Exiting the lost elves' cabin, Parvon found Triwathon and Thindo waiting for him near the gangplank.

'Parvon, I'd like to tell Dusk and my hunters of our change of heart,' Triw said.

'Your hunters, indeed? Well, why not? Parvon said, smiling. 'I have a feeling my scribes might be pleased to hear it, as well…'

'Oh, your scribes, indeed?' Triw laughed. 'Thindo, we will return to wave you off properly, I promise, when Mago gets here, but for now…'

'For now, you want to tell your other friends.' Thindo gave him a brief, one armed shoulder-hug, grinning. 'Thank you for bringing the news to me first. Well? Off you go, then!'

Triwathon grinned back, took Parvon's hand, and towed him off down the gangway. As they stepped onto the quayside, Parvon heard Legolas' voice.

'In a hurry to be somewhere, Master Parvon?'

The formal address, and the fact that the prince had spoken in Westron, gave Parvon pause. He squeezed Triw's hand.

'You go ahead,' he told him. 'I'll join you, when I can.'

Turning to bow, Parvon caught sight of Daehel and Saelchanorion doing what appeared to be a small but joyful dance at a little distance. Daehel, he was sure, was mouthing 'He's wearing it! He's wearing it! He is, he is, he is!' but he filed the thought away for later, put on his formal, King's Elf air, and gave his attention fully to his prince.

'Your highness?'

Legolas was in the midst of a small group of elves and Men; Faramir he recognised, and Beregond, the captain of the White Company. A tall Man wearing deep burgundy velvet robes edged with black satin bindings stood behind the Lord of Ithilien and bore all the hallmarks of a Royal Counsellor. He had a dubious black and silver beard and hard, cold eyes, and, despite the fact the Man appeared to be in a dressing robe, Parvon instantly steeled himself, and bowed again as Legolas gestured to the Man closest to him.

'I understand you already know Faramir?'

'Indeed so, my prince. Lord Faramir, well met. And Captain Beregond, good day. I have just left the elves you escorted from the Brown Lands; apart from the one who, alas! will not find healing this side of the Sundering Seas, they appear well and in good heart.'

'That's good to know,' Faramir said, smiling warmly. 'You have not met Lord Vanathir, my Chief Counsellor?'

'No, indeed. Greetings, Counsellor.'

A cold bow. 'I understand you were the one responsible for the situation which left these elves without escort?' Vanathir said. 'It is fortunate indeed that Captain Beregond was there to save the day.'

Parvon felt a sudden lift of heart; this was what he was good at…

'Ah, Master Vanathir, I do not control the weather, or the conditions in Eryn Lasgalen, and the company with which I was travelling did not diverge on my orders; I am significant, but not that important. Unfortunate indeed for our elves, and we are most grateful to the good captain. But – and do correct me if you are certain I am wrong – I am sure I have read a report which stated that Commander Govon wished to instigate regular patrols in that very region, but that he was gainsaid, since it seemed a waste of resources, to the eyes of Men, at least. However, the eyes of Men are not, of course, as far-seeing as those of elves…'

'I do not now recall… but it seems unlikely…'

'Master Saelchanorion showed me the documentation only this morning,' Parvon said mildly. 'I am sure he can have copies made for you, if you would find it helpful?'

'Ah, possibly… at some point… however, not today. Today we are here to witness the exciting maiden voyage of the "Swan of Ithilien", and to wave her off in style.'

'Indeed, we are unlikely to see her moored here again, so we must fill our eyes while we may.'

'I understand you are to be one of the travellers? How unfortunate! I rather think I might have enjoyed working with you, Parvon.'

'You are very courteous, Vanathir.'

'Good, now that we all know each other,' Faramir said, interrupting with almost-masked anxiety at the undertones to this polite exchange, 'there is a pavilion with such refreshments as we might enjoy; it is tiring work, standing around waiting for something to happen!'

Parvon fell into step behind the prince, glancing off to look for Triw. His eyes found him, and saw that he had picked his moment perfectly; Triw was standing beside Dusk, who had a hand on his shoulder. At something the hunter said, the rest of Ash Grove dropped to one knee. Triw shook his head, gesturing, and cast around for support. Seeing Parvon seemed to steady him, he took a breath, and dropped to one knee himself.

'Whatever are those fellows doing?' Vanathir asked, with a sneer in his tone. 'It looks most odd!'

'As the ways of Men often seem to elves. No, this is but a tradition amongst the Silvan hunters,' Parvon said, hoping there would be chance to tell the hunters this before they were quizzed by the Man. 'We Silvans have a very rich subculture, very much our own. We would not expect you to understand its complexities.'

'Parvon? Do you know what's going on over there?' Legolas asked, slipping into Sindarin for a moment.

'Yes, of course,' Parvon replied, making sure Vanathir was in his sightline, the better to gauge how skilled in languages this Man might be. 'The Ash Grove hunters have come to see my husband off, and so they are honouring him before the ship sails.'

Legolas seemed less than satisfied with this answer, but telling the full truth of the matter – that Triw had probably just accepted long-term employment with the Ash Grove hunters – was not quite how Parvon envisaged telling his prince that they were not taking ship after all. More satisfying, to Parvon, was the way Vanathir's brows had drawn together and his mouth set hard, as if he had failed to understand what was being said. Faramir, however, had lifted his head and shot a swift glance, first towards the hunters, and then at Parvon.

They reached the pavilion, where an outside area held tables, food and drink, and where many of the Silvans were gathered. It looked much more fun that being inside a formal pavilion, watching his words, would be. As they settled to places inside, Faramir smiled at Parvon.

'Pardon me, but I think you mentioned a… a spouse? Is there someone we should be inviting to join us?'

'You're very kind, Lord Faramir, but my husband is a little busy at present. Thank you, however, for the thought.'

'Commander Triwathon is one of our heroes,' Legolas said, for Vanathir had a look as if personally offended by Parvon having a husband. 'He saved my father's life during the War of the Ring, and almost died himself.'

'Valiant, indeed.' Faramir said. 'My own spouse is busy elsewhere today, or else I would have introduced you.'

Parvon bowed, approving the lord's careful phrasing and turned to his prince.

'Hir nin, would you excuse me, please? I think your advisors were hoping to speak with me.'

'Oh, yes, of course.' Legolas was swift to agree. 'There must be so many last-minute things…'

'A few. Additionally, I wish to thank them for their gift of Ithilien robes.'

'Well, don't go too far – there's something I wish to ask you to do for me, when you're ready to board.'

Saelchi and Daehel were a little way from the pavilion, mingling with others at the outside tables; the atmosphere was, as Parvon had expected, much more relaxed and less stilted than the formal pavilion.. Daehel shot him a huge, delighted grin.

'Do you like them? The robes? We wanted you to know you are still part of us, somehow…'

'Thank you. The hunters have done something similar for my husband; I will take it as a kindness, and not simply another way to try to persuade me to stay, which would be quite redundant…'

'Oh, no, not at all…' Daehel began, but Parvon pressed on:

'…as we have already decided that Ithilien would be a good place to stay for a few decades or so…'

'What?' Saelchi demanded, and:

'What did you just say?' Daehel gasped.

'Please, do not voice this news abroad. But there has been a small problem with accommodation aboard, and, since you seem in need of support, and the hunters want Triw to stay and work with them, we have decided that we will wait until Legolas sails, and then join him on his voyage.'

'That sounds like a fine plan,' Saelchanorion said. 'In fact, waiting for our prince is what we ourselves have considered. And so, Master Parvon, you are now Chief Advisor!'

'Only if Daehel does not object,' Parvon said. 'I was forced into place in the Old Palace lately, and it caused difficulties…'

'Not in the slightest, Master Parvon!'

'Thank you. The matter will need proper discussion, of course; at present, our prince does not know.'

'Oh, why not?'

'I did not want to make a public announcement; having just taken the measure of Counsellor Vanathir who has been so kind as to say he would have liked working with me, had I been staying, I rather hope to surprise him, particularly as I am certain he will find himself mistaken…'

He stayed talking to the scribes until activity around the ship, someone disembarking and hurrying off drew his interest, and presently that same someone came seeking Parvon himself.

'Master, I am told to find you, and Commander Triwathon, if he is here, and bring him and you both to the ship; the Silvan party has departed their lodgings and will be here forthwith.'

'Thank you. I will find the commander for you. Daehel, Saelchi…' he sighed as the messenger departed. 'Do at least try to look as if you will miss me!'

It was apparently necessary for Parvon to be on the main deck to greet the travellers (or, rather, to stand behind Legolas as they filed on board). For some equally-obscure reason, it was also deemed needful that Vanathir, Faramir and Beregond be there, also; Parvon did not really mind Faramir's presence, but since Commander Govon wasn't present, he couldn't see the need for Beregond… or Vanathir, for that matter…

Still, as yet, it was officially nothing to do with him, so he stood with Triw at his side to welcome people on board.

Mistress Cullasbes paused at the foot of the gangway to allow herself to be hugged by her youngest son who was tearfully wishing her farewell.

'Really, Canadion, I do not see why you should fuss so…!'

('No more do I,' Triw whispered for Parvon's hearing only. 'As dubious a mother as she has been to him…')

'Well, he only has the one mother,' Parvon said, equally softly. 'Although he is blessed with two excellent fathers, so that should make up for it.'

Presently the elves, and their luggage, were aboard and Thindorion had gathered them round to tell them their cabin assignments. The Noldor were unimpressed.

'We will choose our own cabins,' one said.

'That's not how it will be.' Thindorion smiled, shaking his head. 'Ask the captain, if you don't like it. I've done my best to be fair to all, as I am sure my countrymen will see, when they complain your quarters are better than theirs, and so, if you will follow me, I will show you your billets. If you do not follow me, well, you will be at a loss until you get your bearings…'

'I'm glad that's not your problem,' Triw murmured, causing Parvon to stifle a laugh.

'Not as glad as am I, Triw! No, Thindo has everything under control.'

'I am just so please we are… doing what we are doing. Thank you!'

'Thank Thindorion, rather, for being the kind of elf to put the needs of others first. The hunters, they were pleased at the news?'

'Did you see? I told Dusk we would be here as long as our prince is, and may I still work with them? He told Ash that I was their new captain, and they bowed to me, so I bowed to them, and said no, Dusk is the captain of Ash, I am just learning from him how to lead hunters. I think he liked it, and I don't want to take his place… they would not want that. So I will start out as Acting Captain True.'

'You will be perfect for them.' Parvon smiled, feeling his fëa suddenly soar with Triw's reflected joy. 'Oh, there's Magorion. Do you want to go and say hello?

They made their way across to the elf who hailed them with a relieved grin.

'Ai, I am glad the wait is over!' he said. 'Trying to prevent a kinslaying just amongst our Silvans was bad enough, but then the Noldor arrived at the lodgings and that was far worse! Insults flying all over the place, and our lot blind to half of them, or pretending to be, and that made things worse. But at least the Silvan contingent banded together against them! I am glad they are now in Thindo's charge, I need a rest!'

'Two weeks to Valinor, and if you can't sleep on the ship, you can sleep when you get there!' Parvon said.

'About that… sleeping on the ship, that is. I do not know if Thindo has had chance to explain…?'

'About throwing us out of our cabin and giving it to strangers?' Parvon laughed. 'Yes, we know all about it, and have decided not to bother sailing, at the moment.'

'Wh…? I… I do not know whether to say good, I am glad, for it seems to make things easier for us, or to beg you to tell me you are really not offended by Thindo's actions, or…'

'Be easy,' Triw chipped in. 'Parvon and I have talked about this. He will keep Legolas in order, and I have some hunter friends I can work with. We will follow, when the prince sails.'

'When the…?'

'Of course, you have been out of touch with the colony,' Parvon said. 'Yes, at some point, Legolas will sail with his friend Gimli, and we will be part of his escort then. It is all in hand, and we are both very happy with the change of plan.'

'As long as you are sure…?' Mago looked from Parvon to Triwathon and back again. What he saw there seemed to reassure him. 'That's a relief! Well, would you like to come into our cabin, take a drink with me? I think I need something, after the morning I've had!'

They were still in the cabin, discussing the change of plan and drinking soft beer, when Thindo returned.

'Cannot keep away, can you?' he said.

'We will all be sundered soon enough,' Parvon said. 'But, in fact, I wanted to ask a favour. If I were to write a letter to my brother, would you carry it for me? He may not be free of the Halls for a time, but it would comfort me to know I may speak to him across the seas.'

'Yes, gladly. You can use that little table over there. Little-Elkling, want you to take a walk with me and Mago? You haven't had the tour of the ship yet…'

Alone in the cabin, Parvon found the writing kit Faerveren and the rest of the King's Office had given him when he had left the Old Palace. The kindness of the gift made him smile, and he was still smiling as he began his letter…

'My very dear Fonor,

'This comes to you courtesy of a very good friend of mine, Thindorion the Master-Dyer, who has offered to carry you my love and remembrance in a letter. It had been my intention to join you in the Undying Lands – I set out with him, and the rest of the company, fully intending to take ship, but events overtook me on the way – quite literally, as Triwathon, whom you will remember I loved as my fëa-mate but who did not return my affections… he has changed his mind at last! In fact, on discovering my intent to take ship, he hastened through the forest to intercept me, and we are married now! We are very happy, and rather than sailing, we are going to be working for Legolas at his new colony in Ithilien…'

He paused and wondered how much to say, how much would need explaining… he decided that Thindo could probably fill in any significant gaps in the tale…

'There is so much of news and of recent events… the end of the War of the Ring, Fonor, we won! The boundaries are redrawn, and so much is altered… I am sure plenty aboard the ship will tell you of this, though.

'So we are settled in Ithilien for the present. Recently, I had the honour of shooting with the prince here, and I almost held him to a draw! He noted my old habit of firing high, and I was able to say, my brother taught me that. I miss you, Fonor, and although my plans have changed, my voyage is only deferred, and when the prince sails, Triw and I will be part of his escort.'

'I hope you are happy in the Undying Lands; if you are still in the Halls on the Night of the Names, listen out, for I will be talking of you.

'Your loving brother,

'Parvon'