#Paladin Took II | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

foolinafable · 3 months ago

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ii. the greatest

SYNOPSIS: He doesn’t know how to love. You know this and yet you would still give everything just to be with him- even for just a moment. Or the story of how you and Keith finally get together. PAIRING: Keith Kogane x Altean reader WORD COUNT: 4.3k TAGS: Slowburn, Angst, extreme cannon compliance, fighting SERIES LINK: a love as cold as ours

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Up to now, all his information was spot on, not even a hair out of line. You had just come back from another successful mission infiltrating and destroying a galran base using Lotor’s intel. You were sitting with the rest of the paladins in the lounge room discussing Lotor and the mission

“I mean it’s a lot easier going on successful missions when you have all the information you need before you get there” Hunk claimed as he put his arms behind his head resting on the couch.

“And yet you still manage to run your lion into a wall” Lance teases, causing a small laugh to escape your lips

“Yeah well, information is one thing. Ability is something completely different” Hunk complained

“There's no doubt about it, we haven't encountered a single problem.” Shiro spoke standing in front of you with all arms crossed.

“I must admit, we took down a vital target today” Allura admitted and you knew that was hard for her to trust not just a galaran but the son of the man who killed your entire planet.

“And we made it look pretty easy! Except for the drowning in the lava part.” Pidge concluded

“It may be time to consider taking the next step” Shiro stated and you put your hand on Alluras as she was next to you feeling the worry encasing her form

“I’m still not comfortable with this. It just doesn't feel right.” she ranted as you tapped her hand to get her attention

“But sometimes that is just what you have to do, as a leader, is make those uncomfortable choices. Time has proven that we cannot always trust our gut instincts, Allura, and I think he deserves a chance to prove to us that we were wrong about him. “you took a shaky breath before continuing

“We already know that galran is not synonymous with evil, so let's let him prove to us that he is more than just a product of Zarkons creation.”

── ✧

You stood in between Allura and Shiro as you made the way towards Lotor's cell, waiting in complete silence as the doors opened to the room he was kept in. Walking along the catwalk towards his circular prison, where he sat diligently waiting.

“Your intel checked out” Shiro started

“You still feign surprise” Lotor uttered

“And you still act as though you don’t know why” you replied tilting your head slightly in disbelief.

All of the good he has and could do will never take away from the evil he has done. You find it silly that he believes it could.

“All of the information I've given has proved correct” he continued, unfazed by your comment

“Every target I've provided, easily dispatched. And yet you still look at me-”

He was interrupted this time by Allura

“As if you were the leader of the most blood-thirsty race of murders this universe has ever known?”

He looked up somewhat exacerbated

“Can people not change? Is it so hard to believe that I wish to return the galran empire to a bygone era of peace?”

To which you quipped

“Of course people can change, your father is evidence enough of that. But, you need to own your mistakes, not pretend as though you haven't killed millions of innocents just because he asked you to. You say you are remorseful for it, but the way you act contradicts that completely.”

He simply nodded at you, executing defeat once again to your words as he turned to Allura

“Our fathers were once friends, long ago. Can there be hope for us?”

To which Shiro replied “I guess we still need convincing”

Lotor somewhat shocked tried again “The facts speak for themselves, the galra empire is completely reliant on quintessence, serve that need peacefully and you have a complete paradigm shift, a new dawn for the old empire.”

Allura, somewhat annoyed, spoke “And you're the man to make this happen?”

As Lotor continued to defend himself you couldn't help but zone out, how many times must he say the same thing for Allura to give him a little leeway, the more freedom he has the more ability he has to be useful to Voltron, there is only so much information he can give before Zarkon and his generals catch on and change anything he may know about.

“Cleary, princess you are not ready to end this war” you heard Lotor grouch as Allura and Shiro turned away, you quickly followed them not daring to say a word as you knew just as they did, that he had a point.

── ✧

You stood to the right of Allura, in between Shiro and Lance as Allura addressed the coalition, deciding to look forward instead of up at the screens showing the coalition members, knowing that the second you looked up you would search for his face as you always do. There is no time for these unrequited feelings now or ever and as Allura says

“We have only got this far by the sacrifices we have made”

It reminds you of why you will never try to be with him, it is simply a liberty you cannot allow yourself your mission is to free the galaxy and then build up a new Altea with Allura and Coran. The rest of the coalition left the meeting beside the Blade of Marmora who had a video which showed only Kolivan and Keith.

“Did you complete raids on the targets we sent you on our last communication?” Shiro asked

“Yes, the information we received has consistently checked out” Kolivan replied.

“With all of these successful missions taking place, in such a short period of time, it won't be long before the gala realises we have an inside source” You were glad Pidge was bringing this up, matching your own thoughts.

“That's true, we should expect the enemy to change protocol soon” Kolivan adds.

“Then we need to act fast and hit as many targets as possible.” Lance concludes you turn to Shiro

“I will go speak to Lotor then” And he nods

“Yes go see if there is anything else he can give us” but before you could turn to leave Allura turns to you

“I can’t help but feel like we are a small part of a much larger ulterior motive” to which you reply

“I understand, but what other choice do we have?” Then you turn and walk out of the room, failing to see how the silent boy standing next to Kolivan follows your moves with his eyes, eyebrows slightly furrowed.

── ✧

You stood in the control room with the others, looking towards Pidge and Matt. You should’ve known to wait until the teledev was repaired to tell them about the lead on their father that Lotor had given you, but you were just so excited to tell them and now you sat, looking over a Pidge as Matt comforted her when a communication link was sent through to the castle, and it showed Zarkon

“Paladins of Voltron, I am making a one time offer. I have someone of value to you,” he turned his body away from the camera to show Samuel Holt, Pidge and Matt's dad

“I will hand him over and in exchange, you will give me my son, Lotor.”

The moment after Zarkon made his terms for the swap, time seemed to go too fast. The arguing between the paladins, Matt and Pidge's desperation, even Lotors pleading- it was all too much.

But now being sat waiting above the planet the trade was being made on with the rest of the paladins time couldn't be slower. Dread wracking all of your forms, because like Lotor said could we really trust Zarkon to uphold his end of the bargain and even thoughts about if this was right, Having Lotor as a part of the coalition may be the only way to see peace from the galra there will always be another tyrant who will try to take over the empire and Lotor was, unfortunately, the best out of a bad bunch. You knew that when Zarkon got his hands on Lotor that this plan would come to its end much like Lotor will. So while you are happy that Pidge finally might have her family back, you feel a sense of grieving for the prosperous future of peace the galran price spoke of.

You were all sitting in the control room completely powerless but Allura insisted that we must

“Hold our positions” as if we were to move in so would Zarkons fleet. You were sitting hand in hand unable to look at the screen when Hunk exclaimed

“Pidge, Matt and Shiro are moving in!” causing you to look up at the screen in alarm as beeps began to show the gala moving in as Coran pointed out.

Then Lance commanded “Everybody get to your lions, we need to protect our team, and get Sam.” quickly the four of you suited up and got into your lions, racing towards the rendezvous point. It seems your timing was impeccable as Shiro commed in

“Lance, we need some backup!” and luckily like the paladin pointed out

“We are already on our way.” The group quickly made their way towards the moving galra shutter and its ships, the lions quickly blasted at the ships, destroying them as quickly as they could. While you were fighting and doing the galra ships you noticed white lasers being shot from the castle of lions, clearly Coran wanted a piece of all the action you all called out to him in glee to which he responded

“i thought you could all use a bit of help!” Soon after you were able to get rid of the last ships.

“Shiro, Pidge, the sky is clear of all galra. What's your status?” Lance asked to which Pidge quickly replied

“shuttle is not clear yet!” Then you saw what looked like Lotors old comrades falling out of the shuttle and Shiro comed in, sounding very calm

“the shuttle is clear.” The four lions surrounded the shuttle as Lance congratulated the team when Shiro asked

“Where are Lotor and Zarkon?” which made your face drop in worry, clearly this mission was far from over.

You looked to the left of the planet to see large plums of smoke, you and the rest of the team quickly made your way over to it and found Zarkon with the black bayard pointing it towards Lotor for the kill shot, without thinking you activated your laser shooting it at zarkon, causing an explosion right where he stood, luckily the other paladins quickly followed suit shooting their lasers towards Zarkon causing more smoke and fire to envelope the area, then you saw a purple light peeking out of the smoke, growing larger, then a large purple beam erupted from the smoke along with an agonising scream from- Zarkon.

As the smoke cleared all you could see was Lotor standing over his father as the sun began to rise over them.

Zarkon was dead and by his own son's hand.

── ✧

A few days later, you found yourself on Alkarion, while the rest of the paladins were busy scouting the area, ensuring its safety while they put in place new protection measures and Matt and Pidge were having some time with their father. You found yourself in the control room of the castle of lions with Allura and Lotor.

“They should be here any minute.” Allura said arms crossed not looking behind her in the prince's direction

“Good, there is much to discuss” he replied and sat on the steps that lead to the main podium.

“Are you alright?” you asked the galran man making Allura finally turn her attention towards him clearly also noticing his melancholy nature to which he simply said

“i’ll be fine” not even looking towards the two of you.

“What you did was for the greater good, and for many of us proof of your intentions for peace.” Allura complimented a slight smile on her face. Before any of you could get another word in, the keypad beeps allowing the door to open relieving the rest of the paladins and Coran all here for the meeting.

“Look at its prince Lotor just hanging out on the bridge!” Lance proclaimed and to your amusement, sounding quite annoyed at the fact.

“Why, what else would he be doing while waiting for you all to show up, great punctuality by the way” You interrupted the rest of the paladins as they went on about how strange this was because while you agree with them, there isn't much time for this. Luckily Shiro also seemed to agree with you walking towards the man

“What’s going on, Lotor.” happy to finally get to business Lotor spoke

“Since the death of my father, it has created a power vacuum in the galra empire, the most formidable galra leaders will gather for what is called the Kral Zera sometime in the next two days to decide who will take the throne. We must be there” looking towards the other paladins who looked at him as if he had just said the most insane thing imaginable

“So you want us to fly you into the middle of a meeting with all of the most powerful galra leaders?” Lance questioned, almost unable to believe what he was saying.

“Lotor, we appreciate everything you have sacrificed, but this sounds far too dangerous” to which you replied

“While it may be dangerous Allura, I cannot help but think that it is crucial Lotor is there to defend his claim to the empire, otherwise Zarkons death would’ve been for nothing. We would simply be replacing one evil tyrant with another.” it seemed Shiro agreed with you

“I mean we have been in more dangerous situations with much less to gain. Putting Lotor on the galra throne is what we have been discussing” to which Pidge quipped

“Yeah, but nobody told us that would mean flying into a warzone.”

“We cannot plan an operation this important so quickly” Allura concluded to which Shiro argued

“We don't have a choice” and he was right this was a one-time event, “It’s the only chance we’ve got” you reminded them.

“I’m with Allura, we need time to think this over.” Lance decided but Shiro quickly shut him down

“Lance this is not your call” You looked towards the boy with alarmed eyes and he met your gaze with widened eyes of his own both of you bewildered by this sudden attitude change in Shiro.

“Allura, the coalition wouldn't be where it is right now without Lotor, we need to listen to him.”

The rest of the paladins and Coran chimed in with their decisions leaving it “four-three in the princess' favour” as Coran put it. But Shiro still dismissed this

“I’m the leader of Voltron, I’m making this decision.” to which Allura commented

“Like when you armed Lotor with your bayard without consulting the rest of us?” to which Shiro simply nodded his head

“That's right. Making that decision resulted in the removal of Zarkon” to which Allura exclaimed

“You put the entire operation in jeopardy” but Shiro rebutted

“I put an end to Zarkons reign, now this is the time to finish the job.” Lance decided to step in as the second in command to try and dial down the tension

“Shiro, we are all on the same side here” But Shiro quickly dismissed him

“I told you to stay out of this'' looking towards him with venom making Lance look once again shocked at what Shiro was saying.

“While you all waste time squabbling” Lotor started clearly annoyed by this turn of events “Sinister forces are conspiring to fill the galra power void, if I do not return to claim the throne then there is no telling on who will.” To which Shiro replied

“Good then it’s settled” to which Pidge complained

“How is it settled?”

“Our hands are tied, the Kral Zera is happening. If we want to stop the galra, we need to put Lotor on the throne immediately.” Shiro responded.

── ✧

Sitting in the Black lion with Shiro and Lotor wasn't how you thought today would go, but clearly, you and Shiro were the only ones willing to do what was necessary.

After the attack on Alkarion it only solidified to you and Shiro how important it was to get Lotor on the throne. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to sway the other paladins so here you were only 2 out of 6 paladins ready to jump into a pit full of the most powerful galra in the entire empire.

The black lion arrived at planet Feyiv landing seemingly right in the centre of the action, you as instructed stood behind Lotor, slightly to the left of him as the entrance to the black lion was opened, showing the galran officials below you.

You took a deep breath as the wind blew rapidly looking at Lotor for a moment before turning your focus to the enemy eyebrows raising as you saw the looks on their faces, more shock than anger and that you could definitely work with.

You suppose you to would be shocked to see a half galran hybrid and an altean arriving together peacefully, probably the last time this combination was seen was with Lotors parents and his father wasn't even a hybrid- so the pair of you are really a sight to behold and it probably doesn't help that you're a paladin of Voltron leaving the black lion either.

“Halt. Your true emperor has arrived” Lotor commanded as the black lion's mouth lowered to the ground you both walked towards the fire as Sendak questioned

“You? Lead the galra empire? What could possibly make you think that you could be our emperor” You tightened your grip on your bayard- a bo staff with a razor-sharp edge at the top waiting for Lotors command

“My father's blood is not just in my veins, it is also on my sword. The emperor fell to me and so will anyone else that stands in my way.” you could see the way Sendak's face changed from one of amusement to one of anger

“You think treachery makes you qualified to lead us?” you followed slowly behind the Lotor as he walked towards Sendak

“I will light the flame, not for defeating my father and not even for being the strongest galra here. But because I did something no one else could do, I returned the black lion to the galra and had one of Voltron paladins at my side. Stand aside, Sendak."

This clearly did not sit well with the galran and quickly the two began to fight to get up the stairs. However, as quickly as the fighting started it was seized as large explosions began to emit from underneath the stairs. You looked to Lotor in alarm as Sendak concluded

“Lotor has betrayed us for Voltron!” you quickly turned around towards the other garlans, bracing yourself for a fight, Shiro quickly lept to the sky as the galra ships began to fire at him.

Quickly all the galran began to fight each other and in extension you. You took down the galran in front of you grabbing their arm before they could shoot at you, sending them to the ground making sure to crush their gun as you did, before quickly moving on to the next, it was a whirlwind of purple flying everywhere as you tried to find your way towards Lotor. Quickly knocking out anyone who got in the way when a gloved hand grabbed your arm from behind, you quickly turned towards them the sharp edge of your staff pressing against their neck

“Woah” a familiar voice croaked out making you move your staff back as you noticed the suit- what where the blade doing here?

Keith quickly removed his mask as you put your staff back to the ground, “What are you doing here?” he quickly asked before looking around the battlefield

“Where is everyone else” he quickly added

“I could ask you the same, but I suppose I am not wrong to suspect that the explosions were your doing. Shiro and I are making sure that Lotor gets on the throne, everyone else didn’t think it was a good idea so we came just the three of us.” you simply explained as he took you further away from the battlefield finding yourself behind a pillar.

“Where's your lion? What if Shiro needs help up there?” is all he responds with almost as if he's still trying to understand what exactly is happening

“Lotor decided we only needed the black lion, it made the most sense in his plan as how could one galran get two Voltron lions and I think Shiro is doing just fine on his own''

looking up you could see that the galran were more shooting at each other than at Shiro so he was able to quickly destroy them “And if he needed backup my lion is only a call away” you added he also looked up at the sky proving to him that you in fact where correct

“So what you're just acting as Lotors backup then” clearly he was still confused by the turn of events

“I mean pretty much” you rescinded shrugging your shoulders because if you were being honest you weren't completely sure as to why Lotor wanted you to come with him. But you knew better than to try and come up with another plan when he was so expertly set up.

“Oh, so are you all buddy-buddy with him now?” Keith asked, his eyes slightly twitching to which you simply looked at him confused

“What do you even mean by that?” head tilting to emphasis a needed clarification from the boy

“I just-” he starts pressing his lips together in annoyance “he must mean a lot to you for you to go against the entire team to take him here” to which you quickly respond

“Not particularly no, and the team will understand. This was the only way-” he interrupted you eyebrows raised

“Are you sure about that'' you are suddenly taken aback by his words

“Excuse me?” Then the venom started to pour out of his mouth.

“I just think this is a mistake.” He pointed towards you

“I disagree” you insisted.

“Then you're not listening to me!” he declared voice raised “It’s not safe, you are surrounded by the most powerful galra in the empire with only Lotor as backup.” he crossed his arms against his chest speaking his name as if it were poison on his tongue

“You don’t think I know that'' you replied but were met with silence “So you think I can't handle this alone?” you accused

“I know you can’t, you need to leave.” he declared his words immediately triggered a fire of anger within you i mean who does he think he is

“Some supportive friend you are-” you begin but he interrupts you again clearly angry himself

“What and you are” he accuses you scoff at this

“I have always supported you and your decisions, do not stand here and try to assume otherwise”

All the times you took his side flashed into your memory as your anger only seemed to grow and his next words were no help

“Or what?” he taunts

“Or what?” you echo almost whispering looking at him incredulously

“You know what you were right, you are a horrible cold excuse of a man and I for one am glad you left Voltron so I do not have to deal with this anymore.” You exclaim pointing towards him.

“Good, like I want to need to protect you all the time, that I definitely haven’t missed and don’t even get me started on your opinionated nature, would it kill you not to need to butt into every conversation ever?” he shouts

You simply stare at him in shocked silence watching as the words he spoke registered in his head. You simply turned around leaving him standing there seething with anger but also trying to stop tears from falling down your face- this wasn’t about him or even you this was about the future of the galra empire. Furthermore, the future of the whole universe now is not the time to cry over him.

Luckily you quickly spot Lotor somehow not in the middle of the chaos as rush towards him, he seems relieved to see you, at least someone is.

“This is exactly what I wanted to avoid. I knew they would turn on each other.” it seems this moment of peace was quickly disturbed as Sendak came threw himself in between you to leaving smoke in his path, as you find your feet you see a general fighting with Keith who quickly falls to the ground, you quickly disarm the galan sending them to ground unconscious with a simply whack of your staff, looking up you made eye contact with Acxa, one of Lotors officials who lowered her gun staring at you, she simply nodded before turning away.

You didn’t dare turn around and meet his purple eyes feeling them glaring at you, you simply ran down the stairs as you saw the rest of Voltron coming through the wormhole with your lion hurtling towards you. You quickly got inside and joined the rest of the team as you heard Shiro shout

“Time to form Voltron!”

As a team you quickly destroyed the rest of the galran ships. You watched from inside Voltron as Sendak got distracted by another warlord giving Lotor the chance to walk up to the galran throne, flame in hand. Then the flame was lit.

Lotor was now the emperor of the galran empire.

#aloveascoldasours #keith kogane x reader #keith kogane #keith kogane fic #keith kogane fanfic #keith kogane imagine #keith voltron #keith x reader #vld keith #voltron #voltron x reader

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kathrins-sketchbook · 1 year ago

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The Prodigal Daughter (TRSB 2023)

Pencil drawing, digital colouring. Art #14 in the 2023 Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang. Below, find info & the link to the beautifully written exploration of the death of Thain Lalia Took, by my author LadyBrooke on Ao3. This "lost event" in the background of the Lord of the Rings has fascinated me for years now.

Pearl understood why they suspected her after Lalia's death. That didn't mean it wasn't painful to see the suspicion, even from her own family.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: Major Character Death Category: Gen Characters: Lalia Clayhanger Took, Pearl Took, Paladin Took II, Pippin Took, Background & Cameo Characters, Eglantine Banks Additional Tags: Canonical Character Death, Complicated Relationships, Trauma, Family, Rumors, embedded art, Mentions of Starvation, Discussion of the Fell Winter

https://archiveofourown.org/works/49794613

@tolkienrsb

#trsb23 #trsb 2023 #lord of the rings #hobbit #hobbits #tolkien art #tolkien fic #lalia took #pippin took #the shire #drawing #illustration #tolkien #lotr art #lotr fic

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lunelfy · 1 year ago

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The Journey Continues II

[ previous journal summary ]

• Getting back to the issue of being a Paladin, it adds another dimension to the game. Instead of thinking twice of the choices you make, you have to think trice. Keeping your promises, abstaining from spilling innocent blood, and no manipulation. It's a nice way to be mindful while playing the game.

• All that aside, continuing from last night, Astarion bit me. He bit me. The audacity! But, at least he's happy now. If my blood helps him to keep fighting, then well, it's a fair deal.

• We returned to the gnome to save him after all (we discovered we could just enter the windmill and stop it from rotating xD).

• Let Lae'zel travel with me for a bit, she's a feisty one..., Zorru wasn't too pleased with her approach. On top of that, she tried to kill me at camp. What's with these companions, one bites me, the other kills me, what's next, getting abducted by aliens? Oh-

• I SAW ALUNE. *cough* obviously, I meant, the mysterious dream figure. I SAW HIM. We all had someone visiting us in our dreams...

• Shadowheart donated her artefact to me, the tinky toy. Apparently now it wants to stalk me for a while instead of her.

• Discovered Gale has a... um... magic addiction, and that's put lightly... I'm starting to get a bit concerned about his condition :I

• So... we bumped into the brothers of Mayrina, who apparently was abducted by the old lady we spoke to a day before. The "hag". Well, meeting her in her "cozy" teahouse, was a bit of an unpleasant surprise. I think Astarion takes his words back about liking her xD

• Since she isn't our priority right now, we parked her inside her private dungeon and returned to the Goblin camp.

• This time Volo was doing some "Absolute" praising in front of an enthusiastic drunken goblin crowd. Entertaining performance. Applauds.

• After being pepped-up by the "show", we entered the Defiled Temple, our first visit, intended only to "snoop around". A lot of unnecessary torturing is going on down there, I can give you that. Some of it even in forms of pleasure. Interesting... um... hobbies, people can have these days.

• Gale got another needy-magic-artefact moment, hence we returned to camp and took a deep rest. More dreams about Alune- I MEAN, the guardian figure. Other than that, pleasant dreams about dark, dangerous dungeons... 'L' Oh, bless thee...

#bg3 spoilers #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 screenshots #bg3 gif #bg3 gameplay #bg3 tav #gameplay

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littlelostmabari · 7 months ago

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WIP Wednesday

One of the Good Ones (in progress)

CW: Canon-typical violence under the cut

The Gallows (Part II)

Part I is here.

So Knight-Captain Rutherford knew who she was, and that she had magic. That was… hardly a surprise. But it also didn’t bode well for her escape to know that Meredith’s second-in-command was standing with his hand clasped around her arm. The men continued back and forth for the moment it took her to take the face of the man who had intervened on her behalf. The Knight-Captain had curly, dirty blond hair to Carver’s straight and dark. His eyes were a whiskey amber to Carver’s brown… and the way he stood with his weight on his back foot suggested extensive martial training that Carver could not yet match. He reminded her of the paladins that walked the streets of the Upper District of the Gate — sure of themselves, but for good reason, and with the gleaming armor of devotion strapped across well hewn muscle. One of those paladins had taken out a cambion in the district square not a week before she landed in Kirkwall, with a smite that left her blinking away dark spots for an hour.

But the differences Saoirse thought she’d seen between the two men seemed to end there. Rutherford’s eyes showed the same tired resignation as Carver’s, and he spoke with the same accent. Ferelden then.

“You know there is a standing order to ignore apostasy in your sister’s circle for the sake of Kirkwall’s safety.”

“Yes, Knight-Captain, I do.” Carver’s grip around her arm tightened.

“Then you know that you are going against a direct order from the Knight-Commander.”

“Yes, Knight-Captain, but…”

“You think you know better, then, do you, Ser Hawke?”

“Yes, sir… I mean, no, sir, I only…”

“You only what?!” Rutherford snapped. “You thought that you could earn some good favor by bringing one of your sister’s friends to the Gallows?” He looked around and lowered his voice. “One that most certainly is going to escape thanks to her connections to your sister? You know, the Champion of Kirkwall? A very public escape, surely, resulting in additional embarrassment for the Knight-Commander? Did you think any of this through?”

The grips on both her arms were getting tighter by the moment. When the fingers in her left hand began to go numb she couldn’t help but squirm. Carver turned on her in an instant, yanking her nearly in half towards him.

“Where do you think you’re going, mage,” he spat. Saoirse could taste the venom on the last word. Her lip curled up to meet his sneer.

“Wherever the fuck gets me away from your bitching, Junior.”

If the Knight-Captain hadn’t been at her side, Carver’s gauntleted backhand would have had Saoirse on the ground. Even still, she reached a hand to her lips and pulled away an imprint of blood.

“Rude.” She almost spat red onto the ground, but thought better of it before looking up at Carver. “Especially considering I’m unarmed.” She raised up her wrists again in mock deference, the blue lyrium runes still sparkling across the dark iron. Whatever reaction she was expecting from the Knight-Captain… that wasn’t true. She fully expected the Knight-Captain to berate Carver for attacking an unarmed, silenced charge. What she didn’t expect was for the Knight-Captain to push her farther into the Gallows, which meant she stumbled over her feet.

“You’re dismissed, Ser Hawke. Return to your patrols.”

“Sir, I…” “Dismissed, Hawke.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Knight-Captain waited only long enough to take the seized staff off of Carver’s back before pushing her forwards. Saoirse got a glance of the younger Hawke as he turned on his heel to begin the trek back to Hightown, but the look on his face told her where he thought she could shove her attitude. The doors to the Gallows loomed ahead of her as she wiped her mouth against the inside of her cloak.

“Knight-Captain, apologies but I’m terribly confused. Didn’t you just tell Junior that I’m not supposed to be taken to the Gallows?”

Unmoved, his piercing gaze shifted from Carver's receding figure to her blood-stained face. His keen attention to the subtle movements of her hands was eerily similar to Carver's, evidently searching for any signs of magic as he forcibly brought her alongside him. "The Knight-Templar’s actions may have been foolish, but you're already here, witch. I cannot set you free without risking a Void-induced riot," he said, shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose before meeting her gaze once more. "You remain a mage, and thus a significant threat. No matter what escape plan you've devised, it will have to wait until this evening. In the meantime, there's sufficient time to secure your phylactery in the vaults."

Uh, nope.

“Absolutely not, Knight-Captain.” She dug her feet into the stones, but he was far stronger than she was and her motion continued forward. “My blood will remain exactly where it is, thanks.” He continued to drag her toward the great metal doors of the tower. She’d practiced this act for Carver, not a Templar with real institutional power. “Come on, Knight-Captain. You look at us like we’re all maleficarum about to strike, but the only one talking about blood magic as if it’s completely normal is you.”

He spun on her. Before she could blink his face was inches from her own. A surge of apprehension washed over her, as if she had inadvertently woken a deeply slumbering and fiercely irritable predator and was now facing the consequences.

“This is not a game,” he growled menacingly. “Blood magic is the purview of your kind alone. Phylacteries are the Maker’s way of protecting his true children from the real dangers of those who have succumbed to the allures of the Fade.”

She tried to look bolder than she felt. “And yet, your kind are the only ones I see pulling innocents out of their homes to draw their blood and use it to trap them.”

With a scoff, his shoulders shifted away from her again, as if she was a petulant child in need of instruction. “Then you have not seen enough of the world, witch.”

The last word was met with a yank, not on her elbow this time but on the center of the chains binding her wrists, pulling her closer to the doors to the Gallows. This had definitely gone too far, both in spirit and in distance into the Gallows.

“Well, this has been fun, Knight-Captain,” she said, alighting with the largest, fakest grin she could manage. She raised her voice in hopes it would echo among the pillars of the Gallows courtyard. She had intended this embarrassment for Carver, but the Knight-Captain had gotten in her way, the poor man. He didn’t seem to realize this as he turned back to pull at her chains again. “But I’ve an appointment to keep with a bunch of… what was the phrase? Oh yes, ‘my kind’. I’m afraid tonight's escape has been pushed up.”

With a great heave of her shoulders, she felt her fingers melting together into soft feathers and slipping between the shackles that remained firmly in the templar’s grip. The iron clanged as it fell against his greaves behind her, for she was sprinting toward the stairs and launching herself over the railing, taking fully into the sky as a raven. She felt Rutherford’s perfectly executed Silence, and Carver’s sloppy Purge, and (thank Sylvanus) the moment confirmed her suspicions.

She had no connection to the Fade.

And her wild shape was not magic.

And none of the Templars below could do a damn thing to stop her.

#da2 #dragon age #dragon age 2 #work in progress #dragon age fanfiction #da2 fanfiction #saoirse the druid #oc:saoirse the druid #welcome to my hyperfixation #cullen rutherford #cullen is a turd in da2 #D&D knowledge not required #we're in act 2 so at this point cullen doesn't even know what he believes

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velvet4510 · 8 months ago

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For the heck of it, here are some names (and marriages) that I’ve invented to further complete the hobbit family trees.

Bolded names are my inventions. Italicized names are Tolkien canon.

Topasia Clayhanger was the wife of Ponto Baggins II and mother of Angelica Baggins.

Lila Burrows was the wife of Adalgar Bolger and mother of Rudigar, Rudibert & Ruby Bolger.

Petunia Brownlock was the wife of Adalgrim Took (and thus Merry & Pippin’s grandmother).

Azalea, Camellia, and Mimosa Took were the first three daughters of Adalgrim & Petunia Took (and thus Merry & Pippin’s aunts).

Begonia and Magnolia Took were the two daughters of Adelard Took.

Opal North-took (descendant of the Bullroarer) and Crispard were the parents of Diamond of Long Cleeve, Pippin’s wife.

Astra and Laura Brandybuck were the two daughters of Marmadoc Brandybuck & Adaldrida Bolger.

Fiona Noakes was the wife of Wiseman Gamwich and mother of Hob Gammidge (and thus Sam’s great-great-grandmother).

Columbine Cobblestone was the wife of Hobson “Roper” Gamgee and mother of Andwise Roper, Hamfast “Gaffer” Gamgee, May Gamgee & Halfred of Overhill (and thus Sam’s paternal grandmother).

Brent Goodchild and Heather Rumble were the parents of Bell Goodchild (and thus Sam’s maternal grandparents).

Dahlia Birdwhistle was the wife of Holman Cotton and mother of Tolman & Wilcome (and thus Rosie’s grandmother).

Violet Bunce was the wife of Frodo Gardner and mother of Holfast Gardner (and thus Sam & Rosie’s daughter-in-law).

Clarisse Hornblower was the wife of Holfast Gardner and mother of Harding of the Hill.

Expansion of the Boffin family tree:

Folco Boffin, son of Vigo, was married to Mentha Brandybuck, daughter of Marmadas. They had a daughter, Thalia, and a son, Thiago.

Tosto Boffin, son of Griffo & Daisy, had a son, Parto Boffin.

Thiago was married to Aspenica Bolger, daughter of Fredegar & Angelica, and they had two children, Balto and Hanna Boffin.

Parto had a daughter, Alyssa Boffin, who was married to Elfstan Fairbairn.

Balto had a son, Busto, and a daughter, Donnamira (who married Theriadoc Brandybuck.)

Hanna was married to Paladin Took III, son of Faramir & Goldilocks.

Expansion of the Bolger family tree:

Fredegar “Fatty” Bolger was married to Angelica Baggins. They had five children: Rudecar, Aspenica, Jessaminta, Odovimar, and Miramunda Bolger.

Rudecar was married to Rose Gardner, daughter of Sam & Rosie. They had seven children: Fredimar, Adalvacar, May, Marigold, Belba, Bowegar, and Dina Bolger.

Aspenica was married to Thiago Boffin, son of Folco & Mentha.

Jessaminta was married to Pippin Gardner, son of Sam & Rosie.

Miramunda was married to Boromir Took, son of Pippin & Diamond.

Expansion of the Took family tree:

Everard, son of Adelard, was married to Melilot Brandybuck, daughter of Marmadas; there is a glimpse of their relationship in canon when they dance together at Bilbo’s party. They had a son, Gerard Took.

After Faramir, Peregrin “Pippin” Took & Diamond of Long Cleeve had seven more children: Pearl, Boromir, Beregond, twins Bergil & Opal, Emerald, and Beren Took.

Faramir and his wife Goldilocks Gardner, daughter of Sam & Rosie, had six children: Paladin III, Hildimir, twins Amethyst & Garnet, Gerontimir, and Findas Took.

Pearl was married to Elio Goodbody, brother of Nico (who married Primrose Gardner, daughter of Sam & Rosie). They had two children, Tora and Pogo Goodbody.

Boromir was married to Miramunda Bolger, daughter of Fredegar & Angelica, and they had seven children: Eglantine, Fortigrim, Angelica, Isenmir, Gundabras, Herudin, and Alfrida Took.

Beregond was married to Ruby Gardner, daughter of Sam & Rosie, and they had five children: Aragard, Sapphire, Citrine, Legolard, and Gimlard Took.

Bergil was married to Lydia Hornblower; they had three children, Gloria, India, and Adalius.

Opal was married to Aldo Grubb; they had three children, Adrio, Arno, and Abelia Grubb.

Emerald was married to Marco Burrows, son of Moro & Celandine. They had two children, Mario and Melody Burrows.

Beren never married, but was in a lifelong relationship with Tolman “Tom” Gardner, son of Sam & Rosie.

Paladin III, the 34th Thain, was married to Hanna Boffin, daughter of Thiago & Aspenica. They had a daughter, Adamanta, and a son, Peregrin II - the 35th Thain whose request led to the creation of Findegil’s copy of the Thain’s Book for preservation at the Great Smials.

Fortigrim had a daughter, Berylla, who married Harding of the Hill.

Peregrin II fathered his successor, Faramir II.

Faramir II had two children, Bandobras II (his successor) and Diamond.

Expansion of the Brandybuck family tree:

Mentha, daughter of Marmadas, was married to Moro Burrows, son of Milo & Peony. They had two children, Malva (who married Hamfast Gardner, son of Sam & Rosie) and Marco Burrows (who married Emerald Took, daughter of Pippin & Diamond).

Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck and Estella Bolger had four children: Théodoc, Estel, Éowyn, and Athela Brandybuck.

Théodoc, Master of Buckland, was married to Daisy Gardner, daughter of Sam & Rosie. They had four children: Léodoc, twins Éomas & Meric, and Lily Brandybuck.

Estel was married to Amelia Underhill of Bree. They had three children: Esmeralda, Perimac, and Thendic Brandybuck.

Éowyn was married to Robin Gardner, son of Sam & Rosie.

Athela was married to Fabian Goldworthy and they had three children: Gordon, Olivia, and Estella Goldworthy.

Léodoc, Master of Buckland, was married to June Brownlock, with whom he had a son who succeeded him, Theriadoc Brandybuck.

Theriadoc was married to Donnamira Boffin, and they had three children: Mirabella, Friadoc (who succeeded him), and Perimas Brandybuck.

Friadoc fathered his successor, Merthadoc Brandybuck.

Expansion of the Gamgee family tree:

May, the Gaffer’s sister and Sam’s aunt, was married to Teemo Brockhouse. They had a daughter, Lily Brockhouse.

Hamson, Sam’s brother, was married to Poppy Briggs. They had five children: Hob, Bell, Annie, Rob, and Columbine Gamgee.

Halfred, Sam’s brother, was married to Martha Tunnelly. They had four children: Alfred, Lilac, Brent, and Sterling Gamgee.

Daisy, Sam’s sister, was married to Topher Twofoot, son of Daddy Twofoot. They had three children: Tobold, Tulia, and Toto Twofoot.

May, Sam’s sister, was married to Jared Noakes, son of Old Noakes. They had a daughter, Judy Noakes.

Marigold, Sam’s sister, was canonically married to Tom Cotton, Rosie’s brother.

Expansion of the Cotton family tree:

Tolman Jr. aka “Young Tom” and his wife Marigold Gamgee had three children: Holman II, Halfred, and May Cotton.

Wilcome II aka “Jolly” was married to Briar Smallburrow, sister of Shirriff Robin. They had two children, Cassia and Cotman Cotton.

Bowman aka “Nick” was married to Delphine Cobblestone and they had two sons, Bowtar and Wilman Cotton.

Carl “Nibs” Cotton was married to Ivy Hayward, sister of Shirriff Hob. They had a daughter, Gardenia Cotton.

Holman Cotton II and his wife Snowdrop Tunnelly had four children: Holly, Halman, Molly, and Morcome Cotton.

Expansion of the Fairbairn family tree:

After Elfstan and Fíriel, Elanor Gardner, daughter of Sam & Rosie, and Fastred of Greenholm had four more children: Frodo, Astred, Arwen, and Rosemary Fairbairn.

Elfstan was married to Alyssa Boffin, daughter of Parto. They had three children: Samwise (the third Warden of Westmarch), Idril, and Elwen Fairbairn.

Frodo had a daughter, Nimloth Fairbairn, and a son, Lórien Fairbairn.

Astred had a son, Aragorn Fairbairn.

Expansion of the Gardner family tree:

Besides Holfast, Mayor Frodo Gardner and Violet Bunce had three more children: Heather, Wilfred, and Lavender Gardner.

Rose Gardner was married to Rudecar Bolger, son of Fredegar & Angelica.

Merry Gardner was married to Hazel Smallburrow (daughter of Shirriff Robin Smallburrow and Widow Rumble’s daughter Clover Rumble, and sister of Callum Smallburrow). They had three children: Wiseman, Lunaria, and Erling Gardner.

Pippin Gardner was married to Jessaminta Bolger, daughter of Fredegar & Angelica. They had five children: Rowan, Fiona, Roberto, Finola, and Ricardo Gardner.

Goldilocks Gardner was canonically married to Faramir Took, son of Pippin & Diamond.

Hamfast Gardner was married to Malva Burrows, daughter of Moro & Celandine. They had three children, Peony, Desmond, and Hyacinth Gardner.

Daisy Gardner was married to Théodoc Brandybuck, son of Merry & Estella.

Primrose Gardner was married to Nico Goodbody, brother of Elio (who married Pearl Took, daughter of Pippin & Diamond). They had three children: Dahlia, Iris, and Prico Goodbody.

Bilbo Gardner was married to Azalea Hayward, daughter of Shirriff Hob Hayward. They had two daughters, Amaryllis and Daffodil Gardner.

Ruby Gardner was married to Beregond Took, son of Pippin & Diamond.

Robin Gardner was married to Éowyn Brandybuck, daughter of Merry & Estella. They had four children: Rosa, Éomund, Tomas, and Bell Gardner.

Tolman “Tom” Gardner never married, but was in a lifelong relationship with Beren Took, son of Pippin & Diamond.

Besides Harding of the Hill, Mayor Holfast Gardner and Clarisse Hornblower had three more children: Lily, Violet, and Samfast Gardner.

Harding of the Hill and Berylla Took had three children: Samwise (who inherited Bag End), Marigold, and Columbine.

Samwise Gardner was the father of twins, Rose Gardner II and Frodo Gardner II; the latter inherited Bag End.

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mirkwoodshewolf · 1 year ago

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IATCOD Chap. 23; Guardian of the White city

*Author's note*

Jesus am I on a roll with this story or what? Already I think this is a far better improvement than my last LOTR fic cause I've got TOO deep into this story to just let it be abandoned. Now I was thinking whether or not to wait till I got the next chapter done before I posted this but I decided to just go ahead and post this chapter and I hope that sometime this week I'll finish up the next chapter and let you all enjoy a double update in one week (that is if I can do it but who knows).

Not much for warnings except this is mostly battle sequences, there's talk of male hierarchy (apologizes if this chapter ends up a bit too political but this is what Hela has dealt with, especially in Gondor and MOSTLY with Denethor II).

Also IMAGE BELOW IS NOT MINE!!!! CREDIT GOES TO THE CREATOR I'M JUST USING IT FOR VISUAL PURPOSES ONLY.

NEXT CHAPTER

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@psychosupernatural

@queen-paladin

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

@gay-and-ready-to-cry

@thats-s0-ravenn

_________________________________________________________

After the beacons were successfully lit, I had ran towards the armory in search of my old Gondorian armor that I had forged myself when I was Captain of the tower guard. Now knowing Denethor I would’ve thought he’d had this destroyed or thrown out so that there was no more trace of a Celestial ever being here.

But surprisingly I had found it not in the chest I had kept it in, but in a special display near the King’s of old armories and weapons. The armor shined and my sword still sharp. As I finished fastening the last bit of my armor, I saw Haldir leaning against the doorway of our room.

“You wish to come and fight at my side.” I told him.

“I know you wish to protect me but I cannot take being locked up in this kingdom another second.”

“And I wasn’t going to let you. But I have one very specific request you must follow.” I walked up to him and reached up to his face. “When you see any Nazgul, do not engage with them. You will turn and ride as hard as you can.”

“I promise.” He said after a brief period of silence.

“Thank you, now come, our steed awaits near the gates.” I held the back of Haldir’s neck and used Makkari’s speed to get us there in just a few seconds where a dark brown horse with a white patch up along its nose stood. He let out a startled neigh before he huffed and shook his head. “So sorry Anárion. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“Anárion?” questioned Haldir.

“Yes, this here was Boromir’s horse. Ever since his rider’s death, I sent a message to him to return home and await my arrival.” I reached out and touched Anárion’s nose and he let out a few huffs. “He’ll be our steed in battle. Now come, we don’t have much time.” We both got on top of Anárion and I ordered the guards to open the gate for us and soon I urged Anárion forward and with great speed, he rode us towards Osgiliath.

When we got within the city’s range, Haldir told me.

“The city’s overrun. Orc archers are up along the walls ahead of us.”

“Easy pickings.” My right wrist glowed and using Thena’s magic, I summoned a shield that stood just a few inches away from Anárion’s charging form and that was able to cover over both mine and Haldir’s heads like a roof. Orcs arrows bounced off the shield as we charged in and Haldir used his bow and arrow to fire from behind and kill the six archers that had been shooting at us.

As we rode deeper into the city, I took Aeglos off from around my chest and stuck his blade into the ground before dragging it across the graveled path. Thanks to some of Thena’s enhanced magic, his blade didn’t break as he was able to brig up some of the gravel and dust from the city floor to provide a good cover for some of the Gondorian soldiers or the Ithilien Rangers to use their weapons and strike the orcs down.

Anárion rode in a full gallop as I took back Aeglos and let out a battle cry holding him outward and impaled an orc from the back, raised its limped body in the air before it’s fly right off of Aeglos’s blade. Haldir used his bow and arrows to bring down any orc that tried to come at us.

I could sense a good number of lives being lost further into the city but the outer rim still needed aid.

“Take the reins!” I cried to Haldir.

“What?!”

“Just take the reins! Keep aiding the men along the outer perimeter of the city!” I quickly adjusted myself so that I was facing Haldir and his arms came around me to take the reins. “You elves aren’t the only ones with fancy moves.” I said smirking at him. He looked at me perplexed as I perked my brow at him and did a flip move that I learned from Cain.

I picked up my legs and I soon flipped over both Haldir and Anárion. When I had leapt, I was first curled into a ball but when I felt my legs coming towards the sky, I straightened myself out until I finally landed on my feet before some orcs that stood before me. Using Aeglos and my own strength, I took each of them down. Slicing off their limbs or twisting their necks with my bare hands.

I turned briefly to Haldir and gave him a firm nod and he gave me a nod back. He urged Anárion onward and I soon saw them both disappear into the battle. My admiration soon turned to hatred as I growled lowly and blocked an orc that had raised its mace at me and I used Aeglos’ staff to block it. I kicked the orc’s stomach to send him flying towards one of the buildings as three more tried to come at me.

Both Cain’s teachings and Thena’s powers were making my blood boil and adrenaline pumping. I crossed blades with two orcs while another one tried to come at me from the side. I pulled up a Celestial shield to block his attack then used that shield to disarm him allowing me to kick him and see his body skip like a rock on water.

I pushed back the two orcs I had crossed blades with and easily relieved them of their heads before I raced further into the city. Any orc that I came into contact with, received the full wrath of the Celestial of death and I gathered up as many men who still had a fighting chance to come aid with the town square of the city.

I leapt up along the old buildings and took down the orcs that were using the towers as high ground for their archers. I slammed one orc down onto the roof while I punched another orc right in the throat disabling him before I stuck Aeglos’ blade right through his skull.

But all too soon I heard them. Their piercing screams that felt like nails slowly scrapping across the floor. From the dark clouds I saw them riding on fellbeasts. The Nazgul had come.

I watched in horror as their fellbeasts swooped down like a dark shadow and began scooping up any Gondorian man they could find. I also could hear the men calling for a retreat and saw them all starting to ride back to Minas Tirith. My heart broke as I knew it to be true.

Osgiliath was lost.

Swallowing my fear, I took to the skies using Ikaris’ gemstone and flew off towards one of the nine who had about four guards in the claws of his fellbeast. As the demonic creature released them to fall to their deaths, I intervened and caught each of the men and carefully set them down.

“Make for Minas Tirith! GO!!” the men nodded and quickly took off running. I soon heard the screech and roar of both a Nazgul and a fellbeast heading towards me. I flew out of the way but both chased after me.

“Give up and surrender yourself Celestial of Death!” the Nazgul spoke to me.

“Over my dead body.” The fellbeast soon shot its neck forward and tried to capture me in its horrid jaws but I fired a couple of star bolts at it to deter it away from me. It let out a cry of pain as I took off flying away from it. Suddenly out of nowhere a second Nazgul came at me and nearly had me in his grasp but with some quick reflexes I was able to avoid his fell grip.

The two Nazgul soon took chase after me. So long as they targeted me and not the men, I can give them some time to reach the city. Oh I hope Haldir made good on his promise and is fleeing with the men now that the Raiths are here.

“Alright you guys, think your fellbeasts can beat the speed of the Starlights?” I then took off flying high above the clouds and the Nazgul continued to resume chase.

Their fellbeasts surrounded me and tried with both jaw and claws to catch me, but I was too fast for them. I fired more star bolts at them as well as their riders and I saw as they curled themselves inward at the power of my Starlight brother Ikaris.

Suddenly out of nowhere, the third Nazgul, and this one I did know by name. The second deadliest of the nine to ever be named, Khamûl The Easterling. His fellbeast roared in my face and I was suddenly struck with fear as these creatures (much like their masters) had a fell air about them that made anyone feel utter fear and despair. Khamûl then grabbed hold of my throat and I struggled in his grip as he hissed at me.

“They will all die. And you shall watch them.” The two Nazgul dove back down to attack the retreating Gondorian armies and Haldir while Khamûl still had me in his grasp. He pulled me up to him and my vision soon became hazy as I felt the affects of the Black breath come onto me.

I tried to resist and use my own powers to overpower the dark aura of the Black breath but Khamûl was not to be trifled with. Next to Angmar himself, he is the second most deadliest of the Nine. Both in life and in death he was a foul, foul man. However, unlike if I had been the Celestial I was back then I would’ve easily given in.

It took everything I had to muster the Starlight’s Blaze within me. Those men, Haldir, the people of Gondor. My body slowly flickered until my eyes glowed pure starlight and I said to him.

“You will not hurt any of these men! Khamûl the Damned!!!” I then felt a burst of light burst out of me and I heard Khamûl let out an agonizing scream as both he and his fellbeast recoiled from my Starlight blaze and took off flying.

As quick as the attack came, it was snuffed out and the affects of the Black breath had fully taken over me and I felt myself falling from the skies and my vision went dark.

*3rd Person POV*

While the men and Haldir made their retreat from Osgiliath and rode to Minas Tirith with all their might, they thought that thanks to the Lady Celestial they would be home free with no orcs or Nazgul chasing them. But their hope was soon snatched away as two of the Nazgul came swooping down and attacked them. Grabbing either men alone or men plus their horses before allowing them to fall from a great height to their deaths.

Haldir kept watch on the skies not seeing Hela in sight, his heart pounded fearing the worst when he noticed up ahead Gandalf and Pippin riding on Shadowfax charging head on to aid them. Suddenly from the clouds burst a powerful bright light and it aimed for the backs of the Nazgul. Haldir had seen that kind of light before and he knew exactly who it was that was making it. It was also at that moment, Haldir saw Gandalf used his own staff to aid the bright light that had shone down from the dark clouds.

With no way of flying back to Osgiliath, the Nazgul fled towards the mountains as Gandalf soon joined the men in leading them back to the city. But Haldir still caught no sight of Hela from the clouds, that was until he had seen her falling and unable to stop herself.

“HYAH!!” Haldir urged Anárion with great haste, Boromir’s steed ran with what almost felt like the speed of Makkari. But even with all his speed, Hela seemed to be getting closer and closer to the ground with no chance of slowing down. Something had to be wrong, Haldir could feel it in his gut. “HELA WAKE UP!!” he cried but that still didn’t seem to rouse her awake.

Finally Hela landed with a loud BOOM. And Haldir was just barely a few short feet from reaching her. Anárion reared and neighed fearfully at not only the sound but seeing that Hela had not moved ever since her fall. Haldir quickly got off his saddle and raced towards Hela.

“Hela! Hela!” Haldir knelt down beside her and pressed his head over her heart and could hear it beating. He breathed a sigh of relief but it was gone for a moment when he could see no physical injury but her face had looked even paler than it normally was.

Very carefully, he picked her up in his arms and placed her on top of the saddle before mounting just behind her. He allowed Hela to lean against his chest and he urged Anárion onward back towards the city.

Back in the city, Gandalf and the soldiers of Gondor and the Ithilien Rangers immediately began to pile the city gates after just barely escaping with their lives after a long night’s battle.

“Mithrandir!” Gandalf turned around and saw Faramir riding his horse towards them. “They broke through our defenses. They’ve taken the bridge and the west bank. Battalions of Orcs are crossing the river.”

“It is as the Lord Denethor predicted. Long has he foreseen this doom.” Spoke one of the soldiers as he unmounted his horse.

“Foreseen and done nothing!” snapped Gandalf. When Gandalf had urged Shadowfax to fully turn around, Faramir caught sight of Pippin riding in front of his mentor and friend and was taken back at the sight of yet another halfling in his sight. “Faramir?”

Pippin taking notice of Faramir’s intense gaze upon him, slightly turned his head away almost trying to make himself invisible when Gandalf realized why Faramir was looking at him the way he was.

“This is not the first halfling to have crossed your path.” Faramir shook his head and replied with a verbal no. At that statement, Pippin’s eyes grew wide as he stared up at Faramir and asked him.

“You’ve seen Frodo and Sam?” Faramir nodded.

“Where? When?” asked Gandalf urgently.

“In Ithilien. Not two days ago.” Pippin looked up at Gandalf in pure joy while Gandalf’s heart raced in relief. Oh such a blessed news to know that the two hobbits were still alive and had not been gone from this city in barely three days. But Gandalf’s relief was hindered as Faramir told him, “Gandalf, they’re taking the road to the Morgul Vale.”

“And then the pass of Cirith Ungol.” Gandalf finished, his eyes widened in fear. Faramir nodded again.

“What does that mean? What’s wrong?” asked Pippin. But Gandalf didn’t hear the young hobbit’s question as he urgently demanded to Faramir.

“Faramir, tell me everything. Tell me all you know.” But before Faramir could say a word, another voice broke through the crowd.

“Help! Help! Mithrandir help! It’s Hela!” the three of them turned and soon riding up was Haldir with Hela. The three of them turned to Haldir and their eyes widened in shock (mostly Pippin’s and Gandalf’s). “She has yet to awaken. And she fell straight down to the earth like a fallen star. Physically I cannot see any injuries but I’m still worried.” Haldir explained.

“Set her down.” Gandalf told Haldir. Haldir got off of Anárion and carefully took Hela into his arms and set her down on the floor. Gandalf and Pippin got off of Shadowfax and Pippin quickly went up to Hela and touched her face.

“She feels cold. Gandalf what’s happened to her?”

“The Nazgul.” Faramir answered. Pippin looked up at him. “I’ve seen this happen many times since they’ve arrived to haunt this very city. Some have claimed that this is a technique they use to petrify their victims.”

“Yes. It is a technique known as the Black breath.”

“Is she going to die?” asked Pippin fearfully. Haldir turned to the halfling offended he’d even suggest such a thing.

“To some they have.” Answered Faramir.

“But to Hela it surely won’t. But she has taken a great amount to render her unconscious.” Gandalf gently pushed Pippin aside and pressed his hand to Hela’s forehead and began to softly chant a healing spell to awaken her.

As the men began to take notice of a woman wearing Gondorian armor on the ground, they started to crowd but Faramir ordered them to give her some air and let Gandalf do his job. Suddenly Hela let out a gasp as her chest began heaving.

“Steady Hela, steady my dear girl.”

*My POV*

One moment I was in nothing but complete darkness and the next I suddenly felt myself shooting upwards awake and I tried to fight whoever was in front of me but when I caught sight of both Gandalf and Haldir, and Gandalf’s voice slowly becoming clearer from my fuzzy hearing.

“Hela, steady my dear girl.”

“Gandalf?”

“Yes, I’m here. And you’re lucky to be here too. If you weren’t who you are and had had that much Black breath affected you, you’d be beyond any help.” I then turned to Haldir and was relieved to see him alive and in one peace. I embraced him to which I felt him tense up slightly but he instantly wrapped his arms around me.

“I was so worried they’d—”

“You and Mithrandir saved all of us. How are you though? You were the one who fell from the sky at great speed and fell straight into the earth.”

“Did I? I—don’t recall that.” Haldir looked at me to see if I was jesting but one look in my eye and he knew I wasn’t. Truly I don’t remember anything after I had unleashed the Starlight’s blaze on Khamûl. Suddenly I felt another body collide into mine and I looked down to see that it was Pippin.

“Oh Pip.” I said lovingly as I embraced him.

“You were as cold as death, no pun intended with you being the—but I had feared you were…..”

“Shhhh. It’s alright Pip. I’ll be okay. Takes more than some Nazgul to break me.”

“As I live and breathe, Gandalf spoke the truth.” Pippin and I looked up and at first I thought I was seeing double. The man before almost resembled Boromir to a T but he was younger, had a slight lighter shade of hair color and wore the uniform of the Ithilien Rangers. He looked at me in pure awe.

“Hela, this is Faramir. He said he had seen Frodo and Sam.” My heart leaped in rejoice as I stood up with Haldir’s help and asked him.

“You have? Where? When?”

“As I told Gandalf and your halfling friend just moments ago. Not two days ago in Ithilien. But they have taken the road to the Morgul Vale.”

“What?!” I asked fearfully. “But that leads to—”

“Cirith Ungol. Yes. Faramir was about to tell us everything he knew before your ranger friend came to us with you unconscious.” Gandalf told me. Knowing to keep Haldir’s true identity a secret I turned back to Faramir and asked him.

“Yes. Please tell us all you know of what happened when you came across our friends.” Faramir nodded then ordered any and all guards to take the wounded to be healed not in the House of Healing, but in the secondary medical Halls. I found it strange Faramir would not have his men go to the main healing house but that would have to be a question for another time.

Faramir soon guided us away back towards the royal stables to put Shadowfax, Anárion and Faramir’s horse away. All the while, Faramir explained to us everything that had happened when he came across Frodo and Sam. To me, it comes as no surprise that Gollum finally tracked down his ‘precious’ and by taking them to Cirith Ungol, I knew he was leading them there just to reclaim his precious back.

For a creature has made that her nest for centuries and only one time did I encounter her and that was when Druig, Makkari and I first went into Mordor when we were younglings. I’ll never forget the first time we saw her, we barely escaped with our lives and Druig still had the scar of her bite to this day on his chest. All to save me.

As our horses were now untacked and could now rest in the comfort of the stable, a messenger soon came forth and he said.

“Lord Faramir, your father requests to see you and the Lady Celestial right away.”

“Tell my father we will be there shortly.” Faramir told the messenger.

“He’s insisting now. Especially you my lady Celestial.” Oh no, this could only mean one thing.

“Tell him we’re on our way. But tell him that he may unleash his wrath upon me first before he even speaks a word to his son.”

“Hela,” Pippin started.

“Pip, you keep practicing your initiation. I’ll even have Gandalf or Rahl quiz you.” I looked down at him, giving him a firm look to not say another word on the manner. “Come Faramir, let us see what your father wishes to speak to us about.” As I took a step, I felt myself suddenly grow faint as I suddenly staggered forward like a newborn foul but both Haldir and Faramir caught my arms.

“Perhaps I should accompany you Hela.” Haldir tried to offer but I told him.

“Lord Denethor has required only our presence. I dare not allow you to be taken under his wrath and scrutiny. Please return to our room Rahl and take some rest.” I looked at him with soft pleading eyes and as stubborn as this elf is, he abide my request.

“As you wish.” I mouthed a thank you to him as Faramir took off and helped guide me to the throne room.

“You sure you do not wish to seek a healer my lady? The Black breath of the Nazgul is no wound to tread lightly.”

“I appreciate your concern young lord. Unlike most of your men who have in some cases been petrified to death, the Black breath has never gone that far with me. I may have some fainting spells now and then and quite possible some nightmares at night but that is all the damage they can do to me with their accursed breath.”

“If you are sure, but if you do need any assistance, I will do what I can to help aid you.” I gave him a loving thank you as he continued to guide me to the throne room.

When I felt like I was able to walk on my own, Faramir reluctantly allowed me to take a few steps until he could see for himself that I was now fine. And it was at that moment we had arrived at the doors of the throne room. We entered inside and I held Faramir back so that I could go first.

He looked at me with the same reluctance but I assured him with a firm nod as I held my head up high and slowly walked towards Denethor who glared down at me from his throne with Perses and Deimos at his side.

As I stopped before his throne, I put my hands behind my back and stood at attention while Denethor stood up from his throne, a menacing look in his eye. He came down from the throne, stood face to face with me before winding his hand back and gave me a hard backhand across the face. His ring giving me a small cut as my breathing harshened and I soon turned back to him.

“Ever you have wanted to prove your worth more to the World of Men. Celestials prancing about thinking they were superior to us. Claiming to teach us, when all you do is look down upon us like we’re scum. Like we can’t fight our own battles! Treating us no better than children. Or an undisciplined pet.”

“I did what I judged to be right Denethor.”

“What you judged to be right!?” he sneered lowly.

“The Celestial has ruined the plans I had given the men at Osgiliath. Now because of her, the city is lost!” Deimos proclaimed.

“Those men all through the night were greatly outnumbered and outmatched. There was no victory to which there would be any survivors had I not intervened.” I said trying to keep my cool. “Denethor, your men were lead into a massacre. How is there victory in a fight such as that?”

“Osgiliath was our only line of defense, now it is lost because of you.” Denethor hissed in my face, his hot breath dancing across my skin as he shook with rage. He turned to go back to his throne as Deimos said.

“If I may have permission my lord, I could teach this Celestial what happens when a soldier goes out of line.” I saw the gleam of a silver blade shine at his hip as his red eyes grew crazed as he stared down at me with a lustful desire for blood.

“Deimos. Out of the two of you the Lady Hela could easily take you down with just the flick of her wrist.” Perses spoke up. Deimos growled as he turned his attention to Perses.

“And what of you old man? I seem to recall you screaming for mercy as I had you weaponless.”

“What must be taken to order is a punishment that fits the crime. Exile would do no good nor would death even stop the Celestial of Death. Imprisonment is useless for there’s no cell strong enough to keep her.” Perses said.

“Perhaps there is a punishment best fitted for someone of your—stature.” Denethor said with a malicious grin. “Perses, take her to the East wing and have her fitted for her new duties.” Perses bowed his head then he came down before me and gestured for me to follow him.

Of course Denethor would put me in this position believing it would humiliate me. Having served as councilor to the King of Gondor, then fought alongside the armies as one of the tower guards, eventually moving up the ranks as Captain. Some had even called me the Guardian of the White city, but now at Denethor’s command, I have been sentenced to the ranks of scullery maid.

Now wearing mere peasant rags and given a bucket and rag just to clean the very floors of this entire palace. I dipped my rag into the bucket of water and then proceeded to scrub the floors as hard as I could in order to give it that ‘mirror-like quality’ as per Lord Denethor’s orders.

I wiped the sweat from my brow having already been at this for hours and I let out a deep, heavy sigh.

“This is my thanks to the city?” I scoffed shaking my head. “To now be no better than a servant and for what? Saving the lives of his own soldiers.”

“It was well noble of you my lady.” I looked up to see Faramir standing at the end of the hall before coming over to me. “We would have lost double the amount of men had you not come to aid us.” I dropped my rag and wiped my hands against the apron of my raggedy gown and went to curtsy to him. “Please, none of that my lady Celestial.” I stood naturally as he stood just a few inches from me. “My apologies on his behalf. If it were up to me, you’d be rewarded for your valiant deed, not submitted to such a degree of hard labor.”

“Well your father’s not the first Man to try and degrade me for being a female warrior. And he won’t be the last I’m afraid.”

“I hope as payment, you should at least deserve this back.” He soon handed me my Gondorian armor that I was forced to surrender before being given these rags. I smiled and took it from his arms and said as I stroked the White tree engraved on the chest plate.

“Truthfully I would’ve thought your father would’ve had this either destroyed or thrown out. I was surprised to see it in such a display and in good condition too.”

“That’s because a young man of the city took great honor in caring for it. A very foolish one. Who wasted many hours slaying dragons instead of attending to his studies.”

“You did that?” I said astounded.

“Yes. When Gandalf told me the stories of the Celestial of Death serving and protecting our city, I knew such an armor had to be taken great care of till she returned.” He then bowed his head to me in respect.

“And I thank you Faramir. If only you had been there when I first made this armor. Most of the men couldn’t believe their eyes, said they’d roll in their graves at the day a woman would be Captain of the Tower guard. And boy did they.” The two of us softly laughed before he told me.

“People doubted me too. Boromir was always the soldier.” His tone grew solemn as he continued, “They were so alike he and my father. Proud, stubborn even, but strong.” I set my armor down to the floor and placed my hand to his shoulder. The two of us stared into each other’s eyes and I told him.

“Both you and your brother share the same fighting spirit. But I also see in your eyes strength of a different kind. And I know your brother saw it. He spoke so highly of you during our time together.” Faramir’s eyes held a sense of sorrow for the loss of his big brother.

“How did it truly happen?” he asked me. “I had heard one side from your other hobbit friends that passed through here. Was it truly because of the Ring he died?”

“The Ring tempted your brother and took him yes, but it was not because of the Ring he died. He kept his honor as Captain of the Guard, a true noble warrior and Man of Gondor by aiding me, Pippin and another hobbit friend of ours from an army of Uruk-hai. Saving my life from an Uruk’s blade with two arrows already in his body. It wasn’t until the third arrow that he was unable to fight anymore. Your brother died a hero’s death.” I watched as Faramir swallowed hardly as he took in the true story of his brother’s death.

“Now I know at least he did not die with darkness in his heart. And that he died the way he would’ve wanted to go. Fighting to his last breath.” I smiled solemnly at him and gave him a soft nod before embracing him.

Almost immediately Faramir embraced me back and I could feel the wetness from his tears as they slowly slid down and landed onto my shirt. Neither of us spoke a word until I knew his moment of grieving had passed.

After it passed, he offered me a spot to witness Pippin being sworn in as the new guard of the Citadel. I looked down at the floor and said to him.

“I think your father would greatly see my head on a platter if I were to disobey his orders.”

“You were charged to follow the orders of the Steward and his sons, were you not? By order of Perses.” The way he spoke his name held some sort of venom to it. So not even Faramir trusts him.

“Aye, that was his command.”

“Then as the youngest son of the current Steward, I order you to stand at my side and watch your friend be sworn in. I have a feeling he’ll need you there for him.” Since it was to be announced that Pippin was going to be sworn in at this very hour, Pippin had been sitting in a shroud of anxiety and insecurity. He had begged me to write down the oath for him because he had already forgotten what he was supposed to say (of course I obeyed his wish).

“I take it you have met him.”

“Yes. A noble heart your friend has. Even said the same thing you had told me about my strength, as well as my father hoping to see that one day.” I could already see it in his eyes. Heck even Boromir has told me during our time at Rivendell of how much his father verbally discriminated Faramir for his own victories in favor of his (Boromir’s) own.

Truthfully I hope Pippin’s right. In my experience with Denethor, they weren’t always in positive light for he held a deep-rooted jealousy and hatred for both Aragorn and myself respectfully during our time here.

“First let me return this armor to my room as well as check on my friend who helped me to aid you.” He nodded and picked my armor back up before handing it to me and I walked off back towards my room where Haldir was mending the wound on his arm. “You got hurt?” I said racing over to him as I dropped my armor. He took my hands into his as he assured me.

“Thankfully it was just a graze unlike the wound I had received at Helm’s Deep.” Haldir looked me up and down and he said with venom in his tone. “He didn’t.”

“Afraid so. Been demoted all the way down to scullery maid. Thankfully Faramir is allowing me to see Pippin be sworn in. After all I am to serve not only the Steward but his sons as well, as per Perses’ orders.”

“A loop-hole. Does Denethor know of that slipped detail?”

“One way to find out. You sure you’ll be okay up here on your own for a while?”

“I’ve had my fixture of battle and air for the day. Go and support your friend.” I nodded.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise.”

“I know you will, don’t fret over me.”

“Old habits.” I softly smiled at him and he gave me an encouraging nod to go on my way. I shut the door and sighed deeply before racing off towards the throne room to meet with Faramir so that we could enter together.

“If my father should question why you left your post, I’ll take the blame.”

“No Faramir, I cannot let—”

“I won’t allow you to be scorned by my father anymore throughout your time here Lady Hela.”

“You are willing to take the rod for me even though we barely know each other?” he nodded. “And there is no chance I am going to convince you otherwise, is there?”

“If you wish to debate we can, but I get the feeling you’d rather be there for your friend rather than trade words with the Captain of the guard.” He’s clever I’ll give him that. Druig was the same way when it came trying to out-best any one of us in a debate, especially with Ikaris (boy he loved to toy with him a lot. Same with Hermes).

“You’re very kind Faramir.”

“Only doing what is right my lady.”

“Promise to call me Hela and no longer add any formalities and I’ll willingly keep my mouth shut around your father.” He softly chuckled before we both entered the throne room together side by side.

There we saw Pippin standing just a few feet away from the foot of the Steward’s black throne, some additional court members scattered throughout the room, Perses (as always) at Denethor’s side.

“I thought I had sent you away to have the corridor floors cleaned?” Denethor snapped at me.

“My Lord I ordered her to be my personal handmaid for the time being. As is command, she is to also obey my orders as well.” Denethor sneered then Perses spoke out.

“Yes, so it was as command. But the young woman must refrain from speaking until the initiation has been complete.” I bowed my head in acceptance to Perses (even though I loathed to do it) then he turned his attention back down to Pippin. “Peregrin Took, son of Paladin Took. You stand before the council and the Lordship of Gondor to pledge your loyalty to this city. Please recite the oath of the tower guard.”

Pippin knelt down with his left knee forward and he soon recited the oath that I had taught him.

“Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor. In peace or war, in living or dying. F….from…..” C’mon Pip, you know this. I could hear him faintly muttering the oath under his breath as he continued, “from this hour henceforth until my Lord release me—or death take me.”

“And I shall not forget it.” Denethor said. He stood up from his throne and stood before Pippin as he held out his ringed finger for Pippin to kiss as he continued, “nor fail to reward that which is given.” Internally I scoffed at Denethor’s demeanor towards Pippin. I saw as Pippin finally sealed his fate by kissing Denethor’s ring before the Steward cupped his chin to force him to look up at him as he continued, “Fealty with love, valor with honor. Disloyalty with vengeance.”

Denethor walked over towards a large table where various foods had been spread out and I saw his eyes come towards Faramir and I as he said the ‘disloyalty with vengeance’ phrase. Pippin rose up and turned towards me and I gave him a soft but proud nod. Denethor snapped his fingers and like a dog I was forced to come over to him.

“Prepare for me the best arrangement of food.”

“Yes my lord.” I spoke lowly as I began reaching out for various food items for him to consume, he then spoke to his son.

“I do not think we should lightly abandon the outer defenses, defenses that your brother long held intact.”

“What would you have me do?” asked Faramir and immediately his father responded.

“I will not yield the river in Pelennor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken.” Is he crazy? Those men were lucky to get out of there alive just barely this morning and now he’s going to send them back there?!

“My lord Osgiliath is overrun.” Faramir tried to reason with his father but it fell on deaf ears.

“Much must be risked in war.” Why is it when he said that, it sounded like Deimos was talking to him now? “Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord’s will?” yes me! If you want Osgiliath back, send me! No need to waste anymore lives that had already been lost to you.

Then after a long period of silence, Faramir would say something that would break my heart for the rest of my days.

“You wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived.” As Denethor picked up a chalice of wine he spoke in a dazed whisper but it held so much truth behind it.

“Yes. I wish that.” My heart broke for Faramir. All he ever wanted was his father’s approval and love and now to be told this just before you send him off on a suicide mission?! I turned to Faramir and could already see the tears forming in his eyes but he kept a strong face as he said to his Lord.

“Since you were robbed of Boromir…I will do what I can in his stead.” He bowed his head to Denethor and proceeded out of the throne room. Pippin and I watched in shock and heartbreak at Faramir’s decision to die for a father that openly admitted to wish that he were dead and his eldest son were still alive. “If I should return, think better of me father.” Faramir said brokenly before walking off again, hoping for one last stretch of love from his father.

But all Denethor said was this in a sneer.

“That will depend on the manner of your return.” Once Faramir was gone, I slammed his tray down, scattering the food and even denting the table itself.

“HE IS YOUR SON!!” I shouted. “Your only living son no less! How can you treat him this way!?”

“Faramir knows his worth to this city and his family’s name.”

“So you will send him and those men to die for your honor! Have them all die in your name whilst you sit on your arse and engorge yourself in food and wine!”

“They will die doing what’s right for Gondor.” Denethor rose up from his seat as he and I stood almost chest to chest staring each other down.

“Boromir would be ashamed to be your son if he heard what you have told his little brother! He was more of a father than you’ll ever be!”

“And your Celestial kin would be greatly disappointed for you not willing to free them. With all your power and nearly an Age since you became the Last Celestial of Middle Earth. What do you think they would tell you?” I clenched my fists tightly as they shook with rage and I glared at him.

But right now I couldn’t bear to sit behind and watch as Faramir and those brave men throw their lives away.

“Your father and your father’s father roll in their graves. You, Denethor II are an insect amongst men who governed before you.” I knew that would get to him. His own body shook with rage as I summoned my Celestial armor back over the rags I was forced to wear before retreating to find Faramir but also to contact an old friend for additional help.

*3rd Person POV*

There was silence in the city as the people gathered to watch their soldiers march back to Osgiliath in full Gondorian armor. But there was no hope in their eyes, nor cheers of praise or good luck, for they all knew that these soldiers would not be coming back alive.

Some began to throw down flowers along the graveled pathway as their horses slowly walked down the city towards the gates. Some of the soldiers took the flowers from people’s hands as their last gift they would be given. Suddenly a voice broke through the crowd.

“Faramir! Faramir!” Faramir, who was leading his men up front, turned to see Gandalf walking through the crowd until he came up and walked beside his horse. “Your father’s will has turned to madness! Do not throw away your life so rashly.”

“Where does my allegiance lie if not here? This is the city of the Men of Númenor. I will gladly give my life to defend her beauty, her memory, her wisdom.” As Faramir spoke, Gandalf could already tell that Faramir had lost all hope in ever obtaining what he longed for most.

The love and approval of his father. And without it, there was just no sense in trying anymore. So he’ll do the one thing he can do, die trying.

“Your father loves you, Faramir.” Gandalf assured him as Faramir rode on. “He will remember it before the end.” Suddenly riding pass through the crowds riding on Boromir’s horse was Hela, with her cloak on and the hood covering her head. She rode forward and came before Faramir to stop him in his tracks. Faramir’s horse nickered alarmed but stopped which caused the army to stop.

“Hela, this is not your fight. By order of the Steward’s son, I ask you to step aside.”

“You think you could really order me around, little brother?” she removed the hood to reveal her eyes glowing of pure white light. Faramir’s soulless eyes began to sparkle with a brief sense of light.

“Boromir.” Hela’s voice then spoke with both her voice as well as Boromir’s mixed together.

“Hela told me what father has said to you. Please little brother, I know we have been through much together in our lives and you have followed me everywhere but I ask you to cease now. Do not follow me into death.”

“If not me then who will?” asked Faramir brokenly. “Your reclaim over Osgiliath has fallen because of me. To not fight for your honor would shame me.”

“Forget your honor then!” Boromir’s voice rose. “I made my choice when I had fallen down my path. You—you have always been smarter than my little brother. For once in your life do not be stupid as I have been!”

“I am sorry brother. But I must do what I can do defend this city.” Faramir then guided his horse around Hela and Boromir’s horse and the men did as their commander did as they finally came to the gates.

“Faramir.” Boromir whimpered as Hela’s eyes returned to normal and she quickly rode back to the palace, her face buried into Boromir’s horse’s mane.

Once the armies of Gondor were out of the city, they formed two long lines and rode onward to the fallen city they had barely escaped from earlier that same day. The banners of the white tree waving proudly in the breeze as they rode onward.

Soon the orcs began to emerge from the ruins of the city to see what their next move was. Even they knew that these men were riding towards their deaths.

Back inside the throne room, Denethor was eating his meal with Pippin at his side, there was no one else but the two of them and they stood there in silence until Denethor asked Pippin.

“Can you sing master hobbit?” Pippin turned to the Steward and said.

“Well….yes. At least, well enough for my own people. But we have no songs for great halls and—evil times.”

“And why should your songs be unfit for my halls?” Denethor said. His chin stained with juices from the grapes he had just eaten. “Come sing me a song.” He then demanded as he kept eating his feast. Pippin slowly turned his gaze away from the selfish, gluttonous Steward and sung a song that was held in his heart.

Whilst out there on the fields of Pelennor, Faramir lead his army in full charge knowing full well that none of them, not even him would make it out alive. The orcs of Osgiliath all gathered around the edge of the city and their archers readied their arrows to fire at the oncoming Calvary.

*Pippin*

Home is behind the world ahead

And there are many paths to tread

Through shadow to the edge of night

Until the stars are all alight.

Mist and shadow

Cloud and shade

All shall fade

All shall….

Fade

Arrows whistled and the sound of the thunderous hooves were quickly silenced from the fields.

As Pippin finished his song, he turned to Denethor to see if there was even a hint of any remorse or grief at knowing what he had done. But Denethor kept that blank stare as he kept stuffing his face with food. Pippin lowered his head in anguish as he had never felt this level of heart break in his life.

Meanwhile, up in Hela and Haldir’s room; the two were both on the floor up against the bed as Hela wept into Haldir’s lap. Tears streamed down her face as she could hear every last one of those soldier’s heartbeats stop and felt their souls leave to the great beyond. Clenching her heart in pain as she tried to suppress the pain but it was all too great for her.

Haldir, could only hold his Celestial in his arms. Hoping that just being there for her would ease her pain, but he knew deep down there wasn’t anything else he could do for her. This was a burden that she had to deal with thousands of times, and thousands of times she’ll have to bear it then.

Suddenly she stood up and like a risen corpse, she soullessly walked out of the room to head for the tombs of the Kinds and Stewards of Gondor to seek peace and council with the dead.

*Haldir’s POV*

No matter how hard she tries, no matter how strong she becomes, there will always come pain whenever a soul passes away from Middle Earth, for Hela will always feel it. And for a ‘Lord of the city’ to send those soldiers to be massacred and not care what happens to them? This is what confuses me about mortal Men.

Why must their pride and stubbornness govern their correct judgement in battle and war? Now all those lives, including his only remaining son are now dead. Who now will defend this city if not Hela? Mithrandir? Or even Denethor himself?

I retook Hela’s cloak and put it back around me and headed out. I will allow Hela to have some alone time, right now there was a cause of action that needed to be taken. What Hela and I did when we first came here, find out just who the three council members of Denethor are.

As I walked back towards the underground library, I passed by a room where Perses’ voice spoke up.

“So how many does this make now Nergal?” huh? I quickly raced back and pressed my back against the wall right where the door was cracked open.

“This makes 998 souls in total.” Answered Nergal.

“Grah! Why are we wasting our time with this? We should make our move now!” I heard an unfamiliar voice speak. Could this be the third one that neither Hela nor I have come across yet?

“What you severely lack is patience Deimos. If we leave in a hurry, Hela and the wizard will think that we’re up to no good.” Answered Perses.

“We have been wasting over 40 years here! If we are to attack, the time is now before the riders of Rohan come!” The voice, Deimos replied harshly.

“The bond between Gondor and Rohan is severely damaged. Thanks to us, Gondor was unable to aid Rohan in their time of need at Helm’s Deep. Theoden wouldn’t dare answer the call to a kingdom who didn’t come to help him.” I heard Nergal say. “One thing I know is the poison that severs old alliances, mortal pride. And Denethor clearly showed that the loss of his son was greater than that of Rohan’s safety, much less his own city’s.”

Mortal pride? The way Nergal spoke about mortality sounded similar to the way my kin spoke of the world of Men. Their mortality, their pride, stubbornness, their brief lives.

“Plus we must continue to be cautious. Hela has been poking around trying to figure out just who we are. After all she has been Gondor’s aiding Celestial since the days of Elendil.”

“With the massacre I convinced Denethor to agree on, she’ll be out of commission for a while.” I heard what almost sounded like a lustful moan from behind the door from Deimos “I can still taste the blood in the air.” Deimos said.

“Enough of your demonic pleasures Deimos. We must proceed on with phase 2 of our plan whilst the orcs move into the city. And this time, the Lady Hela will play a big part in our plan.” Perses told him.

“And just how will you convince her? As we have already said, she’s suspicious of us and will not come willingly.” Nergal said.

“Which is why we won’t go for her directly. Deimos, answer this riddle for me; A Mighty warrior goes to war. Unlike those who are of brute strength, this warrior is cunning. He makes more armies surrender than any other soldier before him. How does he do it?” I thought of the riddle in my head but never before have I heard this one.

“The heart. He goes for their heart.” Oh no! Mithrandir and the halfling! I must warn them. I raced out of the corridor and searched for them throughout the palace but I couldn’t find either of them anywhere! As I came around another corridor I noticed two guards up ahead and saw as they turned to me.

I moved Hela’s hood to cover more of my face and slowly turned back but saw three more guards coming towards me blocking my way out. With no other choice, I walked a ways out and told the guards in front of me.

“Is there a problem gentlemen?”

“You are the Ranger that accompanied the Lady Celestial to Gondor, are you not?” one of the guards in front of me said.

“If I am? There’s no law against Rangers from entering the city is there?”

“There is if he doesn’t show his face. A man who hides under his cloak like a shadow is a coward, if not an enemy spy.” One of the bigger guards that stood behind me said.

“I assure you I am no spy to the enemy. If anything the spies you seek are within your own council.” I told them. I evaluated just how many of them surrounded me, their weapons on hand, as well as how they would try to overwhelm me by trying to come at me all at once (as per the usual move men usually do when facing an enemy).

“You’re coming with us, outsider.” Said the tallest guard out of all of them.

“And if I refuse?” I questioned as I slowly reached for my dagger.

“Then we take you by force.” He replied as they all surrounded me from every side, closing any chance of a quick escape. I eyed all five of them before they all came at me.

I swiftly took out my dagger and ducked as I sliced at one of their legs, right behind their calves where there was no protection before coming back up and managed to block another guard’s dagger with mine. Our blades crossed before I threw him back and that’s when I felt a rope come around my neck pulling me back against an armored chest.

I struggled and tried to free myself but my vision was quickly going black. In one final attempt, I headbutted the guard who had me by the throat which caused him to drop the rope and release me. Quickly taking a deep gasp of air I grabbed my dagger and tried to throw it at the man who had nearly choked me to death, but something felt off.

My arm was frozen in place. Suddenly my hand twisted oddly and I was forced to drop my dagger. As I gripped onto my wrist trying to stop it from bending back any further, my arm suddenly shot to the left then to the right before I felt myself crumbling down towards the ground.

This sensation was unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It was like my own body was beyond my control.

‘You really thought we’d go for the wizard or the Halfling?’ a voice said in my head.

“Deimos.” I whispered painfully.

‘There’s no one closer to Hela than you, Haldir of Lórien.’ How did he know my true name? I soon felt my hands being forced to grab Hela’s hood and no matter how hard I tried to fight, his will was stronger than mine as I revealed my true identity to the guards.

“Bind him!” Deimos’s voice soon echoed through the room and the guards soon came at me with ropes and shackles. “Wait!” the guards soon stopped. “Gag him as well.” Deimos spoke in amusement. Soon my mouth was forced open by their grubby hands as a rag was forced around my mouth and I was dragged out of the palace like a dog. ‘Now what say we take a little rest for a while?’

Suddenly my senses were hazy as my will to fight, or even move vanished and I felt myself go limp against the guards.

*3rd Person POV*

What was unaware to anyone, including Deimos, was that a small creature had witnessed the whole thing from just behind one of the columns. That small creature was none other than Pippin.

“Oh no, Mr. Haldir. I’ve got to find Hela!” he quickly ran off to find Hela and tell her what had happened to Haldir.

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mizumiii · 1 year ago

Text

A perfect plan - III

Part II - Table of contents

Balthazar x Fem!Tav

Good evening, here is the last part. There's 🌶️🌶️🌶️ in the middle but I was too lazy to break this part in two.

Tav's motivation increased as she found in Bal an unexpected partner, her days were spent looking forward to seeing him again and sharing his embrace in the intimacy of her bedroom. She never progressed as efficiently as now, even the shadows could not stop her. It was a bit strange because her situation had not changed, but to be able to forget it for a couple of hours was doing wonders on her mind.

This evening Bal was waiting for Tav in the Last Light Inn. It was the first time she was not here before him since he would use his corpses to spy on her and know when she was back. They had informed him she was on her way, but the day had already ended for a couple of hours without her making an appearance. Because of this, he had to play his merchant act with others, which irritated him strongly. Those lovers of nature were so stupid it was nerve-wracking! There was no point in him wasting his precious time here if he could not play with his little toy. She was the only thing of interest around here, and he could not wait for the day he would break her meticulously apart. It was now just a matter of days, weeks at most, so it made it even more infuriating not to be able to test and bend her more.

He finally left the place, annoyed to have wasted his precious time.

“You should have seen her when I smashed her with my halberd!” A giant tiefling boasted in a loud and proud voice just in front of him and the tavern.

“Sorry but I was a bit busy healing your ass without dying myself”, grumbled a half-elf.

“You both did a great job”, a big, muscular wood elf patted their heads.

“I will never look at coins the same way now”, jocked another tiefling.

“Haha true”, laughed the first one before stopping in front of Bal. “Ooh, good evening little man.”

She then turned towards Tav with a very implicit smirk as the paladin ignored her by walking past her to reach the merchant.

“Good evening Bal”, she saluted him too.

He frowned, Karlach’s little spike could not mean less to him, but Tav’s aspect was unexpectedly fueling his annoyance: her armour had holes all over, some particularly alarming on her chest, but even if her skin was as clean as the day she was born, her red was paler than usual.

“We ran out of potion, and mana”, she shrugged as she noticed his glare, “at least we got more than enough gold to buy far better armour.”

“It seemed I took you for more clever than you truly are”, he snorted unhappily, “your boldness in front of danger only spells stupidity.”

A heavy silence fell on the five people reunited in front of the inn.

“We’ll go first”, Halsin suddenly declared after exchanging glances with Karlach and Shadowheart. “We’ll see you tomorrow”.

And without waiting for an answer, they rushed to the camp, leaving Tav and Bal finally alone. The merchant still felt angry, it was as if all his efforts of the previous months had been for nothing as the woman he had thought being a threat could in fact be easily beaten thanks to her immaturity in front of danger. He opened his mouth to voice his mind but was interrupted by Tav suddenly slamming her hand on the door behind him. She had cornered him against him, using her body to block him.

“What do you think you are doing?” He scoffed to hide the sudden jolt that had struck him.

How could that toy pull such a reaction out of him when he should just have discarded it without hesitation?

“Bal…”, she leaned to his left ear, leaving her voice to sink deeper in his head, “the only thing that is keeping me together right now is to know that I can find you here when I come back. So if you really think those words just leave…”, her voice was soft like honey but her intonation left some daggers to be felt.

Then, Tav left her head resting on his shoulder, her nose tickling his neck. Her last words were craving new marks on his skin, invisible ones. She needed him ? That was marvellous, exactly what he needed, no, what he wanted. His toy was at his mercy… He grabbed her hair to pull her head back before kissing her. As if it was the signal she was waiting for, Tav’s hunger awakened. He fought for control over her mouth, imposing his tongue through her lips, preventing her from parting apart with his hand. He kept going at it until he heard her moan slightly. His awareness was jolted awake, no matter how much he wanted to hear her sing right now, there was no way he would share it with anyone else. So he finally let go of her, she looked at him with a smile, her lips shining with his saliva. She took his hand, as she used to and led him to her bedroom.

There, they got rid of his clothes first, before dealing with her armour. It was so damaged that they had to cut or force open some parts. Piece by piece, Bal witnessed all the bruises the healing had not dealt with, leaving Tav’s body like a strange canvas.

“Such unnecessary heroism”, the merchant commented with a grimace.

“I needed to come back here quickly,” she playfully justified.

She squeezed her body against his, before kissing him with enthusiasm. Bal decided to press on all her dark spots with a hand while the other one was forcing her to keep kissing him. Tav winced out of surprise, the pain dissolving in the man's mouth. Her reaction pleased him greatly as he went harder to make her desperately cling to his shoulders. Her legs could barely hold her as tears were building in the corner of her eyes.

“Hold on tightly my little toy”, he advised her while releasing her head before pushing her against a wall.

With a surface on her back and Bal's head between her hands, Tav was able to stay standing on her two legs. The pain that had almost overtaken came back again, except this time her torturer used his second hand to play with her vagina. Her moan instantly went louder as his fingers played at the same time with her bruises and her clit.

“Bal… it hurts”, Tav winced against his lips.

“You can only blame yourself for what you're enduring, Doll”, he wickedly claimed with a smile.

It was intoxicating to see Tav reduced to a plaything between his fingers, far more satisfying than anything he had ever experienced. As he scientist he had never been an adept of torture or free pain, everything he had ever done had a reason, an objective. But here, now, he only wanted to hear what kind of lecherous sounds she could make, to see her beg for him… For now, her cheeks were bright red, her mouth gasping for air and her eyes shining with tears, it was a marvellous sight. He could feel her legs shaking around his arm, her hands desperately holding onto him…

“You do not look in that much pain”, he sneered. “You're such a naughty Toy…”

Every time she looked close to her pick, her body tensing, her breath locked in her throat, he would squeeze her injury, earning a deep cry mixed with pain and pleasure.

“Please Bal let me cum”, Tav ended up begging after another unfulfilled close-up of her climax.

She was so desperate to get what she wanted! All pride or self-esteem were long forgotten as she felt that she was going to cum at any moment without any lovely stimulation.

“What an exquisite plea, I could get used to hearing you beg me like this Doll”, Bal whispered in a low, hot voice as his own arousal was starting to take a toll on him, “go one then, beg, pray, implore me for your release…”

“Bal… Please, make me cum”, Tav supplicated, “please, please, I beg you…”

The man pushed his body against hers, his head in her neck to hear better her supplication, his left hand digging into the bruise on her right hips, his right hand playing skillfully with her clit. Her words instantly stopped to be coherent as she was trying to keep begging but now there was a mix of gratitude in it. Suddenly she clenched her hands, her body impaling itself on his hands, and a long, deep moan escaped from her mouth.

They stayed like this for a moment, Bal basking in the delicious fragile state of Tav. She felt so feeble under his hands, he never wanted to let it go. But suddenly, a strong push shoved him on the bed.

“You get back quickly on your feet hero”, he scoffed when admiring the paladin standing in front of the bed with eyes shining with excitement.

He lay his back against the headboard, his cock standing proudly up, even throbbing out of anticipation.

“Do not underestimate me”, she shrugged, “I hope you're ready because you're not leaving here before I say it…”

Before he could answer anything to her, she climbed on him, impaling herself on his manhood before starting a hungry pace. Except this time he was ready, he grabbed her hair in one hand, her hip with the other and started to fuck her properly with large movement.

“That's so good”, Tav babbled her hands scratching his belly to help her ride his crazy pace.

Bal grunted, as much as he wanted to pummelled bravely, the sensation was overwhelming him. He had underestimated his own arousal since just seeing his cock slide out and in her pretty cunt was enough to squeeze his inners.

“You're such a treat”, he praised her, “look how you take so lovingly my dick, you love it right? You love how I fuck you!” Each sentence was punctuated by a rough stab. “Say it Doll!”

Tav was already sinking in a white world where only tampered sounds and lights tricking pleasure could reach her. As she was crushed by the sensations left at the hands of Bal, she answered without thinking, only desperate for him to keep going.

“I like it Bal”, she blathered, her eyes half-closed, her pussy squeezing his shaft, “I like it, Bal…”

Stimulated by her confession, he let go of her hair to play once again with her clit. Her reaction was immediate, she gasped and grabbed his arm to the point of pain. Rather to displease him, it helped him in keeping his climax at bay long enough to make her cum on his fingers.

“I like it so much Bal”, she whispered as she rode her pleasure before slowly laying on his chest, “I like you.”

She then started to kiss him after biting his lips. This position allowed the man more freedom, so he did not hesitate. This time he grabbed her hips harshly to pound senselessly in her cunt. All thoughts had left his mind, as he focused only on his release.

I like you.

He grunted loudly as the successive waves hit him. His hands stayed locked on Tav's hips, but she did not seem to mind since she simply let her head rest on his chest.

I like you.

The sentence kept haunting his mind but the only thing Bal let himself think about what just happened was that his plan had finally succeeded.

☠️

Tav put back her sword in its sheath. Around her, Halsin, Karlach and Shadowheart were doing the same, looting some coins on the way before looking at the skeletons waiting for them in front of the door.

“Should we make a bet about who's behind?” Karlach offered.

“I don't think it will be necessary”, Shadowheart replied with a smirk as the door was opened by the skeletons.

The group of four stumbled on the strangest sight. The temple of Shar had been odd but this was unexpected. The shelves were full of strange bocals, grotesque undead creatures, the altar covered with corpse remains, and overlooking all this a man with a bloody-scared grey face half-covered by a hood.

“Finally we can meet without any artifices, hero of the light”, he boasted with a dramatic gesture of his hands. “I am Balthazar, chief advisor of General Thorm, and entrusted with a mission of utmost importance.”

His smile transpired of self-satisfaction, dripping confidence, shining with expectations. He dissected the raising of her eyebrows, the movement of her eyes checking his face, the tremor of her lips as she was about to speak. What will she say? Would it be anger, surprise, disgust? Everything he had done those last few months had been in preparation for this moment! He would use her disarray to take advantage, to reduce her as nothing more than a pawn in his skilful hand. His arms spread as to welcome her first words :

“It’s good to see you again Bal”, she smiled.

“There’s no need for your bravado, hero”, he insisted in front of her lack of reaction. “Enlighten me, what does one feel when faced with a horrific truth?”

His hands clenched in fists as he closed his arms. She could try as much as she wanted to mock him, but the reactions of her companions were giving it away. The disgust on Shadowheart’s face was the most obvious but Karlach and Halsin could not hide their surprise either.

“What do I feel?” Tav wondered out loud before passing a hand in her hair. “Shame I guess? For keeping the truth from you, to be honest, I never told you because it was not putting me in a flattering position…”

The paladin walked closer as Balthazar was scoffing from complacency from seeing her reduced to pouting nonsense. He stared at her as she stopped across the altar to close an eye and point the other with one finger.

“This little thing can see through all invisible, modified appearances. In other words: you can't hide me shit.”

Balthazar's smile froze unpleasantly in front of the underlying of her explanation.

“So about a bet?” Karlach broke the heavy silence that had been installed in the room.

“I don't understand how we even ended up in that mess”, Shadowheart sighed disenchanted.

“I'm certain they will sort this out”, Halsin assured kindly.

Tav turned her back to stare at her companions as she was trying to put holes through their skulls. Sometimes she was not sure if they were skilled warriors or just annoyed and annoying children with an unhealthy inclination for bet.

“Maybe we should continue this discussion without the ki…”, she paused to look at the necromancer's minions. “Urrr… bystanders…”

The horrified and undignified gasps of her friends made her raise her eyebrows with amusement. The reaction on Balthazar's end was less light-hearted.

“I’m a necromancer, why would I give up on my advantage?” He sneered while crossing his fingers in front of him.

"I’ll give up my sword if it can make it even”, she graciously offered before handing down her weapon to the biggest undead at her left.

Halsin and Shadoweart tensed, clearly unhappy to see their friend unharmed in front of an obvious threat. But Karlach simply laughed it out while dragging the others outside the room with her. In front of this development, Balthazar's unhappiness did not disappear, but he finally and reluctantly waved to his undead who cleared out too.

He stared at Tav, running his fingers on the altar as to find something to canalise his agitation. How could the situation have landed so far from his expectations? How could he have not noticed her skill? Or rather why had she played along if she already knew the truth? He liked to challenge his intellect, but here it was as if the mystery was not from the reasoning side.

“Alone at least”, Tav sighed.

Her shoulders dropped a bit, a thing he had noticed her to do when no longer people were looking up to her around.

“You got what you wanted, now indulge me by revealing to me your true agenda”, he asked her unpleasantly.

He had never felt so tense for a long time. Usually, it would be easy: either he was dealing with slaves he could do whatever he wanted with, or he would simply annihilate anyone mad enough to try challenging him. Except here he could not tell in which category he was.

“I want to get rid of the thing in my head, but you already knew that”, she recalled while slowly walking around the altar. “Just as I told you, I already knew who you were. No, not exactly. I always knew what you looked like. I figured out who you really were not so long ago.” She stopped in front of him before gently taking off his shroud. “After the first time we spent our first night together…”

“I thought you were a paladin? Is it not against your vow to involve yourself with the enemy?” He scoffed with bitter irony.

“I'm an oathbreaker”, she shrugged despite the shadow in her eyes. “I care about only one thing: to stay with those who are important to me. The rest can burn for what I care…”

Balthazar felt her hand on his cheek, unable to even walk away, he let her reveal his face and even touch it. His breath shortened, as he wondered what trick she was using to keep him under her spell like this.

“I am currently planning to end the world you know ?” He pointed out.

“Then I'm going to stop you”, Tav smiled. “What would be the point to end the world, you would no longer be able to challenge yourself.”

“How presumptuous of you to think you would stop me!”

“I like you Bal”, Tav revealed without letting go of his face.

Strangely, he felt relieved. So it was not something spurred out in the heat of the moment. He stared as she leaned forward until their lips touched. The feeling was softer than ever before, it made him melt inside. Then Tav's blood mixed with his saliva.

“That hurt”, Tav scoffed before taking a couple of steps back while wiping the red on her mouth.

“I will never turn my back on General Thorm, I am his trusted advisor”, Balthazar proclaimed vigorously. “Your world will never accept me, as it did before. Your honey words are nothing but a pitiful temptation!”

He supported Tav's strange two-coloured eyes, ignoring the pounding in his chest as the precious liquid odour was making his head sing for more. Squeezing the dagger in his hand helped him strengthen his determination. There was no turning back no…

“I respect your will”, Tav finally smiled but this time there was something else in her face as she was forcing herself. “But can you tell me why you stabbed me where it did no damage except for the little blood? I'm sure an expert like you can easily find the perfect spot to kill someone or wound him to death, except you did not.”

For a second there was only both of their loud breathing in the room.

“I’m going to die any day now, but I will not give away my life either. However, if I am to live, I will do it on my own accord. Come with me, I'll show you what's possible, we'll find a place where we can be ourselves.”

She walked back to him, ignoring the dagger still in his hand. Then she gently took his head between her hands.

“Tell me you don't want it, tell me you don't like me and we should fight to death right now”, she offered him.

Balthazar chuckled in front of her stupidity, as he was going to simply trust her and… All his bravado stayed stuck in his throat as he simply let her come closer to the point where their lips were almost kissing.

“I won't force you this time if you want to, come get it…”

He grunted, not amused by her audacity but still crossed the last millimetres to be able to finally feel her lips again. The taste of blood was still lingering except this time he did not have time to think about what to do as Tav promptly took the upper hand. She put her right hand behind his hand to deepen their kiss, while skillfully pushing him against the altar and her other hand went to grab his hand with the dagger as they intertwined their fingers against the handle. The necromancer grabbed a leather strip of her armour to prevent him from falling as they were forgetting any restraint.

“Shall I take it as a surrender on your part?” Tav asked, her lips shining as she looked down at him.

“You shall do nothing of the sort, however, keep going on and I will see what can be done…”

“You silvered tongue”, she hummed before happily resuming her action.

☠️

“So a free shot for everyone?” Karlach offered her bottle to her companions and the skeletons as they had started a bonfire in front of the door.

The end

#fanfiction #writing #balthazar bg3 #baldursgate3 #balthazar #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #a perfect plan

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melanie-ohara · 9 months ago

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Can't Touch You Now

Whumpuary2024, Day 29 - Prompt: Touch Starved

Calarisa, paladin of vengeance, is falling in love with Karlach - as inevitably as the fate that awaits her

Set in very early act II, before the Last Light Inn

AO3 Here

The light in the Shadowcurse reminded Calarisa of the Underdark, but it didn't have a trace of the ethereal beauty she had found there. Here, the plants were twisted and dead and something necrotic nipped at the heels whenever they strayed too far from a light. Only Shadowheart could walk through the mire that filled the air. Calarisa didn't want to set up camp for too long, but everyone was hungry and the fire kept the worst of the shadows at bay. Calarisa wanted to use the fire as an excuse to huddle up with the rest of the party, to take comfort in proximity to other living beings in this terrible place, but Karlach took her bowl from Gale and made her way as far from the others as she dared, just inside the flickering glow of the fire. Calarisa took her own food and followed her.

"Something wrong?" she asked, perching as near to her as she dared. She could feel the heat radiating off her body, and though she knew Karlach hated her engine, Calarisa privately appreciated the warmth.

Karlach looked up and gave her a tired smile. "Hey, soldier," she said. Karlach wasn't much of a liar, so she knew that was pleased to see her, even if she was avoiding the rest of them.

Calarisa ate a mouthful of stew before she said anything. "We're not sitting with the others."

"I'm not sitting with the others," Karlach corrected her. "You don't have to sit with me."

"But I like you," Calarisa said, looking away from Karlach's bright golden eyes. Their relationship was new, and she was still getting used to being as open about what she wanted as Karlach already was, so she couldn't help the blush rising to her cheeks.

She needn't have worried - Karlach's face lit up with a wide grin that showed her teeth. "I like you too." She shrugged. "Go on, I'm not going to be good company tonight."

Calarisa shook her head. "I'm staying," she said, "so you might as well tell me what's wrong."

Karlach sighed irritably and then tossed her spoon into the undergrowth in frustration. Calarisa could tell from the way she screwed up her face that she regretted it immediately and couldn't hold back a giggle.

"I'm sorry," she said through it. "Don't you need that?"

"I can eat without a spoon!" Karlach insisted. She raised the bowl to her lips and proved herself wrong, spilling stew down her face and onto her clothes. It sizzled when it touched her skin, filling the air with an acrid burning smell. Karlach lowered the bowl and wiped her lips like nothing had happened, and Calarisa grinned at her.

"How come your clothes don't burn off?" she asked - suddenly enough that Karlach couldn't stop the flicker of emotion that crossed her face. Calarisa winced when she saw it. "Sorry," she said.

"It's okay," Karlach lied. "They're enchanted."

"I wish I was enchanted," Calarisa said, in a desperate attempt to rescue the mood, but Karlach's brow tensed. She ran her finger around the inside of the bowl, sending up smoke streamers as she burned the sticky residue away.

"Gods, if I could touch…" she whispered.

Calarisa shuffled on her knees until she was sitting in front of the other tiefling, and settled down with her hands and the tip of her tail in her lap. "I know, Karlach," she said, and then tilted her head to look at her from under hooded lids and speak through an alluring smirk. "We can still enjoy each other without touching, though…"

Karlach looked away and shook her head. "Not tonight. I want to, but… Gods, you have no idea what this is like!"

Calarisa thought for a moment that she might throw the bowl away too - or possibly even at her head - but she didn't. "You're right, I don't," she admitted.

"It's not just about… that," Karlach said, still not meeting Calarisa's eyes. "It's not just that I have an infernal engine."

"We'll get it fixed - " Calarisa started, but Karlach stopped her.

"Hells, what does it matter when I don't have a heart?"

Calarisa wished she could reach out and take her hand. She almost did, crippling burns be damned. Instead, she let her tail twitch forwards and lay in the space between them. It was the closest she could get, and she hoped Karlach would appreciate the gesture.

"You have more heart than anyone I know," Calarisa said.

Karlach sniffed. "Thanks, soldier."

"It's true."

"Zariel put this thing in me so I could be a weapon," Karlach said, and Calarisa realised she wasn't looking in her the eyes because she was ashamed. "So I could burn someone just by touching them. I'm so fucking tired of it, soldier."

"I think I understand, a little," Calarisa said.

Karlach shook her head, sad and slow. "You don't."

Calarisa shrugged. "I want to put my hand on yours and tell you it'll be okay, and I can't. Without that, I don't know how to help you. I feel helpless, and alone, and even though I'm sitting right next to you it makes me feel so cold. To have to feel that, all the time… Karlach, I don't know how you do it."

Karlach let out a humourless chuckle. "Me neither, soldier."

"I admire you," Calarisa pressed on. "For making the best of it."

"I'm not tonight," she said grimly. "Trying to slink off my own, not that you let me."

Calarisa made herself smile, even though she felt useless. "You should never have to be on your own," she said fervently. "Especially not when you're struggling like this."

"Not sure being close to the person I want to touch more than anyone else is helping," Karlach pointed out, "but thanks anyway."

Again, Calarisa couldn't stop the blush that lit her cheeks, but she knew Karlach liked to see it. "Okay," she said, standing up. "I'm going to get a torch."

Karlach frowned up at her. "What for?"

"We have a spoon to find. Gale will be furious if we lose the only good silverware this side of Baldur's Gate."

Karlach grinned again, and though it wasn't her usual smile, a trace of her natural glow was returning to her eyes. "Right you are, soldier. Right you are."

#fanfic #writing #whumpuary2024 #original character #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate tav #karlach #whumpuaryno15 #touch starved

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baddieladdie · 2 years ago

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My Knight - Part II

Read Part I first, if you haven't

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

The feel of his soft, full lips on mine was electric. Joy, pleasure, and desire spread from my abdomen to the curl of my toes. His tree-trunk arms pulled me in close, holding on tight as if I could float away in a radioactive breeze. I wrapped my own toned arms around his neck, twisting my hips to guide him to the table’s edge. Picking up on my cue, he nudged me closer to the table surface.

In a smooth motion, I curled my leg around his - trapping us in the intimate embrace. I parted his lips gently with my tongue, desperate to begin exploring what I have been longing for.

I reached for the collar of his shirt that hung loosely over his carefully defined pects. Danse caught my hand in his, stopping me. “Careful, Soldier.” He paused for a moment to admire me. “I want to enjoy this. Don’t rush me - and that’s an order.” The commanding tone of his voice was all the motivation I needed. I will enjoy this . “Yes, Paladin,” I moved my arm to brace against the table surface.

Danse shuffled closer to me, his firmness pressing against me. “Your shirt…” I paused for a moment to catch my breath, his dark brown eyes fixed on mine. “What about it?”

“Take it off.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I pried my shirt off, over my head. It felt amazing to be free of it, dirted by 200 years of post-war wear. Danse’s breath caught at the sight of my exposed chest.

“You’re perfect, you know that?” Without giving me a chance to respond, he kissed me - one hand supporting the back of my head, the other around braced the table’s surface as he leaned into me.

I moaned softly as he slowly pressed his body onto mine, pinning me against the edge of the table. The sound echoed in the abandoned bunker over the sound of radio. “Wait,” I took a moment to look into his hungry eyes focused on me.. “What about you?” “What about me?” He asked, desperate to continue. “Take your shirt off. It’s only fair!” He chucked, stepping back slightly to indulge me.

I could have studied his defined features for hours. I knew he was strong, that much was obvious. From his constant training with the Brotherhood and spending most of his days in heavy suits of Power Armor. But I could see - could feel - the firm definition of each and every muscle group. Danse had a sturdy build and I was desperate to feel it.

“You’ve been undressing me with your eyes all evening. All you had to do was ask.” My face flushed at the comment. He swiftly scooped me onto the table surface. I gasped in surprise as he leaned in close to me, his breath warm on my chilled exposed skin. He pressed his lips firmly against mine, sighing in delight.

I slipped my tongue between his lips, exploring. I sucked on his full lips, and moved my kisses up the side of his face, nibbling on the edges of his ear. He grunted slightly, stiffening in response to the arousal. I could feel his firmness pressing further against me. In an effort to relieve him of the restrictive clothing, I reached for the button of his olive cargo pants - just below his navel - undoing the button.

“If you want it, take it off. But not like that. With your mouth, Soldier” Danse spoke calmly, with control. His voice was deeper, more gruff than I’ve heard before.

I caressed the sides of his body as I lowered myself to my knees. Danse shuttered as my lips brushed against him. I playfully licked the sensitive area, amusing myself with the sound of his guttural groan.

Danse’s member sprung free, hard and throbbing with desire. I wrapped my hand around the base of his cock, my mouth covering the tip and shaft. I swirl my tongue around his cockhead, slowly, teasing and tasting the drop of cum that pearled at the tip. He moaned, louder than before. Stiffening, he softly places his hand on the back of your head as it bobbed along his girth. I flatten my tongue along the underside of his cock, taking a bit more of him into my mouth. I could feel it twitch and pulse against my tongue, sending a wave after wave of arousal between my own legs. Danse could barely stop his hips from shaking, his muscles taunt with effort of holding himself back. He gasped slightly, stroking my hair.

“Fuck, that’s good. Get up for a moment, I want to finish inside you.” I felt myself tighten at the prospect. I released his hard cock from mouth, shiny and moist from my handiwork. His large hands fumbled with the button on my jeans.

“I’ve been along for so long, I can’t -”

“Take it easy, allow me~” I teased, mimicking his voice, reminding him how he helped me out of Mirelurk soaked leather armor. His face flushed at the comment. I gently lifted his chin with my finger, guiding his gaze as I walked before him towards the single bed in the bunker. “Let’s not make a mess, shall we? We’ll just have to clean up the spilled stew later.”

“Wherever you lead, I will follow.” I smiled as I stripped down before him, my clothes pooled at my feet.

“God, you’re perfect,” Danse moaned. He closed the space between us swiftly. He picked me up, as if I weighed no more than a sack of flour, and laid me on my back. He knelt before me, spreading my legs, positioning himself before me. The feeling of the chilled air on my exposed wetness filled me with unbearable need. “Please, Danse” I pleaded. “Don’t keep me waiting~”

In response, he slammed his firm cock into me. His large hands gripped my legs, keeping them in place but also giving him excellent leverage. With each thrust, I gasped and groaned. My body throbbed and tightened with delight. The pain of taking him in, fully and rapidly - the roughness of it - was exhilarating. I never appreciated the brotherhood training regime as much as I did now.

Danse moaned heavily, his chest heaved with each steady breath. He grabbed my hands in his, pinning them above my head. He lowered himself further, until his weight was partially laid on me. He jerked his hips rapidly, running his girth against the ridges within me. The sound of the flesh impacting flesh echoed, along with the cries of my pleasure. I could feel his breath, short & rapid, down my neck. “I want it, Danse.” I groaned desperately. “It’s okay, you can-” Before I could finish my sentence I was interrupted by my own completion. He had significantly picked up the pace, groaning and grunting in such an aroused state, I wasn’t sure he heard my mumblings - begging for his cum. With a final thrust, he gasped “Ad Victoriam.”

Danse panted over me, finally releasing his grip. He rolled over on his side, catching his breath. His eyes were closed as he rested in post-colloidal bliss. I sighed pleasantly, contented to just rest for a moment.

“Do you think this will complicate things between us?” I adjusted my pillow to better see his face in the low bedroom light.

“If you’re asking about our relationship, things couldn’t be better between us…and for the first time in my life, I’m truly happy. But-” I recognized the expression. Coming to terms with his new identity hasn’t been easy on him these last few weeks. There’s a reason why we’ve been traveling so closely. I wanted to be there for him, to help him remember who he is and all the good things he has done for the Commonwealth.

He paused for a moment that felt like forever and sighed, “If I was human, wouldn't this be a hell of a lot easier?”

“You're not a machine, Danse. In fact, you're more human than most people could ever hope to be.”

“That means a lot, coming from you. With you by my side, I feel like I can take on the world.” He paused to brush a stray hair from my eye. “Being in love doesn’t mean we have to stop fighting for what we believe in.” He paused once more, the gentle sounds of the radio floating in from the other room.

“Look... I know that this has been difficult for you. In fact, I don't envy some of the recent decisions you've had to make.If our roles had been reversed, I'm not so sure I could have handled it as well as you did. Whatever the case may be, I just want to thank you for sticking by me and remind you that what I said before still stands. If you need me, I will always be here for you.”

I sighed contentedly, cuddling up to his side, falling asleep in his arms.

----------------- End of Part II ---------------

#paladin danse #Fallout 4 Smut #ao3 writer #Fallout 4 #paladin danse x sole survivor #f! sole

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survivors-of-barovia · 2 years ago

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DM session recaps: year 2022

Oh boy, this year has been wild!

We haven't been playing as regularly as we'd like to, but the gang still managed to make significant progress. Currently they are level 11 and preparing for their expedition to the Amber Temple. Here's a brief summary of all the things that happened to them since the last time:

Dragon skull heist was A HUGE SUCCESS! The party had a really good plan and have been super careful to only discuss it inside the tiny hut so Strahd never suspected a thing. They scaled the cliff through Barov and Ravenovia's tomb, used their spells and familiars to stay hidden and scout ahead, avoided Rahadin by using divination spells and managed to dimension door to the hall of bones from the catacombs because they mapped out the familiar areas of the castle beforehand and triangulated the distance to it; they cast reduce on the skull and quickly dimension doored back, but not before Vincent left an insulting poem for Strahd in its place.

Needless to say, Strahd was SUPER PISSED - especially after they lit the beacon of Argynvostholt. Well, he can be mad all he wants, because now Argynvostholt is a hallowed ground warded against undead, and also revenants regained their memories and some of them stayed to help fight against Strahd. Lady Arisa became a head of the order and screamed at Vlad until he stopped being suicidal and agreed that he must atone for his wrongdoings by staying with the order and helping rebuild it, and maybe getting back with Godfrey as well.

Right after that, Strahd sent Sasha with a small army of wights to assault Argynvostholt and she got ABSOLUTELY DECIMATED. Rip to Sasha, my homebrew melee vampire knight who had no chance against a paladin with a sunsword. At least she died in battle against her crush instead of getting locked in the dungeons, I guess? Here's another art depicting this glorious scene. Afterwards, there was a really heartbreaking moment where Ferret tried to revivify Sasha while her bones crumbled into ashes, but to no avail. She always tries to save everyone, poor girl.

So now Argynvostholt is the party's home base, a place where they keep all their (numerous) friendly npcs and sort of a "rebuilding the keep" sidequest - because we all love those! They can send revenants on missions to gather resources and give them various tasks, and of course it will all pay off in the endgame.

Strahd, being Strahd and still pissed about the stolen dragon skull, started sending packages with other characters' body parts to Argynvostholt. He started small with disassembled Pidlwick II, and next day it was raven feathers from Blue Water Inn Martikovs he took as hostages. Party is super scared of Pidlwick and started burying his parts across Barovia so that he doesn't come to life again, and ended up selling his head to Jeny Greentheeth. This can only end well!

Claudia Belasco (the orphanage headmistress who got killed by Rahadin) was resurrected, since Lady Arisa kind of has a soft spot for her; they also got her to Argynvostholt, where she now helps with cooking and children, including reincarnated baby Abbot.

They finally had an epic battle with the aboleth of Lake Zarovich, reuniting Mordenkainen with his spellbook and staff and moving him to Argynvostholt. Now there is a mansion inside a mansion, and Victor has someone who can teach him more magic. Good for him!

The party had a spiritual seance with Patrina using a spirit board from VR's guide and it was super fun.

FINALLY after all this time and preparation they moved on to exploring Berez; they made arrangement for peace talks with Baba Lysaga but THEN just had to sneak around to the ruins of Berez and steal all her goats. WELL THEN. The "peace talks" happened? Kind of? They managed to talk to Lysaga at least, and also found out she revived Volenta, who is now a living witch (and has a crush on Vincent) - but then Lady Arisa just had to mention that they know about Lysaga being Strahd's former teacher, and it immediately got them thrown out. And as it turned out, while they were away, Stella Wachter got kidnapped - as a part of a devious plan to prepare a new young body for Lysaga during the following new moon.

Before fighting Lysaga, the party decided to hunt some werespiders - and it went pretty well, until Lysaga found them. Not that it went too badly, but she cast Feeblemind on Ferret, so it was time for tactical retreat. Since technically the Seeker occupied the same body as Ferret, she decided it was also time to resurface and talk to the party (specifically, Edena and Paelias) about how all that is not the best environment for a 10 year old child - and while maybe it’s too late to remove her from this situation physically, maybe she can make it so that Ferret’s mind remains dormant and unaware of all the horrors of Barovia, and she, the Seeker, will be the one to deal with them from now on. Edena and Paelias consider this for a bit, but ultimately decide that they don’t want to rob Ferret of her agency and that potentially losing her mother will break her heart; Seeker says that she understands, and that she wants to talk to others - but once she gets everyone in the room, she starts turning it into an ethereal forest, saying that if they don’t want to help her, she will trap Ferret’s friends in a dream with her and do everything herself. Well, now the party have to fight a dream version of the Seeker. They won, of course, and after Ferret got over her Feeblemind they had a very nice talk about what Ferret actually wants and how much she has grown; also, the Seeker told her the truth about her real parents, and eventually gave her back her memories about her childhood and her real name (Holly). It was a bittersweet moment, but for Ferret, it only solidified her belief that the Seeker is her real mother, and that she is no longer this halfling girl that was called by another name.

Eventually, the party caught up with Lysaga and her hut, fought her, and won - with another dramatic scene where Ferret was hugging her dying body and burning her to death. Only Stella was nowhere to be found. They went on to explore Lysaga's hut, which turned out to be a lot bigger on the inside. They found (and freed) captured wereravens - unfortunately, Muriel Vinshaw, despite being mentioned in Ferret's tarroka reading at the beginning of the campaign, was already killed, as well as many others, since the party took way too long to get to Berez. There was lots of other cool witchy stuff there, but ultimately they discovered that Stella got stolen by hags (yes, THOSE hags. they were still alive) and taken into their lair in the ethereal plane; after doing a quest to weave a fabric from the moonlight (thanks to Edena and her weaving skills!) they caught up to them, managed to save Stella, kill Bella and intimidate Offalia into surrendering but BIG SURPRISE Morgantha managed to get away AGAIN. She was THIS close to running away to Strahd and continuing with her evil schemes, but this party is absolutely relentless. They followed her without resting, rolled super high on all the tracking checks and finally caught and killed her - also in a super creative way, since she could always escape to the ethereal plane and they didn't have etherealness spell, they poisoned her with aboleth slime and she just. Suffocated to death. Fucking brutal. What a fitting end for such a horrible woman. For the record, this was their FIFTH encounter.

Also, Victor was with them for this mission. Their relationship with Stella is... complicated. She got kidnapped in the first place because they had a fight with Victor and she stormed off from the mansion; so Vincent decided to talk to Victor about what happened, figuring it was just a regular teenage fight, but he was like "well yeah she read my thoughts and I got upset and tried to use magic on her so that she wouldn't do that anymore". They kind of made up after Victor took part in saving her, but who knows for how long? Are they even good for each other? The party might have conflicting feelings about that.

After their triumphant return to Argynvostholt, Lady Arisa declared a grand party to celebrate the victory against Baba Lysaga. Also, Kasimir finally made it there! Among all the fun, drinking and dancing, there was plenty of drama as well. Ezmerelda attempted to gain Vincent's approval to hook up with his brother, but before it got to that she got way too drunk and started a fight with van Richten; he promptly left the party, lady Arisa followed him with a bottle of wine, and with a very nice heartfelt conversation and some high persuasion rolls she finally unlocked his tragic backstory! Meanwhile, Paelias, being insightful as always, discovered that Kasimir hasn't been quiet honest with him, and all this time he told him he's been hiding in the forest to avoid detection? He was actually captured by Strahd and only just managed to escape. Oops. Also, Vincent went to Mordenkainen and drank his Experimental Aboleth Brain Potion and Edena got mad at him because once again he's drinking risky liquids without warning his girlfriend. After midnight, everyone went to watch the party plant the bag of beans they got from Lysaga's hut. Two of them turned into statues of Paelias and Vincent that promptly started insulting them. A fitting end to this fun evening.

Also, remember how Strahd was occasionally sending dead body parts to Argynvostholt? Well, his last package ended up in one big mess. The party discovered it way too late - because the first one to discover it was Illyria. And the package was the coffin with the body of her brother, Dmitry Krezkov. And Illyria is... not known for her restraint, to put it mildly. She viciously mauled the vistana who delivered the coffin, and, unsurprisingly, got cursed. This might have been Strahd's plan. Or not, and he’s just stirring shit up. Regardless, this is super inconvenient, because she has to deal with being the avatar of the Huntress - and before heading to Mount Ghakis, the party was going to explore the source of strange howling from the mountains that Illyria was hearing recently. Well, they headed there and discovered a mountain folk shrine to the Huntress occupied by hostile winter wolves and some kind of an ice wolf-shaped spirit. In reality, the spirit was possessing the protectors of the shrine - but of course, Illyria, being Illyria, immediately attacked them, and only Paelias and Ferret prevented her from slaughtering them all and desecrating the shrine for good. After defeating the hostile spirit, she made peace with the wolves, and the party might come back to visit the mountain folk tribe when they head to mount Ghakis.

But first, there is one thing left for them - to consecrate the Swamp Fane. And one little problem - they don’t really know who is going to become an avatar of the Weaver. Maybe Paelias, because he is already has a strong connection to the goddesses? But he is not a woman (although maybe it won’t be a problem?), and also becoming his wife’s sister is going to be awkward. Maybe Edena, because she is good at weaving, promised Kavan to protect the Fanes and seemed like she was really connecting with the Berez witches? But she hates the gods, how you can ask her to become an avatar of the goddess? Choices, choices.

#curse of strahd #by: arrenkae #recaps #after reading some of this you may ask #wait #was it even in the module?#no #no it wasn't #what is even the module at this point #i might have forgotten some small stuff #a lot has happened

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