Lady Delazny and Beatrice - Letters Home

My dearest, most radiant Beatrice,
You should've come with us. Okay, yes, I know I'm just rubbing it in, I know being "instructed in the ways of the court" must be like a slow, familiar torture, I know you wanted nothing more than to head out here and see these blessèd lands for yourself, and I know that you miss me more with each day, that your heart stretches out to me across the verdant land of the valley, that your love for me fills you with the love of Freya, and vice versa. I know this, as I feel the same for you; both the gaping absence where my dear Beatrice belongs, and the sure feeling that we remain united under the arc of The Lover's Bow. So, to be brief, alas, you've made quite an error, hurry up and get your delightful derriere over here! Again, I miss you.
Here, allow me to provide you a taste of what you will find upon your arrival, in addition to your Lady Delazny: The land is everything we hoped for. Green, fertile... Beautiful. We've got forests, we've got plains, we've got a river, and life everywhere. The hunting has been plentiful, and the pears! Well, I'll get to the pears. Oh, my belovèd Freya, why put it off - so the pears: well, a few long days after arriving in our new home, our path led us to a cave, a ruin, a holy site, a temple, apparently, of Vallyr! Yes, you remember that rumour we heard of an archangel of Freya? Well there may just be some truth in it... Or oodles of truth! This temple, it is filled with writings; well, I couldn't decipher the celestial, but there's a wonderful girl living there called Peggy, and... Look, this is getting complicated but suffice to say I would swear by the Great Huntress that this place was was once filled with Freyans, some kind of ancient sedentary precursor to the peripatetic Freyanalia we love! For now it is filled only with pears, and young Peggy - the High Priestess of Vallyr - who would probably rather welcome some theological guidance. Oh, do make haste my dearest~
Besides Peggy, well, there's been quite a few more people here than we were expecting. A few bandits, sure, but also traders, guards, hunters, witches, hermits, fey, druidy types, giants, angels... By our love, this expedition can barely go a day in the 'wilderness' without running into some delightful weirdos. The old fort we're based in already has a friendlyish population of guards and bandits (I can't explain everything dear, I'm sure the other Lycians will fill you in). Oh and there's this one guard in particular... So, her name is Konstant, late of Aberdeen, later of the Expanse, currently of Lycia. She's somewhat fond of the sauce, of the swords, and also of those who wield them ;) . In truth, I do believe this land is blessèd for love; in a few short weeks I have also seen affection bloom between our newly recruited guard captain and a quiet lad of his company... and perhaps even a little something brewing between a Bowbean Bandit and our grumpy druid friend Osman; they keep 'swearing' at each other, and Osman is rather fixated on her fingers. Aaah, even in a hardened heart such as his, love finds its way!
It has been a pleasure to know the rest of our expedition. I'm distraught to report, though I sought some rapport with our short Freyan escort, my effort fell short; they have come to naught. Cal has been keeping to themself, planting and studying the soil, providing invaluable support at our home fort... but rarely travelling without the expedition. We embrace those few opportunities to share Tea and prayers, but I have found myself more frequently in the company of the others. Here's a brief rundown: Illah is a delight, and has yet to work out that "Fuck Freya" isn't much of a blasphemy. Mia is wonderful company as well; not great in the way of Amazing Heroics, but she plays a mean flute. The goblin distrusts me, but apparently reserves much of her bile for the Paladin. Said Paladin is stuffy and repetitive, but her heart is in the right place, and she has made a surprising ally in much of our realm's fledgling politics. The Druids... confound me. They seem to love nature, but find no love in nature; hardly a healthy relationship, I feel. To be fair, I couldn't say I truly have the measure of Garridan just yet.
Oh, but do not tarry my little wolf, this land yearns for you just as I do! It is a land that would lift the heart of any belovèd Freyan; hunters, trappers, furriers, fletchers and farmers would be most welcome, but there is abundant inspiration for the artists, poets and paramours too, any creature who can contribute to the common care! I would advise the trappers not to bring their own stock; though the animals here are oft strange and unique, the hunt is abundant, and Freya will fondly guide us towards new ways to catch unfamiliar prey.
I would continue, and soon enough shall, but for now, the day has been long, the darkness comes, and I spy Konstant by the fire with a rather large tankard. Endure the nobility, find comfort where you can, you will see how worthwhile it has been when you finally grace this green and growing land. If you need a break from the stench of palace hierarchies, remember you can always drop in on my folks down at the docks; they adore you, and would be delighted to provide you with a good meal, a night in the taverns, or a soft and simple bed. Oh, and do give Plimkin scritches for me, I miss her too!
With divine love stretching far across the length of our valley, 
yours wholly,
Delazny
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Hey Babe,
Got your letter, thanks. You are not wrong about this court business. Besides the fact that I already know everything they are teaching, I also have no desire to reproduce authoritarian, hierarchical modes of living in the holy land of our divine mother. I do tell them this, but between the goblin and the badger I doubt they actually care that much about courtly decorum. Which raises the question of why they bother at all...
Thanks for the situation update. Look, I complain, but it sounds significantly more difficult over there. I am proud of you, and I miss you... I was going to write "more each day" but it's about at maximum now. Particular thanks for telling me about Peggy. Wish I could be there to help the poor girl. I've written her a separate letter, please make sure it gets to her. Thanks also for the lowdown on everyone else, and do tell me more about Konstant, she sounds lovely. Or rather, I see your love for her in your words, and I would like to see more. Of course, maybe we will be able to meet before another round of letters can travel back and forth. I don't really know when we are expecting to leave this city.
Thanks for the suggesting I drop in on your family, it makes a welcome change whenever I can head down there. Your folks are doing great; your Dad has finally finished that weird sculpture he was making, and your Mum has found a nice place to hide it in the garden. Kaveney's decided she wants to run a tavern (somehow), and Vinge just sailed out a few days ago. Piercy is presumably still down with the Mitrans in Tsar, no one's heard from him. Meanwhile little Guin has been making some noises about joining the procession! Sure, last week she couldn't stop talking about Darach-Albith, and before that she kept waiting up all night for a glimpse of Narrah, but... I'm sure she'll find her way soon enough. Of course, I have been slightly hyping up the Great Huntress.
Away from your lovely family and the dreadful palace, I've been trying to attract some Freyans to the expedition, sharing my vision among the beloved, and writing to anyone who'll listen in the priesthood. It's been... Well, it's early yet. You'll know how successful I've been when I show up with a grand commune of passionate Freyans... Or with a tired donkey, a stoned goblin, a pompous badger and a cat. Oh, Plimkin sends her love. I assume. I believe she said "miow meow mowmow purrrr," but my catfolk is a bit rusty.
With all the love I have,
Beatrice