Chapter 27
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Isilla hurried along the hall, Ilun trotting beside her, focused on the library. In short order she came to the stairs, smiling she made her way down them.
Her maids had been shocked when she refused the tea and asked for them to set out a simple gown for her. She pushed their hands away when they tried to help, shuffling them out of the room and dressed herself, as was her custom for most days. They returned with breakfast for her and Ilun before leaving again, as was their custom.
I'll ask Mattin to see the letters, maybe there's some hint there, she thought as she arrived, pushing open the doors.
Inside the library was as she remembered it before. "Help me find Mattin, Ilun," she said.
The animal lowered his head to the shadow under the table. Isilla stared curiously at him but then he moved ambling down a row of shelves. She followed him deeper into the space as he made turns until he stopped and sat.
She peeked around his large body and there, sitting at a table with a large book open, a pen scratching along it's pages, was Mattin.
She patted Ilun's head, "Thank you, good boy!"
Isilla crossed to Mattin, reaching for his sleeve to draw his attention.
He turned and smiled at her, "Princess Isilla! I was not expecting you! Have you finished those books so quickly?"
She shook her head, No, I'm here for another reason. I was wondering if I could see the letters stored here.
"Of course, but I don't know why you would want to, you've already read them," laughter in his voice as he slid from the chair.
I know, she signed, but there was a food he told me about and I can't remember what it was called. I wanted to see if I could find the name so I could ask my maids for some. She had spent all morning coming up with her story and she hoped it rang as true to the old man. Arren was right, she wasn't very good at lying.
If he noticed he didn't say anything. Instead he nodded and began to walk. "Was it a sweet food or savory? Oh my we must have so many things here that you're not used to! And you've likely had nothing that reminded you of home at all, how sad!" Mattin said.
It's alright, she signed, I'm not sad.
Mattin smiled as he opened a door, "You're a very good girl. The Prince is lucky to have you as a wife, so agreeable and kind. I heard what you did for Lady Elixabete. Everyone's heard of it."
She was upset, desperate, and with child. It would be wrong to try her, I wasn't hurt, she explained.
The old man nodded, "So kind, she would have killed you without a second thought."
There was something in his tone, a sort of warning but she sensed no danger in it.
I know, she said, but I am not her.
He let out a small laugh, "No you are not and I am glad of it. We keep the records here."
He waved his hand over a large room, Shelves filled with more uniform books lined the walls and in the center tall drawers and tables. Mattin lead her to a table and motioned for her sit. Ilun slid under it, resting his head at her feet, his body taking up the entire space of it.
Mattin walked away and returned with a large book. The old man didn't seem to struggle with it, despite it's unwieldy size. He must have some power, Isilla thought as he laid it on the table in front of her.
"These are all the letters and official documents of the treaty. I'll leave you alone with it, I'll be just outside in the other room if you need anything."
She nodded and turned back to the book. Alone, she took a deep breath and opened it.
Inside, the book was filled with pockets, each dated in small, neat script. She opened the first one to find a copy of the official agreement for the halt in the war, the start of the peace talks. She slid this back and turned a few pages, pulling out another letter.
This one was hers, she recognized her words but but not the handwriting. These are copies, she thought, scanning the letter, one of the early ones, and placing it back in its spot. She took out the next one, it would be his reply according to the date and found that it was the same handwriting as the other. So the same person was responsible for copying all of these, she noted.
Sighing she flipped through the pages to the later letters. She pulled another out, this one with a wax seal on it. "Hmm," she hummed to herself and opened it. The letter inside was addressed to Lehan which meant that she had written it but she frowned at the words. I don't remember saying these things at all. Inside the letter was just as mundane as the earlier ones had been but the contents were completely fabricated, the details for a day that she had never had.
Frowning she placed the letter back in its spot and picked out the one that had come before, this one sealed as well. The letter that she had been replying to. Inside it was as mundane as hers had been and as foreign.
These aren't our letters, she thought. But why would anyone put false ones here?
She placed the sealed one back and flipped the pages. They were all false, even the ones that were unsealed. She flipped back to the start, looking for the first one that she could find that was obviously a forgery. Here's the one where I told him I was a Dreamweaver, that was very early on, and his response but this one isn't right, she thought looking at the one she had written back. She remembered, vaguely, to admitting that she was struggling to write in his language. His response to that had been encouraging and a promise to help her learn.
The letters she looked at now were about dresses from her, and courtly duties from him. Things they had never spoken of but would seem fine, easy conversation, she assumed, for the people of the this court. She scanned each one and from the first false one, none of them were correct. Missing were the through descriptions of the Dark Realm and Acropolis she had sent in return. None of the sweet words of the later letters. It was all boring and bland, peppered throughout with a small fact here and there.
More mysteries, she thought closing the book.
Sighing she stood and left the room, Ilun following behind her. Outside, Mattin sorted through a pile of books, placing them on shelves.
Ilun made a small woof and the librarian turned around. "Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.
She smiled and nodded. A tart, she signed, spelling the word out. The answer she had prepared in advance.
"Ah, yes, those are very good. You should have some warm for breakfast!" he replied.
Can I ask you something else?
He nodded, "Of course. What is it, dear Princess?"
Yesterday, Lady Elixabete said she was challenging me. I don't understand what she meant.
The man frowned nodding, "Yes, she would. That is an old tradition. People from the lower classes have a right to challenge someone who is slightly above them to a duel for their position. As his former fiancee she was well within her rights to call for you to defend your place."
I have no magic and even if I did it would be light, how am I to fight, she asked, shocked.
He shook his head, "There are three possibilities. You could have fought her using non-magical means, your pet, for instance, could have defended you and you would have likely died. Someone other than your husband could stand in for you. Or you could forfeit and lose your place as the Prince's wife."
Is this something that is common? Will I have to worry about this?
Mattin laughed, "Doubtful, Elixabete likely had her own reasons for pursuing the Prince but your position as his wife is not one that most women would trade you for. If you had married Lehan, there's a chance it may have happened again. There will be fierce competition for the next Queen of our lands."
Thank you for explaining it to me, she said, I have to get back to my rooms.
"I heard that you were injured, you should rest more. You're still young, you think your body is stronger than it is. I wouldn't want to see you hurt because you came out of bed too soon," he scolded gently.
She smiled and waved her goodbyes, Ilun following behind her.
Quickly she made her way back to her apartments. She closed her bedroom door and pulled out her trunk, digging for the box of letters.
The handwriting on them was long, scratchy script, different from the precise print of the copies and fakes. One by one she unfolded the letters, looking for his response to her struggles with the language.
Finally she found it.
Dear Isilla,
Do not worry too much about mistakes. Your writing is perfectly fine. I hope I haven't intimidated you with my own. Learning another language is hard, especially when you aren't able to use it very often. Perhaps we should write more often so you can practice?
I can try to write you in yours but I only know a few words so I'm afraid my letters wouldn't be very interesting to you in that case.
If we could write more about things you're interested in, maybe you won't be as nervous. What sort of things do you like?
Sincerely,
Lehan
The letter that was in the records was very different from the one she held in her hand. The letters kept in the records made it seem as if they had never become close at all, that they were barely acquaintances. She picked up another letter, this one at random.
My Dearest,
It is night here, as I am writing this. The days are beginning to become short, the cold weather is coming but so are you and with you, you will bring your warmth and beauty. You will be as a sun in my world. Already I imagine I can feel your warmth and my heart beats faster.
I wonder what it will be to touch you, to hold your body close to mine. The softness of your skin. To taste your lips. Already my heart feels as though it will break free of my chest, how will I survive your lips against mine?
I think of you constantly, your portrait fills my mind. I will it to move, wishing my magic could make it real, that I were strong enough to bring you to my side this instant but I cannot reach across that chasm between our realms, not matter how strongly I wish to. But in a few weeks, you will be here and that worries me. Will you be happy with me? Will you be happy here?
It is late, my heart, and if I continue this letter I will say things I should not, more so than I've already said. But I could not sleep without saying something to you. Please allow me this small trespass.
-Yours
He didn't sign it, she thought, staring at the bottom of the page. There was no name. Just the word, 'yours'. She sorted through the other letters, quickly. The later ones had no signature. I never noticed before, she thought.
She gathered the letters up and put them back in their box. If he is real, why hasn't he tried to contact me, she thought for a moment before rejecting the idea, the reason obvious. To reach her, he, whoever he was, would run the risk of upsetting the Lord of All Shadows.
She laid her head on Ilun, at a loss.
Her door swung open and she looked up at Hanna.
"What are you doing on the floor? Get up, get up! Someone's here for you! You've got a proper lady in waiting. Well, close enough to one."
Isilla stood up and straightened her skirts. Ilun stood, following her out of the room.
Hanna moved quickly, exiting her room and turning down second hall. She passed two doors and opened a third out onto a a sun room that Isilla had never seen before. The opposite wall made entirely from glass looked out on a small garden, barren for the coming cold but it seemed to be cared for otherwise.
The maid pushed her onto the couch and Ilun sat at her feet, his body taking up a considerable amount of the small room. "Now, don't be frightened, she's here to serve you. You have to remember that. This is just an introduction but she'll be your companion from now on."
Isilla nodded slowly and folded her hands in her lap.
Hanna took her place behind Isilla's chair and the door opened.
Isilla sucked in breath and gripped her skirts.
"May I present the Lady Elixabete of the Southern Firth, she will be serving you from now on, Princess Isilla," the attendant said at Elixabete's arm.
"We've already met," Elixabete sneered as she bowed over her pregnant belly, her eyes shooting hot daggers at Isilla.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Isilla hurried along the hall, Ilun trotting beside her, focused on the library. In short order she came to the stairs, smiling she made her way down them.
Her maids had been shocked when she refused the tea and asked for them to set out a simple gown for her. She pushed their hands away when they tried to help, shuffling them out of the room and dressed herself, as was her custom for most days. They returned with breakfast for her and Ilun before leaving again, as was their custom.
I'll ask Mattin to see the letters, maybe there's some hint there, she thought as she arrived, pushing open the doors.
Inside the library was as she remembered it before. "Help me find Mattin, Ilun," she said.
The animal lowered his head to the shadow under the table. Isilla stared curiously at him but then he moved ambling down a row of shelves. She followed him deeper into the space as he made turns until he stopped and sat.
She peeked around his large body and there, sitting at a table with a large book open, a pen scratching along it's pages, was Mattin.
She patted Ilun's head, "Thank you, good boy!"
Isilla crossed to Mattin, reaching for his sleeve to draw his attention.
He turned and smiled at her, "Princess Isilla! I was not expecting you! Have you finished those books so quickly?"
She shook her head, No, I'm here for another reason. I was wondering if I could see the letters stored here.
"Of course, but I don't know why you would want to, you've already read them," laughter in his voice as he slid from the chair.
I know, she signed, but there was a food he told me about and I can't remember what it was called. I wanted to see if I could find the name so I could ask my maids for some. She had spent all morning coming up with her story and she hoped it rang as true to the old man. Arren was right, she wasn't very good at lying.
If he noticed he didn't say anything. Instead he nodded and began to walk. "Was it a sweet food or savory? Oh my we must have so many things here that you're not used to! And you've likely had nothing that reminded you of home at all, how sad!" Mattin said.
It's alright, she signed, I'm not sad.
Mattin smiled as he opened a door, "You're a very good girl. The Prince is lucky to have you as a wife, so agreeable and kind. I heard what you did for Lady Elixabete. Everyone's heard of it."
She was upset, desperate, and with child. It would be wrong to try her, I wasn't hurt, she explained.
The old man nodded, "So kind, she would have killed you without a second thought."
There was something in his tone, a sort of warning but she sensed no danger in it.
I know, she said, but I am not her.
He let out a small laugh, "No you are not and I am glad of it. We keep the records here."
He waved his hand over a large room, Shelves filled with more uniform books lined the walls and in the center tall drawers and tables. Mattin lead her to a table and motioned for her sit. Ilun slid under it, resting his head at her feet, his body taking up the entire space of it.
Mattin walked away and returned with a large book. The old man didn't seem to struggle with it, despite it's unwieldy size. He must have some power, Isilla thought as he laid it on the table in front of her.
"These are all the letters and official documents of the treaty. I'll leave you alone with it, I'll be just outside in the other room if you need anything."
She nodded and turned back to the book. Alone, she took a deep breath and opened it.
Inside, the book was filled with pockets, each dated in small, neat script. She opened the first one to find a copy of the official agreement for the halt in the war, the start of the peace talks. She slid this back and turned a few pages, pulling out another letter.
This one was hers, she recognized her words but but not the handwriting. These are copies, she thought, scanning the letter, one of the early ones, and placing it back in its spot. She took out the next one, it would be his reply according to the date and found that it was the same handwriting as the other. So the same person was responsible for copying all of these, she noted.
Sighing she flipped through the pages to the later letters. She pulled another out, this one with a wax seal on it. "Hmm," she hummed to herself and opened it. The letter inside was addressed to Lehan which meant that she had written it but she frowned at the words. I don't remember saying these things at all. Inside the letter was just as mundane as the earlier ones had been but the contents were completely fabricated, the details for a day that she had never had.
Frowning she placed the letter back in its spot and picked out the one that had come before, this one sealed as well. The letter that she had been replying to. Inside it was as mundane as hers had been and as foreign.
These aren't our letters, she thought. But why would anyone put false ones here?
She placed the sealed one back and flipped the pages. They were all false, even the ones that were unsealed. She flipped back to the start, looking for the first one that she could find that was obviously a forgery. Here's the one where I told him I was a Dreamweaver, that was very early on, and his response but this one isn't right, she thought looking at the one she had written back. She remembered, vaguely, to admitting that she was struggling to write in his language. His response to that had been encouraging and a promise to help her learn.
The letters she looked at now were about dresses from her, and courtly duties from him. Things they had never spoken of but would seem fine, easy conversation, she assumed, for the people of the this court. She scanned each one and from the first false one, none of them were correct. Missing were the through descriptions of the Dark Realm and Acropolis she had sent in return. None of the sweet words of the later letters. It was all boring and bland, peppered throughout with a small fact here and there.
More mysteries, she thought closing the book.
Sighing she stood and left the room, Ilun following behind her. Outside, Mattin sorted through a pile of books, placing them on shelves.
Ilun made a small woof and the librarian turned around. "Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.
She smiled and nodded. A tart, she signed, spelling the word out. The answer she had prepared in advance.
"Ah, yes, those are very good. You should have some warm for breakfast!" he replied.
Can I ask you something else?
He nodded, "Of course. What is it, dear Princess?"
Yesterday, Lady Elixabete said she was challenging me. I don't understand what she meant.
The man frowned nodding, "Yes, she would. That is an old tradition. People from the lower classes have a right to challenge someone who is slightly above them to a duel for their position. As his former fiancee she was well within her rights to call for you to defend your place."
I have no magic and even if I did it would be light, how am I to fight, she asked, shocked.
He shook his head, "There are three possibilities. You could have fought her using non-magical means, your pet, for instance, could have defended you and you would have likely died. Someone other than your husband could stand in for you. Or you could forfeit and lose your place as the Prince's wife."
Is this something that is common? Will I have to worry about this?
Mattin laughed, "Doubtful, Elixabete likely had her own reasons for pursuing the Prince but your position as his wife is not one that most women would trade you for. If you had married Lehan, there's a chance it may have happened again. There will be fierce competition for the next Queen of our lands."
Thank you for explaining it to me, she said, I have to get back to my rooms.
"I heard that you were injured, you should rest more. You're still young, you think your body is stronger than it is. I wouldn't want to see you hurt because you came out of bed too soon," he scolded gently.
She smiled and waved her goodbyes, Ilun following behind her.
Quickly she made her way back to her apartments. She closed her bedroom door and pulled out her trunk, digging for the box of letters.
The handwriting on them was long, scratchy script, different from the precise print of the copies and fakes. One by one she unfolded the letters, looking for his response to her struggles with the language.
Finally she found it.
Dear Isilla,
Do not worry too much about mistakes. Your writing is perfectly fine. I hope I haven't intimidated you with my own. Learning another language is hard, especially when you aren't able to use it very often. Perhaps we should write more often so you can practice?
I can try to write you in yours but I only know a few words so I'm afraid my letters wouldn't be very interesting to you in that case.
If we could write more about things you're interested in, maybe you won't be as nervous. What sort of things do you like?
Sincerely,
Lehan
The letter that was in the records was very different from the one she held in her hand. The letters kept in the records made it seem as if they had never become close at all, that they were barely acquaintances. She picked up another letter, this one at random.
My Dearest,
It is night here, as I am writing this. The days are beginning to become short, the cold weather is coming but so are you and with you, you will bring your warmth and beauty. You will be as a sun in my world. Already I imagine I can feel your warmth and my heart beats faster.
I wonder what it will be to touch you, to hold your body close to mine. The softness of your skin. To taste your lips. Already my heart feels as though it will break free of my chest, how will I survive your lips against mine?
I think of you constantly, your portrait fills my mind. I will it to move, wishing my magic could make it real, that I were strong enough to bring you to my side this instant but I cannot reach across that chasm between our realms, not matter how strongly I wish to. But in a few weeks, you will be here and that worries me. Will you be happy with me? Will you be happy here?
It is late, my heart, and if I continue this letter I will say things I should not, more so than I've already said. But I could not sleep without saying something to you. Please allow me this small trespass.
-Yours
He didn't sign it, she thought, staring at the bottom of the page. There was no name. Just the word, 'yours'. She sorted through the other letters, quickly. The later ones had no signature. I never noticed before, she thought.
She gathered the letters up and put them back in their box. If he is real, why hasn't he tried to contact me, she thought for a moment before rejecting the idea, the reason obvious. To reach her, he, whoever he was, would run the risk of upsetting the Lord of All Shadows.
She laid her head on Ilun, at a loss.
Her door swung open and she looked up at Hanna.
"What are you doing on the floor? Get up, get up! Someone's here for you! You've got a proper lady in waiting. Well, close enough to one."
Isilla stood up and straightened her skirts. Ilun stood, following her out of the room.
Hanna moved quickly, exiting her room and turning down second hall. She passed two doors and opened a third out onto a a sun room that Isilla had never seen before. The opposite wall made entirely from glass looked out on a small garden, barren for the coming cold but it seemed to be cared for otherwise.
The maid pushed her onto the couch and Ilun sat at her feet, his body taking up a considerable amount of the small room. "Now, don't be frightened, she's here to serve you. You have to remember that. This is just an introduction but she'll be your companion from now on."
Isilla nodded slowly and folded her hands in her lap.
Hanna took her place behind Isilla's chair and the door opened.
Isilla sucked in breath and gripped her skirts.
"May I present the Lady Elixabete of the Southern Firth, she will be serving you from now on, Princess Isilla," the attendant said at Elixabete's arm.
"We've already met," Elixabete sneered as she bowed over her pregnant belly, her eyes shooting hot daggers at Isilla.
Isilla hurried along the hall, Ilun trotting beside her, focused on the library. In short order she came to the stairs, smiling she made her way down them.Her maids had been shocked when she refused the tea and asked for them to set out a simple gown for her. She pushed their hands away when they tried to help, shuffling them out of the room and dressed herself, as was her custom for most days. They returned with breakfast for her and Ilun before leaving again, as was their custom.I'll ask Mattin to see the letters, maybe there's some hint there, she thought as she arrived, pushing open the doors.Inside the library was as she remembered it before. "Help me find Mattin, Ilun," she said.The animal lowered his head to the shadow under the table. Isilla stared curiously at him but then he moved ambling down a row of shelves. She followed him deeper into the space as he made turns until he stopped and sat.She peeked around his large body and there, sitting at a table with a large book open, a pen scratching along it's pages, was Mattin.She patted Ilun's head, "Thank you, good boy!"Isilla crossed to Mattin, reaching for his sleeve to draw his attention.He turned and smiled at her, "Princess Isilla! I was not expecting you! Have you finished those books so quickly?"She shook her head, No, I'm here for another reason. I was wondering if I could see the letters stored here."Of course, but I don't know why you would want to, you've already read them," laughter in his voice as he slid from the chair.I know, she signed, but there was a food he told me about and I can't remember what it was called. I wanted to see if I could find the name so I could ask my maids for some. She had spent all morning coming up with her story and she hoped it rang as true to the old man. Arren was right, she wasn't very good at lying.If he noticed he didn't say anything. Instead he nodded and began to walk. "Was it a sweet food or savory? Oh my we must have so many things here that you're not used to! And you've likely had nothing that reminded you of home at all, how sad!" Mattin said.It's alright, she signed, I'm not sad.Mattin smiled as he opened a door, "You're a very good girl. The Prince is lucky to have you as a wife, so agreeable and kind. I heard what you did for Lady Elixabete. Everyone's heard of it."She was upset, desperate, and with child. It would be wrong to try her, I wasn't hurt, she explained.The old man nodded, "So kind, she would have killed you without a second thought."There was something in his tone, a sort of warning but she sensed no danger in it.I know, she said, but I am not her.He let out a small laugh, "No you are not and I am glad of it. We keep the records here."He waved his hand over a large room, Shelves filled with more uniform books lined the walls and in the center tall drawers and tables. Mattin lead her to a table and motioned for her sit. Ilun slid under it, resting his head at her feet, his body taking up the entire space of it.Mattin walked away and returned with a large book. The old man didn't seem to struggle with it, despite it's unwieldy size. He must have some power, Isilla thought as he laid it on the table in front of her."These are all the letters and official documents of the treaty. I'll leave you alone with it, I'll be just outside in the other room if you need anything."She nodded and turned back to the book. Alone, she took a deep breath and opened it.Inside, the book was filled with pockets, each dated in small, neat script. She opened the first one to find a copy of the official agreement for the halt in the war, the start of the peace talks. She slid this back and turned a few pages, pulling out another letter.This one was hers, she recognized her words but but not the handwriting. These are copies, she thought, scanning the letter, one of the early ones, and placing it back in its spot. She took out the next one, it would be his reply according to the date and found that it was the same handwriting as the other. So the same person was responsible for copying all of these, she noted.Sighing she flipped through the pages to the later letters. She pulled another out, this one with a wax seal on it. "Hmm," she hummed to herself and opened it. The letter inside was addressed to Lehan which meant that she had written it but she frowned at the words. I don't remember saying these things at all. Inside the letter was just as mundane as the earlier ones had been but the contents were completely fabricated, the details for a day that she had never had.Frowning she placed the letter back in its spot and picked out the one that had come before, this one sealed as well. The letter that she had been replying to. Inside it was as mundane as hers had been and as foreign.These aren't our letters, she thought. But why would anyone put false ones here?She placed the sealed one back and flipped the pages. They were all false, even the ones that were unsealed. She flipped back to the start, looking for the first one that she could find that was obviously a forgery. Here's the one where I told him I was a Dreamweaver, that was very early on, and his response but this one isn't right, she thought looking at the one she had written back. She remembered, vaguely, to admitting that she was struggling to write in his language. His response to that had been encouraging and a promise to help her learn.The letters she looked at now were about dresses from her, and courtly duties from him. Things they had never spoken of but would seem fine, easy conversation, she assumed, for the people of the this court. She scanned each one and from the first false one, none of them were correct. Missing were the through descriptions of the Dark Realm and Acropolis she had sent in return. None of the sweet words of the later letters. It was all boring and bland, peppered throughout with a small fact here and there.More mysteries, she thought closing the book.Sighing she stood and left the room, Ilun following behind her. Outside, Mattin sorted through a pile of books, placing them on shelves.Ilun made a small woof and the librarian turned around. "Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.She smiled and nodded. A tart, she signed, spelling the word out. The answer she had prepared in advance."Ah, yes, those are very good. You should have some warm for breakfast!" he replied.Can I ask you something else?He nodded, "Of course. What is it, dear Princess?"Yesterday, Lady Elixabete said she was challenging me. I don't understand what she meant.The man frowned nodding, "Yes, she would. That is an old tradition. People from the lower classes have a right to challenge someone who is slightly above them to a duel for their position. As his former fiancee she was well within her rights to call for you to defend your place."I have no magic and even if I did it would be light, how am I to fight, she asked, shocked.He shook his head, "There are three possibilities. You could have fought her using non-magical means, your pet, for instance, could have defended you and you would have likely died. Someone other than your husband could stand in for you. Or you could forfeit and lose your place as the Prince's wife."Is this something that is common? Will I have to worry about this?Mattin laughed, "Doubtful, Elixabete likely had her own reasons for pursuing the Prince but your position as his wife is not one that most women would trade you for. If you had married Lehan, there's a chance it may have happened again. There will be fierce competition for the next Queen of our lands."Thank you for explaining it to me, she said, I have to get back to my rooms."I heard that you were injured, you should rest more. You're still young, you think your body is stronger than it is. I wouldn't want to see you hurt because you came out of bed too soon," he scolded gently.She smiled and waved her goodbyes, Ilun following behind her.Quickly she made her way back to her apartments. She closed her bedroom door and pulled out her trunk, digging for the box of letters.The handwriting on them was long, scratchy script, different from the precise print of the copies and fakes. One by one she unfolded the letters, looking for his response to her struggles with the language.Finally she found it.Dear Isilla,Do not worry too much about mistakes. Your writing is perfectly fine. I hope I haven't intimidated you with my own. Learning another language is hard, especially when you aren't able to use it very often. Perhaps we should write more often so you can practice?I can try to write you in yours but I only know a few words so I'm afraid my letters wouldn't be very interesting to you in that case.If we could write more about things you're interested in, maybe you won't be as nervous. What sort of things do you like?Sincerely,LehanThe letter that was in the records was very different from the one she held in her hand. The letters kept in the records made it seem as if they had never become close at all, that they were barely acquaintances. She picked up another letter, this one at random.My Dearest,It is night here, as I am writing this. The days are beginning to become short, the cold weather is coming but so are you and with you, you will bring your warmth and beauty. You will be as a sun in my world. Already I imagine I can feel your warmth and my heart beats faster.I wonder what it will be to touch you, to hold your body close to mine. The softness of your skin. To taste your lips. Already my heart feels as though it will break free of my chest, how will I survive your lips against mine?I think of you constantly, your portrait fills my mind. I will it to move, wishing my magic could make it real, that I were strong enough to bring you to my side this instant but I cannot reach across that chasm between our realms, not matter how strongly I wish to. But in a few weeks, you will be here and that worries me. Will you be happy with me? Will you be happy here?It is late, my heart, and if I continue this letter I will say things I should not, more so than I've already said. But I could not sleep without saying something to you. Please allow me this small trespass.-YoursHe didn't sign it, she thought, staring at the bottom of the page. There was no name. Just the word, 'yours'. She sorted through the other letters, quickly. The later ones had no signature. I never noticed before, she thought.She gathered the letters up and put them back in their box. If he is real, why hasn't he tried to contact me, she thought for a moment before rejecting the idea, the reason obvious. To reach her, he, whoever he was, would run the risk of upsetting the Lord of All Shadows.She laid her head on Ilun, at a loss.Her door swung open and she looked up at Hanna."What are you doing on the floor? Get up, get up! Someone's here for you! You've got a proper lady in waiting. Well, close enough to one."Isilla stood up and straightened her skirts. Ilun stood, following her out of the room.Hanna moved quickly, exiting her room and turning down second hall. She passed two doors and opened a third out onto a a sun room that Isilla had never seen before. The opposite wall made entirely from glass looked out on a small garden, barren for the coming cold but it seemed to be cared for otherwise.The maid pushed her onto the couch and Ilun sat at her feet, his body taking up a considerable amount of the small room. "Now, don't be frightened, she's here to serve you. You have to remember that. This is just an introduction but she'll be your companion from now on."Isilla nodded slowly and folded her hands in her lap.Hanna took her place behind Isilla's chair and the door opened.Isilla sucked in breath and gripped her skirts."May I present the Lady Elixabete of the Southern Firth, she will be serving you from now on, Princess Isilla," the attendant said at Elixabete's arm."We've already met," Elixabete sneered as she bowed over her pregnant belly, her eyes shooting hot daggers at Isilla.
