#i just need a ‘galloping toward danger again i see

[fourthwingfan]

Madness - Chapter 9

I will not die today.

—Violet Sorrengail’s personal addendum

to the Book of Brennan

I’m so completely screwed.

Xaden steps forward—all six-foot-everything of him—dressed in midnight fighting leathers and a tight-fitted short-sleeve shirt that only seems to make the shimmering, dark rebellion relics on his skin seem like an even bigger warning, which I know is ridiculous but somehow true.

My heartbeat kicks up to a full gallop, as if my body knows the truth my mind hasn’t quite accepted yet. I’m about to have my ass kicked…

“You are all in for a treat,” Professor Emetterio says, clapping his hands. “Xaden’s one of the best fighters we have. And Aelin is one of the best among first-years. Watch and learn.”

“Of course you are,” I mutter and roll my eyes.

A corner of Xaden’s mouth rises in a smirk, and the gold flecks in his eyes seem to dance. The sadistic ass is enjoying this.

„A little out of her league, don’t you think?” Dain argues from the side of the mat.

What the hell? I stare at him in desbelief. He doesn’t even like me.

Ahh, I see. Violet is beside her. Probably that’s why he’s being „nice”.

“Relax, Aetos.” Xaden looks over my shoulder, his gaze hardening toward where I know Dain is standing, near Violet. The look Xaden gives him makes me realize he’s been taking it easy on me in the glaring department. “She’ll be in one piece when I’m finished teaching her.”

“I hardly think it’s fair—” Dain’s voice rises.

“No one asked you to think, squad leader,” Xaden fires back as he moves to the side.

“Shut the hell up, Dain.” I snap at him. “Don’t pretend you care about me.”

Xaden starts discarding every weapon on his body—and there’s a lot of them—and handing them to Imogen.

The bitter, illogical taste of jealousy fills my mouth, but there’s no time to examine that particular oddity, not when there are only seconds before he’s in front of me again.

“You don’t think you’ll need those?” I ask, palming my own blades. His chest is massive, with wide shoulders and heavily muscled arms alongside. He will be a though opponent.

“Nope. Not when you brought enough for the both of us.” A wicked smile curves his mouth as he looks at me.

“Oh, no. In this case I won’t use them either.” I argue and hand my daggers to Liam for safekeeping. He’s lethal without a dagger, I can see it clearly. And I don’t want to give him the opportunity to use my daggers against me.

“Do as you wish.” He stretches out his hand and curls his fingers in a come-hither motion. “Let’s go.”

My heart beats faster than the wings of a hummingbird as I take a fighting stance and wait for him to strike. This mat is only twenty feet in either direction, and yet my entire world narrows to its confines and the danger within.

He’s not in my squad. He can kill me without punishment.

We start circling each other and I try to find his weakness. Everybody has, I just need to find it. And I figure it out almost every time.

“Are you not going to attack?” He clucks his tongue.

“I thought you’re an initiative type.” I mock him.

In the blink of an eye he moves toward me and I awkwardly stumble backwards to avoid his leg. He wanted to sweep off my legs.

Holy shit he is fast.

I have to be faster. That’s my only thought as I move forward in a swipe-and-kick combo. He artfully dodges my every attempt to reach him and then captures my leg. The earth spins and I slam onto my back, the sudden impact driving the air from my lungs.

But he doesn’t go for the kill. He just stand there and looks at me with raised eyebrows and a second later, when air squeaks into my lungs, I lunge up going for another hit targeting his head.

He blocks my strike with his forearm, then grips my wrist with his opposite hand, leaning down so his face is only inches from mine. “Going for blood today, are we, Sunshine?” he whispers. It seems as he doesn’t want to hurt me, he’s just playing with me.

My blood boils.

“My name is Aelin,” I seethe.

“I think my version fits you better.” He releases my wrist and stands, offering me a hand. “We’re not done yet.”

My chest heaves, still recovering from the way he’s knocked the wind out of me, but I’m not a fool.

I reach for his hand, pretending that I allow him to pull me up, then I yank him toward me hard, my weight supports my strength.

His eyes widen in surprise and he losts his balance, but instead of faceplanting on the mat, he turns in the air and his back hits the mat. I use his movement to straddle him and I bring my forearm to his throat.

“Hm. Not too bad, Sunshine.” He smirks at me. “But not enough.”

He suddenly moves his legs in a movement I can’t see, and he’s easily pushes me off.

I land on my side and when I turn to look at him, he already stands on the other side of the mat and gives me an indecipherable look.

What the hell? How is it so easy for him? He makes it seem as if I’m the weakest fighter in the quadrant.

I feel my anger rising. And then I attack. I try to kick his legs out from under him, but he easily sidestapps and grabs my hand which was aimed at his side, then twists my arm behind my back and yanks me against his hard chest, pinning our joined hands before I have a chance to get my balance.

“Damn it!” I snap.

He brings his forarm to my throat as his chest rests against the back of my head. His forearm is locked across my ribs, and he might as well be a statue for all the give there is in his frame. There’s no use slamming my head back—he’s so tall that I’d only annoy him.

“Don’t trust a single person who faces you on this mat,” he warns in a hiss, his breath warm against the shell of my ear, and even though we’re surrounded by people, I realize he’s quiet for a reason. This lesson is just for me.

“Even someone who owes me a favor?” I counter, my voice just as low. My shoulder starts to protest the unnatural angle, but I don’t move. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

“I’m the one who decides when to grant that favor. Not you.” Xaden releases my hand and steps back.

I whirl, punching for his throat, and he knocks my hand aside.

“Good,” he says with a smile, deflecting my next blow without so much as a hitch to his breath. “Going for the throat is your best option, as long as it’s exposed.”

Fury makes me kick out again in the same pattern, muscle memory taking over, and he captures that leg again, showing that he can easily do it before he lets me go, cocking a disappointed eyebrow at me. “I expect you to learn from your mistakes.”

Putting my hands up defensively, I begin to circle him, and to my absolute annoyance, he doesn’t even bother facing me. He just stands there in the center of the mat, his boots planted and his arms loose as I move around him.

“You going to prance or are you going to strike?”

Fuck him.

I punch forward, but he dips and my stomach drops as he grips my arm, yanking me forward and flipping me around the side of his body. I’m airborne for a heartbeat before I smack into the mat, my ribs taking the impact.

He cranks my arm into a submission hold and white-hot pain shoots down the limb and I push away the feeling. I can’t afford to lose focus.

But he’s not done. No, his knee is in my ribs and, he leans closer. “Taking out Violet’s enemy before the battle is really smart; I’ll give that to both of you,” he whispers, his warm breath brushing the shell of my ear.

Oh gods. He knows what we’ve been doing. The pain in my arm is nothing compared to the fear at the thought of what he might do with that knowledge.

„Problem is, if she isn’t testing herself in here”—he puts more pressure on my back—“then you’re not going to get any better.”

“You’d rather we die, no doubt,” I fire back, the side of my face pressed into the mat. This isn’t just painful, it’s humiliating.

“And be denied the pleasure of your company?” he mocks.

“I fucking hate you.” The words are past my lips before I can shut my mouth.

“That doesn’t make you special.”

The pressure releases from my chest and arm as he leans back a little and I use it to my advantage.

‘Either it will hurt like hell and break or he will release me.’ With that thought I swiftly begin pushing myself back with my one free arm. The other is still in his grip and it makes so much more painful for my shoulder. But I just won’t lie here and listen his insults. I can’t bear it.

“What..” I hear him mutter as he finally losens his grip and I buck my hips and he tilts to the side.

I quickly turn around and with my arm he had in his grip I punch him in the face.

Unfortonately he jerkes his head away so I only able to split his lips. But that’s not so bad either.

I gain my feet and his lips curve into an approving smile as he too stands up. “You have a few tricks I admit it.”

“Then come closer, I want to hit you properly this time” I retort.

“That remains to be seen.” He backs up two steps, putting a little space between us before crooking his fingers at me again.

“What do you want from me?,” I snap loud enough that I hear Imogen gasp. “Why do you do this? I understand, you’ve made your point.”

“Trust me, I’ve barely gotten started.” He folds his arms and leans back on his heels, clearly waiting for me to move.

I don’t think. I just act, going low and kicking out the backs of his knees.

He goes down like a tree, the sound more than satisfying, and I pounce, trying for a headlock. Doesn’t matter how big someone is—they still need air. Catching his throat in the crook of my elbow, I squeeze.

Instead of going for my arms, he twists, grabbing ahold of the backs of my thighs so I lose my leverage and our bodies careen into a roll. He comes out on top.

Of course he does.

His forearm rests against my throat, not cutting off air but definitely capable of it, and his hips have mine pinned, my legs useless on either side of his as he lies heavily between my thighs. He’s unmovable.

Shit. We were here once.

Everything around us fades as my world narrows to the arrogant glint in his gaze. He’s all I can see, all I can feel.

And I can’t let him win.

I try to go for his face again but he seizes my wrist and pins it above my head.

Shit. Shit. SHIT.

Heat rushes up my neck and flames lick my cheeks as he lowers his face so his lips are only inches away from mine. I can make out every speck of gold in his onyx eyes, every bump and ridge of his scar.

Beautiful. Fucking. Asshole.

My breath catches and my body warms, the traitorous bitch. You are not attracted to toxic men, I remind myself, and yet, here I am, getting all attracted. I have been since the first second I saw him, if I feel like being honest.

My still clenched fist is trembling in his hold as I try to break free from his grip. His fingers curl over mine and fire races along my skin at the feel of his fingers lacing with mine. My hands uncionsciously opening.

Toxic. Dangerous. Wants to kill you. Nope, doesn’t matter. My pulse still skitters like a teenager.

“You’re trained I admit it, but you easy to rile up.” He says it like an insult. „You need to control your emotions.”

“Well aware.” My eyes narrow.

„You have good instincts, use them.” He looks deeply in my eyes. „When you lost control over your emotions, you stop thinking and that’s when you lose. You’re average height if not smaller so stop going for bigger moves that expose you.” He drags my hand down his side. “A rib shot would have worked just fine.” Then he guides our hands around his back, making himself vulnerable. “Kidneys are a good fit from this angle, too.”

I swallow, refusing to think of other things that are a good fit at this angle.

He leads our hands to his waist, his gaze never leaving mine. “Chances are, if your opponent is in armor, it’s weak here. Those are three easy places you could have struck before your opponent would have had time to stop you.”

“Do you hear me?”

I nod.

“Good. Because you can’t let Violet poison every enemy she come across, you need to teach her how to protect herself, or find someone who can” he whispers, and I blanche. „And you need more practice too. You’re good but not the best.”

“How did you know?” I finally ask referring to Violet. My muscles lock, including my thighs, which just happen to still be bracketing his hips.

His eyes darken. “Oh, Sunshine, you’re good, but I’ve known better poison masters then Violet. The trick is to not make it quite so obvious.”

My lips part, and I bite back a retort.

“I think she’s been taught enough for the day,” Dain barks, reminding me that we’re far from alone. No, we’re a damned spectacle.

“He always that overprotective?” Xaden grumbles, pressing up from the mat a few inches.

“I don’t know, actually we don’t like each other.” I stare at him.

“Good. And don’t worry your little poisoning secret is safe with me.” Xaden arches a brow as if to remind me that I’m the keeper of one of his secrets, too.

“You’re not going to make me yield?” I challenge as he releases his grip and pushes up more, removing his weight from my body. My ribs expand as I take my first full breath.

“Nope. Defenseless women have never been my type. We’re done for today.” He stands, then walks away without another word, taking his weapons from Imogen as I roll to my knees.

“You all right?” Liam asks as I reach his side. I nod, my fingers slightly trembling as I rearm myself. He had every chance, and every reason, to kill me, and now he let me walk away twice. What kind of game is he playing?

***

“So how do we start?” Liam asks as he pushes open the door to the library.

“Start what?” I glance up at him from my desk where I’ve been sitting since dinner was over.

“The studying, what else?” He raises his eyebrows “Or you want me to teach you how to fight properly against Xaden?”

“Why? You can?” I ask with a surprise evident in my tone.

“Who do you think was the one who teached me how to fight?” He smirks.

“What? But…how?” I blink at him.

“We were fostered together. I think a mentioned that.” He sits beside me and pulls out his books from the bag.

“You said you have someone who is like your brother but you never named him.” I glare at him.

“Hm. Maybe I forgot.” He laughs.

“Of course, because it’s something you forgot.” I say grumpily and stare at the book in front of me. I need to learn a lot tonight. We have a history exam tomorrow. And I’m totally hopeless.

„Do you want to talk about what happened at the mat with Xaden?” He looks at me curiosly.

„Not a chance.” I quickly reply.

„Then I drop the topic.” He says. „For now.”

I shot him a glare but he doesn’t seem fazed. He knew me too well to know I didn’t mean it.

“Now how can I help you?” He looks at me expectantly.

“You…You’re really going to help me?” I ask hesitantly, observing the book in front of me.

“Aelin.” He starts and pulls away the history book. “I told you. We’re friends.”

“Then… thank you.” I finally look at him with a smile. “And if there’s ever a time when you need something, then you can come to me and I will help you.”

“I knew you were a kind person.” He grins at me.

“No, I’m not.” I deny it. “Only with the few people I care about.”

“Yeah, I know.” He nods. “It’s like you’re fighting for your precious people and trying to hold them together at the same time.”

“Such a compliment. If you continue I might think that you really think so highly of me.” I try to dodge the topic.

“Now where do we start?” He flips through the book.

“Well maybe you could read it out loud?” I ask hesitantly. I’m still not believing it totally. “But only if it’s not a bother. I don’t want to hinder you. Your grades are fantastic.”

“You will not hinder me.” He looks sternly at me. “I need to read it anyway so it’s okay to do what you suggested. We can learn together.”

And with that said we started our first study session. When we finished for the night I felt that we’re closer friends than ever. He really is the most selfless person I know.

#fanfiction #fourth wing #fourth wing fanfic #liam mairi #the fourth wing #violet sorrengail #xaden riorson #oc #the empyrean #xaden riorson x oc #xaden x oc

[reashot]

Someone ask for me to mix up angst and fluff so as promise here you goes. Don't worry ait's still mostly fluff.

You didn't mean that

In the maddening world of the ever after A knight wearing a rusted armor and his giant jackalope mount are desperately searching for their friend that are missing.

Old Man Jaune: Ruby! Ruby! Where are you. Please answer me! Darn it where is she! Juniper can you help me find her?

Juniper smells her surrounding to locate Ruby's whereabouts after she ran away from the group. The jackalope caught to a source of the scent and run towards it.

Jaune: Ruby please come back!

The knight frantically looks everywhere around him for any sign of his friend. And then he saw it. Rose petals falling down into the ground. He looks up and sees her, just as she looks down to see Jaune from a top a gigantic tree branches.

Jaune: Ruby please come down from there!

Ruby: Leave me alone Jaune!

Jaune: I can't just leave you alone out here. The ever after is not safe!

Ruby: I can take care of my self!

Jaune: I'm sure you can, but ever after's danger is not just something you can fight especially alone. Trust me on this.

Ruby: I'm not as weak as you Jaune. I can protect myself.

Jaune: .... Please-please just come down. I want to apologize for screaming at you.

Ruby: Well you can keep your apology, because I don't want it. *leaves in a flurry of roses*

Little: R-Ruby don't you think you're being to hard on the knight, he only wants to help you after all.

Ruby: S-shut up. I don't care. I don't care anymore. I just wanted to be alone. I don't want to see him or my teammates ever again!

Little: You didn't mean that...

Ruby: Shut Up! What do you know about what I think. You're just a mouse!

Little: I maybe a mouse but I know when someone is saying things they don't mean it.

Ruby: *sniff* W-what do a mouse know about human emotion. Do you know how hard it is to be me? To always be the leader, to be cheery all the time and being chosen by Ozpin... A-and constantly losing everyone around you. Like Pyhrra, Penny and mom...

Little: R-Ruby what's happening with your eyes?

Ruby: Oh no it's happening again!

Ruby suddenly lost control of the power from her silver eyes causing a small blast of light to occur which sends her falling down.

Little: Ruby please wake up otherwise you will go splat!

Ruby unconscious from the sudden blast can be seen falling to the ground. The mouse scream and scream attempting to wake her up, to no avail. But fortunately for both Ruby and Little. Jaune the Rusted knight himself galloping to catch Ruby before she touch the ground.

Jaune: Ruby! *catches Ruby in mid-air*

Ruby: J-Jaune?

Jaune: Hey I know that pretty girls can't stop falling for me but it's getting ridiculous...

Little: .......

Ruby: .......

Jaune: ..... That bad, huh?

Ruby: Very.

Jaune: Then I apologize.

Ruby: No, don't. I kinda like it. It's bad in a cute way.

Little: (Wait a second are this two?)

Jaune: Okay. And Ruby can we talk now?

Ruby: Can we just, don't. I just want to be alone for a while.

Jaune: Ruby. Take it from me. Being alone should be the last thing you want right now. You need to have someone to talk to about what's on your mind. Or else - or else you will end up like me. It doesn't have to be me, but you need to have someone.

Ruby: Thanks for the advice Jaune, but I don't want to talk to anyone right now...

Jaune: That's it. I'm putting my foot down. You will talk about your problems! Or else you are grounded for a week.

Ruby: You're not my Dad!

Jaune: The hell I am! I'm probably older than your dad. So you better listen to me young lady!

Ruby: Bite me!

Jaune: I swear I will turn Juniper around and bring you back to your teammates so you can explain yourself why you run off like that! Do you want that?

Ruby: *pout* Fine. Daddy....

Jaune: Good girl. *headpat*

Ruby:

Little: (gasp! They're doing daddy-daughter play?)

Jaune: Then I'll start first. I'm sorry for screaming at you and accused you of being selfish...

Ruby: No. Jaune you're right to call me out on that. I have been using you and others for my own benefits. Like when we travelled together and even back in Atlas. Because of that you and so many others were hurt because of my stupid decisions. And I'm sorry for calling the paper pleaser your make belief friends. I know they're real and I know they're real to you too.

Jaune: But Ruby, we followed you ourselves despite knowing the risk and also because you're our friend. If you ask me to I would even follow you to the depths of hell. So don't apologize for something we did to ourselves. And you're right the paper pleasers were just make belief friend. I though I knew what best for them but I'm not. I just forced my own belief at them without even considering their point of view. But I guess, at least they got what they wanted. You're right that we're just playing make belief friend, while also playing as a make belief hero... It should have been me that died instead of Pyrrha. She would have been better at this hero thing than me. She would have been more of a help to you than me. Compared to her I'm so useless.

Ruby: You didn't mean that.

Jaune: Yes I do. This is not even opinion, this is just fact.

Ruby: *hugs Jaune* I know you are hurt. But it doesn't excuse you to disparage yourself like this. What would Pyrrha think if she saw you like this.

Jaune: *hugs Ruby back* I know that. I'm so sorry Ruby for screaming at you. I never meant what I said. I would never hurt you like that.

Ruby:

I'm sorry too. I know you would never do anything to hurt me. And I'm sorry for hurting you too.

Little: (They finally made up.)

The two then starts crying together. Their embrace tighten as they find forgiveness in each other's arms.

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#jaune arc #lancaster #ruby rose #lancaster rwby #rwby #jaune x ruby #ruby x jaune #rwby lancaster #little rwby #ever after rwby #old man jaune #rusted knight #rwby season 9

[yuus-sentient-teddy]

"Yuu-Yuu hurt." Part 8

Part 1 | Part 7 | Part 9

Malleus vaguely registers screaming and yelling.

He doesn't look at the sources; it was all white noise.

His eyes are only on Yuu. He almost fools himself into thinking that Yuu caught Silver's condition and was sleeping, but he knows better than to lie to himself. It would only twist the thorns further into his heart.

Overblot. A dangerous phenomena like that shouldn't be happening, especially not to someone so precious.

". . . aren't they supposed to be magicless?" Malleus whips his head around. The mad kidnapper is still passed out in the corner. He begins marching towards him.

"Malleus, where are you going?" Lilia steps into his line of sight.

"I'm going to make him pay."

Jamil's body reacted sooner than his mind. His hands shoot out to grab Kalim's arm before Kalim could begin to sprint. Uneven breathing from being on the verge of panic makes Kalim stutter.

"Jamil, we-we have to-we have to help them--"

"We can't, Kalim." It was painful to say those words, yet Jamil managed and somehow kept his voice steady at the same time. He holds Kalim by the upper arms and forces him to look at him. "That ink monster is still there. We can't just put ourselves in danger like that."

He keeps Kalim from looking at the ink monster and the body beside it after a few failed attempts, and this keeps him from doing the same thing.

Leona's grip remained firm as Deuce and Ace tried to free their arms. They were failing to keep their tears from falling, but regardless, stubbornness and spirit shown through. Ruggie held Grim by the back of his neck after catching him using Laugh With Me. "Are you three serious? Look at the thing next to them!" Ruggie yells.

"Are you kidding? We were fighting it second ago!" Grim yells back, still squirming and trying to reach behind.

"Exactly! And you were trying to get near it."

"We need to know if they're okay," Deuce protests. "We might have time before the monster starts moving again."

"Look, I get it's dangerous, but we can't just leave them like that," Ace says.

Ruggie growls in frustration. "Leona, help me out here!"

". . ."

"Leona?"

He was glaring at the Overblotter's frozen monster. No shifting, no twitching, no rhythmic movement that mimicked breathing. Was it in some sort of cocoon phase, preparing itself into a higher form, now that the Overblotter was…?

"Leona!"

"We can't get close to them without knowing what the ink monster is about to do. Radish sprout and his brother might be able to read it."

Riddle breathed in slowly through his nose and let it out through his mouth. Trey holds his shoulders from behind, providing assurance, as Sebek's voice instructs him on his breathing. Silver had to tell Sebek to lower his voice, and it was unusual hearing the loud Diasomnia student speak gently and quietly, but it had good effect. After what seemed like a long time, Riddle's breathing evened out and his heart no longer galloped.

"Are you okay now?" Trey asks.

"Yes, thank you. And thank you, Sebek," Riddle says. "I'm a little surprised that you know this breathing technique."

"Sir Lilia recommended I learn it. He said it would benefit my wellbeing and advised that I do it during breaks and the evening. He also said it can be useful for calming myself."

Even if you weren't the one using the technique, it's calmed you down as well. Silver decides to keep the observation to himself. He noticed Sebek trembling after Yuu collapsed and tried talking to him. He became worried when Sebek suddenly walked away, and it extended to Riddle upon seeing him having a panic attack. Now, though, he was glad the both of them were calmed down. Trey too; even though the Heartslabyul vice dorm leader had a grounded facade, he noticed Trey following the breathing technique.

They're dead.

The magicless Prefect with hidden gusto. The little shrimp that went up against Azul to unbind their friends and others from contracts. One of the most interesting people on campus with an equally interesting companion.

Floyd suddenly growls and raises his wand above his head. Jade grabs his forearm before he could throw it down, telling him to stop or he'll break it. "It's not fair!" Floyd yells. "They shouldn't have died!"

The twins weren't strangers to death and people suddenly disappearing; it was something they were used to. Jade agreed with his brother, though, and was surprised by the outcome too. Each Overblot incident ended with the victim alive, and the students who handled each one were safe. Surely with 22 magicians--which included a particularly talented few--and a monster handling this strange case, the magicless victim would come out alive too? What went wrong, besides not having enough time?

Azul stands silently to the side. Gears were turning in his head and he was no doubt wondering the same thing. Perhaps if he didn't hold back and advised the others to do the same initially, Yuu would not have collapsed. If only there had been information about these situations; if only Ortho reached him sooner.

He hates leaving things up to chance and this was the absolute worst scenario.

"Damn it. There must've been somethin' we coulda done!"

Epel fumed, clenched hands trembling. He wanted to check on Yuu, but Rook kept him back and warned that the ink monster might suddenly grab him if he got close. Vil was having what seemed to be a tense discussion with Idia and Ortho not too far away and Cater was standing by, listening with a serious expression.

"Dear Epel, don't be too harsh on yourself and everyone else. We gave our best and have no control over the outcome," Rook says, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Epel wretches away. "Our best weren't enough!"

"But it was all we had," Jack says, standing beside Rook. "We came with our skills and without a plan or knowledge of what would happen. It's no use blaming ourselves or others for limits, and we can't change what has already happened. Still, I know what you're feeling."

Rook notices Jack's eyes wandering towards the body and quickly speaks. "It's just as Jack says. The only thing we can do now is wait--"

The ink monster suddenly jolts.

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Somewhere in an urban community, on the second floor of an apartment building, a man suddenly bolts out of bed. He runs out of his bedroom, avoiding tripping on his slippers, and catches himself against the adjacent wall. The cool feeling on his palms brings him a little out of his half-conscious state, but he continues what he is doing and opens a door.

"Yuu!"

The bedroom is empty. The man stands in the doorway for a couple of minutes, heavy breathing becoming quieter, and he finally realizes that he is in the waking world, where his child is missing. The familiar ache in his heart returns and he drags himself to their bed.

Yuu didn't make their bed the morning they disappeared. He hasn't fixed it since and doesn't dare touch their desk either, except to put things back in place after the police searched around. He sits on the bed, his weight making the bed groan, and he looks around the dark room.

His eyes fall on a teddy bear lying next to the pillow. He picks it up and examines it in the dim white light of the nightlight and the yellow streetlights from the window. He gifted it to Yuu when they were younger, so they wouldn't be lonely when he left for work. He is glad it has done its purpose and that Yuu loved it enough to keep it by their bed throughout the years.

Maybe it was his mind attempting to ease his fatherly heart, but in his dreams, the teddy bear was alive and with Yuu. He watched it protect Yuu from danger and from nightmares, cheer them up alongside their newfound friends when they felt low, and help them however it can. In the last dream, however, the teddy bear was put in the background and watched in horror as Yuu collapsed, struck with an illness that caused black liquid to spill out of their mouth.

The man hugs the teddy bear to his shoulder. He always thanked the teddy by petting its head after those strange but reassuring dreams. Now, though, he makes a heartful request.

"Please, bring them home safe."

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================================================

The boys quickly gather together to discuss what to do next. It was only a matter of time before the ink monster wakes up, and there was no telling what new things it would have in store. Working together in duos worked better than individually, but it was also noticed that trios worked even better.

In the middle of dividing groups, the ink monster makes a squelching sound, like stepping in a thick pile of mud still wet from a downpour. The boys quickly spread out. Appendages sprout from its back and it springs upward to its full height. It roars, pushing some of the students back, and flaps what are clearly now wings. Thin globs of ink shoot out like throwing knives and shields are immediately thrown up.

Something short and furry rushes past Epel. "[Teddy's name]?!" he yells. "Wait, come back here!"

He gives chase. The others notice and yells erupt for the teddy bear to stop. Attention goes back to the ink monster when it suddenly takes flight. It circles around the ceiling like an eagle and dodges magical projectiles, then takes a dramatic dive.

"Epel, look out!"

"Oh crap!" Epel shoots out ice magic, hitting the monster in the face. It swerves, and those in its new path jump out of its way. When Epel turns around, he finds the teddy on the ground, Grim having tackled it. He hurries over as Ace and Deuce catch up.

"You need to go back outside!" Grim yells as he helps the teddy bear to its feet.

"[Teddy's name] can't! Yuu-Yuu is hurt badly!"

"Hang on, did you say they're hurting? Does that mean they're still alive?"

When the teddy bear nods, the small group look at each other with hope. "We need to get them out of here!" Deuce says.

"You guys cover for me and [teddy's name]! We'll get there faster if I'm with it. Let's go!" Grim doesn't wait for any protests and neither does the teddy bear. The two are off sprinting as the ink monster descends once more.

"How does he think he can get them out of here if he's just a tanuki?" Ace wonders.

"We'll catch up with him. Right now, he needs cover!" Deuce says, lifting his wand.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Overhead, a funnel of fire connects with and engulfs the ink monster. It lands hard on the ground, a squelching sound accompanying, and lies motionless for a couple of seconds before getting up and shaking off the attack. It notices Grim and the teddy bear getting closer to Yuu and growls.

Each pounding step shakes the floor and the teddy bear stumbles, but Grim makes sure it doesn't fall.

"HEY!" A strike of lightning from behind causes the ink monster to falter. "OVER HERE!"

It only takes a glance before continuing its charge. "Wha--hey!"

"Grim! Behind you!"

The two of them are so close to Yuu. Grim skids to a stop anyway, turning around. Panic flashes across his face when he sees how short the distance is becoming, but he readies himself and sends a fireball. To his horror, it barely slows the ink monster down. He shuts his eyes, bracing for the impact.

"Yuu-Yuu!"

There's an explosive-like sound as a bright light flashes from where Yuu and their teddy are. There's a thud and a squelch, and Grim opens his eyes. The ink monster is shaking its head, dazed. He turns his head when he hears Yuu moan and is by their side in a moment.

Their eyes open partially, just enough to see what is in front of them. "[Teddy's name]. . . Grim. . ." Their voice is quiet and weak. The corner of their mouth barely pulls, but the two of them can tell they want to smile. ". . . Happy. . . to see. . ."

They languidly blink and start to lose consciousness. "Yuu!" Grim yells, shaking them and begging for them to not close their eyes. Tears dribble from his eyes and he clutches their arm when they don't respond.

A furry arm rubs his back and he looks up. It's the teddy bear. "Yuu-Yuu will be okay."

Multiple thuds cause them to turn around. The ink monster is trying to get to them, but a barrier keeps it out, each swipe and pounce revealing a white translucent dome. Grim wipes the tears away and marches with determination to the edge.

"Get away from my henchman, you gross pile of goop!"

In one deep breath, Grim releases an explosion of blue flames. The ink monster screeches and recoils, the walls shaking from the volume.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the bright flash, the ink monster's wings drooped like melted candle wax and eventually sunk to the floor as a pile of thick ink. It seemed to be heaving too.

"I have a theory," Jade says while watching the monster pound on the barrier. "Overblots occur because a magician uses too much magic and at the same time, becomes overwhelmed by negative emotions. Yuu may have passively gathered magic from their classmates. . ."

". . . not to mention, the kidnapper probably did some sort of experiment that enabled them to become an SSR problem child and maybe something else to throw them over the edge. Before I lost signal, he said he was looking into 'the usefulness of negative emotions'. Really, a classic mad scientist trope. . ."

". . . but then what happens to a magicless person when they run out of residual magic? Their life force may be taken instead. The barrier the teddy bear has put up might have cut them off from the ink monster."

"That's hard to wrap my head around."

"I slightly agree, but this gives us more time to defeat the ink monster. Not to mention, now that the barrier is up, we don't have to worry about hurting Yuu."

"Let's do it!"

#yuu's sentient teddy bear #malleus draconia #kalim al asim #jamil viper #leona kingscholar #ruggie bucchi #ace trappola #deuce spade #grim (twisted wonderland) #riddle rosehearts #trey clover #silver (twisted wonderland) #sebek zigvolt #jade leech #floyd leech #azul ashengrotto #epel felmier #rook hunt #jack howl #🧸🖊writing

[katnewman96-blog]

A Thread of Hope - first Draft 

I gaze longingly out the window of our dimly lit cottage, overlooking the lush, verdant fields stretching to the horizon. The rhythmic clanking of my sisters' spinning wheels filled the air, but my mind was elsewhere, lost in the vivid memories of galloping across the countryside on my trusty steed. As I idly twirl the spindle, my fingers itched to grip the reins once more.

My sisters, Loreley and Emery, never seemed to tire of the monotonous task at hand. I admired their ability to keep focused, but it was a skill I had yet to master. As much as I loved them, I couldn't help but feel stifled by the confines of our cottage and the expectations society had set for us. The only thing that brought me any real joy was the thought of mounting my horse and galloping off into the forest.

A soft whinny from outside the cottage window caught my attention and my heart skipped a beat. It was as if my horse were calling out to me. But it was getting dark now, and my mother would be furious if I went riding after dark. I forced myself to focus on the task at hand, to ignore the longing in my heart, and to be the obedient daughter. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder if there was another way.

"Aubrey, are you getting your spinning done?" my mother's voice boomed through the cottage. The sound of her approaching footsteps only served to increase the pressure in my chest. I forced a smile as she walked into the room, her eyes immediately falling on the half-spun thread lying limply in my lap.

"I'm sorry, Mother." I forced out, my voice wavering slightly.

My mother, a stout and stern woman, sighed heavily. "Aubrey, you know you need to focus on your spinning." Her words stung like a whip, and I looked down at the spinning wheel, feeling a weight settle heavily in my chest.

"If I finish all my spinning, can I go riding in the morning?" I asked, daring to raise my eyes to meet hers. 

My mother pursed her lips, considering my request. "Alright," she said at last, her voice guarded. "But only if you promise to work twice as hard on your spinning tomorrow." 

My heart leapt at her words, and I nodded eagerly. "Thank you, Mother." I leaned in and kissed her cheek, feeling a surge of gratitude wash over me. As my sisters continued their spinning, I returned to my work, my mind already racing with the possibilities of tomorrow's adventure.

The sun was just peeking over the mountains as I saddle my horse. My heart was racing, my palms sweaty, but I knew I couldn't let my fear hold me back. With one last look at the sleeping village, I spurred my horse onwards, galloping towards the forest. The cool morning air whipped through my hair, refreshing me as I rode deeper into the woods.

As the trees closed in around me, I slowed my horse to a walk. The sunlight barely reached through the canopy above, casting the forest into a dim, mysterious gloom. The air grew cooler and more damp, the ground soggy from last night's rain. I shivered, wishing I had brought a heavier cloak.

A twig snapped nearby, making my heart leap into my throat. I glanced around, but saw no sign of danger. Perhaps it was just an animal, I told myself, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The farther I ventured into the woods, the more anxious I became. What if someone discovered my secret? My mother would be furious, and worse, I might never see Edwin again.

I came to the clearing, my heart in my throat. There, amidst the towering oaks and ancient ferns, I saw him. Edwin, my love, his golden hair shone in the faint light. I felt a rush of emotion overwhelm me as I dismounted my horse, my knees weak with relief and joy. He hurried forward, taking my hands in his, and for a moment, it was as if there were nothing else in the world but the two of us.

"My lady,." Edwin sang softly. "I have missed you so." He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. 

I could feel the warmth spread from my fingers all the way up to my cheeks. "And I you," I whispered, my heart racing in my chest.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the trees. Edwin's head snapped up, his eyes widening with fear. "You must flee," he whispered urgently. "I fear someone has followed me."

My stomach knotted at his words. I wanted nothing more than to stay by his side, but I knew I had to listen. With a heavy heart, I pulled my hand from his grasp and mounted my horse. "Be careful, Edwin," I whisper.

I urge my horse into a gallop, the wind whipping my hair as I disappear back into the forest. The trees blur together in a verdant tunnel, the sound of my heart pounding in my ears drowning out all other noises. The thought of never seeing Edwin again fills me with a deep, aching sadness, but I know I must be strong. Edwin will find a way out of this mess; he always does.

I stood before the fireplace, my back to the door, lost in thought. The warmth of the flames danced across my face, casting shadows that flickered and played across the rough-hewn walls of our cottage. The smell of wood smoke and apple cider filled the air, mingling with the scent of herbs and spices that hung about. It was the smell of home, of safety and familiarity.

My thoughts, however, were anything but peaceful. My mind darted back to the events of this morning. A loud knock at the door interrupted my racing thoughts. My mother marched to answer it, a look of surprise on her face. Then, there they were, the Queen and the Prince, standing in our kitchen.

"Your Majesty!" my mother exclaimed, curtsying deeply. "What a surprise to see you here in our humble home. And you, Your Highness," she added, casting a nervous glance at the prince. "Please, come in." She stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. The Queen swept past her, her crimson cloak swirling behind her. The prince hesitated for a moment before following suit, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I imagine your daughter knows why I'm here, madam." The queen's voice cut through the tension, her tone sharp and commanding. "If you can spin a room filled with flax into thread within three days' time. You shall marry my son, and should you fail, you shall never see him again, do you understand?" Her words were like a knife to the heart, but I refused to let them break me.

"Yes, Your Majesty," I said, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat. "I understand." My mother's eyes widened, but she said nothing. I turned to face the Queen, my spine straightening. "I accept your challenge."

The Queen's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Very well. I'll send a carriage for you in the morning." With a final nod, she turned and left the cottage, followed shortly after by Edwin, who hesitated for just a moment longer, his eyes meeting mine. I felt my heart skip a beat as he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment before stepping out into the cool autumn air. The door closed behind them with a click, and silence once again settled over our home.

My heart hammers in my chest as I stroll through the opulent halls of the royal court. The sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows cast a rainbow of colors across my path. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I navigated my way between the noblewomen and courtiers who lined the corridors, their faces a mix of curiosity and disdain. I knew that they saw me as nothing more than a commoner, an interloper in their exclusive world. But I was determined to prove them wrong. 

As I follow the Queen's adviser to a room tucked away in the northern wing of the palace, my heart begins to race. The room is lit by flickering candles, the air thick with anticipation. Against one wall stands a towering stack of flax, as tall as I am and three times as wide, its golden-green fibers shining in the candlelight. Against another wall sits a spinning wheel, its spindle gleaming like a beacon of hope. The Queen's adviser gestures grandly to the pile of flax and the spinning wheel, a challenging gleam in his eye. "You should get to work little girl," he sneers.

I take a deep breath and approach the spinning wheel. The flax feels cool and smooth against my skin as I begin to unravel the bundle, separating the fibers into individual strands. I take a moment to study the spinning wheel, remembering the lessons my mother had taught me as a child, and then I begin to spin. The spindle begins to spin, the flax fibers twisting together to form a thin, strong thread.

As I spin, the flax spinning wheel suddenly gives way, its wooden frame splintering under the strain of my efforts. With a cry of dismay, I watch helplessly as my only means of completing the challenge lies in ruins before me, my hopes of being with the prince slipping further and further away with each passing moment.

The weight of the challenge weighs on my shoulders, as I try to spin the flax by hand in an attempt to succeed. My muscles ache, and my arms feel like lead as I struggle to keep the fibers together. I can't help but wonder if the Queen and her adviser meant for me to fail all along. Maybe this was their twisted way of punishing me for daring to think I was worthy of the prince's affections.

As I continue to spin, I catch laughter outside the chamber. Their whispers carry the vile words of the Queen's adviser. "She'll never make it," he cackles. "She's doomed to fail. The Queen has sabotaged the wheel" The words cut through me like a knife, anger and betrayal surging through my veins. I clench my fists, determination burning bright in my eyes. I will not let them win. I will not let them steal our chance at happiness.

I sneak from the castle, clad in dark robes, to blend in with the shadows of the forest. My heart thumps against my chest as I hurry deeper into the tangled woods, the canopy of trees blocking out the last rays of the setting sun. The forest grows thick and eerie, the air heavy with the scent of damp earth and ancient magic. I pause for a moment, gathering my courage before continuing onwards. The stories claim the three witches are somewhere near the big oak tree.

Finally, I reach the oak, its massive trunk wider than three men standing shoulder to shoulder. The air feels charged, electric, as if a storm is about to break. I take a deep breath and step beyond the tree's embrace into a clearing. There, in the center, sit three women, weaving cloth. Their long, silver hair flows like water around them, their eyes sparkle like stars. Midnight blue robes adorn them.

The woman on the left glances up at me, her gaze piercing. "Aubrey," she says, her voice soft as mist. "You come seeking our aid." It's not a question.

I swallow hard, nodding. "I do, sisters. I beg you, I need your help." The words taste bitter on my tongue.

The woman in the middle studies me with unblinking eyes. "We know why you are here, Aubrey. We know of your plight." Her voice is gentle, like the rustle of leaves in the breeze. "But we must know... are you prepared to pay the price for our aid?"

I hesitate, my heart racing. "I... I will do anything." My voice is barely a whisper. "Whatever it takes."

The woman on the right, who has said nothing until now, smiles slightly. "Then you have come to the right place, my dear. We will help you. But there are conditions. In exchange for our aid, we must ask that you invite us to your wedding, introduce us as your aunts, and seat us at the high table. Do you agree?"

I blink, taken aback. "Of course." I bow my head in gratitude. "Thank you, thank you so much." I expected a much greater price.

The three women exchange glances before the one on the left reaches out to take my hand. She hands me a small pouch. "Sprinkle this dust on yourself and the broken spinning wheel my dear." Her voice is like warm honey, flowing over me. "It will repair the damage and allow you to spin once more."

In the dimly lit chamber, I stand before the spinning wheel, sprinkling the dust from the three witches over myself and the wheel. As I do so, the wheel emits a soft glow, and its worn wooden parts seem to mend themselves, as if they were never broken. With renewed hope, I take my place at the wheel, grasping the thread of flax that I've been given, and begin to spin. The thread twirls around my fingers, a dance of nature and magic, as if it were alive.

Hours pass, and my body aches from the unaccustomed strain of spinning. Yet, I push through the pain, fueled by the knowledge that this is our only chance to be together. The wheel hums beneath my fingers, and the thread spins out, impossibly fine, as if it were woven from moonbeams and stardust. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting the chamber in shadow, I feel a surge of determination. I will not fail.

With a final burst of effort, I complete the last few yards of thread, the room filling with the soft, whispery sound of success. My arms drop to my sides, and my knees buckle, I kneel before the spinning wheel, gazing upon the miracle I have wrought. Tears of joy stream down my cheeks as I realize that we have done it - we have beaten the odds, and found a way to be together.

King Ludwig, bursts into the room, his face a mixture of curiosity and wonder. "I had come to see for myself who had won the affections of my son, and I came to find that you have not only beat my wife's challenge but early at that. You are quite the impressive young woman." His voice booms throughout the room. 

The Queen erupts into the room, clearly annoyed, her face flushed. "My dear, you promised to not interrupt." Her voice shakes with anger as she glares at me. "And you, girl, how dare you!" She demands, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.

The King, seemingly unperturbed by his wife's ire, says to me, "Aubrey, I have made up my mind. You are to marry my eldest son, Prince Edwin. He is in love with you and I want his happiness." His voice is calm and steady.

I feel my heart race at the thought of marrying the prince, but my mind is still on the three witches who saved me. "Your Majesty, I thank you for your generosity, but before we proceed, there is something I must ask."

The king's eyebrow raises in interest, and he motions for me to continue. "I would like to invite my...aunts to the celebration. They have been very kind to me."

The king's expression softens, and he nods. "Ah, yes. I understand. Your request is granted. They shall be honored guests at the wedding."

His words bring a sense of relief washing over me. I bow my head in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I would not be where I am today without their guidance and aid."

The sun blazed down upon the emerald expanse of the castle's gardens, casting a warm, golden light over the vibrant array of colors that swayed in the gentle breeze. Birds sang sweetly from the branches of towering oaks, their melodies filling the air with a symphony of nature's music. As if in perfect harmony with this idyllic scene, laughter and merriment echoed throughout the castle grounds, carrying with it the unmistakable sound of joy and celebration.

Edwin, and I, exchanged knowing glances as we listened to the revelry around us. Today was our wedding day, and despite the many trials and tribulations we had faced, it seemed as though fate had conspired to bring us together in a way that neither of us could have ever imagined. The three witches sat beside us as honored guests, My aunts, the women who had helped me in my time of need, and who had guided me on this path to happiness.

I glanced over at my new husband and felt a swell of emotion in my chest. His blue eyes sparkled with joy, and the excitement of the day flushed his face. He reached for my hand, his strong, warm fingers intertwined with mine, and I felt a sense of security and love wash over me. This was our day, our future, and despite everything that had happened, we had come out on top.

The Queen glides over to our table, her regal gown sweeping across the dewy grass. My heart skips a beat as I see her, the woman who once openly carried disdain for me. Her features are softened, her expression more tender than I could have ever remembered. She extends a delicate hand, her long, slender fingers reaching for mine. "Aubrey," she says, her voice gentle and apologetic. "I wish to offer you my sincerest apologies for my past behavior."

Taken aback, I can only stare at her, unsure of how to respond. Edwin squeezes my hand reassuringly, and I nod, taking her hand in mine. "Thank you, your highness," I managed. "I accept your apology."

We sense the surrounding air shifting, as if someone has lifted a weight from our shoulders. With the Queen's new acceptance, a sense of peace washes over me. I glance at Edwin, his face beaming with contentment, and I know that we've truly come full circle. Despite the obstacles we faced, we persevered and found happiness together.

#creative writing #writing #writing exercise #writing advice #writerscorner #writingadvice #writing-challenges-and-prompts #romance #romance writing #romance writers #fantasy #fantasy short story #Brothers Grimm #fairytales #fairy tale retelling #fairy tale #retelling

[linasofia]

Bunnelê

Armitage Summer Splash #12

Trope: Oblivious of feelings

Quote: “How dare you!”

Relationships: Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!Reader x Raymond de Merville (Modern AU)

Words: 2,8K

Warnings: 18+

@lathalea @legolasbadass I don’t know if I should thank you or blame you right now. 😈

It all happens so quickly. The shock wave from the explosion throws me backwards and I fall helplessly to the ground. My back takes most of the impact but I can't stop my head from mercilessly hitting the ground. I gasp for air as my lungs press hard against my ribs. Black smoke fills the air and I cough as I try to breathe. With an increasing feeling of surrealness, I stare at the burning car beside me. I can hear shouting from the distance growing louder and more frightening, but my body feels heavy and refuses to move. The sharp sound of sirens cut through the air. Iron shoes on four-legged beasts, galloping on wet asphalt and snorting heavily. Commanding voices in the air, demanding full obedience. I can’t keep my eyes open and the pulsating feeling at my temples slowly fades away together with my consciousness.

Someone is calling my name. A dark, rich voice finds its way through the massive wall of shouting and noises around me and just hearing the familiar sound calms me a little. It’s a voice that I usually hear outside my café, spoken in a much softer tone than the roar that suddenly erupts from his chest as he turns to command his partner. When I open my eyes, it takes a while for my eyes to adjust, but then I see him. At first, I do not recognize him due to the full riot gear he wears, including a helmet with a thick visor and some sort of extra vest for protection that makes his chest look even broader than usual. He shields me from everything else when he leans over me, blocking the sun that creates a halo around his helmet. His gloved hand rests lightly on my forehead and when he speaks my name again, I answer with his: ”Thorin.”

”I’m here. You need to go to the hospital. You’re bleeding.”

I try to sit up but he gently holds me down. ”Stay down, Raymond is getting an ambulance for you. They will decide how to move you. I don’t want to make your injury worse by making unqualified decisions. For now, you’re safe just where you are.”

”I’m sure it's fine, Thorin.” I try to smile but I feel my dry lips crack as I move them. His concern for me makes me all warm inside. Over the last months, Thorin and Raymond have been regular visitors at my café, when on duty. On warm days I have given both riders and horses water to drink and on colder days they always buy coffee. They seem inseparable and in a way, I envy the strong bond they must have, both to each other and to their horses. To put your own life in danger, to help others in need, surely it must form their character and bring out their greatest sides. My temple is hurting and Thorin adds pressure to it.

When I hear the echoing noise of hooves against the asphalt again, I slowly turn my face towards the sound. I see the big black stallion, Hades, standing just a few meters away from me. In his saddle, as always, sits Thorin’s partner, Raymond. From this distance and with his visor down, I can’t really tell it’s him, but I would always recognize Hades, even now in riot gear, just like the officer on his back.

Flashing blue lights suddenly reflect in Thorin’s visor and soon a medical team surrounds me. Thorin hovers by my side but not until one of the angels from the ambulance team says, in a sharp tone, that they have the situation under control, does he mount his horse Electra again. The chestnut mare shakes her head impatiently and it almost looks like she tries to tell her master what a jerk he is. The evening is far from over and they are needed elsewhere, can’t he see that? The last thing I see before the ambulance door closes is the back of two officers riding to join their colleagues.

I don’t like sleeping at the hospital. Thankfully I have very little experience of it, but a broken arm from a riding accident as a young girl still awakes some memories as I stare at the white sterile ceiling. I’m very grateful that I got my own room, and when the doctor told me that he wanted to keep me overnight for monitoring, I accepted. I needed a couple of stitches and I suffered from a concussion. It makes me dizzy and at times I feel really sick. When sleep finally claims my body, I welcome it with open arms, feeling utterly exhausted.

The room is dark, only illuminated by large chandeliers and a few lanterns that cast flickering shadows on the walls. No windows or doors let the light inside but the air still feels pleasant. In the middle of the room stands a bed, robust with a wooden frame. At the foot of the bed stand two men, wearing nothing but their own gloriously tanned skin. They are about the same height, broad shoulders, well-sculptured bodies and the only difference between them is the amount of hair on their chests. One of them has been blessed with more and when he shifts, the light reveals the grey strands gracing his dark chest hair. The other man is a little less hairy but his hair creates the most inviting trail over his stomach. The soft enormous bed, neatly made with finest Egyptian cotton sheets, moves as the two men slowly crawl from the opposite corners towards me like predators, but I don’t feel like I’m in any danger. I still don’t see their faces but somehow I already know.

With a hammering heart I wait for them in bed, silently lying on my back. When I feel their warm bodies against mine, I briefly close my eyes and take a deep breath. One of them gently pulls at my shoulder so I come to rest on the side and when I open my eyes again, I meet Thorin’s burning gaze. He gently strokes my cheek and when he speaks, his usual commanding and deep voice is now raspy and it fills my body with irresistible need. Behind me, I feel the other man position himself close to me, place his hand on my waist and squeeze the soft flesh. When he greets me, I smile to myself. Raymond’s voice, smooth as velvet but dark as the sea, is filled with lust, matching my own desire that is rapidly building in my body.

Thorin leans in and covers my lips with his before I can even think of a proper response to them. Our kiss starts as a tender one, but soon his hunger takes over and his tongue slips between my lips. The sensual dance he leads me into is filled with emotions and not only the passionate and raw kind. Raymond’s hand doesn’t stay on my waist for long, and his hands glide over my skin as if he tried to map my body, fueling my desire. He nibbles at my shoulder and when Thorin suddenly breaks the kiss, I feel Raymond’s teeth scrape against my skin. His beard is soft and I find it more than arousing when he drags his jaw along my shoulder. I whimper as his grip on me tightens. With a swift move Raymond rolls me over to face him and the darkness in his eyes makes me gasp. He doesn’t follow Thorin’s gentle start, instead he greedily rolls his tongue against mine and steals my breath away. I feel Thorin peppering my neck with wet kisses, his short stubble is rough on my skin, while his hand caresses my hip and moves along my thigh. I burn under his touch as he gently lifts my leg and places it over Raymond’s thigh. Then, as Raymond continues to kiss me deeply, I feel Thorin advance to explore the sensitive parts between my thighs. When his fingers trace my soft and slick skin and find my little bundle of nerves, I moan into Raymond’s mouth, making both men even more eager. With one hand Raymond catches my wrist and pulls it over my head. His other hand seeks the softness of my breast, teasing me by running his fingers around its outer lines and over my ribs, making me shiver under his touch. My soft plea for more is silenced by Thorin who slips one of his thick fingers between my folds. I hear him groan appreciatively against my neck as he works his fingers to pleasure me.

As soon as my breathing becomes uneven, Thorin intensifies his efforts and I pant his name while I feel the orgasm building in my core. He answers me with a moan as I clench around his fingers and the world around me temporarily disappears as I float in the warm stream of lust washing over me. Thorin slowly withdraws his fingers, leaving me with a feeling of emptiness. My body aches for him, for both of them, for more of everything they might offer. Raymond releases my arm and I roll over to face Thorin.

“I need you,” I whisper, my voice still needy and unsteady. Thorin’s azure eyes are burning and without a word he grabs my leg, lifts it so he can position himself in the best possible way and with his gaze fixed on mine, he enters me. Even if he is slow and gentle, I struggle with his size. Raymond’s raspy “Good girl” as Thorin reaches the bottom, buried deep inside me, sends a wave of heat through my body and I grip Thorin’s upper arm tightly. His muscles are firm, like the strong neck of his loyal horse and while Thorin gives me time to adjust to him, Raymond trails my spine up and down with his long fingers. It helps me relax my body and shortly after Thorin finally rocks his hips against mine, causing a throaty moan to escape my mouth.

The steady rhythm Thorin sets soon makes me see stars. I can tell he likes to watch me by the way he follows every shift in my facial expressions closely. While Thorin is more focused on my physical pleasure, Raymond seems determined to drive me crazy with his words alone. The way he speaks his praises is like pouring fuel on an open fire. Teasingly, he circles the roundness of my bum with his hands, gently squeezing my flesh and spreading my cheeks, exposing the split to him. When he presses a finger against me I can’t stop my body from arching against him. His voice drops to a low register that must have been made for female pleasures only. With a groan he asks for my consent and when I give it, he creates the most heavenly feeling with his long finger. He mirrors Thorin’s pace and it fills me with a desire stronger than the gravity of the earth. I don’t recognize my own voice when I beg him for more.

Raymond puts his hand on my leg, rasps my name and with a resolute move he adjusts my position to his advantage. His grip is firm, just enough to let me know how he wants me and in that moment Thorin slows down, allowing Raymond to put the bulky top of his member over my rear entrance. I’m being pulled towards the inevitable and all I manage is to cry out my desperation for them.

My own cry wakes me from my dream but I silence as soon as the morning light seeping from the small gap between the blinds hits me right in the eyes. Someone is speaking my name from a distance but I don’t understand why. I slam my arm against the bars on the hospital bed as I try to move away from the merciless light.

”Please be careful so you don’t hurt yourself.” That voice again, so dark and alluring. I meet the cerulean eyes of the man standing beside the bed. He looks strangely familiar. The shape and color of his eyes, the patrician nose and his dark beard. I let out a small gasp of disbelief. He resembles both Thorin and Raymond so much, they could easily be brothers. I blink a few times. Is this a trick of my damaged brain? The man is dressed in a shirt with the collar open and over that he wears a white coat. I glance at the name tag and then back at Dr White’s face.

”How do you feel? You were tossing in your bed and due to your injury, the nurse got worried. It’s not unusual to suffer from nightmares.”

”I’m ok.” I feel heat spread over my cheeks at the thought of Dr White hearing my cries. I can’t deal with the embarrassment but I try to convince myself that he seems to interpret it as something totally different. Dr White keeps asking a few more questions but I’m too tired and delusional to answer them properly. He leaves me after a while and I close my eyes as he shuts the door. I need to rest. And I feel nauseous.

A week later I’m back at the café, serving guests and making sandwiches as usual. The street still bears traces of the tumult that escalated into a riot after the big game last week. The visiting team’s supporters decided to take out their anger over their loss in the city center. The glass is swept away, some broken windows have already been replaced and even the car that exploded next to me is gone. Only the marks it left on the asphalt tell the story of the violence that occurred.

Just after lunch hour, when things are slowing down again, I hear the sound of hooves coming from outside. The door is wide open and the city noise mixes with the occasional sounds coming from the espresso machine. My heart picks up speed. I always enjoy meeting the city’s finest patrolling police officers, but today I feel more nervous than before. As usual I can’t resist the temptation so I walk over to the door and greet them.

”How do you feel, bunnelê?” Raymond asks, his French accent covering his words like mist covers the meadow on a crispy summer morning.

”How dare you?” Thorin snears at him. ”How dare you call her that? You have no right!” I can hear the anger in his voice and I wonder what Raymond’s words really mean.

”Since you don’t have the courage to use it, I might as well do it.” Raymond grins at him and Thorin shoots him an icy stare that is impossible to miss. I can almost see his blood boiling in his veins.

”I feel ok now. Still tired but nothing else. Thank you both for helping me.” I quickly answer with a grateful smile.

”Should you not rest longer? I can’t imagine the doctor's approval of you already working.” Thorin sounds concerned, the anger in his voice is gone and he looks intensely at me.

”I don’t have time to rest anymore. I can’t keep the café closed for so long. It’s not good for business. And Sarah can’t help me more than she already does.”

Raymond shakes his head. ”You’re not very obedient, are you?” Something in the way he says the word obedient brings back memories from my dream, and I blush. I can’t look either of them in the eyes without exposing myself, so instead, I turn my attention to Hades and Electra.

”Shall I get the bucket for them? They look warm.”

”I’m sure they are. Please, if it’s not too much trouble.” Thorin answers and gives Electra a tender stroke over her neck. Her chestnut coat shines like a ruby in the sun. I nod and go back inside to fill the bucket with water. In the kitchen, while the water splutters down in the bucket, I think of Thorin’s reaction to Raymond’s foreign word. It didn’t sound French. Over the last weeks I have noticed a small change in Thorin. He seems to be increasingly concerned for my well-being and while Raymond is more direct and has a habit of speaking without a filter between his mouth and brain, Thorin is getting more and more thoughtful and attentive to my reaction. It confuses me greatly but also feels very right.

When the bucket is finally filled, I carry it outside. The street is empty, my four-legged guests have disappeared together with their riders and I can’t help feeling a sting of disappointment in my heart. I put the bucket down and go back inside to serve a new guest. With their kind of job, you never know what to expect. But I have a feeling they will return later. The thought makes me warm and I shine together with the sun as I smile at the young woman on the other side of the counter. Today is a very good day.

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Taglist and others who might be interested: @lathalea @legolasbadass @fizzyxcustard @middleearthpixie @i-did-not-mean-to @laurfilijames @enchantzz @bitter-sweet-farmgirl @xxbyimm @kibleedibleedoo @mariannetora @s0ftd3m0n @haly-reads @sunnysidesidra

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#armitage summer splash #thorin oakenshield #raymond de merville #fanfiction #richard armitage #thorin #raymond #modern thorin #thorin fanfic #modern au #pilgrimage #modern raymond #reader insert #Bunnelê #Bunnele

[helenadurazzo]

Meeting the Centaurs

In this story, Garreth, Poppy, and Zsuzsi set off the to go get advice and assistance from the centaurs to save another magical species that is in danger of extinction.

“Poppy wait up!” Zsuzsi called out to her Hufflepuff friend with Garreth Weasley following behind her.

Poppy stopped in her tracks with a jump, somehow not noticing they had followed her after herbology. She looked at them carefully, “What are you two doing here?”

“We were going to ask you the same question.” Garreth noted, “We haven’t seen much of you since you left the dragon hideaway in such a rush. And now you seem to be in the same rush again.”

Zsuzsi looked at her sympathetically, “You were in such a state when you left, we want to make sure everything is alright.”

“It’s a long story…” Poppy attempted to inform them

“We have time.” Garreth told her firmly.

Poppy sighed, “Alright, the truth is, I found out that the poachers got to my gran. Someone recognized me at Horntail Hall and they got to her.”

Zsuzsi watched as Garreth’s expression change to one with more concern, “What do you mean? Is she alright?”

“She’s fine.” Poppy assured them, “Thank goodness,But they were at her house, they assumed I took the egg there. Gran told me that the poachers took the whole play apart looking for it, screaming that we had cost them everything.”

“I’m sorry Poppy.” Zsuzsi apologized even though she was fully aware it was not any of them to blame for the poachers actions, “I am glad she’s alright, I don’t think any of us could have anticipated that outcome.”

Poppy stamped her foot on the ground, seemingly mad at herself, “I should have known, I underestimated the minds of the poachers, and they haven’t stopped. They refused to leave empty handed so they took valuable journals that Gran had discovered during her research of the Golden Snidget and other rare creatures. They contained journals on where the long thought to be extinct Golden Snidget was hiding. Gran says the journals were a bit cryptic, which is good I suppose. Perhaps the poachers won’t be clever enough to decipher the riddles, however I have underestimated them before. From what my Gran recalls, they only mentioned the key to finding them ‘lay in the moonlight’ and she luckily thinks it can be narrowed down to only a handful of locations.” She looked at her friends with a dire expression, “I am going to the centaurs for guidance so I don’t have to drag you two into this mess again. After all, this will be more dangerous. Because the Snidgets are so rare, the poachers will get more money than ever before, I don’t want to imagine it. My gran doesn’t want to me to intervene, but I know she will be devastated in the snidgets officially become extinct because of the greedy poachers.”

“We are coming with you whether you like it or not.” Garreth assured her.

“He’s right.” Zsuzsi smiled, “If you want to outsmart the poachers you will need as many minds as you can, and we have helped you before so we know what we are up against.”

Poppy sighed, “Seems like I don’t have a choice, but alright, I thank you for your loyalty, just…try to be safe.”

“Fair enough.” Garreth shrugged, “Now let’s meet these centaurs.”

“Follow me.” Poppy instructed as she turned and continued her way towards the forest, noticeably slower than before so Zsuzsi and Garreth could keep up.

They walked alongside the wooded trail and a small body of water in silence before Poppy calmly broke it with her soothing voice yet cautious words, “Hopefully the centaurs will be able to see that we are sincere. There is something about them that’s so knowing, it’s almost unnerving.”

Suddenly, before either Garreth or Zsuzsi could make a comment. The three Hogwarts students heard the sound of rapid galloping in the distance. They turned to their right and saw one centaur, then two, and then four, and then many more. By the time they turned around to their other side, there were just as many, all coming together to form a circle around them in an almost hostile manner.

One centaur in particular, Zsuzsi assumed he was the leader, stepped forward, “What do you humans think you are doing here?” He fiercely asked them.

“Please.” Poppy pleaded as she stood in front of Zsuzsi and Garreth being the voice of their group, “We were hoping to speak with you-“

“Ah.” The centaur interrupted her, “I’d suppose you’d like a tale for your friends of time you spoke to a centaur and ‘it’ spoke back.”

“No. Never.” Poppy assured him. “We are here because we need your help-“

“Enough!” The centaur exclaimed, once again interrupting Poppy mid sentence, the rudeness of the centaur and lack of empathy made Zsuzsi’s blood boil even though she knew he was in the right to be overly cautious, “You made a grave error in judgement in coming here.” He raised his hand and it seemed to be an order for the centaurs surrounding them to pull out their arrows and pull back their string in preparation to shoot. In fact, Zsuzsi noticed that some were just about to let their arrows fling, allowing them to pierce through their skin, when an older centaur stepped forward, preventing them.

“Let them be Elek.” He calmly ordered, “We do not harm the young. It is not our way.”

“You forget your place old fool.” The centaur that seemed to be the one speaking before named Elek spat, “I am the leader of this herd and while you cling to ‘our way’ their kind continues to slaughter beasts without a care.”

The old centaur carefully examined Poppy, Zsuzsi, and Garreth before turning back to Elek, “From what I can see, these children have slaughtered no one and they will leave the forest unharmed.”

Elek sternly glared at the old centaur but eventually compromised, “Mark my words Dorran, if I ever see them again, it will be all four of your heads.” And with that all the centaurs, except for the considerate one who had just saved their lives, galloped off into the distance.

The old centaur looked at them carefully once more, “Foolish children, Do you know what happens to wizards who wander here, now follow me before-“

“Golden snidgets are still alive and the poachers are after them!” Garreth blurted out rather loudly.

Poppy continued, adding on to what Garreth stated, “They know that the key to finding them lies in the moonlight. But they don’t know what that means.. yet. Please, help us find the snidgets before the poachers do.”

“Could it be-?” The old centaur breathed after being silent for what seemed like minutes, “In the south there is a cave within which lies what the poachers seek- a moonstone. Retrieve it and place it in the henge in the forest. You will find me when you have finished this, now if you don’t mind I must speak with the herd.” He finished before leaving in the same direction the rest of the centaurs departed in just moments before.

Zsuzsi turned to Poppy, “So the moonlight mentioned in the journal doesn’t refer to actual moonlight but to a moonstone. What do moonstones have to do with snidgets?”

Poppy shook her head, “I don’t know.”

“Why go to this mysterious cave when we can find moonstones much closer to the castle.” Garreth proposed, “It’ll be much easier and get us ahead of the poachers.”

“I don’t think it would be wise.” Poppy pointed out, “Knowing centaurs, I suspect he is referring to a specific moonstone, and if that’s the case, we will know it when we see it.” Poppy sighed, “It’s a shame how quickly he left, what was his name? I think the leader called him Dorran?”

“That sounds right.” Garreth ran his hand through his red hair.

“Well I suppose we should not question a centaur.” Poppy noted, “and he seems to be genuine, let’s go find this moonstone.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With the exception of the some rather aggressive dugbogs and a peculiar puzzle involving butterflies, the moonstone was fairly easy to retrieve if one knew what they were doing. Zsuzsi firmly held it now as she walked with Garreth and Poppy back to the forest. She admired its other worldly pure coloring, it truly did look like a moon that you could hold in your hands, truly whimsical.

“There’s the henge.” Poppy pointed to a stone structure with a hole in its facade just big enough to secure the moonstone without it falling and shattering. “Precisely where Dorran said it would be.”

“You seem hesitant.” Garreth observed.

“It’s just that Dorran never did say what would happen when we placed the moonstone in the henge.” Poppy explained. “It could be something truly amazing or truly disastrous.”

“Well we aren’t going to know if we don’t try.” Garreth confidently reminded her.

“Garreth’s right.” Zsuzsi agreed, “and if this is what needs to be done to save the snidgets from extinction, then it is something we need to do.”

“I suppose that is true.” Poppy nodded, “perhaps I am just worrying over nothing.” She then turned to Zsuzsi, “Let’s place the moonstone where it belongs, we are nearly at the end of this.”

As Zsuzsi carefully approached the henge and placed the moonstone where it belonged, she heard Garreth ask Poppy, “How is your gran holding up.”

Zsuzsi could imagine Poppy looked more cheerful judging by her tone, “Nothing keeps gran down. She set up a Caterwauling Charm and threatened to make a coat out of the next poacher that stepped on her doorstep.”

Zsuzsi looked around after placing the moonstone in the henge, “It seems like nothing out of the ordinary happened.”

“Perhaps you should look in front of your Schroder.” Garreth advised.

Zsuzsi took his advice and looked in front of her and saw that a mooncalf was standing in front of her. The grey figure looked up at her with moonstone like eyes. As it’s head moved around curiously, so did the creature’s long neck. Zsuzsi was certainly relieved that the mooncalf was much calmer compared to the dragons she recently had to deal with

Suddenly, the mooncalf got on its hind legs and started dancing, along with other mooncalfs, creating some type of symbol on the ground that seemed to glow thanks to the radiant moonstone. Zsuzsi watched in amusement and awe and took a few glimpses at Garreth and Poppy who also had similar reactions, it almost seemed like everything was right with the world in that moment.

After the mooncalfs departed, Poppy was the first to speak, “That was a mooncalf dance! Do you both know how rare it is to even see one? They only ever happen under a full moon - although I suppose the moonstone allowed it to happen now.”

Garreth looked around him at the pattern confused, “Is this pattern they left behind on the ground normal?”

“All part of the dance.” Poppy confirmed with a smile, “No pattern is ever the same though, we will need to draw it for reference.”

“I’ll take care of that.” Zsuzsi offered as she pulled a notepad where she kept her potions and potion ingredients lists, as well as a quill and transfigured a nearby rock into a bottle of ink.

As Zsuzsi worked on the sketch she listened to Poppy as she continued where she left off, “I can’t wait to tell my Gran I’ve managed to not see one but two mooncalf dances. She’ll be jealous.”

Zsuzsi looked up from her work, “You never mentioned you’ve seen a mooncalf dance before, what was it like?”

“Well it was pure luck the first time.” Poppy explained, “Only reason I spotted it was because I was on Highwing, it was the night-“ she then began to stutter, “Well, the night I met Highwing, actually I-“

“You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.” Garreth comforted her.

“I’d actually like both of you to know.” Poppy assured them, “About five or so years ago, Highwing had been captured by poachers. At first they planned to sell her, but soon decided they wanted to kill her instead, more money I suppose. I had finally had enough and freed Highwing and we ran. We had flown for ages when I spotted mooncalves dancing and we landed to watch them. It felt like an omen, a good one. A sign that the worst was over.” She took a deep breath, “You see, the night I freed Highwing was also the night I ran away from home, a poacher camp… I come from a family of poachers.”

“Merlin.” Garreth breathed with shock, “I don’t know what to say Poppy. I can’t imagine what that must have been like, hard enough seeing the animals tortured by the poachers for an hour much less all hours of the day.”

“I never fitted in.” Poppy explained, “but I became more apparent if it the older I got, Gran tried for years to convince my parents to let me live with her. Suffice to say, when I left with Highwing I flew straight for her house.”

“How brave.” Zsuzsi smiled at Poppy, as she placed the last few details on her sketch, “I think I speak for both me and Garreth when I say I’m glad you escaped.”

Poppy smiled heartwarmingly, “So am I. There were so many creatures I was unable to help when I was younger and now it’s all I want to do.”

“Well from everything I’ve seen.” Garreth commented, “You are doing great.”

“Thank you for listening.” Poppy beamed again, “I’ve never told anyone any of this, but I’m glad you both know, it’s better not to keep you both in the dark.” She then turned to Zsuzsi, “Have you completed the sketch?”

“Yes.” Zsuzsi confirmed, “Now let’s get to Dorran and show him, we still have some poachers to defeat.”

#Garreth Weasley #Poppy Sweeting #zsuzsi schröder #hphl #Hogwarts Legacy #Harry Potter Hogwarts Legacy #Centaurs #Dorran #Elek #Moonstone #Mooncalves #Mooncalf #Highwing

[itsalwayswellattheworldsend]

Chapter 17 - Ralph Cometh to the House of Abundance 

Text Audio

Synopsis:

Ralph and Roger travel all day and night through new lands and dangerous woods before arriving at an idyllic country.

Summary:

"And thine heart lieth not," said Roger, "for amidst of this wood is the house where we shall have guesting to-night, which will be to thee, belike, the door of life and many marvels. For thence have folk sought ere now to the WELL AT THE WORLD'S END."

They got on their horses and rode through that stony land, where there was no river, but pools of water in the low places and little streams running from them. But after a while they came to a high ridge which bordered a wide valley full of grass and trees, and there was no sign of people there, although a wide river ran through it. It was four in the afternoon.

Roger said: “The day wears on and we won’t find a place to stay before dark, even if we rode hard. Are you used to water, my lord?”

“As much as a duck is,” said Ralph.

“Good,” said Roger. “Although there is a ford about a mile and a half downstream from here, it’s where most people cross the water to get to the wildwood, and this is a place where we are more likely to find enemies than friends; or at least we may be questioned about who we are and where we’re going, and we may stumble in our answers.

“There’s no need to wait, let’s get to the river,” said Ralph.

 So they rode down to the water which was deep, but not swift, and crossed. On the other side they climbed up a steep hill and stopped at its peak to rest their horses. Ralph turned back to look down at the valley with his sharp eyes, and said, “My man, I see people riding down below us, and they seem to be going hard towards the water. And look, they have weapons! Can you see them?”

“I’ll take your word for it, fair sir,” said Roger, “and do let us ride hard, since these are the first men we’ve seen since we left the wildwood.” And so he set off at a gallop, and Ralph did not hesitate to follow.

They rode over the hills and dales of the grasslands until at last they came to a forest again, and stopped when they entered, for their horses were tired at that point. Then Ralph said: “We have just ridden through a pretty land and saw no houses or flocks, no pens or shepherds. That’s strange.”

Said Roger: “You would not think it was strange if you knew the story of it.”

“What story?”

“A story of war and loss,” said Roger.

“Really? But surely some knight or baron has rights over these lands and could build a fortified house and gather armed men to protect the shepherds and farmers from brigands,” said Ralph.

“That’s true,” said Roger,” but there are other things in the tale.”

“What things?”

“Bad luck and sorrow and the Hand of Fate and great Sorcery.”

“And villains as well?”

“Yes,” said Roger,” though they were among valiant men. The tale is too long to tell right now, as late as it is getting, so now we ride on with little fear of enemies. See, this wood, like those around the Burg of the Four Friths, has a dark name and few people ride here unless forced; therefore it is safe for us. But I will say to you that while before you might have left me and gone with little danger except for the chance of stumbling on some of the riders of the Burg of the Four Friths, leaving me now would be a much worse matter for you, for only the saints in Heaven know where you might end up, if you were to wander off now. This is harsh, but true, so help me God and Saint Michael! What do you say, are you content, or do you have some more hard words for me?”

By then—despite everything that had happened—Ralph was light-hearted and happy, so he laughed and said: “I’d be content even if I weren’t forced to come here, for my heart is telling me of new things, wonderful, joyous things that I will see before long.”

“And your heart does not lie,” said Roger, “for in these woods is the house where we shall stay tonight, which will likely to you be the door of life and a place of many wonders. For this is a place where people go to seek the Well at the World’s End.”

Ralph turned to him sharply and said: “I have heard that phrase many times in these past few days. Do you know the meaning of it? Because I do not.”

Said Roger: “You may know as much as I do about it: probably people look for it in hopes of gaining long and healthy lives, and more often than not do not find it. yet I have heard that the ones who are likeliest to find it are those with whom all women are in love.”

Ralph said nothing, but Roger noted that he reddened at that.

Then they got back on their horses—for they had dismounted to let them rest—and rode on, and Roger had spoken truly: it was a long, long way and they had to stop several times to rest before continuing, and so night fell on them in the wood. When it was fully night, they rested a good while for dawn would come before the moon set. Then they rode on until the summer night grew old and weakened, but the woods hid the beginning of dawn from them.

At last they came out of the crowded woods and immediately a plain opened before them, and now, as the twilight dawn passed into early day, they saw that there were wide, grassy meadows and tilled fields ahead of them, with a little river running through the plain. Amidst the meadows, on a green hill, there was a white castle, not large, but well-built.

Roger pointed to it and said, “Here we are,” and he nudged his tired horse onward, who seemed to sense that the journey was almost over. They crossed the river at a ford and came up to the gate of the castle as the day grew brighter. Roger blew a blast on a great horn which hung from the gate, and Ralph thought he had never seen a better building than that castle (what he could see of it), and yet it was built quite a long time ago.

They did not wait long before they were answered; though Ralph waited to see armed guards look out at them from the battlements or arrow-slits, that is not how it went. Without any fanfare, the door was opened to them by a tall old woman, thin and grey, who greeted them courteously. Roger got down and Ralph followed him, and they led their horses into the courtyard of the castle. The old woman led them to the door of the hall, which she opened before taking the reins to lead their horses to the stable. They entered the hall, and it was as good as could possibly be. Roger led Ralph up to a table on the dais, where there was food and drink for them, and Ralph made his guide sit beside him and they began to eat. There was no servant to wait on them, nor anyone else that they could see, just the old woman who, coming back from their horses, served them at the table. As she went about, she looked at Ralph and seemed like she was going to say something to him, but then she would look at Roger and would not.

So when they were almost done, Ralph spoke to the old woman and said: “Likely the lord or lady of this house is in bed and we will not see them until tomorrow?”

Before the old woman could say anything, Roger said: “There is neither lord nor lady in the castle right now, nor will there likely be one in the morning—or before noon today, rather—so for now you should let this woman lead you to bed and not worry about the next few hours.”

“That’s fine,” said Ralph, who was very tired by this point, “Should we share a room?”

“No,” said the woman, “lodging for the master and lodging for the servant are two different things.”

Roger laughed and said nothing, but Ralph bid him goodnight and followed the woman eagerly. She led him to a nice room over the solar, as if he had himself been the king of the castle. He laid down on a good bed and did not worry about where Roger would sleep, nor did he dream of the Burg, or wood, or castle, or man, or woman; but he lay still like the image of his grandfather painted on the tomb at St Laurence of Upmeads.

Notes:

I feel I should specify in case my delivery was unclear: when Ralph and Roger cross the river, they don’t go downstream to the ford (where the water is shallow and easy to cross) because they want to avoid meeting other travelers, whom Roger believes will be suspicious of them and may cause trouble. For this reason, when Ralph sees people riding towards the river where they crossed, it must mean that those people intend to catch him and Roger, since a casual traveler would go down to the ford, and someone who was also just trying to avoid others would not be rushing at them.

“Hand of Fate” and “Sorcery” are both capitalized in the original.

Roger’s description of the house to which they are going (which I used as the quote for this chapter, as is my habit whenever someone mentions the WELL AT THE WORLD’S END in all caps like that), is a bit ambiguous to me. “Door of life” doesn’t seem to be any pre-existing phrase, and I’m not sure if it’s a “door to life and many marvels” or if the house will be the “door to life” and also has “many marvels” (this is the one I settled on, though), since English is unclear in these situations.  Also his line about people going there to seek the Well is literally like “that’s where people leave from;” he’s saying that’s where people start their journeys to the Well.

 Do keep in mind that “house” is a broader term in this story than in modern usage. It can refer to basically any building where one stays, and has been used for shops and inns so far. As you’ll see, the “House of Abundance” is a castle, which we would not normally call a house.

This phrase, “with whom all women are in love,” will come up again and is an important plot point. One facet of this story is that there are people (both men and women) who (to greatly varying degrees) attract love from all those they encounter. For shorthand, I’ll refer to these people as Tomies (a reference to the Ito Junji horror manga, Tomie) in my notes going forward, for reasons that will become clear soon. I feel like a very similar phrase was used earlier in the story already, but I wasn’t able to find it when I CTRL+F’d a few keywords.

A “solar” is a medieval room found in large houses, manors, castles. Basically, it’s the private room for the family that rules the castle, like a sitting room or parlor, but one that’s exclusive to the rulers (or other esteemed guests, if multiple sets of lodgings have them). The way it’s described, my guess is the room Ralph is staying in is attached directly to the solar, indicating it’s for his private use (his room being above it may mean it’s a loft, but I honestly have no idea). The important thing is he’s been given a place of great honor here.

Since our last indication was a south-south-east movement, that’s the direction I’ve taken the map. Adjustments will be made if new evidence comes to light.

Map:

#the well at the world's end #william morris #the well - book 1 chapter 17

[the12thnightproject]

A Mitsunari Night's Dream Chapter 16: The Elevation Improvisation

In which Mitsunari is bad at lying but good at double entendre, and Hikosane's immediate danger presents itself.

Chapter Excerpt:

“If anyone asks,” Mitsunari said to Mitsuhide. “We’ve been back since mid-afternoon, and Okatsu has a sprained ankle.” Once again, he scooped me up in his arms, and without another word to the madly grinning Mitsuhide, carried me out of the stables.

With the sounds of everyone’s return spurring our haste, Mitsunari rushed me into the castle. He didn’t need to explain it to me - it wouldn't do to be caught when I was supposed to be resting. Especially not by-

"Halt. Do not move." Hideyoshi.

Again?

Does he have radar?

Mitsunari froze with one step on the first step of the staircase, while his lord strode toward us. "Did you not leave the mine early to elevate your injury?

A look of sheer panic crossed Mitsunari's face. Obviously, he would not want to lie to Hideyoshi. I didn’t even know if he could come up with a lie on the spot. I leaped in to explain before Mitsunari’s processors overloaded.

"We did, and we did. We spent the afternoon in the garden, and Mitsunari let me rest my foot in his lap." As soon as the words left my throat, I realized I'd described a situation that might not be construed as entirely innocent.

Indeed, Hideyoshi had that same look on his face that he had had when he’d discovered Mitsunari during the spider spelunking incident. 

"Yes. It was elevated." Mitsunari’s accidental double entendre made the situation worse.

"My foot. It was elevated, as Mai instructed. It was very restful." Ugh... I probably should have left that alone, but too late now.

Without another word, Hideyoshi simply plucked me out of Mitsunari's arms. "I’ll get her up the stairs." I figured he was skeptical of Mitsunari's ability to carry me up the narrow stairs without disaster, (ok the thought had also crossed my mind). But it would have been nice if he had (a) asked, and (b) not insinuated that lifting me was akin to hauling a sack of iron up a mountain. While I am not a waif like Shohime, it’s not like he should have had any problem with my weight.

Once I was uncomfortably settled in Hideyoshi’s arms, it was Mitsunari's turn to frown. He followed us up the stairs, brow furrowed. I don’t know what his problem was, but we had another situation to take care of. I mouthed "Hikosane'' at Mitsunari.

In return, I got a confused look. Again, I mouthed, "Hikosane."

Another blank expression.

Carefully I indicated the note, which thankfully was still in my hand. That finally got his attention. He stopped.

So did Hideyoshi. "What is wrong?"

"I’m going to go get a book." Without giving Hideyoshi the opportunity to argue, he turned around and dashed down the steps. A thud around the bend indicated he'd missed one, but then his footsteps galloped away.

"That Mitsunari. Loves his books. Never met such a dedicated reader in my life." I was babbling, hoping a stream of inanity would distract, or at least bore Hideyoshi into not questioning the situation any further.

Hideyoshi continued to lug me up the stairs, and eventually deposited me on my futon (easy to tell mine from Mitsunari's, as his was covered with books and random papers). He then moved the pillow block to the bottom of my futon and reached for my foot.

Belatedly realizing his intent, I yelled, "No!"

He froze. "Does it hurt that much? I could send for a healer."

"Um. No, I'm... just sensitive about my feet in general. They're ugly and I hate people seeing them." Oh for the love of… could I have come up with anything lamer than that?

"Feet." He repeated it flatly. Yeah. Knew he wasn’t going to buy that.

I tried to curl my toes under themselves. "It's kind of a..." I trailed off as Hideyoshi grabbed the edge of my kimono, flipped it up a few centimeters, revealing my completely uninjured foot.

That earned me my umpteenth 'I'm disappointed in you-Hideyoshi-frown. "I would very much like an explanation for this... one that doesn't involve the words, 'it's not what it looks like.'"

"Um, what does it look like?" I wasn't simply buying for time. I really wanted to know what was going on in Hideyoshi's brain.

Link to chapter: https://archiveofourown.org/works/37708576/chapters/99136344

@arrthurpendragon

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen fanfic #ikemen sengoku fanfiction #mitsunari ishida #ikesen mitsunari #ikemen mitsunari #ikesen hideyoshi #ikesen mitsuhide #fanfic #ao3 link #ocfairygodmother #ocapp #ocappreciation

[legends-of-time]

Amelia’s Story (BBC Merlin Story)

Chapter 63: The Dark Tower

Masterlist

A/N: Italics = flashbacks.

TW (spoilers): implied physical abuse and emotionally traumatic birth.

——

Amelia's POV

Anger and hurt.

Those are the two primary emotions that Amelia feels these days.

And that is what she feels as she watches Gwen and the Knights as they laugh and chat together while riding back from where Tom, Elyan and Gwen's father, is buried. It hurts to see how happy and well they are without her.

A hand touches her arm. Morgana.

"It's time, sister."

Amelia nods. She can do this. It won't kill them, she knows it won't.

The two of them mount their horses once more and ride to the field where they are to enact the plan.

"Wanne nædran, fram þæs foldan bosme astigaþ ge." They chant, casting their hands over the area in front of them.

They then ride away, hiding to watch and wait until Gwen and the Knights come into the field. Amelia's breath catches and she tries to hold back her emotions as she watches Percival lead the group along with Leon, right into the trap.

Snakes slither up to the horses, frightening them. Leon and Percival are thrown off their horses. Gwaine and Elyan frantically try to regain control of their own horses, trying not to fall as well. The latter cries for his sister to run for it. Gwen listens and gallops away.

Morgana smirks. "You must hurry, sister. Our prey is leaving."

Amelia swallows thickly and nods. She doesn't want to watch what's happening to Percival anymore than she has to.

It is not difficult to cut in front of Gwen. The Queen comes barreling towards her on her horse, coming to a startled stop once her eyes land on Amelia, who stands there, motionless, staring. Gwen quickly turns around her horse and attempts to flee. Amelia clenches her jaw, determined. She raises her hand, coiled into a fist, and sharply draws it back. Gwen comes flying off her horse and lands on the ground unconscious.

Amelia slowly walks over, crouching down to check if she's made any permanent damage. She hasn't thankfully. Morgana won't be disappointed.

——

Amelia and Morgana wait patiently, waiting for Gwen, who still lies on the forest floor, to wake. Gwen's arms have been tied up by rope.

Amelia begins to worry. "She's not waking. What if I—"

Morgana holds up a hand, silencing her. "Be patient, sister. All will be well."

Amelia's throat feels tight as she nods sharply.

Morgana strokes Gwen's cheek. The Queen startles at the sensation causing her to wake and quickly sits up, whipping around to look at who it was that had touched her. A horrified look on her face as she realises her hands are tied.

"Good morning my lady." Morgana greets coolly, smirking.

Gwen's body is tense as she analyses what lies in front of her, her eyes shift suspiciously between the sisters. "What do you want with me?"

Amelia plasters a smirk on her face. She wants to please Morgana to show her that her little sister is powerful and loyal. "Why so suspicious, Your Majesty? I thought you would like to play a game with us."

Gwen's eyes narrow. "A game?" She hopelessly tries to break herself free from her restraints.

"Just to find out how much Arthur loves you," Morgana replies nastily.

"It won't work." Gwen retorts.

Amelia raises a surprised eyebrow. "You would underestimate his feelings? That's quite harsh, Your Majesty." She says mockingly. She knows very well he would do this, he has saved her from nearly impossible danger a couple of times, and he will do it again.

"He's not stupid," Gwen warns.

Morgana shrugs. "We'll see."

"He'll know you've taken me. He'll know it's a trap."

"He will." Amelia's smirk drops. "But he'll still come."

Morgana moves away to get the horses. Amelia moves to follow but a hand grasps her wrist.

"Amelia, please," Gwen begs.

Amelia swallows heavily, her eyes flicking to where Morgana is before turning back to Gwen, face stone cold. "Why are you begging me for? Why so suddenly do you need me?"

"We're your friends, Amelia. We can help." Gwen pleads.

Anger boils up inside Amelia. "Can you? Then where were you? Where were all of you? Nowhere! I needed your help and you weren't there!" She cries tearfully.

"Amelia, I don't - what? What do you mean?"

Amelia frowns. "Sorry? No, you– she said that you knew– no one came–"

Her mind is awash with a multitude of emotions. Morgana always said that they knew what had happened to them, their imprisonment by the Sarrum and had abandoned them. But - but now Gwen is looking up at her with wide concerned eyes.

Morgana steps forward. "Perhaps it's time for us to leave."

Morgana's voice shakes Amelia out of her panicked state. She quickly resolves herself, building up the armour once more and placing on the mask.

——

A longer piece of rope is attached to the bit of rope binding Gwen's wrists and is being dragged along by Morgana on her horse, Amelia on her own horse as they travel to their destination.

Suddenly there's a thud and a rustle of leaves. Amelia turns to find that Gwen, who's heavily breathing, has now collapsed on the floor.

Morgana dismounts and holds out her waterskin in front of Gwen. "Here." Gwen stares at it blankly but does not take it nor says anything. Amelia watches on anxiously, her hands gripping the bridle.

"Is it too good for you now that you are Queen?" Morgana asks mockingly.

"Morgana..." Amelia tries to intervene. The sharp look she receives quickly silences her.

"I don't want anything from you." Gwen retorts still sounding breathless.

"Just my crown..." Morgana sneers before softening slightly and offers the water once more, "drink it. You may need it."

"Why?"

"I would not be in such a hurry to know." Morgana smirks at her before turning her face neutral again and pouring the rest of the water out in front of her.

Morgana mounts the horse again and continues to drag Gwen on their journey. Amelia quickly follows.

Hours and hours pass and there isn't so much as a peep from Gwen, just grunts and groans as she's pulled along. Amelia knows that by now Arthur, Merlin and the Knights are out searching for Gwen. They aren't going to find them for a long time though, the sisters have time.

Amelia and Morgana, along with an exhausted Gwen, make good time in reaching the Dark Tower and emerge out of the forest and into the empty plain that surrounds the tower.

——

Amelia clenches her fist tightly around her cup as she listens to Gwen's screams as she and Morgana eat dinner. Morgana sits next to her calmly nibbling on the food on her plate, unfazed by the cries. The table they sit at is cobweb-filled. Morgana argues there's no need to clean it as they won't be here for long and it adds to their plight when it comes to Gwen.

"It's working." Morgana grins.

She receives a tight smile from Amelia. This needs to be done, Amelia tells herself.

Amelia squeezes her eyes shut when she passes the door after dinner and hears Gwen pleading and begging. Amelia swears she hears Elyan's name.

When Amelia goes to sleep that night, she wraps herself around Aithusa, trying to get some sleep. Gwen's scared cries carry out throughout the night meaning she gets little sleep. Amelia feels like they can be heard from a mile away with the volume and honestly if anything is going to lead Arthur towards Gwen you'd think it would be the screams.

Amelia longs to see Ella again but she'd rather glad her daughter is not here with them and is instead in their usual base, away from the horrors.

——

When Morgana brings Gwen down for something to eat, Amelia can see the effect of spending a long period of time with the Mandrake roots on the supposed Queen of Camelot. Gwen's hair is even more unkempt than it was before, knotting with the lack of brushing. The bags under her eyes protrude and the eyes flicker anxiously around her as she's guided into her seat.

Morgana's nudge gets Amelia moving to grab a plate and place it in front of Gwen before taking the seat on her right while Morgana takes the one on the left. Now the manipulation begins.

"Eat, here, food always makes me feel better. You need to eat... your fading away." Morgana says in a kind tone, sounding genuinely concerned.

"I do not know what cruel trick you are both playing but I will not be broken by you either of you." Gwen retorts suspiciously.

Amelia sighs, reaching forward to touch Gwen's hand but the flinch causes her to retreat it.

"We just thought this would be nice. We know how lonely you must be. All by yourself in that room. At least you're not shackled." She sympathises. "There's daylight. You can move. You can see."

Gwen stares at her in slight confusion before her mask slips on again probably in some vain attempt in trying to keep them from thinking she is scared. Gwen was always bad at hiding her true feelings, besides the Mandrake root would have gotten to anyone by now. It has little care for how strong you are but instead, the painful memories.

"You expect me to be grateful?"

"We too have suffered, Gwen." Morgana speaks. "We spent two years living in darkness. We spent two years chained to a wall in the bottom of a pit..."

The mask has slipped once more and Gwen looks at them in confusion.

"You did not know?" Amelia questions. She had thought—

Shaking her head, Gwen shows her first sign of sympathy.

No doubt Arthur lied to her about what went on, to keep her placid and loyal. Yes, this is manipulation but perhaps this is Amelia's chance to get her old friend to understand.

"We would have sold our souls for someone to show us kindness such as this." Morgana continues. "Do you want us to take you back up there?"

Amelia gazes at Gwen's conflicted expression. The walls are being gradually torn down.

——

Gwen's power lies in her conviction and state of mind. That's what Morgana says. But once they break it, chipping away at it slowly until it makes her vulnerable, and they will be able to take over her mind and soul. Keeping her in that room is just one part of the plan. Another is to appeal to Gwen's sympathy. To show her that they understand her pain and are the only ones she can trust.

This time, it's just Gwen and Amelia eating together. Morgana isn't with them but no doubt Amelia's sister is nearby.

"What do want?" Gwen questions tearfully. The Mandrake roots have clearly done more damage, physically and psychologically.

"Nothing." Amelia remarks calmly, eating her grapes.

Gwen narrows her eyes doubtfully. "Nothing."

Amelia pauses her eating and sits back in her chair, shrugging. "Alright. Not nothing. I just want to tell you a story."

"You've already told me about the Sarrum."

"Yes, but do you know about what he did to my daughter?" Amelia asks. "Surely you've heard about her by now. They can't have lied to you about that as well." Her voice is mocking and spiteful.

Gwen doesn't say anything but Amelia knows she has her attention.

"Now, you were not at Percival and I's wedding for reasons we both know and do not need to go into further discussion." She can't help the slight smirk when Gwen reacts to that. She should be reminded of Arthur's betrayal. "But beforehand, I had learnt I was pregnant. Anne was the only one in the know. But then came Morgana's conquering of Camelot then our kidnapping by the Sarrum and I was never able to tell anyone else."

Amelia's mind drifts away as she thinks of those years under the Sarrum's control."I'm sorry." Gwen says softly.

This snaps Amelia out of it. She turns to Gwen sharply. "Don't be." She snaps. She takes a deep breath to calm her anger. "Now, on with the story..."

A group of men, accompanied by the Sarrum, drag a struggling Amelia by her arms into a room, toward a pile of sheets. Her long brown hair is in disarray and saturated in sweat. A couple of women wait for them. Amelia screams in fright, in terror for her child. Morgana gets pulled in after her. Both of them are in chains to stop them from using their magic, controlling them.

"Get her down on the floor!" One of the men instructs.

"The baby is coming now." One of the women observes.

"Amelia!" Morgana cries. "Let her go!"

The Sarrum grunts in frustration and spins around, promptly backhands Morgana across the face. "Be quiet, witch!"

Amelia fights against the men holding her down. "AHHH! LET ME GO!"

She can hear one of the women telling her to be calm.

"Please don't do this to me." Amelia begs, sobbing. "You've taken so much already."

"She's almost ready!"

"No! NO! You will not take my baby." Amelia chokes out when she has a moment to breathe after a wave of pain.

"You need to stay calm!" One the women says, stroking Amelia's forehead in a failed attempt to calm – or maybe comfort – her.

Amelia cries and shakes her head no as she continues to struggle against her restraints. "No! NO! NO! AAH! AAH!"

One of the women covers Amelia's lower half with a sheet. Amelia screams in agony as her labour progresses.

"One last push! Push! The baby's almost here!"

Amelia hears Morgana screaming in the background.

"No! No!" They can't have her baby. They can't—

"I can see the baby!" One woman says.

"Push! Gently! Gently!" Another urges.

Amelia falls backwards in exhaustion just as the baby is born. Both Amelia and Morgana stop screaming once they see the baby. One of the women helps cut the umbilical cord, and the other wraps the baby in a blanket.

"You have a beautiful baby daughter." The latter tells her, holding the baby up for Amelia to see.

Ella...

Tears well up in Amelia's eyes at the sight of her child. "Please, let me see her."

The woman moves to do just that, but she's stopped by the Sarrum crying out, "Woman, don't! What are you doing?"

The woman gives the baby to one of the men. They leave the room with the baby.

Amelia cries and screams, "No, no, not my baby, please! No, no!"

No one stops Morgana as she crawls over to her, cradling Amelia's face. "No Amelia, I promise she will return to you! I promise!"

Amelia can barely hear her, sobbing uncontrollably. "No, no, please."

Morgana embraces her. "Let her go... let her go Amelia."

Amelia clings desperately to her sister. "I need her, Morgana. I need her."

"Sssh. Do not worry. We'll get her back. You can rely on me. You can always rely on me."

"He took my child from me. I didn't even get to hold her." Amelia says quietly as she finishes her story. She sniffles, whipping away her tears.

"I'm sorry." Gwen murmurs sorrowfully.

Amelia scoffs. "What's the point of your apologies? Where were you, Percival, Anne, Merlin, Gaius, Arthur and everyone else when I needed you? Morgana is the only that's been there for me. Where were all of you?"

"I-I didn't know."

"Maybe not, but I'm sure they did." Amelia retorts.

Gwen stays silent. Amelia lets out a sigh.

"All that is important is that I have her now, I just wish I didn't miss those initial months."

Gwen nods. There's a pause before Gwen seems to reach out to touch Amelia's hand then catching herself and retracting her hand.

Small progress.

——

Gwen's POV

"Don't look you'll be alright..." Gwen cries and whimpers, on the floor crying and clutching her ears, trying to block the screams out, "don't look you'll be alright... d-don't lo-ok... don't look you'll be alright..."

She needs to hold firm against the ones who torment her. They come with masks of kindness, but if she ever dares to trust them, they dash all her hopes. Elyan, Merlin and Arthur. She has learned how to outsmart Amelia and Morgana's tricks. She has learned to... survive.

Morgana came, tried to encourage her, tried to trick Gwen but Gwen held firm, she has to hold on.

Amongst her sobbing, Gwen catches on to an echoing sob. She slowly retracts her hands from her ears, pulling herself up into a sitting position as she glances around the room. Her breath is shaking as she tries to look through the darkness. She tenses, expecting the screaming to start up once again but instead, the sobs continue.

Gwen slowly crawls towards the sound and on the other side of one of the pillars is Amelia curled up in a ball sobbing. This Amelia looks different. The woman of old who had looked like a princess and was kind and helpful. Despite not being solid, her skin looks healthy and her brown hair is less matted.

"Amelia?" She shakily reaches out to her once friend but Amelia flinches back.

Her blue eyes are full of tears and red-rimmed as she looks at Gwen. "You all abandoned me, Gwen. None of you came to look for me. Where were you?"

"No, no," Gwen shakes her head frantically, "we did. We—"

"Where were you?!" Amelia screams, lunging towards Gwen who scrambles back. "Where were you? Where were you?!"

Gwen frantically rounds a pillar to hide from Amelia's fury. Eventually, Amelia's screams dissipate. Gwen closes her eyes, squeezing them to stop the tears from falling, stop the guilt.

She doesn't want to see any more visions... fake as they may be, they still haunt her very soul. What if this place only tells her the truth and this is what they really think of her? Is Morgana right? Or maybe the place wants her to think that so she won't think it is a possibility and she will think it.

This is all so confusing, she can't think straight, why can't she think straight?

When she opens her eyes, she peaks around the pillar to see Amelia is no longer there and slowly steps out.

"Gwen?"

Gwen turns to see Amelia again standing in front of her except this time she's solid. Her skin is paler, her brown hair is no longer properly brushed and the dress has tears in it. She doesn't dare hope it is anything, just another cruel trick.

She closes her eyes and presses her hands to her ears, shaking her head. Maybe it'll go away...

She feels a hand on her shoulder. She opens her eyes and moves her hands away from her ears slowly. Amelia had crouched down in front of her, concern etched all over her face. Gwen doesn't know when she began crouching on the floor again.

Gwen winces, trying to get away. Amelia looks hurt for a moment, and Gwen tries to tell herself it is all an act. She doesn't not feel sorry, feel guilty for all Amelia and Morgana have gone through.

"Gwen, come here." Amelia tries to wrap her in a blanket.

"N-no." She shakes her head though she realises she's shaking. She has to resist, she has to—

"You're cold, please," Amelia argues. "I couldn't bear it if you caught a chill.

Something in her voice causes Gwen not to protest this time and Amelia wraps the blanket tightly around her. When Amelia pulls back, Gwen has a close-up view of her bare forearms as her sleeves have slipped. There are scars on her arms. She lets out a small gasp of shock. Amelia's wrists are just the start of it. Her pale arms are flecked with scars and sores, and Gwen is sure her back is much the same.

"Amelia..." She whispers, gripping Amelia's wrists.

"This is what people do to my kind," Amelia says, emotionless, pulling her wrists away and pulling her sleeves down.

"I'm sorry." That is all she can say. She faintly realises she hasn't heard the screams in a while, no horrific visions.

Amelia looks at her slowly, as if thinking of what to say. "I know."

"What else happened to you?"

And Amelia talks to her, keeping the screams at bay. Gwen listens to her saviour's voice, hears the gentle murmur, the angry fury, the bitterness and despair. Amelia tells her everything and Gwen realises some things.

It is only in Amelia or Morgana's presence that the ghosts go away, it is only with their voices that the screams subside.

Time is meaningless. A million eternities pass, and Amelia shares with her the deepest secrets of her heart and fills her with words.

"I just want to be free Gwen. Will you help me? Will you save me?" Amelia questions earnestly.

"Yes..."

She is Amelia and Morgana's faithful servant, the only ones to understand her, the only ones she trusts.

——

Amelia's POV

Amelia stands watching from the shadows. The band of so-called heroes have arrived to save Gwen and can be heard making their way through the Tower.

Gwen stands in the centre of the room, an enchanted sword hovering in front of her, 'defending' her. The plan to lure Gwen over has gone incredibly well. Morgana had told Amelia how proud of her she was. Amelia is happy to have pleased her sister.

Elyan appears and desperate to save his sister, immediately starts engaging with the sword. He fights for a while then the sword stabs Elyan. But he continues fighting the sword and outwits it by making it go out a window and shutting it. The sword comes flying back but goes into the shutter and is still. Elyan collapses and Gwen rushes over to him.

Amelia watches sombrely as Gwen comforts her dying brother. This is necessary she tells herself. The final break in Gwen's mind, but that doesn't stop Amelia from feeling a little sad for the Knight. Despite him protecting Arthur and all the injustice he stands for as a Knight of Camelot, Elyan isn't one of the bad ones.

——

Gwen was taken back to Camelot, to be paraded as another success for the so-called Knights of the Round Table.

Amelia and Morgana wait in the woods a couple of nights later, waiting for Gwen. A figure in a black cloak soon arrives. The three of them share an embrace.

"How is he?" Amelia questions eagerly.

"Arthur thinks he has won. He has no idea." Gwen tells them proudly.

"Do you understand now who you can trust?" Morgana asks.

"It's both of you. It's only ever been you two." Gwen declares.

"You are not one of them. And you never will be." Amelia says, repeating the words Morgana had always said to remind her of what they needed to do.

"You don't know how much I hate them. All of them." Gwen replies, spite and hatred heavy in her voice.

"You have done well to see past the lies to the real truth. You have an important part to play in the future. Together we will ensure the destruction of everything that Arthur holds dear." Morgana declares.

——

A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

#bbc merlin #merlin

[valorxdrive]

The Red Chocobo indeed did not see the massive fiend's counter attack coming, so Sora's intervention was well timed indeed. Even as healing magic mended its wounds, however well intentioned, the Chocobo was distrustful of humans. What did this human boy stand to gain from helping? Either way, the bird leaped back, allowing Sora to take the Vanguard position. He flared his wings out wide, a torrent of mana rising from his form in increasingly intense waves. Above, the sky was darkening. All the brave bird needed now was time.

Their joint offensive has stirred a brush of momentary confusion upon the field. It's wild eyes locked upon the two targets donned in crimson, only elevating both it's mindless hunger and the growing stir of frustration of having such a challenge dictating either a good meal or a genuine threat upon it's life. Just like at how mana rich that avian was, allowing such a dangerous coalesce of it's power begin to take place. Such details were also picked up by Sora in kind.

The air felt as if it had an invisible blanket of pressure attempting to crush the surroundings, and to many, a pair of lungs struggle to even breathe, if it had been around any normal civilians that is. Peeking from the corner of his eye was the best that could be made in their circumstances, the intensity of that heat being a sign that time switched from a luxury to a precious commodity.

"I get it.." Initially tasting the words, what follows is a heavier stroke of confidence as he slowly rolls his neck side to side. The minute preparations were perfectly timed as the unhinged gallop of the field, becoming a swift mass of rolling limbs and razor sharp extremities as their wings flared in a threatening pose.

Even if he never saw this sort of opponent before, this level of ferocity felt.. unnatural, as if this was a cut above the usual cloth for these foes.

"I'll be your shield. Cut no quarter in what you're setting up!" He boldly declares, a single foot stomping forward before a fierce charge was ignited, his form being rendered into a blur of high speed.

"Since they're not passing this point!"

As a roar torn from an inhumane throat rattles the air with a different brand of offensive pressure, the collision of claws and keyblade would lead shockwave dispersing outward as glittering and dark sparks erupted between the opponents. Sora quickly jerked his blade upward, bouncing off the air itself for another speedy advance to try piercing at their chest, only to meet the flying opponent successfully gripping his keyblade instead.

That was enough proof that a good share of swordsmen fell by its skill. Yet, Sora was stunned into stillness, instead he'd release his grip upon the blade, flipping over their bulky hand and bracing a palm onto the Fiend's wrist.

Allowing a sudden stir of light power to manifest and flock through blood, bone and heart, a sudden axe kick would smash the heel of his boot upon their face, ruthlessly jerking it to the side as their body is sent tumbling off to the wayside. As the keyblade is caught back within his hand upon landing, he'd immediately lash towards the threat that attempts to try driving their elongated form into the chocobo's range for attack. Yet once again the keybearer is there, this time eating a hit himself that causes pain to blister and for his form to wound up skidding back-- if only for a second.

Since he's directly back into the fray, dodging that dangerous maw that intends to bite and for any spellwork they intend to spark themselves.

#Anon #| Bottle Mail #there we go #the writing practice coming in hot

[witch-hazels-musings]

It’s 🍪!

You have this ‘My Sunshine’ (?) fic where the reader is an absolute ball of sunshine and I LOVE it! Could you do a part two with Zhongli, Childe and Albedo please?

Mwah!

My Sunshine

( what an incredible choice of characters! Thank you for adding to one of my favorite fics!! ) 

Warning -> SFW, Fluff

Character X GN Reader | Anthology 

Includes: Albedo, Childe, Zhongli 

Albedo 

It was the way you greeted the world around you - with pleasant smiles, patient hands, caring and compassionate eyes. You saw the world for what it could be, the beauty of it and while Albedo searched for the answer in the universe, you already seemed to have found them 

He noticed you on his wanderings through the city. His hands were already moving to draw your expressions in a hope to capture everything that he possibly could - how could he capture the intensity of the sun itself, of a flower basking in the afternoon glow, or a firefly so vibrant that it burned orange and beautiful 

You were bouncing on your toes, smiling kindly at the people who walked by while you patiently waited for anyone to stop by. Not many people purchased flowers every single day, but you found it wasn’t hard to proposition people with your generous smile and pin-point compliments. 

“My! I have never seen something so beautiful in all my life.” You began, bending to rest your hands on your knees while catching the attention of a small young girl who had been glancing at the array of flowers at your side. She looked at you confused, a bit nervous but didn’t back away. 

Reaching for a small white flower, you trimmed the leaves and hummed a little tune before turning back to her. “A lovely flower like you must attract so much goodness. Even this daisy is impressed by your radiance!" She giggled and you continued, "Would you do me a favor?” You smiled at her, eyes showing only the purest of shine. The little girl nodded her head and you began again, “Could you carry this flower and help it grow? If it's you, I'm sure it'll turn just as beautiful?” 

The little girl wrapped her small fingers around the stem, her smile and giggle so powerful that Albedo was sure you cast a magic spell because as he watched her gallop away back to her parents, the flowers near you began to glisten and the sketch on his page came to life. 

He was unsure how to make a connection with you, so more often than not he would find himself purchasing flowers he didn’t really have the necessity for - but perhaps if he gathered enough up, he’d have a bouquet glorious enough to equal your soul 

“Mr. Albedo, pleasure seeing you again.” You brushed off your apron and turned to him. Your eyes closing and head tilting, a standard greeting of yours. “I have some rather rare flowers in stock today if you’d like to take a look.” 

“I am actually here to inquire if you had any Asters; the research institute has just run out.” 

“Hmm, let me check for you.” You bowed slightly before disappearing behind the many stalls and carriers of your wares. He scanned the flowers as he waited for your return. Gloved fingers inspecting the petals of flowers and, in his wandering thoughts, he began to investigate which one reminded him the most of you. “Mr. Albedo, I am sorry, it seems we are fresh out.” 

“I see …” 

“Ah! However, I needed to gather several other plants today. If you come back tomorrow I will set them aside for you.” You waved at the other worker as if to inform them of your intentions and quickly reached for the basket near the stall. 

“Actually, would it be too much of a bother if I were to travel with you?” 

You paused, staring at him with eyes wide and mouth slightly parted. What was this feeling in his chest, it hurt. “I would never pass up an opportunity to share in your company! What a splendid day this is turning out to be.” 

“Thank you, I will keep out of your way.” 

“Not too much I hope. So, Mr. Albedo, are you ready?” You turned to head toward the front gate and he followed after you. 

“Yes, and please, just Albedo is fine.” 

“Alrighty then, Albedo.” Ah, yes, that’s why his heart hurt. 

There you were, the wind wrapping around you as you stood in a field of flowers - the reflection of light difficult to pinpoint for as bright as the sun shined down onto the plane below, you were just as intense and, in fact, you may be the most luminous creature to ever exist -- how could he possibly reach something like you 

Childe

His world had never been bright -- from the snowy landscape that threatened every day to freeze the warm hearts that beat on its surface, to the dark void that he fought through as an adolescent, to the harsh and demanding ladder he climbed in service to his cause -- he’d never known the light … his had been seized so long ago 

So when he found a flicking candle, a small flame in his dark corridor, he walked to it - ran for it - and to see the glory reflected on the other side was something he fixated on until he could hold the candle safe in his arms 

He clenched his jaw and sighed. These boring briefings were never something he cared to participate in. He was more for action rather than words, so instead of listening to the updates from the short, purple-haired harbinger, he instead gazed out the open window at the city below. 

Liyue had shifted from a temporary destination into a permanent one as the tasks and duties continued to lengthen his stay. At least he didn’t mind the city, not like some of the other places he’d stay at. Just as he was about to drift back to the boring discussion, he heard a voice drift up to him. A lively, giddy voice that stole all of his attention and focus, but as soon as you entered into view his minimal interest piqued into desperation. 

“Wait up! You can’t tell me that this isn’t a beautiful day, just take it all in!” You spread your arms wide and spun with so much energy that the inertia made you stumble, luckily you caught yourself before running into some poor passerby. Childe smiled and rested his chin on his palm as he looked down at the loveliness that was your everything. 

You laughed, and the way your hands flew to your lips to cover the sound made him jealous of those fingers. You spoke, words falling off of your tongue like sugar and he grew antsy at the thought of not tasting it. You existed, and he needed a piece of it. 

Waving to his subordinate, he spoke in a hushed whisper, and while the meeting continued to drone on, he made his first step at capturing a star. 

The more information he gathered, the more interactions he had with you - the more he fell into your luster, the richer his feelings grew for you 

His actions were that of a child just looking for a comforting glow in their endless darkness, hands cupped to keep it alive, breathing held for fear of accidentally blowing it out - stay, please stay 

He called your name, the sound of his voice dissipating in the open space as he searched for any sign of you. 

“Hey there!” You called out to him, and when he looked up toward your voice, he smiled. Your legs dangled off the tree limb, your hands wrapping around the bark as you balanced there. 

“How is the view?” He asked, crossing his arms and staring at you from below. How did you get up there, he wondered. 

“Beautiful, I can see so much from up here. It’s like a whole different perspective.” You breathed in deeply and lifted your arms to reach for the sky above you. “How about you join me?” 

“I’m not sure I can, I don’t even know how you got up there.” 

“Sheer will and determination!” Giggling, he thought maybe you were actually a mythical creature in the fairytales he used to read as a kid. There was no way you could live in this world and be so positive, it had to be you were something beyond this world. “I’ll come down to you.” Twisting, you wiggled onto your stomach before letting yourself drop onto the ground below. It was further than you thought and as soon as your feet hit the earth, your body became off balance and tumbled backward. 

Childe easily caught you, his sturdy chest supporting you and arms extended so your hands could have something to grab onto. 

“Ooh, that was exhilarating.” Tilting your head, you turned to look at him and for a moment he felt his lips scream for yours. He wanted to let you go, but how could you when you fit so perfectly in his arms. “Childe?” 

“You’re something else.” This was dangerous, you were dangerous, and now that he knew what it was like to feel the brightness of the light, he would never let the dark creep back in. 

He needed you - it was apparent - and he hoped one day you’d realize you needed him too. A light like yours truly needed to shine in the darkness of places, so choose his, please choose his 

Zhongli 

There is no one in this world that would understand luster better than he - no one who could see the shine inside a being as clearly as one with eyes who’ve witnessed the birth and eventual death of the universe. The great Morax, the ruthless Rex Lapis, the gentle and patient Zhongli are one and the same, and the visions they’ve witnessed cannot be forgotten 

So, to see a person with purity so refined, that even the dullest observers could clearly recognize, he found it nearly impossible to look away 

He heard tell of a new performer joining the Pearl, someone who had shown great elegance and glorious promise at wowing the crowds. As a man who fancied the arts of all kinds, he was intrigued by the rumors and whispers. So, when the schedule showed the name of this new performer, he made his way to the boat drifting on the sea. 

His lips tasted the sweet flavor of tea but his eyes soaked in the delectable movements of your body. The graceful bow of your spin, the bending and twisting of your limbs as you moved just enough to tell your story on the swaying stage. He felt the history in your dance, the pride in your fluttering fan as you moved it across your face, the snap of truth as you forced it up toward the sky. He was transfixed, as he was sure all were. 

When you finished, you began to greet the many interested patrons eager to hear the sound of your voice. There was no way he could have known how transfixing you would be when he heard it. 

“What a stunning performance.” Zhongli mused, his head bowing, a mirror of your own gesture. 

“That is great praise from someone such as yourself.” You smiled and he was reminded of glaze lilies. 

“Pray tell, what was the inspiration for your dance?” 

“Ah, an insightful question, not unexpected I must say.” You laughed and moved your hands to your chest, elegant fingers resting over your heart as you answered his question. “The light of a soul has so much insight, don’t you think? If the soul is radiant, the vessel's beauty is so easily seen, and if there is beauty shining so brightly that it can communicate out to those who look, it may shift just the tides of the future.” You laughed again, a bit more unreserved than the last, and somehow more telling to your honesty. “I’m sorry, I hope that answered your question.” 

“Splendidly, and then some.” He found himself transfixed, captivated by a spirit shining before him. 

Spending time with you was as refreshing as standing in a mountain stream, as filling as a warm meal, as bright as the basking stars that littered the sky above and reflected in your eyes even in darkness 

“Zhongli, hello again.” He wandered into the garden, the gentle bubbling of the water as it fell along the rocks provided a lovely background to your visage. Carefully, you rested your fingers against the pages of your book as you looked up at him. The shadows of the shifting trees let highlights of the sun dance across your face and he couldn’t help but capture this image in his mind. 

“Good afternoon, you seem to be enjoying the day.” 

“As I always am. Nature has provided such elegant and lovely conditions that it would be a waste to not thank it, don’t you agree?” 

“Wholeheartedly.” He smiled, his hands gripping tighter around each other as they rested against the small of his back. It was incredible how nervous you made him; for a man who was a powerful as the mountains that looked down over the city, you made him feel like a tiny pebble in the stream begging to be touched by you. “May I join you?” 

“Absolutely, anything in this world can be improved by good company, and yours is always my favorite.”

“As yours is mine.” He sat on the stone bench next to you, his hands resting on his lap as he looked out across the scenery. You moved closer to him, your arms touching as you shared in the company of each other and, while his eyes drifted to your face, he watched how your smile and good nature made the flowers bloom. 

You were a compliment to his life. A perfect addition to the drift of time and as he looked at the future that stretched before him, he found your red wrapping perfectly around his amber 

--

tag list

@star-gods @mercurysmaiden @dourpeep @clemmywrites @pepperoncinipizza @handswritteeen @lucifucker @beelsdessert @odafashioned @coolcats09 @ninqat @musekala @sufzku @mooshymello @heavenlyang @plenilunegazes @glazelilyy @justyoureverydayqueer @idunkar @solowmomo @twokissesforamelia @the-mermaid-of-mondstadt @fuwon @angel-melt @lucacandy @shesleire @marianadi @zentoruu @smol-knife @nightlywallows @aoirohi @nitorious-ghost @mguerra11 @anatthesavage @maiiikoo @actstfbla @youaskedfurret @nonniechan @tempehlust @zenith-impact @plumpkie @jaggedsi @salty-salty @onlyhereforinteractivestories @gultonluvv @shy-specter @liebestraumss @jaemjenjam @softlybeloved @anatthesavage @mkazuyuh @excitedlysuffering @kaidou-pie @yujiia @cytomegalia @natxxu @ilyshelb @fvushiguros @nua-fromliyue @yoshikuno @kaidou-pie @anonymousficreader @cyphermagic @chichikoi

#genshin impact #genshin impact X reader #genshin impact headcanons #genshin impact musings #genshin impact fiction #albedo x reader #albedo #genshin albedo #genshin impact albedo #childe X reader #childe #genshin childe #genshin impact childe #Zhongli X reader #zhongli #genshin zhongli #genshin impact zhongli

[whoreiaki-kakyoin]

Absjdjd fantasy AU AHAS MY brain going BRRRRRRRR- I need to add. Centaur Okuyasu. And I mean BIG, like a draft horse. 👀 He's a forest protector, and his brother always taught him the no human is trustworthy, and deserve no mercy, but when you stumble into his home and he tries to attack, he finds he can't even bring himself to scare you off. You don't seem threatening at all! And you're pretty, too... Too bad you're not a mare.

OHH, big, strong centaur boy with a heart of gold? I love this. Growing up, Okuyasu’s big bro always told him it was their duty to protect the forest and that any humans who wandered into their territory would only try to hurt or trick them. Humans were dangerous, deceitful creatures who couldn’t be trusted. But that being said…. Okuyasu hadn’t met many humans, only seen glimpses of some hunters his brother had scared off, and he’s certainly never gotten to speak to one. Until he meets you.

He’s out for a walk when he hears some noise— the rustling of leaves and the sound of footsteps from something too big to be an animal and too small to be another centaur.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” Timidly, you step into the clearing, blinking up at him nervously as he sizes you up. “What do you want, human?”

“I… I’m sorry, I was trying to take a shortcut back home, and I think I’m lost. I don’t mean to disturb you. Are you one of the protectors of the forest?”

Okuyasu’s a bit surprised you’ve heard of him, but he feels strangely flattered. You seem genuine, and you don’t seem to mean any harm at all, and you do look so upset and frustrated at being lost…. You’re also very pretty, and he finds himself a bit enamored with you the longer you talk. What’s the harm if he helps you just this once?

Since he figures you’re a rather long way from your home, he offers to let you ride on his back. It’s something he’d usually never do, and he’s sure Keicho would tell him it was undignified and beneath him to give a ride to a human if he knew. But your human legs are just so short and awkward. It would be nightfall by the time you found your way, even if you could navigate the forest. Your arms are soft and warm as you wrap them around Okuyasu to hold onto him, and you smell like something sweet that makes the centaur’s heart skip a beat. When he drops you at the edge of the forest, not far from the path into town, you linger a moment before leaving.

“I don’t know how to thank you. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t helped me get home.” Oh and if you kiss him on the cheek timidly before he lets you down? He’ll be blushing up a storm. As he gallops off towards home, he wishes he could see you again. So imagine his surprise a week later when you come back with a basket of baked goods and fresh fruit from your garden as a thank you. Maybe you two can make your meetings a more regular occurrence…. Maybe you aren’t another centaur, but you’re lovely and kind and smart and Okuyasu finds himself smitten. Do him a favor and don’t keep him hanging too long before you tell him you feel the same!

#he’s a sweet boy I love him #got mail 💌 #anon asks #fantasy au #monster au #centaur Okuyasu #okuyasu 🖋✨ #jjba headcanons #soft headcanons #jjba x reader #laur’s writing

[topazy]

Sky of stars

Pairings: Lexa/reader

Warnings: none

Chapter: 0.02

You were taken aback, and speech could not come to you. In front of you stood a woman of eighteen or nineteen years old, with vibrant green eyes, a long, brown, thick braid of hair, and full rosy lips as red as the flowers that grew near her hut. You were entranced by her, almost as if this girl was a forest witch that had cast a curse upon you, and you were doomed to do nothing but be frozen in place by just one glance at her face.

You gazed at each other for what felt like seconds, minutes, hours.

Eventually, the stranger lowered her sword but still continued to glare at the trespasser. You cleared your throat, and opened your mouth, but closed it again. The person standing in front of you wasn’t a fool. You couldn’t talk your way out of this one. One of her hands was grasped tightly around her blade, ready to use if needed.

The brunette stepped back slightly as your horse began snorting. Something was wrong, and the girl with brown hair knew by the horse's actions as well that danger was looming.

You jumped to your feet, and stood back-to-back with the brunette whose name you had yet to learn. The familiar sound of war cries filled their ears.

Reapers.

“We need to go,” you said quietly. The brunette knotted her brows in confusion. “We can lead them away from your people.”

Moving quickly, you untied your horse from the tree and jumped on. Pausing, you reached for the girl's hand.

You searched for a small patch of forest that was safe. Finally, you came to a halt in a peaceful location partially hidden by dense bush and behind a large oak tree.You could still hear the crazed cries in the distance, but the noise was going in the opposite direction from the camp.

Sighing, you rubbed the back of your horse's head as the brunette approached her. “What is his name?”

“Cato… what is your name?”

Turning around, you almost jumped when you realised how close the other girl was standing. Her green eyes were brightened by the moonlight.

“I have not seen you before tonight. I expect you are a spy from a faraway clan coming to murder our leader.”

You snorted, “a spy? I don’t think so.”

The brunette raised her brows and said, “that’s good for your people. You would have made a terrible spy.”

“You wound me,” you place a hand on your chest in mock pain.

The brunette stared at you unimpressively, and her voice was laced with seriousness as she spoke. “Why did you come so close to the Woods clan?”

You shrugged, “I was curious.”

“Do you know what they used to say about curiosity on earth?”

“No, enlighten me.”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

A smirk pulled at the corners of your lips when the sound of branches crunching reached her ears. Quickly, you spun around to face the direction of the noise with both your knives ready. When a deer emerged from the greenery, you lowered your weapon and turned back to face Lexa.

“Lexa. You are a second to your commander as well.”

“What makes you think that?”

“You are a warrior.” Lexa answered. “I can tell by the way you move with a weapon.”

“You haven’t seen me fight.”

The brunette stepped closer to you. You were almost nose-to-nose. “I know a warrior when I see one.”

Your heart hammered against your chest, as your eyes were glued to Lexa’s lips. This was wrong. Gulping down, you stepped back, “I need to get back. My people will be waiting.”

Without another word, you took off back towards her clan. While Cato galloped away, you fought the urge to turn back around.

—

Nomi?” Frowning, you stepped further into your village and looked around, confused. It was empty. “Nomi!”

“Is it safe to come out?” A voice asked.

An elderly woman with two children clinging to her sides stepped out of the food tent. You nodded. “It’s safe. What’s going on?”

“They came out of nowhere…” the woman sobbed.

You grabbed a cloth that had been hanging on a nearby post and held it against the woman’s bleeding head. She told the kids to go back inside the tent before letting out a sob. “Others ran into the forest to get away from them…but I don’t know who they got. I stayed behind to hide the children. Luckily, they never looked inside all the tents.”

The reapers wouldn’t have let anyone live. Guilt ran through your body. Had you led the reapers away from Lexa’s clan and towards your own? No, it was too far away. It must have been another group.

“What way did they run?”

The woman pointed to an opening in the forest. “Stay here, I’m going to look-”

“No, you can’t. You don't know if they are still out there.”

“The reapers would have moved on.”

“It wasn’t reapers.”

“What?” You were confused. “Who was it?”

“Maun hef.”

#the 100 #lexa/reader #lexa kom trikru #the 100 fanfiction #sky of stars #the 100 fandom #lexa x you #lexa the 100 #grounders #commander lexa #lexa deserved better #lexa x reader #lexa x oc #lexa/oc #heda lexa #Lexa x you #Lexa/you

[seidenbros]

for 150 prompts: 42. how have you survived this long by yourself? for geraskier 💛

Thank you for this <3 I got inspired by the posts going round pointing out that Jaskier eats and drinks everything he can get his hands on, so... it kind of turned out that way. I hope you enjoy it <3 (Feel free to reqeuest something, here are soem prompt lists but if you find anything else that’s perfectly fine as well <3)

Pairing: Geralt x Jaskier (Geraskier) Word Count: 1332

_____________________

He hadn't planned on this, had never thought that he would let that bard tag along, but here they were, still together on the road. The singer had been following him like a lost puppy at first and Geralt had told him that he didn't need anyone, more than once, but somehow, Jaskier had still stayed by his side. And Geralt had somehow accepted it. In the beginning, it had been annoying, his constant chatter and singing to fill the silence, so that he'd zoned out every now and then, only answering with a Hmm when Jaskier had asked him whether he was listening. Somewhere down the road, Geralt had grown accustomed to it, and now, he even missed it, when Jaskier wasn't around. When they parted ways for the winter, when Kaer Morhen somehow felt so... quiet even though there were enough people to talk to, banter with, enough time to catch up on everything they'd seen and done, when they hadn't been together. And while he loved being home, with his family, getting some much needed rest, he was always happy, when he met up with Jaskier again – and to see him alive.

Geralt couldn't even count the times he'd saved the bards arse, and he didn't care to start counting. Somehow... Jaskier seemed to draw danger towards himself, or maybe it was just his behaviour. Because most of the time, Geralt didn't have to protect him from some kind of monster or get him out of harm's way, no, it was mostly some nobleman that ran after him, because he'd gotten himself involved with the wrong women. When it came to men, there usually wasn't a problem, but when Jaskier shared the bed – or whatever place, Geralt rather didn't want to know – with a woman, it usually led to trouble. Most of them were married, engaged, and Jaskier simply didn't draw boundaries, no matter how many men chased after him. In the end, Geralt had always managed to get him out of trouble, though he didn't know how the bard managed to do it by himself.

That was why he always breathed a sigh of relief when he found Jaskier unharmed in the new year. A scratch or two, but apart from that, he was fine.

They'd been travelling together for about a week again now, after their ways had parted for a job on Geralt's side, but now they were moving on together, actually just leaving the town, when they heard someone yell Jaskier's name behind them.

“Bollocks,” the bard said more to himself and bit his bottom lip hard. He knew that voice, Geralt could tell, so he simply raised an eyebrow at Jaskier. “Not exactly a fan of mine...” An apologetic smile appeared on the bard's lips, while he started walking faster, pretending to not have heard the man.

“Yeah... I can tell.” Geralt looked over his shoulder, seeing the man running after them now, face red from anger. He didn't know what exactly Jaskier had done, and he rather didn't want to know. “Come on.” He held his arm down from Roach so that Jaskier could grab it and hop on as well. Geralt positioned him in front of himself and started galloping away with Roach. He wasn't in the mood for another confrontation, so running away it was for today. He was rather the person to fight than flee, but today, he was just tired, he wanted some rest, and not some villagers coming after them with torches, just because Jaskier couldn't keep it in his pants.

Once they were a good couple of miles away from the village, Geralt found a spot where they could set up camp. They wouldn't make it to the next village before nightfall, and it was rather pleasant outside, so that sleeping here would be just fine.

“He thinks I broke his daughter's heart,” Jaskier said once they were settled, whereas there had been silence between the two men up until now. Geralt simply answered with a grunt. Really, he didn't need to know. “I didn't even touch her, I don't know why he thinks that.”

“Maybe because your reputation precedes you, Jaskier.” The face of utter shock nearly made Geralt laugh, because he looked so ridiculous right there and then. “Don't act so shocked. It's true, isn't it?”

“Well...” Jaskier rubbed the back of his neck, before he looked sheepishly at the Witcher. “I can't deny that I have that kind of reputation, you're right.” And Geralt had come to hate that reputation, or rather the truth behind it. At first it hadn't bothered him, but by now, it somehow did. If he didn't know any better, he'd say that it was the jealousy burning in his chest whenever Jaskier vanished with a person and came back the next morning, but it couldn't be jealousy. No. Maybe that was why he laughed it off, mocked Jaskier even a little bit as to not show his real feelings. Feelings he wasn't even sure of himself, because it was all so confusing.

“But this time, nothing happened. I just ended up composing music till late in the night.” Jaskier looked around picking some berries from the bushes next to their campsite.

“You don't owe me an explanation, Jaskier. It's your life.” Though Geralt wanted to know, even if it hurt hearing him talk about whomever he'd bedded the night before. It was better than not knowing and just assuming, but he wouldn't come right out and say it like that. After all... it really was Jaskier's life and none of Geralt's business, right? Right.

“Oh... okay.” Did he sound a tad disappointed? Or was that just Geralt's imagination? He couldn't think about this right now, didn't even want to think about it. “Mhh these are delicious!” Jaskier pulled Geralt right back into the here and now, speaking with his mouth full of berries.

“What are you eating there?” Immediately alarmed, Geralt crossed the distance to the bard and looked at what he was holding in his hands. “Spit them out! NOW!” The fear in his voice was evident, so Jaskier complied and spit the berries out, not sure what was going on. The next moment, he was handed a flask by Geralt and told to drink up. He'd never seen Geralt this agitated before when he wasn't facing a monster of some sort.

“Okay, I did it. What's going on?” Oblivious to what had nearly happened, Jaskier looked at Geralt in confusion.

“How have you survived this long by yourself?” Geralt asked, throwing his hands up in exasperation. When his eyes landed on Jaskier, the bard was still looking at him in utter confusion. “Those berries are highly poisonous! You could have died, Jaskier!” And he didn't even want to start talking about all the people who wanted his head or his balls handed to them on a platter, because he couldn't keep it in his pants. Geralt was angry, really angry, especially when he thought about that. And Jaskier realised it.

“I'm sorry,” he eventually said, making Geralt turn his way again. For a moment he hesitated, before he stepped up to the Witcher and put his hand an Geralt's arm, hoping to calm him down like this, and it worked just like magic. The tension in his shoulders eased, the angry face vanished, but he still looked tired. “Good thing I have you to watch over me, eh?” He tried to lighten the mood with this, but it didn't work as well as he'd hoped.

“Guess, I can't leave you alone for the winter anymore,” the Witcher said shaking his head. He couldn't risk losing him like this, because he accidentally poisoned himself or got stabbed by a jealous husband of some sort. In addition, he could maybe get him to stay away from that kind of danger altogether. Completely selfless of course.

#i-seeaspaceshipinthe-sky #staffi writes #asks #writings prompts #jaskier #geralt of rivia #geraskier #geraskier imagine #geraskier fic #the witcher imagine #the witcher #jaskier x geralt #geralt x jaskier #you people put this in my head with jaskier eating and drinking everything #and i love it

[lovetorn]

Life Was A Willow [Part 1]

Witch Hunter!Dream x Witch!Fem!Reader

Part 2 Part 3

Summary: it's always been hunters vs. witches, right?

Word Count: 3.7k+

Warnings for part 1: violence, swearing

A/N: AHHHH !! It's finally here !! i'm going to be posting this in parts, originally 2, but looking at it now, it may even possibly be 3 parts. i've been working on this for months and i'm extremely happy with it !! i hope you guys love it as much as i do !!

The leaves of the willow tree rustle loudly whilst Y/n kneels in front of the raspberry bush. With each piece of the fruit, her fingertips are stained with a deep magenta as she plucks them off of the branches. Bark and twigs dig into her knees sharply when she reaches forward to grasp one last raspberry, but before she has the chance to pick it, the sound of horse hooves galloping on the dirt startle her.

“Ma’am! Are you alright?” A deep voice calls. Y/n sighs, standing from her spot on the ground before she turns around.

Five men on tan horses surround her. Her heart skips a beat when she recognises their uniforms. Witch hunters. With the nod of her head, Y/n smiles. “I’m doing just fine, gentlemen! Thank you for your concern.”

Although, she doesn’t recognise any of their faces—especially the man in a mask. The girl tilts her head at the sight of it; hardly any hunters wear a mask. But, what confuses her more is the taunting smile drawn lazily across the white ceramic. “Are you sure? There’s a whole lot of danger in these parts, sweetheart!”

Y/n almost rolls her eyes but stops before they catch onto her. “I promise, I’m completely fine.” She wishes she could see the expression of the man in the mask.

None of the hunters reply before they kick the sides of their horses and ride off in the opposite direction they came. Panic sets in as Y/n drops her basket of berries and sets off into a sprint, her skirts catching under her feet.

Being this far from home with hunters close-by is risky, Y/n knows this. But the raspberry bush had just ripened and she promised Wilbur she would bake him a raspberry cheesecake in return for repairing her wand.

Her lungs burn as she pushes open the small wooden gate that surrounds the house.

“Niki!” Y/n yells, her voice cracking slightly in fear. Her friend spins around from her spot in the garden. “Y/n! Take a look at the rose—“

Y/n only shakes her head, turning back in panic. “Hunters.”

“Quickly then, get inside, we must inform Wilbur.”

The pair rush into the cottage, Niki’s rose bush and Y/n’s basket of berries left behind.

The back door slams against the wall, only to be shut and locked as soon as it was opened. Wilbur stands from his spot at the dining table with a puzzled expression.

“How many?” Wilbur runs a hand over his face.

“A whole army. The King’s been busy; there’s a lot of new faces.”

The man sighs deeply. He turns to face Niki, who sits on the kitchen stool with a look of fear on her face. Y/n swallows and peers out of the small window. She sees a flash of white and the sound of an arrow cutting the air. “They’re here. They’ve followed me.”

—

Niki is the first to exit the house, her hands out in front of her. She clenches her jaw as she feels tingles through her muscles, her eyes shaped like crescent moons. The sound of branches cracking and leaves crunching makes her throw her hand to her right, which earns a distant cry as a hunter is thrown backwards.

Wilbur hurries around the house in search of his staff while Y/n whispers angrily at him to hurry up. The man lets out a quiet squeal when he spots it leaning against the living room wall and faces Y/n. He exhales, nodding once to tell her to go out the back door.

Y/n moves silently whilst passing windows and eventually through the door. Her eyes dart in every direction as she steps onto the dirt beneath her. The only sound is the snapping of bows and faint cries from the front of the house.

“Witch!” A voice calls. Y/n lifts her hands up, flecks of glitter-like sparkles falling from her fingertips. “We come to you on behalf of the King; he wishes to discuss potential alliances with you.”

Y/n struggles to distinguish where the voice comes from before there’s a hand on her back and she’s being pushed to the ground. She scowls and turns to face the person behind her; a man with a white bandana tied around his head.

Y/n jumps up instantly, moving her finger in a circular motion until the man’s feet begin to lift off the ground.

“Hey, hey! No!” He yells, scrambling to grasp the sword attached to his back. Y/n raises an eyebrow as she gets a closer look at the weapon.

“A diamond sword? Huh? Did Technoblade give you that?”

The man visibly stills, his hands fumbling the sword as he brings it up beside his face. “Yeah, what about it?”

Y/n shakes her head, a sad smile on her cheeks. “Nothing, Techno’s an old friend of mine. Tell me, is he well?”

The squeal of an arrow stops the man from answering her question. Y/n steps back when the sharp object swizzles past her head. “That wasn’t very nice.”

She chooses to pay no attention to the other hunter, who hides behind a tree and instead focuses on the one in front of her.

“Are you new?” Y/n asks calmly.

The man nods before Y/n lowers him back onto his feet. “Name. Now. That’s not a question but a demand.”

“Sapnap.”

Y/n squints at him. “Odd.”

“Y/n! We need help!” Wilbur calls from the opposite side of the house. Y/n sighs and places her hands back to her sides. The man with the diamond sword narrows his eyes at her, jerking his neck to the side to stretch it.

Y/n sighs in annoyance and sweeps him to the side, the roots from Niki’s rose bushes wrapping tightly around his body; not enough to hurt him, but to keep him immobile.

Y/n goes to step in the direction of the front of the house but is stopped by the man in the mask. A bow and quiver sit on his back and Y/n glances at them, planning on destroying them. “Don’t even think about it.”

Y/n is taken aback by the man’s forwardness and watches as he draws a dagger from his boot. Y/n raises her hands again, her eyes turning to slits as she awaits the man’s next moves.

As anticipated, he lunges forward, the knife tightly held in his fist. Y/n swiftly dodges, her hands moving majestically around to form a divet in the ground for him to fall into. However, she is quickly mistaken when he spins on his heel and steps over the growing hole.

“Nice tactic,” The man teases. “But not good enough.” Y/n is annoyed that she can’t see his face—she'd love to see what it’d look like after this.

Y/n rolls her eyes, a bored look on her face. She sighs deeply and steps into a fighting stance. She notices the man doing the same.

“Nice footwork,” Y/n says, stomping one foot into the earth before it starts to vibrate. “But not good enough.”

The man’s face falls and pales behind his mask as vines come to conceal his feet. Y/n smirks as he falls onto the dirt with a thump. The man lays with his back against the ground and his arms outstretched as Y/n stands above him.

She smiles at him—her grin is more genuine than usual, which is odd considering the circumstances—and leans down and places her mouth near his ear. “You know, you did pretty well for being a new hunter.”

The man scoffs then laughs in response. “Thanks.”

—

A hunter draws his sword, one made out of netherite, and Wilbur’s eyes grow in shock. “How did you get that?”

The man smirks and lifts the weapon high into the air. He brings it down towards Wilbur, who quickly matches the hunter’s strength with his staff. The two objects clash against one another and white light begins to seep through the lines in the staff.

Wilbur inhales sharply at the sight and pushes the man away with all his might. His staff starts to vibrate and soon the wood cracks in various places.

“Wil, move!” Y/n comes from behind him, her hands out wide as she lifts the hunter into the air and towards a tree. His body slams against the bark, making pieces fall onto the grass before branches weave around the man, enclosing him in a cocoon.

“Thanks,” Wilbur smiles, although it falters when he notices his staff becoming weak. “But I think it’s the end for this guy.”

Y/n frowns, her fingers caressing the cracked wood. “We can’t repair this. You must go to Quackity, he’ll be able to fix it.”

“I can’t fix this.”

Y/n’s jaw goes slack before she stands from the long table. “Alex! Why not?”

Quackity stifles a sly laugh as he rounds the table, picking up the broken staff on the way past. “It’s beyond repair. You see, when netherite and magical objects mix, the netherite completely destroys any magic within it. Therefore making it impossible to fix.”

Wilbur rolls his eyes, “We know that already, Sherlock, which is why we brought it to you thinking you could help us. But you clearly can’t, so we’ll be on our way.”

Quackity’s eyes widen and he drops the stick onto the table once more. “No! I–I can fix it, just give me a few days.”

Y/n raises an eyebrow, suspicious of his sudden enthusiasm. She slams the staff onto the table from Quackity’s hands and looks him in the eye. “No fucking around, okay, Alex? You fix this staff or there will be consequences. Got it?”

The man looks around his cave in search of something. Y/n squints as she watches him duck under rocks and dodge around cauldrons.

“Karl? Have you got any wands?” He calls down a hallway. Y/n and Wilbur meet gazes, his eyes moving towards the staff before Quackity returns in a hurry.

“Well, I haven’t got a wand to cast a promising spell, but if you come back in 2 days, I’ll guarantee this staff will be good as new and back in business,” He smiles, snatching the wood from the table. “Free of charge, just for you.”

Wilbur nods hesitantly, glancing at Y/n before he stands. “Okay. See you then, I guess.”

Quackity grins. He slowly shifts his weight to his other foot as he waits for them to leave. But Y/n isn’t finished.

“If you trick us, Alex. I swear to god I will take that little hat if yours and shove it right—”

The younger man shakes his head, “There will be no need! I’d never trick you! I just want to help my friends.”

Wilbur winces on the word ‘friends’ and ducks his head as he exits the cave. “See you!” Quackity says before Y/n follows in suit.

“Karlos, we’ve got work to do!”

“Down this way!”

Dream’s eyes drift towards the small cottage he and the hunters were at yesterday. Sapnap rolls his neck and groans in pain. “You’d think they’d wait a few days before going out again.”

Dream ignores his friend’s complaints as the group nears the house. The tidy garden and ivy that intertwined along the roof are torn and disrupted, and Dream feels slightly guilty looking at the damage they did. But, upon arrival, the house is empty.

“It’s been abandoned!” A brunette hunter yells in confusion. Dream twists his lips and narrows his eyes at a faint snap a few feet away. The silence is deafening as he realises everyone else heard it too. “Don’t move. We’ve been ambushed.”

The men look up towards the trees above them; the canopy appears darker than usual. Suddenly, a hunter behind Dream yelps, and as he turns around to see what happened, the man is gone. This causes a collective gasp amongst the group, fear coursing through their veins.

“Hello, boys!” A voice calls from the trees. The hunters whip their head around, trying to decipher which direction it came from and readies their swords. However, Dream remains calm. He only raises his eyebrow at the sound of the voice continuing. “Lovely seeing you here.”

Another yell echoes through the group and another and another until only Dream and Sapnap remain.

“Hey, Snapmap. Can I call you that? Or is that only reserved for your friends?”

The younger boy furrows his eyebrows as his eyes lay on Y/n, floating down from the trees. Dream watches the same girl he fought yesterday, fling Sapnap’s sword away with the swish of her fingers. The pair tilt their heads at the action and remain quiet when Y/n begins laughing. “Calm down, you’re acting like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Dream feels someone behind him and then he turns around and swings his sword in one movement. He’s met with a slightly taller man, who immediately forces his sword backwards and onto the dirt.

Dream’s eyes widen before he brings his fists up. “This isn’t a fair fight.”

Wilbur struggles to contain his giggle as he meets Y/n’s gaze. “You want to take this one?”

Y/n nods and lifts her hands to drag Dream across the forest floor towards her. Dream is startled as he regains his balance. “Nice seeing you again, mask boy.”

“Can’t say I feel the same, witch,” Y/n smirks at his serious tone before she shoots her hand to the side to gather a sword from one of the hunters who sits tied to the branches above them.

“Get your sword, it’ll be a fair fight.”

Dream bends down to pick up his netherite sword, its purple aura intimidating to the iron one Y/n holds. “No magic.”

Y/n rolls her eyes. “Got it.”

And with the sound of metal scraping against metal, the fight begins.

Y/n steps back as Dream moves forwards. He bounces on the balls of his feet and adjusts his grip on the sword before he lunges forward. Y/n is quick to sidestep the sharp edge before she retaliates with her own movement. The pair continue barely missing each other, the interaction being a friendly fight rather than a deadly one. Y/n shifts her weight to her back foot as she watches Dream’s sword swing between them.

“What’s your name, anyway? I know Sapnap’s, so what’s yours?” Y/n asks, out of breath slightly. Dream squints as he dodges her swing at his abdomen. “Dream.”

“Well, Dream, you’re good with a sword. I’m Y/n, by the way.” Y/n mumbles, and what she doesn’t see is Dream’s cocky smile. She doesn’t question his odd name like she did with Sapnap yesterday, and it makes his stomach turn.

The pair stop for a second, staring at each other before Dream’s blade cuts the air and barely misses Y/n’s shoulder. The girl gasps at the closeness and scolds him.

In Dream’s moment of victory, and distraction, Y/n thrusts forwards, her sword coming to a halt at Dream’s throat. “I win. Again.”

Dream gulps. The feeling of the sharp point so prominent on his skin scares him. But, the soft look in Y/n’s eye tells him she’s not going to kill him. And as she begins to lower her sword, Dream’s foot sweeps under hers, causing her to tumble forward. There’s a dull thud of bodies hitting the dirt, and Y/n knows exactly where she is.

“I—Uh,” Dream mumbles, his hands hovering over Y/n’s hips as she lays on top of him.

“Thanks for that.” She murmurs. Dream hums and tries to help her maneuver off of him. The pair eventually stand and avoid eye contact, despite keeping it for close to 8 minutes straight previously.

“Get a room!” Sapnap yells from the tree. There’s a small grumble of laughter from the other hunters and Y/n shakes her head.

“How do you plan on getting down, Snapmap?” The youngest boy’s expression turns sour. Dream tilts his head back to observe the other hunters and laughs lightly—his throaty chuckle making Y/n look at him.

“Well, have fun!” Y/n calls as she slips away, but not before she bids Dream goodbye.

The hunters trudge through the castle gates with defeated expressions and their outfits muddy. The group share collective groans of pain as they walk the grounds, their muscles aching.

“What was all that between you and that witch?” Sapnap asks Dream whilst they enter the Hunters Wing of the castle. Dream shrugs and strips himself of his jacket, hanging it on the peg on the wall next to them.

The Hunters Wing of the castle is a large area with corridors of bedrooms and even more rooms for dining, training, cooking, reading, and more. The training room, however, is the largest out of all of them. Its high ceilings and concrete pillars make for a great place for target practice, surprise attack run-throughs, and performing hand-to-hand combat.

Dream spends most of his time here; Sapnap pokes fun at him for his constant preparation for new opportunities, but their other best friend, and the Prince, George, just applauds him for his determination—which eventually makes Sapnap agree.

“Nothing, and her name’s Y/n.” Dream’s lack of answer causes Sapnap to sigh loudly as he sits on the bench to untie his boots.

“Bullshit.” He exasperates. “There was definitely something there and you know it. But you better get over it, it's forbidden.”

Dream rolls his eyes and shrugs one shoulder. “Not forbidden, just frowned upon.”

Sapnap drops his shoes onto the cobblestone ground abruptly, groaning at his best friend before he stands and walks towards his bedroom. “You are such a—”

“Sapnap!” A new voice startles the boy, and Dream grins as soon as he recognises it.

“Georgie, don’t scare me like that, you idiot,” Sapnap whines, jogging over to the Prince to lightly punch his shoulder.

“Please, if that scared you then I’d consider you a—” Another light punch to his shoulder stops George from continuing.

“No swearing, Gogy,” Dream snickers as he walks towards the pair, heaving his duffle bag he collected from the cubby hole. He reaches his hand down to George’s cheek before pinching it. “Wouldn’t want to ruin your image.”

George shrugs both of the boys off of him with a scowl. “Get off of me, the both of you.”

Sapnap only giggles at George’s attempt at swatting their hands away, his own hand coming up to cover his smile. Dream places his bag on the floor, smirking, before letting out a soft laugh.

“Anyways, Dream had a moment with one of the witches today.”

George’s eyebrows raise as he turns to look at Dream, who rolls his eyes at the topic again. “Is she pretty?”

Dream goes to reply, yes, and she can fight really, really well, but Sapnap is quick to shut down his chance.

“George, it’s forbidden, why don’t you disapprove of this?” Sapnap’s brows furrow as he throws his hands around. Dream crosses his arms over his chest, irritated that he’s brought it up again, and now to the Prince.

The eldest shrugs. “I find magic more interesting and worth learning about, than dangerous. It would be so cool to have powers like that, don't you think?”

Sapnap groans again. “Ugh! You guys are so weird. Talk to me when you come to your senses about how it's destroying our world rather than helping it.” And ignoring Dream and George’s calls, he stalks to his room, leaving the pair in the training room.

“He’ll come around.” The Prince mumbles.

However, Dream doesn't say anything, picks up his duffle bag from the floor and takes off in the opposite direction, leaving George alone.

“Pricks.”

Y/n sits on the rocking chair on the patio of the cottage, a spellbook in her lap and a mug of lavender tea in her hand. The wind picks up slightly, making the leaves rustle and the trees sway around her. The chair rocks softly and the creaks of the house comfort her—especially in a time when everything is unknown.

As she goes to bring the cup to her lips, Y/n is startled by an object flying at her. She throws her opposite hand up to stop it before it hits her, the force causing the rocking chair to tilt backwards.

Y/n feels a sharp edge on her palm and her heart skips a beat. As she moves her hand away, she notices that the object is, in fact, not a dagger, but an envelope. She exhales loudly and feels her heart rate slow down from its once rapid beating.

Y/n examines the letter as it floats in front of her face and then grasps it in her fingers. The envelope is crisp and white and is closed with a red wax seal. The signature can only mean one thing: the Castle.

Opening the letter, there is a single white card with black calligraphy: Y/n, wait for the signal and I’ll meet you after dark, at the abandoned cottage that is East of the castle. We can talk then. –C

The witch furrows her eyebrows. C? Who is C?

She chooses against notifying Wilbur and Niki about the letter, and instead, slots it into her spellbook and takes a sip of her tea.

But, Y/n notices a return address on the card before she tucks it away, and flicks her hand back over her shoulder to summon a pen and paper. The pen stills in front of the card, waiting for Y/n to instruct it on what to write.

“Dear, C,” Y/n starts, she ponders for a moment before continuing. “I’ll be waiting for the signal, I hope it’s grand.”

Puckering her lips, Y/n swirls her finger around to fold the letter up and sends it back inside to package it.

The envelope, now sealed with periwinkle wax, flies out of the floor and then up into the sky and out of sight. Y/n sighs, mindlessly fiddling with the corner of the card she received.

Ok, she’ll meet them after dark. Whoever they are.

#lwaw #dream smp imagine #dream smp x reader #dream x reader #dreamwastaken x reader #dream imagines #dreamwastaken imagine #dream smp imagines #dreamwastaken x fem!reader #dream x fem!reader #mcyt x reader #mcyt imagine #mcyt imagines #life was a willow

[lunarfly]

Harmione Essay: the most underrated H/Hr hug

The Harry Potter movies did a great job at showing one part of book Harmione - they share lots of hugs. But this seemed to shift the attention from book Harmione hugs to movie Harmione hugs. And the situation is worse than you’d think. Many Harmione fans not only underrate some book hugs, but most don’t even know the existence of them. I’m going to be discussing the most underrated hug shared between Harry and Hermione. The one that happens in HBP after Dumbledore’s death. Here’s the hug I’m talking about:

They [Harry and Ginny] had reached the hospital wing. Pushing open the doors, Harry saw Neville lying, apparently asleep, in a bed near the door. Ron, Hermione, Luna, Tonks, and Lupin were gathered around another bed near the far end of the ward. At the sound of the doors opening, they all looked up. Hermione ran to Harry and hugged him; Lupin moved forward too, looking anxious. 

In this scene, Harry had just seen Dumbledore’s dead body and Ginny was taking him to the hospital wing on McGonagall’s orders. Right as Harry stepped in, he looked around, everyone started looking at him and Hermione jumped in his arms and hugged him. 

At first glance, this may seem like a regular H/Hr moment, just another one of their hugs. It may seem like nothing special, we don’t get a unique description of the hug like we did in OotP, for example, when Hermione “threw herself into a hug that nearly knocked him flat.” So you may think it’s not s big deal at all.

But it is.

We have quite a few things to keep in mind while analyzing this hug, one of them being the phrasing. As I said, this hug doesn’t get a unique description but there’s still one thing to note:

At the sound of the doors opening, they all looked up. Hermione ran to Harry and hugged him; Lupin moved forward too, looking anxious.

Hermione didn’t just wrap her arms around him, she ran to him. She was probably standing at the other side of the room but as she heard the “sound of the doors opening”, she immediately saw Harry and ran up to him just to hug him! It’s such a sweet moment.

That’s not all though. It isn’t only cute, it’s also deep and emotional. To understand this, we’ll just have to take a look at the context of this hug, which gives it most of its depth and beauty. 

Here’s a rather long (sorry!) scene for some context:

Dumbledore turned back to look out of the fiery window; the sun was now a ruby red glare along the horizon. Harry walked quickly from the office and down the spiral staircase. His mind was oddly clear all of a sudden. He knew what to do.

Ron and Hermione were sitting together in the common room when he came back. “What does he want?” Hermione said at once. “Harry, are you okay?” she added anxiously.

“I’m fine,” said Harry shortly, racing past them. He dashed up the stairs and into his dormitory, where he flung open his trunk and pulled out the Marauder’s Map and a pair of balled-up socks. Then he sped back down the stairs and into the common room, skidding to a halt where Ron and Hermione sat, looking stunned.

“I’ve got to be quick,” Harry panted. “Dumbledore thinks I’m getting my Invisibility Cloak. Listen. . . .”

Quickly he told them where he was going and why. He did not pause either for Hermione’s gasps of horror or for Ron’s hasty questions; they could work out the finer details for themselves later.

“. . . so you see what this means?” Harry finished at a gallop. “Dumbledore won’t be here tonight, so Malfoy’s going to have another clear shot at whatever he’s up to. No, listen to me!” he hissed angrily, as both Ron and Hermione showed every sign of interrupting. “I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here —” He shoved the Marauder’s Map into Hermione’s hands. “You’ve got to watch him and you’ve got to watch Snape too. Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the D.A., Hermione, those contact Galleons will still work, right? Dumbledore says he’s put extra protection in the school, but if Snape’s involved, he’ll know what Dumbledore’s protection is, and how to avoid it — but he won’t be expecting you lot to be on the watch, will he?”

“Harry —” began Hermione, her eyes huge with fear.

“I haven’t got time to argue,” said Harry curtly. “Take this as well —”

He thrust the socks into Ron’s hands.

“Thanks,” said Ron. “Er — why do I need socks?”

“You need what’s wrapped in them, it’s the Felix Felicis. Share it between yourselves and Ginny too. Say good-bye to her for me. I’d better go, Dumbledore’s waiting —”

“No!” said Hermione, as Ron unwrapped the tiny little bottle of golden potion, looking awestruck. “We don’t want it, you take it, who knows what you’re going to be facing?”

“I’ll be fine, I’ll be with Dumbledore,” said Harry. “I want to know you lot are okay. . . . Don’t look like that, Hermione, I’ll see you later. . . .”

And he was off, hurrying back through the portrait hole and toward the entrance hall.

So I’ve highlighted the parts to pay the most attention to.

Basically, Harry rushes into the common room after meeting Dumbledore, Hermione asks him what has happened and she notices that Harry looks worried and is in a rush. She asks him what has happened and she’s anxious because she’s already worried just by seeing the look on his face. Harry answers “shortly” and runs to get the marauders map and Felix Felicis to give them to Hermione and Ron. He explains everything to them quickly, leaving out the details, and tells them what to do with the map and to take the Felix Felicis because he’s sure that Draco has achieved something which means no good. And now he’s off to this dangerous mission out of Hogwarts with Dumbledore where his life could possibly be put in danger! Just imagine how Ron and Hermione feel right now. Their best friend is taking a huge risk and is taking part in fighting the dark arts and he might not even return. They’re both looking “stunned” and Hermione is gasping out of horror! That’s right. Her worries and fears are sky-high. And now, after this short explanation, while Harry is “racing”, “speeding” and “dashing” to do everything in time and he’s going so fast that he’s running out of breath, “panting”, he’s just going to leave without saying proper goodbyes. The fact that this is all happening in such a rush is extremely important and meaningful because Hermione doesn’t even get to say a proper goodbye, she’s so scared and worried that her eyes are “huge with fear”, she doesn’t know what’s going to happen to Harry, whether she’s even going to see him ever again, she’s ready to reject the liquid luck so Harry can be safe, she’s trying to convince him to take the liquid luck, even after Harry says he’ll be fine with Dumbledore. She’s giving him the look of disapproval but before she can say another word and say a proper goodbye, he’s off again, hurrying to meet Dumbledore and his own possible death.

Just imagine how Hermione is feeling right now. And if that isn’t bad enough, Harry’s prediction actually comes true and death eaters start attacking! Ron, Hermione and Ginny barely survive the attack just by luck, literally. And now, when it’s all over and Hermione’s standing in a room in the hospital wing, desperately waiting for news along with the whole Order, Harry comes in. And she completely loses it. She runs to him and hugs him. Now do you understand the emotion in this scene? Both of them nearly died, she was probably going crazy thinking what could’ve happened to him, Harry was thinking and worrying about her too (”How long had they been away? Had Ron, Hermione, and Ginny’s luck run out by now?” “ Would he be responsible, again, for the death of a friend?”) and now they finally see each other and Hermione is probably feeling lightheaded knowing that he’s safe (compare to the DoM scene in OotP) and she hugs him. She just can’t do otherwise. And all of the unsaid “I’m so glad you’re safe” and “I’ve been so worried about you”s are all expressed through a beautiful and emotional embrace.

Now we know how deep this scene truly is. And imagine how beautiful this scene would be on screen. So much lost potential. 

It brings a smile on my face imagining a worried Hermione running all the way across the room and flinging her arms tightly around Harry, hugging him and both of them looking so deeply relieved. Then quickly breaking apart as Lupin approaches “anxiously” and asks what Hermione doesn’t have the courage to ask. 

The continuation of this scene is also nice. It’s Lupin who asks how Harry is, while Hermione stays silent but still stays next to Harry.

Nobody answered. Harry looked over Hermione’s shoulder and saw an unrecognizable face lying on Bill’s pillow, so badly slashed and ripped that he looked grotesque.

This shows they are still standing near each other. 

And  later everyone else seems interested in the conversation about Dumbledore’s death and Snape’s betrayal but Hermione doesn’t say a word. Like she’s still petrified from everything that’s happened and now this happened too. 

Hermione clapped her hands to her mouth and Ron groaned.

[...]

Almost against his will he glanced from Ron to Hermione, both of whom looked devastated.

She looks “devastated” and doesn’t say a single word until Harry directly asks her, it almost reminds me of the scene at the hospital when Ron was poisoned.

“So if Ron was watching the Room of Requirement with Ginny and Neville,” said Harry, turning to Hermione, “were you — ?” 

“Outside Snape’s office, yes,” whispered Hermione, her eyes sparkling with tears, “with Luna. We hung around for ages outside it and nothing happened. . . . We didn’t know what was going on upstairs, Ron had taken the map. . . . It was nearly midnight when Professor Flitwick came sprinting down into the dungeons. He was shouting about Death Eaters in the castle, I don’t think he really registered that Luna and I were there at all, he just burst his way into Snape’s office and we heard him saying that Snape had to go back with him and help and then we heard a loud thump and Snape came hurtling out of his room and he saw us and — and —” 

The rest is irrelevant. I just thought I’d mention that Hermione is whispering and she’s almost crying, on top of all of the battles and duels she went through and all the worries and fears she had before seeing Harry alive, now she’s shocked from the news of Dumbledore. This girl is so strong. 

I know I wrote a little more than I should’ve but I just really love this moment. Their care for each other, their worries and their fears, that’s what strengthens their bond. They have the most emotional relationship out of everyone in the series. This hug was truly beautiful and much, much more than just a hug. 

And to end this essay, I thought I’d give you something about hugs (they happen over 5 times between H/Hr in the books) in general:

“We love to feel loved, and we love to feel good. Hugs satisfy both needs. When you touch someone affectionately, sit or stand close to them, gaze into their eyes, or wrap them in a big bear hug, our body responds on all levels: emotionally, cognitively, and physiologically.

Oxytocin — the human love drug — is also released when we hug. This hormone reduces blood pressure and stress hormones. According to Medical News Today, oxytocin ‘contributes to relaxation, trust, and psychological stability.’ Over time, it makes us feel bonded with another person.

Oxytocin provides feelings of pleasure, contentment, happiness, and even euphoria. These feels feel great — and they’re good for you.”

#harmione #harmony #harry potter #harry potter series #harry james potter #hermione granger #hermione jean granger #harry x hermione #harry and hermione #hermione x harry #hermione and harry #hp #hhr #harry/hermione #hermione/harry #harry potter essay #harmione essay #harry potter ships #hp ships #ships #harry potter and the half blood prince #half blood prince