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Kaito laughed. "I don't know about that, Lin," he grinned, "I'm kind of hungry myself. I wouldn't mind some fish about now."

Shiro chuckled. "That's because you're about as feral as a regular cat," he teased his brother.

Rhea was looking around, her eyes bright with excitement. It was her first time in this particular city, and it was so different from any of the other cities they had been in ...

"Come on," Earendil grinned. "Let's go to Arwen and Roydon's house. We can eat there."

It was about a quarter hour's ride to Arwen and Roydon's house. The sun was high in the sky, but on its way down, but because of the river, the heat wasn't nearly as intense as it had been on their trip so far. It was a beautiful day, really.

As they approached the docks, Rhea noticed a little boy, about four years old, watching them from a porch of a house further up the docks. She stared at him. "Is he from Arwen and Roydon?" she asked, turning to Lin.

Rhea giggled. "Perhaps we could ask him?" she suggested with a smile. "Or ask Arwen, when we see her?"

She looked forward, still smiling softly. "I only ask because he looks very much like her. Though he seems a bit calmer, just looking at him."

And indeed the boy was just sitting on the porch and watching them approach without showing any real emotion.

Earendil smiled. "Well, you know Roydon is a rather calm man," he pointed out. "And not all of their children can take after Leyenda."

Earendil laughed. "Yes, take after Arwen," he chuckled. "I think I meant to say they can't all be like Leyenda. It's been a long week, give me credit for still being awake for this long at least."

Rhea giggled. "Well, at least bring us to their house then," she urged him, " so that we can eat and rest and find out what the next step is."

Earendil chuckled again. "You called it right," he grinned. "The place where that boy is sitting is Arwen and Roydon's home. Whether or not that makes him theirs is not definitive, after all, Lin and Kaito will remember how Brian used to be here a lot."

"I'm sensing a story here," Rhea said softly, looking from Lin to Earendil and back. "But it can wait, I suppose ..."

Considering they had arrived.

Earendil dismounted from his horse and smiled at the boy, who was still sitting on the porch and watching them. "Hello," he said warmly.

The boy just stared. "Are you my cousin Earendil?" he asked, without greeting or introduction.

Earendil laughed. "If your parents are Arwen and Roydon Aldrich, then yes I am," he grinned. "And what might your name be?"

The boy blinked at him. "Celeb."

Celeb turned his gaze to Lin and stared at her openly, and though it was most certainly the first time he had seen anyone like their group, he didn't seem surprised.

"Mama has been telling me stories about you for as long as I can remember," he replied matter-of-factly. "She says we're going on a long trip, and that's why Papa is always gone."

Celeb nodded. "I think Papa said it's almost done," he told them, clambering slowly to his feet. He stretched, then scratched his head a bit. "I'm gonna go inside now," he murmured. "Bye bye." And he reached up, opened the door, headed inside, and closed the door behind himself.

Earendil stared, slack-jawed. "Wha ..."

A moment later, the door opened again, and Arwen stepped out, laughing heartily. "Welcome, welcome!" she laughed. "Come on in, everyone! Really, Celeb, leaving them outside like that!"

The boy, who was standing behind her, pouted up at her.

"As it is to see all of you," Arwen giggled. "It's been so long since I've seen any of you ..." She motioned for them to come inside, but while Shiro urged the others to go in, he took the time to tie the horses so that they wouldn't wander first.

"And it seems you've met my son, Celeb," Arwen added as she led her guests to the living room.

Celeb stayed close to Arwen, staring at their guests unabashedly.