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At Lin's words, a real smile lit Storm's face, for the first time in a very long time. Starr beamed up at Lin. "I think we would both really like that."


The day passed quickly, and everyone went to bed early to make sure that they would be well-rested for their trip in the morning, and when morning came Earendil and Rhea were the ones who made sure that everyone was awake.

It was Rhea who knocked on Lin's door long before the sun even began to show light in the sky, before even the birds had begun to sing their morning chorus.

"Lin," she called out softly, "are you awake?"

Rhea giggled and cupped the large foxy butterfly in her hands, holding it out in the direction of Lin's room so that it could go back to her bag, as she told it to. "Well, at least life isn't boring when you have so many pets with you," she smiled.

And speaking of pets, Whisper, who had been in Rhea's room the entire previous day, wandered out behind her and sat in Lin's doorway. She peeked in, her tail flicking back and forth curiously. "So Rhea's room isn't the only one in chaos," she quipped, looking up at her mistress.

Rhea laughed. "My room is fully packed now, and you know it," she grinned. "Come on, we have to get the others."

Earendil had already woken Shiro, Kaito and Ura, and he was about to knock on Storm and Starr's door when Rhea, Whisper and Lin joined him. He smiled at them. "Good morning!" he said cheerfully. "Sorry about the early hour but we're going to have to break for a few hours after noon, so this way we can make some good progress before then."

He knocked on Storm and Starr's door, then opened it up and stepped inside. "Good morning, you two," he said brightly. "Ready to go?"

He paused, looking around. Their things were mostly packed still, but the two were still fast asleep - not on the bed, but on the floor, on their pile of pillows that they had brought from home.

Shiro laughed, seeing the two lying together, asleep. "They haven't changed," he grinned. "They never have been much for getting up in the morning."

Earendil chuckled. "Looks like," he grinned. He knelt next to the two and shook their shoulders. "Hey, wakey wakey!" he called softly. "It's time for us to leave!"

Starr was the first one to shift slightly, but both twins opened their eyes at the exact same time, and then yawned and rubbed their eyes in unison.

Rhea was filled with amazement. "I'd heard of twin connections like that," she murmured, "but I've never seen it before." Of course, she had never seen Feng and Ryu when they had been younger, neither had she heard stories - because when they came to Haven already the first time, they had been teens, and just about over that stage.

Rhea looked at Lin thoughtfully as she spoke. "I should like very much to meet your brothers someday," she smiled. "All of your family. They sound very interesting, to say the least. And if you're any example ..."

By this time, Storm and Starr were awake and had begun to pack their pillowed into their bags. It wasn't long before the group was ready to head downstairs for a very quick meal before heading out.

Earendil made sure that Storm and Starr were on their horses, their bags secure, before he made his way over to Lin to help her mount.

"We're finally on our way, Lin," he grinned at her, kneeling down and making a stirrup out of his hands for her. "I have to say, it's been a long time since I've felt this excited about something. It's still hard to believe it's finally time."

Earendil couldn't help but laugh at that. "Lin," he chuckled, "I was older then than you are now. and that was a long time ago, even for you. But I know what you mean about us doing what we said we would ... Tinuviel used to swear that she would never marry. And now Regan is going on eight years old!"

He patted the horse's shoulder, smiling bemusedly. "I wonder how old she will be when we return." He chuckled again. "Well, I'll never know if we don't get going."

He turned and mounted his own horse, and after making sure that everyone else was ready to go, he led them towards the gates.