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"I'd like to try it," Rhea nodded, bending over and cupping some of the water in her hands. "Even when I step in it, it's not getting all silty ... is the matter on the riverbed heavier than what we're used to ... ?"

She sipped at the water, and Shiro stepped forward as well. He reached down and picked up a handful of the dirt, then stepped back and brought it up close to his face to examine it.

"A lot of plant matter," he muttered, poking through it with one finger. "Mud ..." He smelled it. "Fertile mud."

Shiro glanced at Lin. "I would imagine Earendil would have to explore the entire island to finish his map," he suggested, "why don't you go along with him when he does, and you can see everything for yourself?"

Rhea looked over at Shiro. "You make it sound as if you wouldn't be going with."

Shiro smiled at Rhea. "If you would be so kind as to take notes for me, I'd like to spend time with the Night Elves," he murmured. "I'd like to talk to them, get to know their culture, find out everything I can about them ..."

Sure, he had only met Kelirahc and Omarerd, but even so his curiosity was piqued. Kelirahc so far seemed everything that an ideal man should be ... and Omarerd was ancient beyond reckoning, and even looked it!

Shiro and Rhea both looked at Lin, their expressions surprised and curious.

"Lin," Shiro murmured, "that's the first time I've ever heard you hesitate to spend time with Earendil ... did something happen?"

It was strange, seeing her like this. She was usually so clear in what she wanted, she never hesitated, never thought twice before making decisions ...

"What else would you do?" Shiro asked. "I mean ... if you wanted to spend time with the Night Elves I'm sure you could, but you can't understand them, and they can't understand you, and you promised you wouldn't learn their language ... so I guess I just figured it would be a little boring for you ... or difficult at least ..."

Shiro chuckled. "You do realize, if we're here as long as Earendil and I hope, we might be here for a year or so. Not saying we will be, but we're hoping. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time for both, I'm just starting with the village is all."

"Be careful though," Rhea teased Lin. "If you're not careful, you might learn the language without meaning to." Spending that much time with someone who spoke another language would rub off on her, no matter how hard she tried to resist it ... or perhaps even because she tried to resist it. The mind was a funny thing after all.

Rhea laughed. "I am. Glad you can realize it, at least."

Arwen and Roydon wandered over to the three of them, and they passed the next hour or so chatting away about possible plans for their time here.

At last, however, Kelirahc and Leyenda rejoined them, and Leyenda smiled at them all. "It's time to go back," she told them. She seemed a little bouncy. "I'm a little nervous," she admitted, "I haven't met them yet either ... only Omarerd."

Kelirahc spoke quickly, and Shiro translated. "He says for us to just be ourselves when we meet them, and don't worry about trying not to do something wrong ... the elders seem a bit strict but they're all very large-hearted."

Arwen breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that does make me feel better," she murmured.

Shiro relayed everyone's responses to Kelirahc, and the dark man smiled warmly, then motioned for all of them to follow him and Leyenda back to the village.

Back in the village, everything was as it had been when they had left: silent and still. Kelirahc led them to the northern part of the village, where there was a row of seven identical huts. They were larger than Kelirahc's - much larger, actually, larger even than the one that belonged to Omarerd. They were in a semicircle, and in the middle of the semicircle was a fire pit, which had wood piled in it as if in preparation for a bonfire.

Kelirahc motioned for all of them to stand before the fire, and after giving Leyenda's hand a squeeze, he headed towards the center hut. He called out softly at the door, then opened it and stepped inside.