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oh-no-my-hand-slipped · 18 days

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An Adventurer’s Cold

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An original fic commissioned anonymously

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Subject: Original Characters By Author

Length: 3,998 Words

Genre: Denial, RPG, Contagion, Stuck Sneeze

Rating: E for Everyone

CW/TW: Slight Food Description, Mild Blood

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You have entered MARLINE’S MAGIC SHOP.

“Snf…welcobe back, traveler.”

Marline took a worn handkerchief out of her front apron pocket, blowing her nose mightily. She sniffled, leaning against the old oak counter she stood behind.

“Whad can I interest you in today?”

Terra, only half listening, looked at the many mystical items lining the shelves. Dragon’s heart, succubus horns, even a small jar filled with pixie wings for one silver piece each. Not a bad price, considering how hard pixies were to catch.

However, she didn’t have time for browsing today.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a bronze kobold fang, would ya?” she asked, looking through a green eyepiece at the tired shopkeeper.

Marline smiled. “You took thad request for the rabid fairies, I take it?”

“Yep! They’re some nasty critters, but we’ve got a potion that should stun ‘em -”

“Hah-! hhhhp’TSHIEW!”

Marline bent over the counter, her long red hair spilling over her face. She groaned, taking her handkerchief out again. Terra lowered the eyepiece.

“Good health, Mar. Though it sounds like it’s a little late for that.”

Marline blew her nose with a loud honk. “I was bushroom hunting during a rainy spell ereyesterday - snf! I believe I bay have lived to regret it.”

“I’ll say,” Terra said, frowning. “Have any faeleaf? It doesn’t taste great, but it’ll set you right again.”

“Not this week, I’b afraid. I wasn’d the only one who fell ill after the storm. I would harvest sobe byself, bud I…hih! hhh’PTCHIIEW!”

“Hey, no worries!”

Terra reached into her traveling bag and pulled out a small, bitter-smelling burlap pouch.

“I always keep some with me for emergencies.”

Marline shook her head. “You busn’t – hih’PSHIEW!”

Terra set the bag on the counter.

“Listen, if anybody has an emergency, it’s what you’ve got. Besides, I haven’t caught a cold since I was a kid! I don’t think I’m going to start getting one now.”

Marline gave a knowing smile, but took the herbs with no more opposition.

“Stday in good health, kind traveler,” was all she said before stuffing her handkerchief back into her apron pocket.

“I will!” Terra replied, not noticing Marline’s expression. “The spirit of adventure will keep me warm! And a little mead, if I can get it.”

Terra chuckled, and turned on her heel to leave.

“Ah! Your kobold fang!” Marline called after her.

Terra spun around again, putting her hand on her forehead.

“If my bow wasn’t on my back, I’d forget that too,” she said, reaching for her belt. “Let me just get my coin purse, and I’ll -”

Marline shook her head. “No, no, dear traveler, please. Your kindness has been paybent edough.”

She reached into her apron, pulling out a sharp, yellow tooth with a purple tint at the crown. She held it out to the adventurer.

“Don’t mention it,” Terra said, accepting the tooth.

Suddenly, Marline’s handkerchief was retrieved again, and she sneezed into it yet again, sniffling with a quiet groan. Terra suddenly realized that the tooth must have been next to the shopkeeper’s many handkerchiefs throughout the day. That would explain its uncharacteristic shine.

She shrugged, putting the tooth into her satchel. She’d touched worse bodily fluids.

KOBOLD TOOTH is now in your inventory.

“Get some rest, Marline!” Terra called behind her as she left.

“I shall,” Marline said wearily. “Fare thee we-heh! hhhh’PCHIEW!”

**************************************

You have entered the DARK FOREST.

“I believe this is the place, if my master’s geography is correct,” Vin said, peering at a dusty, yellowed scroll. “Though the topography may have changed since he made it.”

“Eh, how much can a bunch of rocks move?” Terra said. She squinted above her, checking the branches of the surrounding trees for glittering wings or beady eyes between the leaves.

Vin adjusted their glasses with a mechanism on the side of the hinge. “Quite a bit, actually. Earthquakes, battles, magical events, even the migration of animals can-”

ENERGY has decreased. You are now FATIGUED.

Terra yawned, rubbing her suddenly burning eyes. Vin scowled.

“You can at least pretend to be interested.”

Terra started. “Huh?”

“We have been walkin’ for a while,” Norif said, hoping to placate the scholar. “We ought to set up camp – it’s gettin’ dark anyway.”

Vin hmphed, but didn’t have any objection.

Suddenly, Terra noticed that there weren't as many sounds of footsteps as there were before. Her worn brogues, Norif’s dwarvish leather boots, Vin’s cork soles…

Terra turned around.

Frederick had completely stopped, and was looking up at the sky, which had just begun to show the pinpricks of summer stars. His wide, moonish eyes stared, unmoving. Then, with a slow motion, he lifted a thin arm and pointed a finger to the trees, his other hand moving inside his cloak. Terra instinctively rubbed her hands together, preparing her magic.

The others soon followed suit, grabbing their own weapons and standing at the ready.

Their preparedness paid off, as, before the party knew it, a swarm of angry fairies descended upon them, snarling and screeching.

Norif swung his ax at the creatures, taking large clouds of them with a single blow. Vin, with a scraping of iron, loaded their crossbow, the many cogs and mechanisms firing the arrows directly into each fairy heart. A thin rope attached to every arrow jerked them back into place with a satisfying clack. The practical Frederick fired his revolver quickly and without mercy, leaving every target a blood splatter on the dark soil.

But even with these efforts, the fairies quickly overtook them. Frothing mouths and gnashing teeth soon surrounded the adventurers.

They had expected this – after all, fairies could only be kept at bay with magic, as was their birthright. They all looked to Terra, their resident mage.

Taking this as her cue, Terra retrieved the kobold tooth from her belt, crushing the hollow bone in her palm until it was a thin powder.

A simple wind spell would spread the tooth, subduing the fairies until Terra could harness lightning to defeat them for good – electricity was the only natural element they had no control over.

Terra took a deep breath, and a howling gust of wind blew through the forest as she puffed out the ground tooth. A white cloud swirled around her. The rest of the party kept their distance, both out of reach from the spell and the rabid fairies. The cloud overcame the swarm, and, as they smelled the scent of their natural enemy, went limp and hovered in the air.

Exactly as planned.

Terra stretched her fingers, feeling the warm pulse of magic flow through her hands. To the knuckles, to the joints, then to the tips it went.

But, before she could cast the final spell, her breath caught.

The KOBOLD POWDER is tickling your throat.

Terra tried to will herself to focus on the spell, but it was no use. The powder was making her eyes water and her throat dry. She hacked out a cough, still holding her hands in front of her to cast. The spell buzzed uselessly from her fingertips.

No matter how much she wheezed and croaked, Terra couldn’t keep upright long enough to cast her spell. The cloud was starting to settle, and one of the bigger fairies shook itself from its haze, baring its fangs. It dived into a thin part of the cloud towards Terra.

“Watch out!” Norif called, but it was no use. Terra could hardly hear herself think, much less anyone else over her hacking.

Terra looked up just in time to see the fairy rear back an arm and sink its claws into her cheek. She yelped, stumbling back. A tree root caught her heel, and she tumbled to the ground. She lifted herself onto her elbows to the fairy growling a low growl, preparing another, deadlier attack. Green venom dripped from its fangs, and its yellow eyes dilated. Terra held her hands in front of her, trying in vain to ward off the creature.

“N-Nice fairy…snf…”

Unbeknownst to the mage, the tickle in her throat had slowly traveled to her sinuses. Her freckled nose began to twitch.

You need to SNEEZE.

“Deh-Don’t…hih-!”

A small group of black clouds gathered above them, and Terra’s hands began to crackle. Thunder crashed. The fairy started, looking up with wide eyes and a whimper. Terra squeezed one watering eye shut.

“A-Almost…gih-!”

The clouds grew thicker, the thunder louder. The tree branches trembled in the wind. The other fairies, still hovering, looked up at the rumbling sky. Terra hitched, curling her fingers.

“HAH-!”

KSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH!

You used CALL OF LIGHTNING.

Lightning flashed, hitting every single fairy with a bolt of white hot magic. They fell to the ground, singed and lifeless. Barely contained, bolts began hitting nearby trees, giving them black, round burn marks with red centers. If the rest of the party hadn’t gotten out of range of Terra’s magic, they would have surely been struck as well.

It was VERY EFFECTIVE.

Once the spell had run out of targets, it ended, and the dust cleared. All that was left in the now barren clearing was Terra, stunned and still holding her hands in front of her. A light drizzle began to fall.

There was a long pause as the party stood still in front of the clearing, afraid to join the fairies littering the ground.

“Cogs and corkscrews,” Vin murmured, their usually narrowed eyes wide.

Norif gingerly stepped into the singed circle, keeping the blade of his ax above him just in case.

“Y’alright?” he said, taking a torn rag from his breast pocket.

Terra blinked, and a nervous smile shook on her lips.

“I, uh…the spell kind of got away from me, huh?”

“I’d say so,” Vin said, earning him a glare from Norif, who had begun dressing the wound on Terra’s cheek.

“At least the job’s done,” he soothed. “No one in their right head would want fairies caught alive.”

Terra nodded. “Yeah. That’s right. Just - koff! - give me a sec and I’ll -”

ENERGY has decreased. You are now EXHAUSTED.

Terra fell back against the tree trunk, wincing. Norif rubbed her shoulder.

“We’ll make sure the fairies don’ seep back into the soil. You did your part. We’ll do ours.”

Hardly in a position to argue, Terra leaned her head against the tree trunk, closing her burning eyes.

Before she knew it, a pair of strong arms lifted her up from the ground. All she heard before she dozed off was Vin complaining that their glasses would get rusted in the rain, and there wasn’t a blacksmith for miles, and was it really necessary to do a lightning spell of all things…

*****************************************

You have entered GWALT’S INN.

“A c-couple rooms, if ya would.”

The innkeeper peered over at the counter at the adventurers. Terra was standing, as she had insisted on entering the inn on her own two feet. However, she had a hand on Frederick’s shoulder for support.

The innkeeper raised an eyebrow. “On whose account?”

Terra looked around. Instead of drunken workmen or soldiers recounting battle, the fine oaken tables were filled with nobles politely chatting over honey mead or aged wine. A few of them had turned to stare at the soaked, mud-covered party in varying degrees of confusion and disdain.

This wasn’t an adventurer’s inn, but a place for those of higher standing to feel a clean ruggedness, a false sense of bravery as they “conversed with the locals.”

This wasn’t a place for them.

However, before they could return to the stormy darkness, Frederick held up a hand and reached inside his cloak. He retrieved a thin card, one side silver and the other gold. A few words that Terra didn’t recognize were engraved into the metal. Frederick laid the card on the counter, pushing it towards the innkeeper with the tip of his finger.

To Terra’s surprise, the innkeeper began to sputter, his waxy face turning red.

“Of course, sirs! Madams! His majesty’s brave battalion!”

The nobles began to whisper among themselves, their disgust turning quickly to awe and reverence.

“I am terribly sorry, no, outraged that you had to travel in such dreadful weather!” the innkeeper stammered, showing them up the stairs with a low bow. “I will have your clothes washed immediately, and perfumed of course! And whatever of our selection of humble morsels you may like, if thou wishes.”

Terra raised her eyebrows, looking at Frederick. He only nodded solemnly.

It wasn’t long before the mage was in a pair of silk bedclothes, laying in a large bed with frilled sheets and a thick quilt.

However, she wasn’t sleeping.

“Ih-! Hih…!”

You need to SNEEZE.

She sniffled, then, with a sigh, blew her nose. Mounds of tissues surrounded her, all provided by the inn staff, of course. However, no matter how much she snuffled and sniffled and rubbed her nostrils with the palm of her hand, she couldn’t bring herself to sneeze – though the need grew ever more powerful.

Unable to doze for more than a few minutes, she tried to plan the next few days' journey with Vin and Norif, but to no avail.

“If we - snf! - take the high road,” she wavered, keeping a tissue at her nose, “w-we can…meh-!...make good time.”

Norif rubbed the end of his beard. “I don’ think we’ll be leavin’ this inn for a while. On account’ve…”

He cleared his throat.

“...the weather, a’course.”

“The rain’s never stopped us before,” Terra said. “A-And we won’t - snf! - have to stop for washing! We’ll just let the rain…c-clean - HI’HIH-!”

“Would you be quiet?” Vin hissed, not looking up from the map. “I can hardly concentrate.”

Norif slit his eyes at the halfling. Terra growled in frustration.

“You made me lose it again!”

She reached for another tissue, but, finding there to be none left, she buried her nose into the neck of her shirt.

“Disgusting,” Vin said, recoiling and putting the map in front of their eyes.

Terra ignored them. “Maybe some of the kobold tooth got into my nose…I’ve neheeded to sneeze since we bagged the fairies.”

She sniffled.

“Or maybe it’s a curse? But what curse makes you n-need to sneeze?”

Before Norif could answer, the door opened, and Frederick came in, arms full with packs of tissues from the innkeeper. He moved carefully around the bed, handing one of the packs to Terra. She ripped them open with one hand – as the other was more than occupied – and put almost half of them to her streaming nose.

“Thangk you,” she said with a blow.

Norif moved the quilt up to Terra’s shoulders, gently pushing her head onto the mountain of silk pillows.

“Well, until this, er, curse passes, it would be best to lay yourself down for a bit. Maybe Vin could find a cure for ya. Yea, Vin?”

Vin raised their eyebrow at the pointed request, but said nothing to refuse.

“I’ll be fine,” Terra said, propping herself up on her elbows. “And we’re - snf! - leaving tomorrow, rain or shine…!”

She yawned, settling back down again.

“Curse…or no curse.”

******************************

The innkeeper had insisted on breakfast before the party left. An array of meat, pastries, fresh fruit, wine, and mead were brought before them – a king’s feast.

But Terra could hardly touch it.

Having been kept up almost all night by her burning sinuses and aching head, she could only lean against the back of the wooden chair, shivering as the chilly morning air drafted through. Her coat was made to be warm, even in the most frigid northern wind, but it seemed like the cold was leeching into her very bones.

She was only awoken when Norif put a hand on her forehead. The warmth of his rough palm felt her head, then either side of her neck. She heard him whisper something to the others, but the only thing she could hear was her pounding temples.

“Mmn…is it tibe to leave?” she murmured, trying to push her chair back from the table. Her sore joints were too weak, and the chair’s back legs clacked back onto the floor.

“Ah! Not just yet,” Norif saud, an odd tone of urgency in his voice. “We need’ta…er, Vin’s gonna go to a library nearby. T’cure your curse. There’s really no use ‘n you goin’, it’s all dusty books and scrolls.”

“Don’d have tibe,” Terra croaked. “Back to the guild.”

Norif gave Vin a pleading look, and the scholar fumbled with their knapsack, taking out a few tattered papers and maps.

“Eh, w-well, we are a few days ahead of schedule. We needn’t be back for at least another week, and it only takes three days to - ”

Terra was already up from the table, ignoring Vin. Without much choice, everyone else followed suit. After yesterday’s battle, they were afraid of what might happen if they tried to force her back to bed.

The weather had much improved since the day before. Though it was still a bit gray, the sun peeked out between the clouds, sending rays of light through the raindrops still left on the leaves.

Despite her weakness, Terra took the front as usual, plodding alongside Norif. Shivers ran up and down her spine as a cold wind left from the storm began to blow.

As the group walked near the edge of the woods, the clouds grew darker, and the sun disappeared again. Terra put a thumb on the underside of her nose.

You need to SNEEZE.

Terra sniffled and rolled her eyes. As if on cue, her nostrils began to tremble, and a burning tickle flared in her swollen sinuses. But, this time, the urge grew so great that it made the mage stop in her tracks.

“Hih…? HIH-!”

Attempt to STIFLE? > YES NO

She put her hands over her nose. A slow tingling made its way from her nose to the rest of her body. Soon, the air around her crackled with blue sparks of magic.

“Terra?” Norif said, reaching towards her before thinking better of it.

Terra tried to answer, but it was taking everything in her to keep the magic contained. Thunder rumbled in the clouds as she squeezed one watery eye shut.

“I-I’m…guh-! HUH-!”

She desperately waved to her friends to stand back – she knew that this sneeze was coming, one way or another. The party wasted no time, running behind the treeline with whatever they could carry above their heads to protect them.

“HihihHIH-!”

Terra leaned her head back, the magic coming to a peak inside her. The air was suddenly silent – a calm before the storm. Until –

“HIYA’TSHIIIIIIIEW!”

A circle of lightning flashed around her, and thunder rumbled loud enough to shake the earth. Smoking burn marks smoked around her.

But, before the rest of the party could join her again –

“HYESH’IIIIIEW!”

Again and again Terra sneezed, with each sneeze bringing another ring of lightning and another round of thunder. All of her lost sneezes from the night before seemed to finally come to fruition, and she couldn’t stop for some time.

Finally, though, Terra did stop. She lifted her head, dazed and with singed hair, and sniffled thickly.

SNEEZE COMBO x15!

Snottiness Rank B! Power Rank A+!

Bless you, TERRA!

One by one, her comrades came to join her – Norif first, of course, then Frederick, then, after some convincing, Vin.

The thunder had subsided, but a heavy rain had begun to fall. Terra started to shiver again, her trembling breath visible in blue puffs of steam.

“Ya poor thing…” Norif said, taking off his own fur-lined cloak and tying it around her shoulders. “You really oughta’ve stayed in bed.”

Terra rubbed her nose on the back of her damp sleeve. “Bud…th-the guild…we need…koff!”

She began coughing into her arm, and Norif fastened his cloak tighter around her.

“Ya need do no such thing,” he said firmly, though not unkindly. “You’re sick as a gnome in the rainy season. And almost half as wet –”

“And the sooner you put aside that hero complex of yours,” Vin interrupted, “the sooner we can get inside the inn, out of this weather! I’m already soaking, and we certainly don’t need two people ill in this party!”

They crossed their arms, and lifted their chin.

“Furthermore,” they added, “we wouldn’t want you catching pneumonia. That’s quite a bit harder to treat than that disgusting cold. And I will be significantly more furious with you if I catch it.”

Frederick took off his combat gloves, then put them over Terra’s red-tipped hands. He looked over his glasses and gave her one of his rare smiles. Putting his palms on either side of Terra’s hands, Frederick rubbed them together, trying to warm them.

“Ya feelin’ better, Terra?” Norif asked.

Terra sniffled. “C-Cold…”

“Well, no wonder!” Vin said, scoffing. “Heat is mostly lost through the head. If she had some sort of covering, then, perhaps…she could…”

Vin stopped. Everyone was staring at them. Or, rather, their scholar’s beret.

“I mean…or, rather…” they spluttered, then threw their hands up. “Oh, fine! But it had better be returned to me in the exact condition I lent it. It’s irreplaceable, you know.”

They took off their hat, stiffly handing it to Frederick, as if through ceremony rather than a favor.

“Your sacrifice will be remembered through th’ ages!” Norif said, chuckling.

Vin glared at him. “My patience has already been tested enough. Do not test it further.”

“Aye, aye.”

Terra could feel a slow warmness spread through her, and her eyes suddenly felt heavy as iron.

“Alright, up ya go. Let’s get ya out of the cold.”

Terra was heaved up again, and, surrounded by the warmth of her friends, drifted into a dreamless, sneezeless sleep.

FRIENDSHIP LEVEL +1!

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You have entered MARLINE’S MAGIC SHOP!

“Welcome back, traveler! Might I interest you in our wares?”

Marline smiled at the returning Terra, who replied by blowing her nose into a pink tissue.

“How’s it going, Mar?” Terra said, sniffling as she looked at the glimmering displays.

Marline’s smile faded. “Are you not well, traveler?”

“I’m weller than I have been. Just a liddle sniffly now. Snf!”

Marline put a hand to her mouth.

“Oh, Terra…it must have been my chill that you caught. And I left you without any faeleaf!”

Terra rubbed the back of her neck. “About that. You wouldn’t happen to have any more of that left in stock, would you?”

“Ah, yes, a fresh bunch! Why-”

Suddenly, a large, dwarvish sneeze came from outside the shop, followed by a chorus of harsh coughs. Marline put her lips together underneath her hand, keeping back a giggle.

“Oh, dear.”

“Yeah,” Terra said sheepishly. “I’ll take three pouches.”

She furrowed her brow, counting on her fingers.

“And a few-”

Another sneeze rang out, this time small and high-pitched.

“Okay, a lot of tissues. We’re gonna need ‘em. Maybe some tea? I guess? That’s what Vin gave me when I was sick, anyway.”

Marline winked. “I know just the thing.”

She disappeared behind the shelves for a few moments, coming back with many packs of tissues, two pouches of strong-smelling tea leaves, a few pouches of faeleaves, and a thick blanket.

“May your party be blessed with a quick recovery,” Marline said.

Terra started to reach for her coin pouch, but Marline stopped her.

“I gave you and the others my cold. I’m going to cure it as best I can.”

Terra opened her mouth to argue, but closed it again. She began to put the items in her bag.

“You’ll have nothing to sell at this rate, Marline,” she said.

Marline tilted her head. “Well, I can always deal in colds.”

Yet another sneeze came from the doorway, raspy and shuddering.

“It appears I’m quite good at it, I’m afraid.”

“I am too, if being an adventurer doesn’t pan out,” Terra said, turning to leave. “See you later, Marline!”

“Goodbye, dear traveler! And good health!”

Marline chuckled as Terra joined the others.

“Though it appears it’s a little late for that.”

56 notes · View notes

tabrisofmars · 11 months

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But she is a murder doll, let her murder

*Enid walks into the dorm carrying a couple shopping bags*

Enid: It was great just having an afternoon to shop with Divina. We almost never hang just us two. So was Polly good while I was gone?

Wednesday: Tanaka has not screamed bloody murder. My assumption is they are fine.

Enid: Wait. Did you pass our child off to Yoko to babysit?

Wednesday: She volunteered, actually.

Enid:

Wednesday: Have I made a mistake?

*A tree down in Jericho*

Yoko: ... and that is how I found out Bloody Marys had no blood in them.

Polly the Doll: Rip off

Yoko: Right? Oh there he is, Mr 'Give Yoko a C in math'. Remember your line?

Polly pulls on a burlap bag with two eye holes: Yes Auntie Yo Yo

Yoko: Good girl. Now go get 'em.

Polly jumps from the tree: DEATH FROM ABOVE!

*man's voice* OH Jesus christ

Yoko pulls out a written note: Three down. Next is that cashier who gave me the wrong change.

*man's voice* My Leg!

#enid sinclair #wednesday addams #yoko tanaka #polly the doll #wednesday series #wenclair fic #incorrect wednesday addams #Yoko is such a wine aunt #Murder doll be murdering #its all fun and games til someone screams My Leg

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nosydogsoaps · 2 days

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here's a fun new thing I've got for this upcoming shop drop…! 🐕👜SCRATCH'S MYSTERY BAG.

each bag includes 3 mystery soaps, a 4” Scratch vinyl sticker, and ??? assorted mysterious dogs gifts in a burlap pouch. could be... a fourth soap, a candle, chocolates, more stickers, cool rock, ham bone, or a Featherfall potion, who knows.

you choose between ‘Edible??’ and ‘Inedible??’ options. YOU STILL CANNOT EAT THE SOAPS (i want to make this so clear) but the ‘Edible’ mystery bag might contain candy, chocolates, chips, strangely flavored mac ‘n cheese, and other fun nibbles.

scratch bags drop TODAY!!! (Friday, 4/26) AT 5PM PST :3

#handmade soap #cold process soap #nosydogsoaps #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #scratch #bg3 scratch

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julebirdie · 2 years

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Sea Glass

Feat: Jade Leech/Floyd Leech (Separate)

Reader is Gender-Neutral

Not Requested

Disclaimers: Affectionate pet names (angel, dear, dearest, honey, etc), established relationships, Jade and Floyd sorta give the reader no personal space for a bit 😭, Floyd is a menace to Grim for a bit

♡- Jade Leech

"Alright! One bag of multi-color sea glass, and would you be interested in adding an enchanted book that reads the content to you to the purchase? It's half off!" Sam said, wrapping a white tie onto the opening of the burlap sack.

"No thanks, Sam. Just the sea glass." You said, picking your wallet out of your pocket.

"Very well, that'll be 1500 thaumarks!" He said, popping open the register. Handing him the currency, he organized it into the slots and handed you the bag. “Thank you for your purchase, little imp!”

You waved goodbye as you left the store. Once on the field, you opened the bag. Staring at awe at the beautiful stones that clinked together at every motion, excitement grew. You couldn’t wait to give to him.

‘Wait, he’s working!”

But, as long as you’re a customer, there’s no harm in visiting the lounge. Closing the bag, you began to walk towards the main campus with a goal in mind.

----

Entering the lounge, you felt yourself relax at the jazz music that was playing. Picking one of the booths closest to the aquarium, you watched the aquatic animals swim and glide past the glass. You wondered how they got there, and why some of them were glowing. However, you couldn’t ponder too much as a familiar voice broke your train of thought.

"Good afternoon and welcome to the Mostro Lounge, what can I get you to drink?” Turning from the glass, you found your boyfriend standing at the end of the table.

“Jade!”

“Hello dearest. How has your day been?”

“Good, good. Um, I’ll just have a water.”

“Very well. Take a look at our foodstuff and I’ll be back momentarily.”

As Jade left, you felt your excitement grow. Bouncing your leg, you thought of ways to give him the bag. What if you did a big show of it, or gave him it while he was distracted, which one of your ideas would he enjoy the most?

“Here’s your water,” Jade said, placing it onto a paper coaster, “and what would you like to eat?”

“Uhh, fries?” You said, being caught off guard.

“And why do you sound uncertain?” Glancing around for his employer and his brother, Jade slid into the empty spot next to you.

“Uhh, just thinking about fish.” You lied, scooting away from him.

“Fish?” He moved closer, smiling cheekily at you.

“Mhm, the fishies. Like that glowing yellow one.”

“The Yellow Tang? I never considered it to be glowing,” Jade said, pulling you to him in an embrace. But as he did that, the sea glass in your pocket clinked together at the movement.

”What was that? Sounded like Floyd dropped a glass.” You said incredulously, not making eye contact with the heterochromatic eyes that were staring straight at you.

“Why blame Floyd? It came from your pocket dear.” He said.

Looking at his entertained face, you caved. “Alright, I give.” You said, pulling out the burlap sack and handing it to Jade. He stared at the bag for a moment before opening it.

“Sea glass?” He asked.

“Yeah! I saw it in Sam’s shop and I thought you would like it. I-If not I can-“

“Oh, hush. I love it.”

At those words, the biggest smile spread across your face. Wrapping your arms around his shoulder, you pressed a long kiss to his nose.

“Yay! I’m so happy you like it!”

“Any gift my angel gives me will forever bring me joy.” Jade responded, placing the bag onto the table before returning the hug.

The two of you sat like that for a moment, before you noticed other customers and employees staring. “Okay, you should get back to work. Will you stay at the dorm tonight?” You asked, letting go of his shoulders.

“Of course, just be sure Grim doesn’t attempt to bite bits of my hair off again,” Jade chuckled, placing the bag of sea glass into his pocket, “and will you be getting fries after all?”

“Mhm! I love you honey, thank youu.”

“Love you too dear.”

After he delivered your fries, you could hear the sea glass clink in his pocket as he moved around the lounge. And apparently, you weren’t the only one who heard it.

“What in the Seven did you give Jade? He sounds like a wind-chime.” Azul grumbled, standing next to your table with a tray in hand.

“Just a teensey gift.” You giggled, making Azul sigh.

♡- Floyd Leech

Something tells you that telling Floyd you had a surprise for him was a terrible idea.

“Azul! Sorry to bother you while you’re working, but have you seen Floyd?” You said, dashing into the lounge and towards him.

“No, I haven’t. In fact, I assumed he was with you.” Azul said, before walking away to serve a table. Glancing at Jade, who gave you a shrug, the wires in your mind connected.

He was flipping Ramshackle upside down looking for his gift.

Your eyes widened and you turned away, running through the entrance of the lounge. Thank heaven that your dorm was on campus, because if it was through the Hall of Mirrors it’d probably be on fire now.

As you approached the gate, you waved hello to Malleus and Silver. You couldn’t catch much, but you understood that Malleus was giving a lecture on why gargoyles and statues were not the same thing.

“Oh, (Y/N). I understand that you and one of the Leech twins are partners, but proceed with caution. I saw him run into the dorm and he has yet to leave.” Malleus warned, before returning to his speech.

You nodded, a silent thanks, before running past the gate and up the path. Slowly, you opened the creaky door and stepped into the common area, closing the entrance behind you.

"Myah, (Y/N)! You’re home! The scary twin is digging through your things! And he tied me to this chair!" Grim yelled as you hunched over, trying to catch your breath. You watched as he tried to untie the restraints that bound him to a dusty chair, only rocking it in the process. "Grim, I'm more worried about the fact he tied you to a chair." You said. Standing up straight, you walked behind the chair. Picking at the knots until they loosened, Grim leaped out and into your arms.

“Thank you (Y/N)! I was so scared- I mean, I was so angry that he dared tie me up!” You smiled, petting him between his fluffy ears. You let Grim adjust himself in your arms before ascending the stairs, hearing very loud rustling from your room.

Peeking past the door frame, you saw a tall frame with wild turquoise hair tussling the blankets and pillows you had on your bed. "Floyd? What're you doing?" You said.

At the sound of his name, Floyd lifted his head from your mattress with a small blanket on his head. If he weren't destroying the tranquility of your room, you'd find it adorable.

"Shrimpy, you're back!" Floyd said cheerfully, moving in to hug you. However, he stopped when he saw Grim in your arms.

“Aww, you untied Baby Seal. And I worked so hard to tie him up.” He whined.

“Floyd, answer my question.”

“I was looking for the surprise!”

You sighed, exasperated. You saw the disarray that your room had become, and you had spent so much time organizing it this morning too.

“Floyd, if you had told me you were here you would've gotten your gift quicker,” You said. You felt Grim start to move, and you loosened your arms. Once you did, he jumped onto your shoulder and into the hallway, whispering about 'how dangerous saying that was,' and 'how you're on your own if you get hurt,' but you knew he was just outside, watching for any signs of danger.

“But it was fun snooping, I found cool things!" Floyd said, hugging you now that Grim was out of the way. "Like what, hun?" You said, running your hand through his tussled hair. "Like my hoodie that you took! I spent weeks looking for that!" He grumbled, digging his head deeper into the crook of your neck.

"Oopsies," you giggled, "will you forgive me if I give you your gift?"

As you finished your sentence, Floyd's head whipped up from your neck. He stared intensely at you, before nodding frantically.

"Alright little eel, no need for such intensity." You said, moving to your dresser. Pushing it forward, you grabbed a burlap sack you had taped behind the mirror. You could hear the sea glass clink together, and so could Floyd.

Turning around, you came face-to-face with your boyfriend, who was drawn in by the noise.

"Here it is babe. Take a look, tell me if you like it." You said, smiling, extending it to him.

Floyd picked up the bag from your outstretched hands, shaking it near his ear. Opening the bag, his eyes widened as he stared at the multi-colored pieces of eroded glass. It reminded him of home, of stalking the beach with Jade and Azul during the night looking for pretty stones.

Getting anxious at his lack of response, you decided to do the best thing you could think of. "Floyd? I-I'm sorry, I should've gotten you something else. I'll return it and-" Before you could reach out to grab the bag, Floyd pulled in his arms and held the bag out of your reach.

"You're returning nothin', I love it." He said, suddenly scarily serious.

"Are you sure? Don't feel bad-"

"Shrimpy, I'm sure. I love itt." He drawled, now back to normal. Burying the bag into his pocket, he pulled you to him and began to cover your face in small kisses.

"Hahah! Floyd stop, that tickles!" You laughed, tossing your arms around his neck to pull him closer, despite what you were saying.

"You really like the gift?" You asked, placing a stray hair behind his ear. Floyd stopped kissing you for just a second, saying "Yes, I'm sure baby," before continuing with the kisses.

You sighed, relieved. "I'm guessing this means you're staying here tonight?" You asked, brushing Floyd's hair with your fingers. "Mhm! But I want my hoodie." He said.

"Alright, but no more tying Grim to chairs."

"No promises Shrimpy."

"Floyd."

"Alright, no more tying up Baby Seal."

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emiliaoleary · 6 months

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Hooking rugs that look like dogs

Here's how I do it:

The process I use is called rug hooking (not latch hook or punch needle or tufting, though it is the forerunner of the latter two techniques). Rugs are hooked by pulling loops of fabric strips or yarn through the holes of a base fabric with a coarse open weave, like burlap, or linen, or rug warp. The loops are pulled through the fabric with a squat-handled hook whose business end is shaped like a crochet hook. There are no knots and the loops aren't sewed down in any way. The whole thing stays put just by the tension of all those loops packed together in the weave of the foundation fabric.

This isn't a true detailed tutorial but a walk-through of my particular process. The same information is on my web page, emilyoleary.com .

I hook with yarn, rather than with cut strips of wool fabric, which is what many rug hookers use. I can get a looser, more organic distribution of loops with yarn than I could with wool strips, which are hooked in neat lines.

Mostly I use wool yarn. In terms of yarn weight, I can use DK, worsted, or Aran. If I'm using thicker yarn, I leave more holes un-hooked; if I'm using finer yarn, I hook more densely or double up lengths of it. I particularly like using single ply yarns (like Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride or Malabrigo Worsted). I don't keep count, but I think I usually use around two dozen types and colors of yarn per dog.

This is my yarn wall in my apartment. Mostly brown and gray yarn!

I start from a small drawing in my sketchbook, then I head to FedEx office to use a copy machine, blowing up the drawing repeatedly and experimenting with how big the dog rug should be.

After transferring the image onto my linen, I immediately go over it with Sharpie, because the Saral is really difficult to see and really easy to rub off.

The rug is held taut by a PVC quilting frame that I set on my lap.

I push my hook down through the fabric with my right hand and my left hand stays below the fabric and guides the yarn while I pull it up and through with the hook. Not every hole in the fabric is hooked. Hooking every hole would make the rug too dense. I do hook pretty densely, though-- If you pick up one of my rugs you’ll see they have a slight curl to them, which is because they’re hooked pretty tight. I'm using all different weights and types of yarn, so it's a challenge to keep the overall tension even.

I hook my loops at varying heights to create a very low relief. Sometimes I trim the loops to make them fluffier or wispier or to shape a particular part. I look at a reference photo while I work and pull out and redo sections a lot.

My q-snap frame can accommodate the growing dog rug. I have extenders to make it bigger and I can clamp around my hooking.

The back of a rug looks like lines of little stitches. The lines are little worm trails snaking around because lines of hooking are not supposed to cross over each other. It's important to start a new length of yarn rather than cross over a stitch you already made! I read this when I first started and took it to heart. It makes it much easier to undo and redo hooking if you have to (and I redo sections A Lot). It also keeps the back from getting too bulky and resulting in uneven wear on the back of a functional rug that gets floor use.

When I’m done hooking everything I turn the rug over and brush watered-down Sobo glue on the edges of the dog, making sure to get one or two of the outermost lines of hooking. I do a couple coats of this thinned out glue. I'm careful not to use so much that it seeps to the front of the rug. When the glue is dry I cut the rug out, but I don't cut so close that the loops don't have any linen to keep them in.

It generally takes me at least several months to finish one dog rug. My hooking frame and yarn bag are very portable (though bulky) so I can hook out and about at coffee shops or the library or a brewery if there's enough space and light.

Hooking in the wild makes me an ambassador for making things in general and rug hooking in particular. I answer people's questions and always emphasize how relatively easy it is to get started hooking. Sometimes I get anxious that other people will hook rugs that look like mine but better, but I think that working in a traditional medium means you should share your knowledge for the good of the craft.

#tutorial #rug hooking #rug tufting #rug art #dog #dog art #yarn

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jimblejamblewritings · 2 years

Text

snow falls hot | part 2.

Summary: (Y/N) Snow isn’t a Snow at all. She’s a Targaryen— Rhaegar’s child. Taken in by the Starks, she leads her life as another on of Ned’s bastards. Will she be able to live in Westeros comfortably? More importantly, does she have any ambition to see herself one day on the Iron Throne?

Warnings: in this part none but this is game of thrones so…

Pairing: robb stark x reader

Word Count: 4.0k

Previous Part | (Series Masterlist)

“(Y/N)!” Ned called you over. “Would you like to accompany me on my tasks today?”

“Oh, Jaime was going to— well, I suppose he won’t mind if I go with you today.”

“What was he going to do?” Ned asked, words measured.

“Show me how to shoot arrows.” You took the large book from Ned’s hands. “He was teaching me to sword fight like Arya’s dancing master but said my keen eyes are suited more to archery. I think I agree with him.”

“I’m surprised you have taken to the Kingslayer,” Ned said as the two of you entered a corridor.

“It’s not very smart I know but… is it possible for a man to be so different in person to the tales of him?”

Ned looked around, checking that no one was spying. He still kept his voice quiet as he spoke.

“Knowing your father, it is entirely possible. When we are in safer spaces I will tell you more, tell you everything. Remind me.”

You nodded and the two of you continued out of the Red Keep and towards the town. You were blindly following Ned around, unsure of what exactly he was doing. Being the Hand of the King seemed to have Ned doing anything and everything. The book in your hands said the lineages of the Seven Kingdoms on the front.

Somewhere in that book your name would have been there, right underneath your father’s. But if it was there, you wouldn’t be alive. And life, to you, was more important than your name and rightful title written down in a book. You and Ned were stopped by Littlefinger. Petyr Baelish, one of your least favorite people in the entirety of Westeros.

“Watch yourself, Eddard. Hands of the king seem to be dropping quickly around King’s Landing. Arryan’s work you’ll find left unfinished with the blacksmiths.”

Following his advice, you entered the blacksmith’s workshop. An older and younger man were working. You admired the bull helmet the younger man, revealing his name to be Gendry, had made. He and Ned talked as you looked at all the weapons. The older man, the master of the shop, eyed you.

“Is the lady interested in something?”

“Do you have any arrowheads? And maybe a sword more for my stature?”

Gendry picked up a small burlap bag. “Here, just forged them yesterday. The helmet isn’t for sale.”

“I don’t think I have much use for it as pretty as it is,” you said with a laugh.

You fished in Ned’s bag for some coin while the master looked for a sword for you. You placed the coin on the table and grabbed the bag from Gendry, fingers lingering on each other for a moment. Ned cleared his throat and you both pulled apart. You thanked Gendry for the weapons and excused yourself to be outside, the workshop feeling very hot all of a sudden. When Ned gathered all the information he needed he met you outside with a look on his face.

“The blacksmith apprentice?” He asked in a teasing manner.

“Can we go back to the Keep, now?”

“Do you recognize him? Gendry?”

“Should I?”

“I guess you wouldn’t know it now with how much he let himself go. But that boy is the spitting image of Robert when he was younger.” Ned laughed at the face you made.

“But then the king was handsome, what happened?”

The guffaw that came from Ned drew the attention of a few on the street. He pushed you forward with the fake threat to tell Robert what you said about him. There was no reason for the two of you to be in town any longer but Ned didn’t necessarily want you back in the Kingslayer’s presence even if Robert was expecting a betrothal.

Your arrows were sharpened and bow slung across your back as you roamed the Red Keep.

“Godswood?” you whisper-yelled, unsure of how you lost such a large dire wolf. “Damn wolf, Godswood?”

You couldn’t get started with archery practice until you found your trusty companion. With quick feet, you shuffled along until you approached a closed door. Not even thinking, you opened up the door catching the end of the king’s rant.

“We kill her and her unborn baby. The only good Targaryen is a dead Targaryen!”

The men all turned to you, your eyes wide at the king’s words. Ned stiffened. Robert and the others looked on, expecting you to speak.

“I’m so sorry, I’m looking for Godswood. I didn’t realize there was a meeting. I’ll look for him someplace else.”

Grateful for your darker skin and that they couldn’t see the physical manifestation of the heat rising to your cheeks, you tried to keep your face neutral. You knew how the king felt about your true family but had never heard him say it out loud— and never with so much vitriol. You ran out of the room before Ned could begin to lift himself from his chair. With tears forming in the corner of your eyes, you blindly ran into Jaime.

“The servants said you were looking for your dog. (Y/N), what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Jaime frowned when you flinched away from his touch to try and swipe at your tears.

“I’m alright. Come on, Godswood.”

You quickly ran off with the dire wolf until you found yourself in the dungeon. You paused in awe at the large dragon skull in front of you. Slowly, your feet carried you closer and closer until you were touching the skull. There were several others around, all varying in size. Your hands brushed the skull as you tried to imagine the large creature it once belonged to.

“All that greatness gone to waste. I’m sorry I don’t live up to our house, just a coward with no name.”

Godswood growled and you turned to see what he was growling at. Jaime emerged from the shadows of the dungeon. For the second time that day your eyes widened and you cursed yourself for being so unaware of yourself that day. Jaime walked closer, pinning you between him and the dragon skull.

“Did my ears deceive me?”

“I have no clue of what you are talking about.”

“So if I were to ask Eddard Stark, I wonder if they are still in their meeting.”

You grabbed at Jaime’s shirt. “Please, I will disappear. I won’t bother anyone, just let me leave. Don’t te—”

“(Y/N) Targaryen,” he whispered, picking at a curl that had fallen out of your intricate hairstyle. “Rhaegar’s child?”

You nodded.

“Whatever they dyed your hair with served you well. And your skin, Ned could easily pass you as one of his. Don’t worry, your secret is not mine to tell.”

“What do you want?”

“What do I want?”

“A secret like this you could ruin me, Kingslayer. I’m asking what do you want from me? I’ll give it to you.”

“For you to never call me that name again, I prefer when you call me Sir Jaime. I don’t want anything from you, my Queen.”

You gasped and whisper-yelled. “Those words are treason!”

“A test you’ve passed. No, Lady Snow, I want nothing from you.”

Jaime dropped his arms and walked out of the dungeon. You sunk down against the dragon skull, Godswood resting his head in your lap. Shaky breaths came out and you attempted to ground yourself in the dire wolf’s fur. When you felt like the world wasn’t going to cave in on you, you left the dungeon and headed straight to your room.

Pulling paper from your drawer, you dipped a quill in ink and began to write a letter to Robb about your encounter with the male Lannister. You made sure to include that Robb shouldn’t worry and be rash— knowing he would want to race to King’s Landing and get you.

It was late when Ned knocked on your door. He sat down, picking up the dragon’s egg. Ned noted how it looked less like a stone with some of its color peeking through. You sat next to him, head resting on his shoulder.

“I have lied to you for your protection but a lie nonetheless.”

“Father?”

“And I will continue to lie to you as long as I feel it keeps you safe. But your name day is soon and you won’t be a child much longer, it’s time I start telling you more. You must understand the less you knew when you were younger, the easier it was to prevent someone finding out.”

“I understand.”

“Your father was a good man. Not everything they said about him was true, almost none of it was. Robert’s rebellion was unjustified and we destroyed the true heir to the Iron Throne.”

“The heir to the Iron Throne is Joffrey Baratheon.”

“(Y/N)…”

“My real father was a tyrant and I know no name other than Snow. That keeps us safe.”

Ned smiled and grabbed your hand.

“We should have told the North you weren’t mine sooner. Catelyn and I agreed, Robb would have been pleased to have you. You would have been the best Lady of Winterfell.”

“The lone wolf dies but the pack survives. My duty is whatever keeps our pack alive.”

“Even if that means you won’t be happy? I’ve seen the way you two linger on each other, moments too long to be anything else.”

“Happiness is from whatever you deem to give you such a feeling. I will find someone else and they will make me just as happy.”

“You speak like you sit on that throne. Rhaegar would have been proud. It isn’t too late. We’ll send out ravens to everyone, Robb won’t find a better partner.”

“King Robert won’t be pleased.”

“Robert?”

“That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? Just like Sansa. Is it to Jaime? The king’s brother, Renly?”

“You knew?” Ned asked with raised eyebrows.

“I suspected.”

“Robert won’t care when he knows you aren’t a Stark, it wouldn’t serve him any purpose. I’m sending you back to Winterfell, Sansa and Arya as well. I don’t think you three are safe here. I’m going to go tell your sisters that. You should start packing. I’m sending some ravens about you tonight, to Catelyn and the Citadel.”

Plans for leaving King’s Landing and going back to Winterfell were delayed with the injury of King Robert. A hunting incident gone so terribly wrong that he was on his deathbed. Despite plans being delayed, you continued to pack. Sounds of shouts came from somewhere in the keep as well as the faint sound of metal hitting metal. You were startled when the door to your room was wildly flung open, tons of Lannister banner-men standing in front of you. Godswood raised his head with teeth bared.

“(Y/N) Snow. You are being summoned to the court by King Joffrey.”

The court was full of guests and up on the throne was sitting the smug Joffrey. The look on his face alone made your blood boil. You kneeled next to Sansa, wondering where Arya was. You bit your tongue as Sansa begged Joffrey to spare Ned, claiming his medicine for his injury had made nonsense spill from his mouth.

“Lady Snow?” Joffrey asked, impassively.

“My father is a just man who always followed the rightful heir. It’s as Sansa says, only medicine could make any words of treason fall from his lips. He would never mutter what wasn’t true if in the right state of mind.”

Joffrey spoke to the crowd. “My beloved and her sister have moved me with their sweet words. Eddard Stark will be spared if he bends the knee.”

“He will,” Sansa assured him. You said nothing in response.

Varys was the one you were searching for after leaving the throne room. When you found him, he agreed to take you to Ned having already had plans to go visit the man himself. Ned looked awful and you had never seen the great Lord Stark in such a way. Kneeling next to him, you checked over Ned for any injuries or problems. Varys urged him to bend the knee for the sake of Sansa who had to deal with Joffrey more than the rest of you.

“Stand up, (Y/N),” Ned said. “Varys, what do you see?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“What do you see when you look at this girl? This child who is not mine nor a bastard. Tell him who you are.”

“(Y/N) Targaryen. First of her name, daughter of Rhaegar Targaryen and Neryssa of Dorne, his second wife who died during childbirth. Last of the Targaryens… rightful heir to the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms.”

Varys looked between you and Ned in shock, not believing what he saw.

“But there is no—”

“Neryssa was only married to him for a month or two. They had known each other from childhood, probably married her when the pregnancy was discovered. It wasn’t long enough to be recorded,” Ned explained.

“A Targaryen,” Varys said in wonder. “How many others know?”

“Only the people in this room, my wife, and my eldest son Robb. This does not leave this room.”

You didn’t dare mention that Jaime overheard you in the dungeon, or that you wrote a letter to Jon telling him the truth as well.

Varys nodded. “Eddard the Noble. You have a decision to make, the realm or your children. Tell the truth and install the true leader or bend the knee and keep Sansa safe?”

“Lord Stark will bend the knee.” That was all you said before leaving Varys and Ned.

Godswood watched you pace back and forth in your room. You said that Ned would bend the knee but could honestly never be sure. There would be a small trench in the place your feet stepped if you didn’t stop pacing. Forcing yourself to give up, you changed into a nightgown and got into the bed. Godswood jumped up onto the bed and practically smothered you as he got comfortable to sleep as well.

Morning was not joyous, not even as the sun hit your face as it woke you up. It was the morning of Ned’s decision, either truth or false confession. You still weren’t sure of your surrogate father’s decision and that put you on edge. Sansa’s eyes were rimmed with red when you met her at her door. You pulled her in for a hug and followed the Kingsgaurd to the courtyard. Ned was already there, rope around his wrists. He gave you a small smile before his eyes hardened. Ned scanned the growing crowd.

“Baelor,” he said to the confusion of everyone around him.

You looked at the statue of King Baelor, one of your relatives, and spotted Arya. A man grabbed her but Ned didn’t seem concerned and you could only assume he was a Northerner or at least on your side. You noted his position so you could go with Ned to get Arya— potentially get her yourself. You wouldn’t be surprised if Joffrey took Ned back to his prison cell for a night or two, just for some sadistic lesson.

The crowd booed as Ned was read his crimes. With a deep breath, Ned began his false confession and declared allegiance to Joffrey as the true king. You nodded your head at his words. Joffrey’s face hardened and you knew something terrible was coming.

“My mother and beloved have begged forgiveness but they are soft with the hearts of women. Treason doesn’t go unpunished, Ser Payne… Bring me the traitor’s head.”

“No!” You and Sansa screamed at the same time.

You were both held back by some Kingsguard men. You watched Illyn Payne drag Ned’s oversized long sword across the platform. Cersei begged Joffrey but he didn’t listen. He wouldn’t listen to Varys either and you watched, frozen in fear, as Ned knelt down. A look to your left and you saw Sansa had fainted in the guard’s arm.

A short but high pitched scream left you as you watched the sword swing down on Ned’s neck, separating his head from his body. So this is what it looks like is what you thought as you stared at the body of Ned. Unlike the deserter, you hadn’t blinked throughout the entirety of Ned’s execution. Your face felt wet, eyesight getting blurry through the tears.

Joffrey would pay for what he did. You decided right then and there on the platform that Joffrey Baratheon would be held responsible for the death of Ned Stark. Your eyes flitted across the crowd that was now dispersing. Arya and the man who had taken her down from the statue were nowhere to be seen. You kept looking around only to result in absolutely nothing. It was like the two had just vanished.

Joffrey’s name day was the first time you had made your presence known in the Red Keep. For days, you had only left your room to eat dinner and bow to the false king whenever he requested everyone to greet him. You tried to stay as unnoticed as possible. Even then, you only sat with Joffrey and Sansa because Joffrey had a chair set out for you. But you were careful not to say anything which seemed to please Joffrey more than if you had opened your mouth to agree with him. The moment it seemed no one was looking to you anymore, you slipped away.

“Lady (Y/N)!”

You stiffened at the call of your name, sighing in relief that it was only Tyrion. The pin that the hand of the king wore— that Ned had worn— was pinned to his chest.

“Are you busy?”

“No.”

“Accompany me to the council meeting?”

Despite framing it as a question, you were positive it was a command. With no choice, you followed him to the meeting room. Cersei and Joffrey seemed surprised to see you behind Tyrion. Tyrion directed you to your chair where you tried to sink into the wood and be ignored. For the most part it was going as you wanted until Petyr Baelish asked what you were doing there. Tyrion sat back in his chair.

“Because you executed Ned Stark, Winterfell is declaring war. We had four Stark hostages. Now we have two unless you can tell me where Arya is?”

Everyone looked to you.

“I’ve searched the entire Red Keep for her. I’m worried she’s been taken outside of King’s Landing.”

Grand Maester Pycelle coughed before speaking. “She’s a lost cause then.”

“Perhaps we can ask our father to search for her,” Cersei brought up.

“We don’t need Arya,” Joffrey said.

“Robb won’t stop.”

You didn’t shrink under Joffrey’s gaze but you were careful to say what you needed without him threatening to have your head on a pike next.

“Robb won’t stop unless we’re all safe, I know him. He listens to me but I cannot make him stop if I don’t have Arya to return to him as well. I told our father to bend the knee to you and he did, Your Majesty. I can get Robb to do the same…”

“If you have Arya Stark.”

“If I have Arya Stark.”

Joffrey pursed his lips in thought. His fingers drummed against the table and he pushed at the crown on his head. With a sigh, Joffrey nodded a bit.

“Okay. We get back Arya Stark and you make the false King in the North bend the knee or he ends up like his father… Ser Ilyan!”

“No! I mean, Arya was there. I saw her before she was just gone, she saw him kill Ned. He can’t come. He’ll scare her off.”

“The king isn’t foolish enough to send you on your own,” Baelish started and you lowered your eyes at him. “What if you get taken too, Lady Snow? Or run away?”

“I would never leave Sansa behind. That’s your assurance Lord Baelish, Sansa stays in the Red Keep until I return with our little sister. I’m only invested in getting Arya back not whatever you seem to be insinuating I’m invested in. Considering it borders on treason, I don’t appreciate said words against me. I am only requesting that the very man who killed Ned Stark doesn’t attempt to rescue his daughter from whoever has her.”

“Send someone else with her, then” Joffrey said.

You looked at Tyrion. “Is it true Stannis Baratheon has taken camp in Dragonstone?”

Tyrion nodded. “And Renly the Stormlands, do you think one of them has taken her?”

“I’m not sure… Stannis doesn’t have the men to spare to kidnap a little girl he didn’t even know he had the opportunity to take. I’m riding to Camp Renly. Arya isn’t stupid but she is brash. If they know who she is, if she told them Robb or even the Keep would have their head to get her back then they are taking her to someone who would pay greatly for a hostage.”

“How do we know the kidnapper isn’t a Starkmen?” Maester Pycelle asked.

“Because they would have taken me and Sansa as well. I ride to Camp Renly this afternoon. If Arya is not there, I will return and try again. You will have both trueborn Stark sisters and you will have the North without war.”

The chair scraped loudly as you stood up and you walked out of the council room. The council members stared at the closed door you exited through. Varys looked at the door with a smile. A true Targaryen couldn’t possibly hide their inclination for command forever and maybe war wasn’t what the realm needed to survive. Maybe a new ruler could be found right within the walls of the Keep.

You stuffed your saddle bag with supplies and quickly moved to Sansa’s room. There was a limited window of time before whoever Joffrey chose to accompany you would arrive. If you left quick enough, they might not have an easy time finding you.

You already seemed loyal enough that it wouldn’t be a problem but you had to make it look like you were simply eager to recover Arya, not intentionally trying to shake your watcher. Sansa was working on needlepoint in attempts to do something that brought her joy. You knelt down in front of her, grabbing both her hands in yours.

“I’m leaving. I will be back. I’m getting Arya, we’re going to find Robb and march on King’s Landing. But you need to stay here so they all think I’m loyal to them. Can you do that for me little bird? If not, say the word and I won’t go. We can escape another way.”

“You promise you’ll come back?” Sansa asked.

“With the entire North behind me.”

“I told Joffrey that Robb might bring me his head,” Sansa confessed.

You chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be a sight. I have to go now.”

Sansa nodded. She set down the needlepoint to give you a hug. With a soft kiss pressed to her hair, you left for the stables. Your horse, used to the dire wolf’s large size, felt no fear as Godswood stalked beside you through the streets of King’s Landing.

Stopping at the blacksmith shop, you dismounted from your horse and hurried inside. Only the old man was there. You were still in enemy territory even if you were positive that whoever was supposed to accompany you was nowhere in sight. It was necessary to give every move you made a reason— and more importantly, reason that aligned with the Crown.

“I’m going on a small journey, I’d feel better traveling the woods with good weapons. I was wondering if there were any more arrowheads left, the ones Gendry made? Where is he anyway?”

“Had to send him to the Night’s Watch,” the old man grumbled as he fished for a small bag of arrowheads. “Stopped getting funding from the Crown, couldn’t feed the both of us. That sword still good to you?”

“Yes, thank you.”

You dropped a handful of coins and left the workshop. When given the chance you would write a letter to Jon, tell him to watch after Gendry when he arrived at the Night’s Watch if he was assigned to Castle Black. As long as he wasn’t in King’s Landing, the Baratheon bastard was safe. You couldn’t say the same for the probably hundreds of other children Robert must have fathered but you didn’t know their faces. You couldn’t save them.

Once on the path and away from the town, you started at a gallop. Godswood enjoyed the pace, easily outrunning you on your horse. Like suspected, your watcher— some random Kingsguard— had caught up to you. He didn’t speak much other than to inform you that he wasn’t a spy or some random person but your assigned watcher. It was fine, you intended to ride to Renly’s like you said. You did have some truth in your suspicion that, if taken, Arya would be there.

(Part 3)...

#game of thrones fic #asoiaf fic #robb stark x reader

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