasn't hollering for them so there was no reason to hurry.

When she had finished washing her feet, he went on:

"Finally, your face. Your eyes to wash away the images you wish to forget, your mouth for things you said, your ears for things you heard."

When Lin finished washing herself, Earendil was holding out a towel to her and smiling.

"You're finished," he told her softly. "Unless you'd like to take that full bath, after all."

He wouldn't blame her if she did, there was a reason he did every time he did the ritual.

Earendil smiled. "Then you're finished," he said simply. "Which means it's time to find Miyuki, I'm sure she'll be looking for us by now."

He rose and stretched. "Breakfast will be as usual, and afterward there is a gathering. Mourning for those lost, thanks for things received. Everyone will be there, so it's going to be quite the gathering."

There were hundreds of elves in the area now, between the ranch and the valley.

Arahad was, for once, not in the kitchen when Miyuki went to look for him - Haradhel was the only one in there, her long hair still wet from her bath. She was preparing breakfast, fire in the fireplace, her back to the door - and for once she seemed so deep in thought that she didn't even notice there was anyone else there.

Haradhel jumped a bit at the sound of Miyuki's voice, and she whirled around, staring at the child.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "You startled me."

She cleared her throat and turned back to her preparations. "No, he's not asleep, he's already washed. He's either in his bedroom or else outside somewhere, preparing himself for today."

Haradhel nodded. "They were heading for the bath when I last saw them, though I think they might be finished by now."

She tilted her head slightly, listening carefully. "Yes ... yes, I think I hear them coming downstairs." She smiled at Miyuki. "Why don't you go greet them?"