Against Better Judgement -- Ashara, Lucian, (maybe Alex?)

[Lucian Dupont]

October, 1 2007
Vadra, Sanka

To Lady Ashara Coleville of House Coleville,

In spite of my better judgement to keep the events of the past few days a secret from you and most others outside of my family, I have decided to at least honor the feelings that my beloved cousin feels, or at least felt, for you at one time or another. It is with the deepest regret that I inform you of an accident which took place on the 28th of September. Lord Alexandre Dupont suffered an injury that very nearly claimed his life. The details I will leave out, but as news travels fast, I thought to inform you that he has survived the ordeal and we are vastly encouraged by his recovery and his spirits.

In the meantime, should you wish to write to him, we shall be remaining in Vadra until I feel comfortable to move him.

Best regards and do take care,

Lord Lucian Dupont of House Dupont

[Ashara]

Oct 10, 1007

Lord Lucian Dupont of House Dupont,
The ravens were waiting for us at the port this morning and I can hardly believe the letter I'm looking at. I thank you for your kindness in telling me, and I appreciate how difficult the choice to do must have been. This ordeal wouldn't have anything to do with the last ordeal he suffered?

I hesitate to inconvenience you further, but I hope you will understand the favor I'm asking you now. If you deem Alex recovered enough to receive news or correspondence from his friends, I ask you to relay to him my concern and tell him I am begging him not to try to deal with this on his own. I shall pray for his full and quick recovery.

If you are certain he is well enough for letters, I shall write him as soon as may be (which may not be all that soon the way the seas have been this last week).

Be careful, Lucian. Whatever madness this is- if it's what I think it is- cannot be anything but dangerous for all of you. If however he was in a bar brawl and I am overreacting, just disregard that sentiment.

Thank you again.
- Ashara Coleville

[Lucian Dupont]

October 9, 1007
Hsydra, Sanka

To Lady Ashara Coleville of House Coleville,

After some consideration and further thought on the matter, I have come to stand behind my decision to tell you. It has been made clear to me his feelings concerning you, and after reading the last correspondence you sent, I am quite certain that there is at least respect shared between you both. That said, I am exactly sure how much of the situation Alexandre has explained to you, but if you are referring to his incident which involved him being thrown from his horse, then yes, it is related.

You have not inconvenienced me at all, Lady Ashara. I do deem him recovered enough as I write this letter to you from Hsydra. We felt he was at least well enough for travel, though he was constantly accompanied by our family physician to ensure he did not re-open his wound. I thank you for your prayers, and be assured that he is not alone. I will relay your concerns, of that you can be sure.

Write to him when you are able. I am sure he will appreciate to hear from you.

Thank you for your consideration. I am convinced that with all of us working together as a family, we will be able to sort out this mess. I do think you estimate my cousin wrong. I believe his last bar brawl came when he was twelve years of age. He lost. Please do not let him know I told you that.

Best Regards,

Lord Lucian Dupont of House Dupont

[Ashara]

Oct 25, 1007

To Alexandre Dupont,

What in the seven hells did you let happen to yourself? I thought you'd promised to be safe. Or did I make that up? Well, you should have. In future, please take better care of yourself and be careful. Listen to Lucian- he's clearly got better sense than you do, darling. And better manners. You don't see him nearly dying all the time.

Alex, please please please be all right. Recover quickly. You've got the prince and princess's weddings to attend, after all. No sense in dying before the biggest wedding of them all.

In case you were thinking you missed anything while you were trying to die on us, you didn't. Well, all right, I made the shocking discovery that I hate being on a ship for this many weeks. Sebastian's driving Liam batty. I'm hiding with Abigail and reading ridiculous romances, and I'm not allowed to play cards with the sailors anymore. It's so unfair.

Yours Truly,
Ashara

PS I would ask you to give Lucian a hug for me, but I respect that boys find that sort of request odd.

[Alexandre Harrowmont]

October 30, 1007

Ashara Coleville,

Nobody is kicking themselves harder than I for this unfortunate incident. Honestly, I never saw it coming. Truth is, Xavier and I had gone to resolve the situation, but it turned out to be nothing more than a set up. I truly don't think she meant to have me killed, but the blade cut deeper than I think was intended. I am extremely thankful to have had somebody as skilled as Simon Wentworth to tend to my injury. Lucian is generally the person I go to for sound advice, and I'm glad you approve. As for me, I do apologize for almost dying.

Ash, I'll be all right. I promise. I would not dream of dying any time soon. I intend to live forever, after all.

I always did find ship life tedious. It certainly isn't for me, though I do fear Lucian will want to travel to Solbra by ship. I guess it could be worse, but I can't think of anything at the moment that would top that. I'm sorry that you can't play cards. It must be dreadful to be on a ship with so little to do. Maybe you can write me hundreds of letters to pass the time.

Sincerely,
Alex

P.S. Yeah. That's a little weird. But I shall give him a handshake and a pat on the back and tell him that it should translate into a hug from you. I shall do that as soon as he returns from Trista.

[Ashara]

November 9
Myna, Gyllene

Alexander Dupont,

Don't blame yourself! This is not your fault, it's the fault of whatever lunatic is behind all this. I'm grateful for this Simon Wentworth as well... wasn't he in Vadra? I think I heard that name in the healing rooms.

You had better live forever. I'll kill you if you don't.

The trip is over now. Thank all the gods that ever were, because I couldn't take one more moment. Already Myna is so much quieter than home has been in... oh, I don't know, ever. I only refrained from writing you the suggested hundreds of letters by remembering that you would not appreciate a word-for-word account of every exchange we have all had every day. Although my uncle and brother have certainly had a few rather colorful ones... I wonder how much longer they'll be like this. Perhaps until Sebastian becomes lord?

How has your recovery been going? Is Lucian letting you try your hand at seducing your nurses yet?

Yours truly,
Ash

[Alexandre Harrowmont]

November 14, 1007

I will try my hardest, my lady. Though, I am comforted now. Whoever this lunatic is, she would be hard pressed to reach me where I am. Ironically, it is now my turn to write to you from a ship, though truth be told, I wrote my last letter from my cabin as well. We are currently traveling to Solbra now for these weddings. We should be there late November or early December. I'm hoping for sooner rather than later, to be honest.

Well, when you put it that way, I most certainly will live forever.

There have been some rather colorful conversations on my end as well. Maybe when we see one another again, we can talk all about it.

My recovery has been smooth thus far. Lucian is not traveling on the same ship as we, but as far as seducing nurses, I should say not. You'll be proud to know that I have sword of my days of seduction. I have other things I've been focusing on as of late... Aside from trying not to die.

Sincerely Yours,
Alex

[Ashara]

Nov 20, 1007
Myna, Gyllene

Alex,
You'll be there so soon! I doubt we'll journey to Solbra until a week or two before the wedding. I can't help thinking you may already be in port when you get this... I hope you are, since you're so ready for the journey to be over.

Sworn off your days of seductions? Alexandre Dupont? No, I won't believe it. It must be the stress getting your head. I am sure you will be happily back to normal by the second night at Solbra.

I do hope not dying is taking up the majority of your attention, but can I ask what these other things might be? Cards? Embroidery? A very bored lady begs to know.

The only excitement I've had in ages is my poor twin trying his hand at poetry. A pretty gypsy girl broke his heart, I think, and I haven't a clue what to do to help. I'm miserable seeing Sebastian miserable. He's breaking my heart, and the poetry is breaking my brain. If he tries singing I may push him out the window to save us both. I've never felt so helpless with him before. The only time I've ever held anything back from him was- well, you'll remember the incidents- and now I know how he felt all those months I was being so moody. It's worse than misery.

I am sorry. I wouldn't write this to you but you're the only boy I can ask for help on this subject: is there anything to cheer him up?

yours truly,
Ash