[Ealasaide]

After Vieana had left for the barracks and Elen had gone back to her room to change for her outing, Averyll reread the steward’s letter one last time before folding it and carefully stowing it a hidden pocket inside the lining of her dress. It would not do to leave such a letter lying about for anyone to find. She would burn it later.

Obviously, Eckthelion had done his homework, sending Vieana, the wife of a captain of the guards to the barracks and herself, the widow of a navy officer to the docks. She smiled. She still had many friends among the Dol Amroth naval officers. She knew a Captain Parris who made the run from Dol Amroth across the Bay of Belfalas and up the Anduin to Minas Tirith every several weeks, carrying mail and dispatches between the two cities. If she remembered correctly, his ship would already be in port and no doubt preparing for the return trip. She hurried to her rooms to dress for the outing with a fresh spring in her step, marveling at how a disastrous yesterday could turn so quickly to a hope-filled and exciting today. She knew what she must do for the steward and Finduilas and was determined that she would carry it through with absolute caution and prudence. But she could also have a little fun while she was about it.

Having changed quickly into a new dress of pale green brocade, she tied on her hat and got quickly underway. The steward had already arranged a horse and an escort of guards to take her beyond the walls of the city to the banks of the Anduin. Arriving at the docks, Averyll dismounted and left her horse in the care of one of the guards, while the other accompanied her in the direction of the ships. Even from a distance, she could distinguish the sleek lines of Parris’ ship. While she knew she owed her escort no explanation, she decided it would be wise to make light conversation as they went.

Smiling merrily, she pointed to the tall masts of Parris’ ship. “That’s the Sea Witch,” she explained. “My husband captained her sister ship, the Enchantress. I feel like I know her like the back of my hand, though I’ve been aboard the Sea Witch but once.”

The guard, a fair-haired young man of rather plain countenance but pleasant demeanor, nodded politely. “I’ve never been to sea,” he said in answer, his eyes never straying from the tall masts and elegant lines of the sea-going vessel. “She looks fast.”

“Fast enough to outrun the swiftest of the Corsairs’ ships,” Averyll explained proudly. Before the birth of her son, Averyll had sailed with her husband on the occasion run and remembered well the thrill of running at full sail before the wind, her hair whipping her face, deaf to everything but the sharp snap of the canvas sails and the crash of the waves beneath the Enchantress’ prow. Those were the few memories of her marriage that she truly cherished. She tried not to think about how the Enchantress had eventually run afoul of a nasty squall and perished with all hands, bringing Averyll’s up-to-then pleasant life to an abrupt and eye-opening change. She said nothing of this to the guard.

As they approached the berth of the Sea Witch, Averyll was delighted to see Parris himself standing on deck overseeing the stowing of supplies for the return voyage to Dol Amroth. She waved up at him. At first not believing his eyes, Parris did a quick double-take. Then a broad smile spread across his weathered features.

“Lady Averyll!” he called over the side to her. “You’re a long way from home! Either that or I’ve been at sea too long and am having a very pleasant hallucination. Whichever it is, come aboard!”

She happily accepted his invitation and, assisted by the young guard, climbed aboard.

“Captain Parris!” she said extending her hand.

“Lady Averyll!” he responded and, taking her hand in his, kissed it. “What brings you to Minas Tirith of all places?”

“Hadn’t you heard?” she replied with a reproachful smile. “I’ve accompanied Lady Finduilas here as one of her ladies-in-waiting. I don’t know how long I will be here… at least through the wedding. After that, I’m not sure.”

From there, the conversation drifted to news and gossip from home and the sea, with Parris doing most of the talking and Averyll, an eager and willing audience. She missed Dol Amroth and the ocean deeply, and her three year old son most of all. Parris, unfortunately, had not been in contact with her in-laws and had no news of her son. Averyll hid her deep disappointment, but decided to use the subject as an opening to pursuing her mission for the steward.

“How long have you been in port?” she asked. “I’ve been expecting a letter from my in-laws for days and, so far, nothing. Not having any children of your own, you probably can’t understand how difficult it is not hearing anything about my little boy for so long. It’s very hard.”

Parris gave her a sympathetic nod. “No, I think I do understand,” he said quietly. “I wish I had some good news for you, but we have been in port nigh on five days now, making repairs to the hull. We brushed a reef just before entering the Anduin’s delta and have been taking on water ever since. It had to be repaired before setting sail. I’m afraid we’re the only mail ship in or out of port since.”

“Oh,” Averyll sighed. “They promised they would write to me every day with word of how he is getting on and if he misses his mummy. Is there any chance my letters might have gone astray?”

Parris started to shake his head, but stopped abruptly when he saw the look of forlorn hope in her wide, blue eyes. After a moment’s thought, he sighed. “You can try speaking to Athadan. He’s the one who receives all mail and dispatches on this end of the run. If anyone knows what’s become of your letters, it would be he.”

“Athadan?” Averyll gave Parris her prettiest smile. “Thank you so much, Parris. You don’t know what this means to me. I shall be sure to speak with him.”

“Be careful of that one,” Parris added suddenly. “To be honest, I don’t entirely trust him.”

This interested Averyll tremendously, especially since she trusted Parris and Parris’ judgment absolutely. After all, was it not Parris who tried to warn her of her husband’s improprieties months before they actually came to light? If Parris was distrustful of this man Athadan, then it was something she should definitely look into.

Averyll frowned slightly. “Is he dangerous? Should I be frightened of him?”

“No,” Parris shook his head. “But be wary. While he has always been quite competent and professional in his dealings, I get the feeling that he, well, resents his duties. In fact, lately, he has been boasting to my crew of how he will soon be taking his proper place in the world and won’t be a mere messenger boy anymore.”

“Oh, my!” exclaimed Averyll. “Perhaps he is getting an inheritance of some kind.”

Parris laughed. “And I imagine it’s wearing petticoats! The only way his kind gains position or status is by marrying it. And there have been rumors of his courting some high-ranking female on the sly, though I can't imagine who. He's just the second son of a nobody lord from the provinces.”

“Don’t be mean, Parris!” Averyll chided him gently. “It doesn’t suit you at all.”

“But the sea air suits you admirably!” rejoined Parris with a smile. “When you return to Dol Amroth, you must let me take you and your boy sailing. If he’s anything like his father, he’ll have the sea on his veins.”

Averyll grimaced. “That’s precisely why he won’t go sailing. I can’t have him running off to sea just yet. He’s only three.”

Captain Parris smiled. He was just beginning to say something else when his attention was diverted by the arrival of a horseman along the shoreline. Averyll followed his gaze to the rider as he dismounted and approached the ship. A tall young man with black hair and a thick black moustache, he wore the standard black and silver livery of Gondor, the tree and seven stars emblem shining on his chest. His olive-skinned face was pleasant enough to look upon, though not overly handsome, with deep-set dark eyes. Averyll thought she could detect a slight swagger to his walk.

“Well, speak of the devil and he shall appear,” Parris murmured to himself. Turning to Averyll, he added, “Here’s your man, Athadan, now. If you wish to speak with him, now’s your chance.”

Thanking Parris profusely, Averyll bid him a sad good-bye and disembarked, walking to where Athadan stood talking to one of her escorts. Parris’s gray-green eyes watched wistfully as she walked away, then, sighing, he returned to the business of his ship.

Athadan delivered a short bow as Averyll joined him and the other guard.

“Greetings, Lady Averyll,” he said. “What brings you to the banks of the Anduin today, if I may be so bold?”

“Mostly my friend, Captain Parris,” she answered, opening her fan with a sharp flick of her wrist. “I heard he was in port and thought it would be pleasant to reacquaint myself. And who might you be, sir, that you should question one of Lady Finduilas' ladies so, without so much as an introduction?"

This time, he delivered a deep bow. "I am Athadan of Harondor, at your service, my lady. My apologies if I offended you. It is just rare to see a lady such as yourself out here by the river."

"Apologies accepted," Averyll said pleasantly. "Actually, I am happy to make your acquaintance. I was just inquiring of the captain if any letters had arrived for me from Dol Amroth. He assured me that he was aware of none, but that if any had come, you would be the one to know. So?" She fluttered her fan in her best imitation of a coy lady of the court, though it was not her usual style at all. "Have any letters come for me?"

A slight shadow passed over Athadan's dark eyes, then he grinned what Averyll thought to be a very superior grin for a mere guard. "Sorry," he said blandly. "The Sea Witch has been the only dispatch boat into port this week and I've seen to it that everything from that drop has been delivered. I don't recall seeing anything for you, though I doubt I would remember specifically. I suggest you check with fellows who sort the mail. Perhaps they would remember."

"No, that's all right," Averyll tried to sound disappointed. "I believe you. There was probably nothing if neither you nor Captain Parris remember anything. But I thank you for your time." Not willing to overplay her hand, Averyll ended the conversation shortly thereafter with a few lame pleasantries and an amiable smile. Taking her two guards with her, she left Athadan at the river and returned to the city. When she got home, she retired immediately to the writing desk in her room where she composed a letter to the steward, detailing her conversation with Captain Parris and her subsequent meeting with Athadan. When she had finished, she folded the vellum neatly and sealed it with a drop of midnight blue sealing wax and the emblem of a leaping dolphin, the symbol of her father's house.