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~Fianna Heneghan is sweeping out cobwebs from the theater when above her, a black raven dives down from a great height. The Raven swoops down, and lands upon the stage in front of her, carrying a note.~

Dearest Fianna,

I do hope this Raven finds you well and safe, love. It has been seven long years since I've seen you! My, you must be all growed up now, a full measure of a lady! If my memory of you hasn't failed, I believe you must be quite pretty too!

It was not 5 years ago when I had visited your brother and his wife, when I found out you had gone. My! I was quite upset and worried about you, dear. I talked to the twins, and they told me the whole story dear. Being the only lady in the house must have been difficult.....ah, I remember when you, Liam and the twins used to play 'Magic'...remember? There was a time you took my cane, pretending it was a wizard's staff. Ah, how precious you were goin' about 'casting' spells on the Mr. Nibbles! Oh, sorry...Mr. Nibbles was my Cat....you may not remember him, but he was quite scared by all the attention dear, and my....to this day he is still wary of my cane, Blessed Be! I still smile at that.

Anyway, I am writing to say that I had completed my divinations and now know you're in Gobaith. My, was I worried, and I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally know you're still alive dear! I'll tell you that as soon as I found out, I packed my carpet-bags, and rode to New Fennsworth to charter passage there. No, everything is fine, and your brothers are fine. The twins have grown into fine, strapping lads, always getting into fights and brawls...ah..Boys will be Boys! I'm a little slower in my years, and 'Arthur' visits often, but I am fit enough to try to journey.

I've made up my mind to retire and travel there to see both you and Liam. It has been too long, and I hope this note finds both of you well. I haven't much money with me, but I've made some Honey Cookies! They used to be your favorite dear. I'm hoping to come and live a while. I won't be any bother dear, and you needn't worry about me.

Poe will carry a message back to me. He is a new 'aquaintance', but dependable for me. He will expect a cookie too, but not too many....he likes to take more than he can eat, funny little dear!

Well, the captain of this small craft has ordered passengers below, and hence I'll miss my writing sunlight, so I'll finish by saying, I'll be arriving soon, and hope to meet you both!

May the Five guide you in Light, Life and Love,
Your "Grams", Artis Silverleaf
Retired Heirophant of Three Rivers Coven

Fianna pauses in her housekeeping to watch a large black bird as it circles overhead. Dropping her broom as the bird swoops down and lands close, she tenses visibly before approaching cautiously to take the note. Moving slowly through the stage door, she reaches blindly inside, keeping her gaze fixed on the bird as she fumbles for the depot, grabbing a handful of grain that she scatters on the freshly swept stage. As the bird pecks busily at the offered grain, Fianna slowly opens the letter and begins to read, her expression amazed, almost disbelieving while her eyes trace over the familiar handwriting again and again.

Smiling at intervals while reading, even laughing out loud in places, Fianna finally folds the note and tucks it carefully into her apron pocket. Taking a fresh parchment from the depot together with a few cookies, she sits cross-legged on the stage floor and begins to write.

Dear Grams,

I can't tell you how excited I am to get word from you. I had thought that ...

**the ink is spotty here, as if the parchment had gotten wet**

... I would never see you again. If your boat arrives early, ask the harbor master for directions to the druid house. I'll get a bed ready for you. Otherwise I'll meet you at the harbor.

I can't wait to see you and hear more of your stories. I'll tell Liam I'm expecting you. Sure he'll be excited too. I have thought of your cookies and cakes for ages. I can hardly believe that I'll get to taste them again.

**a name seems to be hastily crossed out here then signed below**
~ Fianna ~

She then blows lightly on the page to hurry the drying ink before folding it carefully and fastening it to the leg of the large, waiting bird. Breaking a cookie and leaning forward to offer the crumbs, she jumps, looking startled as the bird snatches an entire cookie from her hand with its beak and another with its claws as it flies off.

Standing then and brushing herself off, Fianna hurries out of the theatre and races along the road toward town. Arriving at the Seahorse, she throws the door open wide and rushes in, carelessly leaving the door open as she flies up the stairs, banging on a locked door on the second story. "Liam! Liam, open up! Liam, are you home?" she calls out in an insistent tone.

Fianna speaks in a hurried, excited tone as she pulls a folded piece of parchment from her apron pocket and waves it around as she babbles almost incoherently.

At length it is possible to make out a bit of what she says so excitedly. "She's alive. She's coming to see us." She then manages to calm herself enough to offer him the note.

"I'm going to the druid house to get a bed ready for her, then I'll check with the harbor master to see which boat she has passage on and when it will be expected to arrive."

Fianna takes the letter and tucks it into her bag, finding something forgotten there in the process and removing it. With a warm, gentle smile she offers Liam a bottle of pale liquid. "For those headaches and sleepless nights you've been having."