A/N : This chapter is based on Pelot d'Hennebont by Tri Yann. It's an old french song with a lot of old french words and verbs so it was hell to translate into the letter Matthew wrote. I love doing this story ! Review if you liked it !

October 1914, Downton

The war had been on for two months now. Everyone would remember the afternoon of August when they had been told this dreadful news until their dying days. Like in any war, the men had been called. Mothers, wifes, sisters and sweethearts had said their tearful goodbyes to their men. The Abbey hadn't been spared, with many footmen gone as well as the heir, Matthew Crawley.

This situation had been hard for everyone, but in the end, it was seen as a great pride to serve the king and country. So Matthew had left, not without breaking his mother and Mary's heart. He had promised he would come back to Isobel. He hadn't spoken to Mary, still heartbroken by their parting. He wished it would have been different. But it was not and now he needed to go to the front.

One chilly morning of October, Mr Molesley brought a letter to Mrs Crawley. It came from France. Her eyes were soon filled by tears, which she dried quickly to read her son's letter.

"Dearest Mother,

I wrote to tell you we've entered Paris. I have been named Captain and I'll soon be the highest graded of my battalion. I'm fighting our Nation's enemy in the battle, everyone daring to attack our country has to face my rifle.

They call me Lord but I'm not, I tell them I'm just Matthew Crawley. They gave me a medal, or something like that and told me to put it on my uniform and to always fight the enemy. It must be a great honor for the others to call me "Sir"

Mother, If I die on the front. I'll send you this medal. You'll keep it on your dresses in memory of your son Matthew. Tell Robert, my cousin, my friends that I'm well. I'm their noble servant. I send you my love and kisses

Matthew"

Isobel cried in earnest as she held the letter close to her heart. She missed her darling boy so much. She prayed everyday for this damned war to end the sooner it could. By Christmas they had said and she would pray until her boy was back to her. She obviously hadn't missed how it had said "my cousin" with no plural. She knew Matthew was still in love with Mary and she also prayed for them to find their way back together. Maybe the war would show him what really mattered.