The atmosphere in the council chamber was tense as Elluin entered with the tray of river water and fresh bread. It was punctuated by the silence emanating from even the most vocal members. Elluin sensed no animosity, however, and quickly concluded that the cause of tension was a lack of viable ideas as opposed to a failure to reach consensus.
Elluin quietly started rounding the table, passing out cups and filling them from the pitcher.
Berenil was one of the king's oldest advisors and often contributed ideas for the good of the kingdom, and he was the only Elf who flashed Elluin a brief, half-hearted smile of acknowledgement when she served him. He and his wife had become good friends with her family. When she finished the rounds, Berenil's expression changed from one of grim concentration to wary optimism.
"My king," he addressed the similarly grim Elf at the head of the table, "seeing Elluin reminds me of the rooms we have available within the palace for our citizen workers. Perhaps there are enough for the villagers to be accommodated there. We have established that there is no way to defend them successfully in temporary camps while we rebuild."
Elluin was slightly mortified to be mentioned by name in council matters and rushed to busy herself with arranging the bread onto the platters on a small table in the far corner of the room. Luckily, the idea was of more interest to the Elves than the elleth was.
"Nay, Berenil," Thranduil said, seemingly disheartened at another failed idea. "Most of those rooms are already occupied by villagers who fled the attacks of last winter and did not wish to return to life in the settlements." The king sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Would that we had three times our number of warriors. Perhaps then we could regain peace and safety for our people."
"My king, we have already trained and assigned every willing Elf in the kingdom of an age to serve," boomed Telior, a captain of the guard. "But with time, our forces will grow."
"My lords, we digress," the slightly younger Lord Derion broke in.
"Quite right, Derion," Berenil said with a respectful nod, glad to rein in the warriors' talk. His eyes traveled around the rest of the council members. "We simply need a place where the villagers may be comfortably and safely housed while telain and houses are built closer to the palace. We certainly cannot have them camped in the hallways, in everyone's way."
Elluin, having completed the distribution of refreshments and topped off a few glasses of water, was halfway back to the door with her tray when she suddenly hesitated.
Berenil's shrewd eyes caught her halted movement. "Elluin, what is amiss?" he asked kindly.
An idea was brewing in her head. She was unsure of how it would be received by the council members, and even more anxious about the lords' and ladies' reactions to a serving maiden daring to consider her idea worth presenting. However, she had been effectively commanded to speak and would not refuse.
Etiquette demanded that she address the person of highest rank. Suspecting that her idea would at the very least inspire the minds of the council members, Elluin turned nervously to the king. Meeting his eyes briefly, she could not help but feel a tinge of sadness at seeing him so tense and desperate. She much preferred to see him lounging in his quarters as she had so many times before, content and relaxed, enjoying a respite from the duties of his station. She dropped her eyes to the table where his hands were folded in waiting and decided to avoid his intense gaze, which carried both cautious optimism and a twinkle of curiosity at this unorthodox interruption of the council's discussion.
"My king," she started, trying to keep her voice steady and confident, "the stores of spring produce are nearly depleted."
"Do you worry that we do not have enough food to sustain the villagers we house here?" asked Captain Telior with a hint of incredulity. The kingdom had never known a lack of provision in any of its regions. Hunting was a duty often given to soldiers under his command as part of their training, and none had complained of any shortage in game...at least in the areas free of Orcs.
"No, captain," Elluin replied. "Our stores of summer and fall harvests are still well stocked. And the hunters have been faithful in providing meat." Her addition earned a satisfied nod from Telior. "But the spring storeroom itself is nearly empty," she continued, turning back to Thranduil. "Sire, it could easily be converted into a comfortable shelter for…perhaps a hundred families."
When she heard only silence in reply, she dared a look around the room. Lord Berenil gave her an approving smile while the other council members nodded slowly, having quickly worked through the broad logistics of Elluin's idea and finding it a sound suggestion. Lord Derion set a decisive hand on the table in support and looked expectantly to the king.
Thranduil waited another brief moment before turning to Galion. "The council has decided," he told the steward, who immediately rose and bowed before leaving to distribute the necessary instructions.
The remaining council members received a nod of dismissal from the king and leisurely moved to follow Galion out the door, some starting relaxed conversations among themselves and giving Elluin a smile or nod on their way.
Elluin waited until most of them had gone, and moved to start clearing the table when she noticed Thranduil still seated at the head of the table. She smiled internally to see that most of the tension had drained from his face, allowing the curiosity she had glimpsed earlier to shine more prominently.
"Thank you, Elluin, for solving our dilemma so elegantly," he said in the measured and friendly tone he had taken to using with her. "You have certainly saved me at least an afternoon of fruitless deliberation."
Elluin smiled. "I'm honored that the council would hear me and find my idea suitable, sire," she said sincerely before resuming her work.
Thranduil leaned back more comfortably in his chair, crossing his legs nonchalantly. "It is good for the council to hear the voice of someone familiar with the logistics of the management of the palace," he said as if thinking aloud to himself.
"Certainly, my lord Galion is more than qualified to speak to that, my king," Elluin said as she gathered the last loaves of bread.
"He is," the king replied, "but he does not usually offer ideas in council matters. I believe his talents lie in executing the ideas of others."
Elluin nodded slightly and gathered everything onto a single tray once more, thinking it was not her place to comment.
Thranduil watched her but said nothing further.
Picking up the tray, Elluin hesitated. "Will there be anything else, my king?"
Thranduil seemed to awaken from his thoughts. "No, thank you, Elluin. You may go."
Elluin curtseyed before hurrying out the door. She congratulated herself inwardly for having spoken up in the meeting but shook her head, incredulous that she, a palace servant, had the nerve to speak before the Elvenking's council. At least her idea was accepted. She made a point to remember to pick some flowers for Berenil's breakfast tray tomorrow. Not all of the Elvenking's advisors would think to look for ideas from someone of her station. And though she considered Berenil a friend, their conversations had rarely crossed into matters typically discussed in the royal council.
And what of the king? she thought. Of course, he would also receive flowers. He had shown humility, kindness, and thoughtfulness, and Elluin felt some frustration at her inability to give him more in return, to show her appreciation...and affection. What she truly wished to give him had first to be desired.
She resigned to climb a short way up the mountain the next morning. She had spotted some flowering willowherb while foraging earlier. The small pink blooms would at least bring him some joy.
The kitchens were abuzz with activity when Elluin arrived to unload her tray. Dinen wiped her hands on her apron, having set aside a mixing bowl to review the progress of her assistants. Reports had suggested that the survivors from the villages that were attacked numbered around three hundred, adding to the many residents and staff of the palace that also needed to be fed. And the king wanted a feast, no less.
"It will be cold enough this evening for us to serve soup with the venison," Dinen muttered mostly to herself. "Two pots for the healing rooms, I think." The sound of fire crackling, water simmering, and knives chopping masked the unusual silence. Dinen had sent the kitchen runners out for additional berries and mushrooms in the forest, accompanied by a small group of soldiers. Their absence made for much less conversation.
"Has Galion come down yet from the council meeting?" Elluin asked the head cook.
Dinen shook her head. "No, and it is just as well, for I've no time for anything besides tonight's meal." She prodded a piece of meat as an assistant was seasoning it for the fire.
Stowing her now empty tray, Elluin set another pot on the hearth. "I will make some tea with pine needles and chamomile. The king has decided to convert the spring produce storeroom into a shelter for the villagers. I will take it there to meet them. Something warm to drink should relax them before the feast."
"Very well," Dinen said, smiling softly at her friend's thoughtfulness. It did not need to be said that calm villagers were also more likely to look favorably on the king who was to receive them. "But mind you return before the feast starts. You will be helping to serve."