The Collected Correspondence of Iohannes Iuvenum, and his sister, Jeanlouise
Compiled by Erinas Sheppard
From the Introduction.
Throughout their lives, Iohannes Iuvenum, and his sister, Jeanlouise, kept up a correspondence when they were apart from each other. Their siblings, Timotheus, Nallon, Jaila, and Nahiba, also corresponded with each other, but in a far less prolific fashion. In total, there are almost a thousand letters, but we can only offer you a small sample of them.
Despite the availability of electronic mail, and other hard to intercept forms of communication, Jeanlouise and Iohannes wrote to each other in the old, handwritten ink on paper method. Sadly, many of these letters have succumbed to the ravages of time, and, while some were copied early, others have been lost forever.
From the letters dated 25 A.T to 26 A.T
From Jeanlouise Sheppard.
...Could slap you Kit, truly I could! Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused? Aunt Teyla had just convinced Papa Rodney that nothing had happened to you, and you were perfectly safe offworld on your own, (well, almost on your own, if you don't count the bodyguard of twelve and the rest of the embassy, but you know what Papa Rodney's like) when in came Uncle Ronon, announcing that you were betrothed to Nerris Kolya! Papa Rodney choked on a fish bone, and Dadda John snorted wine all over my grey tunic...
...All I can say is, I hope this Nerris Kolya is beautiful, and kind, and that you love her more than life itself. Because if she isn't I will break her face. Well, I won't, I'd break my hand, but Jaila will, and that's almost the same thing...
From Iohannes Iuvenum.
...I'd sneaked away from my guards, (and don't tell me off Scout, I know perfectly well that you've done exactly the same thing) and gone down to the tavern. You know that Uncle Ronon always says that the best place to get to know a culture is in the local tavern. Well, they were full to bursting, with everyone in town for the meetings, so I passed mostly unnoticed, no one seemed to recognise me. So, I went to order a drink, and then I saw Nerris. She was on the other side of the room, talking to a man, but I didn't see him, I only saw her, all tall and gorgeous with curly golden hair, and the most beautiful smile. I want all our children to have her smile. And her dimples. Anyway, I saw her, and I just knew that I was going to marry her. So I went over to try and introduce myself, elbowing through the crowd, and when I got over there, she was gone...
...met her again at the negotiating table, I remember old Garan's words precisely "The daughter of the Head of the Genii Oligarchy, Nerris Kolya," and I turned round, and sweet Ancestors Scout, she was even more beautiful close up than she was from a distance...
From Jeanlouise Sheppard.
...News from the Home Front, oh glorious traveller? Very well. Timmy broke his wrist again this time falling out of a tree, he was trying to impress someone, apparently. I have my suspicions as to who, but they're just that, suspicions, so I shan't say. Nahiba is depressingly pretty; even at seven months pregnant, she has more grace in her little finger than I do in my entire body. I love her dearly, I swear I do, but sometimes she makes me want to scream...
From Iohannes Iuvenum.
...going to be home just a few days after you read this letter. I've hardly seen Nerris, her mother, Sora has dragged her off to have her trousseau made up, and her father has taken me off to finalise the details of the marriage contract. We now have our wills sorted up for anything up to six children, (with all possible variations of boy/girl). Any more than that, and we'll have to rewrite. Garan is happy with all of it, and says Papa Rodney, Dadda John, Mama, and Uncle Ronon will be too. Hooray!...
The End