Walking home after the long day tending to the king on his days of audiences, Elluin felt the warm evening air soothingly flow over her. She reflected once again on how astounding the king's duties were. Thranduil was expected to have an answer for each question in the realm. His wisdom was obvious, as well as his heart for his people. Many times during the day, he postponed issues for discussion with the council, believing his information to be insufficient for a satisfactory resolution. Elluin cheekily thought that she had a few ideas, but realized it was not her place and trusted the king's court to make sound decisions. Her heart sank as she recalled that his most valued counselor was soon to depart.
As she approached her home, she spotted the very same advisor chatting with her parents on the benches behind her house. She was not surprised; now that he had the king's permission to depart, she knew Berenil would be bidding farewell to all his friends. They were speaking about the different moods of the ocean as she drew near, but they stopped and turned to her when she arrived. Berenil greeted her warmly and she took a seat with them.
"I will miss you, my lord," she said without preamble, blinking back the moisture in her eyes.
"I am a lord no longer, my dear," said the old advisor. His voice, as it had since the night of the attack, held repressed sadness.
"Then, Master Berenil," she amended the title, "I wish to thank you for your kindness to me across the years since we arrived here."
"Think nothing of it, Elluin," he replied swiftly. "This is the way between friends, as your family has been to me and my Foriel." His voice faltered for a moment and he dropped his gaze. In the starlight they could see him swallow hard and look up again, his grief once more adequately concealed. "I have brought something for you," he said. From the ground by his feet, he lifted a simple wooden chest and set it on the bench beside her.
He nodded toward it at Elluin's questioning glance and she opened it, seeing a small assortment of gowns and a few pieces of jewelry. She recognized them as his wife's and tears sprang once more to her eyes.
"I believe the gowns will fit you, as they are laced. I am sure you and your mother can adjust them if needed," Berenil said kindly. "It would give me joy if these things could be of use to you."
"You honor me," Elluin said, taking his hand. "Thank you, truly."
"Berenil, this is very generous," Linalda said in a serious tone, recognizing the value of the chest's contents.
"I admit that I expect something in return," said the ellon. They looked at him expectantly and he turned to face Elluin, squeezing her hand. "I wish you to take my place as the king's favored advisor."
Elluin furrowed her brows, looking at the ground and withdrawing her hand while her parents looked at each other uncertainly.
"Now, I should like to think I am sage enough to know love when I see it," Berenil continued. "I admit it took me a while to notice, but I now have no doubt. Am I correct, Elluin?" He respectfully avoided speaking the name they were all thinking.
She could not bring herself to speak, but also could not lie to him. She nodded.
"There, now. All that remains is for him to see what is before him. If the wisdom of my years is any indication, love advises best." Berenil's tone was decidedly optimistic.
"Elluin has not been invited to a position on the council," Soronume interjected. "I think that despite her youth, Elluin could potentially be useful in such a role. Her childhood at Cirdan's feet and her experiences here as a servant would be an asset. But, Berenil, it is hardly her choice."
"I was not speaking strictly of the council," Berenil said simply.
Elluin sighed. "Master Berenil, I am doing what I can. I have resolved to take advantage of any opportunities he gives me."
He gave her a kind smile. "It gladdens my heart to hear it, my dear," he said. "For very soon, I will be unable to nudge you into them."
Elluin could not help but smile in return, thinking of the times Berenil had manipulated situations to obligate her to speak with Thranduil. "You have certainly helped. I am grateful."
"I find your resolution satisfactory, Elluin," he said. He gave her a nod and rose. "Well, friends, I take my leave now. I will see you again at the summer festival, but if we do not have the chance to speak again, I give you my final farewell until we meet again across the sea." He embraced each one in turn.
"May the stars shine on your path, Berenil," Linalda said, her voice shaky with emotion.
"Thank you, Linalda."
"Take care on the road," Soronume added. "Please send our regards to my lord Cirdan."
"I shall."
Elluin hesitated as she pulled away from the ellon's arms. "Do you have any advice for me?" she asked, her face somber.
"My dear, hopelessness does not become you," Berenil scolded. "This is what I would say: show him that your heart is strong enough to share his burdens. And prepare yourself, for they will change you." He briefly stroked her shoulder as if with regret.
"My heart has made its choice," she said with resignation. Linalda laid a hand on her arm in comfort.
"I understand," Berenil answered, and they all knew it to be true. The love of a bond-mate was too powerful to abandon. With a final nod to all of them, he walked toward the palace that he felt was no longer his home. A faint smile formed as he heard his friends' song of farewell drifting toward him through the woods.
~.~.~
"Enter."
Galion briskly opened the door to stand before the king's desk. "You summoned me, sire?"
"Yes. Sit," Thranduil invited with a quick wave of one hand, setting aside a document with the other. He waited for his steward to obey, taking the opportunity to scrutinize his appearance. As usual, not a hair was out of place and even the copper toggles on his uniform were freshly polished and glinting. However, there was a faint furrow on his brow from the many times daily that his chores presented too heavy a burden.
"Galion, how often do you rest from your duties?"
The steward blinked at the unexpected question. It was a moment before he could respond. "My king, I do not often have days of rest, though this is largely because I have not requested that any other staff be sought to assist."
"What manner of assistance do you currently have?"
"I have one clerk, my king."
Thranduil leaned back in his chair.
"It has not escaped my attention that you are among the first to rise and the last to retire every day. Are your nights consistently restful?"
The steward's lips pursed slightly. "An Elf does not need the entire night to sufficiently rest, sire."
Thranduil hummed in disapproval. "Galion, our population grows, and with it, the need to ensure adequate accounting and distribution of resources, which you primarily oversee."
Galion nodded, his expression again neutral.
"Furthermore," Thranduil continued, "several of our ventures to increase the productivity of the realm have had favorable results. We have begun trading relations with the Dwarves, and I mean to partner also with the Men of Dorwinion before long. The realm's interests are widening, along with the requirement to manage them. I therefore predict an increase in your duties over the next few years."
Galion's nod was more hesitant, recognizing the truth in the king's words.
"Galion, you have managed the royal estate with excellence since my father first retained you in Amon Lanc," Thranduil praised. "I do not doubt your abilities. However, every Elf has limits."
"Do you wish me to engage another clerk, my king?" Galion asked.
The king could see that he doubted the effectiveness of such a move. "No. I would like to propose another solution. I have learned that other large households, in addition to a steward, usually employ someone to oversee exclusively a subset of domestic affairs, such as inventories and division of labor among chambermaids and other household servants."
"A mistress of the house, sire? A housekeeper?" Galion asked thoughtfully.
"Yes. What is your opinion on the matter? As this person would be working closely with you, I would hear it."
Calculations ran through his steward's mind as he contemplated the logistical implications of the suggestion. Galion's lips finally twitched into a barely-perceptible smile as his thoughts at last traveled to the implications on his personal life, or current lack thereof.
"I find the idea quite acceptable, sire," he agreed at last. "Though a housekeeper would usually report to the queen." There was a twinkle in his eye.
"Given that we do not have a queen, I feel it appropriate that this person report to you," Thranduil said decisively, and leaned forward again, folding his hands on his desk. "Now, I further propose that we engage someone who is already familiar with the organization of the palace."
"There are many ellith in your service that I could recommend, my king," Galion responded quickly. "All of our staff are competent and many have experience with a variety of roles."
"Beyond experience, we would need an elleth who is respected enough to be easily obeyed, and intelligent and thoughtful enough to anticipate needs — much like yourself."
Galion flushed slightly at the unexpected compliment. "Indeed, sire." The steward took only a brief moment to gather his thoughts. "I daresay there are a few ellith I could suggest who meet such criteria. Leithril, for instance, has been in royal service for several hundred years. She is considered the authority among the maids on proper laundering, and any who work with her are held to meticulous standards. She is respected and would be easily accepted as a leader."
"Has she shown any promise in providing direction in other areas?"
"Not explicitly, sire," Galion admitted. "There is also Naudeth, who has been serving the household for as long as I have. She is a gentle elleth, exceptionally observant of others, and when asked, she advises well regarding where to place specific servants to best suit their natures. She is much loved among the staff."
"Does she have a knack for leadership?"
"She would be well received, I think, sire," the steward said, "and would accept the position if offered. However, I believe her joy lies in supporting others more than directing them." Galion shifted slightly in his chair. "Now Elluin, I am sure the king remembers, has contributed to a past council meeting with a creative solution to housing refugees from our southern villages. And, of course, she has shown skills in diplomacy with the recent interactions with the Dwarves. She also provides many suggestions to fellow servants, which are usually followed. However, she is very young, sire — barely into adulthood when she joined the staff. And I hesitate to say so, but her success with the Dwarves may have been largely because she was previously acquainted with King Droin."
"Fortunate, indeed," Thranduil conceded. "Are there any other candidates?"
Galion's eyes glinted for a fleeting instant in what Thranduil was tempted to call a conspiratorial smirk, immediately replaced by a decidedly pensive expression.
"I would have suggested our cook, Dinen, sire, had she not been so essential in the kitchens. Since she loves the work, she has not desired to completely train any underlings."
"Again, much like yourself," Thranduil observed.
Galion cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment. "Yes, rather, my king. I'm afraid I have no further candidates in mind."
"Very well. Between the three ellith you suggested, who do you believe would be the best suited?"
"My king, I would mention that Elluin has the more curious mind, allowing her to learn the various roles of a palace servant more quickly than Leithril did, if memory serves. And though young, her leadership skills surpass those of Naudeth."
Thranduil fought to keep his tone equal. "Excellent. Now, I trust that Elluin would need to spend some time learning from you before she is able to adopt her duties independently, and thereafter you would devise a system to share pertinent information and collaborate to ensure efficiency. Would you agree to working with Elluin in such a way?"
"Gladly, sire. I shall offer her the position tomorrow."
"Good. You may also inform her that, given the status of the position, she will be conferred the honorary title of 'lady' while on duty."
"Yes, sire." Galion nodded in satisfaction. "If she accepts, I will begin training Lady Elluin forthwith."
"Good. And Galion, once she is trained, I will be expecting you to schedule days of rest for yourself without worrying." He favored his steward with a smile.
"I shall strive to, sire."
They parted with the due pleasantries, both feeling that the other had played perfectly into his hand.
~.~.~
Galion had summoned Elluin to his office instead of assigning her duties that morning. She wondered at this, given all that needed to be accomplished in preparation for the summer festival. As she followed him from the kitchen, she thought furiously about what she may have done wrong, but resigned herself to wait patiently for Galion to speak. She quietly took the offered chair once they reached the office. Galion set her at ease quickly by offering her a smile.
"Elluin, given your admirable service in the decades since you have joined the king's staff, I have the honor of offering you a new position. It has been determined that we are in need of a mistress of the house, and we believe you to have the required qualifications, and the potential where you may lack experience."
After a brief moment to gather her thoughts, she managed to ask, "'We,' my lord?"
"The king and I," Galion clarified. Elluin absorbed the information as Galion described the primary duties. "If you accept this position, Elluin, I would have you begin three days hence, after the festival. Are you agreeable?"
Elluin knew this to be one of the opportunities Berenil had obligated her to take and smiled. "I am honored, my lord, and gladly accept."
"Then, Lady Elluin, housekeeper of the royal palace of King Thranduil, I shall see you in three days," Galion replied pleasantly,
He rose when she did and bowed when she curtsied.
The slow walk back to the kitchen was all the time Elluin had to dwell on the novelty of her new status. When she entered again, Dinen was wrist-deep in a boar, preparing it to be roasted. But when she looked up and saw the younger elleth's starry gaze, she called for an assistant to take over and walked to Elluin, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Elluin, what happened?" She joked with a curious grin, "You look smitten. Did Galion propose marriage to you?"
The absurdity of the question was enough to break Elluin out of her daze enough to glare benignly at her friend. "Certainly not," she said. "But it seems that I am now to be Lady Elluin, the royal housekeeper."
"Oh, indeed!" Dinen nearly shouted, surprise evident on her face. "Well, now that is unexpected! I… congratulations!" Dinen gave her a rushed curtsy, stained hands clutching awkwardly at her apron.
"Thank you, Dinen, but please, that's not necessary," Elluin said, pulling up on the cook's elbow. "We do not even bow to Galion and I am still working under him."
Dinen shook her head slowly, both ellith still becoming accustomed to the idea. "Well, if I understand things correctly, I will now be working under you."
"I suppose so," Elluin surmised. "But I doubt anything will change with how you run your kitchen. It will just be my voice droning out the tasks of the day instead of Galion's, and that, only after he is satisfied that I have been fully trained."
Dinen smiled at her friend. "I am happy for you," she concluded. "But now, who will go clambering through the underbrush to find flowers for the king's breakfast tray?"
"By the stars, Dinen, I had not thought of that," Elluin said uncertainly. She considered for a moment, then shrugged. "Shorter nights, I suppose," she concluded.
"You could always send one of our runners out," Dinen suggested.
"No," Elluin said thoughtfully, "I prefer to pluck them myself. I do hope I can be spared this indulgence with my new duties."
"Oh, I am sure Lady Elluin will have her way," Dinen teased, turning back to the meat. "Attention, all," she announced, "— I present Lady Elluin, royal housekeeper."
Surprised looks, shouts of congratulations, and friendly cheers worked their way through the kitchens. Elluin knew the whole palace would hear of the change before dinner.