Citadel, Minas Tirith, Denethor POV
Denethor looks out of the window of his office into the city. It allows him to see which preparations for Gil's return as Gondor's king have been finished. Those preparations which are visible, that is. The others, he knows, are being made but he cannot see. Either because it is in buildings or because it is too low in the city for him to see. But as for those preparations, they go as he wants them to. He knows this from previous inspections. Now that he thinks about it, it might be a good idea to conduct another inspection now. He thinks about it for a moment before leaving the room.
Within minutes, he walks out of his house and into the courtyard. The King's house gleams in the distance. He can begin his inspection there. It is a thought which stays for a short moment. Then another inspection comes to the forefront of his mind. One he knows is more urgent. It is why he walks away from the citadel with his destination in mind. He walks through the city without stopping. He does not stop or pay attention to his surroundings. His guards are responsible for ensuring he arrives there safely. Soon, he arrives at his destination, and only then does he once more pays attention to his surroundings. He looks around to see if people are present but does not find anyone. He only sees an open door so he knocks on it. He knows they must be in the area. Else, they would not have left the door open. Especially considering what they are working on. It does not take long after his knock for master Amardil to arrive with a confused expression.
"My lord, what can I do for you?"
"I would like to know what your progress on the restoration of the crown is."
"Oh!"
He lifts an eyebrow as he wonders at the amazement of master Amardil. He's unsure where it comes from. And he is equally unsure that he likes the implications.
"I had thought you would have come earlier, my lord."
"I did not have the time before. Could you explain the progress to me?"
"Of course, there is not much to explain as I have not done much. The crown was in surprisingly good shape."
"That is good to know. But I am sure there were some things which needed work."
"Of course, that is well underway. I expect the crown to be fully restored one day before the coronation. If the day has not changed."
"That's good to hear. And no, nothing has changed about the coronation."
"Indeed, I feared I needed to do a lot more and doubted I would be unable to finish in time. A fear which was proven to be incorrect once I received the crown."
"Indeed."
"Would you like to inspect the crown?"
"That would be greatly appreciated."
Master Amardil nods, turns around, and mentions with his hands for him to follow which he does. They quickly walk through the forge as he looks around. This forge is fully functioning but has not escaped the siege unscattered. Some walls are broken. More than one window is broken. Even some of the workbenches are destroyed. Once he's seen all this, he looks back at master Amardil. Master Amardil is guiding him to a back room. Master Amardil opens a door before him. He turns to the two guards who followed them and mentions for them to wait by the door.
He steps into the room and looks around. This room has escaped the war relatively unscattered. There is almost no evidence of the siege present. He searches for master Amardil and finds him in a corner in front of a table. He walks towards master Amardil as he steadily gets a better view of the table. It does not take him long to see the crown.
"As you can see, I only need to do a few minor things."
"Mhh."
He looks the crown over more closely. There are a few spots which need some work but overall everything is shiny and polished. It confirms master Amardil's words. He nods.
"Good, I can see that. Send word once the crown can be returned to the citadel. I will not keep you from your work any longer."
"I am sure I keep you more from your work than you me, my lord."
He nods but doesn't say any more. It is of no importance. He turns around and leaves the room. With this seen to, it is time for the next item on his unwritten list to be seen to. As such, he makes his way back to the citadel and to the Tower of Ecthelion. He stops as he sees who is approaching him.
"Good morning, my lord."
"Did you need me for something?"
"Actually, yes. For a few things."
"Well, before you ask me, tell me what progress you have made."
"Interesting that you mention that, my lord. What I need aid with actually concerns some of the progress we have made."
Denethor lifts an eyebrow waiting to finally have his request met. Barhador looks around as if thinking or unsure. He does not care as he only wants the answers he came for. Only then will he help Barhador by answering his questions.
"Well, the throne room is being cleaned as well as one King's house. The throne room is nearly finished. We're just polishing it. I expect it will take the remainder of the day to complete. And of course, we will clean and polish it again the day before the coronation."
"I hope you ensure it is not so polished as to cause us to slip."
"Of course not, we will make sure it provides no danger to anyone."
"Naturally, but what about the king's house?"
"We are cleaning it and it will be ready in a few weeks. But most of the furniture needs to be replaced. It is what I would like to talk to you about."
"Have you already started removing the furniture?"
"Those which need to be replaced, yes."
"So, what do you want from me?"
"I need to know what to replace the furniture and drapings with."
"With suitable replacements of course."
"Yes, I know. I just want everything to be to the king's liking. And I do not know what he likes. Does he want to have the golden furniture or the more normal furniture?"
"I would say keep the golden furniture for the formal rooms where dignitaries will meet him. The normal furniture should be placed in his personal rooms."
"Yes, my lord. And his office?"
"See to it that you find a middle ground between the normal and golden furniture."
"I will."
"Good, and when will all this be ready?"
"I am afraid not in time for the coronation. There is some furniture which also needs to be repaired and that will take quite some time. With some work, we will be able to have it ready one or at most two weeks after the coronation."
"Good, have you had time to look into my other request?"
"Your other … request? You mean the one about setting up an entirely new staff for the king? I have not had much time to spend on it but managed to find a few people I am certain will be suitable."
"For which positions did you find them?"
"For the leading positions, my lord. The lower staff is something I have not been able to find at all."
"Mhh, I will look into it. Send me the list with the names and I will see if I accept it."
"Yes, my lord."
If those people are suitable they can help him gather the remainder of the staff for Gil. And they can also help with preparing the King's house which gives his staff a chance to do other things. Things which need to be done. Not right now but urgently. And maybe it will all be ready faster. Barhador bows and walks away. He watches Barhador leave all the while knowing what he needs to do urgently; find Gil his staff. But only after the claim is accepted by the Council of Gondor. Which is another troubling matter on his mind. Till then, Gil will not have much need for a full staff. It gives him time to work with those Barhador chose and have some of his staff assisting them. It should be enough until the King's house is ready or he has selected the full staff. He turns around and walks back to his office. A smile grows on his face. With this, Gil will also have a say on who he wants on his staff. It brings another matter to his mind which needs to be solved urgently; finding Gil housing. He bites his lips. He knows it's not something he can solve on his own. He doesn't have the time so he needs Faramir's aid. Faramir knows which houses are in use and which can be used for the purpose he needs them for. But one thing is for sure, the city is on track with the preparations based on the reports he received and what he was told.
Minas Tirith, Faramir POV
Faramir smiles as he walks towards the citadel. He has looked at a few houses. Many were suitable but not entirely appropriate. They would work if he could not find an actual appropriate house. It has worried him for some time. Until he visited the last house on his list. This house met all the standards he was looking for. It is a suitable house for the king to stay in, not too far away from the citadel, and on the sixth level. It is the reason why he is making his way to the Citadel; he needs to inform his father. Well, needs? More like wants to. It allows him to share his plans with his father. This way, he will know what he needs to plan. And also if he needs to adapt some. After those changes hopefully father will approve so he can carry out his plan.
"My lord Faramir!"
He turns around. Lord Pedwegon is quickly but calmly making his way toward him. His clothing looks neat. His boots are polished. On lord Pedwegon's face is a calm and friendly look. Almost too friendly. He has seen this look before. It has always predated some request or attempt of bribery. He bites back a sigh. He can already imagine what will come now. And he also has an idea of what this is about. He is not going to like it at all.
"Yes, Lord Pedwegon, how can I be of aid to you?"
"There is an important matter I would like to discuss with you?"
"And that is?"
"You must know that we are in the process of determining what to do with the claim from the Northerner. I would like to hear your thoughts about it."
"What I think about it?… It is not my place to make any decision about it."
"But it is. What we will do with this claim will determine your future. So you have the right to make a decision. And if I may be so free to give you some advice."
"You may."
Faramir looks calmly at lord Pedwegon but already knows what he will do with it. He will not act on it. Nevertheless, it is good for him to know what 'advice' Lord Pedwegon will give him. It allows his father to act on it better. But he is still unsure what lord Pedwegon attempts to do with this exactly.
"As you know we are discussing the claim, my allies and I are certain our position is the best for Gondor's future."
"And that is?"
"To deny the claim, of course. The Northerner does not know Gondor and is only bound by his past to the north. He will not understand what is important to us and will only try to shape us into his image without regard to our past. It will mean the end of Gondor as we know it if we accept his claim."
"Maybe but one can never be sure. And more importantly, we cannot let ourselves be guided by our fear."
"It is not fear but common sense. We have had a steward for ages and it has worked for us. We do not need this change."
"There have been multiple changes in the past. None of whom were bad for Gondor."
"This change is, I know it. It is our duty - and yours - to do what is best for Gondor. Denying the claim is. Think about it…"
Faramir stops listening at this moment. He now knows what lord Pedwegon is trying to do. Or at least gets an impression of it. He is seeking support for his position. It's an impressive amount of arguments he has gotten thrown toward him. It could have been a smart move to work on his sense of duty if he had not made up his mind yet. So his response has been decided already.
"…rd? My lord?"
"Yes, I have heard your argument, Lord Pedwegon but I will not support you."
"But…"
"No, I will not. I have made my choice in this matter and that is to support the claim. A king will give Gondor a chance to prosper and gain its former glory again."
Lord Pedwegon glares at him and turns around. He walks briskly away. Faramir watches him. Lord Pedwegon turns around and gives him another glare. He does not react to it and just shakes his head.
Citadel, Minas Tirith, Denethor POV
The next day, he waits in his office for one of the ones he's selected. He has only dismissed one of Barhador's choices. This one has been replaced with one of his staff. All those selected will work well together. He is sure of it and more importantly, they will get along with Gil. He looks up at the window wondering where Faramir is right now and then if he's found a suitable house. A house for Gil to stay in for the time being. As he thinks about it, his thoughts move on to the other preparations he's ordered to be done; their progress. Something he realizes quickly he's satisfied with. They have made a lot of progress in such a short time. Everything will be ready in time. Well, except for the King's house but he has Faramir working on a solution for that.
As for the King's house itself, it will take some weeks to complete. Contractors still need to do some work. Something he'll allow them. He wants the house to be restored correctly to prevent the need for work there once Gil moves in. Besides, they'll only need a few more days. Or that's what he gives them. After those days, he'll ask them for an expected end date for their work. It'll give him a timeframe for how long it'll take to place all the furniture inside.
He looks out of the window wondering what's taking them so long. They should be here already. It's then he hears some people talking beneath his window. He stands up and moves to the window. Once there he's able to overhear what's being discussed there.
"...know. No one has explained the reason to me."
"Neither to me. I just doubt it's anything bad."
"Why do you say so?"
"Because we wouldn't be summoned to lord Denethor's office if it were."
"You can't know that, you eternal optimist. It could be the exact opposite of what you are thinking."
"Better to be an optimist than to wallow in fear of everything which can go wrong. You cannot do anything about it so why burden yourself with it?"
"To be prepared."
"Being prepared is useless if you cannot control the problems you face."
Silence falls beneath his window. Only the blowing wind and his breathing can be heard. Those words bring something to his mind; something he has not thought of in much detail before. He hopes Gil will be pleased with his work. He expects it but cannot be sure. It is the same uncertainty of the outcome as those two beneath his window feel. And also the same for the preparations. Like the housing, it's something he cannot control the response of. For everything else, he doesn't expect to face this problem. He's pleaded with it. A knock sounds on his door.
"Yes?"
"Father, could I speak with you for a moment."
Those he was supposed to be meeting with will have to wait. He expects Faramir to have a more urgent need to speak with him. The staff can wait once he has time for them. Especially, since they have kept him waiting.
"Come in."