| Long Distance Romance |
| Summary: | Love letters from Muirenn and Otto's courtship |
| Date: | 13/10/2012 (OOC Date) |
| Related Logs: | Any logs related to Otto and Muirenn's courtship |
| Players: |
  |
| They are letters written from various spots around the Riverlands |
| Summer and Fall 289 |
Time passes as it always does and at some point in the future a child, nobly dressed, wanders into a large bedroom as they are exploring a keep outside Heronhurst. On a table near the dressing table is a small chest. Though the lady's small pots and precious glass vials of creams and scent are enticing as are the three ornate fans, it is the slightly dusty chest that capture's the child's curiosity. Unlocked, it is easily opened. Inside are a variety of treasured mementos, among other things a crumbling crown of roses, some pressed flowers, a dried bunch of seagrass, and several delicate folded letters tied up with purple, silver, pink, and gold ribbons. Bits of wax that remain from seals flakes off as they are disturbed. After a moment's contemplation the letters are chosen. Lifting them from their safe haven, the child sits down on one of the carpets and carefully opens them and begins to read….
*
Dear Ser Otto,
I have heard of the troop movements and know that this means you will have to return home to support your family and defend it if need be. I pray to the Seven that no defense will be needed and that your House is left out of whatever conflict may occur. I hope that perhaps you may have time to come by, but I know that is wishful thinking. I will be blessed if this letter finds you before you have left Terrick’s Roost entirely.
I sit here and there is so much I wish to say but as of yet I have no words that can fully express what I feel. You will be in my prayers and I shall watch for you from the walls for your return. When you are home, perhaps it would be wise to ask Lord Erenford to send word to my cousin Lord Patrek asking official permission between Houses for our courtship. I don’t want any sort of political slight to take place on either side because I want very much to be able to spend more time in your company and get to know you. You not only have become a dear friend but seem to understand my thoughts better than anyone I have ever met. You don’t even know the name I love that my mother calls me! I am including some of my tea for you as well as a small token of my esteem. If ever you get tired just look at it and know that Brengy, Septa, Minnie, two guards, and most importantly myself are waiting to go see another something beautiful with you. I hope that the last sentence made you smile, for it made me giggle madly. I must end this now and trust that the Seven will keep you from harm.
In True Sincerity, Muirenn
Ser Otto,
While I know it is incredibly unseemly to admit this, and I truly hope that you do not think less of me, but in the spirit of honesty and openness I must admit to being rather frightened by the notion of binding my life to a man that I have known barely two months and know little about. That being said, what I do know about you makes me very happy indeed. It had been my hope that my cousin or brother might befriend you and thereby they might be able to calm some of my fears, but I fear that is not to be the case for they are caught up in their own affairs and greater political events in general. As I cannot depend upon my male relations in this matter, I have determined to take it upon myself to sate my own curiosity as to your nature and who you are when you are not trying to impress me.
I know that war is upon us once again and since you are honorably (and rightly) busy with your family’s affairs, I thought perhaps correspondence might be a way we might get to know each other even though we must needs be apart. I know that it is both of our desires to make this not merely a politically satisfying union but an emotionally satisfying one as well.
We are about to leave for Seagard to prepare for my cousin Ser Kamron and Lady Saffron Banefort’s wedding. I wish that you could be there. I love to dance and want very much to know what it would be like if you danced with me. I care not if you have not yet learned; it would be my greatest joy to teach you.
I probably should go, my candle is burning low and my Septa is glaring at me for I think she wishes to go to bed.
Your betrothed, Muirenn
***
Lady Muirenn,
I am sorry it took so long to get word to you. My uncle put me in charge of our outriders, and I have rarely stayed in one spot long enough to wear away the saddle soreness, much less to have time to sit down in a tent and write to you. For this, I am deeply sorry. I must seem a bad person to not give word to his betrothed, but it wasn't until we came back to Heronhurst for supplies that I got your first two letters and had a chance to sit with quill and parchment.
War is a terrible thing, and while the few skirmishes we've seen have gone in our favor, there is the chance that my letters may get to you and I may not. I truly hope this is not the case. It is natural to be apprehensive, my dearest Muirenn. I am an honest man, a simple man, and I enjoy the simple things. While I am trained for war, it is not something I enjoy or wish for. I'd much rather ply my skills at the lists or on tourney grounds rather than with sharpened blades and lance in the field.
Anyway, you wonder what I am like when I am not trying to impress you. I'd like to believe that I am much like that all the time. Granted, I may not always have a grand picnic planned, or the freshest flowers, but I am a man who loves the wild, spending time breathing in fresh air. My familial manse is surrounded on one side by the river and on the other by fertile fields. My family are simple folk, born of nobility, but simple none the less. Our servants have always been as much family as the children, and while this is not necessarily a mindset shared by all Erenfords, it is in my father's home and will be in mine own.
Speaking of which, my father and a few of his men have begun breaking ground, and I have been gifted an expanse of land to build a home upon. While the familial estate is my birthright, it is being shared by my parents as well as those sisters of mine still unwed or too young to wed. Besides, I'd much prefer to have time to spend alone with my wife once we are wed.
Sadly, duty calls for me once more, and we are to depart at first light for another ranging. Bandits are thick, getting emboldened or maybe desperate with the impending war, so I need to get a few hours of sleep before departure. I do hope this letter finds you in a timely manner.
With all my heart,
Elrick Otto Erenford
Ser Otto,
My cousin Kamron and the Lady Saffron are now wed. I am so very happy for them! They make a lovely couple and I imagine that before they have been married a year my cousin will have his heir.
The marriage ceremony was lovely and uneventful. I enjoyed it very much. I wish I could say the same for the feasting and dancing that followed. I did not dance to a single measure of music, for after what happened right after the feasting destroyed what pleasure I might have found. I really don’t want to talk about it. I am sure it was the height of gossip in all the Riverlands within days so likely you have heard the details by the time this letter reaches you. I look at my reflection and do not know what you see in me.
I have decided that after the events that took place, I cannot have anything further to do with my brother beyond what is obligatory. That he did not come to my defense, my aid, or even the next day apologize for his refusal to speak to me after the insult that Ser Rafferdy, his own rival, did to me was unforgivable. He has chosen to obsess about Lady Haigh apparently to the exclusion of all else. That he made no effort to get to know you or assess your worth, while we were courting; in addition to everything more recently is hurtful. I cannot do the drama that is his whatever it is with Lady Haigh. I hesitate to actually call it a relationship as she clearly continues to have feelings of some sort for Lord Rafferdy. What makes me most sad is that I had always hoped to have a good sister that I could respect and admire and be close to. What are your sisters like?
Your betrothed, Muirenn
Dearest Muirenn,
I am glad that the wedding went well. I do hope ours is equally lovely and uneventful. I wish I could have been there, but duty calls and I am bound by blood and honor to defend our lands. I had truly desired to be there with you, and while I am not a good dancer, growing up the only boy surrounded by sisters both older and younger I was forced to learn a few steps. Were I able to attend, I assure you that you would have danced the night away and worried for naught over anyone else.
I am sorry to hear about your brother and your relations. He is a good man, but maybe blinded by his affections or afraid to make a scene. I assure you though, while I do not know Ser Rafferdy, his name has been put upon a short list of those who need to be dealt with. Sadly, such things must wait until I am healed.
Do not fret, my betrothed, but we faced another group of bandits yesterday who ambushed us along our patrol. They are getting brave, and took the life of one of my men before we even knew we were being attacked. They were dispatched, the survivors hung on the side of the road, left for the ravens, but I took a crossbow bolt in the thigh of my right leg. The maester at one of our border keeps has tended the wound and says it will heal but worries about infection. The bolt literally pinned the armored greave to my leg and there is going to be an ugly scar remaining even after healing. What I wouldn't do for your company and a cup of your tea to make the time go by better. Still though, it does give me time to sit and write to you. Sadly, by the time you receive this, we will have begun our rangings once more. One more sweep of the outskirts of our lands, then it is back to Heronhurst. We have many leagues left to cover before we reach the river and begin our march home, but we are well supplied and in a couple of days, once the wound has healed enough to not worry about tearing it while in the saddle, we'll set out once more.
I have sent word to my sisters in the hopes that they can get you a gift for your upcoming name day, as sadly I am unable to do so at this time. Hopefully, I will be able to send another letter along with it, as getting word to Heronhurst is easier than it is Seagard or the Roost.
Your Betrothed,
Elrick Otto Erenford
*
Sent with your nameday gift**
Dear Muirenn,
It has been a few days since my wound has been tended, and the maester assures me that while there might be a scar, it is safe for me to ride. A few hot meals and a roof over our heads have done wonders for the moral of my men and myself as well. I still long for your company, but word has travelled that we peace agreements are being made. While this doesn't solve our bandit problem, it does allow for more of our men to patrol instead of being called to arms against a military foe. Hopefully, this means that once I reach Heronhurst in a week or so, that I will be able to come see you and bring you a proper, albeit late nameday gift instead of having to leave that to the discretion of my sisters.
Along our rangings, I have come across quite a few lovely flowers and such, and much to the bemusement of my men, I have gathered what I think are seedpods from those that I found. After all, the horses need time to rest as well, and why not do so in a pleasant setting. Maybe they will grow well in your new garden.
While we have only known each other for a short time, my Lady, I want you to know that you are constantly in my thoughts and that my heart is yours. I do hope that you are well and that these letters I have written you arrive in a timely manner.
Yours, with all my heart,
Otto
**
Ser Otto,
I just received your gift and letter for my nameday! The roses are breathtaking and I am wearing them right now. While I know many do not consider the colors pink and gold to be the most manly of colors, I find them lovely in the floral combination you have gifted me with. I shall wear them all day and then I will dry them and treasure them to remind me of my 19th nameday. I am going down to the garden now to read your letter. I know Miniella thinks I am silly to wait, but I want to read it in the garden where we have spent so much of our time together. It will make me feel a bit closer to you.
Your betrothed, Muirenn
P.S. Though it was awkward, Lord Alric was very generous and got me some lovely seeds for my garden and a beautiful songbird in a cage to brighten my days. I know that I have found him lacking in many regards in the past, but he and Ser Justin actually *did* come to my aid and tended my bruised feelings quite gently after the humiliation I suffered from Lord Rafferdy. I also told Martyn that I no longer wanted to spend much time with him and explained why. Apparently he agreed it would be best for he nodded and then stood there while I went back up to my room. Is it childish of me to admit that I cried?
**
Dearest Otto,
One of the more delightful benefits of being a proper maiden and behaving as society wishes me to means that my correspondence is my own. So it is that I can write you without fear of my letters being scrutinized by my Septa as she knows that whatever tender nothings I might wish to write will be, overall, relatively proper.
We arrived safe to Seagard yesterday afternoon; it took a bit longer from Heronhurst than everyone had anticipated on account of the rain showers that kept us stalled for a day and a half. I took a bit of a cold on the way, but it did not settle into my lungs and once home Septa Waldsteinia and our Maester settled me in bed with my medicinals and I already am feeling much recovered except for the occasional sneeze. I wish you were here with me for I already miss you deeply. As much as I treasure each and every one of your letters, seeing you in person while I was visiting Heronhurst brought me the greatest joy. I miss your wit, your conversation, your laugh, and the way you would glance at me when Septa wasn’t looking. I only wish that my visit and first introduction to my soon to be new family was not imbued with such tragedy. My own family has seen so much death this past year and I grieved for your Uncle Lord Miraz and your Aunt, as well as for your cousins. I know that Brennart will be a fine Lord when his time comes, but young lord Marvish’s loss is still a grievous thing. My heart goes out to the Erenfords during this time.
Are you using the salve I gave you. While I am sure the maester you saw for your thigh wound was quite good, I still worried that he might miss something or perhaps his chains were earned in things other than chirgeonry or herbalism. I know it is silly, but it eases my mind to know that my own ointments are at your disposal. My Lord, I know the letter you sent right after you were wounded said that you wished I was there for my tea and to help you pass the time, and let me say that I also wish I had been there to tend you. However, it probably is just as well that I was not for I would be quite tempted to be not entirely proper and cause you to over exert yourself in creative ways. Scandalous, I know, but the truth. I have enjoyed our correspondence so much, and long for the day when we are not parted and are established in a home of our own. In case it wasn’t obvious when we were together, I am giving you charge over my heart. Watch over it tenderly and carefully for it is a fragile thing.
When can you come to Seagard for a visit? I miss you and many of my family want to meet you.
Carefully Treasuring Your Heart, Your Rose
*
