Work Text:
"Waterdeep, Xth of Month, 1492"
A piece of written paper sways in the wind, white on the wooden surface of the desk in front of the open window that lets in the clear air of the day.
“Dearest Gale,”
The writing curves elegantly, but the final flourish of the E seems to have bled out, as if the writer had struggled for a few moments with the words that follow.
“I hope this letter finds you in good spirits and good health, wherever you are. I know you've been absorbed in your studies lately, so I didn't want to worry when you stopped coming to the café. After all, I know how ambitious you are in pursuing your goals, even if they are risky. Even though it was hard for my heart not to criticize your goal. You don't like it...
But that's exactly why I was worried and it was like a rock weighing on me to look at the empty space you used to occupy. A quiet desire to shoo people away from there, because you might come right back and then you'd want to sit there after all. I went to your house and knocked. I knocked many times. Nobody opened the door. Maybe you went on a journey... I wish I had known.
Of course, you don't have to tell me where you're going or what you're doing.
I hope when you come back to Waterdeep you'll visit me at my Café Alchemica. I'll make you your favorite coffee and then you could tell me about your experiences. How I would love to spend a whole evening and a whole night just listening to you. I find peace and comfort in your presence. My chest fills with a hollow emptiness, not knowing you are near. By the gods... By Mystra... She probably wouldn't be at all pleased to know how much I long for the voice of her beloved Chosen One. And while I feel quite pathetic at the feeling alone, I know exactly how Aleksandr would smile at me and stroke my back to reassure me. Your presence would be enough.”
“Every beat of my heart misses you!”
There are a few smudges beneath those words. Dark, as if watered-down ink had dripped onto the paper, which the writer had tried to dab away.
“I probably don't even have the courage to give you these lines. And even if I did, I wouldn't even know where you are at the moment. So ridiculous...
With love and affection
Dederich”