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"The belongings of every man, woman and child who was ever arrested during the General's rule," Maravel said sadly. "If they had anything on them that could be taken away, that is."

He took Earendil's cloak from the shelf and held it out to the children. Andarien took it and draped it over his arm, and Maravel continued to pass things to them: Earendil's sword, his bow and quiver, arm guard, belt, daggers, coin purse, and his pouch with the precious Elfstones inside.

"Then we should get these things back to their rightful owner," Maravel smiled; and he led them back out of the room and locked it again after them.

As they headed back towards the stairs, Andarien asked curiously, "Are you going to give back everyone's things? Or is Ada going to be the only one to get his things back?"

Maravel looked uncomfortable when Andarien asked that question, and he reached up and rubbed the mark on his forehead - the space between his eyes - nervously.

"I would that I could," he murmured. "But many of the owners are deceased ... and I do not remember who the rightful owners are to all of the items."

"A historian?" Maravel repeated. The term was unfamiliar to him, and he looked to the children for an explanation.

"A historian," Andarien nodded. "You know, someone who records history so that people know what happened in the past?"

Maravel's eyes turned upwards as he thought about it. "Like a chronicler?" he asked hesitantly.

Maravel nodded thoughtfully. "That does sound like a useful sort of person to have around," he murmured.

"So you don't have someone here like that?" Andarien asked.

Maravel shook his head as they started up the stairs. "No. And I don't know if there was one before the General took over the country. He had already been in control three years before I was ... um ..."

He tried to think of an appropriate word. Recruited? Pressed into service? Enslaved?

"Perhaps I will speak to Princess Mari about it," Maravel mused as they left the staircase and headed back down the hallway that led to the visitors' chambers. "It is true, anyone recording the events of the past two centuries would have been in peril for their life. Yet it would be good to have, if only to avoid repeating the same events again."

Andarien felt sick at the idea of someone else like the General taking over the country again. "I hope it never happens again," he muttered darkly.

"I think that is something we all can agree on," Maravel said solemnly as they reached their chambers. The guards were gone from the door now, though there were still a few dotted throughout the hallways. Maravel knocked at the door and waited for someone to open it from within.

Inside the room, Earendil was just beginning to stir, and though he didn't hear the knocking, he rolled over and pulled the blanket snugly around his shoulders.

"Lin?" he mumbled without opening his eyes. One hand stuck out of the blanket and fumbled around the bed, looking for her.

Maravel stepped aside and let Andarien and Miyuki lead the way into the room.

"See, Nana?" Andarien beamed at Lin. "You didn't have to worry about Ada sleeping for days!"

He was quite glad of it, too. He wanted his father to be all right!

Earendil heard faint voices, and he forced his eyes open, though they didn't want to open far. He looked through bleary eyes around the room, and when he saw the four who were in there, he relaxed. He wasn't alone, and his family was safe.