Letters (3)

Dear Diary.

I am eighteen today, of age, a proper adult lady of the Howard household. With the passing of my mother, I am now properly Lady Howard. At least until I marry.

Last night, my father threw me the most lavish and beautiful party I have ever been to. People had come from far and wide, some whom I had not seen for years. Young women, only just out themselves, elderly ladies with advice and worry for my future. Young men of good social standing and impressive manners, all in line to dance with me, to entertain me, to keep me smiling. I knew, however, that it was all a test of me and my behavior, to see if I can be trusted in the company of these young men and women once more after my flirt with Nath all that time ago. The Gods have mercy on me, I knew it and I played by all their rules and behaved perfectly. I swore then, as I do now, never to let anyone bring me so out of balance again that I will bring such pain to their lives. Instead, I think of my approaching marriage and pray that it may bring me the relief I have sought for so long. How long it has been since I wrote of my dreams of this man, Baloryn, in my diary and how I wonder now if I am able to live up to what is expected of me and I question, should this be so? But then I remind myself that he will also be my salvation.

Father came early to my room this morning, I was barely dressed, yet he sent the maid away and said he would speak to me urgently. For a moment, I was worried something had happened again, in Ebonhawke as with the Ogre Revolt some years ago.

He told me, that with age and nobility, follows responsibility, duty and honor and as a daughter of Ascalon, I would come to feel the weight of these all the more. Then he told me of the Shield.

The Crystal Shield, to be precise, a Guild banded together centuries ago after our ancestors had lost Ascalon and left the Kingdom to seek a new home as they made ready to fight the Charr again. He told me of the deal with the Dragon Glint, of the aid she gave and of the fall of the Great Destroyer. Then of the Destiny's Edge and the fall of Glint as her master rose from the ground, explaining finally his worries these last years after the letter from Baloryn arrived and his tales of the dragon and later the Ogre Revolt which nearly cost the life of our Queen. He explained, how The Crystal Shield, consists of what he calls the Five Houses, and told me that it has been near dormant for many years, lacking the numbers and support that it once had, but that now, with the union between Baloryn and myself in a few precious years, it will be brought back to life and both he and I are expected to take up our rightful place in it's ranks. Ranks which consist of almost all races and of all from nobility to common folk. All for a greater good. Seats on the counsel passes down from father to son, or son-in-law, with wives and daughters as by-standers or advisors.

Baloryn will take up the seat of the Dunn family sometime in the future when his father stands down or dies and the Howard seat will fall under him, until a son becomes of age.

In the end, my father told me that I am allowed to discuss this with Baloryn in our letters, as he was informed of the same on his 18th birthday two years ago.

I find it all very heavy on my shoulders, to think only last night I was dancing and playing the games expected of me, and now, I'm told that in a few years, I am expected to wage war. But at least, it is another step towards freedom, something to put effort into and persist at until it is done right.

I will ask Lady Tate if she will accompany me on a walk, then when I return, I will write to Baloryn.

Praise be to the Gods and good morning.


To, Lord Baloryn Dunn, Ebonhawke.

From, lady Gracelin Howard, Destiny's Reach

Season of the Scion – 1323 AE


Dear Baloryn.

I hope this letter finds you well, know that it left me being so.

Thank you very much for the gifts on the occasion of my birthday, both of them. The bracelet and necklace from you match the Promise Ring perfectly and I will treasure them all my life.

Thank you as well for the gift from your family, it is beautiful and I promise to take good care of it.

As you no doubt already know, my father has informed me of the Shield and the duties I, as well as you, are expected to carry out once our families have united. I must admit that the news are still fresh to my mind, and so I'm not quite certain of what to think and feel, other than of course, I have no other plans but to take my place where it's expected of me. I wonder, how did you feel when you were told of this and what now, two years later? Are you the same? I'm unsure if my place within the Shield can work together with my place in the Priory, but it has been made very clear to me that my duties lie with my family first. Of course.

How quickly these years have passed, only two more separates us and I believe our fathers have already begun making plans for our first time together. Lady Tate, my chaperone, tells me that I can expect a grace period, a proper engagement, where we will be able to get to know each other and you may court me. I believe she half expected me to blush violently at the idea, and I did my best to accommodate her, but truth be told I am looking forward to it. After all, I am surrounded by friends who have long since been married and here I am not allowed, of course, the attention or company of any admirable man, is it so strange I long to be better acquainted with you? The man I am to marry.

How does your training progress? I find it hard sometimes to think that the boy I met has grown into a young man now and may wield the sword my father had crafted with much greater ease now.

Here at home, my progress with the bow pleases Arms Master Vall and it happens more and more often that he allows me to accompany him in the more risky areas of Queensdale, sadly the once so beautiful area has changed since you visited however, bandits and centaur plague the countryside and often the farmers send word for aid to the city, where the Seraph also have plenty to do. Reinforcement and wounded to and from Ebonhawke come and go through the Asura Gate every day, but I believe the city is grateful for the connection and the support from the houses pouring in. I have asked if we could not travel through it, but Arms Master Vall and father, not to mention Lady Tate, all look at me as if I have lost my mind entirely, worried as they are that I might not be able to live up to my own skills. Perhaps it is arrogant of me, but I truly believe myself able to hold my ground against a foe I have heard of all my life, but never seen.

I must end my letter to make sure it goes out to you tonight so you may have it soon enough.

Be safe.

Your betrothed,

Gracelin.



Dear Diary.

I received a letter from Baloryn today...



From, Lord Baloryn Dunn, Ebonhawke.

To, Lady Gracelin Howard, Destiny's Reach

Season of the Zephyr 1324 AE

Dear Gracelin

Thank you for the letter as always, it brings me warmth and comfort until the day when we might be together in each other’s arms.

I am pleased you enjoyed your birthday, I am sorry I was not able to be there in person. But duty called, however I am pleased that you were able to receive my gifts in time. I hope your father will not mind that I gave you daggers but I felt with your love of them plus your new knowledge of the battle to come for the shield that they would be of use to you.

When I was first told of it I had mixed opinions mainly my worry was that this new task would take me away from either you, my brothers of the Hawke and my goal of freeing our home. Instead to be sat at tables discussing matters with hot air with no real action.

Of course now two years on I look at the Ebonhawke and it is very much a different place. This so-called treaty has left us stunned and shocked by the Queen and those we trusted. Even now my brothers cannot believe what has happened as Charr walks freely into our settlement and degrades it with their every presence after so many of us took an Oath to prevent them ever stepping another foot into our last remaining lands.

I am at a loss how to deal with this new change. Many of my brothers have disappeared in the night into the hills and surrounding areas to continue the fight against the Charr. Many commanders, heroes and friends of mine. They wish me to join them, they send me letters and ask for supplies and my aid and my sword arm. I feel like our cause has been abandoned just as the tide seemed as if it may be turning. I feel for them and their blight and they vow, and yet how am I meant to continue to Oath to my father and family and the Oath to the vanguard and the Oath to my friends and the Oath to the Crystal shield all at once.

Currently I have made the decision that you and the Shield must come first, to save our home of Ascalon we must first say Tyria. But I cannot help but feel anger and hate as their horrible beast-like forms walk throughout graves and gardens of beauty.

My father I feel knows that vexes me and has started to move me away from the lines where I might join my friends and away from the Ebonhawke where the Charr boil my blood. He too must feel as I do…He wishes me instead to go to Kryta soon to take his place in the seat of the council whilst he continues to try and find a better end to this than a treaty of lands we refused to surrender.

He tells me I must learn to take on duties in a boardroom as well as those on the field. But I worry I might not have the words or the tongue for such situations.

My training however is drawing closer to an end, I am near completed with my studies to be a guardian and I do wield your fathers sword well and it has served me just as well these last long years that I have waited to be with you.

I hope you are well and that my rambling here has not dissuade you from me. But know my duty is to you and to our marriage to bind our families together. For the good of the future and for the good of our people and for the love I have for you.

I only hope you will allow me to court you, as I also cannot wait to be by your side. Though I admit I am unsure exactly what I shall do to woo you like the young men of the city must be able to.

I hope to be with you soon

I am thinking of you and you are safe in my heart and my dreams

Your betrothed

Lord Baloryn Dunn



Of course, I sat down to answer it and tell him my own news as soon as possible.



To, Lord Baloryn Dunn, Ebonhawke

From, Lady Gracelin Howard, Destiny's Reach.

Season of the Zephyr 1324 AE

Dear Baloryn.

I hope this letter finds you well, knowing that it leaves me in that same state.

You'll forgive me. I trust that this letter is shorter than normal, but when you hear the reason behind I'm certain you'll understand.

Preparations are under way in the house, to make ready for a longer journey. Both my father and myself as well as Lady Tate are leaving and while we're not all going to the same places, we depart at the same date, a week from today.

As you know, Arms master Vall has been in the service of House Howard for many years and with him as well as a small escort, among them my dear teacher master Thomas, I shall finally see the world and through the journey finish my education and training and this before such a time that you return from Ebonhawke. Further, it will educate me on the world and I will perhaps meet some of the other members of the Five Houses and the Shield as a whole. As you may have already guessed, I look forward to this adventure. It will however mean that my letters will be far fewer from here on and that any you write might not reach me as I'm uncertain as to where Arms Master Vall means for us to travel. All I know is that our first stop will be the Norn lands. But know I will write when I can.


Be safe and may the Six watch over you.

Your betrothed

Gracelin Howard