[Everdawn]

Everdawn's post

Vieana, Averyll and Elen stood by the side of the dance floor watching Denethor and Finduilas dance. It was true that these times had been trying for the young women. "Well, im glad everything has turned out for the better." Vieana exclaimed. "I'm just glad at how clever I was." Averyll laughed. "You would" Elen remarked holding her wine glass loosly in her hand.

"Look, it's Tessa!" Elen said once again, pointing ot the other side of the room. "I was wondering about where she had gone off to..." Vieana said putting her hands on her hips awating the lengthy speech that she suspected was to come from her cheeky young friend. Instead Averyll held up her hand as she came. "We wanted to tell you." Tessa laughed and shook her head. "That was fantastic!" was all she said.

Vieana glanced at the dancing couples. Adrama smiled at her, and Vieana at her. "You know what, distinguished ladies of Dol Amroth?" she started. "I think that from now on, i will never make decisions about people before i see their true colours." She folded her arms. "Here, here" echoed Averyll from her side.

"Suppose we had never come to Minas Tirith, things might have turned out differently." Elen chimed, getting another glass of wine from a waiter. "Elen, lay off the wine a little, you may end up tipsy." Averyll laughed and made to take the glass of her, Elen backed off. "Thats exactly what i feel like doing! Ive earned it dont you say!"

"You are right Elen, drink up, I never thought in my wildest dreams that anyone would even try and attack Minas Tirith, i mean, especially now." A hand touched Vieana's back. "Neither did I." She looked around into the familliar scarred face of her husband Dardanir. "I wanted to tell you" Giggled Tessa mocking her. Behined Dardanir was a new number of Dol Amroth guards, all in Formal dress uniform, as well as Finduilas' Guard form the barracks.

"I have re-posted for the time being, until Finduilas is married of course. Captain Naian tells me that you have done a great favour to Gondor m'lady" He said smiling handsomly as he took Vieana hand and kissed it. "Why sir! So i am told by the Steward himself." She laughed and hugged him.

"Averyll was the onve who eventually found out who it was though." Vieana said turning to her friends. "You remember Dardanir, dont you." Dardanir bowed. "May I have this dance Lady Vieana."
"Why, certainly" she remarked smartly and took to the floor with her husband.

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Ealasaide's post

"Averyll was the one who eventually found out who is it was, though," Vieana said, smiling as she introduced her husband, Dardanir, to her friends. Averyll curtsied to her friend's husband and said she was glad to make his acquaintance. Then, as Dardanir whisked Vieana off to the dance floor, Averyll found herself on the sidelines again with Eleniel. She was used to it, having spent a year or so in mourning, but she still missed the feel of her husband's arm around her back as he spun her around the dance floor. Averyll sighed as her eyes found Lady Finduilas dancing, as well, on the arm of her husband-to-be.

"She looks so happy," murmured Averyll. She clasped her hands in front of herself, smiling at the young couple as they danced past. She felt pleased in her heart that she had been able to play her own small role in preserving Finduilas' happiness. With a little luck, Finduilas would have no more sadness in her marriage, having had so much to deal with so early on.

"Yes, they do look happy, don't they?" asked Elen, draining her wine glass. She had acquired a tipsy glow about her from all the wine and festivities. Averyll had heard her say a few minutes earlier that she had earned the right to a good time, and, in all honesty, Averyll believed Elen was right. She should be dancing! Turning to the group of new Dol Amroth guards just behind them, Averyll smiled at a handsome, dark-eyed young fellow, who seemed to have an eye for Elen. Walking over to him, Averyll winked.

"There's lovely young lady there, who - I have a feeling - would love to dance." She gestured to Elen, who was watching the dancing with a happy smile on her face. The young guard looked first surprised, then delighted. Averyll watched as, a moment later, he led a beaming Elen out on to the floor for the next dance. Averyll stepped back from the edge of dance floor, disappointed not to be dancing herself, but happy that all of her friends were happy. She was just drifting back in the direction of the buffet table, when she felt a hand gently catch her elbow.

"Lady Averyll, may I have this dance?" asked a familiar voice.

She turned and, for an instant, the breath caught in her throat. Then, a bright smile spread across her face. "Parris!" she exclaimed. "I thought you had sailed!"

Captain Parris merely smiled and shook his head. "We were planning to sail, but when I heard what was afoot here in Minas Tirith and what your part in it had been, I decided to stay an extra day." Averyll noticed that he was resplendent in the dress uniform of the Dol Amroth navy. She had never seen him looking so handsome and gallant.

"How could I miss the opportunity to dance with the lovely lady who unmasked the traitor?" he added with a courtly bow.

Averyll curtsied in return. "How could I refuse to dance with gentleman who did so much to help me unmask the traitor?"

"It was very brave of you to do what you did," Parris said quietly, leading her on to the dance floor. "You should have told me what you were about. Men like Athadan are not to be trifled with. You could have been hurt."

Averyll smiled. "You told me yourself that I should not be frightened of him, didn't you?"

Parris shook his head. "That was before I knew what was happening. You couldn't have trusted me?"

"No," Averyll leaned her head against his shoulder as they began to dance. "It was not my secret to share or keep. I was under the orders of none other than the Steward himself. I'm sure you can understand."

Parris said nothing, but Averyll could tell that he did understand. She closed her eyes, as his arm tightened slightly around her waist. For a long moment, neither of them spoke, as they glided smoothly around the dance floor. He was an excellent dancer. When Averyll opened her eyes again and looked up at him, she found him smiling at her.

"When are you coming back to Dol Amroth?" he asked.

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "Definitely not until after the wedding. I suppose I shall stay as long as Finduilas needs me."

"What if you are needed by someone else?"

Averyll stopped dancing and took a step back from Parris, but he caught both of her hands in his. His grey-green eyes that reminded her so much of the sea twinkled at her.

"Are you saying that you might need me, Captain Parris?" asked Averyll playfully.

"That I am," he answered more solemnly than she had expected. "I am asking you to come back to Dol Amroth with me, Averyll. You are out of mourning now and free to do as you wish." He kissed her hands. "Will you have me?"

Averyll smiled at him gently, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes. "The last time I saw you, you only wanted to take me sailing."

"I've had time to think."

"And my son?" she asked, knowing already what the answer would be.

"I will love him as my own."

Averyll hesitated for only an instant, thinking of all the years she had known Parris, first as an associate of her father's and later on as the friend of her late husband. She had always felt an affection for him, and later, respect as she had gotten to know him better. True, he was a good deal older than herself, by at least fifteen years, but he was a good man. Now, she realized that the feelings she had for him had grown over time into something deeper than merely respect. Leaning forward, she placed a kiss on Parris' lips.

"When Finduilas is happily married, I will come back to Dol Amroth," she promised.

"For me?" he asked, the playfulness coming back into his voice.

"For you, Captain Parris," Averyll answered happily. "But only if you promise to take me sailing." With that, both of them broke into laughter. Parris took her back into his arms and the two of them rejoined the colorful flow of dancers moving in graceful circles around the dance floor.

[ October 07, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]