Archive of Our Own ^beta

My Dearest, 

Ilyra, I hope this letter finds you well. I will admit, it felt a mite foolish, penning this out, given our ability to speak over distance, but I had the notion you would enjoy receiving an old-fashioned parchment correspondence from your beau. 

We shall ignore my neglect of use of a courier service in favor of an arcane means of delivery, but I wanted to ensure that this note reached you before I returned home to Waterdeep. If my estimations are correct it would have taken nearly a tenday for this note to reach you via traditional means. In that case I would have had to send the letter nearly the same day I departed! It seemed a silly concept to me, so I do hope my summon was able to deliver this to you in a timely fashion.

On that note, if you do wish to send a traditional response, you may do so by inserting a note into the parcel this came in, and reciting the incantation found on the enclosed slip of paper. Your response should reach me within the day if sent via these means. 

Of course feel no obligation to do so, if you wish to discuss topics found here within please do not hesitate to bring them up during our evening conversation. Well enough on that. 

My studies at the University of Silverymoon have been progressing along exquisitely. They’ve given me complete access to their library, including the section of typically locked-away-tomes from ancient civilizations. These volumes typically aren’t accessible to many of their own scholars, much less a visiting stranger. I do suppose being a savior of the realm has its perks when it comes to academic access. 

 I hope that you and Tara are faring well without me. It’s strange to think that this is the first amount of time we have spent apart since meeting on the beach that day. Of course I’m not counting the separations of a day or so, but one of an extended nature. I’m sure you understand what I mean. 

While I am greatly enjoying my time at this institution, I do find myself missing you terribly. My accommodations are far from lacking, but I do find myself wishing that instead of the velvet-lines room I’ve been put up in, that I were home, sat on the couch with you in my lap, a good book in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I do rather find myself wishing for my existing degree of fondness over the current lack of your presence. That being said, I should return home within the tenday. I will of course send notice if that timeframe is extended; the weather here in the north is subject to the whims of the gods, but hopes are high that the weather will be clear until the day of my departure. I can’t say I am certain I understand how bad weather impacts the use of an arcane circle, but this trip would otherwise be impossible without the mages here, so I must relent. 

 On the note of books, I did find a particularly fascinating volume that I think you will be interested in, it is a collection of works by a lesser-known playwright of Icewind Dale. One of particular interest regards a dashing young wizard who takes it upon himself to save the kingdom from a fearsome dragon. Of course, you may not want Persimmon to get any ideas about conquest and glory, so mayhaps we keep that particular tale away from her. I jest, of course.  

The volume sits wrapped in my pack, ready to make the return journey with me. Realistically I could have enclosed it along with your note, but I would rather see your face when you open it. I may have spoiled the surprise, but ah well, I am eager for your response regardless. 

 Back to the topic of notoriety, it’s very strange being recognized in a city so far from home. It seems word of our deeds have spread far and wide, not without a fair bit of exaggeration. I do suppose that has to do with a particular ocularly-inclined bard that we met on our journey. I was stopped on the street just yesterday and offered a drink for our actions! I did have to join the man for a drink out of politeness of course. That one drink turned into, well, several, Portal Sherry be damned, and I may have cost that bar a table and a set of chairs after being goaded to exhibit my powers in a less-than-sober state. I did return to the tavern the following morning to leave some gold and perform some repairs in order to tide things over with the owner. It was strange, exercising those spells after having no need for them for these months. 

Reflecting, we truly faced some great horrors together. I can’t help but think that all of that was worth it, if it meant that I was able to find you. 

As shocking as it may seem to admit, I’d willfully wade through yet another city sewer on my way back to you. Ilyra, you have truly helped me become a better man than I ever thought possible. My power and acclaim meant nothing after I was turned away by my goddess. To see you struggle, fight, and persevere over the means of your birth and blood did nothing short of inspire me. Your ability to overcome your struggles, helped me realize my ability to overcome my own. From what you’ve said, the sentiment goes both ways. You truly are a wonder. I was in a supremely dark place for many long months before our meeting and adventures, and I have never been further from that place than in these last few months at your side.

Building our new life together has been nothing short of enchanting. I will admit, part of me feared once we resolved the matters of our tadpoles, we would part ways. Either some tragedy taking us from one another, or, as absurd a notion as you will claim it to be, that you would grow bored of me. I devoted my heart to you, and the nagging voice in the back of my mind was certain it would end in tragedy. Imagine my shock and delight when I truly discovered that your heart echoed my own. To think a radiant creature such as yourself would be smitten by a foolish wizard like me, it was hard for me to truly believe.

There are still days when that nagging voice creeps back in. But each morning I find you by my side, in my arms. You radiate a zeal for life and vigor that has wormed its way into my own being. My dearest heart, I love you. I love you so deeply that it aches. Thank you. For loving me, and letting me love you so deeply. 

All that said, I will be returning home within the tenday. I’ll be sure to send advance notice, but I would be remiss if I didn’t leave you with a trinket of my affection at current. I have enclosed a small parcel containing a pair of earrings. I found them at a local artisan’s market the other night. They’re carved stone and silver, and are meant to resemble forget-me-nots.  I did go ahead and purchase myself a complementary earring so that we may match. I found them quite fetching, and thought you would as well. I do hope they are to your taste my love.

Sending you all of my love.

Your husband,

Gale Dekarios