#bad medievalism bingo

[oldshrewsburyian]

Most of the way through A Clash of Kings, I think I've figured out another reason GRRM's history-in-a-blender approach bothers me. It's not just that yanking the episodes he reworks out of context matters, and that sixth-century England and sixteenth-century England are different in profound ways that this approach elides.¹ It's also that using historical examples to construct Westeros (past and present) gives it a veneer of plausibility especially for readers who don't know history. But this creates a bizarre version of a fantasy past. Moreover, it flattens the reality of change over time.²

¹ Imagine my surprise to find the sixth-century conversion of Kent happening (sort of) during A Clash of Kings, and the trial of Anne Boleyn happening in the past.

² Yeah, I know this is fantasy. But as a professional medievalist, I get asked frequently about the "accuracy" of ASOIAF. Worse, I get told that it's accurate. And, uh. No. In some details, it's close-ish. But in the big cultural picture... it's a wildly different world, and I think it's also much further from its premodern European inspirations than GRRM thinks it is.

#a medievalist does got #asoiaf #grrm critical #bad medievalism bingo

[whump-tr0pes]

Lux in Tenebris, Medieval AU - Banished

@badthingshappenbingo

Red X for posted, white X for requested! Send in your requests! If you don’t see a prompt here that you already requested, please send it again!

Apologies to @grizzlie70 who requested this prompt for my Honor Bound story. I couldn't make it work for that story, but I could make it work for this one!

This AU grabbed my brain and didn’t let go. Many thanks to @newbornwhumperfly for enabling me in the DMs

Masterlist

AO3

Contents: demon whumpee, past burning, supernatural whumpee, shame, religious abuse, pining, nonsexual nudity, banishment

~

Dee’s damaged eyes were healed by the time Ilya collapsed from exhaustion. The horizon glowed faintly pink with the coming dawn as the human fell to their knees, breath scraping noisily up and down their throat. Dee swallowed hard as he approached. Steam still rose from every inch of his naked skin like a boiling kettle, and he didn’t dare come any closer than two paces away. What if Ilya reached out to him?

What if they got hurt again?

Ilya hacked and shuddered as sweat poured down their face. “Dee,” they said. “Dee, I’m sorry, I… I can’t keep—”

“It’s alright,” Dee croaked. The back of his throat still tasted like blood and smoke. “They’re not following us.”

Ilya sagged forward and pressed their forehead into the dirt. “Thank god,” they breathed. Then – just as Dee had feared – they blindly reached out a hand for him.

Dee sucked in a breath and stepped back. “No,” he bit out. “Ilya… no, I’m… I’ll burn you.”

Ilya raised their head and met Dee’s eyes. Sweat had moistened the earth beneath them, leaving a smear of mud on their forehead. “Dee?” they murmured. “Burn…?”

Carefully, Dee held out one shaking hand. “Don’t come too close,” he said weakly. “Don’t touch. But… you can feel the… the heat.”

Ilya’s brows pulled together, and they slowly reached for Dee’s hand. Dee watched their eyes widen as their fingers drew near to his, and he knew they felt the heat radiating off of him even from a foot away.

Still, they did not withdraw their hand. They only wet their lips. “How?” they whispered.

Dee’s fingers trembled. An ache throbbed inside him with every beat of his heart, an ache that had only grown with every moment since he had freed himself from the depths of the villagers’ flames. Ilya had lived with him, and loved him, knowing what he was. But the reminders were scant; his fangs, his eyes. They had never beheld his true power before, and indeed, neither had Dee himself. He had never even known he held that power before tonight. He had never needed it, because he had never had something as precious as Ilya to protect before. Not pain, not even fear of his own death had been enough to reveal his true power before.

But now he knew; and worse, Ilya did as well.

He dipped his head in shame. He could not look at them as he answered, “Hellfire.”

Ilya was silent for a long time. Tears smarted in Dee’s eyes and turned to steam on his cheeks. When he could finally raise his eyes, he was surprised to see the tears in theirs as well.

“Is it permanent?” they said brokenly.

Dee’s lips trembled and he looked away, at the growing line of orange on the horizon. “I don’t know,” he said.

Ilya nodded in silence.

“M-my skin isn’t nearly as hot as it was when I…” The memory of his own burning flesh and the even hotter hellfire that coursed through his veins gripped him. “It’s… it’s going down. I can feel that, at least. I’m not setting the ground on fire anymore.” He huffed out a tense, joyless laugh.

Ilya chewed their lip. “So… you might… I might be able to… in a little while…”

Dee’s throat tightened. Even if you can never touch me again, you’re alive, he wanted to say. He bit his tongue and settled instead for saying, “Let’s give it time. Until then, we should at least get some sleep. Ah…” He glanced towards a stand of trees just visible in the early dawn light. “Preferably somewhere with… shelter. But not a lot of dry underbrush.”

“Once the sun is up,” Ilya said heavily, “I’m finding the nearest town and begging for some clothes for you. Hopefully these ones stay in one piece.”

“Wandering around nude would distract from my eyes, for once,” Dee said as they both struck out towards the stand of trees.

“Might get you run out of town, though,” Ilya said with a laugh. “So we’re back where we started.”

@womping-grounds , @free-2bmee , @quirkykayleetam , @walkingchemicalfire , @inpainandsuffering , @redwingedwhump , @burtlederp , @castielamigos-whump-side-blog , @whatwhumpcomments , @whumpywhumper , @stxck-fxck ,  @whumps-the-word , @inky-whump ,  @orchidscript , @inkyinsanity , @this-mightaswell-happen , @newandfiguringitout , @whumpkitty , @pebbledriscoll , @im-just-here-for-the-whump , @endless-whump , @grizzlie70 , @oops-its-whump , @kixngiggles, @1phoenixfeather , @butwhatifyouwrite , @carnagecardinal , @mylifeisonthebookshelf , @wolfeyedwitch , @batfacedliar , @also-finder-of-rings , @i-eat-worlds

#lux in tenebris #lux in tenebris au #medieval au #bad things happen bingo #banished #demon whumpee #past burning #supernatural whumpee #shame #religious abuse #religious trauma #pining #nonsexual nudity #banishment

[alpaca-clouds]

Bad Things Happen Bingo 2: Not Used To Freedom

Alright. I have the second story for the @badthingshappenbingo. I chose Not Used To Freedom as a prompt.

Not a Shipping Fic. Instead Morana and Isaac exploring Isaac's motivation for everything he does in season 4.

#bad things happen bingo #castlevania #castlevania fanfiction #castlevania netflix #isaac castlevania #castlevania isaac #morana #castlevania moranage #gen fic #board games #historical #medieval

[nikomedes]

ive seen some great bingo sheets going around for malevolent s5 but i would ask you to go further. lets invent some new 13th century miseries for our failsons arthur and john

EDIT: people in the notes have mentioned they don’t know what some of these are, so i jotted down some quick and dirty explanations below the cut.

the bubonic plague or black death is pretty well known, a horrific illness mostly transmitted by fleas and rats that was responsible for mass death in europe.

marginalia are funky little drawings made in the margins of illuminated manuscripts, largely by bored monks and scriveners. my favorite is the penis beast.

a medieval lord’s military might wasnt made up mostly of knights, who were typically low in number and expensive to field. they largely relied on levies, groups of able-bodied men raised from their land holdings and basically given a pike (a long spear), the bare minimum of equipment/livery, and a slap on the ass, and sent to fight one of the many english civil wars.

leprosy was another greatest hit of medieval diseases that fucked your whole life up.

catholic heresies are super fun! christianity has existed in a sort of perpetual state of “fuck around and find out,” but the medieval period saw a supreme amount of fucking around. here’s a great post rating many of these heresies. check out marcionism for some great Demiurge Discourse

middle english was the form english took at this time. it can be very musical, but its, uh, yknow. difficult to parse these days.

crusades were basically the greatest pastime of medieval rulers. not sure what to do with a heap of gold and all your vassal lords getting antsy and potentially fomenting ANOTHER civil war? ship them off to the middle east to fight a holy war on any pretext you can think of, including “because i can.”

tunic malfunction is mostly a goof, but between hose, sumptuary laws governing specific colors and items different races/religions/classes could wear, tunic length discourse, and how expensive making clothes could be, well. it could be a hurdle

legal proceedings weren’t just for people back in the day. sometimes animals would be dragged to the stand and accused of crimes. pigs in particular were often accused of eating limbs, children, and promoting sin.

13th century well water is your one stop shop for some all-time hit fatal diseases, such as cholera and dysentery! also, even if it didnt kill you, frequent contamination means it usually smelt or looked bad. poisoning wells was a common warfare tactic as well.

#john gets really good at lefthanded longbow unfortunately did not make the cut bc its 14c #malevolent #malevolent podcast #john malevolent #arthur lester #poll #jarthur #private eyes

[freshiegayboi]

HERES THE DEAL

if you go to this post here it will explain things: https://www.tumblr.com/absurdmageart/734536181612724224/my-kofi-link-httpsko-ficomabsurdmageart?source=share

here's my contribution

for every ten dollars donated to @absurdmageart (and i WILL be keeping track!) one of these fics will be updated! it may take a little bit, but ALL of them will be updated as they are funded, people who donate 10 dollars or more feel free to mention which fic youd like updated, or send me a message saying which, if any! if not it'll just be in order. that's on top of the art you'd be getting from Mage!

this is NOT for me

this is for Mage, who hasnt deserved the shit they've dealt with this year

lets help them out!

under the cut is a synopsis and link to all the fics on the bingo, have fun! (also i will be doubling up on fics, no worries lol)

hearing the mission bell - Mutt/Reader fic where Mutt has a daughter who is kidnapped

so many snacks, so little time - Gaster is a Symbiote fic, also Gaster/Reader

A Golden Sword - Medieval Bad Sans Poly fic, Cross centric

Bits and Pieces - Serial killer/Crime novelist Kedgeup fic

If I had You - Ghost!Reader/Underfell Bros fic

Safe House - Red is rescued from a forced prostitution ring

Giving Your Cards Away - Little!Slim with Caregiver!Edge and Spicymaple

The Reset Fallacy - Undertale bros become Underfell bros the fic

Downplaying Fear - Gaster harem/Reader

Turning Out - Spicyhoney Pokemon crossover

Blank Shot - Spicykustard+Mapleketchup philanthropist/hitman AU

Subjugation - Edge/Reader fluff fic

Imperial - Cherryblossom medieval fic

Sloppy Seconds - Angsty Spicyhoney fic

Carry Me - Horrorfell bros/Reader fic

Harried and Torn - Spicykustardpuff the fic

Garish - Swapfell bros/Reader hurt/comfort

Disconcerted - Kedgeup teacher AU

Fish in the Sea - Purple Swapfell Bros/Reader the fic

Sparks and Wires - Spicyhoney Android!Honey AU

#fresh babbles #fresh writes #undertale #helping a friend #go! share the og post if you cannot donate! #fontcest

[horror102]

Pursuit of happiness

TW: Cam girl, Angst, Stalking, Failure, trauma

Sexual intent, manipulation, masturbation

Featuring Joe Goldberg with a person he cannot figure out.

There she was, almost like destiny. She's nervous, looking at her jittering fingers, she takes a step to the romance aisle. Dark romance fantasy I'm about to be the man of your dreams. Two steps, one step and pow.

“Oh I'm so sorry!” she replied quite quickly, embarrassed knowing this will be burned in her memory at such a price.

“Oh please, we both know it was my fault." I joked I want you to feel at ease, talk to me. Let me know if I hit the jackpot baby. She chuckled, such a snotty laugh, cute even.

“Dark romance?”

“Yes.”

Another quick answer, losing her God I'm losing her.

“Now the best option would be romantic grays, though everyone is into that vampire series now.” I scoffed at letting her fingertips grave against mine hearing her let out a fake laugh to extort conversation,

“God, Twilight is horrible, they look like medieval creeps!”

She laughed, her shoulders fell back, teeth flashed. It was a genuine joke. Growing comfortable. Make your move joe, make your move.

“Almost as if he's covered in ashes!”

I joked, quickly I realized I messed up, he's a vampire dummy. Of course he'll be pale. You work at a bookstore Joe get it together. Rail her in. I had to almost curse myself listening to her fake little giggle.

Woah there, she placed her phone on a bookshelf, Bingo! When leaning on it I swiped it up. Making sure she was bending down to get a book, her loose genes and curved hoody smelled like pineapples, freshly washed, ironed, and linted. I watched her walk toward Male fantasy, a bunch of big bulky men. God I did not fit her type.

“Hey, um sir?” she called out to me, making me realize I didn't give her my name I walked toward him giving her a little jog.

“Sorry, it's Joe. Joe goldberg. assistance?”

“Yeah um, Do you have Bitten?”

She asked me my heart pumped out of my chest God I had no comparison, joe keep it cool keep it cool.

“The series with big bulked guys? Right this way.”

I joked, almost killing myself for how corny it was.

“Anything with a man is fine, as long as they're clean shaven.”

She joked, time to get the wax Joe. Many minutes later I rewarded her with the book, she paid for it. She left but quickly came back in.

“Bye Joe!”

She stated, don't say that baby no. See you later.

-

Hours later I checked out and the store came to a close, in the midst of walking home I took out the phone, password.

Shit.

I turned over the back of the phone and to my luck, the silly girl had the name on the back of it.

“Twin flames.”

I typed in, immediately it opened and I was met with some type of romance screen, messages where are you? I clicked on the messages, there were many many men. Going from A to Z

Andrew

Billy

Camden

Derek

Emanuel

ECT

“Who was in your life, and why so many men.” I whispered to myself hitting my head on the door from not paying attention, I unlocked my door and sat down on my couch. Notifications came popping in. I checked the message from someone who was labeled “Bestie 💕” Woman.

I was met with a variety of sad texts.

I can't put up with his bullshit!

Like wtf am I supposed to do?

I don't want to abandon him but it'd be better if he got killed!

#Fuck you Andrew.

How could my luck be possibly this bad, First my dad. Then everything else, now this? How am I supposed to live.

One who is Andrew? I kept scrolling until I saw something that made my eyes light up. A contact named Andrew, quickly I clicked on it searching for serious messages.

Nude?

And that's all I had to see to know he was a dickhead. Don't worry princess because I'm about to be your night and shining armor. Next her gallery maybe I'll get lucky. I scrolled and scrolled, nothing appealing what so ever, no pictures of her just the sky and it's dull colors

'Live'

Something popped up on the top of the screen, I clicked it only to be faced with a brightly colored room, confusion fled to my face. I gave a subtle tilt. Now what do we have here? I wondered only to hear a familiar giggle. My eyes widened when I was met with an almost nude Girl, minus lingerie. the same one from the bookstore.

“I left my phone at the fucking bookstore!” she cursed, placing her feet on top of the camera so people would have a clear view of the print from her vagina, and how thick it looked from the bright yellow lingerie, she pulled the lingerie up, making it sink into her pussy lips.

“No porn for me, I think I've been a good girl.” she flipped onto her stomach her elbows hoisting her up as she looked directly into the camera raising her ass in the air and grinding it back on the floor, one of her hands flying to grope her ass.

She girl fucking? Seriously unexpected.

Weird little comments like

Suck a dildo

Play with that pussy

Pillow ride

Spank yourself

You've been naughty.

Show me them tits!

I'm gonna cum

Quickly I grabbed my own computer, opened it and downloaded the camgirl app, I made an anonymous account, logging into the same stream. And quickly I became one of those weird comments.

Don't you think we deserve a show?

“Matter of fact, I do think you deserve a show let's do a vote!” she giggled. standing up and bringing a board into view. She wrote

Suck a dildo

Pussy play

Pillow ride

Self spanking

Tit play

Cum play

Rewarded 1 v 1 = Best commenter

“ Now to vote!” she smiled innocently easily making this the hardest decision in my life with only five seconds left I picked pussy play but quickly lost to the pillow ride.

She grabbed a pillow and pulled off her thongs, quickly hopping on her pillow and riding it, quickly I pulled my cock out grabbing some nearby moisturizer, and plumbed my dick up and down,

My finger swirling on the tip as I jacked myself off, she grabbed a nearby dildo and began sucking on it I went even faster pre cum drenching my hands.

#joe Goldberg #stalker #slasher fucker #slasher community #slasher fandom #slasher fanfiction #slashers #black reader #slasher imagines #multifandom fanfiction

[quarktrinity]

quark watches star trek season 1 episode 26

klingon time

dramatic camera shit Oh No Weve Been Hit

War

kirk and spock are heading down sulus in charge <3 yay <3

its like medieval europe down here on /checks notes/ organia

Green Goat

the klingons are an obvious soviet union expy

these guys are so chill abt being attacked by the klingons that theyre more concerned about protecting kirk and spock. thats genuinely adorable

looks like their strategy for not getting destroyed by the klingons is to just let the klingons take over and not give them trouble

the klingons are jerks

kirk says direct action good

spock naruto runs

wow that was the most obvious explosion stock footage ive ever seen. like its probably not stock footage and was probably just separately recorded or taken from something else but like. its so silly lol

the organians say violence bad

evil guys keep offering kirk drinks

threaten kirks life and hes fine with it. threaten spocks life and suddenly theres a problem

Prison.

Prison Break!

kirk says you organians are loser betas. i know you broke me out of prison but still

kirk strangles a man with his belt. this is gayer than-

i got bingo

the organians used their psychic powers to make all weapons burn super hot. yeah this is about what i expected

theyre just casually stopping the klingon/federation war on the basis of Its Annoying

this is obviously about the cold war

these guys are like gods or something i guess

ok

#quark watches star trek #star trek #star trek tos

[ibelieveinturtles]

All Caps Bingo 2023 Masterpost

'The Hell I Can't, I'm a Captain' Badge Fill (One Fill, One Bingo):

The Oracle Club - Peggy Carter/Steve Rogers, Darcy Lewis/Brock Rumlow - T - Fic

G1: Brock Rumlow

G2: SS: Pastfic

G3: Time Travel

G4: First

G5: Adopted: Lucky Star

Nexus - Darcy Lewis/Bucky Barnes - T - Fic

B2: Darcy Lewis - Wormhole Theory (Nexus Ch 3)

N3: Free Space - The Slushy Incident (Nexus Ch 4)

B3: Music - The Worst Brother in the World (Nexus Ch 6)

Soulmate For The New Year - James "Bucky" Barnes/Darcy Lewis, Steve Rogers/Peggy Carter, Jane Foster/Thor - G

I3: Jane Foster - Thoughts On Soulmates (Soulmate For The New Year Ch 2)

I1: Adopted: Birthday Surprise - The Importance Of Friends (Soulmate For The New Year Ch 3)

I5: AU: Medieval/Fantasy - A Whisper of Wolves - Darcy Lewis & Bucky Barnes - T - Fic

O2: Crossover - This Kind of Thing Ch 4 - Contact II - James "Bucky" Barnes & Sam Wilson, Darcy Lewis & Sam Wilson, James "Bucky" Barnes & Jane Foster - T - Fic

O3: Polyamory/Open Relationship - The Heart Of The Mountain (Treasure Hunt Ch 2) - James "Bucky" Barnes/Brock Rumlow, Darcy Lewis/Brock Rumlow, James "Bucky" Barnes/Darcy Lewis/Brock Rumlow - T - Fic

O4: AU: Hydra Won - In The Bad Timeline Ch 4 - James "Bucky" Barnes/Darcy Lewis, Darcy Lewis/Brock Rumlow, James "Bucky" Barnes/Darcy Lewis/Brock Rumlow, James "Bucky" Barnes/Brock Rumlow - T - Fic

@allcapsbingo thanks for running this bingo!

#all caps bingo 2023 #bucky barnes #steve rogers #sam wilson #captain america #bingo masterpost

[oldshrewsburyian]

I don't know if the viking age is your area of expertise, but I saw certain comments in this post about vikings: https://wwwdottumblrdotcom/cracked/160025927549/why-everything-you-know-about-vikings-is-a-lie?source=share

that I would like to ask you about.

The post comes from the comedy website Cracked and states "relative to their era, medieval scandinavians were big-time democrats, feminists and neat-freaks. Vikings were some of the cleanest people in world-history."

In the comment section some people are sceptical of these claims which is kinda understandable.

For example, some question the claim about being the cleanest people in the world because of testimony from the Arab visitor ibn Fadlan: "as a historian, i gotta say, it's highly relative and heavily depends on a point of view. I read a transcript of a info letter from an arab ambassador currently residing in scandinavia. He was disgusted and pretty much said that the northern folk were filthy pigs. Which in terms if hygiene brits < scandinavians <<<<<<<<<<<< arabs"

and

"speaking as someone with an MA in medieval history I feel that he is spinning this a little heavy. I mean have any of you read the primary accounts of Ahmad ibn Fadlan meeting the Vikings?"

and as for feminism, a comment from someone with "historian" in their bio states: "They weren't even that feminist to their own people, its theorised that part of the reason they started raiding was because they'd skewed their own gender ratio badly through gender selective infanticide, so there were more men than women. Women held power in that society because viking men wanted their bodies and had too few to go around.

So men went raiding either in intense competition to get gifts and treasures for a woman, or else to try and take women slaves. The vikings were so not feminist that they unleashed a wave of terror on much of the European coast in a quest to get laid. It doesn't get much less feminist than that."

I want to ask for your takeaway on these statements; is the account by Ibn Fadlan prove anything about hygiene in early medieval scandinavia in general, and would it be possible to conclusively judge whether the "vikings" were "feminist" or not?

Hello! It's been a while! I see that you come to me with... the "historians" of the comedy website Cracked. The short answers to your questions are "no" and "no, but also the Vikings were not feminist, give me strength."

Also, whoever is writing "as a historian" is writing as a history major at best, I'm guessing; they're repeating inaccurate clichés about hygiene and also misidentifying Ibn Fadlan's Rihla as an "info letter."

To address your points sequentially:

"big-time democrats" Hahahaha no. First of all, local governance was the norm in the global Middle Ages, everywhere from China to India to England. (This is why the "I thought we were an autonomous collective" joke in Monty Python is so funny.) At the top of the social hierarchy, some kind of cooperation between ruler and advisory body was also the norm. But because the Vikings had assemblies without crowned rulers, some racists looking for The Origins of Democracy™ have said "Aha! A Proto-Democracy™!" ...no.

"feminists" ...this is based on a lot of hypothesizing. Moreover, it's based on an old-fashioned way of doing history that looks more narrowly at a narrower source base than is the norm today. It's also based on the not-always-correct assumption that raiding parties must have been exclusively male. Anyway, the "feminists" argument rests on the assumption that because women were trusted to manage the economy and everything while the Vikings were off viking (the verb is for raiding, originally), and because they had certain legal privileges, they must have had better cultural status than their peers in other European societies. But again: women being fully involved in the economy is the norm in premodern Europe in ways it is not after Europe invents The Private/Domestic/Feminine Sphere™ in, oh, about 1750. The Private Sphere For Delicate Women, of course, is only for the middle classes. Then there's the whole Viking thing about men being shamed for doing "womanly" magic-use in saga literature.

"neat-freaks" Sigh. I think this comes from one (1) chronicle reference, which I've been failing to track down this morning, in which the male author is bemoaning the fact that the Vikings' comely appearance, braids, and perfumes enable them to entice local women. Taking this claim at face value requires a lot of willful ignorance about how alternate models of masculinity are rhetorically used in premodern sources, to say nothing about willful ignorance about the realities of sexual violence. This is also to say nothing about poor Ibn Fadlan's horrified account of men spitting and blowing their noses into a communal washing bowl.

...There are many affordable, accessible books on the European Middle Ages; series of public-facing online articles; and yet people cook things like this up on Cracked.com. I don't get paid enough.

#bad medievalism bingo #asks and answers #history side of tumblr #medieval

[i-can-even-burn-salad]

Bookmarks, kinda

There’s a bunch of posts I want to find again on this hellsite, but there’s no real tag to sort them to, and search sucks, so... unsorted pile of things I Really Want To Find Again.

Everything Writing Related

So you write

On editing and proofreading

On dialogue punctuation

Alternatives to said but it’s great

Skyrim Prompt Challenge

Tropical Fantasy Worldbuilding

Questions for Beta Readers

A (whump) prompt list I might wanna do

When to capitalize words

Clearing up Ambiguity

Writing Sessions

Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation

Fic Patch Notes

Basic checklist for your story

Writing cheats

Ten questions to ask a beta reader

Weak words to cut

Writeblr Etiquette

Questions to break the ice

Find words you forgot

Words to kill when editing

Terms every writer should know

About comfort and disabled characters

Dialogue Formatting

Whumpy Favs

Terin’s Phantom Pain [image]

Not sure what to title this

Unbidden, Epilogue 1

Crowbar [gore warning]

Good way to put it

2023 Year of Whump [prompt list]

Not so tough now, asshole? [image]

Pick a hand [gore warning]

Leave your Whumpees ruined

The Librarian :)

Dehydration/Malnourishment/Sleep deprivation

Robin Hood

That one Purity of Sin chapter

It's all right when it's you

Other Stuff

Rainbow Game Consoles

Show me the Girl

Sorting posts chronologically

Staff replied, post is over

Medieval Torture Kid

The Book Wyrm

All About Shadowbans

Just gonna put Maksim here

You’re not in love

Unicorn fantasies

Find two tags

Being a non-american online

Reddit glitch

The Outsider gif set

Tragic greek figures

My Own Posts

Nykim my beloved

Five things I never get tired of writing

Another five things because I was tagged again

Anna’s Writer’s Associations (I’m not crying)

My Whumptober 2022 masterlist

Tumblr Links and You

Writing Wrapped 2022

My Year in Review 2022

The best incorrect quotes (HmW)

Thorns WIP Intro

Glass Shards WIP Intro

Nuisance WIP Intro

Knife: Part 1 and Part 2

HmW vibes

Braille Valentine’s

Stories described in the worst way possible [tag edition]

“Patch Notes” for my stories.

Badly Summarized WIP Poll

Saran’s review of Till Death

Rainbow bookshelf

Time zone woes meme

Posts about my OCs I liked

All my characters’ bios in a few lines

A worse take on character bios

The size of all my chars

10 minute lectures

Character pronouns

Riordan’s AITA post

Taking all OCs grocery shopping

Sorry, Damien

A bunch of my commissions

Photos of all my chars

Ten but...

Archive so I can find stuff again

The old Heal my Wounds release post

My first bad things happen bingo card. Finished.

My second bad things happen bingo card. Aborted.

My old pinned post

My old story list

Empty post because why not lol

#it's time again for me to need a post later #lalala #bookmarks

[breninarthur]

Hello DADWC! 👋 Here's my prompts list <3

💥Please be aware that I haven't finished DAI yet!💥

~~29/3: I've bolded things I'd especially like this week!~~

Kallian Tabris is my grumpy berserker warrior from my DAO fic; when darkness comes. She's also in Knight My Heart, a modern fantasy actor AU, and my Nobody Dies* AU in which... yeah. Her tag is kallian tabris, and I tweet about her sometimes :)

I am tentatively mentioning Maz Hawke, my blue/purple mage, and El Lavellan, my assassin rogue Inquisitor. They're all in the same worldstate (AU's included), but I haven't written much for these two.

Happy to write them alone or maybe with each other as well!

Pairings:

Romantic:

- Kallian Tabris / Alistair Theirin (canon)

- Kallian Tabris / Zevran Arainai (more complicated, a canon flirtation but no more. Flatmates in KMH AU.)

- Kallian Tabris / Anders (unrequited on his side but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

- Maz Hawke / Fenris (canon)

- Maz Hawke / Anyone (unrequited or failed in some way lmao)

- El Lavellan / Blackwall

- Loghain Mac Tir / Rowan Guerrin

- Adaia Tabris / Duncan

- OC / OC - mine/mine or mine/yours!

Platonic:

I'm happy to write pretty much any platonic relationship! Here are some examples, but definitely not limited to these:

- Kallian Tabris & Zevran

- Kallian Tabris & Ciarth (Dog)

- Kallian Tabris & Morrigan

- Kallian Tabris & Daveth

- Maz Hawke & Carver

- Maz Hawke & Varric

- El Lavellan & Solas

- El Lavellan & Dorian

- Rowan Guerrin & Katriel

- OC & OC - mine&mine or mine&yours!

I do also have a Tabris ancestry WIP! New OC's in each chapter, so if you don't specify a pairing, I might do one for that.

Prompt List:

I love to write angst and fluff, and enjoy lots of tropes and AU's, so feel free to send me pretty much anything 🥰 I will probably not write smut, though.

(These are vaguely sorted into categories, though there's overlap.)

Angst (broadly speaking)

- angsty poem prompts

- "for the damaged" - x

- Hidden Injury

- "Hit 'em where it hurts" - x

- Quotes about death - not all angsty! - x

- Short angst sentences

Fluff (broadly speaking)

- 14 Days of DA Lovers

- 50 Types of Kisses

- Bed sharing scenarios

- Compliments and reassurance - x

- cute shippy prompts - x

- Domestic fluff

- Kisses

- Love confessions

- platonic sentences - x

- Random ship dynamics - for this one, you could send the prompt on its own if you like, and I could choose the pairing that fits :) or pair it with another prompt!

- Soft and sweet sentences - x

- Soft sentences - x

Misc

- Aberdeen Gothic - x

- Artefacts of Thedas

- Bottles of Thedas

- Caring prompts

- Chaotic found family

- Charles Dickens Prompts

- Convoluted Scenarios

- DAtober 2022

- Dragon Age inspired prompts

- Dragon Age Promptober

- Dragon Age specific dialogue prompts

- "from the hero" sentences - x

- "from the villain" sentences

- Hozier lyrics - x

- medieval / fantasy sentences

- micro story prompts

- OC Codex - x

- OC Codex 2

- Physical contact

- Poetry prompts

- Richard Siken

- Sappho Sentences

- Sensory prompts

- Sickfic

- Sleep Token prompts

- "so you had a bad day" prompts

- Trope bingo

- Vague Cold Weather Prompts

- Whump

- whumptober 2022

- Word prompts

Other filled prompts: x, x, x, x

#my writing #dadwc #dragon age #dao #kallian tabris #prompt list

[jollmaster]

Good...evening! (I think I guessed right) Brought more some bingo. (guards, your bois, yeah~ (if not one, then several, as you wish, oh great headcanons master, haha :3) Tysm!

Guards and oc's biography scale (here it is desirable to have several guys for one item):

° lightly (everything seems fine and cool, there were no major problems)

° normally (everything is like everyone else, their own joys, problems)

° tolerable (were often problems, but they were overcome)

° everything is bad (basically everything was true bad, but not completely)

° ohh, damn, what the hell is this?! (it's just awful, really)

•••

Somebody told him a very stupid joke:

° there will be an awkward silence, looking questioningly at the narrator

° will do his best to avoid awkward silence, will squeeze out a fake laughter in support of the narrator

° in response he will tell an even worse joke

° will be straightforward and honest: «your joke is complete shit, bro»

° will silently catch the cringe somewhere to the side

° that stupid storyteller

That's all :')

good day ya

° lightly: Bando, Flakh, Guy

° normally/tolerable: most of them, really (problems like in most cases for medieval timeline)

° everything is bad: Goslen, Pakov, Falco (just in the past in both cases)

° what the hell is this: Willem Stout (not hell as we understand this, but for rat to lose all close relatives is really hell)

° awkward silence: Pakov

° fake laughter in support on the narrator: Guff

° will tell an even worse joke: Flakh

° your joke is complete shit, bro: Bellar Larr

° catch cringe somewhere to the side: Bando

° that stupid storyteller: Monock Brig

#ghost of a tale #goat #headcanon #dhk guards

[bereft-of-frogs]

interlude: a hurry of brightness overran the shadows | 2.1k

Fandom: MCU | Rating: Teen and Up Audiences | Gen

Bad Things Happen Bingo Prompt: ‘Please Don’t Leave Me’ [late whumptober day 20: We’re Not In Kansas Anymore (medieval)]

An interlude. In the middle of winter, Thor goes in search of medicine and finds himself watched by a strange creature.

Elsewhere, something is brewing.

Part 2 of the ‘medieval-ish fantasy AU’, now titled ‘the first agitations of thunder’

[read it on ao3]

ah, the first of my ‘I didn’t finish it for whumptober so I made it into a Bad Things Happen Bingo square’. I really wanted to write anything in this AU series for ‘medieval’ but I didn’t get around to it. This one is just a short scene filler from the first part [’a keen scourge through the wintry air’] and...hints at what’s to come.

But before I actually continue I have to do.......so much worldbuilding. Oh my god. There are probably a bunch of inconsistencies I’ll have to retcon or explain away, oof. I’ll get it together eventually.

Hopefully you enjoyed this short interlude! As always, replies/likes/reblogs/frogs always appreciated! <3

#bad things happen bingo #MCU #the medieval-ish fantasy AU #aka #the first agitations of thunder #which will show up...significantly better in the tags #(because of the - the other posts don't show up i was a fool when i made that tag lol) #enjoy! :-)

[whumptober]

Whumptober 2020 - Updated

Welcome to Whumptober 2020! We’re doing things a little differently this year so please make sure to read the Event Info carefully. We are also excited to announce the addition of an AO3 Collection, which can be found here.

We hope you’re as excited as us to watch the Whump Community come together once again for a month of bone-crunching creativity and collaboration!

(All 31 Themes + Prompts, Event Information, and FAQs are posted below the cut!)

No 1. LET'S HANG OUT SOMETIME Waking Up Restrained | Shackled | Hanging

No 2. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY  "Pick Who Dies" | Collars | Kidnapped

No 3. MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY Manhandled | Forced to their Knees | Held at Gunpoint

No 4. RUNNING OUT OF TIME Caged | Buried Alive | Collapsed Building

No 5. WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING? On the Run | Failed Escape | Rescue

No 6. PLEASE.... "Get it Out" | No More | "Stop, please"

No 7. I'VE GOT YOU Support | Carrying | Enemy to Caretaker

No 8. WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO? "Don't Say Goodbye" | Abandoned | Isolation

No 9. FOR THE GREATER GOOD "Take Me Instead" | "Run!” | Ritual Sacrifice

No 10. THEY LOOK SO PRETTY WHEN THEY BLEED Blood Loss | Internal Bleeding | Trail of Blood

No 11. PSYCH 101 Defiance | Struggling | Crying

No 12. I THINK I'VE BROKEN SOMETHING Broken Down | Broken Bones | Broken Trust

No 13. BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT Delayed Drowning | Chemical Pneumonia | Oxygen Mask

No 14. IS SOMETHING BURNING? Branding | Heat Exhaustion | Fire

No 15. INTO THE UNKNOWN Possession | Magical Healing | Science Gone Wrong

No 16. A TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY Forced to Beg | Hallucinations | Shoot the Hostage

No 17. I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING Blackmail | Dirty Secret | Wrongfully Accused

No 18. PANIC! AT THE DISCO Panic Attacks | Phobias | Paranoia

No 19. BROKEN HEARTS Grief | Mourning Loved One | Survivor's Guilt

No 20. TOTO, I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE Lost | Field Medicine | Medieval

No 21. I DON'T FEEL SO WELL Chronic Pain | Hypothermia | Infection

No 22. DO THESE TACOS TASTE FUNNY TO YOU? Poisoned | Drugged | Withdrawal

No 23. WHAT’S A WHUMPEE GOTTA DO TO GET SOME SLEEP AROUND HERE? Exhaustion | Narcolepsy | Sleep Deprivation

No 24. YOU’RE NOT MAKING ANY SENSE Forced Mutism | Blindfolded | Sensory Deprivation

No 25. I THINK I’LL JUST COLLAPSE RIGHT HERE, THANKS Disorientation | Blurred Vision | Ringing Ears

No 26. IF YOU THOUGHT THE HEAD TRAUMA WAS BAD... Migraine | Concussion | Blindness

No 27. OK, WHO HAD NATURAL DISASTERS ON THEIR 2020 BINGO CARD? Earthquake | Extreme Weather | Power Outage

No 28. SUCH WOW. MANY NORMAL. VERY OOPS. Accidents | Hunting Season | Mugged

No 29. I THINK I NEED A DOCTOR Intubation | Emergency Room | Reluctant Bedrest

No 30. NOW WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? Wound Reveal | Ignoring an Injury | Internal Organ Injury

No 31. TODAY’S SPECIAL: TORTURE Experiment | Whipped | Left for Dead

Alternate Prompt List

Alt 1. Punctured

Alt 2. Falling

Alt 3. Comfort

Alt 4. Stitches

Alt 5. Stoic Whumpees

Alt 6. Altered States

Alt 7. Found Family

Alt 8. Adverse Reactions

Alt 9. Memory Loss

Alt 10. Nightmares

Alt 11. Presumed Dead

Alt. 12. Water

Alt. 13 Accidents

Alt. 14 Shot

Alt. 15 Carry/Support

Event Info

WHUMPTOBER is a month-long, prompt-based creation challenge (think: Inktober, but whumpier). There are 31 Official themes this year - one for each day of the month - which can be used, skipped, or combined in any way you’d like. They are meant to serve as inspiration without being taken literally (e.g. you don't have to include the exact wording into your work). Additionally, there are 3 prompts for each theme.  These are optional suggestions and can be used in conjunction with the theme, or as options/alternatives.  We want to give everyone as much creative freedom as possible, as well as increase event accessibility for folks with triggers and squicks.

Creators can PRODUCE work in any media they choose, including but not limited to: writing, visual artwork, and photo/video/audio edits. Creators can PARTICIPATE as much or as little as they want (i.e. you don’t have to do ALL the prompts if you don’t want to) and prompts can be used in any order. They are also free to use even after the event ends.

When uploading Whumptober content to your blog, be sure to tag the with:

#whumptober2020 …..(the event tag)

#no.1, #no.2, #no.3, …..(theme number)

#bruised, #stabbed,  …..(the theme or specific prompt you chose)

#fandom or #OC

#medium …..(gifs, fic, podcast, art, etc.)

#teeth, #etc …..(trigger warnings & any additional tags. Keep in mind not to add “tw” in front but only use the word/trigger itself, because tumblr sucks)

#nsfw, #nsfwhump …..(only for nsfw content)

PLEASE BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR TAGGING. Only properly tagged posts are considered for archiving on the official @whumptober2020​ blog. They must be tagged in the order above.

Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of participants in recent years, we cannot guarantee your work will be archived. A random selection of properly tagged posts from all genres will be reblogged each day.

Whumpers who produce content for 31 total theme days are considered event completionists and will be tagged in a masterpost at the end of the month.

Questions not addressed below can be directed to this blog as well.

Thanks for reading, and happy whumping!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What kind of content can I make? Can it be NSFW?

This is a MIXED MEDIA event! You can write fic, post meta, doodle or paint, create a gif set or photo edit, link a song, or get crafty with video - anything goes. As for NSFW, make what you like, we just hope that you’ll tag your work accordingly so that others participating in the event can stay safe :)

Q. Do I have to do all 31 Days? Can I post early/late?

Participate as much or little as you like, and post whenever! Just be sure to tag your posts properly (ex. #no.11, #psych101). Combining prompts into one piece of work is okay, and posting late is as well so as long as it’s in October.

Q. What if I don’t understand a theme?

Send us an ask! We’re happy to help clarify. That said, the themes are entirely up for interpretation :)

Q. Can I combine Whumptober with other creation challenges?

Absolutely! That’s like shooting two whumpees with one bullet :)

Q. Can I upload/repost my whumptober content to other social media platforms?

Of course! We’ve created an AO3 Collection to archive any fics posted there. The archive can be accessed here. The blog is the official archive, so please respect the boundaries of any closeted whumpers in your social circle :)

Q. Can I use prompts to write a new chapter for an existing fic?

Yes

Q. An existing fic I am currently writing contains many of the Whumptober prompts, can I use it?

If you are actively writing this fic at the moment with the whumptober prompts in mind, yes. If it just conveniently checks the boxes, then please don’t. You can, however, add new chapters answering one or more of the prompts.

Q. What kind of characters can I write for?

Fandom characters, OC characters, human, furry, alien, cyborg, whoever you like.

Q. Can I use a prompt multiple times?

Yes,  but it only counts once

Q. If I’m not comfortable with one day's prompts can I use a prompt of a different day as a substitute and still be a completionist?

Yes, but please do not use a specific prompt twice. We have also created an alternate prompts list that you can draw from [here].

Q. Where can I post my work?

Post where and how you want. You don’t even have to (cross)post it to Tumblr. Just keep in mind if it’s not on Tumblr we will not be able to add it to the blog archive.

Q. Can I start posting early?

You can, but this is an October event and wouldn’t it be more fun with everyone doing it at the same time? That being said, you can post early, but we won’t be reblogging any work predating October 1st.

Q. Do I have to finish a fic I started/can I post WIP’s.?

Yes you can post WIPs. And you’re not obligated to finish it in October for it to count towards being a completionist.  

Q. Is co-writing allowed?

Yes, absolutely, and it would count towards being a completionist for both/all of you :)

Q. Do I have to create 31 standalone pieces to be considered a completionist or can I write one continuous story?

One continuous story is fine.  The challenge is to write something for 31 prompts. If that’s spread over 31 fics or just one, you are still considered a completionist. (The same goes for every other media you choose.)

Q. Is there a min/max limit on word count?

There is no limit

Q. Can I combine prompts? Is there a limit on how many?

No limit and combine as many as you’d like.

Q. Is a hc/angst focus ok?

Of course!

Q. What’s considered nsfw?

See this post

Q. What's whump?

See this post

Q. My interpretation of the prompt isn't whumpy at all, does that count?

No, sorry, but keep in mind that whump [see definition] is something very nuanced and different for everyone and emotional whump/angst is just as much part of it, as is physical whump and torture. So before you dismiss your idea, think about this.

Q. Can I start working on the prompts before October?

Absolutely! That’s why we posted the prompts a month in advance. We recognise how difficult it can be creating for 31 days in “real time”.

Q. How do I tag triggers?

tw at the end of the word, ex. emeto tw

Q. Do I have to use your tags?

Yes, if you want your work archived on the blog. If not, feel free to use whatever tags you want.  

Q. Does combining prompts count towards completion?

Yes

Q. Can we @ you?

Yes but we mostly rely on the whumptober2020 tag

Q. Is there anything we are absolutely not allowed to write?

There are no rules, just be sure to properly tag your trigger warnings. And keep in mind Tumblr’s policies if you are posting it here (or the policies of whatever site you use).

Q. Where can I go for brainstorming help?

Here on Discord

Q. My characters are minors, is that ok?

Yes, but as with everything else, tags are your best friend.

Q. Can I cross post on other blogs?

Yes, multiple platforms and blogs are perfectly acceptable. You can also post different works to different accounts under different names, without posting them everywhere at once.

Note: This is a creation challenge, please don’t repost your old work under our tags (unless it’s been changed or edited for the event).

#eventinfo2020 #whumptober2020 #whumptober #promptlist2020 #prompt list #FAQs #event info

[sunriserose1023]

An Incandescent Glow

I have been having the worst time with trying to write lately. I asked for some requests and got a pretty good response. An anonymous ask suggested this:

I wanted to write this But I think you could do it justice if you're into the theme but it's basically based on the reader being a princess and her guard being her confidant, Like the bodyguard they've confessed love tho but it's still forbidden. There's a scene in a story I just can't remember, they torture him in the front of everyone to see as a punishment for smthn? he makes no sound coz the reader is there so she leaves but sneaks out later to him still hurt and tied and then good ol h/c.

And this is what became of that ask. 

WARNINGS: THIS IS AN AU; this is set in medieval-ish times, so outdated and F’ed up thoughts and actions towards women will occur; royalty au, forced engagement/wedding, abusive relationship, public whipping, fevers, painful wound cleansing, suicidal thoughts, aborted suicide attempt, magic PAIRING: Princess Reader x Guard Bucky Barnes WORD COUNT: 11,000ish WRITING IN THE DARK BINGO FILL: Royal AU BAD THINGS HAPPEN BINGO FILL: Fevers AUTHOR’S NOTE: Title taken from “ivy,” by Taylor Swift  Specifically the line “Your touch brought forth an incandescent glow, tarnished but so grand.”

Near silent footsteps grew closer to the tree just past the garden. A smile played at his lips as he followed the trail of dainty footprints that stopped at the base of the tree. He slowly looked from left to right, turning to lean against the trunk of the tree, crossing his arms over his massive chest and speaking low. 

“I know you’re up there.”

He laughed when an acorn popped him on the head. He let his arms fall and tilted his head back, dark hair falling off his shoulders with the movement. There you were, looking up, refusing to look his way. 

“Come on, now. He’ll be here any minute.” “I don’t care about him.” “I know you don’t, but he could be a good one.”

You glanced his way then, long enough to make eye contact and narrow your eyes at him before you looked away again. 

“That’s what you said about the last two.” “Prince Samuel was a good man, even if he did get on my nerves.” “But you were wrong about Prince Anthony.”

He nodded. 

“That guy was a prick.”

You giggled, looking down as he looked up. His lips lifted in a crooked smile as he raised a hand. You sighed, shimmying down a little until he could reach you, taking hold of your waist and lowering you from the tree. 

“There we go.”

You stayed close to him once he set your feet on the ground, hands gently brushing the tree debris from your gown. He made no movements away from you and you looked up into kind, icy blue eyes, your chin nearly brushing his chest as you spoke just above a whisper. 

“I don’t want to marry them, Bucky.” “I know, Princess.” “Why can’t I just marry you?”

Bucky ignored the twinge in his heart, forcing a sad smile onto his face as he let his fingers trail over your cheek.  

“I’m just a lowly guard, your grace. You deserve only the finest of princes.”

You shook your head, eyes drawn to your family crest pinned at Bucky’s chest. 

“I don’t know, being solely responsible for the safety of the Princess is worthy of some nobility, isn’t it?”

Bucky smiled for real this time as you met his eyes. 

“No one has ever accused me of being noble, my lady.”

You smiled, giving a laugh under your breath before he offered you his arm. You sighed again, looping your arm through his, laying your other hand on his thick bicep as the two of you slowly began to walk back to the castle. 

“I feel as if we’re on a death march.” “You can’t look at it that way, my lady. He could be the love of your life.”

You swallowed hard, not realizing as you pulled Bucky closer. 

“Who is he again?” “Prince John. A man worthy of you, according to the legends surrounding him.” “What legends?” “He’s defended his kingdom more than once. His father died during one of his battles and John saved the kingdom before returning home.” “So is he the king or a prince?”

Bucky let go of your arm, stepping over a small ravine. There was a fallen tree stretched across the ravine, one you’d hurried over on your way into the woods and up your tree. Bucky held out a hand and you grasped it tightly, lifting the skirts of your gown as you walked over the tree. Once you were safely to the other side, Bucky offered you his arm again. 

“Technically he’s king, but he hasn’t had a coronation yet. His kingdom’s laws say the prince must be married first.” “And that’s where I come in.”

You stopped suddenly, dragged forward the slightest bit when Bucky hadn’t realized you weren’t walking with him. He dropped your arm and started to apologize, but you shook your head. He stood before you and you laid your hands on his shoulders, Bucky hunching over enough for you to reach him. 

“I don’t want to marry someone just because it would be a good, strategic move for the kingdom. I want to marry for love.” “I know, my lady. But couldn’t you grow to love him?”

You stared into those icy eyes, biting back the words on the tip of your tongue. 

How can I, when I love you so?

You blinked, shaking your head. Bucky smiled, rolling his shoulder to make your hand fall, taking your hand in his and bringing it to his lips. He pressed a kiss to the back of your palm, tucking your hand through his arm once more. 

“I’m sure the Queen is wondering where you’ve run off to.” “She should know by now.”

Bucky’s smile widened as he thought to the first time he’d caught you in the tree. Your parents had arranged for Prince Ikaris, a boy you’d grown up playing in the woods with, to come and spend the summer. Only once the days shortened did they tell you that he was there as your suitor, and you’d end the year betrothed. 

You’d stayed in the tree until your father ordered the tree cut down to get you out of it, and only by Bucky carrying you back to the castle did you relent. 

It seems that Ikaris was only the first in a line of suitors, none deeming you worthy enough to play along with your antics. You were sure Prince Anthony had figured you out, and the wink he’d given you as he kissed your hand during his goodbye only cemented your belief. 

No, the only constant through the parade of princes was Bucky, the one who’d sworn to protect you with his life when you were barely a teenager, and he barely a man. He’d kept his word, staying by your side through every attack on the kingdom. While seldom, the attacks did still come, and instead of fighting on the front lines, Bucky stayed at your side. 

He also stayed by your side through every cold and fever and illness, keeping you in his sights through every lesson, every ball, staying outside your bedroom while you slept. You weren’t sure when he slept, but every time you needed him, he was by your side. 

“Here we are.”

You looked up at the castle before you, glancing up at Bucky. He laid his other hand on the one you had currently gripping his arm. 

“It will be fine, Princess. John will be a good man. He’ll be the one.”

You swallowed, pushing a smile on your face and nodding. 

Even though you both knew it was a lie. 

You paced the sitting room, skirts swishing as you walked. The words you muttered didn’t make sense, but you couldn’t sit still and you couldn’t be quiet. You didn’t look up at the knock on the door, your mother huffing out a breath when the door opened. 

“Thank goodness. Talk some sense into her before she sends us all to an early grave!”

You rolled your eyes as you continued your pacing, stopping only when you saw the shiny boots step into your path. You lifted your head, closing your eyes with a relieved sigh when you saw the one constant in your life. 

“Bucky.”

You laid your hands on his arms and he led you to the bench where your mother had been sitting. He sat beside you and you shook your head, taking hold of his hands. 

“I hate him.” “You don’t know him.” “And I don’t want to!”

You shook your head, body vibrating along with it. 

“There’s something about him … I can’t. I won’t marry him.” “You have to give him a chance, Princess.” “I did!” “No, you haven’t.”

You squeezed Bucky’s hands and he shifted closer to you. 

“Just talk to him. Get to know him.” “I don’t want to get to know him!” “I know, but you have to.”

You lifted your eyes to his, seeing the pain in his eyes. 

“What?”

Bucky looked down at your hands and you shook your head, giving his hands a squeeze until he lifted his head again. 

“Bucky, what?” “Your father will force this marriage to happen.”

Your eyes widened, hands falling from Bucky’s. You shook your head, but he nodded his. 

“You don’t have a choice anymore, my lady. You will marry Prince John.” “No, he … Father wouldn’t do that.” “He would. He will. Uniting John’s kingdom with ours would be a brilliant strategic move.”

You slowly nodded.

“Whatever is best for the kingdom.”

You stood on shaky legs, walking away from Bucky. He stood, the sword at his side softly clanging as he walked towards you. You stopped and lifted a shaky hand to your lips, closing your eyes as Bucky came to a stop behind you, his warmth surrounding you. 

“Give him a chance, my lady. Get to know him.” “I don’t love him.” “You’ll learn to love him.”

You turned quickly, grabbing Bucky’s elbows. You watched his nostrils flare as his hands went to your waist, steadying you. His hands didn’t move from you, the warmth of his fingers burning you like a brand. You stepped closer, watching his eyes flash as he stayed still, a quiet gasp leaving your lips as his fingers flexed on your hips. The two of you stared at each other until you leaned even closer, your near silent voice echoing in the small space between you. 

“I’ll never love him.”

Bucky had made you promise to give Prince John a try, so you did. Sitting beside him at meals, strolling through the grounds with him. Standing at the entrance to the smelly barn as he brushed his horse and regaled you with tales of battle. 

You couldn’t stand the man. 

Bucky kept his distance when you were with John, brushing off the prince’s insistence that you were more than safe with him and Bucky could take the time off. Bucky politely declined, giving you and John space while still following you. 

Now, you were on yet another stroll through the castle grounds, arm through John’s at his insistence, Bucky following a dozen paces behind. 

“Is he always like this?”

You glanced over your shoulder, a soft smile crossing your lips. 

“He’s duty-bound to protect me.” “And he’s always around you? Even in your private chamber?” “Well, of course not. He stays outside the door.”

John clicked his tongue, much the same way he did with the horses. The sound was grating to your ears and he shook his head. 

“That’ll be the first thing to go.”

You blinked. 

“I beg your pardon?”

John gave you a patronizing smile. 

“When you’re my wife, you won’t need a bodyguard. I’ll protect you.” “I would think as the Queen, you’d want as much protection around me as you can get.” “Of course, your grace. But I have my own men I’ll put in that position.”

You blinked a few times. 

“I’ve known B—“

You cleared your throat. 

“James my whole life. I trust him and I know he will protect me, no matter the cost.” “Well, I don’t need him.” “You may not, but I do.” “You’ll need what I say you’ll need.”

You stopped, and John gave a hard exhale when you tugged at his arm. 

“Come on. I’m tired of dealing with your attitude.” “I hate to break it to you, but the attitude stays.”

John gave a laugh, turning to stand in front of you and glaring down at you. 

“I’ll fuck that attitude right out of you. Now do as I say.”

He grabbed your arm tightly and harshly pulled you forward, causing you to stumble. A warm hand grasped yours, the other on your waist as you were righted a moment before you were standing behind the wall of Bucky. 

“I swear to God, if you touch her again—“ “I didn’t do anything.” “I watched you. I heard you.”

John laughed. 

“And what will you do, guard? You think you can undermine the king?” “You’re not the king yet.”

John lifted his chin, a wicked smile coming to his lips as he stared at Bucky, glancing to see you peeking around Bucky’s wide frame before he spoke again. 

“We’ll see about that.”

You sat up in bed at the sudden commotion outside your chamber. You pushed back the blankets and grabbed your robe, pulling it around you as you flung open the door. Guards wearing Prince John’s family crest were surrounding Bucky, trying to put his hands in shackles. 

“What’s happening? What is this?” “Princess, go back inside.”

You shook your head at Bucky, reaching for him, gasping when a fist flew out, catching Bucky on the chin. He went to his knees with a groan, hands quickly shackled behind his back. 

“Unhand him. Let him go!” “Orders of the Prince. Go back inside, my lady.” “No, I demand you let him go!”

Before a burly guard could force you back into your chamber, a hand reached out, placed in the center of the guard’s chest. The guard gave a nod, and Bucky was carried away. You turned quickly to see one of Bucky’s closest friends at your side. 

“Steve, what’s happening?”

Steve sighed, gently ushering you back into your chamber. 

“John put out the order. Said Bucky threatened him, threatened you. He’s going to use him to teach a lesson.” “Bucky didn’t threaten him. And he would never hurt me—“ “I know. I know, your grace, but I couldn’t go against the Prince.”

You looked in the direction that they’d taken Bucky, your heart feeling as if it were in your throat. 

“What will he do to him?”

Steve’s eyes were cast down when you looked back to him, and you covered your mouth with your hand. Your hand drifted to your throat, as you spoke the words that burned like acid in your mouth. 

“Will he kill him?” “I don’t think so.”

You closed your eyes, Steve’s quiet words slicing through your heart. 

“But there are things worse than death.”

You opened your eyes again, knowing that despite the late hour, sleep would not come for you tonight. 

John smiled as he adjusted the armor on his arms. 

“Where is she?”

He glanced to see Steve at the doorway, who bowed his head. 

“She’s coming, your grace.” “Good. I want to be sure she watches closely.”

Steve nodded, eyes cast to the ground. His eyes flicked up when he heard your gown swishing as you walked, clenching his jaw before he turned his head. 

“She’s here, your highness.” “Excellent.”

John turned to see you in the doorway. Your eyes seemed tired, as if you hadn’t gotten enough sleep. John smiled, knowing his plan had worked. 

“My Queen. Let’s take a walk.”

You glanced away when he was near, biting back a groan when he grabbed your chin and held it tightly as he kissed your cheek. He grabbed your arm and placed it through his own, pulling you forward. 

“There’s something you need to learn. I’ve spoken with Samuel and Thor and Ikaris. I even wrote to Anthony, but I never received a response.”

You bit your lip to hide the smile at that.

“They all said the same thing. That you weren’t worth the time.”

You schooled your face into a calm, cool facade. You weren’t going to let his words get to you. 

“Honestly, Princess? I have to agree with them.”

You clenched your teeth together as he went on. 

“You may not be worth it, but your kingdom is. Well, your father’s kingdom. Let’s not pretend it would ever be yours.”

You straightened your spine, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. 

“But I can’t get the kingdom without you, so I guess we both just have to grin and bear it. But here’s the thing, sweetheart.” “Don’t call me that.”

John maneuvered your hand to where he was grasping it, squeezing so tightly you felt your bones grind together. You yelped at the sudden burn of pain and John sneered at you. 

“Remember your place, Princess. I will be your husband and your king very soon.”

You blinked back tears as the two of you came to a sudden stop. 

“Consider this the first of many lessons I’ll have to teach you. And you will learn, Princess. One way or another.”

John snapped his fingers and two of his men came to stand on either side of you. You looked from one to the other, noticing the crowd that had gathered. You narrowed your eyes when you realized you were standing on some sort of scaffolding, a stage of sorts. 

John stepped near the edge of the stage. 

“Citizens! Your future king has called you here for one simple reason.”

You tuned him out, glancing around the stage, looking through the crowd for a familiar face. You didn’t see one, save for Steve near the stairs, head bowed, shoulders tense. You swallowed as you studied the crowd, eyes falling onto a woman paces behind the rest of the people. She locked eyes with you and a shiver rolled up your spine. She lifted the hood of the cloak she wore, setting it on her fiery hair before turning and walking away. You watched her until you couldn’t see her anymore, blinking as if you’d been in a trance. Your eyes fluttered as the crowd began buzzing like a hive of bees, your heart pounding in your chest as you watched Bucky with his hands and feet shackled being led up the stairs. You started to step forward, stepping back when one of the men beside you blocked your path. 

“You’re to watch this, Princess.”

Your heart throbbed in your chest as Bucky was led to the middle of the stage, the shirt he was wearing torn away. You met his eyes, saw the emotions swirling in the icy blue before he was forced to look away, his body wrenched to face the crowd. 

“No.”

The word was barely audible, your eyes widening when John was handed a whip. You shook your head, reaching out, being stopped quickly by the thickly muscled arms of the men on either side of you. You looked to see Steve with his head still bowed, eyes squeezed shut, lips pulled tight in a wince. You took in a breath as John raised the whip over his head, hand flying to cover your mouth as John brought the whip down, the crack seeming to echo as Bucky’s body jolted forward. 

Bucky tried to hold back, but soon every crack of the whip was followed by a scream of agony. You wanted to collapse at the first sound he tried so hard to hold back, but you stood firm. Bucky would want you to be strong. John looked back at you, wild-eyed with a wide smile on his face, and you glared at him, managing to stay still when the next crack of his whip was viciously hard.  

When Bucky’s screams faded, you peeked around the man beside you, your heart falling to your toes when you saw how limp Bucky’s body was. The final lash from John’s whip had no reaction from Bucky, and John threw the whip to the ground as he turned and made his way to you. He stopped in front of you, smiling sadistically. 

“Let this be a lesson to you, Princess. King or not, I own you.”

He glanced back over his shoulder. 

“And this is just the beginning.”

You closed your eyes as John bent to kiss your cheek before walking away, whistling a tune as he did. The crowd began to disperse with quiet murmurs being exchanged, and you rushed forward, hitting your knees beside Bucky’s prone form. 

“Bucky? Oh god. Buck, can you hear me?” “He’s unconscious.”

You looked up to Steve, seeing the pain on his face as he studied the lashes on Bucky’s back, blood oozing from the wounds. You shook your head, one shaky hand moving to the back of Bucky’s head. 

“What do we do?” “I can help.”

You looked up at the new voice, quiet and thickly accented. The woman you’d noticed earlier that stayed at the edge of the crowd was standing over Bucky. You moved a hand protectively over him and she smirked. 

“Don’t worry, Princess. I mean no harm. He’ll need these wounds cleaned to ward off infection.”

You nodded, looking down at the crisscrossing wounds on Bucky’s back. Shaky fingers gently touched his broken skin and you shook your head. 

“I don’t … I can’t leave.” “I know, your grace. I have a few men who can help us.”

You met Steve’s eyes and nodded. He turned and nodded, and three men stepped out of the shadows. You recognized two of them, smiling sadly. 

“Clint. Timothy.” “Your highness.”

The men bowed before offering hands to help you to your feet. You stepped back with the woman beside you, your heart clenching with every moan and noise Bucky made. The men managed to get Bucky on a horse, planning on taking him to Clint’s farm. The woman turned to you, and you would have sworn you saw her eyes turn red. 

“I’ll do what I can, Princess, but he’s going to need you.” “Me?”

She nodded, a smile coming to her lips. 

“I’ll send for you.” “How?” “You’ll know.”

She turned away and you blinked a few times before stepping forward. 

“Steve!”

He looked back at you, crossing the space they’d already put between you. You took his hands. 

“Be careful. You know there’s wolves in the woods.”

Steve nodded. 

“We’ll keep an eye out.”

You nodded, squeezing his hands before he jogged to meet Clint, who was leading the horse away. 

You stayed in your chamber with the door locked, refusing any visitors and the requests your parents and John made for you to come out. The only person you would allow into the room was the lady-in-waiting that had been by your side since you were a child, Lady Jean Grey. 

You were sitting on the cushioned bench by the window, hands clasped in Jean’s as she knelt before you. You couldn’t speak, tears silently rolling down your cheeks as Jean spoke softly. 

“He’s going to be okay, your highness. Steve will be sure to take good care of him.”

You hung your head and gave a soft sob. Jean always seemed to know just what you were thinking, even when you couldn’t put it into words. She knew how you felt about Bucky, how you felt about John, the hopelessness you could feel yourself slipping into. Your father had been delighted with John’s public show of power, and he was more determined than ever to make the marriage happen. You didn’t have a say in the matter, and seeing John’s self-satisfied smirk made your stomach turn. 

Your head lifted, eyes locking with Jean’s before the two of you turned towards the window. You helped her to her feet, your gowns swishing as the both of you made your way to the window. The moon was high in the cloudless sky, and a chill rolled down your spine as a wolf’s howl broke the stillness of the night. 

You turned to Jean, grabbing her hands. 

“That’s it.” “Your grace, that was a wolf.” “No, she did that. We haven’t heard wolves since the snow melted.”

Jean was incredibly smart and intuitive, and you saw goosebumps rise on her arms when the wolf howled again. You gave her hands a squeeze. 

“I have to go, Jean. She said he was going to need me, and this is her sign.” “Okay. Okay, go.”

She sighed, looking to the door over your shoulder. 

“I’ll stay here, pretend I’m you if I have to. I’ll ward off everything I can, but you must hurry back.”

You nodded, pulling her hands forward until you could kiss her cheek. She helped you into a gown more suitable for someone who wasn’t a princess, pinning your hair up and giving you her cloak. You knew there would be guards outside your chamber door, so Jean helped you climb over the balcony, using the blankets from your bed as a makeshift ladder. 

You twisted your ankle when you dropped to the ground, wincing as you ran through the pain. You went in the direction you remembered Steve and Clint leading the horse that had carried Bucky away, the thought coming to you that you had no idea where you were going. 

You covered your mouth with a hand when the wolf’s howl filled the air again, the sound sharp in your ears. You looked to your right, jolting when the howl sounded again, but turning that direction. You pulled Jean’s cloak tighter around you, eyes widening when you saw a curl of smoke rose towards the moon. Clouds were quickly hiding the moon, so you hurried towards the smoke, stopping when you saw a stone cottage. You made your way to the door, knocking on it and stepping back. 

“Your highness. Welcome.”

You followed the woman into the cottage, removing the hood from your head. You untied the strings at your neck and she took the cloak from you, hanging it beside what you assumed was her own cloak. 

“Excuse me.”

She turned to you, curls of her red hair framing her face. 

“What is your name?”

She smiled. 

“Wanda. Follow me.”

You did, stopping suddenly when Wanda walked through a doorway. 

“Oh god.”

You hurried forward, hand brushing over Bucky’s sweat-soaked face. He was laying on his side and he moaned at your touch, his huge body shivering almost violently. You lifted your eyes to Wanda, who sighed. 

“He’s got a fever from the infection. I’m doing everything I can.” “Oh, Bucky.”

You grabbed a cloth near his makeshift bed, dipping it in a bucket of water. You gently pressed the cloth to his forehead, a moan leaving his lips. The shivering of his body slowed just a bit, and you moved the cloth to gently clean his face. 

“I’m here, Bucky. I'm so sorry.”

He hummed as you dipped the cloth back into the water, wringing it out and pressing it against his neck. 

“How long has he had the fever?” “The wounds were showing the beginning signs of infection when we got him here.”

You lifted your head at that, and Wanda smiled as she moved to stand in front of a big bowl. 

“They’re in the barn. Close enough that they can come if I call. The big one said it was unseemly for the men to be in a lady’s home.”

You smiled as you laid the cloth over Bucky’s heart. 

“Steve.”

Wanda nodded, turning to grab a jar from a shelf on the wall. 

“What can I do?”

Wanda took a few jars into her arms, setting them beside the bowl. 

“You’re doing it. He’s stopped moaning. Perhaps he recognizes your touch.” “Is he delirious?”

Wanda nodded. 

“He’s woken up a few times. That’s usually when I have to call the big one in to calm him down.”

You nodded, sucking in a breath when one of Bucky’s shaky hands touched your thigh. You moved the cloth back to his face, patting gently. 

“It’s me, Bucky. I’m here with you.”

Your only response was a moan, and Wanda spoke from behind you. 

“Can you fill this with water from the bucket?”

You took a small glass vial from her, dipping it into the bucket and handing it to her before dipping the cloth back into the bucket and wringing it out again. 

“Wanda?” “Mm-hmm?” “The wolf howling. That was you, wasn't it?”

She didn’t answer, and you lifted your head to see her dark eyes on you. She nodded, and you swallowed as you moved back to Bucky, placing the cloth against his neck. 

“What are you?”

Your voice was quiet, your eyes on Bucky, watching his eyes move under his eyelids as his sleep was restless. You finally glanced over your shoulder, Wanda’s eyes still on you. You swallowed again and Wanda’s lips curled in the slightest semblance of a smile. 

“Will you help me put this salve on his wounds?”

You nodded, watching Wanda stir whatever she had in the big bowl. 

“We can get the big one in to help hold him down.” “Does it hurt him?” “It does, but it helps as well. I’ve already had to convince the big one that I’m helping him and not purposefully hurting.”

You let your fingers graze through Bucky’s hair, your breath catching in your throat at the way his head moved, as if he were seeking out your touch. You nodded, and Wanda walked to the window, unlatching it and pushing it open. She whistled a short tune, then closed the window. A few seconds later, you watched Steve exit the barn, wiping his feet before he walked into the room, eyes widening at the sight of you. 

“Your Highness.”

You smiled at him and the short bow he gave, turning your attention back to Bucky. Wanda’s accented voice broke through the quiet. 

“It is time to clean his wounds again.”

Steve blew out a breath, lifting a hand to rub at his bearded chin. You wiped the cloth over Bucky’s mouth, your fingers trailing through his hair. Steve stepped towards you, voice gentle. 

“Princess, you don’t have to watch this. Clint will keep you company in the stables.”

You shook your head. 

“I need to be here.”

Steve nodded, exchanging a look with Wanda. Steve murmured to Bucky as he gently began pushing him onto his stomach. Bucky groaned, painful moans escaping his lips as he went with Steve’s urges. You tried to shush him as best you could, touching his face and whispering to him. A horrified gasp escaped your lips when you saw the wounds on his back, how angry red they were, how some were seeping. Wanda and Steve exchanged another glance above where you had knelt at Bucky’s head. 

“Your highness?”

You looked up to Wanda, who had a soft smile on her face. 

“You stay there, try to keep him still. The big one and I can apply the salve.” “My name is Steve.” “I know your name, vysokiy.”

You and Steve exchanged a look, a smile crossing your face at the flush in his cheeks. The smile slid from your face as you met Wanda’s eyes, saw the compassion and sorrow there.

“He will fight. He may be weakened, but he is still strong. He won’t know what he’s doing and if he hurts you, he doesn’t mean it.”

You nodded, closing your eyes for just a moment. 

“Brace yourself.”

You did, your heart shattering in your chest when Wanda laid a stripe of thick green paste over the lashes on Bucky’s back. Bucky gasped, then screamed, legs flying up as the salve burned into his skin. Tears came to your eyes when you listened to him scream, as Wanda gently layered the salve onto the lashes in his skin and you finally heard Steve calling your name, looking up. 

“Talk to him! Calm him down.”

You shook your head, unsure of what to do, and Steve ground his teeth as he pressed Bucky’s shoulders down. 

“Let him hear your voice.”

You looked back at Bucky, the tears sliding down his cheeks breaking your heart. He screamed again as Wanda spread more salve on his back and you knelt in front of him. 

“Bucky! Bucky, calm down. Just breathe.”

Bucky’s eyes flew open, wild and glassy from the fever. You shushed him, taking his face in your hands. 

“You’re okay. I’m here.”

He whispered your name and you nodded, smiling through the tears rolling down your cheeks. 

“Hi, Buck.”

He groaned and you moved closer, resting your forehead on his, feeling the blaze of his skin against yours. 

“It’s okay, Bucky. I’m here.”

He murmured your name again, one shaky hand reaching for you. You took his hand, holding it in yours, kissing his fingers before bringing it to your chest. He gave quiet groans as Wanda and Steve spread the salve over his back, giving your hand intermittent squeezes. You whispered to him, words that you weren’t even sure made sense. 

When Wanda quietly announced she was done, Bucky’s body relaxed. You smiled, blinking open your eyes in time to see Bucky lean back just enough to brush his nose against yours. Your eyes widened as he moved, wincing the slightest bit. You took the hand Steve offered you and stood to your feet, eyebrows furrowing at the sight of the chair he moved for you to the head of Bucky’s makeshift bed. You sat down and Steve moved the chair closer. He maneuvered Bucky just a bit, until Bucky’s head was on your lap. You stared at Bucky for a moment, shaking your head as you looked up to Steve, looking back down when Bucky gave a content sigh, quickly drifting back to sleep. You stared at his sleeping form, the furrow between his eyebrows that you gently smoothed away. Every touch of your hand seemed to relax him more, and you smiled as you ran your fingers through his hair, gently untangling the dark strands. 

In the kitchen, Wanda smiled as she washed out the bowl she had used. Steve stood back, eyes in the room where Bucky slept on the Princess’ lap. He lifted a hand to his forehead, gently rubbing. 

“Something on your mind, vysokiy?”

Steve swallowed. 

“This … them … it can’t be. You must know that.” “I know that the heart is not something to be played around with.” “They can’t be together. This will just hurt them more in the end.” “Will it? You see him? He’s sleeping more restfully than he has since he regained consciousness. The infection is already calming.”

Steve shook his head. 

“It doesn’t matter. She has to go back to the castle and he has to go back to being a guard. Not her guard, because her new husband won’t allow it.” “Her new husband is not her husband yet. There has been no wedding.” “One is coming. The whole kingdom knows it.”

Wanda turned to face him fully. 

“And you think she will go through with it?”

Steve stared at her, head tilting slightly. 

“What are you talking about?”

Wanda’s dark eyes danced from you and Bucky back to Steve. 

“Surely you can feel the love between them as I do.”

Steve looked away, looking back when Wanda stepped closer to him. 

“You think she’ll go through with marrying the monster who broke her heart by nearly killing the one who holds her heart?” “She doesn’t have a choice.” “There’s always a choice, vysokiy.”

Steve grabbed her wrist, his touch gentling when her fingers gently caressed his wrist. 

“What do you know?” “Nothing as of yet. Is only a possibility.” “What is?”

Wanda looked to you, saw you dip your head to press your lips to the crown of Bucky’s head. She nodded. 

“I do believe your Princess would rather die than be forced away from him.”

Steve dropped her hand, eyes flashing back to you and Bucky, who slept peacefully in your lap. 

You stayed in the chair with Bucky’s head in your lap until the sun came up. He stirred, groaning softly before blinking his eyes open. His eyebrows drew together, confusion marring his features until he looked up and saw you smiling down at him. 

“My lady?” “Good morning, Bucky. How are you feeling?”

Bucky blinked, as if he were unsure you were really there. You gently slipped your fingers through his hair again and his eyes drifted closed. You continued, his voice deep and sleepy. 

“How are you here?” “I snuck out. Lady Jean is pretending to be me.”

Bucky moaned softly, realizing where his head had been laying. His cheeks flushed as he pushed himself up with a groan, and you quickly moved to help him sit up. 

“Take it easy. Just breathe.”

He took your hand, lacing his fingers through yours. You smiled, moving your hand from his bare shoulder to his neck. He groaned again, hanging his head. 

“Just breathe, Bucky.” “When did you get here?”

You swallowed, gently rubbing the ball of his shoulder. 

“Last night. I had to help Wanda and Steve dress your wounds. Which, it should be time to change the bandages. We had to apply them while you slept.”

Bucky watched as you lifted a strip of cloth from just under his shoulder blade. 

“It might be easier if you lay back down.”

Bucky shook his head. 

“No, I … I’d like to sit up.”

You smiled. 

“Okay.”

You stepped away from him, going behind him. 

“I’m sorry, this may hurt.” “I’ll be okay.”

You slowly lifted the bandages from his skin, some of the salve causing the bandages to stick. You pulled as gently as you could, wincing each time you heard Bucky hiss out a breath. When the final bandage was removed, you went to the bucket of water Clint had brought in before the sun rose. You dipped a fresh cloth into the water, bringing it back to gently clean Bucky’s back. He hissed at first, then moaned softly. 

“I’m sorry.” “It’s okay. Just a bit tender.”

You nodded, tears blurring your eyes as you did your best to clean the wounds. Once the wounds were clean, you continued to pat the cloth over Bucky’s back, urged on by the pleased sighs leaving his lips. Soon, however, Bucky realized there was no rhyme or rhythm to your touches. The cloth was barely skimming over his skin, the gentlest of brushes. 

“My lady?”

You didn’t answer, dropping your hand to your side, going back to the bucket and dipping the cloth back into it, wringing it almost dry. 

“Princess?”

You laid your hands on the small table where the bucket sat. You hung your head, only turning when you heard Bucky move. 

“Don’t try to get up. You’re weak.” “Why are you crying?”

You sniffled, shaking your head. Bucky held out his hand and you took it in both of yours, stepping forward at his gentle pull. 

“Are those tears for me, sweet Princess?”

You nodded, closing your eyes as you moved one hand to brush his hair back from his face, the other grasping tightly to his hand. 

“I’m so sorry.” “What could you possibly be sorry for?”

You lifted your head when Bucky gently pushed at your chin, tears shining in your eyes when his icy blues met yours. He shook his head and you gave a shaky sigh. 

“It’s because of me. John did this to you because of—“ “Don’t…”

Bucky shook his head, clenching his jaw before he looked back to you. 

“He did this. Not you.” “But he did it because of me. He wanted to teach me a lesson and he knew hurting you would be the best way to hurt me.”

You lowered your head again and Bucky shifted to push your chin up again. 

“Don’t hide from me, Princess. Let me look at you.”

You swallowed, stepping closer to him. 

“I hate him.” “I know.” “They’re going to make me marry him and I—“ “Shh.”

You were careful to keep your arms by your side when Bucky pulled you into his arms. You didn’t want to touch his back and cause him any sort of pain, but you couldn’t help resting your head against his shoulder. You lifted a hand to cup his face, closing your eyes when you felt his rough beard against your scalp. 

“I know he won’t allow me to guard you anymore.” “I know.” “If I could change it, Princess …”

You lifted your head, nose brushing against Bucky’s chin. 

“I wish it could be you.”

Bucky’s hands tightened around you and you gave a shaky sigh. 

“My lady—“ “Don't say that he’ll be a good king or that I’ll grow to love him. I won’t. I won’t ever love anyone, Bucky. No one but—“ “Please don’t.”

You couldn’t stop the sob, your hand tightening just a bit on his face, resting your palm against his cheek. Bucky closed his eyes, his voice pitched low. 

“You have to go back.” “I don’t want to.” “I know.” “I get this terrible feeling that I’ll never see you again.”

You shook your head, moving back until you could look him in the eyes. 

“I can’t live the rest of my life without you.” “You can, Princess. You’re strong.” “I’m not.”

Bucky reached out, taking your face in his hands, wiping the tears from your cheeks with his thumbs. 

“You deserve more than a lowly castle guard.” “I deserve someone who loves me, and that monster never will. I can’t live like that, Bucky. I can’t.”

He swallowed at the sureness of your words, rubbing his thumbs under your eyes again, causing them to close. He pulled you closer, pressing his lips to your forehead, the place where your crown usually sat. You lifted your hands to hold onto his thick forearms as he spoke again. 

“You have to go back.”

You shook your head, a smile coming to his lips at your stubbornness. 

“You can’t turn your back on the kingdom.” “The kingdom doesn’t care about me. The only thing I’m good for is marrying someone who can rule because I never can.”

You opened your eyes, looking into his again. 

“Do you know what he said to me while we were walking one day? He said maybe I won’t be as useless as my mother and actually give him a worthy heir.”

You shook your head. 

“How can you say I should go back to that?”

Bucky looked down at your still-joined hands. 

“It’s your duty as Princess—“ “I don’t care about duty!”

You let go of his hands and stood up, shaking your head as you looked at him. 

“The only thing in this world I care about is you. It broke my heart when John tortured you the way that he did. Look at me, Bucky. I snuck out of the castle to get to you. I knew what a risk it was and I couldn’t help myself.”

You’d been pacing the small area, stopping and turning to him. 

“He doesn’t love me. He never will, and I know that. Deep in my bones, I can feel it. But you …”

Bucky hung his head, putting his face in his hands. You could feel the cracks in your heart, the break beginning. The cracks only deepened when he lifted his head, pain-filled eyes meeting yours. 

“I can’t give you anything.” “You think I care about jewels or gold?” “What about food? I have nothing, Princess. I am nothing.”

You shook your head, going to him and taking his hands as you knelt before him. 

“You’re everything, Bucky. If I never step foot in another castle, that would be fine with me. As long as I had you.”

Bucky stared down at your hands, shaking his head. 

“You have to go back.”

You felt the cracks in your heart deepening even more. 

“You won’t even try, will you?” “There’s nothing to try. My duty is to guard the castle and your duty is—“ “To marry a monster whose cruelty towards me brings him such joy.”

You shook your head, giving a sharp laugh at the tears welling up in your eyes. You stared into Bucky’s eyes, the pain you felt reflected in the stormy grey of his orbs. You slowly nodded, turning away from him. 

“Princess…”

You didn’t turn back at his voice, as much as it hurt. Bucky noticed then the weight on your shoulders, the way every breath seemed heavy from your chest. He called you by your name and you turned, lifting pain-filled eyes to his. He went still, the sad smile you put on your face breaking his heart, along with the words you said. 

“I love you, James. And I’ll never love anyone but you.”

The tears sparkling in your eyes made him want to run to you, but you turned away before he could move. He hung his head as he listened to your footsteps walk away, curling back up on the bed once the closing of the door signaled your departure. 

“Your Highness? Prince John would like you to meet him in the dining hall. He wants to discuss the food for the wedding feast.”

You continued to stare out the window, taking a breath before you acknowledged Lady Jean. 

“Tell the future king that whatever he desires is fine with me.” “He wants to get your input on some things, my lady.”

You pulled your dull, tired eyes from the window. 

“I highly doubt that. But you know what I like, Lady Jean. Speak in my stead.” “It’s not my wedding, your grace.” “It’s not mine, either.”

Jean sighed, closing the door behind her as she made her way to you. 

“You must leave this room, dear. Let’s take a stroll around the gardens.”

You turned your head towards her again. 

“He cut down my tree. Did you know that?”

Jean knelt beside you, reaching a hand up to gently stroke your hair. 

“He reinstated James. Did you know that?”

You shook your head. 

“He’s a castle guard now, but he’s here. I could bring him to you.” “John would never allow that.” “Then we could take that walk and be sure to find him.”

You smiled sadly. 

“I told him I love him. That I’d never love anyone but him.”

Jean’s hand fell from your hair. You nodded, tears welling up in your eyes again. 

“I think I’d just like to stay here.” “Princess…” “Thank you, Jean. That will be all.”

Jean sighed, standing to her feet, laying her hand against your head before turning and leaving. You took in a breath, folding your arms and placing them on the windowsill, putting your head on your arms and crying. 

When the moon was high in the sky and the castle was at rest, you crept as quietly as you could from your room. The guard outside your door, one wearing Prince John’s family crest, was asleep. He had his chin against his chest, quiet snores leaving his lips. You shook your head and silently crept past him, pulling your cloak tighter around you. You went for the winding staircase, making your way to the castle’s roof. Once there, you untied your cloak, letting it fall to the stones you slowly walked across. You stopped at the edge, leaning over the railing there, your heart fluttering at the distance to the ground. 

You took in a breath and let it out slowly, taking hold of the railing and lifting yourself up. You slowly stood on top of the edge of the stone balcony, looking straight ahead instead of down. 

If you looked down, you’d never do what you set out to do. 

You closed your eyes, trying your best to clear your mind. You didn’t want to think of Jean or your parents or John and especially not Bucky. You lifted your head, the night wind rolling over you like a cold caress, cutting through the thin gown you wore to bed. 

“Princess?”

You opened your eyes, the breath catching in your throat. 

No.

“My lady, please. I need you to step down from there.”

Not him. Anyone but him.

“Princess, I can’t make it down fast enough to catch you. So that means I … I’ll have to follow you.” “You’re not my guard anymore.” “Maybe not where the future king is concerned, but I’ll always protect you.”

You turned your head then, tears welling up in your eyes when you saw him. 

“Is that what you did when you sent me away? You were protecting me? By pushing me towards that monster?” “Take my hand and we can talk.”

Bucky stepped forward, hand outstretched to you. You shook your head, the stone ledge digging into your bare feet. 

“I can’t live like this. I can’t marry him. His cruelty is constant and I can’t even begin to imagine what he’ll do when I’m his wife. He already treats me like he owns me and I can’t … I won’t live like that.”

You squared your shoulders, looking back out over the kingdom. 

“If you do this, then you must know that I’m coming after you.”

You glanced over your shoulder, seeing Bucky staring up at you on the ledge. 

“I can’t live in a world where you’re not.”

Your shoulders dropped at that. As a quiet sob broke free from your chest, Bucky stepped even closer, hand outstretched towards you. You put your hand in his and he stepped even closer as you bent down, wrapping your arms around his neck as he slid one arm around you, the other under your knees. He held you close as you put your face in his neck, and he knelt to the ground, keeping you in his arms. You stayed holding onto him, the warmth of his body bleeding through his armor and into you. 

You couldn't say anything. Tears slipped from your eyes and onto him, but Bucky didn’t speak either. He just knelt there on the castle roof, holding you, for what seemed like hours. 

You stood on the balcony outside your chamber, staring out over the hazy day. Dark clouds were rolling over the hills in the distance, an ominous appearance to what should have been the happiest day of your life. You hadn’t slept well, your dreams invaded with hopeless, dark images and wolf howls. You exhaled slowly, closing your eyes, blinking them open again. 

You tilted your head, the hooded figure at the edge of the trees sending a chill up your spine. You instinctively knew that was Wanda, and you felt a pull towards her. You watched her come to a stop at the tree line, hands coming out from under her cloak, twisting and turning and you would swear they were glowing red. You would also swear that she was looking right at you, and you turned, hurrying from your chamber. You were halfway down the steps before you realized how empty the castle was, considering your wedding ceremony and feast were tonight. You lifted your skirts and ran through the open doors, hurrying down past the stables. The closer you got to the tree line, the further away it seemed Wanda slipped. You jumped at a crack of thunder, glancing over your shoulder to see Bucky stop in his tracks on a balcony of the castle. You stopped as he did, watching him shake his head and call for you. 

You’re not sure what came over you. You felt as though your body wasn’t your own as you turned and ran into the forest. You called for Wanda, but got no response. You kept running, sucking in a breath when you heard the commotion behind you, of the guards mounting their horses to come after you. 

“Wanda! I know that was you. Where are you?”

You went still when you heard a wolf howl, glancing over your shoulder when you heard snarls and yips close by. You watched a pack of wolves walk out of the trees and slowly surround you. You swallowed, closing your eyes and wishing you could have had one more moment with Bucky. 

You gasped as a wolf snapped its jaws at you, and you backed into a thorn bush, cutting your arm. You yelped when another wolf did the same thing, gasping when a wolf bit your gown, tugging until it ripped. On your other side, another wolf did the same thing. You didn’t want to run because you knew you couldn’t outrun the wolves. But you noticed strangely that the wolves weren’t trying to hurt you. They seemed more preoccupied with tearing your gown. 

You turned and cut your other arm on the thorn bush, your blood dripping onto the scraps of your gown on the ground. One of the wolves threw its head back and gave a loud howl, your eyes widening when a larger wolf stepped out of the trees. You noticed something in this wolf’s mouth, a vial that seemed familiar to you, but you didn’t know why. The wolf stopped directly in front of you, tilting his head to the side before dropping the vial at your feet. A strange crimson smoke wafted from your feet up to your nose, and you inhaled deeply. 

You stared into the wolf’s eyes, your mouth opening as your breathing sped up. Pain shot through your body, and you threw your head back and screamed. You fell to your knees and screamed again, the pain seeming to completely encompass you. The wolves began snapping at you and howling, your screams interspersed with their howls. You gave a gasping, wet gurgle, feeling like your heart was trying to burst out of your chest. A quiet groan was the last sound you could make before you collapsed, the pain too much for you to handle. 

You were hanging on the edge of consciousness, unsure of what was happening. You could swear you felt the wolves’ nudging you with their noses, causing you to roll over onto your belly. You were sure you felt claws scratch one leg, then the other, until a quiet yip sounded. You felt the wolves nudge you again, and you felt yourself be lifted, placed onto something soft and warm. You felt wind against your skin, and the cool drops of rain against your face was the last thing you felt before you lost consciousness. 

As storms raged through the kingdom, a blanket of grief settled over the castle. Your mother refused to leave her chamber, demanding the curtains closed and shrouding herself in darkness. Your father seemed to be in a fog. John saw no reason to stay, leaving his condolences before heading back to his kingdom. 

Lady Jean Grey was inconsolable, sitting in your chamber and weeping. The castle was quiet and dark, and from his place on a balcony, Bucky decided he’d prefer to be publicly whipped every day of his life than to have to live with this godforsaken pain. 

He stood unmoving in the rain, soaked to the skin, completely numb. He kept his eyes trained towards the woods, hoping against all odds that you’d step through the tree line. Steve stayed beside him, sometimes trying to talk with him, most of the time just standing by.

Every time Bucky closed his eyes, he saw you. The sweet smiles you only gave to him, the way your eyes lit up when he was near. He could feel your gentle touch, reminders of the comfort only you could bring when he was at Wanda’s cottage. He could hear your laughter that only happened when he did something that tickled you, the soft way you said his name, the only one besides Steve who could call him Bucky. 

It was a pain he never wanted, a grief so heavy and sharp he wasn’t sure he’d survive. 

He’d fallen to his knees when he and the rest of the guards arrived at the clearing in the woods, in the midst of the remnants of what was to be your wedding gown strewn about, soaked with your blood. The howls of the wolves as they’d retreated had him reaching for his sword, but his hands were shaking so badly he couldn’t take hold. He’d managed to pick up a scrap of lace that was tattered at one end, soaked with rain or wolf saliva, he didn’t know. It was now tucked close to the place where his heart once beat. 

They hadn’t found your body before the rains fell, but from the noises he’d heard, your screams and the howls and snarls of the wolves, everyone knew your fate. 

Now, Bucky just stood. If the castle fell under attack, he’d rush to the front line. He wouldn’t put up much of a fight, and perhaps one day they’d say he died a noble death. Steve would know the truth, but he wouldn’t speak of it. Until then, Bucky would focus on trying to breathe through the weight of his grief.

As the sun started its descent, Bucky gazed over the tree line. A hooded figure stood in the distance, face shrouded by a cloak. Bucky watched hands appear from under the cloak, turning and fingers moving, pops of red glowing around the digits. He turned to the guard at the other end of the balcony, found him with his eyes closed, chin resting against his chest. Bucky swallowed, looking back out to see the figure turn away, cloak falling to reveal a head of fiery red hair, hand flicking above her head as she walked away. 

“Wanda.”

Bucky turned and left his post, hurrying into the castle and down the steps, not realizing how empty the castle was. He burst through the doors and ran for the trees, bursting into the forest before he heard—and ignored— Steve calling his name. 

Bucky ran through the forest, armor clanging with every move he made. He stopped, a strange feeling coming over him as he quickly removed his armor, leaving it in a pile with his sword carefully on top before he continued running. He burst into a clearing, looking from left to right, going still when he heard the howl of a wolf much too nearby. He closed his eyes when he realized where he was, the same clearing where he’d found all that was left of you. He opened his eyes again to find wolves surrounding him, on every side and at every turn. He reached for his sword, hands falling to his sides when he realized his armor was far behind him. 

As the wolves snarled and bared their teeth at him, his only thought was, if the gods had mercy on him, at least he’d see you again soon. 

He closed his eyes, jolting when he felt a wolf bite at his pants, opening his eyes and trying to pull his leg away, only to hear the seam rip. The wolf shook it’s head with a mouthful of fabric before spitting it out and growling at Bucky. Bucky braced himself when the wolves charged at him at once, only to quickly realize they weren’t trying to hurt him; it seemed they only wanted to rip his clothes. Bucky hissed out a breath when his now-bare arm swiped a thorn bush, blood dripping from the cut onto his tattered clothes. 

He went still when a much larger wolf stepped into the clearing, a strange vial in its mouth that seemed to glow red. Bucky stood as still as he could, until the wolf stopped before him, staring into his eyes until the wolf dropped the vial, deep red smoke curling from Bucky’s feet into his nostrils as he inhaled. 

Bucky winced as pain shot through his chest. He coughed, choking a bit before a pain-filled scream left his lips. He couldn’t stop the screams as pain wracked his body, and he hit his knees, hands scrabbling at his chest as he coughed and moaned. He fell forward, landing against something soft, instead of flat on his face in the dirt. Quiet moans left his lips as he felt claws against his legs, and he felt his body being shifted. He managed to catch a glimpse of lightning streaking across the sky before raindrops fell against his overheated skin. As he felt wind whip his face, his only thought was of you, wondering if just maybe, you’d be waiting for him in heaven. 

The damp, cool cloth felt like heaven against Bucky’s overheated skin. Fever raged through his body, but gentle caresses and the cloth helped. He kept hearing a soft, familiar voice repeat his name, but the fever kept pushing him down into unconsciousness. 

“Sleep,” the gentle voice murmured. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Bucky whispered the name of his lost Princess, asleep before he could hear the voice’s response. 

“His fever should have broken by now.” “Perhaps he still had some infection in him.” “You said you got rid of that.” “I don’t know what to tell you, velichiye. Your fever lasted almost as long.”

Bucky was hovering on the edge of consciousness, two feminine voices reaching his ears. He tried to open his eyes, but they were so heavy. He gave a quiet moan, the swishing of skirts filling the space before a damp cloth was pressed to his cheek. 

“It’s okay, Bucky. Everything is alright.”

He murmured nonsense as he reached out, a soft hand linking with his before lips pressed against his palm. 

“Rest, my love.”

Bucky murmured again, sinking back to sleep, holding tight to the hand still holding his. 

It was quiet when Bucky woke, still dark due to the sun not yet risen. Bucky blinked open sleepy eyes, groaning softly as he pushed himself to a sitting position, yawning widely as he held onto the edge of the bed he was more than familiar with. He stretched his sore arms, eyes falling on the figure seated across from his bed. She had a soft smile on her face, kindness and love in her eyes. Bucky’s arms fell to his sides as she stood, setting aside the book that had been in her hands, skirts swishing as she made her way to him. 

“Good morning, kind sir.”

Bucky shook his head, eyes locked onto hers. 

“How? H—how?”

She just smiled at him, and Bucky launched himself off the bed, taking her in his arms and holding tightly. She gave a quiet laugh, her arms snaking around him to hold on just as tightly. Bucky shook his head, hands sliding over her shoulders, down her back, holding her head carefully. He leaned back, looking into familiar eyes, her name slipping from his lips. 

Your name. 

“Princess, how are you—“ “Well, we can start there. I’m not a Princess anymore.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow and you shrugged a shoulder. 

“Technically, I’m dead.”

A chill shot through Bucky and he reached for your hand, pulling you with him as he sat back on the bed. You sat beside him and he turned to face you, keeping your hand in his. 

“Explain it to me.”

You smiled, reaching up to tuck his hair behind his ear. You were lighter here, your shoulders not weighted down. You were freer with your touches with no one watching over you. Bucky couldn’t help but smile back at you. 

“It was Wanda. She’s a witch, Bucky.” “So she's … cast a spell on us?”

You shook your head. 

“No, the … the wolves. The wolves are hers, and she sent them after us.”

Bucky’s eyebrows furrowed and you sighed. 

“She called to me on the day of my wedding. I saw her at the edge of the forest, and I went after her. It wasn’t until I got to the trees that I heard you call for me.”

Bucky closed his eyes at the sharp pain that memory brought with it. He’d sworn he’d locked eyes with you a second before you ducked into the forest. He’d called for the guards to mount up and go after you, but it seemed to take so long. It wasn’t until they heard your screams that the panic set in and they rode through the forest to the clearing, where your bloody, tattered clothes were all that was left of you. 

Your gentle squeeze of his hand brought him out of his memories, and he locked eyes with you a moment before he leaned forward, one hand behind your head gently bringing your forehead to rest against his. You closed your eyes and gave a happy sigh, your voice quiet as you continued. 

“One of the wolves held a vial that Wanda had created. Whatever was in it hurt terribly when I breathed it in, and that was the screaming you heard. The pain caused me to faint, and the wolves brought me here. Whatever was in the vial wasn’t just painful, it made me sick. I was laid up with a fever for a few days until it left my system.”

Bucky leaned back, watching your eyes flutter open. 

“The same thing happened to me. The wolf dropped the vial and whatever that red smoke was … it was so painful.”

You nodded. 

“But it helped with the story. The wolves were howling and snarling and we were screaming in pain.”

Bucky slowly nodded in agreement. 

“So it appears we were killed in a wolf attack.”

You nodded again. He took your hand again, raising it to his lips and kissing your knuckles. After a moment, his icy blue eyes met yours. 

“What happens now?”

You smiled, the joy on your face lighting the room more brilliantly than the rising sun. 

“Now, we can do whatever we want. We can leave here and go wherever. We can be normal commoners and no one will think twice.”

Bucky stared at you, his voice low. 

“We can never go back to the kingdom.”

Your smile faltered. 

“No, I … no. We can’t.”

You looked down at your hand entwined with Bucky’s. 

“I’ve made my peace with never seeing my mother or father again. Or Jean.”

Your eyes widened when you met Bucky’s eyes again. 

“But I didn’t … oh, Bucky. You’ll never see Steve again. Or Clint, or any of your friends.”

You shook your head, trying to pull your hand from his. Bucky tightened his hold, moving his other hand to trap yours between both of his. You lifted tear-filled eyes to his and he shook his head. He smiled as he caressed your hand. 

“I’m fine with that. I can make my peace with it, too.” “You didn’t ask for this.” “No, I asked for you.”

Bucky smiled as he gave your hand a tug, and you moved closer to him. He lifted a hand to run the tips of his fingers down from your forehead to your jaw before resting his palm against your neck. 

“I will do whatever it takes to be with you.” “Really?” “Absolutely.”

You leaned forward, catching him off guard as you laid your lips on his. Bucky cradled your face in his hands as he kissed you, a relief flooding his veins as he was finally free to touch you the way he always wanted. 

TAGS: @badthingshappenbingo​, @writing-in-the-dark-bingo​, @fanficocean​

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