Letters - Age 13 -

Dear diary.

I'm thirteen and some months, it's been more than a year since I last wrote or even looked at these pages. What a child I was, offended that my governess was to marry my teacher when the world around us all is so much larger and dangerous than changes in a little girl's life.

Master Thomas still teaches me and his loving wife, once Miss Ivery, now Mrs Thomas visits often and is still like a mother to me. Unlike my own, who's behavior becomes an ever heavier burden to my father every day, Mrs Thomas always continues to be my support and explains the world of a young woman to me as I study to perfect myself.

Currently, we're finishing the lessons in behavior which every young lady must possess, even more so as the entire household is preparing for a large celebration in honor of my betrothal to Baloryn Dunn. He and his father and all of their retinue are visiting a week from today and we will be formally betrothed. I haven't met him before, all I know is that he is a few years older than me and is supposed to join the Vanguard in Ebonhawke straight after the party to train and become a soldier.

My dress is green and black to best bring out my eyes and hair which Mrs. Thomas promises she will braid for me on the day. I wish to meet my future husband, looking my very best.

Goodnight, and praise be the Gods.



Dear Diary.

Three days left until the party.

Everything is ready, now we're just waiting for the guests to arrive and father promises me that I may stay up as late as I wish on that one evening. Of course, it is a test to see if I remember all my lessons. I do. Mrs. Thomas says I'm a quick study. Master Thomas says I have a gift, but he won't tell me what that is supposed to mean.

Last night, at dinner, my father had a guest along a Lady Aya Tate. I've never heard of her before, but apparently the two have been friends for years. She was very kind and made good conversation, but when Mrs Brook was serving, she looked at Lady Tate in a odd way and later I heard her say to one of the servants that ''One shouldn't parade one's mistress in front of one's child'' I'm not sure what she means, of course my father doesn't have a mistress, he still loves my mother even if she has been sick ever since I was born. It's always been something no one mentions, and no one has ever told me exactly what is wrong. I've stopped asking.

Goodnight, and praised be to the Gods.



Dear Diary

I think I'm in love.

Tonight was the betrothal and the party was simply fantastic, it was the most magic night of my life. Flowers, decorations, colors, good food and people everywhere. And HIM. Lord Baloryn Dunn, my future husband. Surely this is the man of my dreams. Even now at age fifteen you could see he's becoming a man. We were introduced by our fathers a few hours into the party.

It was awkward at first, but I used all the conversational skills Mrs. Thomas has taught me and I don't think anyone noticed. Lord Baloryn was far better at it, his voice and gaze both gentle and direct and not once did he look away during our conversation, I believe I pleased him as I was expected to and that he will hold to his word. To marry me when I turn twenty.

In the Dunn Retinue was another young man, Lord Baloryn's friend, Dalryn. The two are going to Ebonhawke together to join the Vanguard and train. Of course he wasn't half as handsome, but he was friendly and eager to fit in with the rest of us. You see, he's a commoner, but it almost didn't show. I took them both for a walk around the city district, to show them some of Destiny's Reach. I imagine it's far different from Ebonhawke, and I wanted to make a good impression along with our city. Lord Baloryn was kind and attentive on our walk, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed when we didn't get along together alone. I would have liked to speak privately with him.

When we came back to the estate, I went inside to gather the gifts for him before he and his retinue had to leave. The sword my father had made for him was near his own height, made for a grown man, but I'm certain he will be wielding it from day one. I'm sure he could. He was very pleased with the gift, but I dare say mine was better. The locket I had made weeks ago with a cameo of me inside, black on white. He said he loved it and would wear it, always.

The height of the night was when he presented his gift to me. A promise ring made in solid platinum with an interweaving coil on the band and inside a text and the year we will marry;

“Remember me. I won't forget you. 1325”

He then promised me never to know another woman, that he was eager for the years to pass so that we might be together again. We both promised to write and share our lives with each other as often as possible. I will be counting the years, the months, the days until I turn twenty and we will be together once more. When I will be Lady Gracelin Dunn.

It is the most romantic night I have ever experienced, I will relive it again and again until our day has come and we will be together forever, joined in love and honor before the Gods and all the races of Tyria.

This must be love.

Goodnight and praise be to the Gods.


Letter from Lord Baloryn Dunn, Ebonhawke

To Lady Gracelin Howard, Divinity's Reach

Season of the Colossus – 1318 AE


Dear Gracelin.

I still remember the night we met, even if briefly it has touched and ingrained the memory into my mind so that when I close my eyes I can see your smile.

It brings me hope in this time of hardship, the snows have come in deep and the winter has just begun, along with my training. Even now I write this my candle light as I think of your face and look down at the locket you have given me.

I have taken to wearing it against the skin of my chest, reaching up and pressing the area to make sure it is still there in times of sorrow or of difficulty to remind me of you, and it brings me hope.

Training has just begun and the harsh winter isn’t helping. The Charr will attack and raid again soon and we must prepare for what they may bring. My arms grow stronger with each passing day as I train with the sword your father made for me, and although my master at arms tells me to use a lighter sword I press on regardless.

I hope the day comes soon when I might return you to our lands so that we can marry in the temples of our ancestors. For now though I pray to the gods that you are safe and that these coming seven years pass quickly so that I might be with you once more, to hold you and be your husband and protector.

We have a few books up in the Ebonhawke, so instead I have sent you a fairy tale from my childhood, of a great knight and a beautiful princess. It is silly I know but I hope it may bring a smile to your face as it did when I was a boy thinking of the future and the heroics I will achieve.

Your Betrothed

Baloryn Dunn


Dear Diary.

I have received his very first letter, or rather, I have received the very first letter by the hand of my future husband, my betrothed, my true and only love.

The first few days, I kept the letter under my pillow at night, hoping that perhaps I would dream of him and our future. But now I keep it in my diary instead, worried that I might tear it in my sleep.

Instead I dream by day, of the glorious soldier he shall become, of how he will return from that horrible place where his dear life is in desperate peril each passing day. A hero, a legend with his sword and perhaps the one to take back the old Kingdom of Ascalon.

I have added a copy of my answer to his letter.



From, Lady Gracelin Howard, Destiny's Reach

To, Lord Baloryn Dunn, Ebonhawke.

Season of the Colossus 1318 AE


Dear Baloryn.

Thank you kindly for your letter, it was most heart warming to receive this time of year.

You do your family proud in the way you press through your training, of that I have no doubt. My father is glad to learn that you make use of the sword already, in fact, he is most impressed he tells me. As am I, of course.

I keep my promise ring, always close, it has never left my finger since the day you put it there and it never will. Even when we are married, I will leave it on to remind me of these years we must endure now until we can join our families in our honorable alliance.

As you know, I too will study. In the ways of our world, the life of the lesser man and the needs I must be able to see when I become the lady of the House.

Another tradition of the Howard Household bids me learn the use of a weapon and though I will never be a soldier as yourself, I will strive to perfection in everything I do.

Thank you for the story, I very much enjoyed learning something of your past and I will look forward to learning more. Might I ask three questions? You may of course do the same in return.

1. What is your favorite color?

2. What is your favorite food or drink?

3. What are your pastimes?

Mrs. Thomas, she's my former governess, reminds me to inquire after your friend mr. Dalryn. I hope he fares well and his training progresses the same as your own. Please, give him and any of your friends my very best. When next I write, I will see to sending a crate of something along for you from the City.

May the Gods watch over you.

Your betrothed.

Gracelin Howard.



After I finished the letter, I went for a walk in the district and here I met Corinn who asked me to join her for afternoon tea. We sat and shared news, I had the letters to show, but she didn't seem to think much of them. Instead, she trusted me with a secret, it's most exciting and I barely dare write it here, but I must.

Corinn, who is the daughter of a most important man at court, is in love and not with the man she is destined to marry in a few years. But with her father's Man at arms' son! A man so below her that she is ashamed of herself she told me, but she is unable to break free of the spell and she knows not what to do about it. I promised I would sleep on it and perhaps we shall find a solution.

Goodnight and praise be to the Gods.



Dear Diary.

It's been a few weeks since I last wrote and Gods I have so much to tell.

Corinn and Mr. Bertram have run away together and all of her home is in an uproar!

Father is angry with me because I didn't tell him what she told me about them being in love and her father says he'll never see any of the Howards ever again, this is a bad thing somehow because father does business with him. Worst is of course, that the man Corinn was going to marry, has denounced her and broken the engagement despite her father assuring him that Corinn must surely have been taken against her will.

No one knows where Corinn and Mr. Bertram might have gone and everyone is watching me, expecting there might come a letter with her request for my help. Surely they'll understand that I can do very little at age fourteen. I'll only admit to these pages that I would do anything in my power to help Corinn. She is my best friend and in the name of love, she should be with the man she cares so deeply for.

I now know my own luck in my future marriage, as I love my dear Baloryn so deeply and I would never betray my loyalty to him.

My birthday last week was utterly ruined by the two who ran away, but in my heart I have already forgiven Corinn and I am certain he did not mean to be so thoughtless.

I was expecting a letter from Ebonhawke, but father told me you can never count on mail from there. But I know he must have thought of me on the day though, I just know it in my heart.

Goodnight, and praise be to the Gods.


Dear Diary.

I am positively in distress this evening!

A letter came today, for me, but before I could even open it; my father had taken it and read it. It was, as I hoped and feared, from Corinn. She tells me, in the deepest confidence, that she has married mr. Bertram and they now live in a small room in a different part of the city. I am heart broken that she will now think, I was the one to tell her father everything.

She asked me to meet her, explaining that she needs clothes and some money while her husband looks for a job. Instead, her father and mine had me go there but she showed it was her father who came out from the shadows and took her back by force. I feel terrible for her husband, what will he think when she doesn't return! I can't sleep thinking about this terrible day.

Father says that he understands my loyalty to my friend, but that I always must remember that my own family and it's well-fare comes first.

Come to think of it, the part of the city in which we went to meet with Corinn; it really did look poor and downgraded from the district I'm so used to. I was shocked to see the filth in the street and the dirty faces in the windows looking out at us. It's the first time I've ever thought about the other districts and what life is like for the people there.

Goodnight, just the same, and praise be to the Gods.



Dear Diary.

I received a letter from Baloryn today!

It must have been under way for weeks, but now it is finally here.



From, Lord Baloryn Dunn, Ebonhawke.

To, Lady Gracelin Howard, Destiny's Reach

Season of the Zephyr 1319 AE


Dear Gracelin and future wife,

I want to thank you for your letter. It brings me warmth as the cold draws ever nearer. I swear if I was not able to have a warm tent due to my birth, the ink I write this with would have frozen stiff.

I hope my letter is not delayed too much in finding you safely, but the pass often gets snowed in and travel becomes hard.

I shall answer your questions before going on to my own and current activities however.

My favorite color, this is difficult as a noble. I should say something like purple due to the cost to produce such a color, however my favorite is red which is what caused me to wear the outfit you saw when we first met.

My favorite food or drink, since it is you I shall tell you both. As for food I enjoy a honey roasted ham, served with a red wine sauce and root vegetables. However all this talk of food does make my stomach rumble and the provisions provided here are not entirely what I am used to, however life in the Ebonhawke has few luxuries even for a noble, before I joined the vanguard so I am not at too much of a loss. As for drink I would say mead, or more recently mulled wine.

My pass times are perhaps not as varied as I would like, many activities have been arranged for me. But in the little free time I do get I do enjoy hunting, horse riding and often find myself drawing stretches as well, one of the fortunate things I have found is there is no short supply of charcoal after the wood burning so that I might continue this hobby of mine.

As for my questions I wonder what your dream wedding would be?

Your impressions of me?

And what skills have you learnt beyond that of your current training in elementalism?

As for my current activities I continue to train with arms., but they have now taken to putting me in chain armor instead of padding to see whether I can continue with the speed and pace I had, introducing heavier armor each time I master it.

Other than that I have been placed into officer training now, due to my birth and ability to read and write I am being taught military strategy, which mainly involves reading on battles of the past and how victory was gained. Whilst using an embossed map on a table in which we can move small wooden pieces around to represent different units, for example horse or archers.

I hope you are well and safe, and I understand it is not a book but I hope you like it. It is the view from my tent into the distance towards our homeland.

(enclosed is a sketch drawing a of snowy, frozen landscape)

Your Betrothed

Lord Baloryn Dunn



I of course sat down to answer it again and here is what came out of my efforts.



To, Lord Baloryn Dunn, Ebonhawke.

From, Lady Gracelin Howard, Destiny's Reach.

Season of the Zephyr – 1319 AE



Dear Baloryn.

I pray this letter finds you safe and I thank you for the one you sent.

I'm pleased to hear of your days, how you master your training day by day and I hope that it will please you equally when I tell you that my studies progress as well. I practice my hand daily in the art of using a longbow for sports, but it so happens, my trainer, Arms Master Vall believes me above others in the finer use of such a demanding weapon. I trust that through this and through everything I study, I will please your family and make your family proud to have me come to our marriage.

There has been some changes in life here at home. When I am not busy with my studies, my father now has a chaperone following me everywhere I go. This is because a childhood friend of mine, Corinn, now Mrs. Bertram, has eloped and was later found married to the son of her father's Master in Arms. Of course there has been a terrible drama, but the case is now closed. However, I now find myself with a chaperone who will accompany me until the day we marry. Her name is Lady Aya Tate, a friend of my father, whom I have never been very fond of I admit. When I was younger, some rumors took hold of their more personal relationship, which of course were all a lie. My father is devoted to my mother, despite her illness. Father can not be reasoned with on the matter, he does not understand that I am not my friend and claims that all young girls might be tempted by the less young man who might twist our heads.

In the same breath, you requested a list of my skills.

I believe I am adapting in many of the same ways as other young women of my age and social status.

From a young age, I was taught to read, write, converse and dance, social skills and manners, decorations with flowers and of course to embroider. I play the harp and piano. When I was a child, I had a secret wish to learn the use of daggers, but my father would never allow me weapons out of fear I would hurt myself.

I often think of our wedding day, this I can easily admit to. But how I would have it I am unsure of. What I can tell you at least, is that I would very much like to be wed in the same place as my parents were, the gardens not far from my home. Hopefully in the early summer days in the perfect dress, united with you at last. As you can no doubt guess, this is a matter a young woman can spend hours dreaming about and getting nowhere at all towards the end.

My first impression of you was, of course, marvel and pleasant surprise in your manners, I confess as a young man from Ebonhawke, I did not know what to expect, but I thought you to be the most handsome of the young men I know and I live on, the most happy of young women in knowing the man I will one day marry to be so complete in his being.

With those words, I wish you well.

Your betrothed

Lady Gracelin Howard.


I will have the letter sent out first thing tomorrow so it might reach him by the time the seasons change and the world once again will be green and new around us.

Goodnight and praise be to the Gods.