#bring back lost love in Brandon

[astrogurudeva803]

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#Get love back in Brandon #Get lost love in Brandon #bring back lost love in Brandon #best love spells in Brandon #relationship #romantic #relationship suggestion

[martellspear]

We don't know the entire story yet, so it's impossible to make a judgement like you're doing.

I'd argue that Elia was in fact in on all of Rhaegar's schemes to bring about prophecy. They both knew she couldn't have anymore kids, and so she allowed him to seek out a woman who could...Lyanna.

A crown prince must have more than 2 kids, Elia failed her only purpose. No wonder Rhaegar turned to Lyanna.

I mean, Dorne seems OK with anything so long as there's an agreement between all parties involved.

Robert didn't love any of the women he slept with. His vows meant nothing.

Rhaegar meant everything. He cared for Elia and his children, but also seemed to be in love with Lyanna. His vows had meaning, even if they were interpreted differently.

Hi, anon. I'll assume you've read "tolerate it" and that's what made you come here.

We don't know much about them but I highly doubt Elia was 100% on board with everything. I think he shared some aspects of the prophecy but can you, honestly, tell me that she would take part in the most humiliating moment of her life? Willingly?

"Jon Arryn and Robert and Lord Hunter joking a moment before what was happening dawned on them, Ned watching as Rhaegar was about to stop in front of his sister, mad Aerys glowering in the distance, Elia stiff-backed and trying to act as if nothing was wrong, Jon Connington probably looking vaguely sad, and so on." — source

That's what Paolo Puggioni, an artist George hired, said the author himself told him.

One of my darling moots put in words, better than I would ever be able to, thoughts about Elia and the polyamory relationship some people like to insert her into, you can read it here.

Yes, Elia could be accepting and supportive of others who do it, it's their life. But she's the Crown Prince's wife and future queen. Why would she even consider adding one more person to their relationship? Especially knowing the consequences of those? And not only for her personal life and her children; think about Dorne, the Stormlands and the North's reaction to such insult and pair it up with everything the war cost (Brandon and Rickard died before it even truly started). "But with Rhaegar being king-" George has made clear how fragile monarchy in Westeros actually is.

Elia would put her children in a dangerous position if she not only fully agreed to Rhaegar's plans but also welcomed Lyanna and his bastard. Additionally, I'd love it if you could point it out for me where it says a crown prince can't have only two children (seriously, I'd like to know). Elia gave him two healthy kids and it almost cost her her life, she didn't fail anything.

(consider this to be about book!rhaegar and lyanna; my thoughts on their show version couldn't be more different)

I don't think Rhaegar loved Lyanna at all. And sometimes it honestly felt like he'd rather if she died after giving birth. She was a means to an end. Personally, I believe he manipulated her and then either kept information from her (she wouldn't stay if she knew what happened to her brother and father) or kept her there against her will; two disgusting scenarios. Rhaegar was obsessed with the prophecy, he changed his entire lifestyle for it. If it was love, he could've abandoned his crown and gone to Essos 🤷🏻‍♀️.

If Elia was aware, why wasn't she in Dorne and completely safe? Why didn't Oberyn know of this? "No, but he goes after the Lannisters-" he wanted justice. Even if the person who set them up was Rhaegar, the one who gave the order was Tywin and the one who did it was his beast. Aerys and Rhaegar were not people he could go after, maybe in his afterlife.

More importantly, and I'll be repeating myself here, it doesn't matter if she loved Rhaegar or not or how deeply she did it. Rhaegar's bastard is a direct threat to her children and their future and I doubt Elia - or anyone who hasn't lost their wits - would happily comply with that.

I have done nothing but gathering information and filling voids, what most do in this fandom tbh. There's little we know of how it was like but Rhaegar did hurt Elia again and again; and I do believe he was fond of her, which only makes things worse.

I don't have to know his thoughts to know that some of his actions were disrespectful, hurtful and disgusting; Elia doesn't have to agree or be aware of his plans for crowing another woman QoL&B (and later run away with her) to be humiliating.

Rhaegar, and Rhaegar alone, handled everything with all the sensitive and grace of a reversing dump truck.

#asoiaf #a song of ice and fire #elia martell #oberyn martell #anti lyanna x rhaegar #anti rhaelya #rhaegar targaryen #chatterbox nia

[smuttyworks]

Before the world ended - Brandon Carver x reader

Reposting from my Ao3! gunna be adding my other ones here as well <3 this is my first Carver fic I did and I still absolutely love it, but im thinking of making a NSFW version with the same story just add some much needed SHMUTTTTTTT.

What do you think?

-

Your eyes widened in shock seeing the man that they dragged in past the main gate. The breath almost completely escaped your lungs, but your caught yourself before Carver could notice as he walked up to you, his masking hanging from his hips off his belt. 

“Are you okay?” you questioned, noticing the limp in his step. 

His eyes traveled the features of your face, clearly noticing something was off. “Fucker nicked me.” Carver said, looping his finger in the sliced material of his black combat pants, and showing me the blood beneath. 

“Let me clean you up.” You gave him a light smile, looping your small arm into his and leading him into the building. Your mind wandered as you thought of the man, the man you spent years with before the world ended, the person you loved more than anything at one point in time. The man you lost in this hopeless world, not ever thinking you’d see him again. He was dead, you thought.

Carver opened the door of the infirmary and you led him to the chair that was in front of the window. “Sit down.” You hushed, hoping the cut wasn’t deep.

You switched the light on and motioned him to pull his pants down, and with an eye roll he slid his dark, dirty, combat pants down his legs. “It’s not that bad.” He sighed, leaning back against the chair, with his head against the windowsill, he looked exhausted.

You grabbed the first aid kit and kneeled on your knees in front of him as you started to clean his wound. You were with Carver, he was the best thing that happened to you in the new world, he saved you from death, and you two fell in love all too easily. Carver was your protector, he always put you first, you knew it would be you and him until the end…

Despite your past coming in and reminding you of how life use to be, you knew it would only ever be Carver, no matter what your past life use to be, and with who.

“Babe?” you asked softly. 

His eyes fluttered open and looked down at you, with a much softer stare than earlier. He brought his hand up and lightly grazed your cheek. “Hi baby.” He smiled lightly.

“I-I need to tell you something,” you swallowed. His eyes glanced from yours to you lips, and then tucked a strand of hair behind your ear before giving me his full attention. “That man, the one you guys found and brought in…” Carver’s eyes narrowed slightly, causing the nerves to rise. “I knew him, before all of this… he’s m ex f-fiancé.” you sighed, not having to think of that time in yout life for what seemed like forever.

“What?” his eyebrows tightened together, showing his confusion, and frustration. “Explain”

You took a deep breath, finally ready to tell Carver about your past. “The day the world was really struck with all this, the very beginning when things got really bad, him and I were trying to get out of the city… I got pulled away by a violet group of rioters, and I never saw him again, I knew that he either wasn’t searching for me, or didn’t search for long, so after a few months I gave up, I found a group, lost them…” you tried to catch your breath as the anxiety bagan to rise. “And then you found me…” You gave him a small smile, the anxiety disappearing as his soft eyes looked down into yours.

“I wouldn’t ever be able to stop looking if I lost you.” He whispered, bringing his rough hand up once again and pressing his palm to your cheek. Your eyes closed in bliss as you took in his soft touch, loving the fact that yourself only got to see this side of Carver.

“I know.” You grinned, slipping off the floor and straddling his lap. “You saved me Brandon, you’re the only one I will ever need.” You breathed, knowing everything youd ever need in this life was right in front of you. And judging by the loving look in his eyes, you knew he was thinking the same thing.

#brandon carver #brandon carver smut #brandon carver x reader #Brandon carver fluff #twd x reader #twd fluff #twd imagine #alex meraz #the reapers #the walking dead #the walking dead smut #the walking dead imagine #the walking dead fluff

[addicted-to-the-knife]

Because I want it as official canon in my head for your friend file 🗂️

Top 5 Hugh Dancy roles & why

jdwkhfsjhfsj hi, hello, thank you! x') <3

1. Nolan Price (Law & Order)

you know it. my man. I'm so in love with him, it's not even funny anymore. and I love who he could be if the writing of that show wasn't what it is. he could be a breath of fresh air, considering he'd been a defense attorney for ~20 years and switched to being a prosecutor; but somehow they managed to never bring that up or use it to make Nolan a better character after the first two or so episodes. I mean, they never utilise him like a real character anyway, so idk what I expected. but anyway! I love him because he's incredibly caring in every way. he clearly loves what he does and he wants to do what is right. he's not afraid to admit when he's wrong and do better. he's prepared to listen and work something out. and his experience as a defense attorney, who also worked with Project Innocence, allows him to view defendants differently. like he hasn't lost that part where he knows that they're also human beings with their own stories that should be respected. he's more aware of his part in the system as a prosecutor than most of the DA's office is, and I really appreciate that about him because it makes him a better attorney and a much more interesting character. (again... that's who he is and should be; but the writers haven't really delved into that in a while. he's almost unrecognisable at times in the newest season, unfortunately.)

2. Will Graham (NBC Hannibal)

I mean, duh. it's Will Graham. the character that introduced me to Hugh Dancy back in ~2018. no, but seriously. I see myself in him. a lot. too much for comfort. but even that is sometimes strangely comforting because even the ugliest parts of myself are things I appreciate in Will and can live through him without, um, consequences or feeling bad about myself. I love that we met him as somebody who's so determined to help others even at the cost of his own life, and have that turned around into somebody who acts selfishly and manipulatively, but who also hasn't lost that goodness about himself. somebody, who enjoys violence that he's tried to avoid for so long. all because the right (or wrong, depending on who you ask) person saw the truth inside him and managed to shine a light on that in an irreversible way. I just love his entire arc so much. it's something that feels very personal to me.

3. Cal Roberts (The Path)

the man that desperately needs a hug and therapy. so much therapy. I love him so much for once again being a very complex character. we meet him as this cult leader that is misleading everyone around him, manipulating them, and barely holding on by a thread most of the time. until we find out why that is. until we see and realise what lies beneath and why he is the way he is. and I need to wrap him up in a blanket and shield him from the world that has hurt him so much... honestly such a grandiose performance from Hugh, like always, but this one sticks with me in particular because it's so depressing to watch it all unfold and for Cal to only become worse with every episode (in the way that it becomes harder to push away his traumatic past, but he's too afraid to face it completely, so instead his psychological state becomes worse the longer it all goes on, and the consequences of his actions become overwhelming and pile up to make everything much harder for him). I don't know how many times I just wanted to sit down and cry for Cal while I watched the show.

4. Luke Brandon (Confessions of a Shopaholic)

cannot stand the movie (that's not entirely true. I like it as a rom-com, but Rebecca is insufferable and makes it very hard for me to sit through the entire movie); but Luke is very special to me. honestly, perfect man. 10/10, I wish my future husband was like him (or Nolan. either one of them. preferably Nolan, but... let's not aim too high, lmfao). I mean, come on. that charming British accent, the fluffy hair... the fact that he's all about saving money and making that accessible to those that need the advice most. that's the thing that made me love him so much. that he thinks about the "common people" and the ones most reliant on saving money. those who are usually lied to by companies and other advisors. the fact that he technically comes from money and rejected that. UGH, I'm so weak for characters like him.

5. Adam Raki (Adam 2009)

the character that basically holds up a mirror to my face and makes me feel so many things that I don't really like (because ✨trauma✨), but appreciate that I'm not alone with. personally, I think he's a well-written, and especially acted, autistic character. extremely accurate for those that are similar to him. while I share traits with Will, like hyper empathy, I also share maaany traits with Adam. and it's just... nice. to see that. to see him be a grown adult that learns and adapts, but doesn't change who he is, and that he gets to do what he enjoys in the end. I'm also glad that he and Beth didn't stay together, after all. as jarring as that was for me the first time around, I realised that they weren't good for each other; and I'm pleasantly surprised that they weren't forced to stay together by the writers just so it was a typical romantic movie ending. I love the realism of the difficulties and the ups and downs, as painful as it can be to watch for me. you know how much it triggers me. so I often avoid a re-watch. but it sticks with me, and I appreciate Adam for the character he is; especially for the time the movie came out in.

#honorable mention: Caleb Garlin (The Good Fight) #thanks for the ask :3 jdhfdhj i could write essays on each character so thank goodness (/sarcasm) i'm so brain fogged today lol #because otherwise this would be MUCH longer oops hfdgsgskjgfjk #hugh dancy

[bcolfanfic]

everytime i listen to picture me better by weyes blood i can't help but think of young vets buck and bucky. my heart hurt everytime i think of those boys. you've written them so perfectly. <3

what are some songs you associate with either of them?

heyy sorry it took me so long to get to this (and everything else in my box)- it’s finals szn at my law school and my brain is gonna be at like- total capacity till next thursday at 5pm central time. buttttt. i am big music as a story mood setter person so lotsss of thoughts. gonna focus on young vets au here, but i can make another similar post for show canon if ppl like this? im biggg into oldies music so that would actually be fun to me!

disclaimer: re: the young vets au the “veterans” part of the story takes place starting in august 2021 after the us pulled out of afghanistan. If you see a song and think “but wait that didn't come out until this year so they couldn't listen to that in 2022/2023” simply work with me here and don’t think that <3 LOL.

bucky

biggg zach bryan person and i think in general really likes that specific niche of “new age” country music. gets *irritated* by the hardcore conservative military country music lmfao, those vets that go hard in the sand for songs like courtesy of the red white and blue? not his people. that song gives him hives. also a big fleetwood mac guy, just scratches an itch on his brain. likes florence + the machine too.

east side of sorrow - zach bryan

i lost friends in the august heat / at night it was God I'd always meet / i said, "Lord, won't you bring me home? / i've got women in the west i wanna hold

oklahoma smokeshow - zach bryan

there's so much whiskey in his coke it'll make her nose bend / but she swears that his love is a damn God send / she's known God since she was a child

el dorado - zach bryan

you used to say you'd settle down / but that kind girl from school in town /she was gone before you got back home

to El Dorado, hell if I know if you're still alive /there's a note in the glovebox in your drive / El Dorado, hell if they know the difference in a hero / and a man i wish was still by my side

burn, burn, burn - zach bryan

i wanna be a child climbin' trees somewhere / breathin' in the fresh outside air / before I knew this life was unkind

you should probably leave - chris stapleton

sun on your skin, 6 am /and i been watchin' you sleep / and honey, i'm so afraid you're gonna wake up and say / that you should probably leave

me against the mountain - ian munsick

it’s me against the mountain / most days the mountain wins / but i’ll meet you tonight my love or i’ll meet my end / either way an angel’s waitin when i fought this fight

painkillers - rainbow kitten surprise

living just comes with a bit of heartache / heartache comes with a bit of young faith / faith stays young till your heart get broken / hope grows up to become someday / i never hurt no one and no one will ever hurt me / i believe i believe i believe i believe

motorcycle - colter wall

well, i figure i'll buy me a motorcycle / wrap her pretty little frame around a telephone pole / ride her off a mountain like old arlo

physco - jack kittel

don't hand me johnny's pup, mama / 'cause i might squeeze him too tight / i'm having crazy dreams again, mama

go your own way - fleetwood mac

if i could / baby, i’d give you my world / open up / everything's waiting for you

third eye - florence + the machine

i'm the same / i'm the same / i'm trying to change

astrovan - mt. joy

he said son you're famous in heaven / maybe you're famous in heaven / maybe there is no heaven / maybe we're all along together now / but i don't wanna see those tears again / you know Jesus drives an astrovan

gold dust woman - fleetwood mac

take your silver spoon, dig your grave / heartless challenge / pick your path and i'll pray

all these things that i’ve done - the killers

i got soul / but i'm not a solider

between me and you - brandon flowers

the first time that i saw your face / time stood still / i found my place / now i'm watching it tear out of my arm

gale

listens to zach bryan for bucky but his country music niche is more on the tyler childers side of things. likes older music too bc it’s what his mom would play around the house and he finds it comforting. i think he likes pop music more than bucky does lol, bucky ribs him a lil about some of it but he finds it endearing. the taste they share the most i think is the fleetwood mac and the killers/brandon flowers stuff.

follow you to virgie - tyler childers

back when all us boys were tryin' / to make sense of all these string / i can see her in the corner / singing along to all our crazy dreams

coal - tyler childers

so sometimes, i imagine that I'm getting pretty close to hell / and in my darkest hour, i cry out to the Lord / he says, "keep on a-mining, boy, 'cause that's why you were born

nose on the grindstone - tyler childers

well daddy, i've been tryin', i just can't catch a break / there's too much in this world that i can't seem to shake / but i remember your words, lord, they bring me the chills / keep your nose on the grindstone and out of the pills

folsom prison blues - johnny cash

i bet there's rich folks eatin' from a fancy dinning car /they're prob'ly drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars / well i know i had it comin' i know i can't be free / but those people keep a movin' and that's what tortures me

old rugged cross - alan jackson (i’ve made a woowoo post about this before/bucky being gale’s cross to carry but. in my mind he listens to this on the drive home when bucky’s in the hospital. has to pull over to cry a lil. sweet boy.)

to the old rugged cross i will ever be true / it's shame and reproach gladly bear

where we’ll never grow old - johnny cash

when our work here is done / and our life's crown is won / and out troubles and trials are o'er / all our sorrows will end / and our voices will blend / with the loved ones who've gone on before

(sittin on’) the dock of the bay - otis redding

sittin' here resting my bones / and this loneliness won't leave me alone / it's two thousand miles i roamed / just to make this dock my home

wouldn’t it be nice - the beach boys

oh we could be married / and then we'd be happy / woudn't it be nice?

the chain - fleetwood mac

listen to the wind blow, down comes the night / running in the shadows / damn your love / damn your lies

romeo and juliet - the killers

i can't do the talk like the talk on the TV / and i can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be / i can't do everything but i'd do anything for you / i can't do anything except be in love with you

xo - beyonce

in the darkest night hour (in the darkest night hour) / i'll search through the crowd (i'll search through the crowd) / your face is all that i see / i'll give you everything

if i ain't got you - alicia keys

said nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing / if i ain't got you with me, baby

sweet escape - gwen stefani

come on let's bounce / counting on you to turn me around / instead of clowning around / let's look for some common ground

come on over baby - christina aguilera

now baby don't be shy / you better cross the line / i'm gonna love you right / all i want is you

the clock was tickin’ - brandon flowers

jackie flips the pages and she dreams little dreams / a cottage in the country built with real wood beams / there's a baby in the bedroom, he's starting to scream / she holds him though he probably won't remember it

#young vets au #buck x bucky #masters of the air #clegan #buckbucky

[goodqueenaly]

Do you think Eddard Stark was in Starfall when Ashara Dayne committed suicide? If so, how do you think was the general "atmosphere" between Ned and the Daynes, given all that happened (the feeling between the two at Harrenal, the thing with Brandon [?], the stillborn child, the war, the death of Arthur)? It seems that the relationship was quite good, in spite of everything (Wylla, the secret of Jon parentage kept...).

This is a very good question, and one which I think is at least for now unanswerable. There is still a considerable amount of mystery - to some extent intentionally so, of course - surrounding the relationship between Daynes and Starks immediately before and during Robert's Rebellion, and that level of mystery naturally obfuscates the details of the timeline around and immediately after the final fight at the tower of joy. We know that Ned buried Arthur, as well as the other Kingsguard and his own slain companions, using the stones of the tower; we know he took Dawn back to Starfall to return Dawn to Ashara (who was specifically alive at that point), we know that Ned obviously left and that Ashara obviously died ... but that's it.

I think the answer, to the extent we will ever get one, probably depends on how Ashara felt about the situation, especially after Ned returned with Dawn. What did Ashara know at that point, what did Ned tell her, and how might any of that knowledge have impacted her feelings - did she know by then, for example, that Brandon Stark had been murdered, or that Rhaegar had been killed in battle, or that Elia and her children had been murdered, or that the Targaryens had definitively lost the war, and which if any of these informed her emotional state (and how)? How did she react to the outcome of the fight at the tower of joy, to the news of her brother's death, to the revelation of baby Jon? To what extent if any did Ashara and Ned had a romantic attraction/relationship, and if there were one, to what extent did Ned's return with Dawn post-tower of joy affect Ashara's feelings? Was Ned coming to Starfall - to give back the sword, to bring her news of her brother's death, to inform her of whatever else he might have told her about - the last tragedy in a likely very painful last few years for Ashara, or was it only Ned's departure from Starfall - permanently leaving Ashara's life to become Lord of Winterfell, Catelyn's husband, and (though he might not have known it yet) Robb's father - that added a final layer of grief to Ashara's life?

In sum, to understand Ashara's death we have to understand Ashara and her mindset at that moment. Accordingly, so long as Ashara is left an enigma, her death will be so as well.

All of these questions aside (and left open for the moment), I think you are right to note the generally not-antagonistic treatment Ned (and baby Jon) appear to have received from the Daynes. Ned is not a villainous figure in the eyes of young Lord Edric, but a character from a romantic past, engaged in doomed and unfulfilled love with the family's own lost daughter Ashara. Likewise, whatever anyone at Starfall knew about the tower of joy - I would bet Wylla the wet nurse knew quite a lot, though I'm less certain how much the information was distributed and to whom - they've certainly kept pretty mum so far as we know, with Wylla's cover story apparently convincing Edric. I think the Daynes at the very least might have recognized Ned's honor and tact - giving Arthur the same burial he gave his own companions, returning the sword instead of Unwin Peake-like keeping it as a prize of war - and perhaps sympathized with the shared tragedy of the situation. Both Ned and Ashara had lost a brother in the course of this war; both Ned and the Daynes had found nothing but grief at the tower of joy. Where Ashara had lost her stillborn daughter (perhaps fathered by one of the Stark brothers), Ned had been unable to save his sister; now there was only the child not of Ned's body but Lyanna's, the orphaned boy Ned had determined to raised as his own. Having shared Ned's losses and losses like his, the Daynes were, perhaps, more willing to not hate Ned afterward and to some extent help with baby Jon.

#asoiaf meta #ashara dayne #eddard stark

[boston-babies]

You came down to the kitchen and saw Chris sitting at the island. His back was to you and you scowled. The boys were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast and Teddy was in his height chair, being helped by Brayden and they went quiet when they saw you.

Ryan went first “morning mama”, Brayden and Brandon looked at you with a small smile “hi mama” you walked over to them with a soft smile and kissed the top of each of their heads “good morning”.

You walked over to the other side of the island to pour yourself a cup of coffee and you could feel Chris glaring at you the entire time. When he spoke, his voice was quiet but stern “we need to talk”. You ignored him and looked over to the boys “I want you boys to take Teddy and your breakfast and go eat in the den please”

Ryan smirked and rested his chin on his hands “oh please don’t stop on our account. We’d love to hear this go down” you snapped “Ryan this is not the time to be a smart ass. Do as you’re told and take your brother. Now.” The smirk vanished and he nodded “yes mama”.

The boys grabbed Teddy and their breakfast and hurried to the den. Once you were sure they weren’t in earshot, you looked back at Chris “you had absolutely no right to do what you did last night” He snapped “the fuck I didn’t. I’m not going to let my wife, which you still are by the way, go out to dinner with her ex boyfriend.” You were steaming “yeah, it hurts doesn’t it? It hurts to see someone you love more than anything completely break your heart doesn’t it?!” He stood abruptly “that’s why you did this? To hurt me back? And I’m the childish one?!”

You rounded the island and stood right in front of him “no, not uh, you’re not going to stand there and blame this on me. You started all of this. We’re where we are right now because of your idiotic, petty decision that you made a year ago!” Chris just shook his head “how much longer are you going to rake me over the coals for that? I’ve apologized profusely and admitted that I fucked up. I did everything you’ve asked of me to try and earn your trust back and before you even interrupt me to bring up therapy please remember that it was our daughter that meddled in that and purposefully kept me away!”

“what was I suppose to think Chris?! Did it ever occur to you to try to reach out to me after the first time you missed a session? I was at my wits end!” He nodded “so you didn’t think to reach out to me either to wonder why I wasn’t showing up? You just went straight to filing for divorce? Which by the way? Not fucking happening”

You shook your head “good god, now I know exactly where Danica gets her tantrums from, whether we divorce or not Chris it doesn’t give you the right to show up here unannounced and punch someone in the face!”

“Look Tom had it coming okay? And isn’t he married with kids anyway? Why is he going out to dinner with another married woman?” You rolled your eyes “he separated from his wife too” Chris scoffed “yeah okay. That jackass has been pining for you since we got together, he saw an opportunity and took it. I’m willing to bet he lied to you”

You snapped “it’s none of your business anyway Chris!” He yelled back “it is my business because you’re still my wife and I don’t want that asshole around my kids!” You rubbed your face and growled in frustration until you heard someone walk into the kitchen. You pulled your hands away and saw Danica. You sighed and shook your head and looked back at Chris “we’ll finish this discussion later. Right now I think it’s best that you leave” with that you walked away and towards the den to check on the boys.

Dani kept adjusting her weight from foot to foot “daddy I-“ Chris cut her off and snapped “Danica don’t. I don’t want to hear a word from you right now.” Dani’s eyes watered and she took a shaky breath “I just wanted to protect mommy” Chris lost his temper and slammed his fist down on the counter and Dani visibly jumped “look how well that’s working out Danica! I’ve never been so angry and disappointed in you! You got involved in something that you had absolutely no business getting involved in!”

Chris took a breath and ran a hand over his beard and began heading towards the hall leading to the front door. He stopped next to Dani but didn’t even look at her “I think it’s best you go back to school for a while and let your mom and I have some space”. He walked to the door and left and Dani stood there completely alone, finally seeing and understanding the damage she caused and cried.

[hagelpoint-3821]

Thankful For Us

Chapter 8

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Summary: While Brandon is at practice, the guys on the team give him a hard time for how he is falling for Sydnee. Before the end of practice, Brandon comes up with an idea to give Sydnee to show his love and appreciation for her.

TW: None

Notes: We have a POV change. This chapter is written from Brandon's POV. There will be a couple more changes as their story goes along. Hope you all enjoy!

Word Count: 1937

“Hey man.” I say to Alex as I set my bag down in my locker, and then pull a picture out of Sydnee and hang it up in there.

“Oh hey bro. How are ya?” He asked. 

“I’m freaking amazing.” I say with a bright grin on my face.

“Ohhh someone is in love.” He teases me. 

“Hey I can’t help it.”

“No judging here man, I’m happy that you’re finally happy.”

“Happy isn’t even the word for it. She brings so much joy into my life. Words can’t describe it.”

“Awe, now how sweet is that. I’ve never heard you talk about someone like that.”

“She’s… beyond amazing.” I sit down.

“Sounds like it.”

“I’ve never felt this way before.”

Patrick walks into the locker room while Alex and I are talking, “dang Brandon who’s got you grinning like that?”

“Who do you think?” I raise my eyebrow at him.

“Oh! Your girlfriend?”

“Duh! Dumbass.” I laugh and start getting my gear on.

“She’s pretty cool huh?”

“That’s one word for her. I want to do something special for her but I don’t know what.”

“Well what do you have in mind?” He asked me.

“I’m not exactly sure, I want to get her something that she can have so that when we are gone on the road she can still have a piece of me with her.” 

“Brandon that is actually really thoughtful of you do want to do something like that for her.” Alex says as he smiles.

“What about a necklace with the letter B on it, you know since it’s the first letter in your name?” Patrick looks at me.

“Oh my god. That’s literally perfect! Thanks Pat!”

“Eh. I try.” He laughs. 

“I love that idea. Thank you.”

“No problem, now let’s get going to practice, we don’t want to keep captain grump ass waiting.” 

“Captain grump ass? Oh my gosh I can’t!“ Alex laughs loudly. “Oh man, that's a good one.”

I laugh along with him and finish getting ready, walking down our tunnel, when I hit the steps where Sydnee was freaking out over, I can’t help but grin to myself.

When I’m on the ice, I’m free. It’s my happy place. I usually can put the outside world away, but Sydnee is all I can think about. Even though she’s all mine and I am hers, she’s always on my mind. I will never want to stop chasing her, because I know at any given moment I could lose her, and I would be lost without her. Even though we have only known each other for a short amount of time, I love her more than anyone that I have ever met. I love her so much it hurts my soul to leave her. But it’s so rewarding coming home and seeing her bright smiling face. Wow the guys are right, I totally am whipped for her, and honestly I am okay with it. 

I’m pulled out of my thoughts with a puck playing past my head and my captain looking not so happy with me.

“Look Brandon. I don’t know what has your attention right now, but I need it on the ice. Not wherever your head is.” Jonathan says sharply. 

“Sorry cap.”

“Oh Jon, give him a break. He is in love.” Patrick skates up to us, with a mocking tone in his voice.

“So what if I am?” I snip back quickly at him.

“Hey nothing man. Okay relax.”

“Look, that's great and all, but when you’re on the ice, it’s about hockey. Leave everything else in the locker room and focus.” Jonathan comes at me again.

“Look cap, I said I got it. I know what I’m doing.” I roll my eyes.

“Do you though? You just spaced out for a solid 5 minutes.”

“Dude, look I know you’re captain and all, and there’s and reason you are, but practice hasn’t even officially started yet and you’re already on my ass. I mean the coach isn’t even out here.” 

“That is why we get out here early, so we can be ready when he does get out here.” 

“Jesus Jon I think you need to get laid soon, you bit cats head off earlier over something dumb too.” Patrick says as he skates off. Only Pat could say something like that to him and not get ripped a new one for it. 

I smirk to myself and skate off to the bench, waiting for coach to get on the ice for practice.

Once practice is over, I hit the showers, get dressed and go to my stall to grab my things. I leave my bag sitting there since we have a game tonight. I pull my phone out for the first time since before practice started and there’s a few texts from Sydnee and a selfie she sent. She’s so pretty every time I look at her my heart skips a beat. I quickly type out a message. 

Brandon- Just now leaving practice, still have to run and do a couple things, how’s your day going? I missed you ❤️

Sydnee- It was pretty good! Relaxing but boring without you here. But I got what you needed from the store 🥰 

Brandon- You are truly the best, where are you now?

Sydnee- At the lake, it’s too nice to be inside today so I’m enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.

*She has such a pure heart.* I say to myself between text.

Brandon- Well stay there, I won’t be much longer

Sydnee- I will! While you’re out do you think you could get me a coffee?

Brandon- Did you not get coffee today?

Sydnee- Yes… but I want another one…

Brandon- Oh you and your coffee. Yes I will get you another coffee. Did you eat today?

Sydnee- I in fact did!

Brandon- Good! You have no idea how happy that makes me. Alright I’m to my car, I’ll see you soon babe. ❤️

Sydnee- See you soon. I love you 🥰

Brandon- And I love you 

I smile like an idiot, but honestly don’t care. She brings that out in me. Setting my phone in the cup holder, I turn my car on and pull out of the players lot, driving to the nearest jewelry store. 

Walking in, I look around for a minute, honestly this place is a bit too much for my liking but this gift for Sydnee is going to be perfect, just like her.

“Hi there, what can I help you with today?” A woman asked as she walks up to me. 

“Umm, I need your help, you see I am looking for something for my girlfriend, I have something in mind, but I am not sure if you have what I am looking for.”

“Well what is it exactly that you are looking for? We have a very wide variety here. From 24 karat gold to solid diamond rings with matching diamond earrings to match.”

“No nothing like that, something simple, I simply am looking for the letter B on a chain. I want to surprise my girlfriend with it.” 

She stops and thinks for a moment then turns on her heels, “follow me.”

I nod and follow her to a display case with necklace likes in it. She steps behind the counter and opens the case up.

I kneel in front of the case to get a better and closer look at what is inside when I find the perfect one.

“That’s the one right there.” I point to the one that is a B with a single row of diamonds in the middle of the letter.

She takes it out of the display case and hands it to me so I can get a closer look at it, “yes, It’s perfect. Exactly what I was looking for.” I say as a smile grows across my face. 

She smiles softly back at me, “whoever your girlfriend is, is a very lucky woman.”

“I’m just as lucky to have her in my life. I plan on marrying her one day.”

Her smile brightens as she gets me checked out, “you have a great day, and I wish you nothing but love and happiness in your future with her.” 

“Thank you.” I smile at her. I get back in my car, go get Sydnee her coffee, and then drive to the lake. As I’m walking up I see her leaning over the railing, watching the water. I take jt phone out and take a picture before walking up behind her and wrap my arms around her lower back, sighing happily as I feel her lean into me. 

“I missed you today.” She says as she turns her head and looks up at me.

“I missed you too, how did you know it was me behind you?”

“I could smell your cologne before you put your arm around me. Plus when you touch me, my body feels alive, on fire in the best way possible, and my heart, it is at peace when I’m with you.”

Her words melt me, I turn her so she’s facing me, I kiss her deeply, “I love you so much.”

A smile gross across her face, “I love you too.” 

“I got something for you.” I say as I hand her the coffee

She takes it and takes a drink, “Mm you’re amazing. Thank you. There’s never enough coffee in the world.” 

I laugh softly, “you are something else baby.”

“Oh you hush.” She smiles as she takes another drink.

“I got you one other thing.” 

She gives me a confused look, “you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“I know I didn’t have too but I wanted to, now turn around and trust me.”

She slowly turns around.

I pull the necklace from my pocket and place it around her neck, she gasps when she sees it.

“Oh my gosh Brandon, I love it!” She says as she wipes a tear from her eye.

I knew you’d like it. I just wanted you to have something that represented me for when I was on long road trips. Now you have me right next to your heart.”

“And next to my heart you shall stay.” She says as she hugs me tightly.

“Baby girl, you deserve the world, and I would give it to you if I ever get the chance.” I smile as I kiss the top of her head. “Now let’s go back to the house so we have a little time to relax before the game tonight.”

“I would love that.” She smiles brightly at me.

Gosh her smile drives me mad. Everything about her makes me crazy. As we walk back to our cars I grab her hand and lace our fingers together. She really is the one that I want to spend all time with. She makes my whole life complete. I stop dead in my tracks and pull her into me, cupping both of her cheeks with my hands and kiss her deeply.

“What was that for?” She looks at me, confused and excited at the same time. 

“No reason, it just felt right.” I smile brightly.

She has a beaming smile on her face, and I feel my heart jump in my chest. The effect she has on me is unreal.

When we get to our cars, I help her in and then I jump into my own, I look over and see her taking a picture of her and her necklace. I smile softly to myself knowing that I have found the one I want forever. 

#brandon hagel #tampa bay lightning #hockey players #nhl players #hockey imagine #hockey rpf #hockey romance #ThankfulForUs

[sunsetstarrogue]

I'm so excited to see the mess that is going to be when Rhaegar comes back and takes the throne and bring Lyanna. I love drama and is going to be so funny see Brandon and Rhaegar wanting to punch each other on the face 24/7.

I want jelous Rhaegar i need him screaming shaking crying throwing up. Speceally because Elia loved him and he knew it so he is going to come and try to find confort on Elia and persue her love as healing but the reality that those feelings are gone is going to be schoking and i hope it HURTS plus seeing another man taking his place so naturaly at Elia side as her protector, the duty he failed.

He is her husband, he is supposed to protect her and like Elia express on her POV his presence used to bring her confort and make her feel safe... knowing he lost that to another man is going to be painfull but is his own fault.

Also the dynamic of Elia trusting only Brandon and Jaime as the Kingsuards (speceally if Jaime kills Aerys here too) him and Brandon are not going to be liked by his cape "brothers" but Elia is going to trust them only and that is going to piss them off.

Also, i hope we see cute moments of Brandon with little Rhaenys and Aegon 🥹(if it is posible)

A final though...the little kid who asked Elia if she loved Brandon the same way Naerys loved her dragon Knight.. it's posible that Brandon becomes even more Elia Knight on shining armor and crowns her as the Queen of love and beauty ( the DRAMA) creating another pararell btw the two pairings?.

Sorry this was so long, i'm just a huge fan of this fanfic and i wait for every new udapte!. I don't want you to feel i'm pushing or stressing you 😭 sorry if it gives that vibe. I just love this fic so much and i love talking and thinking about it💜

An incorrect quote for fun:

Rhaegar: the food is so delicious

Brandon: just like your wife

Rhaegar: what

Brandon: what

LMAOO at the incorrect quote. Brandon would say something super messy like that 😭

So glad that you enjoy we fall apart ❤️

[slutforsfender]

𝐬𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 - 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐬𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚

I woke up the next morning wrapped up in Sam's arms around my body. He was holding onto me tight as if he was scared to let go. My head and heart had a million feelings going through them. Fear, happiness, anger, safety. 

I sat for a while staring at the room around while letting my thoughts roam free for a minute trying to come to some sanity. My sixteen year old self was cursing my twenty eight year old self while also being happy at current circumstances. 

Sam started to stir next to me as he woke up, bringing me back to reality. 

"Morning Rose" He rasped out in his morning voice which almost killed all doubts in me. 

"Good morning" I smiled back as he pressed a kiss to my head. 

"I'm scared if I wake up fully this will either be a dream or the conversation we will have will end not how I want to" He spoke, making me tense under his touch.

"I think reality was lost last night for both of us" I laughed a little, my nerves playing through. 

"It could be reality this, but it isn't that easy is it?" He asked, stroking my hair.

"I've only been home for two weeks and here we are. It feels like a chaotic romance, I mean we are chaotic but I don't think we can just sleep together and forget everything that happened and get back together" I sigh. 

"Okay" He says, stopping to think before speaking again. "How about this? We don' forget everything but we don't go back to hating each other either and arguing all the time or being strangers. We try the friend thing?" He says, sitting up and looking me in the eye. 

A feeling settled inside me in that moment. A feeling of I don't whether this will end good or bad but I don't want to loose him again and put myself through that heartache. 

"We'll try the friend thing" I smile as we sit across from each other for a moment in silence. 

"Right I better be going, mam will be skitzing said I was only going for a few" He said causing us to laugh as he gathered his things from the night before.

That conversation was easier than I ever wished yet it left me with a feeling I couldn't even describe. I didn't even want to delve into it as I fell back on my bed and let out the loudest sigh ever.

My mind fell back to one of the first interactions we had back when we were fourteen before there was any romance between us. 

I sat in a Science lesson writing away, answering the questions on the board as my friend who was sat between me and the blonde boy was talking away in my ear. Suddenly the teacher spoke to stop writing and get ready for the bell. 

"Shut up small person" I spoke to Brandon as he made some stupid comment. 

"Oi say that when stood next to Sam" Brandon spoke as he pointed to the tall blonde boy next to him. 

For some weird reason we both stepped closer to each other, comparing heights as Brandon laughed. 

I looked into his eyes with my arms crossed and I felt some weird feeling that I did not let my brain register.

"Oh wow you are actually tall" I spoke as I walked away to my seat, grabbing my backpack as he copied the same action. Our eyes not quite leaving each other as Brandon talked away. 

"Right come on it's break. You need to find your girlfriend and our friends" I said, leading us away as Sam found his friends as well.

My brain came back to reality as I messaged Phoebe, letting her know what happened. 

Phoebe: Right well it sounds like we need to have a girls night in, I'm setting off now. love ya. 

I smiled at the message and decided to get ready, not letting my brain to think.

It was a bit later now and I was pouring glasses of wine for me and Phoebe as she chose the music to play through the speakers.

"So when are my favourite people coming home?" She asked as we sat at my dining table. 

"Tommorow afternoon" I reply. 

"Oooh got one more night for more activities then" She said wiggling her eyebrows. 

"Okay the wine has hit you straight away" I joked as I ignored the comment.

"No seriously though. Just friends?" She asked, genuine interest.

"Yeah we agreed we couldn't just dive into getting back together after twelve years since our breakup" I spoke, staring at my wine glass.

"Ah so it's an agreement to be just friends until you are bit more less on bad terms" She spoke. 

"No no, we aren't getting back together. We can't. It's me and Sam" I spoke as if it was obvious. 

"Okay if you say so but I will still be mad at him for the heartbreak he caused you" She says, standing up to turn up the music, causing me to laugh as my phone buzzed. 

Sam: Dean was adamant on coming over, thought I'd be a wreck hahaha

I laughed as I sent a pic back of me and Phoebe, smiling at the picture. 

Me and Phoebe enjoyed the free house as we talked over everything that has happened in our friendship with a weird feeling left in the air. 

liked by sam_fender, phoebe_anderson and 643,523 others

arabella_young nights with phoebe like the 16 year olds we were once 🤍

tagged: phoebe_anderson

view all 16, 649 comments

username1 she's gorgeous wtf!!

username2 sam's in the likes. how tf does he know her                                                      ^                                                                                username3 probably just finds her attractive like the rest of us or they have worked together, she's a writer  

phoebe_anderson my gorgeous bestfriend 

^                                                                               arabella_young just marry me at this point!

deanedwardthompson stunning bella!            ^                           

arabella_young thankyou deano x                   

^                                                       username4 anyone else confused by these interactions??                                                          ^                                                                              username5 me too!!

username7 god she's gorgeous. to be arabella right now as well with sam and the lads interacting.

#sam fender #sam fender imagines #sam fender x reader #sam fender concert #sam fender smut #samfender #sam fender x imagines #music #i love you #fanfic #imagine #imagines #one shot #request #samfenderfanfic #newbook #sam fender one shot #sam fender fanfic

[rmtndew]

Out of The Woods

Summary: A woman finds a young man collapsed outside of her cottage and nurses him back to health. But the one thing she can’t mend is his forgotten past. 

Pairing: Charles Brandon and OFC Amaya

Warnings: Amnesia, illness, mentions of death, thunderstorms. Probably pretty poorly written old English? Otherwise, this is pretty fluffy stuff. 

Word Count: 10,300+

A/N: This was originally intended to be for my darling @lilliannaansallafics​ birthday two months ago. It took a while but here it is. For you, my love!

 I donned my cloak and left my cottage behind. A storm was coming. I could feel it. Could smell it in the air. There was a short time that I could walk the forest and show appreciation for what it would bring before I was being brazen and not showing the fear and respect it deserved. The forest was darkening quickly despite the early hour and I knew the storm would be bringing something more than quenching rain. 

My boots trod over rotting leaves that covered the forest floor, and fallen twigs, snapping through them. The sound was buried beneath the rumbling of thunder that shook the ground below me. If there was lightning accompanying it, it was lost through the thick canopy of trees above. Walking through the woods, I kept my eyes on my surroundings but stopped when I saw elderflowers up ahead. Knowing that they didn’t grow in such dark conditions, I believed they were to serve a purpose. I plucked them and placed them into the pocket of my apron beneath my cloak. I only took as much as I would use and placed my hands reverently atop the rest and thanked them for being there. 

I continued walking until the air became thick with the encroaching storm and I knew I was suddenly trespassing in the forest and it was time to take my leave. Turning back, I returned on the path to the cottage. I could feel thunder charging through the forest floor but a sound cut through the storm and I realized there was something there with me. 

I stood stock still and watched as a horse burst through the thick underbrush. I gasped and stepped back, frightened by the sight of it. The forest housed many animals but horses were not one. It stopped in front of me and reared up, braying wildly. Carefully I continued to step back, allowing the creature its space. It stomped at the earth, pacing around in a spooked manner, permitting me enough time to take it in before it charged off into the woods once more. I realized it wasn’t a wild horse; it wore a bridle and reins and carried a saddle but no rider. Whether the rider had abandoned the beast or the other way around, I had no way of knowing. The horse tore off through the woods, the sound of its hooves beating against the forest, calling down louder thunder to swallow it. 

I hurried along the path, intending to reach my home before the storm arrived. As I emerged into the clearing where my cottage stood, I saw a crumbled figure at my door. I rushed forward. I could tell it was a man before I reached him but once I knelt at his side, I carefully turned him over. He was beautiful. He had dark curls that clung to his forehead while stubble in the same dark brown adorned his sharp jaw. He wore no identifying apparel - simply breeches and a white blouse that was soaked and clinging to the muscles of his chest. It wasn’t raining, not yet, so I knew something else had happened. My mind flashed to the horse and I began to wonder if this mystery man had been its rider and he’d been thrown into the creek. His breath was rough and uneven, his teeth chattering. He’d been wet for far too long; he was beginning to take ill. 

I opened my cottage door and not without great effort, I managed to pull the man inside. He groaned but didn’t wake. Once he was safely under my roof, I removed my cloak and boots and busied myself in order to care for him. Quickly as I could, I stoked the fire slumbering under embers and ashes back to life, reviving the flames before feeding it with more logs. Soon it was roaring, its warmth clawing out to fill the small house. 

I took blankets and pillows and made a small - but hopefully comfortable - bed in front of the fire. With another bout of strength, I moved my guest near it. Before attempting to bring him atop the fabric, I removed his boots. The water that poured out onto the floor as I did served as further proof that my assumption of him being thrown into the creek was correct. I placed his boots near the fire to dry and then stripped the soaked shirt from his body. Next I moved onto his breeches, removing them respectfully as possible, leaving a wee bit of modesty to the stranger with his smallclothes. Modesty was trumped by survival. 

I checked quickly for any wounds and found none on his body but there was a slight gash on the back of his head. I presumed it was from falling into the water. There was no way to know how long he’d been submerged before making his way out but a cut such as that, it didn’t seem unreasonable to believe he’d been knocked unconscious and was unable to get out for quite some time. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been soaked to the bone in cold water as he was. 

His shivering intensified as sweat appeared on his brow and I knew then why I’d been given the elderflower in the forest; he had a fever. 

I moved him onto the soft pallet in front of the fire and covered him with a light blanket. He needed to warm up but not overheat. Once he was where the fire could do its job, I hung a kettle of water over it and then took some of the elderflower and carefully picked the petals from the stems, placing them into a bowl. When the water began to boil, I removed it from the fire and poured it over the flowers. Letting it steep, I turned to find a bit of cloth and dipped it into a cool bucket of fresh water. I wrung the excess out and returned to my guest, kneeling by his side. 

He was shaking and shivering, his teeth chattering loudly. I pressed the cool cloth to his forehead, hoping it might alleviate some of the fever’s grasp upon his brow. I dabbed at his skin, feeling the warmth of it against my other hand as I brushed his hair from his face. He still shivered but there was something of a calm that took over him as my fingertips skimmed his temple. Perhaps it was too much and not my place but I couldn’t stop myself from trying to give him a bit of peace whilst he was in my charge. So I placed my other hand on his cheek, stroking it with care the way a mother would to a child in the same position. I watched his face relax despite the fever. 

By the time the rag had cooled in my hand, I knew his tea was prepared. I went to retrieve it, quickly straining the petals out before pouring it into a cup. When I returned, I watched as he began to fitfully toss his head about on the pillow. I quickly knelt by his side again, placing my hand upon his cheek. 

“Shhh,” I gently soothed him. “I’m here.” He sighed and began to calm once more. 

Working quickly so that he wouldn’t grow fitful again with a loss of touch, I moved, kneeling behind him, and lifted his head and shoulders to rest on my lap. With one hand I brushed my fingers through his hair, comforting him, and the other I brought the tea to his lips and gently poured it into his mouth. Despite being unconscious, his instincts took over and he swallowed. I didn’t want to overwhelm him so I went slowly, only allowing him a small sip every few minutes. It seemed to work. Between the elderflowers and the fire, his shivering ceased while the sweat on his brow became worse. The fever needed to be fed to the point of breaking but no further. 

I only moved to place the empty cup on the table and to bring a bowl of water and the cloth I’d used to cool his skin back to him. It amazed me how calm he could be while I was touching him but leaving him for mere moments seemed to cause him so much distress. When I returned, I took his head back onto my lap and wiped his face and forehead with the damp cloth. As I did, I comforted him by brushing his hair back from his face and singing a song that my mother had sang to me as a child when trying to get me to sleep. It had a similar effect on him and soon it seemed that my guest was resting peacefully. 

Carefully I turned his head to the side and by the light of the fireplace inspected the gash on the back. It seemed straightforward enough. I cleaned it as best I could before applying ointment gently. Beyond that, all I could do was keep watch over him. 

The storm had taken over the world outside by then. The sky black as pitch except on occasion when lightning struck across it, sending shards of white and purple to break through. The rain pelted the roof and windows. The wind howled. But inside my cottage, I was safe and dry, and so was the man before me. 

Night swallowed the day, though the storm left no sun for it to devour. From noonday until evening, the same black sky prevailed. I had plenty to do inside. Not just for myself but my guest as well. I continued my care, nourishing him as best as I could in his state. I was preparing for bed myself when I heard a disturbance. My guest was waking. 

I pressed forward towards him. By the light of the fireplace, I could see his head raised as he looked about wildly. I could tell he was confused but more than that, he was frightened. The fear only intensified as I moved into his sight. 

“Stay back, specter,” he mumbled, his voice strangled.  

Pausing, I glanced at myself. My white night dress illuminated by the flames of the fireplace must have cast me in a supernatural light. To anyone waking in a strange place, I could see how I could appear as something more - or perhaps something less - than a woman. 

“Have no fear. I’m not a specter,” I assured him. “You fell in the forest. You were injured. You came to my cottage.” I moved closer to him. “Do you remember?” 

He shook his head weakly but the frightened look seemed to ease the closer I came to him. “I have no memory…” 

“Of your fall?” 

“No,” he said, his eyes locking on me. “I have no memory.”

I knelt at his bedside. “None at all?”

“Vapers. They vanish the moment I try to grasp them.” 

“You took a fall and you’ve had a fever. You need rest, then perhaps your memories will return to you.” His face paled. More sweat built upon his brow. He was awake but he was far from well. “Lie back down. Sleep. Nothing will harm you here,” I said. “Tomorrow will bring us a new dawn and together we will piece together what we can.” 

He let his head fall back against his pillow but his eyes continued to dart to and fro in the dark. He no longer seemed to hold any fear towards me once realizing I was not the ghostly figure he first thought I was, but there was still worry. Without thought, I reached out and stroked his hair gently as I’d done before. He didn’t pull away but he seemed surprised at any tenderness being shown to him. 

“Do you know me?” he whispered. 

I shook my head. “No. Only that you needed my assistance.” 

“Your name?” 

“Amaya.”

“Amaya,” he repeated, his voice still hoarse. “Thank you.” 

“You’re most welcome,” I said as I smiled and brushed his hair back from his forehead once more. His skin was both chilled and damp with sweat. Being near the fire brought no warmth to it, nor color to his cheeks. “Rest.”

I began to stand but his hand darted out, reaching for mine. He held it. The skin was rough but not the way it would be should his hands belong to a worker. No farmer, no farrier, no thatcher would have hands like his. He wasn’t royalty, that much I was certain, but he was no mere commoner. I felt in his hands strength, calluses from wielding weapons perhaps, but there were no symptoms of hard work. Despite the fact that he might be a warrior, he looked at me with the eyes of a little boy as he gripped my hand weakly. 

“Will you…will you tarry for a little longer? Please?” 

“Of course.” 

I patted his hand that held mine. Had he any strength in his body, his hold could have easily bruised me, but as it was, he was barely able to clutch it. And soon the weak hold loosened, his hand simply resting atop of mine. The cold, damp skin of his forehead was echoed in the palm of his hand. 

His breathing was coarse as his tired eyes searched the dark of my cottage. I began humming to him softly the same songs I’d sung to him earlier and I watched him release the tension he held coiled in his shoulders. He sank into the fabric below him. His eyes blinked slow and heavy, closing with a soft ‘hmf’ from his lips. I watched his chest rise and fall as his breath became less labored. Sleep had come for him and had taken him somewhere that he could finally rest. 

There was no more fighting within his body. His face softened and despite his sickly pallor I could see how beautiful of a man he was. Handsome and not a commoner. Once the night had passed I was sure that there would be legions of men scouring the forest looking for him. But for the night, he was in my home, safe from any harm that wished to befall him. 

I woke before the sun. Dressing quickly and then quietly leaving the cottage, so as not to wake my slumbering stranger. As the sun started rising, the world outside showed the wrath of the storm that had taken its hold the day before. Trees had been uprooted or angrily rent in half by lightning. The leaves that had thickly carpeted the ground just the morning before had been washed into heaps, bloated with captured pouches of rain caught beneath them. Rivulets of water streamed through the cracks, moving the heaps and making them look as if they were breathing.

I took my bucket and ambled down to the creek, the heavy smell of decay filling my lungs. The rain had stirred it up from the leaves and underbrush that had been peacefully rotting. Once at the creek, before filling my pail with water, I examined the area. There would be no evidence of my guest or his horse left in the dirt - the weather had worked to wash it all away had there been - but I thought they might be some effect of his that could help me understand who he was. But there was nothing. No token, no possession that could be linked back to him. 

Once I concluded my search of the creek, I filled my bucket and began my walk back. My ears stayed alert for the sound of men or hooves beating the ground that would alert me to the party searching for him, but I heard nothing out of the ordinary. Only a waking forest and sleeping beasts. 

Upon returning, I ventured to enter the house without noise so as not to rouse my guest, but my attempts were in vain. He was awake, stretching in front of the fireplace like a cat in a warm patch of sunlight. Hearing me arrive, he turned towards me. He was only in his smallclothes still but made no attempt to hide. He had no modesty about himself, which surprised me considering I thought him to be a nobel. 

I turned my head, tearing away my eyes from his nearly naked form. Though I’d seen it the night before, it had all been in the name of healing. “Good sir,” I said.

“My apologies.” His tone made him sound as if he’d only just released his state of undress. “My clothes?” 

I pointed blindly. “Near the fire. They were soaked. I feared you’d catch your death in them.”

There was a rustling and shifting and sounds of fabric moving about until finally, “You can turn, my lady.” 

I felt my cheeks flush with heat. “I’m not a lady, I’m afraid. Just a simple woman of the woods,” I said, turning back to look at where he stood. Seeing him dressed, save his boots, painted him in a new light. No longer did he look the sickly, worried boy he had the night before. No. He was a healthy, strapping man. I swallowed thickly. “I trust you’re feeling better?” 

“Much. I’m eternally grateful for the care you’ve given me. I fear I wouldn’t have survived the night if not for your kindness.” 

“I only did what any decent person would do. You were the one who found your way to my door.” 

His face seemed pained in its confusion. “Did I?” 

“You still don’t remember?” 

He shook his head. “No. Perhaps even less so than before.”

“You need time. That is all.” 

“I wouldn’t dare taint your dignity by asking to stay. Even in the woods, a maiden’s honor is sacred.” 

“Maidhood is sacred but my will is strong. Should you attempt to leave before you have knowledge of where you’re going, I will hunt you down, good sir,” I teased. “I know these forests better than anyone. If you were to leave on foot, there’s nowhere you could hide that I wouldn’t find you.”

He smiled and licked his lips before shaking his head once more. “My memories may be nothing more than wisps of smoke at the moment but I feel confident that no woman has ever threatened to hunt me down should I leave them. I fear the opposite may have been far more common.” 

“Let there be a first for everything,” I said. “You must be famished.”

He showed more embarrassment in his acknowledgment of being hungry than he had in his lack of clothing, a curious thought considering he showed much concern over my honor. He nodded with a bowed head. “Quite.”

“Then allow me to prepare a meal for us.” 

“I should like to help. If you’d allow. To repay you as best as I could.” 

“There’s no need.”

“There is to me, my lady.” 

“I’m no lady, good sir,” I reminded him. “You may call me Amaya.” 

“Charles,” he responded immediately, then looked bewildered at himself. 

I smiled. “See Charles? Not all is lost.”

“No, it appears not.” He nodded towards the bucket of water in my hands. “May I?” 

I sighed. “If you’re truly intent on being put to work, I won’t hesitate to do so.”

He smiled back. “As was my hope.” He came towards me and took the heavy bucket from me with just one hand. He ducked his head to look me more closely in the eye as he reverently bowed his head to me. “Put me to work, my lady.” 

I was never one to dishonor a request and so I set him about working. I didn’t press him so far as to strain his body to make certain he was feeling up to the task, but it was most helpful to have a man about the house that could lift this thing or that with little exertion. That had not been the case since my brother had been alive. 

I kept him fed but made sure he ate slowly so as not to get ill. By eventide he seemed to have gained back whatever strength he’d lost the day prior - unfortunately his memories did not follow. He still had only a shallow grasp of it, his name being the only solid thing he could remember. Despite his willingness to work and heed my beck and call, I was still convinced that he was someone of rank - whether that be a noble or a warrior. As darkness overtook the day once more, I was rather confused as to why no men had come searching for him. 

Since he was my ward again for another night, I showed him to a room. “It was my brother’s,” I explained. “As were the clothes in the coffer near the window. He was near your height and near your size so should you need, you could borrow from them.” 

“Was?” 

“He had the sweating sickness. There was little that could be done.” 

“My deepest condolences,” Charles said. “And my immense gratitude that you would allow me to take possession of his chambers for an evening. Even though he’s no longer here, I suspect you will always consider it his. I promise to tread respectfully.” 

“Thank you. But please, make yourself comfortable. You’ve been a great help to me today. You deserve a proper rest.” I smiled at him. “You deserved it yesterday as well. However, I lacked the strength to bring you here.”

He returned my smile. “You saved my life so I will forgive you for not being able to bring me any further,” he joked. “Though I admit I’m rather surprised that you were able to bring me as far as you did.” 

“Concern for someone’s life can certainly inspire a great bout of strength in a person.”

His smile faded, replaced by a somber expression. “Was it truly so bad? You feared for my life?” 

“I couldn’t save my brother. I was not keen to see that loss play out again under this roof.”

He nodded. “Selfish though it may sound, I’m thankful that you were not subjected to that, either,” he said. “I owe you my life, my lady.” 

“I’ve told you -” 

“You’re not a lady, yes,” he interrupted. “But to me you are. At the risk of your own honor, you’ve allowed me to stay here, brought me back to health, and you’re now entrusting me with your late brother’s chamber. That is enough to elevate you in my eyes.” 

“You are too kind. I only did what anyone would do in my place.” 

“Perhaps it speaks lowly of my impression of mankind, but I do not suspect that that’s true.” 

“Pity that mankind has made such an impression on you that even though you remember naught but your name, you remember your impression of them,” I said. “Though I can’t say I disagree. My mother and father had their own reasons for building their cottage here in the woods where their neighbors were only the rooks and foxes.” 

“Do you ever get lonely out here on your own?” 

“Rarely. I’m not one who minds their own company. But I admit…it’s been exceedingly lovely to have someone to talk to who can answer me back.” 

He smiled. “The moment the rooks start answering you is perhaps the moment you’ll decide to leave here?”

I laughed and nodded. “I do think that would be an apt sign for me to take my leave, yes,” I agreed. “But until then, I’m quite comfortable here.” I looked up at him. “And I hope that you are also comfortable here.”

“I am. Thank you.” 

“Then I will bid you goodnight, Charles.”

He bowed his head. “Goodnight, Amaya.” 

The disturbances I was used to at night were nothing more than the howling of a wolf or wind. That night it was a howl of another sort. I woke to the sound of a man calling out. My mind still had a foot in sleep and thought it was Father or my brother. The harsh reality of their deaths came to me before I could fully wake so I knew with great heartache that they were gone and the sound wasn’t from them but it was a moment too long before realizing who it was: Charles. 

There were few words spoken. It was an anguished cry that tore through the night. The moon gave enough light through the window to lead me from my room to his. I should have knocked. I knew it was inappropriate to cast myself into the room of a man with no relation to me and no invitation that I might enter, but the sounds of his sobbing forced me apart from all decorum as I sought to assuage whatever was causing him pain.  

Upon entering the room, I saw that Charles, despite his cries, was asleep. He tossed his head fitfully as he had the night before when his fever was upon him but I could see that this was no illness that had taken hold; it was his own mind. 

I rushed to his bedside and shook his shoulder gently. It took very little of my touch for him to wake. His eyes were wide, his breath panting. It seemed for a moment as if he was still seeing whatever visions had haunted his dreams but when I placed my hand upon his cheek, he stilled instantly. 

“Who’s there?” he whispered, his voice not so strong or certain as it had been during the day. 

“Amaya.”

He released a shaking breath. “What happened?” 

“You had a night terror.”

He was silent for a moment, save for his attempts to calm his breathing. He succeeded very little as it continued to waver. “There was a battle. So much blood and screaming. And children…I can still hear them,” he admitted.

“Were you part of the battle?” 

“I don’t know. I can’t…I can’t remember.” I could hear the frustration in his voice and I stroked his cheek gently, feeling him soften under my touch. His eyes found mine in the dark. “I feel as if I was somehow responsible for their screams but I don’t understand how that could be. I have no desire in my heart to harm anyone. Especially not a child. And yet…I can’t shake the feeling.” 

“The responsibility we take on ourselves is not always born of truth. My brother, rest his soul, would have died no matter what. But I felt responsible for his death all the same. As if my lack of knowledge on how to care for him was what claimed his life and not the sickness itself. Had I known any cures, it would have just prolonged his death, not saved him entirely,” I said. “You have no memories. Only a name and the shadowy horrors of a battleground. Do not be so quick to take responsibility and guilt upon yourself because of a feeling. Not one that was born through a night terror.”

“But what if it was only a terror because it was true?” he asked. “What if I caused harm to those children I heard? What if I slaughtered them?” His eyes squeezed shut. “If that is the type of man I was then I don’t want to ever remember that life.”

“If that was the type of man you were then the only way to reconcile it is to become a different man now.” My thumb brushed against the stubble of his cheek and he looked at me once again. “Charles, no one is fated to be good or evil. It is a choice that we all make. Some early on, some every day, but it is a choice nonetheless. You are not beyond redemption.”

“Do you believe that? That I could still be redeemed if I did those things?” 

“I do. Because that is not the man you’ve shown me to be today.”

He turned his head, looking out the window into the night. “How much longer before dawn?” 

“I’m unsure. I suspect several more hours, though.” My hand slipped from his cheek and I desired to touch him once again. I knew it was wrong but I had been without another soul in my presence for so long that I had nearly forgotten how the touch of a person felt. “Go back to sleep. Rest.”

“I know I’ve asked far too much of you already but…would you remain here for a moment longer?”

“Of course.”

And so began a ritual. Almost every evening for two fortnights, Charles would have night terrors. I would go to him and rouse him from his sleep, then stay with him until he was able to rest enough to sleep again. In the daylight, his memories were still misty and shadowed but something about the night brought about recollections of the battles he’d fought in. I wasn’t surprised. I’d known he was a warrior by his hands. But I was surprised that someone so tender-hearted could hold their own in a war. 

It became all too easy to forget society's rules with him there. We became accustomed to one another and it no longer felt as if his remaining in my home was putting my honor in question or in danger. And my presence in his chambers (and they had become his; releasing my brother’s ghost from its confines) never seemed inappropriate. The world beyond us and their customs were quickly forgotten as we became friends. Though I had told him true when I had said that I didn’t mind my own company, there was something to be said of having a companion. And that’s what he had become: a companion of the greatest sort. 

The one subject I never dared broach with him was the one that plagued me the most: Why no one had come searching for him. I held in my heart the belief that he was someone who would not escape notice. If not in the military - for which he was most definitely a part of - then by some other person. He was handsome, and kind, and funny. But he never spoke of a wife or a betrothed. I understood that his memories were not returning swiftly but I had hoped that if there was someone he truly cared for, their memories would find a way to rise from the bottom of the pit his mind seemed to have been thrown in. However, that did not seem to be the case. 

Everything about Charles had been unexpected. I’d lived my life in solitude after my brother had passed some three years previous, and we’d been orphaned for four years at the time of his passing, and had no expectations of a storm bringing a man to my door. But he was there and he was kind and though I enjoyed his companionship, it was laced with melancholy. I knew he was not mine - not my kin, not my husband, not my Lord - and therefore would have to forfeit him once his memories returned. And I felt a great swell of sadness at that prospect. I both wished for his sake that he would remember his life and for my own selfish reasonings that he would not. For if he never remembered, I could always keep him. 

I felt guilty for my line of thinking and decided to take a walk through the forest to clear my head. After donning my cloak, I emerged from the cottage only to be greeted by the sight of Charles wielding an axe as he split wood for the fire. I stopped short, my feet halting on the threshold of the door as I watched him. I’d known he was a stout and strong man but I hadn’t quite seen the full scope of his strength before that moment. 

His white shirt was tucked into his breeches and I could see the movement in his back and shoulders as he brought the axe down and split the log of wood clean in two. He repeated the same motions until there were four equal pieces of wood, which he stacked on top of the pile outside my home. I had cut the lumber it sat upon, I knew how difficult it was to cleave them in two, and yet as he placed another log atop the block, he cut through it with no resistance. I was at once both grateful for his strength and equal parts mesmerized by it. 

My breathing seemed to quicken as I watched him and I knew it was time to take my leave. I gave my best effort not to make a sound, to measure the closing of the door with the chopping of the wood, but before I could take more than a few steps away from the cottage, Charles turned and spotted me. 

He smiled. That lovely smile of his. The one I’d come to adore so. “Are you sneaking off?” he teased. 

“No, sir. Only going for a walk. I didn’t mean to disrupt you.”

His smile grew. “You could never disrupt me, my lady. Shall I accompany you?”

“Please do not feel obligated to do so.”

“I’d be more than happy to.” He stuck the blade of the axe into the top of the log that was on the block before him. “The forest can be dangerous. Full of unseen perils.”

“I might find it in me to disagree considering I’ve known these woods nearly my whole life, however…you came to me from the forest and so I must yield the win to you on this matter.” 

“Do you think me dangerous?” he asked, his smile showing the sharp fangs of his teeth. 

“Frightfully so, sir,” I said, returning his smile with my own. 

He left the chopping block and joined me at my side. “Have no fear, I intend to do no harm to you. You saved my life and for that, I swear my fealty to you. I pledge myself as your protector. No foul beast will sink his claws into you this day,” he said, barely restraining a laugh at himself. 

I found my cheeks heating as I looked up into his clear blue eyes. My heart already felt as if it could be torn from my chest at the mere thought of him leaving and we’d only been acquainted for such a short amount of time. I’d had two young men show their interest in taking my hand in marriage when I had lived in a village when I was younger. But none had ever been serious with their prospects. The parting of ways with them - potential husbands - hadn’t hurt so much as the hint of losing Charles did. 

“Then may I never lose your protection, good sir,” I said softly, hoping he did not understand the full extent of my meaning. 

The forest was alive that morning with sounds and the sweet smell of earth. But as the morning wore on, a thick, white fog began settling down amongst the trees, rolling towards us. I saw no issue in continuing on but Charles was not so keen. 

He stopped at my side and turned to look at me. “I think we should return.” 

“Are you afraid of fog?”

He licked his lips and sighed. “I’m afraid we’ll lose the path should it get any worse.”

I took a step forward. “I’ve told you before - I know these woods. We will be safe.” 

His hand shot out and took hold of my arm. “You know these woods. Not I. Lord forbid, but should something happen, I could not find my way back to your cottage. My tone earlier might have wrongly inferred that I was jesting when I said I would protect you but I truly meant it. I have no desire to see danger befall you,” he said. He looked at me, his eyes full of earnestness. “I beg of you, Amaya. Please.” 

Truth be told, the warmth that spread across my skin at his hand touching my arm, the look in his eyes, the way I wanted something more from him than I would ever receive, I felt safer there taking my chance in the woods and nearly sent him back on his own. But I could not do that to him. 

“Because you cannot fight the fog and protect me from it, I’ll concede in this one instance,” I said, attempting to make light of the feelings inside me. “We will return.” We turned around but the path had grown covered by the fog and soon Charles stumbled beside me as he tried to follow. I stopped and looked up at him yet again before extending my arm towards him. “Here. Take my hand.” 

He looked confounded. “I beg your pardon?” 

“My hand, good sir, take it and allow me to lead you back into the clearing.”

“I have no need.” 

I tried not to take the slight to heart. I was sure he didn’t mean to appear to turn down the touch of my hand. He was a man; I assumed he didn’t want to seem as if he needed to be led by a woman. But regardless of his intentions, it hurt all the same. 

“Put pride aside for a moment and think of your own argument: Should something happen to me, you could not find your way back. However, if something were to happen to you, I lack the strength to carry you home. I conceded. Would it be so terrible if you were to do the same?” I asked but he did not take my hand. I withdrew it. “Taking my hand would mean nothing except the recognition that you do not know these trails quite so well as I. But if you do not wish to take it, then by all means, watch your footing and pray that you do not take a tumble.” I began walking once more, leaving him behind me.

 It did not take long for him to catch up. “Amaya, please,” he said. “If I’ve offended you somehow, I apologize.” 

“You have caused no offense,” I said, though there was still hurt in my voice. 

“I do not believe you,” he said, trailing behind me. 

“You think I am a lair?” I asked, turning to look at him. 

He halted his walking but not quite soon enough. He bumped into me. I waited for him to take a step back, to right his stance, but he did nothing of the sort. His face was softened as he brought it down close to mine. “My lady, I do not think you are a liar. I think you are trying to keep peace. There is a great difference,” he said. “You are offended that I wouldn’t take your hand. Why?”

“It’s of no importance.” 

“It is to me,” he said. I did not speak and he sighed. “To think I have hurt you pains me. Please, Amaya, tell me what I’ve done.” 

No words were able to leave me before a great gust of wind blew around me, rustling my cloak. The wind did not touch Charles and I knew it was a warning. My eyes cut through the woods around us, searching wildly for any sign of danger, however the fog was too thick. But then a thundering could be heard in the forest. Charles heard it as well. His head snapped to the side. In only moments, a horse emerged from the woods, appearing on the path beside us. 

“Halt. Who goes there?” he barked the rider. 

I opened my mouth to speak but Charles leveled a heavy glance at me before turning towards the stranger. “We are mere commoners, my lord,” Charles answered for us. “Attempting to retire to our home before the path is overtaken by fog.”

The rider looked down at Charles, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized his face. All at once, a realization dawned across his features. “Your Grace. My sincerest apologies, I did not realize it was you. You were thought missing.” 

“Explain yourself,” Charles demanded. His tone betrayed a part of him that he had never shown to me: an air of authority that he held so strongly that he dared question a person of rank. 

“You are Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, yes? The King declared you missing a month ago when your steed returned from an early morning ride but you did not.” 

I kept my head bowed and my eyes down, not daring to give the rider any opportunity to chastise me. But my mind swam with thoughts of my dear Charles, my companion, being a Duke. It didn’t seem possible and yet I was under no impression that coincidence could be so strong. 

“I’m afraid you are mistaken, my lord. I am no Duke. My name is Arthur,” he lied. “And this…this is my wife, Amaya.”   

The horse trotted backwards, as if spooked. “You are not the Duke of Suffolk?” 

Charles shook his head. “No, my lord.”

The rider was silent for a long moment, his horse not happy with the air around us as he huffed. “Your home, is it far from here?” 

“It’s difficult to make out the distance in the fog but it should not be too far away, my lord,” Charles answered.  

“Take me to it. A storm is coming. I will ride it out under your roof.” 

Denying his request was not possible. We had to bring him to the cottage. I did not like the thought of it. Did not like the ruse that Charles had conjured of him being called Arthur and he and I being married. If the truth were to come out, if I made a slip of the tongue, I could put us both in great peril. 

I had to lead the way home slowly so that Charles would be able to stay by my side and it would appear that he was leading and not I. Once there, Charles tethered the horse under a covering where it would be safe during the storm and I led our guest into the house. Though we were only together for mere moments before Charles joined us, I felt greatly uncomfortable being alone with him. It was a feeling I’d never felt with Charles before. 

The morning passed and I barely spoke to our guest. I fed him, provided everything that he needed, but stayed silent unless spoken to. I had never need worry about holding my tongue while in my own home. Even as a child, my parents had let me speak freely. And yet that day I felt more a stranger in my house than its owner. The rider had no qualms with demanding what he liked and I was ever so grateful to Charles who kept him occupied with conversation and ale, and as the day wore on, with cards. I prayed for the raging tempest to break and feared it wasn’t meant to be, but finally it traversed beyond us, revealing that the sun was still nigh, leaving enough daylight for the rider to travel by. Though I was filled with unease as Charles readied his horse, I did my duty as a gracious host and paid my respects as we saw him off. Seeing him disappear into the forest did not fill me with the relief I thought it might. Charles seemed to have noticed my apprehension. 

He turned to me. “He won’t harm you. I would never allow it,” he said. “Forgive me for including you in my deceit towards him. However, my intentions of calling you my wife were to shield you from his attention, should he have been dishonorable.” 

“There’s naught to be forgiven. You were protecting me and for that I am grateful, your Grace.” 

His brow pulled together. “Why are you calling me that?” 

“Because that is who you are.” 

He shook his head. “No.”

“Do you believe that there are two men who share your same name and countenance?” I asked. “You know as well as I that the chances of that are small. You must be who he spoke of.” 

“Must I?” 

He looked so pained and yet I could not understand why. “You have struggled to gain any of your memories back and here was a man who knows who you are. Why would you fight that?”

“Because if I am who he says…I would need to take my leave of you,” he admitted. “I do not want that.” 

“You cannot expect me to believe that you would rather live here -” I spread my arms wide, indicating to the trees and mud and muck around us - “in the middle of the forest, heeding my beck and call as I put you to work when you could live freely in your life as a Duke, with servants that you order about instead.”

“And yet…that is what I am telling you.”

“I think you are overwhelmed by the prospects of what your life holds beyond your memories of war,” I told him, turning towards the cottage. “Once you remember fully, you will want to go back, your Grace.” 

He heaved a sigh. “Please, do not call me that,” he begged. “I am not your Grace, I am your Charles.”

“My Charles? You make it sound as if I’ve laid a claim to you,” I said, turning back to face him. 

“You have not but that has not stopped me from wishing it so.” 

My breath caught in my lungs as an ache built deep in my chest. I shook my head. “You do not know what you are saying.”

He strode over to me. He paused only a moment before he reached out his hand and slowly brought it to my cheek. Though I had comforted him many times with the same gesture, it had never been returned and feeling it in that moment was almost tear-inducing. “I would swear the rest of my life to living in the honor of your servitude, if you would allow me.”

My heart felt gripped by a hand of fear. “Is that all that you wish to do? Be in my servitude?” I whispered, tears finally taking over my sight. 

He shook his head. “No. I would serve you. I would heed your every order with a full heart if that is all I was permitted to do. But it is far from all that I desire.” 

“And what do you desire?” 

“You.” Charles held my face still while he brought his near to mine. I closed my eyes, tears trapped along my lashes, as I felt his forehead rest against my own. “Throw me out,” he whispered. “Leave me to the woods and wolves. Do whatever you want with me. But it must be known here and now that I love you.”

“And what if you have another love?” I asked, tears breaking free from my eyes. “Would you wish to break my heart once you remember her?” 

“No. I never wish for you to be hurt, but especially not of my own design.” 

“Then please, do not say these things to me.” 

I broke free from him and took a step back, attempting to stall any further crying. He followed, taking my hands in his. “The first thing I remembered outside of the battles that have haunted my sleep was the day I came to you,” he said. “Though it’s clearer now, it first returned to me as a memory of unending sadness. A loneliness that had settled down in my bones. I remember traveling into the woods with no intent to come back. What happened during the wars I fought in, it weighed my soul down. I remember thinking it would never be recovered. I entered the forest with an intention to die but in all regards, you saved my life.” 

He brought my hands to his mouth and kissed them reverently. “You…you who have not known me, who have sworn no loyalty to me, have given me greater comfort than I believe my heart has ever been given. Please…please, I beg of you, do not curse me for being unable to hide my affections for you any longer.” 

“My dear Charles…” I shook my head as tears that I fought against in vain spilled down my cheeks. “I do not wish to curse you for anything,” I said softly. “But especially not for love. And especially not for one I share with you.” I took a quivering breath. “In the woods this morning, I was not offended that you would not take my hand. I was wounded. It felt as if you were not rejecting my offer and instead were rejecting me.”

“Oh, my darling, no.”

My tears increased. “Please, do not call me your darling. For there will come a time when I cannot keep you, when you will leave me, and I will be unable to bear the loss of you as a companion. If I were to accept your declaration towards me, or to acknowledge my feelings towards you…I fear the loneliness you spoke of would infiltrate my soul and settle into my bones as well the moment you depart from me. And I do not know that I would be strong enough to dispel it.” 

“You may always keep me,” he said. “I am yours. I vow myself to you.”

“You vow yourself to me as one who does not know his whole worth,” I said. “You are a Duke, Charles. This changes everything.” 

“Why?” 

“Why? Because a Duke may fall in love with a peasant but he does not marry one. A Duke does not give up a title and an estate to live by the work of his own hands in a hovel in the woods. My Grace, you have a great many opportunity to marry someone of nobility and wealth. Someone who will bear your children and, should the Lord allow, sons who will carry on your name and bloodline for generations to come.” I shook my head. “You will not give that up. Not for this. Not for me. Nor should you.” 

“I have already turned my back on it.” 

“What do you mean by that?” 

“Forgive me for my many sins,” he murmured softly. “I did not intend to deceive you, my lady, but my memories, though slow to return, have made themselves known to me.” His eyes searched mine. “I did not keep it from you to take advantage of your kindness but because as you said; I could not bear the loss of you as a companion.” 

“You…you have known that you were a Duke?” 

He nodded, then bowed his head solemnly. “I did not keep it from you with ill intention. I swear it.” 

“When did you remember?” 

“A fortnight ago.” 

“A fortni-” I wretched my hands free from his. “Why would you hide that? What reason do you have for keeping something so gravely important as that from me?” I asked. “Have I not proven myself trustworthy to you?”

“Please, that’s not it at all,” he said, his eyes desperate as he reached for my hands once again. I kept them resolutely at my sides. “You are the most trustworthy person I have ever known. You are kind and gentle and pure of heart. Amaya, this is naught to do with you.” 

“Then why? Why would you not tell me before now?” 

“Because I thought if I did not acknowledge it, I would never have to face it and return to my life!” He shook his head. “I do not want a world full of politics and war. I do not want to face another battle. But as long as I am living my life as the Duke of Suffolk, I am at Henry’s command. And if the King commands me to slaughter innocents once more…” His face betrayed the broken man he was inside, his eyes brimming with tears. “My soul could not bear it,” he admitted with a trembling lip. “You told me that you believed I was not beyond redemption and I wish that to be true, but…I do not know if I could ever be forgiven for the atrocities that I have committed.” 

Before I could speak, he fell to his knees, sinking into the mud at my feet. He began sobbing, suddenly taking on the form of a crying child as he had the first night he was brought into my home. My heart broke for him. He had kept his identity a secret from me but as I watched him, I knew it was without malice.  

“I cannot absolve you of any sins. It is not in my power to do so. But I truly believe that you are a good man, your Grace,” I said, tears of my own still falling. “I understand the desire to run from what you once were, my parents sought the same here in the woods, and so I will never judge you for clinging to what small bit of salvation you have also found here. And though I may not be able to absolve you, I can give you a place where you can seek your redemption.” I brought my hand to his forehead, running my fingers through his hair in an attempt to soothe him. “You may seek it under my roof and should you like…by my side.” 

Charles pressed his face into my abdomen as his arms encircled my waist. He clung to me as he sobbed into my apron. I held him as best as I could, cradling his head as I bent to press a kiss to his crown.

I knew it was treason to even think such a thing but I determined in my heart right then that the King would never have command of Charles again. He was mine. 

The days passed and, though I feared he might, the rider never returned. The forest had a way of becoming difficult to navigate if it did not want you in its depths. One morning I decided to venture out to show my gratitude for protecting us and on my return home, I was surprised to find Charles on the path.

I paused for a moment and pressed my hand to a tree. “You like him,” I accused in a whisper. A soft wind blew at my face and I smiled, then patted the tree bark. “I like him, too.” I turned from the tree and began walking towards him. “Are you not afraid of getting lost?”

He smiled. “No, my love. I could hear you humming and it called to me.” My accusations were true; the forest did like him. There was no other explanation for the wind carrying my voice so far for Charles to hear. “Although perhaps you journeyed out here to take your leave from me and I should not have followed,” he teased. 

I smiled as we closed the distance between us. “No, good sir, I was not taking my leave from you,” I said, halting in front of him and looking up at his face. “I was simply thanking the woods.”

“Thanking them?” 

“Yes. I owe them a great many things. They brought you to my door, did they not?” 

He nodded. “Yes, my lady, I believe they did,” he said, licking his lips. “So perhaps it’s most pertinent for me to ask you a question that has been pressed upon my mind for quite some time now right where we are.” 

“Of course. You may ask anything of me.”

He took a deep breath and let it out before his eyes found mine. “I love you. With all my heart and with every ounce of my being. And I swear with all my soul to everything honest and good in this world and the next that I will always love you,” he said. “I vow here and now that I will care for you, provide for you and protect you for the rest of my days. Ever faithful. Ever true.” 

My cheeks flushed with heat at his words and I waited for more but there was nothing added. “I’m greatly flattered, my dear Charles, however…that was not a question,” I said. “Unless your question was if I feel the same. In which case, the answer is yes.” 

He smiled and shook his head. “That was not the question, though I daresay I hope the answer is the same to the one I pose to you.” He took another deep breath. “Amaya…will you marry me?” 

My breath caught in my throat as my heart sped up. But I did not hesitate. “Yes,” I answered quickly. 

He released a breath of great relief as happiness shone plainly in his eyes. “Yes?” he repeated. I nodded. “Marry me now?”

“Now? With whom to wed us?”

“We will have a handfasting ceremony and exchange vows in the presence of God. In His eyes, we will be husband and wife.” 

“I do not know the vows.”

“I do. I will guide you through them.”

“With the trees as witness?” I jested softly. 

He laughed. “The forest is alive to you, is it not?” he asked. “Therefore, they would make a living witness, yes?”

“Perhaps,” I conceded. “Though I mean them no slight, I do not wish to be married in the woods. I would prefer a small bit of civility and should like to exchange vows in our home.”

“As it pleases you, my lady.” 

My heart thundered loudly in my ears as we returned to the cottage together. Once inside, Charles carefully took my cloak from me and I put away my apron. I wondered aloud what we should bind our hands with and he procured a leather cording from his chambers. We stood in front of the fire and faced one another. 

“Are you sure you want me?” he asked. 

“I’ve wanted to keep you far longer than it has been decent for me to do so,” I said. “Now I shall have a rightful claim to you.” 

“And I to you.” He smiled then took my right hand and clasped it lovingly in his. Then, with his other hand, he held the leather above our hands. “And now the vows: Will you honor and respect one another and seek to never break that honor?” he quoted, then looked at me. “I will.” 

“I will,” I agreed. 

“And so the first binding is made.” He draped the cording over our hands and brought it around, securing them together loosely. “Will you share each other’s pain and seek to ease it? Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in union?”

“I will.” 

“As you have already proven to me, my love,” he whispered. “And I vow to do the same.” 

“You have as well,” I assured him.

“And so the second binding is made.” He wrapped the cord around our hands, lacing them together. “Will you share in each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?” He smiled his beautiful smile at me as his eyes shone. “It would be my life’s honor and thus, I will.” 

“As will I.” 

“And so the binding is made,” he said, then bound our wrists to one another with the last of the cording. “As our hands are bound together now, so our lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Therefore, I Charles take thee Amaya to be my wedded wife, till death us depart, and thereto I plight thee my troth.” 

“I Amaya take thee Charles to be my wedded husband, to death us depart, and thereto I plight thee my troth,” I said, repeating after him.

His smile widened. “Now you are mine as I am yours. But first…we must seal the commitment with a kiss.” 

“A kiss?” I breathed, my chest feeling tight in such an odd and unfamiliar way.

He brought his free hand to my cheek. His thumb brushed softly against my skin, causing me to inhale sharply, then passed it along my bottom lip. “Have you shared one before?” 

“Long ago. When I lived in the village. A boy…”

“Boys do not know how to kiss.”

“They don’t?” 

He shook his head as he brought his closer to mine. “No. They only care for themselves.” He kissed the apple of my cheek and my eyes slid closed of their own volition. “They take no care in pleasing others.” He softly kissed the other cheek. “They do not understand that pleasing a woman is where your true pleasure lies,” he spoke, his lips close enough to my own that I could feel them moving. 

“It is?” I asked breathlessly. 

“It is.” 

His lips pressed against mine and they moved slowly against my own as he brought his hand to my neck. His thumb stroked my skin as he held my face so that he could continue his ministrations. The boy I’d kissed as a girl had tasted like winter. Cold and hard and unyielding. But Charles tasted of spring. Warm and soft, his mouth blooming open to caress the petals of my lips with his own. His kiss held a promise of more to come.

Our right hands were still united but I gripped him with my left, attempting to stay upright. When he pulled away, he did so gently, like a warm breeze. My eyes blinked open lazily to see his smiling face before he kissed the tip of my nose. 

“Better than a boy in the village?” he asked quietly, still smiling. 

It took me a long moment to understand the question but eventually I nodded. “Much,” I said. “Now that I know how it should feel, I daresay what he did was not even a kiss.”

“And so I am your first?” he said, his smile ever growing. 

“And so you are, husband.” 

He pressed forward and kissed me once more, soft and sweet. “I have a great deal more to share with you, wife.”

“Then let us begin.” 

#Henry Cavill #Henry Cavill fan fiction #Charles Brandon #Charles Brandon fan fiction #The Tudors #The Tudors fan fiction #Duke of Suffolk fan fiction #Out of The Woods

[georgiapeach30513]

Steve Rogers Masterlist

Cuckolding

Must Be So Tired

I Can See You

Mark My Territory - Captain Hydra

When I Hear Your Name

Part 2

Just Pull the Trigger

All or Nothing at All COMING SOON - Steve Rogers always doubted your feelings for him.  He was supposed to be your everything, but he fell for someone else.  Bucky Barnes was supposed to be your best friend, and nothing more.  Good thing they both got lost in time.  Or did the?

A Losing Hand -  Mafia AU, nothing is what is seems. Trust no one, and listen to everything. Alliances will form, and they will fail, but who is playing who?

A Snowflake Melts - Your ex Jack O'Malley is an unscrupulous man. An excellent bounty hunter that comes alive in winter. He is winter. He terrifies you. Running away from him and your family, because even they couldn't keep you safe from the winter chill itself, you find yourself in a remote area. Living alone for almost a year when your new neighbor Steve Rogers arrives. He was curious instantly, and you were smitten just as quickly. Can you and Steve deny each other all winter long? And what will the other seasons bring? Will it bring you real true love?

Captain/Soldier -  When Steve Rogers is on the run, what’s his girlfriend to do when after a year she’s had no response from him?  Well, she gets in a relationship with Soldier Boy….

Desperate Affairs -  Engaged to Andy Barber, and deeming him too safe, and only wanting to be intimate to get you pregnant, you start a sex only relationship with Ransom Drysdale.  Nothing is ever easy, and you get yourself into a web of lies.  Are you the only one lying?

The End As It Begins COMING SOON - You are cordially invited to this season’s marriage market. Becoming the rare and sweet Rose of the Ball. Just the perfect and chaste eligible bachelorette. Bring your dance card, and search for the perfect match. Will it be the General Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers the Duke of Lavenham, Lord Dean Winchester, or Prince Charles Brandon. You have caught all their eyes. But be careful, they’re not the only ones watching. Lady Rose Waterton is also watching and reporting on the gossip of the evening. Make sure you have your chaperone…

Entangled Lust -  Beyond frustrated with Frank Adler, you go in search of a way to work off some of that pent up aggression.  Finding yourself right in the midst of the mysterious Bucky Barnes.  He was patient and kind.  Listened to your wants and needs, at first.  You knew you shouldn’t have got involved with your student’s guardian, but you and Frank couldn’t stay away from each other, until Bucky.

Hear That Whippoorwill COMING SOON -  Going back to the mountains.  You didn’t even realize you had ever been there.  But when your last relative in those mountains dies, you were left with everything, including all the family secrets.  Now there was too many rules; stay out of the woods, that bridge is dangerous, black cats are bad luck, don’t listen to the whippoorwill, girl.  Too late.  And now Steve has finally found you.  He won’t stop trying to get you, until the curse is finally broke, and now you’re here....

Just Like the Caged Bird -  You are a widow who moves back to her husband’s hometown after selling your in Georgia home.  Moving in above your brother in law’s garage.  Sharing the space with his friend Bucky Barnes, but your other brother-in-law Andy causes problems, along with your overprotective brothers.

Keys in Your Ignition -  Caught up in a sexual relationship with your father’s Vice President, and trying to not get caught.  Blind to everything else that’s going on in the club, and even your old crush, Bucky Barnes.  Not even noticing your brother and best friend flirting, until your father suddenly passes, and things in the club drastically change.

The Legends of Collingswood Glade -  Deep into the woods, and past the veil is a beautiful place.  Beautiful but dangerous.  Faeries are not to be trusted, and in their world rules often change.  Each court is different, but one rules them all...

Man Out of Time -  After Charlie’s parents died in a car crash she moved in with her Uncle Clint and Aunt Laura Barton. Clint helped her work through her pain by training her. She knew his job and knew where he was going the times he would leave. One day Clint and her friend Nat appear at the farm to ask her if she’s interested in joining the Avengers. Charlie doesn’t hesitate to join, but she’s nervous about meeting everyone. Especially Steve Rogers. Once her and Steve meet it’s instant that they are both clearly attracted to one another. Charlie wants to protect the man, and will follow him anywhere. Will he cause her more problems or is a good fit for her? What happens when she meets his best friend, Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier?

The North Princess & the Seven Men -  You are betrothed to Prince Charles, but what happens when he doesn’t want someone so pure, he tests your want to marry him by being corrupted by the seven men who have vowed to protect you.

There Goes My Life -  Steve was your weakness.  He was the person you loved the most, and then he was on the run.  You had tried to tell him something important, and then the blip happened, and you weren’t able to.  But your secret sure was able to tell him.  Now Steve has to navigate this new life, plus find comfort for himself.  But he never gives up on somehow being able to change what is going on in the world.    

What’s Wrong & What’s Right -  You were the perfect Omega.  Soft, quiet, ready to please an Alpha, but you were used for the folly of desperate Betas.  Betas who wanted to treat an Omega like they were the Alpha.  Nick Fowler kept you mostly guarded.  You were his golden star, never been sullied by an Alpha...and then there was Johnny Storm.

Your Mark On Me -  When you need something to help you stay alert study, you found a whole lot more than you were looking for. Tatted and massive. He was what your dreams were made of, but is he a nightmare? He claimed you, and now he intends on keeping you. No matter what the cost.

#steve rogers #steve rogers x reader

[imhereformr]

I want to spend the rest of my life waking up next to you and [cup] for riven and Musa maybe? If requests are still open

Riven grumbled as he curled into himself, pulling the blanket up to his chest. The bright early morning sun filtered through the window onto his face, waking him far earlier than he’d like. He silently cursed himself for opening the curtains when he’d woken up yesterday morning, and then forgetting to close them before he left.  

It was all Brandon’s fault. He’d called as Riven was stepping out of the shower, reminding him that they had errands to run for Bloom and Sky’s engagement party. Riven had completely forgotten about it, so he hauled ass and rushed out the door.  

The errands took the entire day. It was close to 8pm when they’d dropped everything off at the couple’s apartment. Riven stopped at some dive bar on the way home, letting the rest of the guys go home to their girlfriends and wives. He was sitting at the bar, halfway through his second drink when someone asked if the seat beside him was taken. He told himself he’d imagined it – that voice had only existed in two places for the last seven years: in his dreams and on the radio. He shouldn’t finish the drink. 

“Riven? Can I sit?” she asked again. She was there. She was real. She knew he recognized her voice; she had to. He nodded yes, not trusting his voice.  

Musa sat beside him, looking every bit as beautiful as he remembered. The conversation was forced and awkward. At first. And then someone dropped a drink and Riven made some stupid sarcastic comment that had made her laugh. He loved her laugh. He'd missed her laugh. Soon enough they were joking and talking like they hadn’t been apart all those years.  

Some combination of the alcohol and her presence had made him lose his mind. There’d been a lull in the conversation, and he’d looked at her and said: “I miss you.” 

The shocked expression came and went in the blink of an eye. She looked at her glass, then at the bar while Riven held his breath hoping that he would die on the spot to avoid the discomfort of her saying she’d moved on. It had been years; of course she'd moved on.

He'd looked away. It was too much. He thought of leaving, of excusing himself, dropping a 20 on the counter and fucking off. But then he’d felt her hand slide over his and squeeze. When he’d finally found the courage to look at her, she was making that adorable face she made when she was trying really hard not to cry. “I miss you too” she replied in a whispered tone so low he’d almost missed it. As it was, he'd had to focus really hard to make out the words, giving him only a second to react before her lips were on his.  

The rest of the night was a blur. A quick cab ride where they’d held hands giddily like lovestruck teenagers until Musa’s hand had slid out of his and up his thigh until she was rubbing his leg, stopping just short of groping him; she was teasing him and he was loving it. Once they reached his apartment - the nearer one - she pulled him in like she owned the place. Her lips, her skin, her hands, her voice clouded his mind as they made love and fucked over and over, making up for lost time. They’d cuddled after they were done and Riven fell into the most blissful sleep he’d ever had.  

Now that the morning had come, he was scared to turn around. He didn’t know what daylight and sobriety would bring, and he was so desperate to keep her for as long as he could. What if she regretted last night? What if she told him she was already with someone else? What if she was gone? Losing her was painful enough the first time even if it was necessary; he didn’t think he could bear having been so close and losing her again.  

But then the bed shifted, and he could breathe again. Musa’s arm wrapped around his waist and her lips kissed his back as Musa cuddled up to him. “G’morning” she mumbled sleepily, pushing herself closer to him.  

Riven turned under her arm to face her. He didn’t try to contain the smile on his face as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer until their every limb was intertwined. Musa sighed happily as she snuggled her face into his chest. “I’ve missed this” she told him.  

“Me too” he whispered, planting a kiss on her head.  

Musa looked up at him, smiling brightly as she met his eyes. He held her gaze, wishing he could stay in that moment forever. When they were younger, Musa had been his safe haven; his shelter when the demons that ravaged his mind became unbearable. She was his biggest supporter; his most loyal confidant; his best friend. He knew he missed her - a lot - but he hadn’t realised how much until he’d looked at her this morning. 

He brought his hand up to brush her hair back, letting it slide down to cup her cheek. Musa leaned into his hand with a warm smile that made him feel like he was eighteen and falling in love again. He lowered his hand to her chin, using it to lift her lips to his.  

"What's got you looking so happy?" Musa teased when they pulled apart. Riven's already wide smile widened more. 

"I wish I could wake up like this every morning" he told her, moving his hand up to brush his thumb along her cheek. 

"Pushed to the edge of your bed because I take up all the space?" 

"With you. Where and how doesn't matter." 

Musa looked at him with twinkling eyes and a bashful smile. She pulled him in for a kiss that made his heart flutter. He lost himself in her; her lips, her eyes, her touch, her voice. She was the most wonderful kind of lost. Where every turn led to an incredible discovery: a new facet of the woman he loved. He would happily wander her forever if she would have him.  

Musa smiled into the kiss before pulling away. “I like the sound of that.”  

#winx club #winx #winx musa #winx riven #rivusa #prompt #oneshot

[shutupptara]

cowboy like me - Brandon Tanev

"hustling for the good life, never thought I'd meet you here, it could be love, we could be the way forward & I know I'll pay for it"

summary: you’re at the tail end of a cross-country road trip enroute to starting your new life in Seattle when your car breaks down on the side of the road. stuck in the middle of nowhere with no service, all seems lost, until a handsome cowboy named Brandon comes riding up on his horse to offer you assistance. he’s kind enough to take you in while you try to get your life back on track, but you find the choices you must make aren't always black and white.

the cowboy!Brandon AU one person asked for, that I have been SO excited to bring to life. I've poured my heart and soul into this one, and I hope that you love it.

for @kat-hearts; without you, this story would simply not exist. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

title, and chapter titles, from cowboy like me by Taylor Swift

one - never thought i’d meet you here

two - the way forward

three - dancin’ is a dangerous game

four - the skeletons in both our closets plotted hard to fuck this up

five - i’m never gonna love again

six - your boots beneath my bed

seven - and i know i’ll pay for it

eight - it could be love

epilogue - forever is the sweetest con

#brandon tanev #brandon tanev imagine #Brandon tanev X reader #cowboy brandon #nhl imagine #hockey imagine #hockey rpf #shutupptara writes

[isefyres]

@dcviline asked: The only monster in this castle is gossip. And we must not feed it, or it will bring us to our knees. (ned @ cat)

"You   invited   said   gossip   when   you   brought   a   bastard   after   the   war."   Harsh   words   only   spoken   on   the   confinement   of   their   chambers   but   it   was   no   secret   Catelyn   had   no   love   for   that   boy   Ned   brought   home.   She   had   been   almost   swayed   to   change   her   mind   and   treat   him   with   civility,   despite   the   threat   he   would   pose   to   Robb's   own   lordship   one   day.   It   was   the   reality   that   he   had   loved   another   woman   enough   to   bring   her   child   home   with   him.   And   of   course,   the   servants   speak.   Ashara   Dayne   and   her   laughing   eyes.   They   spoke   of   rumors   of   how   he   danced   with   her   in   the   tournament   and   how   during   the   stay   there,   Ashara   had   been   dishonored.  

It   should   not   bother   her.   Back   then,   Brandon   was   alive   and   her   soon   to   be   husband.   But   war   had   changed   them   all   and   now   this   is   their   reality.   "Is   it   true   what   they   say,   Ned?   That   the   boy's   mother   is   that   dornish   woman?   Arthur   Dayne's   sister."   They   said   she   lost   a   babe   before   her   mind,   that   she   died   of   grief.   Some   even   dare   to   say   Ned   took   her   child.   It's   hard   to   say,   when   Cat   looks   at   Jon   Snow   and   all   she   sees   is   Ned   looking   back,   the   Stark   looks   leaving   no   doubt   in   her   mind   he   is   a   Stark.   "You   bring   him   here   to   be   raised   as   a   son   and   pretend   I   shouldn't   ask   questions."

#dcviline #answered asks╲ reply › catelyn stark. #you know i had to

[wintervsuns]

what: house karstark of karhold, of lands that stretch from east of the last river and the bay of seals house words: the sun of winter - these words are deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of the people of karhold seeing the sun as a deity, with equal love and adoration as the heart trees. duke of karhold: brandon karstark, hand of the king duchess of karhold: meera reed. vassals: house flints of grey cliffs, house lake, house lightfoot, house mollen, house moss, house wells. upon brandon's marriage to meera reed, lord brandon karstark assumes reed lands upon the ruling lord's death. this includes vassals of house blackmyre, house boggs, house cray, house fenn, house greengood, house marsh, house peat and house quagg.

ooc: below you’ll get a tdlr of house karstark’s history, lore and some traditions upon their lands. 

history: a thousand years ago, lord karlon stark, youngest son of winterfell, ventured to the east of the land of always winter to put down a rebel lord. upon victory, he was rewarded for his success and bravery with the keep of karl's hold on the grey cliffs, which later went on to become karhold, and karhold starks became karstarks. thus, the karstarks and starks of winterfell remain close kin to this very day. in the thick darkness of the forests whilst putting down the rebel lord, where karlon stark found himself hanging onto his life by a thread, a beam of winter sun shot through the branches and illuminated his sword when he thought it lost to the dirt. it was this that allowed karlon stark to get back on his feet. local tongue/dialect: the sun tongue (finnish) religion of local folk: the old gods of the forest, with the added element of the sun being a form of the old gods. the smallfolk pray to the sun as well as the old gods of the forest and perform dances around crackling hearths. traditional foods: hearty vegetable soups, meat stews based in beef, pork, duck, reindeer, salmon and whitefish, with flavours made from local berries and herbs such as cloudberry. common smallfolk jobs: reindeer herders, fishermen, woodcutters, dog sledders/breeders, farmers, tailors, weavers, candlemakers

cultural practices:

- karstarks wear thick cloaks made of pelts of seals, bears and wolves, or black woolen cloaks patterned with the white sunburst - their sigil. they wear red at funerals, for it is believed to be a time to return to the earth through the fire. ashes are either to be kept, or to be spread depending on the individual and choice of the family; they can be spread anywhere within karhold’s lands.

- karstark warhorns are deep and mournful, though they are not always rung in times of war; it matters on the amount of times it is rung. once for war, twice for the death of a member of house karstark, three times following a marriage union and four times before the smallfolk to announce a birth.

- 'the sky is dancing' is reference to the northern lights, where the sky taints green. it is seen as a good omen, and a sign the gods are happy with their people.

- "we are kin, stark and karstark" they are take their family in winterfell very seriously - it is not used to brag for being related to the starks, but an oath of loyalty. you come for the starks, the karstarks will come for you.

- people say a prayer in the sun tongue upon sunrise, or when they arise to thank the gods for the sun gracing them; there is a deep appreciation and love for the winter sun.

- karstark men and women hunt alike, and hunt for their own prey. it is common for them to be the ones to bring back the food regularly, along with large hunting parties, for the household's food supply.

- upon reaching six months, it is seen as customary for a baby of house karstark to be upon a sled pulled by a reindeer for the smallfolk to see them, seated with their father and mother. it is not done before then, as it is very very cold and the baby cannot risk being sick.

special days:

seitseman yota: celebrated roughly seven weeks ahead of the approximate harvest being picked. it is traditionally a day of full sledge riding, with the belief that the further you ride with your sleigh not getting stuck, the better the year’s crops will be. there is also a competition for who can make the most sour berry jam. 

sadonkorjuun aatto: the eve before the harvest is to be picked, those who practice old ancient magic bless the crops before the sun rises again. here, they are accompanied by their female relatives who are children; also dressed in white furs. they offer a prayer for your crops, believed to be magic, pulling on the power of the sun - in exchange for a fruit of some sort. 

#house karstark ; the sun of winter. #karhold lore complete!