(2025-07-18) Dear Deer Princess

Details

Author:	Luridel
Summary:	The day after a trip to the Darkmoon Faire, Cecil writes to Oslynn.
Rating:	T for Teen

Dear Deer Princess,

I had a wonderful day yesterday. I enjoyed my lesson in Gilnean-style riding and our trip to the Darkmoon Faire very much. I believe I promised you the alphabet and some writing examples.

[ Below is a drawing of 26 hands, each labeled with a letter of the alphabet. ]

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

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THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG.

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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

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THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG.

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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

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THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG.

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I would like to address some subjects in further detail.

First: you said you were "bad luck to wars". I cannot believe this to be true. You may have had bad luck in wars during your lifetime, but there is no logical reason that you yourself would be the bringer of bad luck. I am sorry to hear that the wars (multiple!) that you have been involved in have gone poorly, but I don't wish you to blame yourself.

Second: you described yourself as a vagrant and a stray. I don't believe that either of these things are innately bad things to be - what matters is whether you're happy living your life that way or not. It seemed to me as though Lady Merelda cares for you and would be able to offer you a home to return to whenever you wished for it. I don't know the extent of the history between the two of you, so there may be something I'm missing.

You were right that I was lonely at the gala. I am often so. I am accustomed to being alone with my thoughts, and sometimes they tangle into poetry. Half of what I write feels like rubbish, but once in a while I can fuss with something for long enough that I stop hating it. Art is much the same way. I'm decent with shapes and drawing what I see, but as soon as I add color into the mix, I'm in above my head. Wobby tells me that I once snapped a colored pencil in half and stuck the pieces in my mouth like tusks to pretend I was a walrus.

[ A doodle of a young boy with a perfect center part and two halves of a pencil sticking out of his mouth. He is lying down with his hands out to his sides like flippers. ]

I'm afraid that is the extent of my abilities of transformation. I wish I were capable of more - it seems so fun.

You're right: Wanting does hurt, often. But it's impossible to stop. Since you shared something deeply personal with me, I'll do the same.

Here are a few of the things I wish for:

• I wish my father would take the time to learn how to sign. He's a busy man, and we're not very close.
• I wish my brother Hubert will recover. He went to Northrend to fight the Lich King, and he came home haunted. I would like you to meet him one day.
• I wish I could turn into a talking deer so I could race with you. And also talk.

Warm regards,
Cecil

[ Also enclosed in the envelope, separate from the letter, is a drawing - ink pen on thick card stock. The Deer Princess, circlet on her head and ornamental collar around her neck, stands in front of a background of trees and shrubbery. ]