The letter might not have been a surprise to recieve, but it was the boats it arrived with that threw him and Celica for a loop. Being called down to the port, only to receive so many supplies borne of a simple letter— he could hardly believe his eyes.
However, his awe only lasts so long before orders are being barked out to bring it all in, split it up, and consider the foodstuff for the rationing plans so it helped to bolster their people’s food supply for the season. He only has a chance to skim the letter before it becomes a flurry of activity to decide how much the north should receive as well as the south, who needed it most, and, most importantly… what to send in return.
Trained steeds, seeds and fruits of what Celica knew the sisters had considered exotic food, gold marks, dragonspit oil, wool, quilts, steel for the forges— they scrambled to find what Altea would find appeasing and necessary. Alongside with the looming reuniting of Valentia, it was quite the task to get everything together and at the ready for before the sailors would leave, as well as pay to them for bringing it all back to Altea proper.
There weren’t gifts enough for granting their people enough food for the oncoming wyrmstym.
On the final night before the boats are due to part, he finally sits and reads the letter in comfort, trying to calm his beating heart. It was already difficult to write it the first time, with Ezekiel and Massena looming over him to make sure it sounded formal enough. And now, he had to write a response— something to ensure this was a gift in turn to solidify their alliance and friendly relations.
After several drafts, a letter is finally written.
Truly do your ships come to us at a time most dire for our nation, and for that neither Zofia nor Rigel can thank you enough. Consider this not repayment, but an affirmation of our alliance and friendship — for even after the reunification is through, what will become the One Kingdom will still open Altea with open arms.
It is my hope and that of my people that our friendly relations stand the test of time, and that Valentia and Altea will stand together in good and ill. Just as the Whitewings spoke of our struggles to you, so too did they recount you and yours many feats and dire odds — even in the brink of losing it all, you’ve stood tall, and I find it admirable.
Perhaps this may come as a surprise, but if it is not a bother to suggest, it is our hope to visit your people upon the next year’s Pegastym fall, if it is to your preference. We do not wish to come uninvited nor unexpected, and if it’s too difficult to meet at the general timeframe face to face, I am willing to adjust to your schedule. I believe honesty is best seen in a man when face to face, and so I wish to convey my sincerity to you and dedication to what will hopefully be a lasting friendship.
Sincerely,
Albein Alm Rudolf II, Emperor of Rigel
He’s sitting on the balcony, working on various paperwork, when a knight dashes onto the balcony Marth is on, dropping to a knee and holding out a letter.
Marth nods, only vaguely processing what the messenger says about the materials on the boats, and hurriedly goes to read the letter, scanning it over quickly, feeling his heart pump faster with every word he takes in.
His hands are shaking as he gently places the letter back in the knight’s hand, asking her to take it to his chambers so that he can read it again later, and makes his way to the grand hall of Altea Castle, calling for his horse and an entourage to be prepared for his trip to the port city.
Marth had hoped that Alm would send a reply, but he had sorely underestimated the grandeur of said reply. The fleet of ships rest in port, all bearing Rigelian and Zofian crests, and the magnificence of it all sends chills down his spine.
The longshoreman had already finished unloading most of the cargo from the ships by the time Marth arrived, and he glances over them, jaw dropping. There are crates full of exotic fruits and seeds that he’s never seen before, baskets filled with finely knit quilts, high quality metals and oh, there’s almost too much for him to handle.
He leaves instructions with the harbor master to send the materials to towns that need them, before shyly asking if he can take one of the fruits to eat later.
Marth settles down in the inn, soaking in the sounds of the harbor as the port workers clamber about and shout, and writes his letter.
Naga’s blessings upon you,
It is with my heart full and my hopes high that I write this letter. We’ve taken all you had to offer and have spread it amongst the kingdom’s people, and there is no way I can express the immense gratitude I feel. Altea is a country rooted in the fruit of the land, and the metals that you sent us have proved immensely beneficial.
I feel the same as you, Emperor Alm; it is my wish also to deepen the relationship between our countries. It would be my honor to assist you through your unification process in any way I can, as a testament to our newfound friendship.
Our fall, Pegastym as your side of the realms would say, would be an excellent time to visit. The bounties of harvest will be plentiful, and it would be wonderful to host you during this time of fortune. I send this letter alongside an ambassador of Altea. Merric is one of my most trusted allies, who has stayed by my side since childhood, as well as during the war, and I leave with him all of the information about Altea you could possibly need. It is my hope that he assists in establishing a trade route between our lands.
May Naga and her court keep you and yours in the worst of times, and may her blessings be bountiful.
Marth Lowell, Prince of Altea and Commander of the Arcanaean League
