Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Aragorn and the Half Blood Prince

My Dearest Kendrah,

Than you so much for the lovely weekend! I think the pirate party was a smashing success and the cake was amazing! I look forward to many more enjoyable parties with your lovely children in the future. BTW...has your youngest managed to say “Elbereth” again? I was so touched to here Her name bubbling out of his sweet little mouth! Aragorn is very disappointed that he missed it!

And speaking of our Elessar, when I finally got home from work Monday, there he was, curled up on my couch reading rapidly through a large stack of bound parchment with a worried look on his face. I’ve seen that look before. “Uh-oh,” I said, “What’s wrong?” “What’s wrong?” he replied, CHAPTER TWO is what’s wrong!!!”
“Um...are you reading Harry Potter and the HBP?”
“Obviously! Amazon just shipped its extra-realty copies on Saturday...a whole week after YOU people got yours!!! “
“There’s no need to be grumpy with me, I’ve been working on the import/export issues with customs for months! Besides, you could have borrowed my copy!”
“And how would that look, the king getting his copy before the rest of his country. It would set a bad example exploiting class distinctions and perpetuating royal prerogative!”
I refrain from mentioning that Gondor is Divine Right Monarchy “So are you enjoying it?”
“I would be if you’d let me get back to reading...the kids are spending Yule at the Burrow and you KNOW Phlegm will be there!”

So, I go about my business, unpacking, cleaning, petting the kitties, etc. As I watched him get closer and closer to the DEATH, I started to get a sinking feeling in my stomach...I was in the basement when I heard the shout. “I do not believe it! It cannot be!” I ran back up the stairs to find the book on the floor and Aragorn pacing nervously in circles, reaching for his sword which of course he isn’t wearing, and looking like he wants to hit something. . “I will not believe it! It cannot be true! It’s a ruse...a trick...I have to see what happens next!” He ceases to pace, flops back onto the couch, grabs the book and continues on in silence until the bitter end. Finally, he closes the book. He’s got that look...the one he got when he thought the Army of the Dead had refused his offer and he sees the Corsair ships sailing up the Anduin and his heart breaks. I hate that look. It makes my throat sad. “How are you doing?” I ask quietly. He just stands there all quiet, looking dejected. “Sweetie, do you need a hug?” Which, of course he did.

He finally pulled himself together, put on his determined face and announced that he must return to Middle Earth immediately. “Pippin will not take this well,” he explained, “nor will Frodo. I cannot abandon Merry and Sam! They should not have to be brave all alone.” “Maybe you should get the old gang together, hang out with Faramir, and toast fallen comrades, Fellowshippy stuff. He agreed and set off to the Shire to bring the Halflings to Minis Tirith. I promised to be along in a bit and to cheer them with our UUTs about how things could still work out. “Remember what you told me a few weeks ago...the Shadow cannot conquer forever!” He didn’t looked convinced but promised not to despair, which is about all we can hope for after Book Six..Alas, I must be off to teach my workshop now. I hope all is well with you!


Your Affectionate Friend,
Corwynne

Sunday, July 10, 2005

The New House

My Dearest Corwynne,

Today my soon to be ex husband decided to take the kids to the Great Lakes Medieval Faire. I had thought of taking them myself but the expense is so high and the pure exhaustion of trying to explain the whole thing to Leggs made me think better of it.

So Leggs and I spent the day at the house my parents just bought. It is a beautiful house with an extensive yard....Once you climb down the cliff that is. My father and Cam decide to scale the cliff face, and Leggs, never one to turn down climbing something went with them.

When they returned Leggs had a look of horror on his face....horror on Leggs is when his eyes are opened slightly wider than normal. He drew me aside and whispered, (so my parents wouldn't hear him, as if they could!) and said "Your parents have made a terrible mistake, this house was built upon a grave yard, just like in that palantir box play you had me watch Poltergist. Soon the palantir will turn to snow and steal your youngest child. We must flee!"

I must admit that I was a bit shocked, but I knew there must be a logical explanation. So I told Leggs to listen and I would get to the bottom of it. So I went to my father and Cam and asked if they found anything of interest. "Yup, lots of headstones." was the the reply. "Headstones!?" "Yeah didn't we tell you about that? The people who owned this house before worked at a funeral home, and whenever they messed something up on a headstone they would toss it over the side. There is like a hundred of them down there."

I went back to leggs to see is the explanation sat well with him. His only response was "Real people are just strange. I am going back to the settlement."

I think he might have been a little freaked out. Any way, I hope all is well with you, in the real world and elsewhere.

Your affectionate friend,
Kendrah

Thursday, July 07, 2005

More Thoughts

My Dearest Kendrah,

I read your last letter with great interest. I think you are correct...we're just too realistic for our own good. It must be nice to have a fantasy world to visit where nothing ever goes wrong and all is sunshine, lollipops, rainbows and unicorns. I envy those who can escape the Troubles of this world without creating new New Troubles in a fantasy one. On the other hand, to quote the mysterious, not-left-handed Man in Black "Life is Pain." I think I'd be bored if there weren't occasional difficulties. Sure, planning a week long New Year Celebration and Royal Birthday Party was a logistical pain in the rear, but it was a much more interesting pain in the rear than say, selling subscription tickets to prudish blue-hairs or facing internal audits.

As much as I enjoy sitting around embroidering tapestries, sipping wine and listening to Aragorn sing ancient Numenorian laments, it gets a bit tedious after a while. Let's face it...we're problem solvers...we need something to fix or we're not happy.

To quote the Professor "A safe fairy tale is untrue in all worlds."

On that note, I suppose I should get back to my end of day report. I want to make sure I get home on time today. Aragorn has promised to dress up in his Strider garb so we can play a naughty little game of "The Princess and the Ranger." He's so sweet sometimes!

Your Affectionate Friend,
Corwynne

Saturday, July 02, 2005

Thoughts

My Dearest Corwynne,

So I have been thinking, and I am sure that in reference to having this fantasy world and writing about, we are truly fine. I am certain that many people have fantasy worlds which they visit regularly. I realize that most don't write about them, but I think they are just afraid that doing so would make them crazy.

I am, however, becoming slightly concerned about the events we allow to occur in our fantasy worlds. I would think that most people who have fantasy worlds make them into happy places where they go to have fun. But the two of us have created worlds that are, if not more work, at least as much work as our real lives.

Now in recent days I have noticed that on top of the troubles we invent for ourselves in the White City and the settlement, we have also created fantasy boyfriends who make fun of us for inventing them in first place. It make you wonder if Frankenstien's monster made fun of him for bringing him back to life and if things will end as badly for us.

I think that what it comes down to is that we might just be too realistic for our own good.

Anyway, all is well here and in the settlement. Things have been very quiet. Hope that the same can be said for both of your worlds.

Your affectionate friend,
Kendrah