#and I keep accidentally drawing elf ears on people

[g1rlb0yatth3v4mp1r3m4n510n]

#traditional art #traditional doodles #my art #I’ve been watching dungeon meshi #and I keep accidentally drawing elf ears on people #wizards #moomin #jonathan sims #there are like 2 characters but #no fandom #artists on tumblr

[romeoandjulietyouwish]

how long will we silently suffer alone

Summary: Percy accidentally triggers Vex so she runs to the only people she knows can help: Zahra and Kashaw.

TW: Past non-con, panic attack

Read on ao3 (2.8k)

“Darling?” Vex asks, leaning against the door to Percy’s workshop. “Are you busy?” 

She twists a strand of hair around her finger as Percy turns around on his chair to look at her. His face immediately goes bright red. She’s hardly wearing anything: a body skimming white dress and a soft sweater hanging off her shoulder.

She sees him visibly swallow, eyes darting all over her body before he meets her eyes again. “I-I don’t think so.”

Vex smirks, “Then what are you doing all the way over there?” She bats her eyes innocently, completely aware of what she’s doing to him. Percy jumps to his feet and makes his way over to her in three long strides. “Eager?” She teases, drawing him in by the collar of his shirt. 

Percy laughs a little and instead of responding, his hands drop to her waist and he pulls her flush against him, bringing their lips together in a hot kiss. Vex smiles against his lips, winding her hands through his hair in the way she knows he loves. 

Percy pulls her more into the workshop, giving enough space for the door to close behind them. With her eyes closed, Vex can’t see where Percy’s moving her until her back hits the wall. She laughs a little at his enthusiasm, but quickly soothes any hurt feelings by kissing a trail down his neck. As she does, Percy quickly rids her of the sweater and presses her even firmer against the wall. 

The stone walls are cold against Vex’s back, but she pays it no mind as Percy kisses her again, hands wandering up and down her body. He presses his thigh between her legs and suddenly everything shifts. 

The way Percy is pressing her into the wall is no longer sexy, but oppressive. She’s very aware of the heavy door shut behind them and the sound proof walls that surround them. She’s even more aware of the sick feeling under her skin as Percy’s lips trail down her neck and his hands skim her hips. 

“Stop,” Vex chokes out, barely able to breathe. Percy immediately steps back and looks at her with a frown of concern. But she doesn’t take time to think about that because the second she’s free, she bolts out of the workshop. 

Vex runs through the halls of the castle, blood rushing into her ears and her heart pounding far too loud around her. There are hands on her chest and her legs and her neck and she feels like she might throw up and she can’t breathe. Vex’s feet pound against the stone floor and without a second of hesitation she runs right out of the castle. She’s aware enough to take the back way out, it won’t do any good for the citizens to see Lady Vex’ahlia running through the streets wearing almost nothing.

Her feet pound on the familiar dirt road that leads towards the edges of the city. She lets muscle memory carry her, unable to think of anything other than the hands all over her and the hot lips on her skin. There are hands tight on her wrists and legs and everytime she closes her eyes she sees cold eyes and a devilish smile. 

Vex blinks and finds herself standing in front of a cottage. It’s two stories with yellow stone bricks and vines crawling up the walls. Vex runs up to the door and raps on it three times, before stepping back, arms wrapping around her stomach. 

The door opens almost immediately as Vex sees Kashaw on the other side. His long hair is tied back in a loose bun and he wears a loose shirt with a light green jacket over it. He smiles at her and looks as though he’s able to say something, but then he takes in her appearance. She’s wearing barely anything, shaking like a leaf, breathing far too heavily, with dirt all up her legs. 

Kash sheds his coat and quickly wraps it around Vex’s shoulders. “What’s going on?” Vex shakes her head, unable to say anything as she digs her fingers into her sides. 

“Kash?” Zahra calls from inside. “Who is it?” A second later, the red skinned tiefling appears in the doorway over Kashaw’s shoulder. Vex nearly bursts into tears at the sight of her friend. It’s then that her knees start to give out. “Vex!” Zahra exclaims as she rushes forward and hooks an arm around Vex’s waist to keep her up right. 

Vex clings to Zahra’s shirt and looks her in the eyes, “H-Hands. Zee, I…” Vex cuts herself off with a sob as breathing suddenly becomes nearly impossible. 

“Kash, help me get her inside,” Zahra orders. Kashaw nods and hurries forward, wrapping his arm around her waist as well. 

Panic builds in her chest at the feeling of Kashaw’s hand on her side. It feels all too much like the hands that squeeze to hips and thighs and caress her cheek, whispering cruel praise in her ear. 

Together the two of them all but carry Vex into the cottage and set her gently on the couch. Zahra sits beside Vex, letting the half-elf rest on her shoulder as she cries and gasps for air, eyes squeezed shut in fear. 

“I’ve got you, Vex,” Zahra tells her. “Is this the…” She glances over at Kashaw who’s hovering nervously near them. “The thing you asked me to never mention again?” Vex nods and she feels tension seep into Zahra’s arms. “Okay. We’re going to get through this okay, do you want Kash to leave?” Vex nods immediately and curls deeper into Zahra’s arms. 

“Kashaw, darling,” Zahra says, “tell Percy that Vex is alright?” Kash nods stiffly and leaves quietly, the door shutting behind him. “It’s just the two of us now. You’re alright,” Zahra assures her. “It’s okay. You just need to breathe.” 

“Hands,” Vex tells her again. “Zahra-”

“Shh…” Zahra rocks her gently as the sobbing starts again. “I’ve got you. Are my hands bothering you? Do you want me to stop touching you?” Vex immediately shakes her head, that’s the last thing she needs. “Okay.” Zahra thinks for a moment. “Are they real hands?” 

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” Vex tells her, breath hitching. 

“It’s alright.” Zahra lifts a hand to her cheek and wipes away some of her tears. “Take a deep breath in,” Zahra tells her. Vex does her best, her lungs only allowing a small bit of air to enter. “And out. Again.” Zahra squeezes her hand and takes a deep breath in to guide Vex. A soft whimper escapes Vex as she tries to breathe but can’t. Zahra reassures her instantly, “It’s okay, I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Just focus on me and try to breathe.” 

Vex tries her best to follow Zahra’s instructions. It takes a long while for Vex’s breathing to return to normal and for the hands to slowly fade away, leaving Vex exhausted and collapsed against Zahra’s chest. 

After some time being cradled in Zahra’s arms, the tiefling gently running her fingers through her hair, the door opens again and Kashaw quietly returns with a basket of food and a pair of Vex’s boots. “Kash is back,” Zahra tells her. “Do you want him to leave?” 

Vex shakes her head and looks up at the paladin, “Stay.” Kashaw nods with a small smile. He saved her life. He won’t hurt her. Zahra won’t let him. 

Kashaw sits on the couch next to Vex’s feet. “Percy wanted me to bring you shoes for the walk home tomorrow. I told him you’re staying the night with us.”

“Are you sure?” Vex looks at Zahra. 

Zahra smiles, “You’re sorely mistaken if you think I’m letting you leave this house tonight.” Vex smiles and kisses Zahra’s cheek. Zahra looks at her husband, “Where’d the food come from?” 

“I coerced Percy into giving us some food to make dinner.” Kashaw pats Vex’s foot. “Your husband keeps quite the stock of food.” 

“Wish I could say the same about mine,” Zahra teases as Vex laughs and Kash rolls his eyes. “Now about that dinner…?”

Kashaw rolls his eyes, “Yes, I’ll cook.” As he walks past the two of them curled up, he presses a quick kiss to Zahra’s head. 

“See, you can be sweet,” Vex teases. Kashaw flips her the finger as he walks into the kitchen.

Now that the two women are alone again, Vex tugs Kash’s jacket tighter around herself, slipping her arms through the sleeves. Zahra strokes Vex’s hair, brushing it back. “How do you feel?” 

Vex huffs, “Like I just ran a thousand miles.” 

“Vex, does Percy know about…?” She trails off, her meaning clear. 

Vex ducks her head in shame and shakes her head. Zahra fixes her with a look. “I know, Zee. I just...I hoped it would never be relevant. I don’t want him to get overprotective or coddle me like…” Like Vax. 

Zahra sighs, “Has this ever happened before?” 

Vex shakes her head, “Not since we first got together.” Vex leans back into Zahra’s arms and nestles against the tiefling’s chest. Zahra hugs her back. “I’ll tell him when I go back tomorrow.” 

After a moment, Zahra asks, “Vex, did Percy do...something to trigger you.” 

“Not intentionally,” Vex tells her. “He stopped when I told him too.” Zahra hums thoughtfully and combs her fingers through Vex’s hair.  

Dinner is casual, they eat on the couch, Vex still tucked into Zahra’s side and she rests her feet on Kashaw’s lap. Despite his initial protests, after a while he actually rubs her ankles. 

That night, Vex settles down on their couch, allowing Zahra to tuck her under two heavy quilts. “It gets rather cold in here at night,” Zahra tells her. It took a while to convince her friend that she would be fine sleeping by herself in the living room. 

Zahra presses a kiss to her head, “Sleep well, darling.” 

Vex looks over Zahra’s shoulder to Kashaw. She gives him a questioning look with a smirk. Kashaw glares at her, “I’m not kissing you. Go to sleep.” 

Vex laughs, “Love you too, Kash.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Kashaw says as he turns and walks into the bedroom.

Zahra shakes her head fondly and looks back down at Vex. “He does love you.” 

Vex smiles, “I know. Goodnight, Zahra.” 

A little while later when Vex is trying to sleep, she hears Zahra and Kashaw talking in their bedroom. 

“How was Percy?” 

She hears Kash sigh. “About three seconds away from locking himself into his workshop.” There’s a long pause. “Zee, what happened to her?” 

“I can’t tell you that,” Zahra tells him. “There are two people who know what happened: me and her brother.” Vex squeezes her eyes shut at the mention of Vax. “She’ll tell you if she wants you to know.” 

“Will she be okay?” Vex is surprised by the tone in Kashaw’s voice. It’s softer than normal and almost...familial. 

“I have every faith that she will be.” 

Vex smiles a little at that and nestles under the blankets. 

In the morning, Vex eats breakfast with Zahra and Kashaw before they send her on her way back to the castle, Zahra with a kiss on the forehead and a huge hug and Kashaw with a somewhat awkward side hug. 

The walk back through the forest takes less than fifteen minutes and the entire time Vex tries not to panic. She has to tell Percy the truth, there’s nothing else she can do. Dread sinks in her stomach. To tell him she has to say what happened out loud. And she has to pray that he doesn’t get upset with her for not telling him sooner. 

Since it’s so early in the morning, Vex knows she’ll find Percy in their bedroom. She makes her way quietly up the stairs, eyes of servants following her as she’s wearing clothes that clearly aren’t her own. Zahra had dressed her this morning in a soft pair of pants and a rust colored sweater. When she comes to their bedroom door, Vex takes a slow breath before lifting her hand and knocking softly. 

There’s a few beats and then it swings open. 

On the other side is Percy, dark circles under his eyes, skin paler than usual, and his hair is a mess. When he sees her, his posture simultaneously goes rigged and relaxed. “Vex,” he breathes. “Are you...Are you alright?” 

Vex nods, “I think we need to talk.”

“Yeah, of course.” He steps aside to let her in. 

The silence between them as she sits on the edge of the bed is awkward. It’s never awkward between them. 

It’s Percy that breaks the silence, still standing in the middle of the room. “Did I hurt you? Is that why…?”

Vex shakes her head and pats the spot next to her on the bed. She takes a deep breath, “I need to tell you something and I don’t think that I can look at you while I do it.” Percy sits beside her, leaving almost a foot between them. Vex pretends that the distance doesn't break her heart. “Everyone in Syngorn hated Vax and I so when this boy from one of my classes asked me out of course I said yes,” Vex begins. “I thought that he cared about me or that he was interested in me in a way no one had ever been before.” 

She looks down at her hands, tears building in her eyes. “We met up in his back garden and he was giving me a tour of everything and it was so windy and confusing that I almost immediately got lost.” She sniffs back her tears. “Anyways, um, he took my hand and led me to this shed in the middle with grey stone walls. And-And he pushed me up against it and kissed me.” Vex sniffs as tears fill her eyes. “I thought he liked me, I didn’t know…” Vex takes a deep breath, not chancing looking at Percy before she continues. “He threw me down to the ground and started to take off my clothes,” Vex can barely speak now as she starts to cry. She tries to say something, but finds she can’t, her throat is tight with tears.

She can feel Percy almost shaking with anger beside her. “Did he…?” Hurt you? Rape you? She nods, either way the answer is yes. “Is he alive?” Percy asks, his voice venomous with barely restrained anger. 

She shakes her head, “Vax stabbed that asshole in the neck, left him to bleed out in the middle of the street.” Vex looks over at Percy and sees that though his hands are shaking, his eyes are almost unbearably soft and concerned. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you-”

“You don’t need to be,” Percy shakes his head. “You didn’t do anything wrong by not telling me.” He gives her a slight smile before sighing and asking, “Vex, can I touch you? I really want to give you a hug right now.” 

Instead of responding, she looks over at him, nearly sobbing again when she sees the look on his face, and presses herself into his arms. Percy’s arms are fiercely tight around her in the best way possible. She tucks her head to his chest and lets him hold her, kiss her forehead and hair. It feels as though she exhales for the first time in years. 

“I’m sorry that that happened to you,” Percy tells her, cheek pressed to her hair. “I always want you to feel safe with me and I’m sorry that I didn’t yesterday. Do you know what triggered it last night?” 

Vex lifts her head, “A combination of things. A perfect storm.” 

Percy nods thoughtfully. “Okay, okay. How can I help you if that happens again?” 

“What you did was perfect,” she tells him, hand on the side of his neck. “You stopped when I told you to. I’ll try not to run away next time. That doesn’t happen much, hardly ever. But um, when it does I probably won’t be able to talk much or tell you what to do. I don’t want you to coddle me, though.” 

“Of course not,” Percy assures her. He pulls her in to kiss softly. “I’ll figure it out, I promise. I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone anymore.” 

Vex looks up at him with teary eyes, “Thank you.” 

He smiles gently and squeezes her hand, “You don’t have to thank me. We promised each other a long time ago that we’d take care of each other and love each other for the rest of our lives. This is just another part of that vow.” 

Vex’s eyes squint as she fights back tears once again. Before she cries again, she hugs Percival, pressing a kiss to his cheek before resting her cheek on his shoulder. “I love you so fucking much,” she whispers. 

#my fic #vex'ahlia #percy de rolo #perc'ahlia #perc'ahlia fic #percahlia #critical role fic #vox machina fic #zahra hydris #kashaw vesh

[yinyangswings]

I’ve been working on this for awhile now, and finally it’s complete!! I wanted to draw my ideas, so I did. Anyhoo, here it is. It’s a little wordy so you can read more under the line

August Falke 

I know August begins traveling with MC at the end of his route, but eventually I see him having like...three kids.

2 boys, 1 girl

The boys were born during their travels. The girl was born while visiting the Falke family, and she was born early.

That scares the crap out of August because he had taken the boys out exploring to give their mother some relaxing time, so MC’s water broke and he wasn’t there. 

Thankfully, Asta is there and helps out while Heloise runs to find August.

That little girl has August and her brothers wrapped around her finger 

All three of the kids love horses. August doesn’t see a problem in teaching them how to ride horses when they’re young. MC is a little more hesitant especially with their daughter when she’s younger.

Their oldest son takes great pride in looking after their siblings. He’s protective of his little brother and sister. August is immensely proud of him.

Nyx and Wyndsor are impromptu babysitters sometimes. Nyx is a little more strict than Wyndsor but is absolutely smitten with them.

On the road they are ambushed, and the kids are separated from their parents. Wyndsor and Nyx are thankfully with them, and the horses watch over them until August and MC locate them again. 

The oldest boy as well as their daughter are interested in becoming knights. The youngest son is actually interested in following his grandparents shoes and becoming an inn-keeper.

Saerys 

He has four kids; one boy, identical twin girls, and another little girl.

The oldest is nearly identical to his father and surprisingly shares Saerys’s eye colors. The girls are little copies of their mother. Their youngest girl is a mix between her parents.

The boy is very responsible and mature and is protective of his parents and siblings. One of the girl’s is very shy and quiet, while the other is very energetic, and adventurous. The youngest is very sweet and innocent.

Saerys cries when he holds all of them the first time. He had never thought he would have this or any of them for that matter.

They all have demon variant names. Some of them are a little more human like because of MC, but they all are demon-related names.

Saerys is incredibly protective of them, and when they were young, rarely let any of them out of his sight. MC would tease him a little bit, but understands his reasons

The girls are Saerys’s little shadows. Their oldest son is a mama’s boy, though he denies it all the time. The youngest girl is also totally a mama’s girl and clings to her whenever she can.

All four are snatched by slavers who can see a hefty profit out of several half-demons. Which is true...granted they did not account for nearly the entire group chasing after them. They’re greeted by two enraged and worried parents, several elves, nearly an army of humans, some of the demons from the village, and a whole lot more.

The kidnappers are lucky to be alive after all of that.

They love exploring and want to travel like their father and mother, though right now are content with remaining in the village.

Altea Bellerose 

They adopt a little girl who has magic abilities. She is deaf as well, which is the main reason her parents abandoned her. She survived on the streets.

They find her abandoned in an alleyway, trying to get some food, accidentally surprising her. She lashes out with her magic out of instinct, though Altea easily deflects it. The child promptly collapses and the two women nurse her back to health. 

When they find out she’s deaf, they start learning/teaching her sign language. 

There is initially some trouble as the girl doesn’t completely understand why MC and Altea are being so protective of her, and she keeps expecting to get hurt or get into trouble because of her magic. Gradually the girl starts to warm up to them.

MC sees Helena quite a lot in the girl, a comparison that bothers Altea.

Altea’s parents aren’t exactly happy to meet her the first time, but they’re a little more receptive to her in comparison to when they first met MC.

Lional absolutely adores his little niece and is quick to try and learn sign language to talk to her. They become little partners in crime and tend to raid the kitchens for snacks 

Her parents find out about her abilities and trick MC and Altea into thinking she managed to get lost several years ago and that they had been looking for her. Reluctantly, the two let her go home, though she’s incredibly upset about it.

She is very rebellious to her parents, refusing to use her magic for them, and the mother finally snaps and then promptly sells off to a slave trader.

When Altea and MC find this out, all hell breaks loose and the parents learn it’s not wise to trick a wizard. They nearly tear down the kingdom looking for her and when they do find her, scare the pants off of the trader into giving her back. Altea is the angriest of the two and wants to do far worse than just scaring him

They nurse her back to health (the slave trader was pushing her into using her magic till exhaustion)

They officially adopt her and Altea begins to teach her magic.

Reiner Wolfson 

They have one girl who has dark hair like her mother (though if the sun hits it right, they can see her father’s red hair) and her father’s eye color

That little girl is Reiner’s world and MC cannot help but laugh whenever she sees Reiner with their daughter, because that man is so protective of her.

She’s a very gentle, kind girl who is always trying to help. She does tend to explore which gives her parents heart attacks, but she loves her parents a lot. 

She loves listening as well as learning the piano with her father. When she was a baby, there were many nights that if neither MC or Reiner could calm her down, him playing the piano would make her settle incredibly quickly

When she gets a little older, some nobles comment on how much she looks like the Witch Queen and she would be a danger. She overhears and, not exactly understanding, asks Reiner and MC if she’s going to become the Witch Queen. That goes as well as expected.

Ryland is so happy about the kid and he’s super protective over her. She follows him and Solaria around when she’s not with her parents. 

She is kidnapped by a woman whose daughter was killed during the war. Due to the girl looking similar to her daughter, she kidnaps the girl in the hopes of raising her. The girl manages to escape and hides in the forest where she meets a mysterious man who keeps her calm until she’s found by MC

She later tells MC that the man looked like Reiner, leading MC to believe it might have been Aldric’s spirit looking over his niece.

Sometimes MC wonders if Reiner’s family would have liked her, and Reiner is quick to say they would have adored the both of them. 

Iseul Idreis 

We already know of Iris, but I see them having at least two more. The middle child is a boy, while the youngest is non-binary.

Iris is very energetic and a bit of a troublemaker. Their son is a bit more reserved and quiet while the youngest is extremely loud and boisterous, but also hard-headed and has no qualms with arguing with their siblings.

The boy looks the most like MC, even though his ears are pointed, they aren’t as prominently elf looking as his siblings and father.

Iris and their sibling tend to tease him about it, not realizing at first how much it upsets him.

The youngest is closest to Iraia and constantly follows her around. Their son is close to his grandfather and grandmother, and enjoys being with them. 

Iris likes to explore with her youngest sibling. Her brother tends to stay at home with his mother.

He’s a Mama’s boy.

One day the comments about their son’s looks prove too much for him and he runs away after having an argument with Iris.

They can’t find him for a while, much to MC, Iseul, and their family’s panic. 

It’s late at night when Iseul and MC find him curled up in a tree. The parents have a conversation with their son, and learn about his insecurities about his ears and not looking ‘elf’ enough

Iseul and MC comfort him and tell him that there will always be people who will be cruel to him. But there will also be those who care for him, his family being a prime example. Even his siblings.

After the incident, Iris and their sibling try to curtail the teasing, knowing now how much it bothers him. 

They visit Chicago a lot and the kids enjoy exploring the city and want to see more of that world eventually. Something MC is happy to do.

Helena Klein    

They have one son, who they name Alain. He is conceived via in-vitro fertilization. Helena’s egg is inseminated and MC carries him.

He looks like a mini-Helena

Both MC and Helena are protective of him, though Helena is much more than MC.

All Helena can see is her childhood and she doesn’t want her son to feel the same way.

Living in Chicago has its own set of problems that the mother’s have to deal with, mainly people not seeing one or the other women as the boy’s mother. It drives Helena mad, and annoys MC quite a lot.

Every milestone is a miracle to Helena, who didn’t think this would ever happen in her life.

She didn’t think she would be allowed to be this happy.

They tell him the story of how they met. Whether or not he’ll continue to believe it when he gets older will remain unknown, but he loves thinking about how his Mommy’s met in such a fantasy way

Helena has many nightmares of her child being taken from her or hurt, or something going wrong and him hating her. MC has to comfort her a lot and their son comforts her just as much.

He gets lost one time while out with his mothers. Helena is frantic in trying to find him. When they do, she refuses to let him go for quite awhile.

That is Helena’s baby boy...and nothing is going to take that away from her.

Alain Richter 

They have two little girls that Alain just adores. Their oldest daughter takes after her mother, while the youngest takes after her father in looks.

After their second daughter, MC asks hesitantly if he’s disappointed that he hasn’t had a son. Alain looks stunned and quickly tells MC that he’s happy with his two daughters

And he is. Those two little girls are his life and he is protective over them. He rarely lets them out of his sight, terrified that someone would try and take his daughters, either for revenge or just because they're precious and beautiful.

He has nightmares a lot when they’re younger. That they’re going to die or be taken away from him because of what he’s done in the past. That he doesn’t deserve to be happy. 

When their first daughter is born, any sound has him running to check on her and he rarely lets her out of his sight when she starts walking. He’s calmed a little by the time their second daughter is born, but only a little

He generally doesn’t like them out of his sight, something MC understands, though she is quick to tell him that they’ll need to spread their wings and leave the nest eventually. Which he agrees...albeit it is very reluctantly.

Both of them love horses, and Nyx is very much spoiled by those two girls. Alain jokes that she loves those girls more than him now.

He’s probably not wrong

Some of Lennox’s cult members ambush Alain and the girls while they are out, taking the girls in the hopes of reviving the WQ through the eldest. Alain is captured as well and is beaten quite severely as he tries to protect his daughters.

Cue MC arriving, incredibly pissed off that her husband and children are kidnapped. It doesn’t get any better when she sees the state of her husband and her two petrified daughters.

It’s the first time in a long time that she felt the closest to being like the WQ. 

When her husband and children are back and safe is when she finally relaxes and she curls up to them, relieved that they are safe.

They also swear to always be there for their children and make sure they don’t fall into evil and darkness like the WQ.

Both MC and Alain make a promise to themselves if either of the kids have magic to make sure they’re trained and that they are loved.

#love and legends #love and legends headcanons #august falke #saerys #altea bellerose #isuel idreis #helena klein #alain richter #reiner wolfson #lovestruck #lovestruck headcanons #jamfics

[lichlover]

Okay so this a balance headcanon, and it is technically one I saw in a text post somewhere on tumblr that has been lost to the scroll of my dashboard months and months ago, but. The concept that the reason Barry was on the starblaster in the first place... was because he was some kinda undercover death cultist trying to kickstart the apocalypse... but then it happened and he was like "wait shit this actually sucks" and then has to figure out what to do

please consider donating to my ko-fi!

This was how it was written: Sildar Hallwinter would end the world.

Before his departure, they’d etched his name into the first of the sacred texts; his true name, five syllables destined to strike terror into the hearts of all living beings and their menial existences. It would all perish in the Apocalypse, of course. Everything would. But he and his fellows would ascend in death, as would every record that burned in the Great Blaze of the end times, and the universe would know their history. The true history. The history he would go down in as the Catalyst for the End of All Things, the Second Revelation, the Midnight Prophet for the Last Downfall of Mankind.

The gnome in front of him peered over the angular frames of his spectacles and said, “Barry Bluejeans?”

Sildar Hallwinter had also lost a bet.

But it was no matter, for there was no meager chronicle that would remember him as Barold J. Bluejeans, chief science officer of the IPRE Starblaster. He would be survived only by the destruction set to ravage their world in a matter of months, a Dawning so terrible that it would leave nothing of civilization in its wake. No one would know the name Barry Bluejeans. Everyone would know the name Sildar Hallwinter, and the thought made his stomach knot with such anticipation that he had to collect himself before he could respond.

“That’s me,” he said, and grinned a different man’s grin at the gnome—Captain Davenport of the IPRE, unknowing Chariot to the Catalyst for the End of All Things, the Second Revelation, the Midnight Prophet for the Last Downfall of Mankind. “Reporting for duty.”

Sildar was well accustomed to the dank, ash-streaked tunnels of the Fellowship’s headquarters beneath Ascendant’s Peak, but the IPRE headquarters were sleek and warm, drawing him in with rounded walls and high, arching ceilings. Everywhere he looked, another enormous set of windows opened to the landscape below, as of yet untouched by the Cataclysm Foretold. He wasn’t used to this much natural light, and he certainly wasn’t used to people smiling and waving as they passed. “Another poor soul for the Big One, Dav?” someone called, and the captain waved them off affably.

For an organization completely aware of the end times, and completely unaware of the fact that he, Sildar, would be responsible for their failure, they were all terribly… cheery.

“We’ve already gathered the other crew members,” said the captain, when they came to a halt in front of a nondescript door. “They’re just, uh, through here. We’ll start our first briefing in the next—next half hour, but for now, feel free to socialize. G-Get to know them. We’ll call you when we’re ready.”

“Thanks,” said Sildar, and the captain mumbled something under his breath. “Uh, what was that?”

“Oh,” said the captain. “Nothing.” He turned, and it was only then that Sildar’s brain registered the words; it had sounded almost like good luck.

No matter. Sildar opened the door.

“Incoming!”

Sildar yelped—actually yelped—and ducked aside just as a chair flew over his head and exploded against the wall. A shower of wooden fragments and very magical sparks hit the ground in front of him, and he sputtered, wordless, on the precipice of reaching for his own wand—was this an ambush? Had they discovered the truth of his presence already?

“Oh, shit,” somebody said, and a silhouette appeared through the smoke and magical residue. Sildar caught his breath. Perhaps he was dead, then; perhaps one of the wooden shards had caught him through the heart, and the Avatar of Renewal through Annihilation had come to meet him on the threshold of the afterlife. She looked like divinity, at any rate: tall and elegant, with waves of hair that glittered like finely spun gold and eyes that blazed with the last vestiges of power. Eyes that settled on him, and softened instantly. No, Sildar thought. She couldn’t possibly be the Avatar of Renewal, because she looked kind.

“Shit,” said the divine being again. Her ears twitched downward with concern—an elf, then. “Lucky break, babe. You okay?”

Sildar blinked, and found himself at a loss for words.

“Leave it to you to fuckin’ scare the shit outta the newcomer!” A voice like hers rose through the smoke, and as it cleared, Sildar made out four other bodies, all draped in the ostentatious red of the IPRE and squinting into the gloom. The one who had spoken, another willowy elf with even longer golden locks, lifted a hand in the air and snapped his fingers, and all the smoke dissipated at once. “You had to launch it at the fuckin’ wall, Mags!”

His companion, a human who stood taller than everyone else in the room and looked battle-scarred to the bone despite his youth, gestured indignantly at the aftermath. “But did you see how fucking awesome that was? And that was a whole science experiment! Setup—uh, hypothesis, trials, conclusion?”

“Which is?” The elf unspooled two letters into a long, drawn-out drawl.

“That this room was totally used for magic shit! And now we can do whatever we want in here!”

“Um,” came another voice from the window, and Sildar looked over to see a dark young woman with a head of platinum-bright hair, gazing nervously at the set of admittedly impressive scorch marks over his head. “I think if anything, that proves we shouldn’t do what we want in here.”

“Agree to disagree,” said “Mags,” with undue confidence.

“That’s—but that’s not what science is—”

The final figure in the room, a portly dwarf with flowers woven into his beard, shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Look at the impression you just made,” he said. “Going around, trying to kill people you just met—what kind of monsters do something like that?”

The divine being made a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a sigh and pushed a few loose strands of hair off her face. “You must be the chief science officer,” she said, and stuck out a hand. “Sorry for the accidental attempted murder. I’m Lup.”

Lup.

“I’m,” said Sildar. “Uh.”

This time she really did laugh—a lyrical, full-bodied sound that he felt deep in his chest. “Tell me we didn’t just knock your name outta your head.”

“Oh, no, it’s, uh—” Lup. She looked at him with a smile so resplendent he had to catch his breath all over again. What did she know of Sildar Hallwinter, the Catalyst for the End of All Things, the Second Revelation, the Midnight Prophet for the Last Downfall of Mankind? What did she know of anything beyond all the light she cast in every direction?

“I’m, uh, Barry,” he said. “Barry J. Bluejeans.”

.

Here are some things Sildar Hallwinter learns about Barry J. Bluejeans:

He has a penchant for getting into character. Maybe that’s more Sildar than Barry, but there’s something so intoxicating about the drama of it all, especially when no one else knows he’s playing a role. Barry is a bit of a thespian, if he does say so himself.

That said, he’s sort of awkward. More of Sildar’s influence. When you’ve spent your whole life preparing to fulfill your divine purpose in the End of All Things, it’s a little hard to adjust to things like game night and brunch.

He’s smart. Really smart. The Fellowship hadn’t really encouraged science—everything else came second to the teachings of the Apocalypse—but not only is Barry-slash-Sildar naturally inclined for it, he actually enjoys it.

He can’t swim. Sildar can, and rather enjoys it, but it’s a little bit of flavor text he can’t resist.

He’s not half bad at making friends.

The crew of the Starblaster were, of course, a means to an end, and he would develop no meaningful relationship with any of them beyond what was necessary to keep up appearances. That was his mandate, at least. But it was hard. Much harder than he’d expected, really. And despite himself, he—Barry—found it all to easy to laugh at the dwarf Merle’s gods-awful jokes and stay up late to hear Captain Davenport recount tales of grandeur. He let himself be roped into more magic-powered “experiments” (in the loosest sense of the word) with the human fighter, Magnus, who actually seemed to enjoy death-defying stunts with the zeal of someone from the Fellowship. He got to know the soft-spoken but brilliant archivist, Lucretia, and her remarkably meticulous transcriptions. On one particularly reckless night, he joined the long-haired elf Taako on a quest to fill a particularly uppity supervisor’s pockets full of pudding.

And as the Appointed Hour approached, Barry found himself spending late nights in the IPRE labs with Lup, testing and recording speculations on arcane theory and downing enough coffee to drive them to hysterics by dawn. They were all a little nervous, a little sad, a little desperate to sort their affairs before takeoff, but Lup tackled new problems with the kind of determination that demanded solutions. She was the most ingenious person Barry had ever met. And when she sat back from an arcane reaction gone wrong, her hairline blackened with soot and grinning like a caffeine-tripped maniac, he thought she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

This was how it was until the Apocalypse arrived.

Barry woke the morning of with a planet-shattering hangover.

He crawled to the mirror and squinted blearily into the glass; thanks to the IPRE’s constant offerings of complimentary coffee and cake and Taako’s singlehanded banquets, he’d put on weight over the last several months, and he’d started to love the gentle resilience his body had gained. Sildar was clean-shaven and angular, but Barry was soft and stubbly. A few nights before, Lup’s gaze had caught on his chin, and she’d told him how nice he looked with a five o’clock shadow.

He’d thought she was joking, but that was just how she was—kind.

He went to his closet and started to mull over which shirt to wear.

The day was dark and still, the sky an unbroken slate grey, and it was just what the sacred texts had imagined: not a living thing stirred for miles beyond the horizon. Even the grass beneath Barry’s feet, as he followed Davenport to the Starblaster’s gangway, had turned an off-color, metallic shade. They said their goodbyes to the Institute, and to the enormous crowd at starboard, and in the eerie light they all looked like corpses risen from the grave. There was something hanging over their heads that felt nothing like the terrible glory the Fellowship had promised; instead it was unsettled, and sickly, and wrong.

Barry swallowed the knot gathering rapidly in his throat and followed his crew up the gangway. There was but one thing left for him to do now—him, Sildar Hallwinter, the Catalyst for the End of All Things, the Second Revelation, the Midnight Prophet for the Last Downfall of Mankind. And then the Hour would be upon them at last.

He left the others on the bridge and walked to the Bond Engine.

The explosives tucked inside his robe were light, and branded with the sigil of the Fellowship, although no one would be able to tell in the ensuing destruction. It was certain to be localized, of course; they were meant to damage the engine and nothing more. He could never deprive himself—or anyone else, for that matter—the opportunity to witness the Terror as it began its First Assault on the world of the living. No one knew quite what it would look like, or how it would feel, but the Fellowship had promised a beautiful ascendancy for all its members. And now Sildar would seal his fate. He would seal everyone’s fate.

“Barold!”

Sildar fumbled an explosive, and it was almost the last thing he ever did. He whirled around, and there was Taako, waving him over from the bottom of the staircase. “What’re you doing?”

“Nothing,” said Barry, faintly. “Why?”

“Cap’n’port wants everybody on the bridge for the launch.” He flapped his arm at the bridge, looming above them against a wall of indiscernible storm clouds. “C’mon!”

“Uh,” Barry said. Suddenly the explosives weighed too heavily in his robe. “In a sec!”

“He means now, Barry! This storm ain’t lookin’ too good!”

No, no, no. Not yet.

But I don’t want—

What does it matter what you want?

Sildar Hallwinter gripped the hem of his pocket.

And Barry Bluejeans whispered a disarming spell, followed by a shrinking charm. Three marbles branded with the sigil of the High Fellowship of the Great Prophecy for the First Revelation rattled in his pocket as he jogged toward Taako and the bridge.

They escaped by the skin of their teeth. Sildar Hallwinter watched his world consumed by a force so uncaring, so unfeeling, that it couldn’t possibly be the Herald of Rebirth for All Things. He watched it rip everything apart—the IPRE headquarters where he’d met his crew, the ice cream parlor he’d braved with Magnus and Lucretia, the farmer’s market where Taako had taught him the difference between parsley and basil, the enormous lake Davenport had taken them sailing on for a weekend, the small garden Merle had kept just outside their dorms. 

The horizon, where he’d watched the sun set with Lup.

In the space between planes, Sildar Hallwinter was unmade. And when the threads of his body settled back into place, he caught his breath and thought, Never again.

This was how it was written: Barry J. Bluejeans would save the world.

#mirandatam #ask #the adventure zone #taz balance #ipre #barry bluejeans #fic #mine #GUESS WHO TRIPPED AND WROTE 2.2K #THANKS FOR THIS TRULY INCREDIBLE PROMPT

[afoxysunny]

Sportacus as Álfurildi

Choosing a Miraculous for him was actually the easiest out of all for me and the more i thought about this AU the more sense it made.

Disclaimer: this AU is just one big work in progress so please excuse the fact that i don't have most of the details worked out yet

Even without a Miraculous Sportacus was already a slightly above average hero. Not being called into Lazytown to live there with the kids he traveled around helping whoever needed him. One way or the other he ends up being chosen as the new Guardian of the Miracle Box once the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculous are recovered from the villains in Paris

Here are the references i started this process with

And a process it was indeed. As obviously as the choice for this pair was it was equally as hard to actually design him

Most butterfly inspired fashion i found were dresses or otherwise extravagant and made for women, definitely too impractical for Sportacus to wear. I like what i came up with in the end a lot and am so relieved as halfway into this process i was really scared it would end up looking like this disgusting cartoon trope where they draw old fat men in tiny pink dresses to make fun of them but thank goodness it didn't!

Design Notes:

Red Spotted Purple - that is the very misleading name of an almost entirely blue butterfly with some faintly red spots. It works though, the Kwami is purple but the cistume still ends up partially blue

Brooch in place of crystal - it was a no brainer, the round and glowy Miraculous just had to replace/join in the placement of his usual crystal (who knows if he even has the crystal in this au? I sure don't) Details on his costume get the dark purple colour of the brooch

Bandana around neck - Sportacus' canon outfit already leans very heavily on Icelandic traditional fashion from head to toe. All accept the bandana tied around the neck. With each version of Sportacus' costume getting closer to this tradition i just had to add it

Ugly ass cap he loves i guess - honestly i think this style of hat is so ugly but he seems to like it so let him keep it i guess

Blue + purple - in Miraculous canon the Kwami's colour usually is the one and only dominant colour of the costume each hero ends up with. Only Hawkmoth really deviated from this and I'm not good eith simplistic and effective designs so i went more into that direction. Sportacus' signature blue stays the base with Nooroo's purple added on top for the butterfly themed costume parts (it was accidental but also sportarobbie so that's always a plus)

Reasoning:

The show Miraculous Ladybug makes it very clear on multiple occasions that the Butterfly Miraculous is meant to call in allies to help the Miraculous Holders and that all Kwamis wish for their powers to be used for good. Despite this the wiki is written like Nooroo is evil even though Hawkmoth corrupted his powers against the Kwami's wish. Because of that i wanted to pair Nooroo with someone who could never be mistaken for a villain: Sportacus

Story:

Sportacus has proven himself a hero wherever he went, looking for the best in people while always striving for even better. Because of his many strengths he was chosen as the new Guardian of this Miracle Box to keep it safe and most importantly help Nooroo recover from the long time abuse he had to endure. After befriending the Kwami they mutually decided there would be no better new partner for the slowly healing Nooroo than the supportive Sportacus. Which works out perfectly for his own interests as well. Of cause he wants to do all he can to help the purple Kwami through his struggle with recovery and Sportacus is strong in many ways so he stays transformed into Álfurildi for as long as possible; while Nooroo powers him up nobody can get to him and hurt him again.

I actually thought up a very big load of story for him and Robbie so i won't go into too much more detail right now until you also met Robbie's Miraculous version, stay tuned!

Name:

God, did i struggle with this one. In the end i mashed together the Icelandic word for Elf, Álfur, and Butterfly, Fiðrildi, to get Álfurildi! It's lame, i know, but honestly, Sportacus really isn't good at naming things so I'll let it slide. I imagine Robbie said exactly this to him as well, and additionally is too lazy to say that nane despite being well capable of speaking Icelandic so he just calls him Fairy. Both because that's kinda what he looks like and also because (at least according to the app i use to try to learn Icelandic) the word for fairy and elf are the exact same in Icelandic. That really bothers Sportacus and always corrects him by saying "you know that's not what it means" but in the end the kids can't pronounce Álfurildi and end up calling him Fairy as well, much to Robbie's and my amusement

Thank you for your attention, it truly means the world to me that i get ti ramble your ear off with my nonsense

#Lazytown #miraculous ladybug #Lazytown au #Miraculous Lazybug #Revive the lazy #Sportacus #Íþróttaálfurinn #ithrotaalfurin #sportarobbie #Mentioned #Nooroo

[alittlebitgoofy]

Glass wings - chapter five (lemonjuice)

i'm back back back again with more gay fairies and this time we have a gay elf and another gay pixie, very fun!! i'm excited to finally get jan and rock into the mix >:)

thanks to my dearest @dollalpaca for betaing and putting up with my lack of commas. it's a lot to deal with

ao3 link

Time felt like it was floating; maybe it was the hazy morning air, or the warmth that was enveloping her, but Lemon had never felt so comfortable. She was somewhat aware of the body intertwined with her’s. Cracking her eyes open, she saw Juice still pressed into her side. Soft breaths tickled her collarbone, Juice’s head having not left her shoulder the entire time they’d been sleeping. 

Lemon couldn’t bring herself to move and risk disturbing her friend, she had a feeling Juice wasn’t the best at letting herself sleep, always opting to do things than give herself time to rest. It was an issue she couldn’t press for fear of making things awkward, only try to subtly influence. She looked calm, peaceful for once; the blonde showed no signs of waking up any time soon. Even when she was relaxed, Juice had a natural frown, her face never seeming fully happy apart from the rare, softer moments that happened. The night before was one of those, something where the air around them was different, things came out easier and it felt as if nothing in the world mattered, only their company. 

It surprised Lemon how easily she fell into the grasp of another person—she’d spent so long pent up, alone by her own choice but regretting it more day by day, powerless to stop the torment she put herself through. 

Then Juice came around, giving her someone to really connect with. Finally, a friend. 

Juice woke up some time while Lemon was busy in her own thoughts. She stayed still at first, melted into Lemon, not wanting to move from the comfort she offered. Her half-asleep brain could only process that the warm thing next to her was good and needed to be kept around. 

After pulling Lemon slightly closer than before, Juice didn’t budge. She set her claim, curled up in bed with Lemon, and refused to leave or even slightly mess up the current situation. Lemon was brought back to reality by Juice shuffling as much closer as she could physically manage, her affection not going anywhere any time soon.

“Morning, Juicy,” Lemon spoke softly, not yet ready for the day, still fighting off the sleep. The response she got was a soft hum, not having processed the greeting, however wanting to appear as if she had. 

“G’morning, Lem.” Juice’s tone was rough with tiredness, her words muffled by her head still burrowed into the pixie’s shoulder. Her speech was less annunciated, just about not slurring together in fatigue. 

It didn’t take too long for them both to fully wake up. Lemon, having already been fairly alert choosing to stay in the blissful state of Juice’s affection. (but enjoying Juice’s endless affection) The latter needed a few more minutes to wake up, before engaging in a conversation. Within a few more minutes, Juice moved her arms from Lemon, startling the pixie. She sat up, eyes still heavy with tiredness, though a lot more alert than before. 

Eventually, Lemon followed suit, the pair quietly preparing for the day ahead of them, a morning routine made easier with the company of another person. Juice stared at Lemon quizzically as she only ran a hand through her hair and shrugged.

“Do you not brush your hair a lot? Are you one of those people who don’t need to? Or is it just something you dislike.” Lemon paused, how did she explain that she despised brushing it until she had to, for no real reason? It just made her uncharacteristically angry.

“I don’t like it, I have too much hair and it’s a pain to brush it all out, so I don’t if I can get away with it, which I could have before you pointed it out.” She childishly stuck her tongue out for emphasis, while Juice struggled to hold back the laughter at her usual dramatics. 

Lemon wanted nothing more than to run when she saw Juice pick up her comb, glancing between it and her hair curiously. The fairy made her way to her side, nudging Lemon to see if she was allowed to do so. Lemon wanted to say no, but something about Juice’s soft expression melted her into accepting with no fuss.

It didn’t take long before Lemon grunted at the pulling of her hair with the comb to detangle it. It was a horrible feeling, all the more reason she despised that thing. Juice tried to be as gentle as she could, but she had to be more forceful to get out any knots. Lemon became more docile as they went along, her hair becoming a lot less messy, though still as fluffy as ever. Lemon found herself enjoying the soft contact of Juice, steadying her head with a hand leant against her neck, or running her hands through the hair to check she hadn’t missed anything. It made her body warm in an unfamiliar way, but something she would crave again all the same. 

Juice smiled proudly at the finished product and Lemon hummed in satisfaction. Running a hand through her hair, the pixie flashed a grin, happy with the result. The blonde took the opportunity to fluff up her hair like how it usually was, running her hands through it to check the neatness all over. 

That was the only reason, not that she enjoyed being in such close proximity with Lemon or anything. 

---

Although it had gotten easier, flying with Lemon was never a good idea—she would zoom off at a speed that Juice could hardly keep up with. Thankfully, the pixie had decided to rest on her shoulder, making herself comfortable as the fairy flew them further on.

“There’s something over there!” Lemon jolted, gesturing to the right, sounding uncharacteristically serious. Juice shot her a confused look, not sure what caused the sudden outburst or why her eyes were so trained on the direction she had pointed to.

“I can feel something, I don’t know what it is, but I need to go check it out,” Lemon said quickly, flying off of Juice’s shoulder and deeper into the surrounding forest. 

“Lemon! You aren’t going alone, slow down,” Juice sighed, following Lemon as fast as she could and hoping the pixie didn’t fly into anything in her sudden burst of energy. The pixie paused, fluttering her way back to the shoulder and directing Juice from there. 

They flew decently far out, to the outskirts of the village where a few people lived, who didn’t like living in the main town area for whatever reason. Upon spotting a house in the distance, Lemon’s eyes lit up. That was it! That was the thing she could feel. There was something inside that house that was drawing her to it, and she needed to find out. 

---

Jan sprung back to consciousness at an alarming rate. No grogginess, only a sudden burst of energy that startled the person leaning over her. 

Before her brain could catch up as to why there was a concerned elf in a cloak staring at her, something pulled at her. The sensation was willing her to leave the little cottage and venture into the surrounding woods, though that seemed like a bad idea. 

“Hey! Don’t just leave! You’re not really in the state to—!” The elf threw herself to grab the pixie as she jumped off of the bed, before stumbling to the floor atop the other girl, her voice failing as they collided with the ground.

“Are you alright? I know you fell quite hard, but you just jolted up all of a sudden and it was terrifying,” the other girl spoke slower, a lot quieter that time. She struggled to hold eye contact, seemingly scared of Jan. It was a lot to realise someone may be intimidated by her, but the pixie tried to keep herself as small and harmless as possible in response. 

“I’m okay, everything hurts, though. I’m not quite sure what happened.” 

“Well, you see. I accidentally shot you down from the sky with my bow, because I saw you and got scared, I thought you were a predator and defended myself before properly looking,” meekly, the elf mumbled out an explanation. 

Jan felt herself stifling a giggle at how adorable the person in front of her was. She looked too nervous for Jan to want to poke fun at her, but the way she blushed, the tips of her pointy ears turning pink, was too cute. Although the situation wasn’t good, the pixie couldn’t help but stare, taking in every aspect of the pretty girl.

Oh no. She couldn’t be—

Jan blinked a few times, shaking the thought from her head before it could finish. The idea of emotionally bonding with some random person who accidentally injured her was ridiculous. She was cute, it didn’t go any deeper than that. She also was the reason Jan couldn’t keep her balance right now, yet that seemed the furthest worry from her mind. 

“It’s fine, I’m not that hurt.” A skeptical look made Jan laugh, although being hit by an arrow was painful, she hadn’t had too many bad injuries. Minus the pain all over her body, but that wasn’t a problem when her attention was focused on something; or rather, someone else. 

Before their conversation could continue, a loud bang startled the pair. Jan felt the pulling sensation even stronger now. 

Something was demanding her attention. 

She had to follow it; her body decided that for her. She walked out of the house with the panicked elf quickly pacing after her. Jan idly wondered if she was always so panicky, or if this was something far too out of her comfort zone, leaving her almost unable to function. 

“Wait, it’s here! Her!” A high pitched squeak of a voice spoke far too loudly for someone of her size. In a flash of yellow, Lemon fluttered in front of Jan. 

Their expressions mirrored each other, shock and confusion soon morphing into excitement, upon realising their shared species. It was one of the first times Lemon had truly been left speechless. 

“So you’re the one who gave me that feeling? You’re a strong little thing.” Jan inspected the small creature in front of her. Lemon only shrugged in response, not too aware of exactly what was happening, intrigued nonetheless. There was something about the soft lilac eyes and hair of the girl in front of her, that made her feel comfortable. 

Lemon shifted into her human form, staring Jan down much in the same way she had just done. She couldn’t figure it out, but the woman had a comforting energy. It reminded her of something she hadn’t felt in a long time, but she couldn’t let herself linger on that thought. 

----

“So, you’ve never met another pixie?” Jan stared at Lemon in shock, the raw energy emanating from her being completely untrained was almost inconceivable. Lemon shrugged, not seeing it as a huge deal, despite her excitement to meet another pixie.

“Yeah, I mean, I grew up around fairies, so it’s kind of similar, but I don’t know much about pixies.”

“Well, we need to make up for lost time! I bet you barely know how to use your powers. You can teleport and levitate things, but can you feel emotions, or sense energy? You’re close enough with Juice to connect with her if you tried. I’m not sure how it would work between a pixie and a fairy, rather than two pixies, but it’s definitely possible.”

“Connect? How so?”

“It’s just a thing pixies do; we get close enough to someone and a link develops. It can be trained to sense general energies, but you’re tied to the energy of another person. So, you could be able to feel Juice’s feelings, and reach a deeper understanding of each other.”

“That sounds so cool! How do I do it? What else can I do? Can you teach me?” Lemon’s eyes sparkled with so much excitement, that Jan felt herself soften; Lemon was so earnestly energetic and eager to learn that saying no wasn’t an option. 

Juice watched on with a smile—Lemon finding another pixie was something she’d mentioned wanting to do in a passing conversation, since she knew so little about herself. There was something about seeing her so happy that made her heart squeeze, Lemon deserved so much more than what she got. 

Lemon was incredible, although Juice couldn’t find the words to communicate it. She wouldn’t admit how much she adored the little troublemaker, but she would never stop being thankful she met that idiot. 

Rock nervously approached Juice, feeling they had similar energies. The fairy jolted in shock at a soft greeting, but they soon got into a conversation about the pixies. Juice was happy to share what it was like to be close to one, as Rock realised that Jan was likely to stick around. She would find it hard to leave for the time being due to her injuries; the elf quietly hoped to herself that she would stay. 

Juice quickly found a kinship with the elf based on their shared awkwardness when it came to social interactions; her anxieties settled as she realised the elf had the same issues. Their discussions flowed surprisingly easily, as they waited for the two pixies to calm down their enthusiasm. 

“So, is the intense energy just a pixie thing?” Rock cocked her head, curiously glancing between the pair and Juice. 

“It must be, Lemon doesn’t know how to sit still—he’s always got to be doing something, or she’ll complain about being bored. It’s kind of fun, though; she keeps things exciting.” Juice’s eyes fell back onto an excited Lemon, her face growing into an involuntary soft smile. 

Rock noticed something in the way the smaller girl looked at her, but decided not to mention it. It wasn’t her place to comment.

“Juice! Jan’s gonna teach me how to use my powers, isn’t that cool?” Lemon giddily bounced back to her friend, eyes gleaming with such excitement, Juice felt her heart warm with how happy she seemed. 

Lemon deserved so much more than she got, and Juice was going to do everything she could to make sure that happened. 

#rpdr fanfiction #glass wings fic #fantasy au #lemonjuice #jock #sportkura #Jan sport #rock m sakura #lemon x juice

[gi-maeve-rose]

Dark Matters

Chapter 2: An Old Friend

“Man, I fucking hate Elf Town,” Daryl complained from the passenger seat of the police car.

Nick huffed a sigh, keeping his eyes on the road. “I’m aware. You say that every time we drive through.”

“Because I hate it every time!” Daryl groaned in distain as he watched the expensively dressed elves go by. “Those Magic feds couldn’t come out to the station? It’s not like they ain’t been there before. They know where it is.”

“You read the email, Ward,” Jakoby reminded, glancing at his partner. “If they were to come out too close around the time of the Wand incident, people are gonna start suspecting things.”

“It’s been two years, man. And isn’t it suspicious that two LAPD officers, the ones who were involved with the Wand incident, are going to Magic Task Force HQ?”

Nick said nothing. He understood Daryl’s apprehension. After their traumaticing encounter with the Inferni, and the revelation that Daryl is a Bright, all he wanted was for things to go back to normal. or as close to normal as possible. No one knew about Daryl being a Bright except Nick and the two MTF agents, Kandomere and Montehugh. Not even his family knew.

“I can’t deal with this shit again, Nick,” Ward continued. “We almost died last time. You did die.”

Nick grunted. He hated being reminded. The scar was reminder enough. “The sooner this is taken care of, the sooner we can go back to our normal lives.” He pondered for a moment. “Well, normal-ish.”

Daryl scoffed, and the rest of the ride was silent. Whatever it was the agents needed from them, he knew it was Magic related. And it was going to take a while.

Although having gather as much information as possible for the moment, Kandomere paced his office once more with more files in hand. Perhaps he missed something. Another, a different, elf involved, maybe not an elf at all? He was desperate for it to be someone else, anyone besides-

The landline on his desk buzzed and he stopped pacing to answer.

“Agent, the LAPD officers are here,” a woman informed.

“Thank you, send them in.” He quickly shut the files away in his desk and sat in his chair as Jakoby and Ward entered.

“Thank you for coming out on such short notice,” he started as they sat. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I called for you in the first place.”

“something Magic related?” Daryl asked. He already knew the answer, yet he still so foolishly hoped otherwise.

Kandomere sighed. “The Wand was stolen.” Daryl and Nick stared in disbelief, so he opened his laptop to the security footage so they could see for themselves.

“Fuck...” Ward muttered, running a hand over his face. Kandomere nodded somberly as he shut the laptop. “So, what? You want us to go looking for it?”

“Of course not,” Kandomere reassured. “You two got lucky retrieving it from Leilah, and you only got accidentally roped into that one. You’ll get yourselves killed if I send you out purposely after these people.”

“Then what?”

Nick kicked his partner’s foot and shot him a warning look. Now was not the time to get an attitude. Daryl glared at Nick and rolled his eyes with a scoff.

Kandomere, although annoyed, kept his composure. “I need your assistance.” He handed them a background check sheet. “I have reason to believe this elven woman might be affiliated with the two in the footage.”

Nick handed Daryl the sheet. “Do you want us to bring her in for questioning?” he asked.

Kandomere shook his head as he stood from his desk, grabbing his car keys. “We’re going to go to her. We’ll take my car.” Anxiety hit him like a freight train the moment those words left his lips.

Daryl and Nick followed after him. “So we’re your muscle?” Daryl asked with an eyebrow raised. Kandomere said nothing and continued walking, earning a cocky grin from Ward. “Hear that, Nick? Big, bad Magic fed needs some bodyguards.”

“My partner, Montehugh is busy with gathering more information,” Kandomere spoke sternly, clearly annoyed. “And I need you because she’s a Bright. If she were to try any funny shit, I figured having another Bright may be useful.”

Daryl’s smug smile turned into a scowl at the reminder. He looked over to Nick who only shrugged in response. Daryl shook his head in displeasure as they reached Kandomere’s sleek, black 2020 Audi S7.

The trio found themselves driving through East LA. It was more diverse with humans, orcs, centaurs, and many other creatures of the like. It’s also an area you’d least likely find an elf passing through, let alone living.

Daryl stared out the backseat window in confusion. “Some shit really must’ve gone down with her if she’s living out here.” He looked at Kandomere, who kept his eyes on the road ahead. Daryl’s worry was confirmed. “What happened?”

“That’s not pertinent to this, Officer Ward,” Kandomere answered firmly. “We’re to go in, get the information we need, and get out.” All the while praying that he could keep it at that.

Daryl and Nick didn’t buy into it. There was a history between him and this woman, but they knew better than to pry.

After another short while of silent driving, they arrived at their destination. They pulled into an apartment complex parking lot, taking an open space in front. Two orc children and one human child played in the grass, their parents socializing with each other on the patio. The orc father was the first to notice the car, very out of place in this part of the city. He stood from his seat and approached the three men as they exited the car.

“Good afternoon,” Nick greeted, feeling it was best that he took over for now. “This is Agent Kandomere, with the Magic Task Force. This is Officer Wa-”

“Officers Ward and Jakoby, with LAPD,” the orc resident finished.  Yeah, I’ve heard about you guys. Especially you.” He held his hand out to Nick. “The name’s Markus.”

Nick smiled and shook his hand. Daryl and Kandomere gave each other a relieved glance. Perhaps this would go over easier than expected.

“So what can we do for you? You guys look like you’re far from home.” Markus asked.

Kandomere felt the question was more directed toward him, seeing that he was an elf and all. But he didn’t pay it any mind. “We’re looking Ynshael Cortez. Goes by ‘Shae’?”

Markus nodded with a chuckle. “Ah, I should’ve guessed. She sticks out like a sore thumb around here.” He turned toward the entrance and pointed them in the right direction. “Through that door, up the first flight of stairs, door on the right.”

Kandomere nodded in thanks before heading toward the door. 

“She’s not in trouble, is she?” Markus called after.

The three men stopped and turned back to face Markus. “Do you have relations with her?” Daryl asked.

Markus shrugged. “Her and I don’t talk much, but she’s good friends with my wife and she nannies the kids in the area. The kids definitely seem to love her.”

A moment of relief washed over Kandomere. Shae hadn’t been up to no good after all these years. Or so it seemed. Sadly, he still couldn’t rule he rout just based on a good word.

Kandomere nodded again. “Thank you.” He continued to the door, this time faster. Was it the anticipation to see her, or did he just want to get this over with? It had been over a decade since they’ve spoken, let alone seen each other. How much had she changed? Would she even remember him? The things they’d been through together? If she did, would she even want to see him? They hadn’t exactly left off on good terms...

Before he knew it, the three of them stood just outside her door. Kandomere pushed aside the bothersome thoughts. This was business. But though it was such, he found himself paralyzed.

“Agent Kandomere?” Nick tried. Kandomere didn’t move. Daryl huffed in annoyance and knocked on the door himself, the sound shaking Kandomere from his stupor. 

The first thing they heard was a large dog barking, then a woman’s voice. “Titan, hush! I fucking swear, I never wanted to fight a dog before, but you’re testing my limits, dude.” The clicking of the locks coming undone could be heard from the other side. The door opened. “I love you, but seriously. Can I he-” She stopped the moment her icy blue eyes, smudged with eyeliner, caught Kandomere’s.

Kandomere felt a lump in his throat. It really was her. Wavy black to blond hair falling over her prominent collarbone, a grey, ripped up Metallica crop top hung loosely on her torso, falling off her shoulder. A pair of black spandex shorts hugged her full hips.

She was exactly the same, except... Different. She now sported multiple piercing on her ears, a piercing on one side of her button nose, and one decorating the center of her bottom lip, drawing attention to their plumpness. And so many tattoos... Yes, it was her, exactly the same, yet different.

Kandomere cleared he lump in his throat and pushed away years of suppressed feelings (and the rather new suppressed feeling in his trousers). “Hello, Shae,” he managed to speak as professionally as possible.

“No...” A knowing sharp-toothed grin grew on her face. “...way.” She propped her elbow on the doorway above he rhead and placed a hand on her hip. “Kandomere? Is that really you?”

~~~~~~~~~~

Art by: @morphinetunee

Taglist (open):

@morphituu​ @faeylinn​ @nheireii

Masterlist

~~~~~~~~~~

I do not post to any other website! Please do not repost my chapters to any other website unless I give you my written permission!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bright or any of the characters except for my OCs!

#bright #bright 2017 #bright movie #bright netflix #kandomere #daryl ward #nick jakoby #lapd #magic task force #magic feds #mtf #magic #wand #the dark lord #elves #orcs #fairies #magic creatures #fanfiction #action #fluff #smut

[song-fox]

Inspired by this post

AU where Thomas is a struggling not-so-popular YouTuber, recently out of school and looking for a better job and, since he’s apparently pretty good with kids according to his friends Joan and Talyn, decides to set up a small business babysitting.

It’s all fun and games and the occasional diaper change, until… (long post ahead) (I got a little carried away lol)

Thomas is, obviously, pretty good and experienced with kids. He’s been in the babysitting business for a couple of months now, and he wouldn’t call himself a professional, but he’s making his way through it

One day a woman asks him to babysit her kids

Naturally, Thomas agrees. It’s just a couple of kids, how bad could it be?

Then he realizes that the woman never specified how many kids

Alright, no biggie. Most people have maybe two kids, four at most

Then the woman shows up at his doorstep with six kids, all different ages

Oh god. Oh god. Six kids?! I can’t handle this. Fuuuuu-

“You sure you can take care of these guys by yourself?”

“Oh, of course! No worries!”

He’s in trouble

The oldest is Janus, at fourteen years old. He’s sarcastic, snarky, clever, and hates Thomas. “I don’t need a babysitter, I can take care of myself!”

Next is Logan, twelve. Reserved, cold, and smart. Prefers to be alone with his books.

Then come the twins at ten years old, Roman and Remus. Apparently they aren’t actually the woman’s kids, she’s their adopted them from an ex-friend who never gave them enough attention

As a result, these kids will do anything to get noticed. Anything. Set a couple trash cans on fire, scream from the top of the roof sometimes, whatever.

Then Patton, nine. Sweet, naïve and almost annoyingly empathetic, he keeps the twins in line with compliments and a ton of hugs. He’s probably Thomas’ favourite.

And lastly, baby Virgil. Surprisingly quiet for a baby, his personality is mostly just spite and a fear of loud noises

Thomas is astounded that this woman can even keep track of their names, let alone take care of them

The first day with them is horrific

Logan is arguing with the twins. Patton is desperately trying to get them to stop. Janus is holding Virgil and trying to get him to sleep. The house is absolute anarchy.

Things are seriously getting out of hand when Remus accidentally sets the microwave on fire

(Remus claims it was an accident, but Thomas could easily see the matches in his hand)

He picks up his phone and hastily dials Joan

“Hey, hey Joan? Joan?! Is Talyn there with you? Oh my god, I need you to come over, quick! Remus set the microwave on fire- one of the kids that I’m babysitting! The baby is crying, the older one is yelling at everyone, I think there’s a feral cat loose in the garden- jANUS WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?! PUT THAT DOWN! Oh god, the fire–”

“Huh. Have you tried making s'mores?”

“jOAN PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY–”

Eventually everything is under control. The fire is put out, the cat is back to its owner, Virgil has stopped crying and the twins are content to listen to Janus plan out exactly how he’s going to overthrow the government

Thomas is sure he should be more concerned about that, but as long as there’s no more fires

Joan and Talyn are there to support him too

It’s been a very long day, but eventually the kids go home to their mother

The trio flops onto the couch, absolutely exhausted

“Those kids were fun, but I never want to see them ever again.’

Surprise: it’s a weekly thing now

Haha… yeah

Their mom has a new job now, and with her shift requiring her to work for most of the day and their dad working every weekday, Thomas to look after the kids for five hours a week

Five

Hours

Thomas is sure he’s gonna die

The next time they meet goes just about as well as you’d think

There’s crude drawings on the wall, Logan has threatened to smack Janus with a book at least three times, and there’s a knife missing from the kitchen

Next week there’s a food fight

After that Patton shows up with a stray hedgehog

After that Virgil somehow manages to get stuck in the kitchen sink

After that Logan almost accidentally starts a pillow fight with Thomas’ couch cushions

Then suddenly, everything is chill

The twins are more energised than chaotic, Virgil is calm, the rest are content with simply chatting

Mostly they’re just bored and too tired to do anything

Thomas, Joan and Talyn get to talk more leisurely this time as the kids simply talk with one another

Well, until Patton pipes up

"I really like your eyebrows!” he whisper-shouts and points to Talyn, trying not to wake up Virgil

Talyn’s got bright scarlet and pink eyebrows to match their dyed red hair

They look at him for a second. “Oh- uh, thanks!”

“Can you do makeup?” Roman asks

Talyn shrugs. “Sure.”

“Can you do makeup on us?”

Talyn looks to Thomas. “Are we-?”

“Their mom said they can do just about anything as long as they don’t get hurt or break the law.”

The next two hours or so are full of just Talyn putting makeup on all the kids who want them. Full stage makeup for Roman, a moustache and purple eyeshadow for Remus, and a sheepish request for snake scales for Janus

“Hm, dunno what I can do for that one… oh! Thomas, do you have like, fishnets or something?”

“What? Why would I have those?”

Talyn raises a colourful eyebrow.

“…I’ll go get them.”

Half an hour later, Janus looks amazing

Patton can think of a million puns for his snake side

Virgil seems to find it cool

Logan is listing off snake facts for the whole half hour, pointing out mistakes in colouring or shape until Talyn has it perfect

The kids leave that week happier than last time and with bright faces of makeup

The weeks go on and on, and after a few months, Halloween comes up

Their mother is incredibly sorry that she has to work instead of being with her kids, but she has no choice and has to leave them with Thomas

She also leaves a giant bin bag full of costumes

“They like to go Trick-or-Treating,” she explains.

Thomas as actually kinda hyped this time

Outfits! Makeup! Candy! What’s there not to love?!

Apparently the kids share his enthusiasm

Janus asks Talyn if they can do his snake makeup again, to which they gladly agree. He’s going as a generic villain, with a black capelet and cane and everything

Remus is, to nobody’s surprise, Beetlejuice. He’s got temporary neon green hair dye and a cheap-looking striped tuxedo. Remus loves it

Roman is going as a prince. It looks crudely made and even a little tacky, but altogether the costume is pretty good

Logan is going as Dr. Frankenstein, and no he is not the monster, and no that isn’t accurate to the story, and nO GODDAMMNIT ROMAN I AM NOT GOING AS THE MONSTER

Patton is a werewolf, although he doesn’t really get the whole supernatural vibe of it

It’s okay though, his little floppy dog ears look very cute

Virgil is a pumpkin

That’s it

Nothing too special, just a pumpkin

He looks adorable though

The night starts off great, with all the kids chattering away and baby Virgil being the world’s cutest source of attention

The twins are loving all the compliments that come with their costumes

Logan is actually recognized as Dr. Frankenstein and isn’t able to shut up about it

Thomas doesn’t mind, though

After a couple months with the kids, it’s kind of endearing how chaotic they are

The night ends and the kids go back to Thomas’ place, waiting for their mom to come back

Thomas goes to get some DVDs to watch while they wait, and overhears their conversation

“I miss mom,” Patton sighs

“She’s at work. She’ll return soon,” Logan assures him.

“He doesn’t mean it like that.” Janus.

“Oh?”

“Our parents are never around anymore. Thomas has taken more care of us in a couple months than they have in years.”

“Because they’re always working to support us.”

“Well it wouldn’t kill them to stick around a little more,” Roman pipes up

“They’re not abandoning us.”

“I know that!” Roman snaps

Everyone knows the twins’ issues with negligence

There’s a pause, before Remus speaks. “She’s just never around. Dad, too. They don’t want us.”

“Remus, that’s not-”

“They don’t want us!”

There’s another silence as Virgil threatens to start crying again

Janus clears his throat. “We can take care of ourselves. We don’t need our parents any more than each other.”

Another silence.

“C'mon, let’s trade candy. I’ve got a KitKat bar–”

Thomas doesn’t listen to the rest of the conversation

He knows they have it hard

Their parents are always working, and they don’t always care enough to stick around for too long

So he’s determined to do the best he can with these kids

“Hey, guys! I’ve got Nightmare Before Christmas, yes Patton we can watch Elf afterwards if we’ve got time, and yes Roman you’re allowed to sing along. C'mon, let’s get on the couch-!”

#sanders sides #thomas sanders #ts janus #ts logan #ts roman #ts remus #ts patton #ts virgil #familial drlamp #character!thomas #human au #babysitter au

[ladywindrunner]

Do you take drabble requests? Because that Disney's Robin Hood gif kind of makes me want to see how Sylvanas would react to a lil elf babb accidentally shooting at her with their My First Archery set.

drabble request // always accepting ::

i do in fact! drabbles are fun for me because of the challenge they present. c: 

Every day Lynna watched the Farstriders train. She observed with keen blue eyes as volley of arrows struck targets farther and father away, all with the hope that one day, she may be graced with the opportunity to make such impressive shots. Her little fingers ached to hold a bow, to nock an arrow, to strike down trolls, orcs, and other invaders that the adults murmured about and told tales about around campfires and hearths.

           Every afternoon after her classes had finished, Lynna would climb to the very top of the tallest apple tree there was. It sat on the edge of the grounds with the lowest walls, on the very fine line of trespassing. There, for at least an hour, she would admire the rangers. She’d marvel at their precision and discipline, and from her perch, she’d mimic some of their gestures. In her mind, she was as graceful as they were, her clumsy fingers moving with the finesse of the masters, and the stick she wielded with twine strung between its two points was none other than the famous Thas’dorah.

           She’d seen many heroes from her tree. Most often she saw Ranger-Lord Theron inspecting the troops, instructing them, and correcting those who needed guidance. She’d glimpsed Vereesa Windrunner, a fresh captain, passing by once in a while.

           And once – just once– she’d seen the Ranger-General. Sylvanas Windrunner, she walked quickly, with a purpose, not dallying. Yet she had spared a glance for her rangers, whatever their rank. Lynna took note that they stood straighter when the Ranger-General was present, and their movements would morph into mesmerizing unison. The Ranger-General’s hood had been down, her pale blonde hair shining in the warm sunlight, her cape a deep, wondrous blue with gold trim.  

           If there was anyone Lynna wished to be, it was Sylvanas Windrunner.

           But it was never to be.

           Lynna Runestrider was from a family of scholars, gifted enough with magic to be considered mages, though no one in her family had ever amounted to much. There were no magisters in her bloodline, no spellweavers. There were enchanters, as lowly as they were considered, but they kept to themselves, burying themselves in books and studies, either in Quel’Thalas or Dalaran. Lynna was the youngest of four children, and she was expected to enroll in the Arcane Acadium when she was of age.

           She was eight now, enrollment began at twelve. She dreaded it; she did not want to be a mage. She did not want to try and summon fire or bend water. Her siblings at least had shown some potential. Lynna did not, had not, and she was fearful of the day her mama and papa realized that she could not follow in their footsteps. It was tradition for the Quel’dorei, though she was only now becoming aware of what that meant.

           There would be no archery in Lynna’s future, only books, weak spellwork, and disappointment. She would not be a ranger; she would be a mage. She would one day perhaps rise to the rank of apprentice, but no higher.

           A sadness plagued her since she came to understand her fate, but still, she climbed the apple tree daily.

           Until today.

           Today was a holiday, and the streets were brimming with people. The courtyards where the rangers trained were empty. Today, Lynna slipped unnoticed past the few guards, the sheer number of citizens making one little, black-haired girl almost invisible. She scurried away from the gates, until she stepped into one of the wards. Narrow lawns of grass framed stone courtyards, towering white walls kept onlookers from peering inside. She admired a statue, one that was impossibly tall. She peered up at the bronze plague, speaking out loud.

                                                    Lireesa Windrunner

                                           Ranger-General of Silvermoon

                                                 Defender of Quel’Thalas

                                         Hero of the First and Second Wars

A firecracker went off, reminding Lynna that she was intruding, and she scurried off. She bolted out of the courtyard, past large buildings she did not recognize. She slowed only when her feet carried her to a familiar setting.

A lawn with targets, both humanoid figures made of hay and wood, and wooden discs with bullseyes painting on them. Lynna grinned, standing far back, she pretended that the targets were orc and filthy trolls, attempting to invade Eversong. She whistled with each imaginary arrow she fired, and played out the dying cries of her enemies. She kept up the game until the twine broke, and her make-believer bow was rendered moot.

Lynna frowned. She huffed out an annoyed breath, ears wilting. She couldn’t fight orcs with a broken bow, she couldn’t save people if she didn’t have a weapon to defend them with.

She pivoted, scanning her surroundings for string. She’d fix her bow and get back to it.

Only her gaze found something else.

The building appeared to be some sort of supply shed, though it was better made than any she’d seen in her village. It was made of stone, the roof thatched, and leaning against one wall was a variety of objects.

Two of which were bows.

Her heart soar, her eyes turned to saucers, without any hesitation she sprinted for the weapons. One was nearly as tall as she was, made of a dark wood with gold leaf decorating both the upper and low limbs. The other was smaller, made of a lighter wood, both in weight and colour. It wasn’t fancy, and it looked old to her, but there were no cracks in it, and the bowstring was taught.

She picked it up, admiring it in a way only a child could. Her eyes darted to the quiver next to the larger bow. It had three arrows in it.

Lynna slung the bow over her shoulder, ignoring that it was still much too large for her small frame, and snatched the quiver by its strap. She hurried back to the targets, naively dragging it behind her (though she endeavoured greatly to keep the quiver off the ground). She stood a little way from the target, a small bullseye.

She dropped the quiver unceremoniously to the ground, and unslung the bow.

Now she would definitely be able to slay the orcs.

Biting her lower lip, the girl plucked an arrow from its resting place and attempted to emulate the men and women she admired. She floundered, holding the projectile awkward as she pulled back.

With a sad, deflated twang the arrow fell to the ground.

Lynna frowned, brows drawing closer together as she thought. She tried to remember how the rangers held the arrow. She assumed she mimicked them perfectly from her perch.

This time, she did not hold the arrow uncomfortably. Satisfied that she was not just going to drop the projectile, she squinted as she glared at the target and pulled back.

Light preserve her, the bowstring resisted her. She struggled bring it back, her arms shook unsteadily, her hand ached from holding the grip wrong.

She loosed the arrow and it flew a few feet before it struck the ground depressingly short of the target.

“Damn…” she murmured under her breath, knowing the word was improper, rude, and not at all acceptable by her parents’ stringent standards. She’d heard her older classmates say it before, but they never dared to speak it within earshot of a instructor.

She’d have to aim upwards, if she wanted the arrow to reach the target.

She grabbed the last arrow.

She held the grip as best she could with her small hands, and nocked the arrow. She let out another exhale, utterly determined to make the arrow fly. She knew now how difficult the string would be to pull back. She was readied. She could do this.

She sucked in a breath and pulled.

Her arms shook once more, struggling to draw back far enough for the arrow to truly fly. Lynna shut her eyes tightly as she aimed upwards—

A firecracker went off.

Her heart skipped a beat, she spun around as her balance was lost, spooked by the resounding BANG. She loosed the arrow just as her eyes opened and—

The arrow struck one of the outer walls, its shaft sticking out of a crevice between two large stones. Lynna’s heart soared. The distance was greater than that of the target, and what were the chances of it landing so perfectly between the two massive slabs?

Then abruptly, she panicked.

Standing just right of the arrow was a figure, one she recognized with abject horror. A beautiful woman with blonde hair the same shimmering hue as the moon, adorned by a cobalt cloak lined with gold. Armour that was regal, a breastplate of matching colours, and hawk-head paldrons of elegant design. The woman glanced at the arrow, before her gaze fell on Lynna, who still clung to the bow.

                                                    Sylvanas Windrunner

                                           Ranger-General of Silvermoon

                                                 Defender of Quel’Thalas

                               Soon to Be Executioner of Lynna Runestrider

That same quick walk that Lynna had once observed from afar, saw the Ranger-General close the distant quickly after she plucked the arrow from the crevice. Lynna was nearly in tears before Sylvanas even reached her, she clung to the bow desperately, knuckles turning white. Her parents were going to have her ears over this. She’d never see the light of day again. She’d trespassed, used a real bow, almost killed the Ranger-General.

Sylvanas knelt down before her, Lynna’s shameful stare remained cemented to the grass.

“How old are you?”

Lynna swallowed the dreadful lump in her throat.

“Eight…” she murmured in response.

“Eight…” the Ranger-General repeated, sounding somehow,amused. “That’s quite an impressive shot, for an eight-year-old.”

Eyebrows gently turning downwards in befuddlement, Lynna dared to glance up. She met the woman’s gaze for half a second before she returned to staring at the ground.

She was nothing but a peasant, mama had always taught her you keep your head bowed to your betters. Sylvanas might have well been royalty to Lynna and her lowborn family.

“What is your name?”

Oh, there it was. The terrible, damning question. Lynna hesitated, then opened her mouth—

“Do not lie,” Sylvanas commanded.

Lynna shut her mouth abruptly.

“Lynna,” she muttered truthfully.

“And your family’s name?”

“Runestrider,” Lynna wanted to cry. She sniffled, mortified to be caught. She had just wanted to be a ranger for a little while.

“There’s no need to cry,” Sylvanas stated, her voice calm.

But Lynna couldn’t stop herself, tears fell. She squeezed her eyes shut, her ears drooping despairing low. She’d been so foolish, to think that she could do any of this correctly. Papa would reed both her ears for this. He’d take away all her toys and replace them with books.

A hand came to gently rest on her shoulder.

“Why are you crying?”

“B-because,” all of a sudden, words spilled out of Lynna as if she were a toppled urn. “I-I almost hurt you, I-I’m not s-supposed to be here, I’m bad at magic, and… and…”

She glanced sadly at the discarded stick with the snapped string.

“M-my bow b-broke…”

Sylvanas followed the girl’s miserable stare to the makeshift toy. Hand falling away from Lynna’s shoulder, the ranger reached for the item, plucking it off the ground. It was a simple stick with twine, nothing impressive.

“Well,” Sylvanas lifted Lynna’s chin with a soft touch, guiding the young girl’s gaze upwards. Through the blue glow, the Ranger-General could see Lynna’s eyes were red, bleary from crying. “I can fix it, but under one condition.”

Lynna sniffled, uncertain.

Sylvanas gave her a playful, but firm look. “That you always keep both eyes open when you have your bow drawn.”

The little girl blinked, wiping her nose off on her sleeve.

“Okay…”

“Promise?” Sylvanas tilted her head slightly, noticing how Lynna’s ears perked a smidge.

“I promise.”

Sylvanas stood, taller than even Lynna’s father. Somehow, despite there not even being a battle, she held the appearance of triumph. She did not lack for confidence, her smile was calm, reassuring, but also proud. Her gaze firm yet kind, her posture so perfect that Lynna found herself standing a bit taller if only to try and imitate the woman.

She led the way off of the range, instructing Lynna to return the items she’d taken from their resting place. Lynna did so, and followed without so much as a word. She was still sniffling, but her tears had slowed. Still, she felt sadness cling to her heart. What must the Ranger-General think? Rangers don’t cry, they’re not weak. They don’t get upset because life is unfair.

Despite the bubbling excitement in the young girl’s heart, she felt ashamed.

The room they enter is a small office, decorated with a few fine paintings, but mostly, the walls were lined with bookshelves. Lynna’s gaze wandered, trying to understand the titles on some of the texts, but wholly unable too. She chooses to instead, admire the few odd trinkets resting on a side table. They don’t seem particular noteworthy, but she can tell they were laid out with care.

One particularly odd item was an instrument, a small lute, old but cared for.

Sylvanas took a seat behind the desk, opening a drawer and retrieving something. She glanced at Lynna.

“My brother’s lute,” she explained, causing the girl to look over quickly.

“You have a brother?” Lynna asked, sadness temporarily abating in favour of curiosity.

There was something about the woman’s stare, as she removed the old twine from the stick, that struck Lynna as unbelievably gloomy. Sylvanas did not glance at the child, she instead took to winding new string about the item. Still, beyond the sadness in the Ranger-General’s eyes, there was no hint as to anything being wrong. Her ears hadn’t drooped, her expression was still neutral.

“All done,” Sylvanas spoke, offering the bow back to Lynna.

Lynna took it quickly, inspecting it.

No longer did her bow have old twine or string found about house, instead it had true bowstring. Just as the weapon she’d used earlier.

“Thank you,” Lynna smiled, looking up at the woman. Sylvanas smiled in return, though it faded somewhat as she recalled something Runestrider had said.

“Why is it important you’re skilled with magic?”

Lynna hesitated, she knew not to lie, but from her wary expression, it was clear the topic was a painful one.

“My parents are mages,” Lynna revealed, “scholars, my papa works in Dalaran.”

“And you do not wish to be one?” Sylvanas queried, watching as Lynna took to inspecting her toy as a distraction.

“M’ not good with magic,” Lynna admitted shamefully, “my brothers and sisters are, but I can’t even light a candle.”

She glanced up at Sylvanas, “I want to be a ranger.”

           The Ranger-General smirked.

           “Well you have talent for it,” she complimented, recalling the girl’s blind shot, “imagine the sorts of things you could do if you kept your eyes open.”

           Lynna giggled, but gave a depressed shrug just after, “my papa won’t let me be a ranger.”

           “Why not?”

           “Because my whole family are mages,” she sighed.

           “Have you ever asked him?” The woman’s inquiry was fair. Lynna dreaded the idea of such a conversation. Her papa would be so disappointed in her, she would be the odd one out in her family. What would everyone think?

           “No,” she said, strumming the string with her fingers, “he’d be mad.”

           “Why?”

           The question had no clear answer beyond that of her parents’ disappointment. She bit her lip and looked to Sylvanas, trying to find the words to explain.

           “Because… he’s a mage?” Lynna offered weakly.

           “Is he aware you run around with a bow?” Sylvanas asked the question with a thoughtful expression on her face.

           “Yes.”

           “And do you pretend to be a ranger around him?”

           “… Yes.”

           “Hm,” Sylvanas considered the girl for a moment, “I believe your father may already suspect something.”

           Lynna gazed up at the Ranger-General with utter uncertainty, “do you think I should tell him?”

           “I cannot tell you what to do,” Sylvanas replied, standing up from her seat, she turned on her heel and opened up a large cupboard, looking for something. “But honesty is often best, you gain nothing by lying.”

           Lynna considered the advice as she watched the ranger pull something out. Sylvanas turned around to face her, and knelt down, revealing a small bow, the size for a child, and a quiver to match. The arrows in it were blunted, but there was a magical shine to them.

           An archery set!

           The girl’s eyes lit up, lips parting in amazement. Her ears perked, and she gazed up at the Ranger-General with unbridled hope.

           “For me?”

           Sylvanas nodded, “practice every day. And don’t worry about the arrowheads, they’re enchanted, if they’re about to strike flesh, they’ll become soft and bounce off skin.”

           Lynna couldn’t help herself, she rushed forward and hugged the Ranger-General. Her heart thundered ecstatically, tears threatening to fall in delight. She would train every day, she would show her mama and papa what she could do, what she was meant to do. She’d be a ranger! Sylvanas Windrunner had given her this archery set, and there was no better marksman than the Ranger-General.

           “Thank you!” Lynna beamed, “thank you, thank you, thank you!”

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧ kofi

#sylvanas windrunner #quel'thalas #silvermoon #drabble #// i am so sorry this took so long #// twas fun c: #// meet lynna she wants to be a ranger #// sylv thinks she's adorable despite almost being murdered by her #Anonymous

[msmoonlighter]

All About Freya Merrynight-Gunnulf

Name: Freya Merrynight-Gunnulf of the Seelie Queen’s Court Undercover Identity: Sage Wisteria Thorn of Seelie  Ethnicity/Nationality: If she were human? White? I mean she was born to a  viking dad so. But she’s mostly non-human. She’s a gentry faerie, meaning she looks almost totally human, save for a few little details such as pointed ears, unnaturally vibrant dark green and gold eyes, unnaturally bright red hair, ethereal beauty. She is however, 25% human and her father was a Norwegian Viking who was half fae. It’s a whole thing. Age: 27 in fae years, roughly 1000 n’ something in human years, but time works differently in Faerie Species: ¾ Faerie. Shows no signs of being any percent human because faerie blood is dominant when it hits the 3/4 mark. Half fae have a fifty fifty chance of coming out human or fae, but they still carry fae genes. Gender: Female Height/ Body type: 5’9, curvy hips, hourglass, kinda a va va va voom body type, y’know? I can’t draw her right. She looks regal, and queenly, and tall. She’s supposed to give off elegant and sensual vibes. Appearance: Long red hair in loose waves, vibrant and rich forrest green eyes. Has a powerful sort of air. Like a feminine, flirty, but powerful air. Like she knows she could absolutely demolish everyone around here in her highest heels and come out on top. A tattoo-like image of vines sprawling around her shoulder down her torso and to her leg. She hides it with a glamour when she’s in public. The glamour can be dismantled if she’s severely injured or if for some reason her magic is drained or she’s severely weakened.

Family:

Father: Artair Gunnulf (His name meaning “As strong as a bear”, the strongest warrior of his tribe. The son of a human Berserker and a faerie woman.)

Mother: Aoife Merrynight (Powerful fae sorceress, left Sage for dead in the middle of the forest and then wanted her back when her powers sparked to life. Manipulative and abusive. Very Mother Gothel-like. Sold her daughter’s very existence to Titania Queen of the Faeries. We do not stan.)

Job: Works as a third grade school teacher in Middleverse.  She’s been in Middleverse for a little more than a year, and for most of that time she was unemployed, focusing mostly on tracking down whoever Titania wanted her to. During the summer her best friend Storm convinced her to work as a lifeguard. Later on her link to Titania and the faerie realm, an elf named Opal informed her that she had landed her a job teaching third grade at a local elementary school. Freya schooled the children of Titania’s court so she was kind of qualified but there was still a lot of fake it till you make it bullshit at the beginning. She loves her kids though, and would literally take a bullet for each and every one of them. Her real job, however, is serving as Titania the Seelie Queen’s personal spy and assassin, tasked with keeping tabs on on the residents of Middleverse for signs of people working to overthrow Titania. She’s supposed to capture the people orchestrating the assassination/overthrowal attempt and bring them to Titania dead or alive, and get rid of anyone who stands in her way by any means. This job takes a toll on her as you can imagine, and her conscience is never quite comfortable with that tall order. She’s grown up a warrior, she’s grown accustomed to violence, but Titania is corrupt and wicked, and some of the people she’s been tasked with killing were entirely innocent by all logic. She wants out, but since she’s magically tethered to Titania, she can’t betray her. Hobbies: Gardening, exploring the forest, swordplay, wood carving, archery, writing bits of novels she never publishes, writing  poetry, reading, calligraphy, playing the violin, experimenting with nature magic, she enjoys surfing, puzzles and word games Personality: She gives me the Badass Female Spy Who Pulls Out A Tube of Lipstick and It Turns Out To Be A Knife/Taser/Lock pick/Laser and Can Run After a Bitch At Top Speed In Heels Vibe. If she were a super villain she’d be Poison Ivy hands down.  She’s extremely intelligent, quick-witted, and clever, and even for a fae she’s especially good at twisting words. She can lie, being part human, and that combined with her fae magic makes her a dangerous opponent, especially since no one can guess she’s part human and assume she can’t lie. While lying comes easy for her, she feels guilty when lying to people she cares for. Often she does it to hide her double life from them. She’s most certainly the mom friend, or at least the Vodka Aunt friend, but is probably the only sober person coming back from group outings. She doesn’t drink much, and when she does, it’s faerie wine or nothing. She loves nature with a passion and is going to start a greenhouse in the woods behind her house with the help of her coworker and friend Zoe. She tends to be reckless, and has a bit of a temper. She’s awfully flirtatious, and often it means nothing to her. However when she really is interested in someone, you can tell. Mostly because she’s rarely ever actually becomes interested in someone for more than just a fun time, and when she does the flirting kind of dies down and she starts to feel uneasy. She doesn’t like the idea of caring about too many people when her life is so dangerous. Freya has a rebellious streak and it often arises in the form of her going directly against Titania’s orders, knowing she’ll be punished for it, but needing to feel free for once.  She never tries to escape, but she’ll disobey in little ways. Ways that piss the queen off. She hates feeling as if she’s not in control of her own life, and that’s kind of ironic because she literally isn’t. Titania could order her to stick a knife in her own stomach and she’d have to. Freya craves adventure and adrenaline, and is always up for a challenge.  Before she became a teacher she was in this apathetic state of depression, and really just didn’t give a shit about anyone or anything especially not herself anymore. But her friends and the school kids changed her for the better because I’m all for wholesome character arcs where the jaded main character unintentionally adopts a bunch of kids and becomes a better person. It’s cliche. Sue me.

Backstory: She was born a little over a thousand years ago from the strange one night stand between a Viking Berserker named Artair Gunnulf and a faerie sorceress named Aoife Merrynight. Artair was the strongest warrior of his clan, and his name literally meant “As strong as a bear”. He himself was half fae on his mother’s side, but he never knew since his father never knew. His mother left them when he was around ten because Titania found out about the union and commanded she return. Aoife was a full gentry fae woman. Gentry look almost completely human save for a few features such as unnatural colored hair, eyes, skin, pointed ears, and strange markings. They’re similar to elves, but have a more powerful and dramatic sort of reputation. While elves are often tied to nature, gentry are tied to nothing but magic itself. Aoife was a sorceress, known in Titania’s court for being a huge kiss ass to the queen, and all in all a really low-down, selfish person. She was Titania’s most trusted advisor, and as such was allowed to do as she wished. So she went to the human world in search of some fun.

She thought Artair was a ruggedly handsome redhead piece of ass, and she was bored, and so she seduced him real quick and then left town. When she had their child she was disgusted. She didn’t want a half human baby. To her anyone who wasn’t fae was weak and useless to her. So she dumped the tiny baby in the middle of the human forest. Real lovely chick, I’m telling you. Now, as fate may have it, Artair was hunting in the forest that very same day, and a few hours into his hunt he heard a baby crying. He found this newborn baby in the middle of the forest and was like “Yo what the fuck who left their kid here? That’s messed up.” He instantly felt a fatherly connection to this baby, so he wrapped her up in his cloak and carried her home. Time works differently in faerie. A week in the human world could be a mere hour or a year in the faerie realm. Years had passed down on Earth, and Artair had married a woman named Gala, who he loved and adored. They adopted the baby and named her Freya after their favored goddess. Freya grew up happily in the human world. She was nicknamed Bear Cub because she often paraded around in her father’s bearskin cloak. She learned all about the gods of her people, she learned how to fight, how to use a sword and knives and became a great archer. She made friends and loved her father and mother. She might’ve been happy if her powers hadn’t surfaced when she turned fifteen. She started showing signs of possessing magic around thirteen, but one day shortly after her fifteenth birthday, her faerie side really burst forth. She was training with the other village youth when a boy she particularly disliked accidentally cut her thigh. She had been distracted by a flash of light from the woods, likely from a faerie performing some sort of ritual, and stumbled instead of blocking his swing. His sword was made with iron, and iron is poisonous to faeries so the gash hurt more than usual. The boy was elated that he’d managed to get a strike in, and kept coming at her. She tried to block him, but the pain in her leg was so harsh that she could barely focus. She staggered back until she fell to the ground. When she felt the intense pain of being cut, she cried out and some primal part of her raged to life. Her eyes lit up with a green light and the forest behind them began to rumble. Out of the trees came an abundance of animals. Wildcats, wolves, birds, snakes. With them came tree roots, and vines. They advanced to defend her, but there was no need. The others ran screaming back home. After the pain receded, the animals left and the flora slithered back into the forest. That’s how she earned the nickname Forest Shaker. That night as she was telling her parents what had happened, Aoife showed up. She told them that she was the girl’s mother and that she wanted to take her back to Faerie where she belonged. Of course Artair, Gala and Freya refused. Freya told Aoife that she was perfectly fine where she was. Artair told her she wasn’t going to take her anywhere and Gala informed her that she lost the right to be with Freya when she abandoned her in the forest.   When Aoife threatened violence, Artair beat her to the punch, and came at her with his golden sword. So of course Aoife killed them. And then she dragged Freya kicking and screaming into the forest before finally knocking her out and taking her to Faerie. Freya was raised as her mother’s prisoner almost. She was allowed to visit the human world only when Aoife needed things from there, and often could only stay for one or two human years. She was considered a dirty halfbreed by the other gentry faeries. While she felt more at home with the humans, they aged so quickly, and often she’d leave them and come back from Faerie only a year later to find things had completely changed. To make things worse, after her schooling was finished, and she started to become more and more rebellious, Aoife realized that Freya might try to escape one day. So she took Freya to Queen Titania of Seelie. She offered her own daughter as a servant to the queen, suggesting that because she was so skilled in battle, that she could be a valuable soldier. Titania accepted and Freya became a soldier for Seelie. Slowly she proved herself to be valuable, and as more unease in the kingdom arose, and enemies of the crown began to sprout, Titania appointed Freya as her personal assassin. Freya hated this so passionately that she tried to run away for good. She was caught, and dragged back to her mother and the queen. Aoife, fearing her daughter might actually end up managing to escape one day, suggested to the queen that she bind Freya to the throne with magic, so that she wouldn’t be able to leave without permission or betray her. Titania agreed and bound the curse physically by creating a swirling vine pattern on Freya’s skin. It burned like hellfire, but Freya could do nothing to stop it. Ever since she’s been forced to obey the queen’s commands, unable to break free. If she tried, the vines on her skin would burn agonizingly, stopping her from being able to think, much less act. She’s halfway between hope and giving up. But one day, she swears she’ll break the curse and do everything in her power to avenge her parents and take Titania down.

#freya #freya gunnulf #freya merrynight gunnulf #middleverse #middleverse oc #faerie #my ocs

[mochidoodle]

Houseki - 宝石

Since there’s been some curiosity about it lately, I’ve decided to officially introduce Houseki! Houseki is my original series made with the help of my faithful editor-in-chief @ukitakejuushiro​​​.

It all began with my first D&D character, a half-elf druid named Eizan Shen whose backstory I fleshed out over the past year. The story takes place in the elf nation of Liang (Chinese: 亮), meaning “light/brightness.” I incorporated my Asian heritage into a fantasy, magic-filled world brimming with all the classic (and favorite) fantasy story tropes. Sky-high towers and mages and dragons...a mix modern fashion with ancient Chinese wardrobes...and a set of unique customs built on Asian foundations. (ok now I sound like a chef on Chopped😅)

This explanation ended up hella long, so the rest is under the cut! I’m so happy people are curious about Houseki. It’s the culmination of my love for drawing, world-building, and storytelling (and anime ofc lol). Hope y’all enjoy my first original story!

The Kingdom of Liang

The prosperous Kingdom of Liang is a country landlocked on three sides, facing the sea on its west coast. It’s ruled by an oligarchy-monarchy mishmash I’ve yet to totally work out and three big political factions I won’t delve into too much now. The important thing to know is Eizan’s wife, Saya, connects him to the nobility because she’s the niece of the king. Her entire backstory is a wild ride involving a dispute for the throne, “dishonoring” her clan, and finding a family for herself. 

For the most part, the main plot revolves Eizan and his job. If you’ve read MTNN by Matsui Yuusei, you’ll figure out exactly who inspired Eizan...in fact he’s kinda like a (slight) Pokemon evolution of my favorite MTNN character (lol oops...)

Anyway, for that reason, I gave Eizan a similar-ish job. (I’ll keep Eizan spoilers to a minimum here because the campaign I’m playing right now has yet to reveal his deets... but if asked, I’d be happy to give’em!) We follow his adventures and meet his best friend, Taizi (a human) and his brother-in-law, Chai (an aspiring mage). 

Due to a horrific 100-year-long war (appropriately named the 100 Year War), Liang experiences the aftereffects of rampant xenophobia. Nowadays, border relations are peaceful and the xenophobia is minimal, but the bitter aftertaste of intermittent racism and elf elitism remains. 

We get a dose of this in Taizi’s backstory — Taizi and his human family were immigrant beggars rejected by the locals until Eizan’s father offered them a home and helped them get back on their feet. Ever since then, Eizan and Taizi have been the best of friends, like brothers. 

Meanwhile, Chai, the snooty son of one of the biggest royals around, learns what it means to be the “non-elite.” He meets Taizi, his sister marries Eizan (a commoner and a half-blood), and he becomes a working apprentice at the local woodshop. His is a tale of self discovery, treating people with fairness, finding his own goals, and opening his worldview when he crosses paths with characters from all walks of life.

Jade

One of the most important customs in Liang is the symbolism of jade. Jade is the most sacred stone, symbolizing a lifelong promise between two (or more) people. It is a vow of friendship, family, love, and loyalty. Jade is not to be gifted lightly. Royals tend to have a family and/or individual ring made of jade.

Most, if not all couples, will exchange unique jade pieces when they marry. I call it “Trade a Jade” (˚▽˚) For example, Eizan gave Saya her hair clip and she gave him a set of earrings. Sky gave Yuri a beautiful hair ornament, and she gave him jade chevron ear cuffs. (Couples do trade other items, but these happened to be similar gifts.)

Magic

The theory of magic in Liang is based off the number eight, representing harmony and balance. Mages use “anchors” to connect themselves to the natural energy of the world. While magic theory/technique may vary geographically, Liangese magic always utilizes eight anchors. A gate between the first seven anchors and the universe is established using your soul anchor (the eighth pillar, one’s own mana). The first seven are elemental anchors (fire, earth, water, etc) which draw power from the natural world. The stronger the mage, the purer the magic, meaning one can draw a greater quantity of power with a better connection.

Gemstones — houseki (宝石) — are used to enhance the channels established by anchors. Certain jewels even have elemental affinities. Stones with high purity resonate strongly and channel the best magic. 

Fun fact: If you take away the hat-shaped radical in the first character of Houseki, you get the word for “jade”...! 

Connecting to different anchors produces different spells. For example, combining several elements provides complex magics like telepathy and foresight. Using only one type of anchor creates create pure magic, such as straight up fire or water spells. However, magic is not produced out of thin air — it requires a trade of the user’s mana for the world’s energy. A spell’s strength still depends on the caliber of mage, not just what anchors they use.

Magic tools are very common. They use magic batteries made of gems/metal ores or simply rely on the user’s mana. Inscriptions and magic circles establish anchors if none are enchanted into the gems. High quality magic tools are made of metals with high magic compatibility. The more common items made from regular steel, stone, and glass include thoughtography radios, magic-infused cameras, and quartz crystal TVs.

Additionally, healing is possible by accessing life element anchors (found in your soul anchor or in organic objects) to summon sheer life force energy. Liangese healing magic is very advanced to the point where one can conduct brain and open-heart surgeries. However, the usage of certain magics is forbidden without qualification. Medicinal magic is limited to certified clerics, and alchemy is strictly prohibited unless you’ve graduated from the capital’s School of Alchemy. 

Note: Much sketchy underworld business revolves around black magic, illegal alchemy, and magic weapons trade.

Basic spells are taught in grade schools, but not everyone has strong magic affinity, so mastery isn’t a requirement. Most children continue on to a regular university, vocational school, or magic academy if they don’t enter a direct apprenticeship following primary education. Easy spells are frequently used in daily life to simplify tasks. For example, one can check the quality of materials or speed up certain processes using analysis/trace magic. Cooking magic is an entire art on its own, and very difficult to master.

There are laws banning time-altering magic and revival of the dead, but very few ever violate them. This is because these spells never end well. You can land in an eternal time loop or accidentally create a soulless, man-eating zombie. And then you die.  While spells that save someone on the brink of death in exchange for one’s own life force do exist, you cannot bring back the dead. 

There is only one exception to this, and even that singular instance required hundreds of years of research and preparation, not to mention the cost.

Finally, certain noble clans specialize in different magics, often attaining mastery of multiple disciplines. I’ll save that for a different post, but for now, just know that the Cheng Lis are primarily fire, alchemy, and space/time mages. Eizan is good with earth or plant-based spells (aka he has a great green thumb!)

commissioned art by Ling

Plot (???)

The plot of Houseki is still a work in progress. I have a general outline that I keep adding to as more ideas come. I’m writing out the fine details/arcs, which will include the dark underbelly of the royal world, black magic, a threat to the nation, the secret to life (?), and the truth behind the throne. Love me my cliches hehe~

Here are some character facts you might find interesting! ...okay, yes, my cast is like 90% one royal family and I have terrible naming sense (I legit named Taizi after my fave badminton player) but here ya go!

MAIN CAST 

Eizan Shen: A half-elf druid created for my first ever D&D campaign hosted by a friend! He’s a huge family man and an avid tea enthusiast. Very calm, levelheaded, and specializes in handling a knife...or many knives. (I don’t know where he keeps them...😨) Eizan gives off ultimate dad vibes and his most treasured thing in the world is his family.

Saya Shen: Eizan’s wife, a full elf born to one of the most powerful royal clans. She was supposed to be the first princess of Liang, but was disowned by her family when she rebelled from their ideals and married a commoner (and a half-blood, to boot). She’s an incredibly strong woman both mentally and physically, but also one of the warmest, most loving characters in the series. Oh, also her biceps are made of steel.

Chai Cheng Li: Saya’s little brother, a young mage prodigy who specializes in fire magic. He’s a tad snooty and arrogant, but at heart just a nerdy bookworm who loves magic. He grows up admiring his sister, feeling heartbroken when she “abandons” him and leaves the family, but later rediscovers himself and in his journey to become king. 

Taizi Ying: Eizan’s childhood friend. He and his family were immigrant beggars shunned by the locals until Eizan’s parents offered them a place to stay. After his parents died of illness, Taizi made it his life goal to repay the kindness that Eizan’s family showed him years ago. He becomes the greatest swordsman in the nation and earns great respect despite the human blood in his veins. 

Dae Ongaku: She is spunk in the form of a small elf girl, the one and only Dae. Head apprentice of the Shen Woodworking Company, her skills are nearly unrivaled. She’s known for her contagious smile, eccentric love of cheese, and her liveliness. It really isn’t a day without Dae Ongaku. (Character inspired and written by @ukitakejuushiro)

Sky Silvers: A cool and aloof elven ranger who befriends Eizan during our D&D campaign, later residing in the Shen household temporarily before he becomes a disciple of the greatest archer in Liangese history, Hanzhen Cheng Li. In the future timeline, Sky also ends up falling in love with Han’s daughter and marrying her. (Sky belongs to @ukitakejuushiro, and is her player in the campaign.)

Hanzhen Cheng Li: Youngest brother of the king and Saya’s uncle. Known far and wide as the One-Eyed Archer, Han is the strongest archer in all of Liangese history. He lost function of his left eye in the 100 Year War, hence his nickname. His wife passed away due to cancer, but thanks to my incredible plot armor (backed up by a decent magic theory), she will come back to life. They’re the cutest shit you’ll ever see, so I have absolutely no regrets. Best decision ever.

Yumiko Cheng Li: Han’s beloved wife, a cute little lady with a head of fluffy chestnut hair. She died approximately 75-85 years ago due to an incurable cancer, but I brought her back to life because Han was too lonely and I love her to bits. She is pure sunshine, the actual greatest good in this world.

Just look at this...how can you say no....

Yuri Cheng Li: Daughter of Han and Yumiko. Like her parents before her, she is a skilled archer, and her personality is a perfect mix of the two. She has a passion for fashion, art, and teaching, but her emotionally tragic past hinders her confidence and her relationships. Fortunately, she meet someone who helps her becomes brave again, and fate aligns just right :’)

Hokuzhen Cheng Li: We should finally introduce the King of Liang himself, shouldn’t we? Cheerful and easygoing, Hoku is a kind and intelligent king. He’s very perceptive of the state of the nation, while also keeping up with “hip and cool” trends much to his daughter’s dismay. He can be somewhat clumsy, often tripping over his massive robes. A good man with one too many dad jokes...

Alishan Cheng Li: The Crown Princess of Liang, named after the literal Alishan mountain range of Taiwan. She’s Hoku’s daughter and Saya’s cousin. Ali is polite and well-mannered but not particularly adventurous or motivated. She knows for sure that she doesn’t want to inherit the throne. Oh, and she loves food (especially mantou) ♫

Bonus:

Wakamori Yakaze: A spirit mage from the western island country of Kouhaku. Yakaze is Sky’s first teacher and Han’s best friend. Though he doesn’t appear in Houseki’s main plot, he’s a main character in Han’s spinoff story, which will rejoin the final timeline of the main series. Yakaze’s tale is one of angst and hopelessness and his journey to someday becoming whole again. Personally, I believe his friendship with Han is unrivaled, far surpassing both love and life. Keep an eye out for him in YUMI TO YA —弓と矢  (Yakaze belongs to @ukitakejuushiro)

ANTAGONISTS

Yan Wu Seigi: A cunning mage who runs an underworld spy network. He is the head of the Seigi clan (and political faction), but his heinous actions in the 100 Year War dishonored his clan, and they were stripped of their status. His sly methods and ulterior motives drive the underlying plot behind Houseki.

Akagi Kanshikan: Yan Wu’s adopted son. Akagi lost his family to a house fire when he was young. He grows up a wild, obsessive, and unstable youth who craves social intimacy but doesn’t know how to achieve it. His love for violence and lifelong training as an assassin don’t help much either. He meets Eizan during their school years and plays a large role in one of the more devastating arcs. 

Jimo Kanshikan: Akagi’s younger sister, a small, emotionless, and cold assassin. Trained to be a killer since her formative years, she is fast and deadly...but somewhere deep inside, she wishes Yan Wu would show her fatherly approval and she seeks warmth from her sibling(s). 

Shanmu Seigi: Yan Wu’s only biological daughter, a wicked poison enchantress who adores mind games. She supports her father’s regime but also has an evil plan of her own. The shame of their clan drove her to mother to madness, and Shanmu’s hand in her mother’s demise explains why she has become so twisted. Shanmu is a recurring antagonist who cleverly slips beyond reach of the law.

Hayazhen Cheng Li: The eldest Cheng Li brother, Saya’s father, and formerly the Crown Prince of Liang. He was once a benevolent man to his loved ones, but after an unfortunate plot twist, he begins seeking vengeance in the form of cruelly grooming his heir. Hayazhen is a key national figure and maintains strong influence behind political tides. 

Asuka Cheng Li: Hayazhen’s wife, mother of Saya and Chai. She supports her husband’s endeavors regrets her inability to help Hayazhen make wiser choices. Instead, she blindly takes his side, thinking it was the only way to support him. 

Junzhen Cheng Li: A stingy, arrogant second Cheng Li brother. He’s just straight up mean and rude, no holds barred. But no one gives a damn about him either lol.

SUPPORTERS & FRIENDS

Setsuna Reifan: A renowned healer who spearheads the movement for workers’ rights and class equality. She becomes an important ally to the main cast. 

Ichirou Reifan: Setsuna’s son, a member of Eizan’s team. A really average joe. Pleasant to be around, but not very interesting.

Hyouka Tsaomei: A quiet, sweet girl who specializes in illusionary magic. She loves strawberries. Her name means strawberry. Will kill for strawberry shortcake. 

Qiuzhen Rin Koori: Magic forensic specialist who only likes three things in this world — coffee, candy, and sleep. It pains him to get out of his chair, and it’s near impossible to extract him from his magic lab. 

Old Nao: Headmaster of one of the military academies in the capital. A kind man, but also incredibly ancient.

Torisu Bia: One of the Ongaku Daily Sun’s best political journalists. Doesn’t sleep much, loves to write, and gets her nose into sticky situations every now and then. Uncovers a great conspiracy.

Osamu Raisan: A bard of the royal court who plays the shamisen. Something about him is particularly ethereal and all-knowing...

Maikku Shantian: Another bard of the royal court. He sings. Loudly. A very popular bard amongst the populace. 

Layla Zanabaq: A local florist in the capital’s most immigrant-populated town, where Eizan and Saya live. Has a huge crush on Maikku. (Inspired and created by @harunnn)

Shu’un & Ranshao: Two of Chai’s university friends. The first is a salty little mage who uses familiars, and the second is the token idiot who only knows how to use explosion magic.

Paiya Yoon: Dae’s childhood friend and rival. She moves into the capital when she finds a new job there, rekindling their competitive friendship. She’s named after a papaya. Yes, you heard me, a papaya. (Inspired by @kyahgamis​)

Rem: Sky’s eternally sleepy childhood friend. Even while holding a conversation, there is a 99% chance he is asleep. May or may not be a ninja, but you didn’t hear that from m—

Collie: An archery kouhai from Sky’s youth. She looks up to him a lot and she flaps her ears when she’s excited, as if she might try and fly away. Collie is often mistaken for a boy.

Ra: A very Extra™ healer who has 100% faith in his skills (as should you). He calls people by their full name all the time (a power move), doesn’t skimp on eyeliner, and has known Sky since his village days as well. (Rem, Collie, Ra by @ukitakejuushiro)

FAMILY 

Ezi Shen: The plucky, curious daughter of Eizan and Saya! She adores the color pink and loves bows of all kinds: bow ties, ribbon bows, bow tie pasta, you name it! Ezi is quite the fearless little adventurer and one should consider it an honor to be invited to her weekly tea parties.

Daizan Shen: Eizan’s father, a master woodworker who owns the shop where Dae works. He’s a strict but fair man who earned great respect amongst fellow craftsmen with his hard work and skills. He and his wife serve as the liaisons between local mixed-race business and the corporate elf society. 

Meihua Shen: Eizan’s mother and Daizan’s wife. Though she was born to elite elven family, Meihua pursued her dream of being a seamstress. She now owns a beautiful dress and tailor shop. Despite being a pacifist, Meihua’s incredible intelligence was needed at the end of the 100 Year War, and she temporarily served as the head military strategist.

Tian Cheng Li: The only daughter of the previous king and sister to all of the Cheng Li brothers. Tian is an absolute riot who turns proper princess stereotypes on their heads. She is the root source of Saya’s spunky nature, the rebellious and boisterous Cheng Li aunt. 

Hayano and Irino Cheng Li: The notorious family twins, Tian’s youngest sons. They are the most chaotic duo of memes elves you’ll ever meet. They always have their hair dyed one wacky color or another. Lately it’s been orange (Hayano) and lavender (Irino). 

Hokkaia Hibari: Saya’s maternal grandmother, a very loving and tender woman who taught her grandchildren how to read and write. When the family dynamic turned sour, the children sought comfort in Hokkaia. She taught them to hope and dream :’) 

The Ongaku Family: Dae’s family of two fishermen, a navy boy, and the editor-in-chief of the Ongaku Daily Sun. They’re frequently so busy with work (coastal fishing, deployment, running the newspaper, etc) that they’re often absent from the household. As a result, Dae practically lives with the Shens nowadays.

Rei, Jun, & Maeno Cheng Li: The rest of Saya’s cousins. Rei is the oldest, an elegant but stiff woman. Underneath her guise of propriety, she seems lonely, like she just wants to have fun and be friends. Meanwhile, Jin is her stuck-up asshole of a little brother, a true snob. Don’t give Jin time of day, ever — it’ll get to his head. Finally, Maeno is the benevelent older bro of Tian’s twins. He has a soft, round stature and a warm smile.

Sei Ling Zhou: The former queen, mother of all the Cheng Li siblings, and the most renowned healer in history. She’s known for her quirky attitude and snarky clapbacks, having once turned down the proposal of the last king himself. Sei Ling will discover a never-before-seen spell that could very well be considered the “secret” of life...

Akira and Kawano Cheng Li: Akira is Junzhen’s wife and mother to Rei and Jin. She married into the family forcefully, desiring access to their magic libraries. Akira is not a stranger to getting what she wants. Kawano is Tian’s husband, a calm and steady man to balance out her spontaneity. He comes from a family that owns a fruit import company.

CUSTOMS

Jade: As mentioned before, the jade stone is the most precious and worshiped gem. Recklessly gifting jade would tarnish one’s reputation and belittle Liangese culture. Of course, they are understanding of mistakes, especially when foreigners are just learning about their customs.

Festivals: Liang has four big seasonal festivals — the Lantern Festival on the summer solstice, the Lunar Dance Festival in mid-autumn, the White Tiger Festival on the week of the new year, and the Jade Horse Festival on the spring equinox. People gather to pray to shrines, dance and sing, eat good food, and visit their families. 

Tournaments: Similarly, Liang also has four seasonal tournaments called “Medals.” Winners of the Medals, appropriately called Medalists, are recognized as the greatest master in their respective fields. (Minor competitions also occur, but these are the big ones):

There is the Swordsmanship Medal, which lasts five days and ends on the summer equinox (the day the Lantern Festival begins).

The Ceremonial Dance Medal in mid-autumn, which perfectly coincides with the Lunar Dance Festival. 

The Archery Medal on the winter solstice.

And finally the Horsemanship Medal during the spring equinox.

(all statistics are approximate and not quite final yet!)

Mastery of Arts: In Liang, mastery in any field (magic, arts, athletics, medicine, etc) is a very respected achievement. Oftentimes, masters are the older folks, hence why elders are held in high regard. An important plot point involves Taizi achieving mastery of the sword and winning the Swordsmanship Medal, defying classism and racism, and becoming one of the youngest and most respected masters of his generation. 

Market Day: A day-long event akin to an Asian night market or western farmers’ market. Shop owners, farmers, and restaurateurs gather in the central marketplaces of large and small cities alike to sell their specialty items. It’s a day to celebrate food and advertise your best goods! 

PLACES

Hisui: The capital. It has a circular layout and lies in the western central region of Liang. The Royal Palace sits at its center, hugged by a river that comes from the north. The Inner and Outer Capital are areas separated by the imaginary circle drawn by the river. This line divides the government and business sectors from the smaller residential districts.

Hayashi: Saya’s main hometown growing up. An industrial city slightly northeast of the capital.

Bing Harbor: Han’s city of residence in the northwestern province. It is Liang’s biggest port town, and thus the “gate” to the western world. Bing Harbor is known for its beautiful winter landscapes and seamless escape into vast forests.

Huamao: Eizan’s hometown, where he met Taizi. Known for its peaceful gorges, clear pools, and beautiful small cascades. 

Mountains: The mountain ranges surrounding Liang are classified into three different regions, each with their own specialty resources (i.e. mountain ore, lumber, etc). They are home to a few aboriginal clans. 

Huen: The southernmost Hisui district. It has the highest immigrant and non-elf population in the capital. This where Eizan currently lives. 

Haretsuki Lake: A large lake shaped like a crescent moon crashed into the sun. It lies in a valley to the southeast and has much historical relevance.

Here is a vague, incomplete map of Liang (still a really rough draft so far, and not quite the shape I want it to be...):

As you can see, I have great naming sense (´∀｀；) I either name on a whim or I throw in references to my family in some way or another... Anyway, I plan to change the shape and layout a bit. I’m not quite satisfied yet...

In conclusion... 

That...was a lot. If you made it this far, holy shit? Thank you?? Feel free to check out my Houseki tag and ask questions and just...please talk to me about my OCs omg I’m so excited ( ๑>ᴗ<๑ )

This is kinda my first big original “project.” I’ve always wanted to do something like this and I’m super excited to share it. Most of it’s on my personal docs or in chats with Danie, but I will share it all eventually! And I’ll update the (very unfinished) Houseki blog with all the formatting and plot, so stay tuned!

#houseki #about houseki #mochi projects #AHHH so I finally wrote up this WHOLE THING and it's ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE #if you're curious and have lots of time to spare #PLS CHECK IT OUT AND TALK TO ME ABOUT MY OCs #special thanks to my houseki editor @ukitakejuushiro #BLS TALK TO ME ABOUT MY OCs huhu ;w;

[whitehorsetiger]

Locked Away-the full fic

Fandom: Voltron

Pairing: Klance

Rating: E

Word count: 7.9 K

Summary: The full fic of this

Keith has been locked away in a tower his entire life, waiting for his destined prince to come, kill the dragon and rescue him. It's a boring life of monotony and staring out of the window while wishing to explore the world. When he gets his first ever visitor in the form of the elf Lance, his entire world changes. Finally, he can hear stories of the outside world, learn what life is like outside of these four walls, explore himself and find out what he really wants.

“Now now Keith, are we reverting back to childish tantrums? You’re eighteen now, you should know by now how to behave,” the patronising voice of one of Keith’s guardians said, looking around at his ruined room.

Keith ignored her, arms crossed as he stared at the wall. 

She tutted, “Giving me the silent treatment are we? I thought we’d moved past this.”

No, they hadn’t moved past this, they’d never move past this. He was a prisoner here, no matter how nice she pretended to be, no matter how much she pretended to be on his side, it changed nothing.

With a wave of her hand, the entire room reorganised itself. Tables and chairs righted themselves, feathers flew back into pillows, the ugly-ass drapes fixed themselves and hung themselves back up. Within seconds the room was back the way it was before Keith had destroyed it, he preferred it destroyed.

“I brought your favourite as well,” she said.

She placed the basket she was carrying onto the newly repaired table, smiling. It creeped Keith out. 

“Now then,” she said, “That’s much better isn’t it?”

No, no it really wasn’t.

“We can’t have this place looking like a mess now can we? Not as The Day draws closer and closer,” she continued, “Remember you must make a good first impression.”

Keith’ frown, somehow, became even deeper.

“Now then, I will see you tomorrow pretty one,” she said, with that same damn creepy smile.

Keith groaned after she left, sliding down in his chair to stare up at the ceiling. It hurt like all hell, but he didn’t care. There was a slight popping sound as Shiro appeared in his human form in the centre of the room.

“Urgh, she creeps me out,” he said, crossing his arms.

“Imagine having to have actual contact with her,” Keith grumbled looking at him. 

“No thank you,” Shiro said with a shudder.

Keith let out a long breath, staring into the empty fireplace.

“Ooo,” Shiro said, “She brought my favourite.”

“Help yourself,” Keith said, “I’m not hungry.”

“You alright?” Shiro asked, resting a hand on Keith’s shoulder.

“I just, I’ve had enough Shiro, enough of this tower, enough of this room,” Keith grumbled, “I’m sick of it.”

Shiro let out a long breath, squeezing his shoulder.

“Yeah,” he said, “To be honest, the land around your tower isn’t particularly interesting either.”

Shiro was the dragon that Keith needed ‘rescuing’ from. In truth, he was Keith’s only friend, the only person, well creature, keeping him from going completely insane. Unfortunately, neither of them had any more stories to trade. A bowl of food was shoved right in his face, waving back and forth. Keith glanced up, rolling his eyes at the stupid smile Shiro was shooting him.

****

Maybe he should get another hobby, Keith hummed as he tossed his dagger into the air, to catch it before he was impaled. Getting a hobby though, would mean having to talk to his guardians, ask them to get him some stuff. Even if he asked, there was no guarantee he would get anything, after all he wasn’t even supposed to have this dagger.

A loud roar from outside caught Keith’s attention, looked like Shiro was seeing someone off again. He could go look, but that would mean moving and there was a very interesting stain on the drapes above his bed. There was a lot of shouting, so, a group of them then. It didn’t matter though, there was apparently only one weapon that could pierce Shiro’s scales, that was in the hands of Keith’s destined prince. It was a bit of a surprise when a grappling hook hit his windowsill, pulling taught.

Today couldn’t be the day could it? Shiro couldn’t be dead? There was a loud roar and no, he wasn’t dead, why was someone climbing up his tower then? Tightening his grip on his dagger, Keith jumped off the bed. He stood beside the window, waiting for whoever it was to get up. Shiro had stopped roaring, he must’ve chased off whoever it was. Why then, was he letting this person climb the tower.

A hand grabbed the windowsill, the second following and then a body was hauled through. They were covered in a ragged-looking cape, mucky boots resting on the still before landing in the room. He waited until they’d taken a step into the room, he didn’t want to accidentally push them out of the window, before grabbing them by the front of the shirt. There was a panicked yelp as he slammed them against the wall, holding his knife to their neck.

“What the hell!?” a masculine voice said from under the hood.

“Who are you? Why are you here? What did you do to Shiro?” Keith snarled.

“What?” he asked, “What…the…hell?”

Keith huffed, “Who are you?”

“Who are you?” the person shot back.

“I asked first and you broke into my room,” Keith replied, pushing the knife a bit harder into the man’s neck.

“Ok, ok, geez, I’m Lance,” he said, “Please move your knife.”

Keith moved it away slightly, he didn’t really want to cut the poor guy. Well, without a good reason too.

“What are you doing here?” he said.

“I’m hiding,” Lance said.

“You’re what?” Keith said, “Why?”

“I’m hiding from some guards,” Lance sighed, “Look I’m not really supposed to be in this kingdom alright?”

“What?” Keith asked, “Why not.”

Lance let out a huff of breath, “Look, I’m an elf ok? If you just let me go I’ll be out of your hair.”

Keith blinked, loosening his grip slightly.

“You’re a what?”

“An elf dude, you never heard of an elf before?” Lance said.

He reached up, pushing his hood away from his face and Keith had to stop his jaw dropping. My god, he was hot as all hell, not that Keith had many people to compare him too. Keith’s mind seemed to have gone completely blank, this was getting awkward, he needed to say something.

“Your ears are strange,” Keith said.

Idiot, why did he say that? What was wrong with him? Yes, his ears were long and pointy, but he didn’t have to say that! God, now Lance was upset, damn it, idiot.

“Elf dude, e-l-f, ears are perfectly normal, have you never seen an elf before?” Lance said, glaring.

“No,” Keith said, “I haven’t.”

“I suppose if you’ve grown up in this kingdom,” Lance sighed, shaking his head,

“Anyway, I’ll head off in a bit, just need to wait for the dragon to chase of those guards.”

“Wait, yeah, how did you get past Shiro?” Keith said.

“Shiro?” Lance tilted his head to one side, “Oh, you mean the dragon? I asked if I could hide out here and he let me.”

“Why are you hiding from the guards?”

“I told you, I’m an elf,” Lance sighed, “Now could you please move your knife.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Keith growled, pressing the dagger a little harder.

“Did you grow up under a rock or something?” Lance snorted.

He was awfully cocky for someone with a knife pressed up against his jugular.

“I grew up in this tower,” Keith grumbled.

“Wait, you’ve never left this tower?” Lance said, “You’re kidding right?”

Deciding he was an idiot, but not a threat, Keith lowered his dagger, taking a step away.

“No,” Keith said.

“What? How?” Lance said.

“I’m not allowed too,” Keith said, crossing his arms.

“Wait, wait, wait, you’re being kept a prisoner here?” Lance said, walking towards him.

“Being kept what?”

“Prisoner? You’re here against your will?”

“What? I mean its boring and I do want to see the world,” Keith paused, “But I will, once I’m rescued by my prince.”

“Right,” Lance drawled, “Because that’s definitely going to happen, they’re just going to let you go see the world.”

Keith faltered, because that was right, he didn’t know what would happen after.

“Whatever, the guards are probably gone now, so you can leave,” he said, huffing, “Why are you even in this kingdom if you’re not supposed to be?”

Lance began to laugh, shaking his head.

“I’m a traveller, a little thing like that doesn’t bother me,” he shrugged, “Where’s the fun in not taking the risk!”

“You’re crazy,” Keith said, crossing his arms, “Absolutely mad.”

“Maybe, but this place has a lot of interesting things too see, I’m not missing out on them,” Lance shrugged.

Keith glanced over at him, Lance was looking out of the window, probably to see if the guards had gone. Something he’d said stuck in Keith’s mind, piquing his interest.

“What things could be worth the risk,” he asked.

Lance looked at him, smiling, Keith was once again hit by just how hot he was.

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe, there’s this waterfall that looks like diamonds,” he said, walking over.

****

Keith wasn’t sure how long they were sat there, then again time never really mattered in his tower. He could listen to Lance talk for hours, as it turned out, there was a lot Keith didn’t know about. He’s pretty sure Lance was exaggerating some of his stories, they sounded too fantastical to be true. He didn’t care though, it was the most interesting thing that had happened to him…ever.

Suddenly a large black muzzle appeared at the window, rumbling lightly.

“You should go,” Keith said, standing up, “My guardians will be coming soon and you don’t want to be here when they arrive.”

Lance nodded, “Alright then.”

He stood up, walking over to the window.

“Lance,” Keith called, the other man turned, “Could you, come back again? I’d really like to hear the end of that story.”

Lance smiled at him, “Of course, I don’t mind, maybe I’ll bring my friends around at some point.”

Meeting more people, the thought made nerves bubble in his stomach. It would liven up his boring days though.

“Alright, that could be good, just, don’t come at sunset,” Keith said, “That’s when my guardians arrive.”

“Ok,” Lance smiled, “I’ll see you.”

“Yeah, see you,” Keith said, watching as he hopped out the window.

He watched out of the window as the other man wandered around the tower a bit, calling something out. Suddenly a white horse appeared out of the forest, the two greeted each other and Keith couldn’t help the soft smile appearing on his face. Lance mounted the horse, riding off into the forest, Keith hoped he would be back. Glancing up, Keith took notice of Shiro laid a short distance away. How the hell a dragon could give him a smug smile, Keith didn’t know, but Shiro managed it.

“Shut up!” he yelled, Shiro’s smile got smugger.

Keith sighed, crossing his arms and glowering.

“Fine, thanks for letting him past.”

Shiro shrugged, before laying back down. Keith rolled his eyes, making his way back over to his bed.

****

Keith didn’t want to talk to her, he didn’t, but he had to know.

“What will happen? After I’m rescued,” Keith was surprised he managed to keep the irritation out of his voice.

“Oh? Finally taking interest in your destiny are we?” she said, “Good, good. Well, you’ll be taken to the palace where the two of you will be married and live together there for the rest of your days.”

Keith blinked, staring back at his hands. So, it looked like he’d be going from being a prisoner in this tower, to a prisoner in a palace. Great, this was just fantastic.

Read the rest on ao3

#voltron #klance #laith #vld keith #vld lance #fanfic #fantasy AU #locked in a tower

[verenhale-blog]

introducing VEREN HALE! at age TWENTY-THREE, of MALE ELF origin, born in FERELDAN && best known as AN INQUISITION SCOUT; HE has just recently arrived at skyhold. they seem to be a MAGE, their known traits include ALTRUISTIC, FACETIOUS AND GUARDED; and they stand with the inquisition. played by: [m , 22 , gmt , she/her]

your typical street rat, veren was born a city elf to an escaped elf slave. he spent most of this time learning to steal, learning to hunt, learning to climb and to fend for himself. at five, his mother’s sickness burned through her and she was gone. 

at puberty his magic began to fully manifest and he drifted closer and closer to being possessed through the fade.

he was found by a maester a week after he’d been attacked by some human boys, the sepsis had already started to set in and he was feverish. the healer worked hard to draw out the sickness in his blood, it very nearly killed him. the deal was struck once he was lucid. maester caius agreed to let him work off his debt.

they travelled often and as his affinity to the healing arts flowed from the scarred and calloused hands of a beggar boy. he no longer merely ran errands and followed as a ward. he was a healer’s apprentice, with a nose for mischief mind you but a hard worker nonetheless. he knocked himself out almost six years into this apprenticeship trying to heal a man of burns with magic that would have killed him in the night, he has no idea how close he was to losing everything. 

once it became clear that his magic could no longer contain itself he stole away in the middle of the night and searched endlessly for someone to teach him, the circle had never been an option, he ended up an apostate. he witnessed a tranquil ceremony as a ten year old and felt the mage’s power ripped from the world. templars had always felt a threat to him but that moment was something he could never, ever forget. 

it is a dangerous thing to be this close to the inquisition and the thoughts of being caught hound him day and night but he knows that he must use his healing gifts where he can. he has always had a natural affinity to healing magic, once accidentally healing a felled dear once he’d pulled the arrow from her flank, however, he also has reasonable control over storm magic. 

he loves his work with the scouts, though it is often cloaked in misery and hardships it is worth every moment to him. usually near the tavern messing about and being a sarcastic lil pain in the ass, carries twin daggers that he used to use before his magic came through. 

APPEARANCE

he is heavily tattooed, both arms and across his collarbones meeting at his clavicle in strange designs. he has an unkindness of ravens stretching over his left shoulder, a life tree, the world serpent curling around his right forearm, a lunar moth, certain medicinal herbs all woven in with complex runes. most of his upper body is covered.

his left ear has two silver hoops through it near the point, the other is almost always shielded by his hair. when he was 12 years old and still a beggar some older human boys held him down and attempted to cut off his ear, there’s a large scar from this which just reaches the hinge of his jaw and the ear itself is severely misshapen.

he would often wear many layers, leathers and furs all cobbled together with things he’s made and things traded or acquired. leather thronging laced with beads and feathers trailing down one arm, a rabbit femur bone necklace layered with several pendants, an obsidian arrow head, an old coin, a rough-cut emerald dipped in bronze on a chain. thick rings laid with crushed pyrite. he has a leather roll full of herbs that he keeps at his hip, a pestle and mortar attached to his belt and a wineskin full of pure snow water amongst his usual doctoring kit with needles, tweezers and a sickle for gathering herbs. nearly always wears his hood up.

now he’s part of the inquisition he finds the uniform rigid and misses his many layers, he still wears his hood and tries to hide beneath his layers irregardless.

he always wears a scarf at his neck which is actually a casting cloth that he uses to divine for people who he is drawn to. he has a small pouch of either runes or objects that people can choose to cast with pieces of bone, a small marble, shells, a tiny key, gems, stones amongst other assorted bits and pieces or they can offer their own if they have a touchstone. he usually does a basic casting so asks them to pick three objects they’re drawn to to represent past, present and future. he never presents himself as someone who can predict anything but he is just showing you where you are at your precise step in your life, from there your decisions effect your path. its all about possibilities.

the bite of stitches, a cool palm to a feverish forehead, the scent of saddle leather, snowflakes caught on your lashes, the thick paste of a herbal poultice, the comforting weight of a hood drawn over your head, a raven’s caw, the metallic tang of drawn blood, the scratch of a quill on parchment, morning dew wetting your ankles, the soft click of a bag of runes, the stillness of the world the moment you take the first step into fresh snow, sinking into a pile of warm furs, the press of steel at your throat, the golden warmth of healing magic.

yoo im m!! if you wanna plot hmu or feel free to like this and i’ll come to you. i was so excited to find a dragon age rp in the tags honestly. 

#skyholdintro #help i cant intro

[desolate-rose]

Chapter 10 the outside world part 2

I had known that there would be consequences for my actions.

I had known, and yet it still hurt.

Daddy always said- my first dad used to say I was too sensitive.

My mind was in a contradictory state of slow molasses sadness and vibrating lightning anxiety.

I knew I shouldn't have made myself stand out. I was so dumb. I'm a giant idiot who has no control over her impulses and can't think her way out of a paper bag.

Why did I have to be so stupid and go do some thing dumb like read way before most children could string a full story together.

God why did I think this was a good idea I should have just-

"Little bird? What are you doing down there?" A lyrical voice broke through my thoughts as my mother crouched down to look at me.

I scrambled to sit up straight and wipe my face, accidentally bumping my head on the stone above me and sending a fresh wave of pain induced tears.

Shortly after I turned two, I was moved out of my first nursery by my parents' rooms into a suite of my own, it was almost identical in structure to the original game Zelda's room, which in retrospect was to be expected but at the time surprised me. But more importantly, the suite had a spiral staircase leading up to the second level the underside of which made the perfect hiding spot for someone as small as me. I just had to crawl to the back where it was so small that no adult could reasonably reach. I had gathered up my blankets and hidden back here when Dottie had set me down for a nap, not expecting anyone to be able to bother me.

Yet here, only a few feet in front of me, was my mother. She had somehow managed to shimmy her way around until she could almost reach me.

"H- h- how did you f- find me?" I hiccuped through my tears, trying to compose myself. It wasn't that big of a deal. I had just been stupid and hadn't thought things through. I was being stupid, and I knew there were going to be consequence.

I furiously swiped at my tears, stupid toddler body! Couldn't withstand the slightest pain or emotion without crying.

My mother scooted herself a few inches closer before reaching out for me. "Dottie told me you had a rough day today," she soothed sympathetically. I sniffed pathetically trying to pull myself together, "It's nothing." I mumbled petulantly, still sounding far too weepy. "I'm being dumb."

My mother had finally gotten close enough to reach me and grabbed me to pull me into as much of a hug as she could give me laying flat on her stomach trying to avoid hitting her head on the stairs.

"Oh baby, you're not being stupid at all! It's perfectly normal to be upset when someone says something mean about you!" she snuggled me further, pulling me closer. "Besides what do those stupid solders know! They're just jealous that they're not as smart as my little genius!" Her voice went up in pitch and she rubbed her nose against mine making me give a little hiccuping giggle.

"You dont think I'm weird?" I slapped my hands up to cover my mouth. I hadn't meant to say that. I shouldn't have-

"No!" she replied firmly. "And if any one says differently, Mommy will break their faces!"

I couldn't help but laugh at that, my new mom always had a way to calm me down. A silly little grin came to my face at the idea of my beautiful delicate mother beating up the two bulky soldiers from before. "Really?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Of course! If someone messes with my baby, I'll bite them" she snapped her teeth playfully at me, before standing up with me in her arms.

I squeaked in surprise, at some point during the conversation she had managed to squirm from underneath the stairs with me caught in her grasp.

"I know just what will cheer you up! How about you go with mommy and daddy on a little adventure?"

"An adventure?" I couldn't help but ask, curious despite myself. "Yup!" she popped the P, sounding excited.

"Your father and I have been working too hard lately. I think a little excursion out of the castle is just what this family needs."

"Outside!" I gasped, I had never really been outside the castle before. It had been too dangerous to take the baby princess outside the safety of the castle walls. Besides what reason would I have for going outside?

"Yes little bird! Outside! How about we have a little picnic?" mother hummed striding out of my room and down the hall toward her office.

Again i rushed to straighten myself up, my face was probably puffy and red and my clothes were all rumpled from how i was curled up "Mommy i don't look…" What's the word for presentable in Hylian "...nice?" Darn toddler vocabulary.

"My little bird always looks nice." "Moooommmyyyy," i whined trying to rub the tears from my eyes. "hush baby no ones going to care if you look a little messy and if they do I'll set them straight." I harrumphed grumpily. People already think I'm weird, I don't need them thinking I'm messy too. "It'll be fine little one, you worry too much."

"Illa!" Mother slammed the door to her office open. "Yes my queen" granny didn't even glance at my mom. "We are going to go out today."

granny finally looked up from her paperwork, her clever eyes quickly darting first to assess my mother then myself. before smoothly sorting her papers and rising to her feet. "Yes my lady, where would you be wanting to go?" mother glanced out the window, "Today's weather would be perfect for a picnic in hyrule fields." Granny hummed, "I will have the kitchens make you a basket, and alert the appropriate people of the change of schedule, might I suggest the area just south of the sacred grounds? The view of the plateau is lovely."

Granny paused in her preparations. "Will your husband be joining us?" "yes could you send him an invitation to join us?" Granny nodded sharply. "Of course my queen, I will have everything sorted shortly, would you like me to call Dahlia to change Zelda into some more appropriate clothing?"

Dahlia? Oh wait, that's Dottie's real name right?

"It's ok, you can have her collect the basket from the kitchen. I'll change Zelda."

Everything was happening way too fast. Before I knew it, everything was collected and a party my mom, my dad, dottie, granny, and at least 5 guards had all gathered at the stables to set off for our picnic.

Now the thing people don't get about horses is how big they are. Conceptually, people are aware that horses are big, sure, but there is a big difference between knowing horses are big, and seeing this 840-2200 pound monstrosity and having the top of your head barely line up with the lowest point of their back. Now imagine that for a three year old.

I eyed the creature warily.

I'm barely 31 pounds soaking wet and 2 feet at my tallest. this thing is 3 times my size.

Now I like horses. I had even taken a few riding lessons in my last life, but right now?

I am far too squishy and small to get within stepping range. it could squish me like an ant.

I tugged on my mom's skirts, never taking my eyes of the monster casually munching on some hay. (it was the same colour as my hair would it be tempted to eat me?!) "Mama can walk to the pic- pic-" Ugh, words. "Outside food instead."

"Aww is my little bird scared of the nice horsey?" I tried to give her a deadpan look. it didn't work from the way my dad was attempting to hide his smile, curse my cute chubby baby cheeks! "it could fit my entire arm in its mouth." dottie muffled a snicker from somewhere behind me. I generously decided to ignore her.

"Don't worry little bird! carrot is a nice horsey! do you want to feed him!" "didn't i just say he could eat my entire arm? why would i put it anywhere near him?" my voice was rising toward the shrill range but that wasn't important.

Ignoring my protests, Mother scooped me up and held me out toward the horse like some sort of sacrificial offering. Do horses eat hylians in zelda? "why don't you give him a pat!" so this is how i die again isn't it? death by getting eaten by a herbivore, at least ill get the hylian equivalent of the darwin award.

Hesitantly I raised my pudgy baby fist, (it was packed fat and would be very nutritious) and gently, GENTLY, patted the top of his head before quickly drawing my hand bracing for a snap of teeth. the animal's ear barely flinched as he continued eating regardless of the weird creatures around him.

Well now I feel silly.

"He's not bad… i guess." I allowed graciously. I was a big girl, I could admit when I was wrong.

"Great let's get going then!"

Wait what!

I squeaked in alarm as suddenly I was on top of the horse with my mother's arms holding me steady.

I tried to hold myself as still as possible while mentally hyperventilating.

What I wouldn't give for a seat belt! The only thing keeping me from falling to my humiliating death where my mother's thighs and the single hand that held me to her stomach.

I could finally look the rest of the contingent in the eye at my height but that wasn't worth the danger I was facing. My estimation for hylian parenting is steadily sinking as no one offers any protest to my mothers actions beyond mounting their own horses.

Mother was going to have to seriously bribe me to make up for this travesty to responsible adult behaviour.

As I stared, open-mouthed, at the cheerful colourful fantasy medieval city surrounding my home, I magnanimously decided to forgive my mother for her lacklustre care of my person.

Castle Town, (yes that was its name- silly i know.) was a bustling trade centre filled with diverse peoples. And I do mean diverse; there were the elf-like hylians, the exaggeratedly feminine Gerudo, a bird-like race I was guessing were the Rito, the rock-like Gorons, and the aquatic fish people I think were the Zora.

I was honestly stunned stupid by all these differing peoples who lived and worked in castle town, quite a few of which had gathered along the side of the road to watch the mini parade that was following my family. I had known, theoretically, that the Hylians and Gerudo weren't the only peoples in hyrule but I wasn't prepared for how inhuman these other races looked. I wasn't human now. I knew that, but Hylians had still looked human ENOUGH for me to ignore it most of the time. Besides the ears, eyes, anatomy, and clear skin Hylians looked human. Gerudo were similar in that they were mostly human looking beside the features they shared with Hylians and their exaggeratedly feminine physique.

But the other races?

I could not pretend the Rito, the Zora, or the Gorons were human.

The Rito were the most human in the end, looking like what a human would look like if we had evolved from birds instead of apes. beaks instead of lips or noses, wings in place of arms, claws instead of feet, an odd mixture of feathers covering the majority of their body and hair on the back of their head.

The Zora were equally if not more odd, their torsos were longer then their legs, gills along their ribs, a embarrassing lack of covering clothing and a more confounding lack of lower anatomy. odd fish/shark looking things on top of their heads with fins and tails falling on the sides and back of their heads the base of which replaced their noses. as one Zora called out a cheerful greeting to the small royal precession i caught a glimpse of startlingly sharp teeth.

The Gorons didn't even look vaguely human. they were literally living borders with heads and limbs!

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

"Having fun little bird?" My mother chuckled, still holding me firm to her.

I nodded dumbly, eyes caught on a particularly colourful Rito who had jumped to fly over a trio of baby Gorons who were rolling away from their frustrated caretaker.

"There are so many different peoples." I breathed, stunned by the sheer diversity of my new home.

"Isn't it beautiful?" My mother murmured in my ear, swinging a soft gaze from a laughing hylian couple to a pair of Rito and Gerudo furiously arguing over the price of fish. "Zelda this is what I- what WE work for." And as I looked up from her shade, she seemed to be illuminated by the noontime sun. "My little princess, one day you're going to be queen, and you're going to be responsible for all of this." She gestured outward with one hand the other holding me firm. "For all of them."

And as the corona of light illuminated her face, I was spellbound. So this is what charisma looks like. so this is what a leader- a QUEEN looked like. new resolution bubbled in my soul, coursing through my very bones like lightning and warming my spirit with the blazing fires of resolve.

I WAS going to help my mother.

I WAS going to learn sealing magic.

I WAS going to save my people.

By the time the burning vigour had faded from my veins we had arrived at our destination, and were in the process of unloading and setting up for the single fanciest picnic I had ever seen. While the location- a large field at the edge of a small forested glen with a platform in the middle- was pretty and semi appropriate for a picnic, the picnic itself was in simple terms, ridiculous.

Dottie had laid down a ridiculously expensive looking blanket made out of what looked like silk with beautifully embroidered birds and flowers. Granny had placed the fanciest looking basket down and pulled out a tiered silver serving platter with tiny fancy little sandwiches and desserts. Three of the soldiers had set off to clear the perimeter, another was handling the horses and the last soldier was standing alert next to the far too fancy set up weary eyes scanning for threats.

This was… was this even a picnic even more? I thought picnics were supposed to be simple?

Hmm yea no I don't want to be looking at this any more.

"Mama can I go play in the… trees? I've never been in trees before!" Is there a hylian word for forest?

"The forest sweetie?"

"Yea that."

"I don't know…" Mother glanced worriedly at granny and father "Aren't you hungry little bird?"

"Not yet mommy but if i play then I'll be hungry. I'm always hungry after I play!" I looked pleadingly at her before she sighed and gave in.

"Ok little one, but stay within the trees and don't wander too far." she fretted looking nervous. i mentally rolled my eyes, moms can be so overprotective.

"Anderson." my father barked, startling me and catching the attention of the soldier tending to the horses.

"Yes sir." He snapped to attention, poster perfect.

"You guard the princess. Zelda, stay within eyesight of the guard alright." my mother sighed relieved, smiling at father while the soldier answered in an affirmative. I take that back, dads can be so overprotective.

"Yes Daddy. Come on Mr. Soldier Man, the forest isn't going to explore itself!" I commanded eyes firmly set on getting away from my overbearing parents.

The forest was beautiful.

The air was clean, the birds were singing, and the only disturbance in my serenity was the clanking of the solder trailing behind me scaring off all of the little creatures.

I glanced back and hummed, he did look pretty menacing, hmmmmm.

I plopped myself down in the grass and started picking small wild flowers. perhaps a daisy chain will soften his menace?

"Princess?" The soldier queried worriedly. "Are you tired? Do you want me to carry you back to your parents?"

I shook my head in the negative "Nope! Im gonna play in the flowers? You want to join me?" I aimed my puppy dog eyes in his direction. Hopefully he would sit and stop clanking so the birds would come back.

"Ummm, princess i don't know if-" i ignored his hesitism turning up my pout. "Pleeeeeaaaaaasssssseeeeeee?" I whined. Please sit so I don't have to listen to you creak like a rusty door hinge.

He let out a helpless sigh before flopping onto the ground metal clanking and clanging, scaring the few remaining birds away and crushing some of the flowers she was planning on using. Ugh, thanks for that.

"I'm going to go pick some more flowers, hold my work for me." I dumped my half way finished flower crown in his lap. "Princess?"

"Stay here I'll be right back."

"Princess!" He yelped trying to straighten himself out caught in his own armor.

"Don't ruin my work!" I called as I hurried off in search of more flowers.

Now usually this would be a dumb move. A small important child wandering away from their caretaker in the middle of the woods! Sounds like the start of a horror story right?

But these woods were about the size of two soccer fields and thin enough that i can still easily see my parents laughing and chatting in the distance.

Flowers, flowers, flowers-... flowers? Flowers! There! Sitting in the roots of a large tree were some pretty bluebell looking flowers. Perfect! As I rushed toward the blue blooms, I noticed something odd out of the corner of my eye. Was that a… rock?

Huh. That was a large grey rock on the top of the trunk of a tree beside the one in which the large flowers were growing. Huh.

It kinda reminds me of...

KOROKS! Those are a thing here!

I spun on my heel to face my new far more interesting quarry. I wonder if I can see koroks?

In the game link was the first to be able to see koroks in over a hundred years. I'm not actually the Zelda but maybe I could see them because I know they exist? Maybe they work by fairy rules? You need to believe to see? I am still a child.

Eh, I'll never know unless I try.

I rolled up my sleeves, kicked off my fancy little toddler shoes and tied my skirt back. Let's see if I can climb this tree.

Huh this actually isn't all that hard. I managed to monkey scramble my way up into the branches and stare curiously at the strangely placed rock ignoring the frantic but hushed calls of the soldier who was supposed to be watching over me. Well I guess…

I huffed, shrugged and heaved to flip the rock over, and in a small explosion of leaves and sparkles suddenly a giggling creature was there.

"You found me!"

I started in bemused awe at the adorable little leaf creature in front of me.

"You can see me! Most people can't see me!" the little creature verbally beamed from behind its little leaf mask.

Huh.

"Well here's a reward for finding me!" The little creature dropped a lightly glowing seed in my lap.

"Usually I would expand the inside of something by a little bit but you don't have any bags or pockets, next time you find a korok make sure to have a bag or pockets ok!" the little leaf continued ignorant of my stunned shock. I did not expect there to actually be a korok.

"Make sure to look for us! We like to be found!" I mean what. Seriously what!

"Bye!" "wait!"

And just like that the little fae was gone.

"Princess where are you!" the solder was sounding a little desperate now, i should probably go back. I carefully stuffed the seed down my shirt and dropped out of the tree straining up.

Now let's give this poor man a break. "Over here! Look at these pretty flowers I found!" I cried, rushed over to the pretty blue flowers I spotted earlier. These flowers would look lovely in my mommy's hair.

"Princess! Don't do that! You scared me nearly half to death!" the solder sighed hurrying to my side. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!" he sighed in relief. "And nearly gave your father a reason to sack me." he muttered his breath, my new elf ears clearly making out his murmured sentiments. "Do you still have my flowers?" "huh? Oh yes here!" he replied handing over my lopsided and slightly mangled flower crown.

Picking the large flowers I used one to quickly tie the flower crown closed, "sorry mr. solder man. i made you a flower crown!" I tried to divert his attention away from my little escape act. "Let me put it on you!"

He was clearly struggling over what to do now, hurt the little princesses feelings by refusing her gift or hurt his pride by wearing a flower crown. "You're gonna look really pretty with it on, i promise!" I wheedled, widening my eyes into an expression of cute expectation.

"Ok princess." he sighed kneeling down to accept his new accessory. Mission success!

With my newly decorated soldier, a handful of pretty flowers in hand, and a mysterious seed down my shirt I decided that this excursion so far had been a resounding success! Now to show the fruits of my labor to my mother.

"Come on Mr. Soldier Man! I want to show my flowers to Mommy." I dashed off, ignoring the yelp the soldier let out as he jumped to follow me.

"Mommy Mommy look what i found!" the small party of my mother and father and their various employees such as dottie granny and another soldier turned their attention to me.

"What did you find baby?" she asked, setting down one of the ridiculously fancy looking little sandwiches.

"I got you some flowers!" I cried practically shoving my quarry at her, Ignoring the smirk the other soldier was giving the poor sap I decorated.

"Oh thank you!" she blessed me with a radiant smile "Oh! You found some blue nightshade!" Wait, I think I remember something like that…

Wasn't it that plant that glowed in the dark and made you sneakier? Oh wow! I found my first magic plant! ( Ignoring the korok and the seed it gave me.)

"I also found a seed!" I enthused, stuffing my hand down my shirt ignoring my father’s sigh and muttering about impropriety. I was three he could deal with it.

"What is that?" my mother murmured staring in bemusement at the softly glowing pod in my hand. Oh good she can see it, I was worried I was going to have to make up some imaginary game to explain away pretending to have a seed.

"It's a seed mommy! Can I plant it in my room?"

"I don't see why not, I'll have Dahlia get you a pot for it when we get home." She scooped me up into her lap, "Now why don't you eat? You’re surely hungry by now."

"Ok Mommy!" I enthused, messily digging into the snacks in front of me, once again ignoring my fathers indulgent sigh.

I'd say today has been a resounding success!

Also on FanFiction.Net! https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/10/

#botw #princess zelda #zelda #botw fic #botw oc #zelda botw #loz botw #breath of the wild #the advertable inevitability #t.a.i #inevitability

[ivanaskye]

y’all need Elrond fic pt. 2

(second chapter of this bc I’m unstoppable. once again I’m sorry @ ppl who follow me for my original work and aren’t prepared to drown in elf fic,,,, I’m so sorry)

The stars, the stars, the stars!  I have always loved them, and yet to see them now is somehow a greater joy; which reminds me to ask Elros if he feels the same of the sun, and of course to remind myself now is to remember, to remember completely.

How strange and yet how right it feels to remember each and every thought!  Eternal, eternal, not even death can forever take me, for it is told that those who are killed yet become reembodied after time in Mandos’ halls—not even death, not even death.

I trace each and every star with my mind, and they sparkle, they all sparkle, it is a joy to see even though I saw these very same stars yesterday, in the very same place.  But they shine, they shine, they seem to be brighter than even sunlight for their nature of standing out against the dark, white and yet not-white, occasionally blue, each of the many words for white my native tongue holds and so much more as well.

Oh, to know that I will never lose them!  For a cloudy spell, sure, but not entirely, not until world’s breaking.  Oh, there will be nights and nights and nights, and it will not end—

—and I sigh, for though I love each and every once of these thoughts and hold them like precious stars in their own right, they would be far truer and brighter if I could speak them.  But Elros must be sleeping, he must be, it is so late now and even I should be dreaming and yet am not, for the stars draw me to the present moment too strongly.

And yet, and yet, would that I could speak these things, would that I could!  

The very words I think echo in me, their memory eternal: and they are mine, oh how they are mine!  My very desire for someone to spend the long and shining night with, to exchange stories with without end, stories and songs and tales by a fire—oh, how me that is!  And I will always remember.

It makes me smile, even though I’ve come to this thought by way of a desire that might, had my thoughts gone down different paths, brought me to sorrow—but then, I’ve chosen the joy over the sorrow always, have I not?  That is my way, that will be my way through all this world, holding tight to each moment I encounter, loving, loving, just as Elros predicted and wished for me.

My brother … well!  I do not want to disturb him, but there is some chance he is sitting outside on his own anyway, perhaps gripped by an inability to sleep; of course I hope for his sake that he is resting as he should, but if he isn’t…

I stand up and shake my head at myself.  My thoughts echo to me in my brother’s voice, which is of course also my own: oh, Elrond, you insufferable—I smile to think it, more than I was already smiling, enough for my cheeks to hurt.

What a convenient thing that my Kindred cannot develop wrinkles!

I laugh at myself at this thought, and remember the very stars that shine above me, that I was looking at mere moments before.  I laugh and my laugh becomes a song, something old and remembers from childhood, and it provides me company as I walk forward towards the sound of the sea.

I close my eyes in the cadence of the song, and it feels just like bright starlight, it feels just like the air on my skin.  I close my eyes and walk forward by the place we so often set our fires, past the grove of trees—yes, yes, I do not need to open my eyes to pass this, for I have walked here before, and I have memorized the places these trees grow.  Or, no, no, I have not memorized them, for that implies effort, but ah!  I will never need effort for such a thing again!

I only open my eyes as I come into sight of the sea, and though it is beautiful under the stars and dark of the night, I near instantly find myself close to tears.

Beleriand.  Beleriand, once.  And now, under that very sea.

And so I let my approach grow softer, not wanting to make sound against the sand as I walk, for it seems inappropriate to the mourning deep inside me.  I smile something sudden as I realize that this, too, comes easier than expected; I can soften my footsteps with a thought.  But oh, though I smile at it, I cannot make a sound of joy, for the very home where I once dwelled is under the waves, and never will I see it again, never with these eyes that hold memory forever.

I cast those same eyes back up to the sea and notice something I had not noticed before.  A rock, moving, with my exact proportions—

“Brother!” I cry out, my joy at companionship overriding my grief, or no, not overriding it, merely existing alongside it, I hold both so bright as to burn, and yet I do not burn, I endure.  Endure!  I am far too young to think that, I try to tell myself, as I run toward him, softening my footsteps only a little.

“Now look who isn’t dreaming,” Elros says quietly, without bothering to turn his head to me; he doesn’t need to, I know the smirk on his face just from his words alone.

“I could say the same of you,” I say, sitting down beside him in one motion that I have every reason to believe is graceful.

“And yet you sounded so pleased by it.”

“Well,” I say with an exhale.  “Yes.”  Sadness carries into my voice; I know this.  “And also, seeing you here, I suspect I know what you are thinking.”

“It is rather obvious,” Elros says.

“Mm,” I say, nodding.  I close my eyes and imagine that all the rivers now drowned by the sea whisper in my ears.  “It hurts, does it not?”

“It does,” Elros says.

Almost without thinking I stretch my arm to my side and open my hand; and before I know it, he’s grabbed on, and oh—oh—oh no, he is sobbing.

“Brother,” I say.

“Home,” he chokes out.  “Now gone.”

“I know.”

“It is so hard to stop thinking about,” he says, and his hand tightens around mine.  “So hard!  How am I to bear this loss, brother?  How?”

I have a thousand answers, but I know without saying them that they are Elf-answers, and their very inapplicability to him is why we are different now, is what separates us in our souls.  He is mortal, but it is not because of that that he cannot bear loss so easily.  No.  It is the exact reverse.  It is because he cannot bear it that he chose mortality.  He has not said this to me, but then, he has not needed to.

But too much time has passed without an answer.  “Oh, Elros, brother,” I say.  “You know I cannot give you that answer.  Not in such a way that it could become your answer, as well as mine.”

“I could hear you say it,” he says, distantly.  “All the same.”

“I cannot guarantee that would not hurt more,” I say.

And he disconnects his hand from mine, and he says, “You are right.  Do not tell me now, then.  I do not know that I could bear it.  But nor would I have you keep it from me forever, not when I suspect you have so much more to say.”

His acceptance of this hurts, and the pain is sharp—and of course, I will never forget it.  Which is exactly what he cannot bear.  For him, the stars are not enough, the air is not enough, the leafs in the trees are not enough to offset all these moments that hurt.  He never could have been like I am now, he never—

“Brother?”

It is only by his asking of this question that I realize I am sobbing, my head leaning towards him.  I raise my eyes to him, somehow, but oh, he cannot see my face, or likely he cannot, it is too dark for his eyes—“Yes?”

He shakes his head slightly.  And without him quite saying it in words, I catch in him: what a strange response to a question that was not a question.  You do not need to ask ‘yes’ to a word spoken only in concern.

The speech of thoughts: yes, it seems we still may share it.  That is good to know; I had worried somewhat that we would not.

“Do you remember,” I find myself saying, “that Maglor said I smiled too much for a child of war?”

Elros smiles at this.  “I know what you’re going to say next,” he says.

“He said you carried the sorrow for us both, but not needlessly; that your carrying of it was why you spent so much time drawing up plans for a better world.”

“He was right, you know,” Elros says.

“Of course I know,” I say, and my words feel somehow the same as the tears that fall down my face.

“And I know that you do.”

I squeeze Elros’ hand then let it go so that I may hug him; it seems that I now do this often, now that I understand I have a finite number of chances.  “You will do so well, brother,” I say.  “When you lead your people as you intend to, when you make something of a part of the world set aside for you.  You will do so well.”

“And you, brother,” he says, and the pressure of his arms feels so light that I can almost imagine that I can feel the way his feels his own mortality, as freeing, which of course I do not understand through my own self, but maybe I can understand through him, “you, your smiles will carry light and warmth that would have otherwise died with an age to those who need it most.  I daresay you may do better than I.”

“This was never going to turn out any other way, was it?” I ask.

“No, I suspect not.”

And because his thoughts are like mine echoed back, I breathe deep: for we are connected, entangled, and yet now also the opposite thereof.

“But you, brother,” Elros says as he releases his hold on me, and smiles, looking at me as if he can see me in the darkness although I know he cannot, although he knows I can see him, “you now, I suspect, need rest.”

“How can you tell?” I say with half of a laugh.

“Because all this talk we have just had, you’ve been repeating things you have said before, and though I may be Edain, it is not as if I did not grow up all my life around Elves.”

Accidentally, I grin.  “The way they—the way we—would slip into conversation about memory, again and again, when we neared a need for dreams.”

“Yes.”

“Maedhros was the worst, when it came to that, you know.”

“I know,” Elros says.  “And you’re doing it again, you do realize?”

I laugh; I hadn’t, quite, but it’s true.  “In that case I might fall asleep right here!  For certain definitions of sleep.”

“As if you could stop yourself from conversing with me long enough to.”

I laugh again: he does have a point.  “Then perhaps it is you who should seek a bed, and leave me to act reasonably and actually find rest of my own.”

“Perhaps,” Elros says, but he does not move to stand.

“The mourning prevents you from it?” I guess.

“You know me too well.”

“It never could have been any other way,” I say.

“You’re doing it again.”

“And you know me too—“

“Elrond!” He says, almost laughing.  “I stand by my statement that you need sleep!  Now, perhaps!”

He may be right; I can feel rivers and stars and leaves near me, underneath my perceptions, all my memories bright and vying to hold me, to rest me, to bring me peace—

—even the hazier ones, like the collected sense of the color of the sky over all the time of a summer, me and Elros playing among dry grasses, the sound of Maglor’s lyre in the distance as we poked and teased at each other—

—“Oh, good,” Elros says, and I realize that I am dreaming, and I feel the emotion of the house we lived in with our mother and I temper it with the more recent and less sad memory of running through a meadow, and it is all I can do to smile at Elros in a sleeping response.

“Sweet dreams,” he says.

Always, I respond in the speech of thought.

#silm #elrond #elros #will I ever be stopped? signs point to no. #again this is andie's fault.

[the-jade-cross]

Journey to Middle Earth - Chapter 7

Summary – What if JRR Tolkien never gave Thorin a love story… because the person that was meant to be Thorin’s was not yet born when he wrote the Hobbit? Sara journeys from her world to Middle Earth after an accident, with a mission. To change something about the Hobbit story… but she is not sure what. What she does not know is that while trying to prevent something from happening, something new might arise between her and the dwarf prince….even if it is not on the agenda!

Warnings – None, no explicit scenes, some kissing, violence, frightening creatures, mentions of abuse.

Pairings – Thorin Oakenshield x OC

Sara groaned. Would they ever stop running!? It felt like they were running forever across that open plain. Even the running in the film didn’t seem this long! Maybe it was because Sara was actually one of the ones running. It got even worse when the orcs began to chase them. Sara’s biggest fear was that Mason was going to try and chase the orcs and wargs but luckily, he stuck close to her.

Finally, they stopped at the familiar rock area which Sara knew was the entrance to the valley. So far so good.

“They’re coming!” Fili yelled.

Sara glanced down at the quiver full of arrows around her waist. Would it change the timeline and storyline if she shot a few orcs? Right? No? Yes? Oh, what the heck!?

Pulling her bow off her back, she loaded an arrow and shot. It struck an orc but not in a vital area…. but in a sensitive area.

Sara cringed and looked away from the sight.

“Nice shot!” Bofur told her, clapping her on her back.

“Interesting target,” Dwalin remarked, earning a clobber over the head from his brother.

Sara sighed, “I need a few lessons from Kili.”

She heard a faint chuckle from behind her and turned to see Thorin standing behind her, Orcrist drawn but an amused look in his bright blue eyes. Sara spun around to look at the orcs, hoping that he didn’t see her face turn red. What was her problem? Sure, Thorin was THE THORIN OAKENSHEILD, a dwarf from the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, an amazing character and warrior, one of the youngest, best looking dwarves, not to mention quite an accidental lady killer…. Okay stop Sara! Stay focused!

Shaking her head, Sara put another arrow on the bow and prepared to aim for another orc. She was just about to shoot when a gentle hand touched her draw elbow. Turning around, Sara saw that Thorin had touched her elbow with the hilt of Orcrist. Sara gave him a quizzical look.

“Lower your elbow,” Thorin told her, “Try to make it feel like your shoulder blades are touching.” Sara turned around and did as he said and realized that drawing the bow was ten times easier, not to mention her arms didn’t shake when trying to aim. She shot the arrow and this time it struck the orc…. In the abdomen.

“A little higher than last time,” Bofur remarked.

“Another few shots and you’ll have him in the head lass,” Dwalin teased, earning another box from Balin.

Sara rolled her eyes and didn’t even look over at Dwalin, “Might want to check behind you.” Dwalin spun around just in time to cut down a warg. The girl smirked to herself. Luckily she paid attention to the books and movies. This was fun!

“This way you fools!” the familiar voice of Gandalf called, earning everyone’s attention.

Thorin rushed to the hole and began to call the others. One by one they slid down till it was only Sara, Kili and Thorin out. Sara had begun to slowly inch backwards, still firing arrows but getting closer and closer to the entrance without taking her eyes off the enemy.

Dwalin slid into the hole with Balin close behind.

“Sara! Now!” Thorin yelled, dominance in his voice.

Sara didn’t obey immediately for she recognized that particular moment all too well and putting her bow back on her back, she drew one of her swords and without even looking, spun around and drove it into the scull of the warg that, in the movies Thorin killed but not this time!

She sheathed the sword and rushed to the hole, jumping in right after Kili. Thorin followed close behind.

When Sara struck bottom, she realized that she wasn’t exactly practiced in the art of falling down holes, so she landed on her back at the bottom but didn’t move in time when Thorin came sliding down, the dwarf prince landing on top of her.

Sara groaned not just from the weight but also the fact that the hilt of Orcrist was digging into her abdomen.

“Are you alright?” Thorin’s voice asked, rather close.

Sara’s eyes flew open, realizing who in fact was on top of her and how close Thorin’s face was to hers.

The girl swallowed thickly and nodded, “Could be better.”

She pointed towards her waist and Thorin looked down, realizing why he couldn’t seem to get his hand free. Turning bright red, the dwarf prince realized that Orcrist was wedged between the two of them and his hand, which still held the hilt, was pressing against the girl’s stomach.

“Right, sorry.” The dwarf prince climbed off of her before sheathing the sword. Sara sat up, rubbing the back of her head as Kili helped her to her feet.

“Great shooting out there,” Kili whispered to her.

Sara smiled at him, “Remind me to ask you about those lessons.” Just then, the elvish horn blared and all too soon Sara realized that she was in the way of the falling orc body and got run over by it. Kili helped the girl up while Thorin angrily tossed the elf arrow to the side. Sara walked over and picking the arrow up, wiped the blood off of it and stuck it in her quiver.

However, this didn’t go unnoticed by Thorin who gave her a pointed look as if to say ‘we will talk about this later’.

“I can’t see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?” Dwalin called.

“Follow it of course!” Bofur called.

As the dwarves began to shuffle off, Sara felt a strong hand on her shoulder and turned to see Gandalf standing over her.

“Just a moment,” he whispered.” The girl nodded and waited till all the dwarves had walked ahead till she and Gandalf followed.

“I noticed that you seemed unnerved or perplexed by something earlier Sara,” the wizard remarked.

Sara glanced over at the dwarves and Bilbo who were ahead before nodding, “Some things didn’t line up.” “Events?” Gandalf asked, his eyes widening.

Sara shook her head, “Things said. Up until a few hours ago, almost everything said has lined up with what had been said in… the stories back home…. But then in the woods before the wargs appeared, the wrong people were saying the things that someone else was supposed to say….”

Gandalf sighed, “It’s not that drastic my dear.” Sara nodded, “I know…. But it’s different… I’m afraid that if I alter the timeline too much, I won’t know if some things will happen or won’t happen and I won’t be able to make as big a difference.” Gandalf smiled, “Do you think that you cannot make a difference unless you know what is going to happen? My dear, it is a rare gift to know what will happen in the future. I never know what is going to happen, but I still am able to help people. It is just the same to you. Even if the timeline is altered, you will make a difference for the better even if it isn’t for the things you think.” Sara stopped and looked up at the wizard, “You mean…I might not be able to stop…. Some things from happening. Horrible things?”

Gandalf smiled fondly at her and patted her head, “It is not for us to decide what is to happen Sara. What we must do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us.” The girl lifted her eyes and slowly they widened. Gandalf noticed this and smiled, “What? What did I say?” “Something that you don’t say for at least 60 years,” the girl muttered.

Gandalf chuckled, “I’ll keep that in mind.” The two were snapped out of their private conversation by a loud voice, “Keep up!”

Sara jumped at Thorin’s demanding voice and began to pick up her pace. When she caught up to the others, Kili looped one arm through hers and began to pull her along, chatting about something that Sara barely understood. However, what she did notice was a pair of blue eyes staring at her with a confused, suspicious and almost agitated look.

******

Sara had skillfully weaved her way through the company till she was near the front with Dwalin. She knew what they were coming upon but tried to hold down her excitement. Dwalin paused at a turn to wait for the others who had dragged behind and chuckled at the sight of Sara trying her best to carry a lazy Mason who had demanded transportation.

“The dog is growing,” the large dwarf observed, “Soon he’ll be big enough to carry you!” Sara laughed as she caught up to Dwalin and waited with him for the others.

“Who knows, he might outgrow wargs!” the girl observed.

Dwalin reached over and scratched behind the pup’s ears, earning a happy growl from the pup, “I’m only guessing that he is a reminder… of the past.” Sara nodded, and her cheerful demeanor faded, “He is... but I wouldn’t call it a painful reminder. Its’ soothing to be reminded of my home and family every now and then. No amount of crying on my part will bring them back to life and I have mourned them for a while now.”

“I notice your hair wasn’t cut recently,” Dwalin pointed out.

Sara’s ears perked up at this, “I have actually heard of Dwarven customs on mourning… I wasn’t sure though if, since I am human, that I should follow your customs without permission.” The large dwarf smiled, “You are a part of the company lass and a fine one at that. You’re a part of the family now. It would be an honor for you to accept our traditions.” Sara’s face lit up and she fingered a lock of her long hair. “Then maybe I’ll cut it… as sort of a finalizing my mourning. It might make me feel better.”

Dwalin nodded before holding out his arms, “I could carry the beast for a while.” Sara nodded and handed off Mason who looked like a baby in Dwalin’s arms.

“He’s about as heavy as Kili was when he was a bairn!”

Sara chuckled before a thought came to her, “Dwalin… why is Thorin’s beard short? I assumed he cut it after his father and grandfather’s deaths but that was a while ago… and it would have grown out by now.” “You are very observant lass,” Balin said, having caught up to them. “And you are right. Thorin actually cut it recently after the death of his brother Frerin.”

Sara froze. She had forgotten about Frerin and had never known his death date. “Oh…. I’m sorry.” “It’s not your fault Sara,” Fili chirped, stopping to catch his breath, “Kili and I never knew him like we know Thorin. Thorin has been the best father, brother and uncle we’ve ever needed.” Smiling warmly at the boy, Sara gave him a quick comforting hug before changing the conversation.

“Do you think you could lend me a sharpening stone? My dagger has gone dull.” Fili nodded his head happily, “Sure thing! And I’ll give you those sword fighting lessons too!” Sara nodded happily before noticing that the others had caught up. Thorin, Bilbo and Gandalf were I the back but Sara noticed the dark look in Thorin’s (in case anyone was wonderingJ) pale blue eyes. Uh oh…. What did she do now?

Little did she know, Dwalin and Balin had also noticed the cold glare coming from the dwarf prince and exchanged knowing looks.

“I reached the end!” Bofur cried from ahead.

Sara’s face lit up and tearing her eyes from Thorin, she rushed with Fili and Kili to where Bofur stood.

When Sara’s eyes caught sight of the huge elven house atop the waterfall, she gasped. It had been beautiful in the movie but seeing it in real life reminded Sara that this was not a dream.

“The Valley of Imlandris,” Gandalf said, “in the common tongue it is known by another name.”

“Rivendell,” Sara muttered before she could stop herself.

She felt multiple puzzled eyes on her and felt her heart sink. Oops, she forgot that she wasn’t supposed to know what this place was.

“I read about it…” the girl muttered.

The dwarves seemed satisfied with her answer and didn’t ask further. Sara faintly heard Thorin’s argument with Gandalf and rolled her eyes. So annoying! Without thinking, the girl approached Thorin from behind so that he didn’t see her approach.

“But we have questions that need to be answered,” Gandalf was saying.

“Think about how annoyed the elves will be when they learn who their guests are,” Sara said casually, not really directing it at Thorin but more at the air itself.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Thorin demanded, turning to face her.

Sara smirked, “Dwarves are not exactly known for their good manners and patience.” Then, under her breath she muttered, “Nor their consideration for those who happen upon then when bathing in a fountain.” The girl smiled, remembering the embarrassing fountain scene in the film before Thorin’s hand found its way around her wrist.

“What was that?” he snapped, having not heard the last part thankfully.

“Nothing I cannot help knowing,” Sara replied simply, showing no fear before pulling her wrist out of his grasp.

The girl headed off to join the others who were heading down the hill and placed herself with Fili and Kili who at once took their places on either side of her, starting a conversation immediately.

Thorin watched her go, thoroughly puzzled and rather intrigued. What was it about that girl that refused to let him ignore her? Even when he wasn’t in her presence, she crowded his thoughts and haunted his dreams. Whatever she said always intrigued him if it didn’t agitate him first. She was like a magnet pulling him in a direction that annoyed him, but he couldn’t help but want to follow.

******

When the company arrived on the front stoop of the elven palace, Sara couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. Everything was so perfect and beautiful. She let out a giggle when she saw a flock of white doves near the edge of the platform. Walking over, she crouched down next to them and the doves waddled over to her, cooing.

Thorin watched the girl as she crouched on the pavement, holding her hand out to the white birds. One bird walked over and nudged its little head against her palm, earning a soft chuckle from the girl. Lifting the little bird into her hands, Sara nuzzled her cheek against its head, earning a soft coo from the bird.

The dwarf prince glared and clenched his fists. Of all things, a dove who had only been in Sara’s presence a little more than half a minute was closer to the girl than Thorin was!

Just when Thorin began to turn green with jealousy, the arrival of the elven warriors was announced by a blaring horn. The dwarves all crowded together but Thorin was aware of Sara who still was crouching but the doves had flown away in shock except the one still in the girl’s hands. She shook her head in exasperation and smirked at the defensive dwarves.

********

“Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain,” Elrond stated, snapping Thorin out of his musing.

“I do not believe we have met,” Thorin replied in a cold tone.

“You have your grandfather’s bearing,” Elrond replied, choosing to ignore the tone. “I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain.”

Thorin glowered, “Indeed? He made no mention of….”

Thorin never got to finish for at that moment, a soft voice rang out, catching everyone’s attention and interrupting Thorin from insulting the elf Lord. All eyes turned to see that Sara had gotten to her feet and had hurried over to the others but with the horses surrounding the dwarves and Elrond, she found it difficult and resulted in ducking under one horse’s belly to get through. Finally, she stood before them, slightly panting with the dove still in her hands.

“Do not say something that sounds like it would come from an enemy,” the girl whispered to Thorin.

Elrond turned to the girl and at once his face softened and he smiled, “And who are you my lady?”

Sara smiled up at the elf with a huge smile, completely fangirling in her head from finally getting to meet Elrond! “I’m Sara.” Elrond bowed to the girl who bowed her head in respect before Elrond began to say something in Elvish.

“What is he saying?” Gloin growled, “Does he offer us insult!?”

“No master Gloin he is offering you food,” Gandalf replied.

The dwarves quieted for a moment whilst muttering to themselves before they began to follow Elrond. Sara was about to follow but Thorin’s strong hand clapped his hand on the girl’s upper arm and held her back bending down to talk to her in a low voice.

“Stay away from the elves Sara,” he whispered.

Sara rolled her eyes. If only you knew!

“That is not very friendly of you Thorin,” she replied good naturedly, “They’re giving us a meal and a place to stay. The least you can do is trust them.” “I will never trust them,” Thorin hissed between his teeth but not at Sara.

Sara sighed and turned to face Thorin, still cuddling the dove to her chest, “Thorin, in case you completely forgot, Thranduil and the woodland realm were the ones who abandoned you and your kin when the dragon attacked and at Moria. And I do not believe Thranduil and Elrond are even related!” Thorin glared, “Then how come the Rivendell elves didn’t come and help?” Sara smirked, “Maybe there was another part of Middle Earth that needed help. You aren’t the only one who has had a hard time Thorin.” Thorin was about to come back with something sarcastic when he noticed that a shadow had passed over the girl’s face and she looked down, averting her gaze. Had he hit a sensitive topic. He remembered what she had just said and realized she was probably thinking back to her family. Oh shucks.

Sara turned away from Thorin and began to head after the others. Thorin reached out and was about to grab her hand to stop her but stopped. He had hurt her by letting his contempt of the dwarves get the better of him. He should let her have some space.

Little did he know, that was the last thing Sara wanted him to do but when Thorin did nothing to stop her, she quickened her pace and went to walk with a female elf to a spare room she had been given.

*******

When Sara emerged from the bath that had been drawn for her, she found a simple dark blue dress waiting for her on the chair of the bedroom. I wasn’t as long as some elven dresses and she noticed almost on the tough, warrior side but it was more feminine than the outfit she had been wearing so far. The girl pulled it on and then grabbed her hair. What should she do with it? She wasn’t an elf so she felt doing an elvish braid would seem strange and she didn’t know how to braid dwarfish, so she decided to do something… her.

Finding two hair ties in the small dresser in the room, she pulled her hair up and put it into two pigtail ponytails but tied them low and behind her ear, next to her jaw. Deciding that she was decent, she pulled her boots on underneath her dress, glad they covered them before heading out.

It wasn’t until she was halfway down the hallway when she realized that the hobbit films and books did not give a detailed map of Rivendell… how was she supposed to find the dining area? Then a thought came to her. She paused and listened intently for a moment before she heard the faint elven music and the chattering of dwarves to the left. Bingo!

Picking up her speed slightly to a more, non-ladylike pace, Sara found herself on the patio where everyone was eating. All eyes turned to her when she entered and the girl froze, suddenly very uncomfortable with all eyes on her. She was about to sneak over to where Fili and Kili were but of course, Gandalf had to appear in front of her and hold out his hand.

“You look lovely my dear,” he said in a gentle, fatherly voice, “come join us.” ‘Of all things!’ the girl screamed in her head, ‘I do not need my nerves to be shot by sitting at the same table as Gandalf, Elrond and Thorin!!!!!’

However, the girl couldn’t refuse when Gandalf began to walk back to the table. Silently she followed him but kept her eyes down. Elrond and Thorin rose when she approached, and Elrond pulled out the chair between himself and Thorin. Talk about being put in the center of attention!

Pushing her fangirling side out of the way for the time being, Sara sat down after whispering a thank you to the elf. She was hoping the three men would go back to their conversation and leave her be but of course, Elrond had to turn the conversation onto Sara.

“I noticed that the doves seemed rather taken by you,” the elf said in a kind voice.

Sara smiled, “Birds have always been a favorite of mine.” Elrond smiled at the girl and nodded at the creature who lay curled up next to Sara’s chair, “I can hardly say the same for your companion.” “Mason prefers to eat my friends most of the time,” Sara explained. “it makes it a little hard to not become hated by everyone.” Elrond let out a bright laugh before taking on a curious face, “Why do birds interest you so much my dear?”

Sara sat silent for a moment, thinking about the question. She moved the salad on her plate around with her fork before she set it down and looked at the elf, “I think it’s because we take them for granted when really in a way they are far above us in so many aspects.” Sara mentally cursed herself for saying that for at once, all three men had their attention solely on her. Gandalf was looking at her with a fond smile on his face, Elrond seemed greatly engrossed while Thorin just looked at her with a placid expression. Well, that was to be expected.

“What do you mean by that?” Elrond inquired.

“Well,” Sara began, “Birds have the ability of flight which is hardly something anyone of us can say about ourselves. They are constantly hunted down by larger animals and, but they always manage to never go extinct. They are so graceful and beautiful but even the most beautiful of birds are the strongest and bravest of parents. If more humans were like birds, I believe that the world would be a more peaceful place. All the birds desire is to live and raise their young. They never complicate things. They never try to take territory or destroy another animal unless that is their prey. I just see them as very powerful creatures for ones that people deem weak.”

Sara slowly looked up to see that Elrond and Gandalf were looking at her thoughtfully with smiles on their faces while Thorin was staring at her with a slightly gaping expression.

The girl felt her cheeks heat up suddenly when she realized that with Thorin staring at her with wide eyes, she could clearly see just how blue his eyes were.

The rest of the meal she averted her gaze from Thorin’s but what she didn’t know was that Thorin had clenched his sword underneath the table, trying to control himself. What was this girl doing to him?

******

Sara unrolled her bedroom next to where she knew Fili and Kili would be laying. They snored but not nearly as bad as the others, so she decided to park it next to them for the night. She dropped her bag on the center of her roll so no one would steal her spot before she called Mason and headed off to explore.

She couldn’t believe she was actually in Rivendell! The place that she fantasized about, the place she fangirled over whenever it appeared in the films…. the place where she would have loved to live if she had ever entered Middle Earth…. And here she was! Standing in the middle of the very elven kingdom!

Sara knew that about that time, Thorin, Bilbo, Gandalf and Balin were talking to Elrond about the map so she decided to explore while it was relatively pleasant. She noticed that Elrond seemed vastly intrigued by her and was afraid that he had guessed that she was from another world. So far, the only people who knew about her knowing the events of Middle Earth was Gandalf, though she was afraid that some of the dwarves were beginning to get a little suspicious. She needed to keep a low profile at least for now.

Walking away from any form of human living, she found herself in a dark garden that was only lit by the moonlight that reflected off of the fountains and pools. Mason would run through the bushes before returning, panting but a happy look on his face. The dog was growing faster than any normal dog would. Sara believed it was the Middle Earth air that was making him grow faster. Kind of like in Narnia whenever the kids appeared, and they would regain their strength incredibly fast. The girl smiled. She wondered if the dog would grow to be the size of a warg! Wouldn’t that be something!

The girl walked around, admiring the flowers and occasionally bending down to inspect a flower she didn’t recognize. She had learnt that very few plants in Middle Earth were similar to plants from her world. The only plants she knew that were similar were some trees, roses and lilies. So far, that was it.

The girl was just about to head back when she sensed a presence behind her. Spinning around, she almost collided with Lord Elrond who had appeared behind her.

“You have good hearing little one,” the elf remarked with a smile on his face. “Is the air of Middle Earth getting to you?” Sara stiffened. What did he mean by that?

The elf seemed to sense the girl’s discomfort and smiling fondly at her, he patted her head, “Gandalf told me about your other home. I must admit I sensed something different about you. I only hope no one else has.” “What do you mean my lord?” Sara asked, confused.

“You may call me Elrond,” the elf replied. “my lord makes me sound old.” Sara chuckled before Elrond continued. “You give off an aura…. Not a bad one but a mysterious one. I have never sensed anything like it, but I noticed that it seems stronger than it was this morning.” Sara frowned, “You mean that Middle Earth might be affecting me gradually?” Elrond nodded, “I believe so little one. I don’t know whether it is good or bad for your body… but you seem different than earlier. You appear stronger, more alert… and might I saw almost lighter on your feet.” There was a silence during which Elrond waited for the girl to drink this in.

“Do you perhaps think….” Sara whispered. “That I might be reverting to a race of Middle Earth?” “I doubt it,” Elrond replied. “Though, since you are not a human of this world but of another, it may be that you will develop and evolve into a race unknown to anyone of this world or yours.”

“But why?” Sara asked. “Why am I changing?” Elrond smiled and placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her, “The air here is different…. The gravity and just the very essence of this world is different from yours. I am sure that if we entered your world, we would change as well. It is like…”

“Like I am an alien from another world, and I am beginning to evolve to adapt to this world,” Sara finished, her voice low.

Elrond nodded, “Exactly…. Though I am not sure what an alien is.”

Sara smiled before furrowing her brow again, “Should I be concerned about it?” “I would be wary,” Elrond observed. “You may become stronger than you are used to. You have to be careful to not harm anyone by accident.”

The girl nodded before bowing to the elf, “Thank you for your advice. I should head back to the company.” The elf bowed to her before the girl hurried off, Mason on her tail.

When the girl came upon the dwarves, she saw that Bilbo and Balin had returned but no sign of Gandalf. Thorin was also there talking with Dwalin and seemed really ticked off. Obviously, his talk with Elrond wasn’t a perfectly pleasant one.

“So!” The girl chirped. “How did things go?” Thorin looked over at her immediately, “The elf was able to read the map. We have until Durin’s Day to find the entrance.” Sara widened her eyes, hoping to appear purely shocked even though she wasn’t, “But Durin’s day is coming!”

“Hey Sara!” Kili called.

The girl turned around and felt her heart drop to the soles of her shoes. Kili had found her sketchbook in her bag. Why was he digging through her stuff? Anyway, Sara rushed over and snatched the book away from him, only to see that he had found her most recent sketch.

“Is that who I think it is?” Kili asked, a pleased smirk on his face.

Sara’s face turned bright red and she glared down at the dwarf, “If you say one more word Kili I will cut your hair in your sleep!” “One more word about what?” a deep voice asked from right behind her.

Sara clapped the book shut and hid it behind her before spinning around to look at Thorin. She plastered an innocent smile on her face but Thorin wasn’t deceived.

“What did you draw?” he asked, eyeing her.

Sara swallowed and let out a yelp when she felt Fili grab the notebook from her hands and flip through the pages.

“Hey! There’s one of me too! What are we doing in barrels!?”

‘Oh, for the love of all that is holy!’ Sara thought in her head. ‘Why that picture of all of them!?’

Fili held the book up and showed everyone the colored drawing she had done of Fili, Kili and Thorin in the barrels. It was a goofy, comical drawing but if Fili flipped through more pages, he would see the picture that Kili had seen which was a drawing of Thorin…. One with intricate detail and effort.

“Interesting hobby lass,” Dwalin observed, peering at the drawing, “It’s amusing though.” Sara forced a smile on her face before snatching the book from Fili and closing it.

“Show Thorin the other one!” Kili cried.

Thorin snapped his eyes toward his nephew before looking back at Sara. The girl had gone beet red and was giving Kili warning glares with her eyes.

“Most certainly not!”

“What if I dare you to?” Kili snickered.

Sara gave him a deadpan look which made Thorin want to smile especially since it made Kili fidget uncomfortably, “I do not care about dares. If you touch this again, I am going to burn it.” “You wouldn’t!” Kili gasped, his mouth dangling open.

“I would,” Sara replied sternly. “And you cannot stop me.” “OKAY! I promise to never touch it again without permission!” Kili cried, wrapping his arms around her legs. “Just please don’t burn it!” Sara smirked before stuffing the book into her bag and closing it up. She sat down and rolled over, deciding to get some sleep. Kili promised to teach her archery in the morning. She was glad that no one had suspected why she had drawn the three dwarves in barrels, and she hoped they would forget it by the time they got to Mirkwood.

The girl was asleep in seconds but that was a terrible mistake. With Kili shushing him cautiously, Fili crept over and opening the girl’s bag, drew out the notebook.

“You promised lad,” Balin pointed out.

“I didn’t promise,” Fili observed. “Kili did. Besides, I want to see the other drawings.” With that, the two boys sat down and began to flip through the pictures. Most of them were amusing drawings of the dwarves and the two couldn’t understand why Sara had drawn them short and chubby but they had to admit, they were funny.

“Look at this one uncle!” Kili whisper yelled.

Thorin looked up and saw that it was another colored drawing of him clinging to a wall while Bilbo held out a small red dragon to him.

Thorin felt the corners of his mouth twitch up at how the girl had managed to draw such an innocent, amusing drawing of their dangerous journey… as if trying to lighten the mood.

“You’ll love this one!” Kili said, flipping through the pages to the last page before holding the book out to his uncle.

Thorin reached out and took the book, only to almost drop it when he saw what it was. It was a pencil drawing of him! There was so much detail and effort put into it that he thought he was looking at a reflection. It wasn’t like the colored drawings where they were short and chubby…. This was like the girl had meant to make it look just like him.

Thorin looked up from the book and over at his nephews who were wiggling their eyebrows at him. With a single glare from their uncle, the two stopped.

Thorin flipped to the next page and saw that it was a list. He didn’t understand most of the words for they appeared to be in the girl’s native tongue…. But he noticed that some of the words were in dwarfish and elvish. He was able to piece a few sentences together which all made his heart stop.

-Try to find out if my brothers made it to Middle Earth

-Don’t get yourself killed!

-Do not anger Thorin!

-Learn how to fight from Fili and Kili

-See if I can learn how to speak Kuzdul. Writing is handled

-Protect Thorin, Fili and Kili.

-Find answers

Thorin looked up from the book. The first thing on the list made his heart break. She still mourned her brothers’ deaths and was hoping beyond hope that they were alive. It was just like Thorin with his father. Everyone said Thrain was dead but Thorin wouldn’t give up. The girl was still rooting for her brothers even though there was a slim chance they were alive. What interested him was her desire to learn how to fight and speak dwarfish. There was nothing about learning how to speak elvish. Was it because she wanted to understand the dwarves better when they spoke in their native tongue…. Or was she purely interested in them and their culture?

What’s more… did Thorin scare her? Was that why she made a reminder to not anger him? When did he ever get angry with her? He didn’t remember ever getting upset with her…. maybe it was a future reference.

What really caught his attention was the part where she reminded herself to protect him and his nephews. Why would she do that? There were all the other dwarves, but she was specific by writing his name, Fili and Kili’s. Was it because they were the line of Durin and she feared that they were a target… or had she grown to care for them?

Sighing, Thorin got up and ignored his nephews’ pleas and returned the book to it’s place in her bag. He stopped, staring down at the sleeping girl. Crouching down he ran his fingers over her soft silky red hair and sighed.

“What are you doing to me?” he whispered in Kuzdul.

He returned to his bedroll and soon all the dwarves were asleep. What none of them knew was that Sara had been awake and had heard everything. She had been shaking from realizing that Thorin had seen her drawing of him and her list, but she mentally thanked herself for not writing anything suspicious in dwarfish or elvish. All the things she had written about her knowledge of the future she had written in Spanish, since she knew that they knew English. However, Thorin’s words stuck to her head. What was he talking about? Was he suspicious of her? The girl curled up tighter in her cloak, leaning into Mason’s back. Just a little crush Sara. It’s just a little crush.

*******

“Sara!” Omar cried. “Catch me!” Sara looked up from her Advanced Biology textbook to see that four-year-old Omar was sitting on the top of the railing and about to slide down. Sara jumped to her feet but 21-year-old Pierce had jumped in the way just in time and caught the little boy.

“Don’t you know any better Omar?” Peirce teased his little brother. “You’ll scare your sister before her time.”

Sara rolled her eyes before returning to her textbook. She was just about to close up when she felt a little tug on her pant leg. Looking down, she saw that baby Ryder had crawled over to her and was looking up at her with a mop of red hair and big wide eyes.

Reaching down, she scooped her little brother into her lap and the boy began to play with her long red ringlets.

“Rara,” the boy cooed, laughing at his name for his sister.

Sara smiled and hugged her baby brother, planting a kiss on his warm chubby cheek, “I love you Ryder.” “I love you Rara.”

“NO!” Sara screamed, shooting out of sleep.

She looked around. Where was she? Then she saw the sleeping dwarves around her, most of them sleeping soundly now and no longer snoring thank goodness. Rubbing her face with her hands, Sara sighed and saw that Mason had fallen asleep with his head on Kili’s chest.

Smiling, the girl got to her feet and quietly tiptoed off the patio. She didn’t realize that a pair of bright blue eyes had been watching her for the past fifteen minutes and still followed her even after she walked away.

Sara ran her fingers through her hair and took in a deep breath of fresh air. It was still dim out, but the morning sun had begun to rise and was lighting the world with a soft glow. Stretching her arms, the girl smiled at the sunrise and began to walk around the small pool that was next to the patio.

“If only the boys were here,” she whispered to herself. “They would love this! Omar wouldn’t know what to make of the dwarves! He wouldn’t sleep!” She giggled softly, trying to imagine the expressions on her brothers’ faces if they ever met the company. Gandalf… Bilbo…. Fili…. Kili…. Gosh! If they met Thorin, they would probably faint!

The girl smiled before it faded as tears pooled in her eyes. She fought hard to hold them back but that only made her eyes sting. She reached up to wipe them away when a voice spoke from behind her.

“Couldn’t sleep?” The girl swung around, forgetting about her tears to find herself face to face with Thorin. He looked like he had been up a while and even though he had been sleeping, his hair still looked perfect. His brow was furrowed in concern and the girl saw a glint in his eyes when he noticed the tears in her eyes.

“Did something happen?” He asked, taking a step toward her. “I heard you crying out in your sleep…. Was it a nightmare?” Sara shook her head and wiped her nose with her sleeve, “No…. It was a good dream… that was why it made me cry.” Thorin bit his lip, trying to not smile at the words. When he saw her reach out to wipe her tears, he grabbed her hand, stopping her movement. The girl looked at him quizzically. Thorin quickly swallowed the lump in his throat before reaching out with a gentle hand and wiping her face dry of tears.

“I know what it feels like to lose someone close to you,” He whispered. “To not know if they are alive or dead…. To search for them endlessly in the hope that they are somewhere to be found.” Sara smiled at him. He had no idea that his father was really alive…. How she wished to tell him but that might make some things go terribly wrong.

“Thank you,” the girl whispered, ducking her head to hide her burning cheeks.

Thorin stilled, retracting his hand hesitantly. He saw the girl turn to look at the rising sun and he had to bite his lip to keep from gasping. As the morning sun shone on her face, it lit her hair like it was fire and her eyes reflected the light. He had never noticed before how beautiful she was until he saw her standing there in a simple brown tunic and breaches, her hair a rat nest and her eyes puffy from tears. He was falling…. And falling fast.

“Back home…” Sara whispered, still looking at the sun. “My brother…. Ryder would wake me up long before the sun. Even on the days I didn’t have to get up early, he would jump on me till I got up.”

Thorin found himself smiling at the sound of the girl’s chuckle and how her eyes lit up at the mention of her brother.

“He would drag me onto the porch…. I would sit on the front steps with him on my lap…. Often times he would fall asleep on me but I would always wake him up when the sun rose so we could watch it together.” Thorin stalled. He tried to picture it. He could definitely see the girl sitting on the steps, her hair a mess from sleep, her eyes heavy but a smile on her face as she held her little brother in her lap, staring at the sunrise.

“Then he would ask me to sing him a song,” Sara finished. “He always wanted me to sing him a joyful, happy song in the morning so he could think of it while he was doing school. That way he wouldn’t get bored. He said he would try to do his schoolwork to the rhythm of the song.”

Thorin smiled as the girl’s voice faded to almost a whisper as she looked away from the sunrise to wipe fresh tears from her eyes.

“Will you sing this morning?” he asked softly.

Sara turned her head in his direction, her eyes widening in surprise. “You want me to sing?” Thorin nodded, “I have never heard you sing… and even if your brother is not here, he may still be able to hear you wherever he is. You cannot leave him hanging.” A soft smile appeared on the girl’s face and nodding, she sat down on the steps of the patio, wrapping her arms around her knees and hugging them to her chest. She racked her brain for a song that would make sense to the dwarf with no ‘earthly’ terms that he would be confused by. Finally, she thought of one and smiling, she looked up at the rising sun and began to sing.

Let the bough break, let it come down crashing Let the sun fade out to a dark sky I can't say I'd even notice it was absent Cause I could live by the light in your eyes I'll unfold before you What I've strung together The very first words Of a lifelong love letter Tell the world that we finally got it all right I choose you I will become yours and you will become mine I choose you I choose you There was a time when I would have believed them If they told me you could not come true Just love's illusion But then you found me and everything changed And I believe in something again My whole heart Will be yours forever This is a beautiful start To a lifelong love letter Tell the world that we finally got it all right I choose you I will become yours and you will become mine I choose you I choose you We are not perfect We'll learn from our mistakes And as long as it takes I will prove my love to you I am not scared of the elements I am under-prepared, but I am willing And even better I get to be the other half of you Tell the world that we finally got it all right I choose you Yeah I will become yours and you will become mine I choose you I choose you I choose you

When the girl finished, she took a deep breath and closing her eyes for a moment, she could almost see Ryder’s big blue eyes looking back at her, a happy smile on his round little face. Opening her eyes, she looked back at Thorin who had been standing at the bottom of the steps. He was staring at her with slightly wide eyes, his mouth parted slightly in shock…. And…. were the tips of his ears pink?

Sara shook off the last thought before she got to her feet and brushed off her pants from where she had sat.

“We should get the others up for breakfast. We’ll have to find some sort of meat for them or they’ll starve on vegetables.” The girl turned, about to go start rousing the dwarves when Thorin’s hand shot out and grabbed her elbow gently, turning her back to him. Thorin walked up the two steps that separated them till he was looking partly down her original height. Sara had always thought Thorin looked short in the films compared to elves, men and wizards…. But compared to Sara, he was tall.

Sara swallowed silently, feeling her face heat up at their close proximity, not realizing that when Thorin stepped up to her level, his chest was almost touching hers and his nose was just about to touch hers.

She saw something flicker in Thorin’s eyes…. And it reminded her of the time in the film when he was sick, and Bilbo started yelling at Thorin about doubting the loyalty of his kin. She had always noticed how Thorin’s eyes had begun to shine at that scene. At first she thought it was with tears when she realized… it was because his heart and soul were shining through…. And now, they were doing it again. Was this a glimpse into Thorin Oakenshield’s heart and soul? What was going on in that head of his?

Sara was about to up and die of pure fangirling when she felt Thorin’s warm breath touch her face…. Then she relaxed when he pulled away slightly but only temporarily before he planted his lips firmly on her forehead. Not a featherlight ‘don’t kill me for this’ kind of kiss or a gentle ‘there there’ kind of kiss that a father figure or brother would give but she actually could feel the warmth of his lips and the firmness of his lips as he pressed a firm kiss to her head. Sara honestly didn’t know what he was trying to say with that kiss but all she knew, was that she wasn’t expecting it and she was shocked when Thorin pulled away to reveal that the back of his neck and ears were turning red.

The dwarf prince bowed to her and releasing her arm, headed up the stairs into the patio and began to roughly rouse the dwarves (with his boot). When Kili awoke, Sara could tell for his voice filled the patio, waking all the other dwarves who weren’t yet roused by the roughness of Thorin’s boot.

“Hey uncle! What’s up with you!? You seem ornery…. Are you blushing!?”

“Huh?” Fili’s voice carried to Sara who was still rooted to the bottom step, unable to move. “Uncle, you’re red! Do you have a fever?” “You sick laddie?” Oin’s voice asked next.

Sara could faintly hear Thorin growl something at them in Kuzdul that she didn’t understand but all she knew was that the dwarves stopped asking and went about rousing themselves.

Reaching up slowly, she touched the place where Thorin had kissed before she felt her face light on fire. What was that? And why was her heart beating so fast that she could hear it pounding in her ears?

********

Thorin sighed as he bit into the crust of his bread. He hadn’t realized what he was eating for his mind was elsewhere. Sara was sitting down the table from him between Fili and Kili. The two boys were chatting happily together, trying to get the girl into the conversation and she would join in but only if they started it. She seemed awfully quiet…. But not upset. Just quiet.

Had he been too forward earlier by asking her to sing? But she didn’t seem upset about it… was it then his sign of affection? Thorin hadn’t realized it but the girl had become very precious to him, not like a female companion that he felt the urge to take care of or like a little sister or daughter that he wanted to cuddle….While a part of him wanted to protect her from every evil in the world, the other part of him wanted to not stand in her way for he knew that being in danger while helping others was what made her happy and he wanted to see her happy.

In kissing her forehead, he had thought that he had conveyed his feelings for her at least slightly but the way she was acting made him wonder if she misunderstood it or did not appreciate it.

The girl’s face changed and Thorin knew she had suddenly thought of something as she turned to Fili and whispered something to him. Fili nodded before reaching to his belt and pulling out a small knife which he handed to the girl. She took it carefully before thanking the dwarf and rising to her feet, left the table.

Thorin frowned, not exactly liking that he didn’t know where the girl was off to, with a dagger no less. Rising to his feet, he was about to follow when Balin quickly caught his brother’s eye and gave him a pointed look. Dwalin got to his feet and placed himself in front of Thorin, planting his hand on the dwarf prince’s shoulder.

“She needs a moment Thorin.” Thorin looked at him, about to object but Dwalin shook his head, giving him a meaningful look. “Just five minutes Thorin.” The young prince sighed and sat down, but he looked prepared to jump the moment five minutes passed. Dwalin and Balin gave each other distressed looks. They hoped that Thorin wouldn’t make any assumptions before he heard Sara out.

Finally, Thorin jumped from his seat and hurried off at a brisk pace in the direction that the girl had disappeared. When he came tearing down the stairs to the garden, he froze at the sight. Sara was standing by the pouring waterfall with Mason at her side. The dog almost came to her waist, his ears now standing straight and about the size of a full-grown dog. Mason was sitting next to her, watching as the girl held out her hand, letting something fall into the waterfall where it was lost to sight.

Thorin paused, his hand touching the railing of the stairs, looking over them at her. Slowly the girl rose from her knees and to her full height, revealing that her hair no longer fell in long red ringlets to her waist…. but in short mismatched lengths, the longest falling just short of her shoulders and the shortest framing her forehead in feathery bangs.

She had cut her hair! Thorin felt himself freeze. He wasn’t angry for he was sure the girl had a reason, but he was definitely shocked. He was trying to think of the reasons that could have possibly convinced her to cut her hair when he remembered their talk that morning. Her brothers…. She had accepted their death…. She was no longer going to mourn them and carry on a hopeless hope that they were alive.

Sara slowly turned and her eyes met Thorin’s. He had overcome his shock but now it returned full force when he beheld the girl before him. Her big blue eyes were defined by the feathery bangs that hung low over her eyebrows, brushing against her long black lashes. Her smooth, sharp features were framed by the layered hair and her slender neck pronounced. Thorin had to swallow to keep himself from gaping. The girl smiled sadly up at him before turning back to Mason and ruffling his ears.

Thorin walked down the stairs till he stood before the girl who rose to her feet and while keeping her eyes averted, she stood before him.

“Are you sure about this?” he whispered. “Are you sure that you are ready to put them behind you?” Sara lifted her eyes and smiled up at him and Thorin gasped, her eyes were shining with tears, but her face was smiling at him. “I’m not putting them behind me, I am just accepting the possibility that I may never see them again even if they are alive. I am here now, and I may never return to my world. I can only hope that if they are alive that they are happy back home…. And if they’re not…. Well that I will eventually see them again when my time comes. I can never put them behind me, but I am accepting that my present and future is surrounded by Gandalf, Bilbo, Fili, Kili, the company…. And you.”

Thorin had been repeating over and over in his mind to not do anything impulsive for it was an emotional, hard time for the girl but now, looking down at her smiling face with slightly puffy red eyes, bright blue orbs staring up at him…. Thorin lost all forms of restraint.

Cautiously he reached forward and ran his firm calloused finger down the girl’s cheek, feeling where her cheek dented just slightly in a dimple shape then down to her slightly upturned chin. His finger found its way back up to her cheek before his hand cupped the side of her face, brushing against the hair that framed her face and against her ear.

Sara felt all the air sucked out of her when Thorin gently pulled her face up to him and bent his down to meet her halfway. Sara had never dreamt that one day she would ever end up in Middle Earth and meet the Thorin Oakenshield, nor had she ever tried to imagine what her first kiss would be like…. But here she was standing in Rivendell, before Thorin Oakenshield…..about to be kissed by him!

Thorin paused, his lips hovering over hers. He could feel her breath touch his face and it was making his head swim.

“If you don’t like it, tell me,” he whispered, not at all shocked when his voice came out in a husky whisper.

When Thorin received no reply, he took the initiative and gently pressed his lips to Sara’s. Thorin felt his head swim at the feeling of the girl’s soft lips on his. Gently he pulled away just enough to open his mouth slightly and kiss her again, this time a little more urgently. When he finally drew away, he almost wished he hadn’t…. just to delay the ending of the perfect moment…. And the beginning of the worst.

Sara wouldn’t meet his gaze and quickly took a step back before ducking her head, so her face was hidden behind her short red hair.

Without a word, the girl hugged her arms to herself before walking past Thorin and as far away from the dwarf as she could. Thorin watched her go and Mason who quickly followed behind his owner. What had he done?

#thorin oakenshield #thorin #thorin x oc #thorin oakenshield x oc #lotr #hobbit