11. Further into the Light
…
- At Rivendell -
Thranduil narrowed his eyes at the scene with Reiya and the unexpected visitor, as his mind kept wandering. The ellon with her seemed to be a lord of sorts, judging from his neat appearance. Moreover, he looked somewhat familiar.
The king raised an eyebrow in realization.
He was almost certain he had seen the culprit at previous gatherings there at Imladris. Wasn't he Lord Círdan's messenger or something of that sort? What was his name again?
'Lord Galdor…' He remembered.
Now that he was aware of the ellon's identity, Thranduil continued discerning the exchange between the two elves.
"Mae lovannen (Well met), Queen Reiya." Galdor greeted her in noble fashion.
"Same to you, Lord Galdor." Reiya stated, performing her royal salute.
"It's been a while since the last time we spoke, my lady. And yet, your semblance shines just as brightly. You are looking as radiant as the sun on this day." Galdor remarked, smiling at the queen in a gallant manner.
Reiya discreetly chuckled at the ellon's comment.
"You are far too chivalrous and kind with your words, my lord, but your presence always cheers the spirit." She responded, smiling jovially.
"Glad I am able to contribute a small deed in the midst of all of the chaos, your majesty." Galdor remarked.
Reiya nodded to him and extended her hands to the ellon in a welcoming manner.
Galdor took the queen's hands on his own gently and grinned back at her.
The two of them continued their conversation while Thranduil observed from a distance.
The king's expression remained blank; however, his mind was invaded by an unwelcome sense of uncertainty.
Reiya was showing the same kind gestures as she did with her lieutenant earlier that day, but something about her encounter with Galdor felt less… platonic.
The ellon was clearly attracted to her, for starters.
That did not come as a surprise for the king, considering that Reiya was both a lady of the highest station and an elleth favored with great beauty, even by their standards.
He wouldn't be the first and only male to make notice of that, surely. However, the one thing that had unsettled him slightly was Reiya's reaction to her visitors' presence.
She was smiling at him, cherishing his compliments, showing him kindness…
Her discrete laughs around him seemed so warm and genuine.
A tad of discomfort suddenly rose in the Elvenking's chest as his mind was trying to make sense of that which he was feeling. The sight had clearly upset him somehow, even though he did not quite understand why.
He did not know Reiya personally to begin with, and unlike Galdor, who had clear motives in mind, he was not looking to gain favor with the Lady of Fire or seeking her affections for that matter.
Thranduil tried to shake the unsettling feeling off his chest as he proceeded to make his way to the watch quarters.
The Red Queen's affairs with other ellyn were not his to question or care for. Trivial matters of that sort would not hold any weight of importance in the upcoming battles as well.
The unexpected encounter between Reiya and Galdor did not deviate him from observing the queen's endeavors that day. However, he did wish for the task to be over for once, as a sudden urge to talk to her compelled him.
He was not entirely sure when he would formally speak with the Red Queen given the circumstances, but he was certain of something at the very least.
When that moment came to pass, Reiya's attention would be solely on him and him alone. There wouldn't be any petty distractions or suitors in her wake, like Lord Galdor for instance.
He would make sure of it.
…
It was already early afternoon at Imladris.
Continuing with her schedule, Reiya was on her way to meet Eldrec (her lieutenant and close friend) in an area near the north gate of Imladris.
The Xandorian squadron greeted their monarch when she arrived at the site.
"My queen." Eldrec addressed her while smiling.
"Lieutenant." Reiya responded with a kind smile of her own.
"We will begin our patrol watch through the selected routes, like we discussed." Eldrec stated, reminding the queen of the map he showed to her that morning. "Per your request, I also informed Lord Elrond's wardens about the task, and we have their authorization to proceed as planned." He remarked.
"Good."
Reiya nodded approvingly.
"We will be on our way then, my lady. I will debrief you as soon as we get back." The ellon stated, vowing to her.
He was about to leave the site with his soldiers, but Reiya addressed him once again.
"Eldrec?"
The lieutenant stopped in his tracks and turned at the call of his name.
Reiya spoke rather informally and had a serious expression on her face.
"Yes?" He responded as he went back to meet with her.
"Please be careful, mellon (friend). If you sense any danger—anything at all—do not pursue it and report back to me immediately. I would rather see that you return to us and keep your life intact than engage in risky confrontations, unless it is absolutely necessary. Do you understand?" Reiya instructed with a wary voice.
Eldrec stepped forward and took Reiya's hands in a comforting manner.
"Of course. I do not intend to fade from this life and abandon you and our people to this fight, Reiya. You can count on it." He reassured her.
The Red Queen smiled lightly and nodded at him.
Eldrec returned the gesture, then resumed his task.
"Soldiers, off we go."
"Yes, lieutenant!"
All of them walked past the gate on their way out.
Reiya watched them from a distance and took a deep breath as concerning thoughts filled her mind.
The watch squadrons from the other Elven realms had been on active duty nonstop since the incident at the hearing the previous night. Their efforts to keep Imladris safe have not gone unnoticed by the Red Queen, of course.
Nevertheless, Reiya was well aware that those other squadrons were not quite as experienced as her own in detecting the presence of Loitar's treacherous monsters.
Moreover, that was the very first time a Xandorian unit would go out on patrol there at Imladris.
Eldrec and his squadron were more than capable of handling themselves against Loitar's maneuvers. However, she couldn't help but worry about them regardless, knowing how devious the elf-warlock and his minions could be.
Reiya sighed and headed back to the manor.
Perhaps one read or two would help ease her mind a bit.
…
Rivendell had often been praised as the heart of Elven culture in Middle-earth. That notion was especially evident in the libraries of Imladris.
Elrond's archives contained a rich variety of book collections, manuscripts, and historical artifacts displayed on each corner. Additionally, the main library of the manor resembled a nature-inspired museum, which Reiya had found absolutely fascinating.
The queen was sitting at one of the individual desks while reading a special issue of The Silmarillion manuscripts, which was only available at a few selected locations throughout Middle-earth.
She was so immersed in her reading that she did not notice the Lord of Rivendell making his way into the main book room as he stumbled upon her.
"Queen Reiya?"
The Lady of Fire raised her face at the call of her name and smiled cordially when she recognized the Elven ruler addressing her at that moment.
Reiya stood up from the desk to pay her respects.
"Mae lovannen (Well met), Lord Elrond." The queen stated performing her royal salute.
"To you as well, my lady." Elrond returned the gesture. "Apologies for interrupting your reading. I was not aware you were here at the library at the present time." He remarked.
"Not at all, my lord. On the contrary; I am extremely grateful to you for welcoming us into your home and granting us access to your archives. This place is truly fantastic." Reiya stated as she looked at her surroundings with a smile on her face.
"I am glad the main library is to your liking, your majesty." Elrond responded with a polite smile of his own. "You have an interest in the history of our race, it seems?" He pointed out with an intrigued expression, as he directed his gaze to the manuscripts on the desk where Reiya was at.
"I sort of do, yes." She responded. "I believe it is my duty as queen to continue gaining knowledge on a wide range of subjects so I can rule my kingdom more wisely, or make a better attempt at it, at the very least." Reiya stated.
She gently placed a hand on one of the manuscripts as she continued speaking.
"I have found that the tales of ancient monarchs provide a great opportunity for me to fulfill that aim in particular. Reading about them allows me to gain further insight into their motivations and goals. Thus, I keep the commendable ones close to memory and the questionable ones as conscious reminders, you might say." She explained.
"That is quite the noble cause to seek a good read, Lady Reiya." Elrond responded with an approving smile. "Perhaps one day you will be remembered amongst those kings and queens of old, and a tale will be written so the world can know your story." He remarked.
"You honor me, Lord Elrond." Reiya responded with an agreeable expression while adopting her regal posture. "However, I'm afraid I have yet to prove myself as queen before I can properly forge a legacy worth remembering. I have not been able to defeat the evil that is presently threatening us, despite my many attempts at it all these years." She stated while looking at the floor in a remorseful manner.
"Not even the most powerful and wisest amongst the Elven leaders have been able to defeat all the evils that threaten Arda as it is, young one. Such is the magnitude of that one task." Elrond explained in a mentoring manner. "However, I do believe the most honorable ones are those willing to do something about it regardless and wishing to make the world a better place somehow. That is precisely what you are doing, your majesty." He concluded with a comforting smile.
Reiya smiled politely at the senior Elven ruler and bowed to him in gratitude for his understanding. Elrond returned the gesture in the same kind manner.
"My queen?"
The two Elven rulers directed their attention towards the female entering the room.
The elleth in question was Urien, Reiya's seneschal and close friend.
"Apologies for the interruption, my lady. To you as well, Lord Elrond." The courteous elleth stated, bowing to the both of them. "I bring word from Lindir. A group of visitors wish to see you, my lady. Hobbits, to be exact." She emphasized while smiling lightly.
Elrond raised an eyebrow at the mention of the familiar race.
"Hobbits, uh? I believe I know who those visitors are." Reiya responded with a warm smile of her own. "Please escort the halflings to the courtyard and see that they are well-attended, Lady Urien. I should be there shortly." She instructed.
"Understood, your majesty." Urien answered with an eager smile and made her way back to the entrance gate.
"Have you crossed paths with hobbits before, Queen Reiya?" Elrond asked with an intrigued expression.
"I have indeed, my lord." The queen responded. "I came across a group of hobbits throughout my ventures once. Dodri Buckletree and his group of friends. Quite the peculiar little fellow, he was." She reminisced with a light smile. "I was tracking a pack of Camalans in the White Downs right across the Shire on one of my solo missions. They were the one breed that attacked us here at Imladris, as you know." She remarked.
"I see... Were the hobbits harmed by those creatures as well?" Eldrond asked in a solemn manner.
"They almost were, but I got there just in time, thank Eru." Reiya responded. "Dodri and his friends were at the borderlands at the moment of my pursuit. In an unfortunate instance of bad timing, they were having a feast at an outdoor location that happened to be on the Camalans' way. They launched an attack on the halflings as soon as they saw them." Reiya stated.
Elrond seemed slightly aggravated by the revelation.
He had been familiar enough with hobbits to know that most of them were no warriors, and they wouldn't be able to defend themselves properly against Loitar's vile creatures without any prior preparation.
"I see. What happened next?" Elrond inquired.
"The halflings attempted to run from the Camalans without much of a chance of survival. However, I stepped in before any harm befell them and took the monsters down myself. Luckily, no hobbit was injured or killed that night." The Lady of Fire concluded with a relieved smile on her face.
"That is quite the tale, my lady. I presume the hobbits were astonished by your act of bravery?" Elrond inquired with a sympathetic smile of his own.
"I was the one who was surprised by them, actually." Reiya stated, as her smile remained unchanged. "I assumed the little folk would be quite terrified by the sight of my power when I fought the Camalans, so I was about to be on my way and let them be. However, to my astonishment, they came running in my direction, cheering and thanking me for what I did. One of the female hobbits took my hand, and they walked me to the bonfire area as they proceeded with their celebrations. I was so startled by their actions that I did not put up any resistance either. And thus, I became a guest at their feast, even though I was never formally invited to begin with." She stated with an amused expression.
Elrond chuckled slightly at Reiya's remarks.
"Dodri and his friends were quite intrigued by the fact that I was an elf venturing into Hobbit territory, so I agreed to tell them a bit about myself, as long as they would keep a vow of secrecy." The queen explained. "The group offered me a bed for the night, but I politely declined their hospitality. I am constantly being hunted down by Loitar's monsters as it is, so I did not wish to put them in further danger." She pointed out with a serious expression. "However, I did stay close by for the rest of the night, just to make sure they wouldn't be unprotected if any subsequent attacks were to follow. Fortunately, nothing of that sort took place, and I resumed my travels the next day."
"I see. Did you tell those hobbits about Imladris, by any chance?" Elrond asked with an intrigued expression.
"I did not, actually. I was wondering how they learned about this place and were able to get here as well." Reiya pointed out. "Now that I think about it, they did mention meeting a fellow hobbit that resided in a place called Bag End. According to them, that hobbit was 'cracked' and he had told them many tales about folk with pointy ears like me. I believe those were their exact words?" She remarked with a thoughtful expression as she put a hand on her chin.
'Bag End?' Elrond wondered.
The Lord of Rivendell widened his eyes slightly in realization and discretely smiled to himself.
'Bilbo Baggings.' He thought.
"I believe I know the answer to the lather, my lady." Elrond stated.
"You do?" Reiya asked with a raised brow.
"Yes. Let's just say your visitors are not the first hobbits to set foot in this place. I suspect an exchange of information might have taken place?" He pointed out with an amused expression.
Reiya chuckled a bit at his statement.
"I can definitely see that happening." She remarked while smiling. "Talking about visitors, I shouldn't keep mine waiting any longer, should I? If you'll excuse me, Lord Elrond, a group of hobbits expect my presence." The queen stated with a welcoming smile.
"Of course."
Elrond returned the gesture and raised his hand in the direction of the door.
Reiya bowed politely to him, then headed to the exit.
The Lord of Rivendell followed her at a respectful distance, as he was highly intrigued by the encounter that was about to take place.
…
Thranduil had spent his afternoon fulfilling diplomatic endeavors and meeting with other noble elves that wished to extend their greetings.
He was not particularly bothered by social gatherings, since attending those was an essential part of his kingly duties. However, he did make a habit of retreating a bit earlier when the parlays would go on for too long.
Some of the nobles enjoyed the art of extended conversation a bit too much and he chose not to waste all of his time in such a manner. Thus, he decided he had done enough mingling for the day and wished to resort to some peace and quiet.
The king was walking back to his chambers after the hectic assemblies. However, he was surprised to find an even bigger crowd of elves surrounding the courtyard on his way to the stairs.
'What is all this commotion?' He wondered.
"King Thranduil, looks like you've arrived just in time." Elrond stated with a polite smile, joining his peer for a brief moment.
"Mae lovannen (Well met), Lord Elrond." Thranduil greeted him politely. "What is going on?" He inquired.
"A group of hobbits came to visit Lady Reiya."
'Hobbits?'
Thranduil raised an eyebrow at the statement.
He remembered Bilbo from his encounter with Thorin and his stubborn dwarfish friends, so he was not entirely unfamiliar with the halfling race. However, he did wonder why a group of hobbits had sought a queen of elves in the first place.
The king's attention shifted back to his peer as he continued speaking.
"The hobbits are presently in the courtyard, and the queen will be meeting them shortly. You can see now why so many elves have gathered here. Many of them have never seen a hobbit before or witnessed an Elven ruler interacting with one, for that matter." Elrond explained. "Gandalf is not the only one who has fostered a friendship with the halflings, it seems." He added with a smile as he politely parted ways with the king and went to stand at a different spot in the courtyard to contemplate the scene.
Thranduil sighed as he continued making his way into the crowd.
Spectacle seemed to follow the Lady of Fire everywhere she went. That elf-queen certainly had a knack for becoming the center of attention on every occasion.
His task had been to observe her for one day at a respectful distance (when possible). That day was not over yet, and the sights of her had been way more frequent and eventful than expected, to tell the truth.
Well, there she was, again, giving him something more to observe. He might as well take advantage of the opportunity to witness how she was going to approach her peculiar group of visitors.
The elves on site stood aside and bowed to Thranduil as he walked to a spot on the first floor that provided a better view of the courtyard.
Reiya walked into the fountain area and made her way to the hobbits, followed by Urien and her two maids.
She instructed the Xandorian Spear-maidens to remain close behind so they wouldn't scare the halfling visitors away with their presence.
The three hobbits were enthusiastically speaking to one another, before the queen got their attention.
"Oh, there she is! There she is!" The female hobbit mumbled to her two peers while franticly moving her hands.
"It is her, alright? She looks so pretty!" One of the male hobbits whispered.
"Hush! She might be able to hear you. Show some respect!" The male hobbit in the middle (seemingly the leader of the bunch) mumbled back.
Reiya held back a chuckle and smiled at the hobbits' comical reactions.
She stood in front of the halflings and they bowed to her in an informal manner.
"Queen Reiya, it is such an honor! Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with us, my lady. We apologize for visiting without notice. We did not know how to reach you prior to our travels." The hobbit in the middle remarked.
"There is no need for apologies, hobbit friends. As long as you are not in any danger, you are welcome to visit me anytime." Reiya responded with a cordial expression, even though she still had no idea how they learned she was at Imladris at that moment.
"We appreciate your understanding, my lady! Um… I am not sure if you remember all of us, but we've met before! I am Dodri Buckletree."
The hobbit bowed to her again.
"This is my friend Sophie."
The female hobbit smiled and waved her hand at her.
"And this is my other friend, Pansy."
The other male hobbit also smiled and clasped his hands while looking at the floor and blushing.
"I do remember you, Ser Dodri. And you two as well, Sophie and Pansy." Reiya stated with a smile.
She had been truly honest about her statement. After all, Sophie was the female hobbit that had offered her a bed on the night the Camalans crushed their party, and Pansy had provided her with food for her travels that same night.
"You certainly have come a long way to see me, friends. What can I do for you?" The queen inquired.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow at the ongoing interaction.
Reiya was definitely acquainted with those hobbits, judging from her words, her kind gestures, and that gentle smile of hers. Based off what he had seen that day, she only reserved that sort of smile for people she was genuinely fond of, it seemed.
He was quite aware that he would not earn one of Reiya's gentle smiles any time soon, due to the way their chaotic first encounter had played out. Eru, she had not even looked at him once that day, which spoke loudly about where he fell on her list of diplomatic priorities.
That was alright, though. He would make her acknowledge his presence when the time was right.
The king's expression turned impassive once again as the exchange continued.
"We do not seek to ask anything of you, my lady, but rather to deliver something for you." Dodri explained.
Reiya tilted her head a little, intrigued by the hobbit's words.
"We realized we never got a chance to properly thank you for saving our lives and our homes that night, your majesty. We are aware that we are no wise noble elves or brave warrior men; however, we came bearing a gift for you, if you would accept it, of course." The hobbit stated while smiling enthusiastically. "Show it to her!" Dodri whispered to his friend.
Pansy, who had been in a bit of a trance while looking at Reiya, was quickly brought back to reality. "Yes, of course!" He muttered back.
The hobbit removed his backpack, which was open at the time, and took a box with holes out of it.
He placed the box on the floor, and something suddenly moved inside it. The motion did not go unnoticed by the queen, who raised an eyebrow at the sight.
Sophie, the female hobbit, removed the lid from the box, and Reiya widened her eyes as an expression of deep curiosity filled her face.
Inside the box, there was a canine pup of sorts.
Sophie carried the animal to her shoulder and turned around slightly, so the queen could see its face clearly. The pup was happily wagging its tail and licked the hobbit's face a bit.
Urien and the Xandorian maids were slightly surprised by the sight of the animal as well.
The elves witnessing the scene began mumbling among themselves, as they had also taken an interest in the rare gift from the hobbits to the Red Queen.
"Is that a… puppy?" Reiya asked with a startled expression, making sure that she had accurately identified the tiny creature in Sophie's little hands.
"It is, my lady!" Sophie answered while smiling.
"We couldn't help but notice how well you got along with Dixie when we invited you to our celebrations, your majesty." Pansy stated.
Reiya widened her eyes in realization. She remembered Dixie as well; she was Pansy's pet.
"That's right! Dixie had a litter of puppies a few weeks ago, and this one right here was the largest and most healthy-looking out of the bunch!" Drodi remarked while petting the dog slightly. "He is quite the character, the little fellow. Very affectionate, even though he likes playing guard dog from time to time." The hobbit pointed out with an amused expression.
"Yes… He can be a bit of a sleeper and a voracious eater, too. Likes taking long naps, but he is manageable." Pansy remarked with a grin. "I believe he will be too big for us when he is fully grown, though." He remarked.
Reiya listened to the hobbits in silence, as she was still startled by their choice for a gift.
"Would you like to hold it for just a brief moment, my lady?" Sophie inquired with an agreeable expression.
"…Can I, really?" Reiya asked, her curiosity still palpable in her voice.
"Of course!" Sophie responded, taking the puppy with her little hands and gently offering it to the queen.
Drodi and Pansy nodded their heads in approval as well.
Reiya carefully took the puppy from the female hobbit's grasp and lifted it to her eye level as she examined it.
The puppy's yellow coat was short and straight. His medium-sized ears hung close to his head, and his paws were pretty thick.
He was not a small breed by any means, and his build was quite solid for his size. The puppy would definitely outgrow his mother by a considerable margin.
Reiya then shifted her attention to the puppy's face.
He began wagging his tail and licking her cheek in an affectionate manner.
Reiya chuckled slightly at the tiny animal's gesture.
"He is quite adorable, isn't he?" Urien remarked with a kind smile as she stood beside the queen, looking at the puppy more closely.
"He surely is." Reiya stated with a smile of her own, looking back at her childhood friend.
Urien nodded at her in agreement as she turned to the hobbits once again.
"Are you absolutely certain that I can keep him?" Reiya inquired, wishing to reconfirm the hobbits' offering.
"We are absolutely sure of it, my lady. The puppy is our gift to you. There is no doubt in our minds that he will have a happy home by your side." Dodri pointed out with an agreeable expression.
"I thank you for this kind-hearted gift, hobbit friends. I will take care of him and protect him with my life." Reiya assured them with a grateful smile as she shifted her attention back to her newly acquired pet.
"We did not give the puppy a name so you could have the honors yourself, my lady. Does any come to mind?" Sophie asked in a curious manner.
"Hmm…" The queen wondered as the puppy kept wagging his tail and panting at her. "I shall name him Toby." She confirmed, smiling at the puppy.
Urien and the Xandorian maids grinned in approval.
"He will be my royal pet companion and a reminder of the remarkable kindness from the Shire." Reiya pointed out, looking at the halflings.
"Toby it is then!" Sophie stated in an eager manner.
"I like the name! It has a nice ring to it." Drodi remarked with a smile.
"Indeed!" Pansy corroborated.
Reiya placed Toby on her shoulders and petted his little back in a gentle manner as she continued speaking with the hobbits.
The puppy would receive a proper bath, some grooming, and a collar with the Xandorian sigil later that day.
The queen was quite aware that she would outlive her royal pet companion most likely. However, she was also certain that Toby would bring light in moments of darkness and keep her grounded in times of solitude.
That alone would make her experiences with the animal that much more meaningful.
Completely unaware of his own inner workings, Thranduil's expression had softened considerably at the sight of Reiya's laughter as she interacted with the puppy.
Her smile had certainly lit up the place, and her laugh had been like a subtle melody gracing his keen Elven ears.
Moreover, her curious expression remained printed on his mind, and there was also that nurturing side of hers... The puppy had brought it out of her in no time, which he found quite intriguing.
This elf-queen was so… foreign to him, in more ways than one.
Thranduil's expression hardened when logic took over his mind once again. He retreated to his chambers discreetly as he intently put his deliberations on Reiya aside.
He had given the Red Queen way too much thought as of late.
It was time for him to refocus on himself and his kingdom for once.
...
A/N: Yes, our queen now owns a puppy! n_n
I cordially introduce you to Toby; an occasional minor/background character.
His role is pretty simple: 1) Provide company for the queen (in his own little cute ways lol) and 2) Do things that a typical dog would do alongside their owners (explore new places, travel, and just chill!).
Since the puppy is Reiya's pet companion, he will also witness some of the queen's shenanigans from time to time lol. Just for reference, Toby is a yellow Labrador puppy.
Now onto the subject that some of you might be wondering about:
Did elves and hobbits own dogs in Arda?
The answer to that is yes! Although it is important to note that dogs referenced in the context of the elves were not exactly 'typical', as expected lol.
See a couple of examples below:
Elves and dogs :
-The Silmarillion mentions that Celegorm and Curufin had hounds.
-Passage from the canon text; "It chanced that Celegorm and Curufin went on a hunt through the Guarded Plain; and this they did because Sauron, being filled with suspicion, sent forth many wolves into the Elf-lands. Therefore, they took their hounds and rode forth…." (The Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Lúthien, part 2).
- (Quoting a Tolkien reader from Reddit here) 'Celegorm, Feanor's third son, had several hounds. Their chief was a hound named Huan (Q. for great dog, hound) who figured prominently in the story of Beren and Lúthien. He was a gift to Celegorm from the Vala Oromë. Huan was immortal, tireless, and gigantic (big enough to ride on).'
Hobbits and dogs :
-Maggot (the farmer Pippin and Merry were stealing from in the Fellowship movie lol) was a hobbit who lived in the botherlands. Therefore, he had to be more guarded than most Hobbits, so he kept three dogs for protection called Grip, Fang, and Wolf (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Short Cut to Mushrooms").
-In the Fellowship movie, Maggot was the hobbit that the Nazgul spoke to when it was looking for the ring in the Shire. Hence, Grip was the dog that barked at the Nazgul before hiding in Maggot's house.