Open Letter from the Bereaved

[Phoebe202 1057]

 

Spoiler

 

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ISSUED BY 

THE BEREAVED PRINCESS ALICE

IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD

2022

 

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TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNHOLY COVENANT, HEAR MY WORDS. The “holier-than-thou” Haeseni have slain PRINCE THORIN, Heir to the throne of Ravenmire. More importantly, my late father. This mercilessness shall be remembered for a thousand years onwards, as there was never a more gentle or loyal prince born unto the lands of Aevos. He did not want this war, and fought to ensure peace at every opportunity. Despite this, he was beheaded at the hands of the Haeseni.

To the people of Aevos, let me simply say that we the people of Ravenmire shall remember this, and we implore you to do the same. Remember, in addition to this tragedy, they are: cowards and vipers, who are not incapable of saving their own, but simply refuse to. They are the true imperialists they say we, the devout followers of the Church are. The Haeseni are brutes who feast on most unholy chaos, and merciless beasts who attack and crush whomever they deem weak, as noted in a missive which I have appended for your reading pleasure. Worst of all, they have denied my father a proper Owynist burial by keeping his head–I believe as some sort of gruesome trophy. 

 

As it appears the Haeseni seem to revel in the pain and misery they cause, allow me to describe the scene of Earosburg in the aftermath of my father’s death: mourners wept and sobbed in the streets. Men rushed to prepare their weapons and horses for vengeance. My own vomit stained the cobblestones, due to how intensely I wept. It appeared even GOD was weeping, given the torrential downpour that began some minutes later. In the palace, meanwhile, my mother screamed all night long, her wailing so loud that at least one mirror in her apartment shattered, though I have no doubt more probably met the same fate. A number of peers accompanied her; poorly attempting to soothe her as I and my companions were ushered away.

Last of all, to those in Balian I once loved from afar as kinsmen, specifically the Ducal house of d’Arkent and  my so-called “uncle” John: You know as well as I do that this is a lost cause. I can only hope you wake up to the lies before it is too late: whether you be crushed by the Church for heresy, consumed by the aspirant tsardom, or consumed by your own guilt and stupidity (or your own obstinance). If the death of my father does not serve as a wake-up call, I do not know what will.
 

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HER HIGHNESS, Alicent Elena,

 

Spoiler

CREDIT:

Writing: phoebe202

Formatting: Cheese1sgrater

 

 

[Andustar 4143]

The King of Balian read the letter's contents thoroughly and sighed. He then prepared another length of parchment, bearing his seal. "Ensure this is issued to whom it concerns," he bid a courtesan. "Thorin's family have a right to see him laid to rest properly." John then took to writing another letter, this time addressed to his god-daughter.

[Cheese 8881]

The Duchess d'Arkent, upon seeing her name so randomly slapped on a public missive, felt her lip curl back into a sneer. Just as quickly, a public letter was penned in response:

 

 

 QUETI TEMPUS ✦ NO TIME TO REST

 

 

ISSUED BY THE

 

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IT BRINGS ME GREAT DISMAY to have seen my name pasted on something that has to do so little with the great HOUSE D’ARKENT. I once considered the good Rostovas extended kin of mine, who lent a hand to me in my youth. It pains me that my Uncle Bo’s legacy has fallen to this, and it further embarrasses me that I share your blood, however distant. Especially when the ink you write your papers with was designed by my hand. Do not use it against me, lest you wish to not use it at all.

 

DO NOT THINK TO CALL yourself the sole victim, Princess, and do not think that I will allow you to slander myself or my kin. In this war I have lost two of my children already. You may know the sting of death, but it is not the sting of betrayal. To know your kin chose to leave you, after having poured out every ounce of love and effort you bare for them, is a wound that burns a thousand times worse than knowing you were separated unwillingly. This wound will not heal; you would prefer them dead so you do not have to know that they don’t want you back.

 

FURTHERMORE, THE HOUSE D’ARKENT HAS done something your people could not have bothered to do: spare but a mere six year old of your people’s wrath and terror. My son’s home in Portoregne was broken into, and from it, my sleeping grandson was captured and stolen from his land. I have no doubt he would have been harmed, killed, or otherwise never returned were it not for my courageous son-in-law who sought to return Peter to his rightful home.

 

AND SO, I REPEAT MYSELF: You are not the victims. You were not excommunicated for your dead brother’s sins. You were not couped by a man meant to serve the LORD and none other. You did not have your land threatened to be stolen by people who you have never crossed paths with or have it occupied by men that are not yours. You did not watch your children leave home without so much as a letter, and you were no bystander child that was kidnapped and held.

 

LET THIS BE THE LAST time you slander the Duchy of Sunholdt and attempt to use my great name to bring attention to your woes. I am far too busy to hear your sob story when I have my family's and Kingdom’s own to worry about.

 

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Her Royal Excellency, ESFIR ARTEMISIA  D’ARKENT, 

Duchess of Sunholdt, Countess of Salia, Lady of El Palau del Sol, Matriarch of House d’Arkent, 

Amiratus of Balian, Lady Seneschal of the Crown, and Chief Minister of the Royal Duana