'There, Mistress Lhéves, that's not too much work, is it, now?' Merenor said in coaxing tones. 'It's only four rooms, and, after all, you were told they were coming, were you not?'

Mistress Lhéves sniffed and gave a brisk nod.

'But I did not think Master Faerveren meant it when he said have the rooms done for this morning!' she said. 'After all, why would four perfectly sane elves come all this way with the winter threatening?'

'The why is not the point, Mistress Lhéves,' Merenor said kindly. 'The point is, you were given an order, even if you have chosen to interpret it as a request. Moreover, the fact is, they are coming. Do your best; beds and bedding, fires and lamps. We will let you know exactly when they are due, but you've got time to at least make sure they've somewhere to sleep if they arrive tonight, won't you?'

'But… they are lords! They are Noldor lords, what is more!'

'They are elves, and if they have come all the way from Imladris, they have mostly been sleeping on the ground. You can do better than that, I am sure!'

A sound from the doorway, Faerveren clearing his throat.

'Master Merenor, would you find Master Hanben and bring him to my office, please? And, Mistress Lhéves, the elves will be here in three hours, and they are not all Noldor; one is Sinda, and kin to our king. This room looks up to standard, at least, only another three to go. Thank you.'

He bowed and turned on his heel, leading off and hoping Merenor was following. Once out of earshot of the housekeeper, he slowed and stopped.

'Daerada,' he began. 'I… before you look for Daerada Hanben, I think I need a minute to talk to you…'

'Of course, penneth.' Merenor pushed open the nearest doorway – one to a small bed chamber – and led the way. 'What's the matter?'

'I don't know. That is, it is wonderful, but it is… there are letters, from the Old Palace, for you and Daerada Hanben and for Ada, when he gets here, and… there was one for me. I am recalled to duty in the Old Palace… could I…? Could I please have a hug, I know it is not very fitting for an Elf-in-Charge, but, oh, Daerada… '

'Oh. Come here, then, penneth…' Merenor put his arms around his grandson and gave him a gentle, reassuring cuddle. 'Well, you've done really well here, you know, I'm sure nobody can say otherwise… do you know why?'

'It is… I am to take up a new role. Joint-Elf-in-Charge.'

'Why, that is wonderful, indeed!' Merenor stepped back to laugh and clasp Faerveren's shoulders before gathering him in again for a second, and very delighted, hug. 'I am so pleased for you!'

'Yes, but it also says, with Master Parvon and… and that means Ada will not be Chief Elf any more…'

'Oh. Oh, I see! Well, from a practical point of view, I think you will do better with Parvon than with your Ada; he would try to do it all, and with Master Parvon, you know he will trust your abilities.'

'It is not that, Daerada, but… Ada… I think, from something he said to the messenger, that he does not know yet…' Faerveren sighed. 'And there being a message for him, too, it may contain bad news...'

'I must admit, I was curious when the courier arrived, and even more so now I hear there are other letters! Will you be all right on your own while I find Hanben, do you think? And… did you say three hours and they will be here?'

'About that, yes. I will be fine, but would you bespeak me some tea, please, Daerada? I would much rather not take the emergency spirits, but I am in need of something…'

'Chamomile and honey will see you right!' Merenor smiled. 'So I will walk you to the office first.'

'Thank you, I feel a little shocked, still! Me, Joint-Elf-in-Charge, who would have thought it?'

'Well, I would. And Master Parvon, why else do you think he trained you himself in the proper ways of doing things? Your Ada and I, we just stumble along and try to follow the Book of Procedures being nice to people as we go, but you have a feel for these things. And a feel for people, and that's what makes you so good at your job.'

They reached the Palace Office doors and Merenor smiled.

'In you go, then. I'll sort you that tea.'

'Daerada? Make sure there's something on the tray for you and Honour-Daerada Hanben too, won't you?'

'That's kind of you to think of us! Now, why don't you see if there's any nice filing to be getting on with, eh?'

'Thank you, Daerada. I think I might do that, just until you and Hanben get here. It always soothes me.'

After a few minutes tidying a stack of loose documents into their proper order, Faerveren found himself calming and settling. A servant arrived with the promised tea, and a small decanter of wine with glasses, a few sweet biscuits on a plate.

'Thank you, on the table in my office, please.'

'Yes, Master Faerveren. And Master Merenor said he will be but a few minutes.'

'Very good.'

The tea, poured from the clay pot, was subtly fragrant, a hint of summer scents with the drift of chamomile and the sweet, fuzzy warmth of honey mingling. Faerveren sipped, and smiled, and bethought him of the accompanying documents that were with his letter of appointment. Unlocking the drawer, he took out all the messages and laid them neatly on his desk, and began with another look at his joyous news before turning to the remaining pages of his letter.

Written in a slightly less formal tone, they, too, were in Master Parvon's hand.

'To:

'Faerveren, Elf-in-Charge, New Palace Office

'Dear Master Faerveren,' he read.

'In explanation of the other documents in your care, and with the expectation that you will have read this by the time they are delivered to and read by their recipients, this, in brief:

'Master Melion is to take over as Elf-in-Charge of the New Palace, his appointment commencing officially at daybreak on the day that you leave for the Old Palace; it is anticipated that you will come with the next convoy of resettling elves, and that you will bring home the Starlight Gemstone of the fallen Lord Glorfindel, Seneschal of Imladris and former Lord of Gondolin. With you also will come Master Merenor and Master Hanben.

'A formal request is to be lodged with the Over-captain at the Old Palace, who will then pass on a recommendation to Commander Triwathon that Commanders Canadion and Thiriston be included with the warrior escort riding with the convoy, but this is unlikely to arrive before the convoy leaves, and so I and I hereby charge you to petition Commander Triwathon to permit Commanders Canadion and Thiriston to be part of the escort in anticipation of the formal order.

'His Majesty's wishes in these matters were only made plain to his King's Office personnel after the departure of the Imladris elves and their escort, thus Master Melion has yet to be apprised of these new appointments and developments.

'On a more personal note, it was with considerable satisfaction that I received instructions from his majesty to draft out a document of appointment on your behalf; I am looking forward to serving with you as an equal member of the King's Office.'

'Parvon, Acting Elf-in-Charge, King's Office.'

'Postscript:

'I should add, Faerveren, that there is a personal letter on its way to you, in the care of Masters Lindir and Melpomaen. This, too, was written before the king decided on his restructuring programme for the administrative offices, so bear that in mind when you read it.

'P.'

'Oh, stars above!' Faerveren murmured, and reached for his tea.

Just for a moment, he wondered if he dare brave the emergency spirits… but no, probably Ada would need all of the bottle, when he arrived and learned what was in store for him… and Faerveren, he was expected to implement all this, to tell Ada he had just been given his job…?

But… it was wonderful that Daerada and Honour-Daerada Hanben were coming home, too, and Uncles Canadion and Thiriston…

Only…

No, it was too much to take in on his own. Daerada would be here soon, they could all talk about it then.

'Here we are!' Merenor called, tapping on Faerveren's door and wearing an extra-warm smile for his grandson. 'And you have your tea, that's good.'

'Daerada, Daerada Hanben. Come and sit down, get your drinks and bring them over. Then I must be Master Faerveren, Elf-in-Charge again.'

'I understand congratulations are due,' Hanben said as he sat at one of the two chairs opposite Faerveren's desk. 'I was very pleased to hear your news, Faerveren. I am sure you will do well.'

'Thank you.'

Faerveren smiled, settled himself in his seat, shruggled his shoulders, and gathered himself. To the watching elves, it looked as if he were donning an invisible mantle of authority, although Merenor couldn't quite shake the memory of holding this particular authority figure in his arms as a giggly little elfling…

'So, I will formally inform you both that I have received a letter concerning a new posting for myself at the Old Palace, where I will serve as Joint-Elf-in-Charge along with Master Parvon. This is surprising, but I am honoured to be considered suitable to serve in such a capacity. To continue, there are letters for you both, under seal of his majesty, Thranduil Elvenking.' Faerveren pushed the sealed documents across. 'Please feel free to read them elsewhere, if you wish, but we would then need to consult…'

'No, here's fine,' Merenor said as he broke the seal and began to read. 'Although I think I have an inkling… oh. Oh, now, I didn't expect that!' He looked up, gold-ringed eyes wide and bewildered. 'I seem to have been recalled to the Old Palace… which is lovely, of course, given that Master Faerveren is also recalled, but… Hanben...!'

'Merenor, my rascal, do not be alarmed,' Hanben said softly. 'That is, Master Merenor… I also am recalled.'

'So we're all going together, how nice!' Merenor almost bounced in his chair, happy again. 'Except… who will be in charge here?'

'I am not quite sure I am in a position to say,' Faerveren said. 'It would perhaps be bad protocol to do so before the final letter has been delivered. Although I do think you have enough information to extrapolate for yourself…'

'Final letter?' Hanben asked.

'It is for Master Melion,' Merenor said in confiding tones. 'So… oh, wait… Oh, my days! We are all going home, and Melion… he is to take over here? Well, I wonder what he will say to that!'

'Understand, I am not in a position to confirm or deny the contents of a letter I have not read,' Faerveren said, 'but I think I ought to speak to good Mistress Lhéves about a really nice room for Adar, one he might be happy in for some time…'

By the time Faerveren knocked on Commander Triwathon's study door almost two hours later, he'd recovered a little from the shock and surprise, and had already begun a list of what he needed to do before the time came to leave. Near the top of the list was 'make sure to thank everyone' and 'reminder to tell Cook Ada likes porridge for breakfast'; he may have made a start, but the enormity of the change had not quite sunk in.

Triwathon opened the door.

'You're on time. As ever.'

'Well, we both have important matters to see to, I try not to keep people waiting… so, there is news, quite important news. Mostly it is to do with the running of the Palace Office, but there is one key request I am asked to make… perhaps...'

Triwathon noted a slight air of distraction, unusual in Faerveren, who was generally too focussed for his own good… and for Triwathon's, for that matter.

'You look a little shaken, what's up?' Triwathon asked. 'Come, sit down! Do you want a glass of wine or something?'

'No, I have just had tea, thank you… well, I am bid by the King's Office to ask you to release Commanders Canadion and Thiriston to become part of the next guard detail down to the Old Palace. There will come a formal request from the Over-captain with the next set of missives, but until it is properly presented, in the interests of haste – and warning you, as well as giving them time to prepare – I ask now.'

'That's unusual. That is, I know they were only assigned to local duty out of courtesy… I'll be sorry to see them go, but, of course I'll release them. Do you know what it's about? Are they to stay, or return, or do I send them with the usual complement, or…?'

'I am afraid I do not know. Perhaps the formal request will have more information. It is unusual, certainly, but it may have bearing on the other matter, to which I now turn. I…' Faerveren paused to clear his throat, rehearsing his words. He had no wish to sound proud of his new promotion, but at the same time, he was really, really longing to share the news more widely. 'I have been recalled to a new posting at the Old Palace, where I will take up the role of Joint-Elf-in-Charge…'

'Save us! That must have been a shock!'

'It was certainly unexpected, and I am most honoured to be considered capable…'

'No, no, I didn't mean it like that! Hope I didn't come across as… but…'

'No, it is a shock. I am… beyond bewildered by it! At the same time, Masters Merenor and Hanben are also recalled…'

'Quite a family affair, then! So… who's taking over here?' Triwathon swallowed as a thought occurred to him and he found himself leaning forward in his seat. 'Not… not Master Parvon?'

'Oh, no indeed, I am to serve with him, which is only fitting, as he was my mentor. No, my Ada is staying in my stead.'

'Your father?'

'Oh, dear! Except, he does not know yet, he has not had his letter! Please, do not mention it. I ought not to have said, it is just, I have been trying so hard not to say it in front of Daerada and Daerada Hanben and now this…'

'No, don't worry, I won't say a thing…' A sigh. 'Then again, Thranduil has been quite clear that he doesn't want Parvon back here.'

'It is unfortunate; I have missed his leadership.'

'And yet you've shown you don't actually need it, Faerveren.'

'Thank you.' Faerveren smiled. 'I am glad we have been able to make time for our meetings once more, Commander; it has made my job much simpler.'

'And that of my Duty Captains, too, no doubt!'

Faerveren laughed.

'Well, you will have much to do. I shall be at the gates with a welcome party when we have word that the wagons have been sighted. If you need me before then, I am going to visit Healer Mae, then I must enquire how Mistress Lhéves has got on. I will see you presently, Commander.'