Blissful Ignorance

<b>Title:</b> Letters of Courtship
<b>Author:</b> the Black Rose
<b>Pairing:</b> Heero/Relena
<b>Fandom:</b> Gundam Wing (with some mentions of an Escaflowne crossover)
<b>Theme:</b> #2, news; letter
<b>Disclaimer:</b> I do not own Gundam Wing. This fanfiction has no commercial value and I am not making any kind of profit or income off of this story, or the use of characters owned by Sunrise and Bandai.


<i>July, 1863

Dear Colonel Yuy,

I promised I would write you about your brother?s condition, so please forgive my intrusion into your duties. Van seems to be healing well under the doctor and my cousin?s care. He grows stronger little by little each day. He is still unable to walk under his own power, which discourages him, but he sits up while I read to him and he fusses intolerably at poor Hitomi. Though neither will admit it, I see some strange attraction between them. It makes the days that pass since you left that much more empty and alone.

I pray my letter finds you safe and well. I know the life of a colonel must be busy, and so I shall keep this correspondence brief. If you haven?t the time to return my letters, I do understand, but I will continue to write them as it is the only thing that brings me joy in these dark and sunless days. May God keep you safe.

Sincerely yours,
Relena</i>
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August, 1863

Dear Relena,

You are quite mistaken. The life of a soldier is ninety-seven percent utter boredom and three percent sheer terror. Your letter was far from an intrusion on my duties, rather a welcome distraction.

I am indeed safe and well. We have been encamped near Warrenton for several days now, with no sign of enemy troops. It is good, for it gives our men time to mend.

I am glad Van seems to be healing well, and I thank you for all that you and your cousin have done. I know he is a difficult man. It reminds me of the time when we were kids and he broke his leg falling off his horse. He yelled at mother until she cried and Folken threatened to shoot him instead of the animal. Van still seems to believe that life or the world should somehow strive to be fair, but those who have had to make more difficult choices know worldly justice is a na?ve hope and one that shall never be realized.

I would apologize to your cousin, but she seems the type that would not be moved or injured by Van?s stubborn nature. Give him my regards and tell him to write mother.

I am in your debt.

Sincerely,
Heero
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<i>August, 1863

Dear Heero,

I am very glad you do not seem to mind my letters. Since you say you spend so much of your days in inactivity, I have included an excellent book to pass the time. I think you will enjoy The Three Musketeers.

Van still improves. He became ill with a touch of fever last week, but the doctor said it was not due to his wounds. It weakened him much to the point where I feared greatly for him, but he is now recovered and is even insisting we help him up to walk about the room a couple of times each day. It is not an easy task and I do not understand why it is he pushes himself so hard. I have known him and Folken many years, and I would dare say Van has the most volatile temper of all of you.

But he is a good man with a kind heart. I become more convinced every day he favors my cousin. Yesterday, I caught him blushing when he stumbled with his leg and she had to catch him to keep him from falling to the floor. Knowing him like I do, I am certain the harsh words that followed were due to wounded pride at appearing weak in front of Hitomi, especially when I caught the wistful expression on his face at her tears. They are the most interesting courtship I have ever witnessed, and I wonder if they will be married or kill each other first.

I heard a battle took place near Jonesboro not long ago. The news makes me worry for our brothers. I hate that they must fight against one another. I know how heavy it weighs on Milliardo?s heart. He?s always loved Folken, and I have looked forward to the day for many years now, when I could call Lucrezia sister. Have you heard news from home? Is she well?

Though you are kind enough to say my letters are a welcome distraction from your duties, I do not wish to keep you long away from that which you must do. I did give Van your regards and he sends his in return. I took down a short letter for him to your mother and posted it by private courier. I hope it will relieve some of her suffering for his sake.

I am not well versed with the practices of your army, but if you receive any leave time, would you consider venturing to Pennsylvania to visit your brother? You are, of course, always welcome here. If you would kindly advise me of your intention in advance, I will have a room prepared for you that you would not feel the need to hold me up at gunpoint as you did last time.

I fear I have kept you too long, but in parting, I would like you to know that I still pray nightly for your continued good health and safety.


Yours,
Relena</i>
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September, 1863

Dear Relena,

I thank you for the novel. I have begun reading it in my spare time and am indeed enjoying it. I am glad that Van is improving, and it would indeed seem as though he holds a fondness for your cousin. Knowing him as I do, it does not surprise me that they seem as likely combatants as lovers.

You apologize too much for writing to me. Your letters are never too long, but all too often, too short as they are the one constant friend I have here at camp. My men I have known long, but they do not entertain me half as much. I assume you were jesting in your comment about holding you at gunpoint, but I offer my apologies, regardless.

I have some leave time I will be able to take soon. I had thought against it as I was unsure about where I would spend the time, but your invitation is welcome. If you still extend it, I shall be there some time after the first of the year and can stay a fortnight.

As for Folken, I received a letter from him last week detailing the events of the battle and informing me that he is uninjured. He sends the report that to the best of his knowledge, your brother is alive and heading towards Abb's Valley with the cavalry in General Frazer?s army.

It is difficult for all of us. It seems your family and mine has had ties for quite some time even if you and I only met for the first time some months ago. Though I was raised in my youngest days with my two brothers, my future was always vastly different than the one bestowed upon Van and Folken.

I have been interrupted from writing this letter, and must leave you earlier than I intended. Before parting, however, I should like to ask whether or not you are already promised in marriage. I am sorely unprepared for matters such as these, so please forgive me if I am too direct in my inquiry.


Respectfully,
Heero </i>

Yay!! You finally started posting this fic here!! I LOVE this story. Gives me the warm and fuzzies.

^___^ Yeah, I was a little unsure how to archive it as a story-story. But, hopefully posting 2 sections of letters and then the epilogue will work.

*hugs* Thanks Morri-chan!

wow. this is a different way to present a fic. very very interesting. damn i wish i knew a bit more about escaflowne.

yaaaaaay go PA i'm from PA, i'm in PA go PA, oh and rose you allway outdo yourself everytime

Simply because the story is formatted strictly in letter form, it is going to be all the more amazingly beautiful.

I have already melted for this fic, and there was only a tiny bit to go on.

I am sucker for fics that revolve around dismal and dire eras - like the Civil War,
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...............SO beautiful.

It was a time when frames of reference and attitudes between man and woman were so different. This is just lovely.

Really, very beautiful; it is already regarded as a masterpiece.

There's something so special about it - incredibly personal and intimate - like letters should be.

The story is being told through limited means, and the reader has to rely on the language of Heero's and Relena's letters to gain an understanding of the circumstances.

I love it, love it , love it.

Just lovely.

You really outdid yourself, Rose ~ I'm so impressed

(and it's just a fic with four sections! Brief letters! I feel funny gushing about it)

perfectpeach wrote:wow. this is a different way to present a fic. very very interesting. damn i wish i knew a bit more about escaflowne.

The Esca characters are only mentioned as a point of conversation and introduced as a way to portray how difficult it was for people who cared deeply for one another, but who became entangled on opposite sides of the war. It's all AU, so I don't think you really miss out by not knowing anything of Esca - except I did not do a good job of describing Van when we 'see' him.

Think Heero with black hair and Trowa's voice (in the English dub), and a foul temper because he's spoiled.

And it is a bit of a different method to present a fic, which is why it took me so long to begin posting it here. :-?

Thanks so much for reading!!

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epyon wrote:yaaaaaay go PA i'm from PA, i'm in PA go PA, oh and rose you allway outdo yourself everytime

^___^ *hugs* Thanks, Epyon! I began writing some of this and then visited Gettysburg, actually. I'm sure being from PA that you've been?

And thanks so much for the PM the other day. *hugs again*

The Angry Angel wrote:Simply because the story is formatted strictly in letter form, it is going to be all the more amazingly beautiful.

It's all letters until the epilogue. I had to write an epilogue to finish it off.

I have already melted for this fic, and there was only a tiny bit to go on.

The next letters are a bit longer as our two would-be lovers get to know each other better. ^___^

I am sucker for fics that revolve around dismal and dire eras - like the Civil War,

It's one of my favorite time periods in history. I took an entire unit on it in college and if I ever went back to school to get a master's degree, it'd probably be just in Civil War history. It was a fascinating time...

It was a time when frames of reference and attitudes between man and woman were so different. This is just lovely.

Really, very beautiful; it is already regarded as a masterpiece.

Will you be my publicist? Well, if I had one, could afford one, you'd be hired. ^___^

There's something so special about it - incredibly personal and intimate - like letters should be.

It was a bit difficult when writing it to feel like I could 'sell' the voice of Colonel Yuy in 1863 as being the Heero we were familiar with. But, as you said, these letters are personal....

The story is being told through limited means, and the reader has to rely on the language of Heero's and Relena's letters to gain an understanding of the circumstances.

Ahhhhhh, you have caught me. That's exactly what I'm after in these letters. Whether I manage it or not... Well, I'd appreciate the feedback on that point.

*HUGS*

Thanks so so much for the kind reply!

Love,
Rose

What a great way of writing a story.

Please post more as soon as possible

of course i've been rose, and it was amazing have you been? and no prob about the PM you deserve it