#Royal Alliance + Into the Rift

[wondermilka]

Fading Hearts

Pairing : Alhaitham x fem! reader

Summary : you are in an arranged marriage with Alhaitham.

PART 2 > Temptations (Kaveh x FEM!reader)

TW : angst, no comfort.

→ royal era

a/n: im back and with angst ;)

At the break of dawn, you were awoken and the maids immediately came to prepare you for an important journey to the royal palace. She explained that you were to be married to Alhaitham, the sole heir to the throne.

The reason behind this arranged marriage was that the present king insisted Alhaitham could only ascend to the throne after getting married.

Although he had two more years before taking on the responsibilities of rulership, the king struck a deal with your parents.

Due to your family's unwavering loyalty to the royal family for generations and their status as the strongest noble family in the kingdom, they readily agreed to this arrangement without hesitation.

This decision was made even though your parents had little regard for you, their youngest daughter, as you didn't possess the same talents as your older sister.

Despite that, you were sent off to the palace with no possessions, expected to bring nothing but yourself for this union.

Upon meeting Alhaitham, it became evident that he embodied qualities of duty, honor, and responsibility. He had earned high praise for his leading skills, making him the ideal candidate to ascend to the throne.

Due to the demands of his royal responsibilities, Alhaitham often had to leave you behind in your luxurious yet isolated residence, leaving you little time to truly get to know each other.

From the very day of their wedding, Alhaitham showed no regard for you. Viewing your marriage as a mere political alliance, he paid you little attention, if any at all.

Understanding the situation, you yourself recognized that your marriage was a legal union rather than one rooted in love. You knew better not to expect anything more from him.

After all, you were nothing but the despised daughter of your family, sent away to wed the heir without your will.

. . .

But despite's Alhaitham's cold and harsh demeanor, you refused to give up on your marriage. You spent your days learning about your husband's interests, hoping to find some common ground that would connect you. You tried to be the perfect wife, preparing his favorite meals, and making sure the palace was a welcoming place for him to return to.

Yet, every time Alhaitham returned from his official duties, he would greet you with a cold nod, barely acknowledging your efforts. It was clear that his heart was elsewhere.

Alhaitham's friend, Kaveh, who was also his trusted advisor, noticed the growing rift between the couple.

He could see the pain in your eyes, hidden behind a forced smile, and the emotional detachment in Alhaitham's actions.

Kaveh confronted Alhaitham, urging him to give their marriage a chance, reminding him that you were a worthy partner who deserved love and respect.

However, Alhaitham remained unwavered, shutting himself off from his emotions. He could not bring himself to love you, and he didn't wish to deceive you with false affection.

He believed that fulfilling his duty as future king was enough, even if it meant living a marriage devoid of love.

He told himself that he must get divorced once he settles down on the throne. But for the meantime, he'll have to hold on for the remaining 2 years.

As the months turned into years, your spirit slowly faded. You continued to put on a facade of happiness for the sake of the kingdom and Alhaitham's reputation, but inside, your heart was breaking.

The once lively and spirited woman was now a shadow of her former self, worn down by the unrequited love and loneliness.

One fateful evening, Alhaitham returned home with a heavy heart. Kaveh had advised him to reconsider his stance, but Alhaitham remained firm.

As he stepped into the palace, he noticed you sitting by the window, tears streaming down your cheeks. The sight pierced his heart, but he couldn't bring himself to console you.

"I'm sorry." Alhaitham whispered as he walked past you without a word, retreating to his study.

You knew that nothing would change; your hopes of gaining his favor and trust were shattered.

You understood that you were simply a pawn in a political game, and Alhaitham's heart had no interest for you.

[oddcryptidwrites]

Welcome Back to the Collection of the Odd Cryptid's Writings

Hi! I'm Athens/Andy (they/them). I am a somewhat old yet somewhat new face on writeblr. I'm currently a second year student at a university in the deep south, studying history and anthropology in order to become a museum curator. Most of my free time is spent writing, which is the driving force behind this blog. Writing has become the love of my life over the past ten years.

AthensWrites has had two prior iterations. All I posted here in the previous iteration was privated, including Not Your Typical Fairytale. Don't fear, NYTF will make a glorious return ;)

With all that said, welcome back to the odd writings of Athens, and I hope you enjoy your stay. Below the cut, I've detailed some of my current projects, which range from Sci-Fi (my favorite) to thrillers to fantasy to realistic fiction. I've highlighted key content warnings and tags for each, just to keep you aware. If you'd like to hop on a tag list for any of these stories, please let me know! Some of them I post more frequently than others. I am also very tag list and tag game friendly so PLEASE tag me in stuff. If you need other people to tag in a writeblr tag game, look no further than this post!

The collection is constantly updating and evolving, so stay tuned!

Not Your Typical Fairytale (#nytf)

Although originally planned as a standalone novel, NYTF has now expanded into three separate books: Knight of Dawn, Queen of Noon, and King of Dusk. There's an additional collection of short stories/untold stories planned as well, tentatively titled Pawn of Midnight.

Content warning: gore, death, violence, graphic scientific experimentation, derealization, paranoia, drug use and abuse, alcohol use, child abuse (physical, verbal), relationship abuse (verbal, manipulation), sex (consensual) Related tags: nytf, Piers Hall, Grady Yensey, Rene Dubois, ATLZoS

Knight of Dawn

Piers Hall is the newly crowned monarch of the post-apocalyptic State of Georgia, after their mother, Queen Adele, was declared unfit to rule. Despite meaning well, they find themself unprepared for the role, especially as political rivals, like North Carolina’s President René Dubois and Councilmember Shanna Miles, close in on their tail, seemingly threatening to topple their rule. When various palace staff start to show where their real loyalties, it seems like Grady Yensey, Commander of the Royal Guard and their closest friend, is the only one they can trust. Piers and Grady must scramble to uncover the truth behind Queen Adele’s questionable associates, Piers’ missing past, and President Dubois’ shady activities

International Alliance of Superhumans (#iash)

Superhumans have existed as long as we have, normal people who suddenly develop seemingly magical powers overnight. That’s why the International Alliance of Superhumans was founded in 1945, to help control these superhumans to better humanity. Now, the Alliance's ideals and control is falling apart, as the Underground and the Union threaten its weakening rule over the superhuman community. Fireball is the golden hero of the Alliance , the face of the organization, the beloved apprentice of the Chief Administrator after the death of the one and only GoldenSon. He’s brave, courageous, kind, and always up to take a photo with the kiddos, accompanied by his partner, NightSong. He’s taken down villains from Quantum Rift (the killer of GoldenSon) to Árbol Terror, and now has his eyes set on taking down Hueso Blanco and Morpheus Nox before they can tear a hole in reality. Brigid Roberts is the face behind the mask of Fireball. They’re the only child of the now-deceased Nikki Roberts and find have found themself seeking revenge for Nikki’s death…while also trying to manage this superhero business and their senior year of high school. It doesn’t help that the administration of Wesmoreland keeps threatening to expel them for their aggressive behavior. Hueso Blanco is the epitome of an ex-Alliance villain, a well beloved hero fallen from grace, after Árbol Terror and Quantum Rift convinced him to join the Underground. Now with both of his former allies dead, he leads the Underground, and with the help of Morpheus Nox (an up and coming villain with a terrifying similarity to Quantum Rift) he plans to tear a hole in our reality, ripping out world apart. Martin Garcia-Flores is the sole caretaker of his younger brother, Elias, and would do anything to protect him. After the Alliance's violent threats, he left, in order to protect what was left. He lost friends and family and his love to the Alliance's corrupted side, and now works tirelessly to bring it to his knees…while also trying to work three separate jobs to keep himself and Elias afloat. When fate brings Brigid and Martin face to face, maskless and vulnerable, the two come to understand they may not be as different as they’d both previously thought. Content Warning: violence, gore, death, family abuse (physical, verbal), alcohol (use) Related Tags: IASH, superhumans, Brigid Roberts, Martin GF, Hueso Blanco, Fireball

Space Clue/The Murder of Fredrik Lexand (#tmfl)

In 2183, humans abandoned earth as her ecosystems collapsed and became uninhabitable. Now, the remnants of humanity live in the Lexand Starfleet, a group of 16 name-brand ships, sailing towards deep space. In control of it all is Fredrik Lexand, the 17th great grandson of the original founder of Lexand StarFleet. From his living pod at the head of StarSeeker Alpha, he controls everything and anything that happens to humanity, from their food to their spouses to where the remnants of humanity will travel to. The weight of the world on one man’s shoulders (who are we kidding, of course he has lackeys who do all the menial work), worshipped as a god. Until the morning he is found brutally dismembered, mangled parts of his body strewn all over his office. Humanity freezes, watching intently, as the Lexand Pod is locked down by Detective Scoud Tambry, swearing to uncover the killer, and avenge the Corporate god-king. Content Warning: Violence, gore Related Tags: tmfl, space clue, Triple A Siblings, Scoud Tambry

Something Queer is Afoot (#SQIA)

Something Queer is Afoot is a massive collection of stories, all centering around queer life and romance. The Queer Crew is the group which most of them are centered around. This collection is MASSIVE and has about 10 different novella-length stories within. The content warnings listed below covers ALL of SQIA. Content Warnings: su*cide, death, homophobia, transphobia, abuse (physical, verbal, and sexual), drug use and abuse, religious trauma, sex (consensual and noncon/r*pe) Related Tags: SQIA, tqc, nlth, frf, sunandgun, boc

Still to be added: All of SQIA's individual projects, Cryto Conspiracy, The Great Fantasy American Road Trip, World of Ateine, Neon Squad

MORE TO BE ADDED SOON, SO STAY TUNED!

Athens' Current Objectives....

Blog Tag Directory:

#athenswrites: Personal writing

#athens answers: ask games

#other writeblrs: exactly what it sounds like, other writers I've reblogged

#writers I love: reblogs of close friends or writing that just hits me different

#rblg: general reblog tag

I'm pretty good at tagging extensively, so if you need to find something or are looking for a specific wip in my blog, there's a high probability I've tagged it like crazy

[bts-0t-7]

Breaking Bonds | PJM | Chapter 1

Pair: Fae Jimin x Nymph reader 

Summary: Stripped from your own birthright, you suffer at the hands of your people. But after all, you couldn’t blame them. Having enough, you left in the middle of the snowy days but things didn’t go as you planned. Jimin, pulled by an unspeakable force, ventures out into the blizzard to find a body face-first on the ground. Your love and connection is forbidden - looked down upon. But the both of you are willing to try. However, where there are dreams there are prices to pay. How will the both of you push through? Can the both of you do it?

Genre: Strangers to lovers, fantasy au, Jimin is the CROWN PRINCE (I mean-), angst, kidnapping, smut

WC: 2932

The history of the fae and nymphs - elements that used to live together harmoniously. Like the primary and secondary elements of life and magic, the love between faes and nymphs was sacred - so sacred that only royals had the right to arrange a marriage between their children. 

But hundreds of centuries later, amongst the roots of enmity that were fueled by old grudges and misunderstandings, blew out of proportion and affected many citizens. 

The dark history between them that started was marked by blood in the ledger books. The first is The Great Rift. The conflicts between faes and nymphs are often referred to in this phrase as the powerful fae kingdom taking lands that were traditionally inhabited by the nymphs. Territorial dispute ignited much hostility and opposition. This therefore caused the lack of resources. Both mystical beings relied on the same natural elements to thrive from the magical essence in their forests. 

And within these battles of dominance grew something more than just territory but also magical supremacy. Each mystical being possesses its own unique and elemental powers. As the war grew to a larger scale, betrayals were not able to be prevented. A web of alliances and betrayals intermingle with the supernatural races while leading to mutual distrust. 

The history was marred by not one, not two, but five different wars at different times. Both sides inflicted much suffering on the other. The wars led to untold loss with neither willing to yield. The main lasting repercussions come in, especially in the revised laws that were enacted to prevent any form of interaction or alliance between fae and nymph. Love between individuals of two races was seen as a dangerous threat to the stability of their respective societies.

The history was written in blood and the older generation of both races have a hard time letting go of their prejudices. 

And here lies the snowstorm. 

In the middle of the forest, where the snow blasts down like little chilling knives slicing through your skin and a good three feet of snow -

Your kind were the ice nymphs, once the royal family, now stripped of your title and an outcast amongst your kind. Where the fae folk thrived, you ventured - away from the place you once called home, now a barren room barely the size of a storage room. The scars of the Cold War between the nymphs still lingered, leaving the kingdom in the easy grip of the Lyrin fae.

You kind - the ice nymphs - were rare to come about, each one of your veins flows with the power of winter. In the lores, your kind was told to have a beauty that was like a fragile kind of enchantment, with hair as pale as frost, and skin as delicate as the first snowfall. 

There were only a few times that you have looked in the mirror - countable with five fingers. After your family was stripped of their title, with you accordingly, life was never the same. Your people, with no place to go, lost trust and justice in you. 

Desperation drove her journey as she yearned to escape the dark shadow of your people’s fall that hung over her head like a knife over the bed. Even with the ice in your veins, that winter night, when the biting frost finally embraced you and hunger gnawed at your core, your strength failed. You had pushed yourself as far as you could but as the sun dipped below the horizon, your body could no longer hold you up, giving in to your exhaustion and malnutrition. 

Lying beneath the icy canopy, you were a fragile, half-dead being that is an easy hunt for food for predators living around the area. Your eyes swerved back, trying to calculate how far you might have to go back for shelter. But you didn’t know. 

You had walked without a direction, lost in the depths of the Lyrin forest. Frostbites numbed your limbs and your brain was moving slower from the exhuation. But there it was, amidst the unforgiving cold and darkness, you sensed a presence stirring. 

Your hazed hearing registered the crunch of footsteps in the snow as your blurry vision sent your brain to somebody standing next to you. Your eyes roll around until you have a clearer picture of who it is. A man with dark hair, brown eyes, and plush lips, dressed in regal attire with a crest of the fae kingdom. Lyrin was one of the biggest fae kingdoms and everybody knows their crests. After all, it was them who led the battles many years ago. It was them that inflicted the harm and loss on your people. It was them that had killed the ruling family back then. 

Your family. 

But he wasn’t the one who took the action. No, he was almost as old as you were and then, the both of you were barely kids. 

Prince Jimin, they called him. 

The golden sunlight. 

The crown of Lyrin weighed heavily on his shoulders. He knew the crowning ceremony would be soon, and this winter, he wanted to let go and be just a man until he could no longer. Once he takes over the throne from his father, his duty to serve his country is solely on his shoulders. There was much to do and many things he would like to change, but even as king, these little ideas - as his father likes to call them - had to go through the council. 

And Jimin knows that the old hags would never approve of it. 

It went beyond the revised edition of the old laws. 

To reconcile with the nymphs. 

Jiminhad ventured into the forest today, going around with no direction, guided purely by an inexplicable force. The kingdom, although a realm of enchantment, was deeply tainted by the darkness of its past. If all was silent enough, one could still hear the shrieks and cries of the souls. The darkness had bred a strong sense of hatred and fear between faes and nymphs. Their mating was now an old tale of forbidden love - a story buried deep in history. 

As he ventured further into the woods, he stumbled upon the nymph, your frail form half-buried in the snow. Your beauty, even in your weak state, took the breath right out of his lungs. He recognized you as a nymph with your small frame and pale, white hair. But it wasn’t completely white. It shone like the silvers of the moonlight when light reflected off it. 

But it was when he moved to pick you up that he saw your family’s sigil, now faded from royal to common, that told him - you were no ordinary nymph. As his arms went under the ice, you stirred slightly at the movement. As you opened her eyes, he was completely taken aback by the sheer blue shade of your pupils. 

Even with one foot into the Underworld, you looked ethereal to him. Jimin was snapped out of his daze when your frostbitten lips whispered a plea for help. In that moment, all history and hatred were forgotten. With fae swiftness, he scooped your fragile state - lighter than air - into his arms and covered you with his coat. 

Determined to save her, he summoned a warm breeze that melted the frost from your body and sealed you in a cocoon of warmth. Jimin only dared to start running faster to his horse when colour slowly came back to your lips. Ensuring that you were safely tucked in his arms, Jimin ran back to the castle, fighting against death who wanted to take the girl in his arms. 

As days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months. The little nymph’s life continued to hang in the balance and Jimin was a mess. He made every doctor attend to you, pacing around the bedroom day and night. He had caused an uproar in the kingdom when they found out that their crown prince had brought back a nymph - even more than this one that was from the late royal family - and was nursing her back to health. 

His father had threatened to strip him of his title if he did not abandon you. But he could not do it. So it started the feud between father and son, neither backing down. Jimin understood that his late grandfather and his father had a feud among the nymphs, had been the ones who executed them and had been the ones to fight at the front lines. They were the ones who brought Lyrin to what it is today - expanded. But as Jimin studied the history of both parties, he felt a certain connection to the nymphs. 

He did not want to be a ruler where their mystical counterparts would be afraid of them. He did not want to be a ruler like his father - ruling by fear from an iron fist. 

While doctors attended to you, Jimin watched them with sharp eyes, ensuring that none of the doctors would slip anything into your bloodstream. When nothing helped and your state was only getting worse, Jimin grew more and more anxious. He had sifted through books and hunted down the Old Scripts.

He learned that your name was L/N Y/N, the youngest of the last ruling family. Your father had been killed in the war, your mother led you and your siblings to safety but soon after passed due to the broken mate bond. Your siblings were either caught by his father’s cavalry or died of starvation, leaving only you. Your records were still in the kingdom, seemingly down till two days before he met you. That means that you were active in your own kingdom, at your people’s mercy until you left.

He looked back at where you lay still on the bed. 

And if he didn’t find you, you would have probably been dead by now. 

You woke up to the warmth and luxury of a place you had only dreamed of. Your body was still weak and you didn’t know what happened after passing out. Slowly rising to consciousness, you found yourself in a room of blue and white, drapes swinging in the wind. But you registered that the windows weren’t open and the room was cold like… ice?

Winter may be the season but no room was made to stay cold unless the elements of the magicians’ are meant to stay cold. 

Like you.

You curled your fingertips, feeling the soft, silky sheets beneath them. Trying to view the room from your current position - lying flat on the bed with a head that feels as heavy as bricks - you were taken aback by the sheer language it screams. 

Royalty. 

From the materials beneath your body to the furniture displayed, the decorations and architecture of the room, they were all beyond your imagination. You had not stepped into such a room since the battle. As you looked around, you realised the room was not originally made to stay cold. The fireplace seemed to be covered in a layer of dust but the decorations on them were clean. 

And although you knew that this was not your room, the calming temperature felt just like home. But you had not been in a room like this for a very long time. Distantly, you heard the opening and closing of a door. Your eyes immediately shot in the direction of the sound just to find a man already standing beside the bed. 

You were immediately broken out of your thoughts when you realised who it was and where exactly you were. You did not need to open the windows to know - you were on enemy territory. The rulers who killed your family. The rulers who brought demise onto your people. 

But looking at the man, clad in a loose tunic and pants, dark brown hair ruffled in all directions, you couldn’t find yourself to hate him. Even as you knew that he shared the purest blood with the murderer, you knew that he… was just like you. 

A family’s misdoings do not mean a child’s downfall. 

One’s choice does not equal the choice of another. 

You sink deeper into the sheets, holding in your sigh as you close your eyes. 

“Oh!” Your eyes shot open to see the man right in front of you. “Oh, you’re awake! Oh, finally! Wait - wait - let me call the physicians!”

Your brain couldn’t register his words fast enough before you saw his body move so fast it was just a blurry shade running down the stairs. Or maybe it was just your vision that was a little crusty. Rubbing your eyes as you yawned, you got up from the bed. You wouldn’t like to overstay your stay, especially not in a place where your head was on a bounty. 

You had left your kingdom only to be stuck in another. 

Sighing, you looked down to your feet -

Your arms shot to cover your already clothed body. Wait, wait, wait - 

Your hands patted yourself down. You - 

You were changed. 

Your plan to secretly escape was a fail the moment your ears picked up the sound of multiple heavy footsteps coming towards the room. The large doors were banged open, revealing a line of physicians behind the prince. 

“There! There! I told you, she is awake!”

Squinting at the all-to-cheerful sound that the prince makes, the palm of your hands pressed against your ears. 

“Careful, Prince. The Lady just woke up, her senses will be sensitive. You must lower your volume, Prince.”

Sheepish eyes shot at you, a guilty smile lifting the corners of his lips. The physicians fussed you back to bed and ran a thorough check of you, reporting back to the prince whenever they found something. Whether it was something healing or something that needs healing. Over the next few weeks, you realise how persistent and petty the prince can get. 

He would refuse you bites of food if you were to call him by his royal title. He would refuse to help you up from bed, just standing at the corner of the bedpost when you need the restroom, always claiming, “If you aren’t going to help yourself, you don’t get to do your business.”

But you also realise how much he has gone through. As the only child, he was meant to take the throne a couple of weeks before he found you. But he had caused a huge uprising and a big fight with his father. When you were sneaking out one of the nights, Jimin found you during his nightly duties of patrol and whisked you back to the room. 

Although you had left with the intention of Jimin’s life getting back to normal, he has increased your security so that you won’t have much of a chance to run away again. 

Keyword: much. 

You still had your chances and when that came, you took it. You had everything packed and ready, but this time, you left with a note at the bedside table, paired together with a magic-infused healing charm for the man. 

Safe to say, it was a bad idea. 

You knew it was the moment you penned down your goodbyes and gave him the charm. But you didn’t have much on you to give him for thanks other than the occasional swirls of magic in his office. 

Yes, it was a horrible idea - of course it was! You were caught - again. 

This time, Jimin didn’t just leave you back in the room. He was silent the whole time after he found you. The ride back, up the stairs, and even after the both of you entered the room. You saw the note on the bed. 

Jimin’s back was to you. 

“Why - Why would you think that?”

You were taken aback by the tears that streamed down his plum cheeks that you had teasingly squished the past few weeks. Looking down at the note, you felt a pang of… sorrow.

A sorrow that wasn’t yours. It shouldn’t be. “Because it is against the laws.”

“I do not care what the laws claim!”

“I am nobody, Prince. You have a duty to serve your kingdom and its people. I am a princess, stripped of my title, belonging to the very kingdom your father and his father killed through. The very princess that they couldn’t care less before killing off my father on the battlefield.” He couldn’t be yours. He was a prince, deserving of one better than a bond that was looked down upon. 

“My ancestors can go suck their dicks.”

You pulled a face at the crude language. You knew that he would be insisting - you found out that much about him - and you prepared yourself for a situation like this. But your resolve was already crumbling. 

“Prince -”

“Stop, stop! I am yours! Please - I beg of you - stop calling me by my title.”

You sucked in a deep breath. “You are more than your titles. But you are also the light of your people. The only heir to the throne and you will not shove it away just because we are bonded. I refuse.”

“I will lay the world down on your feet for you, please. Do not leave me.” His cries hurt you more than knives and ropes splitting your skin raw. 

“My world is not one you can provide.”

My world is you. 

But you wouldn’t dare say that as you turned your back to him and walked out of the castle, following your original plan in mind.

[superstupendoussims]

He couldn't believe that his mother would try to dictate who he should marry based on their social status. He had always believed in choosing someone he loved and who loved him in return, regardless of their background.But as he lay there, he couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that perhaps his mother had a point. After all, he was the heir to the throne and his marriage would have political implications.

Marrying someone of royal blood would solidify alliances and bring stability to the kingdom. It would also ensure that his children would have a legitimate claim to the throne.But he couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life with someone he didn't love. He had already found his soulmate in the woman he wanted to marry. She was kind, intelligent, and had a heart of gold.

He knew that if he went against his mother's wishes, it would cause a rift in their relationship. But he also couldn't deny his feelings for his true love.As he tossed and turned in bed, the prince realized that he needed to make a decision. He could either follow his heart and risk his mother's disapproval, or follow his duty and marry someone of royal blood.

In the end, he knew that he couldn't sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of politics. He would have to find a way to convince his mother that love was more important than social status, and hope that she would come to see things his way.With a determined mind, the prince made up his mind to fight for his love and find a way to make things work. He knew that it wouldn't be easy, but he also knew that true love was worth fighting for.

[travllingbunny]

Hi! I don't know how much you're interested in the subject today, but considering how i really adored a lot of your opinions/views of the Wars of the Roses and some people involved, especially Richard III, i was wondering how you think a scenerio where Richard remained King for more time or simply won Bosworth would be

Thank you for the teresting question.

Contrary to historical fiction works that portray him as desperate at the Battle of Bosworth, I think it's more likely Richard was hoping to get rid of Henry Tudor quickly and saw him as just a temporary nuisance. If only the battle had happened a couple of days later, when Richard got reinforcements from the North, or if William Stanley had not made the decision to definitely switch sides to Henry, the battle would've probably gone completely differently.

Below is my speculation of what happens if Richard wins:

The immediate outcome seems relatively clear - we know now that Richard was in the middle of secret negotiations with the royal family of Portugal for a double marriage between him and Infanta Joanna, and Elizabeth of York and King's 16-year old cousin Manuel, Duke of Beja, which were apparently going very well. It seems unlikely that Joanna, who had been refusing to get married for so long, would accept, but supposedly the negotiations were going well. We know Richard had sent her a personal letter, so it's fun to speculate what he said that would make her reconsider. I'm thinking he may have talked about religion (as they were both known to be pious) and pitched the marriage in terms of a partnership, and how she could do good for peace and the people of England through charity work (which she was known to do) and maybe even assured her that she wouldn't have to keep having children after she gave birth to an heir? Richard was expected to remarry and have a son after his only legitimate son and his wife died, but going by his choice of bride, he was looking for a great Queen and political partner above all, and not a broodmare - I can't imagine Joanna, who wanted to be a nun and was against marriage, agreeing to keep popping up a child every year or two until she hits menopause. He also may not have been two concerned because he had an heir and spares already, even though not 'of his body'- - his adult nephew John de La Pole and his younger brothers William, Edmund and Richard. The Portugal double marriage would've been a genius political move for many reasons: it would allow Richard to claim that he was ending the York/Lancaster rift for good by marrying Joanna, since the Portuguese royal family were through the female line the main surviving Lancastrian branch; it would fulfil his promise to Elizabeth Woodville that he would find good matches for her daughters in spite of their new 'bastard' status - and how! a Portuguese royal marriage was worthy of a princess* - and could be seen as healing the rift between the Yorkists too (and would at the same time make it impossible for Henry Tudor or anyone else to try to claim the throne of England by marrying her); and it would give England a great, intelligent and respectable Queen, who had experience in ruling as regent and could rule in RIchard's absence when he spent time abroad in wars, and whose reputation for piety and charity for people would help restore his tarnished reputation.

One interesting consequence of his marriage alliance is that Elizabeth of York would eventually have become a Queen Consort, but of Portugal, as Manuel eventually became King.Manuel I in 1495.

Once the situation became more stable, Richard would've probably focused on the things he had already started to do during his short reign - legal reforms aimed mostly at bettering the judiciary and the status of common people, and he would no doubt also want to curtail the power of major noblemen of questionable loyalty such as the Stanleys - and things he is known to have enthusiastically talked about planning to do, such as trying to convince other European countries to mount a campaign to stop the Ottoman Empire's conquests in Europe. (France would be an unlikely ally, Portugal and Burgundy would be obvious ones, and he'd no doubt try to pitch it to the Holy Roman Empire.)

I don't know whether he'd be successful at that, or how long he would live, but a few most obvious historical consequences would be:

the way the previous few decades were remembered in history would be very different, and no one would ever call them the "Wars of the Roses" - which was a name given by Walter Scott in the 19th century based on the fact that Henry VII used the red-white Tudor rose as his sigil, promoting it as a sign of supposed unity between the Lancaster and York dynasties - in spite of the fact that the Lancasters didn't actually use a red rose, or any kind of rose, as their sigil. Henry VII also presented the conflicts that had gone on as a part of one ongoing conflict that he ended with the Battle of Bosworth and by marrying Elizabeth of York. In reality, these were a few conflicts separated by years or even decades in between, and before the battle of Bosworth, the last actual armed conflict fought over the throne of England had been 14 years earlier, when Edward IV won his second and decisive war over the Lancasters. The conflict between the two Yorkist factions after Edward's death did not result in any actual battle (in 1783, Buckingham failed to ignite a rebellion, and his ally Henry turned back to France, realizing the war was lost before it began), so Henry basically 'ended the Wars of the Roses' only after he restarted them in 1485. (Not to mention that Henry had to fight another battle two years later against the Yorkists led by Jon de la Pole, which is always conveniently left out in history books, and had to catch, exile or execute various Yorkist pretenders throughout his reign.) If Henry loses the battle, he becomes only a footnote in history. Edward IV remains considered the one who ended the Lancaster-York conflicts with his decisive victory in 1471. Richard probably manages to be popular and respected king (much more than Henry was with his notorious tax laws) and would likely have claimed to have 'united the York and Lancaster branches' with his marriage to Joanna (though he probably wouldn't have made a huge deal out of it as Henry did, since Henry was promoting himself as the founder of a new dynasty that would start a new era). But what of the Princes in the Tower? Well, we don't know what happened to them and Richard may be suspected to have murdered them, but Henry definitely did imprison 11 year old Edward of Warwick and keep him locked up in the Tower until he was 25 and then executed him on trumped up treason charges just because he was another pretender to the throne, but barely anyone talks about it or cares, so... (insert something about history being written by the winners)

Scotland and England remain separate independent countries. It's very unlikely that the same chain of events would happen where the daughter of a king of England marries a king of Scotland, and then a century later her descendant becomes not just the king of Scotland but also the heir to the throne of England because the ruling dynasty of England died out. There is never a Tudor dynasty, never a Stuart dynasty, never a Hanover dynasty. And there's never a United Kingdom.

There is never such a thing as Anglicanism/the Church of England, with the monarch as its head. Mind you, this doesn't necessarily mean that England remains fully or predominantly Catholic - Protestantism was gaining popularity not just in England (even when Henry was still a devout Catholic) but also in Scotland, which didn't have a Henry VIII splitting with the Pope so he could annul his marriage. It's impossible to tell how exactly the Reformation and Counter-reformation would've affected England under different monarchs and a different dynasty, since so much of the religious strife in the 16th century was linked to Henry's decisions, his break from the Pope, his marriages and annulments and his succession issues, and then with the personalities and backgrounds of his children: Edward as a staunch Protestant (just like his mother's family), Mary as a staunch Catholic (completely unsurprising with her background and the fact that her father broke from the Pope so he could annul his marriage to her mother, proclaiming her a bastard), and then Elizabeth, who couldn't be tolerant to Catholics even if she didn't care about religion, since the Pope and therefore all Catholics considered her a bastard and an illegitimate monarch. How would elderly Richard, and/or his heirs, treat Protestants? What would they think of Martin Luther, or of William Tyndale? It's impossible to tell. He was a devout Catholic, but Protestantism didn't exist at the time, and would he (who was the first of English kings to publish official state documents in English) hate the idea of translating the Bible into English so ordinary people could understand it without the help of clergy? I really don't know, and it's even harder to tell what his heirs would be like in that regard. Would there be more religious tolerance in England? For all we know, it might even be less if a particularly fanatical monarch ended up on a throne... but at least I think I can say with some certainty that English monarchs of this hypothetical York dynasty would have no personal and dynastic reasons to persecute either Protestants or Catholics the way monarchs of the Tudor dynasty had due to their specific circumstances.

[incorrect-mtg]

Flavor Text Highlights - Alliances

<- Previous Set | Next Set ->

Cool - Pillage

“Were they to reduce us to ash, we would clog their throats and sting their eyes in payment.” —Lovisa Coldeyes, Balduvian Chieftain

Funny - Mystic Compass

“And I say north is where I want it to be!” —Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Worldbuilding - Royal Herbalist

“Just as an Herbalist heals a wound, so must we heal the rift between Balduvia and Kjeldor.” —King Darien of Kjeldor

Emotional - Soldevi Heretic

“In the arms of tragedy, there is little comfort in being right.” —Sorine Relicbane, Soldevi Heretic

<- Previous Set | Next Set ->

[thereader-radhika]

Why was film!Maduranthakan not punished for his 'treachery'?

In Ponniyin Selvan 2, Maduranthaka Thevar, the son of Kandarathitha Chola and Sembiyan Madevi, is shown conducting discussions with Rashtrakutas. As the conditions put forward by the Rashtrakutas were not favourable, he rejects their proposal, and fights them.

Why is Arulmozhi being so flippant when he sees the uncle who was 'conspiring' with the enemy?

How come Sundara Cholan doesn't treat Maduranthakan like a traitor and punish him? 

Film!Maduranthakan wasn't doing anything wrong or unusual for the times. Cholas and Rashtakutas were originally friends and relatives but their relationship soured in the past generations.

Rashtakuta Emperor Krishna II was the father-in-law of the Pallava vassal and Chola chieftain Aditya I. Aditya and Krishna II's daughter (senior queen) Ilangon Pichchi had a son named Kannara Devan. Aditya I had another son, Veera Narayanan, from another princess Vayiri Akkan. She probably belonged to a branch of the Pallava royal family. 

Aditya I conquered Tondaimandalam, killed his former overlord Pallava King Aparajita Varman and expanded his kingdom. Friendship with Pallavas over. He also overlooked Kannara Devan and crowned younger wife's son Veera Narayanan aka Parantaka I as his successor. Friendship with Rashtrakutas over.

Krishna II declared war against them and the  Chola-Chera alliance defeated Rashtakutas in the Battle of Vallala (Tiruvallam). More Chera princesses were married into the Chola royal family. Rajadithan, Kandarathithan, Arinjayan', et all are the sons of these Chera princesses. But tides turned against them in around 30 years. Cholas were defeated in the Battle of Thakkolam, their crown prince Rajadithan was killed and they had to concede a considerable amount of territory to the Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna III aka Kanchiyum Thanjaiyum Konda Kannara Devan (this isn't Aditya I's son). Later, Aditha Karikalan re-takes some territory from Rashtrakutas.

So even if it is for his own purposes, film! Maduranthakan is trying to accomplish the considerable task of reaching a compromise with frenemies Rashtrakutas without bloodshed. Lakhs of people have already died due to the rift between a father-in-law and son-in-law. Also he gets to marry this goddess. It didn't work out but what's wrong with trying?

Dancer Shreema Upadhyaya

P.S. What about the new friends Cheras? As usual, Cholas and Cheras too started fighting 🤣Just another Tuesday for them. There are no permanent friends and enemies in politics.

[bladedalchemistreplica]

QUESTION TIME

Hello! Hi there, I am alive but just very busy with personal side projects, I just wanted to drop in and ask of something. I am a huge fan and have been pretty active with the VLD fandom (irl mostly, tho) and have wanted to do some rping with them. But as well with that, I have been wanting to work on other things with VLD, consisting of AU’s.

Here is my question, I want to know what is more interesting or who would be more interested in for AU wise with role playing. It has been really fun putting and pulling things together, actually! I’ll put some information on each below the poll!

I'm leaving it for uhhh... a day?? I hope to post some art. Even if I post some only during the weekend (I have my days off then and usually 1 day of the week)

My ask box is open for any questions, bit ill give the names here. ((Ngl I wasted so much time because the app ain't working and won't let me post my other rundown)

Brief run down

Till the lights go out

Voltron went missing and the Galra retaliated to get their territory back from the Blade of Marmora and Voltron coalition, with the beasts of the experiments Ranvieg took pride in, however things turned in no one's favor as the beasts seemed to corrupt anyone they were to engage with and let live.

Now, without voltron and it's odd absence, the universe is in turmoil and chaos. Slowly dying out the remaining blades and rebel members seek asylum anywhere they can get.

Once Voltron returns, nothing seems to be in its shining state, and hope for a better future.

Heavy focus on the Rebels, Keith, Kolivan, Krolia, Allura, and Hunk.

Various other members, which I won't disclose because...long long

The rift is a breeding ground and the creatures come and go from there.

Lots of grim topics and a quest to find and get to earth as it's widely untouched/undiscovered.

Various side plots so not focused entirely on main but it's there

Royal Blades

Between the alteans and galra, peace and prosperity has continued to grow and allow their own to thrive. Though with this came the conflicts and slowly growing greed from both rulers of their respective planet and peoples.

In the age of Zarkon's reign, it boiled over and caused more conflict than the previous had overseen. It didn't help that the choices between his dear friend and one of his own court made spike more to the fire between their kinds.

And now, with two of his kind piloting the defender they called Voltron, and claims of the Alteans and their own alliences, he is certain their time of peace may be coming to an end.

Zarkon, Alfor, blade of marmora, are at the center but so are those of the Voltron alliance.

Roles changed as well as some characters species of origin (Ex: mer Lance, Olkarion Pidge, Half-breed Allura, e.t.c--

Voltron is made but is split between the galra/alteans

Rift creatures are present and more of a deadly pest due to the rift on a planet the galra empire holds.

Various side plots so not focused entirely on main but it's there

[romanoffstarkovs]

Aeryna Targaryen

In the intricate tapestry of Westeros, Aeryna Targaryen emerged as a dazzling figure, the daughter of Alicent Hightower and Viserys Targaryen, and the twin sister to Aegon II Targaryen. With a beauty that lived up to the legends of House Targaryen, Aeryna possessed a charm that could captivate even the most steadfast hearts.

From a young age, Aeryna was aware of her allure, but she was not content with merely being admired for her looks. Beneath her radiant exterior lay a strong-willed and cunning mind, eager to assert her own power and destiny. She knew she was more than a pawn in the political games of her family and sought to carve out her own path.

As Aeryna grew older, she formed a close bond with her twin brother, Aegon II, sharing a deep connection that went beyond the ordinary sibling relationship. Together, they navigated the complexities of their royal upbringing, united by a shared understanding of the responsibilities that came with their Targaryen blood.

However, when the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, erupted, it shattered the bonds between Aeryna and her brother. House Targaryen was divided into two factions - the Greens, led by her mother, Alicent, and supporting Aegon II's claim to the Iron Throne, and the Blacks, supporting Rhaenyra, her half-sister and the rightful heir to the throne.

At the outset of the war, Aeryna found herself on the side of the Greens, following the lead of her family and her beloved twin brother. Loyalty to her bloodline weighed heavily on her heart, but as the war unfolded, she began to question the cause she had aligned herself with. The cruelty and violence inflicted by Aegon II's forces on her half-sister Rhaenyra's supporters and their dragons left Aeryna unsettled.

As the war dragged on, Aeryna witnessed the suffering and devastation wrought upon the realm, and she felt a growing sense of unease about the path she had chosen. Doubts and conflicts plagued her, torn between loyalty to her family and the moral compass guiding her conscience.

Amidst the chaos and destruction, Aeryna encountered a young knight named Ser Arion. He was a valiant and honorable man, and his devotion to the Black cause moved Aeryna in ways she couldn't explain. Despite the opposing sides they found themselves on, they were drawn to each other, their hearts defying the boundaries of allegiance.

As the flames of war engulfed the realm, Aeryna's love for Ser Arion proved to be a turning point in her life. She made a bold and fateful decision to switch sides, betraying her family and the Greens to support the Blacks and Rhaenyra's claim to the throne.

Her defection shook the foundations of her family's alliance and caused a rift that could not be mended. She knew her actions carried grave consequences, but she was determined to follow her heart and her conscience, even if it meant facing the wrath of her twin brother and her mother.

In the final stages of the Dance of the Dragons, Aeryna fought with unwavering determination alongside the Blacks and the dragons loyal to Rhaenyra. Her skills as a warrior and her strategic acumen earned her respect among her newfound allies, despite her past affiliations.

As the war reached its climax, Aeryna stood shoulder to shoulder with Ser Arion, ready to face whatever fate had in store for them. Together, they forged a bond that transcended the boundaries of war, proving that love and loyalty could conquer even the deepest divisions.

When the war finally came to an end, the realm lay in ruins, and House Targaryen suffered devastating losses. Aeryna's decision to betray her family left scars that would last for generations, but she had found her own identity and purpose amidst the chaos. Her story was one of redemption, love, and the pursuit of a path that was truly her own.

[ant1quarian]

An Undertale Au I made

Hello. Welcome to the Undertale au I thought of last night at approximately 3am.

I’m calling it Undervoid, since Voidtale has been taken!

Undervoid is an AU where, after a series of genocide routes, something changes. The thing that changes is that the Core is now incredibly unstable and it officially blows up before Frisk (Who was running a Pacifist Route at the time) could do anything about it.

It decimates everything. Due to the volume of the explosion, it tears a rift in the void and the void literally swallows everything. 

Player resets.

But instead, a new person falls down.

Now they’re thrown into a world where they’re constantly on the run from Void monsters- Gaster Blasters, Dragons, Fucked up sludge-Goat monsters.

And they meet a new Sans (It’s all from Void!Sans perspective). He’s aloof, unlike the original Sans and holds a strong dislike for Frisk. He also has a long whip-like tail that he keeps coiled around his leg when he’s not attacking. He also has horns. The void has literally changed his appearance and he is extremely bitter towards Frisk, who tries her best to apologise.

He completely ignores her.

Frisk gets sad, dies, and tries to reset.

She finds that instead of ‘RESET’, it’s a button that simply says; ‘CONTINUE.’ 

When she touches it, she’s promptly dragged back into her body as her soul pieces itself back together.

Papyrus is still trying his best to be good and provide shelter and homes for everyone.

Undyne is still Captain of the royal guard, but she also takes on the responsibility of guarding the kingdom against the Void monsters.

Toriel has formed an uneasy alliance with Asgore, but she refuses to stay in the palace. Instead, she works on providing what food they can find in the void to feed to the people.

Asgore now needs fourteen human souls to ‘break the barrier’ of the void back to society.

They have thirteen souls so far.

Alphys is trying to find a way to break the barrier through science.

Mettaton is still no longer a star, but instead takes care of the wounded and sick.

There’s places where Sans travels where he can see the barrier thinning to the point where he can view outwards and towards society (Where the other Sanses are currently- the Surface, which they call ‘Reality’)

Void!Sans is capable of sending his consciousness out to the other AU’s, in which his physical body is ‘asleep’ in his AU. His consciousness is fully tangible but remains to have that samed dull look as he does in his au. Shadows and light also doesn’t work on him, and he can’t feel anything like water or sunlight, even if his body is manipulating the water to make it look as if he’s touching it. He also doesn’t have a shadow.

UV(Undervoid)!Sans

Void!Sans is a 193cm male Void-skeleton monster with two horns and a 2 metre, whip-like tail that is very similar to a spine in it’s looks. Both his horns and tail have a black gradient, which matches his hands (which are pure ebony) and lower arms (where it starts to fade.) Both of his irises as a norm are indigo-coloured. One disappears and the other iris flashes vibrant indigo and blood orange. (Courage and Animosity) He has a crack in his jaw that runs up to his nose bridge. He got this when some flying debris hit him when the Core exploded.

He’s an aloof version of Sans that generally keeps a very neutral expression on his face. His emotions are extremely hard to decipher as he’s become extremely guarded and he has no thoughts of self-preservation. He’s just… done.

However, once you know him, he also becomes extremely mischevious and a massive prankster.

UV!Papyrus

Void!Papyrus is easily still freakishly tall (Even taller than before). He wears actual armour now- Red, gold and black, as are the colours of the kingdom. His features are a bit sharper, yes, and his eyes are more tired, but he continues with his cheery disposition and tries to make everything lighter.

UV!Undyne

Void!Undyne is a bit more laid-back than she used to be. Or, rather, is more tired than she used to be. Her hair is a darker shade of red and her scales don’t carry the same vibrant colours. She, too, has void markings over her hands and ears.

UV!Frisk

Void!Frisk- a traumatised person that flinches away from any sort of contact. They’re covered in void markings- humans were never meant to survive in the void- and their soul is severely cracked from the amount of times they’ve ‘CONTINUED’ after dying.

UV!Alphys

Void!Alphys has a few void markings- along with quite a few more scars. She’s still shy, but again, is often quite exhausted. Her scales are duller, and she’s more focused on figuring out a way out of the barrier. She and Undyne are still in love.

UV!Asgore

Void!Asgore is an exhausted, kind man who is fighting to keep society running at all costs. He is less kind to humans and is very often on the verge of collapsing all together, scumbing to the void.

UV!Toriel

Void!Toriel is a tired but still very loving monster who has devoted her life to help and save the people. She’s quite strict when it comes down to rationing out food, but not unkind. She knows what everyone needs to survive, and will give them that amount.

UV!Mettaton

Void!Mettaton is less flashy, but still talks the same. He and Papyrus are the only two that try to keep things light. His body is well-oiled, but still quite a bit duller.

UV!Muffet

UV!Muffet is always trying to put smiles on people’s faces and goes around providing food for the rest of society. Like the others, her colour is dulled down a bit, but she’s always willing to help out. (It’s also Canon that she treats Void!Sans like a son because of how he cares for any spiders he finds.)

UV!Grillby

Void!Grillby is often scorned at by society. His flames tend to change colour every now and then, depending on his emotions. However, they’re dulled down a bit. But he still tries his best and is no longer running a bar, but battles and also takes care of food rations.

UV!Burgerpants

Void!Burgerpants is a heavily-traumatised character that still tries to look on the best side of things, despite the fact he’s been diagnosed with severe deppression. 

...

Yes, Void!Sans, which quite literally goes by Void, is a thing now.

Void!Papyrus goes by Umber, which was a nickname given to him by Stretch when Umber didn’t know what to call himself.

He’s very cool and funny in my opinion.

He also has a massive collection of spiders that chill on his roof in his room but are mostly venomous.

Yeah! So that’s Undervoid!

Random Canon stuff

- Void’s stomach is a literal pit of emptiness, so he can inhale proportionately impossible things because his mouth acts like a vaccum. Like houses. Or Cruise ships. He also doesn’t need to eat/inhale edible food, as his body sucks up the power of the people’s magic around him.

Sans ^^

[sapientiiae]

💋

The first 5 Asks to send 💋 get a kiss 3/5 @ourowndemise

So much had changed since that fateful day when the rift had opened up between their two worlds. There was still so much uncertainty across the two kingdoms, and she didn’t know if things would forever be this way. While she’d initially wanted the rift to disappear so Hyrule — her Hyrule — could go back to normal, she now found herself praying to the Goddesses that this new Hyrule remain constant. 

Her meeting with Ganondorf, this Ganondorf, had been the spark to a chain reaction of explosions. There had been a lot of questions on both of their parts when they’d first met, which, understandably, resulted in a lot of distrust between the two royals. Her guards had always felt the need to grasp at the hilt of their swords when the Gerudo king was around, ready to draw their blades at a moment’s notice. And she herself had often felt scrutinized when in the presence of the king’s sisters, wondering what words the pair might have to bite back in an attempt to keep the peace.

With time, they’d learned to overcome their differences for the sake of their people, forming an alliance that they’d believed would benefit both kingdoms, despite the fact that their meeting had almost erupted a new war — not that her kingdom was in any position to participate in a war after the Twilight realm had plagued their land. They were still in the middle of rebuilding, which was why one of her advisors had recommended a marriage arrangement as a sign of peace between their realms. After all, it would not be befitting to have a king or queen eradicate their spouse after their two kingdoms had been united. 

So the king and queen had been married in only a few months, and their relationship had, admittedly, been rocky at the start. She’d told herself repeatedly that this was for the best for the sake of Hyrule and her people, but when had things started to change in that marriage? When had she found herself growing fond of the Gerudo king she now called her husband?

Laying in their shared bed, the Hylian queen was stirred awake by her husband’s tossing and turning. She was uncertain how late the hour as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, sitting up to stare at the restless man that let out a disgruntled huff and stared up at the ceiling.

“Kamai…” Her voice trailed, edged with sleep as she leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to his lips as her palm pressed gently against his chest before she pulled away, her auburn hair brushing over her shoulder to hang down in a curtain as she peered down at her husband. “You seem uneasy. What troubles you?” 

[xasha777]

In a distant future where the boundaries of time and space have become malleable, a young woman named Evelyn finds herself at the crossroads of history and destiny. Evelyn, with her signature cowboy hat, white blouse, green tie, and brown shorts, works as a bartender in a small, timeless saloon known as "The Nexus." This bar is unlike any other; it exists outside the conventional flow of time, serving patrons from various epochs.

One evening, as Evelyn is cleaning the counter, a peculiar device resembling a pocket watch materializes in front of her. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it's a temporal communicator, a relic from a bygone era. Before she can fully grasp its significance, a holographic message begins to play.

The hologram projects an image of a distinguished man dressed in regal attire, holding a scroll emblazoned with a royal seal. "Greetings, Guardian of the Nexus," the hologram begins. "I am Prince Edward, claimant to the French throne by virtue of my English heritage. The throne of France has remained in dispute for centuries, and the stability of our timelines depends on resolving this ancient conflict."

Evelyn, intrigued and slightly bewildered, listens intently as the prince explains that the English claims to the French throne, dating back to the Hundred Years' War, have created temporal rifts. These rifts threaten to unravel the fabric of history itself. Edward's mission is to retrieve a lost artifact, the Crown of Convergence, believed to unify the claims and bring peace to the timelines.

Accepting the call to adventure, Evelyn sets out on a journey through time, guided by the temporal communicator. Her first stop is medieval England, where she meets Edward in person. Together, they navigate the treacherous political landscape, encountering figures such as John of Gaunt and Edward III, who provide crucial clues to the artifact's whereabouts.

Their journey takes them across centuries, from the courts of medieval France to the battlefields of Agincourt. Along the way, Evelyn learns of the deep-seated rivalries and alliances that have shaped the conflict. She also discovers her own hidden lineage, tied to both English and French nobility, making her uniquely suited to mediate the ancient dispute.

In a climactic confrontation at the ruins of an ancient castle, Evelyn and Edward face off against a faction determined to keep the throne contested. Utilizing her quick wit and mastery of time-bending technology, Evelyn secures the Crown of Convergence and presents it to the warring factions.

As the crown is placed on Edward's head, a brilliant light envelops the castle, sealing the temporal rifts and merging the divergent histories into a single, harmonious timeline. Evelyn returns to the Nexus, forever changed by her journey. The saloon, now infused with the wisdom of ages, continues to serve as a beacon for travelers across time.

Evelyn, the Guardian of the Nexus, remains vigilant, ready to protect the delicate balance of history. Her legacy, intertwined with the English claims to the French throne, becomes a legend whispered across the centuries, a testament to the power of unity and the enduring quest for peace.

[themovieblogonline]

House of the Dragon: Episode 5- Recap & Review

Welcome, fellow Targaryen enthusiasts, to the fire and fury of a new era in Westeros! House of the Dragon Episode 5 has premiered, taking us back 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones to explore the rise and fall of House Targaryen. House of the Dragon Episode 5, titled "We Light the Way," throws Westeros into turmoil with a shocking event at the Red Keep. Tensions within the Targaryen family escalate as King Viserys (Paddy Considine) attempts to maintain peace between his heir, Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), and Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). However, a simmering conflict reaches a boiling point during a grand feast, leaving the realm reeling and setting the stage for a potential civil war. House of the Dragon Season 1 Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOBZtahVBZw A Marriage of Convenience (and Necessity) The episode opens with the aftermath of the tense negotiations between Viserys and Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) in the previous episode. To secure much-needed naval support and quell the threat posed by the Triarchy, Viserys proposes a marriage alliance. The chosen bride? His own daughter, Rhaenyra. This politically motivated decision sparks outrage in Rhaenyra, who yearns for a love match and bristles at the idea of being used as a pawn in her father's political games. Seeds of Discord are Sown Meanwhile, Queen Alicent grows increasingly concerned about Rhaenyra's position as heir apparent. With her own son, Aegon (Ty Tennant), now a toddler, Alicent worries that Rhaenyra will usurp the throne and ensure her children have no claim. This fuels a growing rift between the two women, who were once close friends. The episode masterfully portrays the subtle shifts in their relationship and the power dynamics at play within the royal court. A Deadly Banquet The central event of "We Light the Way" takes place during a lavish feast held at the Red Keep to celebrate the proposed marriage alliance. As festivities unfold, tensions simmer beneath the surface. A confrontation between Rhaenyra and her former best friend leads to a heated exchange, highlighting the animosity that has festered between them. The true shock, however, arrives when Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), sworn protector to the king and harboring a hidden affection for Rhaenyra, brutally murders another knight in a fit of rage. This unexpected act of violence throws the entire celebration into chaos and casts a dark shadow over the future of the realm. A Fractured Realm The aftermath of the banquet leaves the Targaryen dynasty teetering on the brink. Viserys is forced to grapple with the consequences of his decisions, while Rhaenyra feels increasingly isolated and misunderstood. Queen Alicent's resentment towards Rhaenyra grows, further fracturing the fragile peace within the royal family. "We Light the Way" does an excellent job of portraying the ripple effects of violence and the potential for a civil war to erupt from seemingly trivial conflicts. What did you think of the shocking events in House of the Dragon's fifth episode? Did you see the murder coming? Share your thoughts on the episode, the characters, and my video review in the comments below! Let's keep the conversation burning bright as we delve deeper into the world of House of the Dragon. Showrunner: Ryan Condal, Miguel Sapochnik Stars: Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, and Milly Alcock House of the Dragon Season 1 can be stream on HBO Max. Be sure to follow E-Man’s Movie Reviews on Facebook, Subscribe on YouTube, or follow me on Twitter/IG @EmansReviews for even more movie news and reviews!

[dearaliya]

The Cruel Prince: An exercise in self preservation

Dear Aliya,

Do not trust the booktok girlies, they lied.

I'll give you a synopsis, it'll help you understand what I'm talking about later without having to force yourself through the book too.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Stomached all that? Great! That's all you should ever know.

I have never, and I do mean never, disliked a book more than I disliked this. The fanart and snippets floating around TikTok and Instagram lured me in and I tried so very very hard to find something in this story to cling to.

There was nothing.

I don't know where I turned wrong here, everyone else seemed to adore the story and everything it encompassed. I just cannot work out why they cared.

The characters were all blatantly insufferable, I cannot think of a single one I was rooting for. The fae world was disjointed and connected oddly to the real world, which is entirely modern. The interactions, all of them, even the most minor between characters were so perplexing and aggravating to read.

Now, I was eager to read some enemy-to-lovers action, I don't mind the bully trope as long as it's done well. Pick on the love interest a little, teasing remarks to hide the affection you don't know how to display just yet. It's rewarding to watch the change occur, to uncover why there was that rift in the first place and watch it close.

This isn't enemies-to-lovers with bullying though.

This is 'I have actively tortured and tried to murder this woman and have no intentions of stopping my friends from doing the same and we will continue to do so eternally oh but I sometimes blush in her presence and wrote her name out a LOT in my diary.'

Cardan is an asshole and not an 'I could fix him' asshole but a through-and-through irredeemable dickhead that made me want to throw the book out when I realised he would be the main love interest. I was aware going into this that there would be a Cruel Prince but this was excessive for the sake of shock value in his grudge against Jude and you want me to believe one day these two end up together? His supposedly redeemable factor is that his brother is constantly abusing him and he doesn't fight back and he's also the youngest and most useless out of a royal line (till a later plot point occurs). That's it.

We're given no reason for why he might like Jude, he just does.

Speaking of Jude Duarte.

What on God's earth is her motivation for staying? What is tying her to the land of the fae? She is blatantly abused, tortured and threatened, no one wants her there and yet she is determined to belong. WHY? The ENTIRE book I was hoping for some fathomable reason as to why she was fighting so hard to stay in the realm of fae and all I could come up with was stubbornness.

I understand wanting to make a point, to earn her place of belonging amongst a group for the sake of power, that leaving would mean that they won, but why should she have ever cared? If she didn't have time for the opinions of these people while they were picking at her insecurities, then why care what they might have thought of her abandoning ship?

Remember this from the synopsis? But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Yeah, her sister stabbed her in the back for her own chance of belonging so she's really got NO ties to anyone in the fae realm.

Why does she need to risk her life for any of those idiots? What has the faerie court ever done for her? We are given NO reason that she would ever sacrifice anything about herself for this place other than she lives there. DO YOU SEE WHY I'M STRUGGLING TO CARE?

I don't know if she's a better person or a worse one than me because I would have dipped once I saw everything was collapsing and never once looked back.

I will never, ever, read any other book within this series. I don't care if gets better later, it should have been good enough in the first place if it wanted me to continue.

I don't care to see Carden mature and become a better person. I don't care to see Jude accomplish her goals or fail them, whatever they may be. I don't care to watch them awkwardly stumble around one another until they end up in the worst relationship ever committed to paper.

I DON'T CARE. I'M LEAVING THE WAY JUDE SHOULD HAVE.

Nothing more comes to mind, I apologise for you listening to my thoughts. I’ll see you next time, stay well!

Hannah xx

[chaiwrote]

* mainverse / essential details for zhi hua.

zhi hua was the future ruler of one of five regions in her family's kingdom. but, it's a responsibility she didn't want. often, she would find ways to get away from her studies, only wishing to tend to her vast garden or spend time by the sea. this is where she meets akai.

at the time zhi hua meets akai, he's just starting out sailing with his brother on his ship. the pirates of the crimson dragon pose no harm to them as her family's kingdom and his brother have struck an alliance. they become fast friends and whenever he comes to visit, she asks him to take her with him. but, because of the peace between the two parties, akai's older brother forbids him from giving into her wishes as it would anger her parents.

however, when akai's brother dies and many of the original crewmembers of the ship, he succeeds him as kensei as captain. his first decision is to ask zhi hua to be his first mate to which she readily accepts, causing a rift and a breaking of peace between the pirate group and her family.

she's the only one on the ship who hasn't entered into agreement with the sea: the same agreement akai is under. after the time she spent feeling bound to the responsibilities of her royal status and the fear of being tied down and without agency, she refuses to enter into any oath that would have her feeling the same way. the only person she pledges loyalty to is akai himself. ( will expand on this in another post when i know the details ).

zhi hua isn't the name she's born with, rather one she's chosen. her former name is one she will never use again.

although zhi hua is estranged from most of her family, she has a messenger bird she uses to send letters / receive letters to and from her younger sister and twin brother.

her responsibilities on the ship are: providing / cooking for the entire crew, restocking and replenishing food stuffs, and assisting in creating weapons and other gadgetry for the ship, scouting for useful weapons.

[leakinghate]

My SFW art for the @loturazine Royal Alliance!! Love me some snuggles.