Middle of the next morning, and Baudh took Parvon on a tour of the available quarters.

'We have three all in this corridor,' he said with his friendly grin as he opened a door. 'They are all intended for small families; a couple with one elfling or none. They all have one living room, one sleeping chamber, and one hygiene annexe, with either widow or lightwell.'

The dwelling Parvon looked into had a lightwell pooling brightness onto the floor of what seemed to him to be a spacious room. A hearth, shelves and benches cut into the walls. But no furnishings. The sleeping room was smaller, but roomy enough for a couples' bed and an elfling's crib or a small pallet and had its own lightwell. A small area off held a washing cascade and other hygiene facilities.

'There is but one pairing who bring an elfling, and I am not sure there is really space…' he began, imagining the squawks of complaint at being crowded in from a couple used to the sky and leaves above, a talan with less actual space but feeling larger because it was not enclosed in stone and there was all of the forest for work areas and play areas. 'However, the couples can have no reason to object.'

'The basic standard is, if the elfling is so young he or she is not yet at lessons, they are not old enough to need their own room,' Baudh said. 'But come. The next corridor across have chambers for larger families…'

By the time they had finished, Parvon had a good idea of what was available and who the rooms would suit… although he was a little unsure as to whether the current homeless elves would agree with him.

He said as much to a sympathetic Healer Gaelbes over tea in the Healer Hall office before he passed on the news to the refugees.

'They should, of course, be grateful for any new home and appreciative of your efforts,' she said, sipping her tea. 'But coming near to death may have made them querulous rather than grateful.'

'There is also the vexed question of how to implement the installation of the elves; by priority, settling in the families with little ones, first? Or wait until there are rooms for all? But then, what of those elves who are injured, does that mean they will be left until last?'

'That's not an issue,' the Healer said. 'If they were well enough to travel, they are well enough to get to new rooms; I simply felt they would appreciate the sense of being slightly cossetted, after everything, and to make sure there were no hidden issues. But I think, all things considered, everyone has come through without lasting harm. And what of you, I hear nothing of your new rooms in all of this?'

'Ah, a single elf who has few needs… I am happy to be put at the bottom of the list.'

But that would not do for good Master Baudh. When Parvon mentioned this to him after the break for the day meal, he laughed and became a whirl of activity.

'No. No, no, no! We King's Office elves have our own accommodations… I will have a nice room sorted out for you by tomorrow, just trust me. In fact, come with me now, we can see what might suite and I can show you my rooms…'

Melion looked up from his desk and cleared his throat; his brother laughed again.

'Now, don't be like that, Melion! Master Parvon, my brother thinks that because I don't have a sweetheart at the moment, every handsome ellon I meet is in danger from me… but I promise you, I meant only that seeing my rooms may provide an example of how the rooms are set out. Although, if you are interested in making new friends, Mistress Merlinith's Friendly Rooms are a good place to meet…'

'You're very thoughtful,' Parvon said, inclining his head. 'I do not think I have time to make new friends at the moment. But my thanks.'

'Well, come, we have our own corridor between here and the royal wing, so that if his majesty needs us, we are convenient… it is also handy for the feasting hall…'

'I think I know where you mean; the former guest quarters?'

'Yes; we have better guest rooms now, improved…'

Baudh continued a lively explanation until they reached the former guest wing.

'So, as we are mostly couples or singles in the King's Office, the former guest rooms are of a good size for our needs; of course, brother Melion has a family of his own, and so we have joined two guest accommodations together and let out into a third room which was storage, so they are together without being too close, if you see… and this is my home, be welcome.' Baudh opened the door with a flourish and gestured Parvon to enter. 'Oh, good, the corridor servants have been through already; I wasn't sure I'd left all tidy…'

A large living room, a sleeping chamber beyond, a bathing pool which had a washing cascade fitted; it all seemed more than adequate.

'Very pleasant,' Parvon ventured. 'Of course, I have seen these rooms before; I seem to recall the Seneschal of Imladris used these quarters when he stayed once?'

'Do you know, I think you're right? I hadn't realised… well, imagine that… we were sorry to hear, of course; he was very handsome and a good friend to many here…'

'Indeed. His loss will be felt by all of Middle Earth, but that he died for Silvans is especially humbling.'

'Well… would you like to follow me? I was thinking you might not want to be next to the family confusion, and rooms on the other side of the corridor might suit you; Feren will be one of your neighbours… all this room needs is the washing cascade bringing up to standard; it's one of the old style ones, you see, but we will add it to the piped network; it will only take a day or two…'

The room was wide and long and the sleeping area had a lightwell high in one wall and theoretically much better than his former, dark and cramped quarters had been. The hygiene area did, indeed, look tired and a little neglected; Parvon nodded and tried to feel enthusiastic for rooms not his own, however spacious.

'Thank you, it will do very well. And I am content where I am until such time as all the rooms are ready for my fellow-travellers.'

'If you're sure? The work crews shouldn't get in your way, most of the task will be bringing the pipework along…'

'Really. One thing - is there a shared bathing pool for the corridor?'

'You can share my bathing pool, Master Parvon.'

'Thank you, no, Master Baudh. Although I will mention your generosity to Master Melion, if you like.'

Baudh grinned, not the least abashed.

'You cannot blame me for trying, Master Parvon, but I would be grateful if you did not... And in return, I promise to behave.'

Melion seemed relieved when they returned from the tour.

'There have been elves asking for you, Master Parvon, elves from the convoy… of course, it is part of your new duties to speak to them concerning resettlement, but at the same time, if they can accost you here and in the Healers' Halls, you will have no peace! And it occurred to me – this cannot be easy for you, to come here and find me where you had been, so I am sorry if it is difficult for you…'

Parvon waved this away.

'We follow our orders and our king wants it this way. No, it is not your fault. As for my friends from the convoy…' He shrugged. 'While I lodge with them, I am of them, so to speak. Once I leave the Healers' Halls, I will become other than they… and for the moment, if it helps them, yes, I will allow them to seek me wherever and whenever… but I am grateful.'

'Well, I had thought, after the day meal, I will take you round to meet the elves you will be dealing with; I expect you know them, but perhaps not in their current roles.

So Parvon spent the day reacquainting himself with elves such as Merlinith and Araspen who had taken over responsibility for providing bedding and cushions and rugs and wall hangings and who were old and dear friends, and new elves in new departments and subdivisions who would need to know the skills of the elves he'd brought, and what resources they would need…

It kept him busy all afternoon and on his return to the Healers' Hall, he managed to slip through to his rooms unobserved and spend a quiet hour reflecting on the day… no, it had not been as bad as he'd feared; Melion and Baudh were welcoming, Baudh perhaps too much so, but it almost made him smile… and renewing his acquaintance with Mistresses Araspen and Merlinith had been pleasant; Merlinith's practical, sensible kindness and Araspen's quiet intelligence had provided a welcome break in the day.

'You must visit us, once you are more at home,' Araspen had suggested. 'One evening, as a friend. And here, not in the Friendly Rooms, which are for more public conversation. It would be nice to see you.'

And he had agreed, and felt yes, he had friends here, where he had expected to be alone and shunned, somehow; whatever Thranduil's intentions for Parvon's reputation in the New Palace, it didn't seem to have carried to the Old…

Gaelbes tapped on his door with a tray of tea and some honey cakes.

'I am grateful, Gaelbes. Will you join me?'

'My thanks, but no; I do not wish to disturb you,' she replied, 'and you have been at work all day. But my other guests have questions and I have only stopped them all coming to your door by promising to speak to you on their behalf…'

'Thank you. I'll come presently to the entrance hall, if I may, and talk to everyone then.'

Thus Parvon established the pattern of his days; living with his fellow-travellers in the Healers' Hall, working in the King's Office making lists and escorting his fellow-travellers around the rooms available, telling them firmly, this was all they could have… unless they wanted to wait and take it up personally with his majesty, when the king came home… and often that was enough to have them grumble and look again, and perhaps agree that the accommodations were nice enough, considering… and he would then sweeten the bitterness by telling them who to speak to about furniture and such, and set up meetings for them… and when, after four days of this, he finally had them all settled in, he allowed himself to take the keys to his new quarters.

He let himself in, put down his belongings, and looked around him… plenty of room, more than one person needed, really, the refurbished washing cascade looking smarter now, simple furnishings – work table and chair, settle in front of the fire, bed in the sleeping area and a coffer at its foot, shelves hewn into the walls… it was, undoubtedly, much better than his old, cramped quarters…

…but those had been his! He had put his mark on them over the years, had known every facet and face of the stone, known everyone on the corridor… this was not home…

He shook his head. This would not do! It was his duty to set a good example to the other elves, who had also lost their homes… well.

Carrying his saddlebags and pack through to the bedroom, he unpacked and soon had everything – everything, all he needed for his new life here, although he hadn't wanted a new life! – put away and was contemplating what to do with himself, whether it was too early to set off for the feasting hall, or whether to sit and look at the room for a while, when a knock at the outer door reached him.

Nobody there when he opened it, but a parcel on the table outside the door intended for such things. Curious, for he wasn't expecting anything, much less a soft and squashy package, he took it in and opened it to find a folded blanket made from squares of worked wool and a cushion with matching cover; they were worked in soft greens and gentle browns and a friendly little note proclaimed there was nothing for making a room seem homely like soft furnishings, and Mistresses Araspen and Merlinith hoped he would like their little gift.

He smiled. Perhaps it would take more than a cushion or two to make this place a home, but the kindness of the gift certainly made him feel better.