#Wyrdstone

[acourtofquestions]

"You find Celaena Sardothien. Give her this. No one else. No one else. Tell her that you can open any door, if you have the key.

And tell her to remember her promise to me—to punish them all.

When she asks why, tell her I said that they would not let me bring the cloak she gave me, but I kept a piece of it.

To remember that promise she made.

To remember to repay her for a warm cloak in a cold dungeon."

[wyrdstonethenovel]

14: The Maw

AN: Wyrdstone is an original fantasy serial updated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday here on Tumblr. Wyrdstone is your classic rivals fighting for the throne TM. With magic, and gods, and oaths, and shifting allegiances, and of course, the gayz. Did I mention the gayz? Enjoy:

XIV. THE MAW

Nia dismounted at the edge of the crater. The Legate grabbed a bundle of papyrus from his pack and snapped his finger at a nearby laborer to take their horses down the dusty hill. Signs of excavation were everywhere as the laborers pushed carts filled with fresh earth from the necropolis. The hill flattened off as they entered the work camp. Discarded tools laid outside rows of wind beaten tents. The kerai laborers frowned at their arrival. Others quickly changed course, not wanting to be around when the beating began. Clavo led the siblings to a collection of purple tents that housed the legionnaires on their monthly rotations from De-Asha. 

The foreman glanced up from his stool, stale bread in hand. Vir had always reminded Nia of a hairless cat. Vir’s leathery skin barely covered his angular hips and jutting ribs. Vir covered his brown eyes and hissed through his overbite. “Legate.”

“Foreman.” Clavo already sounded agitated. “Let’s take this inside.”Vir pushed himself up and bade them inside his tent. Nia sighed at the welcome temperature difference. Clavo puckered his lips as the foreman offered him wine. “How is progress?”

“Slow. It’s nearly summer and then men tire quickly.” Vir hissed onto the campstool behind his desk. He took a long sip of his wine. 

“It needs to be ready. All of it.” Clavo clipped. His large hands unrolled the scroll from his side. Nia peered around Clavo’s arms to see a schematic of the necropolis. 

Vir leaned forward in his seat. “The Dunelands counteracts our process, trying to swallow the necropolis itself right into its maw.” Vir huffed wryly. “You know it is an uphill battle.”

The Legate’s thick lips twisted. “It will be ready should the Emperor choose to make the journey to see it. It must be presentable.” Clavo laid his ringed hand flat on the map. “Now, about our other assignment.”

“The  one you wrote about, yes, yes.” Vir’s beady eyes pinched with displeasure. He took a long swig before answering. “The men have cleared another shaft in the southwest wing as instructed. I’m assuming that is where they come in?” 

“Why couldn’t one of your men do this?” Lero asked the foreman directly from where he leaned against the tent’s post. 

Vir almost appeared apologetic. “Because we don’t want to incur the goddess’ wrath.” Vir shrugged. 

“And you say we are superstitious.” Lero grumbled. 

Clavo turned his bloodshot eye on her brother. “Like it or not boy, your sister has use to the empire.” He barked. “And I would think long and hard before testing my mercy.” 

Lero’s face catapulted into rage. Tension hung thick in the dry air as Lero starred daggers at Clavo. Nia took a small step towards Lero, afraid her brother would snap at Clavo or worse. But her brother had always been better keeping a leash on his anger, and he kicked off the post, heading outside into the sunlight. 

“Go.” Clavo barked. “I don’t have all day.” 

Once Anu-Uro-Set had been a temple necropolis for the goddess Sachmis; located halfway between House Xur and Hourse Uro. It had served as a refuge for those brave enough to journey across the Dunelands, or a final resting place for those who perished. Situated in the basin of a crater of limestone cliffs, Anu-Uro-Set had been carved painstakingly into the bedrock. The complex had been the last holdout against the Conqueror in his decade long war against the Kingdom of Ker. It was here Wyn-Kai the Betrayer had surrendered to the Conqueror. 

Over the decades the halls and porticos of the outer temple had sunk into the shifting sand. The front temple had never been rebuilt after the conflict, the porch a minefield of soot scorched lotus leaf columns. Only the complex’s inner halls and necropolis remained. Nia trailed Clavo as they marched through the camp towards the cliffs. Four identical statues of the seated goddess stood sentry over the entryway. Nia’s eyes trailed to the tall crowns atop the goddess’ mane. The gold had long been pillaged. 

Purple banners swung in the breeze as they entered the cool caves. Ker laborers shuffled out of their way, all from the lower neighborhoods of De-Asha or the surrounding villages. Familiar shame flared through her at the sight. Oh how the mighty have fallen. 

They entered the first of many chambers. The foreman walked past the half-submerged statue of Sachmis. The anthropomorphic goddess sat on her royal seat facing westward. The goddess’ hands were flat against her knees, as if attending court. Her vestments were gone, leaving ancient ruddy paint. Nia clenched and unclenched her left hand, pain radiating up her forearm. 

Vir led them down a wing of the temple Nia was unfamiliar with. They hiked through a confided hallway and waded through spiders and scorpions until they entered a small chamber. Nia’s eyes adjusted to the dim light of the torches. The room was rectangular, the ceiling so low her brother could reach up and touch it. The room appeared to be an annex of some kind. The fresco’s on the opposite wall covered by soot. A few legionnaires stood at attention as they entered. 

Clavo walked towards where they were waiting. He grabbed a torch from a legionnaire and kicked his boot towards the small shaft. “This it?”

“Yes. This is where we believe the priests were buried.” The foreman answered. 

Clavo eyed the narrow tunnel. “And no one has been down yet?”

“No sir.” A legionnaire responded. 

Clavo snapped at her brother. “You, be her arms.” 

So that’s why Lero had come. Of course Clavo would have noticed she could barely hold the reins of her horse, much less dig. And while Lero was significantly taller, he still was all thin muscle and sinew. Lero scowled and accepted a basket of tools from the legionnaire. He dropped a torch and it rattled down the shaft with a few thunks. Short then. Lero accepted the rope without a word and went first. Nia followed, her brother having to help ease her to the bottom of the shaft. Nia looked upward as five heads peered down at them. Clavo lifted the corner of his eyepatch. “Start digging.”

The siblings spent the next hours chipping through the hardened mud layer to their left. Nia’s injured hand cramped up immediately, rendering her useless. With anger radiating off him so fiercely Nia could nearly smell it, Lero regulated her to handing up baskets of discarded material as he dug. Clavo’s boot kicked dust onto their heads as he grew bored. Flint was handed back down as they burnt through the first torch. 

CLING

“I heard something.” 

“Brick.” Lero called back up to Clavo. Nia handed back up a basket of obsidian and sand shards that Clavo picked through before discarding. 

“Well?” Vir begged. 

“One second!” Lero shifted out of the crevice he dug carefully and handed Nia the chisel. “She’ll fit better than I can.” Nia got on her stomach and squeezed into the narrow opening. She eased the chisel carefully against the brick wall. Her chest thundered nervously as she released a brick from its ancient mortar. If this wall was supporting the earth above them, they could very easily be crushed to death. Nia continued the delicate process, carefully using the wood Lero handed her to brace the wall until there were three bricks free. Barely enough room for her to shove a torch through. Lero frowned as he passed her the torch. 

An air of anticipation traveled down the shaft. 

Nia stuck the torch through the opening and waved her arm back and forth. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the rows of painted death masks. This must have been the back wall to some of the crypts. The foreman was right, they had found the priests. Nia turned to her side as Lero squeezed in behind her. He peered through the hole, his face crumpling. Her brother opened his mouth. 

My how the mighty have fallen. 

Her fist slammed against the brick, startling Lero. “Damn it! It’s a dead end.” She yelled. 

“WHAT?” She heard Clavo roar. Followed by shuffling and terse words. 

“Are you sure?” Vir called down nervously. 

Nia motioned for Lero to scoot away. She rotated flat on her back and dug her feet to her chest as if she was scooting. She moved the torch back and forth to cast long shadows. She let the pregnant pause build. “No foreman. Whatever this tunnel was, its a dead end.”

“Lero!” Clavo barked. “Check yourself.” 

Nia made a production of trading places. Lero maneuvered further into the space. “No sir. In fact, it appears the whole room could  cave in on us if we go any further.”

“Stormlord below.” Clavo cursed. Lero helped Nia muscle her way up to the surface. The Legate’s face was bright red. He stared murderously at the foreman. “This was a waste of time.”

“I followed your instructions.” Vir said quickly. He held up his hands. “I thought this room was it. I swear it.”

Clavo pivoted his attention to the legionnaires. “Seal this up.” He shoved a finger against Vir’s chest. “Next time, don’t call me out here until you actually have something.”

“I know what you are up to.” 

Nia’s eyes darted forward to the legate and then back to Lero as their horses approached De-Asha’s gate. “Keep your voice down.”

“We are far enough back he won’t hear us. I saw you talking to that merchant Nia. What were you thinking? He’s a trafficker!”

“He’s a treasurer seeker just like the rest of them.” Nia dismissed. “What of it? I can talk to merchants.” 

Her brother’s eyes narrowed. “Admit it. You are going to flee.” Nia pressed a hand against her sternum. She still couldn’t flatten her palm out. Cythe had removed her stitches and her hand now bore an ugly scar that ran index finger to wrist. She exhaled as her brother continued. “I need to know why you did what you did back there?” 

“Why do you care?” 

Lero sighed. His legionnaire armor was covered in a thick layer of dust and sweat. “I need to know if there is good in you.” 

“Good in me. Seriously?” She responded incredulously. Clavo whipped his head around at her raised voice. Nia waited for him to turn back ahead before responding. “It just felt wrong, okay?” 

“Yet you still raid.”

“What would you have me do? Join the legion?” 

His snarl was instant. “I only have to do that because your mistake left me no choice.” My mistake. Nia’s memory threatened to drag her back to that awful night. Lero’s voice was low and dangerous. “I became a legionnaire to protect you. Cythe bore the legate a son, to protect you. Our own mother kisses his feet, to protect you. “ And oh, how Nia hated the tenderness in his voice. “And you would leave us?” 

“I know full well the danger I’ve put our family in.” Her voice grew watery. “How could I ever stay knowing that?” She turned to Lero, her eyes threatening to brim with tears. “I’m a danger to you.” 

“Baba left us.” Lero’s voice was quiet. 

“Baset exiled him and you know it.” 

Lero shook his head animated. “No. He fled.”

“I just don’t know how I could stay.” Nia hung her head in shame. If she ever released the aker inside the walls of De-Asha again she would die. Her family would be killed. She was the threat to them. Couldn’t they see that? There was nothing for her in De-Asha. Nothing. 

Lero drew his horse closer. “I need you to understand I will not abandon you or our House.” 

“Well you are a better person than me, brother.” Nia said, thinking of the Peddler. She quickly wiped her eyes as Clavo pulled his massive warhorse up at the gate. A commotion of people were waiting for them. Clavo scowled down at his legionnaires. 

A scout quickly kissed his knuckles. “Legate Clavo. I bare urgent news. Legate Xur, he has been, he has been,--”

“Spit it out man.” Clavo demanded. 

“Legate Xur is dead. Sir.”

Nia watched in puzzlement as shock slid over Clavo’s broad face. His bloodshot eye narrowed in on the messenger. “Legate Xur is ancient. Why are you coming to me with this?”

“The reports are that he was assassinated. Sir.” 

Clavo frowned. “Not a word of this to anyone, understood?”

“Yes sir!” The scout shouted. 

“I need to alert father.” Clavo whispered under his breath. “Lero, with me.”

“Lero?” Nia asked. 

“Not now.” Her brother tightened his shoulders and rode after the legate. 

[the-god-of-hellfire]

I recently had a literal dream about Mordheim ...and then a day later found myself lementing a lack of generic objective markers.

...obviously that was an Omen that I needed to make me some Wyrdstone!

[grommtheorc]

I've got some mutated, warpstone-tainted Stormvermin here ready to paint! Still wotking out color scheme but I'm excited!

[harperbrynne]

“Two days, before I spied the mossy stones placed across from each other, a faint whirl carved into them both. A gate.” (ACOTAR, pg273)

It’s interesting to think of the wall as being more of a collar leashing one side or both sides

It’s also interesting that the wall is described as invisible like its construction could have involved Wyrdstone but someone concealed it from view

[siderealxmelody]

Poppy beamed, dragging Isaiah away, taking the key with her.

Fucking finally.

"Tell Nismera about Thurr okay? He isn't the ally she thinks he is....should we just leave them for awhile?"

Fates, how long would their bond need for the centuries it was denied from forming?

She hadn't seen any marks but hopefully those would appear soon.

------

She laughed, or tried to. Her body yielded, pulling him tighter and tighter. She felt the wall against her back, nearly stumbling, but he held her up.

He caught her like he used to.

She leaned into it, letting him in. Her fingers curled into his hair, reveling in the touch of it. Reveling in having him here, inhaling him.

Yours her magic purred.

Only. YOURS.

Her arms brushed against his clothes, the pain finally forcing her let out a hiss. They looked worse than they did before.

Burning, skin falling off. She supposed since it was magical in nature - it would need a magical cure.

"Kaden it hurts."

She wouldn't have cared had her body not demanded it. Had it felt like the fire was burrowing into her bones. Her magic couldn't push it out, every time it tried it left her more tired - more exhausted.

Not to mention her dress from the rain felt cloying and too tight. She stared at the wounds, eyes narrowing as she stared at them again.

No it wasn't - she swayed.

Black veins.

Dianna wouldn't have gotten a good enough shot for magic to do more than graze her. She'd used -

"It's Wyrdstone. She -"

She felt that burn, her own magic answering it, steaming on her skin. She stared up at him, a smile pulling on her lips.

She saw past that anger, it didn't scare her any longer. If he truly didn't care, if he didn't want her why not just kill her?

Why was he trying so damn hard?

Why didn't he just walk away and leave her to wallow?

No he cared, he cared so much it terrified him.

It paralyzed him.

How adorable.

"You sure nothing scares you Kaden?"

Her tone matched his, tired, wanting just a little bit. She reached for him, fingers running up his jaw and into his hair to kiss him.

If she was to burn she'd burn with him.

[offtorivendell]

My thoughts on the Bryce, Azriel and Nesta HOFAS bonus chapter...

Disclaimer: as suggested by the title, the following discusses the Walmart HOFAS bonus chapter featuring Azriel, Bryce and Nesta. I haven't read the main text, so it won't feature anything related to that, but there are massive Maasverse and HOFAS spoilers ahead regardless. Please beware.

These are just my initial thoughts, not expanded upon in any substantial way and, as usual, I could always be way off the mark.

Also, yes, fair warning that I'll be mentioning the ACOTAR characters a lot. If that's not your jam, and you'd rather avoid any of the possible implications of the crossover, then I'd give this post a miss. On the other hand, if you're interested in how CC/HOFAS may affect Prythian going forward, please read on.

Music:

The Stone Mother song has me 👀 especially as the stone and water were "talking" at the start.

@cassianfanclub and @wingedblooms have already posted about the Stone Mother (here and here); @ladynightcourt3 has found the Phrygian goddess Cybele, also known as the "Mountain Mother," who sounds very relevant.

That being said, am I crazy to think Elain could have been listening in? Is Azriel stone and Elain water? His stone siphons - which Elain called beautiful, did she hear their song, as kin? - and Elain possibly as water? Was she using salt water to boost her powers, or a reflection pool to scry, and keep tabs on her sister and friend?

Or is it the space between linking worlds? Are the old gods talking?

Alternatively, could stone be referring to Nuala and Cerridwen, who are capable of manifesting stone around themselves and others (ACOTAR).

Is this what SJM meant when she said we'd see Elain in "some form" in the next book?

@psychee92 said she wished that SJM had somehow included Mr Brightside, and now I wish the same; even a mention of indie rock. 😭

Josie and Laurel - "He/god will add/increase" "(laurel) trees/victory"? Elain? Lol sorry, but it's either giving gardener, or Elain killing Hybern.

Wraith-like harmonies? After the description of Josie and Laurel's voices? It's crack, but is it a metaphor for Nuala and Cerridwen?

The musical similarities between what Juniper dances to and Prythian's music?!

Azriel's humming/singing made the shadows dance, once more suggesting that shadows dancing is a response to power, not mate bonds

The music Az liked was death metal. Could this link to any sort of metal artefact, like an iron crown for grounding? Or wyrdstone jewellery?

The glass coffin?

"Nineteenth century literature presents the glass coffin as a prison within which sleeping women are frequently mistaken for dead or vice versa." (Source). It's giving Sleeping Beauty (credit to @elriell for the OG SB theory), and a little Snow White.

Check out this tale from The Brothers Grimm, which sounds... suspiciously relevant to Elain.

@cassianfanclub also suggested that it's giving necromancer vibes, and I'd love that for Elain.

Feyre once said she could sleep for a hundred years after coming back from the Prison, right before going to the Hewn City in ACOWAR. After Elain had left the room, and before Feyre went to check in on her to find her "asleep—breathing."

Let's not forget Elain's assistance in rescuing the human COTB, Briar, from Hybern's camp.

Will Elain prick herself while weaving?

I was tired enough that I could barely summon the breath to ask, “Do you think the Cauldron made her insane?” “I think she went through something terrible,” Lucien countered carefully. “And it wouldn’t hurt to have your best healer do a thorough examination.” I rubbed my hand over my face. “All right.” My breath snagged on the words. “Tomorrow morning.” I managed a shallow nod, rallying my strength to rise from the chair. Heavy—there was an old heaviness in me. Like I could sleep for a hundred years and it wouldn’t be enough. “Please tell me,” Lucien said when I crossed the threshold into the foyer. “What the healer says. And if—if you need me for anything.” I gave him one final nod, speech suddenly beyond me. I knew Nesta still wasn’t asleep as I walked past her room. Knew she’d heard every word of our conversation thanks to that Fae hearing. And I knew she heard as I listened at Elain’s door, knocked once, and poked my head in to find her asleep—breathing. - ACOWAR, chapter 27

Azriel specifically said Nesta "beheaded" Hybern, after looking down at Truth-Teller.

This is not Azriel giving Nesta credit for the assassination. If anything he's hiding Elain's involvement.

I've said before, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who has done so, but I would expect Azriel to protect his LI with silence, whoever they are.

He had to have been thinking about Elain, who I've theorised could now/soon be known as "The Shadowsinger's Knife" after she became the "knife in the dark" in Azriel's place at the end of ACOWAR.

The young girl sitting on the mushroom:

I'm still looking into the carving of the young girl sitting on the toadstool with the hound sprawled on the ground beside her, as I find it really interesting. My initial thought was that it seemed like a convenient place to drop a mention of a garden-like fairy carving with a hound right after Bryce had quizzed Azriel about his hypothetical mate, or lack thereof (Elain being both heavily associated with plant life, thanks to her "little garden," as well as dogs, after Nesta called her one in ACOSF).

I also wonder if it has anything to do with the Czech tale that amanita muscaria - while psychoactive/toxic - are said to protect from lightning and other ill fortune. If this is correct, it reminds me a little of the markings - wyrdmarks - on the Archeron cottage.

I don't know where Bryce and co were walking, as I have only read this bonus chapter and the prologue, but given it was carved on an underground wall, and I suspect that there are underground portals in at least the Hewn City and the Prison, and maybe the waterways... could it have been for protection against the invading lightning Asteri? Or did the Asteri (Daglan?) put them there to protect against Thunderbirds, or whatever Hunt is?

Miscellany

Maybe Bryce hadn't been sent there by Urd? Who then? Was @silverlinedeyes right all along?

The mention of pleasure halls seems like a call back to Azriel's bonus chapter, but it's also likely that they aren't all brothels (see Rita's).

Azriel listening closely about Nesta now liking being Fae; he could extrapolate her responses to Elain. Maybe she's no longer miserable, and in need of their pity. And maybe she's changed her mind from ACOFAS, when she said to Feyre "I don't want a mate, I don't want a male."

Azriel said "no" to whether or not he has a mate rather quickly. Hmm... the shadowsinger doth protest too much?

It's also potentially important that Nesta said "yes, WE are" curious about Azriel's mate status. Her, Azriel and most of the fandom! 😂

"Okay, okay," Bryce said. "But it'd be cool to know something about your world. Or about you." They were both silent. Bryce asked Nesta, "You have a mate, right?" She nodded to Azriel. "Do you?" "No." Azriel said quickly, flatly. "A partner or spouse?" "No." Bryce sighed. "Okay, then." Azriel's wings twitched. "You're incurably nosy." "I think that's the nicest thing you've said about me." Bryce winked at him. "Look, I just... I'm curious. Aren't you?" Azriel didn't answer, but Nesta said, "Yes. We are." - HOFAS, Bryce, Azriel and Nesta bonus chapter

All in all, while there were no overt mentions of Elain - and really, why would SJM do that in a series that wasn't Elain's own - imo we got the Elain-shaped holes in the text that I was hoping for, and I can't wait to see if there are any more in the full book.

[iwillwalkthroughthefire]

Seriously, I don't need anything from a man... Actually, maybe give me some money. I don't need money from a man; I've got my own, but I want money from a man.

—Aelin Ashryver Galathynius leaving the Assassins' Keep with the fake Wyrdstone ring on her finger

[bookishgirl21]

A whole new world

Azriel x TOG!reader

PT 1 ?

Summary: You are Dorians half sister who goes with him and Aelin to forge the lock but you don't return with Aelin as tumble down to an unknown world

Being the bastard daughter of the king of Adarlan has never been easy, especially being half fae. The only reason why my father ever kept me around was because the believed me to have no magic, my mother said that I must never let anyone l know of my magic . So I've kept it secret for years until recent months.

"Close the wyrdmark once I've finished" Aelin says to Rowan, his nod is his only answer, as Aelin puts the wyrdstones in her arm and we're transportded to a place thats not a place and we begin fordging the lock...

"We can go home " I say with a smile on my face Aelin looks at me with a smile as big as mine " Lets go home" then we begin falling through the worlds , but we are falling to fast and as we see the world their are two fae standnig on a balcony we though out our arms as to signal them, thats when I feel my hand loose its grip on Aelins then I'm falling into the world, I hear Aeiln shout my name but its to late, she disappears into the next world.

I'm tumbling down from the sky, thinking this would be my end when I feel someone catch me , I open my eyes and look up to see who had caught me and see the man from the balcony, he's speaking to me but I don't here a word he is saying over the roaring of the wind.

As we land on the balcony , I take a moment to catch my breath when the man speaks to me in a language I've never heard, my confusion must have shown on my face because he stopped and looked to the female. I then spoke to them in the old language " Where am I ? " the male looked at me and said in the old language " You are in Velaris the city of starlight, who are you? "

" I'm y/n , can you help me get back to my please? " he looked towards the female again and spoke to her before answering " Hello y/n my name is Rhysand, will you please follow me and meet some of m people who might be able to help you"

I follow the two inside to what looke like an office " Please sit down, the others will be here shortly" the male Rhysand said, I took a seat on the lovely couch. There was a Knock on the door when two winged males walked in and a female with short black hair, as I looked at the males one was handsome in a rough way and the other male.....he was the most beautiful male I've had ever seen, he had shadows around him, they almost seemed alive.

the male said in the old language " Y/n this is Amren she is the most likely to help you home and these are Cassian and Azriel " Amren sad to me " Where are you from girl ? " "Erilea" I reply, I look at the male Azriel and see that he is already looking at me with some emotion in his eyes that i cant place. " It will take some time to find a way for you to get back home in the mean time Azriel will take you to a room here in the House of wind, where you may stay while we try and find a way home for you, we will have dinner soon Azriel will come by and help you to the dinning room" "Thank you for your kindness and willingness to help"

Azriel leads me to a room that will be my bedroom for the time being. ''This will be your room, my room is right across if you need anything'' I look around the room, its cozy theres a big bed in the middle of the room with creamy white sheets, their is big floor to celling windows, there is a door on the other side of the room which leads to a bathroom. '' There should be some clean clothes in the dresser over their and the bathroom is stocked with all the bathing things you'd need, I'll stop by later to take you to dinner'' I turn to him ''My Azriel I am here for about half an hour and you're already taking me to dinner'' I say with a sly grin on my face, he looks at me with shock clear on his face and stumbles with his words ''No, no, th-thats not what I meant, I'll come and-'' I laugh and say ''I know what you meant I was just pulling your leg'' he looks at me again and huffs a laugh '' I'll leave you to your bath''

I walk over to the dresser to see what cloths I could get, I choose a white with blue flower dress that looks comfortable, and can't help but think of how the blue looks likes Dorians eyes, tears fill my eyes, how long will I stay here in this unknown world with these people , I hadn't realized I was crying until I felt a tear drop on my arm. I wipe away my tears and head for the bath room.

I emerge from the bath room feeling slightly better after being clean and having a good cry, I didn't know exactly when dinner would be served so I decided to have a looked around what was to be my room, a bookshelf in the corner of the room caught my eye, was running my hand along the titles that I couldn't read when someone clears their throat behind me, I turn quickly my magic rising in me, ''I didn't mean to scare you'' Azriel apologizes, he's standing by the door ''It's alright, I didn't hear you knock or enter? '' he looks at me with that same look from earlier '' What '' I ask '' Nothing , it's nothing, come lets go to dinner and introduce you to the rest of our court''

My palms begin to sweat as we walk to the dinning room, nervous to meet these people, I can't help but wonder whats going on back home, is Aelin alright did she find her way back ? is Dorian alright? did they make it in time to save Terssasn? will I ever see any of them again? ''I can hear you thinking, I can promise you as crazy as these people may be we will not harm you unless you prove to be a threat'' I look out the corner of my eye towards Azriel and give him a tight lipped smile '' that was not at all what I was thinking but thanks for the input'' we enter the dinning room and Rhysand, Cassan, Amren and the female from earlier are already seated, then there is three new females at the table as well one sharp looking female sitting next to Cassian and the female sitting next to her looked like a softer version of the sharp female, sisters possiblely, and then there was the third female wearing a red gown.

Azriel guides me to a seat and pulls out the chair next to mine, '' know that we are all here let me introduce you to my people, this is my mate Feyre and those are her sisters Nesta ( the sharp one) and Elain ( the soft one, who is glaring at me from across the table) and my cousin Morrigan . Everyone this is Y/n'' I smile at them and give an awkward wave to them ''It's nice to meet you all''

After the introductions where done food just appeared out of thin air, my shock must have shown on my face because Cassian says with a grin on his face '' what they don't have magic where your from? '' I look at him with shock still in my voice '' we do have magic we're I'm from it's just...I've never seen things just appear from thin air'' ''They just come from thin air it was just simply moved from the kitchen to the table'' Rhysand says amusement  shinning in his face.

As dinner comes to end I can't help but feel as Elain has a problem with me, she has been giving me dirty looks the whole night, as I look over at her now she is whispering something to Nesta who looks me up and down, with a sneer on her face, I look away quickly, and Azriel bumps me with his elbow , I look at him and he leans in to whisper '' if you wish to leave you may just ask and I am more then happy to take you back to your room'' I nod slowly and rise from my seat '' thank you for the dinner I would like to go back to my room and rest'' Rhysand looks at me and gives a gentle smile of course, tomorrow I'll have Az come by your room so that we may start our course of finding you a way home''

As we walk back to my room Azriel is quiet, and I let curiosity win over me'' what are these shadows around you?'' he looks shocked at my question but answers my question '' they are... like companions they also help me with my job.'' ''oh, I like them.'' and as i say that one breaks away and comes close to my face and it almost looks like it tilts it head in curiosity , I giggle and it goes around my neck before returning to Azriel, ''they're adorable'' he looks at me with a soft smile and says ''we're here'' he opens my door for me and as I go in I turn to say goodnight when I bump right into his muscled chest, ''oh I'm so sorry I-'' I stopped talking as I look at him in the eye and my breath was knocked right out of me, he looks down at me with his mouth slightly parted, his warm breath hits my face and I feel myself heat up, we slowly start to lean in and I close my eyes when a voice breaks the moment and we pull away from eachother to see who it was, Elain stands a few feet from us with a innocent look on her face and speaks in her language towards Azriel. He looks back at me and says '' I.. I'll see you tomorrow morning'' its takes me a minute to reply ''yes, yes uhm right I'll see you tomorrow''

As I enter my room I groan, what was I thinking, I was just about to kiss him, this man who I barely know, I run my hands over my face and head to the dresser to look for some thing to sleep in. As I climb into my bed I can't help but think of that almost kiss with Azriel.

Part 2

AN: alright thats all for now , I will make a pt 2 if you all enjoy this part, the next pt will defiently have more Az x reader scenes, hope you enjoyed this fic, and feedback is greatly welcomed, also if there is a scene you would like to see I will definitely add it , sorry if there are spelling mistakes it's like 1 in the morning so😅

[plasmometer]

We smokin straight Dark age STCs

When I pearled this bitch the admech made me a planetary governor

Smoking straight scrapcode

Shit's corrupting my data

She gave my man of iron some abominable intelligence

We snorting percs right off the Golden throne

Lighting my blunt on the astronomicon

I gave my ganger one boltgun and he single-handedly raised the hive's murder rate

Actually that's cap, I gave him two

Shit ain't nothing to me man

Rolled up that corrupted wyrdstone empyrean pack

Sparked that shit off the gellarfield, got the navigator catching a contact high

ok

[qwimblenorrisstan]

Night-Terrors | Aedion x Reader

Summary: After the war is over, Aedion is still tormented by nightmares, leaving you to soothe him.

Word Count: ~1k

Warnings: Mentions of death, yknow bc war, nightmares, but it ends good

A/N: This is my first attempt at writing for tog, so be patient with me, but I hope you enjoy<3

Requests are open!

Aedion Ashryver believed he deserved this.

Aelin had used the three keys to forge the gate, to lock the Gods and Erawan away, but she’d given her life for nothing. Erawan remained, and the Gods had betrayed them.

The battle at Morath raged. Gavriel was dead, Fenrys and Lorcan well on the way. Their army was depleted, and the scent of death and suffering surrounded them. The Ironteeth had slaughtered all the Crochans and Manon’s Thirteen. The Myceniens were gone. Whatever remained of the ruhkins beyond their rotting corpses that had fallen to the ground days ago, Aedion didn’t know.

The wild people of the Wolf Tribe hadn’t come, and Dorian had probably been slaughtered by now. Where the older Lords had gone, he didn’t know either.

The battle went on until the Witch Towers were up, and with the amplified blast of the Yeilding, their entire army was ashes. Maeve and Erawan smiled at him, pure wickedness in their faces.

It was over. They lost.

Maeve slipped into his mind, and he was too weak to stop those icy talons from digging in. She gave him one last vision before the Wyrdstone collar clamped around his neck.

A world with no fire or flame, not a whisper of Aelin’s power, a world with no magic, only possessed by the tyrants of the world.

No light.

Valg infested the streets, spreading their stain of darkness until that was all Erilea was. Aedion couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t think. There was nothing and no one there for him, not even you, inside that broken realm.

Because he had failed.

Any last inch of spirit he had was when he tried to struggle against it, against them, but too soon did he hear a resounding click of stone against stone, and the coldness of it around his throat.

*********************************************************

You were half-asleep when you first heard his mumbling.

Sitting up and rubbing your eyes, your hair tousled by sleep, you saw Aedion writhing and struggling in his sleep. It wasn’t a sight that surprised you, not anymore.

The nightmares were a common occurrence for both you and Aedion, more so for him, and you’d slowly learned how to comfort him and help him through them, but never did he thrash this badly. And then he stopped, and you wondered if it was over.

You laid a gentle hand on his upper arm.

“Aedion?”

You whispered, and right after that, he jolted up. Before you could even move an inch, you were pinned forcefully against the bed, a hand around your throat and squeezing. He had a wild look in his eye, panic and fear flooded his scent.

“Stop—Aedion-“

You choked out, hands held down by him. You couldn’t move an inch, not beneath all his weight and pure muscle, especially with the hold he had you in. Muscle memory, most likely. Instinct too.

Right when your vision started getting splotchy, he must’ve realized what he was doing, because the pressure was immediately gone and he flipped onto his back beside you, sitting up, staring in horror. His chest was heaving as he panted for breath, silver lining his eyes.

“Oh gods, you’re-..you aren’t hurt, are you?”

He asked, his hands twitching as they went to go check you for any injury, before hesitating, knowing you might not want to be touched after what he’d done. You sat up, shakily taking in a breath, hands brushing over your throat before you took his in your own. They dwarfed yours, unsurprisingly.

“I’m fine, okay? Just..what happened?”

His eyes still shone with guilt, but he seemed more reassured by your hands in his. With a deep sigh, he squeezed your hands once. A few moments of silence passed, before he spoke, tears building.

“I don’t know, it was just a nightmare, but Aelin was gone, and we lost, and they put a collar around..”

His voice trailed off, and then the tears fell, and he was sniffling, his hands separating from yours to wipe them away. Your heart broke at the sight of your mate, terrorized by nightmares and tormented by them.

You scooted closer to him, arms sliding around his waist carefully, tentatively, until he leaned into you, folding into your arms and sobbing into your shoulder. Your hand soothingly ran circles on his back as he babbled nonsense against your skin.

Eventually, sobs turned to sniffles, and he shifted to lie down with you, pulling some of the warm blanket over you as his golden hair spilled onto the pillow. You moved your hands to stroke his hair, lightly scratching his scalp in a way you knew he loved. He opened his eyes again, peering up at you.

“You’re sure that you’re alright?”

He questioned quietly, concerned and guilty still. You nodded.

“Are you sure that you’re okay?”

You questioned right back, and he sighed, nodding. His arms wrapped tightly around you, as if he needed you to ground him back down to reality, so he couldn’t get lost in nightmares or dreams. His head buried right into the nook of your shoulder as he took a deep inhale of your scent, and relaxed further after that.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

You drowsily asked, and he shook his head.

“In the morning.”

He mumbled, and you gave a little hum of acknowledgment. Both of you had a habit of putting things off till morning, the discussion of his nightmare only being another one of them as you both began drifting off to sleep.

It was safe to say that Aedion Ashryver slept dreamlessly for the rest of the night.

[acourtofquestions]

She didn't move; she didn't speak. She just sat there and stared at the wall of the carriage. A perfect, broken, obedient doll. I love you, Arobynn Hamel.

—

She'd held it together during the carriage ride, maintaining the mask of the puppet Arobynn believed she'd become. She crossed the room, keeping her arms at her sides to avoid chucking the Wyrdkey against the wall.

—

Every minute was an agony, but there were too many eyes on them—too many, even as they finally reached the warehouse and climbed out.

They waited until Arobynn's carriage had driven off before Rowan and Aedion flanked the queen as she slipped inside the warehouse and up the stairs.

The curtains were already shut inside the house, a few candles left burning. The flames caught on the golden dragon embroidered on the back of that remarkable gown, and Rowan didn't dare breathe as she just stood in the center of the room. A slave awaiting orders.

"Aelin?" Aedion said, his voice hoarse.

Aelin lifted her hands in front of her and turned.

She pulled off the ring. "So that was what he wanted. I honestly expected something grander."

[wyrdstonethenovel]

27. Matters of the Empire

AN: this blog is where I post my novel so it gets off my hard drive. I post a new update every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Follow for magic, a good ol fashioned 'fight for a throne' and as we learn in this chapter.... a mounting rebellion. Dun. Dun. Dun. Enjoy.

XXVII. MATTERS OF THE EMPIRE

Admrilia glowered at the two story sandstone walls that barricaded Legate Xur’s private villa. She frowned at the mature palm trees over the walls, wondering how the legate’s murderers could have climbed over the slanted walls. Governor Kai groaned as he was eased down from the palanquin. Admrilia waited for his feet to touch the cobblestone streets before approaching the gates of the villa. They were unlocked. 

The grounds were modest. Well kept considering the desert's extreme heat. Palms and tall shrubs lined the entire perimeter of the yard. Admrilia frowned. “And he kept no family, no company?” She asked as they entered the main house. 

“No princess.” Wyn-Kai struggled to keep up with her long stride. “The legate never married or had children of his own. His life revolved around the legion. After his retirement, he became increasingly reclusive.” 

Admrilia turned to the Governor. “Why is that?” 

“The legate was nearly two decades my senior. I think at a certain point, a man craves the ability to pass with dignity.”

“Are we certain he didn’t die of natural causes?” Advisor Khispen asked. 

“His slit throat suggested otherwise.” Wyn-Kai said flatly. “Come. I should show you the study. This is where his servants found him.”

“Where were his guards?” Admrilia asked as they walked up a narrow stairwell to the second floor landing. 

“The ones he had kept watch on the estate at all hours of the night. We can certainly track them down in the city for you to talk to if you wish.” Wyn-Kai pushed open a set of double cedar doors. Admrilia hid her couch at the dusty air. 

Xur’s war spills were proudly displayed against the far walls. A vast collection from a long and storied career. Spears, swords, animal hides and kerai armor straddled a bold gold banner. The fabric was torn and singed displaying the motif of a ram. The last physical remnant of the destroyed House. 

Xur’s collection was considerably impressive, but the rest of the room was sparsely furnished. The desk was barren of papers, with only a stylus and ink pot waiting on the left hand side of the chair. Admrilia walked forward, noticing the stain on the rich cyprus. She pointed to it and the Governor confirmed her suspicions. “Blood, yes. His throat was cut as he slept over his desk.” 

“Was it common for him to fall asleep in his study?” Khispen asked. 

“According to his household it had become increasingly common.” 

“And his household?”

“They’ve been cleared. A few self-exiled after the incident. But you may speak to those who remain at the estate later if you wish.” Wyn-Kai said. 

Admrilia nodded, filing the information around the room for later. She walked around the desk. “Entry?” She clipped. 

“The door was locked from what I’ve been told. It was his preference when he was in his study to be left alone.” 

Admrilia eyed the tall windows above the bookcases. She dragged the chair over to the bookcase and stepped onto it to gain a better view of the ledge. “A child couldn’t fit through here.” She scoffed. She looked down at her advisors. “His household very easily could have betrayed him.” 

“Nothing's for certain.” Wyn-Kai disagreed. 

“What the governor is neglecting to tell you princess Admrilia, is that no man could have fit through the window.” Advisor Clavo’s ocean blue eyes were filled with accusation. “But a talented kerai, perhaps one who could aiya into a bird, could easily have accomplished the task.” 

Admrilia fought back her scoff as Wyn-Kai inclined his head. “That is our working theory as well. We have found evidence to substantiate that claim.” Wyn-Kai walked to the desk and produced a piece of papyrus from his robes. He hunched over, his brushstrokes quick and efficient. Admrilia dropped down from the chair and walked over. The Governor stepped aside to allow them to peer at the kiyr glyph. 

“The assassin left this on his body. A calling card of sorts.” 

Admrilia’s understanding of the complicated kiyr language was elementary at best but it appeared to be the visage of a woman sitting within a box. Or perhaps a roofline of sorts. Advisor Clavo hissed through his teeth. “What is it Advisor?” Admrilia asked. 

“The Ten Houses of Ker.” Clavo’s thick hand pointed down at the glyph as if it personally offended him. 

“The Ten?” Advisor Khispen asked. 

“Yes. The symbol originated from the Ballad of the Ten.” Wyn-Kai cleared his throat. “House fought House through decades of strife, and their sons and daughters died. Over their bodies their father’s cried—”

“And from their children’s love the Houses unite.” Clavo spat. He scowled. “This is the symbol of Ker unification. This is the banner they rode under during the Ker Conquest, when all ten Houses joined forces against the Conqueror.” 

“And now it’s the symbol of their rebellion.” Admrilia finished. She glanced up, Advisor Khispen and Clavo’s expressions grave. They mirrored her own. 

“The legate’s last correspondence was with Legate Fillium over in De-Anu. But to be honest, Xur had no shortage of enemies.” Wyn-Kai said. “He was a destroyer of a House. That has not been forgotten. His hatred for the kerai was arguably greater than the Conquerors.” 

“Don’t be a sympathizer.” Advisor Clavo said quietly. 

“I’m simply providing the group context. The search for Legate Xur’s murderers will be extensive.”

“But more broadly, the whole territory could be teetering on the brink of rebellion. If we find the Legate’s killers, it could lead us to these insurrectionists.” The crushing weight of the Conqueror’s directive settled over her shoulders. Legate Xur’s killers could be as far as Pi-Yenja by now, or the rebellion's leader could be as close to those in this very room. Her eyes slid to Wyn-Kai the Wise. The Betrayer. Did her grandfather have it in him to rebel against the empire? After the Conqueror granted his House the mercy of life? Was Legate Xur’s murder some sort of elaborate scheme to get her here? 

Admrilia bit her tongue, relishing briefly in the sharp sting. She could not accurse the Governor, her own family, of treason without considerable evidence. But she could hardly trust them either. 

“There is more.” Wyn-Kai said. Alexandros and Flavius quickly shared disbelieving glances near the doorway. “Advisor Clavo, you asked me why the Uros are here. When they arrived, they claimed they knew nothing of your impending visit. They are here on behalf of your son. He wrote to me.”

Advisor Clavo snatched the outstretched letter. His eyebrows shoot higher and higher with each line of text. The advisor handed the letter over to Admrilia without a word. She immediately recoiled at the hideous penmanship. She silently read: 

Governor Wyn-Kai, 

I write to you with great urgency. It is with great humility that I admit that the city of De-Asha has failed to produce the Conqueror’s tribute for the upcoming triumph. The Conqueror has tasked me with recovering the most unusual prize. I am to present a star. 

Admrilia paused, then reread the line. A star? How preposterous. Surely the Conqueror did not mean a physical star like the myths. Admrilia did not believe in destiny, or the stars as Asho did. No, she firmly believed that the wyrd myth was used by the Conqueror, and his forefathers before him, to justify the subjugation and continued conquest of the continent. End of story. 

Unless, there is already one wyrdstone. Her mind rushed to reason. Why couldn’t there be others? Admrilia continued reading. 

I firmly believe the Emperor desires a relic of the Conquering, a weapon of which the Ten kept fiercely hidden  inside Anu-Uro-Set during the war. But the excavation of the site has yet to yield results. The nature of, and power of this star has alluded my men and I. 

Admrilia’s mind spun like a top. Why was the Conqueror demanding such an extensive search? And if the wyrdstone did exist, and if she found it? Admrilia could nearly bask in the warm praise upon her skin as she presented this other star to the Conuqueror. A wyrdstone restored. Her duty to the Empire would be fulfilled. It surely would be enough to force the Conqueror to name her his heir. Admrilia could become Empress. Admrilia scanned the rest of the lines. 

Upon learning of the legendary legate’s passing, I grow more frantic in my search. The city of De-Asha requests that all of Legate Xur’s personal accounts of the siege, as well as any supplemental documents be sent in our aid.  I pray to the Stormlord, merciful is our god, that we may recover the star before the Conqueror’s arrival. I have sent an envoy in my stead. With great humility, Legate Titus Crassus Clavo.

Admrilia wordlessly passed the letter to Advisor Khispen. She walked over to the Legate’s bookcases. “Are the journals here?” She asked Wyn-Kai directly. 

He eyed her knowingly. “No. His accounts are kept in the Houses private repository along with all other records of the Conquering.”

“Then we should go there next.” Admrilia nodded to herself. “We need to discover what connection Legate Xur had to all of this.” 

“Of course.” Wyn-Kai bowed his head. “And do you wish for the Uro’s to join us?” 

Advisor Clavo vigorously shook his head. “Absolutely not. You cannot seriously trust a matter this dire to those kerai dogs.” Clavo grumbled. 

“Bring them.” Admrilia turned and eyed her advisor. “Your son clearly had entrusted them with a task of this magnitude. So either your son finds them useful to the empire or he is as dumb as a mule.” She fit the advisor with a piercing glare. “The blade stills close by either way.”

[nestaismommy]

The wing leader cocked her head, her iron-tipped hand still touching the Wyrdstone collar. “Do you want me to kill you, Dorian?

“I want you to do a lot of things to me,” the prince said, raking his eyes along the witch’s body.

[yourejinx]

Does Tamlin have a wyrdstone heart?????

I'm re reading acotar after finishing the ToG series and I'm - 🧐

[joemerl]

Writer's Month 2024, Day 16: "Ship"

Original fiction/Science Fantasy story Word count: 468 Summary: Based on this from @writing-prompt-s.

Captain Andromeda Mattinson strode into the Engine Room, her expression grim.

"Alright, people. Can anyone explain to me why we're stuck floating halfway between Saturn and Uranus?"

Private Michael Cheng coughed nervously. He strode forward, gave a quick salute and muttered, "With all due respect, ma'am, you might want to—"

"—shut up and listen for once, that's what she might want to do!"

Commander Wyrdstone strode forward, pounding his staff angrily on the metal floor. Unlike the rest of the U.S.F. Phoenix crew, Wyrdstone didn't wear a traditional uniform—or rather, he wore a very traditional one, a long robe with impactably wide sleeves and a pointed hat, all covered with planets and stars. (His outfit could, in fact, serve as a workable stellimap.) He looked even more frazzled than usual, glaring at the captain from beneath bushy eyebrows.

"I TOLD you that we needed powdered griffin claw! How do you expect me to power a hyperdrive without griffin claw?!"

She worked to keep her voice even. "Griffin claw is hard to come by on Charon. Private Cheng assured me that you would be able to—"

"Private Cheng has as much brains as a cockatrice!"

Michael, who was Wyrdstone's apprentice, winced. "I just said, sir—a wizard of your caliber might be able to—"

"Even Merlin couldn't conjure faster-than-light travel from nothing! A lesser wizard wouldn't have gotten us past Neptune! Now, if we had stopped at Ariel, LIKE I SAID TO, we might have gotten some more fuel. But why should anyone listen to ME?!" He waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind that I was running spaceships before the Outer Planets were colonized!"

Captain Mattinson took a deep breath. "What can we do?" she asked calmly.

"Wait for a griffin to fly by," the wizard said, voice dripping sarcasm.

"Actually, sir—"

Michael winced as both of his superiors turned, Wyrdstone with eyes blazing beneath his bushy eyebrows. He swallowed, then pulled on a chain around his neck. A single small gemstone appeared from under his shirt.

"A Neptunian diamond I keep for emergencies. It should have enough magic to—"

He let out a strangling sound as Wyrdstone grabbed the chain, bringing the crystal to his eye for study.

"Hmm. Not the worst specimen I've seen. I can at least get us to Phoebe on this." He released the chain, then gave Michael an appraising look. "Good work, boy. You might just make a passable wizard yet."

He removed the chain from Michael's neck, then stomped away, giving neither him nor the captain another look. Michael rubbed his aching neck, while Captain Mattinson looked stony.

"I really need to fire that old warlock," she said, shaking her head. But Michael knew that she wouldn't. Say what you want about him, you couldn't find a better astromage than Wyrdstone.