THIRD ENTRY

As I headed down into the catacombs I seemed to lose track of myself and just walk, I came to a set of doors that seemed to call to me and I entered. I met the keeper of the the graves and she took me to my grave, there was a letter from my mother and father plus a locket (possibly magic, love you dad) with a picture of both of them. My mother’s name is Angelina and my father is named Edward.
 
My father was a great Warrior and my mother quite obviously leaned more towards the scholarly side of things. I had siblings as well, though they’ve long since passed as well. As I left the graves of my parents the keeper passed me two boxes containing their wedding and engagement rings, I’m going to have to get some sort of extra-dimensional safe that I can store all these things in.
 

MOTHER’S LETTER
 
For my Dearest Ashlyn,
 
From the moment you were born, we loved you. My pregnancy was quite unwelcomed by many in the Empire, who questioned me for becoming pregnant during a war, but your father and I deemed it worth it. We wanted you, my child. When you opened sky-blue eyes and laughed up at us, your skin radiant, your touch warm and welcoming, we could do nothing but fall for you. Wed feared that youd be born a human, losing the angelic heritage both your father and I hold dear, yet you displayed its hallmarks from your very first hour.
 
I took time away from my work as Empress to raise you; your father did similar. We wanted you to know us, to learn to love us, and we wanted to teach you so much - I showed you the way of the harp, the violin, the piano, and your father taught you how to trick the servants and tease your playmates. No matter what we taught, though, you were always quite independent - you snuck into the kitchens, once, taking a frying pan and using it against a boy whod made one of your friends cry. You were only 4 years old at the time, and your father was incredibly proud. He swore hed teach you how to use it properly when you were older, alongside other blades, and Id always thought he meant when youd reached adulthood until I walked in upon him putting you in a small suit of armour, looking like it belonged to a halfling, at age 7. You were so happy in it.
 
Whilst you spent time bonding with your father via the blades and via tricks, I tried to teach you some of the finesse of conversation and political situation at the time, about the wars and struggles we faced. It was not pleasant to put this on a child. But you were my child, and you needed to be prepared for the worst. You always stayed so positive and idealistic about it, swearing that youd stop them for us - we had no idea what was coming.
 
It is my fault we lost you. It is my fault that the assassins were able to break in - our palace was recovering from a bout of illness, and we were short on guards, yet I didnt think to ensure your safety above heirlooms and artefacts. They took you, wounded your father and set off explosives. So many of our servants perished in the fires – your nursemaid, my ladies-in-waiting, our kitchen staff... it was horrible, and yet I had never felt more pain than realizing that you were gone. Our Lady's blessing restored your father, but no magic could locate you. We turned to desperation, calling in wizardry and sorcery for assistance, to little avail.

It was after a year, soon after what would have been your 12th birthday, that I received a letter bearing the mark of Ordan. They had you. They included a picture – you were skinny, underfed, but alive. Your beautiful hair had been pulled back and they were keeping you in the clothes of a peasant, no sign of finery nor armour, but you werent harmed. They demanded that we surrender our borderlands to them for your safe release and return. They wanted land closer to Gothadrun, allegedly. Giving them access to our borderless southern coast would have spelt war for our homeland, however. I couldnt risk it. Thousands of lives hung in the balance.
 
We declined, and never saw you again. It has been fifty long years since then, with not a sound. We crushed Ordan's attempt at an attack, and demanded information from those we captured – nothing. Fifty years. You have two siblings, now. Arthur and Celia. Arthur is taller, his build resembling your fathers, but he favours debates and politics over the blade. His smile has aspects of yours, and his personality– oh, if youd grown up together, youd be almost inseparable. Hes just as positive and driven as you always were, and as the elder of the two, will carry that flame on to lead the nation one day. Celia, meanwhile, is so unlike you – shes a scholar, intrigued by the world and desperate to know all there is, but fearful of brawls.
 
I will always love you, Ashlyn. You were my precious daughter and heiress, and it pains me greatly to write this—you deserved a life so much better than what you were given. I can only hope that you passed peacefully and without much pain.
 
Goodbye, my sweetest child.
 
Love,
Your mother,
Empress Angeline Aletheia of the Aletheian Empire
 
 
((ooc:This fuckin letter makes me tear up holy shit Han g fuckin g.))

FATHER’S LETTER
 
Dear Ashlyn,
 
Im not one for words, unlike your mother. My place is on the battlefield. I trust that shes written enough for both of us by now, anyway. You have been, and will remain, my angel. When things get tough, I think of you, your mother, your siblings, and it's enough to give hope, to help us fight past any breaking point. The Lady Sarenrae may have only blessed us with your presence for 11 years, but those years were wonderful, and Ive missed you every day since.
 
I refuse to believe youre truly gone. We never saw your body, and Ordanians wouldnt kill a child. So, to you, my little angel, I leave this amulet. If you are miraculously alive, its function will reveal itself to you when the time is right. But even without the magic, it should remind you of us. Remind you of your real home. I can only hope that you'll find this and be able to use it one day.
 
I love you, Ashlyn. Goodbye, with the ever-burning hope that we'll meet again.
 
Your father,
King Consort Edward Alarian of the Aletheian Empire, High Commander and General of the Kingsguard.