luthaiseakit | Eirlys Writes Home (Reply)

Dearest Cynderyn,

I miss you all. Go on, laugh as you read this and say ‘I told you so little sister’. I know you are. I just wish I could actually see you say it. I am desperately homesick. And I can’t admit quite how homesick to anyone here.

There is one person I have told a little, about how I feel. I think you would like him. His name is Thyrian Firehart. I know what you said about not having my head turned by the first dashing young man I met as well, and truly I’m trying hard not to. But Thyrian is dashing, exciting, libertine and extremely flirtatious and he’s turning heads all over the keep.

He’s also sweet, caring and very kind. He came to find me, twice now, because he was worried he’d upset me. He was so worried, and he’s so gentle. I think he likes me. But I cannot be sure. He is such a flirt that when we are in a group I am convinced he cares more for Aniseed, but when it is the two of us I feel sure it is me he cares for. We are going to have dinner together tomorrow night and he is going to explain some more of lowland ways of life and customs to me.

I’m trying not to fall, but it is very hard! I have promised to show him our lands though, probably when I come back next summer, so you will meet him. He’s a mage and he does lots of writing, but promise me you won’t hold it against him? He’s promised not to write any of the bard’s tales or songs down.

It’s so loud here. However did you bear your time in the city? Everyone is always talking and there are so many people. It’s all hustle and bustle and confusion and noise. Nothing is bad, but it’s like living life the way we do the day before you go on a big trade, but all the time! I long for the hills and for time alone and most of all I long for quiet.

We can leave the keep for short times when not on duty and recently I have taken to wandering outside. I have found a spot where some deer can often be seen, and a badger sett. Watching them reminds me of home, and makes me feel a little better.

We had a feast of sorts here, the other night. It’s not like being at home. I shared some food with Glamoria, who is a half-orc and a paladin of justice. I like her. I am wondering if we should reconsider our views on green skins as a tribe. The ones I’ve met all seem nice and work hard for the good of the kingdom.

Will you tell Mama that I did wear my dress, and my circlet? Jed said I looked very pretty, which was sweet of him. Jed is my fellow pathfinder. I like him, but he seems so young at times. For all that he’s as gallant as you could wish for and we work very well together. I think he’s had a bad past, but really, when humans live so fast how can you tell? It could have been a bad childhood or merely a bad 6 months…

I think Thyrian may have been laughing at my dress, but I’m not sure. You don’t need to tell Mama that bit. Or that it got so loud I really couldn’t stand it anymore and had to take frequent trips outside. Aniseed and Diamond got drunk and were loudly asking all the men in the room to take their shirts off, amongst other things. I think I might have enjoyed it more if the men asked had agreed to it, but as it was they were just achingly loud. That, coupled with the sheer number of people and the fact that so many of them seemed to disapprove of being drunk (I think I had better not take any whisky to share for a little while)meant that it was a miserable experience. I did try, truly I did! I think learning to live amongst lowlanders is going to prove much harder than I thought.

It’s not all bad though. I am making friends here. I particularly like spending time with Aniseed, Glamoria, Nicodemus and Thyrian (especially Thyrian…). I’d like to spend more time with Jed, but aside from patrols he mostly keeps to himself. I also like my roommate. Her name is Alitae and she’s a sea-elf! I hope that when she is feeling less shy she will talk more and tell us of the sea. I would dearly love to swap tales with her. I quite like her though and she has some very pretty dresses. I may ask her permission to sketch them and send the pictures to Mama. If I do beware – I forsee a new fashion coming to the hall!

And I have learnt much. Did you know that a cake called battenburg is used to keep peoples spirits up? It works best with tea apparently. Or that the nobles down here use ‘overseers’ to make sure the work of their people is done well (sounds like unnecessary faff to me…). Also, royalty in the lowlands don’t work. If I start wearing my best dress all the time and develop an unfathomable attraction to needlework please rescue me and drag me back to the hills!

I should finish this letter here, as I have a watch to take shortly. I miss you so much, and Mama and Papa and Iolo too. I can’t imagine I shall write again before the solstice, so have a good one and give my very best love to everyone won’t you?

Your loving sister,

Eirlys

P.S. Please tell Nerys to keep a special eye out for ringworm in the yearlings. I forgot to mention it before I left…