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tiktokonaclock · 4 months

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The Siren and The Demon Chapter 6

“On behalf of the Royal Gundalian Academy of Sciences, I wish to convey to you our warmest congratulations. May I now ask you to step Forward and recieve your Minerva Award From the hands of his majesty, the emperor?

Kazarina looked ravishing. He would give her that.

She lifted her skirts up slightly and took a few graceful steps, walk of a confident scientist who knew she deserved to win. It was the quite constrast of the vulnerable state she was in between his arms last night.

He looked at her with a bright Smile. Had she really gathered herself back that quickly? Or was she Just good at acting? His eyes wandered towards the other end of the stage. The emperor was standing with her plaque in his hands, smiling politely.

He looked perfect, he acted perfect. As if he had put on the proud friend mask along with his classic tuxedo. Even the smile he had on his face was micro-calculated, he Knew.

And both he and his date were dumb enough to forget that it was the monarch who would troditionailly hand out the Minerva Awards each year.

Barodius and Kazarina met in the middle. She put her hands on the other side of the plaque as they both Posed for the flashing cameras. They looked like they were were introducing their baby to the public. Gill wanted to Chuckle, but held himself. Only he could sense the tension and nervousness between the two, after all, only he knew what Happened between them Just last night.

Barodius took a step back to let Kazarina have the stage for her speech. She leaned down for her towards the microphone.

Her eyes met with Gill's to ease her fright of stage. He Smiled to reassure her. She smiled bock.

“Hi everyone. I'm honored to be given the Minerva Award for Biology this year. I would like to thank the Royal Academy for seeing me worthy of this. I also would like to thank his majesty the emperor and his partner in battle, because it was them who... served as an inspiration For the project that won me this award tonight. " She had turned to Barodius while saying the last sentence. Barodius smiled politely upon hearing his title mentioned. Gill realized that she deliberately chose not to Use his name.

Then she turned her head to the audience. Her eyes found his once again.

“And lastly, I would like to thank my colleagues, for impassionating me and being there for me when I need it. Thank you”

The round of applause brought Gil back to his senses as Barodius Offered her his hand his hand to help her get down from the rostrum. Once she got dawn, he pulled her to himself slowly and placed a kiss on her cheek. She smiled brightly.

Their facade looked perfect. Almost. But he knew better than to believe them.

"So.” Kazarina said when she sat down on her seat next to his. "Are my classmates treating you well?”

They were sharing a table with Kaxarina's Friends from collage. "Yes." Gill said. "They try their best to include me to their conversations.”

“Good good. ." She said and turned her attention to her friends. “I am so glad we Could finally get together!"

“Me too!" The woman with warm brown eyes shrugged. "It's not as easy to make plans anymore. I miss Thursday nights!"

The whole table laughed at this statement. Gill turned to Kazarina with a little smile on. “Thursday nights?"

“At the last semester there was a class Thursday afternoon. There was only one section so we were all taking it at the same tme. We used to go out after that class, with the whole crew. " She laughed. “And we had another class on friday at 9 am, so we would leave the bar and Come to that class directly.”

The brunethe leaned towards them. Gill could not remember her name, maybe it was... Denise? Danielle? "And Sometimes we would still be drunk.”

One of the male classmates added: "Good thing Mr. Chapel was too old to See how wasted We were!”

“We grew up to be good scientists though, I take that as a win." Kazarina responded. “Some of us even got the Minerva Award.”

Gill laughed and rased his glass. "I 'll drink to that!”

“So, Gill.” Danielle said afler the hob-nob was over. “Did you go to university ?"

“Yes, I have."

"What was your major ?

“I Studied political sciences.” He showed the stage. “Emperor Barodius and I were classmates as well, actually.”

“Oh so you met in college?”

“No, we have been friends since childhood.” Gill took a sip from his drink. "We Just wanted to study the same major, he was a year ahead at me but we took some of the classes together."

“That's great!" Danielle said and smiled politely. "Could us for a you boys excuse us Second, please ? She asked as she got up from her seat. "Let's go to the bathroom, Kaz.”

“I Think he likes you." Danielle said as soon as they walked into the ladies restroom.

Kazarina walked over to the glass decoration on the wall and leaned on to the alcove there, crossing her legs. "Don't be ridiculous.”

“Kaz, when you were on hat stage, the guy was looking at you the Same way my monkeys look at me when I inject them Oxytocin." She took out two cigarettes and offered her one.

“And why did you do that? Kazarina asked as she lit her cigarette.

“I am working on a drug that can be Used on animals going, extinct."

"Oh." Kazarina said. "Well; you should find a way to make them look at each other You know." She reached up to touch Danielle's hair in a Flirtatious manner. "Unless you are willing to do anything for the experiment to succeed.”

Danielle laughed as her head slowly fell on Kazarina’s shoulder for a second. “On a more serious note. " She lifled her head. "You need to start observing him more. I don' think he hates you as much as you said he does.”

Kazarina looked at the Floor. "Or maybe he changed his mind about me.” She dragged the smoke in. "Because we bully each other like, all the time. We have this constant rivalry between us.

“Maybe it created some sort of tension.”

"Maybe. And he also helped me out when… when I was in a low point.”

"Oh, then he is definitely into you. She smiled. “Men love to play the savior.”

Smiled he put out her cigarette and gave her a lipstick from her hand bag.

Kazarina looked at herself in the mirror as she applied her lipstick: She was looking good tonight, but it took her hours to get ready. She was starting to get old, too old to get so excited about a little crush.

But Gill Wasn’t getting any younger either. And neither was Barodius. Soon, they would be as old as Nurzak ! The thought Frightened her.

She Sighed and tumed to Danielle. "Let's grab drinks on our way back.”

Kazarina's feet stopped her when she realized the purple haired man sitting next to her date. She exhaled as she physically Forced herself to Walk towards the table.

Danielle twalked towards the man first, holding his hand while making a Small Curtsy. “Welcome, your majesty. It is honor to meet you.” She put her hand on her chest. “My name is Danielle."

“Hello Danielle.” Barodius smiled charmingly. Then he turned towards Kazarina. He made a small gesture to the chair next to Gill's. "We gave a fifteen-minute break so I thought I would see my Favorite mad scientist and her date.”

“He laughed and turned to Gill. "How did she convince you anyway?”

“She didn't need to. I offered to be her date.”

“Oh, I see. Barodius put his hand on and drew a little circle. "So you are having a small break from all that rivalry?”

"Apparently.” Kazarina smiled.

“Oh, Kazarina." Danielle said, catching her attention. "Sorry to interrupt your Conversation but I will definetely forget it if I don't tell you this." She clapped her hands on the table and leaned Forward. "So. HillsBrooke wants to form a new y department within the university, and they want you to do it.”

Kazarina couldn’t' dare to check the expression on Barodius' face as Danielle continued to talk up a storm: "They asked for my opinion at the meeting and I told them that you are perfect for the Job. Since you are are such ab expert on the field, and you have experience working with youngsters on your current job.. (Kazarina wanted to wheeze at this) And you are gonna be the founding chairman, so we can be colleges!”

Her eyes turned to Barodius, realizing the awkwardness. "I am not causing you any uneasiness, do I? I mean, I know how happy she is to be a part of the Twelve Orders.”

Barodius laughed smitely. “I mean, it is a bit awkward.” He put his hand up. “But don't Worry, you are not causing any uneasiness.”

He turned his head to Kazarina and continued with a lower voice: "Especially since I know that she is not going to except this generous Offer.”

“And why wouldn’t I?” She asked as she crossed her legs.

“Because it will not satisfy you." Barodlus leaned towards her direction. "You love the power, you crave it. You love everyone to fear you, to be ready serve you like little minions, whenever you want. Being a professor at a university will deprive you of that. The best thing you'll get is a tired "good morning professor." in the morning, if you are lucky, that is.”

Kazarina’s legs were trembling. She could not control it. She hoped the emperor could not feel it. She hid her arms under the table to stop them from doing the same thing.

It was on that moment that she felt Gill's hand reaching up to her knee, holding her leg in a solid, reassuring manner.

It gave her confidence.

“I might decline it with an appropriate manner.” She said, with a small smile on her lips. "But it will be cause I know you will not able to win this war without me and I would not want to let Gundalia down." Her hand went to her chest dramatically For a Second before leaning to hold Barodius’ hand, which was resting on the table. "Thank you so much for always reminding me my worth."

A young girl approched to the emperor shyly. "Your majesty, we need you backstage, we are about to continue." "Sure." Barodius murmured as he got up.

"We will leave as well. " Kazarina Said. Gill Followed her suit and they got up as well. Kazarina laughed. "I got what I came For." She said as she took her award in her hand, and took Gill's arm with the other.

“Get me a drink.”

Barodius ordered the as soon as they put a foot on bockstage. “But, your majesty, You will get back on stage in a few minutes."

The look he gave her was enough to make her change her mind: "I'm on it, your majesty.”

“Let's drop You off at yor house first." Gill said. "And I’ll continue to mine."

“Can you send the driver off? I can call you a taxi." Kazarina responed. "I need to give back your cape, and we can drink something while we are at it. Peacefully.”Gill Smiled. "I wouldn’t say no to that.”

"To our prize winning scientist." Gill raised his glass. "You deserved to win that award."

"Being able to make you say this is the greatest award. "She giggled as she sipped on her drink. "But seriously, thank you for being my date for the award ceremony."

"Well, the Food was great, and the people were better looking than I thought Science nerds would look like"

Her voice went lover as it took an alluring tone. "Oh, trust me, science nerds can be way more promising than you give us credit for." She leaned on his chest slowly. Her right hand went on his knee, her fingers drawing a circle on it. She felt the familiar feeling on her upper legs and groin come back to her once again, now that she was at his presence. "Kazarina, you need to stop doing that. Gill's voice was raucity.

"Why?"

"Because you'll get us in trouble."

She lifted herself up. "Let's get in trouble then," She said, enthusiastically. "I want to live a little, don't you? We've done nothing but working and bickering since the beginning of the war." Her eyes widened, her heart beating at her chest. "This is my night, let me have this."

Gill's eyes wandered on her, up and down. "But there is no returning back from that."

Kazarina turned around to put her glass on the coffee table, "Okay, you are right. Sorry if I made you uncomfort- "

Her words were cut short as he took her hand and pulled her to himself. Their lips met at the middle. His kiss was fierce, and demanding. She melted into it.

The next thing she knew, they were making out on the couch. She laid on her back, pulling him on top of her. He pulled the hem of her dress up and up, stroking her upper leg. Her legs wrapped around his body, caging him. As his lips made their way her neck, she pressed herself on to him,

Finally, she spoke after kissing his lips two times. Let's gо to the bedroom."

"No." He replied, trying to catch his breath. "I want you now."

But she was already getting on her feet. She held his hands and pulled him closer as she whispered: "But I need a big space for the things I am gonna do to you."

It was an enough motivation for Gill. He got up and picked her up like his bride, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She moaned into his mouth once their lips met again.

"Kazarina." Gill whispered in the dark. His breath made her long neck tickle as she took in a shivered breath. She could feel the dampness on the pillow.

"Kazarina." He whispered again, this time more harshly. His fingers made their way on her skin, finally being able to touch the curves he had been memorizing for years. His extasy was beyond words. He tried and failed to suppress a moan by biting into her shoulder. "Kazarina." He said to her once again. "Talk to me sweetheart. I'll do anything you want."

She sighed. "Anything?"

"Anything."

"Look at me." She said as she cupped his cheeks. "Look at me in the eyes."

"Will you hypnotize me too?"

"Do I need hypnosis to put a spell on you?"

"No." His sly smirk appeared on his lips. "No you don't."

"If I were a mythologic creature, what do you think I would be?" Asked Kazarina as they cuddled. Gill kept playing with her soft blonde tufts lazily. "Hmm." He thought. He remembered the first time she walked into the room. It was Barodius' birthday and a party was being held. He introduced her as the final member of the Twelve Orders and the new director of the Biological Research Lab. He remembered the black dress she had on that wasn't showing off much skin yet made his mouth water. He remembered thinking to himself that she would be his rival and he needed to stop lusting over her. He remembered being unable to do so. " A Siren." He answered.

"Why?"

"Because you are beautiful and witty, you attract poor men to pull to the sea and eat, or hypnotize in that case."

She curled her lips. "Yeah, that's fair. And you would be a demon."

"Why?"

"No reason. That's just how I feel. And also you are associated with fire, maybe that's why."

"Maybe I should drag you to hell."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

Gill woke up with pain on his waist and back. God, he was old, wasnt he?

He looke around. He had also woken up alone. Where was she? Had she left? Where had she gone? Why did he Feel so gloomy that he couldn't find her next to him?

He pushed the white blanket aside and put his trousers back on. The sheets still had her floral scent on them, when he looked at the bed, he saw now messy it looked.

He opened the bedroom door and the smell of fresh coffee reached up to him instantly. He followed it to the kitchen.

And there she was. She put her hands on the kitchen bench, waiting on the coffee machine. She had a short, white and satin robe on. Her long, blonde hair was down; this was the first time he had seen her hair without the usually ponytail on. He had never realized how long it actually was until now.

Then she tumed around.

"Hey" She smiled. "I was Just brewing us coffee." Her hand got up and showed the machine. "I normally don't eat breakfast but I can prepare something for you if you want."

Gill looked at her with a dumbfounded expression on his face. His eyes were wide and his lips were left slightly open. "Uh, no." He finally said, after realixing that she was waiting for an answer. "I don't eat breakfast either."

"Okay then." She said softly as she showed him the kitchen island. "Take a seat."

As he sat dawn, she reached up to the kitchen cupboards on her toes and took out two mugs. She was so light on her feet that it looked like she was walking on air. Her robe and nightgown were twirling around as she moved. Her cheeks were flushed and she had a slight smile on her face, if he saw it correctly.

This was not the woman he knew. The worman he knew was tough, tense and agressive; especially when she was treated agressively, mostly by him.

On that moment, the woman that he knew would be screaming at him, threatening him to accuse him of rape if he doesn't keep his mouth shut.

She would be crying because of her anger, not towards him, but towards herself. She would hate herself for being so "vulnerable" with him. For presenting her body to him, for allowing him to see it, and fauch it. For giving hin pleasure.

And the man that he knew would prove her point by making fun of her, and degrading her every way Possible.

But that woman and that man were left at the door last night. This woman was offering him breakfast and making him coffee, a treatment he hadn't seen from anyone.

She put his mug in front of him. Locks of her hair fell on his face, filling his lungs with her fresh, floral scent once again. "Here." She slowly said.

It was just a stupid coffee. But the presence of this woman serving him coffee with ease in her every move was such a relief from his chaotic life that he felt like crying.

But he didn't. Instead, he turned his head up and gazed at her. She realized it and gazed him back.

"You don't regret it" He said slowly.

"I don't." She replied, her tone of voice was so delicate, as if she was afraid of ruining that moment.

He held her hand. "Come" He said as he gently pulled her to his lap. She put her left arm around his neck as she crossed her legs. Her other hand gently rested on his chest. One of his hands grasped her by the waist, while the other went to her hair.

"Your hair is so soft," He said, gliding his fingers between her strands.

"You Seem so... surprised that I'm here.."She said as her fingers drew a small circle on his chest. "Do the girls you sleep with run away the next day?"

"I thought you ran away when I first woke up."

"I wouldn't."

"I'm So glad that you are here, my dear."

A soft smile graced her lips. He started to smile as well, unable to erase the expression off his face. Then the realization hit him like a brick.

He had Fallen in love with her last night.

#bakugan #bakugan gundalian invaders #gill #kazarina #emperor barodius #gill x kazarina #the siren and the demon #jesse glenn #lena isis #zenet surrow

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simsroyallegacy · 1 year

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Crown Prince Nicholas and Princess Minerva’s Exclusive Interview

Last week Crown Prince Nicholas sat down with his new fiancée Princess Minerva to give SIMPLE an exclusive engagement interview. We’re excited to give a sneak peek into the couple’s relationship as they celebrate their engagement announcement.

Interviewer (I): Thank you for taking the time to sit with us this evening Your Highnesses! I have to say, our readers and I have been waiting so long to say this: congratulations!

Nicholas (N) & Minerva (M): *laughing* Thank you!

I: Let’s get started with something easy: Can we see the ring?

M: Of course. I’m so in love with his choice.

I: It looks quite familiar...

N: Yes, it should. It was my mother’s ring, my father proposed to her with it around thirty years ago.

M: His Majesty said he’s been holding onto it for Nicky all these years since her passing.

N: Father went all out on this ring; it was one of the exclusive pieces created by Theophania & Co., around fifty carats. It was my mother’s favorite piece of jewelry.

I: You must be so honored to have received Princess Calla’s ring, Minerva!

M: Incredibly honored, yes. I know how precious she was to everybody in the family, even the country.

N: You are just as precious to me Minnie and I couldn’t think of a better way to show it to you.

I: Oh my, how sweet! Prince Nicky, do you think your mother and Princess Minnie would have gotten along well?

N: Yes, definitely. They would have gotten on like a house on fire! I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had taken over the whole country together.

M: *laughing* Oh please, Nicky, don’t jest. It would’ve been nothing less than world domination!

N: Truly though, I know my mother would be happy that I’m happy. Minnie makes me feel all the good things in life: happy, safe, and loved. There’s no better woman I could have asked to marry me.

I: The love you have for each other is truly admirable, it has touched millions of Lunarians across the country. But it hasn’t always been easy for you two has it?

M: Nothing worthwhile in life and love ever is, no.

I: You two had a falling out when Isadora Aguilar announced she was pregnant with your child, Prince Nicky. Most Lunarians at the time assumed you two had been in a romantic relationship but you had never confirmed it. I have to ask; was everyone right?

N: Yes, at the time when the pregnancy was announced, Minnie and I had been ready to make it official to the public.

I: Why did things end the way they did? Divorce and children out of wedlock are hardly uncommon in your family.

N: *sighing* It all came to a point where certain ultimatums were made and I-I needed to choose my child, my Magdalena, and it absolutely broke my heart.

M: Nicky…

N: And I still can’t stand to know that I destroyed her heart as well. I can’t say I regret it entirely, I’ve gotten my daughter out of it but…if there was ever something I regret in my life it would be having to let go of my relationship with Minnie.

M: It was necessary, I believe. The time apart…it only made us stronger when we came back to each other.

I: It was a happy shock when the two of you were photographed together again. What brought the two of you back together?

M: Personally I was exhausting myself, staying away from him. He’d pop up everywhere, in the media, in conversation, even in politics on some occasions. At some point I felt like every sign was pointing to him and I just…gave in.

N: We needed to have a long talk, I remember we were sat outside at Whiteglenn with Maggie, and it felt like a great weight was lifted where we could be real with each other again. No cameras, no public speculation, no nosy family members, just us. We both agreed it felt right and everything fell into place from there.

I: And how exactly did the proposal fall into place? When and where did he pop the question?

M: Just two weeks ago at our home in Ancastor.

N: We had finally completed our renovations to our home and moved out from the city. I thought it was the perfect time to start the next chapter of our lives.

M: I won’t lie, I was quite impatient for him to propose.

N: *laughing* I could tell you were getting frustrated; it was too cute watching you figure out how to push me along in a roundabout way.

M: Don’t go giving people the wrong idea Nicky, I wasn’t pushing you at all.

I: Awww you’re blushing, Princess!

M: *clearing throat* Back on topic though, when he proposed the entire back garden was in full bloom and had become the backdrop to a very romantic dinner for two. I had originally thought it to be one of our regular date nights — the both of us try to set aside time to have dinner, just the two of us, every other day — when suddenly, he’s whisking me around for a dance with our favorite song playing out of nowhere.

N: It was pretty darn romantic if I do say so myself.

M: *grinning* I most certainly was swept off my feet, my love.

I: It sounds like it was gearing up to be a magical evening!

M: Absolutely! After our dance he finally proposed after a walk through the gardens.

I: And did he kneel on one knee?

N: *laughing* Yes, of course! I was so nervous though, it was more like collapsing onto the ground.

M: Don’t worry, darling, I didn’t even notice I was so excited.

I: And how is the Princess Magdalena taking the news?

N: She’s absolutely thrilled. Minnie has been one of the most positive influences in her life and she simply adores her.

M: We share a special bond, Maggie and I, and we’re both excited to officially become mother and daughter.

I: Officially mother and daughter? Not “step” mother and daughter?

M: Yes, of course I plan to fully adopt her after the wedding. It’s the next logical step since I’m already her godmother.

N: Maggie has talked non-stop about it since we sat her down and explained it to her. She’s already referring to Minnie as “Mommy” and following her around. She’s adorable, like a little duckling.

M: *laughing* Maggie’s not the only one excited about the wedding; Nicky’s sister Ana and best friend Elliot are more excited than anyone.

N: Oh dear Watcher, Elliot’s teamed up with her and they’ve already planned half the wedding. *laughing* I swear there’s no stopping them!

I: I think I can speak for everyone when I say the whole country matches their enthusiasm Your Highnesses! Thank you so much for sitting down with SIMPLE and sharing your joy with our readers. You’ve been the most gracious hosts.

M & N: You’re most welcome and thank you for a lovely interview.

#ts4 royal legacy #ts4 monarchy #ts4 royal family #ts4 legacy #sims 4 monarchy #sims 4 legacy #sims 4 royal legacy #sims 4 royal family #sims4 royal family #sims4 legacy #sims4 royal legacy #sims4 monarchy #Act II #the liar and the lioness

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akemi006 · 1 month

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The kidnap of the night Part 1

For a few months in the desertic Kingdom of Eight Rings, the atmosphere was pleasant, it was peaceful. No danger or harm was caused to the home of the people. Days went by, warm mornings, adults going on with their day while the kids were getting into trouble, then the warm morning transformed into a hot unbearable afternoon, and people of all kinds spent their last hours of the day haggling in the market, and at the last, the night fall upon, the sky starting to close up, changing colors, pink, orange, purple and then black with bits of lights following by the bright and lovely moon, giving everyone moonlight into the dark and cold night, while guiding not only them but the waves and water all around the world.

To celebrate such a blessing, the Queen and the general, her wife, decided to host a huge party for the whole kingdom. The preparation took 2 weeks but it was worth every effort the servants put on. The party would take place in the heart of the Kingdom. Where the biggest and most beautiful carved fountain was putting on a show of water, the path was made of hard-colored stone, the lanterns of blue lights were put everywhere, and flowers like desertic marigolds and Fairy dusters were placed in every free space of a building and the corners of every path. It was a breathtaking view. A place so dry and empty could be so stunning and well put together by the power of people.

The sun went down 4 hours ago. The party started at sunset and everyone was celebrating right now. Ahlam stayed by Astra's side while many people were talking to the Queen, everyone was having a drink in their hands, the Queen herself drinking a rich glass of local wine. Ahlam stayed in her cat form, acting like Astra's majestic pet. Minerva and the rest of the guards were drinking and laughing by the fountain enjoying themselves.

Everyone was feeling well and everything was going to plan.

A group of well-dressed children, some local and some looked different from the others, ran close to the Queen and Ahlam.

"Excuse us, Your Majesty!" some of them say at the same time, loud and clear, while they all bow "May we play with your cat?"

Ahlam didn't look too excited to play with some random kids. But after the children showed their intention of showering the cat with the affection of belly rubs and gentle pets, Ahlam looked once at Astra and she nobbed, giving her confirmation.

"You may take my cat. Take care of her," she says, giving the children Ahlam. The group of kids cheer happily as they run off.

Astra walks out of all the people that were gathered around her and walks by her lover.

When Minerva sees Astra and gets close enough she puts a hand around her waist and yells "The Queen arrived!" everyone streaming. Everyone is clearly drunk. But it's fun in this case. Astra laughs, joining in.

4 more hours go by. Most people went home, some were still enjoying themselves. 2 of the kids remained, still awake, still petting Ahlam while she was sleeping soundly. Astra was sitting by alone with Minerva sleeping on her lap because most of the guards were either sleeping or had passed out. She decides to stay for a bit more before heading to the palace. The air was chilly and pleasant. It was so peaceful that Astra couldn't help closing her eyes. Being the goddess of the night, she doesn't necessarily need to sleep but she can If she wants or is at lack of souls (she feeds on souls).

Astra chooses to rest for a bit. The atmosphere was too good to go to waste.

Everything goes dark and she falls on the other side of the fountain, Minerva still on her lap.

The place stays unguarded.

In every corner, men dressed in all black come out, carefully walking by the Queen, and gathering around.

They slowly took the general off the Queen. 10 to 16 men took the Queen away as a few others tied a letter to the general's hand. Minerva shifted a few times but didn't wake up, the alcohol was too much for one night.

The sun rises after a few hours, some still sleeping, some waking up.

Minerva slowly opens her eyes. She sits up slowly, starting her day with a headache. She looks around, blinking rapidly from the too-bright light. She sees Ahlam still sleeping, and her troops lying around, but her wife is nowhere to be seen. After Minerva realizes that Astra is gone, she sits up and runs to Ahlam. She pokes at the cat

"What do you want?" Ahlam says, giving Minerva an ugly look. She ignores it this one time. "Do you know where Astra is?" Minerva asks. And Ahlam doesn't hesitate to transform into her noncat form. And stares down, searching for a sight of Astra's aura. 2 minutes pass. Ahlam panics and Minerva panics more from seeing Ahlam panic. "What?!" the dark elf screams. "I can't find her. Someone put a very powerful barrier." Ahlam says, direct and fast "Wake up your troops and make everyone look for her. This should have happened at night, it's morning now, Astra can easily pull off a kidnap or whatever this is, and she isn't back yet." Minerva gives a nob and doesn't waste more time. She wakes up as many as she can. 600 people are good to go, the rest are to drink too even talk straight. Minerva gives instructions to everyone to search for the Queen.

"Remember. Do not tell anyone that the Queen is missing. If anyone does, there will be consequences. " Everyone gives a salute and runs off.

The day ends and no one has found the Queen yet.

When the sun sets down, the night goes on normally, which gives Ahlam and Minerva a second of relief.

But still. Where could a goddess go? Who is hiding her away? Is it the sun? Or someone else?

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margindoodles2407 · 6 months

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more silly little rambles about my links and zeldas: full names, featuring some characters who AREN'T link or zelda :)

if you care the info is under the cut :) and if you want a challenge you can try and figure out why i named each character what i did >:) (yes you are allowed to look up certain name meanings)

Forger: Link Tarien Chidee

Goddess: Zelda Dione Gaepora

Groose: Groose Anser (boy has no middle name)

Fractal: Link Mellark Smyth (no this was not based on peeta)

Radiance: Her Highness Princess Zelda Drita Bellamy Hyrule

Orpheus: Link. He had a middle and last name but they died with his parents.

Sonata: Her Royal Majesty Princess Zelda Phoebe Minna Aroa Hyrule

Dawnbringer: Link Argus Moi

Eos: Her Royal Majesty Crown Princess Zelda Esila Calanthe Hyrule

Midna: Her Imperial Majesty Crown Princess Midna Rajani

Awakener: Link Lochlan MacIrvine

Tetra: Captain Princess Tetra Zelda Nerissa Nohansen Hyrule

Aryll: Aryll Birdie MacIrvine

Engineer: Link Daedrus Lafferty (he is embarrassed by this name)

Phantasma: Her Highness Princess Zelda Tetra Olwen MacIrvine Hyrule

Odysseus: Link Edric Telery-Mystros

Visionary: Her Royal Highness Princess Zelda Almas Melaina Hyrule

Marin: Marin Eilonwy Moeuhane

Graffiti: Link Ellis Wright

Iconography: Her Royal Highness Princess Zelda Kala Ceinwen Telery Hyrule

Ravio: Ravio Silus Ryelet

Hilda: Her Royal Highness Princess Hilda Allexa Marika Hyrule

Genesis: Link Stephess Rallet

Dawn: Her Highness Princess Zelda Amira Orabella Hyrule XLVIII (the 48th)

Somnia: Her Majesty Princess Zelda Amira Orabella Hyrule I

Paladin: Sir Link Materis Glorion

Valkyrie: Her Royal Majesty Queen Zelda Malika Bellatrix Hyrule

Lana: Lady Lana of the Moon Clan, White Sorceress

Slayer: Link Jesseran Arerris

Sealer: Her Royal Highness Princess Zelda Etheldine Hyrule

Luminary: Sir Link Alaric Inion II (so that I can keep with the official Nintendo statement saying that his name is "Link Link" without it being stupid)

Sunshine: Her Royal Majesty Princess Zelda Minerva Mnemosyne Bosphoramus Hyrule

Mipha: Her Imperial Majesty Princess Mipha Naiade Calypso do Bon

Revali: Revali the Blue

Urbosa: High Chieftainess Lady Urbosa Thema Qavaar

Daruk: Big Brother Daruk

Sidon: His Imperial Majesty King Sidon Caspian Nessus do Bon

Teba: Chief Teba the White

Tulin: Tulin the Fledgeling

Riju: High Cheiftainess Riju Dipa Thema Qavaar

Yunobo: President Yunobo of YunoboCo

@whyoneartheven in case you're interested

#margin's links #margin rambles #ah yes another list

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machoestofmen · 2 years

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Commission: Saving the Queen

A commission for @melikochan, with Beatrix ready to protect the queen of Alexandria, hugging her close. Garnet, on the other hand, is having a moment, uncertain whether to say anything or not.

Beatrix: “Your Majesty! I will keep you safe!” Garnet, thinking: “B-booba...!”

While I followed the original design for Garnet, I decided to glam out Beatrix a little; her top is the Minerva’s Plate, and from the crossguard down on her sword is Save the Queen II, both of which are pieces from the now-defunct (on Global) Final Fantasy Record Keeper.

My commission info!

#final fantasy ix #ffix #garnet til alexandros #beatrix #garnetrix #commission #fanart

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carnelianwings · 9 months

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People may say Dear Days is “bad” for testing because it’s 2 sets behind, but sometimes if what you need is to just play out a match up and the deck’s old enough, there’s Enough There for you to figure out just how bad of a match up it is.

Or in other words, Minerva, I love you dearly, but if Prison is going to be at locals I just can’t bring you because you have one terrible match up against it, the few times I managed to beat Tomari’s Hard AI is either she doesn’t get Purelight into hand by Turn 4 or I manage to hit some timely triggers while rushing the early turns to keep her hand low. Basically, nothing I can consistently rely on to execute on, while putting in a heavy hand investment (that I have no real way of regaining). Plus the fact that Purelight can send units to Prison from Soul makes it worse, as it actively hinders Minerva’s ability to multi-attack/restand.

Which kind of leaves me at a bit of a cross roads, because while Minerva is 100% my jam and really fun to play, I also want to do well, and I know a part of that (from doing a lot of ladder in Vanguard Zero) is picking the right deck for the meta. That said, out of all my other arguably competitive decks, Youthberk is basically a Tier 2 deck (and has a similarly bad match up against Prison but it’s because you just can’t empty Soul completely with him), Majesty Lord Blaster has an even worse match up (no Counter Charger in a CB heavy deck to begin with), Gandeeva doesn’t really empty Soul much, so I guess that means, maybe next week, it’s time to release the Generation Zone (as the kids in 2014 would say ^^;;)

#anzu's vanguard tcg adventures #yeah time to pull out chronojet #Gigi can easily fix both problems Minerva has in the Prison match up #i'll need to practice against tomari's ai a few more times #but i was getting pretty consistent with my deck list just rushing her down #plus i can use chronojet's skill to botdeck annoying combo pieces

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12j341kllklkljl · 9 months

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Aelian, Historical Miscellany 1. 2 (trans. Wilson) (Greek rhetorician C2nd to 3rd A.D.) : "Spiders neither know nor wish to know the art and practice of weaving, the gifts of the goddess (daimona) Ergane. To what use would an animal of this kind put such clothing?" [N.B. Ergane is Athena as the goddess of crafts. Aelian is probably alluding to the tale of Arakhne.]

Ovid, Metamorphoses 6. 1 - 148 (trans. Brookes More) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "Pallas [Athena] . . . was brooding thus, ‘It is an easy thing to praise another, I should do as they : no creature of the earth should ever slight the majesty that dwells in me,--without just retribution.’--So her thought was turned upon the fortune of Arachne--proud, who would not ever yield to her the praise won by the art of deftly weaving wool, a girl who had not fame for place of birth, nor fame for birth, but only fame for skill! For it was well known that her father Idmon dwelt in Colophon; where, at his humble trade, he dyed in Phocean purples, fleecy wool. Her mother, also of the lower class, had died. Arachne in a mountain town Hypaepae by skill had grown so famous in the Land of Lydia, that unnumbered curious nymphs eager to witness her dexterity, deserted the lush vineyards of Tmolus; or even left the cool and flowing streams of bright Pactolus, to admire the cloth, or to observe her deftly spinning wool. So graceful was her motion then,--if she was twisting the coarse wool in little balls, or if she teased it with her finger-tips, or if she softened the fine fleece, drawn forth in misty films, or if she twirled the smooth round spindle with her energetic thumb, or if with needle she embroidered cloth;--in all her motions one might well perceive how much Pallas had instructed her: but this she ever would deny, displeased to share her fame; and said, ‘Let her contend in art with me; and if her skill prevails, I then will forfeit all!’ Pallas [Athena] heard, and came to her, disguised with long grey hair, and with a staff to steady her weak limbs. She seemed a feeble woman, very old, and quavered as she said, ‘Old age is not the cause of every ill; experience comes with lengthened years; and, therefore, you should not despise my words. It is no harm in you to long for praise of mortals, when your nimble hands are spinning the soft wool,--but you should not deny Minerva's [Athena's] art--and you should pray that she may pardon you, for she will grant you pardon if you ask.’ Arachne, scowling with an evil face. Looked at the goddess, as she dropped her thread. She hardly could restrain her threatening hand, and, trembling in her anger, she replied to you, disguised Pallas : ‘Silly fool,--worn out and witless in your palsied age, a great age is your great misfortune!--Let your daughter and your son's wife--if the gods have blessed you--let them profit by your words; within myself, my knowledge is contained sufficient; you need not believe that your advice does any good; for I am quite unchanged in my opinion. Get you gone,--advise your goddess to come here herself, and not avoid the contest!’

Instantly, the goddess said, ‘Pallas comes to you!’ And with those brief words, put aside the shape of the old woman, and revealed herself, Minerva, goddess. All the other Nymphae (Nymphs) and matrons of Mygdonia worshiped her; but not Arachne, who defiant stood;--although at first she flushed up--then went pale--then blushed again, reluctant.--So, at first, the sky suffuses, as Aurora (the Dawn) [Eos] moves, and, quickly when the glorious sun comes up, pales into white. She even rushed upon her own destruction, for she would not give from her desire to gain the victory. Nor did the daughter of almighty Jove [Zeus] decline : disdaining to delay with words, she hesitated not. And both, at once, selected their positions, stretched their webs with finest warp, and separated warp with sley. The woof was next inserted in the web by means of the sharp shuttles, which their nimble fingers pushed along, so drawn within the warp, and so the teeth notched in the moving sley might strike them.--Both, in haste, girded their garments to their breasts and moved their skilful arms, beguiling their fatigue in eager action. Myriad tints appeared besides the Tyrian purple--royal dye, extracted in brass vessels.--As the bow, that spans new glory in the curving sky, its glittering rays reflected in the rain, spreads out a multitude of blended tints, in scintillating beauty to the sight of all who gaze upon it;--so the threads, inwoven, mingled in a thousand tints, harmonious and contrasting; shot with gold: and there, depicted in those shining webs, were shown the histories of ancient days:-- Pallas worked the Athenian Hill of Mars [i.e. the Areopagus], where ancient Cecrops built his citadel, and showed the old contention for the name it should be given.--Twelve celestial gods surrounded Jupiter [Zeus], on lofty thrones; and all their features were so nicely drawn, that each could be distinguished.--Jupiter appeared as monarch of those judging gods. There Neptunus [Poseidon], guardian of the sea, was shown contending with Minerva [Athena]. As he struck the Rock with his long trident, a wild horse sprang forth which he bequeathed to man. He claimed his right to name the city for that gift. And then she wove a portrait of herself, bearing a shield, and in her hand a lance, sharp-pointed, and a helmet on her head--her breast well-guarded by her Aegis: there she struck her spear into the fertile earth, from which a branch of olive seemed to sprout, pale with new clustered fruits.--And those twelve gods, appeared to judge, that olive as a gift surpassed the horse which Neptunus gave to man.

And, so Arachne, rival of her fame, might learn the folly of her mad attempt, from the great deeds of ancient histories, and what award presumption must expect, Minerva wove four corners with life scenes of contest, brightly colored, but of size diminutive. In one of these was shown the snow-clad mountains, Rhodope, and Haemus, which for punishment were changed from human beings to those rigid forms, when they aspired to rival the high gods. And in another corner she described that Pygmy, whom the angry Juno [Hera] changed from queen-ship to a crane; because she thought herself an equal of the living Gods, she was commanded to wage cruel wars upon her former subjects. In the third, she wove the story of Antigone, who dared compare herself to Juno [Hera], queen of Jupiter [Zeus], and showed her as she was transformed into a silly chattering stork, that praised her beauty, with her ugly beak.--Despite the powers of Ilion and her sire Laomedon, her shoulders fledged white wings. And so, the third part finished, there was left one corner, where Pallas deftly worked the story of the father, Cinyras;--as he was weeping on the temple steps, which once had been his daughter's living limbs. And she adorned the border with designs of peaceful olive--her devoted tree--which having shown, she made an end of work. Arachne, of Maeonia, wove, at first the story of Europa, as the bull deceived her, and so perfect was her art, it seemed a real bull in real waves. Europa seemed to look back towards the land which she had left; and call in her alarm to her companions--and as if she feared the touch of dashing waters, to draw up her timid feet, while she was sitting on the bull's back. And she wove Asteria seized by the assaulting eagle; and beneath the swan's white wings showed Leda lying by the stream: and showed Jove [Zeus] dancing as a Satyr, when he sought the beautiful Antiope, to whom was given twins; and how he seemed Amphitryon when he deceived Alcmena; and how he courted lovely Danae luring her as a gleaming shower of gold; and poor Aegina, hidden in his flame, jove as a shepherd with Mnemosyne; and beautiful Proserpina [Persephone], involved by him, apparent as a spotted snake. And in her web, Arachne wove the scenes of Neptunus [Poseidon]:--who was shown first as a bull, when he was deep in love with virgin Arne then as Enipeus when the giant twins, Aloidae, were begot; and as the ram that gambolled with Bisaltis; as a horse loved by the fruitful Ceres [Demeter], golden haired, all-bounteous mother of the yellow grain; and as the bird that hovered round snake-haired Medusa, mother of the winged horse [Pegasos]; and as the dolphin, sporting with the Nymph, Melantho.--All of these were woven true to life, in proper shades. And there she showed Apollo, when disguised in various forms: as when he seemed a rustic; and as when he wore hawk-wings, and then the tawny skin of a great lion; and once more when he deluded Isse, as a shepherd lad. And there was Bacchus [Dionysos], when he was disguised as a large cluster of fictitious grapes; deluding by that wile the beautiful Erigone;--and Saturnus [Kronos (Cronus)], as a steed, begetter of the dual-natured Chiron. And then Arachne, to complete her work, wove all around the web a patterned edge of interlacing flowers and ivy leaves. Pallas could not find a fleck or flaw--even Envy can not censure perfect art--enraged because Arachne had such skill she ripped the web, and ruined all the scenes that showed those wicked actions of the gods; and with her boxwood shuttle in her hand, struck the unhappy mortal on her head,--struck sharply thrice, and even once again. Arachne's spirit, deigning not to brook such insult, brooded on it, till she tied a cord around her neck, and hung herself. Pallas moved to pity at the sight, sustained and saved her from that bitter death; but, angry still, pronounced another doom : ‘Although I grant you life, most wicked one, your fate shall be to dangle on a cord, and your posterity forever shall take your example, that your punishment may last forever!.’

Even as she spoke, before withdrawing from her victim's sight, she sprinkled her with juice--extract of herbs of Hecate. At once all hair fell off, her nose and ears remained not, and her head shrunk rapidly in size, as well as all her body, leaving her diminutive.--Her slender fingers gathered to her sides as long thin legs; and all her other parts were fast absorbed in her abdomen--whence she vented a fine thread;--and ever since, Arachne, as a spider, weaves her web. All Lydia was astonished at her fate the Rumor spread to Phrygia, soon the world was filled with fear and wonder. Niobe had known her long before,--when in Maeonia near to Mount Sipylus; but the sad fate which overtook Arachne, lost on her, she never ceased her boasting and refused to honor the great gods."

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bite-mi-nerva · 3 years

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welcome to the house of her royalest majesty minerva, me

you may bring food or you may leave

#you may also throw yourselves at my feet now #cat #cats #funny cats #cat tumblr #cats of tumblr #cute cat #cute cats #send food #her majesty minerva

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belovedrival · 10 months

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I hardly know what day it is.

We left home (our new house) at 4 am on June 29th to fly to California to visit Mister’s family. We flew back to St. Louis on July 7th and drove directly to my parents house for my family’s get together week. I love being with family (either side) but I’ll be happy to get back to our house and just our little family this weekend. That is, if Her Majesty Queen Minerva deigns to allow us back inside. 😳

#here’s hoping #minerva #she rules #family #visiting family #travel #memories #2023

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booksarelife-stuff · 2 years

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Dancing With Our Hands Tied-Chapter 4

Jily (James Potter/ Lily Evans)

Excerpt: It shouldn’t be as earth-shattering as it was to hear James just call her Lily, no honorifics, but it was. No Princess. No Your Royal Highness. Lily. Like he saw that there was a clear distinction he saw between who she actually was versus who everyone thought her to be. Could he see through her? Did he like what he saw?

Read on ao3 Previous Chapter Next Chapter Series Master List Master list

Chapter 4- picture of your face in an invisible locket

A new normal formed at an Amner Hall.

Instead of Hannah and Katie waking Lily up every morning, Lily awoke naturally at what she knew was an indecent hour in the late morning. And instead of breakfast being delivered into her room, Lily would die her dressing gown and walk down the stairs to see James flipping pancakes or Minerva making the strongest cup of tea Lily had ever seen.

She still had work to do. Meetings she attended for the charity through video chat, meetings she had with Alice, her stylist through facetime, and so many phone calls that Lily could hardly keep track.

Despite it all, Lily found herself on her sofa arguing about what to watch with James and Minerva while Fitz took turns cuddling with them.

It was nice, peaceful almost, in a way that Lily had never experienced before.

“Wait for the bubbles,” James instructed. “Once this side starts getting little holes, you’re ready to flip.”

Lily nodded, watching the pancake closely in the pan. Lily's kitchen skills were severely lacking so it had been a small goal of James’s to get her to learn some basics. He was very patient with her, more so than Lily thought she deserved.

The bubbles started popping and staying, she looked at James for confirmation and he nodded, a small smile on his face. Lily shoved the spatula under the flipped, only for half of it to fold in on itself. She looked at James, sad.

“So, you made the pancake too big,” James pointed out. “Let’s do a small one next time.”

“Why didn’t you say it was too big when I poured the batter?” Lily asked.

“I wanted you to learn, Princess,” James said, a smirk tugging up at his lips.

“Minerva, can we fire James for setting me up for failure?” Lily asked her equerry, who was sipping tea at the breakfast nook.

“No, Your Highness, but we can if he’s an ass,” Minerva replied dryly.

Lily turned to James, who looked affronted and laughed. “Ha!” she said waving the spatula at him.

“Minnie, I thought you were on my side here!” James said. “After all we’ve been through?”

Minerva rolled her eyes. “I’d suggest you take over, Captain Potter. The Princess has a phone call with Her Majesty in half an hour.”

Lily groaned and handed the spatula over to James. So much for a peaceful day.

~~~

Lily jumped from her resting place in her bay window as a black anorak hit her in the face. Lily let out a noise and quickly ripped the jacket off her head to see who would dare toss a jacket at her.

“You’re moping,” James said, hands on hips. He was already dressed for the outside with wellies, straight jeans, an old-looking jumper, and a raincoat. “Let’s go get some fresh air.”

“I’m not moping,” Lily said with a pointed frown, making no move to get up.

“You’re staring out the window like you're waiting for your sweetheart to return from the war,” James fired back.

Lily huffed. “I’m just…introspective right now.”

“Did the phone call with Her Majesty go that bad?” he asked, leaning against the wall in front of her.

She didn’t want to talk about it. The way her mother started out the conversation by reminding her about her duty to the crown. It almost felt like a delayed reprimanding and Lily wondered if Petunia got a call like this. Probably not, Lily knew.

“It’s just… I don’t like getting lectured for no reason,” Lily said evenly.

“There is a reason,” James said, crossing his arms and staring at her with his unrelenting gaze. “I’m so handsome that the media came up with the natural conclusion that you fell in love with me. Can’t say I blame them, any reasonable person would.”

Lily tossed the anorak back at him with a huff, hoping it distracted him from the bright blush on her cheeks. “I’m not in love with you.”

“I said reasonable person which you are far from, Your Highness.”

“Rude,” Lily said, standing up with a sigh. “Fine, but find me an umbrella.”

“Yes, Princess,” James said, with a shallow bow and winning smile on his face. “I’ll get Peter to follow behind us, too.”

It had been three days at Anmer Hall and Lily had no idea how she was going to survive five weeks here with just James and Minerva. There was a small staff and Lily’s security team that was in and out, but they were staying in the staff quarters at Sandringham, leaving the three of them together 24/7 now. Under normal circumstances, Lily would be thrilled at the privacy and fresh air Anmer Hall gave her, but the bitter sting of it being a punishment hadn’t been lost on her.

Lily went up to her room and changed into more outdoor appropriate clothes, taking a quick stop to give some pets to Fitz who was sleeping on her bed and met James at the front hall where he was chatting with Peter, an umbrella in his hand. It was odd to see them out of their three-piece suits, but Lily refused to enforce the dress code on them when they weren’t going to be seen. Lily couldn’t believe that James looked just as good in old jumper jeans as he did in a suit.

James’s attention pulled from Peter and he gave a warm smile to Lily, causing butterflies in her gut. She tried to keep her face neutral, but her lips tilted up in a smile anyway.

“Lead the way, your highness,” James said, opening the door and showing off the grey day that was waiting outside for them.

Anmer Hall was a gorgeous Georgian estate and it was promised to be Lily’s place of residence when she got married, whenever that may be. In the summertime, it was filled with lush gardens and emerald green grasses but with winter fast approaching, it was more of bare trees and the hardy shrubs that remained. It was still beautiful, in Lily’s opinion.

James walked beside her, holding the umbrella over both of them, protecting them from the light drizzle of rain. Their arms kept brushing, causing Lily’s heart rate to climb to new heights. She cleared her throat, breaking the silence as they rounded the corner, leading to the garden at the back of the house. The wind was cold, biting at their cheeks, but it wasn’t unbearable.

“Have you ever been to Norfolk before?” Lily asked, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her coat.

“Yeah, but it’s been a while. There’s a lot of Celtic history out here,” James said, simply.

Lily had known James was a huge history buff since, well, Marlene had stalked him on the internet and found out he had a degree in it, but it always managed to surprise her when he said little things like that. Maybe because Lily had some preconceived notion that people who were into history were either World War II buffs or such loyal monarchists that they were begging her to bring the Empire back to its former glory, not army captains that would inject little odd facts here and there.

“Interested in Celtic history?” Lily asked, glancing at him as she walked through a puddle. “I saw you reading a book about it on the train ride here.”

James hummed in the affirmative. “Yeah, I am,” he said after a moment. “I always wanted to do further research on them.”

“Why haven’t you?”

“Well, postgrad was a bit too expensive when I graduated and, well… I just didn’t know what to do with my life. I enlisted on a whim.”

Lily hummed. It made sense to her, in a way, that this wasn’t what James was passionate about, especially since it tended to contradict the mischief he would tell her about from his younger days. It contradicts the rigid nature of the army.

“Did you want to teach?” Lily asked. They entered the path that was lined with shrubs and led to the tennis courts that were tucked away in the trees.

“Maybe. Or work in museums or something like that. I haven’t put too much thought into it.”

Lily smiled and kept her gaze forward. “I could see you as a lecturer. You got the glasses and jumpers for it.”

“Are you insulting my fashion sense, Princess?”

“No, I’m saying you got the history professor vibe already in the works.”

He lightly elbowed her and they glanced at each other and laughed. Lily could feel her mood already lightening up.

A comfortable silence fell between them as they walked, the only sound was the light rain on the leaves that remained and the patter of it on the pavement.

“I know I teased you inside about moping, but are you okay? Are you truly miserable out here?” James asked, his voice low like he was scared people would hear him.

Lily pondered the question for a second, seeing if she could find a way to tell him what she felt in a way that made sense because the answer was half yes and half no. Or rather it wasn’t the fact that she was here per se.

“I love Anmer,” she began, thinking through her words carefully. “I don’t love being treated like a child, even if my temper did get the best of me.”

She took another deep breath. “I’m not miserable, I just feel…trapped.”

James looked at her, she could feel the heat of the gaze. There was a brief moment of panic in Lily’s mind that he was thinking “rich privileged white girl tears” or something. Before she could say that she understood that her life was easy compared to others, he spoke.

“I see that,” he said, nodding. “For you to leave the palace, I have to get several people’s permission and coordinate a team. You can’t just go and do a Tesco run like other people our age.”

Lily nodded, feeling something painful in her chest. “And I’m not ungrateful for the life I have, but I just…” She trailed off.

“I get it, Princess,” James reassured her, his tone leaving no room for doubt. He sighed deeply. “My brother…isn’t my brother by birth, have I told you that?”

He had mentioned his brother a million times before, but never that. She shot him a look.

“No, you haven’t.”

“Well, Sirius came from an aristocratic family. Or at least, a family who thought themselves to be.”

Lily looked at James, her brow furrowed. She had to spend quite a lot of time learning about all the noble families. She couldn’t remember Sirius being on one of the many lists.

“They didn’t have any titles, at least not anymore,” James added, sensing her confusion. “At least that’s my understanding of it. Sirius doesn’t talk about it often anymore.” He took a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say is, I watched Sirius suffer the consequences of having a family who is obsessed with a sense of duty. So, I get it, Princess.”

“Thank you,” Lily whispered, sneaking a glance over at him. He nudged her lightly with his elbow in acknowledgment. Her heart glowed with warmth.

“Do you play tennis?” James asked, changing the subject, nodding towards the tennis court that was in front of them. It was covered with dead leaves and the lines of the court were fading.

“When I was younger, but I had dreadful coordination and was rubbish at it,” she said, with a slight grimace. “This court is leftover from when it was my Great Aunt Princess Katherine’s residence.”

“What were your hobbies as a kid?”

She turned and gave him a look because every detail of her life had splashed on the front covers of newspapers and magazines since she was born.

“You can just find this information on the internet.”

James scoffed. “Why would I do that when I have the direct source?”

“You don’t want to see the archive of all my amazing accomplishments? Like riding horses when I was supposed to or getting prime photo opts with the latest Olympians who were trying to hide their grimaces every time I missed a ball?”

“I don’t want to know what Her Royal Highness the Princess Lily Jane Anne Margaret Elizabeth Evans-Windsor of Edinburgh’s childhood activities were,” James said, ticking her names off with his fingers. “I want to know what Lily’s were.”

It shouldn’t be as earth-shattering as it was to hear James just call her Lily, no honorifics, but it was. No Princess. No Your Royal Highness. Lily. Like he saw that there was a clear distinction he saw between who she actually was versus who everyone thought her to be. Could he see through her? Did he like what he saw?

Clearly, she had been too quiet for a long time because James stopped walking.

“Are you okay, Princess? Am I not allowed to ask that?” he asked, brown eyes searching her face, his brows furrowed in concern. Lily turned to face him automatically, too close to be looking face to face with someone with whom she had specific orders to keep things professional between them.

She shook her head and schooled her features, pushing her thoughts away. “No, you’re fine. I mostly just wanted to read and Minerva would hold my books hostage so I could go to tennis or horseback riding lessons. I played violin, too. I wanted to do karate but got denied.”

“Ah, that’s why you don’t know how to throw a punch,” James said, with a teasing smirk on his face, his dimple popping out in full glory.

“Excuse me,” Lily said, her mouth hanging open. “I know how to throw a punch! I just hit the guy too hard!”

He had the audacity to scoff at her. “Make a fist right now.”

Lily lifted her right hand and made a fist, curling her fingers over her thumb that was tucked nicely against her palm. She presented her fist to James. He looked at it, unimpressed before setting the umbrella down and gently grabbing her wrist.

Lily forgot how to breathe as his fingers circled her wrist, warm despite the chill of the weather and the rain. Her eyes glanced up and he gave her a little smile before speaking again.

“That’s why you broke your thumb—” his other hand came up and brushed gently across her knuckles, leaving a trail of fire on her skin. “—all the force came back on your thumb.”

She never noticed how long his fingers were until they were uncurling her very own, and moving her thumb. There was a drag on a callous of against her palm and she suppressed a shiver from up her spine as he curled her fingers back down.

“This is a proper fist for a punch,” he said, oblivious to the fact that Lily was hardly breathing let alone listening to him. “You want to use the flat part here—” his fingers dragged across her fingers and knuckles. “—or here because you run the risk of breaking all your fingers.”

James finally looked at her and she could have sworn his breath caught and suddenly the air felt charged as he held her gaze, like lightning was about to strike them. She saw his Adam’s apple bob, her eyes drawn to the motion. She released the fist she had been holding and James’s grip on her wrist loosened and then slid up until their palms were together, his fingers towering over hers.

It was when her eyes trailed back up and looked into those endless brown eyes that she realised she was treading in dangerous waters. Not just for her, but for him as well.

She retracted her hand and took a step back, turning her head to look anywhere but him. It took her a second to find her voice.

“Well, hopefully, I’ll never have to punch someone again,” she said.

“Hopefully,” James echoed.

James and Lily went to the kitchen to make some hot tea and found Minerva sitting at the island, typing away on her computer with the speed of light.

“Enjoy your walk?” Minerva asked, not looking at them.

“It was nice to get some fresh air,” Lily replied diplomatically. “Did you get a lot of work done?”

Minerva scoffed. “There is always more work to be done, Your Highness.”

“Amen,” James replied from where he was filling the kettle at the sink.

Lily ignored them, opting to go to the cupboard and get a package of biscuits down, placed on the lowest shelf just for her. There was a little jingling and Fitz made his entrance into the kitchen, meowing loudly. Lily placed the biscuits down and scooped Fitz up, holding him like a baby.

James put the kettle on while Lily smothered Fitz with her love until she jumped violently at the sound of a car door slamming outside. She looked at James and Minerva, her brows furrowed.

“Do we have visitors?” Lily asked.

“Go check,” Minerva said, not looking up. James didn’t say anything.

Lily set Fitz down and walked down the hall to the front entrance. She heard the front door open and two familiar voices. Lily gasped, excited as she heard Marlene’s deep laugh and Mary’s voice.

“What are you guys doing here?” Lily asked, launching herself towards them.

“Surprise!” Marlene and Mary said, throwing up their hands.

“Did you think we’d let you suffer through exile without us?” Marlene asked, hugging Lily tightly.

“Especially five weeks,” Mary tacked on as she made it a group hug.

“How long are you here for?” Lily asked.

“Just a week,” Marlene said, pulling away with a small frown.

It wasn’t anything to frown about though. A week alone with her friends was a luxury she hadn’t been afforded since uni. She would take a weekend with them.

Lily showed them where their rooms were and then they all piled on Lily’s bed to really catch up. Marlene had hilarious stories about the football team she was an assistant coach too. Mary caught Lily up on things at the charity and the preparations to celebrate every holiday around this time for the kids.

They didn’t leave her room until it was dark outside and their stomachs were rumbling. They went downstairs, in hopes of finding Minerva and convincing her to let them get take-away but instead found James in the living room, reading with Fitz curled up on his lap sleeping.

And oh, Lily had been so caught up with Marlene and Mary being here that she forgot James was here. And they almost kissed. And Marlene stalked him extensively online. In fact, the whole concept of Marlene and James meeting made a stab of panic go through her gut because this was surely a one-way ticket for Lily to get embarrassed.

Lily turned around, ready to tell Marlene not to, but her blue eyes were already gleaming with mischief.

“Oi, Potter,” Marlene addressed them like they were old mates. James looked up, mild confusion on his face as Marlene sat on the sofa next to him, her legs crossed and arm on the back of the couch like she was trying to establish dominance. Fitz hopped off his lap and landed on the floor with a solid thump. ��I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you yet.”

“No, you haven’t,” James said, looking vaguely amused, setting his book down beside him. “Miss McKinnon, I take it?”

“Just Marlene if you will,” Marlene said, looking indifferent. “I have a few questions for you.”

Oh no, Lily thought. She glanced at Mary to see her looking amused and whispered “traitor” towards her. They planned this on their way here.

“Ask away,” James said, making her causal and dominant look by copying her pose.

“If someone were to attack Lily, what would you do?” Marlene asked. Lily groaned and Mary giggled.

“Attack in what way?” James asked.

“Let’s say she’s walking somewhere and someone charges at her.”

“From the front? Back? Side? Does he have a weapon?”

“Assuming her attacker is male? Interesting, Potter,” Marlene said, raising an eyebrow. “Back.”

“I believe the security team would handle a threat coming from the back by tackling him to the ground,” James replied.

“What if they bypass the team?”

“Marlene, you won’t intimidate him,” Lily called. But she was definitely going to embarrass Lily to the extreme.

“Well, this must be quite a threat if the attacker can bypass a huge security team,” James said.

“It happened before,” Marlene said, deadly serious now. “Or did you forget?”

Now Lily could see the genuine concern coming from Marlene. James saw it too, a softened a bit but still serious.

“I understand the concern,” James said. “I take this job very seriously and I have fixed the errors that went unchecked from the previous team. As long as I’m in charge, nothing like that will happen to the Princess again. You have my word.”

Lily felt frozen, watching James speak so serious about her, about her safety. It felt exactly like the almost kiss, the way she was captivated by him and his earnest face. His eyes flickered towards her and took her breath away.

“Alright,” Marlene said, accepting his answer. “But if you break your word, I will hunt you down.”

James looked back at Marlene and laughed. “Why didn’t they hire you for her security?”

“I’m banned from the palace on Tuesdays,” Marlene said with a shrug. James looked startled.

“Only on Tuesdays?”

Mary snorted. “Oh, that’s a fun story,” she said, going to sit on the sofa next to Marlene. Lily followed her, snapping out of her daze.

“Picture this, Potter,” Marlene’s storytelling voice made an appearance. “I’m 19 and I somehow become mates with a Princess. Said Princess has this brilliant idea to take Mary and me to Buckingham.”

Lily giggled a bit at the memory. Mary held back a laugh. James looked mildly concerned.

“Lily is giving us a tour and Mary and I are stunned by all this art on the walls,” Marlene continued. “You’ve seen it. It’s like every portrait ever made of all the white people in the world. Then suddenly, we see this vase that does not look like it was made by an English person.”

Mary laughed, loudly.

“So, I turned to my beloved mate of a Princess and I say ‘You probably should give that back,’” Marlene paused as James laughed a bit. “And then we hear this old man scoff and we turn around and see the Prime Minister.”

James laughed. “Oh no.”

“So anyway, I’m not allowed in the palace when the Prime Minister is there,” Marlene finished.

“She was completely banned for a while,” Lily piped up. “But I got her sentence reduced.”

“I stand by my crimes,” Marlene said, sticking her nose into the air. “I would do it again.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t threaten her with Bernard,” James said to Lily, smiling. Lily waved him off.

“Bernard is a recent hire.”

“Oh, so you hired him just to be my executioner,” James said, nodding. “I see how it is.”

Lily ignored the pointed stares from her friends. “Anyway, do you fancy getting some takeaway?”

~~~

They stumbled back up to Lily’s room around midnight. A little tipsy from the two bottles of wine they finished between the three of them, still laughing from Marlene telling James that she stalked him extensively on the internet, ending with “Your childhood home had a nice layout.”

Lily flopped down on her bed, startling Fitz, and laughing.

Marlene and Mary flopped down, too, and let Lily’s laughter die down.

“I never did thank Minerva for getting you guys here,” Lily said with a sigh, looking at her friends.

“It wasn’t Minerva,” Marlene said. “James contacted us to see if we could spend some time here.”

James. Of course, it was James. It made her heart swoop in a painful way. “Oh,” Lily said, her voice breaking a bit.

“Spill,” Mary said, reading Lily’s expression.

“Spill what?” Lily asked, looking at her friends in caution.

“You like him,” Marlene pointed out. “More than just a security guard.”

And all at once, all the happiness Lily felt seeped out of her.

“Guys,” she cautioned, sitting up. Mary sighed.

“You’re allowed to have feelings,” Mary said, softly. They had had this conversation a million times before but now it felt too real. This was more than just having a passing fancy for a person in her uni class.

“We almost kissed,” the words left her mouth. “And I… I really wanted it to happen.”

“Why didn’t it?” Marlene asked as if things were that simple. “He obviously likes you, Lily.”

Lily shook her head. “It can’t happen.”

“Why not?” Marlene asked.

Lily gestured around. “I got punished because the media thought we were together. I don’t imagine Clarence House would be too happy if that was real.”

“Why not?” Mary said this time. “He’s not married or divorced. He has a respectable career. The only thing he’s missing is a fancy title, but I thought that didn’t matter anymore.”

Lily rubbed her temples. “It’s… It’s more complicated than that.”

“How?” Marlene asked.

Lily took a second to find her words. “Sure, maybe my family would approve of him, but that’s the biggest hurdle. I can’t subject him to this life.”

They fell quiet, Mary resting her head on her shoulder. Marlene sighed. They had seen how much this life took from Lily. How could she ever bring someone she truly cared about to be part of this family?

“We just want you to be happy,” Marlene said.

“I know,” Lily said. “But it can’t happen.”

~~~

Surprisingly, the rest of her exile flew by. Inbetween Mary and Marlene, and meetings, mid-December approached quickly.

Lily let herself be happy. She let herself be friendly with James, let walls come down brick by brick. She let herself savor this time because the expiration date was approaching quickly.

And soon enough, her own suitcase was getting packed to be loaded on a train to get to Scotland for the holidays. And James was packing his own to spend Christmas with his family.

He had days off before of course. James wasn’t enslaved to the crown. It had always been a day here or there, but now it was a full week. Selfishly, she going to miss him. Balmoral was stiff and stuffy and the only possible friend she could have there would be gone until Boxing day.

Lily was packing her suitcase when there was a timid knock on her door.

“Come in,” she called, turning around to see James enter her room, a wrapped present in his hand with a bag slung over his shoulder.

“The car’s almost here,” he said, a small nervous smile on his face. “I wanted to say bye.”

“Oh,” Lily said. “I hope you have a happy Christmas.”

“Thanks. You too.”

Lily bit her lip as James took a deep breath and stepped more into the room.

“I… I didn’t know if it was okay to get you something for Christmas,” James began, looking down at the thin wrapped rectangle in his hands. “Minerva said it was a little unprofessional and not done, but I couldn’t resist.”

Lily’s heart jumped into her throat as James handed her the present. She hesitated to take it.

“I didn’t get you anything,” she whispered in response.

“I didn’t expect you to,” he replied, just as soft.

She took the present but didn’t move her eyes from his face. He looked so unsure of himself.

“Thank you, James. It means a lot.”

He gave a nervous laugh. “I wouldn’t say that until you open it.”

“You want me to open it now?”

“If you want,” he said, smiling.

Just as Lily went to rip the paper, a shout came from downstairs. James gave her an apologetic look. He needed to go.

“Open it and tell me thank you on Boxing Day, okay?” he said.

Lily nodded and another voice called down for him.

James leaned in slowly and Lily wanted. She wanted to feel his lips against hers and have him take her breath away for real. She wanted to know what he tasted like, what it felt like to be kissed by him.

She closed her eyes in anticipation only to feel the brush of his lips against her cheek, so far away from where she wanted him.

“Have a happy Christmas, Princess,” James whispered, his breath fanning against her cheek.

She opened her eyes just to watch him leave, holding back words, or the urge to follow him and kiss him.

Once he was gone, Lily sat down on her bed, all thoughts gone except James, hugging the present to her chest.

She opened it with shaky hands and a breathless laugh left her. It was a thin book made for children. Karate for Beginners, the title read with a stock image of a kid doing a pose. She laughed and smiled as she cracked open the book to see messy handwriting on the inside cover.

Princess,

Even if you don’t know how to make a fist, you’re still one of the bravest people I have ever met.

Page 27 shows how to make a fist. I will be testing you after the holidays.

Have a Happy Christmas.

James

Lily stared at it for who knows how long until she made a decision.

She wanted to be happy.

#jily #jily fanfic #jily fanfiction #jily fic #james x lily #James Potter #Lily Evans #Lily Evans Potter #James Potter/Lily Evans #marauders era #hp fanfic #dancing with our hands tied

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