A Series of Letters

[Christine Daye]

((the handwriting is jagged, as if written in a manic fit, with much blotting and crossing out))

They say that Angus Óg, the god of love and the birds, was felled by his own gift once. For he found a fairy maid, Etain, bound in an enchantment, transformed into a butterfly. He took her back to his own lands where he did his best to remove the spell that robbed her of her natural shape. However he was only partially successful, only during the hours of darkness she would be in her true form, but even them she would still bear on her back the great gauzy wings of a butterfly. (Some say that this is the reason you never see a butterfly at night.)

One night just before dawn, when Angus was asleep but she had not yet returned to the shape of a butterfly, she arose and carefully broke the catch on the casket that held her during the day, so at first inspection it would seem to have closed, even though it would not hold the casket shut. Then she returned silently to bed.

The next evening, Angus discovered that Etain had vanished. In great fear and pain from his loss he sent out all his servants to search the land for her. His servants flew high and low but they could find no trace of her. And so Angus despaired, thinking her lost forever. And is his mourning he stopped walking the fields of Man and retreated to his own lands.

And so strife broke out throughout the lands, brother fought with brother, wife with husband and children with parents. Hate roamed over the lands and sadness was everywhere. Eventually the people cried out to the goddess Danu to heal her son and restore love to everyone, and she did so. But from that time on Angus was never the same, making love the most beautiful, but also the most painful emotion.

[Christine Daye]

((the hand is scrappy and disjointed, with different paragraphs obviously written at different times))

Dear Valentina,

Forgive my tardiness in replying, I pray you! The nights get away from me - I wake - I sing - I wake again. My assistant tells me that I have performed - but I cannot remember. He says I have written to you, but I cannot remember either. Please, forgive any disjointed ramblings that come your way... it is difficult at the moment... Maestra says I need time... yes... time...

He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him.

I have no news of the Bath ball at all! It seems woefully underprepared. Oh, except Mr Sisyphus offered a trivial boon for my music. It was an absolute pleasure to claim a prior commitment. A trivial boon?! The nerve!

Thou art gone up on high; Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even from Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them

I am very much looking forward to Oxford. I do not wish to drag you away from your duties, but it would be wonderful to see you! You must tell me all the gossip of Bristol - are there songs that your Lady particularly likes? Or dislikes? Music is such a personal thing - I would hate to discomfit her, or the Keeper.

Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

Oh! I must not forget! Miss Flaubert and I hope to call upon you in your professional capacity soon. Assuming you are not completely overwhelmed - but I'm sure you have all in hand!

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your god!
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

Until Oxford!
Your friend,
Christine

[Valentina Audley]

Dear Christine,

I scribble you this note in great haste as I scarce have time to blink at the moment. Between my duties to My Lady and some business of my own I am woefully letting my social correspondence pile up, but I didn't want you to think I had forgotten you these nights. I think of you often and I hope that you are healing and looking forward to My Lady's ball as much as we in Bristol are!

I hope also, that the recent troubles of the court in Aquae Sulis are not causing you too much grief and that you are flourishing despite them.

I must away darling, I'm so sorry this is such a poor letter!

Much Love,

Valentina

[Christine Daye]

Dear Valentina,

Oh, it seems that we are both so busy at the moment! It is my turn to apologise for the hastiness of my reply, but something urgent has come up and I shall be away travelling for the next couple of months.

Fear not! I shall be back in plenty of time for the Bristol ball, ready and eager, and maybe even armed with novelties to delight us all. And plenty of gossip, no doubt.

Speaking of which - have you heard aught of the rumour of one of the Clan of the Rose who still persists in bathing in milk, for their complexion? The consensus amoungst the younger set is that it is Miss Kira (and she neither confirms nor denies it when asked outright). To be honest, it would not surprise me if it were true (and I suspect that the pedigree dairy herd is an elaboration for dramatic effect).

I hope to return to Oxford soon - I have been commissioned to provide music for Mr Black's forthcoming nuptials and simply must speak with his intended on the matter and her preferences - perhaps we might finally have our walk in the park! But with our talents in so much demand - well! I shall live in hope regardless!

Pray, give my best regards to your Lady, and the others at Court. I am very much looking forward to seeing you all soon!

With fondest regards,
Christine

[Valentina Audley]

Dear Christine,

Travel, how lovely! I do hope you have a wonderful time and that whatever has come up is not arduous! We are hard at work with ball preparations here and so there is not much in the way of gossip, for of course I cannot reveal my Lady's plans!

Someone who bathes in milk for their complexion? What a novel idea! I doubt Valmont has the time, what with his new childe, Reggie... Well whilst he's always up for a new idea I doubt he'd do it more than once... Valmont's sire doesn't strike me as the milk type, it's obviously not me... So I think that yes, by process of elimination it must be Kira. Unless it's Francis... Though I don't have him down as a milk type either, so yes, probably Kira. Why do you suppose milk is considered to be a beauty aid anyway? It seems a little ridiculous when you consider we are unchanging unless you are availed of certain very specific talents which I do not believe are milk based!

As for Mr Black's nuptials, I had heard that his fiancee has been travelling recently, I believe she is trying to sort her trouseau and various sundry items so I suspect she is not to be found in Oxford at the current time. However, I shall certainly let her know that you are anxious to talk music with her if I see her before you!

Anyway, I am afraid I must stop writing and away to my jobs!

Much Love,

Valentina

[Valentina Audley]

((This letter is included in a parcel, containing a green satin wrap in the latest Parisian style))

Dear Christine,

Darling, I saw this in the most glorious little boutique in Paris and I thought you might like it! How are you these nights? Well I hope? I have been having such a simply glorious time of things these last few months!

Darling Reggie was kind enough to whisk me away to Paris and words cannot describe how beautiful that city is and how positively shabby I felt in the company of the the Paris Court! We were lucky enough to attend the celebrations of the birth of Jean-Antoine Watteau and the court seemed to me to have laid on splendours to end all splendours, though Reggie seemed to think it was merely a usual level of elegance.

Reggie is well regarded in Paris, and the Prince was so very pleased to see him! (Reggie is his childe, as I am sure you know). Even more astonishingly, Prince Villon was seemingly pleased to see me! He was perhaps the most handsome man I have yet met and most charmingly attentive. I can quite see where Reggie gets some of his charm from! Even now I should blush (were I capable of such things!), to remember the time we three spent in each other's company!

Everyone in the court was so delightful! Speaking of which, I met such a charming gentleman at Elysium, (I shall be forever grateful to the Keeper for having forewarned us as the theme of the evening or I fear we should have been so poorly regarded!) And I thought you might be amused at the fanciful title he has. Just think what it must be, to go about your life known as 'The Bloody Hound of Paris!" I scarce dare to think what be must have done to earn such a title and I am rather glad neither My Lady or you Maestra rule in such a manner as titles like that become vogue!

Talking of our beloved mentors, I have heard such rumours since my return, but after the assurances of yourself and Prince LeRoux at dear Valmont's gathering, I am sure they cannot be true. Mind you, speaking of rumours, it very much sounds like your fellow talon has been the busiest little bee! Has she really been dancing sans clothing? I hope not for if that becomes the new fashion I shall be ruined!

Oxford (where I have also been swanning off to) has also been delightful. Prince Uriah was so very kind as to make us honoured guests and we spent our time in an absolute whirl of social frivolity! Punting is a charming occupation (and my new second best bonnet from Paris was just the thing for that outing) and my dance card was full at every dance we attended! It was just lovely to be so feted!

Prince Uriah was also kind enough to grant us an audience, so as better to discuss our walking club! I fear there is too much of that to fit into this letter, but it was a very useful meeting. I feel we as a group should gather to discuss our new direction where that is concerned, but there we go. A thing for us to arrange in the future perhaps!

I hope that your nights have been similarly filled with diverting and charming entertainments and I simply cannot wait to see you at the next gathering!

Fondly Yours,

Valentina

[Christine Daye]

Dear Valentina,

Thank you so very much for the lovely, lovely wrap! The colour is simply divine, but then I should have known that you would be able to pick the perfect shade, given your amazing eye for colour. I am so touched that you thought of me when in such a grand and beautiful place as Paris!

I am so very much looking forward to my visit there, due in no small part to your glowing descriptions. Mr Verity has been very kind, and written me a letter of introduction to his sire, though I very much doubt that I shall be received with the warmth that you both were. In truth, I should not wish it - I am already worried about feeling terribly provincial amidst such grandeur - though attired in your wonderful dresses I am sure i will not make too much of a show of myself for the wrong reasons! One again I shall have to trust that the universal language of music will ease over any bumps that a little neonate might encounter amidst such a glowing throng.

On the matter of titles, it does seem that elders like collecting them - and the more fanciful the better! Mind you, Maestra and I played a little prank on the returning Arcadius Augustus - a small measure of revenge, so to speak. He was informed that he had to address Maestra with all her titles... now, let me see if I can remember them all... oh, yes...

Her Royal Highness Elder Erika Leroux, by her will Prince of Aquae Sulis, the Rowan, Defender of the May, Aegis of the Fae Child, the Queen of Shadows and Starlight, the Nightingale, She Who Takes the Sacred Bull by His Horn, Chosen of the Sacred Waters, Blessed of the Goddess Sulis, and All Around Lovely Chap.

To be fair to him, he managed most of them, and even managed to sneak in Archbishop of Canterbury, and Milk of Magnesia, so he is due some respect for that!

Regarding the subject of rumours about Maestra and... well... you know... oh, forgive me, but this is very hard to write. Suffice it to say that things are both simpler and far more complicated than I knew when I spoke to you about it at Mr Valmont's party. Alas, no matter my feelings on the matter, it is beyond my control. What can neonates do, but bow to the will of their elders?

But on to lighter subjects! I was as astonished as you to hear of the rumours about my fellow talon - but honestly, it has the whiff of several someones inventing things to discredit her, and the rest of the neonates involved. Doing the rounds of Oxford, Southampton, Bath, and whereever else she was supposed to be - well, she must have developed a sudden and exciting ability to fly, with or without clothes! (And if she can fly, I fear I shall be very jealous!)

I am so glad you had a good time in Oxford. I very much enjoyed punting when I was there too, though I was far, far beneath Prince Uriah's notice. I am glad that he was helpful with the walking club, and yes, I too have had some luck with my researches. Though I still need to write my notes up in a more useful way - I fear that my scrawl is not suitable for anyone's consumption other than my own. Also I think I might have mixed up some musical notation in there from a piece i am working on - but so it goes!

I am quite in awe of your travels and excitement. Alas, I spent the past few months in quiet contemplation and study, though I am pleased that it was very productive. I am planning a tour in the winter, and my Muses have been requiring my attention. After the unintentional hiccups with the last expedition of the walking club, it was nice to stay in the one place and study!

I hope your nights are proceeding successfully, and your Muses are bountiful!

With fondest regards,
Christine