By the time the family of Master Merenor assembled at the dinner table, harmony had been restored, outwardly at least. The present mood of calm did not, of course, take into account the return of Merenor and Melion from their walk, both red-eyed and Melion's shoulders occasionally shaking with restrained sobs, nor did it reflect the sharp, terse conversation between Melion and his son which had taken place at the last minute in the corridor outside the dining hall…

'Faerveren, about your grandmother… It had been my intention to write to Canadion, and ask him to pass on the news, but somehow… I did not do it. I am sorry, I was wrong.'

'Ada, for that I can forgive you, I think, but as for your other words…'

'What other words…?'

'The things you said about Master Parvon, my teacher and my friend! How could you?'

It was not in Faerveren's nature to hold a grudge though, not against his father and not even on behalf of his esteemed former mentor, and the demands of dinner protocols soon made him forget he wasn't on the best of terms with his father. Busy with ensuring the guests were comfortable, well-supplied with food and wine, and that they were talked to enough for good manners and not so much that their dinners grew cold, he soon forgot he was trying to maintain a stern exterior, so the evening passed without any of the esteemed guests noticing anything amiss. Faerveren was grateful, though, for the presence of Commander Triwathon at the top table, for his readiness to converse with Lord Elladan and to exchange courtesies with the other visitors, as chance permitted; it must be difficult for him, as close as he and the dead Lord of Gondolin had been…

'Faerveren?'

…and it was not so long ago even for him, although the news was even newer for the guests, and the two known as Lindir and Melpomaen seemed particularly sad…

'Faerveren? Penneth?'

This time he heard the voice, his Daerada, and he shot a swift smile across to him.

'I am sorry, I was thinking… Yes, Daerada?'

'Did you say something earlier about making announcements, tonight? Only some of our elves towards the back of the hall look as if they want to leave the tables and…'

'Yes, of course.' He rose to his feet and tapped his glass for silence. 'Everyone, your attention, please! I have a few matters of business. To begin, as you have seen, we are honoured tonight by the presence of visitors from Imladris, friends and associates of the Lord of Gondolin who played so valiant a part in our recent tragedies. They bring with them his Starlight Gemstone. Tonight, it is with the Garrison for their memories, but from morning, it will be in Healer Maereth's Quiet Room for those of you who wish to add your own recollections to its store. Looking forward, there will be some administrative changes in the near future, with Master Melion from the Old Palace taking over the New Palace Office here. But that is a matter for information only and the running of the Palace Office will not change in any way…' Mentioning his father by name reminded him of the unjust words over Master Parvon, and so he paused to glare at his father before recollecting himself and clearing his throat. 'My thanks to you all for your attendance tonight. Let us now raise our cups in salute to the Lord of Gondolin and his sacrifice.'

He led the toast, bowed to the hall, and left his seat. Merenor followed swiftly, leaving Hanben to assure the guests from Imladris that they were welcome to sit and drink as long as they wished, or to seek their rooms as they pleased.

'We are meant to be going to see the place in the forest where it… where he… tomorrow,' Melpomaen said softly. 'But we do not know what arrangements are made…'

'Ah. There is nothing to worry about, all will be as easy as we can make it for you. Well, at some point after the breaking of our fast, messengers will come to your rooms for you,' Hanben said. 'They will take you to join your honour-escort at the gates, and all will proceed from there. I hope this is helpful. And so, goodnight.'

He rose and left the hall, trying not to obviously hurry, but he had noticed Faerveren's odd mood and knew that his husband would have spotted it also and probably be acting upon it. Sure enough, a little way down the corridor that led to the Palace Office, Merenor had cornered both son and grandson and had hold of their sleeves, preventing them from escape.

'Now, this can't go on,' he was saying. 'Come, let's get this put to bed before we put ourselves there tonight…'

'Ada, I have already apologised…'

'Not for the really important things, Daerada, and I am not minded to overlook…'

'Shall we talk in the office?' Hanben put in, 'or in our quarters? I am sure privacy would be best, whichever is chosen.'

Merenor nodded, tucked his son and grandson's arms into his and glanced fondly at Hanben.

'Our rooms, beloved, they are nearer. Come, my dears. I do not like us being out of sorts with each other…'

Once settled in his and Hanben's private rooms, he waved them to seats.

'Now, what is this about, Faerveren?'

'It is about Master Parvon, of course!' Faerveren said. 'Ada called him scheming and manipulative. The words "ungrateful" and "wretch" were also used, and I am as deeply hurt by these terms as Parvon himself would be.'

'So that's why you've been so stiff tonight!' Merenor nodded. 'Yes, I can quite understand your distress. After all, Melion, Parvon has been Faerveren's good friend, in family stead, and teacher for some time now.'

'I understand this; but bear in mind the content of the letter I had just received; I was in shock and distress and spoke without thought. I agree that to have done so is remiss in a representative of the King's Office. But it seemed to me that no sooner had I left the Old Palace that these matters were settled, behind my back, where I could not object. The timing, at least, is suspicious, and the arrangements, ensuring the return of all interested parties and enforced stay of myself in their place is far too neat for coincidence. It is most certainly a scheme, and someone has been manipulated; I rather think it is our king, to begin with, for why else promote my son to Acting Elf-in-Charge?'

'Ah, now, here you really are doing Faerveren a disservice, you know,' Merenor said. 'He has worked hard here, has coped with all the disasters the forest could muster, and has shown himself quick-thinking and persuasive. Much better words for what we, as King's Elves, have to do than such terms as "scheming" or "manipulative", don't you think?'

'Ada, I…'

'So, you can beg your son's pardon for assuming him unworthy of the role which, if you have fulfilled for so long, he can surely manage with Parvon's joint leadership and our assistance.'

Silence. Faerveren stared at his grandfather, stunned both by his support and by the way Melion hung his head.

'Faerveren I beg your pardon,' Melion muttered. 'Of course, I have not been here to witness your hard work, but I am sure you have fulfilled your role admirably.'

'Thank you, Ada. I must confess, I would be more ready to believe Master Parvon had intervened for me, had my recall been to the position of Scribe-in-General, or a request for leave of absence. That there is a
promotion involved is wonderful, but does not seem to me to be Master Parvon's doing.'
'Why not, penneth?' Merenor asked. 'No, I don't mean it unkindly, just… what is your thinking here?'

'For all Master Parvon is seen as being so very able to …persuade our king, he does not like to ask for excessive concessions; I have observed he is more confident talking the king out of a small concession, and then encouraging such to be increased and improved upon. In that respect, this does not look like one of his opening gambits. Our king is clever, and quite able to decide for himself on the running of his King's Office; bear in mind, Ada, that Master Parvon and I were running matters here while our king was in residence for much of the last two decades. It seems to me he perhaps wishes a return to the previous procedures and that by recalling me to a post, helps to build on that.'

'Granted,' Melion agreed, growing interested in the politics of the discussion in spite of himself. 'But I have noticed that our king is never as clever when I have the charge of him, as when Master Parvon oversees the breakfast meetings…'

'That is your fault, Ada; the king disapproves of wet breakfasts such as porridge…'

'Wh…?'

'He says sloppy food at the start of the day encourages sloppy thinking. Did not you know? But that is beside the point, which is that you were not here when our king demolished our entire way of life in the New Palace in the space of a few choice phrases. He was far too clever on that morning, and nothing Master Parvon, or I, or Commander Triwathon, or even Healer Nestoril could say would shake him.' Faerveren sighed. 'No, I do not think Master Parvon has asked for such sweeping changes as our king has demanded of us. Certainly, my letter of appointment was written in the highest, most formal style, such as our king insists upon. There were no clues there as to the author, but in a cover letter, Master Parvon expressed his delight in the passing on of the king's orders; to me this is proof enough that he had not arranged matters himself.'

'My letter – I can say our letters, since Hanben let me look over his – also are formal in tone. No cover letter for us, of course.' Merenor shrugged. 'But king's language, certainly.'

'This is no way to tell!' Melion said, his voice just a little cross. 'Of course Parvon would use the king's preferred phrasing; this still does not show whose mind was behind it.'

'Perhaps not. But what exactly did your letter say, Melion?' Merenor asked with a friendly, curious smile. 'There might be some hint…?'

'I am sure there is not, and… and it is a private letter, and, well, I would not expect you to permit me to view your private correspondence…'

Hanben and Merenor both took out documents from their tunics, unfolded them and placed them on a table, Merenor keeping eye contact with his son all the time. Faerveren added his own letter of appointment on top.

Melion shook his head at this united front.

'I am sure it will not make any difference,' he said, taking out his own letter, so badly folded as to suggest it having been forcibly crumpled at least once since its delivery. He smoothed it and cleared his throat. 'I shall read it.

'From His Majesty, Thranduil Elvenking, to Melion, erstwhile Elf-in-Charge of the King's Office, greetings. Whereas it has come to our attention that you have oft expressed your surprise at resources poured into the New Palace Office, and wondered at efficiencies there which require at least one Advisor and one Underscribe, and since the visit of elves from Imladris requires they be attended by a King's Representative, be it known our wishes: you will serve as Elf-in-Charge of the New Palace to experience at first hand the requirements of the post. This duty to commence on the morning of the day when the present Elves of the Palace Office depart as escort to the returning Starlight Gemstone and to last indeterminately. It is to be hoped that this posting is instructive and will answer for you the oft-heard question from your lips 'How hard might it be…?'

Thranduil, Elvenking'

Merenor burst out laughing as his son, with hurt expression, ceased reading and lowered his letter.

'Father!' he said. 'This is mortifying enough without…'

'Ah, forgive me! But really, I told you more than once, to be careful what you said and where you said it! And now your words come back to haunt you! Well, one thing is sure,' he went on, going across to put a friendly arm around his son's shoulders in a kindly hug, 'this is none of Parvon's doing.'

'No?' Melion said, trying to extricate himself. 'I fail to see how you can be so sure…'

'Well, I doubt even you would have the gall to ask Parvon to his face how badly he must be managing his office! Or that you would even have had the chance while he was here, and you at the Old Palace, now, would you?'

'I…ah.' Melion sighed and shook his head. 'When you phrase it so, I suppose… perhaps this was not Master Parvon's doing after all.'

'Ion-nin, consider yourself the recipient of a Royal Chiding,' Melion said. 'It's Thranduil's way. Don't take it too much to heart, and keep in mind, it won't be for long.'

'No?' Melion asked, hope in his eyes.

'No, for the New Palace will be empty and shut up within a year at most; that's the king's intention. After that, who can say? But meanwhile…'

'Meanwhile, I have my elves from Imladris to support, which at least affords me an honourable reason for taking over here.' Melion sighed. 'Very well. Faerveren, I apologise for considering this scheming and manipulative plan to be of Master Parvon's making. But undoubtedly it is scheming and manipulative…'

'I did say our king was clever,' Faerveren said. 'But I need to say… I have never found Master Parvon ungrateful, and that was another term…'

'It was a subjective and personal opinion; can we not leave matters as they are?'

'Certainly, Ada, if you wish to leave matters between us as they are; I will be gone in a few days, it does not particularly matter to me, since we will not have to work together, and by the time we are reunited, I may well have recovered from my disappointment and…'

'Oh, Faerveren! But it is… not straightforward to explain.'

'If Daerada really wishes us to be on friendly terms tonight, you had better make the attempt, I suppose, and I will attempt to comprehend…'

'You must understand that Parvon… he does not behave as one expects. When he arrived at the Old Palace, we did everything we could to make him welcome; we gave him a good workroom – Hanben's, in fact – and Baudh found him excellent lodgings, not too far from us… he did us a personal service, finding a way to encourage That Ellon Ravomen to leave the palace for Ithilien early… and by way of thanks, we invited him to supper. He stayed barely long enough for courtesy, and…'

'Wait, wait…' Merenor interrupted. 'Parvon? That reserved, quiet lad, bundled in with the lot of you in full family mood?'

'Yes, of course, but that is not the point. Ever after that, he avoided us socially… he spent as much time out of his rooms, and his office, as he could, and kept insisting it was not his wish to take charge of the King's Office, but after the welcome we had afforded him… it really was ingratitude…'

'I don't understand,' Faerveren said. 'You were thanking him, so he must thank you for thanking him, and if he does not thank you enough, or you do not feel he is sufficiently grateful for your gratitude, that makes him an ungrateful wretch?'

'You see?' Melion said kindly. 'I did say it was not straightforward.'

Faerveren shook his head.

'Ada, I really am not sure it is Parvon who is to blame here…'

'I have to say I agree with you,' Merenor said. 'We all know Parvon is a quiet, self-contained ellon, his thanks once expressed are no less heartfelt for that… lad, I think you meant well, but he's just not the sort of elf to enjoy a riotous party. Maybe when you get back, start over, eh? And, Faerveren, can you forgive your Ada for not understanding what it is to like a bit of peace and quiet?'

'I am willing to try, Daerada. For Master Parvon's sake, since Ada and I must work together and it is the professional way to behave.'

'Good, lovely, that's nice of you. So. What's happening tomorrow, then? I'm sure there was something…?'

'The visitors are to be taken around the forest to see where there friend died, and where he rests.' Faerveren sighed. 'I should explain that Commander Triwathon thinks seeing where he died is a bad idea, it will only make their memories harder. I find I agree with him, but then, at least they will have the comfort then of seeing what a beautiful spot he rests in now.'

'I tend to agree with the commander too,' Melion said. 'It can't help, surely?'

'It is their wish, and our king's orders are to allow them access wherever they wish, so we must comply. Unfortunately, I do not myself know where he died, and so the commander must lead us. You and I, Ada; I would ask you, Daerada, and Daerada Hanben, to stay and mind the office, if you would?'

'I'd willingly take over from you, if it would help.' Merenor said. 'It has to be you, of course?'

'As Elf-in-Charge, yes, it must be me, and Ada is their special King's Office elf. Almost I wish you could do this for us, Daerada; it is not going to be easy with all these sad people, and you are lovely with sad people.'

'Well, that's kind of you, but it's easy. You just treat them as if they were your dear children or grandchildren… only that's perhaps not so easy for you. But never mind; I think they will support each other, if they are sad, and all you have to do is be respectful. And you're always lovely with people, penneth. I'm sure you'll be fine.'