Anita of Vernhail

I still can't believe I missed Eara's birthday! I know she was probably much too busy to even think about me, but I hope I can make it up to her once I get back to Conare. I picked her up some things before I left Vernhail ... But I still feel so terrible that I had to miss it!

I hope you're both enjoying your stay, Lady Rachelle, Lady Harmonia ... I think it should be another week before I'm back home! I'm greatly looking forward to meeting both of you.

Friska, I was wondering if you wanted to go out into the city today!! I'm feeling much better now ... I don't know what could have come over me. I was just so exhausted ... But it's all over now! And it was such a lovely ceremony ....

I'm so sorry we've been too busy to go out into the city before now! How soon is your family leaving ... ? Do say it isn't too soon.

We arrived in Vernhail last night and I've been so frightfully busy all day!

There's so much to help with! Lady -- oh, should I still call her lady when we're soon to be sisters -- Andrea has been having her dress fitted and refitted and it's still just not quite right and she's very upset with the tailor about it! And the flowers are all arriving, and the mage we hired to keep everything fresh has been in and out informing us if anything looks like it's not going to be perfect, and Andrea has been talking with the priests about making everything at the cathedral perfect ...

It's silly of me to say I forgot how hectic weddings were, isn't it? And this isn't even mine! I remember, now, how everything moved so fast when I was marrying Lor Nicol my lord, and how ... how excited I was ...

It seems like such a long time ago ...

Ah, well, we've stopped for the night ... it's just a small little village, but I think the guard wants to stay through the holiday, and so do I. It'd just be dreadful to stay through Rose Day! I already miss everyone in Conare so much ... my lord most of all, of course. It's such a shame that we couldn't be together, for our first wedded Rose Day ...

I'll have to make it up to my lord, of course, once I return to Conare!!

I hope everything is going well in the city. And that you're both well, Princess Seraphine, Princess Kelita! I hope you both have a lovely day ...

Dragons, but I'm exhausted, I feel like I could sleep through all the day tomorrow!

[Filter: Private]

It's just ....

I just wish he'd be gentle with me. Oh, Diary, I know how silly it is, to think that again ... but after so long away, I thought maybe he'd be sweet when I came back. Maybe he'd have missed me so dearly that we would ... we would have something more ... more tender, than how he ...

I sound so foolish.

I ought to be grateful. I know I ought to. With how gracious he is, and how much he loves me ... he gives me everything I could ever want and more, and this is how I treat him in return? That isn't very kind of me, is it? Just because he's so ...

[something thoroughly stricken out]

[Filter: Public]

Wasn't Festival just lovely? Oh, my lord, I'm so glad we could be in Conare for it. I know that it probably would have been just as wonderful in Milesia, but the celebrations you put together for our sake were just so wonderful ... I can't believe they're already over! Festival really does go much too fast ...

[Filter: Princess Kelita and Princess Seraphine]

Um ... ah, Princess Seraphine, I know you're still not feeling well, but I thought maybe this would make you feel better. I spoke to Lord Nicolas, and he wanted to extend both you and Lady Kelita an invitation to come to Conare! He thought maybe it would help you feel better, to leave Milesia for a little while ...

Do you think you'd like to come? Oh, please say you will! Princess Kelita is invited too, of course, Lord Nicolas would love to host both of you! And I'm certain it would make you feel better ...

[Filter: Princess Kelita]

Is ... Is Princess Seraphine going to be all right ... ?

Well, my lord and I are about ready to part ways for a while ... we should be leaving soon, I think. Both of us! Though it will be so strange to travel separately from him.

Eara has been so upset with me. I think she believes I'm abandoning her, and so soon after Lord Nicolas and I have been wed! I suppose she's still so young, and it probably does seem that way to her ... I only hope she doesn't stay angry for too long. And that she doesn't make Lord Nicolas' journey unbearable ...

Oh, my lord, I shall miss you so very dearly.

[Filter: Private]

Oh, Diary ....

What do I even say?

This isn't what I expected. Not at all.

I thought it would be something more out of the stories. Something more ... gentle, and sweet, and loving. He would take me to the marriage bed and together we would celebrate our love ... that doesn't seem so strange of me to think, does it? That's how it is in all the tales. The lord, or the brave knight, or the dashing hero, and his loving lady, and ...

The way he smiles, when we're together ....

I oughtn't fret about it. I know I shouldn't. If it makes my lord happy, then ... then I couldn't ask for more, could I? And I do make him happy. I'm sure.

I just wish ... oh, Diary. I know I'm being silly. Maybe this is what everyone has happen, once they're wed ... but I do so wish it was more like the songs.

Some of the guests have started to arrive! I can't believe they're already here, but I suppose when it's in Eblar ... There's no reason to dally. And the people who've arrived are all from so close ...

We received a messenger, though! Mother and Father sent a rider ahead to say that they should arrive next week, if they make good time. They said they don't expect it to take much longer, the roads have been so clear ... I'll be so glad to see them. I've missed them so, and it will be nice to have them here! I can't wait for Mother to see my dress ...