Dearest Elise
#4 of Vulpinicity
WARNING! May provoke adverse feelings.
Series Title: Vulpinicity
Story Title: Dearest Elise
Story Theme: Love, Past, Fantasy
Story Audience: General
Summary: Rik and Alpha look through the worgen's grandfather's letters to his fiancée.
Story:
"So what happened during the invasion?" Rik asked, putting his clothes on and sitting back down on the bed next to Alpha, who looked at him with a ponderous expression. He wanted to ask why he thought he would know, but he hesitated and decided against it. Instead, he stood and walked over to the cupboard, rummaging through the contents of the top shelf and withdrawing an A4-sized ring file.
"My grandfather was alive during the invasion," he remarked, "he wrote about it to his fiancée, Elise, who lived in another town."
He sat back down and opened the file to the 56th letter, which was almost perfectly preserved in a Poly-Pocket like all the others. Rik looked over his shoulder as he read it aloud.
Dearest Elise,
Strange woodland beasts have invaded from overseas, and they are infecting our people with their curse. All men of the town have been called to arms to fight them back and I'm in the front line.
I insist you evacuate your town before they get to you. Take every woman, child, elder and sickly person with you. Do not leave even your worst enemy behind - legends say the pain experienced from their bite is unfathomable. For heaven's sake, take care of your sister; as soon as she starts complaining of numb legs, get someone to carry her. Do it yourself if you must.
I know full well you will worry and fret over my safety, but rest assured knowing that only the best warriors will be by my side. It shan't be very long, in fact if all goes to plan we will be home by Christmas. I promise you I will be back before the wedding.
Yours forever,
Aidrin
XXX
"Was he back in time?" Rik asked. Alpha didn't reply; he simply turned the page to a crumpled letter with shockingly awful handwriting.
Dearest Elise,
I am afraid that I may have to stay here at camp for longer than anticipated. Forgive my handwriting - I have been wounded by one of those foul creatures and it's a job to keep myself from screaming in agony. I am resting in the infirmary tent along with others who have also had to endure such indescribable pain.
I have recently had word that you tried to run away from your camp and try to get to me. I beg of you, please do not try to find me. If one of those things hurts or even kills you I would not be able to carry on.
"In other news, one of my comrades has just got on his soap box to tell us all that his wife has just had a child," Aidrin announced, writing everything he said down in the letter, "it's a shame he couldn't be there. He says he will be called Raiden after his grandfather."
"Try to keep it down, would ya?" a muffled voice from the other tent called, "some of us are trying to sleep!"
"Sorry," Aidrin called back. He turned back to the letter. "I have to go now, my love. Sleep beckons me. Yours forever, Aidrin."
_ _
The morning on the misty mountain was cold, the sun weak and sickly. Aidrin woke up after a similarly feverish sleep, having been too hot for half of the night and too cold for the other. He had a quick shower under the waterfall then strode over to the main plaza of the campsite ready for roll call.
... It seemed that there were only 10 of the resistance left.
"Where is everyone? Sleeping in again, I presume?" the captain demanded. One of the soldiers told him that at least three of them had been mauled to death or captured by the beasts right in front of him.
"Ah. Well, men, we have our new dilemma. Darcius, write to the King to ask for conscription measures."
"We're the only men fit enough to go to war, though, sir," Darcius pointed out, "conscription would get us nowhere fast - and even if more men joined the effort they would spread their sicknesses and we would drop like flies. They would win, sir."
"It's the only chance we have."
"SIR!" Aidrin cried, doubling over in agony, "It hurts, sir!"
The captain barged through the diminished ranks and confronted him.
"What does, soldier?"
"My whole body - it - it feels like it's being torn limb from limb - sir!"
"Forget the formalities, just tell me what you're feeling."
"Elise... Elise, help..." Aidrin growled, near delirious with the pain. He staggered away, back to his tent, and took a piece of parchment and a quill.
"Woah, woah, woah! What do you mean that's the last letter?"
"I mean exactly as I say," Alpha growled, "he wrote a letter, left it on the desk, and never delivered it. By the time he had written his signature, he had turned. Elise never got his final letter, and she is still waiting for him to come home."
"The woman's still alive?"
"Oh yes, both of them are. Turns out elves and worgen live longer than the average human."
"She's an elf?"
"Far too many questions, far too few answers. All I know now is that his letter has long since rotted away and she will never get it."
Dearest Elise,
I fear that this is my final letter to you. I want you to know that even though I may never see you again, even if I can never speak again - I must tell you that I will always love you. No matter what shape I take, no matter how old we will get, I will always keep you close to me. All I ask in return is that you do the same.
I never want to hurt you. I never wanted to, and I never will want to. But if you look for me, and find me - I will not be your sweet Aidrin anymore. I will have lost myself in the wild. I beg of you, please, do not come for me.
Goodbye, my love...
Goodbye...