(2023-09-17) Flowery Words

Details

Author:	Athena
Summary:	An exchange of letters from Vice Admiral Siamus Fallon to his wife, Duchess Avrenne Esprit Fallon, of business and logistics to see to, and, of course, coded affection. 2400 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Chain: Siarenne

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Included with this letter is a humble, flame-colored bouquet of marigold, agrimony, and scarlet geranium.

17 September 27

Your Grace,

I am in receipt of your letter of 6th September. I apologise for the delay in response.

We have been in transit along the coast. First from Valiance to Moa’ki, and now on to Kamagua, where we remain moored for the time being — we will resume our patrols along the Fjord’s coast until directed otherwise. I may be contacted here for the next while.

I would be obliged if you could inquire with Miss Curran as to the outcome of my last contact with Kul Tiras — I have heard nothing as yet, which is unlike Annai — I have written to Padraig Moore’s family in Tiragarde of his death — I wish to be sure they received word

Please do move with all haste, if you have not already, to expedite completion of the Lady Blanche and the two in slip. They will all require proper blessing, and I can spare no sage at present in the wake of Brother Eamon’s loss. Barbour will know whom we should contact in search of another. Ask him particularly about the Sister out of Brennadam, he will know the one I mean —

I am grateful that I may rely on you in these matters.

I will want to add two additional brigs and a barquentine to the Fleet — Aymond in the shipyard will have our designs on file. Confer with him as to the requisite materials — also as to his particular needs for additional labor —

Which reminds me that I have been in contact with a draenei woman of Cobalt Company — Vindicator Erixa is her name, I believe — who has agreed to put me in contact with some shamans of her people —

I will want to speak with some of their artificers as well. The Vindicator herself was not familiar with the precise nature or use of their navigational systems. If your contacts in Outland know of draenei artificers available for consultation or even hire, please advise —

There is a particular crystal, argunite or arkonite, which they employ in navigation — I am not certain whether it is naturally occurring or manufactured — the Vindicator was unclear on this point herself

Thank you for the news of home — it does me greater good than you can imagine to know that you and the child are well. I think of you often, mo chroí — here I would wax poetic but I know you are not a lady who cares for flowery compliments — so I will only say again how grateful I am for your faith, and for the knowledge that I may rely on you in all things

Give the children my best regards. Tell both Finley and Isla that I will be pleased to see their artistic endeavors upon my return, though I am not yet certain when that will be. I will be very glad indeed to see Lady Moore’s commission.

I am reminded of one last business matter —

I would be obliged if you could arrange for me a meeting with Lord Demasco. I am willing to return to Stormwind to attend it, if it can be put at the end of the month or at the start of the next —

In the meantime, I will see to some meetings up here. I hope to find time at last to speak with Lieutenant Hazan and Sir Atley of Cobalt Company — as well as these draenei compatriots of Vindicator Erixa.

With fondest regards,
Your husband,
Vice Adm. Siamus Fallon

Code:

Flower language:
Marigold: Grief
Agrimony: Gratitude
Scarlet geranium: Consolation, comfort

Morse code in the punctuation: I love you, my star.

The Fallons through distance.

[the paper has a faint scent of lotus to it]

September 18th, Year 27

Dearest Siamus,

These days were once the slowest of my ordinary year – these last weeks just before the end of the summer as the autumn comes, where I would spend more days at home than out of it. I confess that I find the greater activity of a household of this nature suits me far more than idleness –

I have remained most oft at the house to be closer to the harbor and Mr. Larabie – you may rest assured that all haste has been secured for the ships in construction – and I have not been traveling as much as I might have otherwise for any business, so that I am easily able to ensure action without delay, however –

As of this afternoon, Mr. Aymond and I have finalized the necessary amounts of resource components for the two brigs and barquentine. I will ensure that they are all at quality for the most reasonable price that can be negotiated – though in several cases I will need to travel personally to speak with some to persuade them that it is in all our best interests for them to set their prices at where I want them to be, and I expect to be away from the house for at least three days, with current dates expected to be the 21st to the 24th, where I may be reached at the inns The Blue Rose, The Amused Stone, and The Fearless Pig respectively if necessary.

I have spoken to Barbour and will contact Sister Olethia Snow, of Brennadam. A letter will be dispatched with the morning mail by regular post for tomorrow –

On the other matter of correspondence, I am afraid I have nothing of the sort of news that one would wish to hear for reassurance. I shall leave the intricacies of the details for Miss Curran to report to you directly and in full – there is something quite amiss, although I can report that the courier is still alive, and returning here, which were apparently both not entirely sure things at one point. Neither packet was accepted.

My greatest concern with this information thus far is that I believe that all signs point to something of a deeper political nature, or something coming from an authority that would be more absolute, such that Lady Ashvane would not only turn away a courier but ensure that there were potentially visible witnesses showing such a refusal. There is some possible reassurance to be had that it does not at present appear to be a concern to take to the Alliance of something posing a clear and present danger to Kul Tiras – there is nothing of a supernatural nature apparent in this matter, as I understand it, though Miss Curran will provide the complete picture of the known players and elements in the part of this oddity when we have the full account from the courier when he returns.

Though I have the deepest of sympathy for those waiting on the other end of the news of these deaths – for I know all too well what thoughts may be in their minds, of the hope and despair both – neither are of such a nature to require immediate action at all other costs, for all that these delays will be an ache, there is only the urgency of relief to know the truth, not a life to be saved, and at this point, only lives that might be risked to pursue this avenue as it is –

I will say however that while communication has been halted, there is still enough of a connection through other places that we are not entirely cut off from all of Kul Tiras. We have obtained several plants on behalf of Mr. Larabie for the memorial to be built here in honor of Brother Eamon. I have also obtained some star moss for the house, so that you may see that it is in bloom when you return.

They will bloom with joy, I can promise you that.

On the matter of a draenei artificer, I shall be in contact as soon as I know more. I know of a place to start and I will see about obtaining a source of the crystals, of which I know only cursory information at present, for their applications have not been as yet compatible with current Alliance technology, while we await the slow exchange of knowledge –

The greatest barrier to locating an artificer for navigational services is simply that I shall be obliged to hear back from a contact who might know of where to inquire of such an artificer – I know of none directly, unfortunately, at present, but in this matter, as with many things, all I require is time –

As for Lord Demasco – the closest I was able to obtain a sure meeting for him within the time is the second of October, with a preference of meeting him at the Demasco Estate House in Elwynn. He has been assisting in some legal matters that have had him busy in Stormwind City, the exact nature of which he was vague enough on that I suspect that someone of the House has asked for his assistance in writing a proposal of something or another, but Lord Demasco’s discretion is absolute, and I can only speculate from his words. If the 2nd will serve, he will be willing to meet for a dinner conversation, to begin at 1700, and if that time is not desirable I will attempt another date.

If you do meet with Sir Atley and Lieutenant Hazan, please pass on my regards, and my thankfulness for their continued service in Northrend to both. The latest news of the Zul’Drak offensive and Argent Stand suggest that current siege equipment is sufficient for the progress that can be made at present – but if either has seen that front in person, if you would get their opinions on the matter on what may or may not be of best use, from their personal perspectives, I would be grateful for the information.

Of things here at home, I can say that we have more than enough of all that we need – and plenty of all that we might ever want – and I am pleased to reassure that the household continues to run smoothly and well –

Priscilla has continued sketching portraits of the staff, and enjoying the freedom to spend far more of her time in painting rather than the management of a household, which has been quite beneficial for the collection of art for the house. It has been lovely to have her here, and she has been so happy. In all the time I have known her, Priscilla has never been one to let despair enter into her heart, but I see in the delight she has now that she has been, perhaps, lonelier in the past few years than I thought her to be, and I cannot say how glad I am that I can aid her in this matter, a return for the times when her friendship has sustained me through the years.

Sintha and the children are equally well, conducting their own affairs. I have been asked by Isla to report to you that Otto has managed to locate eleven shells of such similarity that I find it very difficult to tell them apart, for the purpose of crafting the baby’s mobile, and we await the location of the twelfth, and final, addition.

I will say that I do believe that I have lost a racing partner before it could truly begin. Although, my estimations place Levanter to be of equal potential to Vesper, the very great gap between the first and second places of the race between myself and Finley has caused him to quit the field of it in full, for which I suppose I cannot blame him –

I cannot express in simple words how happy I am – it is not because there is no sorrow, or no ache of grief, for they are here with us as we mourn the losses of our people, but that the joy of my life runs so deeply that even in sadness, joy endures in every place I am, for I know you to be there in every alcove, in each doorway, in every step I take. I cannot be unhappy or unwell when my seawall and my harbor surround me still, and there are so many days that I could not possibly light even the smallest of candles.

In all ways, you are the finest of husbands I could hope for, and that holds true whether you are here to hold me in your arms, or across the sea where the only way I may touch you is in paper and petals, and it brings me pleasure to know that I am able to support you in any way that I can. I remain ever pleased by you, without reservation, and the thought of you evokes only the most pleasant of feelings, some of which I do hold in reserve for the next time I will see you, and I have ensured that I have a dress of quite disposable buttons ready for sacrifice.

And though I may not be one for a flowery compliment by any other, I have enjoyed your flowery words. Each time it is a delight to have those words from you – I carry them with me from room to room for as long as they last. In all of my imaginings throughout my life, when I envisioned myself married, I never thought that I would find someone who would ever speak to me that way, for no purpose other than to please me with it, and it is a spark of joy every time.

I think of you each day, each night, each trip to the shrine, and hold you with me always. That is not entirely metaphorical either in this case – you may be pleased to know, though I doubt any but myself might be able to note the difference as yet, that I can tell that there are the first signs of our child showing. I have been told to expect that I might feel the first flutterings within this coming month, and it may be that the next you see me, you will be able to see for yourself the first glimpse of our child growing well.

With pleased regards,
Your wife,
Avrenne Esprit Fallon

Code:

Morse code in the punctuation: Coral Rose, Ambrosia, Dill

Flower language:
Coral Rose: Admiration for your accomplishments and talents.
Ambrosia: Love returned with love.
Dill: Lust.