I will miss you. I cannot believe the conquest is over. You succeeded, just as  you promised me you would.  After my father the Aztec chief died, my mother decided that I should not rule the kingdom, but my half-brother should. She gave me to some passing traders, and that is how I ended up with Cacique.  I learned the Mayan dialect and became a Christian.  And then I was given to you as a gift with 19 other young slaves to you.

I was frightened, but you took me in your arms and my life changed.  I was thankful that I could translate for you through Jeronimo de Aguilar, and was even more thankful that he helped me learned Spanish. Moctezuma frightened me- he would have frightened me more had I not been able to understand what he was saying!

 Moctezuma seemed hesitant with my pleas to negotiate, and that gave us some time to gather up the Indian allies.  I wish I could have stopped any fighting with the Tlascalans, but at least, in the end, they came to our aid.  I wonder how much more bloodshed there would have been, had I not been able to interpret for you.  I am glad we were not killed by the smallpox!

 Ah, Hernan, I love you and always will.  I never planned to fall in love with you, and although we were always faithful to each other, I knew you had a wife in Spain.  It doesn't matter that I am called La Malinche, the traitor. Did I help you kill my people?  I don't think so! You know where my heart is.  I will marry the Castillian knight, Don Juan Xamarillo, that you have arranged for me.  By the time you get this letter, I will have given birth to a baby, OUR baby.  I hope it will be a son- like you, I know he will be ambitious- perhaps, he will be a Comendador?

Good bye, my conquistador.

Love,

Marina