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Earendil liked the thought of having a bit of free time on the island, even if it was an island at war.

"It wouldn't be fair of us to leave until Shiro's finished copying all of the archives," he grinned, "and let's face it - it's going to take him longer to finish his job than it's going to take me to complete a map this time."

Between the fact that they were going to be doing it from the air, as well as the fact that it seemed to be a smaller island than Nauros ... it shouldn't take him too long.

Earendil grinned. "Absolutely. As similar as this is to home, it's also very different. It's interesting. Cold," he laughed, "but interesting. Still, I know it won't be cold forever. It's early winter, sure, and winter is a long month, but stirring will be here before we know it, I'm sure."

He looked up as some serving girls entered the room, each of them carrying a tray of food. They brought the food to the workers, who set their work aside.

"Must be lunch time," Earendil commented, glancing at Lin again.

Earendil was watching the workers thoughtfully.

"It's an interesting idea, bringing the food to the people, rather than having them come to one place," he murmured. "I wonder if they prefer it that way."

He would think they might like to come to their dining hall, so that they could socialize and the like, but he had never asked anyone ...

Earendil nodded. "What our palace has in layout, this castle has vertically," he quipped. "It's much taller than it is wide ..."

He looked thoughtful. "Maybe we should count the steps, and see how tall that tower is," he grinned.

"We'll ask Shiro later," Earendil winked. "He'll have it in his memory, even if he doesn't think about it."

Rhea and Alena were just finishing up with the material, and the two women turned back to Earendil and Lin.

"Ready to go back?" Rhea asked the two. "I've got the material we need. We can head back to Shiro and Kaito, and Alena will have blankets sent to the ship in the morning."

Earendil chuckled. "Seems a bit pointless to climb the tower, just to come back down again right away."

Rhea laughed. "Lazy. Besides, we left Aurin up there, and he's your way back to the ship. I can't carry you, and I'm sure Lin can't either. Besides, you have to get used to flying."

"Would you like another drink of the malek?" Alena asked with a slight smile.

Earendil flushed slightly. "Perhaps I'd better."

"I certainly hope so," Earendil murmured as Alena led them back out of the work room, heading back towards the tower.

With the long walk back to the tower, the long walk down, making sure Earendil had another drink of the anti-queasiness drink, and heading back to the rookery where Skyel was waiting, it was more than another hour by the time they returned to the ship. Alena accompanied them this time, as she had promised, so that she could speak with Arwen and Roydon again.

Once they were back on the ship, Earendil excused himself, saying something about going to lie down for a while, and Rhea watched him pityingly as he headed off.

"I'm going to check on Haldia and get her measurements," she told Lin, shifting her bag on her back. "It will probably be a week or so before we head back to the island. Any plans in the meantime?"

"If you have no other plans," Rhea murmured, "I would really appreciate some help with the clothes ... mostly with the measuring and writing things down, and of course a bit for conversation ... and to talk with Haldia as well. I know she's still not too keen on the idea of going back to the island ..."

Still, she had a feeling Haldia wouldn't do very well cooped up in the ship for the next several months either, and it was important that they convinced her to get some fresh air at the very least.

Rhea smiled gratefully at Lin. "Thank you," she murmured. "That will be a great help to me. We can grab something to eat first though, I don't know about you but I'm starving!"

She laughed and headed towards the door that led to their quarters. "I'm just going to drop off my bag first."