Pippandrikarna Companion

To my beloved Daughter Pippandrikarna, upon the event of my death,

My sweetest child:

The life of a companion is an intimate one, but not a private one. In our lives, once we swear to the side of our mistress, all things must be for her ears if she wishes. It is the terms of service. It is hard, but it is good and noble work, as far as service ever can be.

If you are reading this, I have died, my daughter, and therefore you have taken oath to serve my Mistress, Ze Liya the Dragon-blooded, who I now pass onto you. There are but three times now for the rest of your laugh that are by oldest custom private unto you. The first is this, the Letter of Instruction from the old companion. I feel the Goddess-Adrift has found chance to bless me that I can write you as my successor, for it gives me also the opportunity to write you as my daughter. Twice again only shall you have your own truths that you do not share with your lady: Once in the Letter of Instruction you write to your own successor, and once when you speak your confession from your lips to Goddess-Adrift, as she comes to gather you for her train at the moment of your death.

Keep these things, they are thine, Pippandrikarna. Some mistresses are unjust, I have known some to ignore the traditions, to steal the Letter of Instruction and say that it was left unattended and the promise was null, or to pressure their companions to tell its contents. Mistress Liya is a good woman and an honorable one. She will respect the traditions, I know it. Keep your secrets - I say nothing here that I would be ashamed for Mistress Liya to hear, but there is a sanctity in a secret, it is a moment, my beloved, of freedom, even in our bondage. Clutch to that, and remember the Goddess-Adrift, who promises to find us one day, and lead us from captivity.

My daughter, know that you were born in love, and that I have always loved you. I know there is a coldness to me. Forgive me. To be a companion is strange work, and I began it young, and to begin it young is a hard thing. Your grandmother died quite early, and I took the ring and chain when I was but 25 years, near the age of our mistress herself, for I was nursed by her side.

I will not waste paper, my darling, any further. Let me as a mother and as the companion you succeed give you counsel:

Do not mind her calling you Pippi. You have a proud name, yes, I have given you the meaning of it, for in the old tongue it means “Silent-tongue and Strong Will.” But the old tongue does not set easy on the tongues of the Elves. She does you more honor than many, by at least calling you Pippi. I have known companions who were called by their mother, or their grandmother names, simply to avoid having to learn a new one, or companions known simply as ‘Girl.’ I brought you so that Mistress Liya would see you early, for I wished her to love you as more than useful. It is what protection, my daughter, I could give you. I have watched you since, and been proud of your circumspection and understanding, as you have taken to the Mistress, and made yourself a pet to her. It is best this way - a companion is obliged to serve her mistress, it is impossible truly to serve what you do not love. Love her then, as best you can. It is best this way, of it has inspired her fondness for you in return. If she calls you Pippi, it is because she wishes you to know you have a name. This is a gift in comparison to many, beloved.

Always prepare her dress ahead. For a Mistress, it is our duty that make the ephemeral inconsequential. They are incapable of it alone. Never say as much to the Mistress, never say these things to any of the Elves, but remember that in so many ways they are like children, incapable now of their own survival. If she is pettish, know it is because she does not understand. It is better than not to wait until she asks you to think - think always of what you know she will eventually ask for.  Prepare her dress ahead, make sure Muncilarna keeps the larder stocked even if it is not your job to do so, pour her port when she has attended a ball, even if you do not know that she will drink it. Be ready, at all times, make the world as invisible for her as you can.

Wed carefully, and only with the Mistress’s permission. Be cautious before you lie with a man. You are my greatest gift, but for a gift any smaller, the price would have been unwarranted. Your father was a good man, but I knew he could be sold away, for the family needed fewer bankers. Love before you wed, but do not ONLY love, look also to make sure that you will not be alone. Nothing is certain in the world, but remove what uncertainty you can, my child.

Sing, my darling, when the time is right. Your voice is a gift from the Goddess-Adrift, it soothes and blesses those around you. The Mistress is an elf, but she too has had sorrows in her life. Her heart, too, is restless, and your voice can be a blessing in that - and remember, my beloved, what blesses the mistress blesses the thrall.

Do not eat rich foods, or drink strong drink. Your mind and your hands are your livelihood, and illness is not safe for a companion - the mistress’s needs do not end because you have a fever. I say this only to you, but your health is more precious than the mistress’s for thee, for if the mistress is sick, it simply means you will spend time in tending to her illness. If you are sick, the end can be different.

Finally, I will say one thing I would be ashamed for the Mistress to read: Love your mistress, but not too much. Remember, this is your bondage, not your soul. Serve honorably, and diligently, but in the end, my child, remember that you are not your mistress’s beloved, so you cannot make her yours. I love you, my daughter, more than my mistress, and all things I did for her, I the end I did for you. If I set you in the cool when you were still a baby, to set the flush of your skin, it was to make sure it would match your mistress’s robes, for I wish you to never be in danger of displeasure. If I made you sit and sing her to sleep when her nightmares came, I did this to strengthen your voice. If I spent too long tending to her when you were young and lonely, it was because I wished to build up an office for your comfort in the bloom of adulthood.

I have not been a perfect mother, I find as I consider my end, that this troubles me the most. But know, my daughter, that I love you, more than anything, more than the life I now lose. May we meet again in freedom in the train of the Goddess-Adrift,

Your mother,

Thriniforellina Companion

II.

(A conversation between Pippandrikarna Companion, and Jourjoulingha Scribe, at the Trial of Fang and Fire of Ze Liya Dragon-blooded)

JS: Pippandrikarna, well met. You have come for the writing of the decree, eh?

PC: (Smilling) We are old friends, we are alone, you don’t have to be so formal as that.

JS: (laughing) Well, I suppose if ever we had the freedom to have our own souls in front of them it’s now, eh? They’re in a tizzy, on both sides, the Queen’s Royals all congratulating her, as if she were the one out there and not your mistress, and then the Dissent all scared of what she’ll do now.

PC: My Mistress has new power, not a new soul. She’ll do what’s fair, nothing more.

JS: Aye, I imagine that’s what some of them are afraid of! (Both laugh) You’re in good spirits, it’s good to see you so.

PC: I am, Jourjou, I am. Exhausted. They forget, you know? They forget that all the work, all the pain is on you as much as them. I have not slept a full night in 10 months!

JS: Well, I’ll give her a fine decree. She’s a good one, I’ll scribe the secret blessings in her illuminations, even.

PC: (shocked) Jourjoulingha! Don’t speak of such things, they’re not THAT distracted!

JS: (grinning) It was worth it to see you blush, pretty girl.

PC: (sighs, blushing more) Well it’s not at you.

JS: Oh? Are you sure.

PC: (serious suddenly) Jourjou… listen to me. I… we are old friends, aren’t we? I don’t wish to hurt you, but…

(A moment of silence)

JS: It’s sure then?

PC: I’m sorry. Please, its not you,  you’re a fine man, you will make a fine husband, I just…

JS: (deep breath, and a forced smile) Well, we ARE still old friends, I won’t hold it against you. And whoever my rival is, they’d best strike fast, you deserve whatever lover you wish.

PC: (sighs, smiles back) Yes… yes.

JS: (frowns) What does that mean?

PC: Nothing, nothing at all.

JS: Not nothing, it’s definitely something.

PC:  I said its nothing!

JS: And I know better.

PC: (with sudden coldness) Then perhaps it’s just that we’re not such good friends that I wish to speak on it.

(A cold moment of silence)

JS: Its something bad. I won’t ask. I won’t ask, I understand.

PC: (looking away) I’m sorry, Jourjou, its not you, its just…

JS: No, I understand. I I understand it’s the kind of mess it’s better I don’t understand. Be careful, please.

PC: (a sad sigh) I am always, at least that.

### Relationships

Ze Liya - the Elven mistress who holds Pippi as her Thrall Companion