Of course you'll be able to. It's only been a week.

I appreciate your confidence.

Rúmil also thought you should stay here in the palace until your home is built, since you're one of us who finds the light overwhelming.

I have tinted glasses now, but - that would be nice.

Certainly! You remember where to find the guest room where Fëanáro hid the day you arrived, yes?

Yeah?

Will that do for now?

Sure! Thank you very much.

My pleasure. It is a delight to have you here and safe and able to begin leaving behind the habits of dangerous times.

I'm finding it pretty delightful too.

He nods and walks away.

Okay. Now where's Rúmil to ask about fancy scroll ink?

He actually runs into her in the hallways. I'm headed back to Mahtan's for a project, as soon as I can find someone to be my eyes. I'd like to bring him something as thanks for the glasses, any ideas?

...I don't know what he likes. But get something for Nerdanel too, she helped. Where would I go to get weird kinds of ink?

I know someone who does various inks, though I don't know if they'll have the ones you need, and I can take you by there on my way out of the city. I expect what Mahtan would appreciate most would be project suggestions with glass. Nerdanel might like actual things, I'm not sure what.

Hourglasses, windows, suncatchers - well, treelight catchers - plates and cups. Wind instruments. Paperweights. Marbles.

He nods delightedly. Thank you. I'll pass it on. Nerdanel might enjoy the chance to look at some of the books, but Fëanáro seems disinclined to share, there...

Well, they're not actually his, but I'm loath to take them away right now.

I actually have been going out of my way not to have the two of them meet, because I have no idea what will happen when they do.

She didn't seem as... frighteningly precocious...

No. She is a much more typical Noldorin child, except that she spends lots more time at Aulë's knee than most of them get to, and she might contentedly follow his lead in building things or teach him things he doesn't know or she might take serious offense if he requisitioned something of hers because he liked it and throw him in a fountain and explain to Finwë that she was justified.

What would Finwë say to that?

Depends very much on how well Miriel was doing the last time he saw her, but - probably not in a way that teaches Fëanáro that he shouldn't requisition peoples' things independent of whether they can retaliate.

Ah. Sigh.

He should have peers, but adults are much more predictable and less likely to provoke some kind of disaster when in contact with him. And most parents of children his age at least impress on their children that they should impress the crown prince, he's very important, but Mahtan would probably just tell his daughter 'I've heard he learns quickly, check if that's true'.