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[sageprincess]

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29th December?

[boneofsword]

[The same day after proposing to princess Caster will bring envelope containing a written permission and enclosed letter to Zelda.]

[Permission reads as follows:

I'm granting my official permission for princess Zelda to keep Caster, named Cú Chulainn, in accordance to her wishes.

signed: Archer

with a tiny post script in the corner: 'Shouldn't it be the other way around, princess?'

The letter is sealed, marked with 'Princess Zelda' in Archer's neat handwriting.

'Zelda,

I hope that you'll forgive me for not using your title. I'm writing not to a princess but to a person behind the title. Are you truly fine with Caster having others? Please, do consider this carefully. I will understand if you'd rather not share him with anyone else, and will recall the relation that I have with him, aside from being his shinki.

Remember that you deserve love and happiness. He can give you all of that, and cherish the courageous woman that you are. I wish you all the best.

-Archer

P.S. in case Caster ever needs a solid kick in the ass, do send me a note once you're done with him.']

[sageprincess]

[Zelda accepts the permission from Caster and kind of dies a little upon reading it, because she is a pure soul and everything about this is embarrassing at this stage. The letter, meanwhile, waits until Caster has left, as she assumes it to be private, and so a response doesn't come until the next day, when another envelope is sent back with Regal after she makes her routine bento delivery.]

Archer,

I would hope that you do not think me to be so cruel as to demand such a thing. Perhaps I do not know precisely how deep the bond between the two of you is, and perhaps I never will, but I am as aware that it exists as Caster seemed to believe you were aware of the affection he has held for me. You told me once that you were learning to allow yourself to feel things and sometimes act upon those feelings, and encouraged me to do the same. Would you make yourself a hypocrite, then, by denying yourself the same love and happiness you believe I deserve?

The honest truth is I do not know what I am doing here. I never once believed I would have a relationship like this, for my marriage would offer far too many opportunities for Hyrule to be sacrificed in the name of something as politically inconsequential as romance. And thus what I want from this is as unknown and alien to me as the rest of this world. But I do know that I do not want is to hurt anyone. Perhaps at this time I cannot tell how one person can divide their time amongst several others fairly and without breeding resentment, but if you are willing to work with me on that notion, then it is only fair that I offer the same courtesy.

And  [The ink pools here a bit, like she's left the pen sitting on this spot too long.]  I am going to have to leave, one day. You have the freedom to stay. The importance of that fact cannot be overstated, I do not think.

Should there come a day where these feelings change, I will be certain to communicate it. Until then, this is my answer.

Zelda
Princess of Hyrule

P.S.; Bold of you to assume there would be anything left for you after that point.

[That probably means 'noted, thank you.']

[boneofsword]

[...and that's how a correspondence between them was born.

Next day Regal delivers bento box and another letter.]

Zelda,

Thank you for this reminder. You're not cruel and suggesting that was never my intention. [ouch, hypocrite. Indeed. Indeed, that was pretty hypocritical to say.] Perhaps I am too used to putting others' feelings and wishes first, as old habits are hard to break. But I will do my best to.

While at first glance the idea of one person loving and caring equally for several others may seem hard to grasp at first, there are many kinds of love. Some of those that we love are like siblings, while some we wish to protect and see them succeed much like parents do for their children. Then there are those we wish to see smile and laugh, spend the time with, that we're willing to sacrifice ourselves for without a second thought. It is entirely possible to have more than one person that we hold so dear. Cú Chulainn is known for both his unwavering loyalty and generous heart. He's fiercely protective of those he holds dear, and doesn't hesitate to put his life on the line.

[So they talked about her leaving, huh. Would it be possible for Caster to go with her? If it was possible, would he go, or would he feel the duties here his own and he can't leave his post? Had he been summoned under a mantle of anyone else it would be an easy choice. But with his own name-]

Oh well, I must sound like I'm trying to sell you something. Or see him as flawless, which we both know is definitely not the case. I wish you both all the best, and earnestly wish you many precious moments of happiness

Archer

P.S.; His resilience is legendary, in one tale he fought for three days and three nights straight, in the other he tied himself to a boulder to keep standing and still fight.