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"What are we going to do when we get out there?" Andarien asked as Xion and Rhiannon led the way back to the visitors' rooms. "We only went outside in the first place to have a mock battle, but we can't do that now ...

"We could have a snowball fight!" Xion exclaimed.

But Rhiannon shook her head. "Mama says not in the courtyard, we'll make too much of a mess. If we go outside the castle we can do that, though."

Andarien was a bit iffy. He had seen only a few snowball fights (courtesy of Amalirahc, River and Jess on the ship) but they didn't look like all that much fun to him. Mostly wet and cold, and sometimes painful.

"That would be fun!" Rhiannon beamed, and Andarien had to agree.

"Just don't let Ada help, is all I say," he said solemnly. "He doesn't know how to build things very well, he always makes them fall over."

"Then me and Rhiannon need to get our cloaks, too," Xion added. "So we'll just stop there before we go out."

He stopped them at the next doors they came to. "Here, this is your room, Miyuki, and this one here is yours, Andarien," he said. "Me and Rhiannon will wait right here for you guys."

"Thanks," Andarien smiled. He headed into his room for his cloak and cap, and for extra warmth he also grabbed a scarf for his neck. He didn't have anything for his hands, though; he would have to ask his parents about that later on.

When he was ready, he headed back out into the corridor to wait with Xion and Rhiannon for Miyuki. He figured since she had to get Ai napping, she might be a moment or two later than him.

"This way." Xion beckoned for the two to follow him and his sister, though Rhiannon was starting to run ahead already again. "Our rooms are down a floor."

And through a maze of corridors, apparently. By the time they were halfway to Xion and Rhiannon's room, Andarien was already wondering if he would ever figure this place out.

"Mama says that before we were born, the whole country's people could have lived in here easy," Xion confided to Miyuki. "She says there's a lot more people now, so they couldn't all live here, but they could all still fit in if they had to."

"Don't worry, it's just a bit further," Rhiannon giggled from up ahead of them.

Xion stared at Miyuki as if she had two heads. "I'm only six years old!" he exclaimed. "How am I supposed to know?"

"Xion!" Rhiannon chided her brother. "Don't be mean about it!"

Xion looked back at Miyuki, chagrined. "Sorry. Maybe Queen Aerin would know, or Aethos-sola."

"Nope." Xion shook his head.

Just ahead of them, Rhiannon ran into an open doorway. Xion looked back at Miyuki and Andarien. "This is our room. We'll be right back."

He ran in after his sister, and within a minute they had both returned, cloaked and gloved.

"Okay, we're ready," Rhiannon beamed, heading straight down the corridor without stopping. "Come on! We have to go quick if we want to make something good, lunch will be soon!"

The sun was still on its way up into the sky, but it was visible over the walls of the courtyard. Lin, Earendil and Rhea were still chatting away in the gazebo when the children returned. Xion and Rhiannon ran towards the back of the courtyard, where there would be the most snow, and Andarien followed at his own pace, with Ponydash just behind him.

It was a fun and wet hour or so before Rhea finally called the children back, as it was time to dry off and get ready for lunch.

At lunch, all those who had come from the ship that morning were present, as well as Aerin, Caranthir, and their son, and Rhea and Aurin and their children. There was excited chatter all around as everyone discussed their mornings, and then, towards the end of the meal, Aerin had a question for Lin and Earendil.

She left her seat and stood next to the two of them and said, "Aethos and Alassëa have asked me to marry them, to which I have of course agreed. Before that can happen, however, there are preparations to be made, which require a trip to the city. I know you both spent quite a bit of time in the city the last time you were here, and I thought you might enjoy coming with us for the afternoon. What do you think?"