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Alena laughed, making everyone look up to see what was so funny.

"I wish you luck with that," she told Lin and Earendil as she moved off to sit between Elros and Aerin.

Elros stood and pulled her chair out for her before sitting down again.

"I never did ask you yet," Aerin smiled at Lin and Earendil, "how was your afternoon?"

Aerin smiled warmly at Miyuki. "And how did you like the shops?" she asked her, seeing how happy Miyuki was to take part in a conversation. "You sound like you had fun today."

Aethos looked up from his food, watching his sister silently.

Aerin chuckled softly. "Well, I'm glad that you enjoyed yoruself," she told Miyuki warmly. "I hope that you continue to enjoy yourself during your time here."

Earendil smiled over at Miyuki, then turned back to Aerin. "And you spent the afternoon looking over the city as well," he commented. "How did that go?"

"Very well," Aerin replied, smiling widely. "Tomorrow, things will be set into motion. We will find men to begin taking down the wall, and the old stones will be reused to build the new city. While that is being done, Shea and Mikhail will draw up the plans for the new city. This way, the construction can begin as soon as possible, and at least most of the people will have their own homes before the winter comes."

"But hopefully by the end of next year, everything will be finished, and we will be able to continue with our lives," Aerin smiled at Lin. "I only wish there were some way that I could ever repay all of you for your aid. I honestly do not know what we could do with your help."

Earendil smiled. "Well, you have Lady Alena here, as well as your own experiences in our lands," he reminded her. "I'm sure that you would have gotten on somehow."

Earendil smiled. "Perhaps we should take her up to bed," he murmured softly. "And then perhaps you and I could go for a walk or something?" he added in the ancient tongue so that Miyuki wouldn't beg to come with them. He loved spending time with Miyuki, he really did, but he did want to have at least some time alone with Lin - and that was something that simply didn't happen if MIyuki was awake.

Earendil nodded and pushed his chair back, then reached to pick up Miyuki. "Thank you for dinner," he murmured to Aerin as he held Miiyuki to his shoulder. "We need to get Miyuki to bed, but we shall see you again in the morning."

Once Miyuki was securely in his arms, he held out his empty hand to Lin.

"Good night," the others replied as Lin and Earendil headed off.

Earendil held Miyuki close as he walked with Lin to her bedroom. "It's so different, being here this time around," he murmured softly, smiling warmly at Lin. "Now that we're back again, I can remember ... how strange it was that everyone would bow almost to the ground whenever the king was in sight ... and how they wouldn't get up again until he was gone ..."

Looking back, there were indications that all was not well, things that they had wondered at and decided were just a part of the culture.