His desk!

All Parvon's discomfort fell away and he hastily removed the fabrics into the corridor where he let the fall with little care, returning to ease the desk out, struggling a little with the turn, but soon it was back in place.

And so was he.

Stealing a pillowcase from one of the many piles of linen, he wiped down the desk's surfaces, taking away the top layer of dust and revealing the soft wood beneath; yes, it needed a little affection, some oiling and rubbing, but it would be wonderful with some care. Meanwhile he could at least make sure it was in good order; yes, the drawers opened (although there was nothing inside them), the writing slope was properly supported, everything moved reasonably smoothly and he nodded satisfaction as he closed it up and gave it a final stroke with the cloth.

That done, he appropriated a couple of blankets from the bundles, spread one on the floor in the sleeping alcove, folded the other for his head, and brought his lantern through to the alcove's recess before lying down to watch his star-ceiling while he rested.

As he relaxed, the hard work and the sense of putting things to rights transferred to his mood; yes, he would be unreasonably distressed to learn that Triwathon was in love with someone else… again… and he would adapt again; it was typical of Triwathon; he was sensitive and caring, perhaps too much so, leading to occasionally unwise choices made from an affectionate nature… but then, what proof did Parvon have that there really was someone, in fact? It was just a feeling, an intuition, a dream… and, coupled with the lack of any obvious contender, perhaps he was being over-sensitive, simply because he was sometimes lonely… No, the convoy would be here in a day or two, bringing with it news and another letter from Triwathon – no doubt, if there was a new sweetheart, Triw would not be shy of sharing his happiness, and it would be better to know, would it not…?

Even so, Parvon found his determined positivity wavering a little; there was still a nagging sense of something about Triwathon's mood which kept prickling at his fëa… and then when the letter arrived, it might contain upsetting details… and with a sigh he realised another difficulty he must face; if his forebodings were real, then he no longer had anywhere that was not touched with thoughts of Triw with someone else… the New Palace would be as tainted for him now as the Old Palace was… at least here in his old rooms Parvon did not have to think, Triwathon walked past here with Glorfindel on the way to his rooms, his bed…

Perhaps fortuitously the door clicked as someone outside tried to open it but failed – his key still in the inner lock – and muffled voices exclaiming. Parvon rose in haste from his makeshift bed and slipped on his robes-of office; he had given no thought to passers-by or corridor servants, and so interruption had not occurred to him.

…But these were his rooms, his! The only place now where he had a chance of peace; he was not giving them up again!

He put his King's Office expression on his face and unlocked the door. A little bevy of ellith clad in servants' garb gasped in harmony.

'Ah, good,' he said, thinking on his feet. 'You are tardy, but no matter: I have begun the work myself. To begin, you may take all these things and dispose of them appropriately, and then…'

'Who are you? What are you doing here?'

'Who am I?' Parvon echoed. 'Do you not know?'

Several ellith shook their heads; the one who seemed to be in charge drew herself up a little.

'Ought I to? I will need to speak to your superior about this, who are you?'

'Indeed? Know, then, that I am Parvon, King's Office, Elf in Charge of the Division of Matters Transitional. The only superior I have is the king himself; his next public audience is in three days, do feel free to approach him then. Meanwhile, these rooms are required; I had thought you were the team come to clear away all this clutter. Now, as you see, much has been taken out already…'

'But these are our rooms! They are for storage of these fabrics…'

'There must be a misunderstanding; I am sure we can sort this out once I have seen the paperwork… you do have the paperwork?'

'P…Paperwork?'

He gave a sigh that was slightly exasperated while feel rather ashamed of himself.

'All rooms repurposed are logged with the King's Office and a copy of the documentation left with the new inhabitants. The document will show for how long the rooms were intended to be at your disposal.'

'There is no paperwork, sir; we just said, is there a room where we can put the spare linens until the cold comes, and someone said, oh there are rooms in that corridor nobody wants…' She shrugged. 'I am very sorry if I have made problems for his majesty, of course I will not take up his time, but…'

Parvon allowed his manner to soften; she did seem very contrite.

'It is more the King's Office, rather than the king himself, penneth. But in fact, all that is needed is for you to arrange to move these things elsewhere. Master Baudh, with whom I work closely, will assist you, if you go to him tomorrow…'

'Tomorrow! But… but where…?'

'Perhaps there are other rooms in the next corridor which are unrequired and which you can temporarily use? Let me relieve you of the key for this door, it will only confuse matters if you have a key for a room you no longer access… there, I thank you.' Parvon bowed. 'Good day to you.'

He shut himself inside to tidy up and to collect his lantern before leaving and locking the door. He nodded to one or two of the ellith who were trying to sort some of the confusion in the corridor, and made his way back towards his old rooms.

The telling-of-hours lamp at the junction of the passages showed, to his surprise, that it was long past the breakfast hour; he had hoped to find Baudh at home, still, to let him know about the room, and the ellith, but he would be long gone now, already at work about the next set of accommodation for the refugees, or in his workroom…

Ah, well. Parvon hoped he had given himself a little breathing space by saying 'tomorrow' to the ellith.

Having yet several hours before he was expected in his workspace, he took time to pack up the rest of his things ready to carry them back to his former rooms. Although he did not hurry, he was soon finished, and delayed setting out again, concerned lest he get there and find the elleth still working to move the abundance of linens in the corridor…

It was awkward. He wanted to be busy but he could not be, and so found it more difficult to blot out the sense of impending heartbreak he could feel waiting to descend if he but let it. He repeated to himself the positive thoughts he had used earlier; nothing was certain, he was simply imagining it, because he was lonely and missed his friend, naturally he was worrying, there would be a letter which would explain all, or would say nothing which, in its own right, would tell him all he needed to know, but at least he would know…

But it was difficult to hold onto the hope, and so the knock that came to his door was a welcome distraction.

'Master Baudh!'

'Please, Parvon, in the office you can be as formal as you like but I've come in friendship… and bringing food.'

Food?

Parvon didn't realise he'd spoken aloud until Baudh laughed and waved a basket at him.

'Yes, food, such as breakfast? You weren't in the feasting hall, and even though Melion said you should take the morning and to leave you in peace, I decided to ignore him…'

Parvon shook his head.

'Forgive me, I am distracted today. Thank you, Baudh. Come in.'

'Melion was worried,' Baudh began as he unloaded his basket onto the table. 'He won't admit it, but I know he's anxious we were too rowdy for you last night, and when he knocked on your door this morning and had no reply…'

'Ah. No, it's true I'm not much in company, but, really, Gilrin was very welcoming and everyone so friendly… and… but…'

'Will it help if I say that, on my travels this morning, I ran into a little knot of twittering ellith with their arms full of dusty bedding…?'

Parvon flushed, looked down. Baudh grinned, shaking his head.

'Oh-ho! So it is to do with that? And it cannot be coincidence they were near your former quarters, I suppose…?'

'Baudh, I am sorry if…'

'There is no need, my friend, to apologise. Believe me, I was quite entertained by the sight, that's all, there is nothing wrong; in fact, the whole tale is that they had once been given permission to find a room for the winter bedding, just until the cold weather, when it was needed, and, well, it hasn't been needed. Instead, it was forgotten about and only now remembered when it was almost stumbled over. I've found them a nice, big store room with shelves already in place, in one of the branches on the lower levels. I even made sure there is paperwork…'

Here Baudh paused to wink, while Parvon sighed and shook his head.

'Really, Baudh, I… Does Melion know yet?'

'It wouldn't matter if he did, I'm the Rooms Elf… and he has said, you don't take orders from him, so there's nothing to be upset over! Besides which, you have done him and Gil and everyone a huge favour by getting Ravomen out of the way… Parvon, my friend, I know you don't laugh at the same things we do, but you do have a sense of humour, but this is not amusing you, it's upsetting you and it shouldn't… what's the matter?'

'It's kind of you, Baudh, but it's nothing you need worry about.'

'Or, it's none of my business! But very politely put, Parvon! No, I don't want to pry; I just want to help.'

'Other than turning a blind eye while I move back into my former rooms, there's nothing you can help with.'

'Please don't do that,' Baudh said softly. 'Not, don't block me out – you're a private sort of person, I understand that, and I might not be your first choice of confidant. But if you move out of here, it will make Melion think it's his fault, or the family is too boisterous, or something like it. It would hurt his feelings, and…'

Parvon tried hard not to sigh; was he not allowed to have feelings, also? Instead, he tried an appeal that was near the truth if not quite what was on his mind.

'You love your brothers, do you not?' he began.

'Yes, of course I do.'

'Consider, then. You have three siblings; I had one brother. He was my dearest friend, and he is dead.'

'Parvon, I can't imagine…'

'No, it is best you do not try, it will break your heart to think of your brother Canadion, dead, or Melion, or Caraphindir no more... After my brother's death, my parents sailed to be there when he is released from the Halls of Waiting, not thinking that I would feel their leaving as another loss. I have no kin here, now. Rejoice in them, Baudh, in your family! But… bear in mind, that for those who have no-one, your sibling friendships are sometimes a painful reminder… and there are too many memories of this corridor, of elves who have walked along them on their way to one set of rooms or another.'

'I'd no idea. That is, I knew you didn't have much kin in evidence, but that happens sometimes. And you're always so self-composed…'

'It is true, I am not a sentimental, over-emotional sort of ellon; it is no wonder if it escapes notice in other people when I am out of sorts… but rooms as spacious as these are too big for one person and remind me that I am alone. My former chambers fitted me very well in former days, and when I visited them last night I was less uncomfortable in my mind there. It is not Melion, it is not your rambunctious relations, it is not you, Baudh. It is me, I do not fit these chambers.'

'It's a guess, but you don't feel as if you fit anywhere, at times, do you? But we're very glad you're here, Parvon, the king's glad you're back, I know…'

'And so his majesty should be; it was he engineered my removal here, after all.'

'You still haven't eaten anything.' Baudh unwrapped packs of food and slid them towards Parvon. 'Come on, I know Gil stuffed you full of food last night, but looking at the amount of work you seem to have already done this morning, you really need to break your fast.' He sighed. 'Keep these chambers on, use them now and then, please? Let me know what you need for your new – old – rooms and I'll make it available to you for when it gets too much. There's no washing cascade, although I could investigate fitting one in the adjacent rooms… it wouldn't be ideal, but better than walking through the corridors to a public bathing pool…'

'Really, there's no need, Baudh; I want the simplicity.'

'I just want to make things easy for you, Parvon; and isn't the easy answer often the simplest?'

Parvon didn't answer, but spread a piece of bread with butter and cut it into small cubes before beginning to eat.

'I'll take that as agreement, then,' Baudh said. 'One of the rooms opposite might be best; they're nearer to the current pipework and they're not in use by anyone or anything… and you can let me know what you need when you've had time to think…'

'A small sofa, one soft chair, one writing chair, a narrow cot – the sort that used to be garrison issue; any wider will not fit the sleeping alcove. Bedding, I suppose. A coffer or chest, some more lanterns, a small rug, perhaps. That's all I need. Oh, and some rubbing oil.'

'Parvon!' Baudh grinned. 'I'm surprised at you!'

A withering look but now Parvon had to struggle not to smile; it was impossible not to feel he had made an ally, if not a friend, in Baudh.

'It is for my desk,' he replied. 'And if you can source that for me right away, I will allow you to bring it to my old rooms. Once I have finished eating, the care of my desk will be my next task. And if you hasten, you may even help me.'