[SS 6.3 AAR] Letters Of An Aragonese Knight (Updated 1/13) Part I: Complete

[Thokran]

Letters Of An Aragonese Knight
Mod: Stainless Steel 6.3
Faction: The Kingdom of Aragon
Campaign Difficulty: Medium
Battle Difficulty: Medium
Unit Size: Small


1220 AD

My beloved sister,

I do not know when you will receive this letter, but I hope that when you do get it you will be relieved to hear that I am well. I know we haven’t spoken in years ever since father took me to the mainland as a squire to serve in the Royal Army, but I want you to know that neither you nor mother have ever escaped my thoughts. I hope all is well in Palma, and that I am able to see you soon enough.



As you must already know, father passed away not too long ago. He died from the wounds he suffered helping our honored King retake the castle of Valencia from those dreaded infidel Moors who plague our southern border. I was with him in his final hours, and we shared many things together: our aspirations, our regrets, our hopes. It was his final wish for me to start writing these letters at the end of every year, whether they are to you, mother, me, or anyone else I found important enough to write to. He constantly reminded me how important it was to constantly write in order to become a learned man. Though I am not sure what he meant by that, I am obligated to honor father’s last wishes and write as he would want me to.

You must believe me when I say that there is nothing more I would love to do than to go back home to be with you and mother, but alas, it seems that God has other plans for me. Father was a renowned knight of the realm, and a close friend and supporter of the King. His service to the crown has not been forgotten by King Jaume, who looks to honor father’s memory by bringing the House of Encina into his royal court in Barcelona! As it is right now, I am to attend court with the King for the coming years, thus delaying my return to Palma.



Do not fret, however! This is great news! I may be young, but I am old enough to know that it is not every day that the King of Aragon invites an outsider family into the Royal Court. I am in a position to elevate our humble family’s name to unprecedented heights of renown throughout the realm!

Please sister, understand where I am coming from. You and I may have our differences, but know that I do this not for my own personal glory, but for the ultimate good of my family. I hope you can forgive me and father for leaving you the way we did all those years before. I hope we can one day I can rejoin you and mother back home and a family once more. Until then, I will do my best to keep you up to date with the affairs of the realm and my interplay in those affairs. Take care of mother, and I hope to see you soon one day!



With love,
Your brother Sir Jaime Encina

[teccarphi]

Wow, excellent start! Wonderful to see you start a new AAR so soon after The Baltic Terror ended.

Cannot rep you, I need to spread the rep around, but I owe you a rep.

Look forward to the next chapter.

[Thokran]

1221 AD

Dear sister,

I know it’s been almost a year now since I last wrote to you, but things have been very busy here in Barcelona. Never had I expected to meet so many different people at the Royal Court! Though you have not written back, I hope to inform you nonetheless of how things go here at the capital.

The King is an honorable and gracious man, who was kind enough to present me in high esteem to the Court. In the prime of his life, he busies himself with plans to strengthen the economic infrastructure of the realm by building better roads, as well as putting his two children to work in serve in their own ways. Since I arrived here at Court, I’ve had no opportunity to spend considerable time with the King. Thankfully, he was gracious enough to introduce me to his next of kin, the future of his Kingdom.



Princess Constanza and Prince Alfonso are both my age, and I’ve grown a close bond with both of them over the past several months. Alfonso is a skilled warrior for his age, and I’ve spent much time practicing my swordplay with him. Our friendship was a natural one born out of youthful pride, and it really helped establish my position in Court. Alas, he was sent went to Zaragoza by his father some months ago, leaving me behind to spend time with his sister, the lovely Princess Constanza.





Constanza is a beauty the likes of which I’ve never laid eyes upon. Such soft skin and fair hair are without comparison across the realm! To match her beauty is a warm-hearted soul and a fiery personality, making her perfectly suited for the diplomatic role she would embark upon in the coming years. We spent many days together at Court, or riding horses to her family’s estate in the country just outside the city. We talked, laughed, and shared memories in ways which I had never done before. She truly is a lovely woman; one I would love to introduce you to should you ever write back to me, which I hope is sooner rather than later!

Alas, my time with her was also short-lived as she was called to prepare for a journey north, where she was to initiate diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of France. It was bittersweet helping her prepare for the trip, because I did not know when I would see her again. In a sense, it reminded me of you and mother. Perhaps I should write her letters while she is in France?

Helping her prepare for the trip, I was introduced to her mentor in diplomacy, the illustrious Ordono Fierro. Ordono was the King’s go-to man when he needed to broker peace or establish trade relations. It was Ordono who brokered a truce with the Moors, keeping them away from raiding Aragonese shores. Ordono too would be setting out on a diplomatic mission of his own, west to the Kingdom of Castile, where he hoped to rekindle old friendships and establish an alliance with Aragon’s traditional Christian neighbor.



With all my new friends and acquaintances off on royal duty, I began to wonder when I too would be called upon by the King to do his bidding. As wonderful as the Royal Court of Barcelona is, it gets tiring fast, especially when one’s friends are away. I’ve grown terribly homesick of late, and your lack of writing has me concerned. With nothing to do at Court, I was thinking of sailing home and checking up on you and mother myself. Given our history, I’m sure you two wouldn’t be happy to see me, but you are still my family despite what qualms you may have with me.

Alas, God has willed otherwise yet again. King Jaume has summoned me to his chambers, appointing me to join his son Alfonso on a military campaign north to the fortress of Pamplona. As such, I’ll be held serving the King for a number of years, thereby further delaying my hopeful visit home. I guess you can rest easy knowing I won’t be seeing you soon, but I do hope you write back sometime soon. No matter our differences, you will always be my sister, and I miss you and mother terribly. Please write back soon!

Sincerely,
Sir Jaime Encina

[Thokran]

@teccarphi: Thanks for the support! After being forced to finish Baltic Terror in such a way, I wanted to have a nice, strong start to my next AAR. And since I have the momentum of writing now, I figured what better time to start than now? I'm trying to change up how I write, hence the first person letter format, so hopefully it works out and you guys enjoy it as the updates progress.

P.S. Are my images showing up as cropped? At the moment on my screen they're not, even though I've already edited them. I guess they'll show up cropped for me soon enough, unless you don't see them cropped either, which means I messed up somewhere in editing the pics, lol

[Nordic Hussar]

Nicely written! I hope this will be as good as your previous AARs (or even better...)

Edit

No worries, at least I see the pictures cropped

[teccarphi]

Yes, the pics are cropped. I really like the letter format, and the story is very interesting.

+rep as soon as I'm able, I need to spread it around first.

[Radzeer]

Very good start (and quick), and I like the creative format too!
Btw, the pics are cropped and showing up nice.

[Thokran]

@Radzeer, Nordic Hussar, and teccarphi: Thank you for the support! The letter format is something new I'm trying out to differentiate my writing from the typical omniscient third person perspective I tend to always write. Thanks for letting me know they're cropped, they're finally showing up as such for me as well.




1222 AD

Dear mother,

I would not be writing to you if I wasn’t desperate, as I know that your qualms against father – and in turn me – are ten times stronger than anything my sister can emulate. Nonetheless, I grow worried over your well being. It’s been two years now and still I have received no word from you or sister. I urge you to write back; regardless of what words you may have for me, if only to provide me the relief that all is well back at home. Alas, in complying with father’s wishes, I will continue to report to you how things have been for me in this ever-changing Kingdom of ours.



I began the year arriving at Zaragoza and meeting with my new friend Prince Alfonso, who was recently dubbed the Duque de Zaragoza by his father. I congratulated him on the honor, and he returned the favor by surprising me with his own promise that he would make me the Duque de Navarra once Pamplona was in royal hands! I was humbled by his words, and eternally grateful. It is hard to believe how benevolent and generous this Prince of mine is. He will truly be a great king one day, one I look forward to proudly serve in the future.



Of course, the path to victory at Pamplona would not be an easy one. Pamplona was a heavily-garrisoned fortress, whose defenders kneeled not to the King of Aragon, but to their local lord, the current Duke of Navarre. The Duke was Hernando Diaz, and he refused to accept the sovereignty of the Crown of Aragon’s claim over his lands. He broke away to create his own independent fief, and he had the manpower to back up such a claim. It would take a great percentage of the Royal Army to penetrate Pamplona’s walls and many defenders.



I spent most of the year in Zaragoza, helping Alfonso with the day to day duties of governing the city and rallying the Royal Army to his cause. Every week or so another regiment of men would arrive to offer their services to the Prince. It was heartening to see so many men willing to give their lives in service to the Crown. It was also heartening to learn that Ordono Fierro had been yet again successful with his diplomatic skills, having orchestrated an alliance between the Crowns of Castile and Aragon! Such an alliance would greatly benefit the Kingdom, who know had a true ally to call upon in facing a common enemy plaguing all of Iberia, those dreaded Moors.



In other news, word came from the East that a new power had emerged from far away Asia to reign terror over the lords of Mesopotamia and the Middle East. Such news did not concern me. I knew little of the East, other than it was populated by lots of Muslims. If anything, the arrival of these ‘Mongols’ seemed more like a blessing than a curse. Their leader claimed to be the Scourge of God, and I believe him to be it as well. Let this Scourge of God exact righteous vengeance on those Muslim infidels!



All in all, I do not concern myself with these Mongols. They are more than a world apart from me, and I have no plans of ever meeting one. What I do concern myself with is this upcoming campaign on Pamplona, and of course with receiving word from either you or sister that all is well back home. The lack of any response – good or bad – leaves me worried sick. I plan to speak with the Prince on this issue, so that he’ll give me leave to see you once more the moment this campaign is over. May God protect me these coming years so that I am able to return to you safely.

Hope all is well, and I pray for your response.

Your son,
Sir Jaime Encina

[teccarphi]

Another excellent chapter!

[Thokran]

1223 AD

Dear me, I suppose?

I can no longer bear writing to my family. Neither my mother nor my sister can bother themselves to write back to me. Whether they do it out of spite, or because something has happened to them, I simply do not now. I write this now as a way to get my mind off of them, by instead focusing on the other events that have taken place since I last wrote.



The gossip mill in Zaragoza could not get over the coming of age of a Genoese Princess who many already heralded as the ‘Beauty of the Mediterranean’. I did not understand how these men could make such fanciful claims when they themselves had not yet had the opportunity to see her first hand. Nonetheless, the news pouring out of Genoa left the rest of Europe generally interested in the small Italian fief. It would seem that King Jaume and the Royal Court were also interested in the small Republic, because they sent out orders for Princess Constanza to reach out to the Genoese once her diplomatic mission in France was complete.



The last I heard of Constanza, she had just reached the southern French port of Marseille to find it in open revolt! It seems that even the French are having their own problems these days, even after their many years of success in driving out the English from their homelands. As interested as the rest of the Kingdom may have been in Genoa and its new Princess, all I could keep my thoughts on was how Constanza was doing. I missed her company greatly, almost as much as I miss that of my estranged family. Having spent the past year or so with her brother has not helped either. If anything, it has only made me think of her more.



I heard from her brother that she eventually did make contact with the French at the castle of Lyon, which lorded over by Amaury Capet, nephew of the King of France. Rumors had it that Amaury was a handsome and gallant lord, one that Constanza could not keep her eyes off. For some reason, this news infuriated me. The thought of her with another man simply drove me mad with rage. What are these feelings that boil inside me? I know I have feelings for this woman, but who am I to be jealous? She is a princess, and I am but a lowly knight, a servant of my King and Prince.

Whatever my emotions may have been, they subsided the moment I learned that she had left Lyon as soon as she had established trade relations with the French. As happy as I was to learn that she was away from that man, I was also sad – knowing that her duties as princess had her moving ever father away from me – east towards the Republic of Genoa.





It seems I cannot find any peace in my thoughts. My sister, my mother, now Constanza…they all plague my thoughts to maddening ends! I find solace only in my writing, just as my father had predicted on his death bed. I find this writing to be therapeutic, but even writing isn’t enough to keep my thoughts away from the worries I have over the women in my life. Thus, I keep myself busy learning more about the current events taking place elsewhere in the Mediterranean. One particular bit of news that caught my attention was of a Crusade to the Holy Lands…by mere children! Oh, how foolish they were to sail to their deaths in hopes of completing what so many great men before them had failed to do. But I cannot help but be impressed by their faith in God. The Lord truly is a powerful entity if He is able to drive even the youngest of children to exact his Will!



Perhaps it is in God that I will find the peace of mind that I seek. Perhaps if I were to put my faith in the Lord, he would answer my prayers and reunite me with my family. Perhaps they would forgive me and my father for our transgressions, and perhaps he may even bring back Constanza who I have grown so fond of.

I have little time to think of such things. The time has come to fulfill my duties to the crown and serve alongside my Prince as he lays siege to the castle of Pamplona! May God help us all.



Sincerely,
Sir Jaime Encina

[Thokran]

1224 AD

I do not know if I write this for myself, or for whoever may find this should I pass on into the next life. I have suffered a grave wound from my experience at Pamplona, and the doctors do not know if I will make it. They say I have lost a lot of blood, and that I need bed rest, but I can’t help but write down my experiences now. I feel compelled to retell the tale of what brought me here to death’s door.





The siege of Pamplona was my first taste of combat, and what a taste it was. Though I had been a squire for many years and had been raised up in a military lifestyle, I had never actually been in live combat. So I was petrified when I realized that the battle was at hand. My good friend Prince Alfonso tried to ease my nerves. This was not his first taste of battle, though it was his first time acting as commander. Still, he held an air of confidence about him that I wished I myself possessed. Looking back, there was little to worry about. We held the advantage in the siege right from the start. We had more men, more resources, and more determination than the enemy hoped to have. Yet I could not shake the feeling of dread that filled me that day. Call it an ominous premonition for what was to befall me on that cursed day.



I stood by Alfonso’s side as the infantry worked their way up the walls of the castle. I could not get over how calm and in control he seemed. Several hundred yards away, his men were dying in droves as they fought hard to establish a foothold atop the walls of Pamplona’s high fortifications, yet he never lost his composure. I could not do the same. It took all I had in me to stay at his side, though I wanted nothing more than to fall back. Despite all my years training for just this kind of situation, I simply wasn’t prepared for the carnage taking place before my very eyes.



I had no more time to think or worry. Before I knew it, Alfonso’s men had broken through the gates, and the Prince had ordered a general assault. I joined the Prince and his retainers as they followed the mass of infantry pouring into the castle. It was the most frightful thing I had ever experienced. All around me, arrows flew just by my head, cutting down dozens of our men. At the gates, boiling hot oil poured down on unsuspecting spearmen. I could not bear to hear their cries of agony as they writhed and burned alive. All I could do was watch in horror as my horse spurred on into the castle interior, where the battle raged on. The defenders would not give up their ground easily. Cornered and backed up against a wall, they fought on to the last man.



Everything past that was a blur. The next thing I knew I had enemy troops rushing towards me. Instinct kicked in and my sword arm began moving about with years of practice. Before I knew it, my sword was wet with the blood of my enemy. Seeing a man die by my hand was a surreal experience, one I was unable to fully take in. That was no problem, however, as there were many more men trying to kill me that I in turn had to kill. My sword sung as it cut through man after man. Killing came naturally to me, and I found myself lost in a trance. For a moment, I felt as if nothing or no one could stop me. I was invincible.



Then it happened.

A sharp pain exploded across my side as hard steel came crashing through my chain mail. Hernando Diaz and his bodyguard had come crashing into our flank, cutting a swath through our path of conquest. My world turned red as agonizing pain shot up through my body. I was unable to counter. My foe raised his blade once more to finish me off, and I began to accept my death. But the blow never came. At the very last minute Alfonso came to my aid, cutting down my would-be killer.
The last thing I remembered was Alfonso leaving me in the care of his guard before leading his men on into the thick of battle. As I began to black out, I looked out and saw nothing but death around me. Then everything went dark.



When I woke, I learned that the battle had been a resounding victory, but a costly one nonetheless. Hernando Diaz had led a solid defense, but ultimately it was a doomed effort. Diaz was shot to death by a multitude of arrows, and his death marked the end of the battle. Alfonso had also suffered several minor wounds, preventing him from seeing me. But they were nothing like the deep gash in my side that I now suffered from. The wound had become infected in the weeks following the battle, leaving me bedridden for the rest of the year.



Even as I write this, I can still feel the pain in my side as a constant reminder of the hell I went through. The image of Pamplona is forever seared into my mind. Though I am now to be lord of this castle, I simply cannot relate the image of Pamplona to the fine cushions upon which I rest on now. All I can think of when I hear of Pamplona now are the nightmarish memories that haunt me day in and day out. War is an ugly business, one I hope to have little to do with in the coming years, God willing.

God willing, I’ll make a speedy recovery, so I can get out of this accursed place and finally go to my family in Palma. I’ve waited far too long without hearing a word from them. I must go and see to it that they are safe, even if they want nothing to do with me.

God willing, things will get better from here on out.

Sincerely,
Sir Jaime Encina

[teccarphi]

Excellent!

[Scottish King]

Excellent! I like the format and the story thus far. Keep up the good work!

[Thokran]

1225 AD

It’s amazing to see how so many things can change over the course of a year. I can still remember thinking I was on my deathbed around this time last year. Things have become so different ever since.



I had prayed to God for a speedy recovery in order to see my family, and God willed it so. The doctors called it a miracle. And it truly was. I felt blessed by the Lord, but I would not squander his miracle. The moment I got better, I sped out of Pamplona, hoping to never see that place again. Of course, as Duke of Navarre, I would eventually have to administer those lands. But that would be for a later time. At the moment, all I cared about was finding my family in Palma. My journey was sped up by the completion of the King’s new paved road infrastructure that ran across the Kingdom.



Imagine my reaction when I reached Palma to learn they are nowhere to be found! At least now I knew why they had not responded to my letters. Still, this only made me grow that much more worried about them. Where had they gone? Rumor had it that they were victims of the newest Papal Inquisition, taken away to be burned at Rome as heretics. But I brushed aside such nonsense. Upon closer inspection, I realized that wherever they had gone, they had taken their belongings with them. I guess they simply decided to move away and start a new life in secret. If that was the case, then so be it. I would no longer chase them down. They had done all they could to exclude me out of their lives, and they succeeded. I now had my own life to live, in service to the Crown of Castile.



It was difficult leaving Palma, knowing that my family had chosen to start a new life without me than to try and men our damaged relationship. It left me feeling lonelier than I ever had felt before. Upon returning to Barcelona, that sense of loneliness only intensified as I learned that Prince Alfonso was to marry! His marriage to Princess Leonor de Portugal was all the Royal Court could talk about. The strategic marriage alliance was also one out of convenience, as there was no doubt that Alfonso fancied Leonor. I remember endless nights during our campaign on Pamplona where he would talk incessantly about how beautiful she was.



He wasn’t kidding. The wedding ceremony took place in Barcelona, and it was only then that I managed to catch a glimpse of his wife-to-be. She was a Portuguese jewel. Alfonso was a lucky man, and he knew it. I was happy for him and was quick to congratulate them on their marriage, but it was a bittersweet moment. Seeing them together only made me feel that much lonelier, as I knew Alfonso would be too busy now raising a family with his wife to enjoy our youthful male camaraderie anymore. For a moment I actually missed those days in Zaragoza where we’d drink the night away in some smelly brothel with a wench under each of our arms. Those were good days, where our youthful vigor and our hunger for glory left us feeling like we could take on anything the world threw at us, especially that rebel Hernando Diaz…



But the marriage was bittersweet for another reason. Every time I looked at Leonor, all I could think of was Constanza…

I had learned that Constanza had reached Genoa while I was recovering from my wounds, and that by the time I had arrived to Barcelona she had already orchestrated an alliance with the Genoese. It was an impressive feat, as those Italians are rarely if ever trustworthy from what I hear among those in Court. Still, this was great news for me. With no other outstanding diplomatic missions in her agenda, Constanza would be returning to Barcelona within the next couple of years! Even now my heart pounds with excitement as I know that she will soon be on her way home. And I will be there to welcome her back with open arms, as an old friend who has gone far too long without seeing her graceful form.





Alas, her return is still a year or two away. The French had recently retaken their port city of Marseille, led by none other than Amaury Capet. She would have to pass through Marseille in order to board passage back to Barcelona, as the docks at Genoa were being blockaded by a fleet of Sicilian warships. It would seem she would also have to suffer that man’s presence as well in order to return home. Something about Amaury Capet just made my blood boil. Seething envy overtakes me whenever I hear his name, and I find myself loathing the man despite never having met him.

To dwell on such a topic is a recipe for disaster, and so I’ve taken to keeping myself busy here at Barcelona as I eagerly await the Princess’ return. These past few weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to spend a considerable amount of time with none other than the King himself! Jaume had just become the father to a baby girl he named Sancha. The occasion was one worth celebrating over, but for some reason I found him rather despondent. He had fathered another daughter – Elvira – just two years before. I guess it was knowing that he had only one male successor that left him in such sorrow spirits. I offered my sympathies, but I could not begin to understand the sadness he felt. At the very least he had a male successor, right?



Alas, the hour is late and the sun is to rise up soon. The holidays are always a hectic time of year, and I must get to bed if I am to have the rest and energy needed for the busy days ahead of me!

Sincerely,
Sir Jaime Encina

[teccarphi]

Excellent!

Finally able to +rep

[Thokran]

1226 AD

This year has left me overcome with emotion.

It was just over a year ago when I learned that Princess Constanza would be making her long-awaited return to Aragon, after having been away for so many years on tours of diplomacy. Since then, I eagerly awaited her return. Of course, there were other events of significance that took place during my stay at Court in Barcleona.



I and many others at Court were saddened to hear of the death of Francis of Assisi. He was a devout follower of the Lord, and one of the most influential religious figures of our time. Alas, with his death also comes new life. Mourning and grief soon turned into jubilation and celebration as the news rang out that Prince Alfonso was now the proud father of a baby boy! Marchena was his name, and God willing, he would one day be King of Aragon!



Most pleased by the news was none other than King Jaume, who was overjoyed to have become a grandfather. Marchena’s birth solidified his legacy and assured him that the Royal Dynasty would live on should tragedy befall either him or his son. The birth of his grandson raised Jaume’s spirits from the depression he suffered the year before at the birth of his own daughter. So reinvigorated was he that he began to coordinate a new campaign to expand the Kingdom’s borders!



I did not see much of the King following that. He spent most of his days in Valencia, with his Lord High Marshall, General Alvar Galan. Together, they began to plan a new campaign that would see the armies of Aragon marching south to retake the city of Murcia from the Moors. There was much controversy over this new campaign. Many in the Kingdom were not willing to risk open war with the Moors for the acquisition of Murcia.

Chief among the opposition was Prince Alfonso, who argued that he would much rather spend time raising his son than renewing a war of attrition against an enemy that had far more resources than they. But the King had the support of the nobles behind him. They supported his campaign, and even introduced him to the new technology of mounted crossbows, which they assured him would be the perfect counterbalance to the light cavalry that the Moors use to such deadly effect.



The King did eventually speak to me, but it was a brief conversation at best. He returned to Barcelona only to gather his belongings and take some of the city garrison to join him and the rest of the Royal Army back at Valencia. While he was gone, he ordered me to look over the city, and to welcome back his eldest daughter with open arms, in essence helping her reintegrate into Court and be at her side as a loyal companion and friend. I obliged with my King’s wishes with great humility, though inside I was bursting with joy. It would be like old times again, spending day after wonderful day with lovely Constanza. I was happy to comply with my King’s wishes!

Then the news came. Just a week after the King had left Barcelona, I learned of the travesty that had occurred at Marseille. As expected, Constanza was invited to stay at Marseille with Amaury Capet for some weeks. The gossip mill in court was quick to report how Amaury vigorously pursued Princess Constanza, who was taken away by the French lord’s irresistible charm. The two were known to have been courting each other for weeks. That is, until Amaury found something younger to lay his eyes on.



Fiora the Affectionate. The Beauty of the Mediterranean. The Genoese Princess that all of Europe was in uproar over. Her unexpected arrival at Marseille left the French lord stunned by her youthful grace and her supple bosom. Almost overnight, Amaury was all over Fiora, leaving Constanza feeling dejected by her French pursuit, and betrayed by the Genoese Princess who she had worked so hard to become allies with. When she confronted Amaury about this, he simply brushed her aside, and kindly told her to get the hell out of his city.



The news left me wrought with emotion. Part of me was relieved that I no longer had to worry about Constanza being romanced away by a pompous Frenchman. But another part of me was infuriated with that Frenchman. How dare he use Constanza like that!? How dare he cast her aside as if she was little more than trash? He had left her devastated, and I was sure that she would return to Barcelona in tears. No matter. I will be there for her when she comes. I will console her and comfort her. I will show her that she’s worth far better than a petty distant relative of the French King.

God willing, I will open her eyes to true love!

Sincerely,
Sir Jaime Encina

[Scottish King]

This is moving along quite well! Keep it up!

[teccarphi]

Wonderful! /clap

Just wow! Excellent.

[Thokran]

1227 AD

I have begun to take notice that these letters I write to myself have become some sort of a personal diary for me as of the last couple of years. Ah well, they are what they are. They are therapeutic, they relax me. And as long they continue to relax and calm my nerves, then I will continue to write them.

It was this year that I finally laid eyes on my beloved Constanza once more. She was understandably upset when she returned to find neither her brother nor father there to welcome her with open arms. She wished to be alone for awhile, and I gave her the space she needed. I kept a wide berth from her for a few weeks, knowing she needed the time and space alone to heal. Her ego was wounded, and she was treated like no princess should ever be treated. It was torment knowing that I was so close yet so far away from her, but I withstood that torment like any man would.

Others did not have my patience. One of the other noblemen in Court, Domingo Carrizo, continued to press his advances on her even as she sought desperately to be alone. Ultimately, it backfired on Domingo, who was verbally lashed in public by the infuriated Princess. Suffice to say, he was never seen at Court again.



This went on for a couple of months, before she finally felt ready to show her face in public. I made sure that I was the first to welcome her back to society. She was appreciative of my hospitality, and was glad to be in the company of an old friend again. I was ecstatic. It was like old times all over again! We spent day after day riding horses, enjoying the countryside and having picnics at her estate. It was nice to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital city, and it allowed us time to connect in ways simply not possible back at Barcelona.

We had so much to talk about. As she recounted her tales in France and Genoa, I told her of my own at Pamplona and Palma. She sympathized with me upon hearing of my family, but I told her not to worry of such things. We also spoke of current events, such as the current Papal Standings, and the recent economic aggression of the Moors, which were quickly driving our own merchants out of business.





Then one day, she opened up to me about the scandal at Marseilles. I could tell she was still hesitant talking about it, but I reassured her I would not judge her. I pointed out Amaury for the fool that he was, to reject a beauty such as her for some bothersome little girl who knew next to nothing of the world she was getting herself into.

She was flattered by my conviction, and for a moment my heart stopped. She laid her head on my shoulder and thanked me, saying she couldn’t have asked for a better friend. It was bittersweet at the time, being regarded as a friend, but I was happy nonetheless to be there for here. How lucky I am to be able to spend so much time with one I feel so strongly for! This must truly be love I feel!

I look forward to these coming days, for they will be another spent alongside her lovely presence. I go to bed early now, eager to wake tomorrow so I can see her face again!


Sincerely,
Sir Jaime Encina

[teccarphi]

Excellent, I'm intrigued by the love story of Jaime and Constanza. I want MOAR!!!