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Haldia laughed. "How should I know?" she replied. "If I knew why he was there, I would have known where he was, and we would not have had to come and look for him!"

As they drew nearer, Earendil heard Rhiel approaching, and he looked up and smiled softly, waving at the two women who were coming to get him.

Haldia landed the roc, and Earendil wandered over to help the two women down from her back. "Good morning," he called to them, holding his hands up to catch Lin. "What brings you out here so early?"

Earendil chuckled and ruffled Lin's hair affectionately. "I apologize for making you worry," he grinned. "No, I did not come in last night. I'm afraid my mind was too busy to allow me to sleep, and the stars were so beautiful that I decided to do my thinking outside."

He smile turned sheepish. "If I had known you would worry, I would have returned to the house. I'm sorry."

Haldia hopped down from Rhiel's back and un-summoned the great bird. "I knew you would be all right," she grinned at Earendil.

The prince chuckled. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Earendil smiled at Lin, his eyes warm as he looked at her. "It is," he told her softly, "and I think it will be for a long time to come. But it's nothing for you to worry about."

He hugged her with one arm as if to reassure her that he was all right, and released her just as suddenly.

"So where is Miyuki?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.

"Ah, I see," Earendil smiled. "Well ... shall we walk back? Or would you prefer to fly back, for speed's sake? It's probably the first time you've let Miyuki out of your sight since she was brought to you."

He understood after all how it felt to have someone under your care out of your sight.

Without a word, Haldia touched her mark again, and the roc appeared once more.

"Go on up," she smiled at Lin and Earendil.

Earendil moved right away to make a stirrup of his hands to help Lin up. "After you," he smiled at her.

Earendil climbed up after Lin and made himself comfortable next to her.

"You know," he commented as Haldia climbed up behind him, "you seem a bit thoughtful yourself. Is something the matter?"

His brow furrowed slightly. Was she that upset that he had disappeared like that without telling her? He hadn't meant to worry her ...

Earendil nodded as they launched into the air, but he couldn't help but wonder if she, too, had a secret.

But he wouldn't pry. If she didn't want to tell him, he would respect that and not press the matter, just as she was not pressing the matter of what was worrying him.

It was not long before they were back at the house, and as soon as they landed they headed inside.

"Thank you," Earendil replied as he headed into the dining room for some breakfast. He chuckled as he saw Kara and Donovan trying to manage the three children. "It looks as though they're all full of energy and ready for a new day."

He made a face at Miyuki, but he let Lin go over and get her simply because he didn't want to make it look as if he were getting possessive. Miyuki was, after all, Lin's daughter, and not his own.