Letters between Oberon and Princess Cera

[Oberon]

A letter, sealed with red wax and a sprig of sage, is given to the princess by her friend Rosemary McIntyre .


Your Royal Highness,

I hope this message from your zealous servant finds you well, seated close to the fire with your hands warmed by the flame.

I write to profess my devotion to you, and to your future. I never knew your mother well, but I have missed her gentle hand in the changes to our fair kingdom. I hope that one day you might restore her legacy when you inherit your birthright. Already you show signs of her quick wit and compassionate heart.

I look forward to hearing if you will accept my fealty.

Ever Yours,

An Admirer


If held to the fire, a second message appears.

Princess,

I hope you will forgive my bold approach--and the florid nonsense of the visible ink, though its sentiment is true. I am called Oberon. Perhaps you have heard of me?

Whether you know it or not, dear princess, you are part of a glorious legacy. You have been kept from your true power, your true birthright, by the man you know as Father. If you possess a gift, as I suspect you do… you have been wise to keep it hidden from that mage killer.

Princess...do you know how your mother died? Do you know what gifts she, too, carried? Her light was snuffed out too soon.

I wish to serve you, to guide you to your true potential.

If you wish to accept my service, write your message in lemon juice, and leave it in the castle library's most battered copy of The Illiad before Sunday.

Your faithful servant,
Oberon

[Cera Le'Orin]

It wasn't often that Cera received any letters. It wasn't unusual, but there was no sigil in the red wax- nothing but a sprig of sage that she curiously brought close to her nose to inhale its scent. Curiously, she began to unfold the letter as she paced slowly across her quarters.

What she read felt strange. In ways, it wasn't uncommon to hear such things from a subject that was hurt by what her father has been doing...but something about this made her skin crawl, and she couldn't explain why.

She approached closer to the flickering fireplace to sit down, finishing up on reading the letter. However, as the firelight hit the paper just right, the princess realized there was more.

There was a secret message.

Holding her breath, bright eyes flickered over the words, her heart beginning to thunder within her chest. This was from that man, the one that had attacked her and the others at the party not long ago. The Unseelie leader, the one who called himself Oberon.

'If you possess a gift, as I suspect you do...'

'Princess...do you know how your mother died? Do you know what gifts she, too, carried?'

Cera didn't know how to handle that. It would take nearly a week before she was able to read over the letter again and she dared to pen a message, knowing deep down that it probably wasn't a good idea. She couldn't ignore the curiosity that was eating away at her.

Oberon,

You are very bold to send any kind of message to me. I could have, and still could, inform my father of this.

I have indeed heard of you, or did you not realize that I was at the gathering you and your people attacked? The only reason I have not mentioned this to anyone is because of her. Because of my mother. What is it that you know of her?

And why do you say such things of me?

The princess did not sign the letter, fearful others might find it, but she left it in the battered book of the castle's library as instructed.

[Oberon]

Caius grinned as he read the letter from the willful princess. Good, she had fire. He hoped it would burn hot enough to change this land for the better--with a bit of tending, of course.

He had a servant leave his reply in that same book, though the paper was clearly lower quality than hers had been. It would be easy for her to tell that she had an answer.

The hidden ink read:

Princess,

I am nothing if not bold. But I must be, if I wish to save my people… or perhaps I should say your people? Surely you know how his Majesty treats those in his domain who have been blessed by the gods with gramarye. A frightened and abused dog will bite, and so will I.

As for your mother, dear child, she too was god-touched. A mystic, like me. Like you, I suspect.

I never met your mother, but the rumors were always there, that she knew what people were truly thinking behind the facades they held in court. She had a gift.

Your father fears what power he does not possess. Be careful, my dear, that he does not learn to fear you, too.

But now, you asked why I bother to tell you such things. I tell you because the fraud-king will not do it himself. He wants you docile, wants you to fear your people as he does.

Had you noticed, Princess, that no harm came to you or your ladies in all the chaos? That you were not bundled away into the wood? The Unseelie wish you no harm. You are not guilty; you have been kept in the dark. Allarick is our true enemy and we defend ourselves from his goons.

We Unseelie would like to offer you a chance to embrace your true self, and your true people. We're offering you a way out of that gilded cage your father would so like to keep you in. Whether you take it is entirely up to you.

Ever yours,
Oberon

[Cera Le'Orin]

She held onto that letter for days. Cera knew better than to believe the words of a madman, because that was what he was...right? Clearly anyone who slaughtered others so easily was crazy.

So, then, what of her father?

The princess was left speechless, knowing deep down that at least a part of what Oberon said was true. It was that last bit in his letter, however, that left her in deep thought.

What would she do in order to get out of this "gilded cage"? Did she believe she was following in her mother's footsteps? If she did, in fact, have gramarye, would the king pardon her because she was his daughter? Some say he lied about her mother and murdered her...

Her throat was tight, her hand shaking when she finally penned a response.

Oberon,

How do I know I can truly trust you? It is also impossible for me to meet, let alone think for myself without eyes on me.

Placing it within the book and rushing away before she changed her mind. Was she insane? She was beginning to feel like she was.

[Oberon]

Caius laughed out loud at the princess's answer. She was a shrewd one, and he couldn't blame her for worrying. After all, he'd been painted as a violent terrorist, one who would slaughter anyone in his path. She couldn't know that he had very specific rules...not until she saw them for herself.

Trust is earned, child, I know. Just watch, and you'll see. I'll earn yours.

As for a meeting--you underestimate my commitment. I will come to you if you wish. All I need is your invitation.

What say you? Will you give me a chance?

[Cera Le'Orin]

If she was being honest, Cera was terrified. How did she know she was even truly speaking with the Unseelie leader? What if this was some sort of prank, or worse, a setup of some kind?

Even still, her curiosity was what finally won out, and after a few more days of no response from the princess, Caius would finally get his answer.

If you can find a way, then I will hear you out.