For Parvon, finding his way to the office after a long night of sharing names and supporting Triwathon, it was rather a shock to find Master Merenor installed in the Palace Office, but a pleasant one.

'Master Parvon, see?' Faerveren said, his voice happier than it had been for weeks. 'Here is my Daerada – we will be all right now, will we not?'

He found himself almost wanting to echo Faerveren's sentiments; there was something so reassuring in Merenor's presence, even though the fellow had been attached to the King's Office for far fewer decades than Parvon himself. Still, he smiled and offered a welcome, and was not entirely surprised when Merenor jumped up and gave him the same friendly hug he'd given Faerveren earlier.

'Thank you, Master Merenor,' Parvon said, disentangling himself with a smile. 'This is treating me like family, indeed! Be welcome… are you well, you and your husband and family?'

'Yes, thank you. My Hanben is here, too – he's helping your Healer Mae at present. Everyone is fine at home. And so. Faerveren tells me that after the messages were sent, you and Commander Triwathon were involved in a terrible accident? I hope nobody else was hurt?'

Faerveren ducked his head.

'I am sorry if I ought not have said, Master Parvon, but…'

'No, no, it's all right, don't think for a minute…' Parvon hurried to reassure his underscribe; it must have been a relief to have his grandfather show up, who could blame him for sharing…? 'Master Merenor, you do understand, though, there is a need for discretion?'

'Of course I do, Master Parvon. And there are those in my own family who suffered similar attacks by that same ellon in the past, so I also understand something of the distress surrounding such an incident. Now, if I may say, you look as if you haven't slept in far too long. Is there anything I can help with, while you catch up with yourself a little?'

'It's kind, but no. You must have ridden all night and longer to get here…'

'In fact, no. We decided we would be quicker in the canopy, with the trees helping. So, basically, we ran… mostly. Hence all we were able to bring were three packs of caul silk and a few bits and pieces… a bottle of winter wine for the emergency stocks, and a flask of fruit wine for Faerveren, who dislikes strong spirits, much to his credit.'

'It is almost time for the breakfast meeting… we are having a meeting today?' Parvon glanced at Faerveren.

'Yes, Master Parvon, but Daerada suggested it might be better to hold it a little later than usual. If you like, I will speak to the servants. Will we seek to include Lord Arveldir and Master Erestor also, or should they be allowed to rest?'

'I am tempted to say the latter, but considering… slip a note through with a knock as you do so, our compliments, and we happen to know Healer Maereth has more healing supplies if Lord Arveldir would like to take Master Erestor along to benefit…'

'What's this?' Merenor asked. 'That lovely Noldo is injured? Poor chap… Arveldir must be worried! Shall I take the message…?'

'That won't be necessary,' Parvon said, trying not to laugh; Merenor was still as outrageous a flirt as ever, although these days he claimed he was just interested in people… 'Thank you, Faerveren. If you can track him down, let Commander Triwathon know of the meeting; he is welcome, but if he's busy elsewhere, that's fine.'

'Yes, Master Parvon.'

He watched his underscribe leave with a wry smile.

'No doubt he will do all that is asked of him, and then more on top,' he said to Merenor. 'Your grandson is far too helpful for his own good, I sometimes think. But I really do not know how we would have coped without him during the crisis.'

'It's good to know he's been making himself useful,' Merenor said.

The first sign of Faerveren's usefulness came with a knock at the door and the entry of Captain Canadion.

'Ada! It is true, you are here!' he exclaimed, holding open his arms for his father to hug him.

'My little Canadion!' Merenor laughed, looking up into his son's eyes. 'Faerveren said you were well, are you?'

'Oh, you know, a little bit bruised and scorched, but nothing serious. It is lovely to see you!'

'And you, penneth. Is Thiriston well?'

'Yes, we both are… oh, and Faerveren said, Master Parvon, that he has spoken to Healer Mae and she has sent Master Hanben directly to Master Erestor with some caul silk and fresh bandages to save him the walk.'

'I wonder if he needs any help…?' Merenor murmured, but Canadion laughed. 'No, you stay here, Ada! I must get back, I only came to say hello, we are wanted to cheer up the elflings again… if you are not busy, Ada, you could come later to the schoolroom and bring your stories?'

'After breakfast, if I am not needed elsewhere, penneth.'

Ten minutes later, Commander Triwathon arrived, standing behind a chair to greet Master Merenor, thus protecting himself from a friendly hug. If Merenor noticed, he didn't say anything, in fact restraining himself to a smile and a polite enquiry for the Commander's health.

Before there was time for the conversation to grow stilted, a rattle outside and a gently scolding voice had Merenor leaping across the room to hold wide the door as first the wheeled invalid conveyance with Erestor in, and then a tall ellon with dark brown hair appeared, followed by Arveldir and finally Faerveren.

'Yes, yes, I know, it is not to be borne, is it, Master Erestor? But if you will go leaping into flaming brush, what do you expect? There, now I will let Lord Arveldir take charge of you…' He backed away from the wheeled conveyance and lifted his head towards Merenor. 'I knew you would be interested in meeting Master Erestor again, my rogue, and so I thought I had better be present as well… Greetings, Commander Triwathon, Master Parvon. I hope my rascal of a husband has not plagued you too much?'

'Master Hanben… be welcome… are you going to join the breakfast meeting too?'

'Thank you, we will then be able to report to you on matters at the Old Palace and how your news was received.'

'I will speak to the servant,' Faerveren said. 'We will need more seating as well as food…'

Merenor came to stand near Hanben, inserting himself under his arm as if he had always been there and looking up at his husband.

'I expect you've heard the names of the dead from Maereth?'

'Indeed. And not only Silvans…'

'I heard, that lovely Glorfindel, dead! I know he had Silvan rites, is there a gemstone we may speak into? What?' Merenor looked about him, for a distinct awkwardness filled the room suddenly. 'It is early, still, the sun is not yet up, and it is still technically night, I am allowed to say, I remember Glorfindel, that lovely ellon, am I not?'

'It's not that,' Triwathon said, his voice falling into the silence with reluctance. It's… the stone. Yes, we have allotted Glorfindel a gemstone. It is very fine, in its way, perfect for him. But he had… someone new, someone special in his life, and that person must speak the first memories. So the gemstone is to travel to Imladris, and then return, when we can speak our hearts to it as we will. But not yet.'

'As soon as I am recovered, I would like to set out,' Erestor stirred in his seat. 'I feel much better already for the new dressings.'

'You will still be some days, though, my dear,' Arveldir pointed out. 'And it is a long journey home.'

'It will feel longer still, with the news we carry,' Erestor said. 'But, yes. I need to be well enough before we set off so that I do not delay us on the road. Yet I start to want to be home.'

Faerveren's faith in the restorative powers of his beloved grandfather seemed not entirely unfounded. Whether or not it was Merenor's ease with people, the way he could become instantly interested in a person's woes, or whether the promise of more help on the way lifted the spirits of the survivors, or just the catharsis of the Night of the Names – whatever the reasons, over the next few days the mood of the New Palace began to lose its desperate, chaotic edge. But even as the elves generally began to settle, so Parvon grew more anxious. He tried to hide it, and perhaps he did, from most of the elves in the palace.

But not from his friends.

It was Triwathon who finally cornered him in the Palace Office. Seeing the determined look on the Commander's face, Faerveren abandoned his filing and fled, pulling his grandfather with him.

'Is there something I can help you with, Triwathon?'

'Yes. You can tell me what's bothering you. Although I think I can guess, in which case, you might worry less if you talk more…'

'It is nothing. Well, it is almost nothing; it is simply… the king will arrive soon. And then…'

'And then he will clear your name and commend your courage in keeping everyone safe.'

'Not quite everyone.'

'After the dragons, I mean. How you stopped people panicking, from falling into despair. Our king is considered harsh by outsiders, but that's because he is harsh with them. With us, he just wants to protect us. You know this.'

'But I killed…'

'It was an accident. Arveldir will confirm it, Healer Maereth has her report on the body and what she found. And anyway, if it was your fault, it was my fault, too. Whatever happens, even if the king were to find you at fault, I would insist on sharing your fate.'

Parvon shook his head. 'I really don't think that's a good idea,' he said. 'Nor is it necessary. You were the victim of an attack, I simply intervened, and it was my actions…'

'But for your actions, who knows what might have happened? You saved me, Parvon, when I couldn't save myself. You shouldn't be punished for that. Nor will you be, I'm sure of it. But the king will soon be here, and then I am certain you will be exonerated.'

'And what if I am? The king has never really settled in the New Palace; he has pretended to, but if he had decided he really wanted to be here, he would have moved the entire court years ago… and after this? I cannot bring myself to believe he will see the events here as anything other than a reason to disband the New Palace… You yourself said…'

Triwathon sighed. 'Yes, it's true. Where the future of the New Palace, and its garrison are concerned, I do have doubts… but it was not our fault!' he said. 'We did all we could…'

'I know. But sometimes, that simply isn't enough.'

'Still, there is not much longer to wait. Until then, Parvon, try not to worry; it will not help.'

Parvon managed a hint of a smile.

'I will if you will,' he said.