#eagle's eyrie

[ahopefulsoul]

As High as Honor 🦅💙

10/12

#aesthetic #classic #books #series #family #medieval #game of thrones #Arryn #house Arryn #as high as honor #eagle #blue #white #stars #moon #the eyrie #vale of Arryn #falcon #air #vale #bird #fly #Lisa Arryn #Jon Arryn #petyr baelish #Robyn Arryn #gates of the moon

[talvin-muircastle]

Happy Moon Day

#Happy Moon Day #The Eagle Has Landed #Hope Eyrie #Julia Ecklar

[impossible-rat-babies]

decided on the name eyrie was given during their time with the garleans: silvanus oer maris

#less a name given and more of an identification—the place they had come from #a jab at where they had come from. a denoting them as outside #there’s poetry in how eyrie still carries their forest home wherever they go #it will always be part of them. given a name that labels them as from this place #taking their old clan name and using it as their surname now #even their name now being an homage to that #eyrie being a different way to spell aery—a place where eagles nest #something about the names of my 14 characters being Möbius strips and metaphors #1.0 baby girl needs a name and I have symbology ideas but gotta hunt for a name with those meanings #i dunno I’m sleepy and feel weird and I’m going to bed #letting the menthol illness win a bit but I feel like dogshit yo #ajsjsjskd I am just sleepy #oc: eyrie kisne

[maxthedrawingperson]

He just sorta showed up…

#banjo kazooie #banjokazooie fanart #fanart drawing #fanart #eyrie #Eagle #inktober2022 #inktober #inktoberprompts #inktobereagle #inktoberday11 #funny post #funny comics

[tenth-sentence]

Soon another eagle flew up.

"The Hobbit" - J. R. R. Tolkien

#book quote #the hobbit #jrr tolkien #eagles #flying #eyrie

[ranticore]

some harpies of kosa (a small human village on the edge of the plains)

Cuinn (as a king, white) showing the usual difference in body size between an eagle harpy king, a falcon pen (female), and a dove tiercel. the ear winglet position employed by Cuinn is a particular posture only used by kings, colloquially referred to as the King's Crown. it is an expression of dominance.

the 'King' terminology is borrowed directly from nearby human settlements. when doing trade and egg exchanges with humans, harpy kings demanded to be known by the same title used by the humans with the most authority (in other regions, they are called emperors, tsars, etc).

eyries in this region will not engage with humans or other creatures which they consider poor or lacking in power. human falconers who want to enter a hunting partnership with a 'wild' harpy first need to prove the wealth of their village/their lord. harpies do not use metals but do understand the value of gold to humans so they'll take a sufficient show of gold as a good enough marker of wealth. once impressed, they might join the falconers or, more commonly these days, give them an egg to raise.

#ice storm over kosa

[space-blue]

Distant cousins of the jungle's stingbat, the aptly named stunbat (Tsealìm in Na'vi) is a native of the Txepìva volcanic plains that hunts by diving from great heights and colliding with their prey head-first, stunning them.

Their head is blunt, with a threefold crest reminiscent of the great leonopterix's dual one, but significantly more ossified. Their neck is thick and muscular, to help support the structure, but also to weather the high velocity impacts.

The hands, small and with fused fingers in jungle stingbats, are much larger here, and used to catch stunned prey falling from the sky, or pick them off the ground as they swoop down. It also allows stunbats to eat on the fly, as it were, as the plains' chaotic environment doesn't always provide them with safe perching opportunities. 

Stunbats have short, prehensile neural queues that retract under thick, keratinous neck frills. The extra mobility of this limb allows them to make quick connections while in mid-air, front to back, back to back, or belly to belly, the latter being the more commonly seen one, accompanied by a stabilising "handshake".

The stunbat's vision is excellent. Early research by Eyris Makri with the Tuin clan of the Txepìva showed that their domesticated stunbats were able to spot prey up to 4 miles away, seeing clearly at ten times the distance of their Na'vi handlers. Their primary eyes show a high concentration of foveas, giving them enough focus to clearly distinguish prey moving against the complex backdrop of the plains and lava fields. 

Although the stunbat's barbed tail has lost most of its poisonous sting, it is still used in defence against larger predators. Their best defence, however, remains a Na'vi bow.

It is hard to tell exactly when domestication started, though the olo'eyktan of the Tau'un clan claims one of his ancestors was the first to tame a stunbat. We're told this happened during the "Time of Long Nights", but dating that event is equally complicated. Current estimations are a minimum of two millenia.

During that time, the stunbat's range remained tied to the volcanic plains of the Txepìva clans, although the species has been observed by Serafiina Hukkala as far out as Mons St. Helen. One must note that the stunbat is unlike our previous study case of the Viperhound, which are bred for various purposes. Interviews with Txepìva hunters (Makri et al.) suggest that their relationship to the Na'vi is similar to that of cats and humans, with multiple domestication events, beneficial to both species. Na'vi led breeding appears to be very incidental, as stunbats tend to fly off to find mates in the wild, rather than mating among their clan's flock.

This species is significantly larger than their forest cousins.

The most common uses of stunbats are for scouting and hunting. While hunting of small game is extremely similar to what humans once achieved with eagles, stunbats also take part in hunting expeditions for large prey. 

They are used to follow the movements of herds, but also to help separate young calves from their mothers, or the weak and wounded, by dive bombing them (Hukkala et al.) They understand complex orders, communicate with clicks and shrieks, and will come to hang on the queue or harness of their paired Txepìva to share more detailed visuals through Tsaheylu.

This is also how they are used for scouting. Serafiina Hukkala postulated that the stunbats' mated pair lifestyle influenced Txepìva culture by making the act of scouting a couple's task. Scouting, we must remind the reader, is a lot more crucial to the Txepìva, who have no qualms waging war against each other for the domination of water sources and fertile land. Raiding parties, while not frequent, are a banal part of life on the plains. Even small children learning to work with stunbats will be sent on sentry duties, often on the back of a Lenonin Hound. 

The reason mated pairs of stunbats are favoured is because of their long flight range and their ability to connect together in mid-air. This means one side of the couple can move far ahead, and report back to their partner, already extended to the edge of their range. A couple of scouting stunbats effectively covers double the range a single hunter would.

Stunbats are occasionally used to communicate with similar techniques. While one half of a pair can be sent to deliver a message to another tribe, the other remains with their clan (often brooding). The homing individual (whichever has best endurance, as both sexes feed and brood chicks at will) can find its way back to them even if the clan is on the move. More research is needed on their communication capabilities. 

When travelling or staying in temporary camps, stunbats are housed in loose baskets designed to let them hang onto the side. These carriers are custom made by every clan and come in many forms and sizes. Brooding stunbats are carried, either by a Na'vi who will fashion straps to turn the basket into a backpack, or tied to the back of Leonin Hounds.

In more permanent camps, the Texpiva craft treillis to give them places to hang from. Serafiina Hukkala reported a clan that arranged dried branches and material for firewood as perches, while Eyris Makri stayed with a couple who fashioned fake branches at the top of their tents, like rafters. Both heard reports of clans that house their stunbats along with their livestock, but the practice seemed frowned upon.

The bond between Na'vi and Tsealìm needs further study. It isn't as exclusive as with an ikran, but much more complex than with direhorses. Stunbats bond strongly with a small family node, and more weakly with the extended family and friend group. Tsaheylu is typically only done with their main Na'vi hunters, although the stunbat can be introduced and passed down to children. 

Emergency tsaheylu was witnessed twice by Makri, when a scout had urgent reports and the stunbat was sent ahead. Connection was made with the clan's tsahìk, who had a habit of bonding with every newborn stunbat. The practice, we were told, can be controversial. 

Hunter depicted without ornaments, to highlight the process of Tsaheylu.

Some clans craft harnesses for hunters to better carry and support their stunbats, while others prefer natural body-to-body contact. The folding or tying of the neural queue to allow for better access to the kuru/tendrils seems universal among all interviewed hunters and scouts. Different styles were observed and will be presented in our published notebooks, after our paper on the use of stunbats in skirmishes and outright warfare, as the Txepìva practice it.

Part II of @straydaddy (art and design) and @bluedaddysgirl (lore concept + final art entry) in-world collaborative study, "Introduction to the Txepiva clans, their nomadic pastoralism and niche selective breeding practices in species of stingbats and viperwolves". On twitter we are Knarme and Bluedaddysgirl

#avatar #atwow #avatar 2 #jc avatar #avatar fan lore #fanart #aliens #alien biology #xenobiology #xenozoology #speculative evolution #creature design #concept art #creature art #creature concept #alien concept #fan art #collaboration #alien design #alien creature #spec evo #spec bio #speculative zoology #speculative biology #na'vi #na'vi oc #pandora #stunbat #stingbat #tsealim

[kvalenagle]

With Saberbeak being written, I wanted to touch on more Brenda Lyons interior art, and this time we have Hatzel, a smilodon (saber-toothed tiger) plus Haast's eagle gryphon. @toadalled was very useful here in helping me to imagine how the sabers on the beaks would look. When it comes to saber cats, the sabers are an iconic feature that I never saw translated into gryphons. We tend to associate gryphons more with birds, and I wanted to really bring the cat out. Kieran was amazing with that. We looked at colors, too, even though they wouldn't be in the interior art. (You know, juuuust in case Hatzel ever ended up on a cover some day.) That brought in the influences of the black-billed magpies and Cooper's hawks that the character was closely associated with. Sister prides, if you will. I love Hatzel, and many of you have, too. There's a stereotype in gryphonic literature where there's a massive gryphon who is very full of themselves, just a brawler and a love whose arrogance and vanity are unmatched. Hatzel subverts that trope by being extremely level-headed. Whereas characters like Xavi, the denfather, are protective of the gryphlets, Hatzel protects everyone under her care. Of course, when she gets to let loose, there's no more ferocious gryphon in Belamuria. Though she gets PoV time in Eyrie and Ashen Weald, part of having such a stable character is that you're not presented with many opportunities to spotlight her, as she doesn't need to change and grow the way other characters do. It took the entire world changing around her before she earned her time back in the spotlight. With a character like this, the last of her kind (and based on extinct cats and birds), in a pride that's made up of several smaller prides, you're left wondering how she got that way. How her values were shaped by the loss of the saberbeak pride. Or, as the last ruler of Poisonmaw might say... "Family isn't who looks like you. It isn't even a feeling in your heart. It's in your beak and claws, and who you're willing to bloody them to protect."

I'm about 17k words into Saberbeak now, Hatzel's book, and I think we know who her family are.

#Saberbeak #Hatzel #smilodon gryphons #saber-toothed tiger gryphons #gryphins #gryphon insurrection #creature fantasy #gryphon #fantasy #griffin #griffon #gryfon #Brenda Lyons #Smatterbrain #Kieran

[fairygodpiggy]

Basics

Name: Eyri Styrbraena (translated to "Wandering Starbreaker")

It isn't her true name, of course - rather, the name is a curse of sorts that she's embraced.

Her true name, still unknown to anyone (aside from family) canonically, is Maetianka Thosinbharwyn (Mighty Anchor, daughter of Grey Bear).

Nicknames: Starbreaker, Big Lady, Large Mom

Age: 30 as of ARR (maybe around 36-ish by the start of DT? Give us a solid timeline, P L E A S E )

Nameday: In game, she shares my birthday, but canonically it is the 19th Sun of the Second Astral Moon (March 19, one of the three potential dates for the Spring Equinox / first day of Spring).

Race: Roegadyn, Sea Wolf

Gender: Female (She/Her)

Orientation: Pansexual / Panromantic

Profession: Not counting WoL adventures - former pirate, former bouncer. She currently holds the position of Judge Magister in the Free Company, Knights of the Round. Eyri stands as one of three of the Lord Commander's most trusted knights.

Physical Aspects

Hair: Snowy white, though as it gets longer, the ends begin to darken to a dark grey - a couple of steps above black. She keeps it fairly short so it doesn't get in the way. She has bangs to hide a scar above her right eye.

Eyes: At birth, lavender.

From ages 14-35, her left eye became a dark purple like umbral aether, and her right eye became blinded and pale blue like astral aether. The color change and blindness was due to an aetherial imbalance that came about when Hydaelyn resurrected her from the lifestream after a fatal accident.

(real talk, when I first made Eyri, I had no knowledge or context of Hydaelyn or Zodiark's colorations, nor of the fact that astral aether = stasis, so it really was a happy accident that I was able to fit into lore)

This aetherial imbalance was eventually fixed and her eyecolor returned to lavender once more. The blindness in her right eye remains - it can sense light, but that's about it.

Skin: Deep, slate grey. She also always wears some form of black lip stain.

Tattoos/scars: She has full sleeves on both arms, then one on her right...flank.

She has battle scars all over her body - primarily some claw marks that wrap from her left collarbone to her shoulder blade, earned from fighting a particularly nasty coeurl encounter; 3 jagged gashes across her torso and 3 across her left calf that were all caused by a large, mace-wielding minotaur; a scar that wraps around her right ankle and heel, that very narrowly missed her Achilles, inflicted by her sister's blade.

The primary scar that she's had the longest, and keeps hidden beneath her hair, is the scar above her right eye. This is from a fatal fall that radically shifted her fate. She sometimes views it as a curse and is ashamed of it.

Family

Parents: Father - Thosinbhar Wyzniyrnsyn (Grey Bear, son of White Iron, goes by Thosin for short)

Mother - Wiltrael Berkarenawyn (Wild Doe, daughter of Mountain Harvester, goes by Wilt for short)

Siblings: Sister - Rymmwaen Thosinbharwyn (Frost Wind, daughter of Grey Bear, goes by Rymm for short)

Grandparents: More Roegadyn names LET'S GOOO

Paternal Grandfather - Wyzniyrn Fyrilspaersyn (White Iron, son of Lost Sparrow)

Paternal Grandmother - Fyrfyst Syhrstralwyn (Fire Fist, daughter of Fearless Arrow)

Maternal Grandfather - Berkarena Pfarstyrmsyn (Mountain Harvester, son of Walking Storm)

Maternal Grandmother - Wytageim Hywabfrynwyn (Water Jewel, daughter of Hawk Friend)

In-laws and Other: EVEN MORE NAMES (help)

Brother-in-Law - Ronthnfarr Abylntyrbsyn (Running Bull, son of Raging Cyclone... Literally just goes by Ron for short LMAO)

Nephew - Doennahr Ronthnfarrsyn (Thundering Eagle, son of Running Bull, goes by Doen for short)

Pets: Her chocobo and trusted companion, Fernando.

She didn't keep any other pets until recently. There's a small crab that started following her around, and so she started caring for it. Then she gave it a knife to hold in its claw because she thought it was funny.

Skills

Abilities: For the majority of her life, she had aethersight, and could see the auras of people's souls. It was an ability that she could not turn off or will away, and it came at a heavy cost: severe aether sickness. This manifested as agonizing and debilitating migraines centered at her blind eye. She avoided magic and crowds as best as she could, and she was able to teleport in case of an emergency, but she would be out of commission for several days afterward.

While this ability was seen as useful to her allies, she viewed it as a curse and began advocating for her own well-being.

Hobbies: Eyri enjoys sketching, usually maps of various cities or towns, as well as learning new things in general. Whether it's studying new languages or learning the customs of different cultures.

Traits

Most Positive Trait: Being selflessly protective

Most Negative Trait: Being wrecklessly protective

Likes

Colors: Black, purple, green, red

Smells: Coffee, forests and mountain air, campfires, fresh tobacco, wildflowers

Textures: Thick wool fabrics

Drinks: Coffee, any kind of alcohol, and any drinks that are warm and comforting

Other Details

Smokes: Occasionally tobacco, and rarely pipeweed - she did not start partaking in pipeweed until after her aether became rebalanced because it would exacerbate the effects of her uncontrollable aethersight. She most commonly smoked cigarettes while working at The Wet Whisker (a speakeasy masked as a flower shop) as a bouncer, or when she was highly stressed. Now she does it much less frequently, and usually for fun.

Drinks: If alcoholic, she will always ask for the strongest drink on the menu and she has a very high tolerance - she used to commonly drink this way to dull the effects of her uncontrollable aethersight.

Drugs: She has never used anything stronger than liquor or pipeweed...unless Yorick Lecannon's beverage, The Olympus, counts as hard drugs...a signed waiver is required, and so far it's the only concoction that has knocked Eyri out cold in seconds...

Mount Issuance: She was issued a chocobo liscense after providing several years of work for the Maelstrom and Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn and becoming a trusted individual in her eyes. In recognition for her deeds to Limsa Lominsa and its Grand Company, Merlwyb personally offered Eyri a position within their ranks. She lovingly named her chocobo Fernando.

While working at The Wet Whisker, she found herself in possession of a motorcycle that she uses to traverse the main continent. How she came to be in possession of such magitek is a question that aught not be asked.

Been Arrested: ......There do not appear to be any records detailing any arrest history......

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

That's about it, folks!

Feel free to do one of these if you want, even if you haven't been tagged <3

#ffxiv #eyri #my wol #it's so much writing I'm sorry #but any time I get to talk about Eyri I will TALK ABOUT H E R #long post sorry #some of this is also informed by traits I've filled in for her dnd version

[teecupangel]

Hi Teecup!

I hate to add to your pile of asks, but I've just started watching Star Trek TNG and it made me wonder... what about a AssCreed × Star Trek crossover?

To be more precise, the kind of crossover I'm thinking of is one where we take the characters of AC and mix them with the premise of Star Trek, so everyone is hanging out on a starship and getting dragged into random adventures on a weekly basis.

We can separate the Assassins and Templars into Starfleet and Romulans if we want to keep the fight between the two going, though I'm actually more interested in seeing a situation where there is no reason to fight so those factions no longer exist, and everyone is allowed to interact and make friends with whoever they wish.

Also since I want to keep the joke of isekai protagonist Desmond going, maybe he gets transported into this parallel universe after dying and finds himself face to face with the Star Trek versions of all his ancestors, as well as... himself?

As long as you don't mind the long wait to get to your asks, just pile them in my asks hahahaha

We do have this Q is Desmond’s real father idea before because William Miles’s voice actor played Q and that includes Desmond getting sent to Stark Trek ‘verse.

So for this one, we’re going for AC cast in Star Trek but with the caveat that Desmond gets transported there from his previous world just to annoy him (and probably save his life but he can never be sure about that)

For this one, I like the idea that the Templars and Assassins have finally buried the hatchet because one of the main point of Star Trek (especially the early ones) is that humanity managed to unite. Of course, we can still make some of the Templars Romulans if we want to preserve the ‘antagonist’ route but imagine Desmond’s “????” whenever he learns that Templars he knew as super bad news have formed relationships with the Assassins ranging from “I don’t want to ally with them but they’re good at their job” to “besties!”

Desmond would feel a bit weirded out when Ezio just sigh when he learned they would be allying with a ship that has Cesare Borgia as a high ranking officer. He knows that Cesare’s probably on their side but he’s curious why Ezio looked less like he wants to kill him and more like he’s already tired just thinking about dealing with him.

Then he learned the reason why Ezio looked like that.

‘Allegedly’, Ezio slept with Cesare’s sister, Lucrezia Borgia during one of their downtime in the Borgia’s home planet. And nooooo, this wasn’t a case of “You fucked my sister, you must die!” revenge story. That would not have been complicated enough for Ezio’s messy love life. The problem was… Cesare didn’t get to join Ezio and his sister. Yeah, that’s it. Cesare wasn’t angry at Ezio. He was trying to get in Ezio’s pants (“Of course, we’ll invite my sister”) and Ezio is just… he’s done. He’s soooo done with everything. Fuck being the primary communication liaison of the crew. He’s gonna hide in his room and call his BFF back in his homeplanet (there’s a bet going on if said BFF was “the one who got away” – No that was his childhood sweetheart Cristina- or the “he doesn’t know he’s in love with his BFF or vice versa”)

My primary idea for the crew and a little bit of sprinkled lore:

The name of the ship would probably be Aquila to hammer in the bird motif. Another sorta weird names would be names used to talk about a group of eagles like convocation or eyrie or aerie. Or just go for Alamut which some call “Nest of Eagles”.

Edward Kenway is the Captain. He can be Haytham’s father and Ratonhnhaké:ton’s grandfather, a humanoid with long life and a thirst for adventure. In this life, he’s drinking buddies with Alaya and is also friends with Roberts. To make it funnier, he’s actually John Standish’s godfather (who is the son of Roberts and Haytham’s childhood friend)

Haytham is the First Officer because the entire crew (including his father) lives to make his life stressful. He’s married to Kaniehtí:io and their eldest joined the crew. There’s joke of nepotism because of this but it’s all said in a teasing manner because the Kenway men gets the job done. He trained Charles Lee (and the rest of his Templar Order) when they were fresh new ‘graduates’ so they like to call him Master Kenway.

Ratonhnhaké:ton is the Navigator and is being trained to be the Helmsman by the current Helmsman Adéwalé. He can usually be found talking to Ezio or Aveline. He’s really good at combat so he mostly join offworld missions which is why…

Aveline is the second Navigator in case Ratonhnhaké:ton is offworld. She’s also their offworld liaison if Ezio is not available. Sometimes, she also takes over the Communications Officer’s jobs. The crew is not entirely sure what her actual job is??? (Her parents divorced and her mother is alive. She and her stepmother are close as well and her stepmother is the Captain of another ship)

Adéwalé is the Helmsman and he had been ‘sailing’ with Edward for so long that Edward rarely had to give specific orders. Adéwalé is already doing what Edward wanted. It gives Haytham a headache because ‘communication’ is important, especially for reports and such. Adéwalé takes Ratonhnhaké:ton under his wing and Ratonhnhaké:ton calls him Uncle Ade.

The Science (technically called Research and Development Department) Division is under Altaïr’s complete control and no Kenway can go against him. He wants to go offworld to research one thing or another, he’s joining the offworld team. He wants them to take a pit stop in one of the colonies or world for materials or something, the ship would change course. Desmond didn’t even question it when he heard of it. He just said “… yeah, that sounds about right.” and moved along. The funny thing? Altaïr isn’t the Chief Science Officer. That’s the long suffering Malik Al-Sayf. Altaïr’s official position is “Second Officer”. He has an academic rivalry going on with Robert de Sablé and he still sends letter to his grandfather who is a high ranking government official of the United Federations of Planet.

Ezio is the Chief Communications Officer and he’s always part of the offworld teams (unless something comes up). He comes from a long line of Starfleet officers. His siblings are stationed in other ships and his father is a member of the United Federations of Planet.

Shay is the Security Chief and it is the second most stressful job (after Haytham) trying to keep the peace and order of the ship (okay, that’s an exaggeration). Most of the time, he just makes sure everyone is okay and safe whenever shit hits the fan. He’s pretty chill and is Haytham’s drinking buddy. He still writes to his mentor Achilles who taught him everything and to his childhood friend who joined another ship Liam.

Arno is part of the Chief Tactical Officer and he has a close professional relationship with Evie and Altaïr mainly because those two takes care of weapon upgrade… and other… uuuhh… ‘stuff’ their missions might need. He has a fiancee who is a high ranking officer of Starfleet.

Evie is the Chief Engineering Officer and is Altaïr’s number one supporter. Edward once joked that if Altaïr was to mutiny, they would be fucked because Evie would be first in line in shutting down all the engines and any security procotol they have in place. Ezio would like to stress it was more of a ‘mentor and student’ kind of thing. Desmond learned that Altaïr also had his hands on the Engineering Department and is like “yeah, that tracks too.” Evie has a rivalry going on with Lucy Thorne and her twin would just comment that they should sleep together once and get it over with.

Jacob is usually the captain of the offworld team unless a higher ranking officer joins then he’s the vice-captain. Close to Arno because he’s always asking for new ‘toys’ to play with. May or may not have a son who may or may not be adopted called Jack. The crew isn’t sure if he’s Jacob’s son or his protege.

I’m missing a few more main characters and the modern day characters so uuuhh… they’re there, I just couldn’t think of a position for them XD.

(I kept their species vague so you can make them any race you want. I will suggest that Altaïr be half-Vulcan though because he feels very Vulcan-ish but, honestly, pick whichever feels right for you or what would make you go “you know what would be fun”? XD)

#isus are q's species in this one i guess? #oh god now i have to tag everyone XD #ask and answer #teecup writes/has a plot #fic idea: assassin's creed #assassin's creed #desmond miles #altaïr ibn la'ahad #ezio auditore #ratonhnhaké:ton #connor kenway #haytham kenway #edward kenway #adewale #aveline de grandpre #shay cormac #arno dorian #jacob frye #evie frye

[welcomingdisaster]

Maybe I'm pointing out something super obvious so bear with me but. I've seen a lot of "why didn't the eagles take Fingolfin's body to Fingon, his heir?" speculation, with answers ranging from "maximum emotional trauma to Turgon" to "Fingon lost the favor of Manwë after all the, y'know, murder" but I think there's another answer the text provides. Here's the quote (emphasis mine): "This died Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, most proud and valiant of the Elven-kings of old. The Orcs made no boast of that duel at the gate; neither do the Elves sing of it, for their sorrow is too deep. Yet the tale is remembered still, for Thorondor King of Eagles brought the tidings to Gondolin, and to Hithlum far off. And Morgoth took the body of the Elven-king and broke it, and would cast it to his wolves; but Thorondor came hasting from his eyrie among the peaks of Crissaegrim and marred his face. The rushing of the wings of Thorondor was like the noise of the winds of Manwë, and he seized the body in his mighty talons, and soaring suddenly above the darts of the Orcs he bore the King away. And he laid him upon a mountain-top that looked from the north upon the hidden valley of Gondolin; and Turgon coming built a high cairn over his father. No Orc dared ever after to pass over the mount of Fingolfin or draw nigh his tomb, until the doom of Gondolin was come and treachery was born among his kin.”

This coupled with the fact that Fingolfin had gone to fight Morgoth specifically when he had "beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the Noldor and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses,” an opinion that others, including Thorondor, seem to share, I'm wondering if Thorondor took Fingolfin to Gondolin specifically because he didn't expect Fingon or his kingdoms to survive long enough to preserve his father's memory.

#is this obvious #am i just pointing out the most obvious implication ever #possibly #lena speaks #fingon #turgon #fingolfin

[antiqueanimals]

Golden Eagle Eyrie. Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935)

via

#birds #raptors #eagles #golden eagles #Archibald Thorburn

[scotianostra]

9th December 1770 saw the birth of the poet and novelist James Hogg.

Hogg is primarily known today not only as the author of a series of pastoral poems, but also as the writer of the novel, Confessions of a Justified Sinner, widely regarded as the first piece of modern Scottish fiction.

A contrary figure in real life, Hogg almost bankrupted himself in attempts to be a successful shepherd - leading to his literary friends dubbing him "the Ettrick Shepherd".

There were two main strands to Hogg’s early cultural experience: folk traditions and religion. The family were church-goers and his father was an elder, while his mother was steeped in the oral tradition, relating to her children folk tales and songs of kings, knights and supernatural beings.

With no media ,as we know it back then Hogg would have listened reel off tales of Scottish history and legends as he was growing up. As a young man Hogg worked as a shepherd in Selkirkshire and Dumfriesshire, becoming interested in literature in his early twenties, when he attempted writing songs and poems, some of which were published in The Scots Magazine. He moved to Edinburgh in 1810 to pursue a career as a full-time man of letters, after having published poetry and non-fiction while maintaining his day-job as a shepherd. However, in 1813 he returned to Selkirkshire, where he lived and worked in the Duke of Buccleuch's Altrive Farm in Yarrow.

He continued to publish regularly while maintaining a contentious relationship with the Edinburgh literati, including his friend and some-time mentor, Walter Scott.

Many of Hogg's stories and poems appeared in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, or Maga as it was affectionately known.

Hogg continued to write, publish and farm until his death in 1835. He was buried in Ettrick Churchyard, appropriately next to his grandfather, Will o’ Phaup, who is reputed to have been the last man to converse with the fairies!

Among Hogg's most famous works was Jacobite Relics - originally commissioned by the Highland Society of London in 1817, it included Lament of Flora McDonald, sung here by Kenneth McKellar

Far over yon hills of the heather sae green An' doun by the corrie that sings to the sea, The bonnie young Flora sat sighin' her lane, The dew on her plaid an' the tear in her e'e. She look'd at a boat wi' the breezes that swung, Away on the wave like a bird on the main, An' aye as it lessen'd she sigh'd an' she sung, "Fareweel to the lad I shall ne'er see again; Fareweel to my hero, the gallant and young, Fareweel to the lad I shall ne'er see again."

The moorcock that crows on the brows o' Ben Connal, He kens o' his bed in a sweet mossy hame; The eagle that soars o'er the cliffs o' Clan Ranald, Unaw'd and unhunted his eyrie can claim; The solan can sleep on the shelves of the shore, The cormorant roost on his rock of the sea; But ah! there is one whose fate I deplore, Nor house, ha' nor hame in this country has he; The conflict is past, and our name is no more, There's nought left but sorrow for Scotland and me.

The target is torn from the arm of the just, The helmet is cleft on the brow of the brave; The claymore forever in darkness must rust, But red is the sword of the stranger and slave; The hoof of the horse, and the foot of the proud, Have trod o'er the plumes on the bonnet of blue; Why slept the red bolt in the breast of the cloud, When tyranny revell'd in blood of the true? Fareweel my young hero, the gallant and good, The crown of thy father's is torn from thy brow.

#scotland #scottish #makar #poet #writer #history #Youtube

[ariesgamesandminis]

Restocks are up for BattleTech!

20-206 Huitzilopochtli Assault Tank "Huey" (Standard) 20-217 Crusader CDR-5K 20-236 Marauder IIC 2 20-298 Archer ARC-6W 20-324 Tundra Wolf 20-347 Galahad "Glass Spider" 3 20-350 Ghost GST-10 20-361 Thorn THE-N 20-367 Spider SDR-7K / SDR-7K2 20-385 Scarabus SCB-9A 20-398 Shrike SHK-VP-A 20-410 Malak C-MK-O Invictus 20-431 Ocelot 20-481 Maultier Hover Vehicle (2) 20-485 Balius Prime / B / C 20-5001 Eagle Fighter EGL-R6 20-5008 Flamberge Prime 20-5019 Kestrel VTOL 20-5040 Mad Cat MKII (Enhanced) 20-5049 Carnivore Assault Tank (Standard) (2) 20-5059 Septicemia E 20-5080 Vulture MK IV Prime 20-5088 Hollander III BZK-D1 20-5102 Eyrie (Standard) 20-5105 Cardinal Transport VTOL 20-5110 Carronade CRN-7M 20-5117 Kodiak II (Standard) 20-5122 Tenshi TN-10-O Prime 20-5126 Gun GN-2O Prime 20-5133 Gotterdammerung GTD-20S 20-5134 Juliano JLN-5A 20-5139 Roadrunner RD-1R 20-5140 Ostscout OTT-7J 20-5148 Flea FLE-14 20-5151 Avalanche AVL-1O 20-5153 Uziel UZL-2S 20-5183 Locust LCT-1V 20-5187 Dominator 20-5193 Hierofalcon Prime / A 20-5197 Wolverine WVR-6R / 6D 20-5204 Stormwolf Prime 20-623 SRM Carrier (2) 20-627 LRM Carrier (2) 20-634 Epona Pursuit Tank Prime (2) 20-638 Rakshasa MDG-1A 20-642 Berserker BRZ-A3 20-645 Ha Otoko (Standard) 20-702 Corsair Fighter CSR-V12 20-712 Shilone Fighter SL-17 20-722 Anhur Transport 20-725 Cavalry Attack Helicopter 20-727 Karnov UR Transport 20-741 J-27 Tow Vehicle, Thumper towed gun, trailer, and boxes 20-766 Lynx LNX-9Q 20-779 Manticore Heavy Tank (2) 20-780 Hussar HSR-200-D 20-786 Hachiman Fire Support (Standard) (2) 20-790 Salamander PPR-5S 20-800 Hex Bases (4) 20-822 Demolisher Tank 20-825 Bulldog Medium Tank (2) 20-912 Kingfisher 20-956 Tessen TSN-1C 20-990 Lightray LGH-4W 99-201 Large Flat Top Hex Base #1 99-202 Large Flat Top Hex Base #2 BT-004 Afreet Battle Armor BT-006 Phalanx Battle Armor BT-028 Cavalier Battle Armor BT-128 Tornado Battle Armor BT-129 Infiltrator Mk I Battle Armor BT-133 Corona Battle Armor BT-134 Gray Death Legion Battle Armor BT-178 Jade Hawk JHK-03 BT-187 Djinn Battle Armor BT-188 Nighthawk Battle Armor BT-189 Kobold Battle Armor BT-198 Tengu Battle Armor BT-199 Asura Md. Battle Armor BT-200 Shedu Assault Battle Armor BT-201 Nephilim Assault Battle Armor BT-208 Triton ProtoMech BT-209 Se'irim Medium Battle Armor BT-214 Deva Dominus BT-222 Tau Wraith BT-226 Fast Recon BT-230 Kopis Battle Armor BT-236 Ravager Battle Armor BT-244 Heavy Infantry - Standing BT-245 Heavy Infantry - Firing BT-250 Ignis Infantry Support Tank BT-269 Sling SL-1G BT-293 Hitotsume Kozo HKZ-1P BT-319 Wheeled APC BT-321 Hover APC BT-335 PWWKA S-PW-1LAM (Air Mech) BT-364 Gabriel Hovercraft BT-370 Kurita Infantry (3) BT-371 Davion Infantry (3) BT-372 Savannah Master Hovercraft BT-374 Roc Protomech BT-381 Basic Inner Sphere Battle Armor (3) BT-383 Longinus Battle Armor (3) BT-385 Grey Death Legion Battle Armor (3) BT-387 Gnome Battle Armor (3) BT-388 Salamander Battle Armor (3) BT-390 Fa-Shih Battle Armor (3) BT-391 Fenrir Battle Armor (1) BT-413 Marauder Battle Armor BT-414 Niso Attack WiGE (Standard & Support) BT-433 Warwolf H BT-476 Ares ARS-V1E Apollo FT-027 Gotha Mech Scale Fighter OP-080 Mad Cat E Left Arm OP-115 Heavy Lasers 20-203D Solitaire Main Gun 20-410F Malak Hatch Cover 20-917ARM Nova Cat (Omni) Arm Sprue BT-292G Shiro SH-2P Banner BT-294F Hatamoto-Suna HTM-30S Banner Sprue

#battletech #alphastrike #ironwindmetals #battletechalphastrike #miniatures #catalystgamelabs #battlemech #battletechminiatures #battletechpaintingandcustoms #mecha #tabletop #tabletopgames #tabletopgaming #wargaming #wargames #hobby #scifi #sciencefiction #miniaturepainting #mech #hovertank #6mmminis #6mmscifi #feldherr #dougram #gundam #robotech #armypainter #thearmypainter #chessex

[keruwu-san]

Tart Wine. Chapter three

Chapter one Chapter two 

Aemond Targaryen x Auntie! Reader

My first publication on this site. ENGLISH IS NOT MY NATIVE LANGUAGE. I worked with a translator; I hope that the text is still clear! Let me know if there are any bugs! Thank you in advance!

Summary: The younger sister of King Viserys and Prince Daemon finds solace in Rhaenyra and Alicent children, because she cannot have her own. Prince Aemond Targaryen is experiencing a childhood crush, which he plans to carry through the years and ask for his aunt's hand in the future.

Word count: 8115

Warning: Allusion to incestuous relationship,  mention of a corpse, blood, suffering

Eyrie

Lenerys always knew that pregnancy is hard. However, to be so... after arriving at the Eagle's Nest, she was constantly sick, her stomach hurt, it seems she felt her organs moving back to make room for the baby. Her husband was unspeakably glad, finally, unflattering rumors will go into oblivion, and he and his House will receive a long-awaited heir. Because of the good news, he probably did not notice his wife is suffering, and honestly, she did not need his help. She decided to bravely endure all the pain herself, she is Lenerys Targaryen from the blood of Old Valyria, and women gave birth before her, and will be after ... she can cope.

The young woman often wrote to the queen, asking her for advice and telling her about her condition. For a month of correspondence, they felt tenderness for each other, probably for the first time in many years, after Rhaenyra, Alicent got close to someone. The queen even sent some of the best maesters who watched and delivered her herself, so that they would control the entire pregnancy cycle of the princess.

Despite the pain that her condition brought her, she began to feel a slight thrill at the thought of her future child. What will it be like? Will he inherit the Valyrian appearance of her family or will he take all the features from his father? She would certainly like the first option, and she already knew what she would call the baby if a girl were born. There has always been a place for Aymma in her heart, yes, more than ten years have passed, but this does not negate her affection for her daughter-in-law. Moreover, if the son is Baelon, in honor of her late father.

It was a torment, judging by the stories of the meisters, the fetus had just begun to develop and there should be no pain. She knew she was not being deceived, but damn it, there was pain. Her back was bursting at the seams, her stomach was constantly pricking, and there was a feeling that there was not a child inside her, but a whole bunch of knives, the princess was even afraid to think what would happen in the ninth month as her belly grew.

- Please calm down,- her lord husband complained, - there's no need to worry too much.

- John, with all due respect, - Targaryen gave him a contemptuous look, - it is not for you to go to the delivery table later.

Arren only took her elbow and turned circles around the room with her while the maester prepared a warming ointment.

King's Landing.

The news of the wedding of Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon Targaryen quickly reached the royal court, now everyone was discussing only them and finally, the gossip about the "Poor One-Eyed Prince" subsided.

- Daemon is her uncle...- the girl sighed, - oh, these Targaryen traditions!

Aemond listened to the conversation of two idlers eating crumbs from freshly baked cakes. And indeed, he is her uncle, and she is her niece, both were married, and both suspiciously "in time" both spouses died… No sooner had Ser Laenor Velarion's body cooled down than they were married. Rumors that Rhaenyra and Daemon had actually killed Laenor seemed plausible to the prince.

- They say then, almost seven years ago, Prince Daemon demanded the hand of Princess Rhaenyra from King Viserys for the crown of the Steps, - the maid said breathlessly, - To be romantic, he carried his love for her through the years and finally reunited with her!

- Oh, you! He killed Ser Laenor to marry her! – the second girl said with irritation.

- Wh-what?! No, he was killed by his squire, Prince Daemon would never do such a thing!… you know they loved each other, but duty separated them.

The conversation of the two women no longer interested Aemond and he withdrew from his hiding place.

Aemond is not stupid, he assumes that his uncle really killed Velarion, he wanted Rhaenyra, and now he finally got her. Was he going to kill for his happiness, too? The thought of this excited him, but did not frighten him as before. Was Damon's act in this case a manifestation of an act of love for his niece? In Aemond's eye–yes, he was. It is a bold act, going against all the rules and laws of Westeros.

Sleepless nights and reflection prompted him to many thoughts… He will be better than Aegon. He will become the best of two brothers, a much more worthy son, grandson, lover ... Now he will not allow evil tongues to offend him, let them underestimate him, in the end he will be able to surprise them.

His journey had just begun, Prince Targaryen was training hard with Ser Christon Kole, lessons with the maesters were not enough for him, so Aemond stayed up late in the library studying philosophy, history and exact sciences. By the end of the day, his body was shaking from the heavy load, his muscles ached, demanding rest for the day, at least, his head sometimes ached from the tons of information he received and from lack of sleep. Eamond decided that during his insomnia he would read, exercise, do anything that would help him in the future until his body calmed down and could fall asleep again. Leneris often told him about "useful pastime" and he always listened to her attentively, her advice was extremely useful. Yes, now he has no eye, but it was this that "opened" his eyes to the abomination of the people who surrounded him. The deceitful house cleaners and butlers who used to pretend to smile at him and follow his orders, now whispered behind his back. He will let them do it. There will be nothing truly interesting in their lives, these yard dogs have nothing but gossip and rumors, even if they choke on them!

Lenerys often wrote to his mother, as he noticed. Aemond did not know the contents of the letters, but he was genuinely curious. It's been about a month and a half since she left, but during that time she wrote him only four letters. They were not too long, she mostly asked him about his well-being, about things at the castle and invited him to visit, because now he has a dragon for this. In addition, Aemond felt ambiguous. He had a feeling that he was being played with, teased, deceived…He tried to banish such thoughts as far as possible, Lenerys had never been rude to him and remained honest, why would she cheat on herself now?

Aemond walked quietly through the corridors of the Red Castle, his training had ended not so long ago, his hands were shaking a little from the strain. Moreover, he knew perfectly well that his mother was at a meeting with his grandfather Otto right now, and he knew that a raven from the Eyrie had arrived early this morning.

- The Queen is not in her chambers right now, my Prince,- the guardsman said to Aemond.

- Nothing, I will wait for my mother inside.

The guards gave the prince a pass, and he entered the large apartment of Alicent. Everything was furnished with taste and royal decorations, emphasizing that no ordinary person lives here. But Aemond wasn't interested in that. Almost immediately, the boy went to the table, seeing there a paper knife and actually a hidden letter.

"Dear Alicent, I sincerely miss King's Landing, my brother and my dear nephews. Helena is very nice in messages with me, she shares mysterious predictions while I don't really understand their meaning, but there is no answer from Aegon and Aemond. Honestly, I don't expect to get it from Aegon, he never answered my letters, where would I start now? But Aemond worries me, I hope I didn't offend him by chance? Could you please check it out? I'm worried about him. In connection with pregnancy, I do not want to burden myself once again, and the maesters do not advise. John wants a boy so much, he is only talking about the heir, and I am worried about his reaction if it's a girl! After so many years of trying, I think he'll be disappointed, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to try it again, no matter how many people keep whispering. One way or another, I will love her no matter what.."

Aemond did not read further, only skimmed through: next, the woman asked his mother for advice during the birth itself and asked questions of a more intimate nature. Aemond felt ashamed that he had unceremoniously burst into his mother's room, read a personal letter from Lenerys without permission. From what he read, he also felt ashamed. Yes, he did not answer, but he didn't know what to write. He wanted to be honest, to pour out his soul, to complain about the duplicitous maids, to express his thoughts and concerns, but he did not want to appear weak, neither in her eyes nor in anyone else's eyes. He decided to bravely endure all this, yes it's a shame, yes it's unpleasant, but he's a dragon, and the opinion of the dragon sheep should not be of interest. But the letter was never written, and the more he thought, delayed, the more difficult it was just to take a pen in his hand. The boy put the letter back in its place, as it had been lying before his arrival. He decided not to wait for his mother, he would rather spend his time much more productively.

Well, judging by what Aemond has read, he may not even dream of meeting his dear aunt in the next year, she will probably be under the close supervision of the maesters, which is even good, because his mother sent the best healers to her and they will definitely be able to save her life. The one-eyed Prince had heard about how often women died during or after childbirth and it was terrifying. The young man knew that his father's first wife Aymma Arryn died on the delivery table, and her son died after living less than a day, and he also knew that Princess Alyssa, Lenerys' mother, went to another world after the birth of her only daughter. "Princess, forgive me for asking such a question, but why don't you have children with Lord Arryn? I'd like more brothers and sisters," Aemond spat. He did not want anyone.

No matter how deep the resentment was in his soul, Aemond still wrote a letter to his aunt. Love and affection for her were much stronger than resentment and sadness. He tried to choose his words correctly, the prince wanted to demonstrate how beautifully he can now compose sentences, how clear his thought is and how beautiful his handwriting is…Before writing the final version of the letter, the young prince filled out about twenty sheets, something was missing in each, and somewhere he added too much useless drama: somewhere there was a spelling mistake, somewhere the sentence exposed him as an uneducated youth, in his opinion, and somewhere he I wrote an ugly letter and so on in every letter. All evening, the prince checked every letter he wrote, reread the text he had almost learned many times, and finally, he wrote everything correctly, the way he wanted. Aemond told his aunt that now the pain haunts him less, but the phantom sensations still haunt him, but she has nothing to worry about, he is fine. Oh, and the boy used a couple of quotes from philosophers to describe his pastime, hoping that his aunt would understand the reference to a certain figure and praise him in the next letter. He assured her that his queen mother pays him enough attention and affection and that he feels loved here, almost a lie, but he does not want to upset her, she is not up to him and his problems right now.

Ugh. It seemed unfair to the young prince: He thinks about her every single day, misses her, revels in memories, but she is busier with her vile husband and their future offspring! Unfairly... No, no, he won't think that. Of the two brothers, it is Aemond who is the most capable, it is he who can soberly assess the situation, not allowing childish stupidity to overshadow his mind.

He would not even admit it to himself, but in the reply letter, he expected a ton of praise and love! He did a great job in writing this text, his head even gave a dull pain in his eye, but he did not pay attention, continuing. Aemond would like approval, encouragement and a drop of adoration from her side. Aemond still remembers that she called him her favorite nephew, and he hopes that this was not said in an attempt to calm him down, but just such a confession on her part.

So two more months passed, the prince became much stronger and quirkier in training, his hands and feet no longer shook, but gave a pleasant pain, his battle tactics changed, he wanted to be unpredictable and dangerous, since all this herd considers him a monster, then he will become one and then they will not dare to say a word too much to tell about him.

- Wow, finally, Princess Barren got pregnant, and I thought she would remain an old maid!  - One of the maids giggled softly, grunting a little.

* I honestly do not know how it might sound in English, but in my language, "barren" in women is called "empty flower", I do not know how to convey my thought, I hope you understand!

- I could not even believe it, think of having only a firstborn at twenty-six, when Queen Alicent gave birth to Prince Aegon at fourteen! – the second complained.

It wasn't that Aemond liked to eavesdrop, but he was extremely secretive and quiet, it wasn't his fault that two lazy chickens didn't notice him. "Princess Barren?" sounds extremely insulting, the prince thought. No one dares to soil the honor of his princess with dirty name-calling.

- It seems that my aunt's personal life is none of your business? – Finally he came out of hiding, the laughing maids twitched and slowly turned to him, there was horror in their eyes. Aemond liked it.

- My prince, I'm sorry, we -

- Your business is the cleanliness of the corridors of this castle, am I right? - Aemond started to take steps towards them. Yes, he was small, but his gait looked threatening, and the prince's face was gloomy and lifeless, – Besides, you are also implicating my mother, your queen, by the way.

The women looked at each other with horror and immediately at the prince standing in front of them, the maids understood that there would be a cruel punishment for such a thing, and with the easy submission of the One-eyed monster, their fate could become even worse.

- You were accepted to this place to maintain order, and not to support dirty rumors about my aunt. The fact that she is not here does not give you any right to talk about her in this way, am I clear?

The women quickly nodded, "Get out of my sight," and they hurriedly left, bowing to him along the way. Aemond felt a pleasant warmth in his chest. The realization that he had defended the honor of Lenerys at least a little made him smile.

After lessons, he returned to his chambers, today he studied enough, now it is time to rest. Entering the room, he threw off his outer garment and went to the closet, from there he took out a small box and a lock in the form of a dragon's mouth, the key to which was always with him. It is extremely convenient that the key was small; Aemond could store it in his breast pocket without causing questions.

Unlocking the door, the prince took out a perfectly folded letter and gave him a loving look. Putting the box back, the prince went to the bed and began to reread the letter straight from the Eagle's Nest, the one, now, the most favorite, where Lenerys praises his tightened writing skill, his beautiful and neat handwriting and his system of sentences, she liked. The princess also appreciated his references, having solved them all and replied in the letter in the same way with several quotes and mentions, which he easily solved. His favorite part, where a woman wrote how strong and skillful a boy he is, that he does not give in to discouragement and goes forward, and the princess wrote that she sincerely admired him and was most importantly proud of him. A smile blossomed on his face, his soul sang, and his heart skipped a beat when reading this particular letter.

Eyrie. It has been 6 months.

- What's wrong with her?! – John Arryn shouted at the maester, - Seven gods, answer me, don't be silent!

He had never run so fast. John was in the main hall of the impregnable fortress when he heard the heart-rending screams of his wife... and her dragon. Firestorm screamed like his rider.

When he finally got to his wife's chambers, he saw that the floor, bed and linen were covered in blood and clots, he was horrified. The maester had already laid Lenerys on the bed, was talking to her, and showing her various objects, as if to a child, trying to keep her conscious. Yes, Lord Arryn was not strong in medicine, but he understood that if she fainted now, it would be the guaranteed death of the princess and his heir. He had entrusted his wife entirely to the maesters, but now John was only watching her agony, unable to help. One maester was still talking to Lenerys and putting a cloth soaked in cold water on her forehead, while she, through sobs and spontaneous sighs, after wild screams, looked at him with bleary eyes and shook her head, only occasionally saying something. But no one understood what exactly the princess wanted to convey, because her words were in Valyrian. The second maester examined her, sometimes pressing on her stomach, which made her cry out again. Such a sight made my heart ache.

- The princess has complications, premature birth, get ready for the procedure!

The other maesters and their assistants came running. Lord Arryn, who had been standing rooted to the spot before, was horrified by what they had brought with them. A lot of sharp knives, scalpels and saws designed for cutting bone were now lying on the table next to Lenerys. The man immediately jumped up to the woman and took her hand in his.

- John... Skorion massitas? (what's going on?), she took a couple more convulsive breaths, simultaneously looking around the room, - John, sir John, sīr naenie… people…skoros's va? (John, so many people, what's going on?)  Her tongue was confused, mixing Westeros and Valyrian, she was still trying to figure out what was going on, looking for answers in her husband's eyes.

- Everything will be fine, honey, please, just look at me, - John Arryn tried as much as he could to keep his wife's attention on himself, and saw that the maesters were preparing scalpels behind her.

Kings Kanding

Alicent was worried that there had been no letters from the Eagle's Nest for a long time, no news, nothing. Because of this, she even came to Viserys personally, asking if he had heard from his sister or her husband, and even the maester. When she received a negative response, her excitement only increased, as did Viserys' anxiety.

Aemond's birthday has passed, as much as a month ago, unfortunately, Lenerys could not attend the eleventh birthday party, but in a letter she apologized profusely to him and promised to bring a gift. Aemond would be lying if he said he wasn't curious. In fact, even if she had just arrived, he would already be happy without a gift. Just seeing her, talking to her was already good, but he decided to wait patiently, in the end she offered herself. No matter how the prince tried to seem like an adult, to close his feelings, to scold for the manifestations of infantile, but at the thought of the upcoming surprise, it awakened sincere childish joy in him.

He continued to improve; he had already seen progress in the mirror, in the classroom. His body was already working in a completely different way, reacting differently, as well as his mind, lively and flexible, quickly adapted to everything. The maesters praised his knowledge and celebrated extracurricular sessions, to which Alicent smiled warmly at him and looked with pride when the Queen mother looked tired and annoyed at Aegon. The prince reveled in this feeling; he felt his superiority over his older brother.

One of the many days, during a philosophy lesson, there were still a few hours left. Aemond plunged headlong into the world of lofty thoughts and incomprehensible truths, as Aegon turned a pen in his hands in a bored manner.

- Maester Gormon, princes,- the guardsman entered, shaking his head in deference, interrupting the lesson,  - King Viserys and Queen Alicent have organized a council, and are waiting for your presence right now.

Aegon overjoyed that the tedious lecture was finally over, immediately got up and almost ran to the door smiling with all thirty-two teeth, while this news caused only a new wave of anxiety for Aemond, but he also got up, saying goodbye to the maester and left for his brother.

When the brothers entered the hall for the meeting of the Small Council, they found that the whole family was gathered: Viserys was clearly angry, but also very sad, now of their arrival he hit the table and said something unintelligible when their mother stroked her husband on the back and begged him to calm down. Their grandfather, Otto Hightower, was sitting next to them, but he did not pay much attention to either the king or his daughter, or anyone at all, instead, reading some letter, Helena sat furthest from her relatives and said something, but no one could understand what exactly.

- Aegon, Aemond,- their father finally addressed them, - Please sit down. - The man rubbed his temples wearily.

They obediently sat down. Otto handed the letter back to the king, and Alicent patted her husband's shoulder for the last time as a sign of comfort and sat down.

- Bad news has come from the Eyrie,- Viserys looked at his sons. Aegon became interested, and Aemond caught his breath, - Your Aunt Lenerys... - the king paused to take a sip of water from a nearby glass. Aemond looked at him with unblinking eyes, his jaw clenched with tension, this pause started a thought process in his head, he went through dozens of options for what could have happened there, each scenario was worse than the previous one... - She had a miscarriage, premature birth, now my sister ... is in an extremely serious condition... - it was it is clear that the king is restrained, either from the flow of rage, or from bitter tears, or maybe all at once.

- W-what's wrong with her now? – Aemond realized that his voice was trembling, he cleared his throat and continued, - what do the maesters write?

Viserys looked at him wearily and longingly, - Lord Arryn and Maester Colemon write that my sister is alive, but she has lost too much blood, does not let the maesters touch either her or the child. The extraction operation was complicated and took several hours, but they coped," the king's words sounded more like consolation, "the maesters promised that they would do everything possible to save her life,- Alicent looked at her husband with alarm and anger, in her opinion, there was nothing for the boys to know such details.

Panic and fear gripped the One-eyed prince, he was torn with thoughts, he wanted to jump on Vhagar and fly to the Eagle's Nest right now, and he wanted to help his aunt as she always helped him in difficult times, do everything to see her smile again.

Eyrie

After a difficult birth, John Arryn and Maester Colomin helplessly watched Targaryen who tried to rock the baby, she whispered soothing words to the dead calf in Valyrian, tried to hum, but when she did not hear and did not see the reaction, she began to cry and howl, but then, as if on a click, everything began anew, as if her memory was erased. Her body was pounding, her legs were shaking, and she was ready to collapse every now and then, but by some miracle she found strength again and continued.

- Princess, please, you need rest, we need to wash you of blood, - the maester began, - Princess…

The woman glanced at him briefly, her face was tired and glistening with sweat, and her hair was tangled, stuck to her face, shoulders.

John was shocked. He had heard rumors before that in the wombs of Targaryen women, their children looked like dragons, scales on their skin, wings and tail, but Lord Arryn had always believed that these were just legends and tales for the tavern… But the body of his dead child proved otherwise. Baelon, as Lenerys called him, was twisted, his skull was dented, the skin was translucent, veins were visible, and in places it was thickened, where there were scales…

He wanted to hug his wife, to calm her down, but she just snapped, hid the child in her arms and walked away from her husband like the plague. She was breathing heavily, lifting her head from time to time. She was tired. It's about to collapse. I have no strength.

Eyrie. Two days later.

It was lucky that the ancestral castle of the Arryns is located in relative proximity to the Royal Harbor, so the family was able to quickly overcome the distance. On the way, everyone drove in silence, everyone was busy with thoughts.

Upon arrival, the first thing the family and their entourage noticed was a wriggling long lizard – Caraxes. Daemon's here. Memories of a year ago surfaced again in the second prince's head and pain unpleasantly gave into the missing eye. The dragon was sitting on one of the stones, and it seemed to Aemond that he was watching them intently.

- I am glad that you have visited us, King Viserys, the Queen, the princes and the princess, although for such a sad occasion, - Lord Arryn looked exhausted, his face was gray and lifeless, it is clear that the man lacked sleep and rest.

- I'm a king, but I'm also a brother, uncle... - We saw Caraxes, where's Daemon? We haven't seen Syrax, has Rhaenyra arrived yet? - Alicent tensed, her brows furrowed, and her jaw clenched when she heard her stepdaughter's name and tightened her grip on Aemond's hand.

- Prince Daemon is in my wife's chambers right now, and as he explained, due to the pregnancy, Princess Rhaenyra could not come. Her children stayed to support their mother. – Viserys nodded understandingly, but the others realized that probably the princess did not come, so as not to start a new conflict with the queen already in the Eyrie, - My wife…Lenerys has requested your presence, my King. – hearing John's words, Viserys stepped forward, along with Alicent, - I'm sorry, my queen, but my wife asked to see only her brother the king, I'm sorry again.

Alicent nodded understandingly and stepped back, - I'll take the children to their rooms,- the queen said and pulled the children after her. Aemond cast a worried glance at his father and Lord Arryn as they left.

The night was tense for the One-Eyed Prince, he was bursting with excitement and anxiety. He would like to escape from his room right now, but he was afraid of being ignorant to his aunt. She is going through great grief, she needs support from her loved ones, and they are driven by a selfish desire to see her, talk to her, touch her… Now she wants to see only the men closest to her – her brothers, and he fully accepts this. Someday the moment will come, and he will be one of them.

The next morning the whole family went out into the field. Aemond saw his aunt, she was pale and exhausted, it was clear that she was crying for her lost child, sobbing all the time. Her outfit was black, with flecks of dragon glass around the edges of her clothes, and a black silk cloth rested on her hands. She walked only on the arm of Lord Arryn or with the Daemon who supported her so much, the woman's legs gave way, she herself staggered, but tried to stand as straight as her strength allowed. Aemond wanted to go up to her, talk to her and comfort her, prove that he cared about her grief. "I am not your enemy, I am your family. I do not wish you any harm and I never have. I want to help you deal with your grief. You can't carry it alone," he recalled her saying. He did not want his beloved to bear her loss alone, but it seems that she did not even pay attention to the fact that her nephews also arrived. The princess did not look at them, and in general, she paid little attention to anyone except her lord husband and brothers.

When he reached the right place, Aemond saw a large wooden structure ... and on it a small bundle in the form of a calf ... this is his brother. The prince felt sorry for the baby, he died in the womb without even having time to see this world, without having time to take his first breath… On the hillock behind the structure sat FireStorm, the dragon Lenerys Targaryen, he was dark red, almost black and with piercing amber eyes, the dragon was slightly smaller than Caraxes in size and he howled, and at night before that he screamed heart-rending, the prince knew about the connection between the dragon and the rider, because he believed that the night cries of the dragon-They were the physical embodiment of Leneris' mental pain, and the prince felt helpless again.

Silence. Deafening. Everyone was looking at the Arryn family, then at the structure with a small body, waiting for action from the princess or her husband.

Saying something to John, she pulled away from him, lowering his hand and coming forward. The first few steps were hard for her, she kept her hand on her lower abdomen, as if it would save her from pain, but taking all the strength in her fist, she continued walking. All attention was now focused on the princess, when her own was on her child. Before Baelon's body was hidden from the whole world in a fabric as black as the abyss, she saw that the few hairs that were on his head turned out to be white, and his eyes, before they were glazed, were amethyst… He was like her, like his mother, as she wanted, he was born a boy, as her lord husband wanted, but the gods decided to play a cruel joke.

Noticing that the dragon rider was approaching, Firestorm became more interested, he stopped his howling and began to slowly slide off his perch.

The woman watched her dragon descend to her, and then turned her gaze back to her stillborn child. Despite all the pain that he caused her while in her womb, Lenerys still fell in love with him ... she was looking forward to his birth and dreamed of seeing her son become the lord of the Eagle's Nest, the ceremony, tons of congratulations, his beautiful wife next to him ... but fate is cruel.

A single tear rolled down her cheek, her jaw trembled and on a breath full of pain and devastation, she cried out: "Dracarys!"

Flames engulfed the structure, the tree quickly absorbed the flame and transferred it to the body of little Baelon Arryn. The woman watched her son burn, her blood burned, tears silently fell to the ground, and her soul was torn: Lenerys wanted to rush into the fire and pull out the body that had not yet burned, she heard in her head how he screamed heartbreakingly, but she continued to stand. From the cycle of pain, she was pulled away by a soothing touch to her hand, turning around she saw her nephew. Aemond got a little taller, he nodded to her, smiling slightly, his smile was restrained, polite and supportive, and there was complete confidence in his eyes. A smile, now not sad, but grateful, touched her face, and after looking at her son for the last time, she decided to return to the castle.

Lenerys could not come to dinner, and she didn't want to, she just came in to thank the family for coming in an hour of need and helping them cope with grief. Aemond caught her eye, she smiled again with gratitude and, after saying goodbye to her relatives, retired to her chambers. The prince could not even get a piece down his throat, he didn't want to eat at all, it seems, like everyone in this hall. Even the idiot Aegon did not clownish, just sat silently and picked at the food with a fork.

Eyrie. Night

Sitting by the fireplace, the woman seemed to be hypnotized by the fire, the sight of it calmed her, and the sound of the cracking wood made her distract from bad thoughts... As if the fire filled her mind with smoke, there was neither her, nor her husband, nor her duty ... nothing, just smoke.

She does not know how long she has been sitting like this. The world is silent for her, as she is for the world. But a more insistent knock on the door brought her out of the desired trance. Oh, she was ready to kill the person on the other side of the door, even if it was Daemon, she wanted to disappear into her suffering. The princess got up, crouching a little in pain: her inner thigh still hurt, but not as much as after giving birth, and her stomach still gave off a stabbing pain.

- What the h-... - Lenerys raised her eyebrows in surprise when there was no one at her eye level. Looking down, she saw only her dear nephew, - Aemond?

- Auntie, - Aemond quickly walked past her and headed to the center of the room, - sorry for the intrusion.

Lenerys looked at her nephew uncomprehendingly, - Shouldn't you be sleeping? Look at how late it is.

Aemond only smiled lightly, - I've come to support you, my princess. You yourself said, "Don't experience your pain alone," and I will not let you be satisfied with your pain alone. – the prince looked resolute and a little impudent, Lenerys no longer saw that young and insecure boy... a blooming young man stood in front of her.

- This is ... this is very nice of you, - the woman smiled, pursing her lips a little, her eyes began to shine, threatening to burst into tears again, and the wrestlers quickly clapped, trying to restrain the flow. Looking at Aemond, she couldn't help but think about her son. A typical attractive Valyrian appearance, her boy would definitely grow into a handsome and enviable young man. Noticing this, he quietly approached her and hugged her so as not to touch her stomach with his body. Hearing the sobs, Aemond began to soothingly stroke her back, sometimes lightly patting her as a sign of support.

The prince shuddered when Lenerys hugged him back, - Kirimvose Aemond... emā daor idua skoros aōha dohaeragon naejot rhēdan (Thank you, Aemond, you have no idea what your support means to me)

- Mirre syt ao, niuha dārilaros (Everything for you, my princess)

The woman recoiled from him, and he reluctantly released her. She already looked at him with a smile – Your Valyrian has become much better than the last time we met... I'm proud of you.

King's Landing.

A lot of time has passed since that very night, four years have passed. Lenerys and John Arryn did not try to have a child anymore, the mathers were afraid of another miscarriage, and probably death for the princess. Now there was even more tension in their marriage, the spouses mostly avoided each other. If John began to get out of the Eagle's Nest more and more often for hunting and multi-day outings, then his wife Lenerys began to fly to King's Landing and Dragonstone more often, which could not but please her nephews.

Aemond, a matured fifteen-year-old boy, seemed a more formidable figure than his older brother, forever disappearing into the alluring lights of the streets of King's Landing and its nightlife. The young man began to grow rapidly, blossoming incredibly quickly. The childish swelling completely disappeared, exposing the beautiful cheekbones and sharp features of his face, now noble ladies and lords paid attention not only to the bandage on his left eye, but also to his beautiful face.

The prince walked slowly and quietly, one of his traits. Today he was extremely thoughtful; passing by the maids did not pay any attention to them, more occupied, apparently, with pleasant thoughts.

He had been waiting for his aunt's return for the fourth month, and now at last she would arrive on the business of the house of Arryn, which meant that she would stay in the capital for at least a month, which undoubtedly pleased the prince. And what upset him was that her route ran through Dragonstone, through Rhaenyra and her damn bastards, and through Lucerius, the bastard who took his eye. The thought that his chosen one was spending time with them upset him, and the rumors that were whispered in the Red Castle that Jahaerys Velarion was growing up a handsome, strong young man made him worry quite a bit. No matter what image Aemond built for a long time and stubbornly, no matter how hard he trained and no matter how long he sat at his textbooks, there was still that same insecure boy inside him who had just lost an eye, who was afraid to look at his aunt and see disgust on his face. "I feel sorry for Prince Aemond, now no decent lady will look at him!", "He will only get with a whore, and then for a large fee" is an unpleasant truth. Yes, he is the rider of the biggest dragon, yes, Vhagar conquered Westeros for his family, but alas, she is unable to win a woman's heart. The thought that Lenerys did not see in him a "full-fledged" man, like everyone else in this damn castle, did not give him rest. The fear, so childish, still haunted him, and this time there was no one with whom he could share it.

The clearly audible roar of the dragon "Firestorm" brought him out of his thoughts, realizing the thought, the corners of his lips curved into a smile, and he went to the courtyard of the Red Castle.

Waiting for the carriage with Lenerys seemed to him painfully long, as it had every time before. And every time his stomach twisted with excitement, as if he was meeting her for the first time, but he kept a stony expression on his face, straight posture, hands behind his back. He was a model prince.

Therefore,, the carriage finally reached its destination and the prince, descending from the stairs, approached the carriage that had just arrived.

- Auntie, - Aemond gallantly gave her his hand, helping her down, "glad to see you again.

The woman's face lit up with a smile and she gladly gave him her hand, - It's just lunch soon, you were in time.

- Punctuality is one of my leading traits, - the relative took the young man by the arm, - and while we have time, can we take a walk?

The one-eyed prince smiled and nodded in agreement.

The walk was unhurried, their conversation was every day, mostly Lenerys asked him about his studies and successes, and Aemond, trying not to brag, talked about his first victories over Ser Criston, more giving it out as a natural fact, to which the woman asked him not to be modest.

The young man sincerely enjoyed the time spent with her, and now the tradition of walking with each other on his arm warmed his soul. A leisurely walk took them to the Godswood, a favorite place of Lenerys, few of the local inhabitants still believed in the old gods, so the godswood was not a popular place for gatherings, which means it is always calm and peaceful here. The one-eyed prince knew that. If Lenerys thought that they were going without any specifics, just walking around the Red Castle, then Aemond originally planned to take his aunt to this place, away from prying eyes and ears.

Aemond stopped, probably too abruptly, because Lenerys gave him a slightly worried look.

- Auntie, - Aemond gently lowered her hand and walked away, - now, I have something that is of great importance for you, for me, for us. – The woman looked at her nephew with interest, this mischievous twinkle in her eyes betrayed more confidence to the young man, - Please turn to me turn your back on me and close your eyes. - Lenerys was genuinely interested in what her nephew was planning to give her. Various guesses were spinning in her head, but she obediently turned her back to him, after a little pondering whether to close her eyes, but after weighing all the pros and cons, she decided to close it anyway. She heard him take something out of his pocket, after a little hesitation, the young man touched her neck, pushing her long silver hair over her shoulder, his touches were neat, perhaps a little timid, but gentle and affectionate, and finally, she felt the scalding cold metal on her pale skin. As much as she did not want to, but she was in no hurry to open her eyes and see what was there, despite all the desire, she was waiting for him to fasten the clasp of the chain.

- You can open your eyes.

Lenerys turned to him with a smile, her eyes already open.  Raising her hand and putting into it the main decoration that had previously rested on her chest, she saw the coat of arms of the Targaryen family, it felt like it was not a simple metal, and not even silver ... it seems it was gold, white gold. But something else caught her attention: usually, the eye sockets of the dragons on their coat of arms were empty, they were not bothered to detail them in any way, but not in this case. Now there were small sapphires in an empty place, inserted with jeweler's precision and accuracy. Lenerys caught her breath from such beauty, the stones themselves were beautiful, but thanks to the white gold they stood out even more, oh, she was so pleasantly surprised.

- Oh, Aemond,- she finally looked at him with a big smile, - this is amazing! -  She reached out to hug her nephew, and he happily opened his arms in front of her.

Aemond thought for a long time about what he wanted to give. Flowers, cakes seemed to him already something childish, something that is not worthy of attention and that does not express the seriousness of his feelings in any way. Months of reflection yielded nothing, his head was empty, he even read several romance novels in search of inspiration for an undoubtedly "special" gift. Then one day, unexpectedly, the idea came by itself when he was at a training match with Ser Kristan "Do you hate being Lady Arryn?" Bingo. Yes, he missed the blow, yes it hurt and angered him, but a brilliant idea came to his bright head.

He made an order from a Royal Jeweler, but threatening to cut off his tongue, politely asked not to tell anyone what he would be working on and also keep his activities under the strictest secrecy, no matter who was interested. Well, the jeweler didn't have many options. However, the metal... he didn't want ordinary gold, and he didn't want silver. The prince wanted something special in his own way, and he found it. The white gold that was offered to him was amazing, but it cost a lot, but he will give it to no one. Having learned that this metal is extremely resistant to scratches, which means that the chosen one will be able to wear it for many years… And sapphires... few people knew what the prince had under the armband now, even Leneris, his dearest aunt, was not honored to see this. Only Alicent, Otto, Helena, and Aegon knew about the beautiful sapphire instead of the lost eye socket. The elder brother had not bullied Aemond for a long time, at least in an open form, all the incompetent prince could afford was hints and jokes, nothing more. He didn't want to become the second one-eyed prince, right? The choice of the stone was made as soon as the image of the decoration was lined up in his head. The sapphire in his eye, the sapphire on her beautiful slender neck made his heart threaten to jump out of his chest and feel a pleasant electric tingling at his fingertips. Such a connection seemed close, intimate and intimate to the young prince.

- This is a wonderful gift, Aemond, - the woman smiled, she looked lovingly at the elaborate decoration, but now her smile faded, which greatly strained the prince, his only eye was now looking at her with tension and question, - but now I belong to the house of Arryn. - Her jaw tightened for a second, and she looked at the most beautiful piece of jewelry again.

- Anyway, - Taking a deep breath, the prince began, - you are still part of our great house. – now he had already approached her, and taking the necklace on his hand and looking at it, they were so close to each other, the prince's confidence tried to leave him, but he skillfully held it, - and always will.

Aemond said this with the greatest confidence. Now he would like to offer her what he had dreamed of since childhood. The Prince often thought about it. If she married him, she would no longer have to feel disgust from her husband's last name, she would no longer have to be constantly on the road so as not to share a bed with a scoundrel... she would not have to worry about anything at all, she would be happy with him, really. But John Arryn was in the way. Despite the loss of one eye, Aemond was not blind: Lenerys practically runs away from her husband, and instead of loving and caring for her, he spends his time hunting and with dirty whores. This arrangement, despite all his anger, was good for Aemond, his princess was often with him now, and at these moments, his heart fluttered.

Nevertheless, along with the usual love, adoration and even more familiar longing, new, physical feelings have now been added. His body was changing, he stretched out, his voice broke, burying a cowardly boy in him, and now, his thoughts and fantasies caused not only a thrill in his heart, but also made his lower abdomen burn. Now there was desire over his body. The desire for something more. Fantasies of chaste kisses and tender, trembling touches became few, his mind did not listen to him, drawing closer moments. Aemond always considered Lenerys beautiful, looking young for all age, but he never focused on her figure, it turns out to be so attractive, and driven by hormones, he longed to see more than his aunt showed. The curves of her neck, the collarbones looked attractive, now he would like to touch them, her neck. Now he craved not only her love, warm words, but all of her. Physically, spiritually, whatever else.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and finally our boy has started to grow up!

Tags:  @sheetalkalkhandey   @elraeeee   @minaxcarter @infirebaby   @khonshu-help-me   @caspianobsessed  @bietchz  @may-machin  @marvelita85   @uselessbutinteresting  @whitejuliana1204   @zafirina12

#aemond x reader #house of the dragon aemond #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond imagine #aemond x y/n #aemond one eye #aemond fanfiction #y/n #house of the dragon #house of the dragons #rhaenyra targaryen #daemon targaryen #you

[ranticore]

some attempts at simplifying wings i made early this year (cheaped out on the rest of the anatomy admittedly). i obviously love drawing wings but kept finding that the drive to draw every single feather was detrimental to the energy and focus of a line drawing like this. so i tried a few ways to sort of cut down on detail while maintaining a strong shape. cuinn & the harpies of his home eyrie are based off of steppe eagles so the wings are really long and rectangular, with pronounced notches

tumblr hates wide images so u might have to open this one in a new tab. oh god it's so blurry

#ice storm over kosa #i ended up not enjoying this style so much it kinda bothers me #i tried another way of doing it that's much better unfortunately the pic does not comply with tumblr image posting guidelines so