In the event, it did not take Ilmarien the whole summer to seduce Calatindil. She secured a proposal of marriage only fifty Days later. This was the time that was required, not for him to fall in love with her, for that had happened some time earlier, perhaps even before their meeting in the Square of the Folkwell, but for this new infatuation to reach such a critical pitch that he became consciously aware of it. It was a wild and idealising love, of course. Calatindil was one to love with a passion or not at all.

They were riding together in the woods of Eldamar when it happened. Calatindil had been floating on a cushion of love all Day. Suddenly he found himself begging Ilmarien to accept his hand, which she did, with predictable rapture, amply matched by his own. There was something faintly dreamlike about the whole affair.

Afterwards they returned to Tirion, to break the news to the royal family. Finwë was frankly amazed, as were Nolofinwë and Lalwen, who happened to be dining with their parents. None of them had suspected anything. Indis had suspected much, but did not say so.

Calatindil had been rather concerned about Findis' reaction. Such attachments can never truly die, though they may sleep; and though he did not yet realise it, a small corner of his heart would forever belong to her. But she was so uncharacteristically kind, and expressed herself so pleased for him, that his trepidation was proved entirely groundless.

Ilmarien now busied herself with practical concerns. She immediately wrote to her father, explaining matters and requesting him, since it would be improper for a princess of the Vanyar to marry a secretary, to revive the office of Warden of the Mindon Eldaliéva for Calatindil forthwith. Ingwë wrote back that, while he would certainly be delighted to welcome Calatindil as a son-in-law, he would prefer to meet him before giving his final consent to the match. Moreover, he was sure that the office in question was one that only Vanyar could hold, having himself written a law to this effect.

Instead of sending a written reply, Ilmarien decided to take Calatindil to meet her family in Valinor, which she did, curtailing her long stay in Tirion. Ingwë and Malwë loved him, especially after he revealed his Vanyarin ancestry, which proved to be enough to render him eligible for the Wardenship.

Ilmarien now explained her plan for the immediate future, which was that she and her husband-to-be should remain together on Taniquetil until the Feast of First Fruits, when his family would be coming to Valinor for the feast that was traditionally held by Manwë at this time. It would thus be the ideal time for the betrothal ceremony. Afterwards, Calatindil would return to Tirion and there take up his new post in the Mindon.

This was approved by all parties, so Calatindil spent the next hundred or so Days in exploring the city of the Vanyar, with Ilmarien as his guide. The reversal of things was complete. It seemed to his delirious mind as if a new order of creation had begun.

At last the Feast of First Fruits came, and with it the announcement of the betrothal, for which Ingwë gave a splendid feast. It would have been hard to say who looked more radiantly happy on the Day: Ilmarien, Calatindil, or Findis. The only long face belonged to Finwë. Calatindil had resigned from his service, with some regret, before leaving Eldamar.

"We want to make the betrothal as short as possible," Ilmarien told Indis after the ceremony, casually resting her pale hand on the back of a nearby chair, so as to attract attention to the silver ring on the index finger. "Long engagements are for people who live near each other! In fact, I think the best thing might be to have the wedding at the same time next Year. What's your opinion?"

"Yes, that's a good idea," Indis said vaguely. "I wish you both all good luck."

Extricating herself from the conversation, she made her way over to the window where Findis stood alone, setting herself apart from the festivities. This was not surprising. It was indeed her usual custom at all feasts. Nonetheless, Indis put her arm around her daughter's shoulders, saying in a low voice:

"Do you mind that they will live in Tirion?"

"Why should I mind that, Mother?"

Findis smiled. It was a beautiful, living smile, full of apparently completely genuine amusement and affection. Only one small thing about it was unsettling to Indis. This was that she did not have any idea what lay behind it.

Indis was no longer the child who had failed to see the love of Finwë and Míriel growing beneath her very eyes. Ever since her sojourn on Taniquetil, her powers of understanding the minds and hearts of others had been growing. She had discovered how most people constantly revealed their motives in their facial expressions and the tones of their voices, and how easy it was to read them.

And yet she had never successfully used these tactics on her elder daughter. The other three, yes, for in many ways, they bore their intentions on their sleeves. Nolofinwë was not subtle enough, Lalwen and Arafinwë too simple and pure to conceal them. But Findis was too well-guarded, and too close to her. Findis was her firstborn.

"It would be quite natural for you to feel some resentment," she ventured now. "After all, you will have to watch them enjoying their married bliss across the square from your front door! But the most important thing is that you don't allow yourself to brood on it. You don't want to fall in love with him now!"

"Mother, really, what nonsense!"

"I am serious, hina. Such things can happen."

"Amil, listen to me," Findis said, turning her dark beguiling eyes on her mother. "All your wise words are beside the point, because I am far from brooding on anything. You can't imagine what a relief it is to be free of him!"

And with that Indis had to be content.