Welcome to Gaia! ::

Andarien pouted as Lin took the necklace away from him, then held his hands up to her again.

Earendil nodded thoughtfully. He had known from the beginning that she didn't like the blades, but it was one of the most important things to know - especially for a child. Still, she was growing up - by her next growth she would be adult age, he was sure - and it was her choice which weapon she wanted to learn.

"You're old enough to start making decisions on your own," he told her. "And if you really don't like something, not all the training in the world will make you any good at it."

He paused. "Do you have another weapon in mind? Because even if you don't learn the blade, Miyuki, it is very important that you learn a weapon, especially if we're going to continue traveling."

Andarien grabbed Lin's fingers and jammed them into his mouth and began sucking on them contentedly.

Earendil nodded. "Then how about we make a deal?" he suggested, though his tone made it plain that this was how it was going to be. "For now, you keep learning and practicing with the blade - for now - and when you find a different weapon that you would like to learn instead, you can do that, and give up the blade? All right?"

Andarien looked up at Lin and giggled, continuing to suck on her fingers.

Earendil smiled and hugged her close. "Good. But for today, we'll let it go, all right? It's been a tiring week, we can take a break. What do you want to do? Maybe if Andarien's not too tired we can walk around the town a bit and see things, what do you think?"

Sure there wasn't too much to see, and maybe it wasn't very good, but they couldn't learn about the place if they didn't see it, and why bother coming if they were just going to pass on by?

Andarien giggled again and kept sucking on Lin's finger as if he were intent on eating it up.

Earendil smiled at Miyuki and stood up carefully, making sure he wasn't pushing her to the ground. "Do you want to ask your mommy if she and Andarien want to come with us?" he asked her brightly.

Earendil smiled and held his arms out to Lin. "I'll carry Andarien," he offered. "I bet you're ready for a break."

The boy needed to be carried at almost all times, really. It seemed that the only time they didn't hold him was when he was sleeping (if the wagon was stopped) and if Alene was feeding him (since they had no other way to feed him).

Andarien cooed up at his father and sister, spitting Lin's finger out of his mouth as he did so.

"So I've noticed," Earendil chuckled, taking the infant and holding him against his shoulder so that Andarien could see the passing scenery. "Come, we'll just make a quick trip of it, if we're going to be heading out tomorrow again."

Emile seemed in a hurry to get them to leave the town - and from what Earendil could see of the town, he didn't really blame him.

On the other hand, he did want to see it and see what it had to offer at least.

"Hold up!" a voice called out to them as they headed towards the town. Earendil turned to see Luk heading after them. "Mind if I come along?" the halfblood asked, his eyes bright.

Luk smiled warmly. "Excellent. I've been talking with Emile, and he seems to think it's best if we go in larger groups than smaller. Besides," he added, putting one hand on the pommel of his sword, "it's best if at least one of us looks as if we're ready to fight. No offense, Prince Earendil, but with Andarien in your arms, you don't look ready to defend your family if something happens."

"None taken," Earendil chuckled. "And I think, to be honest, it may go a bit more smoothly if they think we have one of their kind with us."