Dear Gregor,

I am waiting for a letter from you, waiting patiently for me. You know that I am far from the most patient person in the Underland. My frustration with the daily meetings of the reconciliation committee is proof of that. Their lack of progress continues along with my urge to start another war. I know that a little mayhem goes a long way, as the saying goes, but I forbid myself to act on my urge to create mayhem. There is enough of that with their constant need to bicker about everything.

I admit to feeling a partial sadness that both Howard and Mareth have received letters from you and I have not. I promise to remain patient. Or at least, to try to. But that too is hard.

Everything is hard when you are a queen.

Being bonded to a rat is hard too. When Ripred is that rat, things are even harder. I often want to slap him.

You have personal knowledge of how good I slap. I immediately felt guilty about that slap I gave you on your first night in Regalia, but I was angry. Mostly I was glad you were safe and alive, but I could not allow myself to show that. Anger was so much more acceptable. I hope you are able to forgive me.

And for that time in the jungle when I would have let you be swallowed up by quicksand. Both memories make me feel terrible now. They are times I am not proud of myself. As per Vikus's royal guidance, I try to learn from those instances so they will not repeat themselves. I am too quick to judge. I frequently have to remind myself to be patient instead of judgmental.

But my patience is wearing thin. I so want a letter from you! A letter would make me feel closer to you, I think, even when separated by miles of stone, parents, and tradition. The last one is the hardest to overcome, I'm finding out.

Yours in love,

Luxa