A Letter for Dorian

[Dieter]

He had spent much time with such, but now it was finished. His uncle nae questioning the request for parchment, thinking such a letter to his brothers back home, perhaps to congratulate Burhardt on the twins, but in truth this letter was far more and for someone else entirely.

Moving to the office they shared, knowing there it would only be found by the one whose name it bore, he pondered briefly, lifting a few of the papers on Dorians desk and slipping it beneath them, where it might pass a quick look, though knowing Dorian would notice the disturbed papers in anything more than a cursory glance in the room.

Having taken care of that, and the few things in his chambers, he exited the room, locking it behind him before stopping by his room to leave the key with the other things he was leaving behind, gathering the blanket and his cloak before turning and making his way from the castle once again.

When found the letter would read...

"Dorian,


I leave this letter for you, as one of the few who will understand why I do this. Her Majesty can not understand, not when one must sacrifice for what is right. And my kin, while they might understand such, familial love would blind them to the necessity of this.

I have had much time to think on certain matters while I patrolled these lands, watching over its peoples for Her Majesty. First I would speak of you my friend. I may nae be as familiar with your past as Her Majesty, but I know the darkness and the evil in the world in a manner She cannot, and know that you once walked such a path. But you are no longer that man Dorian, you have come through the darkness, tempered as the fire tempers the steel of a blade. The man I know is a man I trust, a man I am proud to call brother-in-arms, and am honored to call friend. Providence has granted you a second chance Dorian, take it and hold to it and make the most of it, for you deserve such.

I have given much thought to the future of Windstorm as well my friend, during the quiet hours alone. I can foresee a time, in the not too distant future, when Windstorm might be as well known for its children, as well as its hospitality. With Her Majesty and Gregor, and yourself and Sarah, as well as Sithicus and Marietta, just to speak of a few. I can even envision a time when our lines might join, as is not uncommon when families grow up together, and believe that such is one of the more pleasant thoughts I have had of late. My other thoughts of the children to come are nae so easy upon my mind. I think of the children, and think that the monsters they should face should be those of fairy tales and bedtime stories, nae a true evil that would snatch their lives away given the chance, alive and hidden away within the very bowels of the castle itself.

While you may not have ever sworn to the knighthood Dorian, you know what such entails, for the true Knight. I swore an oath, that my strength and skill, blood and even my life should stand between the innocent, the weak, the defenseless, and those that would prey upon them and bring them hurt. You can see the path that leaves me, when I am the very threat that faces them, graver than any other.

Such thoughts are especially troubling when the lands should be at peace now, for all we have done, you and I, Sithicus and Ulbrecht, Gregor and even my Father. Her Majesty is protected and shielded as few others are anywhere.

Forgive my ramblings, I never was one much for writing, I had just hoped that one might understand why I have chosen this course, for now you know the thoughts that lead to my decision, though while they had set me upon this path, they were nae the final factor.

I do not know if She has shown you, but Our Queen goes armed now, and with no mere thread-knife for Her handicrafts, but a blade crafted for a specific purpose, and no more foul a purpose can I imagine. She has finally accepted the danger that I am, to Her in particular. But rather than sending me off, She has set her mind upon a course that sickens my heart to contemplate. For the blade is crafted for the sole purpose, that should the unthinkable happen and She face the beast, that She might take Her Own life, thinking to spare me some measure of pain when I am once again myself.

You know as well as I that such nae would remove my responsibility, for to force one to such an act, makes me as culpable as if I had held the blade myself. Such a thought tears at my heart, as I am certain you can understand, caring for Her as we both do, and can understand that I can not and will not allow such to come to pass.

I would but ask one last favor of you Dorian. You have the instructions I left some time back, I would ask you to see to the last few steps, to salt and bury the few remains deep, to ensure that this evil dies with me, to never trouble Mankind again and to be forgotten to the mists of time.

Yours in respect and friendship,

Dieter Klaes Jelckama"

[Dorian Hawkmoon]

It had been quite a clever move on Dieter’s part, leaving the missive as he had, knowing that he his eyes would be drawn to the slight way that the documents on the desktop had been moved. He’d sunk slowly into the chair and read the missive over and over again, torn between keeping the contents secret, or sharing them with the Queen. He knew instantly what his task would be as soon as the words had spilled form the Queens mouth last eve…”Find Him”, she had said and that was all he had needed. Looking at the missive as it lay opened on the desk, he knew he was going to have to share this with Edfeil…and, of course, he was going to have to tell Sarah something to explain his absence. Dieter was as skilled as he, unfortunately…and a man of that level of training and determination was going to be VERY hard to find. The other unfortunate point was that he was now on a timetable…he knew that Dieter was quite capable of ending his own life if he thought it would serve the greater good, and the words on the parchment made it quite clear that that was precisely what he intended to. He’d risen from the desk, his mind made up, and went to the Hall to search out both Edfeil and Sarah…He’d found Sarah first, and though was little that he could reveal, he did as best as he could to make her understand that duty would take him from the Castle, not knowing when he would return. She had said that she understood and he believed her….would always believe her…and supported whatever he would need to do. It was not long after that the Queen had entered the Hall and he’d barely had a chance to share more than a few words with her that a disturbance was heard and Ulbrechts senseless form had been brought into the Hall. As the Rangers had carried him to the Infirmary and Sarah had followed to tend to him, he’d taken the opportunity to slip the missive that Dieter had left for him to her for her to read. His look had been bleak, watching her read those words…he had never been made to know about the knife and it was not settling well with him. He’d left soon after, the Queens words ringing in his ears….”Find Him…”