The world is quiet here [Epistolary Post: timed for her whole lying-in in the trees]

[lifeinhallways]

Over the time Michelle's taken refuge at Caranthir's, she may have been impossible to find, but not contact.  Letters, notes, stories, expressions of concern, haikus, quatrains, ballads, and sonnets, can all be sent to her.

Any missive will receive a prompt response.  It's likely the one way her two tree house-mates can keep her busy.

Comments

[thistle_muncher]

Written on brown wrapping paper, on a really awkward hand:

deer mishel,

hav not sen u in som tim. hoep u ar wel & fin. it wud not bee gud if u wer not fin. i am wel but mis u. it is v. cold & fels lik snoe. hop too se u sun.

yore frend,

eor

[lifeinhallways]

Michelle is so charmed by the letter, she writes a rather long letter, though the majority of it is a story.

Dear Eor,

I have been kept in a special house in a very special place, while I wait for my baby to join the world. It is a place where both my baby and I can be safe. We have three very nice people looking after us. Both baby and I are very lucky to have so many people to help, and they have kept us very well.

I hope you are fine too. Be careful to stay warm if it snows! Snow is fun for play, but when I was little, I would sometimes not always wear my scarf like I was supposed to.

I have missed seeing you. When my baby comes into the world, will you come and meet them?

I have a story for you to read.

[Michelle includes a version of this story for Eeyore. There isn't any attached art, sadly.]

I hope you like it.

Your friend,
Michelle

[thistle_muncher]

A few days might pass, then a reply will arrive, written on the back of a piece of Christmas wrap printed with golden and silver angels on a blue background.

deer Michelle,

Thanc u for thee verry nic storie. hav red it sevrul tyms. that donky was verry brav, mor brav than thee dogg, tho thee farmer shud have fed thee dogg suner. no wun is perfekt, it wud seme, and wen ther is trubble, sumwun needs too be brav, even donkys.

Glad too kno u hav peeple watching over u and u hav a nice plase too stay. looking forwurd too meetingg ur baby when it koms

i amm keeping warm with a nic blankit, and i mak sure too wer a skarf and a hat wen i due go owt on thee porrch.

Hoppe too heer frum u sooon but not so sooon that u get too tyred, that wud not bee gud.

Yore frend,

eor

This is a wonderfully hard note to write, also my spell check is mad at me right now. :: Laughing::

[lifeinhallways]

The letter comes the next day

Dear Eor,

It is always important to be brave, and be good to your friends, just like the very clever donkey in the story. I am so happy you enjoyed it. I can imagine you would do exactly what the donkey did in this story.

I am also happy you have a scarf and hat. You need them with the cold. My baby's been sent some lovely blankets to be all wrapped up in and keep warm. They are very soft, and it will be nice to sit out on the porch with you in your scarf and hat, and my baby all wrapped up snug and safe. Maybe you can read us a story then.

I promise you this letter is being written while I am not the least bit tired. I can tell you you even baby is wide awake.

Your friend,
Michelle

Written on slightly antique-looking paper... and one corner has a mushy look as if Verrity chewed it

[51stcentry_jack]

To Her Highness Michelle,

Just dropping a line to check in on you: been a few days, but I had a feeling the Prince or Princess to Come is keeping you close to your pillows. Weather's getting cold, but I figure you're safe and warm in your treetop home. Verrity and I send our love; she wanted to add a line to say hello, but she's still learning the lingo. That's her signature in the lower right corner, for lack of a signature.

Keep me posted when the new Prince or Princess is ready to hold court. Their future lady in waiting will be honored to approach Their Serenity.

Capt. Jack Harkness

[lifeinhallways]

Dear Captain Jack, and HRH of Time Verrity

Again written on antique paper, and this time, there might be some squiggles in the writing

[51stcentry_jack]

To Her Highness Michelle,

Please excuse the messy handwriting, Her Royal Highness is sitting in my lap as I write this and she's discovered she has hands, which are useful for grabbing pens when they're moving.

Sounds like you're in excellent hands: tree house sounds like a cozy -- and well-protected -- place to spend the last few weeks. And those last two months feel like forever, don't they? Looking forward to meeting the prince or princess to be, when the time comes.

I'll tell the rest of the choir of angels about your brother: we'll keep an eye on him, make sure he stays out of harm's way. Hate to see a young guy be his own worst enemy, but that's what we're here for.

I'd better wrap this up and get it out to you. Sending a hug from me and a hand around the finger from Verrity,

Capt. Jack Harkness

[lifeinhallways]

Michelle finds great pleasure in the squiggles. As with all the letters she's received, this one will be packed away neatly, as a way of keeping memories of this time to share at a later date with the baby.

Dear Captain Jack and HRH Verrity,

I'm happy to see Verrity taking such an interest in pens. It only goes to show what a clever girl she is, trying to write at such a young age. I think this qualifies as her second official signature, and first of this medium. How fortunate I am to have such important parts of her life. She is such a blessing.

I sometimes feel like I'm living in a childhood dream. What child wouldn't want to live in the trees? It's a lifetime away from Altar Mansion, and for all the discomfort, I'm trying to enjoy these last two months. My pregnancy has been the most peaceful part of my life.

You've eased my mind tremendously. I know Jack couldn't be better protected with a group of angels looking out for him. HRH should be proud to have such a father.

Love to both of you,
Michelle

[OOC: Oh, the

[sissy_queen]

The letter comes as a roll of parchment, sealed with red wax and a visible sigil, a dragon spreading its wings, and a small package.

Dēarest freundine

[lifeinhallways]

[Michelle will never admit it, but Eeyore's letter was easier to read. She feels as if she's reading some sort of ancient document, a beautiful version of a long bastardized language.Dearest Guinevere

[sissy_queen]

It's quite likely that Guinevere got help from someone to decypher Michelle's letter. As her own seemed to not need a translation, however, she writes again, as she would at home.

My dēaręst freundīen,

Dēō fēōrgīve me, fēōr my mīssīeve ist shēōrt, und ƿurd hāve been lēōnger, hād Ic nēōt befāllen upēōn ēōne true mārtyr.

ðere ist hier a neƿly cēōme mān, ƿhō bēars upēōn him þe ƿōunds ēōf Christ, und it hās fāllen tēō me tēō nurse ōur neƿ guest tēō hēalð.

ālās, Ic cry tēō þink ēōf ƿhāt suffering he hās endurēd, und ās yōu are cērtæ nly nursing yōurself und yōur baby ās ēōf nōƿ, Ic ām myself tāsked ƿið ƿāshing hist ƿōunds ƿiþ ðe græ test humilitas.

Upōn yōur return, dēō cāll ēōn mē. þier shāll be mēōre præ sents fēōr yōur child, und mēōre tālk ēōf ƿhāt prōtæ ctiō ðe cōurt cān extend tēō yōu bēōþ. Ic ƿill tēach yōu āll ðāt Ic ken, fōr yōu āre dēar tō mę, und dē serving ōf ęvery kīendness.

ƿiþ āll my hēart, und Gōd's blęssinges,

Guinevere ēōf ðe Brittēōns

[lifeinhallways]

No one said deciphering was easy, but there's enough recognizable to work it out. Besides, what else does she have to do all day, and it's a good way to keep her mind busy.

Dearest Guinevere,

I am still waiting for the little one, but the baby should be here any day. I'm excited and impatient to meet my child, and yet afraid too. I don't know if it's possible to be ready.

It is good of you to take care of the new arrival to the mansion. He is fortunate to be a recipient of your kindness and care.

I look forward to spending afternoons with you, learning from your skill and expertise.

Your friend,
Michelle Benjamin

[winterfell_lady]

[lifeinhallways]

While Michelle has gathered a few items here and there, the two outfits sent by Catelyn, are set aside for the baby's first few days

[winterfell_lady]

[lifeinhallways]

[Can we presume they exchange a few more letters of niceties, than meet up at the bb meet and greet?]

[fairy_fingers]

The letter comes in French, though some of it may be translated by the mansion's kind offices. As it were, Angelique has not learned to write any English.

Ma très chère Michelle,

Il était temps que je vous écrive, car nous allons bientôt aménager dans la nouvelle maison construite par mon mari, ses parents, et leurs amis. Il est traditionel, dans mon pays, d'inviter les amis à suspendre la crémaillère. Nous en profiterons aussi pour baptiser Gabriel, et je ne peux concevoir cet évènement sans sa marraine.

Quand pouvons-nous vous espérer?

Votre bien bonne amie, à qui vous manquez chaque jour que Dieu fait,

Angélique Stark

Translation: My very dear Michelle, It was time for me to write to you, as we are soon moving into the new home built by my husband, his relatives and their friends. It is traditional, in my country, to invite friends to warm the house and to hang the cog on the hearth. We shall take the occasion to christen Gabriel, and I can't imagine this event without his godmother. When may we hope to see you? Your so very

[lifeinhallways]

[As with the anachronisms of ballet, and Liszt, there's going to be a small leap that French is not entirely unknown. On the other hand, it does take her a while to get the full picture -- well, enough to respond.]

Dear Angelique,

My French is not as solid as I would want. I hope someone can translate this for you because I would be honoured to come to wish you, Robb, and my beautiful Godson well in your new home.

Please do not consider me selfish but I will miss you in the mansion.

I hope to give birth any day, and will send you an announcement as soon as Gabriel's new friend is here.

Love to you, and kisses to Gabriel,

Michelle Benjamin

[fairy_fingers]

The next letter is in English: Angelique must have found some help. It comes shortly after the birth and its announcement, but before Michelle's visit to the Mansion.

My dear Michelle,

I have heard that you have finished your travails, and am so pleased to congratulate you! Alas I am overwhelmed with our move, and the demands of our upcoming public event, for as you imagine, House Stark requires that everything be perfect.

Will you come? I shall send you the details very shortly, and oh, how I am anxious to see you, and your beautiful baby!

Much love and prayers, and my heartfelt congratulations,

Angelique Martell-Stark

[lifeinhallways]

It's only a short note, but Michelle responds immediately.

Dear Angelique,

I hope you're not working yourself too hard! I'm confident that everything will turn out wonderfully, and I wouldn't miss it for anything. I have godmotherly duties to perform, and I couldn't disappoint him.

I can't imagine doing anything more than looking after Tamara right now, so I can only offer my compliments at moving, looking after Gabriel, and party planning.

Once Mike and I decided when it's best to come to the mansion, I'll make sure you know. I'm so excited to introduce Tamara to you and Gabriel.

Love,
Michelle Benjamin