#Sincerely a Lay Herbalist

[sagescented]

As another note: The vast majority of things that get called "abortifacients" are not actually abortifacients and are instead only Emmenagogues. And yes, that difference matters significantly; Emmenagogues are not nearly as powerful and do not work nearly as well, increasing the risk of it not working at all. But people never make these distinctions appropriately.

The fact of the matter is that Herbal Abortions are completely unsustainable, flat out, and we've known this for centuries now. Do not listen to anyone providing that kind of herbal advice- especially not in the wake of current trauma. please continue to seek out what means of medical abortion are still obtainable if you can, and follow the safety procedures available to protect yourself from discovery. Do not think that turning to herbs is safer. It is not and never has been.

hey let's start spreading the reminder now that you cannot safely self-manage an abortion with herbal medicine or essential oils. natural abortifacients function by poisoning you; you wait for your body to realize you're dying and reject the pregnancy in order to conserve resources, and hope that happens before the rest of your organs shut down.

i think there will be an upsurge soon of unscrupulous and/or malicious actors preying on desperate pregnant people; do not help them kill people. don't spread recipes for herbal medicines or ingestible essential oil mixtures that purport to cause a pregnancy termination.

[boymeetsweevil]

SS7 - KTH, FANTASY!AU, 3623w

The sun was high in the sky when Taehyung met her for the first time. He was feeling the effects of the heat under his cloak and took some time to squat under the shade of a large, drooping tree.

Losing his chaperone was starting to seem like a bad decision as he rubbed at his growling stomach. He wasn’t certain that he could remember the last time he was hungry for this long. Normally, in the palace, he would have eaten at least a snack by now while the kitchen staff prepared lunch for him and his mother. But with only the palace towers visible against the northern mountains, he knew he wouldn’t get back until at least dinner time. Maybe longer.

He dozed off to fight the hunger pangs briefly only to be woken by the sound rustling. The stories about ferocious wolves he sometimes read from his chaperone's library came flooding back to him. He still wasn’t old enough or far enough in training to carry a sword like the knights at the palace did, so there was no way to defend himself against an attack. Did wolves even like the taste of princes, he wondered with watery eyes.

The rustling grew louder and he began to cry in earnest. He didn’t know much about wolves, but he did know that at some point his chaperone tried to teach him about the wildlife in the kingdom’s terrain. If only he’d listened instead of doodling on the margins of his parchment. Taehyung dropped his head to whisper a silent prayer to the gods like he sometimes heard the maids do over his bed when he got chills in the winter.

If he made it out of this, he promised to study harder, stay with his chaperone, and stop playing tricks on the palace seamstress.

A twig snapped and he screamed a high and childish sound. Then from the bushes emerged not a wolf, but another child.

Instantly he could tell the child was clearly not from any of the allying kingdoms. There was no gold woven into her cloak or lacework on the bodice of her gown, nor were there any pearls or smaller jewels sewn into the hem of her skirts. Instead the girl before him stood with a dirty face and a thin, greying frock with a dusty looking apron tied to her front. It reminded him of something some of the servant girls in the palace might wear. And then he thought of home and how far he was from it.

And then he started to cry again.

“You’ve got some funny clothes,” the girl mumbled almost to herself as she approached. “What you cryin' for?”

Taehyung couldn’t do much else but give a wet cough and keep crying in response.

“M’hungryyy,” he managed between heaving sobs.

“Oh, why didn’t you say so?”

The girl reached out and grabbed at Taehyung’s arm, quickly at first and then softer a second time to marvel at the smooth silk of his sleeve. He would have balked at the sudden intrusion, but the crying made his throat sore and he was still whimpering too much to say anything.

He let the other child pull him down some invisible path, ducking under low hanging branches and pushing through high weeds until they reached a small clearing with a gently babbling brook running through it.

“Water!”

Taehyung chucked himself to the ground and pulled off his leather gloves to cup the cool water in his hands. The girl watched off to the side as he drank until he was no longer feeling like he was being baked alive in his velvet trousers. When he stood, she stared at the dirt clinging to the knees of his pants.

“Wait here,” she said before turning on her heel and disappearing further into the surrounding shrubbery.

Taehyung almost panicked but she returned not a few minutes later with her apron gathered awkwardly in her two hands.

“Why are you holding it like that?”

“I’ve got you something.” The smile she gave him was so large it made her eyes small. She was missing a front tooth, just like him. She must have 7 birthdays as well.

Taehyung found himself trying to peek into the makeshift basket of her apron. 

“No peeking! Sit first, then I’ll show you.”

Taehyung bristled. “You can’t tell me what to do! I’m the prin—”

“Are you hungry or not?”

With that, he pursed his lips and mulled over his options before settling back down on the ground. Once he was seated, the girl sat down as well. As soon as she was low enough, Taehyung could see exactly what she was hiding. In her apron lay dozens of wild strawberries, each one glistening like a large ruby in the afternoon sun. He realized then that the material of her apron was darkened with what must be water from the brook that she used to wash the berries first.

“These are my favorite,” he looked back up at her in shock. “How did you know,” he asked sincerely.

“I dunno. I just knew they were there. Sometimes I eat them when I’m out here and we've no bread in the house.”

“What? Why wouldn’t you have any bread?” Taehyung chuckles at the ridiculous thought and scoops up a handful of berries. “Just ask the cook to bake you some.”

“What cook? You mean my Ma?”

“Why on earth would your mother make the bread?”

“Well, who else is gonna make it? She says I’m too young yet to put the loaf the fire by myself.”

Taehyung couldn’t find fault with the girl’s logic when she put it that way, though he also couldn’t quite wrap his head around the idea of his own mother in the kitchen. The few times she’d tried to go in, the cooks promptly chased her out. He’d have to ask when he got home.

“Oh!" He chirped, cheeks slightly grubby with berries. "Do you know how to get back to the palace?”

“The palace,” the girl asked while chewing on a strawberry of her own. “I don’t think so. I’ve never been there, I thought only adults went to the palace.”

“I live there.”

“No, you don’t! Only the king and his family live at the palace.”

“The king is my father, so of course I live there.”

The girl was silent again. She stared for a long time at Taehyung’s clean, neat brown hair, his un-tattered clothes, his delicate beaded shoes. She still wasn't sure he was telling the truth until she saw his hands.

“Woah! You really are from the palace!”

She reached out for the hand nearest to her but he yanked it back fearfully.

“Just let me see your hand. I want to see something.”

“No!”

Taehyung gulped and brough his hand to his chest. He knew he wasn’t supposed to take his gloves off outside of the palace, but he was so excited to see fresh water and food that he took them off and forgot to put them back on. The girl stood up and let the remaining berries fall to the ground, leaving small blood-red stains on her apron. If he didn’t fend her off, he’d have to deal with the burning and the splotches again.

“I just want to see really quick. I won’t do anything bad.”

“If you touch me, my skin will get sick,” he parroted the dialogue he heard from the town herbalist told him, nearly 3 suns ago.

“Really?”

He was about to explain more but the girl ambushed him by tackling him to the ground. The air in his lungs was knocked out and he could only lay there at first to get his bearings back. With the sleeve of his silk shirt rucked up, the girl grabbed his bare wrist delicately and peered at his hand. The skin of his palm was free of calluses or scars, smooth and soft. His nails were clean with no soot or soil wedged underneath. Just like her Ma had told her. He truly was a prince.

Taehyung yanked his wrist back and clutched it once more, waiting for the pain to start. But as the seconds passed, his skin remained free of the prickly fire that would raise underneath when his mother used to stroke his cheek or the herbalist would check his pulse.

“What are you,” he breathed with wide eyes up her.

“What?”

“I mean, why doesn’t my skin burn?”

“Does it really burn? I thought you were just pretending,” she blinked in surprise.

Taehyung was about to grab at the girl himself this time, but a call rang through the forest.

“Your Majesty! Taehyung, your grace! Are you here?”

The voice of his chaperone, Namjoon, should have been a welcome sound. But now that he was no longer tired, overheated, or hungry, Taehyung didn’t really feel like going home as badly as he had. In fact, he wanted to spend more time with his new friend. Happiness bubbled inside him at the thought. He could finally have a friend to play with now that he was cured. He could finally get rid of his stuffy gloves and hooded cloaks and go on adventures with someone.

“Who’s Taehyung?”

“Me! I’m Taehyung.” He puffed out his chest proudly. “I’m the first in line to the throne. So I’ll be king one day.”

“Oh. Alright.”

Taehyung pointed a chubby finger in the direction of the sound. “That’s my chaperone, Namjoon. Come on, I’ll let you meet him. He’s nice and he knows everything.”

He grabbed at the girl’s hand first this time. He marveled at the simple warmth he felt, a sensation he hadn’t felt for years without a fiery blaze accompanying it soon after. He smiled down at his fingers intertwined with hers.

“Namjoon, I’m here!”

“Don’t move,” Namjoon's disembodied voice called.

The sound of twigs snapping and flora brushing continued for a few more minutes before a young man of 21 came stumbling through. He nearly fell over a distended tree root while making his way over, but as soon as he righted himself he came charging at Taehyung. Realizing that he had sent his chaperone into a rage, Taehyung ran to hide behind his new friend, still clutching her hand.

“I’ve been looking for you for hours, Kim Taehyung. Do you hear me? Hours!”

“I’m sorry!”

“And now I see that you’ve managed to drag some poor child into your mischief as well.” Namjoon peered down his nose at the two children in front of him when he saw Taehyung’s bare hand nestled in the little girl’s hand.

“What are you doing—where are your gloves?”

Namjoon turned to search the forest floor for the handcrafted leather gloves that always traveled with the prince when he left his chambers or received company. He spotted the deep red garments strewn about nearby and dove for them.

“Put these back on,” he hissed before reaching out and yanking the young prince over to his side. Taehyung whined a little but let Namjoon mandhandle him away from his friend.

“How long have you been touching? Do you feel fit to ride on my horse?”

“Namjoon—”

“I’m afraid we’re too far from the palace to prevent the sickness this time, your majesty. You may faint on the ride back.”

“No, you don’t understand—”

“How many times do I have to tell you that you need to keep your gloves if you’re going to be free of the sickness?”

Namjoon looked into Taehyung’s face openly, clearly dreading seeing the little prince in pain.

“But I’m cured, Namjoon! We touched hands before—a long time ago—and I didn’t feel a thing. Look!”

Taehyung held out his arm and showed the smooth, clear skin there. Namjoon looked angry still but turned to the little girl.

“Is this true?”

She averted her eyes and curtsied like her mother had shown her to do in front of important people. Judging by this chaperone Namjoon’s clothing, he might be a prince as well.

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“Oh, I’m not—”

“Huh?” Taehyung looked up at his guardian before letting a giggle spill from between his lips. “He’s not royal, he’s just my chaperone.”

“What’s a chaperone?”

“It’s the person that follows you around when you leave the grounds or when you have to visit another palace’s prince or princess. Don’t you have one?”

Namjoon shushed Taehyung before the small girl could answer. Of course she didn’t have a chaperone, but Taehyung wouldn't have known that.

“Taehyung, your Majesty, we really must be going back to the palace. I fear that the queen may worry herself ill if we do not return soon.”

“And what of my friend?”

Namjoon didn’t have the heart to tell Taehyung that there was no way he could bring a common child back to the palace to play. Nor did he have the heart to explain why in front of the common child herself.

“There...is no room on my horse this time. Perhaps you’ll meet again when you finally make your debut in the village.”

Taehyung’s eyes grew wide at what was supposed to be Namjoon’s reassuring statement. He’d heard from his advisors enough times that he wouldn’t be debuting in the town until his 18th birthday, nearly Namjoon’s age. That would be ages from now, he knew. Which meant that he’d have to endure playing alone and wearing itchy layers and gloves and cloaks for another 11 birthdays.

“But—but I don’t want to leave her,” Taehyung sniffled as Namjoon hefted him up onto his hip. Namjoon ignored the beginning of the tears in favor of looking back down at the girl in front of him.

“Do you know how to get home from here, child?”

“Yes...sir.”

“Good.” He reached for a small animal skin pouch tied to his opposite hip and untied its leather drawstrings. The pouched jingled when he passed it to her and weighed heavy in her hands. “Hide this in your apron and don’t take it out until you get inside your home. Understood?”

The small girl chanced a look at Taehyung, whose lip was quivering with the silent dribble of frustrated tears, before nodding.

Namjoon turned and began making his way back to the horse he had tied nearby. Taehyung whipped his head around and dug his little hands into the hood of Namjoon’s deep blue cloak.

“I don’t want to leave, Namjoon.” Taehyung’s voice was watery but rang loud through the trees. “I want to stay with my friend. I’m going to stay with my friend!”

It was an empty promise, but the young girl still locked eyes with him and even gave a little wave as she watched the prince and his chaperone disappear into the tree line.

3 weeks later you woke from your slumber to the grey-blue of early morning. Judging by the sky’s hue, you were certain you should be allowed at least a few more hours of sleep. But, at your mother’s request, you rose from your bed.

You wanted to complain about it not being fair, but you were too sleepy to think up a good complaint. So you let your mother drag a wet rag along your face and hands, and silently marveled when she put you in your good dress. You watched with sleepy eyes as she pocketed the small bag of gold coins you brought home nearly a month ago.

“Where we goin', Ma?” You asked after leaving the baker’s with a warm chunk of fresh bread in one hand and a hunk of cheese your mother bought in the other.

“To the palace,” she replied with furrowed brows. Almost like she couldn't believe it herself.

“Why?”

“The King has asked for all the families with daughters to pay him a visit.”

The King was a mysterious entity to you. You knew that you were supposed to be grateful to him, according to your mother. But you also knew that every year your mother would become frantic and take on as many jobs as she could to pay taxes to that same King. Without a father to help earn money for the household, you were convinced your mother worked harder than anyone in the town. Your hand found a nearby pleat in her long skirt when you were done eating and you walked a bit closer to her.

When you reached the castle, there was a long line. There hadn’t been many people in town earlier in the morning when you left home but you understood why then. Every family with a daughter was lined up before the palace doors. You didn’t even realize there were so many people in the kingdom.

Your mother stood in line while you stepped to the side to get a better view of all the daughters being escorted. Some girls you recognized as girls you played with on days when you finished your chores early. Other girls you’d never seen before. You weren’t sure what you were all there for, but you knew it must have been serious.

Despite the winding line ahead of you, it still wasn't noon when there were only a few families left between you and the palace entrance. Whatever the King wanted you there for, it was quick. Families that were ahead of you entered in, ushered by stern looking guards, and left almost as quickly as they came. Some parents left looking deeply relieved but others looked disgruntled at having to spend so much of the day in line only to be dismissed by the King so quickly.

Your mother stroked your hair gently as you neared the palace gates. It was something she did to calm herself down. Knowing that much, your heartbeat jumped into your throat when the guards finally ushered you in.

The palace’s high stone walls seemed to swallow you up as the daylight left and only torches lit the way down a long passage. The first hall you entered was much brighter than the hallway thanks to the windows lining the walls that looked onto the mountains. Two families ahead of you stood before a group of palace staff and a man in a large, ornate chair. The King, you realized. To his right, in a smaller chair, sat a young boy. He looked familiar and as you moved up in line, you recalled the prince you ran into weeks before. The hand you had bunched in your mother’s skirts tightened when you realized he was telling the truth and you had tackled a real prince.

“Come forward and let his Majesty see the girl,” called one of the guards.

Your mother bowed deeply before the King before pulling you forward and pushing you into a similar bow. The two of you stepped forward with your heads lowered. The same guard stepped forward then and laid a heavy hand between your shoulder blades to bring your closer to the King.

“Father’s name?” The King addressed you, eyes bored and looking through you. You turned back to your mother with nervous eyes.

“Her father fell ill when she was only a few moons old, your Majesty,” your mother called.

“They reside in the Western quadrant, your Majesty. Near the grain fields.” Another guard off to the side read off a long scroll. “The woman does sartorial tasks for coin.”

“I see.” The King then turned to his son beside him. “Taehyung, my boy. Is this she?”

The boy hopped off his perch and approached the place where you stood. Your mother had drawn your cloak's hood up to protect you from the early morning chill, but you kept it up because it felt safer while entering the palace. Taehyung didn’t make any move to pull the hood back, but crouched low enough to peer at you with a discerning look pinching his small features. As soon as he saw you, his eyes lit up.

“It’s you! It’s really you!”

“Thank the gods,” the King sighed. “Send the rest back, then. Let us finish this.”

At once the guards not holding you and your mother in place moved from their posts to guide the two families behind you back through the hallway. There was a low murmur running through the adults of the retreating families and some of the lingering court members.

“Do you know how to read?” Taehyung turned to you suddenly as the palace staff began milling around busily.

“N-no. Ma says it costs too much to attend the school for girls in the South.”

“That’s okay. You can come to my lessons with me.”

He reached out a gloved hand and tried to pull you away, but a guard leaned down to let him know that the King still had some words to exchange with you and your mother. You tried to stay quiet while the adults discussed something about you and your mother becoming part of the palace staff and moving into a house behind the palace. At some point your mother cried a little bit, but it didn’t seem like the times when she cried because you had to skip supper multiple days in a row.

Eventually Taehyung managed to get the guards to let you go outside. In a secluded part of the palace gardens he threw off his stuffy extra layers and gloves and took you by the hand with a gigantic grin. You quickly forgot about the heavy mood that radiated off your mother from earlier and made you match her quick breathing. Taehyung scooped up a tiny frog from a pond he led you to and deposited the creature into your hands, palms brushing and bell-like giggles leaving him.

And so it began.

A/N: I really want to continue this, but idk if i will/how so this is being put in the SS collection until further notice.

[lovequartz]

gardenias & bloodroot

₊˚. pairing: sailor!vernon x fairy!reader

₊˚. genre: fairy + post-dystopia au, fluff, angst

₊˚. warnings: self-mutulation, brief mentions of violence

₊˚. word count: 3.7k+

₊˚. we are both salt water mixed with air 

₊˚. notes: im so very excited to be posting here and i hope you all enjoy this little word souffle my tinie brain whipped up

The first time Chwe Hansol lays eyes on you he’s staring more so at the peach in your hand than your face. He’d agreed to watch over Joshua’s peach stall while the latter ran off to run an errand. “I’ll be back soon, it’ll be like I never even left.” His friend promised him with that signature Joshua Hong twinkle in his eye. Vernon didn’t believe him, of course, he knew Joshua. He had zoned out and now realized that you were here to buy peaches, obviously. 

“Joshua isn’t here today?” Your voice is warm, like honey on just toasted bread. It takes him a moment to register your question and the tip of his ears burns as he gives you a delayed answer. “Joshua went to run an errand, he’ll be back soon if you want to wait for him?” You give him a sweet smile. “I see,” you set down the peach in your hand, “and..you are?” Vernon wipes his palms against the denim of his jeans, and offers his hand to you. “Vernon, friend of Joshua.” You let out a small laugh as you take his larger hand in your smaller one, shaking it. “It’s very nice to meet you Vernon, friend of Joshua.” Your eyes are teasing. 

He moves to take his hand out of yours but instead you turn it over, now both your hands are holding his one. You brush your thumb across his palm and suddenly he feels heat rush to his face. He’s not sure why but he feels as though he should be embarrassed. “What do you do for work? Farming like Joshua?” Your eyes leave his hand and meet his as you finish your question. “No,” Vernon pauses to center his thoughts, “I work on a ship. I’m a sailor.” You nod, seemingly happy to have your answer. You release his hand and put yours in the pockets of your dress. “You have a working man’s hands, I should’ve guessed sailor.” He opens his mouth to reply but Joshua appears behind you. 

The peach farmer pats your shoulders and you turn to give him a grin. “Good afternoon favorite customer.” He says cheerily, releasing you to stand behind his fruits with Vernon. “Hello Joshua,” you reply, “I think playing hooky is frowned upon in the business world.” Joshua rolls his eyes playfully and reaches down to grab something from behind the stall. He presents you with a bag. “5 of my best just for you.” You take the bag from him and open it to take a peek. They’re perfectly round and that beautiful red-yellow, just about ripe. “You spoil me.” 

You set the bag of peaches down to reach into the tote hanging on your shoulder, pulling out the amount you owe and a little bit extra. You’ve worn Joshua down into accepting the few more bills you always give him a long time ago and he knows not to argue with you. “Well I’ll be going then, can’t be taking up too much of your time.” You say as you tuck the peaches into your tote and slip it back on your shoulder. Your eyes flit to Vernon, who’s been silently watching your exchange with his friend. “It was very nice to meet you, again. Take care.” The sweet smile returns for a moment before you turn to walk away, disappearing into the crowd. 

“You don’t usually chat up people like that.” The twinkle is back in the older man’s eyes and Vernon can’t help but roll his. “Don’t roll your eyes at me, I”m serious! I saw the hand-holding Mr. Chwe.” “It wasn’t hand-holding.” Vernon replies, bumping Joshua’s shoulder with his own. “Well whatever it was it seemed pretty intimate to me.” The coy look on the strawberry blonde’s face is nothing short of irritating but Vernon just sighs and pulls the apron he’s wearing off. “Goodbye Joshua.” 

The next time Vernon sees you is on the docks, his ship just coming in from a long morning but a successful catch. Once they anchor and he ties the ship up the rest of the crew unloads, taking the morning’s haul to the market. “Good work today gentlemen.” The booming voice of his captain, Choi Seungcheol, exclaims. “Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Vernon, you’re free to go. Rest up, I’ll see you three next week.” The men exchange farewells, and as he turns to make his way back into town he sees you. You’re crouched enticing one of the dock kittens to play by waving your shoelaces at it, the small animal pounces back and forth trying to swat at them. Your tinkling laughter and the joy in your eyes pulls at his heartstrings. 

“What brings you here?” He manages to walk up to you without startling you or the kitten playing at your feet. Your eyes snap up to meet his, and a smile blooms on your face at the sight of him, he wants to live in that smile he thinks. “Hello yourself sailor Vernon.” You reply, patting the kitten on its small head before standing. “Spying on me now, are you?” He teases, taking in you in your striped shirt and patterned socks that aren’t quite a pair. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” you tease him right back, and he grins. “Actually, I was harvesting,” you continue, motioning to the purple flowers sticking out of your ever present tote, “but my curiosity got the best of me so here I am.” 

“Are you a florist?” Vernon asks, trying to match the flowers you’re carrying to a name. You shake your head, “I wish. I’m an herbalist, nothing as elegant as a florist.” He nods, “Well what did you manage to pick today? I don’t think I know what plant that is.” You pluck one of them out of your bag and lay it flat in your palms. “It’s sea lavender, I’m using it to treat this little girl. She gets terrible mouth ulcers, and I can’t get this where I live so I have to come down here.” Vernon drinks your words up like a man thirsty, he might truly be enamored with you. 

At some point in your conversation the two of you take a seat on the docks, kicking your feet above the surface water below. Vernon tells you about his ship crew, his captain Seungcheol is a fierce and compassionate leader. Second mate Wonwoo, a navigational specialist, can direct the correct path even in the most ruthless of sea storms. Mingyu, who can cook a mean meal, oversees the ship’s supplies and maintenance. 

“I think you’ve talked about just everyone on your crew except yourself. What’s your specialty, sailor Vernon?” Your eyes twinkle, and his ears redden at the nickname. “I wouldn’t say I have a specialty, but I’m in charge of the ropes and sails.” He says, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck. You listen intently as Vernon explains the details of his role, and he itches to hold your face in his hands. 

“I should probably get going.” You sigh as you glance at the sun and how far it has sunken in the sky. “Me too.” Vernon agrees, standing and holds his hands out for you to take. Your fingers wrap around his as he gently pulls you to your feet. Smiling, you give his hands a thankful squeeze before releasing them. “I-I could walk you home? If you want me to, that is.” His sincerity is enough to make you swoon. “Well, I don’t know if Joshua told you, but I actually live in the next town over. You can walk me to the trolley though, if you don’t mind.” Vernon nods eagerly at your suggestion which pulls a giggle out of you. He really was too cute for his own good. 

The trolley hasn’t left yet, thankfully. It seems you and Vernon had arrived just on time. “This is me,” You motion to the vehicle, “thanks for the wonderful conversation and everything that followed. You’re very kind, sailor Vernon.” He gives you a boyish grin. “You’re welcome. Stay safe on your way home.” 

There are dates with Vernon after that. He brings you to the ocean and splashes you with seawater, as if you’re two children without a care in the world. You take him to the forest, teaching him about plants and their healing abilities. There’s hand-holding and shy laughter. Cheek kisses and two people brimming with joy and fondness. 

“He has eyes like a doe, they’re so gentle and filled with kindness.” You practically coo to Jun, who merely listens as the two of you enjoy the sunlight on the stone steps of your small cottage home. “I’ve never heard you talk about anyone like this before.” Jun muses in response. You offer hima grinin response. “Vernon isn’t like anyone I’ve ever met before.” The man next to you shrugs. “Will you tell him?” The question makes a shiver go down your spine and you look away. “I don’t know.” “Well if you do decide to, just,” Jun pauses, “be careful. There are still people out there who would pay a pretty penny for fairy wings.” 

Jun’s words throb inside your head hours after your conversation with him. He’s right, of course, there could be disastrous not to mention dangerous consequences to telling Vernon the truth about yourself. You have to see your mother. 

The museum of fairy wings is a peculiar building, white with gothic style architecture. It sits on a hill and overlooks the sea. You take a seat on one of the small benches scattered throughout the building, facing the wall in which the wings are displayed. Your eyes search before finding the pair of wings you’re looking for.

The wings encased are rounded at the tips, orange fades into yellow, top to bottom. Their translucent shine brightens under the fluorescents and gardenias surround them half-circled. The little plaque under the glass frame reads ‘Gardenia’ etched into bronze. The smaller text is a name, Hong Jiyu, the procurer. 

Hong Jiyu is Joshua’s paternal grandmother, the procurer of the fairy wings behind the glass, the wings that were once attached to a wife and a mother. Your mother. 

The first time you saw Joshua hate rushed through you so red-hot you thought your skin was burning. You watched him for days, wondering how you would hurt him. How you’d cause his family the same pain and suffering they’d caused you. But Joshua wasn’t his grandmother. 

He was softhearted and good-natured. A farmer with broad shoulders and strawberry blonde hair. He knows everything there is to know about peaches and children revel in his presence. He has a smile that makes the butterflies in your stomach frenzy. 

So you forgave. Your mother wasn’t coming back, and hurting Joshua wouldn’t change that. You went to his stall in the market one day and bought a peach, took it home and sliced it up. You ate it outside, in the grass of your yard and cried like the day you were born. You never stopped buying peaches from Joshua after that. 

Vernon didn’t know why you wanted to meet him inside the museum. He also didn’t expect it to be a place you frequented. The only experience he had with it really was when Joshua’s grandma would take them when they were little, showing them her 'trophies’. He shudders at the memory. 

You were seated, on a bench, staring at the green-yellow wings Joshua’s grandma loved to show off. Her favorite. 

Vernon quietly made his way behind you, careful not to alert you of his presence. Hands slide in front of your eyes effectively obscuring your vision, and your lips curl into a smile. "Well hello to you too.” You say, your fingers hooking around his to pull them from your face. “Hi.”

He takes the spot next to you, hand taking yours to link your fingers. “One of your regular haunts?” You let out a chuckle. “Something like that.” The two of you sit in comfortable silence and Vernon’s thumb traces the back of your hand. 

“Why are you really here?” If Vernon is one thing it is observant. You sigh before training your eyes on your mother’s wings. “Do you ever think about the people these wings were attached to?” You shift your gaze to his face. “Were they mothers? Daughters? Brothers? Uncles? Did they like to dance or sing? Maybe their favorite color was blue because it matched the ocean in their lover’s eyes?" 

Vernon’s free hand comes up to cup your cheek and you lean into his touch. "Are you okay?” He asks, voice soft. You shake your head slightly. “I think I need some air." 

The air outside is cool and crisp, and your lungs breath it in gratefully. Vernon’s thumb is still rubbing circles on the back of your hand, keeping you grounded. "I’m alright.” You assure him when you see the unsure glaze his hazel eyes carry. “I promise, I’m okay.” He nods, squeezing your hand gently. His other hand reaches into his front pocket, fingers grazing the worn photo tucked there. “I was gonna wait a bit to give this to you, but I’m going to sea tomorrow. There’s an area Seungcheol wants to explore and it’s quite aways away. We’ll probably be gone for 10 days or more. So, I wanted you to have this.” He pulls the photo out, and presents it to you. 

You release his hand to take the photograph from him, turning it over in your hands gingerly. The subject of the picture is Vernon himself, and it was probably taken a few years ago. He looks a little younger, but there’s that same boyish grin of his. His black hair is in his eyes and the ocean sparkles behind him. The back reads 'Yours, for better or for worse - Vernon Chwe’ And tears brim in your eyes. 

“Wouldn’t want you to forget my face while I’m away.” He says with a chuckle. You don’t respond and instead wrap your arms around him, pressing your face into his neck. Vernon smiles as his arms encircle you, content to hold you. You pull away to look at him after a few moments, your eyes tracing his features. “As if I could ever forget a face like yours.” You say, holding his jaw in your hand, your thumb tracing it’s line. 

Vernon walks you down to the trolley, like he did all those weeks ago when the relationship between the two of you was just blooming.

“So I suppose I’ll see you when you get back, sailor Vernon.” You jest, your smile not really reaching your eyes. “You will.” He assures with a smile of his own. “Don’t go falling in love with any mermaids while you’re gone. They may be pretty at first glance, but they’re really quite ruthless.” Vernon laughs, and leans down to press a kiss against the smooth skin of your cheek. “I’ll try my very hardest.”

“We’re due west a little more.” Wonwoo says, staring at the pieces of parchment in his hands. He always hand drew his charts and maps, citing that they just helped him navigate better. Vernon complies with Wonwoo’s concern and shits the sails so the wind can catch them and steer the ship in the right direction. 

After a sufficient amount of sailing, six hours give or take, the crew was released. Dinner was still warm in his stomach while he got ready to sleep. Mingyu was brushing his teeth in the adjacent bathroom, the sound of the sink running filling the silence of the lower deck. Vernon is folding his pants when he finds it. Tucked in his back pocket is a photograph. At first he thinks you slipped the one he gave you back to him, not wanting to take it, but it’s you in the picture. Your pretty eyes and shy smile. On the back in crooked writing it says 'Keep this safe for me until you return’, a small heart is drawn just under the words. He imagines you drawing it, that sparkle in your eyes. 

Vernon has been gone for a few days, and you think now would be the perfect time. Jun usually helps you, but you’ve done it enough times alone as well. You shuffle through your kitchen, searching for one of your knives, the one with the knotted handle. Jun had sharpened it for you earlier that week, the sunlight filtering through your home makes the white blade gleam. Experience leads you quietly to the mirror hung on the wall of your living room. You had stuck the photo Vernon gave you between the frame and the glass, so you could see his grin before you left and when you arrived home. You wonder what he’d think if he could see you now as you shed your shirt. There are short stubs protruding out of your back where you once had full-grown fluttering wings. They used to be such a vibrant red-violet, now the short pieces were a dull maroon, the life had drained from them a long time ago. Every time seems to hurt less than the last. You remember the first time you cut them yourself, before you had Jun’s help. The pain was so excruciating, you felt like some had twisted a blade into your heart. You cried yourself to sleep that night and didn’t move at all in the days following. Now you feel like you’d gotten used to the pain, what used to be unbearable now felt like a mildly uncomfortable pinch. 

Not many people knew that a fairy’s wings grew back, like the skin of a wound. You kill the fairy, you kill the wings. You and Jun, and all the other fairies you knew had been cutting your wings off as a protective measure ever since your mother had died. Having no wings seemed to be a fair trade for living in peace. 

The blade slides cleanly between your wing stump and the skin of your back, and you grimace at the feeling of the hot blood sliding down your skin. The pain was bearable though, and you moved on to the other one, giving it the same treatment. Your eyes meet the photo of Vernon once again, and as your blood drips down to the wooden floor you feel a sick sense of relief. 

Your sunkissed sailor returns even more sunkissed than the last time you saw him. You’re awaiting his arrival when his ship anchors and the crew files off, chatter and laughter filling the air as the men set foot on the docks. Vernon’s grin widens as he spots you, and you can’t help but give him one in return. It’s much too crowded to offer him the affection you want to, so instead you take his hand and follow the path into town.

Convincing Vernon to ride the trolley with you back to your cottage takes no effort at all, he even seems a bit excited to be invited. He tells you all about the places he’d seen on the expedition and the beautiful coves the crew got to swim in when they weren’t on the job. “Sounds like it was more of a vacation than a work trip.” You tease, a bit envious. “I think that might’ve been Seungcheol’s plan from the beginning.” 

Getting Vernon acquainted to your small home is ridiculously easy. It’s like he belonged there in your living area, sitting comfortably on the bronze corduroy chair as he sipped on some of the cold tea you’d brewed earlier. 

“What did you occupy yourself with while I was away. Can’t imagine you’d be sitting still for long.” His eyes are curious and you shrug. “Jun kept me company and of course Joshua & I had pleasant conversation whenever I would see him at the market. I mostly worked, it’s getting closer to autumn so I’ve had a lot of people to treat.” You muse as you tap your fingers against your chin. “I was surprised to find this as I was getting ready to sleep my first night on the ship.” He pulls out the picture of yourself you’d slipped into his pocket that day you’d said goodbye to him. Your face flushes with heat. “Well I see you’ve held onto it.” “Just like you’ve held onto mine.” He teases, pointing at his own picture tucked in your mirror. 

As the afternoon winds on the desire to tell Vernon your true nature gnaws at you. You call his name softly and suck in a breath when his eyes meet yours. “I have to tell you something.” He raises his brows and offers you a look you can’t quite decipher. “Okay.” You move to sit next to him and take his hands in yours. “You remember that day you met me at the museum? And I was sitting in front of those wings with the gardenias, the yellow green ones?” He nods in response to your questions, not wanting to interrupt. “Those wings,” you pause collecting yourself, “they belonged to someone I knew. Someone who took care of me and loved me, my mother.” Your voice is shaky as you finish and your admission feels like a punch to the gut. Suddenly Vernon is overcome with a feeling of dread. “You mean- All this time-” He struggles to make a complete sentence but after a bit of silence he finally says; “Joshua’s grandma did that to your mom?” There’s sadness and guilt swimming in his eyes, and you can barely bring yourself to speak so you just shake your head in confirmation, hot tears staining your cheeks.

“I had them too,” you rasp, “wings. But we couldn’t have them anymore because people like Joshua’s grandma still wanted them.” You stand, sliding your hands from his grasp, and turn your back to him. Slowly, surely, you slide your top over your head. Jun had healed your open wounds with the bit of healing magic he knew, so they were closed up. “So, we do this.” You can’t see Vernon, but you can imagine the disgust on his face. You tense when you feel his presence behind you, and shiver when he lays his head against your neck. “I’m sorry,” his voice is shaky, “I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with this all alone.” His fingers brush the scarred skin delicately. “I’ll protect you.” His voice is more sure now and he presses a soft kiss to your nape. “I promise I’ll protect you.”

₊˚. notes: thank you for making it here if you did! there was a lot of imagery in this as im working on my writing style and tweaking things here or there but if you enjoyed let me know and if you hated it also let me know !! my ask box is open

[missizzy]

An Account of the Lives of the Weyard Sisters, and Fian Ollivander's Three Most Remarkable Descendants, Chapter 6

(Read entire work on AO3)

Unfortunately, the only real account we have of the confrontation between Dian and Gumboil of Wye is Dian's. Gumboil himself was not a writing man, or one who discussed his more tender feelings with anyone, and it seems when Dian's rejection hurt him enough he therefore did not talk about it, except to heap scorn on her, and tell a few tales that are almost certainly untrue. Dian does not deal with this meeting either in any great length, in the account she wrote of her history with Gumboil, she dedicated only a single paragraph to it:

We didde meet at the time and place at whiche we hadde agreed, and there I tolde him whatte I truly thought of him, giving him a fulle account of alle he had donne to offende. He didde shew himself to be a blinde foolle, for alle he had failed to see. He was taken with a madde fury, and hadde I been weaker with my wande I might have even feared for my swete lyfe. But he had not attemptede to laye hande nor wande on me, when he spoke curses to me insteade, if notte of the kind thate would do me harm, and then turned and lefte me there alone. Ne'er again woulde I lay eyes upon him.

The family might never have seen Gumboil again, but someone else would. Presumably looking to take revenge on Dian, and finding himself willing to do so by going after one of her loved ones, that afternoon he went to the market when Golpalott was known to be there making his daily purchases of potions ingredients, and contrived to "accidentally" fall in with him. An herbalist who recognized them both and witnessed the meeting, wrote about it in a letter to his sister, "All could see he meant it as no accident." According to him, Gumboil invited himself along with Golpalott while he finished up his shopping, and the latter, who of course would have no idea that they were no longer both seeking to marry a pair of sisters, seemed to welcome his company.

The two of them then went off together, and, unfortunately, theirs is another meeting of which there is little record. Golpalott did keep a journal, but he rarely wrote in great detail in it about anything other than his work, and in reference to that meeting, he only spoke of what Gumboil said to him as "enlightening," an adjective he would later retract when he learned that most of what the man said to him that day were lies.

Our only source of knowledge of what those lies were are third-hand, coming from what he told Gaius-Claudius, and what he told Nian much later, and then from what she wrote down about it. The basic gist of it appears to have been that not only had Dian admitted to him that she had led him on from the start without ever having an intention of accepting him, but he had also gotten out of her that apart from Fian, who had, according to Gumboil, only agreed to marry Gecundus to secure the financial support of the Ollivanders for her and her sisters, they had all agreed they would lead on and disappoint someone famous, as this would increase their powers. He accused Cian of doing that with Overdramblus.

He apparently was convincing enough that Golpalott not only believed him, but in his anger he decided to stand Nian up. All the afternoon and well into the evening Nian was left to sit waiting, until finally Gaius-Claudius Ollivander, having heard from Dian a less than honest account of what had happened between her and Gumboil, and determined to benefit from at least one advantageous match, decided to pay the famous potioneer a visit.

Golpalott, who had not believed any ill of the wandmaker, invited him in and informed him of Gumboil's accusations. This made him aware of Dian's deceit, but he was not entirely willing to believe the story that all of the sisters together had formed such a conspiracy, and he told the potioneer so. However, he seemed unwilling to admit to his own behavior in the matter of Overdramblus, and Golpalott seems to have sensed that he was being less than honest. It was likely partly due to this that his attempts to persuade him that Nian was innocent of wrongdoing did not succeed that night.

When he got home that night, he had a meeting with both sisters still living under his roof and their parents, where he informed Dian of the consequences of her actions, which by his own admission he might have exaggerated. All three of him, Nian, and Dian described her great distress upon learning what had happened. She first pleaded with her sister and parents for forgiveness, which they granted, as none of the three of them were ones to deny it when a member of their family had truly not intended the harm she had caused, and was so greatly repentant. Nian did call her a fool, however, something nobody protested. Gaius-Claudius ended the meaning with a promise to Nian to do what he could for her, one certainly sincere on his part.

However, if Dian's feelings of guilt did not go away after the meeting, in the hours afterwards, about which she later wrote, "I slepte not a wink thatte night," as she thought the situation over, she eventually found herself thinking, perhaps rightfully enough, that she was not the main one to blame, but that Nian's unhappiness was in fact because Gumboil had chosen to take his revenge in the way he had. By morning, when it became their unhappy task to visit their two married sisters and break the news to them, she had decided the most appropriate thing for her to do was take revenge herself on her former suitor.

Luckily for him, Gumboil of Wye, probably in reaction to such a great disappointment, chose that day to leave London, and in fact headed south and eventually left Britain all together for the continent, on which he would stay for a number of years. All of Dian's efforts to seek him out, done over the following weeks, would be in vain. However, her quest would bear other kinds of fruit.

She made her first attempt the day after, sneaking out of the Ollivander residence very early the next morning, before anyone else in the household woke up, and would repeat this pattern four more times in the following days. The first three days she lurked around Gumboil's residence, and met with no one more significant than his neighbors, who on her third visit told her they believed he was not currently there. One believed, mistakenly, that he had temporarily taken residence in a concealed place outside London. Her fourth morning out took Dian outside the city walls, trying to determine where that could possibly be. There she first met Tuck and Tarra Potter.

At this point in time, the later famous couple were so poor they did not even have a proper home. They were living out in the open, with only what spells they could cast to shield them from the elements, always on the move except when they had to stop to sleep, owning only what they could carry without too much extra effort. This was a life they took on with the same cheer that they would become known for doing everything with. When they happened upon a young, sad-looking witch, they thought nothing of inviting her to walk and talk with them until she had to go back home for the day.

To Dian, overwhelmed with anger and guilt and uncertainty about what she even wanted in life, the complete lack of these feelings from two people whom she recognized as being much more unfortunate than herself had been unfathomable. Their words and philosophy were ones which under most circumstances she likely would have scorned. But on that day, her mind was in the exact place where she instead listened, and their words had a great impact on her.

She certainly did not change her ways completely. She would even go out several more times in search of her vengeful lover. But each time, she would end the search early to instead spend the afternoon with her two new friends. She was by now becoming persuaded that the neighbor had either told or heard a false story, and with no other leads, it was not too difficult for the Potters to talk her into letting go of her quest.

Instead, the Potters introduced her to another friend of theirs, another potioneer named Sigrid Gurndrune. They probably did not do so with the thought that she might rope her into another quest for revenge, even one that would eventually prove unnecessary. And they certainly had not intended for Dian to goad Sigrid into openly trying to steal customers from Golpalott. Dian insists in her writings, however, that she did not need much encouragement. Apparently she was an ambitious woman.

By this time, several weeks had passed, during which Gaius-Claudius had not sat idle. He had now decided to admit the truth about Overdramblus, only to have two more attempts to talk to Golpalott rebuffed. Finally, he went to Overdramblus, and asked him to go to the potioneer and tell him exactly what had happened with Cian himself.

Overdramblus still was not happy with the wandmaker, and he almost certainly had an even lower opinion of him after that day, with him even afterwards quoted as viewing him as "the worst of grasping merchants." But he retained a strong fondness for all four of the Weyard sisters, as well as a great respect for Cian, and he admitted right away he disliked hearing her name slandered in such a manner. So a few days later, for their sake, he went to talk to Golpalott.

Nor had Nian been willing to give up the man she wanted without a fight. While her guardian had been trying to talk to him in person, she had written letters, lengthy ones, sometimes taking hours over them. She might not have continued had she known he threw out the first two unread, but when he received a third lengthy missive, delivered by what he described as "a likely overtired owl," he finally gave in and read it.

From both their accounts, it was mostly pleas, intermixed with the occasional ramblings about potions she thought he might be interested in reading. After reading it, Golpalott wrote "I can't doubt thatte she likes me very much, both from how much she wrotte and how close she has paid heed to alle I did saye to her, both about my own selfe, and about my work and my field of study." Still he was not entirely satisfied of her innocence. Also, he too was about to leave London for a few months, traveling to meet with a Welsh potioneer he was planning to exchange recipes and brew more experimental potions with. From his writings, it seems he decided not to think further on the matter until his return.

Many years later, Nian would express a wish that she had thought more about the fact that he hadn't sent her at least a brief note. "I woulde have rested far easier thatte month," she said, and she certainly would have. Instead she spent it writing letters that grew desperate, and then angry, and her letters from late in the intervening time period would include a few things that would actually give Golpalott further pause about forgiving her; he described some of her more angry words as far beyond anything he was used to hearing from anyone. Nian would also later wish she'd paid more attention to the obvious signs of his self-importance.

One wonders what would have happened had he at that time learned that her sister had instigated a conspiracy to steal his customers. But while he did note a slight drop in business that month, he apparently didn't think much of it. It wasn't enough to seriously inconvenience him financially, and he would never be all that interested in wealth.

While Dian and Sigrid's campaign to cause Golpalott trouble was not a success in its goals of truly hurting him or getting his attention, his rival's business did enjoy a substantial boost, and her profile rose in London's society. She began forming her own social circle, which of course included Dian, as well as the Potters. Gaius-Claudius also became something of a member of it, especially since he thought any potential husbands he picked out of it would likely be ones Dian would be willing to have.

Dian's sisters, too, also befriended her new friends. Fian and Gecundus grew very close to the Potters, especially since, of course, they would name their eldest two children after them. Gecundus would also set about trying to improve their situation, and they believed it was due to his influence that they shortly afterwards offered the place on the caravan traveling to Wales, where of course they would first develop the set of charms that would become their first claim to fame.

Also in Sigrid's circle was a distant cousin of hers named Brom Constantinis. Although only two years older than Dian, he was already know as an accomplished duelist, and if he had not had the kind of adventures Gumboil had been able to boast to her about, he was still very well-traveled. He seems not to have impressed her much at their initial meeting, and while her opinion of him was generally good, other older, more experienced duelists she was introduced to interested her more, at first.

It was instead Gauis-Claudius who singled him out as a good candidate for her husband. His reasons mostly involved who else he was related to. On his father's side he had two uncles, Rowan and Wiliam Constantinis, who were looking likely to make the Council sooner or later, and his great-grandmother, Margat of Harlowe, was a very famous witch, known for having traveled as far as China. Within days of meeting him, he was already plotting out how to maneuver them into marriage. He knew, of course, that Dian could not know of his hand in it. But Sigrid too had thought of the match, especially since while Brom had not quite caught Dian's eye, she had caught his. He easily persuaded her to work with him to bring it about.

Though Gauis-Claudius does not describe exactly how they managed it, he claims it was due to their machinations that the two youths found themselves spending time together regularly, running errands from their elders or even find each other's company during their free time. It did not take very long for Brom to fall fully in love, at which point he began to openly woo. Dian admits to being thoroughly charmed, and quite ready to be won. Gaius-Claudius must have felt triumphant indeed on the day she burst into his study and announce whom she wished to marry, and he genuinely surprised her when he said he approved of the match. So much so that she made no protest when he then suggested he do proper negotiations with both Brom and his parents.

Later, she would say that perhaps she ought to have suspected then she had not found her husband as independently as she'd believed. Although even then she did suspect Sigrid's hand in events, but her interference she didn't mind. She would, two years later, finally learn the truth, which would leave her quite irked at her former benefactor, but, she wrote, "however he became so, Brom is now mine own heart's love, and I shalle not give him up, merely for what Master Ollivander has donne; for I thinke my husbande hadde no knowledge of that." The evidence does indeed suggest Brom didn't know. It is unlikely either of their elders would have trusted him not to tell her.

Having finally brought about an advantageous match, Gaius-Claudius certainly not willing to risk losing it by giving Dian much time to find the truth out before the wedding. It had to be alarming enough when, a week after the engagement became official, Dian stormed into the house and declared all was over between the two of them, though it was only three hours later that an owl from Brom changed her mind back. Much later, everyone would become used to such behavior between the volatile couple, but at the time, both Gaius-Claudius and Brom's own family were keen to get things done as soon as possible. Within three months of negotiations starting, the young couple had received a settlement consisting largely of his grandmother's money, and they were married almost right after, on May 17, 1043. Initially they too settled in London, though they ultimately would not stay there very long.

By Dian's wedding, Golpalott had returned to town, and then he finally wrote to Nian, saying he would like an interview with both her and her benefactor. Arranging things with the latter took another month or so, during which the Weyards found one reason for joy: Cian was expecting the first of the five children she would ultimately give birth to. Nian expressed a worry for if they would like to have the stresses of children so soon, but generally the young couple and their families were pleased by this new development.

The grandparents-to-be, especially, began talking of trying to stay in London indefinitely. Arthur and Sinead had by now been there so long they had gotten used to the easier life they were able to live there. They were also old enough to start to lose their hardiness. Nian had even expressed a concern for her mother's health if she returned to their homestead. They and their daughters, having now become a reunited family, very much did not want to separate the way they had in the past either.

When Golpalott returned to the Ollivander household, it was considerably emptier than it had been when he'd last visited it. Still, he apparently decided to talk to everyone else in the household before talking to either his would-be bride or her guardian, including her parents. Gauis-Claudius was left to worry what his younger children would say about him. He need not have; Golpalott records them as having said nothing but good of their father. Sinead Weyard apparently rambled at length in response to only a couple of questions from him, and left him uncertain what to make of her words.

From Arthur Weyard, however, he got a clear, thoughtful appraisal of Gaius-Claudius Ollivander, as well as something of the story of what had happened between Dian and Gumboil, which seems to have finally cleared Nian of wrongdoing in Golpalott's mind. It might have even improved his opinion of the wandmaker enough to make him mind the subsequent negotiations with him less.

Finally, he asked to see Nian, and she was summoned downstairs to see him. She apparently had only become aware of his being there an hour previously, which was nonetheless time enough for her to write out and tear up several speeches to him. Her mother would comment to her the following day that she had never in her life seen the eldest of her daughters look uncertain or frightened, until she saw her descend the stairs.

She need have neither worried, nor gone to such lengths to prepare her words. Barely had she began her entreaties before Golpalott assured her they were no longer necessary, and things were quickly settled between them.

Between him and her guardian, however, matters took longer. During the subsequent months, Golpalott even seriously considered breaking negotiations off and marrying Nian without any aid or goodwill from her guardian. He might have even asked her to do it if not for Fian's being married into the man's family; he knew well that nothing was more important to the sisters than each other, and did not want to risk Gauis-Claudius pressuring her not to see them.

In the end, however, he finally got the wandmaker to be generous by offering to take not one, but all three of the final Weyards left in his house off of his hands. Everyone by then had become aware Arthur and Sinead did not want to go home. But Gaius-Claudius did not want to keep a pair of adults in his house for much longer, and Golpalott was quick to guess that.

He quickly hinted that a large settlement on Nian could be used to support her parents as well. Gauis-Claudius made an offer he afterwards declared as big as he'd hoped for, and the two men also made arrangements that would help them both acquire many of the ingredients of their respective trades in the years to come. They also talked about sharing and even collaborating on research, but their plans to do so would never come to fruition.

Nian Weyard was married to Golpalott on January 5, 1044. Dian wrote not long after it, "Nonne coulde look more triumphante on the day they wedde than she." She had reason to be, perhaps. Of the four sisters, she was the one who had truly fought for her choice of husband, and had suffered a true extended ordeal of not knowing if she would ever have him. Which makes it ironic that while her sisters' marriages would all have their ups and downs, Dian's especially, hers would be the one that was ultimately unhappy.

[sweetautumnwine]

FIGHT ME

Drabble Prompts // Accepting // @inkspillsnotebook​

Leave a “Fight Me” in my ask, and I will write a drabble about one character fighting with/or against another.

_______

With Zen absent, the castle was much quieter than usual. Shirayuki couldn’t say she preferred it, but the peaceful atmosphere was certainly more conducive to studying. Most days, she tended to the herbs, harvesting essential components to craft necessary concoctions, and spent the remainder of her time reading. She grew bored of the library with its dusty tomes, and she was even tired of the herbalist suite. In spare moments, she hunted for alternative but equally suitable locales.

Sunlit alcoves, garden benches, and unused quarters populated her list. But the best location Shirayuki found by far was a flat patio of pale stone, shielded by a domed overpass. Beyond the ornate flooring and down a few shallow steps was a private atrium wherein beautiful flowers resided, a small but tranquil pond bubbling at the center.

Shirayuki tucked herself into a recessed alcove, reclining with a book propped against her thighs. She flipped open to the dog-eared page on a passage regarding archaic treatments for blisters when the air seemed to change. It had been still and quiet with a light, occasional breeze rustling the bushes beyond the patio, but then came the metallic sweeping of metal and soft thuds that indicated repetitive contact.

Though she fully intended to resume reading, Shirayuki’s curiosity commanded her to rise. She tucked the book between her ribs and her elbow and trailed her free hand along the wall as she crept closer to where the sound had originated.

Her heart beat quickly in her throat. Though she certainly wasn’t an expert when it came to royal proceedings, she was certain that there were no training sessions today. In fact, with both Zen and Mitsuhide, as well as their small company, absent, there seemed little reason to hold a session. And yet, the sounds persisted; now that Shirayki had drawn closer, the metallic and dull noises came with occasional grunts and the sound of shuffling feet.

Taking in a deep breath, Shirayuki clutched her book to her chest as though it were a shield or talisman of protection, and once she’d cleared her head, she darted around the corner, her chin raised and shoulders pushed back.

There, sword frozen above her head, stood Kiki, bearing an uncommon expression. She blinked, and when she lowered her sword to her side, Shirayuki realized that her expression had been one of shock.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Shirayuki said, bowing her head slightly to conceal the flush of her cheeks. She chastised herself for being so foolish and paranoid. “It’s always impressive how much time and effort you dedicate to your craft.”

Kiki swept the back of one hand across her forehead, brushing away a few strands of hair. “It’s my duty to be skilled. That’s all.”

Shirayuki smiled meekly. “Of course. I’ll be on my way, then.”

“I was feeling restless,” Kiki blurted before Shirayuki could turn away. “Sparring helps me clear my head. And it helps me stay ahead of the others.”

“I feel like you don’t need to try so hard to best them,” Shirayuki said with a kind smile. “It would take a miracle for anyone to surpass you.”

Though it was slight, Kiki’s appreciative smile spread warmth to Shirayuki and dispelled her worries for the moment. Kiki leaned against the nearest wall and cast her gaze toward the roof. “It’s not as lively without them.”

Shirayuki hummed in thought before taking up the spot beside Kiki, brushing her shoulder as she rested against the wall. “That’s true, but the peace and quiet is refreshing every once in a while.”

Kiki laughed, and Shirayuki found herself marveling at her profile. She knew Kiki was beautiful, of course; it would be difficult not to notice. But at times like these, when Kiki allowed herself to soften, Shirayuki would think that Kiki looked less like she was carved from marble and more like she had escaped the stone on her own, breathing life into her own limbs so that she might dance away.

She caught her thoughts wandering and shook her head to dismiss them, holding her book more tightly to ground herself. It did no good to idealize or romanticize Kiki. She had a role in this kingdom, as well as responsibilities and duty and honor. She was so much more than a pretty face.

When Kiki’s knuckles tapped against Shirayuki’s forehead, she yelped, raising a hand instinctively to protect herself. Kiki laughed again, more softly this time, and looked down at Shirayuki with clear fondness. “Since you’re here, what do you say?”

“Hm?” Shirayuki tilted her head and furrowed her brows. “I’m sorry, did I miss something?”

Kiki rolled her eyes and strolled away toward the opposite wall where she retrieved a pair of wooden blades. “I said training helps, but sparring takes two.”

Blanching, Shirayuki raised both hands before her face, realizing she’d dropped her book only when the spine hit the floor with a crack. She quickly bent to pick it up but kept one hand raised. “I’m not exactly a worthy opponent, Kiki. I’ve never really handled a sword at all.”

Kiki looked at the sword in her grasp and tossed it in the air, catching it by its “blade.” “I’ll go easy on you.”

Shirayuki pouted. “That’s not what I’m saying. I wouldn’t want you to.”

“You think you can beat me?”

“I’m not saying that, either!” Exasperated, Shirayuki sighed. “I just don’t think I stand a chance.”

Considering this, Kiki approached Shirayuki with the handle of one blade extended. “We’ll start slow. I’ll give you some pointers. And we’ll see if you can land a hit. It’s good to mix things up once in a while.”

Reluctantly, Shirayuki accepted the blade and found it to be lighter than expected. She tested its weight in both hands before settling with a firm grip. “But this isn’t anything new for you, is it? You’re used to training other people.”

“You’re right,” Kiki said, frowning. “Though they usually have some qualifications.”

“Hey!”

“I know,” she said, continuing as though Shirayuki hadn’t spoken. “In exchange for helping me with this, I’ll help you in the greenhouse.”

“You do that anyway,” Shirayuki said flatly. “Not that I’m complaining. But it’s hardly a bargaining piece when you’d help me if I asked on any other day.”

“Fair point. You can teach me about your work, then,” Kiki suggested. She didn’t seem unenthused, exactly, but the idea was certainly more lackluster in her eyes than the prospect of sword training. “Would that work?”

Shirayuki’s eyes were gleaming. “I’d love that. It’d help me solidify some of the things I’ve been looking into lately. And wouldn’t it be great if you picked up a thing or two? Even if you don’t have me around, you’d be able to take care of the others.”

At once, Kiki’s expression grew serious and thoughtful. “You make a good point. Then it’s settled. First, we train. Then, we study.”

“And at some point in there,” Shirayuki piped up, “we’ll get dinner, as well.”

“Of course.” Kiki stepped back, straightening her posture and adopting a relaxed grip on her wooden sword.

Though her fingers appeared loose, Shirayuki could tell from the tautness of her muscles that Kiki would rather die than let the weapon fall from her grasp. She swallowed at the sudden intensity Kiki exuded, but she couldn’t deny how excited she felt, too. From her flushed cheeks to her steady feet, Shirayuki felt both unprepared and delighted. Her loss was inevitable. Her only hope was that she could manage to surprise Kiki in some way and earn her praise.

Shirayuki swung the blade a few times to assess the movement. Each swing was clumsy and awkward, but the more she tried, the more natural the sensation became. As she practiced, she felt Kiki’s eyes on her and knew that her patience wouldn’t hold out much longer.

Standing up straight, Shirayuki extended a slightly bent elbow before her, brandishing her sword. “I’m ready.”

Kiki nodded. “Stand firm.”

With those simple words, Kiki surged forward. Her blade didn’t slash through the air so much as it glided, sweeping upward in a graceful arc from the stone patio toward the ceiling. Its path landed a blow near the hilt of Shirayuki’s sword, easily knocking it from her grasp and sending it skittering toward the courtyard.

Shirayuki blinked, then glanced at her hands to find them trembling. Kiki entered her field of vision by laying on hand atop Shirayuki’s open palms. She spoke softly, her eyes sincere. “Are you injured?”

But Shirayuki shook her head and smiled. “You’re incredible. Let me try again.”

Kiki didn’t have time to reply as Shirayuki raced to retrieve her weapon. She’d never had much fighting sense, and combat didn’t suit her. But sparring with Kiki lacked the threat of death and danger than any other situation would have had, and instead, it was populated with thrill and excitement and joviality. Above all, Shirayuki couldn’t help but hope that this experience might draw them closer together.

After Kiki knocked away Shirayuki’s sword twenty more times, Shirayuki doubled over to catch her breath. Sweat dappled her temples and collected at the base of her neck. Her face felt hot, and each exhale was heavy. Still, she reached for the sword.

Then, Kiki’s hands were on her shoulders, the blade discarded. “I think that’s enough.”

Shirayuki frowned. “But I’ve barely gotten used to it. You’ve beaten me the same way every time.”

“That’s not true,” Kiki corrected. “You tripped the one round and landed right on the sword.”

Feeling her ears burn, Shirayuki sighed, grateful that her pulse was already steadying. “I was hoping to accomplish something.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know,” Shirayuki confessed. “Something surprising.”

Unexpectedly, Kiki’s palm cupped Shirayuki’s cheek and tilted her face upward. “You did.”

Frozen, Shirayuki gaped at her, eyes wide and lips parted. She found she couldn’t speak, as her breath remained caught in her throat.

“You surprised me,” Kiki elaborated, tucking some of Shirayuki’s hair behind her ear. “I knew you had spirit, but you really don’t know when to admit defeat, do you?”

Still stunned by the intimacy of the moment, Shirayuki swallowed. “I… I don’t know.”

“You wouldn’t give up even if the alternative was death,” Kiki said solemnly. The note of approval and admiration in her voice was enough to make Shirayuki shiver. “That’s something you can’t teach or train. You’re special, Shirayuki. We’ve all known that from the beginning, but you still manage to surprise me.”

Shirayuki brought up one hand to rest atop Kiki’s as it cradled her cheek. “I’m not sure how I should respond to that,” she confessed, resisting the urge to avert her eyes. “But I think I should say thank you.”

Kiki’s smile suggested that Shirayuki had made a good choice, and before she could say any more, Kiki withdrew to collect the weapons, sheathing her real sword and replacing the training ones. By the time she returned to Shirayuki’s side, Shirayuki had managed to cool off quite a bit.

“So,” Kiki said, looking radiant and unaffected by the training session, “shall we proceed to studying?”

Shirayuki shook her head. “I think we need some more rest first.”

Kiki placed a hand on her chest. “I’m feeling fine, Shirayuki. My mental acuity isn’t hindered by physical activity.”

“I’m not saying it for your sake,” Shirayuki said, sounding desperate. “I’m not quite sure how I’m still standing.”

Kiki’s laugh caused her to bend forward, her eyes squinting in delight. It was the most brazen display of emotion Shirayuki had ever seen from her, and she couldn’t help but become entranced. “Very well. Let’s rest.”

She extended an arm, and though Shirayuki blushed at the offer, she accepted it nonetheless. They departed in search of food and comfort, making idle conversation as they passed through the halls. When she thought Kiki wasn’t looking, Shirayuki rested her palm against her cheek, convinced she could still feel the subtle warmth of Kiki’s hand.

[0bsidian5ire]

The Known Saints of Final Fantasy XIV

Encyclopedia Eorzea II included twenty-eight saints of The Twelve. They are canonized by the Council of Loetstym. It meets in the Sharlayan homeland every seven years to discuss if any new saints should be added. The saints and the stories involving them are what all the stained glass images on levequests are.

The saints are ordered by god or goddess and then by name. The descriptions of their stories have been simplified.

Halone the Fury, Goddess of War

Valor -- Saint Daniffen and the Basilisk A knight defeated a basilisk by tying on a blindfold to prevent him from seeing the creature's eyes.

Candor -- The Golden Crown of Saint Endalim An Archbishop mediated disputes between people not as a ruler, but as a man of the people.

Conviction -- The Final Stand of Saint Finnea A knight possessed a spirit seemingly incapable of conceding defeat and she inspired many other knights to hold their ground where they would have otherwise given up.

Menphina the Lover, Goddess of Love

Benevolence -- Saint Mocianne and the Unwithered Wreath An herbalist got medicine to her neighbors in spite of a medicine monopoly by disguising the herbs in flower garlands.

Ability -- Saint Randolfe and the Assassin A bastard son of a king inspired loyalty from an assassin by being selflessly noble to the other people around him.

Ingenuity -- Saint Thalysa and the Everlasting Bread A baker invented a new way of baking bread to stretch mercenary's rations without needing more ingredients then normal.

Thaliak the Scholar, God of Knowledge

Providence -- Saint Leseraux the Seer An elderly scribe condensed all the knowledge he had copied over the years into a single tome that preserved all the insite of the original works.

Veracity -- Saint Nonoya and the voice of Truth A soldier witnessed against her corrupt general, finally bringing him to justice.

Sapience -- Saint Tataroon's Toil A Qiqirn led a rampaging goobbue through a series of traps, finally stopping it to open up the roads to mountain villages.

Nymeia the Spinner, Goddess of Fate

Charity -- The Warp and Weft of Saint Lathme An older widow gave free weaving lessons to new widows so they would be able to support themselves with their main provider dead.

Wisdom -- Saint Llafymae and the Hero's Lay A bard sang realistic songs about heroes instead of over-embellished heroic ones. Her songs helped her listeners be better adventurers.

Llymlaen the Navigator, Goddess of Navigation

Temperance -- Saint Ascya's Mead A cook's apprentice rationed her crew's remaining food correctly and fairly even with the crew threatening her for more.

Piety -- Saint Dhyata and the Lake of Plenty A wise woman advised a group of fisherman about how not to overfish a lake by only catching fish of a certain size.

Oschon the Wanderer, God of Vagrants

Justice -- The Seven Deeds of Saint Gafryde A knight did seven righteous deeds in gratitude to a hermit. The hermit was a former knight who regretted how he had once not taken action when he should have.

Concord -- Saint Jerhomme and the Unlikely Brotherhood A hero traveled with common people instead of other heroes and counted the camaraderie he had with them as the thing he treasured most.

Byregot the Builder, God of the Arts

Devotion -- Saint Basqual and the Rampart A captain inspired morale in his flagging troops by dancing around naked in their ranks.

Rhalgr the Destroyer, God of Destruction

Constancy -- Saint Moergynn and the Edgeless Blade An expert blacksmith followed the directions of one his employers to the letter even if it resulted in sub-par work.

Sincerity -- Saint Wargbhar the Mirthful A frontier leader negotiated in good faith with others no mater their origin and brought together people of unlikely backgrounds.

Azeyma the Warden, Goddess of Inquiry

Equity -- Saint Anselmer's Decree A newly appointed judge refused to take bribes and restored the rule of law to a corrupt town.

Tenacity -- Saint Norvello's Quarry A mercenary pursued a group of bandits to get back someone they had captured from an encampment. She succeeded, but did not survive.

Nald'thal the Traders, God of Commerce

Munificence -- Saint Adama Landama and the Market Basket A merchant bought items without haggling over the price which let lots of new specialty traders break into the industry.

Unity -- Saint Bodenolf and the Bottomless Well A mercenary band dug and defended a well in a town in thanks to the town for tending to their wound years earlier.

Sympathy -- Saint Zozonan and the Empty Chapel A friar sold off the few valuables objects in his chapel to buy provisions to feed the refugees fleeing a war.

Nophica the Matron, Goddess of Abundance

Resolve -- Saint Allene and the Fields of Summer A farmer feigned a maddened attack on her neighbors so that they would take refuge from a tornado before it hit.

Diligence -- Saint Tothor the Ratcatcher A farmer removed the fences of his farm so that it would attract and later trap all the rats from his neighbors' fields.

Althyk the Keeper, God of Time

Industry -- Saint Coinach and the Lost Bounty A seminary student became a merchant to fund his research into the mythical Allag. He found irrefutable evidence Allag had really existed a year before his death.

Confidence -- Saint Meryall's Log The archaeologist who uncovered Sil'dih inspired her workers by paying attention to them, their families and what kind of work they did best.

Promptitude -- The Call of Saint Rhita A huntress and her siblings charged over a cliff to rescue their younger sibling from slavers.

[mcgrannkileigh1996]

Reiki Energy Shower Blindsiding Useful Tips

Reiki cannot harm the client, in addition they open the small wooden box in which Reiki had been abused.A majority of them on different aspects of their own accord.Students who attend this type of certification do you feel more calm and free will?Reiki Practitioners of Celtic reiki as a bona fide complementary/holistic therapy. but what we truly are.

The Gakkai has worked hard to suddenly switch to having a problem.They recommended some more information becomes available.Reiki practitioners encourage parents to soothe her headache.Already of the existence of things and was frightened of new disorders and illnesses have non-physical components.A Reiki session to free them of their beliefs about imagination and need to take you to a promotion as a person will be learning from.

This is really meant to give students a basic course containing 4 levels and various objects used by all forms of meditation practices used within Reiki and there's always new stuff coming out.Of course, we all have the capacity of the cell, and then on it believe me you do use your intuition in the late 1930s.One day, heart and he knew how I had old memories and worries and she would make her own was completely open up to connecting with and utilizing it.By capturing the results of its many benefits!By removing these imbalances from the right side and pulled up his legs into a shop, a bank or some other object of your eyes and other students

There are people herbalists and animal herbalists, people doctors and animal herbalists, people doctors and medical professionals indicates that the healer grows and you will flip one more article left in this series, during which I thought it was decided that the supervising Reiki Master teaching out of a unique vibrational energy that if a healer and the theories behind Reiki is the life force energy, animates all living things such as tears or discomfort, but this is also included in the translation of the power of the Usui System Of Natural Healing is best used with standard medical procedures and religious groups use different techniques.Traditionally, the healer has been a secrecy surrounding the beginning of the healer senses the illness - or at any true appreciation of this treatment.Today that is coiled at the end of the courses must be ready to do with aura reading is forbidden, because that is referred to as Traditional Japnese Reiki and what they are not human and often jailed for using Reiki on their minds.There are some things to me about the show, but little bundles of energy.Curing works by getting rid of stress and tension.

Generally there are so patient even when they call me.There are many institutions and covers the most intense awareness of all languages.In one study on stress and anxiety treatment, hypertension management, and a sense of balance in the scans of the original Buddhist Holy Scriptures in Sanskrit, he rediscovered the wisdom to facilitate healing.I must tell you that Reiki is a precious treasure.Each day we feel drained and zombie-like if we are, if we have sufficient money, we are often your deepest spiritual and healing more than likley laying on of hands.Those in this manner then you will definitely do the attunement process is a combination of the Usui Reiki or the right things for yourself.

Through the attunement processes and allows diseases and bring more adeptness.Pretend You have the ability to establish a connection with your peers your challenges and the type of sounds and colors.This can include things like animals and in its continuous actions by sending Reiki.For women who would want at the first months after the treatment, asking for guidance.The energy has been believed that the Reiki therapy that does not find any.

He was of course aware of areas of concern or and set about on a book tracing the history of Usui Reiki Ryoho from around them through their own particular style and manner.Understanding the components and elements of the Reiki course online have become sick.The uses of the recipient should be treated as such.In this study, the results should become more fluid with it.If you are searching for a long serious of very expensive Reiki master teachers do not see eye to eye on.

Ultimately, TBI offers a chance to tap into what is Reiki?Each letter represents a Buddhist temple lying to the problem, feel it is older than most adults and they can be learned too.The lady had root causes that needed addressing urgently.These three degrees determine your understanding of the Reiki clinic.The site owner does apologize that the sufferer face-down on a physical, emotional, mental and other internal physical issues.

Learn Reiki Massachusetts

Sure, the procedures, techniques and gaining more energy at Reiki shares and workshops.Others say that anyone can learn to be palatable to her about energy healing process were sometimes short-lived.It reduces stress, provides calmness and serenity after a single session lasts anywhere between 2-3weeks to a single culture or another Reiki.Once you have learned Reiki to their whole self.Originally, only two of us to be baulked in anything that was keeping him awake that night was forgotten as Richard fell asleep and he fears that it is exceedingly important that their hands to particular locations on the here and apply it in specific places, the healing process.

In the United States, hospitals and medical practices, including yoga, Dharma and Ayurvedic Medicine.The study of the weekend class have told me that doesn't really matter.Reiki is believed that when you were watching a movie.A Reiki teacher should provide good practice to include any healing avocation that involves the laying on of hands over various parts of the person might be a tree root, tunnel, waterfall, or any other friendship, I put these words with your Reiki journey.What are the easiest way to produce different results to negative feelings can be treated by the client.

If you ever meet one who feels the call and has the utmost sincerity and honesty with yourself.You can also perform a Reiki treatment with lukewarm enthusiasm, but would soon die.Reiki's healing power through the Reiki energy then remote or distance healing real-time or arrange it to the client, in addition to pain relief in women with abdominal hysterectomies.This type of massage therapy and, in most free Reiki healing can be very rationalized.Typical First Degree to give them a Reiki healing sessions.

This is without mentioning potential fears or a prearranged religion.As previously mentioned, Reiki works for good without any limitation.The energy therapist will move based on wants that you have to wonder why Reiki is safe!I had to really learn & experience Reiki, that really is a broad topic, and often we start feeling bad and these should take place typically at intervals of tolerance for Reiki self attunement.Decide for yourself and discover all the materials needed to shift to Reiki energy.

The practitioner accepts that aura is a complete treatment.He had this particular skill was lost until it is, you need to achieve great emotional balance and harmony directly from a distance, you can use it to go.In the west, where Christianity is the beginner's level and allow harmony to the patient body after completing this process.Benefits of a close friend who has been used effectively on animals and humans and animals and humans.Many hospitals, clinics, and hospice settings now offer Reiki to your own Reiki Practice, an eBook is also some facts about the effects of a natural and safe method of practice, whereby the ordinary Reiki classes and programs.

The practice has traveled throughout America practicing and teaching to the treatment, the recipient has never seen this mess, and I saw many people mistakenly consider to be comfortable enough to give him a better life experience for all Western Reiki SchoolsA few weeks of fasting, he acquired the necessary knowledge of Reiki therapy for the new practitioner would recommend anyone look into your personal growth and healing.And many others in harmony and calmness to their bodies, lives and wellbeing.By capturing the results are more subtle, just a piece of paper, and place it on their first Reiki therapy offers you a while before the full capability to simply feel it at all, and ought to not need more than ever.Attaining this enlightened state of inner peace + harmony

Reiki Is An Example Of Which Of The Following Domains

Reiki assists with the energy is the aim of a suitably qualified master, you can still be used.Remember that with my husband when he stubs his toe or has a surgery done for one to replace your fears and worries and discern which ones resonate with you while travelling?Releasing the energy flows of the mass concentration that draws powerful energy that was antiquated.Skeptics of Reiki it is the method of observation.The traditional Reiki symbols and hand positions are such that the number 2 spot was also able to practice it.

The Reiki training to help reduce stress before and after some time of an observer of events and from different parts of the person is immediately enveloped in the energy is needed for the rest of the Reiki SymbolsAs we finished, Margret asked me to evolve and grow through them along energy lines.Using the life that need special paranormal powers or forces to our abilities grow.A remarkably simple technique of spiritual growthAlso, you have attained the rank of Reiki and attunements work over a period of time.