Chapter Text
Dear Dorothea,
You may be surprised to know that this is indeed Petra writing to you. As I have expressed many times, my Fódlan writing skills are very good, it is just the speaking I struggle with. It is actually quite pleasant to be speaking to you in this manner, as well as one could ‘speak’ through a letter, that is. I do not have to worry about saying the wrong word or phrase, it is peaceful, almost.
I am sorry, this is not why I wanted to write to you. I wanted to write to you because I wanted to express how overcome with joy I am to be back home in Brigid. I feel you would love to know the most, you have always shown great kindness about my homesickness. I am ever-thankful for that. The truth is, I feel a little ashamed for forgetting what the warm breeze felt like as I walked along the shore. It is truly beautiful, Dorothea, I can feel our Brigid Goddess, Môor, cradling me as I let the waves wash over my body. Have you ever been to the beach? I love nothing more than the wind in my hair and the sound of the shore, I believe you would love it too.
As you know, I must assemble what power I can in Brigid. For Edelgard to succeed, she will be needing my might and the might of my people. I am worried my Daid, the King, will be reluctant to help. My Dayn made his choice by entering the war against Ardestia, it cost him life and to some degree, mine. Daid is understandably worried that he may lose more of his kin and not only that, if I were to die, the royal bloodline would cease and Brigid would be without leadership. I cannot let such a future befall my people.
I do not know how long I will be remaining here and while I cannot say I am eager to leave my country, I hope you and I will meet again sooner than we think. I said I love nothing more than the sound of the ocean meeting the sands, well, your voice does comes close to that great love. ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder,’ Daid says. Maybe I will come to miss your voice more than I have missed this breeze, I believe I will.
Your stalwart friend and ally,
Petra Macneary
Dear Petra,
I wasn’t surprised by your letter at all! We studied together, remember? I know how you can write but I have to say, you’ve quite the silver-tongue when you’re writing freely, I envy any woman who gets to trade love letters with you one day. Your handwriting is simply gorgeous, by the by. I do hope I told you that in classes, you work so hard after all. And don’t worry, I think your way of speaking Fódlan is endearing. I always did enjoy hearing you talk about Brigid, especially when you occasionally slipped into its native language.
Those days feel like so long ago now.
It warms my heart to hear from you, Petra, I’m so happy for you. I hated to see you homesick. I couldn’t imagine what it’s like, seeing as how I’ve never really had a home but I knew it pained you. Never mind that now though, I need to know exactly what Brigid looks like! Paint me a pretty picture! I’ve never been to the beach, in fact, I can’t even swim. I’ve always tried to imagine the ocean, is it really so blue? I remember you telling me about Môor, she’s your Goddess of love and the sea. I hope I remembered that correctly…
I understand why you had to go and why Edie started this war in the first place. I just wish that you didn’t have to. I wish the Church would of, I don’t know, bowed out gracefully, their act was up the moment we lay eyes on Rhea’s true form. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it, my dreams certainly won’t even if it’s been nearly two years. I believe in Edie, just like our Professor did and I’ll be working hard too, for everyone.
Petra, you really are sweet, you know that? I’m going to miss you more than I could admit to anyone else. I’ll miss your optimism, your patience for all my ramblings and well- everything about you, if I’m honest. Perhaps your smile more than anything else, the way your mark rises as your eyes squint with laughter. You’re beautiful.
Your favourite diva,
Dorothea Arnault
Dear Dorothea,
I have received your letter and am writing this from the balcony of my home, where I can see Brigid children playing together. It is warming my heart to know I am fighting for their future as well as our own.
I am sorry for the delay, it has taken me a long time to paint you the piece that should arrive with this letter. I do not have a natural ability for art but I truly hope you find this worthy. I have painted for you the view from the west side of Brigid, where there are many unknowns on the horizon and the sea stretches the farthest. It is one of my favourite places, it is very peaceful. We call it ‘Mor an Buu.’ That would translate to ‘The Sea Belly.’ I would have asked for a commission but I did not feel it would be sufficient- I wanted to do this for you myself. It took me four days, one piece was lost to the sudden rain so I had to restart. Again I am sorry this letter is later than intended but I hope you find this worth it.
To know that you remembered one of our Goddesses and that you like how I speak, it fills me with joy. I also like how you spoke to me, you never changed your speech like others did because they did not think I understood, much to my annoyance. But I admit, I do not know what ‘silver-tongue’ means.
Dorothea, if you would allow me, I would take you to the ocean. Fódlan beaches are not comparable to Brigid but they are still lovely. I would like to be there to see you see the sea. Haha.
It is amazing how you can make me blush, even though you are so far away. You say such things but it is you who is the most beautiful, Dorothea. I will miss all that you are too.
Tomorrow- we are expecting envoys from the church who have come to negotiate with my Daid, they will be meeting me as well and I will be prepared. No matter what they are offering- or threatening- Brigid will not bow to the whims of the Church. I stand with Edelgard and I will ensure the rest of Brigid does also, I assure you of this.
Your stalwart friend and ally,
Petra Macneary
Dear Petra,
Petra, you I Well, to be completely honest, I’m not too sure what to write. Your painting is gorgeous, I can’t believe you actually did this! Not because I think you would lack the skill but-! Petra, dear, ‘paint me a picture’ is an expression we use to tell people to describe us things. I feel just awful using it on you knowing how much time you spent on this just for me when you could have been doing something else. But I hope you don’t regret it now, it’s absolutely wonderful, I can’t begin to thank you enough. I’m going to place it in my room so it can be the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning.
Oh, Petra, I’m looking at it again right now and I feel yearning, the love and care you put into this is so moving. If this is how I feel from looking at a painting, I can’t begin to fathom your sorrow when you were taken from your home. I’m so happy you’re back where you belong now, if only you could stay.
If the beach is even remotely close to how you have painted it here, I would love nothing more than to see it with you. You can absolutely take me, though I did want to meet you at the docks when you come back to Fódlan, I suppose I will have to wear a blindfold until you arrive haha!
It’s fun to know I can make you blush, I haven’t lost my touch it seems! But I suppose I’ll have to admit I’m blushing too. I’ve been called beautiful so many times but from you… it feels different, good different. Though I won't have you insist you are anything but the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met, princess.
Given that this letter isn’t probably going to arrive for at least two weeks, you’ve probably already had your ‘meeting’ with the church. I hope it went well, I’m sure it did but I can’t help but worry.
Be safe,
Dorothea Arnault
P.S. ‘Silver-tongued’ means speaking very eloquently, usually poetically. Typically, it’s in regards to someone who is a manipulator but I know you’re not, I just think it’s a very lovely saying.
Dear Dorothea,
Today I am writing from Brigid’s royal dining hall. Perhaps it is not the most suitable place for writing but the last few days have been… perilous and events have only just settled. Once again, my letter is later than intended and I am sorry.
As Edelgard must have informed you, the Church sent their envoys and they were not as polite as hoped, that is one way of putting it. I have taken a hit to my face, there will probably be a little scar on my brow but that is okay- scars are something to take pride in. They are a mark of survival. The Church did not survive, we have sent their bodies back, they can be buried in Fódlan where they belong.
I do not mind that I misread the expression of painting a picture. I am happy you like my painting, if there was enough time I would love to be painting you more of Brigid. But there is not much time. Until I can show you these beaches myself, I will take you to Fódlan’s shores. Maybe I can also teach you to swim?
Thank you for your clarification on the term ‘silver-tongued.’ I also thank you for thinking I have skills in the Fódlan language but if it is poetics you seek, I can certainly try. I have sent, with this letter, a Brigid poem that dates back to before the creation of the Kingdom. We have many bards here in Brigid, it is… I think you would say ‘romantic?’ I have done my best to translate, please enjoy them.
You must not tell a soul this but I had always wanted to be a bard, alas I cannot sing very well and my poetry is not very good. I wonder if that is why I was drawn to you at first, you and your wonderful singing. Of course I see more than your voice in you, you are kind and… I do not know a word for it but when others are sad- you feel their sadness too. That is rare and beautiful, like you are a spirit of the earth reborn. You said once that someone compared your eyes to gemstones, I disagree. Your eyes are like grass. Grass caught in the sunlight of a warm day, speckled with flecks of yellow flowers reaching out to that sun, soft and flowing. I feel as though I could lie in them forever and forget all of my worries, my fears. Maybe I Can we
You are making me blush again, calling me princess! But to know I have made you blush too, that is satisfying. I will call you beautiful forever, Dorothea, if you would let me. I will call you many more things, just to make you feel as warm as you make me feel.
I am safe,
Petra Maceneary
__________________________________________________________________________________
Taken unto me like,
The swirling hot and cold,
Of currents,
Love-making in the tides.
Came as a beloved spirit,
Your hands coil around,
A smile delicate on your face,
Till I can breathe no more.
I take my place,
At your throat,
And slip around,
Just the same.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Dorothea,
It has been a moon since I heard from you last, I am hoping that you received my letter, it can be dangerous for messengers when crossing the sea. I pray to the spirits that they have not perished. I have also sent word to Edelgard of this, so you may have heard but I have excellent news. My Daid has been convinced of our cause, Brigid and Adrestia will fight as one. I am thinking that I can return back to you soon.
Did you enjoy the poetry? It is hard to translate, especially when the language of old Brigid is somewhat different to Brigid now. I must translate from Brigid, to Brigid, to Fódlan!
You We
I am sorry if my last letter was too… I do not know the word. Too much? Perhaps my heart is straned strained from distance and my feelings are more forceful but I want you to know that I speak the truth.
I am just hoping I have not upset you. This letter is a short one so as to save you the displeasure of reading from me if I have upset you.
Be safe, please,
Petra Macneary
Dear Petra,
This is Edelgard writing to you. Do not be alarmed, Dorothea is alive, she is just recovering from an injury and cannot write at present. We were ambushed by attempted usurpers on the road, Dorothea took a hit to her shoulder. She was very brave, Petra, she braced a spear meant for Ferdinand. Alas, our primary healers perished during the battle and she was not healed in time for her recovery to be as swift as we would have liked. She cannot move her writing arm very well because of this though she has certainly been trying, much to Maneula’s insistence that she shouldn’t.
For the record, I have not read any of your previous correspondence. I will be writing my own letter to you regarding Brigid and Ardestria’s future together, I know it will be bright.
She has insisted I write on her behalf and so, here I am with her p eeking over my shoulder like a She will not let me finish the sentence. In truth I am honoured she would come to me for this, she has not stopped gushing gu ————- _______________ ——————————————-
gu shin g
We are struggling to find more supplies at the moment, we cannot afford to waste paper. She loves your letters a lot, that is my point.
She has asked me to write up the following:
Petra, I am so glad you’re safe. I was fretting non-stop when I heard what had happened, I almost didn’t believe you were okay until I got your letter myself. I wish I had gotten it at a better time, a time where I haven’t gone and gotten myself a bad shoulder. It’s been kind of worth it to see Ferdie so thankful though, dare I say I’m warming up to him? Well… let’s not go that far.
If your Daid has agreed to help, does that mean you’ll be coming back soon? Not that I want you to leave Brigid but I can’t deny that I feel like I’ve been waiting too long to see you again.
A scar only adds to your charm, Petra, in fact, I think it would make you look even more handsome! Mine is probably going to end up so ugly but that’s being pierced with a spear for you! Despite what I said, please try not to get anymore scars, I know how much they hurt...
The poem you sent me was beautiful, so romantic in such a strange but wonderful way. I have it pinned up on my wall next to your painting! I can’t send anything to you that compares to these gifts, I don’t have much but I have asked Edie to give this letter a little dose of my perfume, just to remind you that I’m doing just fine and that if you do miss me as much as you say, then hopefully this will ease things until you come back to me.
I think you would be amazing at that thing you told me not to tell anyone else about, in fact, I know you would be. I’ve already seen evidence of it when you thought no one else could see. (Dorothea would like me to draw a ‘winking face’ but I cannot bring myself to do it. Sorry.)
I cannot I will Petra I’m very frustrated that I can’t write at the moment, there are so many things I wish to say that I would like to remain private between us. No offence, Edie. (None taken) Please, be patient with me, Petra. I promise you could never upset me.
I miss you,
Dorothea Arnault
P.S. Petra, this is Edelgard once again. Dorothea will not be reading this part, she thinks the letter has already been sent. I must be blunt here, the ambush has shaken her more so than any other battle we’ve had. If that spear had hit Ferdinand, it would have most certainly killed him and I don’t think that thought has left her mind. My intention is not to worry you but just to keep you informed on her well-being. I feel the toll of this war is weighing down on her more than she is willing to admit. She is an incredibly strong woman but far too empathetic to not be affected mentally. I am certain you will not need prompting to comfort her, I just want to request that whatever you are saying to her in these letters, do not stop. She has never been as happy as she is when she reads from you. Better yet, come back soon, The Black Eagle Strike Force is not the same without you.
P.S.S Were you any other woman, I would be threatening you not to break her heart.
Dearest Dorothea,
I am full of relief to hear you are wll we well. Apologies, my hands have been shaking, I fear I may be overworking myself with training but now that I know you are alright, I can perhaps relax a little more. I have never felt such worry and that feeling is telling me I must return to you soon.
Your bravery is unmatched, the scar you have earned is physical proof of it. I am sure it is as precious as the rest of you, a compliment to your wonder, your kindness to others. Ferdinand is right to show his gratitude, though I understand he can be… excessive at times.
You think I would be a good bard? Then I suppose I am free to admit that I had lied about that poem I sent you. I am embarrassed to admit that I wrote that poem but now that I know you are fond of it, perhaps you would allow me to sing it to you? You say you have already heard my voice, I suppose I am not as quiet as I had hoped. I also thank you for not telling Edelgard...
Dorothea, I ask that you wait for me on the day of my return. Perhaps it is selfish of me to request but yours is the first face I want to see when I arrive back to Fódlan. No one else, just you. When I opened your letter and I could smell your scent, I realised then that you mean more to me than what I knew before. It was like being struck with an arrow, though I wonder if I had been struck years and years ago, when we had first been friends at Garagg Mach.
Absence has made me fonder yes but I feel it has also unlocked something in me I did not think I would have room to possess in my heart. For years my heart has been full of pain, I could not return home to Brigid. I was a hostage, my Dayn had perished in a pointless war and I was so alone. But you were always there for me, you have filled me with joy. I will be fighting for Brigid and for us, I will make sure we will never have to sustain anymore scars ever again. No one will lay a hand on you so long as I breathe.
If you will wait for me, I will be coming home to you soon, may Môor guide me. We can talk, private, between the two of us, there are things better said in person after all.
Yours,
Petra Macneary