Dear Raistlin:
I write this as the Highlord's troops begin to round up hostages. You never knew me. Now you never will. I watched you from a distance, watched your loneliness, and watched you as you turned away from your brother's amorous activities. If you had only once turned my way you would have seen that there was one who loved without pity, without fear. One who watched; but you never did turn my way and now I watch as the dragons destroy our town, as the troops gather up women and children for hostages. I know my fate if they find me, I have no husband to guarantee I will be just a hostage; I have no children to hold for my good behavior. I will be turned over to the troops for their pleasure, to survive as best I can.
I remember when I first realized I loved you. You had come to our farm with your brother and were doing tricks to entertain us. I stayed in the back away from the others so I could watch your face, your eyes as you enjoyed my brothers and sisters enthrallment with your "magic". I heard later that you thought I was distant because I disapproved of you and your magic. I was afraid of getting too close. I almost told you when you came to help my mother during the plague but I was too afraid you would laugh at me. I watched for you on the road to your school just to catch a glimpse of you. I watched for you in town when mother sent me to buy things. I have always been so afraid. Afraid you would turn away.
I saw you when you returned with your brother, the changes in you. Just once I would have liked to know the touch of your hand, a smile from your lips. Now you cannot even see me as I am, but as I will be as time passes. Now I know you will turn away from the hag I must seem to you, with your cursed eyes. Tika told me what you said at the inn about seeing time as it passes. You are not the only one, and time passes slowly for me.
I have always known there was no hope for me. My heart made it's own decision. I will fight and will die with your name on my lips and may whatever gods there are have pity on me and allow me to watch what happens in this world and with you. You will probably never see this, but I had to write before I place my life in the hands of fate. Perhaps someone will find this and understand that I am not brave, I do not fight these troops to try to preserve anything, but that I fight to destroy myself, because I am not brave enough to try to survive as a plaything of the Highlord's troops, just as I was not brave enough to let you know my feelings.
Even if I did there would be no hope in my life. You are a powerful mage, why would you even be interested in a poor farmer's daughter. No it is best I do this. Please forgive my lack of courage all these years. Please whatever gods there are, forgive this waste of a life.
I have only one other comment. I have loved you since your brother first started working for my father. And I will watch if I can and you will know there is someone who loves you watching.
Kathryn Sledge
Dalamar:
This letter was found in the ruins of Solace. The Sledge family kept it and just now gave it to me. I ask that you add it to my brother's records. It may only be a footnote, but her body was found with 5 Draconians surrounding her, she went down fighting for a love she could never have.
Caramon Majere
I write this as the Highlord's troops begin to round up hostages. You never knew me. Now you never will. I watched you from a distance, watched your loneliness, and watched you as you turned away from your brother's amorous activities. If you had only once turned my way you would have seen that there was one who loved without pity, without fear. One who watched; but you never did turn my way and now I watch as the dragons destroy our town, as the troops gather up women and children for hostages. I know my fate if they find me, I have no husband to guarantee I will be just a hostage; I have no children to hold for my good behavior. I will be turned over to the troops for their pleasure, to survive as best I can.
I remember when I first realized I loved you. You had come to our farm with your brother and were doing tricks to entertain us. I stayed in the back away from the others so I could watch your face, your eyes as you enjoyed my brothers and sisters enthrallment with your "magic". I heard later that you thought I was distant because I disapproved of you and your magic. I was afraid of getting too close. I almost told you when you came to help my mother during the plague but I was too afraid you would laugh at me. I watched for you on the road to your school just to catch a glimpse of you. I watched for you in town when mother sent me to buy things. I have always been so afraid. Afraid you would turn away.
I saw you when you returned with your brother, the changes in you. Just once I would have liked to know the touch of your hand, a smile from your lips. Now you cannot even see me as I am, but as I will be as time passes. Now I know you will turn away from the hag I must seem to you, with your cursed eyes. Tika told me what you said at the inn about seeing time as it passes. You are not the only one, and time passes slowly for me.
I have always known there was no hope for me. My heart made it's own decision. I will fight and will die with your name on my lips and may whatever gods there are have pity on me and allow me to watch what happens in this world and with you. You will probably never see this, but I had to write before I place my life in the hands of fate. Perhaps someone will find this and understand that I am not brave, I do not fight these troops to try to preserve anything, but that I fight to destroy myself, because I am not brave enough to try to survive as a plaything of the Highlord's troops, just as I was not brave enough to let you know my feelings.
Even if I did there would be no hope in my life. You are a powerful mage, why would you even be interested in a poor farmer's daughter. No it is best I do this. Please forgive my lack of courage all these years. Please whatever gods there are, forgive this waste of a life.
I have only one other comment. I have loved you since your brother first started working for my father. And I will watch if I can and you will know there is someone who loves you watching.
Kathryn Sledge
Dalamar:
This letter was found in the ruins of Solace. The Sledge family kept it and just now gave it to me. I ask that you add it to my brother's records. It may only be a footnote, but her body was found with 5 Draconians surrounding her, she went down fighting for a love she could never have.
Caramon Majere