#I gave him sword earrings cause I mentioned it once forever ago

[floydsteeth]

Time for Chevalier!!

@lorei-writes here you go!!! Some flowers from Chevalier!!

[thesunicarusfellfor]

hello!!can you do a part two of your Yandere!Tommy x Reader x Yandere!Tubbo Headcanons/Fic ?! i loved it!!

It amazes me how this became a fan favourite OVERNIGHT like daaaaamn!

This one is gonna be split into parts around the end, so like what happens if you choose Tubbo/Tommy/Neither/Both

(f/l) = first letter of your name

(N/n) = nickname

(f/f) = Favourite flowers

Eggpire does not exist

ALSO. The last Route (Neither) I wrote is shorter because apparently, Tumblr wants to crash after you surpass 10k words, but I could write a continuation fic of Neither that might turn into another x reader? Just platonic? Not sure. Remember, I will always write a continuation of a fic if ever asked.

TW: Yandere, Explosions, Burns, Scars, Manipulation, Mention of Painkillers and being drowsy on them, brief mention of collapsing

Part one

Yandere!Tommy x GN!Reader x Yandere!Tubbo Headcanon/Fic Part 2

Tommy was furious to see you spending time with anyone that wasn’t him.

But seeing you having an early morning coffee with Ranboo??? Tubbo’s husband???

He was about to light the damn house on fire he was so pissed! That’s not even exaggerating, he would’ve and had you live with him! Although he wouldn’t let you know he did it.

Poor Ranboo was trembling so bad, genuinely fearing for his canon lives.

You quickly got up and stood in Tommy’s sight, prevent him from glaring at your tall friend, although he still didn’t look happy.

Before anyone could say anything else, Tubbo stormed through the door with his sword in his hand and teeth violently grit together.

“So... You weren’t trying to throw me off by writing about going to see them in your memory book,” Tubbo growled softly at his husband causing Ranboo to desperately pull his memory book closer to his chest, tears brimming his eyes. You could understand why, his best friend went through his memory book without his knowledge and possibly went through his other things in an attempt to figure out what he was doing.

“I guess neither of you are loyal...” Tommy grumbled with a roll of his eyes, causing Tubbo to give him a hard jab in the ribs, “Ow! Bloody hell, mate! I’m just saying both of you are going for them without even breaking up first!”

“It’s platonic!” Both Tubbo and Ranboo stated although Ranboo’s voice came out as a tiny and meek protest, rather than Tubbo’s annoyed growl. Clearing his throat awkwardly, Ranboo put his crown back on his head, “I’m-I’m not interested in chasing them, so no... I was just talking to them...” He visibly shrank in on himself as the two boys glared darkly at him, “I... Should go...”

“Hold up.” You pointed at him, making the tall and lanky male stay seated in his spot while you turned back to Tubbo and Tommy, “I know why Ranboo is here. I know why he,” You pointed to Tommy, “Is here. He always kicks down my door early in the morning to do some crazy things. But why are you here?” Moving your finger to point at Tubbo, you noticed his look immediately softened upon you turning your attention towards him.

His cheeks became a light pink and his goat ears fluttered slightly as he put his sword away, “Am I not allowed to visit?” There. There was one of the mood switches and manipulation Ranboo warned you about. “Tommy invited me to L’Manberg, and I heard my beloved platonic husband was in the area as well. Plus Tommy left the door open.”

You blinked a bit, caught off guard by the fact that Tubbo completely brushed over the fact that he was here because he had read Ranboo’s memory book, “Oh, I see... Then shall we all go mining today? We’d be able to get a lot more ores than before!” You smiled, pretending that your two friends didn’t kick down your door and threaten the man who was just trying to protect you.

“With Tubbo and Ranboo?” Tommy growled out in disgust at the thought of you spending time with them, “But (Y/n)! We always go mining on Thursday mornings! It’s our thing. Between just US! Aka, not Tubbo and Ranboo...”

“I- uh, have a meeting with Techno and Phil later today, so I can’t go. Sorry, (Y/n)...” Ranboo murmured, although you could tell by the shakiness of his voice that he wanted nothing more than to run and hide in his panic room.

“I’d love to go!” Tubbo chirped softly, ignoring the audible noise of disgust and annoyance that Tommy made, “Let me just get my stuff from my enderchest.” He walked over to your enderchest and opened it. You didn’t mind too much as you gave everyone full permission to make themselves at home in your house, but you were just a bit shaken up at the moment.

Ranboo quickly got up and scurried out the door, giving you an odd look as he passed by. He looked... Guilty, but his smile was sad and soft, but seemingly affectionate. You knew he would help if these two were scaring you too much.

The two boys brought you to an unpopular mine in the DreamSMP that was filled to the brim with ores.

They were quick to take down any and all mobs that came within any sort of distance to you, recklessly charging without a second thought in attempts to protect you.

While there was intense amounts of fear and tension circling through your veins because of this morning, you did quickly grow to have fun with the banter between these two.

Even Tommy and Tubbo were having fun bickering, almost seeming to forget the fact that they were in a war with each other. Almost.

The constant fluttering of their hearts and warmth on their cheeks was an easy reminder of what they were fighting for.

Every single ore, gemstone and pretty rock that you looked at, the boys would immediately pick up and put in their bags so you didn’t have to carry it.

When Tommy began to whine about being hungry, you wanted to go back to the surface to eat the food you had packed, but they both thought that was too far.

So, you suggested sitting down in the abandoned mineshaft you had discovered.

“Ooh!” Tubbo squeaked, his ears wiggling as he turned the corner of the mineshaft, “There’s a ravine over here! Let’s eat by the light of the lava so we don’t waste all our torches!”

“Finally! I’m starving!” Tommy tossed his ore-filled bag off of his shoulder and set it against the wall. Once you spread out the thick blanket you had brought on the ground, he plopped himself down and set down his shield and sword, “What do you have for food today, Big/Little (F/l)?”

You hummed as Tubbo sat himself down on the other side of you with a yawn, likely not used to getting up early, “I have... Sandwiches, some fruit slices, berries, y’know, the usual. You tired, Tubbo?” Glancing over at the brunet, you saw him rubbing his eyes with the long sleeve of his brown and yellow striped sweater that you had made him when he first travelled to Snowchester.

“Little bit, yeah. Can I lay against you? Just for a little bit?” He asked softly as you handed Tommy a sandwich, which he practically inhaled in seconds. Once you gave a nod of approval, the smaller boy laid down and curled up with his head against your lap.

Tommy grumbled in annoyance and without thinking much, laid down as well with his head against your leg too. When you gave him a small questioning look as this was highly out character for him, but he simply just mumbled about how you were definitely more comfortable than the rocks.

You weren’t sure how long you sat there, unconsciously playing with their hair as you glanced around the stone walls for any untouched ores, but by now both boys were asleep and you didn’t feel like waking them up. Taking your time, you began to consider your situation now that you knew both boys were smitten with you and practically willing to hurt anyone who came in contact with you.

Tubbo’s mood switches scared you, a lot, and you were worried that him being the nice and blushing boy you had met a few years ago was nothing but an act and that all the gifts were an attempt to lure you in or distract you from his violent tendencies. You had watched him walk into your house, eyes blank and filled with rage towards his platonic soulmate for talking to you without his knowledge, and you were worried that soon that rage would be directed at you for doing something he didn’t like.

Tommy’s violent tendencies were just as scary though, so he wasn’t in the clear in your eyes either. While he did shape up a lot from when you first met, he still had a tendency to bark insults at you and hurt your feelings, which you hope is unintentional. He also often tried to threaten people and keep them away from you, like Eret or Niki who got yelled at and a tad bit injured after they had given you gifts or offered to bring you somewhere cool... They didn’t really spend time with you anymore after that... You missed them and didn’t want the same thing to happen to Ranboo.

But, this couldn’t go on forever. You couldn’t just run... and you knew very well that rejecting either of the two would cause the other to lash out severely, to the point where the one you chose, you, and your friends were in major trouble. It’s not like you could choose both right? ...Right? Then again... Choosing both would potentially cause tension to stir up again between the two best friends.

Your train of thought was violently derailed when you heard a hard thud a few meters in front of you. With a small gasp, you looked up and saw a creature of varying different shades of green slowly looking around before a few more thuds followed behind it. Before you could even think of waking the two boys, the green creature began to run at you quickly with its four legs.

A creeper.

A terrified cry left your lips and suddenly the weight on your lap vanished. Now awake, Tommy immediately grabbed his shield and used it alongside his body weight to slam into the creeper backwards into a small horde of zombies that had dropped down with it. “Get up you dumbass! Are you tryin’ to die?!” The blond yelled at you as Tubbo, who had also sprung up at the sound of your fear, began firing arrows at the group of mobs.

Once you got over your shock, you grabbed your axe and shield before quickly jumping to your feet and charging into battle. The zombie you had chosen to fight gurgled and swiped and gnashed its teeth together at you as you used your shield to block its hits. Backing up a few steps, you slashed your axe at the undead mob and took out its bottom jaw with the black blade, gleaming with an enchantment that set the creature on fire. The smell of burning rotten flesh caused you to gag and scrunch up your nose before you used your shield to shove it into the pit of lava at the bottom of the ravine.

Laughing softly in triumph, you turn around to help Tubbo and Tommy, only to let out another gasp of shock as you saw the very creeper that had been shoved away earlier had now returned with a vengeance. And it was mere inches away from your face.

There wasn’t much you could do except barely raise your shield in time to block a good majority of the explosion from damaging your body, launching chunks of stone outwards and off the edge of the ravine. 

And you as well.

“(Y/n)!!!” Tubbo’s voice echoed through the stone cavern as you felt yourself get launched backwards before beginning to fall, gravity quickly beginning to grasp onto you and drag you down towards the lava below.

Reaching out, to grab onto anything that would stop you from falling, but to no avail. Your mind barely registered Tommy and Tubbo running towards you before you shut your eyes tightly, silently praying to whatever or whoever to save you.

Then you stopped dead in the air, something wrapped around your arms and hands.

Taking a deep breath, you opened your eyes and looked up to see the human and a goat hybrid that had been laying with their heads in your lap just minutes ago, were now desperately grasping one arm each, preventing you from falling to the end of one of your canon lives. Both of their blue eyes were filled with tears that were dripping down their faces and hitting the molten rock at the bottom of the ravine as they struggled to pull you up.

Once you felt the solid ground below you, you finally managed to take a few breaths to calm yourself down as you felt tight arms wrap around you on either side, barely able to comprehend the sobs of terror from your savours. The dull burning and throbbing pain on your cheek were enough to bring you down to reality and carefully wrap your arms around the two wailing teens as they desperately clung to you, almost as if you were going to vanish right below their fingertips.

Tommy was the first to gather himself and pull himself away from your good shoulder and rub his eyes free of tears to look at the new injuries covering your body and your busted armour, “F-fuck... We’re gonna have to get you to Phil to get those burns patched up...” He sniffled, trying to act like he wasn’t just bawling his eyes out over you nearly losing a canon life. For once, he didn’t seem to mind Tubbo clinging onto you and wailing into your side as you pet his hair, trying to calm him down. 

Tubbo refused to let go of you for the next hour as you travelled out of the mine, his arms desperately wrapped around your waist/shoulders. (Depending on your height)

Tommy also held onto your non-burnt hand, that once held your shield, as he carried yours and his bag, leading you both back the way you came

If another mob came out to fight, it was almost a guarantee that one of them would run forward and the other would lightly push you into a corner, then proceed to block you from view via a shield and their body,

Even if you thought that you were in a decent enough condition to fight, the one shielding you would only look at you sadly and shake their head, saying something about the explosion burns along your (s/t) skin.

Once you had gotten out of the mine, it was around 6pm, and the sun was going down, but luckily Tommy had sent a message to Philza, his father, about the situation, so he was prepared and already at Tommy’s house, which was the closest to the mine.

It wasn’t a long walk, but god you were so exhausted..

It got to the point where Tommy and Tubbo were on either side of you, preventing you from collapsing before you got to the home.

Let’s just say, when they opened the door, Philza was already there and immediately panicked upon seeing the injuries covering the one side of you and the state of your armour. (No you were not wearing the god armour Tubbo gave you.)

One of your cheeks and lower jaw were burnt and bleeding, along with your dominant arm and leg that weren’t behind the shield when the explosion went off.

Tommy Route - Mellohi

Because your home still being near L’Manberg and the Prime Path (In this route), it was easier for Tommy to check up on you while you were healing from your injuries.

While you were bedridden, Tommy was a lot, a lot, quieter when he came into your house, never sure whether or not you were sleeping.

If you weren’t, he would eagerly show you something he found, tell you some drama he heard around the area, or tell you about his day. Or just play Mellohi on constant repeat.

If you were asleep, he would silently walk over and check on your bandages or potion supply, (updating Phil if you were low or bleeding from moving too much), or even sit beside you for a little bit to make sure you wouldn’t just stop breathing out of nowhere.

To say he was scared your entire recovery process would be an understatement.

He would rarely let anyone but Phil check on you, definitely nearly blowing his nerve when Ranboo or Tubbo would walk into your house.

If it was Ranboo, we would definitely get picked up and thrown,

If it was Tubbo, he would try and push him out because he knew that threats wouldn’t work on him.

In the situation that he did push Tubbo out, Tommy would immediately lock the door and stay in there for the next few days

For the more likely situation, because we all know how stubborn that goat is, and he wasn’t able to push Tubbo out, Tommy would subtly put a few drops of the sleeping potion Phil made you, into your drink.

When you began to doze off, Tommy would mention it to Tubbo in the most serious voice he could muster. It always worked, because Tubbo wanted what was best for your health.

The absolute minute that Philza deems you stable enough to get off of bed rest, Tommy is by your side in seconds and trying to encourage you to stand up.

When you do get the nerve to try and stand again, he would immediately be holding your good arm, preventing you from falling if your bad leg suddenly gave out.

In the case that you do collapse from your injuries, he would at first be extremely panicked, but then he’d start calling you insulting names and calling you an idiot.

He would bring you on walks all around the DreamSMP to get you used to walking again but would have no problems sitting down again.

That’s a lie.

He would complain a little bit, but if he saw you were genuinely in a lot of pain, he would just shut up and awkwardly ask what he could do.

If you needed anything for pain, he would straight up run to your home and get it, if they already didn’t have it.

The fact that you’re spending so much time with Tommy absolutely infuriates Tubbo, and he tries to guilt-trip you into spending more time with him.

But then Ranboo tells him that you can barely walk down the Prime Path without wanting to cry from the pain of the burns, and he offers to move back to L’Manberg. Or at least what’s left of it.

This sparks an argument between Ranboo and Tubbo almost immediately, but you’re much too tired to try and stop it, instead quietly asking Tommy if he can help go back to your home or to get them out so you could sleep.

He would be glad to.

Like he would do it, with an absolute goofy smile on his face because he basically gets your permission to have your attention all to himself!

When you’re all healed, your relationship between you and Tommy has practically tripled from what it was.

You’re much closer to him than he was to Tubbo, to the point where he has told you everything.

Even about his exile...

Because of your closeness to him, he somehow got even more protective but also calmed down his threats.

Like, now you could talk to Niki and Eret again, but you were not allowed to leave your house at night alone, especially after mobs have spawned.

Hell sometimes if he’s really paranoid, he’ll go to your house and spend the night just to make sure mobs don’t bang on your door or ruin anything.

He straight up took the time out of his life to fence the property around your house off and fill it with torches so things didn’t spawn in.

Sure he’ll call you slightly insulting names, but he makes sure that they wouldn’t be too painful for you before saying them aloud.

Tubbo still tries to be nice and manipulative, which Ranboo tries to stop, but it’s pretty much worthless at this point.

He’s lost.

He knows it, Ranboo knows it, and Tommy damn well brags about it.

Tubbo does end up crying to you quite a bit about it, but you can understand, he’s heartbroken at this point and can’t do anything about it. Tommy and you know about his manipulation tactics, he couldn’t take Tommy’s last life because it would show up on your communicator, and then you would never love him!

Unfortunately, this does cause him to lash out at Ranboo quite a lot which led to their third divorce. Although this one seems quite a bit more permanent, you never know. (Ranboo took Michael)

One evening, Tommy invited you out of the house oddly enough. Even though mobs would be spawning soon? It greatly confused you.

He even asked you to wear nicer clothing? Like a tux or a dress? Either one or both worked in his eyes.

Honestly, you weren’t sure how you were supposed to fight mobs in a fancy outfit, but you trusted him.

“Tommy?” You asked, opening the door as you smoothed out your clothing with your hands and adjusted your hair a tad bit to your liking. It was shocking to see the tall blond nicely cleaned up and wearing a suit, but it was quite a welcome sight!

He nervously adjusted his red tie before holding out a bouquet of perfect (f/f), and cleared his throat, “You... Uh... Clean up nice. I- uh... No- wait... What did Sam say again?” He murmured to himself, “Ah fuck it... You look nice, (Y/n).”

You chuckled as your cheeks flushed a light pink, happily taking the bouquet filled with your favourite flowers, “I’ll put these in a vase and then we can go where you wanna bring me.” With a smile, you quickly placed the flowers in a glass vase filled with water before going back out with Tommy.

“Sh-shall we? Is that a common phrase to say?” He asked as he held out his arm for you to link with his, a habit he picked up from walking you around while you were healing.

“I suppose we shall. Calm down Tommy, no need to be all fancy and stuff around me.” You chirped with a small smiled as you took his arm, linking it with his, “Now, are you going to tell me where we’re going? Or is this supposed to remain a mystery?”

Tomathy visibly relaxed once you told him he didn’t have to be all professional and fancy, beginning to lead you down the Prime Path, “It’s a secret! I worked hard on it too! So you better be grateful or I’ll kick your ass.” He jokingly threatened, smiling a bit as you laughed at his typical attitude.

He led you down the wooden path, the two of you joking the entire way with a goofy smile across your faces. Tommy then took a sudden turn onto a newly made pathway and lead you down it, never answering any questions about it the entire way, even when the buildings turned into a forest. The pathway was lined with fences, and the trees were filled with small hanging lanterns, not only preventing mobs from spawning but also creating a beautiful fairy forest effect.

Seeing your look of awe, he gave a small sheepish laugh, “You like it? Puffy and Sam helped me out with it for the past few days, but this was my idea! And this isn’t even the best part!” He grinned widely before quickly pulling you along again.

The walk wasn’t very long, but it was extremely beautiful. Eventually, he brought you up to a large hill with a massive oak tree where a beautiful picnic was set up, surrounded by lantern light. Even with the lanterns, you were still able to get a clear view of the starry sky above without a single cloud in sight! “Oh my god... Tommy... This is incredible...”

“Innit? Puffy helped me make all the food, but this was my idea. Unless you don’t like it. Then it was Puffy’s idea.” He joked in an attempt to hide his nervousness as he went to ruffle his hair, but then remembered that he had spent a few hours taming it down, so he decided against it.

“I love it! This is so beautiful!” You looked up at him with a bright and happy smile, making him return it with a soft smile of his own, “Come on, oh! There’s a jukebox!” You eagerly pulled him over to the blanket and sat down, taking a look at all the food that had been set out.

The tall male happily took a disc, Mellohi to be precise, out of the enderchest that had been set beside the jukebox, neatly placing it in and pressing the button to make the music play before he sat down beside you. The two of you began to eat the meal that he helped make, joking, laughing and smiling the entire time, having the time of your life. You leaned your head against his shoulder and smiled up at him as you gently held his hand, making him realize even more how important you were to him.

Mellohi, the same song he lost his friend to, was the same song he was listening to while gaining a new important person in his life. You.

The entire night went on with you two eventually falling asleep at the top of the hill, completely unaware of the brown-haired male leaning against a tree. He desperately grasped his shirt where his heart was as tears poured down his shirt.

Tubbo always liked Cat more than Mellohi...

=

Tubbo Route - Don’t Let Me Fall

Tubbo was so so glad that he had managed to convince (manipulate) you to live in Snowchester when he did. (In this route)

Somehow managed to convince you to live in the mansion, although it was probably done when you were drowsy on the pain killer potion Phil gave you.

This man would completely ignore his own country to make sure you were well taken care of. Like Ranboo literally had to step into power and start working on things and taking care of Michael.

Speaking of the baby zombie piglin, because you were now bedridden and bored out of your mind, Tubbo frequently brought the child in if Ranboo absolutely demanded that he take over for a bit.

The baby absolutely adored you! The injuries on your body reminded you of the ones he got when he travelled to the overworld, so he didn’t feel alone.

Unfortunately because of your constant pain and drowsiness, Tubbo thought it was best that he stayed in his room. Or maybe that was because he didn’t want him getting close to you too?

It was actually extremely rare for Tubbo to let anyone in to visit you. He actually even got incredibly annoyed when even Phil would come over to restock the potions for you or make sure your wounds were healing.

On a normal day, if you were awake, Tubbo would be blabbering on about some story without a care whether or not you were listening. He would most likely be acting the story out as if it were a play, determined to provide you with as much entertainment by himself as he could.

If you were sleeping, he would also be sleeping, although on a few chairs pushed together in your room. There’s a rare time where he will stay up and watch you to make sure you’re breathing still, but that’s only if he’s really scared and paranoid.

Tommy absolutely REFUSES to even look at Snowchester, so you never really got a chance to thank him for saving you. 

Although... Tubbo very actively tries to convince you that Tommy didn’t even come to help you when you had fallen and that you had been in shock so that’s why you didn’t remember correctly.

At first, you didn’t believe him, but eventually, with constant repetition, you slowly saw it as the truth. You genuinely began to believe that Tommy hadn’t pulled you up and that it was only Tubbo that did.

After quite a few weeks, Phil told Tubbo that you could finally get out of bed, but Tubbo asked him if he was 100% sure MANY times.

The goat hybrid actually didn’t want you to get out of bed and start walking again, worried that you get up would leave him, so he wasn’t going to tell you.

But Ranboo was the one who told you.

This led to quite a violent argument between Ranboo and Tubbo, but there was nothing Tubbo could do since you already knew the information he tried to keep from you.

Tubbo started ignoring you, so Ranboo was the one to try and get you used to walking around again, but this lead to the shorter male getting extremely jealous and helping you instead.

He frequently walks you around Snowchester on a strict set schedule, when he knows no one will be out and no mobs will be spawning.

One time, he didn’t expect Tommy to be walking around the snowy forests when he was walking with you, holding your hand to make sure you didn’t lose your balance. At least that’s what he told you.

Tommy looked... Empty, when he saw you both walking together. But his eyes darkened a bit when his blue eyes landed on your hands twinned together.

Tubbo looked a little hostile in your eyes, but he simply just gave Tommy a sharp smile before trying to pull you along as if he didn’t notice the tears beginning to pool in his ex-best friend’s eyes.

Tommy knew he lost right then and there, so he decided to say fuck it and start screaming degrading names at the two of you, catching you greatly off guard, hurting you badly enough to the point where your feelings were more than a little hurt.

When the founder of Snowchester realized that the blond hurt your feelings, he was quick to lash out back at the other man in your defence, but by then you were already walking away, back to the manor.

It took about ten minutes for him to realize that you went back to the mansion, but when he did, he sprinted through the door in an absolute panic before practically pouncing on you the second his eyes caught sight of you.

He protectively wrapped himself around you and whispered sweet nothings into your ear as you quietly rested your head against his shoulder.

After that, You and Tubbo became a lot closer emotionally. To the point where he called you his platonic wife jokingly, although you both knew he didn’t want to add platonic at the beginning.

He began to tell you about everything that weighed heavy on his shoulders, like his death from Technoblade’s fireworks, even to being threatened by Dream during the disc war.

When he noticed that you were genuinely beginning to care about him, his manipulation and jealousy actually began to calm down quite a lot.

You could actually spend time with Michael and Ranboo without anyone getting yelled at by Tubbo and causing him to get ridiculously jealous.

He began to take over his job as the founder of Snowchester, now actually trusting Ranboo to keep you company and even letting him take you outside during the day. But he refused to let you out during the night.

He’s just worried about mobs. Creepers especially.

Everything seems relatively like it was before that one day before Tommy and Tubbo completely lashed out at each other.

Tommy does often try and talk to you when Tubbo isn’t around, but both you and Ranboo try and put a stop to it as quickly as possible,

He’s lost.

He hurt you, and Ranboo couldn’t help but miss how Tubbo used to be, so if keeping Tommy away from you makes Tubbo act normal, he will damn well make sure that Tommy stays countries away from you.

This does cause Wilbur’s younger brother to break down a little bit, which you can genuinely understand, even if you hold a grudge against him for not saving you and yelling at you, you knew he did have feelings for you at one point even if he refused to admit it.

Unfortunately, this does cause quite a bit of pranks and explosions to stir up around Snowchester and the L’Manberg crater, but they stop within a few weeks. Tommy probably got scolded by either Sam, Phil or Puffy,

One morning, Tubbo invited you to spend a day outside of the mansion with him after a heavy snowfall.

He spent almost all morning outside, doing something he refused to tell you about, and when he came in to wake you up, his face was already cherry red from the cold.

How could he even want to go back into the freezing cold without any sort of warm drink or even sitting in front of the fire for a bit!?

“How are you so... Full of energy?” You murmured from behind the bathroom door as you got changed into your warmer clothing for when you do go outside. The door was cracked open a small bit so you could hear Tubbo rambling on and on about how he had a great surprise for you.

“Come on! It’ll be fun!” He was obviously grinning with excitement. When you walked out of the bathroom in your thick clothing and jacket, he bounced up from his spot on the edge of your bed, “Finally! Let’s go! Hurry, before it snows or gets warmer.”

You only nodded curiously and he grabbed your hand, eagerly pulling you out of your room and down the large stairs that lead towards the door. He pushed the large doors open with a bit of difficulty due to the snow piled up, but with your help, you both managed to slip out the door. Tubbo happily grabbed your hand again and began leading you down towards the docks where the water was covered with a thick sheet of ice, “Oh it must’ve got really cold last night... What are you showing me?”

“Over here!” He pulled you over to a large half-sphere made out of snow. He led you over to a hole in the side of it before dropping down to his knees and crawling through the entrance, “Come on!”

Blinking in surprise, you hesitantly followed him inside of the handmade snow building and gave a small gasp of glee as you saw that it was an igloo! The inside had a few blankets on the ground, preventing you from sitting on the icy snow-covered ground, there were a few lanterns placed on small snow hills preventing the small room from being dark, plus there was a small basket of what looked like two thermoses and a bit of food, “Tubbo! Did you build this?”

“I did! I also spent last night building it too!” He grinned widely, his ears wiggling with glee, “But this isn’t even the best part! Check over here!” The brunet shuffled over to another basket before pulling out a pair of white boots with silver blades bolted to the bottoms.

“Ice skates?” You tilted your head a bit as you crawled over and pulled out the pair that looked to be your size, “But I can’t skate...”/”How did you even know I could skate?”

Tubbo only turned his happy grin towards you, “I’ll show you how! Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall!”/”You briefly mentioned that you missed skating once or twice when you were all dopey on painkillers a few months ago!” He pulled out his pair of skates and began to take off his boots. (After getting his skates on he helped you with yours if you didn’t know how to lace them up.)

Once your new footwear was all tied up, he helped you up and carefully lead you outside with his arms tightly wrapped around you to help you keep your balance. (Even if you did know how to skate, he was still worried about you falling.) Tubbo carefully led you towards the ice and helped you stand up straight on the frozen water, making sure that you wouldn’t fall.

“See?” He smiled softly and held your hands tightly as he began to skate backwards, pulling you along with him until you slowly got a hold of what you were doing. “You (still) got it!”

You two slid and slipped around on the ice, laughing, smiling and spinning around with the other, but suddenly out of nowhere, your blade got caught in a groove of the ice that likely got chipped out when you two were skating around. With a small cry, you felt your legs slip out from under you and you immediately shut your eyes, awaiting the inevitable impact as a result of gravity.

Thankfully, two arms wrapped around your frame before you hit the ground. You slowly cracked open your eyes and saw your best friend holding you tightly against him. Your (e/c) eyes stared into his blue ones for a few moments before your face broke into a smile. “You caught me...”

“I would never let you fall...”

There two of you continued to skate around, having fun in the other's presence, completely unaware of the blond hidden behind a snowbank with his hand clasped tightly over his mouth and tears beginning to freeze to his reddened cheeks.

Tommy often found himself wishing he had let you fall...

=

Tommy & Tubbo Route - Rhythm of the Storm

Because your original housing was set between Snowchester and the Prime Path, it was surprisingly an equal distance between Tubbo’s mansion and Tommy’s house.

In the beginning, Tommy would go to your house first in the mornings, then leave around noon when Tubbo would come, but the constant social interaction left you always sleeping through either one of their visits.

It got to the point where you asked both of them to come by at the same time so you could talk with them both at the same time.

This caught them both off guard that you wanted both of their attention at the same time, but then only began to see benefits from them meeting with you together.

Now you weren’t out cold during the mornings when Tommy opened the door, and now you weren’t asleep by 2pm when Tubbo was over. Plus they could both take care of you at the same time!

There were a few times when either of the boys’ yandere tendencies peaked out, but you or the other would scold them out of it. Or Tommy would give Tubbo a small smack upside the head which would make him scream dramatically like a baby goat.

While they did take your injuries relatively seriously, they also were joking with you and cheered you up with their antics, preventing you from falling into a depression from staying inside all day and every day.

On a normal day, if you were awake and had more energy than normal, Tommy would be telling you incredible stories of his travels and Tubbo would be either making food or potions. Tommy isn’t allowed near the brewing stands or the stove anymore if you’re wondering.

On a bad day, if you barely had any energy and could barely stay awake, the two boys would be much quieter and let you sleep. On those days, they would ask Phil if you were actually okay, or they would go back to their respective homes.

If your burns are causing you immense amounts of pain one day, Tommy will refuse to even be in the same room as you and will genuinely beg Tubbo, Ranboo or Philza to stop your pain. Even if he doesn’t like others being around you, he’s beginning to accept Tubbo’s care towards you but he’s still wary about his father and Tubbo’s husband.

Speaking of, Ranboo and Michael had seemingly disappeared from Snowchester, but Phil assured you that they were both in the Tundra, (And to keep it a secret from Tubbo.)

On Phil’s latest visit, he told you that you could get up and out of bed without irritating the burns on your legs, although you might have trouble at first.

Upon hearing the news, Tubbo and Tommy were at your sides in seconds, asking if you wanted to get up and encouraging you to try. If you didn’t want to, they (mostly Tubbo) would understand about it and leave you to sit on the fact for a bit.

If you did, Tubbo would be at your injured side to make sure your bandages stayed together when you got up, while Tommy would be on your good side and mostly holding you up if your balance was bad enough.

Tubbo wanted to help you walk around at night, just in case you were self-conscious of your burns, but Tommy was too worried about any sort of mob approaching you. While they knew they could protect you, they just didn’t want to take any risks.

Tubbo will burst out crying after he hears an explosion, meanwhile, Tommy will freeze completely still. Which is also what happened during the mining incident that caused you to get injured, which is why Tubbo was the one to scream and continue to cry long after they had saved you.

Because of this, they don’t want to face a creeper with you around to see them panic and be in danger while they struggled to get themselves together.

When you’re out walking around, Tubbo is extremely patient and Tommy at least tries to hold his complaints. 

If someone even looks at you wrong, they’ll have an angry raccoon boy yelling threats at them and Tubbo drawing his sword. They usually run with their tails between their legs afterwards.

If you collapsed on the walk from the pain, the amount of panic that would happen would be enough to have every single parental figure in the SMP running to help you. Luckily when it did happen, Badboyhalo was there and was strong enough to carry you without irritating your burns, and even gave a few pointers on how to help with burns. He had to raise Sapnap. He would know.

When you woke up at your home, you saw Tubbo and Tommy actually having a civil conversation with the large 9ft demon rather than threatening him to get away from you. That could've been because he was a demon though. But you were still proud!

You guessed that they still thought you were asleep when Bad left because you heard them murmuring and trying to keep quiet as they most likely made lunch.

Because of their conversation with Bad, and proving to you that they can actually behave themselves, you began to realize that their Yandere tendencies were calming down a lot. Meaning you weren't scared of them that much anymore, and you were beginning to accept their feelings towards you.

Unfortunately... You couldn't pick between them... And didn't know how open they would be to polyamory, but seeing as they weren't ripping each other's throats out, maybe their reactions wouldn't be too terrible?

Tubbo began to tell you about everything that bothered him, currently and formerly, like his death from Technoblade’s fireworks, even to being threatened by Dream during the disc war, or the nukes disappearing and his worry about whether or not Tommy cares about him.

Tommy also began to open up as well. Telling you about his brothers and father, his exile, his fear that Tubbo doesn't care about him anymore, and his third canon death.

After the two began to open up more, you began to realize they weren't being as clingy and desperate for your attention, most likely now trusting you to spend time with people other than them.

Maybe because they were catching on to you slowly beginning to return their feelings...

Everything seems relatively like it was before that one day before Tommy and Tubbo completely lashed out at each other.

A few weeks after your body became completely healed, the two boys spent a few days away from you, which you were curious about but never really commented on it.

One day when they both arrived at your house at their usual time, they were dressed up for an adventure and their bags were filled with everything that anyone would need.

They eagerly pulled you out of bed at some ungodly hour in the morning, although Tubbo thankfully had breakfast (and coffee) ready which you ate before going to get dressed into appropriate clothing and your god armour that Tubbo made, that was equipped with a new god sword that Tommy made you!

This was your first adventure since the explosion in the mine, and you damn well wanted to have fun.

"Okay, okay! Damn, Big Man, calm down!" You groaned as you threw the bag over your shoulders and tightened the straps accordingly. Once you tied up the laces on your boots, you straightened up and without fail, you felt both of your hands being grabbed before you got dragged out the door.

"We've been planning this for a few days! Nothing will stop us now!" Tubbo cheered, hopping along beside you as he held your scarred hand, "We have everything we could ever need for the next week!"

Your surprised reaction was ignored as Tommy continued dragging you down the Prime Path with a map in his free hand, "A whole week? That's quite a long adventure! Are you sure we'll be able to handle it?"

"Relax (N/n)! We were both raised by Philza Minecraft! Y'know, Survivalist extraordinaire? We know how to ration, build a shelter if needed, and everything in between!" Tubbo gave you a wide and cheesy grin as he spoke about the man who raised him, despite not actually being related to him. (Dadschlatt AU if you're wondering)

The three of you ventured off through many acres of forests and other biomes, holding hands and chatting away the entire time. Tommy let it slip that you were going to find buried treasure and maybe a woodland mansion if you were feeling brave enough, which is why he was always holding the map.

"Tommy, (Y/n)! Look!" Tubbo squeaked out happily as he saw a field of dozens of different flowers with bees hurriedly buzzing about to pollinate the plants around. The sight of the yellow and black bugs caused Tubbo to make happy little bleating sounds as his ears wiggled.

You and Tommy exchanged glances with a small smile, knowing very well you wouldn't be able to pull the hybrid away from them. "I suppose it is about time for a break..." You murmured as you were dragged off by the smaller brunet, thus pulling Tommy along as well.

The three of you sat down in the flower field, placing out a blanket to prevent yourselves from getting covered in dirt, despite knowing that it'll happen anyway. You set out the food Tubbo had packed while the two teenage boys ran around, having fun and, well just being teenagers.

Yes, Tommy got chased by bees.

Tubbo made you, himself and Tommy a flower crown, which you proudly wore, but Tommy was a bit more hesitant which you eventually made him get over by giving him a begging look. Yours was a bunch of (f/f) varying with colours, Tubbo's was a variety of yellows and white flowers, while Tommy's was mostly red and white.

While you three enjoyed your small picnic, you were all completely unaware of the fleeting bees, closing flowers and scattering animals. It was only when Tubbo's ears began to flick oddly did he lift his head, "I think there's a storm quickly approaching..."

You lifted your head and rose your arm to block the sun from your eyes to look at the quickly darkening clouds, "Oh damn, yeah we gotta go find shelter. Like now." You hurriedly grabbed your bag and began shoving the foot containers in it while Tommy and Tubbo packed everything else up too.

Despite your best efforts, you three quickly got caught in the downpour of rain and became absolutely drenched in rain by the time you found a small and shallow cave to hide in. "Aw fuck... Absolutely perfect! Sam said it wasn't gonna rain todaaaaay!" Tommy whined dramatically as he slumped against the stone wall.

You sighed and began pulling out the blanket again, knowing very well that you'd all be here for a while. When Tommy stopped whining about how he thought it was gonna be perfect weather, he helped Tubbo with starting a fire so you could all dry your sweaters that you had been wearing.

The two boys plopped down on the blanket on either side of you, Tommy hiding his head on your shoulder while Tubbo was curled up with his head against your lap, (After asking for permission of course) trying their best to drown out the sound of the sounds of the booming thunder.

After a few moments, you used the consistent pattern in the rain to keep beat before beginning to hum a soft tune while you ran your fingers through their damp hair.

Slowly, Tommy and Tubbo fell asleep, leaning against you while you hummed along to the rhythm of the storm...

=

Neither Route - Left the Game

Your house was quite out of the way from the Prime Path and Snowchester, in fact, quite possibly even closer to the Tundra. (In this route.)

Meaning that you were pretty far out of the way from everyone except for Ranboo, Phil and Techno. Which prevented both Tubbo and Tommy from coming around often, meaning Ranboo and Phil had to help you with a lot.

You felt bad because you didn't know either of them too, too well, but at least you knew you would definitely be getting better.

Ranboo actually had no problem helping you with your injuries, although he had to carefully write down what he gave you and when.

During your road to recovery, Ranboo and Tubbo's relationship became incredibly worse as the goat hybrid became even more manipulative and violent.

You became a personal therapist and babysitter for him and Michael, in return for him helping take care of you.

Speaking of Michael, the reason Ranboo hadn't joined you on the mining trip was because Phil had finished making a potion that would allow Michael to survive in the Tundra.

Tubbo and Tommy's violent habits had quickly doubled over the time when they couldn't see you, but luckily for you, the one time they did try to visit, Techno had come with Phil to meet you.

They ran out immediately.

Yes, Techno asked you about how you felt about anarchy.

Whether or not you joined the Syndicate is up to you.

Ranboo then told Techno and Phil about how Tubbo and Tommy were obsessed with you, and that your life was possibly in danger.

Technoblade only said that he had no way to help you, but Philza's fatherly instincts kicked in and he wanted to protect you both from the two boys he raised.

Once you got all healed up your burns scarred over, Phil and Ranboo already had an idea of how to keep you both and Michael safe.

It was highly risky and would leave you with only one life until you come back to the DreamSMP.

Phil was going to give you access to his Hardcore server.

Both you and Ranboo had a long and serious talk about it, but then remembered he was literally rich. He had dozens of totems!

Techno made you three totem pendants for you to wear around your necks, so you wouldn't always have to hold the totems.

(Philza asked his wife, Kristen the Goddess of Void and Death, to keep an extra close eye on you three and make sure if any of you do die, it's incredibly quick and painless.)

Standing in front of Phil, your bags filled with everything you would need to survive in the hardcore world, you watched as the centuries-old avian scanned you three up and down.

"I'll ask you both one final time." He sighed after he deemed all of your equipment and armour worthy. The blond fatherly figure stood in front of you and Ranboo as you held Michael with a glowing green orb in his hand, "Are you sure? There are no respawns when you run out of totems."

"Yes. It'll be much safer than the DreamSMP..." Ranboo murmured quietly, quickly scrawling as much as he could fit into his memory book before he forgot anything, "Even if it isn't permanent... We just need to run."

When Phil turned to you, you couldn't help but take a deep breath, "Yeah," You murmured, shifting the young piglin child on your hip, "I'm sure. Thanks again Philza... We really needed to be somewhere where they wouldn't find us..."

"I'll check up on you both once a week. Remember, travelling through servers will disorient you for quite a while and you quite probably won't understand where you are at first-"

"(Y/n)!!!" An angry yell came from the forest, and you turned your head just in time to see Tommy and Tubbo running in your direction.

You and Ranboo hurriedly whipped your head to face Phil again, but he seemed to have caught on before you both as there was a portal swirling with greens and golds beside him, "Go! Now! I'll see you both tomorrow! Remember, you can take anything you need to increase the chances of your survival!"

Ranboo got over his shock much quicker than you did because he grabbed your arm and leapt through the portal, bringing you and Michael along.

Ranboo Beloved left the game.

(Y/n) (L/n) left the game.

Michael Underscore-Beloved left the game.

[eirikaanemo]

Venti falls in love with an Inazuman rebel. The rebel has no vision, but what they do have is a belief that everyone has an inherent right to live freely. How does Venti know about this rebel in the first place? I honestly have no idea...

Visionless Visionary

Venti x GN!Reader

1.8k Words

Warning: Minor character death mentioned, prayer (if that bothers you)

Disclaimer: I knew next to nothing about Baal when I wrote this, so it may not be an accurate representation of her character.

Inazuma is a mess. That is just a fact now. Baal has suddenly become violent and a danger to her people. So many had done nothing but hold a vision she had bestowed upon them in the first place. And because of that, she struck your cousin down. You can still remember the thump of his lifeless body hitting the ground and the steady tap, tap, tap of Baal’s shoes as she walked away.

She seemed completely unaffected by her actions. You were anything but. The scene played over and over in your nightmares for weeks, and continues to haunt you. So when the rebellion reached out to you for support you were happy to assist. You found out he had just joined their ranks and that’s why he had been targeted.

However, you don’t have a vision so there’s only so much you can do. Of course they always welcome financial support and you gave it to the best of your ability. But you knew there had to be more you could do. So you spoke to some people and it was agreed that you would go to Mondstadt and position Barbatos for his support for your cause.

He hadn’t been seen in centuries, but he was the god of freedom, right? If anyone could help them, it would be him. So with the rebellion’s blessing you took your savings and made the long journey to Mondstadt.

Finding lodging was fairly easy. The people of Mondstadt were more than willing to help you. Especially once they found out what you were there to do. ‘Such a great and admirable cause,’ they said. ‘May Barbatos bless you!’ And all you could do was hope he did.

You prayed every morning and every night for help for your people. The heavens seemed quiet, but you didn’t let that dissuade you. Surely your sheer persistence would make a difference, you reasoned. And so you kept on.

One night, rather early on, you ran into a bard not long after your evening prayer. He had been not too far from the statue and you were captivated by the beauty of the song he played. It was ancient Inazuman and for just a moment you were able to forget and be caught up in the memories of better days.

When the song ended you were disappointed and tried not to pout. Judging from the laugh the bard let out when he saw you, it must have still shown on your face. “Did you like the song?” He asks. “I know I didn’t play for long. Would you like to hear another?”

“I would love to,” you admit. He smiles and simply starts on another song, this one also of Inazuma origin. From there he transitions into a more Mondstadtian style, singing The Ballad of Freedom. You know it well, as it’s a favorite of many of the rebels. As the last note fades he turns back to you.

“What brings you here, I wonder. Has it to do with your country being torn asunder?” He inquires.

“Yes,” you reply. “I’ve come to ask Lord Barbatos for his assistance in our cause. We fight for freedom from Baal, who has become nothing but a tyrant. As for me personally, well, she killed my cousin right in front of me. Her only reasons being the vision she bestowed upon him herself not many years ago and his belief that what she was doing was wrong. No one should have to suffer that.”

“Indeed, it seems you have a need. Your cause is just and swords you thrust. But the archons don’t just help everyone, so prove to him you’re worthy of some.”

“But how do I do that?” You question the cryptic bard.

“You’ll see in time, dear friend of mine!” He winks and you find your face warming. “Though I have a question if you don’t mind. Is the assistance you’re seeking a vision like mine?” He taps the glowing turquoise vision sitting on his belt by his hip.

“No,” you shake your head. “After what happened to my cousin, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with a vision. For me they’ve been nothing but trouble.” He nods in understanding.

“I see how that would be. I must take my leave for now, we’ll see each other later anyhow.” And he’s off into the night.

He’s right that this is far from the last time you see him. And he’s right that you start noticing the tests that Barbatos has set before you. More and more people seek your help in one thing or another, especially since the one they call “honorary knight” left to Liyue. There’s much to do, but you’re happy to help them.

Eventually you stop helping them because it’s a test and start helping them because you want to; because it’s the right thing to do. You help Lisa organize the library. You help Barbara clean the cathedral. You help Amber keep watch. You help Venti with his performances from time to time. You stand in for Diluc’s barkeep while he recovers from an illness.

Days and days have passed and your relationship with Venti grows and grows. You notice more and more things about him that you rather like. His laugh. His eyes. His hands. His music. His sense of humor. His optimism.

Really, everything about him is amazing. You try to deny it at first. But you know deep down that you’re falling in love. And you’re seeing some hints that he might be too. Lots of them, because he’s started flirting with you almost constantly.

However, as your relationship grows, your hope dwindles. It’s been weeks! You’ve helped so many people and have prayed so many times. And yet you have not received an answer. Not even an acknowledgement that he has heard.

When you express your concern and discouragement to Venti, he is very concerned. “I’m just not sure how much longer I can stay,” you explain. “While I would hate to return empty handed, I can’t stay here forever.”

“Try just one more time, for me?” he asked you, looking a little guilty despite not having reason to be. It’s not like he was keeping Barbatos from speaking with you. As if he could sense your hesitance he sweetened the deal. “If you do, I’ll give you a kiss!” He wiggled his eyebrows at you and flashed you a mischievous smile and you felt a warm blush bloom on your face.

“Alright,” you grumble good-naturedly. “I’ll try one more time.” His resulting cheer and more cheery smile were nearly enough to have made you do it by themselves.

That night you approached his statue, feeling unreasonably nervous compared to the nights before. “Lord Barbatos,” you prayed. “I seek thy assistance for my people’s cause. We seek the freedom thou dost represent. Someday may we all be free to live our lives reasonably, but as we please. This is my vision, my hope. Please, if it be thy will, let thy winds be not still. Guide us to better days, for this is what I pray.”

You stay there for a long moment, waiting. Then, the wind picks up and you hear a voice from it. It seems vaguely familiar but you can’t quite figure out why.

“Your diligence and passion for your cause has secured my blessing,” the winds whispered. “My winds will be at your back and support your cause. However, if you accept a vision despite your fears, you will be able to do far more. The wind will whisper secrets to your ears. All plans spoken will be carried to your ears.

“You need not fight with it. Trust in me, that I will not strike you down for accepting this gift. In your time here in my home I have found you to be a friend to us so I will be a friend to you.”

You feel tears come to your eyes. “I accept,” you whisper. This will be incredibly valuable.There’s no way you could turn it down. And this is the kind of god you can trust and accept a vision from. He is as kind, generous, and benevolent as his people.

After a moment of silence, the winds calm and a gleaming turquoise vision lies before you, dangling from a necklace like a pendant. It’s smaller than some others you’ve seen and is hidden easily when you slide it over your head and under your shirt. That will be invaluable when you return to Inazuma. It would be most suspicious for you to return with one after everything that’s happened.

You take another moment to catch your breath and wipe the tears from your eyes. Then you take a particularly deep breath to steady yourself and make your way back to Venti. “How did it go?” He asks, and you smile in response.

“It went very well,” you said, pulling the pendant out to show him your new vision. “Now we match! Now… I believe I was promised a kiss?”

The smile on his face at your teasing words could have lit up a room, if you were in one. He took your hands in his and tugged you closer gently before leaning in and pressing his lips to yours. It was a pleasant kiss, chaste but lingering and sweet.

He giggled at the face you made when he pulled away. You joined it, adding your laughter to his. Between the blessing and his kiss you felt like you were on top of the world. Then you remembered something that brought you down from your high.

“Venti, you know this means I have to leave now, right?” You inquire.

His face fell to a serious and thoughtful expression before it softened and he sent you a small smile. “Yeah, I know. You know I love you, right?”

“I know,” you respond softly. “I love you too.”

He nods. “Then I’ll wait for you. So don’t take too long, okay?”

“Of course, I’ll do what I can,” you reply.

Your parting is sad, but hopeful as he waves you goodbye until you’re so far away that he can’t see you. He sings nearly nothing but sappy love songs for the next week. He misses you, but knows you’ll be back. His winds won’t let anything happen to you after all.

When you return to Inazuma you find that all the rebels with anemo visions had their power boosted, the ships sailed swifter with the wind behind them, and the information the wind brought you gave you many victories. The struggle was still difficult, but the help you had obtained made a serious difference and soon enough you were headed back to Mondstadt.

You are headed home. After all, home is where the heart is.

tag list: @clouds-rambles

[liquid-luck-00]

Seven Deadly Sins x Maribat

Medieval Au

@maribat-bdbwm

Based on this idea

~~~~~~~~~~

Ten years ago.

On the outskirts of the city of Liones, of the capital of the country Liones, in the land of Britannia, homes destroyed, and countless holy knights laid butchered in the streets.

That day will go down in history for its infamy, the day the Seven Deadly Sins betrayed the country of Liones.

---

This is a tale of ancient times, an era before the human and non-human worlds were forever divided. When the Holy Knights, defended the realm, wielding their magical powers they were feared and highly respected. But among them a group emerged, that betrayed the kingdom, and became mortal enemies to all Holy Knights. They were known throughout the land as the Seven Deadly Sins.

---

Present day.

Near the Kaynes Village, there was a new tavern that was a buzz with customers.

“Here you go, drink up.” A young girl placed five steins of ale on the table. She had dark black hair that shown blue, pulled into twin pigtails by two pink ribbons, and bangs that framed her face and blue eyes. She wore a collared off-white shirt under a black vest with green panels. A pink skirt over leggings that reached halfway down her calf. And wore black and green boots. As more people come in, she directs them all with a smile.

“For a little lady, she is one hard working waitress.” A customer acknowledges.

“Oh no, I’m not the waiter, Buddy” She turns around. “I’m the owner of this place.” She turns to walk away.

“She’s the owner?!? A young kid like that.” But she doesn’t hear them.

“Alright, fresh from the oven. The meat pie that made the Boar Hat famous. Enjoy.” Three patrons dug into the pie, and promptly got sick. “You should have known. Our reputation is for having really good booze, but the food not so much.” She said with a completely straight face.

“Are trying to mess with us you little punk.” One shouted ready to fight.

“Wait guys, she’s packing a sword.” Another of the three pointed out. The handle was an emerald green and looked like a dragon with ruby eyes.

“Well, you guys, looks like we have a problem.” Her smile fell and she snapped her fingers. “Now let’s fix it.”

“Come on you call that a mess.” Out trotted a shiny black pig, wearing an earring tag. “Really what do you need me for?”

“Wait!!! That pig. He’s talking.”

“Yes, I’m a talking pig, what a bunch of dum-dums.”

“Plagg, we need to get this floor cleaned.” She spoke.

“Ugh, what a hassle.” Plagg complained. “Scrap disposal is a tough business.” He ate leaving, but before he did, he retorted. “Next time there better be some decent sized scraps.”

“You know I have an old family recipe for whole roasted hog.” She spoke to no one in particular, but with a deadpanned expression. Which changed Plagg’s tune quickly.

Then someone barged in. “I saw it. I really saw it.” He sat down. “I swear to all that is holy. I saw the wandering Rust Knight.”

“That’s just a made-up story, like how parents get their kids to stop misbehaving. The Seven Deadly Sins will come in blood rusted armor, oooh ahhh.”

“The Seven Deadly Sins?” She asks from behind the bar.

“You’ve never heard of them? They’re wanted posters are hanging everywhere, like those over there.”

She looks at the board and there were seven faces and seven names. Marinette, Chloe, Adrien, Luka, Felix, Lila, and Kagami.

“How long has it been? Ten years. When all those holy knights were slaughtered so fast, they couldn’t defend themselves. It was the Seven Deadly Sins that did it. From what I've been told the way the holy Knights’ grandmaster was killed was too gruesome for anyone to look at.” They began to talk amongst themselves.

“They say their captain, Marinette, is the scariest of them all. It's even said that she's brought down whole countries on her own.” Everything went quiet.

Until another patron spoke up. “Well none of them have been caught yet have not a single one.”

“They’re dead, they have to be the new Holy Knights would never let them live after what they've done.”

“Yeah you've got a point even now with the kings sick. The Holy Knights are making sure that the Kingdom stays safe for all its people. But those notices up on the board get updated every single year. Doesn’t that mean those seven criminals are still out there?”

“Yeah well some spooky knight walking around in rusty armor sounds pretty ridiculous to me.”

“You’re right.”

A crash, scraping, and banging was heard just outside the Tavern door.

“That smells an awful lot like rust to me.” Plagg sniffed the air and then cowered behind the counter.

The door opened and there stood the rusted knight. “The Seven Deadly Sins…” Hhe moaned as he entered the Tavern.

Screaming, panic, and everyone rushing out of the Tavern ensued. Fleeing from the rusted knight.

The girl jumped over the counter and stood her ground defiantly looking at the Rust knight. “Now who are you?”

The Rust knight swayed and then fell to the ground collapsed. His helmet rolled off of him. And then they saw his face, his eyes shut tight in the pain and exhaustion, his black hair short and messy stuck to his face from the sweat. And he wore a singular earring, a true blue engraved with something in red and gold.

“This kid is one of the Seven Deadly Sins?” Plagg asked the girl, and they took him up to the room taking the armor off of him. “He's just a boy.”

“Let’s just make sure.” The girl went up to the boy and started poking him first on his thigh, then his stomached, his bicep, she was leaning over him and was about to poke his cheek when his eyes flew open. “Yep, he's a boy.”

“Um, pardon me but what am I doing here?” He was quiet and soft spoken.

“Oh yeah you came into my bar then you passed out cold.”

“Your bar?”

“Yeah, the Boar Hat, my Tavern.”

“You’re the owner?”

“Is that so weird?”

“I just saw that sword, so I naturally assumed.”

“Oh, this old thing.” She motioned and pulled the sword from its scabbard. “Ha ha ha. Yeah, I guess if you only see the handle, it can fool ya huh.” All that rose up and out with her hand was the handle and a small stub was left of the blade, which was practically worthless in a fight. “It makes guests think twice about skipping out on their tabs.” She put the sword handle back into its scabbard on her back.

Which was when they moved downstairs to the raven again. Marinette cooked up something for the boy, and set the plate in front of him.

“First you nurse me back to health, now you're feeding me, how can I possibly thank you enough.” He barely choked out.

“First before saying thanks you should probably try the food first.” Plagg’s nasally voice cut into his words.

“What do you think? Awful isn't it.” She leaned down on the bar now watching him eat with a grin on her face.

“Yes.” He responded.

Which caused both her and Plagg to respond in unison. “Knew it was.”

But then something shocked them, he started to cry.

“Still its delicious.” Tears fell down his face.

“So what exactly were you doing walking around in that old armor, anyways?” She asked the boy.

“I'm on a personal quest to find the Seven Deadly Sins.” He answered.

“Why would you do that? You don’t even know if those guys are even still alive or not, and they’re serious villains.” Plagg reasoned.

That was when banging was heard on the tavern door, knights banged on the door, and ordered them to open up for them.

That was when she noticed the boy got slightly afraid at the mention of Knights.

After a moment of the Knights bickering to themselves, that gave her just enough time to think. She went and opened the door.

“Who are you?” One of the Knights asked her as she opened the door.

“I'm the owner of this place. What do you want?” She was relaxed.

“The Rust Knight is in there, send him out!” The same knight answered.

“Alright.” She turned around and looked back. “You might want to come out now.”

They all looked past her and saw Plagg dressed in the armor that the boy was wearing walk out.

“You have some nerve mocking the Knights of this land like this.” He grabbed her by the shirt and lifted her up off the ground. She was small, sure but he still held her up a meter off the ground.

That’s when the boy had snuck out of the back and made a run for it into the forest. Unfortunately, he was seen. “Look a boy just ran out, after him.”

The knight threw her back to the ground and she and Plagg shared a worried look.

The two of them ran after the boy and the Knights, Plagg mowed down, tackling each and every one, while she went after the boy. The last knight got pushed down off of the cliff at the edge of the forest by Plagg. While she and the boy were safely out of the way in one of the trees at the edge.

“So why are you looking for the Seven Deadly Sins anyways?” She asked him once they were back on the ground.

“To stop the Holy Knights.” He answered.

“Are you serious!! Why in the world would you wanna do that?” Plagg exclaimed. “The Holy Knights are the king’s men, the knights are here to protect us they are heroes.”

“But what if they were behind a plot to start a war in our country. Except for the king himself, the entire royal family was arrested and is being held by the Holy Knights.”

“Does that mean the king isn't really sick in bed?” Plagg asked the boy.

“That’s just a cover story the Holy Knights are using. I don't know what they think they can accomplish by driving the nation to war, but now they're drafting people. Taking men wherever they can get them they're preparing for war everywhere you look. So their reach will even extend all the way out here.” He shook his head.

“Yeah tough break, huh?” She finally responded.

“Wow you don't have any empathy at all. How does this tie back to the Seven Deadly Sins again?” Plagg shook his head.

“If there's even the slightest hope of preventing the Holy Knights from doing this. I know they're the only ones who can.” He was resolute.

“Just checking here.” She Butt in again. “You’re trying to find those guys even though you know what kind of people they are?”

“The Seven Deadly Sins are the most vile Order of Knights the Kingdom ever produced, made up of seven vicious bloodthirsty criminals each one branded with the mark of the beast. Ten years ago when they were suspected of trying to overthrow the Kingdom the Knights of the realm launched a full force attack scattering them to the four winds.”

“Well if you believe the rumors they each died a long time ago.” She spoke distractedly.

“Such amazing people wouldn't possibly let themselves get killed!”

“But they are criminals aren't they causing the suffering of the people right now?” She asked confused.

“When I was small, only five or six years old, my father would tell me stories about them and that's when I learned they are the most powerful Knights!”

A rumbling was heard and then the edge of the cliff they were on started to crumble and fall beneath them, dropping them down.

“I did not confirm whether or not they were people named in the report. Conclusion two individuals of unknown origin dead. What do you think men that sounds about right?” A man wearing red armor, silver grey hair and mustache.

“But Sir Twiggle, one of our knights was still under the cliff.”

“Simply put three fatalities in the report then.” Twiggle answered haughtily.

“But Sir, you can't! That’s too far even for you”

“How about seven fatalities instead?” The knight in red armor moved towards the rest of his men, but that was also when she jumped back up on to the cliff with not only the boy and Plagg in her arms but also the knight who fell.

“When I give a signal to you run into the forest got it.” She spoke quietly to the boy.

“Which one of them would you believe to be a member of the Seven Deadly Sins. Neither bears any resemblance to the wanted posters?” He then noticed something. “God is smiling upon me today, the crystal earring you're wearing is from the royal family. Conclusion you are Prince Jonathan!”

“Wait hold on Prince Jonathan?” The knights shouted.

“You're a Prince?” She added softly.

“Orders from the Capital are to determine your whereabouts. the order was to capture you alive and in healthy condition, but if you lost your life in an unfortunate accident…” Twiggle spoke aloud.

“I can't allow myself to get captured not yet!”

“Conclusion accidental death.” Sir Twiggle let off a shockwave of air magic chopping the entire forest down to the ground.

“Hi there, you alright?” She had pulled him down and covered him from the blast. “Plagg?”

“Seriously I'm a shaved pork on a skewer.” He cried. A single small little twig had splintered in his back. And he went off crying and screaming Tikki.

Johnathan stood and started to walk towards Twiggle. “Johnathan. Hey! What are you doing?” She called after him.

“There’s no escape.”

“Wait hang on you just said you couldn't afford to be caught or to give up.”

“Maybe if I surrender myself peacefully, he'll agree to take me back with him and your life can be spared.”

Sir Twiggle sent off another blast cutting into everything again, but she was able to tackle him out of the way just in time.

“Please get out of here while you still can.” He begged her.

“I think he wants to make sure neither one of us gets out of here alive.” She noticed as She was above him once more. After the attack ensuring he was fine yet again, the only real damage done to her, and that was her left sleeve was completely torn revealing her entire arm from shoulder to fingers. A mark barely visible on her shoulder.

“I was so happy when I met you. Searching for the Seven Deadly Sins, I so scared alone in that rusty armor. There wasn't any help I could ask for. Then you show up and show me such kindness, someone that you've never met before. I don't wanna see you hurt my problems anymore when I don’t even know your name.”

Memories flashed behind her eyes and a smile spread on her lips.

“Marinette. If you really wanna know.” She grinned from ear to ear.

“I… I don't believe it you can't be you're just.” Tears threatened to fall from his eyes.

That was when the knight who fell with them regained consciousness jumping up. “Where's the girl the one with the sword. I saw it when she saved me from the cliff the symbol it was right there. The symbol on her shoulder it… it… it’s her.”

Sir Twiggle struck again now closer, right on top of them. The magic was unleashed but Marinette stood up and was now facing the Knight.

“How is this possible? My technique was flawless I am certain my blade struck her!” Twiggle began to look even more and more frazzled. “But I was the one who felt the force of the blow. How could it have hit me?! And what is that in your hand?! A broken blade! Broken blade… now your face is beginning to look familiar. Truly it can’t! How can you look exactly the same as you did then?!? No matter your time's up! How dare you still exist!”

Their blades clashed their magic erupted, which sent Twiggle and his men flying high, high into the sky almost like a meteorite.

“Extraordinary power.” Johnathan breathed.

“Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins, the Dragon sin of Wrath, Marinette.” She announced.

~~~~~~~~~~

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[gwen-ever]

Until My Last Breath (Prologue)

Summary: When Smaug arrived, he not only killed the dwarves of Erebor, but he also destroyed the lives of the few who survived... whether he did it on purpose or not.After a hundred years, a part of Thorin's past will come back to haunt him in the form of a dwarf who last knocks on the door of Bilbo Baggins' house, resurrecting old grudges and the pain of a life no one wants to talk about. Geira, daughter of Geiri, is anything but an open book, an exiled who no one wants around, a warrior who has no one to fight for, but only an oath she must fulfil.

Relationships: Thorin x FemaleOC

Rating: M

Warnings: none.

AO3 LINK: HERE

Note Number I: English is not my first language, I have a wonderful beta @lathalea <3 (i am so much greatful you can't even imagine) but maybe I will mess up few times.

Note Number II: The Story takes place during the quest but there is a whole backstory that starts since Thorin's childhood so there are going to be a lot of flashbacks. THEY ARE NOT IN A CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER so the whole back story could be guessed but will be explained later in the story.

Note Number III: I will mix up the book events and the movie events, fixing what where (from my point of view) some mistakes were made. I have decided to do so simply because there are some lacks of infos here and there and so many lost possibilities in some actionless time, as happened in Mirkwood and Laketown.

I am blood of your blood, and bone of your bone, stone of your stone

I gift you my body so it can fall instead of yours.

I give you my soul so it can  wait for yours in the Great Halls.

I lend you my voice so it can order your commands

I present you my sword so it can slay the ones who wish to harm you.

No other dwarf will be mine, no other dwarf will own me,

no one will sleep next to me, no life will come out from the womb of mine.

No one I will serve over the crown, over the Seven Stars, over the Father of all fathers, over the King of all Kings.

I offer myself to you, until the end of times, until the mountains soar to the sky,

until all the blood dries, until the fires of Mahal’s forge blaze high.

Until my last breath, until my last glance, until my last blow,

until the last time my hands touch the rock our Father gave to us,

my life is yours and your wish is mine.

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

The house of Bilbo Baggins was more crowded than usual that evening, and the owner was more than a little disconcerted: not only had his peace of mind been disturbed, not only was his larder completely, utterly, depleted, but his kitchen, indeed his whole house, was overrun with dwarves! Thirteen dwarves! Plus a wizard he had met in the morning whom he barely knew and had marked the door with a rune, thanks to which his guests had recognised the Hobbit's dwelling. Truly, Bilbo Baggins did not know how to begin to drive them out, he had been trying since the first one (Dwalin, if he remembered correctly) had walked in through the round door, obviously without being heard by any of them.

Crockery, knives, pots and pans, everything had begun to fly from one side of the room to the other without ever stopping. He tried more than once to stop them, without ever succeeding! At that moment his Took blood was more useless than a fork when eating soup. In fact, his Baggins blood had gotten the better of him, leading him to accept the situation with no small amount of annoyance, including those black strokes on his yellow walls and the fragments of food scattered on the floor. Oh, not to mention his good wine, totally gone! It had taken him hours to sort out his pantry between days before and now all his food, all his tomatoes, all his wine, all his cheese, everything, gone, vanished, and it was not even the time for the spring solstice party yet!

And now, or in heaven's name, now Gandalf had even had the courage to tell him that he would have to get used to them! To all of them! To the twelve dwarves in his kitchen! And what on earth did the wizard mean by saying  that he would have to put up with them forever!

Annoyed, he began to walk down the corridor arguing with Gandalf and putting his hands on his hips.

"I don't understand what they are doing in my house!" he shouted, raising his voice.

The wizard didn't reply, but a small voice behind him did and before he knew it his entire set of porcelains was in the air.  His cutlery was being knocked over his table. Knife blades were being dulled by their rubbing against fork handles, and before he knew it, in time to the music, his entire kitchen set was flying through the air.  Oh no, no no no, not that chair, no, not that plate, no not that other plate! No, stop, please!

His pleas were soaring through the air, as if they were leaves on a wind, as were his dishes. And Gandalf sat smoking his pipe on a chair with an amused smile while all this happened before his eyes. Bilbo ran to the kitchen to put an end to this madness, but as soon as he did so, he noticed to his surprise that all the things that had been flying over his head until just now were neatly stacked on top of each other on his kitchen table.

He blinked, several times adjusting his braces, unable to believe his eyes.

The dwarves seemed highly amused by his reaction, and began to laugh, until three knocks on the door brought silence and an icy air that he could feel all the way down to his hobbit ankles.

"He is here," Gandalf said.

From the doorway a short while later another dwarf entered and it didn't take him long to realise that he was different, very different from the others who had entered his home moments before. Every single beard turned to face the newcomer as he walked inside.

Bilbo didn't know who it was and he didn't even really care, no one would enter his house unannounced, no one.

But he couldn't admit that his blood ran cold in his veins as soon as that dwarf started talking to him and asking him all those strange questions. What did he mean by axe or sword? Did he really believe that a hobbit like him had ever picked up either weapon? Who did he think he was? He could not hide his confusion at the last statement of the so-called Thorin Oakenshield.

"He looks more of a grocer than a burglar," he joked.

It was all too absurd for Bilbo's poor hobbit ears, all so surreal! His life, monotonous and lonely until a few hours ago, was now changing, he could feel it in his bones, and he could not understand if it was a good thing or not: he had always dreamed of adventure when he was a young hobbit, but now it was different; the walls of his home were so comforting and safe, every object was a certainty for him. His life was there and he would never leave it, no sir!

Calmness, however, continued to reign for a long time, during which the largest of the dwarves, with a long red beard, went to his kitchen and with an almost surreal care began to prepare a soup. Thorin Oakenshield sat down at the head of the table and was soon joined by the oldest of the dwarves who had entered his house, Balin, and two of the youngest, the two brothers Fili and Kili.

They began to talk in low voices, in a calm and quiet tone, just like everyone else in his house. It seemed absurd, but at least he was able to sort out some of the leftovers that had been left behind in the kitchen back in his own larder and eavesdrop, even if he didn't want to (it was rude) on some of the conversations that various small groups of dwarves were having. The ties of kinship were quickly understood, as was the realisation that Thorin was not really just another dwarf. No more plate was flying, no more song was being sung, but not out of fear, out of respect.

He turned his head, watching the almost regal profile as he spoke to the bear who came into the house first, but he could not hear what they were talking about, the fact was that their faces were dark, and Dwalin's eyes moved insistently over him.

A short while later Bombur returned with the soup, handing it to Thorin, and in the blink of an eye the groups of dwarves in his house were grouped together again, sitting around the table. He wasn't invited, that's normal, there's a meeting in a house and the owner of that house isn't invited! Not that he cared, of course not, the apple he was putting in the basket in the kitchen was certainly more interesting.

But he couldn't help but listen.

"What news from the Ered Luin, did they all come?" asked the older dwarf.

"Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms," the voice of Thorin spoke, setting off a round of small laughs and joyful murmurs.

"And what do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?"

A long wait ensued in which Bilbo swore he could hear the heart of every single dwarf in the room beating wildly.

"They will not come,"

The dwarf's reply was sharp and decisive. Disconsolate murmurs rose from his dining room that only increased in volume and quantity when he spoke again. "They said this quest is ours and ours alone,"

They began to talk in low voices, in a calm and quiet tone, just like everyone else in his house. It seemed absurd, but at least he was able to sort out some of the leftovers that had been left behind in the kitchen back in his own larder and eavesdrop, even if he didn't want to (it was rude) on some of the conversations that various small groups in that group were having. The ties of kinship were quickly understood, as was the realisation that Thorin was not really just another dwarf. No more  flying plates, no more singing songs, but not out of fear, out of respect.

A coughing noise, however, stopped the murmurs and caused Bilbo to turn to the table from behind the kitchen wall as well, distracting himself from his chores. Gandalf settled into the small chair and began to search the sleeve of his grey robe.

"This indeed, it is not entirely true," he explained as he slowly pulled a long wooden pipe from his sleeve. "There is someone else who has yet to arrive," the sorcerer explained, barely looking Thorin in the eye.

For all the pipe weed in the world, again?

The dwarf at the head of the table stopped sipping from his goblet of ale, giving him a sidelong glance but remained silent. Instead, the dwarf named Gloin spoke, crossing his arms over his chest. "This means yet another division of profit, all of which should have been agreed upon first." he muttered.

"Agreed, this matter should have been dealt with weeks ago," Dori pinned, pulling himself up.

Gandalf did not even look up at the elder dwarf, adjusting the tobacco in his pipe.  "My decision was made after our meeting in the Ered Luin. And Master Gloin, I think that our member does not wish any of that gold in that Mountain."

"Who is it?" grunted Dwalin suspiciously, looking up at the wizard who lit his pipe with his fingertips.

Bofur chuckled under his big black mustache, puffing an avalanche of white smoke from the side of his mouth. "Another burglar?"

"A burglar for the burglar," Fili grinned at the back of the room.

"A burglar made for the burglar," Kili added and their banter invited the murmurs from just before. This time, however, they were louder, more confused, as was his hobbit head.

A torrent of questions flooded the room as they all asked questions of the wizard, who, bewildered, tried to answer; only Thorin's intervention put an end to the commotion created, shouting warnings in their native tongue. Then he turned to the sorcerer himself, glancing at him.

"The questions that have arisen around this table are fair," he began earnestly, "I have not been informed of any others, none of this was a part of the bargain, Gandalf."

Gandalf smiled with the side of his mouth taking a puff of his pipe. "I was told to find the fourteenth member of this company and so I did, the addition of a fifteenth should not be an unsolvable problem."

"As I said it wasn't in the agreements and last minute clauses at a time like this are not convenient, not at all," retorted the dwarf bringing silence again.

Bilbo looked at the dwarves, clouded by the smoke from the pipes and the warmth of the candles around the table. They looked at each other's hands or watched Thorin in silence, not uttering a breath.

Gandalf put down his pipe and crossed his arms on the table, moving slightly closer to the dwarf with long raven hair.

"I assure you that my choice was not taken lightly, and if I had thought it was right a few months ago I would have reported it to you back then. But it was not possible," Gandalf lowered the tone of his voice even further. "You must trust me on this."

"Is this person crucial to what we must accomplish?" he asked quietly, looking straight into his eyes.

The wizard murmured a small "yes" between his lips, nodding his head slightly as he continued to look the dwarf lord straight in the eye.

Thorin said nothing, watched the wizard for a few more seconds before letting himself go off the back of his chair and then he took a sip of ale from his mug again. The conversation had ended in a few simple sentences, yet Bilbo noticed how the wizard continued to look at Thorin insistently.

Gandalf brushed his gloves around his hands with his fingertips dropping his gaze downwards for a few seconds before turning his head back towards him.

"Bilbo, my dear fellow," he called to him in a manner far more cheerful than his face was capable of showing. "Let us have a little more light".

----/////----

A snort passed her lips.

She was dreadfully late, which she hated from the bottom of her heart; and she hated the fact that she was going to a strange house of a Hobbit whose identity she did not know, although after all those years she had become accustomed to being in the homes of strangers quite often. Perhaps the real reason for her stomach clenching was not whose house it was but who she was supposed to meet in that house and the reason why she was going to that house. Because when she would see them again, all of them , it would not be pleasant or easy.

Far from it.

She didn't even think it would ever happen, nor did he want it to happen again.

She slung her sack over her shoulder as she climbed up the little dirt road, passing funny grass-covered houses by the round door: if it had been daytime, a riot of colours would have accompanied her path and perhaps, for a few minutes, she would not have thought about the imminent meeting.

She would have stopped for a few brief moments on that bench next to the path and sat there for a short while, perhaps lighting her pipe or watching those very peaceful people go about their simple business. Watching them do simple, mechanical things, perhaps in another life she might even have stayed in such a place, in peace, with someone. But no, too many years had passed, she had seen too much, heard too much, and she would not be able to live like that, not there.

Suddenly, a faint pale light caught her attention: she approached it and, with a thump in her heart, recognised the rune that the sorcerer had traced so that they could all see it. She reached the garden and climbed the small steps that led to the round green door. She ran a hand over her leather bodice and gathered in her heart all the emotions she could possibly feel.

Hatred, fury, pain and anger, so much anger.

She gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the voices she could hear through the door.  Taking a deep breath to calm her already jangled nerves, she knocked, hearing a great commotion and excited voices from inside.

The door suddenly opened, and it was the sorcerer himself who filled her field of vision: he broke into a rather smug smile, proud to have been right for the umpteenth time.

He knew she would come at last.

She had met him only a few weeks before and he was exactly as the rumours said. Gandalf's every move was studied and planned and, who knows why, everything corresponded to the plan he had devised; how every cog in that mechanism worked was a great mystery. Yet for that, she could not but admire him.

So, after he had silently nodded his head, she entered the cosy, warm house that smelled of good food and wine and was lit by the soft light of candles; she followed him into a corridor and the smell of ashes and moss entered her nostrils, as well as that of processed tobacco and malt. In a few steps she found herself in front of a small room where, around a table, were crammed all the others who, as soon as they glimpsed their new guest, assumed the most surprised and astonished expressions she had ever seen. Their faces turned pale, their beards seemed to stretch to the floor, and none of them dared say a word. Only one of them stood up so fast that he knocked over the stool on which he was sitting, irate.

"What is she doing here?!"

The rumble of thunder rumbled through the room and like a thunderbolt it brought to light old hidden shadows, old whispered words, broken oaths.

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

You're blood of my blood, bone of my bone, stone of my stone,

I embrace your body to let it protect me

I take your soul and forge for it a place next to me in the Great Halls

I take your voice which I will hear above all others

I take your sword and I present you my shield which will protect you from my enemies.

No other dwarf will be yours, no other dwarf you will serve,

no one will  keep you company at night, no life will come out from you.

No one you will serve over me, over the Seven Stars, over the Father of all fathers, over the King of all Kings.

I offer myself to your hands until the start to the end, until the skies fall on the ground,

until all the bones crack, until the  fires of Mahal’s forge blaze high.

Until my last breath, until my last glance, until my last blow,

until the last time my hands touch the rock our Father gave to us

my desires are yours, your pain is mine.

[rainydaydream-gal18]

Thorin x Siren!Reader: Sink or Swim

(Author’s Note: Soooo, I was conflicted about writing a non-human reader, but here we are!  Just so you know, the reader isn’t necessarily a “siren,” like the type to drown sailors: she is more like a regular mermaid.

Anyways, hope you enjoy!  Thank you for being so patient while I take forever to publish new fics!  I’ve had a lot going on, and I appreciate the support!)

   Thranduil was suddenly very quiet, blue eyes flickering from Thorin to you.  You withdrew, hugging your torso as if you could hide.  The Company leader beside you noticed your fear and stepped forward in an attempt to shield you from the blonde elf’s probing gaze.

  The Company were now prisoners of the Mirkwood realm after wandering the mysterious forest for some time and having a gruesome encounter with giant spiders.  You had fortunately been rescued by the Mirkwood guard only to unfortunately be captured and brought to the halls of Thranduil.

  Thorin had been summoned to speak with Thranduil himself, and for some reason you were dragged along with him.  Now you stood before the Mirkwood ruler with Thorin seeking to protect you and your identity.

  “Please,” Thranduil scoffed.  His robes trailed elegantly behind him as he took strides across the floor.  “Do not think you can hide from me, Siren.  Elf eyes see things that many others cannot.”

  Your heart was thumping wildly in your chest.  With one look, he knew who you were.  You had never encountered Mirkwood dwellers before, and you had no idea they had such good eyesight

  The question was: what would he do with this knowledge?

  As was your fear during the entirety of the journey so far, you wondered if he might keep you prisoner.  Sirens were sought after for the treasure that was inlaid in their scales.  It wasn’t uncommon for these gemstones and pieces of gold to drop off for a fortunate individual to find in shallow waters; however, if someone had the skill and means to capture a siren, they’d end up very wealthy.  Not to mention sirens in general were rarely found, but when they were, they’d sometimes be kept by the extremely wealthy for entertainment.  What if you were separated from the Company and kept here?

  “Fear not,” Thranduil halted your spiraling train of thought.  “I have no use for you.  I do not seek the riches of the seas.”  He looked at Thorin.  “You seek the Arkenstone, that which would bestow upon you the right to rule.  There are gems in the mountain that I too desire…white gems of pure starlight.  I offer you my help.”

  Thorin raised a brow.  “I am listening.”

  Thranduil tipped his head to the side, eyes fixed on the Company leader.  You could see the rigidity of their rivalry that had built up over generations.  “I will let you go if you but return what is mine.” 

  Even with the situation at hand, you felt a minnow-sized dash of hope.  Thranduil didn’t seem cruel, just eccentric.  It was clear that he simply wanted to cut a deal and be done with things.  Perhaps the situation would work out after all.

  “A favor for a favor,” Thorin mused, turning his back to Thranduil. 

  That bit of hope you felt earlier diminished like the setting sun behind the sea line.  The Company leader had a strange expression, and you got a funny feeling he would refuse the deal even at the cost of the journey.  He hadn’t been very fond of Rivendell, and the inhabitants there were very kind and generous.  Something told you he wouldn’t take too kindly to being bribed by this fellow.

  Your heart sunk as Thorin turned down Thranduil’s offer.  The willowy ruler maintained a cold stare at the Company leader before giving the order to have him thrown in the dungeon with the others.  You were to be put in a cell alone.

  Despite Thorin’s stubbornness, his eyes softened when he saw the fear flashing in your eyes for a brief moment.  He knew very well why you feared being captured and contained, since you had told him in confidence a while back.  You tucked away the feeling, and a bitterness took its place.  Bitterness that Thorin could not be rid of his pride even in a situation like this.  Not only did you feel he was betraying you, but he was jeopardizing the mission he claimed to care so much for.

  As you were being pulled away, Thorin bellowed your name.

  You paced in the narrow cell, arms folded.  Your only comfort was the occasional, echoing hollers of the rest of your Company somewhere else in the dungeon.

  Your feet ached.  It was so dry here.  How you longed to swim in the deep again!

  This journey only seemed to cause you pain.  From the beginning, you were chosen to leave your home and accompany the group to reclaim Erebor.  

  You did it for your people.  

  Long ago, sirens and dwarves were distant trading partners.  A fraction of treasure that the dragon Smaug so greedily guarded was indeed siren jewels and goods.  When Erebor was taken from its rightful people, it was a financial blow to the sirens who dealt in land-goods.

  Upon hearing of the opportunity to restore Erebor and resume trade, the leader of your world called on very few that he trusted to join the Company on this expedition.  The others refused to travel on land for so long.  Only you were willing to go to such lengths.  Even so, you weren’t entirely enthusiastic about it.  It was a job, a duty.

  So, here you were many months later, locked in a cell, so close and yet so far away from the nearest body of water surrounding what they call “Lake-Town.”

  Oh.  Also...  As if things weren’t complicated enough, you had fallen for a certain Company leader, too.

  Which also brought more heartache when he was the reason for you being locked in this cell.

  Sirens used to be a romantic bunch.  It wasn’t entirely surprising for them to forge bonds with land-dwellers.  It was curious, but not unheard of, since they have a history of being fascinated with the world above.  Nonetheless, as times grew darker on land, it became less common for such things to occur.  They hid from all but dwarves, and even then contact was limited.

  It made you feel silly.  Every time your heart skipped a beat, you felt silly.  Every time his voice gave you comfort, or you sought to comfort him in return.

  Hours passed.  At one point, you had curled up on the splintery bench for a nap.  At least you could enjoy the sound of the waterfall.  Your eyelids shot open when someone whispered your name.

  “Bilbo?” You mumbled.  “Is that you?”

  “Shh,” he hushed.  “Yes, it’s me.  Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”  Keys jingled, and the door popped open.  You emerged from the cell and wrapped your arms around the little hobbit.  “Thank you, Bilbo.”

  He glanced up at you, cheeks red and eyebrows raised.  “You’re very welcome.  Now let’s go.  There’s not much time.”

  Thorin was waiting off to the side, and as soon as Bilbo scurried to lead the others out of the dungeon, he was in front of you.  “_________,” he said, gazing deeply into your eyes, his own filled with regret.  “I am sorry.”

  You knew what he meant, and while you appreciated the gesture, now was not the time.

  “It’s alright, I forgive you,” you replied.  “But let’s discuss this later.”

  He nodded and turned to follow the others out.  Inwardly, you were pleased that he paused even for a moment to acknowledge his prideful mistake.  You hurried after the group, tired.

  The rest was a bit of a blur.  Before you knew it, you were hiding in a barrel with the others arguing and complaining in their respective barrels around you.  Bilbo had led you all there, and Thorin insisted that you trust the hobbit.  

  You already did, but the others still needed convincing from time to time.  They tended to underestimate him.

  Suddenly, the barrel was rolling. 

  And then you were plunged into freezing water.

  Once you had recovered, you were able to comprehend the relief you felt at being in the water again. The transformation happened so quickly. Soon, you glanced down and saw the familiar glistening of (favorite color) scales and the sparkling treasure that was inlaid. You gave a powerful kick and swam out of the barrel into the strong current of the river. The current was no match for your experience in the water. You were able to pause and glance up at your friends being thrown around in barrels on the surface.  The poor dears.

  You glided forward, looking ahead to see the river gate closing.  Someone must have sounded an alarm above signaling the prisoners’ escape.  The others were scooped up against the gate in their barrels, but it looked like Kili was making an attempt to pull the lever to open it.

  Through the surface, you saw him get shot by an arrow.

  An orc arrow.

  As if escaping from Thranduil’s prison wasn’t difficult enough…

  It was time for the others to see what you could do.  You’d told them stories, but now they could see what you were talking about.

  Breaking through the water’s surface, you looked to Thorin.

  “Cover your ears!” you yelled.

  He nodded and barked the order to the others.   

  You went underwater to gain momentum as you swam up again.  Mid-air, you reached deep into your chest and let out a screech-soong. It was a way to ward off predators in the ocean, and you were told it could do some serious damage to land-dwellers who heard it.

  Some orcs fell over, ears literally bleeding.  The stronger ones (or perhaps they simply had bad hearing) remained standing but were knocked back by the sound.  It had halted them long enough for the Company to regain control of the battle.  A few of your friends had stolen orc weapons and were using them against the enemy.

  You ducked underwater as a few arrows whizzed by.  Your move made you a target.

  Fortunately, the Company came to your aid.  Thorin cut the orcs down swiftly, glancing at you to ensure you were safe.  Fili and Kili also pitched in, throwing you a barrel to use as a shield of sorts.  After using it to block some arrows and a sword attack, you continued to put it to good use.  You launched it from the water to hit a group of orcs, knocking them down.

  Bofur nodded, impressed.  “Very nice!”

  “Thank you!” you nodded back.  With a wave of your hand, water shot from the river and knocked down another orc that was ready to throw a blade at Thorin.  You were intrigued when you saw the she-elf with the long, red hair aiding the Company.  The one who you recognized to be Thranduil’s son also joined in the effort.

  The number of orcs dwindled as the river’s current carried the Company farther away from Mirkwood.  It was easier for you to swim at this point, but without a current, the orcs would catch up to the others.

  Thorin ordered that all head to the shore, and you sighed.  How wonderful.  More land.

  You floated into the shallows reluctantly, closing your eyes to enjoy the feel of the cold water for just a moment longer.  When they opened, you saw two boots on the shore in front of you.  Thorin knelt down, eyes soft, as he reached forward with his hand.  In the past, when anyone reached toward you in the water, your fight or flight instincts kicked in.  But for some reason, you remained still.  It was most likely because you finally had grown to trust Thorin immensely. 

  His movement was careful as he reached into the water beside you.  When his hand returned, it was grasping something.  He relaxed his fist to reveal a piece of gold resting on the palm.  His beautiful blue eyes that reminded you of the sea stared at you in wonder.

  “Does it cause you pain?”  The question was asked so gently, like one far younger than he was.

  “When the treasure falls?” you clarified.  “No, I don’t notice.  It only hurts if it’s taken off forcefully.”

  Thorin nodded, thinking this over as he presented the gold to you.

  You shook your head.  “Keep it.  I have nowhere to keep it anymore.”

  While he hesitated, you pulled yourself up to the shore and focused on returning to your land form.  Your pants had been torn down the middle in the transformation, so now you were left with something that resembled a tattered skirt.

  “Here ya go, lassie,” Bofur spoke up beside you, tossing a new pair of pants.  They were soaked, like the rest of the leftover supplies, but they weren’t ripped at least.

  “Thank you,” you chuckled.  A warm hand wrapped around one of yours, pulling you to your feet with ease.  Thorin’s gaze lingered for a moment longer before you finally convinced yourself to break away to change into the new clothes.

  What a journey this was.

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Ma'am- how dares thou leave us off on a cliffhanger for both Empires on the Horizon and Kingdom Collisions V >:L I demand to know whats going to happen next!! (also take your time to write them lol )

Ah my friend you are right I am sorry for being so rude😭👀here's a Kingdom Collisions update. Please forgive me?🥺

Y’all know the drill by now. This is a fic i’m writing to try incorporate more descriptions into my writing. I do not have pre-written chapters so we’re both lost on what comes next or when the next update will be?! Please enjoy!

masterlist

TW: Suicide mention

Kingdom Collisions VI

Once upon a time in a land known for water and jewels there lived a young boy. He had skin the colour of soil and eyes the colour of oceans and were your gaze to ever fall upon this little figure you knew the earth was created just for him. The boy lived in a white-stone castle, surrounded by guards in clanking silver armour and blue-feathered helmets. Swords gleamed with their newness. They are decoration, a rite of passage. They only reflect the water. Children darted between their legs as they swoppeed shifts and if you looked closely the boy was often one of them. The castle stood proud and tranquil in the kingdom and gave the people hope.

If the white walls stand tall the queen will rise above all. 

A piece of poetry long since washed away.That single line ran through the city streets like rain water. Ran into people's homes, and under the wheels of rumbling cars. Generations had forgotten the poem to time but that line for it's power and rhyme had weathered the changing tides. If you listened closely the trees still knew the words. But nobody ever heard. The world was too busy and the day too new to remember what it was like to become one with evergreens.

Percy Jackson wakes up with a gasp, heart beating like conga drums. His fingers curl into his chest, leaving red marks as he winces sleep away. The world is still pitch black; stars hidden behind a blanket of storms. He wonders if they find comfort wrapped in the clouds. If those white puffs feel as soft as they look. Sleep is faraway, a distant friend stuck at a cold airport terminal. So he drifts to the window, ignoring the wind prickling his skin and sits down at the bench. The chiffon curtains rustle softly, talking to him in a language he hasn't quite yet learned. He knows they're saying something important. They must be if they brush against his legs every few minutes. Everyone is always trying to tell him something important. Something life changing and groundbreaking. He wishes he could pause time for a little while. Stroll through the gardens and into the ocean without anybody running after him.

The curtain drifts towards him again and he sighs as if the universe has made him designated driver. An unwanted, unwilling task.

Somewhere a bird caws and he snorts softly, "Okay, okay. I'm handling it."

He let's the sounds of the wind take him through the endless corridors, let's it carry him like a dying flower, like autumn leaves, like bonfire embers. The stone floor is cold under his bare feet and his body is littered with bumps. He misses the warmth of his castle. Misses the warmth of the hearth in every room and the smell of the sea that drifts in through open windows. Mostly, especially, he misses his mom. There is something distinctly missing from the Castle of Caelum. He hasn't quite put his finger on it but it doesn't feel right.

He doesn't have time to delve into that thought because all at once everything goes quiet. A large door looms before him.

"So this is it huh?" His voice is soft, afraid to disrupt the silence.

Taking a deep breath, filling up his lungs with the air of the Kingdom of Wind, he knocks on the wood. It is gentle and solitary and he's almost certain no-one heard it but his ears perk up anyway. He knows you can't pick up footfalls on stone but it doesn't stop his heart from racing in anticipation. The door opens with a soft click and tired eyes look at him.

"Percy," Jason's voice is raspy with crying and his heart shatters.

"Hey, can I come in?"

The blonde looks at him, brows furrowed and tear stains carved into his cheeks. Percy can see the tiredness in the prince's bones, like x-rays of exhaustion. He's about to say nevermind, about to walk away, walk past his own chambers and into the lifeless night. But the Prince nods once and moves aside.

He feels almost disappointed that he couldn't escape. Disappointed he couldn't just go back and never return. His mother's voice flitters into his head.

When your people are suffering you must lie down with them and ask them to tell you their story.

Why mom?

Because little one when the time comes you will know what to do.

How momma?

We are made of stories little one. We are made of all the things people tell us. Our dreams and hopes and memories are just threads in a tapestry and every person is connected to it.

I don't understand momma?

She smiled at him, perfect white teeth and dark blue eyes: When you think of me little one, what comes to mind?

Ten year old Percy frowned, Chocolate chip cookies, and your bedtime tales, and the beach, and hugs.

And what do you think about Grover?

Percy's green eyes had lit up like the sun: Play time and movies and ice-cream!

She laughed: And what about Dad?

His little brows furrowed: Fancy clothes and swords and paper and cuddles.

And Princess Piper?

His nose scrunched up: Cooties! He squealed and then he was running around the room; the world a flowing river, him a little fish learning its current.

You see little one, you didn't think about bones or skin or blood. You thought of memories and stories. Do you understand now?

He nodded as he scrambled into her lap: I think so momma. So if my people tell me who they are I can use their stories to help them when they're sore?

Almost little one. Half of hurt is because nobody listens. If you just listen to what your people are saying they will not hurt so much.

Is that because we have to tell our stories momma?

"Exactly. That is how we live. And live on."

Prince Perseus Jackson takes a deep breath and steps into the room. Immediately he can feel the icy wind, so much colder up here, stinging his bare arms, chest, legs. Save for the small silk boxers covering his most sensitive parts his body is exposed to the brutal temperatures and he cannot hide a shiver as he settles on the couch. The fire has died long ago, maybe not even put on for the night, if the grey ashes and lack of heat are indication enough.

"What are you doing here?" The blonde prince looks at him.

"The curtains told me to come."

"What?" He can hear the confusion, but more than that the weight of a thousand heartaches.

He wonders if every person who has their heartbroken feels like they're the first to ever go through it. If that feeling is so perfectly human it feels unique and special to each one.

"Sometimes the world talks to me and sometimes I listen."

"I don't really know what game you're playing but I'm not in the mood so if it isn't an emergency," Those eyes are ice blue, "And I honestly wouldn't care even if it was, please get out."

"I cannot." He shrugs and pulls a velvet blanket over him.

"I'd appreciate," Jason's teeth grit, "If you respected my boundaries enough to leave. I am not in the mood."

"The window is open, there is paper sitting on the desk and many crumpled pieces on the floor, and I can see you haven't even sat on your bed, never-mind slept in it. What do you plan to do Grace?"

"You know what." That voice is hard, malicious with fear, pain.

"I will not leave. And you will not either. You can sit there on your bed hating me till the sun graces us once more. You can punch me until I am the same colour as the dusk but I am not leaving."

"I hate you. Leave me alone." He can hear the tears hit the cold stone. He doesn't react. A shadow blocks the moonlight finally peaking through the clouds.

"I said leave me the fuck alone!"

"I cannot do that Prince."

"Don’t call me that." He snaps, pushing his face into Percy's, "Go away! I want to be alone."

"I can't Jason,"

"JUST LEAVE!" Golden fists pound at his chest, droplets of salt soaking into his skin, as if trying to wash away the bruising.

He grabs his husband's hands gently and pulls him to the couch.

"I'm not going to leave you."

"They all left." Jason gasps, "They left. HE LEFT!"

The scream draws blood from his ears, pulls oxygen from his veins.

"I'm here. I'm not leaving. I am here."

"Please," Sobs wrack that broken body, and Percy can feel the first cracks in a kingdom. "Please don't leave me. Please, please please."

He rubs his hand over a shaking back and mutters over and over again, "I will not leave you."

Prince Jason Grace cries a new ocean and he names it after the fire that caused it. When the sun peaks over the horizon, fracturing a wall of crystal, and attempting to warm those cold grey stones, Percy Jackson takes his husband to bed and ignores the fissures running under his feet.

Once upon a time in a kingdom known for storms and gold there lived a little boy. He had eyes of lightning and skin the colour of sunlight and if you ever caught a glimpse of him you knew only the darkest nights could ever produce something so beautiful. The guards are bathed in riches, weighed down by diamonds cut from dreams and earrings weighted with the pureness of gold. Swords are varied and prized. Bred for fodder. Used at will. He lived in a castle made of grey stone and it loomed over the kingdom like a black cloud. The people looked at it and shied away. For they too had a poem about their crown but they remembered every line. 

Those who fell under the shadow of stone were sure to be left to ruin by their king and cursed forever alone. A young boy with hair spun from starlight is trapped inside. Who will save him if he cannot hide?

Forgetting was a death warrant.

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

Tags (if you want to be added to/ taken off the tag list just let me know, all my channels of communication are open):

@nishlicious-01

@queen-of-demons-and-hell

@leydiangelo

@sparkythunderstorm

@asami-sato-has-never-sinned

[lisinfleur]

Incomer

The Request:

Author’s Notes | Notes Universe | Vikings Pairing | Ivar x Reader, Ivarsðóttir x OC!Einar Info | Viking Age AU, requested by @justanawolf​ for 5CW7 Words | 2762 ⁑ Warnings: Some cursing. Mentions to violence, death, and blood. Insinuations to rape.

"Ivar Ragnarsson!"

Ivar sighed in his throne. You were once again disturbing his mind with that inconceivable idea of marrying his beautiful daughter to that boy...

That thin and weak boy that invaded his life years ago, playing with his precious daughter as if he would grow enough to become the raider he pretended to be in their imagination.

Your daughter and he used to play together all the time and Einar, who was the son of a local farmer, was a good boy in your sight. He never tried anything improper, always playing like a good boy, respectful, a good worker, well educated... The fact was that the stupid boy had grown into adult life and became a man, for Ivar's disgust: it would have been easier if Hella had taken him as Ivar thought would happen. And now, you were there, for the hundredth time in that year, remembering him your daughter and that thin thing were starting to get involved... That he should prepare to discuss her marriage to that annoying remembrance of Sigurd's bardic traces walking through his Hall after his precious daughter's skirts. He was even good with the oud! The oud!

Sigurd was a damn plague in his life and Ivar could bet he was laughing at his face from Valhalla, celebrating with toasts his curses becoming true under the skin of that infamous boy his daughter was so in love with.

"He's weak," he insisted, sighing bored when you started again the whole speech.

He knew what would come, but even then, there you were, speaking, and speaking...

"...And strength is not everything! Nor is stamped in his face, Ivar. If it was like this, then my father should have denied your pledge for my hand," you said, catching his attention and an angry glare in his eyes.

You wouldn't dare to compare that thin little boyish thing to him, right?

"You were a cripple weak rag of a boy in his sight, but he gave you a chance to prove yourself and you did it! You owe Einar a chance as well!"

You would.

And it infuriated him - of course! What would infuriate Ivar the Boneless more than messing with his ego?

"I'm nothing like that boy and I owe him nothing!" he said with his powerful voice, looking at you with sharp blues. "Well, he wants to marry my daughter? So, if you want so badly to compare the two of us, tell him to do what I did! Tell him to conquer kingdoms and kill kings, to gather an army and have lands under his control! Tell him to become a commander, a successful raider, and a king! And then, I'll gladly offer my daughter's hand in marriage and maybe an alliance!"

You crossed your arms. He knew he was going too far, but Ivar never knows when to stop...

"As long as he's standing under my boots on our society, then he'll have no chances to have my beautiful Freya bearing his children!"

"You rather sell our daughter to a foreigner king for an alliance, I suppose... Right, King Ivar?"

He drew back. It was a slap on his face, and you knew it. You did it on purpose, just to see that frown in his forehead.

The subject was over. None of you wanted to speak about that anymore. You turned yourself to leave and his voice echoed, calling your attention.

"I'll be leaving on a short trip at the end of this moon..."

"Don't you dare to suggest taking the boy with you, Ivar," you said, immediately looking back.

"I won't get him killed on purpose! For the gods' sake, woman, what do you think I am?" he answered, offended by the obvious concern in your sentence.

But you stood on your position, looking straight inside his eyes.

"A father, Ivar," you answered, slapping his face without your hands one second time. "One disposed to do anything for what he thinks is his daughter's safety. Einar stays. Our daughter loves him too much for me to allow your concerns to hurt this innocent relationship. I rather see them as friends forever than hold my daughter's cry if her heart goes with him."

Wise words... For his disgust once again.

Damn him for marrying a woman able to outsmart his plans and, sometimes, see forward in his steps. He had no intention to harm the boy, but you were right: his raids weren't for a farmer and if Einar didn't come back, his precious Freya would suffer twice: for the future love never built and for the friendship lost.

"Fine. We'll solve this when I come back," he stated.

Something you could accept. With a heated head, nor Ivar or you would think straight and it was the future of your daughter in your hands. Freya's happiness was more important than anything.

"Baldur will come with me. Such as Tyr," Ivar declared about the raid and you sighed.

Your children were growing so fast... Last night you were waking up for Tyr's nightmares, and now there he was, a young man, walking around with Hvitserk, drinking with Baldur, looking the skirts around.

Going to raids with his father and brother...

"I'll make the sacrifices to provide you a safe trip and safe return, husband," you said, looking at him.

Sometimes words weren't necessary.

"I'll take good care of them, my love. Not that I really have to once Baldur fights like a beast and Tyr honors his name, but I'll take good care of them, don't worry."

It didn't really matter for you and Ivar knew that. They could fight like his best men and be greater than his father, and yet, Baldur and Tyr would always be your little boys.

Boys you thought you would never see one more time when those men invaded your home. Ivar's self-confidence was a mistake and sometimes, a few times, it would really cause a disaster.

This time he thought his fame and name would be enough to keep small invaders away from his lands. He thought they wouldn't dare to threaten his kingdom, nor his wife, nor his daughter...

"Mother!"

Your heart crushed in a thousand pieces when you had your daughter brutally ripped from your embrace. Those men touching her, holding you, trying to lift your skirt, speaking offensively about how your husband would hunt them if he ever knew who fucked his wife and daughter to death the way they were planning.

"Or else I could put a child on her belly and leave the crippled king a boy with my face," one of them boasted touching your lower belly right before you spat on his face.

"I would rip my own womb before bearing your child, you bastard!" you cursed and he slapped your face, throwing your body on the ground, starting to rip your dress.  

His curses and words, telling you how he would give you the taste of a whole man before you could prove his sword, were cut in the middle when someone crossed his chest with a sword. You felt the blood spatting on your back and the weight of the dead body, but your instinct screamed louder and you stole that dead man's sword, getting up to help whoever was the man fighting to get your daughter free.

You were no shieldmaiden. But you were a mother and somehow Frigga imbued your heart with her strength and you sunk that blade on the shoulder of one of the bastards while your savior was trespassing the third one.  

Quickly, he ran to lock and block the door and so, as your daughter was falling on your embrace, crying like a child, your eyes could recognize your savior coming closer, fully worried about his beloved princess in your hands.

"Einar..." you mumbled as Freya threw herself into the boy's hug.

You watched in relief as he held your child in his arms, hiding her completely into his embrace, mumbling sweet words into your daughter's scared ears.

There was so much love between them... How could Ivar deny he was the perfect husband to your sweet daughter?

As Einar's hands consoled your crying daughter, slowly lulling her into his embrace, you straightened your dress, trying to keep yourself covered and see if there were wounds beyond the scratch bleeding on your face. The sounds of battle could be heard outside and somehow, they became stronger in your Hall.

You couldn't determine if someone had arrived to kill the invaders or if the raiders had backup now, but the cries of battle were closer and higher, and so, Einar showed his bravery once again.

"No... Einar, please no!" your child cried as the boy delivered her into your embrace.

She wasn't calm anymore. Instead, she was terrified of seeing him holding that sword.

"Please!" she begged, but Einar just touched Freya's face with a gentle caress.

"Don't worry, my princess. I'll be fine. And if I fall here, then I wasn't worthy of your heart, my love. What man can desire a woman he cannot protect?"

Wise words. A wise man... You held your daughter and touched her face.

"The gods know how much you love each other, my child. Don't worry... If we fall into this place, I ensure you'll find him again," you said, having nothing but some more tears from your crying daughter as Einar straightened himself, holding the sword like a true warrior, waiting for the small barricade of the door to fall.

It didn't take too long until the sounds reached your room and Freya yelled when a strong impact broke the door open. But despite prepared for a huge fight, Einar's shoulders relaxed when Whitehair came into the room followed closely by the king and his men.

"Father!" your girl cried and Ivar came closer, embracing you and her as Baldur and Tyr were looking around searching for any other invader at the room.

"My child... My love... Are you wounded?" Ivar asked.

His heart was hammering his chest like a midsummer drum.

"We're safe... Thanks to Einar," you said, causing the eyes to turn towards the boy that was still holding his sword, tiredly.

Baldur sheathed his own blade as Tyr came closer, to touch his forehead to yours. The older brother and Ivar were focused on the boy who was now panting a little less, relieved the king was back.

Before they could say anything, Freya released herself from Ivar's arms, throwing her own arms around Einar's waist, hiding her crying face in his chest, causing the young warrior to release his sword in order to hold her against him.

"Did you protect my daughter and wife, boy?" Ivar asked, not sounding so hostile towards the boy now.

"Not as good as my king would have done, but I tried my best to keep them safe, King Ivar," he answered, respectfully.

But you didn't lose your chance.

"He's being modest... The boy saved my life and our honor," you spoke, soothing your husband's glare towards Einar. "He came into this room with bravery and faced three enemies in order to get us free from their hands and blades. Two of them he killed by himself. One with my help. And to keep Freya's safety and mine, he was disposed to keep on fighting whoever would come through this door, husband." you testified.

Einar lowered his head, touching his nose in your daughter's hair, trying to keep her calm as she was slowly stopping the loud sobs.

"Then, you learned what I taught you," Baldur said, kinda proud, surprising both of you when he turned himself towards his father. "Einar has been training with me and Tyr for some lessons with the sword, father," he said.

"He said he wants to prove you he's a good man... For Freya's hand," Tyr completed, kinda exposing the boy, causing Einar to look at your husband insecure and scared.

"It's not that I believe I'm worthy, I just..." he started trying to justify himself, but Ivar raised his hand causing him to shut and you to prepare your arguments to defend the boy.

But this time, there weren't bad words.

"I would never question the value of a man that offered his chest to protect my most precious treasures. You know you could have died into this room, don't you, boy?" Ivar asked.

To what Einar looked into his eyes, seeming to create the courage to face your husband for the first time.

"My king doesn't fear the death for Valhalla awaits him in the end. Why should I fear if I want to be like him?"

Words that sounded like a huge surprise, causing Ivar's barriers to crumble.

"What did you just say, boy?"

"That I know I'm a farmer, with poor origins and thin blood. And I know I have a long way to prove my value under your eyes, King Ivar. But such as you fought the whole world and proved yourself despite all your obstacles, I want to make me worthy of Freya's love and your trust. I love your daughter, King Ivar. I have been loving her my whole life and I would die for her without a single question if it was necessary to keep her safe."

Baldur smiled, Tyr giggled and you slapped your younger son's shoulder for the sounds, reprehending him like a boy for laughing of another's feelings.

But Ivar looked right into Einar's eyes. Freya was still hidden into his embrace that somehow Einar was managing to sustain longer than you could imagine he would in front of your husband.

"You have strong words. And a fierce heart. You said you want to be like me, so I'll teach you what is missing in your speech, boy."

For a second, you thought once again that Ivar would destroy Einar with his words, but your fears did not become true one more time. Instead, Ivar touched the boy's shoulder with a tight grip.

"Know that you would die for her makes me proud. See that you will fight to live for her makes me relieved. Die for your wife if this is your fate, boy, but love her enough to fight to live for her until your last breath. Did you understand me, son?"

Son...

You and your sons smiled at the sound of that word.

Your husband was accepting Einar as his son-in-law and you knew that in that discrete change on the way Ivar was calling him.

"Yes, my king..." Einar answered, with his eyes shining.

And Ivar sighed. It was easy to see the loyalty and strength into that boy's eyes.

Maybe the gods had permitted that invasion to give the boy the chance you said he should have. And Einar had proven himself to him, despite the fact that Ivar would never admit it with all the words in his mouth. The best he could do was to stop trying to scare the boy to the bones away from his daughter.

But for now, it was time to negotiate details...

"We have to fix this Hall and get rid of the bodies. It will take a while... Tell your father to prepare his guest room... The king's family will dinner at your farm tonight," Ivar spat, draining Einar's color completely before Ivar started walking out of the room.

This time you couldn't avoid smiling as Baldur patted your soon-to-be son-in-law and Tyr giggled jumping the bodies, just like Hvitserk used to do, to follow his father out of the door.

"Tell your mother to make that chicken, brother!” He said before crossing the door starting to speak with Baldur. “Boy, Einar's mother's chicken is the best I ever ate!"

And there was your Tyr, thinking on food despite the fact that the hall around him was made into pieces… You should talk to Ivar about the huge amount of time Tyr was passing with his uncle... But for that moment, you walked towards Einar, caressing your daughter's hair in his embrace.

"Don't worry, child," you said, touching his face. "He likes you... Such as I do. Take care of my princess. I'm sure she's in the best hands," you said, before seeing Freya smiling between her tears towards you.

Maybe the gods had messed things up for a reason. Maybe all the suffering had a purpose. The fact was that Einar would have his place in your husband's Hall and you were satisfied to see your daughter's eyes glowing with love once again.

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[midnight-lightning]

Piece of gold I Part 6

Loki x reader

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6

A/N: wow. That’s it. That’s the last chapter of piece of gold and also the longest one. Really I enjoyed writing this story so much.

And also enjoyed, no more loved all of the amazing reviews you wrote,

Really, thank you so much.

And now, i hope you enjoy this last part

Summary: You live your dream as a worker in the   royal library of Asgard, everything would have been normal if there   wasn’t a certain prince between the bookshelf’s who’s passion also   included books. Of course destiny has decided it was time to bring you two together…

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo "It might sting a little bit but just hold your breath, alright?" You placed the cotton with some alcohol on the wound of the small boy, who had gotten hurt during the battle. "Look! It's already over. There you go, you brave soldier." The boy murmelnd a shy thanks before he run in his mother's arms next to you. "Thank you for helping my son! The medicine hall is completely overfilled and we needed a healer." "It is a pleasure Ma'am. Though, we're not healers but could we help yourself in anyways?"You stated, touched by the woman's words. She stroke her boys hair with a small smile and answered, "No, I'm fine. What matters now is that we can finally go home. Thank you both again." Mealla next to you nodded seriously before she let out an exhausted sight. "That was everyone for now... I never thought I would ever experience something like that... well, at least the last time Asgard had been attacked Odin was here to defend our home." "I mean look at the library so many things, so many treasures are wasted and lost." Frustrated she put the medical utensils back in the bag we found in the remains of our office in the library. "Do not worry to much, Mealla. Asgard is build out of magic and the power of gods, I'm sure not everything is lost... you'll see we'll fix it." You stated, not really present with your thoughts. You just whisked you could do more... "We are you headed? Our rooms are that way", Mealla stopped you irritated once you both had left the room. You turned around to her, trying to avoid her eyes and bring out something believable. "Well..." Or just nothing at all... Great. Really what a great solution. "Oh, no. Don't say- Girl, it's in the middle of the night, no even the sun will soon shine again. You shouldn't-" "Believe me I should," you interrupted her, finally meeting her eyes.

The Mealla who's usually in top form and could work full three nights if she had to, looked after this single one nothing like her self. She was obviously drained but still managed to care for you and other people around a whole night long. And even her curiosity hadn't suffer. "Why?" "I- just... just to look if he's alright," you stuttered and looked somehow embarrassed down at your dress you'd worn to the ball. Well, you couldn't call this a dress anymore... "Please, Y/N, he is a god, also the prince of you didn't noticed. He has people who care for him and will be fine. Come on now I want to finally get some sleep before something new happen." She turned around and kept her way to her room, not stopping when you made your next decision. "Alright, but I'll come afterwards, okay?" Mealla sighted, but apparently put her sleep as her priority rather than to discuss further with you. "Fine, fine if you insist. But don't say I didn't warn you." Then she had vanished behind the corner. You took a deep breath and yawned. Yes, a little sleep would be nice. But you knew you wouldn't sleep a single minute. Not after what had happened yesterday. Not after you had witnessed Loki turning into a frost giant. The biggest enemies of Asgard. But this wasn't the real problem. It was rather the fact it seemed like you were disgusted by him. You had seen his gaze, when he had turned around loosing his transformation. A gaze you never wanted to see again and never should had appeared on his face. You made your way through the halls of Asgard, witnessed all the damaged the fight yesterday had cost this kingdom. So much dead and sorrow and pain. And at which cost? Why? What did the want here? When you entered the wing which lead to the royal chambers you were stopped by guards who suddenly pointed their weapons at you causing you immediately to raise your shaking hands and stepping back. "I- I want no harm, I swear," you stuttered, somehow feeing stupid. "I-I want to, no I need to speak to prince Loki." Forget it, now you were being stupid. Mealla was right! It's in the middle of the night, Asgard has been attacked and you appear at the royal chambers looking like you'd been overrun by a herd of horses and claiming you want no harm? Yesssss Of course, they'd let you visit the prince now also! Dumb, Y/N. Very, very dumb "I'm sorry miss but you have no permission to be in this section nor to enter the prince's rooms." One guard explained with a stern voice, but he lowered his sword, even if only a little bit. Told ya. Nevertheless you made one step forward, causing them to tense once again, but this time you didn't care. You just wanted to see him. "But sir,it's an emergency!" "Miss, you have to go now if you don't want to spent the next time in the dungeons," the other answered with a uncaring voice, but you knew the border was reached now. You couldn't do anything else, not with the guards looking at you like at an annoying child. So you gave up. For now. OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO The next morning -or rather only a few hours later- you awoke by something landing upon your face. And this time you hoped it wasn't once again a dead aspen. "Wake up! Hear me! Hello?? You'll miss the breakfast!" You groaned and simply turned around, pressing the pillow Mealla had thrown on your ears. "I'm not hungry." "Very well," you heard her mutter before your blanket vanished with one single tug and the sudden cold caused you to jump up. "What the hell, Mealla?!" You cried, trying to look mad at the woman but your eyelids just closed every time you wanted to open them. You heard her laughing. "You look like a troll, won't you want to shower a little bit, Alright? Ohw-!" She explained when your pillowed hit her on the head. "How could it be that you're already awake and be in this-"you let out a loud yawn on your way to the bathroom, "and be in this mood when you barely slept two hours?" You sighted when the cold water covered your face and all the bruises you get during the fight. Now you felt better, at least a little bit. "Well, what can I say? As the brilliant librarian manager I am i should be used to staying up late and waking up early. Besides, king odin called for everyone to rally outside for the mourning ceremony. He will explain everything that had happened last night." You stopped in you motion. "Really? Where do you know this from? Oh god, Mealla do you know if the queen-" "Frigga is fine. And so is Loki." You sighted in relief, it was a blessing that both of them of them had survived. You grabbed your clothes and started to change, while you waited for Mealla's answer in the bathroom. It was a wonder that these rooms had survived nearly unharmed, alike the royal wing. Only the central of the palace was in a bad state. "Unlike you, I was already outside of this doors and now hurry, I don't want to arrive late." You barely managed to brush your hair in an appropriate state when you were already dragged outside. "Your so slowly, you know that?" OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO Minutes later you arrived outside in the "garden"-if you could even call something as huge as this a garden. A field might fit better. The thing is, the great hall was completely damaged and not safe to enter, such as a lot of other section of the kingdom. Even if the horror only happened a few hours ago they managed to prepare and decorate this area with flowers, flags, chairs, also the columns contributed to the mood of sorrow and pain. And in this moment the things you unawarely hadn't processed came with such a power you gasped for air. No matter how hard you tried to stay calm, the realisation had grabbed you. You had had friends living here, how many of them would you see again? How many families were broken apart last night? How many people are still waiting and will be forever waiting for the loved ones to return? How many dreams were shattered and how many memories broken? Why? Why did it happen? What was the reason for this distraction? Odin's gaze was cold and emotionless as always. Out from the front he stared at his people, waiting for them to silence. He stood alone, without his queen or his sons. And when he started to speak his words contained sorrow. "Brave soldiers had fought for our lives yesterday, their lives. Lives that were taken by a folk called Aspen. Asgard would have come to an arrangement with the Aspen, when my son Thor and I myself set fourth last night. But we were mistaken by their true intentions-" The mission... That was the mission they excluded Loki from. But why... Wait, Odin wouldn't do it, would he? He wouldn't excluded his son just because he's a frost giant? Something told you, that Odin wasn't just the father that had the best intentions for his sons... Your thoughts strayed away and now turned to the man who appeared next to the king. Thor. He remained quite and fixed his gaze on a undefined point on the ground. "May their spirits and souls dwell on a place their bravery and good hearts deserve." The King closed his eyes and spoke a short pray we joined a moment later. The funerals will take place this evening, as always at the sea. A funeral in order to honour those who gave their lives for ours. Suddenly you felt a numb in your waist. You turned you head and noticed surprised next to Mealla her husband standing, drying his tears with a handkerchief. "What's the matter? You look a little bit displeased." You turned your gaze to Mealla. "Yes, but I don't think it's right that Odin doesn't even mention all the civilians who lost their lives. All the innocent people who weren't even involved. They and their families deserved to be at least being mentioned, an apology, anything by their king." She focused her gaze to the front. "Your right. And I don't think you're the only one with that opinion. Look." Your gaze landed upon the King once again, he's stopped with his speak and made room for Thor, who stepped next to him. His face was unreadable, also hard as Odin's but somehow in a different way. "It- It was foolish," he begun and you and Mealla exchanged a surprised glance. In all the speaks Thor already had, not once he had stuttered. He cleared his throat. "It was foolish of us to put our trust in a race as scheming as the aspens. And foolish to leave our folk during a time of happiness. During a feast which is a byword for safety, love and strength. And we owe to every man, every woman, every child and every family that get wounded more than just an apology. We can't undo this crime, but as the future king of Asgard I demand a funeral upon our holy lake for every single soul that gave their live for Asgard. And the wounded and retarded ones will be cared." He let gave us all a last glance full of sadness, before he left the front. And also the crowd dispersed. "I am certain that Thor will be a great long one day. He has a good heart," Mealla whispered. Yes, you were certain, too. You were proud of the prince. But now, it was time for you to make things right. May it be not the best moment for this, but who know when the next opportunity arrives... "Excuse me for a moment," you said to Mealla before you passed by her. "See you at the table later?" "Yes, of course!" You shouted before you focused on the blooms hair that went along the crowd. With mix emotions you hurried to him. Thor frowned when he recognised you informs of him. "Your majesty, forgive me but are aware of the whereabouts of prince Loki?" You asked, hoping he wasn't mad for disturbing him st this moment. "I'm afraid but I don't think it's a good idea for you to seek the company of my brother, right now." "What why? Is he alright? Did he get hurt?" "No, he did not get wounded physically. What do you need from him?" "I am- I have to speak to him." "I'm sorry but-" "Please,Thor!" You interrupted him. Your sudden outburst and the fact you forget the formality did Thor Falter in his motions. You took a deep breath before you awkwardly tried once again "I- i want to make things clear. The things that happened yesterday... it shouldn't have come that way... I shouldn't have... " you stopped. You didn't knew what to say, there were a lot of emotions in you right now you couldn't put into words. After a long pause in which he watched you with a serious expression and internally regarded your intentions he finally nodded. "Follow me." "Thank you." You answered with a relieved sight. You walked away from the place of the mourn ceremony, away from the garden and away from the entrance to the great hall. Thor lead you in completely silence through halls and corridors until you were completely certain to never being in this sections. The he stopped in front of a fountain on the wall, that were surrounded by stones and flowers and even two small trees. Suddenly the prince stopped infringe of you and blocked your view, the -only a few second later- the two trees reduced themselves and somehow opened a small gate in which you spotted the greenest grass you'd ever seen. What in Odin's- "It's the secret garden of my mother." Thor explained still focused on the entrance. Then his gaze landed upon you meaningful. "Don't make me regret my decision. In no ways." You nodded quite. Then with great caution you entered the garden and gasped in awe. Never in your whole life have you seen such beauty. There's no place in whole Asgard where the grass shines that green, or so many flowers grow. The small river that flowed through and which rustle of the waves calmed you in a strange way, contained such blue it couldn't be real. The birds in the trees sung melodies you've never heard but touched you deep in your heart. Suddenly you heard a rustling behind you and turned around in shock only to notice that the entrance was now closed again. But your intentions were not to leave yet. With a deep breath you turned around and flinched once more startled when you saw Loki standing in front of you. He seemed a little pale but apart from that he looked the same as always. He also wear that cold face of his, that made you swallow. "I don't think you're permitted do be here." Somehow you couldn't get your mouth to speak. You had prepared dozens of things you wanted to say, from the start to the end, ways to apologise and now- nothing. It opened and closed without any words. "You should go. Your not welcomed here," he said emotionless before he just left you alone. "I-I wanted to see you," you brought out weakly. He didn't stopped in his way so you just caught up to him. This time you won't let him go that simply. "You weren't at the ceremony." He remained quietly. No. You took a few fast steps and then stopped in front of him. To your big surprise he suddenly started to laugh. But it wasn't the kind of laugh you remembered. This one was cold and let you feel far far away from the Loki you spent so much time with. The Loki who had earned a place in your heart. "What is your intention, woman? Do you think you could stop me? You're not in the position-" "I'm sorry." He remained in his motion for a second before he rose his eyebrow in annoyance. "Loki, I'm so so sorry. It was wrong of me to walk away and let you alone. I shouldn't have just left you there when you literally just saved my life. So many lives. I-" "Left me alone?" You closed your mouth abruptly. Then frowned. "Let me put this straight. You came here to apologise for leaving me alone after the battle?" "Yes, and I know it was a mistake-" "Y/N, i literally used my powers in a brutal way and transformed into a frost giant which are -if I could notice here- a part of the cruelest monsters and enemies of Asgard and all you care about is that you left me alone?" You were uncertain of what to say in this moment. Did you hurt him even more? "Loki, by all means you're not a monster." He let out a dry laugh. "I'm not? Well, surprise but here I am. Odin's adopted bastard son. You should go now, if you have the tiniest bit of a brain." You shook your head with such power you thought it'd fell off. You took a step forward and wanted to lay a hand on his shoulder, but he caught it before you could even touch it. "You, my dear prince, are many, many things but for certain you are not a monster, you hear me?" "I don't think you have any idea about what you're talking that foolish about, woman." When you opened your mouth for an answer he slightly bowed his head forward and looked at you with a hard expression. "Why are you really here?" Haven't I... just told you? "I wanted to apologise." "I asked you why are really here?" "Fine! You want the truth?" You exclaimed, becoming more and more frustrated "Well, here it is." "The truth is, the first time I met you in the library I thought I'm gonna lose my shit. You were sitting there, the freaking prince of Asgard, quietly reading in the corner, as if nothing could bother you. The second time you found me sitting in the corner, reading the book you loved. And even if I hadn't finished I gave it to you, course but you gave it back to me. And I spent all night reading it in order to return it to you as soon as possible. I was new in this palace. I was warned. I was warned to keep a distance to the god of mischief, been told so many stories about you and I'm certain 99 percent weren't even close to the truth. And never the less, here I was the third time I met you, spending a god damn night talking about books and stories and life and morals with you. And you know why? Because I didn't care. I didn't care in that moment that you were the prince, I didn't care that you were literally Loki the god of mischief and could turn me with one snap of you fingers into a frog or what ever. All I saw in that night and all I saw the next time we spent together, was a man which showed me a new perspective of life, who understood me in a way nobody else seemed to, and a man with whom I could forget everything and just enjoy life. Because you," with a firm glance you pricked your finger on his chest. "You are a good man, Loki. And I couldn't care less if you were a frost giant or an aspen or whatever. All one needs to know about you is here," you pointed to the place where his heart is. "And nowhere else." When you stopped your outburst, you glanced on the ground, with a heart beating so loud Loki had to hear. There was silence for the next couple of moments. But then you looked up. You expected him to shout, to grab you push out, or him to just leave with any words. But what you didn't expect him was to look at you with an expression as if he'd see you the first time. Say something. Please. Something. But he didn't. So once again you glanced to the ground, avoiding his intense gaze and opened your mouth. "I'd understand if you don't want to have anything to do with me, but I just wanted to make sure you don't blame yourself for anything." You intended to leave, but suddenly you felt a hand on your wrist and the next moment you found yourself in the warm embrace against Loki's chest. You hold your breath, trying not to move. You're sure you couldn't even if you wanted to. And if he hadn't heard your heartbeat earlier he was now feeling it. "And you are a very, vert dumb person if you think I could ever hate you." A smile grin appeared on your face and you even dared to look up. "Well, I didn't say you'd hate me-" Your words were suddenly silenced when you felt his lips soft against your own. You froze. Literally, you couldn't move. Just when you finally relaxed, and closed your eyes you leaned in the kiss. And in this moment it felt like it had to be. It was right. This was right. And you were confirmed in your words the second your eyes opened slowly and you saw Loki's bright, green eyes looking at you with so much love, you der your heart and stomach explode. Well, your whole body felt if it had exploded. You smiled softly. It seemed like he wanted to say something when a voice behind you interrupted the moment. "Finally!" You both turned around in shock to see Thor standing there, grinning like he'd just get a second hammer. "I thought I have to wait another century with you mourning yourself until something happen between the two of you." You felt Loki's arm around your waist and suddenly get the feeling to be protected from everything. "Brother." Loki's voice was clearly full of annoyance but his eyes revealed his amusement about this situation and his words. "I was certainly not mourning myself." Thor clapped his brother at his back, still grinning. "Whatever you say, brother." An awkward silences appeared in which you tried anything to avoid Thors eyes. "Sooo," he started. "What about a double date?" "Absolutely not". "Never." Thor's gaze faltered for a second, before he finally said. "Well, well I don't wanna disturb you turtle doves any further. We meet later, Y/N. After all you're officially my sister in law! Mother will be so happy!" "Will you finally vanish," loki complained, now rolling his eyes. Thor lifted both of his hands in defence. "I'm gone, I'm gone." Then Loki turned around to you again. "I'm sorry, but you know my brother." You smiled. A smile from deep down your heart. "I know. And it's fine. Actually it's more then fine!" He rose sceptically his brow. "Have I reasons to worry?" You laughed. Realising how your words have sound like. "No. Never. I meant this. This is more then fine." He placed his arms around your waist. "And why is that?" "Hmm... maybe that way I can finally play with your hair." "And nothing more?" You castes an innocent look. "No, no I don't think so. Just the hair." "Well, then..."he joined your game and wanted to let go of you. But you grabbed his arm and pulled him down for a short kiss. "And maybe this is fine also," you teased. "Well, if this is only fine, we have to try a little more, haven't we?" Your mischievous grin turned into a honest smile when you crossed your arms behind his neck. "I have nothing against it."

_______________

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[sick-raven]

Ghosts of the Present - Chapter 8

Chapter 1 + warnings

AO3

Previous chapter

Chapter 8

Two months ago, Miranda Bradbury survived sure death and got the ghosts that tormented her locked up again. John Constantine told her she should be safe now, nobody can take her charm away. It was one of the happiest moments of her life despite almost dying.

Seven weeks ago, her nightmares started. The dream reminded her that she can never truly win. Night after night she fell to the snow with crack in her ears. She didn’t really win against ghosts, she just took their power. Locked them in jail. But she was an example of the fact that no jail is unbreakable.

Six weeks ago, she called Constantine. “You said there are other possibilities to get rid of the echo, remember?”

“Your charm isn’t working?”

“It is. I want more.”

“Listen, love, it’s not necessary. Enjoy life.”

“I can get anything you ask for. Help me.”

Five weeks ago, Constantine realized he needs her help. He could steal the artefact himself, but he promised to never go near this cult again and he didn’t want to lose his bollocks. So, Miranda helped and forced him to think about her problem by balancing the artefact over the sea.

One month ago, she got a list and instructions, and the possible results of ritual scared the hell out of her. “Survival chance is about thirty percent,” Constantine told her. She couldn’t tell Jonathan that, he would try to stop her and freak out. Throwing herself into unnecessary danger was her own decision and she didn’t need to discuss this with anyone. “Still want to do that, love?”

“Yes.”

For last month she looked for artefacts and magic tools. She learned very fast they are dangerous. Set of needles tried to acupuncture her to wall. Blessed powder kept teleporting any time she touched it and it brought her to more and more dangerous locations. Not to mention the archive. It was a miracle she survived all the encounters. It tired her greatly and being kept up by nightmares didn’t help.

“Last chance,” Constantine said last Saturday as she sat naked in the protection circle. “Do you understand the dangers? They will be yours, but once you die, you don’t go to heaven, you don’t burn in hell, you are stick for eternity as their property. Just an echo. It’s not worth it, Bradbury, they will cut your life anytime you give an order…”

“Stop talking and do it,” she stopped him.

Jonathan Crane didn’t know any of this. When he saw Miranda kneel in front of her master, panic rose in him. The blood spurting from her hand reminded him it’s his fault. She wasn’t supposed to be here; the League wasn’t supposed to know!

Then she took her shirt off and Jonathan stopped in his steps. He had no words. Miranda’s whole body was covered in tattoos of circles and runes. Witch gathering would gladly take her in their sisterhood. Jonathan’s brain couldn’t understand what he is seeing, the marks looked wobbly, as if they were moving on her skin.

Miranda tore her charm down. “No!” shouted Jonathan and then…

Then.

Jonathan Crane got scared.

The death scream came out of Miranda’s lips. Loud, high and terrifying. Her body surrounded by shadows, intensified this scream. They rose around her like lotus petals and broke into dozens of tendrils that whipped around. Black shadows were swallowing the light, they grew longer and blossomed into more parts.

And the voices from shadows screamed with Miranda.

“Khulan! Khulan!” Different voices, men and women, with hatred and intensity. “Die, die, die!”

“Master, take us back,” said Miranda in eerie voice. She stood up, bleeding and white, contrasting with darkness rising from her body, and made a step towards Khulan hands ready as in for a hug. “Here we are, lost children came back to your embrace.”

Sword fell on the ground. Khulan gasped loudly, stumbling backwards, away from the shadows. “No! I order you to get back!”

The shadows didn’t listen. Their screams echoed, filled the chamber.

“Kill her!” Khulan ordered. The soldiers ran straight at Miranda, weapons ready.

Bloodbath.

Sharp as a knife, the tendrils cut around, killing everyone trying to get near. Incredible speed made it look like they died in an instant. Heads, limbs, blood. Piercing screams of the victims were always cut short as tendrils found whoever survived and stabbed them in the face. One after other, precise cuts, precise stabs.

Jonathan heard Jervis yelp. “Friend, let’s run!” But Jonathan couldn’t move, so Jervis abandoned the ship without him.

Khulan stumbled back as Miranda was coming closer covered in blood of the fallen. Even the soldiers soon realized their fight is useless and started to run away. Shadows grabbed at them, kept catching them and crushing, choking, throwing against walls, all that while screaming in pain and anger.

“No!” Khulan fell over dead body. “No!”

Miranda knelt in front of her. In last desperate attempt Khulan hit her, but Miranda didn’t move a muscle. She was a statue, focused on one thing only. She took master’s face to her palms. Master gasped in fear.

“We love you, master, you gave us everything.”

Miranda opened her mouth.

“Nough…” Khulan’s scream was silenced. Shadows came out of Miranda’s mouth and went deep into master’s throat. She gurgled, hands unable to move. Slowly suffocated with panicked look in her eyes.

It took forever.

It took seconds.

Khulan collapsed on the floor, her face turned in fear. It will never change again. She will never train another assassin. She will never destroy more lives and crush souls. The evil witch is dead. In the valley of bodies and vengeance, Banshee rose, laughing like a madwoman. Nobody has seen her. Everyone ran.

Except for Jonathan.

With manic look in her eyes she took a step towards him like a tiger considering its options before it chokes its prey. Jonathan couldn’t move, his limbs froze, his mind blank. Shadows danced around Banshee like branches in the wind and they silenced their screams into a hum. One more step.

“Traitor!” she screamed. The echoes reminded him several times of his guild. One more step. “You die!”

Shadows snapped at him. Like whips they bended back and stroke.

None touched. They hit the ground around him. Dust rose, blood spurted everywhere. Ghosts began to scream again.

“I hate you!” yelled ghosts. “I hate you!”

She walked to him, screaming. So close he felt her breath on his face and saw tears running paths on her bloodied cheeks.

“You bastard!” She slapped him. The pain woke him up. His brain started working again. She hit him again. Third time he caught her hand.

“Let!” she demanded hysterically.

“You damn cow!” he hissed clutching her wrist hard. “You dare to call me a traitor?”

She gasped, two shadows grabbed him by shoulders and pulled him away. Now they stood two steps away from each other walking around like wild animals.

“You sold me! You knew what they will do, and you sold me, because you are an insecure piece of shit!” she shouted.

“Have you gone insane? I can kill you myself, I don’t need Ra’s al Ghul!”

“You told them!”

“Tetch told them! I can think when I am angry, unlike you with your stupid hysterics!”

“Oh, can you?” she hissed.

“You would know if you weren’t busy fucking Constantine!”

“Does this look like fucking to you?” she raised her arms and tendrils rolled around it like snakes. “I am the master now! Not thanks to your paranoia!”

“You could have told me!”

“Fuck-all I could!”

They stopped in their steps, shaking in anger. Miranda went white as wall, blood still dripping of her hand.

“You were the one who said we should talk,” Jonathan said trying to sound calm and failing miserably.

“You are the one always jumping to conclusions.”

Jonathan rubbed his eyes. “You are right,” he stepped back. “Yeah, you are. Fuck it.”

Miranda nodded crying. “So are you.”

One of the tendrils pulled in the charm. Miranda took it. Shadows disappeared right away. Their master just collapsed on the ground, sat down shaking and crying. “I trusted you,” she bubbled.

Jonathan sighed and walked behind her. He sat down, their back leaning on each other.

“You didn’t,” he disagreed. Miranda sobbed loudly. “If you did, you wouldn’t be afraid of telling me.”

“No.”

“And you couldn’t do that, because I didn’t trust you.”

“You would fight me and tell me I am stupid. Because you fear losing me one way or the other. You always, always, always have to be right and we would just argue over it!”

Silence fell between them.

“It’s my fault,” Jonathan said.

“No, it’s mine.”

“Let’s split it 70-30.”

Miranda bubbled again in short laugh. “You didn’t tell them?”

“No. Jervis did. They just pried details out of me and it hurt. You didn’t fuck Constantine?”

“I got tattoos.”

Another short silence.

“What do we do?” Miranda asked.

“I don’t know,” replied Jonathan.

She trembled, he clenched his fists hard. There was an obvious answer in the air.

“We never really got to know each other,” he said.

“We did.”

“No, Miranda. Joking about your problems is not sharing. Playing them down like I do is neither. It’s avoiding hard things. That’s all we did, what do we really know about each other except basics you write in your CV? We keep to ourselves.”

“And we carry everything alone and we make shit decisions.”

“Yes.”

“We went too fast and got comfortable too quickly.”

“It was a sand castle, no foundation.”

“And one small wave crushed us like tsunami.”

Jonathan laughed at that idea. “You know, I think the witches were right. We really are useless.”

“They are dead, they have no word.”

“I’m sorry I caused this, Miranda.”

“We caused this. I’m sorry too.”

Jonathan stood up. He wanted to say something else, but no proper words came to him. However, he couldn’t leave voiceless, that’s what messed them up in the first place. He rubbed his eyes to shun the tears away.

“It was nice knowing you.”

“Yeah,” agreed Miranda. “It was.”

Next chapter

[d3-iseefire]

Princess of Shadow Chapter 2

Master Chapter List: https://d3-iseefire.tumblr.com/post/187613581372/princess-of-shadow-master-list

Link To My Other Stories: https://archiveofourown.org/users/ISeeFire/works

Thorin was in a particularly bad mood.

As he'd been irritable since the start of this whole thing, Frerin felt he could be excused for not immediately noticing.

“Problem?” he asked in what he hoped was a mild voice as he dropped onto the bench where Thorin sat aggressively cleaning his weapons. It was a long running joke that the shine of Thorin’s blades were directly tied to his mood. The cleaner they were the fouler his temperament.

Currently, they shone brighter than Frerin had ever seen them.

Thorin’s eyes cut toward his and then, with a violent motion, he yanked a crumpled paper from his inner coat pocket and thrust it out toward Frerin. “A raven arrived this morning with this.”

Frerin took the paper with trepidation. Not all the ravens of Erebor had gone into exile, and what few had weren't all that willing to place themselves in danger. For one to brave a battlefield meant it was news that couldn’t wait.

Frerin steeled himself and spread the paper out on his knee. Whatever it was, he told himself, he’d handle it. Mahal knew he'd handled worse over the last winter. His eyes scanned the words on the page, and a mixture of relief and sadness washed over him. Relief that the news wasn't actually bad, and sadness that it spoke of loss all the same.

“Congratulations." He handed the paper back and Thorin shoved it roughly inside his jacket. He placed his sword across his knees and stared out unseeing into the camp laid out about them.

“I missed the birth of my son.” His voice was hoarse, and his lips twisted with a grimace. “Was it worth it?”

“You know it was.” Frerin rested his hands on his knees and dug his fingers into the worn fabric of his trousers. His eyes went to several dwarves walking past and he could see their clothing was no better than his own. They were a patchwork army, filled with mismatched armor, faded and torn clothing, and inferior weapons. The siege equipment belonged to the elves, the tents to the Men of Dale. “There was no other choice. Even if the cold hadn't forced our hand, your son deserves better. They all do.”

Thorin had hesitated when Gandalf had urged them to retake Erebor, but Jayde hadn't. Frerin could still see his brother's wife, hand resting on her swollen stomach and voice barely wavering as she'd announced that of course Thorin had to go. "Have you told Vili or Kili yet?"

"No." A slight, wry smile pulled at Thorin's lips for a moment. "I'm still trying to decide whether or not to tell Dis about Kili's injury."

Frerin suppressed a shudder. The fight over whether one, or both, of his nephews could come had been legendary. Dis had been adamant against it, while her sons had been just as passionately in favor.

Frerin had been dragged into it entirely against his will. He'd been born late in his parents' lives, long after his siblings, and was only a handful of years older than Fili and Kili. Other than it creating a relationship that was closer to siblings than uncle and nephews, it had never really been something he gave much thought to.

Or at least he hadn't until his sister tried to insist her sons were far too young to go to war. Frerin had no choice but to take their side, since arguing with Dis would have been arguing against himself as well.

He'd have taken their side regardless, not that he was stupid enough to tell his sister that. Fili and Kili were adults, as much as Dis sometimes struggled to see it, and had as much right to fight as anyone else.

In the end, it had been Thorin who'd intervened and managed to reach a compromise. Fili stayed behind to lead Ered Luin while Dis supported Jayde in her final stages of pregnancy. Vili and Kili had gone and Dis had personally threatened the three of them if anything happened to her youngest son.

"I wouldn't mention it," he said now. "You'll write that Kili was grazed by an arrow and she'll decide--"

"That he must have lost an arm and I'm minimizing it," Thorin said with a chuckle. "You're right. We can let Vili tell her when she arrives."

"Perks of her being married," Frerin agreed cheerfully. Thorin's eyes went toward the mountain and Frerin's good mood sobered a bit. "Maybe we should try breaching it," he suggested with hesitation. "There can't be many left capable of putting up much fight."

"None of them were capable of putting up much fight," Thorin said in irritation. "We should have done this years ago." He was silent for a few moments, contemplating, and then finally shook his head. "No, we've lost enough. I won't lose more to impatience. We can wait a little longer."

Frerin clasped his brother on the shoulder. "And that's why you are, and will be, a great king."

Thorin sent him a tight grin and returned to cleaning his weapons. Frerin settled in next to him, rested his hands in his lap, and studied the mountain. It was only a matter of time. Until then, the least he could do was ensure his brother didn't inadvertently start an entirely different war with the elves or men while he was in a poor mood.

***

Bilba sat quietly while Josie worked on her hair. The routine could take an hour or longer and that wasn't adding in the time it took to do her clothes, jewelry and makeup. According to her grandfather, princesses had two purposes. Gaining favor or alliances and looking pretty at court. Another of his possessions he trotted out to show off before sending her away to her room again the way a child might replace a toy on a shelf once they were done with it.

Bilba was always miserable. She had to wear layers worth of underclothing in addition to corsets and stays and whatever her grandfather thought could force her body into the perfect form. Over all that went heavy velvet or silk dresses dripping with pounds of gems that made her feel as if someone were constantly pressing down on her shoulders.

She was grateful for the warmth in winter but in the summer the heat she was forced to endure had caused her to faint more than once. Carrying a small pouch of smelling salts helped, but there was still a widespread belief in the mountain that she suffered from a weak constitution.

“There we go, Your Highness.” Josie stood back and clasped her hands in front of her. “What do you think?”

Bilba forced a weak smile at the other woman. Josie had taken Bilba's hair, which usually fell to her waist in a thick mass of chestnut waves, and painstakingly curled it. She'd then worked it into an elaborate braid that wound along the side of her head, and over her shoulder. The entire length of it was studded with diamonds, emeralds and rubies.

The jewels matched the velvet, emerald gown Josie had already helped her get on. It was practically dripping with jewels and brocade, particularly along the off the shoulder neckline. The edges of the stones irritated her skin and she was forever fighting the urge to adjust it in a futile attempt to find some semblance of relief.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and hid a frown at the makeup Josie had put on that made her appear years older.

She barely recognized herself.

In the main hall leading to the dining room there were portraits depicting past kings and queens of Erebor. All were dressed in their finery and posed perfectly, the absolute definition of royalty. The paintings were all Bilba really knew about them. She didn't know their personalities or what their hobbies had been. She couldn't say if they'd feared the dark or if they would sometimes sneak to the kitchens to get a snack in the middle of the night. They were simply royals, flat images on canvas with the person behind the title long lost to history.

It was how Bilba often thought of herself after Josie got done with her. She was a princess, a living portrait walking about the palace. She doubted anyone could name her favorite color if asked, or state what her opinions were on living in the mountain, or even what made her laugh.

Sometimes, Bilba was afraid she didn't know the answers to those questions herself.

"It looks wonderful, Josie," she said quietly. She kept her voice soft and modulated, devoid of anything resembling a personality. Proper according to her grandfather.

She turned to leave, slow and graceful so that the earrings dangling from her ears barely twitched where the tips brushed her shoulders.

Josie rushed ahead of her to open the door and Bilba put her shoulders back, straightened, and raised her chin. Her stomach twisted and she resisted the urge to wring her hands together with nerves.

Josie gasped suddenly and clapped her hands to her mouth. "Oh, my gosh, I forgot your tiara!"

Bilba's eyes widened fractionally. She had several tiaras, and quite a few circlets, all of which were quite heavy and very uncomfortable. They also needed to be woven into her hair, usually near the beginning of the process, not the end and certainly not after.

"That's quite all right, Josie," she said, trying to hide the sense of panic at having to undergo the process all over again. "I'm sure grandfather won't mind."

He most certainly would mind, but Bilba was hoping he'd be too preoccupied with the ongoing siege to notice.

Josie frowned. "I don't know. I could probably do it quick."

Bilba had no desire to sit in that chair again for any length of time so she simply smiled and started toward the door. "I'd be late. You know how my grandfather feels about me being late."

Josie grimaced. "True." She pulled the door open with flourish and grinned. "Have a good day, Your Highness."

"Thank you, Josie." Bilba let out a slow breath, arranged her hands in front of her waist and glided out of the room.

Well, glided as much as one could glide when one could not, in fact, float and had to rely on their feet. The action required a surprising amount of control in her legs and usually left them stiff and cramping.

The corridor outside her room was cold, and shadowed. The dwarves had been careful in their design of the mountain, placing the living areas in locations that allowed windows and balconies to let in natural light. For the rest of the mountain they had cut shafts fitted with perfectly cut and polished stones capable of refracting light in a multitude of directions.

Together, in what must have been a masterful feat of engineering and design, they provided light and fresh air to nearly every part of the mountain save the mines where lanterns and other methods had been used.

It was one of the many things the hobbits had taken for granted. Over the years many of the shafts had become blocked or occluded. No one know exactly how to clear the shafts, or replace damaged or missing stones, which had left large sections of the mountain shadowed or in near total darkness.

Bilba had never entirely understood the dwarven resistance to helping keep the mountain in repair, or why they'd left in the first place. Certainly, having a hobbit in charge rather than a dwarf must have been rankling to some, but surely it had been better than what they'd had before?

By all accounts Durin had been a brute and his son little better. Were the dwarves just so xenophobic that they couldn't stand the thought of a non-dwarf on the throne no matter that it was a significant improvement? Every one of them had left and, since then, not a single dwarf had willingly set foot in Erebor even when offered significant amounts of money for needed repairs.

A noble and his wife rounded the corner toward her and Bilba gave a slow nod of the head in greeting. They returned it but, just as they passed, she saw both their faces twist in derision. Her stomach twisted inside her and she clasped her hands together until the knuckles shone white.

She didn't know what she was doing wrong. Usually when she passed she'd get vague nods or greetings but, since the war had started and especially since the siege, she was increasingly getting snide comments, looks of disgust or outright cuts.

She'd tried harder, sat longer in that stupid chair, allowed Josie even more liberty with her hair and clothing, worked harder on the pleasant smiles and pleasantries her grandfather insisted were proper for a princess. Still the slights continued and, if anything, grew worse.

Nothing she did seemed to matter, and she couldn't even ask because, as her grandfather liked to say, a princess was primarily to be seen, not heard. Unless she were making simple greetings or directly responding to a question posed to her, in as succinct a manner as possible, she was to remain quiet.

The only times she'd ever broken that rule had been with Sigrid, who insisted it was idiotic, and, to a lesser amount, Legolas. She'd trusted them and look where that had led. Perhaps, had she kept her mouth shut as her grandfather had taught her to do they wouldn't have betrayed her. At the very least she wouldn't have the sick feeling in her stomach as she recalled the times she'd opened up to them. All the things she'd said, and all only to now realize how they must have been silently mocking her the entire time.

The doors to the dining room loomed ahead and Bilba's spirits flagged further. Her grandfather's favorite pastime during meals was to watch her and criticize her every movement. From the way she held her spoon to questioning her weight, nothing was off limits to him and it was all generally done in front of whatever councilmembers or lords he'd invited to dine that day.

He'd begun to ignore her somewhat since the Durins had arrived, but she still faced each meal with trepidation that this time would be when he took notice of her again and started up the endless critique. There had been several times she'd been driven close to tears. Sometimes she had the suspicion that was what her grandfather wanted, a game he was playing or a test of some kind.

The guards in front of the door leaned over in concert, grabbed the handles and pulled them open. Bilba took a deep breath, tried to center herself and then swept into the room exactly as she'd been taught to do.

It took her all of ten seconds to realize the room was empty.

Her footsteps stumbled to a stop and her eyes widened. Usually, when she walked into the dining room it'd be to the sight of the massive table near to groaning under the weight of food piled upon it. Servers would be darting about filling the plates and goblets of her grandfather and councilors, and the delicious smells from the multitude of dishes would have her stomach growling in a most un-princess like way.

Today, there was nothing. No sign of her grandfather, or any councilors, no food set out on the table, not even the musicians her grandfather insisted on having in the back corner to play serene melodies while he discussed politics.

Bilba turned toward the doors, but the guards had shut them behind her, leaving her alone in a giant, cavernous room. She'd never realized just how cavernous until this very minute when she was in it alone with nothing but her own silence for company.

She knew she wasn't late. Had something come up? There'd been no sign of panic or rush in those she'd passed in the corridors, and no one had come to her room to alert her to anything.

A shiver ran over her and, since there was no one to see, she crossed her arms over her chest and began to chew nervously on her lower lip.

Her eyes went back to the table again and, this time, lit upon the fact that it wasn't quite as empty as she'd first thought. There was a piece of paper, folded in two, sitting on a small tray at her customary spot. She hadn't immediately noticed it as her eyes had gone naturally to where her grandfather and his councilors usually sat, and not to her seat at the far end of the table.

Bilba tried to swallow down a suddenly dry throat. Dread settled over her and she could feel her body growing tense. Digging her fingers into her arms, she forced herself to take a step, and then another one and another. It seemed to take ages to get there and, once she had, she regretted it not taking longer still.

She picked up the letter with the tips of two, shaking fingers and, before she could talk herself out of it, opened it in a quick motion.

The first few words had her breath freezing in her lungs, while the rest caused her to sink into a chair as her legs buckled beneath her.

On the page the words seemed to burn into her eyes, and she swore she could almost hear her grandfather’s voice.

The mountain is lost.

You will delay the fall as long as possible to allow Erebor's court to retreat to a safe harbor. You will keep your silence on the manner of our escape so that we may use it in the future when we return to take back what is ours.

You will not fail me.

Bilba read them again, and again after that. She closed her eyes, opened them again, and pinched herself, doing everything and anything in her power to wake up, or to somehow, someway make the words change. Go away. Be something different than what they were.

But no matter how hard she tried to convince herself she was asleep, or how much she wished for things to change, the truth remained stubborn and unyielding.

Her grandfather was gone, and with him most, if not all the council.

Her grandfather had just effectively declared her Queen, which meant the only thing standing between the wolves gathered at Erebor’s gates and those hiding within...was her.

[dailyofficereadings]

Daily Office Readings September 17, 2020

Psalm 70-71

Psalm 70

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. Of David, for the memorial offering.

1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me! 2 Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me. 3 Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!” turn back because of their shame.

4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Psalm 71

Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help

1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress,[a] to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. 5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 6 Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.

7 I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long. 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent. 10 For my enemies speak concerning me, and those who watch for my life consult together. 11 They say, “Pursue and seize that person whom God has forsaken, for there is no one to deliver.”

12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! 13 Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed; let those who seek to hurt me be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14 But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all day long, though their number is past my knowledge. 16 I will come praising the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will praise your righteousness, yours alone.

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come.[b] Your power 19 and your righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens.

You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? 20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. 21 You will increase my honor, and comfort me once again.

22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have rescued. 24 All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help, for those who tried to do me harm have been put to shame, and disgraced.

Footnotes:

Psalm 71:3 Gk Compare 31.3: Heb to come continually you have commanded

Psalm 71:18 Gk Compare Syr: Heb to a generation, to all that come

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm 74

Psalm 74

Plea for Help in Time of National Humiliation

A Maskil of Asaph.

1 O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago, which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage. Remember Mount Zion, where you came to dwell. 3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary.

4 Your foes have roared within your holy place; they set up their emblems there. 5 At the upper entrance they hacked the wooden trellis with axes.[a] 6 And then, with hatchets and hammers, they smashed all its carved work. 7 They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated the dwelling place of your name, bringing it to the ground. 8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 We do not see our emblems; there is no longer any prophet, and there is no one among us who knows how long. 10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? 11 Why do you hold back your hand; why do you keep your hand in[b] your bosom?

12 Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the earth. 13 You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters. 14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food[c] for the creatures of the wilderness. 15 You cut openings for springs and torrents; you dried up ever-flowing streams. 16 Yours is the day, yours also the night; you established the luminaries[d] and the sun. 17 You have fixed all the bounds of the earth; you made summer and winter.

18 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and an impious people reviles your name. 19 Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals; do not forget the life of your poor forever.

20 Have regard for your[e] covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence. 21 Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. 22 Rise up, O God, plead your cause; remember how the impious scoff at you all day long. 23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of your adversaries that goes up continually.

Footnotes:

Psalm 74:5 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain

Psalm 74:11 Cn: Heb do you consume your right hand from

Psalm 74:14 Heb food for the people

Psalm 74:16 Or moon; Heb light

Psalm 74:20 Gk Syr: Heb the

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Job 28

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found

28 “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold to be refined. 2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. 3 Miners put[a] an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness. 4 They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation; they are forgotten by travelers, they sway suspended, remote from people. 5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire. 6 Its stones are the place of sapphires,[b] and its dust contains gold.

7 “That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it. 8 The proud wild animals have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.

9 “They put their hand to the flinty rock, and overturn mountains by the roots. 10 They cut out channels in the rocks, and their eyes see every precious thing. 11 The sources of the rivers they probe;[c] hidden things they bring to light.

12 “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 13 Mortals do not know the way to it,[d] and it is not found in the land of the living. 14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ 15 It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price. 16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.[e] 17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. 19 The chrysolite of Ethiopia[f] cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

20 “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? 21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. 22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

23 “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. 24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens. 25 When he gave to the wind its weight, and apportioned out the waters by measure; 26 when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the thunderbolt; 27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. 28 And he said to humankind, ‘Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Footnotes:

Job 28:3 Heb He puts

Job 28:6 Or lapis lazuli

Job 28:11 Gk Vg: Heb bind

Job 28:13 Gk: Heb its price

Job 28:16 Or lapis lazuli

Job 28:19 Or Nubia; Heb Cush

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Acts 16:25-40

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer[a] called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord[b] to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

35 When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, “The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul replied, “They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; 39 so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters[c] there, they departed.

Footnotes:

Acts 16:29 Gk He

Acts 16:32 Other ancient authorities read word of God

Acts 16:40 Gk brothers

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

John 12:27-36

Jesus Speaks about His Death

27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people[a] to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34 The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah[b] remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

Footnotes:

John 12:32 Other ancient authorities read all things

John 12:34 Or the Christ

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[pans-fav-shank]

This was a story that I wrote for one of my classes. And honestly I liked how it came out and I decided to post it here hope you guys like it. Also one last thing I wrote two other stories and they are about Peter Pan. This story contains mentions of depression as well as lack of emotions so if it triggers something don't read.

Towards the end I did a mini crossover of SS with Peter Pan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A girl named Jennifer Jones lived in Storybrooke with her dad who was the one and only Captain Hook. Also known as Killian Jones. Before you ask, no they don’t live in the Jolly Roger.They have their own apartment which in her opinion is very decent. Her dad is dating Emma Swan who is the daughter, of Snow White and Prince Charming, making her the product of ‘True Love’.

Emma lived in a small house with her kid named Henry. Everyone in town loved the small family. Although no matter how much love they showed towards Jennifer. She still felt lost and unwanted. She suffers from depression and as noticible as it is, no one seemed to notice.

But for those who did, thought that it was simply a phase and it would pass. One night when she was in her bedroom she felt empty. It has been a week since she has had lack of emotion. Of course no one noticed this either which caused her to feel even more lost. Which then caused her to talk to Archie Hopper since he was a therapist.

Laying in bed she stared up at the ceiling with a blank look on her face, and let her mind wonder. Wrong idea not only was she thinking but everything was quiet. Which made her think of ‘What if’s ’. All of a sudden she remembered about a certain boy with green eyes that always had a hint of mischief.

Who was the one and only Peter Pan. She remember the time that he kidnapped Henry. When she met him, he was really nice to her aside of What he’s done. She blew on the pan flute that was in a necklace which he gave her. She whistled on it and waited for him to appear.

As she waited for him, she grabbed the teddy bear that he gave her for whenever she felt lonely. She didn’t notice him when he flew inside until he gently touched her shoulder.

“Hey” he whispered quietly scared that if he talked to loud he would scare her away. Even though he knew that wouldn’t happen. When Jennifer heard the sound of his voice she sat up and wrapped her arms around Pan’s neck. He softly wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up, and sat down again.

But this time she was on top of him sitting on his lap.

“Let me help you” Pan told her with concern.

“How?” She replied with a monotone which made Pan wince a bit.

“By taking you to Neverland with me of course just think of happy things, and your heart will fly in wings, forever, in Never Neverland.” Pan replied, Jennifer looked up at him.

“Promise me something.”

“Anything.” He whispered.

“Promise me that you will never ever leave me.” Jennifer told him while staring at him with hopeful eyes.

“I promise you that no one will harm you and I won’t leave you.” Pan finished while looking at her. He then lifted his up his pinky and she did the same, then they laced their fingers together. Pan then turned their hands to the side and gave them a kiss.

Which caused Jennifer’s lip to twitch up a bit but not forming into a smile. Pan sighed sadly because she hasn’t smiled in a week.

“Are you sure you still want to go?” He asked her.

“Yes I want to go with you and live with the lost boys.”

That night Jennifer left with Peter but not before taking the teddy bear that Pan gave her and writing a letter to her dad. The next day when Killian woke up be got up and knocked on Jennifer’s door.

“Love, are you up?” After a minute or so he knocked again.

“Princess?” He said after not getting a response he opened the door to see an empty bed with no signs of his pirate princess. He sees that there’s a letter by her pillow he picked it up worried and as he reads it he felt sick. Like the type of sick when you get nauseous while in a ship.

He ran outside with the letter in his hand and barefoot .

“Rumplestilskin!” he yelled once he was near the old antique shop. Annoyed by all the commotion he walked out from behind the counter and towards the door.

“What?!” He snapped at Killian once he got inside.

“It’s my daughter…Rumple please you have to help me.” He finished with a year falling down his face.at this Rumple’s face softened a bit he actually got along with you aside from being the ‘Bloody pirate’s daughter’s.

“What about her?” The crocodile asked him with a soft voice.

“She’s gone I-i don’t know where she went, all she left was this note.” Killian finished with more tears streaming down his face. Rumples grabbed the letter and casted a spell on it which would help him know where Jennifer is at. The result made him angry and worried about her.

When Killian saw the look on his face, he got worried as well.

“What,what is it?”

Rumple looked up at him and said “She’s in Neverland.” After getting Rumple to agree to go help him, Killian then once again ran out of Mr.Gold’s shop and ran towards Granny’s. Where he knew Emma and the rest would be at. “Killian, what’s wrong?” Emma asked him. “It’s Jennifer, she’s gone and she’s in Neverland.” Killian informed then once he had catches his breath. Out of instinct Emma brought Henry to her side, just by hearing that place’s name it brought her bad memories. Once Hool told the crew everything they agreed to help him with the exception that Henry would stay behind just in case. After arguing with Henry for a good 10 minutes, he finally accepted to stay home. The next day they all got on the Jolly Roger and were ready to leave. But before they left Emma went to Granny’s and made sure that Henry was there. Surprisingly this time their journey wasn’t as bad as last time when they went to rescue Henry. Back at Neverland, Jennifer started feeling better. Just a few days ago she smiled, a full and bright genuie smile. When Peter saw her smiling he couldn’t help but to smile as well. Jennifer didn’t feel lost anymore, she felt loved but surprisingly she was still able to hear the music. Everyone that lived in Neverland got along with her. Tinker bell was happy to have another girl in the island. The Indians saw her as the Queen of Neverland. Since everyone knew about their skinny love. The lost boys got along with her, Felix saw her as the little sister that he never had. While the little ones saw her as a mother. One day Peter decided to finally admit his feelings for her. He flew over to a lake that had had a beautiful tree right in the middle. He decided to make some simple food to appear right in front of some golden and bright flowers. He didn’t know what was the best way to confess to her so he went with a picnic. When Peter finished he flew back to camp and went towards where he knew Jennifer would be at. When he arrived he asked her if he wanted to go somewhere with him. Jennifer accepted and they both walked towards the lake. As they were walking they made small conversation about how their day has been. Once they arrived Jennifer was surprised but happy that he made this for her. When they finished eating he took her to a meadow that was hidden in Neverland. There they talked some more and Jennifer thanked him for her to Neverland. That’s when Peter decided to confess his feelings for her, as he was speaking he felt his cheeks turn pink, as well as the tips of his ears. When he finished he felt embarrassed, so he looked away from her but was surprised when he felt her arms wrap around his neck. “I’ve always had feelings for you Peter even though I’m pretty sure everyone knew about it. Especially you.” Jennifer told him once she backed away from the hug. Peter started getting all flustered again as he asked her “Would you like to be my girlfriend?” Jennifer more than happy replied “Yes! But we have to take things slow, I don’t have much experience with this kind of stuff.” Now it was Jennifer’s turn to be embarrassed. “Don’t worry, I’ll do anything for you.” Peter told her with a smile on his face thinking how cute she looked. After spending a few more minutes there they decided to go back to camp. But little did Peter and Jennifer know, that her family was in the middle of Neverland’s ocean. Forming ideas of they are going to attack Peter’s camp and rescuing Jennifer. The next day Hook sailed the ship towards the shore of Neverland. Everyone then got off the ship and walked towards the outskirts of Neverland’s forest. Back at camp Peter felt as if something wasn’t right, but decided to ignore and continue spending some time with Jennifer. Once Killian and the rest of them found where the camp is located at, it was starting to get darker. Although Peter didn’t notice them until it was to late and the crew was behind him. The lost boys who were getting ready to eat now stayed still, ready to do whatever the king of Neverland said. Jennifer who was inside her tent walked outside when she heard nothing but silence. Cautiously she walked outside with her bow and arrow. When she was outside she was surprised Peter and the lost boys were standing in front of her family arguing. When Hook saw Jennifer, he couldn’t help but have happy tears running down his cheeks. “Jennifer” he said while walking forward but was stopped when the lost boys lifted their weapons. “It’s fine guys” Jennifer reassured the lost boys making them hesitantly lower their weapons. Facing her dad she asked him “Dad what are you doing here?” When Killian heard that he was just as confused as the rest of the crew. “What do you mean? I- we came to rescue you.” “Rescue me? Dad I don’t you guys to ‘Rescue me’. I’m happy here.” Jennifer told him with a small smile on her face. When Killian heard that he got sad knowing that his daughter was happy living with a monster. Rather than with her own father and family. Hook thought that Killian did something to make her stay here which then caused him to pull out his sword and point it towards Peter. Jennifer wasn’t sure what to do the crew was ready to fight as well as the lost boys. Next thing she knew the lost boys began fighting with her family. She was about to intervin between her Dad and Peter but she then saw one of the little ones struggling to fight and was about to get attacked by Regina. She quickly ran in front of the little boy right before Regina hurt him with her magic. Which caused her to get hit by her magic. Jennifer stumbled back a bit because of the force. “JENNIFER!” Regina yelled and ran towards her. When everyone heard her scream they all turned towards where she was and got worried when they saw Jennifer in her arms. Peter got there first before anyone else could, when he tried to touch her she yelped in pain. Emma and the others got there as well scared about her well-being. Peter then realized that Neverland’s magic was hurting her. “Jennifer you have to leave.” “Wh-what?” “You have to leave Neverland’s magic is hurting you. You can’t be here, but I promise you that I would find a way to bring you back.” “Promise?“She lifted her pinky up just like the night when she decided to come to Neverland. “I promise” Peter smiled at her and did the same thing he did when he went for her. He turned their hands sideways and have both pinkies a kiss. When Peter watched them leave he once again whispered “I promise.” A few months have passed in the real world but Peter still hasn’t found a cure. Back at Storybrooke Jennifer was walking in the sidewalk when she saw Henry crossing the street. When all of a sudden a car came out of nowhere and was about to crash him but. Jennifer ran and pushed Henry out of the way which caused her to get ran over. And just like that the car that was once there disappeared and the only thing left back were little flowers. Henry ran towards Jennifer but got worried when he saw blood. Her dad saw her laying on the floor with blood running down her forehead. He then quickly picked her up and took her to the hospital (Let’s just say that she died and then they made her a funeral.) The shadow was going around picking up children when he decided to go check on Jennifer. Although when he arrived in Storybrooke he saw some candles that are lit up confused he went to check it out. But was surprised when he saw that it had a picture of Jennifer, and on top it said rest in peace Jennifer Jones. He then picked up a newspaper that said everything about what happened and decided to take it to Pan. When he arrived to Neverland he went to Pan’s tree house and went through the window. As Peter sensed him he turned around but before he could ask him what he wanted. The shadow have him the newspaper and left before Pan could ask him anything. When Peter read it he started crying. (After he found out about it he went to different places to see if he could bring the death back to life. And then the shadow informed him about Enchantress) When the shadow told him about Enchantress he decided to find out more about her. When he did he found out that he would find her in one of Gotham’s darkest forest. There he’ll find her if he yells her name out loud. Now she will be able to help him but it comes with a prize. When Peter arrived there he was kinda scared because the place gave him a bad vibe. But calls out for her anyway. When she appears she asks him what he wants. After he tells her what he wants she tells him that it would come with a prize. “What is it?” “Your soul” (I’m sorry that’s the first thing that I thought of). Peter ends up accepting and after all that is done Enchantress tells him that she would be back at their tree house in Neverland. Although she would have amnesia for awhile but she’ll remember eventually. When Peter heard that he was excited he quickly thanked her. And before she could say anything else he flew back to Neverland. When he arrived there he saw Jennifer and got so happy. After introducing himself he then went to introduce her to the lost boys. And make sure that she felt as comfortable as she could. Some months went by and Jennifer ended up remembering everything. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I changed a few things because in moments I felt as if things wouldn’t really make sense. And also sorry if some things seemed rushed it’s just that my head began to hurt.

[jumpchain-drop]

Chapter 3.31: 6.91 Years

Year 7, day 333: Humba has contacted us. The posters for the ad on the milk carton have finally managed to respond. A letter was delivered to her with a meeting location where the tip could be heard: Witchyworld’s Crazy Castle Stockade, a week from now right after the park closed. Come alone, it said.

Define “alone,” assholes.

Year 7, day 334: We have one chance at this. If they’re having the meeting to get the tip on Tooty, they wouldn’t probably bring all their gear and potions to bear like they did in the raid on Spiral Mountain. However, it was very unlikely that all of them would show up to just get some information, and it definitely wouldn’t be the boss. If these guys were that stupid, they wouldn’t have evaded the underground for so long.

The detaining of the entire Police force, I had to remind myself, was the ideal outcome. Ultimately, what mattered was that we got the contract targeting Tooty canceled.

Today I got Banjo, Kazooie, and Jamjars briefed on the news. There are a lot of preparations to make.

Year 7, day 340: Dilberta walked nervously into the Stockade surrounding the massive yellow bouncy castle. The sky on the inside was still painted in daylight, but with most of the lights off it looked anything but.

A henchmen was there, in the back. Not as bulky as Klungo, but by no means skinny.

“You the one that knowsss where girl bear isss?” he asked. “Better have come alone, or I’ll have to sssmash you...”

“P-Please don’t…!” she stuttered. “I-I’m the one that called, a-and there’s no one else with me…!”

“Ssso I sssee… Then ssstart talking before I-”

And then I, from my hiding place underground, Dug a hole under him and pulled him down to his shoulders.

“We got him we got him!” Bitbit squawked from his perch at the top of the bouncy castle where he had been hidden since noon.

“You tricked me!” he yelled at Dilberta as he struggled to escape my sinkhole, but she was already scampering away home, as we agreed, and the rest of us were around him in moments.

For a drill sergeant, Jamjars is one mean interrogator. Having Kazooie and Bitbit around to peck his head didn’t hurt either. Well, it didn’t hurt us.

The gun was the most junior of the ten mercs that make up the Police. Only about five of them were Klungo-brand; the rest were various other animals, including the chief whose identity he didn’t know, he swore. The chief chose the jobs, and was the only one that would be able to enforce a cancel.

He did, however, know the current location of the Police hideout; a warehouse in the far outskirts of the Quagmire.

I left Jamjars and his team to gift-wrap the guy for the underground. I took mine, along with Banjo and Kazooie, and we went to catch a few quick winks before the big showdown.

Year 7, day 341: Seeing as fighting nine guys armed with weapons and numerous potions on their home turf when four of them managed to hold us (without B-K) to a standstill was the stupidest idea since Canary Mary (fuck Canary Mary), we opted for the stealth approach to their hideout. Terra, Piddle, Bitbit, Shadow, Banjo, Kazooie, and I went in in the early morning hours, but not quite at dawn because Witchyworld closes pretty dang late.

The Police weren’t locked and loaded, mostly cleaning their weapons with some chatter about how the guy probably should’ve been back by now. I didn’t like the vibe; they were suspicious and not in any way off-guard, like the consummate professionals they were.

I pulled the team back outside. “I don’t know how to say this, guys, but I’m certain in a straight-up fight, we’d be completely destroyed.”

“Just let me Wonderwing through the lot of them!” said Kazooie. “They can’t be any harder than Beaker Boy.”

“You didn’t have to fight upwards of five ‘Beaker Boys’ at once before,” I said. “Sorry, Kazooie, but we’re gonna have to go with plan B. Terra, you have the stuff I talked to you about earlier?”

A couple minutes later, I knocked on the warehouse door.

“Hey, I come in peace.”

It’s terrifying having more than one giant knife pointed at you. I kept my hands where they could see them.

“Who’re you?” one of them asked.

“Hmm, you look a little familiar...” said another. Now that I think of it, I was a Sandslash for pretty much that entire original fight so long ago. My pangolin form was visually distinct enough that, at least for these brainiacs, one wasn’t immediately connected to the other.

“What do you want?” the third asked. “You better not be with the underground; they’ve given usss nothing but trouble lately.”

“I assure you, I’m not with the underground.” Officially, I added in my head. “I just need to talk with your boss about something important.”

“We’sss not just sssome band of mercs, dillo-boy,” the second said, which made my temper spike a good bit. “We’sss the Rubbisssh Character Policcce. We have channelsss for ssstuff like thisss if you want sssomeone rubbissshed.”

“Now hold on there, blokes.”

That voice came from an approaching figure in the back. Emerging from the shadows was a sizable looking stoat, almost a Banjo and a half tall at full height.

“Name’s Breakline,” he introduced himself. “Breakline the Boss. I’m the chief of this here Police. And if you sought us out so badly you came directly to us, well then, you must really need us.”

“Come on, chief, can’t we just rubbisssh him a little…?” one of the others whined.

“Hey, what do I tell you?” Breakline replied. “We don’t rubbish anyone for free, not even if we want to. You’re going to have to pay for it, and we don’t take credit.”

The merc just growled.

Breakline turned his attention back to me. “So, I hear you have something important to talk to me about. So speak up before I start charging you for my time.”

“I understand that you have a job out on my friend,” I said, trying my best to not let the sizeable stoat intimidate me. “One female bear named Tooty.”

“I think I remember someone by that name that got away,” he replied. “But so what? Why you bringing up something that ain’t nothing to do with you?”

By now, I had a good handle on the value of a Note. For example, each of those ten Jinjo plushies were roughly 18 inches tall and had cost 5 Notes each. A plushie of that size on my world would be about $20, so a Note was about equal to $4, a value that held in comparison to other items whose Earth prices I remember. By that logic, the 20-Note silo trips cost $80, which seems ludicrous, but those silos were meant to evade witches, magical detection, and all other sorts of things. They were not cheap to maintain, and were the primary way for the underground to fund itself as far as I knew. Not to mention vehicle parts in Showdown Town could (would?) run into 40 Notes and higher pretty easily.

So I knew the full weight of what I was about to say.

I looked Breakline square in the eye. “I will pay you 300 Notes to cancel that contract.”

Silence filled the air, and then all at once, almost everyone shouted and exclaimed in complete shock and disbelief, even my teammates that were hiding nearby in case things went wrong. The only one that didn’t was Terra, as I cleared the amount with her first this time. I had originally planned to spend 500, but she talked me down.

Well, Breakline didn’t react with shock either. Instead, he stared at me. I’ve played enough poker to know why; he was sizing me up, seeing if I was bluffing. It was a little freaky, but paled in comparison to the terror from being around an embodiment of nightmares.

And then suddenly, he burst into laughter, as if he just remembered a really funny joke.

“Oh man. You’re serious, kid. Tell you what, the entire Spiral Mountain gig was only worth 200 to us! And I hate having that sword over my head! Looking for years and never able to pin her down! I’d be glad to get rid of it! You got the money?”

Slowly, to avoid setting of the jumpy and clearly more vicious mercs (of course, Breakline had to keep them in line with more than money somehow), I pulled a smallish sack of Notes from my backpack and tossed them to him. He held the bag for a while, giving it a few tosses, as he gauged the weight before peeking inside.

“You just keep on surprising me, kid.” I didn’t feel like telling him I was like twenty-seven. “You hang tight and let me sort this out. And don’t you blokes be causing any trouble for the customers, or I’ll cut your pay and SUPLEX YOU TO THE DARK SIZE OF THE MOON!”

I covered my ears quickly as Breakline suddenly roared like a wild animal just long enough to finish his sentence before snapping back to his original demeanor. His employees flinched significantly.

“N-Not a problem, chief…!” one of them said.

“I thought not.”

And so Breakline went back deeper into the warehouse. The other mercs stopped aiming their weapons at me, but mostly kept a perimeter up to keep me from following him.

The wait was excruciating and quite odorous, but eventually he came back.

“OK, your friend is off our to-do list,” he announced. “And if any of my blokes try to bother her again, they know what’s coming, don’t they?” He gave them a massive stink-eye for a moment.

“Y-Yesss, chief...”

“Fun fact: I have them call me that because the droning when they said ‘boss’ took forever to stop. Anyway, pleasure doing business with you.”

“A pleasure as well,” I replied. “Say, if I may ask, who made the contract on her in the first place?”

“Well, since you made my day and I watched him die, I’ll tell you free of charge,” said Breakline. “You know that really fat witch that used to live on the mountain?”

“Blobbelda, yeah.”

“It was her cat.”

“...Huh. Didn’t see that coming.”

“Yeah, surprised me too. Cats are tricky types. Way too quiet, they are.”

I dismissed myself from their company and headed back. I reconvened with the others in front of Grunty Industries, as we planned if they didn’t need to come out.

Year 7, day 345: I managed to pass the news to Tooty today. She was actually a little disappointed, as she wanted to kick their butts. Banjo was with us, and he could tell that she was still happy she didn’t have to hide anymore. She, in returned, noted that he had been gaining a good bit of weight.

With who she was hiding from no longer a problem, she was free to go, but she volunteered to keep going for a few more years. “I’m not tired of this adventure yet!” Her leave time would still be increased significantly.

I’ll have to remember to get in on some of that.

[salmonthestoryteller]

Directly in Front

A Three Musketeers Fanfic

There was a quote, he was certain he’d heard it before.  Probably from Aramis, though it might have been Athos.  D'Artagnan, being too new still to their company, was eliminated from the possible quoters.  Because, Porthos was fairly certain anyhow, it hadn’t been their own words but a quote from someone else.  It really rather was likely it was Aramis, as he was the one forever reading and writing and speaking of verses and thesis.  Athos, though, seemed to have a quote or history to mention - and all quite suddenly - a time or three.  So he still could have been the one to say it.

The truth was, Porthos had not committed the full quote itself to memory, so it was not surprising he had not committed the quoter to memory either.  But something in it had caught his ear, and so he still retained the gist of it, if not the fullness.

The best place to hide was directly in front.

Taken at face value, the quote was absurd, but upon reflection, he understood the gist.  For the most part, he was not one for reflection. However, in this case, the quote had been cause for it as it seemed to strike quite close to home, as one might say.

He had, by no means, the intelligence of his companions.  If asked, in order, he would most likely have said that D'Artagnan was highest, though Athos a close second, and Aramis third, despite his love of books and verses.  There were some, though few ever repeated the remark after he gave them a sound thrashing for it, who even called him stupid.  He maintained that it was false, for though he didn’t have the mind for intrigues of D'Artagnan, the mind for strategy of Athos, or the mind of verses and sonnets of Aramis, there was a difference between being not the best at a thing and being the worst.

And though his friends often said they saw through his dissembling with ease, there were plenty of others who did not.  And his friends were deceived in some ways, though through lies of omission more often than outright lies, or through refusing to ask questions, as Athos did out of feigned disinterest and Aramis for politeness. D'Artagnan might have been a concern, but he was convinced of his openness in all manners not concerning vanity, and that was a quit to his worry on that account.  In truth, D'Artagnan seemed least interested in him, and most interested in Athos, and if he hadn’t laid that ax to rest a long time ago, he might have felt a slight prejudice for the fact.

And he supposed it was a matter of vanity, in the end.  A matter of discretion as well, though his friends would be fast to claim he had none.  And in some ways they were right.  But in a couple matters they were wrong.  For though he’d declared to them before that he had come from a poor background, they had never once asked the questions one might expect from such a declaration.  Such as where a boy of such poor background got ahold of a sword and learned swordplay, or who had recommended him to M d. Treville. And most of all, never once did they ask, where he went after having lost in betting; where he went to gain the money to pay back his debts.  Or why he seemed a bit the worst for it, even though he returned with coins in his pocket.

But, then, Porthos supposed, he’d never asked himself if the lack of such questions meant they were worse friends for it or better.  Perhaps both.

“Handsome Porthos, a pity you aren’t here so often anymore.”  The lips that brushed his neck were rough and whiskered.  The bag of money on the table was the same color as any other money, be it from stipend or mistress.

He did not watch the man leave, but washed and dressed stiffly, until a knock came at the door.  His countenance until that moment might have shocked his friends in it’s seriousness.  The knock seemed to reignite some of his spirits.  "Come.“

The woman who entered was older than he, but younger than several of his lovers - including his duchess.  His newly appeared smile disappeared when he saw her frown.  "Zounds, you’ve come to lecture me.”

Closing the door, the woman sat on the bed occupied mere minutes before by he and the man now departed.  "My dear Pathos, you eat from two messes, and that will backfire if you don’t ware.“

"I had need of money, and my mistress is not always agreeable.”

“You have more than one mistress.”

“But less than I can claim.”

‘Are they all so stingy?“

"They’re all quite jealous.”

“Ah, that is a folly of lovers.”

“You would not know.”

“Not so, in the past I’ve suffered the strikes of many a woman who realized their lovers and husbands came to them from my doorstep.”

“You lecture me, yet you don’t hesitate to find me agreeable evening company who are lonely and loose of coin.”

“I am a hypocrite in all things, as you are well acquainted.  But I did not gain a recommendation so you could return to my service when your pocket is light.  Especially when your closet is full.”  So saying she eyed the clothing he wore.

“You wound me.  What clothes I no longer need I give to Mousqueton,”

“We admittedly have different opinions of what is needed.”

“And you a woman?  For shame.”

“…I failed your mother for certain.”

“Not at all.”

“I promised her son would not sell himself as she was forced to after your father’s death.”

“And how is seducing a benefactor any different than selling an evening?”

“To me?  Only that the former is supposed to ensure the lack of need of the latter.”

“Were it but so.”

“You have yourself to blame!”

“The devil you say!”

“You could seduce a princess, yet covet a duchess.”

“I covet her coffer.”

“The princess has a larger coffer.”

“You taught me yourself that the higher the lover, the bigger the demands.  And, more often, the less the reward.”

“I?”

“Indeed, and though I often not commit lines to memory, hark that I have heard you well, for here is the long and short of it.”  Composing his thoughts for a moment, Porthos quoted slowly and deliberately, “The great need not prove they are great, and instead desire a lover to prove they are worthy.  It is those below that stature that aspire to it that go out of their way to gain handsomer lovers and expend their coins more easily to keep them from straying.”

The woman on the bed sat very still, her face somewhat troubled after he’d finished. “Yes, in truth, it was my advice.  You weren’t suppose to listen so well.”

“Therefore the princess is not good except for a mere flirtation.”

“Flirt with the princess, then, but zounds, stop asking me to sell you cheaply.  I beg your mother’s forgiveness every time.”

“She would be a hypocrite to condemn me.”

“Not so, for a mother always wants a better life for her son than she had herself.”

“You would not know that either.”

“It’s true you are not young enough to be my son, but having had a hand in raising you, I can’t help but feel some matronly feelings.”

“My lover is older than you, and she has no such feelings.”

“You’re lover had no hand in raising you, or she would feel differently.  Worry me no more on this matter.  You are my one matter of conscious.”

“You had me trained in seduction right along with swordplay, yet you lecture me about conscious?”

“You return my motherly concerns with accusations?”

“Not so, I owe my current position to your wisdom.  All the same, until my fortune is made I must make what fortune I must.”

“Which means you will not desist of participating in my service house until you have gained glory or a wife.”

“Only as I need, dear Mistress, only as I need.  Besides, it’s the most discreet service house in Paris.”

“You’ll ruin us both if you’re caught!”

“My exploits as a lover are well noted.  I may be teased for buying one for an evening, but never will my compatriots suppose I was bought.”

“You have equipped yourself an admirable alibi then.  I suppose in that I must take comfort.”  Rising from the bed, she opened her arms, and with a bright grin, Porthos bounded over to lift her into his arms, swinging in a circle gaily.

“When that coffer is mine, will you quit your service house and be my head maid?”

“By God, as if I could! I’m far too infamous.  Send your sons to make use of my services instead.  Then I will know you’ve truly made your fortune.”

“Who says I’ll have sons?”  And the usually boisterous man reddened a little as he set her down.

The Mistress arced a fine eyebrow.  "The way you go at it, you’ll probably have ten before you’ve gained coffer or glory.“

Porthos rumbled a laugh then, though his look as he took the bag of money awaiting him on the bedside table was still a tad wane.  "I’m off to rejoin my company then.”

“With such a face you only make me feel the more guilty…was it for the company choice?”

“Relax on that matter.  You know I am gay and careless in the choosing of temporary partners.”

“That is true, for I know from my own sources that while publically it is whispered you are quite intimate with a certain countess, it is her son who favors you more.”

“Then be at ease.”

“How can I when you make such a long face?  Tell me, is it the matter of selling an evening, rather than romancing it?”

“It is rather like a feast without the trimmings, and even perhaps wine.  It sustains but does not satisfy.”

“And is that all?  Speak truth, you do find shame in it, and hence your unhappiness.”

Porthos tugged at his clothing in irritation.  "Let us part on good terms.“  Was all he said.

The Mistress sighed, and nodded, hugging the giant man again.  "I’d loan to you, if you let me.”

“Never.  My debt to you is too high already.”

“You owe me nothing.”

“I owe you everything.”

“Silly boy.”  Kissing his cheek, she backed away.  "Off you go, then, only…“  And to his amusement her own face grew pink.  "Give my regards to Treville.”

“Haha!  The infamous Mistress still carries a fancy of her own, does she?”

“Off with you, if you insist on being cheeky!” She swatted at his backside, and Porthos hurried from the room laughing.

When he reached the bottom floor, he called over the young boy who was dusting the parlor.  He switched only a small portion of the payment he carried into his own wallet, before handing the money to the boy.  "Split this between the house’s women and boys, and don’t forget your own share.“  He instructed.

The boy nodded.  "As alway!”  He promised.  "Sir…Mistress was up all night while you were upstairs.  She was terribly morbid.  I thought I even spied her in prayer, but she quickly feigned otherwise when she spotted me.“

"You?  Spotted?”

“Mistress says I’m shooting up like a bean, and in truth, I seem to be too big for my old hiding places.”

“You are growing quite tall at that!  How old are you?”

“Fourteen now and all!”

“What will you be doing when you reach of age?”

“Oh, Mistress has arranged me to join the service.  She said something about if only women could enter, her work would be halved.”

“Our Mistress is the strangest of women, to be sure.  And that’s saying much.”

“Oh, indeed!”

“Keep an eye on Mistress, and send for me if she is distressed at all.”

“Yes, sir.”

The first place Porthos headed after he left the house was a restaurant, for he had not dined at all during his stay at the Mistress’s house - and, as always, was quite hungry.  To his delight, he found his friends already there, and they greeted him with their usual teasing and camaraderie.

“I do believe I hear the sound of gold in your purse.”  D'Artagnan mentioned.

“You do have extraordinary hearing, friend D'Artagnan!  But I confess to the truth of it.”  Porthos said as they resituated themselves to make room for him.  "Yet, who has bought this spread?“

"Aramis, for Athos lost again last night.”

“Again?  In truth, friend, your luck is most wondrously bad!”

“Yours is no better.”  Athos shrugged at the words.

“Ah, not in gambling, but if the rouge on his cheek is to go by, in other matters most certainly.”  Aramis commented.

“Why, and I quite missed that!” D'Artagnan cried.

Porthos seemed confused for a moment while his friends laughed, until he recalled his Mistress’s farewell kiss to his cheek.  'She secretly gives me double the alibi.  She is too good to me.’  He thought.  "Ah, have I missed some sign, then?  Tell me, which cheek?“

"The left!”

“The right!”

“No fair, to tease me!  I’ll look for a mirror.  If Mousqueton was here, the matter would be cleared up instantly, but it is his appointed day and hour for his own time.”

“Oh, rub them both and stay and tell us of your latest conquest.”  D'Artagnan told him.

“Oh, don’t encourage him, we’ll never hear the end of it!”  Athos said sourly, as ever when it came women and romance.

“A hint at least.  Was it the princess?”  Aramis put in.

“Not you as well, Aramis. Is this what our breakfast conversation will consist of?” Athos complained again.

“Ah, I have not been so lucky yet.  It was a woman of business only, but most handsome.”  Porthos replied with complete honesty.

“A poor shop girl who’s no doubt given you all her wages!  You are truly a fiend sometimes, Porthos!” D'Artagnan cried.

“Not at all!  She runs the business, and afforded me quite well.”

“She didn’t feed you well.”  Athos said, his eye astute as ever.

Porthos hesitated, for they rarely remarked on the changes to his mean after his stays at Mistress’s, and for a moment he wasn’t quite certain what to say, and looked down at himself as if to see if Athos spoke the truth.  But, while he had not - as previously stated - a mind for intrigues, strategy, or verses, he excelled in one thing the others didn’t - and that was conversation.  His tongue did not long leave him without excuse.  "Ah, is ever with women who take to business - her cooking is most wanting!  But let me tell you the good thing, and that’s that while their hands, far from idle, are certainly not soft, they are quite strong, and that is almost as good when-!“

"Enough!  You’ll ruin my breakfast.”  Athos broke in.

“Ah, Athos, sometimes you worry me!”  Porthos sighed.

“I don’t disappear for days, only an evening.”

“Ah!  By saying so you admit to worrying for me!  How delightful!”

“I said no such thing!”

“In truth, he was, and only yesterday asked Treville if you’d taken leave.”  Aramis whispered quite loud enough for the whole table to hear.

Athos colored at his words, and sent a scowl his way.  "Oh, indeed, but that may just be because you suggested it!“

"It does a heart good to have such dear friends!”  Porthos cried out.

“Well, we shall not seek you next time for I, at least, have no desire to hear more on the matter of the hands of business women!” Athos declared.

Porthos only laughed at his outburst, and when Aramis and D'Artagnan joined in, Athos himself could not help but give a rare smile at the jest.  The matter quickly turned to what he’d missed while away, his absence dismissed and soon forgotten.

Later that evening, changed into new attire, and giving the clothes he’d worn to Mistress’s to his tailor to alter for Mousqueton, he thought again of that quote he couldn’t quite remember the whole of.

Ever placing himself in the front; loudly spoken and just as loudly dressed, everyone took for granted they knew his secrets, or lack thereof, and therefore looked for none.  Truly the quote was his life personified.

The best place to hide was directly in front.

2013

For some reason, from the first description of Porthos disappearing and returning with money and how he was paler and lost weight, I couldn’t help but think that he was probably whoring himself.  I know, I know - wtf Salmon.  Still, I maintain the clues point to it.

Porthos is said to be without fortune or family.  He’s very strong, and is even called a giant on occasion, but is the most dandy of them all.  If he was doing manual labor, he wouldn’t be paler.  He must have been avoiding food during his time away to be thinner.  And as they go into detail of his exploits with the duchess to get his equipment, I find it strange that they don’t simply say he got coins from seduction if that’s the case.

Though the author keeps saying he’s the most open, the least deceitful, and will tell you his whole life - they don’t explain that said life. We’re explained how every other character would have a sword, and learn fighting. If Porthos truly had nothing then where would he get the money to even have that?  I think the author quite glossed over that point.

While Porthos is proud of his seductions, I think he would hide from them if he occasionally gave sex for money - regardless of whether it was to a man or to a woman.  I make his companion a man because it would most likely have been.  Most women of means at that time would not often have frequented a place like Mistress, they would have kept a lover - as the book plainly says most do.  Therefore, the women who would frequent a place like Mistress would do so in order to have a less…vanilla affair.  In truth, having it simply be a male lover was probably the most innocent of rendezvous he’d have working at a place like Mistress’s.

So, yes, she’s selling people, and even probably very kinky sex, but is a philanthropist.  She regards Porthos as a son, but will still sell him if he asks her, but wants better for him. Hey, I have her say she’s a hypocrite, and Porthos say she’s the strangest of women!  I’m marvelously fond of my creation in her, actually.

Back to Porthos, who’s my favorite musketeer if you couldn’t tell, he is said to not be extremely intelligent, and is occasionally even naive.  So I couldn’t have him being really intelligent and secretive about his history, or how he hid his whoring himself.  So instead he hides right in front, as the quote says.  Because he’s spoken so honestly about his history and so freely about his love live, everybody figures they know everything and don’t dig deeper.  But he could easily have spoken honestly, and still lied in omission.  He has no fortune, he has no family, he received recommendation due to his connection with a woman.  Ect.

I attempted to write it in a style comparable to the style of the original.  Which was actually a very fun exercise.

[dailyofficereadings]

Daily Office Readings September 20, 2018

Psalm 70-71

Psalm 70

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. Of David, for the memorial offering.

1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me! 2 Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me. 3 Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!” turn back because of their shame.

4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Psalm 71

Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help

1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress,[a] to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. 5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 6 Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.

7 I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long. 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent. 10 For my enemies speak concerning me, and those who watch for my life consult together. 11 They say, “Pursue and seize that person whom God has forsaken, for there is no one to deliver.”

12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! 13 Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed; let those who seek to hurt me be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14 But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all day long, though their number is past my knowledge. 16 I will come praising the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will praise your righteousness, yours alone.

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come.[b] Your power 19 and your righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens.

You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? 20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. 21 You will increase my honor, and comfort me once again.

22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have rescued. 24 All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help, for those who tried to do me harm have been put to shame, and disgraced.

Footnotes:

Psalm 71:3 Gk Compare 31.3: Heb to come continually you have commanded

Psalm 71:18 Gk Compare Syr: Heb to a generation, to all that come

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm 74

Psalm 74

Plea for Help in Time of National Humiliation

A Maskil of Asaph.

1 O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago, which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage. Remember Mount Zion, where you came to dwell. 3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary.

4 Your foes have roared within your holy place; they set up their emblems there. 5 At the upper entrance they hacked the wooden trellis with axes.[a] 6 And then, with hatchets and hammers, they smashed all its carved work. 7 They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated the dwelling place of your name, bringing it to the ground. 8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 We do not see our emblems; there is no longer any prophet, and there is no one among us who knows how long. 10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? 11 Why do you hold back your hand; why do you keep your hand in[b] your bosom?

12 Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the earth. 13 You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters. 14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food[c] for the creatures of the wilderness. 15 You cut openings for springs and torrents; you dried up ever-flowing streams. 16 Yours is the day, yours also the night; you established the luminaries[d] and the sun. 17 You have fixed all the bounds of the earth; you made summer and winter.

18 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and an impious people reviles your name. 19 Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals; do not forget the life of your poor forever.

20 Have regard for your[e] covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence. 21 Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. 22 Rise up, O God, plead your cause; remember how the impious scoff at you all day long. 23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of your adversaries that goes up continually.

Footnotes:

Psalm 74:5 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain

Psalm 74:11 Cn: Heb do you consume your right hand from

Psalm 74:14 Heb food for the people

Psalm 74:16 Or moon; Heb light

Psalm 74:20 Gk Syr: Heb the

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Job 28

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found

28 “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold to be refined. 2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. 3 Miners put[a] an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness. 4 They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation; they are forgotten by travelers, they sway suspended, remote from people. 5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire. 6 Its stones are the place of sapphires,[b] and its dust contains gold.

7 “That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it. 8 The proud wild animals have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.

9 “They put their hand to the flinty rock, and overturn mountains by the roots. 10 They cut out channels in the rocks, and their eyes see every precious thing. 11 The sources of the rivers they probe;[c] hidden things they bring to light.

12 “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 13 Mortals do not know the way to it,[d] and it is not found in the land of the living. 14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ 15 It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price. 16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.[e] 17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. 19 The chrysolite of Ethiopia[f] cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

20 “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? 21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. 22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

23 “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. 24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens. 25 When he gave to the wind its weight, and apportioned out the waters by measure; 26 when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the thunderbolt; 27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. 28 And he said to humankind, ‘Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Footnotes:

Job 28:3 Heb He puts

Job 28:6 Or lapis lazuli

Job 28:11 Gk Vg: Heb bind

Job 28:13 Gk: Heb its price

Job 28:16 Or lapis lazuli

Job 28:19 Or Nubia; Heb Cush

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Acts 16:25-40

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer[a] called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord[b] to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

35 When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, “The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul replied, “They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; 39 so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters[c] there, they departed.

Footnotes:

Acts 16:29 Gk He

Acts 16:32 Other ancient authorities read word of God

Acts 16:40 Gk brothers

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

John 12:27-36

Jesus Speaks about His Death

27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people[a] to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34 The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah[b] remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

Footnotes:

John 12:32 Other ancient authorities read all things

John 12:34 Or the Christ

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.