#treebury upon avon ekaterina pavlović

[flowerboy-viscera]

03.10. My Lule. Oh, here's your Ekata.

You were crying, I heard, which is quite unlike you. At least I think you were crying. You're always at the door here, talking to me. You were always so interesting to me, Lucjan, when we were children! You never cried very much, unlike the little ones in this house, namely the youngest girl, Helmi. What a sensitive child indeed. You never did smile either really, did you? And I was your opposite - as if my heart were on the outside! Constantly throwing fits over the littlest things. A tempest Bojana called me (though we called her Janica, remember? Oh, how she disliked it. She much preferred her regular name, Bojana-Leptirica. But I think it's nice, and matches us, Lule and Ekata and Janica. Imagine if you were a Lulica instead! Really). I was quite irascible, I think that's the word, but I'm what she would call "softer" now, certainly. Two enneae and a bit I've lived, and it's certainly made me more reasonable. Though it's not very much, is it? How old is our Janica? She must be hardly seventy, still young as we are. I do think you ought to come in sometime if you cry so. Lord Ruusu may be so kind as to open his doors to welcome you, Lucjan, the brother of his Katariina. I never liked that much and I'd rather the family called me my name Ekaterina, or Ekata, as you do. But you never refuse the name they give you, as it's a good name, and it's very distinguished and proper. Maybe they'll name you something as well. Something like Luukas. I'd like Luukas. And we'd be Katariina and Luukas, certainly, what a thing that is! - Your Ekata

[outlying-hyppocrate]

hello all treebers and treebury fans alike!! @solfrayante is my blog for all things e. pavlović. i post ekata's letters to lule almost every day (:

[flowerboy-viscera]

20-02. My Lule, how wonderful!

If I've counted right, today should be Chwefror twenty. A lovely thirty-eight this shall be for both of us. Wish your Ekata many happy returns of the day when we confer again. I miss those Ruusu children terribly, my Säde and Helmi and Eero and Topias. Topias especially. He's such a lovely child, helping me always, though he's just a little one. Last time we met he was only seven, though his next birthday isn't till Gorffennaf. I'd love to celebrate his first ennea with him in the next coming years. This is my second ennea now; how interesting it is to have lived two enneae already, Lucjan! Though you know this well. I imagine you'd be having a Celebration for your second wherever you are. Do they have Celebrations for every ennea? I wouldn't know, as mine is being spent away in my room. I've got the vampire-malady still. I should hope that Lord and Lady Ruusu can bring me a gift. They do every year, though I suppose it's a bit much to expect, even a small one now. But the other nursemaid, Mary - though we call her Marja here, like everyone calls me Katariina - is likely making a cake. My living-quarters are next to the kitchen, such a lovely thing that is! It'd be lovelier to spend it with you. You speak so often to me and never show! But vampire-malady isn't contagious, you can visit me any time you like.

- Your Ekata

[flowerboy-viscera]

26-01. Lule, my Lule, a letter.

Hello Lucjan! This is Ekata. Hopefully you are doing well. Ever since the healers locked me in here I can't come to see you. I'd believed you were dead until your voice came. Through the door, it seems, you call to me. I'd slip this underneath it but I wouldn't like anyone else to have a look until you have. It's yours, after all. And since the letter is yours I should write you something important, such as why the healers have me kept in my quarters in the first place. I've had vampire-malady for a while, about two years I should think, since what I remember to be Cyntefin eleven. It's truly horrible. Every time I eat I am sick right after, and my skin has these horrible red patches. All the healers have told me it's not a typical vampire-malady, no, but perhaps a contagious illness. But what lies they tell. I've infected not a single person these past years. Oh, Lucjan, I've become so thin, as you had been as a child. You didn't like to eat, I remember, although we didn't have to very much. Vampire nature. And how I hate that word, vampire! Others have named themselves so prettily, elves and mushroom-people, whereas we are vampires. If it were up to me we'd be called solfrayants, which is soleil (sun) and effrayant (fearsome) put together. Sun-fearing, essentially. Which we aren't really, but it's certainly nicer than 'vampire', isn't it, Lucjan? I should hope you think so too. Have a lovely day. - Your Ekata

[flowerboy-viscera]

28-13. My Lule, another time.

I can hear you behind the door, calling me. I am trying. You have been calling me for so long now. Yours, apart from mine, is the only name I remember. I am reminded of the world around me always. Today is meant to be beautiful, today is a Celebration, the Thirteenth Celebration. In past years I would dress and bathe the littlies, and in past years the older children would be sent for flowers, and I would help with arranging them around the house. Smiling and laughing. Every year I have been kept here, the place seems the same, though more careful round my quarters, strangely. Conversations cease once my door is approached, as always. And every year I think of you, Lucjan. Perhaps you miss me. Perhaps I will see you again. How strange you will find me, to be so thin now. How strange you will find me and my red skin. I imagine you'd say, "Oh, Ekata, what's happened to you?" And I'd laugh and laugh because I'd be just so happy to see you again. I hope I see you soon. I hope you will come to me in my dreams again, this very night. Lovely Thirteenth, Lucjan.

- Your Ekata