It is not the crown prince Curufinwë! It is someone she's never met who says "Oh, right, they mentioned. Workshop's around and on your left, don't interrupt him."

"Don't interrupt him as in don't go in until he's not in the middle of anything or as in go in but don't demand his attention?"

"The latter, he won't even notice you."

"Alright. Thank you, um...?"

"Rátulco. You're - "

"Marillë. It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise. Good skill."

She goes around and to the left.

The Prince Curufinwë is working and ignores her.

Well, she was warned to expect that.

And a good thing, because otherwise she might have felt awkward. Since he keeps on doing it.

She has paper on her, she can work on a tricky problem that had been troubling her while she waits.

When he finishes what he's doing he turns around and says 'what are you working on?'

"Oh, it's--" and then she describes the problem. It is legitimately tricky and interesting.

"Okay. There's a book on that -" he names it - "might help." 

And goes back to his work.

"Thanks."

...Okay then. She will just. Continue to work on the thing, then.

Eventually some people bring food.

That is convenient and she will eat.

About an hour after that he looks at her and says "Oh, I've got it" and describes the answer to the problem.

This is fascinating and has several implications worth pursuing further!

Well, she can't tell him about them, he's back at work.

...She's going to see if she can find anyone to talk to to confirm that this is normal and ask what being apprenticed to him means in practical terms.

There are people around.

"Hi."

"Marillë, right? What are you working on?"