To Alissa Foral, 743 A.C.
My dearest Alissa I must say, I have most certainly missed your acquaintance here back at Winterfell. Father has been most busy, trying to keep up with the day-to-day business of governing the realms, and trying to sort out the best way to keep the food storages high, with this winter and all and the recent famine. It has been rather hectic, and I have attempted to stay out of Father's way, trying not to cause him any more stress.
Oh, how I do wish you were here! I miss our lovely conversations and walks out in the forest, and, though it be winter, the land is gorgeous right now, with a fresh covering of snow and such, and just right for an outdoors trip. I implore you to write soon and tell me all about what's going on!
There's nothing too exciting going on up here. Deston and Brant have been travelling or helping Father, working at various places, while Lawren has been working with his obsessive inventions, trying to help build new trains and steamships for the North. Sansa is still getting into trouble but has been gripped by a new fascination with the history of the and the Second Long Night and the creation of the Targaryen Empire over 400 years ago. Oh, you should hear her rant on and on, about Robert's Rebellion, the bloody wars that were fought between the many old houses of Westeros, the story of Daenerys Targaryen, and how she defeated the Lannisters and created the single empire of Westeros, which has lasted to this day! I must say, I find it rather interesting, and Sansa has been most taken by the story of Arya Stark, a girl who joined (and escaped from) the Faceless Men, and who killed the Night King in the supposed wight invasion from the North. Really, dear Ali, it is quite fascinating!
Besides this, I've tried not to stay idle, and have been taking care of the dire wolves and the new pups. Little Jon is my favorite of the new batch, an adorable little creature, and Milah is positively enjoying the snow! But I'm not sure how long old Wight has to last. He has been getting very old.
But this has been enough about me. How are things down south? I want to her all about it! I'll be sending my typed letters straight to you by steam train, so you should get this anytime now! Write back soon!
Your affectionate friend,
Maryana Stark
To Maryana Stark,
My dear Maryana, I have received your letter with warm affections, and greatly anticipate more! I greatly wish to see for myself your little pup litter, and Little Jon I've been hearing so much about! Perhaps you could take a photograph and send one down to me. And I do wish to talk to you again, but alas, I have much work to do. It has been nice to hear new from you over the telegram.
But to continue, I have been enjoying my work down here greatly, working with the department and keeping the library alive and well. I do not want to sound vain, but they most certainly need my help! The place was full of dusty old books and squinting old men, hardly a center of cultural learning and knowledge. But being one of the head librarians here is a good paying job (not that I truly care about the money), and it has greatly served to expand my skills on all matters. I can't tell you how many books I've pored through, and whole sections I've had to update, clean, and add to. But it is blossoming here, and the activity in the Grand Library is growing.
I've had more time to myself lately, and things have been going rather quietly and smoothly. The city is gorgeous, with its old citadels and towers, beautiful stone arches, magnificent greeneries and local museums! I've also recently had the honor to tour the castle, the Red Keep itself, and stroll through the high halls of old kings, see the Dragon's Pit, and even was honored to meet her majesty Malaela IV Targaryen!
But now that we have talked enough about myself, I must respond to something you have mentioned in your last letter which stirred my curiosity. You've mentioned that Sansa has been recently obsessed with some tales from 400 years ago. I've delved into some old books, and it is, as you said, "fascinating!" We all know the story of the formation of our mighty empire, but the story itself is much deeper than I thought! After the Second Long Night (one of the most intense academic debating points here, with some arguing it never happened, or is a propagated story, or is actually real, along with the same question of whether seasons used to be irregular, lasting whole years!), Daenerys Targaryen had to face Cersei Lannister, and suffered great loss, which threatened to drive her mad! However, her lover, Jon Snow, managed to save her, and together they defeated the Lannister forces, united Westeros, and the people raised her up as queen, and she married Jon, creating our own dear empire of today! How romantic! And more histories tell how, because of the great peace and unity, great strives in medicines and science were achieved, resulting in our modern world!
I do confess, I am a romantic sort, and I can't say how pleased I was to read this history! In fact, I have been reading a romantic story about it, called A Song of Fire andIceby Martin R. R. Georgescu, which has grown to be most popular down here. You simply must read it, I intreat you! It is beautifully written, a wonderous love story, told in a masterful way!
But besides that, I feel I have nothing more to say. So, I shall hear from you soon, I dearly hope! Tell little Sansa I said hello (And give her the book attached to this letter. It is a dramatic guide about the life of Arya Stark, The Definitive History and Life of Arya Stark: Life and Legends by Maester Willum of the Citadel) along with your brothers!
Sincerely yours,
Alissa Foral
To Alissa Foral, 743 A.C.
You sound like you have been enjoying it down there in King's Landing! I am truly happy for you, my friend, and I hope and pray you continue to be safe and well with the greatest of affections!
One of these days I shall have to visit you and your library, even though you know I am not one for big books and intensive historical records. The winter is coming along well, and Father has been much less stressed, having now planned a way to keep our grain in check and feed our working citizens. And Brant is going to travel to the Summer Islands, in the colonies there, to learn about the military and the duty of commanding soldiers! It is a most exciting time, and also frightening, as he will be leaving for a while, but I am glad he's serving our nation, in some of our several colonies (at least he doesn't have to go to Sothoryos, where the Braavos colonies are always facing disease, pirates, and savages!)And a newcomer has come to court, Grandon Cheswright, who fancies himself an "aeronaut". He is into the use of balloons (something I know is recent, but far more prevalent in the south) and he and Lawren have already struck up a friendship. Also, I should mention Lyanna is doing well with her husband in the Winterlands, even more north than we are!
That shall be all for this letter. I've been outside more recently, enjoying the fresh powder, and the pups are doing well. My own Milah is also enjoying the weather, being the little wolf that she is. But now I'm getting tired, and so I'll set my typewriter away. Good night and keep well. And write soon!
Your dear friend,
Maryana Stark
P.S. Sansa loved the gift! And tell me more about your friend!
To Maryana Stark,
I am glad to hear that Sansa is enjoying my gift! But since you have been insistent about a certain figure, I feel I shall relate to you about him. His name is Avo Kharqo, a man from the colonies of the Dothraki Sea. He is a dragon biologist, one of the more important and well-known ones, and an expert in his own field. He's a larger man, about my age, with fair eyes and a short beard he keeps very low, and a handsome face! And he came into my library! For some reason, we both got to talking, about many different aspects of history and anatomy, and before I knew it, we agreed to meet together at his own place for lunch! I cannot say how stressed I felt, intimidated even, to be allowed to meet with such an important figure. But it was most enjoyable, our conversations and lunch, and we've been meeting each other for similar events, and I've gotten to know him (and all his delightful friends) very well. I cannot say why, but I always feel freer and much happier with him, and I know he feels the same. Is this love? There are so many questions that stir through my mind with him, so many strange feelings that come up in his presence! I truly feel lost in my thoughts! Oh, dear Mary, this whole circumstance is wonderful and terrifying, and I dearly hope you can come soon!
We have both been seeing each other for many events and personal dates, and even today he has promised me a ride on his own personal dragon! I do apologize for filling this letter with my delights and feelings, but it is all quite strange for me! Do come soon!
Your good friend,
Alissa Foral
To Alissa Foral, 744 A.C.
I have been absolutely giddied with joy over your recent letter! I cannot wait to hear more, and to have long conversations with you, but not over telegram or letter! No, my dear friend, I will be visiting you in person! Yes, indeed I will be coming down there with Cyrus! He has finally come back from his work in the Iron Islands and has come back with quite the modest fortune. And as all the business up here has been taken care of, Mother has decided it would be a good idea for me to travel down to King's Landings, and to visit with you! Cyrus and I will be visiting you shortly, heading in by the Royal Unsullied steam ship. I hope to see you there, and you man!
Your most affectionate friend,
Maryana Stark
Well, that was way less depressing than the last one! More to come!