A swift messenger trotted up to the doors of the inn, leaving his steed to rest there a moment. His errand would not take enough time to bother with stabling, although, come to think of it, his horse could use a drink.
The young man strode through the door, trying to take in everything at once. Apparently he'd missed something big, since a slender youth was holding a very sharp looking sword to the neck of a large and not very nice looking man. He looked around for Bethberry and spotted her immediately. He'd seen her before, although she was unaware. He walked to her, handing her a small and neatly address letter.
"Ma'am, I've been sent to make sure that one Odessa of Minas Tirith receives this letter. Word has it that she's here?"
"Word travles fast, young man, and apparently accurately in this case. I shall see that she receives it."
"Actually... I have orders to deliver it personally." He blushed. "I'm sorry." he added, seeing the slightly impatient look on her face. Of course he wasn't particularly sorry. Bethberry consented, beckoning Faleron to her.
"Faleron, this lad has a letter to be delivered personally to Odessa. Would you be kind enough to see that she gets it?"
--------------------
Odessa had been listening with all her might to the distant sounds of the fight. When her door opened, she jumped to her feet. Seeing the possibly too-familiar face of the messenger, she threw her arms around his neck and almost managed to kiss him. A pointed cough drew her attention to her brother as her cheeks flushed. She stuttered, trying to explain why she would be greeting someone she wasn't supposed to know so exhuberantly, but gave up when she saw that, as long as it didn't happen again, Faleron didn't care.
She opened the letter, reading carefully:
Dearest niece,
I've only just found out that I need
your help at home. There's been an
accidental stabbing (the poor lad's eyes
will never be the same... actually, he'll
never be able to see again, but that's not
the point now, is it?) and even the King
couldn't heal him, not that I would be so
pretentious as to ask the King for a
favor, seeing as how he's the King and
I'm not, but you know that darling, and
I just wanted you to know that you can
finish your studies when you get home,
but that I need you here.
-Ioreth
Odessa looked at Faleron with concern.
"I'm afraid we'll have to go home," he said. "We'll leave first thing in the morning. Pack your bags... I'll go inform the innkeeper. We'll leave early... chances are, nobody will see us go."