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elliepassmore · 1 year

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Graceling Review

5/5 Stars Recommended if you like: fantasy, magic, political intrigue, adventure, powers Fire review here

I'm shocked I haven't written a review for Graceling or Bitterblue yet considering I first read them almost a decade ago at this point, back when they were still called the Seven Kingdoms triloy and not the Graceling Realm, lol. This book centers on Katsa and Po, who also recur in 3 of the 5 books of the series, though not as main characters. There is a plot in the book, and a pretty big one, but like a lot of the books in this series, it's also very character-driven. A large portion of the book is dedicated to Katsa defining who she is and who she wants to be, all while also tackling the other parts of the plot. Katsa is very prototypically your average badass/strong female lead. That being said, she never does capitulate to the not-like-other-girls behavior that became common in the late-00s/early-2010s. Katsa is impulsive and easily frustrated, though her anger is something she works on throughout the book and she becomes better at holding it back. Despite all the terrible things she's done for her uncle, King Randa, she's desperate to do good things and will put herself on the line to do so. She definitely shows a lot of growth in this book as she figures out the limits (and truth) of her Grace and works on responding better to situations and growing beyond the role she'd felt relegated to her whole life. Katsa still has work to do at the end of the book, but she has a better handle on things and there's a clear difference in her reactions to things. Po comes in as a somewhat mysterious character from the beginning, but quickly emerges as one of the main characters of the book. Like Katsa, he's exceptionally good at fighting, and the two of them bond over their ability to spar relatively equally. He's fairly open for a character that holds some secrets, and he provides a more measured, calm foil to Katsa. He clearly respects Katsaand values her opinion, which is important. He has a generally amicable attitude that I find enjoyable to read. I like Katsa and Po together and have since I first read the book in middle school. I think it's good that they found a setup that works for them, and honestly don't understand why people get so huffy about it. They won't get married, sure, but they're definitely committed to one another and are satisfied with having a sometimes-long-distance relationship. Based on what both Katsa and Po say during the book, the solution they come up with suits them the best. Bitterblue is a nice addition to the 'main' cast about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through the book. She's Po's cousin and a princess (and 10 years old), but she's got a level head and handles the situations that get thrown at her with remarkable grace. Bitterblue understands the gravity of things and grows to trust Po and Katsa, and even becomes close to them. That being said, she also has her moments of levity or when she's a bit more kid-like, and she has some funny lines to add to the book. I was pleased when originally reading the series that she got her own book set when she's older. Raffin was also a side character who provided some levity, though he's mostly in the first third of the book. He's one of Katsa's few friends and another character that appears in most of the books. He clearly cares a lot about her and respects her opinion, and I enjoy reading their banter. Contrastingly, Giddon is not a character I (nor Katsa) particularly enjoy. He's frequently snarking on/criticizing Katsa, and on top of it he has some pretty male-centric views. Luckily he isn't in the book long, but he is a character that shows up briefly in Bitterblue, and then again in Winterkeep and Seasparrow as a more major character in both (and he is much more likeable in Seasparrow, tbd about Winterkeep). I like the little Easter eggs that connect this book to the sequel/prequel/companion Fire and how despite them, this book still stands on its own. The main antagonist is wrapped up in the plot in a couple of different ways, some of which aren't explained until fairly late in the novel. He's also a quality antagonist, and has a significantly different feel than the antagonists in the other books of the series. He's definitely the most sinister of them, imo based on the four books I've read, and I'd say he's definitely a quality villain. I greatly enjoy Graceling and find both the characters and the plot engaging. Katsa is a ball of energy and kind of larger than life, but I think she's balanced out well with characters who are more mild, but still individual, and you can definitely see her character growth over the course of the book.

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elara-arche · 3 years

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Your,,,, your banner color has changed,,,, I was not ready for it and it’s one in the morning,,,

… spooky,,

i am very scary, it is true.

also why are you on fucking tumblr at one in the morning. go to bed, katsa. go to BED.

#ONE #IN THE MORNING???#/nm /nm /nm don't worry about it #jkhasjkghdfjk #katsa-calming #answered #katsa #kats art

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aromantic-angel · 2 years

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Ok I'm seeing a lot of ace attorney posts on my dash and I've never seen/played anything associated with the franchise but I can tell you that These Lawyers Are Gay.

#ace attorney #just me things #this one goes out to tumblr user katsa-calming

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lavenderblight · 3 years

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Here’s my dog being strange for the soul

I love them :cryyell: so goofy <33 thank you!!!

#katsa calming #ask

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flower-zombie-rob · 3 years

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God

This is just unreal i dont deserve thissssss

I never thought i would reac this point. Back in 2017 when i started tumblr i had no idea it would get this far. I had no clue i would reach these kind of numbers. There are so many people who have stuck by me for so long and people and supported me all theough this journey to 400, which is an increadible, unbelievable number! I has no idea people would engage in my ocs, take an intrest in my art, request me to draw things, all those things I'd been wishing someone would do when i had no less than 20 followers. My arts been developing over the years and it feels so validating to finally feel like i have the availability to call myself a real artist. To feel like I'm up there with some of the other well-known jse artists, it makes me feel so included as part of the community. To any small tumblr blogs that are working on building a following, please, never give up on it. There were so many times i thought about giving up on this whole tumblr art thing and ive always constantly compared myself to others, but reaching a point like this has shown me that there are no true limits to what you can acheive, the recognition you can get, for not giving up on stuff like this. It makes me so happy that with this following ill be able to give underrated artists the recognition they deserve through my blog and make people happy with my art.

I want to individually think every single one of you for being a part of this fantastic milestone and helping me achieve this, i honestly couldn't do it without each and every one of you.

@scubacatwoman @fallling-in-winter @libragymjock @7spaceace7 @reddoods @acauticamber06 @sibling-ursidae @rebastone @10th-no-name-person @itsyaboijack @cuttyren @l-edgy @spacenerdslibrary @im-a-creepy-cookie @katsa-calming @hypno-creator-party-expert @anowerparvej @graycious-bear @theseventhreincarnation @cryptidofthekeys @passgun29 @theonlyjelly-iwillput-inmybelly @doces-e--tuga @happypapi17 @astar123456 @queer-and-longing @coloursoftrees @rayanicaraynbow @the-huge-jam-jar @flipthisstuffimout @pancreaseyes @ignoremeeeeplsssss @lemonlinelights @the-chemist @campcampshits @strears @monstermemories @additionallook43 @fandomfluidartist @egghomicide @eonthewingedwolf @nightmareeyest @nearestcage39 @tacticalwingnut @larrydonfan @akhbarskunk @anxiousghostie @keexnposts @sandinthetardis @criku @themagicalspacenerd @brobie @irisledragon2570 @blossomapollo @odd-animations @tenderestdino @xxeyeoftheauroraxx @gigipachan-jill42 @teamfreewill66 @the-koffin-king

Ill continue to tag, but thank you all so much for being a part of this, i really couldnt ask for anything more you amazing beautiful sweet people of tumblr. Thank you so much. 💕💙💚🧡💜💘❤💓💖💛💗

#zombie draws

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theimprobabledreamersworld · 3 years

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Thank you for tagging me in the original self-love message game you got @katsa-calming 😄 I loved your 5 things that you love about yourself! I thought it would be easier to make a new tag chain, because the answer I made replying to the original ask was causing problems in terms of layout, and it really didn’t like me tagging so many people, so I decided to just make a new post!

The goal of this is to list 5 things you find positive about yourself, or just like about yourself! :)

Here are mine, I've never been great at talking positive about myself, so this is kinda tricky... But here we go! 😅

I'm pretty good at helping others if they're having a bad day or need advice.

I'd like to think I'm good at my jobs!

I think I'm good at making litographs.

I hope people see me as a nice, approachable person- which is what I always try to be as much as I can...

I see myself as a good musician, even though at 16 years+ of playing, I'm still learning new things all the time which I enjoy!

I'll tag some people, only do this if you want to though! My brain is fried from 3 days of 12 hour shifts so I'm sorry if I've forgotten people I would normally tag! If you see this and want to join the chain, then consider yourself tagged by me! ☺️

@writerwithtoomanyships @yeetinguntil3am @longassnamewiththewordgayinit @patt-off @the-duke-of-nuts @psychedelicships @dramaticsnakes @shinekittenace @icantthinkofacreativeurl @just-a-scared-ace

I wanna see a lot of self-positivity on my dash! ☺️ Everyone deserves to love themselves, because we are all wonderful and unique in so many different ways! 💜💜💜

#tag game #Positivity #being positive

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willowstea · 3 years

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10, 35, 88 <3

10. Hike to a mountain top to watch the sunrise or drive out of town to stargaze?

Hike 100%. I wouldn't even know where to drive, but I know some great hiking spots in my area. I normally hike to watch the sunset though since I find them prettier. Also, water's super calm at night so you can kayak out and see some amazing sunsets.

35. Who are your top 5 celebrity crushes?

Honestly, I'm not even sure I know what a crush is. I don't know any of them personally so I can only say based on their social media presence whether or not I like them.

I guess maybe Chris Evans and Idina Menzel since I've either had or am in the middle of a super obsessive phase for them. There was a female dancer on Dancing With The Stars I liked a lot when I was around 11. I don't remember her name.

88. What’s your fictional OTP?

Robin and Regina form Once Upon a Time

Josh/Liz and Josh/Beth from If/Then, also David/Lucas.

Katsa/Po from the Graceling Realm.

There's more but I'm probably forgetting.

Thanls for submitting these <3

Ask Game

#ask hester #willow's tea #gallagherfionas

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byastrodust · 3 years

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I’ve read Graceling by Kristin Cashore so you don’t have to

I wanted to love this book, I really did. My Mum loved the main character and the love story, so I was confident it will be a good read. Well, it wasn’t.

Here you have the main character, Katsa, who’s a graceling whose grace is fighting and she is used by her uncle, the king to carry our his punishments. I won’t go into the details because I simply cannot be bothered to waste time on it.

Here’s why I hated the book (in my usual bulletpoint messy delivery)

Katsa is intended to be a stong powerful female mc, instead she is a bully

every bit of inconvenience or annoyance she contemplates violence

seriously, if you look at Katsa a way she doesn’t appreciate she will image knocking all your teeth out

at one point she got upset by the king and the male MC tried to calm her and reason with her, in a total non-condescending manner and Katsa got annoyed so she slapped him across the room worrying she might’ve broken his jaw

this dude, Po, end up as her love interest

now imagine if Katsa was the dude and Po the female. we would be boycotting this book, instead I’m expected to applaud the feminism ™️, the gender nonconformity ™️ (pls @ me, I’ve written a whole thesis on gender nonconforming female fantasy/dystopian characters)

Po is a graceling too but only two people know about what his real grace is, it’s all for self protection, because he would be used and hunted if people knew about his real ability

so Katsa, our dear Katsa flips the fuck out when she figures it out, because Po had the AUDACITY not to tell her his biggest secret after hanging out for a couple of months. I mean THE AUDACITY.

Katsa doesn’t want to marry because it would tie her to her husband and strip her from her freedom

Katsa doesn’t want kids, and never really explains why but she doesn’t want them

she hates dressing up, getting her hair done, doing hot girl shit

Katsa is essentially a stereotypical misogynistic man at heart wrapped in a female character because feminism UwU

Katsa’s entire character chews on feminism, swallows it, half-digests it, regurgitates and chews one more time before serving it to you for dinner (you’re welcome for the image)

Katsa amd Po had no chemistry at all, I am unconvinced they love each other and all their physical contact was cringy as hell

Po loses his sight bc why exactly? so I will feel bad for him? so Katsa can pity the damsel in distress a little more?

the pacing was so confusing, many things left unexplored (khm Raffin/Bann) but I’m not complaining bc one another chapter and I would’ve never finished the book

can you tell I hated Katsa more fiercely than I ever hated any character?

honestly, she’s a bully who relies on aggression and violence to get her way and she moans about being a monster but doesn even move a single finger to change her fucked up mindset. Again, every time someone does something that doesn’t serve her interest she wants to hit them and hit them hard

oh even Po, the man she supposedly loves... he basically gives her his castle and titles and shit bc he wants her to be secure in case he dies in the woods (where she left him to die btw, anyway that plotline made no sense at all) and when she finds out she’s like “I will kill him and hit him bc he had THE AUDACITY to do something nice for me. fuck him, really”

A BIG HUGE FUCK YOU TO KATSA

whoever thinks that Katsa is a strong female character and this is how feminine power should be exlpored in literature, hmu I’ll give you a list of titles that actually portray women as powerful without turning them into a internalised-misogynistic bullies

on the flip side, I loved Raffin and it was a huge bummer nothing ever came out (😏) of his gay subplot. give me the damn Raffin x Bann spin-off.

If you liked this book, good for you! I would’ve probably liked the premis and the plot if not for the atrocious main character. But we win some and we lose some and my past 6 book track record was so great I was bound to read something awful.

#graceling #kristin cashore #katsa #po #review #bitterblue

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closetgremlin · 5 years

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More Graceling thoughts!

I think that Kat is a bit touch-starved (that’s the word, isn’t it?). On page 46, “A sort of sad gladness” wells up in Katsa when little Lanie wants to shake her hand. Then on page 95, Kat is very surprised when Po touches her face, seemingly even more so when he seems very calm about it - “[…] and he looked at her calmly, as if this were normal, as if friends she’d only just made always touched her face with their fingertips. As if she ever made friends.” (Emphasis mine). Personally, I think the shock is partially from being touch-starved? Like she gets it so infrequently that anything is surprising, so that’s why she seems a bit overwhelmed by it. That’s all the examples I can think of for now.

I like Raff! He accidentally dyed his hair blue. And he seems nice and funny.

Po’s name is? Well it’s very different. “Greening Grandmalion.” I wonder where “Po” comes from then? Like, where did he get that name? Is it from a secret middle name? A childhood nickname? I’m curious

Helda seems nice, as well. Well-meaning, for sure (like how she sees Kat as both a killer and a lady, even though Kat doesn’t seem to see herself as a lady).

I think Giddon is in love with Kat. Helda mentions how she thinks he finds Kat pretty (page 63), and then later (page 89-90) he seems personally offended when he learns that the scratch on Kat’s face was from sparring with Po. Kat thinks it’s silly that he’s so personally offended, and that the small scratch had been seemingly turned into something that didn’t involve her at all.

I’ll have to continue this later, see y’all

#miro commentates #miro reads #graceling #color font

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jinlian · 6 years

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i’ve been thinking a bit about how i’ve sometimes seen po portrayed as like the wet blanket of his relationship with katsa, how he’s cool and logical and puts the brakes on katsa’s wild tendencies and that is SO untrue in fact the one time someone suggested to his face that he had “tamed” katsa it was katsa who had to calm down po’s urge to fly into a rage and deck that person in the face

po tells katsa “the moment you came barreling into my life i was lost” and i think that’s really important phrasing. she’s intense, she’s impulsive, she’s bullheaded, and po loves that. he falls in love with katsa barreling into an enemy king’s territory, knocking him out cold, shooting arrows in the dark and wrestling him in the mud. po teases her about riding too hard or hunting geese bare-handed but it’s all done in affectionate admiration and he never tells her to stop wading into ponds to catch fish with her hands. in fact he sits back on a riverbank and just watches her, hair wild and pants rolled up and dripping wet, and tells her how beautiful and wonderful she is. eight years down the line in their relationship and he’s the one hurling her into fountains in the middle of a courtyard, flipping her off a couch and wrestling her to the ground, po is often just as ridiculous and impulsive as katsa! and that’s why they work.

what po has provided “rationally” for katsa is a way of looking at herself in a new light and how she views herself in relation to others. and he does that by talking katsa up and by seeing the good in all that she already is and telling her that. he encourages her to defy randa by emphasizing her power and the fact that no one can make her do anything. he suggests she reconsider what her grace is by looking at it in a different light and considering things she hadn’t before. when he encourages her friendship or her patience he never derides her initial conclusions, he just... says how he’s feeling. as po himself puts it, he might seem to have an easier time sorting through difficult feelings, but it’s just because he’s necessarily had more practice in it.

po is just as ridiculous and impulsive, he’s just better at hiding it. and he loves everything about katsa’s larger-than-life, wet-wildcat-skidding-on-your-hardwood-floor personality and has from the very beginning. let him!!!

#graceling

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adhd-headcanons · 6 years

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katsa from graceling comes off as very adhd to me? (im only partway thru graceling mind you) but

* uses repetitive physical activities (walking, pacing, training etc) to calm herself when she’s stressed

* hyperfocuses on her physical training

* anger/irritability issues

* constant impulsive thoughts

* rsd at times (ie when giddon criticizes her)

* trouble with social cues

* hyperactive/impulsive

you could argue this is for upbringing/etc reasons but i love the phrase Why Not Both? so

#submission #adhd headcanon #katsa #graceling #trans-kennith-simmons #i also love the phrase why not both =)

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elara-arche · 3 years

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Once you get this you have to say five things you like about yourself, then send this to ten of your favourite followers

I will aggressively make you compliment yourself fuck you

hair, humor, good sense of character, sheer unearned confidence, and general self-awareness.

fuck you too! <3

#katsa-calming #katsa tag #asks #answered #i don't. have 10 followers but i'll try fkjdhfkjhskj

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i-am-too-sick · 6 years

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And They Failed

I pulled this off my AO3 because I’m rereading the series and, yeah…I just felt like posting it here too. This was actually the first emeto piece I ever wrote and honestly, I’m curious of the kind of reception it’s going to get on here.

It was not often that Raffin began a project without first talking it through with Bann, but it was even more of a sight to have Raffin staring manically down at his work, his hands moving feverishly through supplies.

“What are you working on?” Bann asked, unable to contain his curiosity any further.

“It seems my father has a touch of indigestion.”

“Yes, what of it?”

“Did you see how he picked at his food? He took cautionary measures in choosing to eat the blandest of foods provided to him.”

“If you noticed all this, why didn’t you inquire upon it?”

“And incur Randa’s wrath and feel his heated gaze all through dinner? No thank you.”

Raffin tinkered with several vials in silence, turning some every which way and adding drops here and there. Finally, he poured everything together and stared at it dubiously.

“What are you doing?” Bann asked again.

“If I can create a concoction to cure, or even reduce, his nausea,” Raffin said, never once taking his eyes off the drink before him, “then I’ll be Father’s favorite again.”

Bann snorted. “You are his only son. How can you not be his favorite?”

Here, Raffin looked up, an air of annoyance plainly visible in his raised eyebrow.

“Certainly you know of whom you are speaking.”

“You’re an incorrigible idiot, you know that?”

Raffin smiled.

When Raffin was complete, he took the vial and swished the liquid inside. “It’s finished.”

“How do you know it’ll work?”

“I never give anything to anyone unless I first know of its effectiveness.” At Bann’s quizzical stare, Raffin added, “I test it on myself of course. Are you, by chance, feeling nauseated, Bann?”

Bann swallowed. “I admit I’m feeling a bit queasy just thinking about it.”

“Perfect.”

–

Raffin sat beside his father at dinner, drowning out his insufferable bragging, as per usual. Raffin picked at his food, not particularly interested in it this evening. His mind was currently preoccupied with other things, things that were not appropriate for dinnertime discussion. Or rather, anytime discussion if he was to become king. If only Randa knew what he did in the privacy of his own bedchambers.

He sighed, his stomach making a nauseous gurgling as he thought about the consequences. He put a hand to his stomach, a gesture he was grateful was concealed by the large table before him.

The meal continued as per usual, an affair not escaped by Raffin. His father talked little of him and even less to him, for which Raffin was obliged, considering how awful he had been feeling throughout the course of dinner. Once, when his glass was being refilled with more wine, Raffin found himself having to turn away to avoid losing it all over his dinner plate. He was suddenly stricken with a headache that only worsened with the commotion around him.

“Raffin?”

At the sound of his name, the noise began to die down, but all Raffin really heard was the pounding happening between his ears. He let out a soft moan.

“Lord Prince, are you all right?”

Raffin turned to the source of the voice. It was Randa.

“My apologies,” he said after taking a moment to collect his thoughts. “I’m afraid I’m not–”

He let a tiny belch escape him, and then vomited across his lap. Appalled, he stood clumsily from the table, his last meal still spilling from his lips. He shut his eyes to block out the disgusted look presumably on Randa’s face, but he was distracted by the splattering sounds against the tile and the sounds of several chairs scooting back away from their tables.

When he looked up, his father had stood and backed away several paces from him. This explained why Raffin had heard other chairs and people milling about. Too bad he was too busy heaving his guts to contemplate the formalities of the court.

He gave a final hiccup and sucked in a shuddering breath. He stood for a moment trying to catch his breath, and then awkwardly excused himself to his rooms.

Before he even entered his rooms, the sounds of retching were already audible. Clutching at his midsection, Raffin slowly stumbled inside. The sight of his sitting room sofa was more than inviting, but down the hall, Bann vomited again, leaving Raffin no other choice but to check up on his friend.

He found Bann sprawled on the floor, doubled over a chamber pot. At Raffin’s approach, Bann turned to him, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His face was pale and sweaty.

“I’ll always hate you for this,” Bann muttered. He groaned and leaned forward.

Raffin smiled and probably would have laughed, but he had the distinctive feeling that he was going to be sick again. He staggered towards Bann and relinquished his stomach the last of his meal. Bann was close to follow.

–

An hour later, a healer came into Raffin’s rooms. Both he and Bann had finished being sick long ago and were planning on spending the rest of the evening resting and recuperating from the effects of the infusion. Raffin laid unmoving in his bed, while Bann dozed on the sofa.

Raffin peeled his eyes open groggily at the healer’s touch to his arm. He knew instantly that Randa had only sent her to keep up the pretense that he cared and would not let his only heir suffer at the hands of some vomiting sickness.

“Lord Prince,” the girl said, carefully, before she began her examination.

The healer girl, whose name currently escaped Raffin, evaluated his condition and tended to him to the best of her knowledge and ability. Raffin purposefully forget to mention that this was all due to another one of his experiments; it seemed that Randa had never truly forgiven Raffin for his blue hair, so Raffin found it easier for everyone if he just kept his hobbies to himself.

“Are you currently experiencing any abdominal pain, Prince Raffin?”

“My muscles are a little sore there,” Raffin admitted.

Honestly, he hadn’t hurt this badly since their first Council victory several years ago and Katsa and Bann had taken him out to celebrate. Then there was the time before that when he turned the legal drinking age. He groaned, rolling over onto his back.

“Any fever?”

Raffin shook his head. “How is Bann?”

“Your health proceeds that of others, I’m afraid. King Randa requests an update on your well-being as soon as possible.”

“Amelia,” Raffin said, the girl’s name coming to him just then. “Surely the king can wait another five minutes?”

“No. I have my orders.”

Raffin knew from the hours that he spent with the castle’s healers that Amelia was great at what she did. One of the best, considering her age. But she was stubborn, this Raffin remembered. And he hated it too.

“Please don’t make me use my authority over you.”

“You cannot overrule a king, Prince Raffin.”

Raffin sighed, irritable and tired. “Go then, make your report. But come back immediately. Do you understand?”

“Of course.”

He sighed and listened as Amelia collected her things and left. He had thought that he would be feeling better after having vomited, but he was just plain miserable. His mouth was parched and tasted unpleasantly like his dinner and bile, and his abs throbbed with the unexpected workout he had given them.

He thought about Bann. This was all his fault; if he wasn’t always so receptive of Raffin’s ideas then none of this would have happened. Raffin pondered on that theory and chuckled. Bann or no Bann, Raffin would have done this or something just as stupid anyway.

Rolling over, he turned and watched as the sun began to set.

When Raffin opened his eyes, he was puzzled by the coolness in his rooms. It took him several more seconds to realize he must have fallen asleep, which meant the sun must be gone, bringing with it the chilly night air.

He looked in the direction of his sitting room, listening for any indication of Bann’s presence, but all he heard was the restless sound if his own breathing.

–

Several hours later, Raffin stirred to the feeling of someone shaking him awake. It was morning and the light streaming in through his window blinded him.

Bann handed him a cup. “Drink this,” he said. “It will help the burning in your throat.”

Raffin took the offered drink and chugged it greedily, ignoring as some dribbled down his chin. He took a second to swallow and started, yanking the cup away from his face; the water had a strange aftertaste, like something had been mixed inside.

“What is this?” he demanded.

“Water,” Bann said. “Mixed with some more of the infusion.”

Raffin spluttered angrily and hurled the cup across the room, the cup and the concoction inside be damned. He stared at Bann for several seconds before he was calm enough to find his voice.

“Are you trying to kill me?” he clipped out. “Enjoyed seeing me like this, have you?”

Bann made his way over to Raffin’s bed and attempted to sit beside him.

“Get away from me,” Raffin snarled. “I should have your head for this. I trusted you, with everything. That obviously meant nothing to you. I can’t believe I could let something like this happen. Randa was right: I let my emotions control every part of my life…”

Bann took advantage of the prince’s breathless rant to slowly make his way forward and snake his arms around Raffin’s body. Raffin tensed at the touch and immediately stopped talking. Up close, it was easy to see that Bann was also still suffering the effects of the infusion, if his bloodshot eyes and trembling hands were anything to go by.

“Raff,” Bann whispered into the other’s ear. “Shhh, it’s all right.” When Raffin leaned into Bann’s arms, Bann smiled and continued slowly, “I gave you the infusion, but I modified it.”

“Modified? How?”

“I added a hint of chamomile to ease the stomach. It will work, I promise. I’ve just taken a draught myself.”

“You have?”

Bann nodded. “I won’t give this to anyone unless I’ve tested its effectiveness on myself first,” he said, quoting Raffin’s earlier words.

Raffin smiled.

–

The healer Amelia had returned sometime later, coaxing Raffin and Bann into some soup. Neither of them cared to put anything in their stomachs, but nor did they care to refuse her. Raffin barely had the energy to order the servants to clean his sick bucket, let alone deal with one of Randa’s more persistent healers. Moaning all the while, they had had no choice but to choke down a few mouthfuls of cabbage soup.

Now, however, Raffin could feel it coming, the bubbling from his stomach coupled with the unusual tightening in his throat was an all too familiar feeling at this point. He heaved once, twice, but was relieved when everything managed to stay down. Sitting up, he scrubbed vigorously at his face, feeling horrid.

He swallowed thickly to clear his throat, regretting it instantly when it set off a chain reaction in his body. Sensing the impending doom of gastric rebellion, he threw himself towards his vomit basin, his body awarding him with a torrent of half digested soup pouring forth from his mouth. Midway through, he hiccuped involuntarily, his stomach producing more substance from within. He gasped in between retches, but this particular round seemed heavier than the lasts, and he was having trouble catching his breath around the flood emanating from his insides. He coughed and gagged, tears spilling from his eyes from the force of his heaves. An uncomfortable feeling of lightheadedness began to make itself known, there was a sound like rushing water in his ears, and his heart hammered loudly and painfully inside his chest.

He gave one last shuddering hiccup-heave and choked out a mouthful of bile; there was finally nothing left in his stomach. The vomit swam before his eyes, and Raffin sat back slowly. His head had an odd sensation that it was filled with both cotton and lead, but he managed to get himself to his feet, albeit on very wobbly legs. Had it not been for the sudden arms around his shoulders, Raffin would have crashed back to the floor.

“Easy there,” Bann said into his ear.

Raffin blinked. He decided that he must have been on the verge of serious dehydration not to have realized that Bann was beside him or even that he had been about to fall over. He suddenly felt overwhelmingly tired, so he staggered slowly towards his bed, his body leaning heavily on Bann’s.

Once in bed, Bann walked around to the other side and climbed in beside him. He held a glass up to Raffin’s lips and was not satisfied until Raffin drank every drop of the water offered to him.

“I’m sorry,” Bann said quietly. “That seemed awful.”

Raffin closed his eyes and said unconvincingly, “I’ve had the time of my life just now.” Remembering the timidness in Bann’s voice, he asked seriously, “What are you sorry about?”

“I made you drink the infusion again, even after I swore the chamomile would help.”

Raffin smiled. He could kiss Bann if it weren’t for his dry, vomit-veiled lips.

“You can’t make me doing anything.”

“Do not tempt me, Lord Prince.” Bann’s voice grew deeper and Raffin could hear the smile in his words.

Raffin groaned as his abdominal muscles constricted painfully.

Suddenly, Bann was serious again. “You need to rest.”

He fluffed Raffin’s pillows for him, the jostling movement setting off the prince’s stomach again. Raffin tried to ignore the nearly overpowering roiling in his gut.

“I don’t know if I’m finished yet.”

Bann, seeing the green arising back on Raffin’s cheeks and hearing the vicious gurgle coming from his belly, jumped off the bed and retrieved a clean basin. He set it on the small table by Raffin’s head.

“Just in case,” he said. Realizing how tired they both were, he added, “I’m canceling all your appointments and appearances for tomorrow.”

“No, you can’t do that,” Raffin said, although his voice indicated that that’s exactly what he wanted Bann to do.

“But I will. Your father and anyone who’s anyone at court witnessed how unwell you are, they’ll understand.”

Raffin nodded. “I received a letter from Katsa two nights ago–she’s on her way to the The Middluns.”

“Then you’ll want to be in top form when she arrives.”

A thought suddenly occurred to Raffin. “Bann?” he asked sleepily.

“Hmm?” Bann had taken to playing softly with the tresses of Raffin’s hair, which was lulling them both into a state of drowsiness.

“How have you escaped being ill? Surely we’ve suffered through the same amount of infusion and that horrible soup forced on us by that healer woman.”

Raffin felt Bann shrug beside him. “I am no more immune than you, Raff. I have a terrible feeling in my belly now.”

Raffin seemed content with that answer and fell into silence. Bann stretched his arms high above them and laid his head down on the pillow beside Raffin’s. When he turned to see if the other was comfortable, he saw that Raffin was already asleep. His breathing was shallow and his brows were knit together as though he was in pain. Bann sighed and moved the basin closer–Raffin was sure to need it again, and he was prepared to comfort him in what was bound to be another long night.

#raffin #bann #bitterblue #the seven kingdoms #the seven kingdoms trilogy #emetophilia #my fiction

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kbrown78 · 6 years

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Top 5 Wednesday

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/118368-top-5-wednesday

Topic: Favorite Side Couple

So the original topic for this Wednesday was supposed to be our favorite romance books, but I don't read romance. I checked some lists online and there were some books that I will use for next Wednesday's topic, but I hadn't read any of the straight up romance novels because I don't like reading books that focus solely on a romance. I just find them very boring. If they're set in a fantasy setting, which again will be brought up next week, I can get through them, but even then I'm just okay with them. So instead I looked through my list of previous top 5 Wednesday topics, and picked a romantic one that I seem interesting and applicable to me.

Sevro and Victra from Morning Star: Both of these characters I liked from their first introduction in the series. They are fantastic characters! Unfortunately the reader doesn't see their relationship grow since most of it happens while Darrow is imprisoned. There are very sweet moments, like after a battle where Sevro nearly dies Victra proposes to him. Then there is wedding scene much like Bill and Felur's wedding in Harry Potter where everyone takes some time to be happy and celebrate life. Victra also chooses to take Sevro's family name even though she is higher ranking because she sees more honor in his name than in her's. I can only imagine what their children will be like in Iron Gold.

2. Katsa and Po from Bitterblue: These two first appear in Graceling but I'm specifically talking about Bitterblue for 2 reasons. One in Graceling they are the main couple versus in Bitterblue they are just a side couple. Two, I hated them in Graceling! Katsa was a “strong female character” which grated my nerves and I just did not want to read about her. In Bitterblue I felt like their relationship was more mature and there was more genuine moments between them.

3. Genya and David from the Grisha Trilogy: Say what you want about Genya, but I did like this couple. She was someone everyone noticed just because she was beautiful, which ended up causing her a great deal of pain. David sees beyond her beauty and she loves him for that, and he also stays with her despite everything that happens in the series. It's also plainly evident to Alina when Genya first introduces her to David that Genya loves David.

4. Grover and Juniper from the Percy Jackson series: Now it's been a long time since I've read the series, and I honestly don't remember much about them other than “they're cute.”

5. All the Harry Potter Couples: If it's an in canon couple in the books, not counting the Cursed Child, then I pretty much love it. I can't pick a favorite among them because they are all so good and well developed. There is one non canon couple that I really wish had happened in the series, and that is Neville and Luna. I just feel like they would go together so well, with his herbology passion and her artistic weirdness, and now I'm really upset that they were never a couple in the books.

Honorable Mentions: Arsinoe and Billy in 3 Dark Crowns. Arsinoe is one of the main characters and this couple isn’t fully canon, but they are by far the healthiest couple and the one I’m rooting for. Also Simon and Isabella from The Mortal Instruments. While these two are also main characters they aren’t the main couple, but they are my favorite.

Thank You Everyone

Keep Calm and Keep Reading

#t5w #morning star #bitterblue #the grisha trilogy #percy jackson #harry potter

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