Barely had Parvon entered the King's Office than he found himself grabbed by Mistress Araspen, finger to her lips, and himself bustled in silence into the office of Matters Matrimonial. Pushed towards a chair, he found a glass of restorative blackcurrant cordial thrust into his hand, and Mistress Merlinith talking so quickly that it was only with difficulty that he was able to make out what she was saying.

'…Master Parvon, you are staying with us tonight, it is all Melion's fault, we were pushed into it, really, and poor Thindorion, it must have been very annoying, but of course, when Melion is in his King's Office robes, he is blind to such things, but there you have it, you are very welcome, and we do have a spare room, and are very discreet so will not annoy you, but at least for a few nights…'

'It is very kind of you, but I have rooms…'

'Yes, but Melion thought you were staying with Thindorion, and went looking for you there, and you were not there, only Thindo and his assistant, and so Melion came back blustering about why you let him think you were staying there, or was Thindo deceiving you, and so…'

'And so I said, Why, Master Melion, but Master Parvon is staying with us, and I said it very carefully,' Araspen said. 'Thus it is not a lie, as long as you do stay with us, because I did not say you had been…'

Suddenly Parvon remembered the blackcurrant cordial in his hand, and took a strong sip.

'In that case, of course, I am most grateful, and yes, I will accept your kind invitation… anything so that Mistress Araspen does not appear to be foresworn…' He managed to smile, although the fumes from the cordial were making his eyes water. 'Do I take it Melion wanted to talk to me?'

'Yes, he is a little upset about something… and could not quite believe you would be still with the Imladris elves, he said you have been much too long for that… he is presently in his office…'

'Thank you, then, for the warning. I had better seek him, I suppose, and try to help.'

'But first, hasten to wherever you have been sleeping, pick up your necessaries, and take them to our rooms,' Merlinith said. 'You really are staying with us tonight.'

Some fifteen minutes later, then, somewhat bewildered to find he had new lodgings but unwilling to risk Merlinith's ire by objecting – Parvon made his way back to the King's Office and found Melion about to stalk from his office even as Parvon tapped at the door.

'There you are, Parvon!' Melion said. 'If I had time, I would ask you why you told me you were staying with the dyer – it was most embarrassing to discover you were not there, and had not been at all, but…'

'I hope Master Thindorion was not too distressed? He really is a good friend, but not so good that I would lodge with him.'

'But you said…'

'In fact, Master Melion, I recall you saying some odd things in connection with our friendship, but as I did not quite know what you meant, I did not realise you had jumped to such an absurd conclusion. In fact, I hope he will still be my friend after this interruption to his privacy… moreover, it is true that I am staying with Mistresses Merlinith and Araspen, thus my whereabouts is known to other members of the King's Office so that I may be found if required. Now, was there some reason you were seeking me?'

'I do not see why you blame me for this confusion… but no matter. The Starlight Gemstone given into the care of the Imladris elves – I do not know where it might be. I had assumed Lord Celeborn would take charge of it, and would pass it to our king, but his majesty has commanded me to have it brought to the Feasting Hall and let it precede him to the table, therefore this has not happened and so I am at a loss…'

'I see.' Tempted as he was to leave Melion suffering, Parvon could see the genuine anxiety in his manner and decided it would be kinder, and more politic, to make all easy. 'In fact, it is with the chief mourners still. Melpomaen, lover to the late Balrog-slayer, and Lindir, to whom he was as honour-kin, they have the gem in their care. We have arranged that I shall collect it before the call to dinner. They are not yet done with putting memories into the stone.'

Melion shrugged his shoulders, settling his robes of office and sniffing disapproval.

'Well, they will have to hurry up, then. The stone must go to the New Palace in a few days at most.'

Parvon inclined his head and went into his workroom in silence, not trusting himself to speak. That Melion could so easily dismiss the grief and mourning of two elves who had both loved the elf who had died far from home and for some other person's safety…

But then, Melion, to the best of Parvon's not-inconsiderable knowledge, had not lost anyone he cared for yet. He seemed to have led almost a charmed life, meeting his beloved while he was young, marrying and having children to delight him, safe wherever they settled… how could he know the knives that cut at one, the anguish of knowing a dear sibling or friend dead, their forever taken from them? For Melpomaen and Lindir, too, they must have known Glorfindel for so very many years, and the news of his death had reached them only two weeks previously; they were still very new mourners.

The thought occurred to him again as he saw Melpomaen and Lindir to their rooms after dinner and received sad smiles and murmured thanks at their doorway. The eyes of both were red with weeping, for it had been an emotionally-charged meal, with the Starlight Gemstone in the place of honour, on a stand before an empty chair next to the king. The ensuing speeches to the memory of the Lord of Gondolin, the acknowledgement of his sacrifice, had set a sombre tone for the feast. Parvon had been more than happy to escort the elves from the table as soon as was proper, for neither had eaten much, nor did they wish to linger as soon as it was apparent they might leave without causing offence. At least they had been able to contain their grief until they had left the Feasting Hall, although it had been a miserable walk back to the guest chambers, Parvon wishing to help but knowing the only kindness he could offer was to pretend he didn't know how distressed the two elves were.

'We are grateful,' Lindir said as Melpomaen opened the door and entered the room. 'The stone, is it coming back to us this evening, do you know?'

'Oh, Lindir, the furniture has been changed!' Melpomaen said from inside the room, and once more Parvon had the sense the elf had been trying to change the subject. 'Do come and see! And invite Master Parvon in!'

'Of course, I am sorry, Master Parvon, will you…?'

'To make sure all is as you would like it, yes.' Parvon followed Lindir into the chambers, heard him sigh, saw Melpomaen looking towards him. 'As for the gemstone… it was felt that perhaps this evening, after the meal ends, it should go to his majesty for private reflection. I am sure you realise that our king perhaps knew your friend for longer than even you.'

'Yes, that… that must be so,' Lindir said, his voice dropping. 'It is only… it has been part of my… of our day, to speak to the stone as if to him, to bid him goodnight…'

'We must adjust, Lindir,' Melpomaen's voice was very gentle. 'We knew this is how things would be, and we did not have to accompany the gemstone.'

'It is difficult for you, I understand,' Parvon said. 'From tomorrow, the gemstone will be displayed in the Healer's Hall. You may see it there, if that is your wish.'

'But not… not privately.' Lindir sighed. 'It is silly, but somehow, I find it difficult to release the stone, as if I am letting him go and I am not ready...'

'I do not think it at all silly,' Parvon said. 'He was dear to you both, you had the news late; in this sense your grief is fresher. But you know there is a reunion for you, when you sail.'

He took a moment to glance around the room. A bed had been added and two chair subtracted, leaving less space to move around, but enough, still. He found himself smiling at a thought.

'It occurred to me,' he said, explaining, 'that this room now looks more as it used to, when the Lord of Gondolin stayed. There was no separate sitting place then. So, goodnight, and may you rest well. Should you need anything, ask the servant at the end of the passage.'

Bowing, he escaped, heading to his small room with its jewelled ceiling and it was only when he was most of the way there that he remembered he was meant to be lodging elsewhere.

He sighed. But the ladies had meant well, and had certainly managed to stop Melion's grumbling in its tracks… A thought occurred, something that would be taken as a kindness, and he went in to collect one or two more items, including the cushion Merlinith and Araspen had presented him with shortly after his arrival. It looked as if it had hardly been used, for he was generally careful, but squashed it slightly out of shape so that it appeared to be much-loved, and headed off back to the distant corridor where the ellith lodged.

He was met with a warm welcome from his hostesses, and agreement reached that within the home, their titles were not needed.

'For it is friendlier so, is it not?' Araspen said softly. 'It is nice to have friends with whom we work, as well as work colleagues who are friends, I think. Now, the room is here, the things you brought earlier are already there, and… oh! You brought your cushion!'

'Of course,' Parvon said with a smile. 'It will go everywhere with me, I think. And thank you, the room is very good.'

'It used to be my brother's,' Merlinith said from the doorway. 'But of course, he has not lived here for a very long time, and we used it for our sewing work. If you should find any bits of fabric or such, just set them on the table in the sitting room; we hope we have moved everything, but there may be the odd sample lying around.'

'It really is kind of you.'

'Nonsense! Any chance to bring Melion back to his senses is too good to miss! I really do hope he sorts himself out soon!'

'Well… I am sure he has many matters weighing on him. Of course, whether he recovers his usual happy temper or not, soon at least he will be elsewhere…'

'Oh?' Araspen asked as Merlinith moved forward to listen with all her ears.

'Yes, Parvon, do tell? Does this mean that dear Gilraen is sticking to her guns for once and he is not yet forgiven for almost suggesting the family pack up and sail with his mother?'

'Where is he going? Not to accompany the elves sailing?'

Parvon caught his breath. He had not quite realised Melion had not made more public his intentions and now found himself having to relate the news of Melion's planned trip to the New Palace to the two most innocent, yet active gossips in the palace…

'Someone needs to accompany the Imladris elves, and the Starlight Gemstone, and he is the best choice; I am needed for the elves sailing, and so it falls to him…'

'Very clever!' Merlinith said with a nod. 'It means he can arrange to be still there when the elves depart for the ship, so he cannot go with them!'

'I… am sure that is not his intention,' Parvon said, secretly admitting to himself that it would, indeed, be a clever way of Melion distancing himself from family arguments from both his wife and his mother. 'And now, I am very grateful for your hospitality, but perhaps I need to excuse myself from your company; I have early duty in the morning.'

'That's a shame! We would have liked to share a family breakfast with you,' Merlinith said.

'Another time, perhaps.'

'Yes; the morning after tomorrow. Goodnight, then.'

Early duty simply meant being in his workroom before the breakfast hour, so that if his elves – and it was strange how quickly he had come to think of Lindir and Melpomaen as 'his' elves – should send word, he was easily reached. As it was, Melion, fresh from a breakfast meeting with the king, arrived with orders for him before such a thing could happen.

'Our king wishes you to take this across to the Healers' Hall and then stand the first honour watch,' he said briskly, dropping a small, cloth-wrapped bundle almost casually onto Parvon's desk. 'We're sharing the duty with the king's personal guard, who will attend in full Silvan honour uniform. And the archery practice has to move, you can't have that going on outside the Healers' Hall while people are coming to remember.'

'It's already arranged,' Parvon said. 'One of the practice ranges is being kept for us; we are now adept enough that we need not fear observation by the guard. Although I doubt I will be able to participate today. All relevant information is on the boards, and I am empowered to install a notice outside the Healers' Hall too, so that there will be no disturbance.'

'Well, I'll take the hour after the day meal. Baudh and Oldor might be persuaded to take a turn, but I hardly see them these days…'

'Nor I, in fact. Merlinith and Araspen might help.'

Melion made a small, perhaps disparaging sound.

'Let us hope it does not come to that,' he said, leaving before Parvon could question what was possibly wrong with asking two sensible, kindly ellith to keep an honour watch.

There was no time for Parvon to do anything other than tidy his desk, leave word with the underscribe outside where he was gone and, in a moment of inspiration, to suggest that if the Imladris elves sent for him, perhaps the Matrimonial Ellith could be asked to help. That done, he picked up the cloth-wrapped gemstone with rather more care than Melion had used, and set off for the Healers' Hall.