Gems and clerks

A firm knock on her door would have sufficed to grant most entry to her office. A select few, actually, one elleth in particular, would ignore such polite actions and simply burst through. Many a time did it result in Tingruviels quill marking the papers she undoubtedly was inscribing in a manner that was not productive to the cause.

"Himwen, to what do I owe the pleasure?" She calmly uttered, her gaze fixed on the black spot forming on her administrative work. She had gotten accustomed to the Fountain Captains abrupt ways since long before they had settled in each order. In fact, she could still remember a time when they were close friends.

Himwen slammed the door shut and let herself sprawl out on the sofa close to the fireplace, and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the nearby coffee table. The loud crunchy sound of her chewing led Tingruviel to the realisation that she was not going to be able to finish the charter right now, and thus she carefully put away the quill, sanded the parchment and put everything away before she laid her gaze upon the figure in white and silver.
Himwens charcoal hair sprawled over her shoulders as always, shiny like the ravens coat. The contrast gave Tingruviel pause and as she observed her counterparts face once more, it seemed as if... her cheeks had gotten decidedly rosier.

"So... let me guess. The Hammer lord is back?" Tingruviel smiled half and rested her clasped hands on the desk.
"He is! Finally, and in one piece to boot!" Himwen laughed a bellowing laugh, one that only she could let out. It was not fine, nor coarse, but released out of complete contentedness. Or rather, satisfaction? Tingruviel could not tell. Himwen had a way these days to seem utterly at ease in her presence. It made her smile, to see her happy.

"But, he discovered a few things... We had a debriefing soon after his return and it turns out that there may be more gems connected to... Five, at least, he said. He had a document with him, containing some kind of ancient poem. He said he only knew one person who could possibly translate it, and what do you know? Sorontar! He is asking for Sorontar!"

Himwen laughed again and finished the apple, then threw the core into the fire which sparked as if disturbed out of a long relentless slumber. Tingruviel stayed silent for a time, watching the flames as they consumed the rest of what once was a beautiful shiny fruit, then nodded at Himwen.
"I will see to it that he gets the message. Do you have the document with you?"

Himwen leaped out of the sofa and fished a crumpled piece of paper out of one of her many hidden pockets. Tingruviel was merely content of not receiving a frog with it and graciously thanked Himwen for the prompt response to her request. As Himwen did her salute and was about to leave, Tingruviel asked:
"How was the wedding?"
Himwen laughed again, standing in the doorway, feet wide apart, hands on her hips, literally shining in the glow of the fireplace.
"It was grand, absolutely grand! I think the couple was pretty pleased. Tindir gave them my mothers old book. Hopefully that will see them through the first season of their marriage."

Tingruviel smiled half again, nearly reaching for her braid, but stopping in time. Such nonsense was a thing of the past. She thanked Himwen again, and promised to fetch Sorontar as soon as he got back from the aviary. The door slammed shut again, and the flowery scent of the Fountain captain slowly dissipated. Tingruviel sat there for a few moments longer, pondering on what this all could mean, before she decided to find the clerk herself. This was too important to keep waiting.