#also how a few days into their trek to find civilisation they found the back of the plane and some more suitcases

[evansbby]

i just read all about the uruguayan plane that crashed in the andes mountains which the movie “society of the snow” is based on and oh my god, it’s crazy what the human body can achieve in survival mode, and it’s also crazy the power of faith 🥹🥹

[jaskiersvalley]

Ooo, I would love to see more of Jaskier traveling with Lambert and Adrian that sounds like it would be fun

This is probably a little different to what you had in mind (I think this ask was off the back of the fic where Geralt doesn’t compliment Jaskier and so Lambert threatens to take him away). However, this idea has been bugging me for a good week and you gave me the perfect excuse to write it <3

Another Lifetime

The pogroms were getting worse, anti-Witcher sentiments had never been higher. Somehow, the most dangerous thing on the Path was no longer the monsters and creatures, it was humans. Over the course of a few years, following Nilfgaard's victory, the number of Witchers dwindled, they started seeking each other out and Kaer Morhen, unexpectedly, became a safe haven once more.

Come spring, nobody seemed eager to leave. They were all on edge, waiting for someone else to make a move. Not even Eskel, usually so dedicated to his role in the world, made a move to get back on the Path. Vesemir wasn't urging them either which was perhaps an even more damning piece of evidence.

"We can't just keep hiding up here," Lambert raged. "The fuckers are only going to come again."

It was the sad truth, the world wasn't safe for Witchers, not even when they retreated from the world to try and carve out their own little corner to exist in. They were running out of options, it was no longer a question of enjoying life, it was a fight for survival and the right to live.

"There may be a solution," Yennefer offered. It wasn't an option she gave lightly or even wanted to try but it was looking like the only possible way out. "The world isn't equipped to deal with Witchers. So we take you out the equation. Leave it maybe 200 years before you come back."

Time travel wasn't a possibility, they all knew that and Lambert was about to scoff when Jaskier piped up.

"That kind of magic hasn't been done in a long time. What you propose, you'll need Fae help with it."

"Just as well your heritage is enough."

The plan was hatched, it if could be called a plan. A sleeping draught to keep the Witchers in stasis until the world was ready for them again, Witchers nothing but a myth of the past and they would be free to live as they pleased. Given his Fae blood, Jaskier wouldn't need to be put to sleep, he, Yennefer and a few other sorceresses would become the sleeping Witcher's guardians. They put word out, the last few stragglers arrived at Kaer Morhen. There weren't many of them left, the four Wolves, a handful of Vipers led by Letho, a few Cats and the last Griffin. Plus Ciri who was seen to be as good as a Witcher by most, and Cahir who left Nilfgaard, risking his life for love.

Potion brewed, one last night together in the halls of Kaer Morhen before it became silent again, the guardian of sleeping Witchers and friends. One by one they drank the potion, snuggled up with their loved ones and trusted the promise that they'd wake to a better world. That the sorceresses could shape the future in a way that there was a place in the world for them.

First to wake was Lambert. It took a little while to rouse, and when he did, he frowned. The room wasn't in Kaer Morhen, he wasn't in the embrace of his lovers. Stumbling out, he found himself in a little cottage in the middle of some woods. There was not a soul in the area for miles. It took him a few days of trekking until he got to the edge of civilisation and what a sight that was. Houses like he'd never seen before, lights without fires, carriages without horses. It was bewildering, terrifying. And he was all alone. People gave him a wide berth when he tried to ask where he was, nobody seemed to care but also didn't want to help. So maybe not so much had changed in the 200 years or however long it was.

Music caught his attention. It wasn't like any he'd heard before but the voice was familiar. It was Jaskier. How he ended up in a small box was beyond Lambert but at least the owner of the tavern took some pity on him and sent him on his way with some knowledge. Jaskier lived somewhere in Redania still and, if Lambert's suspicions were right, he would be in Lettenhove still.

Thankfully he was right. The mansion had changed a lot over the years but it was still just as gaudy as ever. What hadn't changed was the welcome he got, Jaskier throwing himself at Lambert in a hug.

"We lost track of you. Welcome home!"

It turned out, Kaer Morhen was going to be destroyed. The locals had had enough of being so close to Witchers and had planned to raid it. Thankfully Triss had caught wind of it before it could happen and the sorceresses had decided that the safest thing would be to disperse and hide their sleeping charges. Except, 200 years was a long time and, after so many moves and helpers taking on the role of guardians, they accidentally lost track of who was where.

On the plus side, they were all in positions of power. Not forefront public figures but the important ones in the background who actually made things happen. Yennefer had quite the hold on the local political landscape, Triss was the one who held sway over education, Tissaia had the criminal underworld in a tight grip while Sabrina made a move into law making. It was quite the tidy setup because Lambert found himself with all the right paperwork and even qualifications within a matter of days to start his new life. Except, he didn't want a new life, not without his family. So he pestered Jaskier to write songs that, if heard, would lead the others back home too. Something about roads taking someone home to the place they belonged. Anything to get the family back together.

Aiden was next, still yawning as he stumbled in, having only been on the other side of town, in a badly sealed off cellar. He'd quiet terrified the family who lived there, knocking down their wall and strolling out while looking like some re-enactment enthusiast or general all round odd person. His reunion with Lambert was somewhat bittersweet, the two of them were together but they were still missing half of their partners. Eskel and Cahir were nowhere in reach.

One by one, over the course of the next ten years, Witchers returned home. They were all given the same warm welcome and helped to settle into life. Geralt and Jaskier were inseparable, married as soon as they could organise a wedding. Letho and his merry gang dispersed into the wind as soon as they could, eager to live a life without constraint. Rumour had it, Letho became Tissaia's righthand man and excelled at the job.

With Eskel's return, Lambert's heart healed a little more. All the Witchers turned up. About a hundred years later Ciri arrived too. Only Cahir was missing. They searched for him to no avail. Their hopes and memories dwindled. In a way, Lambert was glad he was struggling to remember his partner's scent, it made waking up without it in their bed just a little easier.

Technology moved on, the Continent was becoming better connected. While Aiden took to it better than duck to water, Lambert found himself preferring to stick to more manual work. His little mechanics shop had become quite the trusted hub. Eskel helped out from time to time but he ended up running some kind of website for cryptid hunters - something about it being part of his research. Of the three of them, Eskel was the one who couldn't give up on Cahir. Ever after hundreds of years, he kept his flame of hope alive.

When Eskel went missing with just a note to say he'll be back, Lambert did panic. It took Aiden pointing out Eskel's website updates to think that maybe things were okay. The only thing Lambert had to hope was that Eskel hadn't dashed out on a fool's errand. The article on the computer was one that could mean anything.

The Slumbering God Stirs

It was a piece about some strange sect that worshipped a sleeping god who would bring either destruction or divine blessings upon waking. And it seemed that he was going to wake up soon, whatever that meant. Lambert didn't want to think about how people assessed when a god was about to wake. In his life, there were no gods, only men who were scared or without purpose, desperate to find meaning to their existence.

Four days later, the familiar sound of Eskel's truck pulling up in front of the house. Lambert and Aiden were falling over themselves, wanting to figure out just what their partner had gone and done. They didn't expect a smug look as Eskel sauntered closer to them.

"I brought you something." He jabbed his fingers towards the truck, where the passenger seat was out of view from where it had been pushed to lie down.

Curious, Lambert and Aiden walked closer, peering in through the window. While Lambert froze at the sight, Aiden squealed, pressing up against the window.

"You found him! You found him!"

The door of the truck was almost ripped off in excitement as Lambert yanked it open, leaning in over the sleeping figure.

"Ciri took a hundred years to wake, she's got Chaos in her. Cahir is just a plain old human. You remember how difficult it was to wake up for us after the potion. It will probably take him a few days."

A pair of sleepy eyes blinked up at Lambert, accompanied by a lazy smile. With shaking hands, he lifted Cahir out of the truck, tucking him close against his chest. Eyes burning, Lambert, looked between his partners.

"He's slept for near 500 years. A few more days won't hurt. But we can give him what we didn't have. He can wake up in the arms of his family, knowing that it's all going to be okay."

[elsanna-shenanigans]

April Contest Submission #26: Captain's Holiday

Words: ca. 1500 Setting: Star Trek AU (TNG Era) Lemon: no, but there are a few sexual jokes CW: none

 xXx

The idea of a vacation had never really crossed Elsa’s mind for most of her Starfleet career. While she often had her ways of amusing herself like her holoprograms recreating historical locations from various alien worlds, not to mention a Klingon martial arts program that an old academy friend had lent her, she’d never taken a full-on vacation before.

Whenever the topic of shore leave had come up and most other officers went on vacation or visited a nearby space station for their relaxation, Elsa usually went home to the Vulcan colony where her grandparents lived and where she was raised after her parents had died.

But for whatever reason, Elsa now found herself laid back on a deck chair on a beach on the beautiful planet known as Risa.

Anna had been the one to coax her into it. They both had shore leave coming up and this was the first one they’d been on since they’d gotten together. It was Anna’s way of trying to get Elsa to have some actual fun, instead of being glued to the captain’s chair most of the time.

Elsa tried to remain still on the deck chair… but she just wasn’t feeling it. She just couldn’t find a way to relax. The sound of the waves nearby crashing against the shore, the sounds of other vacationers laughing and talking in the distance… It was hard to focus.

“Ugh, this isn’t helping,” Elsa groaned.

Anna, who was on a deck chair next to her, pulled down her sunglasses. “Come on, we’ve only been here on this beach for half an hour. Just give it time to clear your thoughts.”

“I can’t focus here, Anna,” Elsa responded. “This isn’t like the holodeck where I can have everything under my control.” She sighed, knowing she didn’t want to be angry at Anna. Anna had done this partly for her, the last thing she wanted was to ruin this vacation. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, you’ve never had a vacation like this,” Anna told her. “It just takes some getting used to.”

Elsa sighed. “I’m gonna read.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a datapad. Holding it in her hand, she began to read the text upon it.

Anna narrowed her eyes at Elsa. A quick telepathic scan of her girlfriend’s mind told her that it wasn’t a steamy romance novel that Elsa was reading. “Elsa, what is that?”

“Uhhhh… just a book?” Elsa spoke, blushing sheepishly.

Reaching over, Anna grabbed the pad from Elsa and looked at it. “This is the mission report Kristoff sent us last night!”

“It might have been important!”

“You’re here to relax, not stress yourself out with work!” Anna argued. “By the deities, you are impossible.”

“I’m sorry,” Elsa apologised. “Work helps me focus and I feel relaxed.”

“Yes, but that kinda defeats the point of going on vacation in the first place, doesn’t it?” Anna remarked.

Elsa sighed, taking the pad from Anna and deleting the report from it. “Alright, I promise you, I won’t be trying to sneak any more work into this vacation and you’re more than welcome to telepathically scan me to make sure I’m keeping to that.”

“Nah, you know I’m not fond of doing that to you,” Anna argued. “But… I appreciate it.” She leaned over and kissed Elsa on the cheek.

Elsa smiled, looking out on the vast ocean before them, the twin suns of Risa making the ocean sparkle before her eyes. It looked so perfect, but while the view was lovely, it had nothing on how beautiful Anna was. Her freckles practically glowed in the sunlight.

“The weather is lovely,” Elsa admitted.

“It’s like this every day here,” Anna remarked. “I remember when I first saw those two suns in the sky.”

Elsa raised her eyebrow. “You’ve been here before?”

“Oh, plenty of times!” Anna replied. “My moms came here when I was a kid all the time. It was the first time I’d been off-world. I built sandcastles with my two older brothers right over…. there.” she pointed to a patch of sand close to the water. “Or was it over there…. all the beaches here kinda look the same.”

“Sounds like you had a lot of fun as a kid,” Elsa admitted.

“And I guess growing up with Vulcans wasn’t entirely full of joy?” Anna assumed.

“Well, I wasn’t entirely bored,” Elsa remarked. “I remember I used to go up into the mountains with my grandfather. There was this peak where you could see the entire colony.” She sighed, feeling relaxed. “I spent so many afternoons there.”

Anna chuckled. “I bet you were cute as a kid.”

Smiling, Elsa reflected on her childhood, glad that she had someone to share such memories with. It honestly took her a lot to open up to people and felt glad to have someone like Anna. Just then, Elsa felt a slight burning sensation on her skin.

“Hmmm, I think I need another dose of sunscreen,” Elsa admitted. “Typical binary suns.”

“Want me to get it for you?” Anna wondered.

“No, I got it,” Elsa replied, reaching into her bag. As she looked in the bag next to her, she saw the small statue that Anna had bought for her that morning, an item quite popular with the locals. It was a small brown statue that depicted a deity in Risan mythology.

Elsa picked up the statue, holding it in her hands. “I don’t know why you bought me this… Horgun was it?”

“Horga'hn,” Anna corrected her. “And I thought you’d like it! You could display it with all those other artifacts you have in your quarters.”

“Yes, but those artifacts were ancient and from civilisations long since extinct. Some of them are virtually priceless…. you can buy these at the resort’s gift shop.”

“Think of it as a souvenir of your trip,” Anna replied, gently kissing Elsa on the cheek again.

Elsa blushed softly, before going into the bag again and pulling out the sunscreen. As she applied it to herself, however, she heard someone clear their throat beside her and Anna. “Excuse me?”

Looking over, Elsa could see a young brunette woman wearing a rather revealing uniform standing next to them. Judging from the familiar symbol on her forehead, she was one of the planet’s natives. She had rather dark skin and wore her hair long, a smile on her face. However, Elsa just groaned internally.

Not another one, Elsa remarked. I swear that’s the fifth Risian woman today who’s come up to me

“Yes, can I help you?” Elsa asked.

The woman walked over to Elsa, her dark skin shimmering in the glow of the sun. “My name is Maren. I’m employed here at the resort. Is there anything I can do to help you feel more comfortable?”

“Oh uh, no thank you,” Elsa responded politely.

“Are you sure?” Maren inquired further. “I couldn’t perhaps offer you a massage of some kind?”

“No, my girlfriend and I merely wish to be left alone,” Elsa responded.

“How very odd,” Maren noted. “You say you want to be alone… yet I can’t help but notice that Horga'hn sticking out of your bag.”

Elsa raised her eyebrow. “Why? What’s so important about that? I thought it was just a souvenir.”

Maren chuckled. “This is your first time being here isn’t it?”

“Uh yes?” Elsa answered. “Look, what’s going on here? Is this why like five Risian women, including yourself, have come to me asking for help?”

“Yes, you see, the Horga'hn is our fertility and sexuality symbol,” Maren explained. “To own one is to call forth its power. To display it is to announce you are seeking Jamaharon.”

Anna then giggled and Elsa then realised what exactly was going on here.

“Jamaha…” Elsa shook her head. “Yes, I see, I get it.”

“Are you seeking Jamaharon?”

“No, no, I am not. I did know about it until you told me just now,” Elsa replied.

“Ahhhh I see,” Maren accepted. “Well, since you are not, I’d recommend leaving your Horga'hn in your room. I wouldn’t want things to be awkward for you.” She smiled. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!”

As Maren left, Elsa glared over at Anna who was beside herself with laughter. Oh, this was quite a trick that Anna had played on her, that was to be sure.

“And what is so funny?” Elsa asked sarcastically.

“The look on your face!” Anna laughed, almost falling off her deck chair. “It was just priceless!”

Elsa smirked. “Oh really? Well, I hope you’ve had your last laugh because I have a Vulcan nerve pinch with your name on it.”

Her girlfriend giggled nervously. “Now, Elsa, let’s not take this too far. I just thought that maybe you’d like to live a little. Did I ever tell you that Risan’s find pointy ears really hot?”

“I’ll have you court-martialed for this,” Elsa said with a sickly smile.

Anna gulped. “Oh boy.” And then in a panic, she started running down the beach, Elsa chasing after her.

“I’m sorry!” Anna cried, giggling.

“Anna!” Elsa shouted, also laughing. “Get back here! I’m not done with you!”

[imaginesofeverykind]

Oh Partner, My Partner || Chloe Frazer x Elena Fisher

[literally the only gif i could find with the two of them together omfg — yall i wish these two had more scenes together]

This took so LONG because I had no idea how to write these two best gals without them just trauma bonding over how much of a shit Nathan is lmaooooo I might have to do a part 2 idkkk man 👀👀

Request: Hello! I just saw your post about fanfic requests. Can you write something for chloe x elena (as a ship) from uncharted? Please. Thank you!

Words: 1.7k 

Warnings: None ! Just a bitta flirting 

“Step on it! We got Company!”

Everything was a complete blur, happening in rapid succession that it was nearly impossible to process. Elena Fisher had partaken in her fair share of shoot outs, some incredibly similar to the current situation she was in, the difference now was merely semantics.

She barrelled down the narrow walkway, ancient ruins encompassing the way out in a claustrophobic manner. If the circumstances didn’t call for panic and nimble feet, she’d take a moment to admire yet another long lost civilisation in her wake.

Gunshots echoed through as the army-for-hire attempted to hit the two figures, the two barely managing to exit the choke point and out into the open.

Elena took a moment to catch her breath, lamenting on the fact she could never simply get a story nowadays without being shot at. Her eyes trailed over to her partner — who was equally out of breath, however urged her to press onward.

“C’mon, take one of their trucks, we’ll be lucky if we hit the nearest town before they tail us.” Chloe Frazer motioned for her companion to follow, as unlikely as the pairing had been, the two women found each other’s company much more bearable than initially expected.

Of course, it wasn’t without needing something the other had. Elena had been stumped just days prior at the prospect of losing a big story after her source had been unceremoniously blown up — quite literally. It just so happened that the bar she weighed out her options had also been the same bar the familiar Australian woman had been on the lookout for her next big break.

The two hijacked one of the unmanned vehicles, tearing up some of the lush terrain as they made their quick escape. Both looking back with wide smiles at the near death experience turn successful lift and having enough proof to run a highly intriguing article.

“I can’t believe we did that!” Elena laughed out loud, her heart still thundering in her chest while the adrenaline surged through her. Her hands gripped the edge of her seat as she beamed at her companion, who was rather proud of the work they completed today.

Chloe weaved the truck in and out of major obstacles, having some indication where they needed to go in order to get to town, “we make a pretty good team, don’t we?”

The blonde was taken aback by the compliment, a light blush painting her cheeks as she flustered to find an answer. In the short few years she’d known Chloe, it was clear that the Australian was hard to impress, rarely allowing anyone in too close. To hear her point it out was an honour.

“Y-yeah… I think we did great.” Elena beamed, her eyes lingering over her partner a little too long.

“I knew I liked you for a reason,” Chloe raised her brow, her eyes trailing back and forth from watching the road to her passenger.

It was a miracle they managed to both make it out alive and managed to get enough evidence for the journalist, unlike other times which resulted into her having to sacrifice her story just to make it out alive.

This time was different, and both of them were aware of that major difference; No Nathan Drake. As much as they equally admired and appreciated his heroic efforts, they couldn’t deny the fact he was quite literally the worst treasure hunter. Somehow, someway always finding the ability to blow up his latest find in some spectacular feat.

Without him in the picture, it was unexpectedly easy to pull off the job.

In the several days finding the next lead, following the trail of some illicit blackmarket group, Elena saw a side to Chloe she was quite happy to see. That sentiment also applied for the Australian, no longer believing the outspoken journalist was as bothersome in her regard.

The two had driven for the most part of two hours, ditching the truck somewhere ambiguous while they trekked the rest of the way into town. The dark haired woman praying that their plane ride out of the secluded outback town was still available, wanting to get the hell out of dodge as soon as possible.

With the harsh summer sun beating down on them, the trek felt much longer than it actually was, the American completely out of her comfort zone as she watched in envy at her companion who was seemingly unbothered by the heat. Elena fanned her face with one hand and held up the other to alleviate the glare from the sun, cursing herself for not thinking to bring sunglasses — of all things.

Chloe looked back in amusement, finding it funny that her partner was sweltering in the blistering heat, “bit hot, love?” The facetious tone not at all deterring the glare she got in response, merely laughing more as she wipes away the sweat beading on her neck.

She pointed lazily ahead, “town’s not too far away — won’t melt on me, will you?”

Elena squinted at her, only because she was so conveniently placed right by the sun, “y’know what, I just might.” She panted, taking a short breather.

The local stifled a laugh, “c’mon hot stuff, that article of yours won’t write itself,” she strode ahead, not particularly overthinking her comment coupled as she could just spot the town ahead.

“Here I was thinkin’ I’d catch a break from the shameless flirting… must be a common trait among thieves.” Elena was smug, catching up with her strides as she walked in sync with Chloe. The statement was purely a soft jab at the way people in this specific profession tend to talk to one another.

“Oh — was I not being clear enough?” Chloe retorted, an equally as complacent smirk on her face, even more so upon noticing the flustered look on the blonde's face, “I’ll be more obvious next time, love.”

It was hard to determine whether or not she was being sarcastic, her accent lent little to the imagination with the monotonous drawl, but her sultry tone of voice often always contradicted the accent. As someone who knew her relatively well, how she spoke to other people and carried herself; Elena was still confused.

Maybe the flirty comments were always so obvious when she was directing them elsewhere, then again, Elena was sure that it was simply a shared trait among the many within this business.

Truth be told, the only other person who had attempted to charm her was Nathan, and his measly endeavors were so blatantly obvious it was borderline cringeworthy. She could barely count Harry Flynn as an eligible contender considering he tried to blow the lot of them up.

She wasn’t sure why she was so stuck in her thoughts about it, she was an adult after all and didn’t need to overthink every single remark made her way. Yet here she was, the familiar feeling bubbling up inside her all the while her partner walked in a proud strut.

“I’m sorry — are you joking? I - I really can’t tell if you’re pulling my leg.” Elena eventually spoke out, deciding that the adult approach was the best way to feed into Chloe’s zero bullshit, blunt attitude. She was well aware now wasn’t the time to be having a conversation like this, and typically she’d be happy to let the comments fly by with having a witty retort. This time felt more urgent, like she needed to know before proceeding further.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Chloe winked, jogging up ahead as they entered into the small isolated town. Elena laughed to herself, finding a sense of relief fill her from that sufficient answer. If she was being completely honest, she hadn’t met anyone quite like Chloe before but she had an alluring aura, even when she was being unlikeable; one couldn’t help but be drawn to her. Elena was no exception.

Nevermind that the pair of them looked like they actively fought some of the native wildlife, the two of them disregarding odd looks thrown their way as they casually strolled down the main street.  

The local ushered her companion into a dingy old pub that definitely looked like it wasn’t up to code — if that even existed this far in isolation. The town itself was home to one grocery store, two pubs, an abysmal excuse for a doctors office and one lousy looking police station that sat surrounded by approximately twenty-six houses.

Inside the pub was not much different than outside; muggy with a thick musk scent that mixed with the aroma of sweat from the patrons. Elena must have pulled a face subconsciously, earning a chuckle from her partner as she guided her through the building, “mining towns aren’t all they chalk up to be, aye? Poor bastards leave their families for months at a time to live in luxury at a shit hole like this.”

“Yeah — I guess you could say that…” Elena nervously laughed, not a big fan of the way the workers were eyeing them suspiciously. She wasn’t quite sure if they were looking at them because they were quite clearly outsiders, or for some other reason.

“Stop your worryin’, love — you got me to protect you.” Chloe flashed her a smile, opening the backdoor to the sweet sight of their getaway plane. The makeshift airport was barely manned, only passing the odd pilot or two on their way to greet their pilot.

Elena looked around cautiously, knowing that typically this was the part of the job where they get ambushed; then again, they had pulled this job off without the antagonising presence of Nathan Drake, so the likelihood of something like that happening was incredibly low. It wasn’t his fault he had an undeniable knack for pissing off the ‘bad guys’ effortlessly.

Seeing that she wasn’t in the conversation, Chloe reached over to her and softly grabbed Elena’s hand, “Tommo’s ‘bout ready to leave, you still with us?”

The blonde snapped out of her preemptive panic, giving her partners hand a squeeze as she nods, “only if you’ll have me.”

“I think I’ll keep you around a bit longer.”

[elesianne]

A Silmarillion fanfic, chapter five of seven – Carnistir/Tuilindien

Chapter length: ~2,400 words; Story rating: Teenage audiences

A/N: I wrote the first part of this in response to a prompt from a prompt list on Tumblr ('what are you doing' for Carnistir & Tuilë by @alkarinqque​) and added a much longer second part to include it in this fic.

My inspiration was this line from the Silmarillion: ‘Fëanor and his sons abode seldom in one place for long, but travelled far and wide upon the confines of Valinor, going even to the borders of the Dark and the cold shores of the Outer Sea, seeking the unknown.’

Warning for hunting and animal death, no detailed description.

AO3 LINK

*

Chapter V //  Discoveries

Carnistir comes home from his worksite to find Tuilindien at her writing desk. There is nothing unusual about that – the long desk before a large window in a garden-facing sitting room is one of her favourite places in the house – and neither is it unusual that she is so absorbed in her task that she doesn't rise when he comes to the room. Her only reply to his greeting is a splash of warmth in their wordless connection.

He goes to her, anyway, and kisses her cheek and caresses her hair that she has gathered in a coiled braid at the nape of her neck.

'Just a moment', Tuilindien says, writing a few more one-word lines on the sheet of parchment before her. There are several other similar sheets of paper strewn on the table: only one or two words per line.

'What are you doing?' Carnistir asks, curious, but trying not to read her papers over her shoulder. She doesn't like it when he does.

Tuilindien writes one more line and then turns towards him. 'Darling', she says, takes his hand, and tips her face up to be kissed. Carnistir obediently and happily bends down to do so, kissing her properly this time.

'What are you doing?' he repeats when their lips part. He settles more comfortably at her side, an arm around her shoulder, and tries again to not stare at her writing.

'Writing a packing list', she replies, still a little distracted, looking at her scribbles.

'A packing list?' Carnistir should be delighted Tuilindien showing interest in their approaching trip. He is taking her along to visit mansions of Aulë and to trek beyond them into the wilder regions of Valmar that are uninhabited and largely unexplored, though Carnistir's family has been exploring and mapping the regions there for years, bit by bit. It will be the first such journey for Tuilindien.

Maitimo, Tyelkormo and Curufinwë are coming with them. Carnistir would prefer to go without the last two but he can hardly stop them from coming, and at least Maitimo will be there to keep the peace. Carnistir has considered just going alone on a separate trip with Tuilindien but since she is an inexperienced traveller in the wild, it is much safer to go together with Carnistir's brothers. The food on a journey is always better when travelling with Tyelko, too.

(But Carnistir has been praying daily that Tyelko and Curvo will behave. He'll push them into a river if they don't.)

'I've never made a packing list', Carnistir says to Tuilindien.

'I made one when I was preparing to move here when we married. I went through all my possessions and decided what to take.' Tuilindien gathers the messy-for-her sheets of her list into one tidy pile. 'This didn't feel very different, since we are going to be gone a long time.'

Carnistir cannot help snorting. 'With the difference that we must carry all that we take with us on our horses, and it cannot be too much, as we cannot afford to tire them too much. Your list –' he takes the stack of papers from her hands and counts the sheets '– is far too long. Twice too long, at the very least.'

'Oh.' Tuilindien looks up at him, dismayed.

'You have to take many items off that list.' Oh, but he can never resist her when she looks at him like that. 'I can carry some of your things', he acquiesces. 'Some. I know from experience that I don't need much myself, and my Varnë is bigger and stronger than your mare.'

'But Mirwannë is very sure-footed in every terrain', Tuilindien defends her horse.

'And that is very good, very useful for our journey. But she cannot carry all this, nor can Varnë.'

Tuilindien wrings her hands in her skirts, her usual nervous habit that Carnistir finds very endearing. She does not feel or look too upset, though, as she says, 'I do not know what to leave off my list.'

'I can do it for you.' He kisses the top of her head and, in the happy contentment that he feels from her at that, decides that he dares to joke. Waving the sheets of parchment in his hand, he asks, 'Would you prefer me to throw away every other parchment, or to cross over every other item?'

'Do not make fun of me, Carnistir!' But Tuilindien laughs as she says, 'I have never been so far away from civilisation. How could I know what I need to take with me?'

'I'll tell you.' He brings another chair to her desk and sits down beside her, spreading the papers on the desk. 'Let us go through your things one by one. Where do you want to begin?'

*

It does not take many days of travelling for Carnistir to realise that he has made a horrible mistake going on this expedition with his wife and his brothers. Not because Curufinwë and Tyelkormo bully or tease Tuilindien – they are actually so eager to teach her wilderness skills that they behave rather decently towards her, puffing up like proud birds when Tuilindien praises their expertise – but because when travelling with three of Carnistir's brothers, he and Tuilindien do not have a single moment of privacy.

They try to find some. From the first day, Carnistir volunteers them for tasks that take them a little way away from the others, such as gathering firewood while Maitimo, Tyelkormo and Curufinwë make their camp ready for the night.

But because they go hand and hand and then Tuilindien kisses him in a particularly romantic glade where birds whose song is different from the song of birds in Tirion fill the air with their sweet chirping, and the trees around them are tall and alien compared to the tame trees of the city, they take so long that Curufinwë is sent to find out whether they have run into some danger.

'I cannot believe that you two started mauling each other before you gathered any firewood at all!' Curufinwë yells at them from the edge of the glade. 'Have you lost all your wits?'

Carnistir growls and points at the small pile of branches at his feet. 'Shove off, Curvo.'

'Fine!' Curufinwë turns on his heels, but he shouts over his shoulder, 'If you don't get back soon, I'll bully Maitimo until he agrees to come get you, and won't that be embarrassing for all three of you!'

Tuilindien lifts her head from Carnistir's chest where she buried it as soon as she heard Curufinwë's voice. 'I don't want Maitimo to have to come get us', she says.

Her lips are very pink, and her golden-brown skin so soft-looking in the gentle light of the glade.

Carnistir takes her face between his hands; her skin is soft and sweet, as ever. 'Soon', he promises. 'We'll leave soon. Not yet.'

'Not yet', breathes Tuilindien in agreement, and kisses him again, holding him as tight as she can.

They run into Maitimo on their way back to the camp, both their arms full of dry branches. Maitimo says nothing, just turns to walk back, and neither do Carnistir and Tuilindien.

Carnistir can feel the heat on his cheeks but he regrets nothing.

Another time he tries to make sure that they'll have time to do more than kiss. He has spent many days watching the play of emotions on Tuilindien's face as she sees new sights, walks new paths, encounters new animals and plants; and at night she settles in his arms, but curling up together under his wide cloak is all that they can do with his brothers within hearing distance.

At home they enjoyed each other daily unless it was a bad day for one of them but here on the roadless road, they can barely kiss without Tyelko offering sarcastic commentary or Curvo heckling them.

Maitimo rolls his eyes at them once, too. Carnistir is very disappointed in him.

One evening they pass a river and decide to make camp near it because everyone is sorely in need of a wash, all of them beginning to offend each other's noses. The forest is turning into more of a jungle in places, and the air is humid and hot and two days have passed since they found a body of water suitable for thoroughly washing. But there is no suitable camping place very near the river, none that passes muster for Tyelko who decides such things, so they camp several minutes away from it.

The river is wide and shallow, and its immediate environs seemed safe enough. Thus as soon as he and Tuilindien have done their necessary part of camp-building, he grabs his washing things, and hers, and her, and says over his shoulder to his brothers, 'We will be taking our time washing.'

Maitimo groans and Curvo swears, and no doubt Tyelko would too if he had not already gone hunting. Tuilindien squeaks in embarrassment, but she doesn't truly protest.

And when they get to the river, she strips herself of her dusty and sweaty travelling clothes as quickly as she possibly can and wades into the river, less shy about bathing in the wild than she has been on any earlier occasion.

Carnistir grins and splashes into the water right behind her, and they find a nice place where the current is not too much and the water is waist-deep, and they cling to each other and he is definitely planning on kissing her for a long, long time, and also…

He runs his hand down Tuilindien's side and under the water and between her legs, and she doesn't protest that either, no, she presses her forehead against his shoulder and holds on to him with shaking hands, and sighs, and makes little noises of pleasure, and –

And then Carnistir hears other noises. A flock of birds taking flight from bushes, his brain supplies without prompting. For a fraction of a second he allows himself to wonder how he could identify the noise when he has his hands on Tuilindien and, he'd have thought, all his senses too –

For a fraction of a second, and then he lifts his hand from Tuilindien and pushes her behind himself and turns to the bushes where he thinks the birds flew from, and tries to see whether there are any signs of a predator approaching, and tries to calculate how quick he can get to the shore and the hunting dagger that he left with his clothes –

But before he is more than one step towards the shore, there is the sound of a swift arrow, and a dead bird falls on the shore, close by where Carnistir and Tuilindien left their clothes.

'Thrice-damned Tyelko', Carnistir growls with a quick glance at Tuilindien.

She has gone deeper into the water. It comes up to her neck. Carnistir is glad. He wades to the shore.

'Tyelko, you rotten misfit!' he bellows as loudly as he can, arriving at the shoreline. 'Run back to the camp or I swear in the name of every single Vala that I will make you run.'

There is laughter from beyond the rivershore, from the forest.

'What is wrong with your head that you could not let us wash in peace!'

'I didn't mean to disturb', Tyelkormo shouts back. 'Rest assured, Moryo, I didn't sneak any peeks at you and your lady. I have no desire to see either of you naked. And that is why I will now get back to camp – I don't want you to humiliate yourself by chasing me naked through the forest. Bring the bird back to camp when you are done bathing.'

'Is this damned bird even edible?' Carnistir yells, eyeing the corpse at his feet with distaste.

There is no answer from Tyelko. Perhaps that most dreadful of Carnistir's brothers (at least at this very moment) has done as he promised and returned to camp at once.

With a snarling sigh, Carnistir turns around and wades back into the river and to Tuilindien who looks like she doesn't know whether to cry or laugh.

She says as much, and 'Will you wash my hair, Carnistir?', and, a little mournfully, 'I think that that is as much intimacy as I dare to have today. Your brothers are –'

'– a mistake', Carnistir finishes for her. 'Just… a mistake.'

Tuilindien laughs a little, and that is good, though not as good as it would have been to make her gasp and moan against his shoulder as he touched her.

He washes her long hair and she washes his back, and they kiss a little. When they return to camp, Carnistir, to his great satisfaction, manages to throw the dead bird so suddenly and forcefully at Tyelkormo that he doesn't notice before it hits him in the face.

That night Carnistir regrets going on this journey with Tyelkormo, Curufinwë and Maitimo. He should have persuaded Makalaurë and Tinweriel to come along, he muses as he sits keeping watch at night, Tuilindien's steady breathing by his side calming him down.

However long it took for them to find the time on their busy schedules, he should have asked them – they would have understood the need for occasional privacy, Carnistir is certain. Or he and Tuilindien should have gone alone, to some safer region.

But by the end of the journey Carnistir decides that it is all worth it, worth the unfulfilled desire to join his body with Tuilindien's, worth being unable to whisper soft words to her without being ridiculed by one of his brothers, worth missing the quiet routines of their life at home.

It is all worth it to see Tuilindien running into a field of exotic wildflowers and twining them in her hair, and the way her eyes shine and her mouth purses in concentration as she sits at Curvo's side as he teaches her how to draw maps – she proves an apt pupil – beside the campfire at night, and the warmth of her slender hand in his when they walk for a stretch to let their horses rest.

It is all worth it to discover new parts of the world together with her.

*

A/N: In Carnistir’s brothers’ defence: he and Tuilindien were being pretty obnoxiously lovey-dovey.

In the next chapter, Netyarë joins the family.I haven't finished the next chapter yet so I can't promise for certain when it will be posted, but I'll try and have it ready to update on Sunday or Monday.

[swissmissficrecs]

Best Fics of 2018

Once again, this was a bumper year for fan fiction in the Sherlock BBC fandom*, with a few very long-anticipated fics coming to completion alongside some recent smash hits from established authors and even a couple of newer and lesser-known writers hitting it out of the ballpark. My picks are all, unsurprisingly, long, plotty, angsty Johnlock fics, featuring in particular post-series 4 fixits and Parentlock along with AU's, especially other professions and fusions/crossovers. What they all have in common though, is being of absolutely stellar quality not just in the technical aspects of the writing, but also the handling of themes, the character work, and the emotional impact. Any one of these could be a published book, and perhaps in the near future, some actually will be!

* (I also snuck in one ACD series because it’s my list and I can.)

My caveat as always: this list is obviously skewed toward my own personal preferences and reading habits. There are plenty of other fics that I loved, and even more that I simply didn’t get around to reading (yet), so it’s not a judgment if your favorite (or one you wrote) isn’t on here. Think of this as a sampling rather than a definitive list. I hope this will help you to re-acquaint yourself with fics you loved, give a chance to others you may have skipped the first time round, and possibly discover something entirely new and astonishing.

So here they are, in descending order of length:

The Men Who Talked Between the Words (439746 words) by Odamaki Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade Summary: John expected to be a father some day; he expected to have the house, and the wife and the nice suburban job. Sherlock never expected to have children, in part because he never expected to make it past 30. As it turns out, you don't get a choice. Crammed into Baker Street with a baby, John struggles with single-parenthood and his own fears, while Sherlock treads the fine line between doing too little and saying too much.

Gravity (English Version) (282983 words) by kirin_calls Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Greg Lestrade/John Watson, Sherlock Holmes/Victor Trevor, John Watson/Victor Trevor Summary: Part 1: When John takes up mixed martial arts training, he doesn't expect it to lead to a new relationship. But there are darker things afoot at the gym, and John is soon drawn in deeper than he wants. When an old flame from Sherlock's past turns up, it's time for everyone to declare their loyalties... and for John to finally discover where his heart truly belongs. / Part 2: John is struggling with his loss. Plagued by nightmares, his life gone topsy-turvy, he is no longer able to lead a normal existence. As he seeks out some stability, some way to slowly pull himself up out of the morass of his grief, old rivals become friends and details about Sherlock's past come to light, leading John to discover something strange that won't let him go.

Radioactive Trees In A Red Forest (280332 words) by Maribor_Petrichor Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: John Watson is what happens when a man can no longer see a reason to go on. John Watson is what happens when a man starts to let go. "It is what it is." John Watson is what happens when what "it is" becomes too much to bear. This is a story of the life, death, and resurrection of John Hamish Watson.

The Bluest of Blue (196473 words) by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Molly Hooper/Greg Lestrade Summary: John Watson's 10th season as a Denali National Park Ranger was shaping up to look like all the years before. Until a special team from Europe was flown into the Park for a summer-long wolf-tracking research project, and the head of that research team was wearing a perfectly tailored suit.

Scar Tissue (192179 words) by J_Baillier, 7PercentSolution Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: John has scarcely recovered from his Afghanistan tour when Sherlock is injured at work, putting their already strained relationship to the test.

A Game of Hearts (162553 words) by zmethos Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, John Watson/OMC Summary: Seven stories written circa 2010, after the first series/season of Sherlock but before Season 2. Therefore, none of these stories reflect anything from Season 2 onward! Think of it as an alternate timeline or something. Slow build of a relationship between Sherlock and John. Gets quite dark in places. [Note: This is an AO3 repost of a fic from fanfiction.net.]

Drift Compatible (130546 words) by J_Baillier Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: A washed out war hero struggling with his past. A prodigy who wants nothing to do with his family legacy. Both are looking for something—and someone—worth fighting for in a world where human civilisation is constantly under threat.

The Burning Heart (119461 words) by May_Shepard Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, John Watson/Original Male Character(s) Summary: When Sherlock dies, John Watson feels like his life is over too. He’s completely shut down, until Mark Morstan, a new nurse at John’s medical clinic, catches his attention, and helps him uncover the long buried truth of his attraction to men. Although he’s certain he’ll never get over Sherlock, John plans to move on, and build a new life with Mark, unaware that Sherlock is not quite as dead as he appears, and that Mark is hiding secrets of his own.

Maintenance and Repair (106650 words) by patternofdefiance Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, John Watson/OFC Summary: John wants to explain the rush of sensation and data, which is just another form of sensation (or is it the other way around?). John wants to say: Augmentation circuits report temperature, pressure, various forms of quantitative input. Sudden changes are reported as pain, since sudden changes are dangerous, and pain is the quickest way to encourage reflexive extraction. But all John can manage is, “Nng.” Because this sudden touch is not reporting as pain.

The Wedding Garments (105390 words) by cwb Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: This is the story of a young consulting detective who wants nothing to do with marriage and an army doctor who wants to find true love. It's 2020 post-Brexit England and the British government is encouraging arranged marriages. Candidates meet through state-run agencies and date in hopes of finding love (and tax benefits). Sherlock doesn't need or want a spouse, at least not until John Watson shows up. Hesitant to give in to his more carnal urges because of the way they derail his mind, how will Sherlock progress toward the more intimate aspects of a relationship? The answer lies in a very special wedding gift.

Kintsukuroi (91822 words) by sussexbound Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: “I love you.” Sherlock sees the words hit John with almost physical force. He reels back a little, jaw twitching and eyes filling. “I love you,” he repeats, a little softer, a little more gentle, as earnest as he possibly can. Because they’ve been teetering on the brink of this thing for years, and it had become painfully obvious over the last few months that they were at a tipping point. This had to happen. Now it has. Now they can see where they end up. The tears in John’s eyes spill over, and he wipes at them angrily. “Do you even know what that means?”

Missing Pages (78852 words) by PlaidAdder Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Mary Morstan/Violet Hunter Summary: This is a group of interlinked short stories (most between 2000 and 7000 words) which tell the story of how Holmes and Watson really came to be separated at the Reichenbach Falls, and how they found each other again. Each story is in the form of a document--a letter, a journal, a surveillance report, an affidavit, etc.--which is linked to one or more ACD canon tales, and which tells us something about that story that was changed or suppressed in Watson's published account of it. Holmes/Watson, with glimpses of other relationships.

Summit Fever (78782 words) by J_Baillier Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, James Sholto/John Watson, James Sholto/OFC Summary: After graduating from medical school, John Watson followed his heart to the Himalayas. Ten years later, he's a haunted cynic working for his ex-lover's trekking and mountaineering company. Will leading an expedition to Annapurna I—the most lethal of all the world's highest mountains—shake John out of his reverie, and who is the mystery client added to the group at the last minute? 

The Vapor Variant (72684 words) by 88thParallel Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade Summary: Little did Sherlock know that the vapor to which he exposed John was a bioweapon— containing a bioengineered hybrid virus. Now, John is fighting for his life in the early stages of encephalitis, and it’s down to Sherlock and a team of scientists to save him, if they can only find him first. Sherlock needs to keep fear and guilt from getting the better of him if he’s to salvage his relationship with John—and that’s assuming the love of his life even survives….

Roommates are for little people (69055 words) by alexxphoenix42 Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: John was looking forward to seeing his friends back at uni, but a new year brings new complications, not the least of which is a dorm room with only one bed, and a stroppy roommate with an utterly spectacular arse. God, John doesn't need the headache.

Masters of Ink (67482 words) by Indybaggins Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: John has a triple-coiled tattoo machine in his hand and a row of inks at the ready. He has gloves on, a willing client in front of him, and a detailed stencil. He is ready to win this bloody competition. Except he’s competing against Sherlock Holmes... First-meeting-on-a-reality-show AU, Ink Master edition! There is expert tattooing, slightly less expert flirting, and two men falling hard. But John is married, and they can’t all win.

floating through a dark blue sky (58872 words) by Lediona Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: Of course, I’d seen his films and always thought he was, well, brilliant -- but, you know, a million miles from the world I live in. *** Or, when John is the owner of a travel book shop and the famous Sherlock Holmes stops in one day. [Notting Hill fusion]

The Wolf (55817 words) by Laur Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: Sherlock gets it wrong. Days, months, even years in the future, Sherlock’s oversight during the Baskerville case will continue to torment him, but nothing about that night will ever be as painfully vivid as the memory of John’s screams. This is how it begins.

Christmas Time After Time (41473 words) by PlaidAdder Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Mary Morstan/John Watson, Clara/Harry Watson Summary: John's not really big on Christmas; and this year, the first after Mary's death, he's not feeling it. Everyone's away, Sherlock's on a case--alone--and Rosie's asleep. But that's all right. He's fine. He'll just have a quiet Christmas Eve by himself, drinking in front of the telly. Only out there in time and space, there's another Doctor who thinks that sounds like the saddest thing ever. And she's going to do something about it. Thirteen takes John on a whirlwind tour of Christmases past and future. The more he learns about this time travel thing, the more John starts to wonder: how did his current timeline become...what it is? And might these alternatives hold the key to a less miserable present, and maybe a brighter future?

Whiteout (37041 words) by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: A documentary crew follows the Matterhorn aerial rescue team from Air Zermatt, profiling the mechanics, pilots, and paramedics as they save patients on the infamous mountain. Their camera may catch more than they're looking for, however, when it comes to a certain paramedic named John Watson. . .

The Winter Garden (31211 words) by Callie4180 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: As Sherlock nears the end of his career, he's given the gift of a cottage in Sussex. The honey from the beehives out back is amazing. Almost...magical.

A Home for Us (30583 words) by sussexbound Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: He has been on the road for two years, and he is exhausted. He’s almost accepted that he will never see London (John) again—almost. But then there are nights like tonight, where he is weak, and all he can think of is the warmth of the flat they once shared, the crackle of the fire in the hearth, the teasing smile playing at the corner of John’s lips, the boxes of half-eaten Chinese takeaway balanced precariously in their laps. He aches at the memory of it, at the realisation that it is something he may never experience again.

Another Auld Lang Syne (30234 words) by DiscordantWords Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: There had been years of missed chances.

A Singular Friendship (28679 words) by agirlsname Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: Sherlock is closer to John than anyone has ever been. It's almost like a relationship - but John isn't gay, so it's clearly not. Not even when they hold hands and hug every day, not even when they sleep in the same bed, not even when they cuddle every morning...

Stradivarius (20298 words) by Berty Rating: Explicit Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: Life goes back to what passes for normal at 221B Baker Street. Sherlock's back and his scars have faded. John's still a confirmed bachelor and his nightmares have mostly ceased. So why are there awkward pauses and uncertain glances? Why are they both on their best behaviour? It's been a long, cold winter in London and there's more to come before spring arrives.

One Good Scare (17381 words) by blueink3 Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Summary: Mummy invites Sherlock, John, and Rosie to the country for her birthday, which just so happens to coincide with the annual Harvest Festival, an event Sherlock loathes. With John seemingly making the wrong move at every turn and with ghosts hiding in each of their closets, what will it take for their (Halloween) masks to finally come off?

Oh, my friends, it's been a long hard year (11914 words) by splix Rating: Mature Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade, Mr. Chatterjee/Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock Holmes' Father/Mummy (Sherlock) Summary: Christmas is rubbish this year.

[ladyvialana]

Fic: Onward

Final part of the Hope series.

Voltron Legendary Defender fic. Keith/Lance

Summary: Team Voltron get glimpses into Keith and Lance’s developing relationship.

Notes: post season 2, outsider POV, fluff

Also on Ao3

The team had just come off a rather difficult mission, so it was decided that they should find a quiet bit of space in which to park the castle and have a few quinants of rest. For the paladins, this meant no scheduled training or missions. Hunk and Pidge had decided to work on some of the projects piling up in Green and Yellow’s hangars. Allura was taking time to catch up on her rest after overexerting herself—again—creating too many sequential wormholes. Coran had intended to do maintenance in the med bay, but it was the last two paladins who disrupted that plan.

Keith had talked Lance into some light training after breakfast, not that Lance had needed much prodding to spend time with the other paladin. Hunk and Pidge had declined, citing something about special alone time that Coran was certain, from the context and tone, was not at all what the training deck should be used for. Lance’s blush and Keith’s scowl seemed to back his deduction.

(It would hardly be the first time the room had been used in such a manner. He decided pretending ignorance would be kinder than informing them of this fact. This new set of paladins had some strange notions about propriety regarding certain topics of conversation. Or at least when Coran discussed them. Earthlings. Strange species.)

It appeared, however, that the two were in fact training, judging by the injury to Keith’s arm.

Coran stopped at the threshold, about to call out and inquire if they needed assistance but stopped. Something about their posture seemed wrong.

Keith was sitting up on one of the examination beds, arm outstretched, a healing salve already slathered over the clean wound. It didn’t look too severe; Keith didn’t seem all that concerned by it. He was, however, very concerned with Lance, whose hands were shaking so much that the bandage he was trying to wrap around Keith’s forearm kept sliding off.

“Damnit.” Lance threw the bandages aside, the roll of white cloth unravelling as it made its way to the corner of the room.

“Hey.” Keith reached up with his uninjured hard to cup Lance’s chin and gently pull him close. “Lance, what’s going on?”

Lance twisted his head from Keith’s grip and refused to make eye contact. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

Keith snorted. Even if Lance’s lie weren’t completely transparent, his voice gave him away by breaking on the word “fine”.

Lance let out a breath and his shoulders slumped. Keith reached out again to brush his fingers against Lance’s cheek; this time Lance leaned into the touch.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Just tell me.”

Lance sighed. “We … we never actually talked, did we?” Keith tilted his head as he often did when unsure about something. “About this.” Lance gestured widely around him.

“The med bay?”

“Yes. Well, us being here. You being here. Getting hurt.” Lance reached out and let his hand hover over the wound on Keith’s arm, not touching but wanting to offer comfort. “You have a tendency to throw yourself into danger without thinking about how it would affect anyone else. How it might affect me.”

Keith hunched in on himself. “If I recall, you were the last person in one of those things,” he replied defensively, gesturing to the pods.

“I know. And I swear on this team’s life that it will never happen again.”

Keith inhaled sharply. “Lance … you … you can’t promise that.”

Lance stood up straight, Keith’s hand falling from his cheek. “Yes I can!” His indignation fled as he took in Keith’s upset frown. “Well, I can at least promise that I will do everything I can to avoid it coming to that ever again.”

Keith took in his determined expression and slumped forward, leaning his forehead against Lance’s chest. He grabbed at the front of Lance’s shirt with his uninjured hand. “Please do. I hated every moment watching you in there.”

Lance leaned over and wrapped his arms around Keith’s back, engulfing him with his presence. “You gotta promise too. Just seeing you with a scratch like that makes me fall apart.”

“I promise.” The words were muffled by Lance’s shirt, but firm enough for even Coran to hear tucked behind the wall in the hallway by the open door.

Lance let his head rest atop Keith’s, his eyes falling shut as a relieved smile crossed his face.

Coran backed away from the med bay and the intimacy of the scene inside. Maintenance could wait. There was sure to be some work still to do on the teleduv. Or the engines. Or the control room. Or anywhere that wasn’t the med bay, really.

Coran hummed as he made his way back towards the elevator. He was glad Lance had taken their talk to heart. He wanted to see what wonders those two would do together. Being able to see such a romance blossom was worth every painful memory in his life. He could only hope that all of his new charges would find some happiness in their lives as paladins and not just pain and war.

Though, judging by by the scene he just witnessed, his hope was not unfounded.

***

Allura was exhausted. Their last mission was just the latest in a series of drawn out battles that ended in their retreat from battle as much as it did in victory. The Galra were starting to recover from the loss of Zarkon and had found a new energy for their fighting spirit. The paladins, however, were down a Lion and could not form Voltron. They were quick and determined fighters, so they often managed even without Shiro and the Black Lion, but recently the Galra had seemed much more active and pushed further in their fights than they had before.

Perhaps the lack of Voltron on the field of battle had bolstered their spirits.

Regardless of why, the Galra were persistent in their determination to destroy Voltron and far outnumbered the small castle ship and four Lions. They could barely manage a few vargas rest between battles it seemed. Their last downtime had to be cut short for a distress beacon, and then another, and then another.

Perhaps it was this endless slog that truly brought defeat rather than a single decisive victory. Allura recalled how worn her father looked before he sent her to sleep, how downtrodden her planet had become as she walked through the streets.

She hoped it would never come to that with this new team, but she had very little idea how to stop it.

With a sigh, she relinquished the controls to the castle ship. They were in a safe place for now. She was adamant that they got some rest. They had a meeting with the Blade of Marmora in two quintants regarding another joint operation and she intended to spend that time ensuring they were all ready for battle.

Coran smiled at her from his control panel as she stepped down and moved to the door.

“Make sure you eat something too, princess.”

“Of course. You get some rest too Coran.”

“I will. I just need to finish calibrating this new frequency disrupter Hunk and Pidge came up with.” He laughed fondly. “Those two have some of the strangest notions but they always manage to make it work somehow.”

Allura smiled. “We are lucky to have them with us.”

“Indeed.”

Allura slipped out of the room, listening to the fading sound of Coran’s humming as he rewired his console. Her footsteps echoed in the hallway. She still missed the days when the castle was full of people. Walking, talking, living.

In time, she was certain, the castle would be full again. They just had to get through this war first.

Allura decided to pass through the common room on her way to the kitchen. It was the most lively room in the castle. The paladins were always making a mess and leaving their belongings all over the room (often where she could trip on them). Shiro used to joke about the bad habits of teenage boys which confused Allura; Pidge was far worse than all the other paladins combined.

On one of the long couches, Lance and Keith sat side by side, fast asleep. They had removed parts of their armour but still had their boots and leg plates on. Lance still had one of his gauntlets attached. Their helmets and chest pieces lay on the floor in front of them.

Allura should have woken them to scold them about properly caring for their uniforms but she couldn’t bring herself to do it this time. They were slumped on the couch, barely upright only because they were leaning into each other. Lance’s head lay on Keith’s shoulder, his body curled so that his hands rested on Keith’s thigh, one of Keith's hands trapped in his own. Keith’s head rested on Lance’s hair, his slow breath ruffling the short locks in a steady rhythm.

Even in the midst of war there was happiness and love. Allura could never forget that.

Instead of waking the two peaceful paladins, Allura found one of the blankets Hunk took to storing around the room and laid it over the sleeping warriors. Neither moved as it settled around their shoulders; they were so exhausted that possibly only a castle alarm would wake them. Even then, she was almost certain they would only wake due to habit.

She dimmed the lights and left them to their rest, continuing on her trek through the castle.

It was not, perhaps, as cold and lonely as she first thought.

***

Hunk was trying to concentrate.

On their last mission, the team had made contact with a planet with abundant natural resources and the sort of civilised culture that Hunk loved to meet. Namely, they had a hospitality industry and a level of engineering that meant traditional recipes weren’t just variations of burnt meat on a stick with vegetables boiled over an open fire.

They had mills and ovens and agriculture. Irrigation. Indoor plumbing. Actual restaurants!

In particular, he’d been incredibly impressed with a cooking device that seemed to have multiple functionality as a food processor, a juicer and a slow cooker. It was like one of those ridiculous infomercial machines back on Earth and Hunk had to have one (for four easy installments of $19.95). Altean engineering was amazing, but there was something to be said about over-engineering. Like they did with “food”.

So while normally team Voltron would wave away any offers of rewards, Hunk had pleaded with the princess to let him have two of the machines as well as some produce. Considering that the Menvar had initially offered far more in regards to a reward (and were confused as to why such a simple and cheap machine would be of any value to a team of great warriors) and that he had the backing of all the other paladins, Allura had agreed.

Now, Hunk should have been happily engaged in the kitchen pureeing some fruit and baking up a feast with the first Menvar miracle food machine.

(The second machine was already sequestered in Yellow’s hanger waiting for him to pull apart to see if he could reverse engineer it or find a way to turn it into an ice-cream machine. Coran refused to let him pull apart or tinker with the food goo machines which might have been easier to repurpose given the consistency of goo. Hunk was glad he had potentially found another way. He missed ice-cream so much.)

Unfortunately, his plans had been derailed by two rather handsy paladins who had offered to “help” him with the celebratory dinner.

Admittedly, Keith was pretty good with a knife and Hunk knew he could trust Lance in a kitchen given how often he’d been roped into helping his family with all sorts of chores back home, including cooking. Individually, they made for great helpers and let him give the orders in his domain.

Together—especially now they were together—they were a disaster waiting to happen.

“Lance! Watch it!” Keith’s knife slipped on the chopping board, barely missing his fingers, when Lance brushed up behind him and slid a hand up the back of his shirt.

“Sorry.” Lance’s cheeky grin belied his remorse. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“Oh yeah?” Keith looked over his shoulder with that stupid challenging grin that never failed to get a rise out of Lance.

And of course, Lance didn’t disappoint. He pressed in close behind Keith and slid both his hands around Keith’s waist, lingering on his hips and pushing down underneath——

Hunk slammed his cooking spoon down on his bench top with a loud smack that had the two jumping away from each other and staring over at Hunk in shock as though they had actually forgot he was there.

Hunk was in no mood to deal with this. “No! No! Out!” He pointed firmly at the door.

Lance had the gall to look offended. “What? Hunk, I——”

“No. I don’t care.” Hunk crossed his arms over his chest. “This is a place of peace and happiness and food and you two are disrupting the positive vibes.”

Keith, at least, looked a little abashed but Lance was still pouting. “But what about the taste testing?”

“Pidge is gonna be my taste tester from now on.”

“What?!”

“You forfeited that right the instant I saw you try to give Keith——”

“Okay!” Keith was bright red as he interrupted Hunk. He clapped a hand over Lance’s mouth and pulled him towards the door, not even stopping to remove his borrowed apron. Lance struggled in his hold, still trying to protest being thrown out of the kitchen. “We’ll leave.”

Hunk continued to glare at them. “If I ever find out you two have defiled my sacred space, you will be sorry.”

“I believe you. I promise, it will never happen.”

Hunk narrowed his gaze. Keith was way too embarrassed to be lying about this. Hunk just wasn’t sure he could trust Lance not to convince Keith into doing something stupid. “It better not,” he said in warning.

Keith nodded and yanked on Lance’s shirt to pull him completely out of the room. The door slid closed behind them but Hunk could hear Lance yelling indignantly as they moved away down the hallway. He waited until he couldn’t hear their voices any more before returning to his prep.

Hunk was happy the two of them were happy, really, but he was absolutely not kidding about catching the two of them in the kitchen. Maybe he could ask Coran about selective permissions on the door lock.

He also wasn’t kidding about Pidge being his taste tester but it probably wouldn’t be forever. Not that he’d tell Lance that. Seriously, he was happy his best bud was getting some loving, but Lance desperately needed to learn some restraint. Hunk did not want to see that sort of thing in public areas of the castle—especially not anywhere near his food. Why was no one else concerned with proper hygiene?!

(Maybe he should also ask Coran about investing in some extra sanitiser. Just in case.)

***

Pidge probably shouldn’t be up so late.

(To be fair, this was a self-flagellating refrain she repeated most nights, so it was no wonder she stopped listening to herself when it came to her sleeping habits.)

Thing was, she was so close to getting this internal sensor device working. It just needed a few more tweaks and then she could finally test it out. She hated leaving projects unfinished when they were so close to completion. She might have slipped off to bed a varga ago if she hadn’t just figured out a way around that weird frequency that distorted readings around the training deck.

She let out a breath and rubbed at her eyes. The lights in the hangar were starting to pulse and Green was grumbling as though she needed to sleep too. Maybe she could leave it, just this once.

Her software dinged. Her simulation had finished.

Green all the way. No problems. The program was ready.

Pidge grinned.

She scrambled to her feet and stumbled over to her workbench. She plugged her laptop into the lead that synced her hardware with the castle and hooked herself into the castle sensor systems—specifically into the sandbox she’d created and quarantined for testing her modifications. (Coran had insisted after that time she accidentally set off the fire suppressant system while trying to clean noise from the castle-wide intercom system.)

It took a few seconds to load, but a full map of the castle popped up on her screen.

“Yes! Pidge, you are a genius, if I do say so myself.” She let herself bask in the glory of success for a moment before her eagerness to dig into the system overcame her.

There were similarities to many other existing operational systems, which made sense given that many systems in the castle relied on the 3D mapping that lay at the base of most of the castle’s functionality. While Allura had direct access to the software that allowed her to scan for threats and tracking devices that were foreign to the castle, she didn’t have the ability to scan for entities, organisms, and devices that the castle considered friendly. Which could be a problem in case of an emergency and they got separated during a fire or trapped in one of the still unstable parts of the ship.

The functionality was there, already built into the system, it had just been turned off years ago (near the first launch of the castle, in fact) and the software had been corrupted over time. Pidge did understand why—theoretically, this was an invasion of privacy. But just being able to see where a person was in the ship wasn’t that much of a big deal, right? Most of the paladins knew anyway. It was hard to keep a secret with just seven (six) people around.

Ultimately, the decision would be up to Allura if she wanted to use the software or not and Pidge would abide by her decision. Allura would probably only ever want to use it in an emergency anyway and she had other ways to find threats so, really, this probably wasn’t going to impact anyone’s life in any significant way.

Pidge nodded, happy with her rationalisations, and dove into the software.

(She needed to make sure it worked, okay? And everyone was probably asleep in their rooms anyway. It was no big deal just this once.)

She flicked through the maps of each level, making sure the coding worked. She paid close attention to the training deck, but the weird frequency fluctuation didn’t disrupt the program this time around. The hangers were fine, all the Lions accounted for. Coran was in the break room by the engines. (She should probably bring that up with Allura; they needed Coran at his best. Those cots were seriously uncomfortable and the whine from the engines was not conducive to a restful sleep no matter what Coran said about his time on that cargo ship during his undercover operation as a mercenary.)

She reached the residencies and her fingers paused over her keyboard.

Everyone was not asleep in their rooms.

Lance was missing.

Pidge’s heart stopped for a moment and started beating faster. Where——

Oh.

A blue dot was snuggled up to a red dot in Keith’s room, so close that her first glance at the map missed it completely.

“Really?” She wrinkled her nose. “Gross.” Bad enough that the two of them started holding hands and kissing in the hallway, now she had to know for certain they slept in the same room (the same bed!) at night?

(It was absolutely not cute and heartwarming, okay?)

Pidge quickly finished her run through of the rest of the levels and closed the program, happy to leave any further testing for tomorrow now that she knew the software worked. She’d talk to Allura too and would be more than happy to never have to use the program except of in an emergency again.

Pidge yawned as she shut down her computer and unhooked the castle link. Her Lion nudged at her, filling her mind with the warm and cozy impression of her bed. Her back ached as she stretched out.

Yeah, okay. She should probably get a proper night’s rest for once.

She left the hanger and headed to her room, content in the knowledge that her team—her second family—was all safe and accounted for.

***

Shiro shouldn’t have been surprised at how easy it was to slip back into his role on the castle ship after being gone for so long, but there were many things about the team that surprised him after his long absence.

Well, his role—and the team—wasn’t exactly the same as before. Keith was still leading the team despite Shiro taking up the mantle of the pilot for the Black Lion. (Shiro was so relieved and felt so guilty about that, but Keith was thriving and the rest of the team supported him. Shiro knew he’d made the right call, but he still couldn’t help feeling like he’d just thrown his responsibilities into Keith’s lap and walked away without care. Intellectually, he knew it wasn’t true, but every time he caught Keith with his shoulders slumped, giving in to his exhaustion, he couldn’t help the uneasy churning in his gut.)

So, yes, surprised, but more that the new role he now had in this team was so easy for him to fill—like they’d designed a hole around the possibility of his return even as they rearranged themselves and took on new responsibilities and positions within the group.

Shiro was incredibly proud to see what the team had accomplished in his absence and so touched that they still wanted him to be a part of it.

Pidge had cuffed the back of his head when he tried to say something to that effect and Hunk almost broke his ribs squeezing him in a hug.

“That’s not how families work,” Lance had said. “You’ll always be a part of us.”

Shiro had given up on pretending he wasn’t about to cry. He let himself go completely when Keith was the one to initiate the group hug that lasted almost half a varga.

(He loved them all so much; he didn’t even realise how much until he saw them again for the first time since defeating Zarkon. Hearing Keith’s voice, seeing Hunk standing so tall, Lance’s unbridled joy, Pidge running toward him. He sometimes still woke with the feeling that all of this happiness was a dream to keep him going during his captivity. But, whenever he walked out of his room, Allura was ready with a smile and warm tea and Coran was at his post, always watchful for danger. He started sleeping easier again. Each day was a step forward, a step further away from his nightmares, and Shiro was bursting to run.)

Missions were easier than he remembered. They weren’t a team still figuring themselves out now; they were warriors with experience and skill and a dedication to their cause. It was astonishing to see how much all of them had improved over time.

(Shiro had been right—Keith was a natural leader. He just needed the right team to trust in him. Lance was amazing in his support, he always seemed to know just what was needed in any fight—or even outside of battle. Pidge’s talents had been honed to deadly perfection and she was opening up to everyone; still so determined to find her family, she now let others help her and push her into taking care of herself even if it was only by distracting her and making her laugh. Hunk was amazing; he’d always had the potential, but he no longer seemed to doubt himself—he carried the title of paladin with a pride the drew others close and let them feel safe and cared for.)

The most remarkable change, however, was one Shiro didn’t notice until after their second major mission together with him back in the Black Lion’s cockpit.

There hadn’t been time to do much more than assess his team’s skills in battle and immediately obvious personal growth given that they’d had to fight skirmishes constantly as the Galra continued to push at the growing resistance. They’d only formed Voltron once before the last battle and it seemed to have shaken the Galra, who had likely thought the weapon gone for good.

This latest operation, aided by one of the rebel groups the Galra was so concerned with wiping out, had been a cause for huge celebration in the quadrant in how decisive the victory had been over the Galra fleet in the area.

Shiro had been back only two weeks, but he was already glad to have some downtime.

The planet they landed on was the meeting point for the coalition of planets in nearby systems they had liberated from the Galra. It was beautiful, with landscapes of blue-green grass rolling to the horizon to meet the pale green sky. The meeting place was an ancient city nestled near the hills in the grasslands, uninhabited but well-cared for by the locals. White stone rose from the ground in asymmetrical shapes to form buildings; roads twisted in circles, meeting up in crossroads decorated with flowers and bunting. In the centre of the city was a statue of an ancient deity with its head tilted to the sky and arms raised in supplication. A wide circle of cobbled stone surrounded it, filled now with people of many races come to show their gratitude and celebrate their freedom.

Shiro was delighted by the event; he hadn’t heard music in what seemed like eons. Food and drink were plentiful and all of the locals and coalition aliens chattered excitedly. It was cheering to see something good and joyful for once.

Someone cleared their throat nearby. Shiro had tucked himself into a nook on the edge of the circle, which was now filled with people dancing. Allura had sought him out.

She smiled and Shiro couldn’t help returning the gesture. It was so good to see her relaxing, to see her victorious in this war that had taken so much from her. He gestured for her to join him on the waist-high stone wall he'd claimed as his seat. She accepted his invitation and sat close enough for him to feel her warmth even under his armour.

“I never tire of sights like this,” she said, looking out at the whirling mass of people.

“I hope you never do.” Shiro stared at the brightly coloured lights strung up around the gathering place. The sun had sunk low enough that they had all been lit and now dazzled the crowd beneath with shifting hues. “I won’t.”

“I’m glad that we have some time to rest.” Allura picked up his flesh hand and held it between her own. “I wanted to see how you were coping.”

Shiro smiled at her, a genuine expression. “I’m actually doing well. Thank you.”

She stared closely at him, her lips pursed. “Truly?”

Shiro nodded, ducking his head bashfully as she continued to stare. “Honestly. Sometimes it feels like I haven’t been gone at all. And, despite the constant battles, just being with the team again has helped so much.”

“I’m glad.” She squeezed his hand but didn’t let go.

Shiro coughed, trying to draw back from the intimacy of the moment. “Things like this help too.” He gestured with his prosthetic hand to the crowd and the music and the lights. “It’s always nice to see how much of a difference we make.”

“Indeed.”

The two of them sat there, hand-in-hand, and watched the dancers turn around the circle under the light of the setting sun, watched over by a peaceful deity strewn with garlands of lights and flowers. The music flowed through the normally empty city and invited them all to join in and experience the joy.

Shiro sat up straighter as he spotted something unusual. “Oh.”

Allura perked up, following his line of sight to see what had him so startled. She relaxed when she saw what grabbed his attention. “Ah.” She looked at him with a mischievous smile. “You didn’t know?”

Shiro shrugged, still caught on the sight of Lance and Keith holding each other close as they danced. “I knew some, but I didn’t know this.”

He watched them move, saw how their hands clasped tight. He watched Lance dip Keith in a silly manoeuvre that almost tripped them and the three other couples around them. Keith swatted at lance’s shoulder, but he was laughing, eyes bright with happiness.

Shiro had never seen Keith smile like that, so unbridled and joyful.

And Lance: he moved with such grace and energy, but every motion of his body was attuned to Keith. His gaze never left Keith’s face and his own smile was so soft and delighted.

“He kept his promise.”

Allura looked at him quizzically.

Shiro shook his head, his own fond smile refusing to leave. “Lance. He promised that all he wanted was to see Keith smile.”

Allura’s smile was also fond as she turned to regard the two dancing paladins again. “I’m glad that Keith also makes him smile.”

“Me too.” Another thing that surprised him. He was genuinely happy for the two of them. They obviously cared so much about each other, and Shiro had also seen them in battle. They worked well together and looked out for each other. They made a fantastic team. “I’m glad they found each other.”

“I’m glad we all found each other.” Shiro turned back to Allura. “I can’t imagine my life now without any of you in it.”

Shiro squeezed her hand, doing what little he could to comfort her.

She hopped down from the wall, still holding his hand. “Would you like to dance, Shiro?”

Shiro’s eyes widened at the question. Allura waited patiently for his answer and he knew that she would accept whatever he decided to do.

He looked over her shoulder and Keith and Lance, still holding on, still smiling.

“You know what?” Shiro got to his feet. “I really would like to dance.”

Allura’s smile was more brilliant than every sunset he’d ever seen. It put the joyful festivities of this celebration to shame and left him breathless.

Shiro let himself be led into the crowd and wrapped up in the music and movement. He reveled in the feel of Allura’s hands clasped in his own.

He was home.

[shannrussell-blog1]

I don’t think there are many better places to be in the European summer than the sun-drenched shores of Portugal. Here, the days are long, there’s always plenty to see and do and the friendly, chilled out locals make any length of stay a pleasure.

Portugal has it all – sophisticated cities, lovely golden-sand beaches, superb wine country and impressive hiking in its mountain regions.

How affordable is Portugal?

One of the best things about this welcoming nation is its affordability. A glass of the local beer (Super Bock) won’t cost you much more than a dollar and a decent three-course dinner (with wine, of course) can be had for $15-20 if you eat where the locals eat and avoid the touristy restaurants.

A beautiful stretch of beach in Carvoeira, Portugal. 

How do you find a place to stay during peak season in Portugal

There are some brilliant hostels, guest houses and Airbnbs in every part of the country too, so finding accommodation is a simple matter of planning ahead.

If you’re intending a longer-term visit, apartments in some of the most stunning parts of Portugal can be rented for a few hundred dollars a month. Even in the peak season (July-August), you can normally find a place to stay.

Which is cheaper – Portugal or Spain?

Many people believe Spain is the cheapest place to travel around in Western Europe. But, having spent a lot of time in this part of the world, I’d say most parts of Portugal work out around 10-15% cheaper for everyday expenses compared to Spain. I’ve had some great lunches for less than $5.00 (including a drink) here.

If you want to cater for yourself, you’ll save heaps by hitting the local farmers’ markets, where $15 will buy you as many seasonal fruits and veggies as you can carry.

The view of the Douro River in Porto. 

First, find your favourite city…

Even if you’re ‘not really a city person’, you’ll love the city life here. In cosmopolitan Lisbon, jump on a tram in the late afternoon and glide through history-rich streets until you find that perfect restaurant overlooking the bay.

Visit the extraordinary castles and forested parks of Sintra, where there seem to be brilliant views from every vantage point.

At Cascais, stroll along the esplanade and enjoy the family-friendly beaches, where sunbathers from all over the world share the sand with Portuguese kids building massive sandcastles.

I’d recommend walking around and taking in the sights of your chosen city. 

My favourite city – Porto

If I had to pick a favourite Portuguese city, it would probably be Porto. Situated at the mouth of the Douro River, its charms include a wealth of ancient churches, museums, palaces, cathedrals and fortresses to explore. A boat cruise up the river on a wine-tasting tour is a must-do in Porto.

But some of this city’s simplest pleasures are free, like strolling through the hills and across the picturesque river bridges on your way to a riverside tapas bar. It’s an ideal base for day trips too. I can recommend checking out the pretty towns of Guimaraes and Braga as well as a train trip through the lushness of the Douro Valley on the way to Pinhao.

If you’ve never eaten octopus before, now’s your chance. It’s a specialty in this part of Portugal and is truly delicious. You should definitely try the Iberian Pork and a tasty fish called dourada while you’re here as well.

The picturesque riverside boats in Porto. 

Where are the best beaches?

Portugal boasts around 800 kilometres of coastline, with some of the nicest being found along the southern coast in the Algarve region. Hugging the Atlantic, this country is a sun-worshiper’s paradise with heaps of dazzling, blue-sky days. You can also always find your own relaxing stretch of sand as there’s loads of room.

How do Portuguese beaches compare to the rest of Europe?

If you’ve been to other parts of Europe, you may have found some of the beaches there a bit disappointing (especially compared to Australia), with pebbly, crowded and less than inviting shores. But Portugal will definitely restore your faith in the laid-back beach lifestyle.

My stay in the small Algarve town of Carvoeira

I stayed in a small Algarve town called Carvoeira, which has a lovely beach in the heart of town as well as some more private spots within walking distance.

One of the best ways to explore this spectacular stretch of coast is to hop on a boat tour from Carvoeira. These take you right along the base of the cliffs to investigate some of Portugal’s most picturesque sea caves.

Take a boat tour to explore some of the incredible sea caves Carvoeira has to offer. 

One thing that surprised me about the beaches in Portugal was how refreshing the water was. In June when the temperature was in the low 30s, I found a dip in the ocean to be bliss.

This entire section of coast is an intriguing mixture of sandy beaches, rocky headlands, scenic sea caves and a smattering of cheap but excellent cliff-top cafes. Further north, you’ll find quality swimming beaches at Baleal (an hour’s drive north of Lisbon) and Praia de Adraga, further up the coast.

If you like your beaches quiet, and free from cafes and other man-made distractions, head to Praia Forte do Paco. Here you’ll find 800 metres of luscious sand dunes, warm, shallow rock pools and an 18th-century fort close by.

Despite the warm weather, the water is very refreshing. 

Outdoor activities to do in Portugal:

Portugal has more adrenaline-pumping activities going on than you’ll ever be able to fit into a single trip. With world-famous surf breaks, kayak-worthy rivers and mountainous grandeur, you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied in the great outdoors. Here’s just a small sampling of what you can get up to:

1. Bungee jumping at the Albufeira Marina

This one’s a classic. You ride 40 metres up in the air in a crane and then bungee jump off a platform, dunking your head in the cool waters of the Atlantic before bouncing back up again.

2. Horse riding in the Costa Azul

This is a unique way to experience a gorgeous part of Portugal – gallop along white-sand beaches and through forested hills dotted with cork trees. Local stables (such as Cabalos na Areia) can fix you up with horse treks lasting a couple of hours or much longer – they even offer week-long riding excursions.

Horse riding in Lisbon Costa Azul. Image by Cabalos na Areia

3. Mountain biking in the Lousa Mountains

Near the inland city of Coimbra, you’ll find the enchanting Lousa mountains. There are bike trails that wind through a mixture of rocky terrain, shady forest, river crossings and sand patches, where the creeks are ideal for cooling off after a hard ride.

Over two dozen villages are scattered throughout these hills, so you can stop for a quick bite and a rest along the way. There are popular abseiling and rock climbing spots here too.

4. Surfing safari at Ericeira

Portugal has some of the best surfing waves on the planet. So, if you can find a rental car big enough to store your board, you’ll be in heaven. The right-hand barrel at Ericeira is world famous, but there are plenty of lesser-known gems to discover too.

If you’re a beginner surfer, try Guincho Beach at Cascais or Amado on the Costa Vicentina.

Surfers in Amado beach. Image by Portugal visto do Ceu

5. Kayaking in Douro River National Park

The upper Douro is home to some amazing scenery and plentiful wildlife. This includes wild boar and – if you’re really lucky to see them – some of the rare wolves left in the country.

You can paddle the Tras-os-Montes area on your own or with a guided tour. Either way, it’s a pleasant way to experience the wild side of Portugal. For more on getting started with kayaking, check out this guide here.

6. Hiking in the Serra da Estrela

The ‘Mountain of the Stars’ National Park features some of the finest mountain scenery in Portugal with deep ravines, granite peaks and glacial valleys. This is the perfect place to be on hot summer days – as it’s several degrees cooler than on the coast. For more tips on how to keep your cool when hiking in the heat, check out this guide here.

There are plenty of easy hikes but if you want the ultimate challenge, try getting up to the top of Mount Torre at nearly 2000 metres. Some tracks in this park aren’t as well-marked as others, so if in doubt, take a local guide.

When you’ve worn yourself out hiking, make sure you visit the 13th-Century castle in the charming historical village of Linhares.

If you feel like some fresh air, go for a hike in the Mountain of the Stars National Park. 

Here are some expert tips to make your stay in Portugal even better:

Do they speak English in Portugal?

Portugal may be a cheap travel destination, but it’s also an extremely civilised place with excellent infrastructure that’s very visitor-friendly. English is widely spoken, especially in coastal areas and the people are genuinely friendly and helpful to visitors.

Is the Wi-Fi good there?

I was amazed at how good the Wi-Fi was wherever I went in Portugal, in fact, I never had a problem with it.

Tips for dining out on a budget in Portugal

If you’re on a budget, bakeries and local lunch cafes are your friend. Avoid dining in any cities. Central Plaza is where all the tourists eat, so the prices are naturally higher. Wander a few blocks away instead and find a quiet side street with more affordable fare.

Do your shopping at the local markets rather than the chain supermarkets. The prices will be cheaper and the food fresher. Seasonal produce can be incredibly cheap if you know where to shop.

When you’re at a café and the waiter brings olives and bread to your table, just say no. These aren’t free and if you nibble on them, they ’ll be added to your bill, even though you never ordered them.

The best option for accommodation on a budget

Renting an Airbnb room is one of the cheapest ways to get good accommodation in Portugal. It’s also a terrific way to interact with the locals too. A shared room can often be found for less than $20 AUD per night, even in summer. Staying at a Pensão (family-owned inn) is another way to save some bucks.

Airbnb’s are an affordable accommodation choice when visiting Portugal. Image by Airbnb.

What’s the best day to do tourist activities?

Hit the museums on a Sunday. Many of the country’s museums are free on Sundays, so this is the day to fit in your museum-hopping.

Don’t forget the islands

Don’t forget about Portugal’s beautiful islands. The Azores and the sun-soaked island of Madeira offer a whole other side of Portugal that many visitors never bother to experience.

Make sure you get out there and check out island life for yourself. The pace is slower, the breezes sweeter and the water is just fine!

Getting around Portugal on local transport

Buses and trains between cities are comfortable and inexpensive here. You’ll also find a fair few bicycle hire centres in the more bike-worthy cities. The most expensive way to get around is by taxi, so avoid them when you can. Instead, buy a city metro ticket for about $3.00 AUD instead.

I found most cities and towns throughout Portugal exceptionally walkable. Just make sure you’ve got a good grip on your shoes – cobblestone streets can sometimes be a bit slippery after it rains.

So that’s all the tips and advice I have about visiting Portugal. Hopefully, this has inspired you to book your next holiday on their sandy, sun-drenched shores.

  Are you planning a European adventure soon to escape the cold?

The post Portugal Travel Guide: An Affordable Beach Paradise appeared first on Snowys Blog.

[expeditom]

It was a fine autumn day, when we found the most wonderful lake of the Swiss Alps in a remote valley and encountered a wild vulture.

http://expeditom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ExpediTom_The-Vulture.mp3

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Spontaneity

ExpediTom in awe taking in the views

The Swiss Alps exert an irresistible attraction. Not only do they amaze overseas’ visitors, but also its inhabitants are in awe at the glance of these spectacular mountains. Every time I return from abroad, I cannot wait to see this majestic sight again.

Summer was quickly retreating and gave way to colder nights and richer earth tones. It was at this time that Philippe called me up on a Tuesday, whether I would like to do another overnighter. For many people this might refer to clubbing and going out. Yet, for me this meant prime time outdoors and sleeping under the stars. It appears to me that there is a turning point in adulthood, when outdoor becomes more important than outgoing.

Introducing Philippe – eagle-eyed, adventurous and one of a kind rascal

Swiss Alps Overnighter

Many visitors in Switzerland are struck by the extensive public transport system. There is hardly any corner you cannot reach. Even though its reliability does not always live up to the expectations, it mostly is a pleasure to just sit back and enjoy the scenery unfolding through the window. The train ride to this remote corner in Graubünden took more than four hours and it was not until midday that we started hiking. It was a leisure hike at first, became a well-trodden path and eventually changed to a single trail.

Provisions: Sweets – check

Rhaetian Railways

Philippe doing his thang

Short-cut or Detour?

We approached a thundering waterfall dropping of the cliff, which we were about to circumvent on the trail. This was the outlet of the lake – our ultimate destination. Unfortunately, our path did not cross the base of this wonderful waterfall, but we had an idea.

The thundering waterfall we attempted to reach

Instead of following the usual path, Philippe suggested taking the detour and try out the straight way up. This would allow us to see the waterfall up close. The route did not seem that difficult from below. Yet, I had some reservations about its feasibility. The last time, I refused to join in on an idea by Philippe during the West Coast Trail in Canada, he was quite bummed. Therefore, I overcame my reservations and agreed.

The thundering waterfall we attempted to reach

Slowly we drew closer to the waterfall along the steep creek. The loose gravel and massive rocks posed some serious difficulties to reach the sight. They reminded me of our Huemul Trek. The further we got, the clearer it was to me that there is now way of finding a short-cut to the lake by going straight up. Furthermore, the lose stones and Philippe in front of me posed a danger beyond our control. My gut feeling told me to turn back and after a couple more hesitant steps, I gave in. I retreated along the same path, partly on my butt and ripped my trousers. Philippe continued a few more meters before he also turned around.

The moment I gave in

Victim of the detour. Usually, I wear underpants. Usually.

Marmots and Rainbows

After eating some snacks at the bottom, where we had left off for the detour, we were refreshed and continued along the ordinary, official hiking trail. Even this one was not easy by any means. It was steep and narrow at times. Slowly gaining altitude, the weather increasingly deteriorated. First, the wind picked up and shortly after the precipitation reached us and caused a rainbow right in front of us.

The weather changed for the bad

Opting for a short break in order to sit out the rain, we found refuge under a ledge along a mountain cliff. Meanwhile, our gaze met the rugged landscape that is the Swiss Alps. The granite peaks were impressive. Suddenly, the marmots whistled loudly, and all disappeared in a rush into their earth holes. Generally, marmots either whistle repeatedly to just raise awareness or once for an immediate threat. A huge shadow appeared in front of us, but we were not sure what it was. While Philippe followed the winged creature as good as possible with his eyes, I grabbed the Sony 200-600mm Tele zoom lens that I heaved up the mountain and put it on the tripod. Paired with the APS-C camera (A6500), this gives you a full-frame equivalent of 900mm – in other words: solid reach. Luckily, the massive bird landed somewhere on the other side and Philippe was able to direct my gaze to the right spot. Thanks bro!

Swiss Alps Marmot

Ledge of the mountain

Sony 200-600mm and vulture

Ledge of the mountain

The bearded vulture

The bearded vulture – critically endangered and only about 40 individuals remaining

Serendipitous Sighting: The Vulture

There it was. About 300 meters away, the magnificent bird sat relaxed on a bolder overlooking and scanning the desolate landscape. It turned out to be a bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). These enormous creatures can reach a wingspan of up to three meters and used to populate the entire range of the Swiss Alps in the 19th century. With the increasing use of the mountain regions by humans, their food became increasingly scarce. At the same time, vultures were subjected to rigorous hunting. Contrary to popular beliefs, vultures do not kill livestock or steal children. Their diet almost entirely consists of bones from naturally deceased animals. Back in the 19th century, the sovereigns in Switzerland even offered premiums on killed birds. The last vultures were hunted in Visp in 1886 and here is an ornithological journal from 1918 discussing the matter. The bearded vulture was reintroduced in the late 20th century, but is still critically endangered. Nowadays, there are only about 40 individuals living in Switzerland. Therefore, sightings should be reported to the Bearded Vulture Foundation. They might even tell you the name of this specific vulture.

Mind-blowing size difference between an alpine chough and a bearded vulture

Eventually, the bird took flight and after a couple of rounds close to the granite pinnacles it disappeared as quickly as it had emerged. Stoked from this experience, we continued our hike.

Bearded Vulture

Bearded Vulture

Bearded Vulture

Our very own island

On our final stretch to the lake, we came across a fellow Italian speaking hiker. He made us understand that he urgently needed to call someone. After checking reception, Philippe handed him his phone. Neither Philippe nor I understand Italian very well (not every Swiss speaks three national languages). However, the hiker’s exclamation “porca la miseria” clearly indicated certain annoyance. We wished farewell to him and crossed a meadow with lots of sheep. The vulture was clearly not interested in them – at least as long as they were alive.

The Italian speaking

Arriving at the wonderful lake nestled amidst the huge mountain peaks, we scouted the area for a suitable camping spot. It was not long, until we settled for the small island. Who has not dreamed of their very own little piece of heaven surrounded by water? We explored the area, had a look down the waterfall, which we attempted to climb and laughed about our silliness while gazing into the valley below. After observing an approaching thunderstorm in the distance, we quickly set up our tent and ate dinner from the stove. We anticipated the storm would arrive during the night, but so far, the weather at this amazing place cooperated. It was hard to believe that the scenery could change the better or the worse in any way.

Overlooking the valley and the approaching thunderstorm

Magnificent mountain lake and our very own island

Setting up camp

Mediterranean Views

The sun light just hit the surrounding peaks, when we looked out of our tent.

The sun light just hit the surrounding peaks, when we looked out of our tent. We slept well and the night was quiet without any thunderstorm. Immediately, I got up and regretted to have left my down jacket at home. The temperature at 2300 meters above sea level was only slightly above freezing, but at least there was no wind. Grabbing my camera, I climbed up on a small hill behind the island. The dark waters we had experienced the day before, turned with the soft morning light into various shimmering turquoise hues. It was hard to believe the views got even better overnight. This place is without a doubt among my top five camping spot I have ever been.

The most wonderful lake in the Swiss Alps

Edelweiss

Most wonderful lake in the Swiss Alps

Philippe and I enjoyed the scenery for some time, before we had breakfast on our island. While the sun rapidly increased the temperature, we came up with the brilliant idea to go for a swim. Nevertheless, the lake was still freezing cold. The thought crossed my mind how awesome it would look like from above while floating with a mattress in the blue lake. Without further a do, I took my Thermarest Neoair X-Lite and tried to distribute my weight evenly. Yet, there was not much afloat of me anymore. Depending on the perspective, either the sleeping pad provided too little uplift, or I was just too heavy.

Mediterranean views in Switzerland

Floating in the blue

Our very own island

Drying

I was in there too

Gear

Cheers

Now it was Philippe’s turn with his Exped Synmat UL, which has been leaking air since our Huemul trek through an untraceable hole. In contrast to my attempt, Philippe was successful and floated above the turquoise water. Moreover, the plunge allowed Philippe to locate the tiny leak and he fixed it with glue. After drying our sleeping pads and underwear, we packed our tent. We hiked over the next mountain pass and returned to civilisation. By now, the weather changed and dark clouds predicted rain.

the weather changed and dark clouds predicted rain

Overnighter

We embarked on the journey home and contemplated about paying a visit to Robert in Zurich. The three of us had travelled to Canada together the previous summer. The following day was Robert’s birthday but due to our tiredness, we decided to pay only a brief visit. So, we arrived in Zurich with all our outdoor gear – including the smell. After the first few beers at Robert’s place, we changed our plans to stay the night and celebrate with him at 12 o’clock. The night continued with bars, clubs and more drinks, before Philippe and I finally went home with the first train in the morning. We were exhausted, yet it was a weekend to remember. Perhaps one does not outgrow outgoing though. Yet, If I had to decide between outgoing and outdoor, I would opt for the latter. There is so much more to explore.

Summary

Admittedly, outgoing in Zurich was a harsh contrast to the pristine nature and solitude at the lake. There are some other kind of vultures around in those streets. Furthermore, while seeing the dump hole that the Zurich nightlife is, I instantly wished I were back in the mountains.

Nonetheless, this journey was an incredible trip to a wonderful place in Swiss Alps. There were lots of serendipitous moments such as witnessing a wild vulture. This majestic creature truly was my personal highlight. Apart from that, we were lucky with the weather, that no one was injured during out detour and found a small piece of heaven.

Stamp from a bar saying “Erledigt” (German for “Finished/done”)

Stamp from a bar saying “Erledigt” (German for “Finished/done”)

This was one hell of a trip! Read, watch or listen now! #vulture #overnight #swissalps #outdoor #outgoing It was a fine autumn day, when we found the most wonderful lake of the Swiss Alps in a remote valley and encountered a wild vulture.

[carlsonknives]

Should Breckenridge Be On Your Travel Bucket List?

For the past 10 years, Breckenridge has been pretty high up on our travel bucket list, so if you’ve never heard of Breck before, read on to learn more!

Breckenridge is located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and getting there from the UK is easy, it only takes a flight to Denver International Airport followed by a 2 hour drive via car or shuttle.

Ever since my first snowboarding trip outside of Europe, which took us to Whistler in Canada, I’ve been a huge fan of the Canadian Rockies. Every time we’ve visited either Canada or America we’ve been amazed at how much more civilised the snowboarding experience is compared to the European Alps.

As with many mountain locations, we always used to consider them primarily in terms of what they had to offer during the winter months, but the more we get into hiking, the more we enjoy walking up mountains. With several of the highest points in the UK conquered, we’ve now realised that there’s far more to mountain resorts across the pond than just winter snow sports.

Image credit: Katie Girtman/Breckenridge Tourism Office

Activities and things to do

Breckenridge is widely regarded for its excellent snow conditions thanks to its high altitude, it has a base elevation of 2,926 metres and the summit sits at an impressive 3,963 metres. This is the main reason Breckenridge has been on our radar for so long but outside of winter, we’ve found that there are still heaps of things to see and do during the warmer summer months.

It has mile after mile of stunning hiking and mountain biking trails for all abilities but you’ll also find plenty of adrenaline pumping activities available, if that’s more your thing.

  Image credit: Liam Doran/Breckenridge Tourism Office

We love the look of Epic Discovery at Breckenridge, a zip trekking tour that takes you high up into the Alpine canopy.

If it’s watersports you’re after, you’re in luck. In Breckenridge you’ll find crystal-clear mountain run-off which feeds its streams, rivers, waterfalls and nearby lakes. Visitors can enjoy SUP, fishing, rafting and more during the summer months.

If you’d like to try something more sedate or fancy a day off, then a great option is to grab a chairlift up to one of the peaks; definitely the easiest way to take in some breath-taking views. Then make your way back down and treat yourself to something yummy in one of Breckenridge’s many excellent restaurants – the new Breckenridge Distillery restaurant looks like a sure bet for delicious food and great cocktails.

Image credit: Performance Tours/Breckenridge Tourism Office

Accommodation options

There are accommodation options to suit all requirements and every budget. From simple and quaint B&Bs or lodges, to luxury mountain-side hotels.

Whenever we are in the U.S. we like to rent a large family condo, preferring the additional space and freedom to self-cater, and we always choose a condo that also provides a private hot tub.

Tips for getting the most out of Breckenridge

Hiring a car makes a lot of sense and will give you plenty of freedom to easily explore both Breckenridge and the wider Colorado area.

One of the things that makes Breckenridge so special is its high-alpine environment at 9,600 feet above sea level.  The majority of people are not effected by altitude, here are a few tips to help you adjust.

It’s always so tempting to try and fit loads into a holiday like this, but make sure you plan a few days of downtime too! Learn about the history of this historic mining town, sign up to a camera workshop or simply laze beside a lake, soaking up the atmosphere.

Remember that you will need to apply for travel authorisation under ESTA before you travel. UK citizens must also have an electronic passport to be eligible for visa-free travel to the US.

The average summer temperature in Breckenridge is 21 °C making it warm and pleasant, but not so hot that hiking becomes an exercise in endurance.

There are events running all summer in Breckenridge so you’ll never be short of something to do, you can plan your itinerary at Go Breck.

Resources

Check out Skyscanner for flight information

Visit  Breck Connection for local insight

Find out more at GoBreck

DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post, written by the Camping with Style team to reflect our own opinions and thoughts.

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The post Should Breckenridge Be On Your Travel Bucket List? appeared first on Camping with Style Camping Blog | Activities • Glamping • Travel • Adventure.

Original Source http://www.campingwithstyle.co.uk/breckenridget-travel-bucket-list/ For the best knives to use whilst camping check out Carlson Knives http://www.carlsonknives.com/

[elsanna-shenanigans]

February Contest Submission #4: Off-Duty

words: ca. 1800 setting: Star Trek AU (TNG era) lemon: No cw: brief mention of nudity

“Computer, being program Elsa Epsilon Sigma Two Seven”

“Program initiated, enter when ready.”

The large doors of the holodeck opened and Elsa stepped out of the corridor and into a world of her own, a beautiful landscape on a far off alien world. As Elsa closed her eyes, she felt the warmth of a simulated sun bathe her quite pale complexion.

She opened her eyes and took in once more the wonders of her favourite holoprogram. It was a recreation of an alien city she’d studied often. She was currently standing on a hill overlooking said city, a large settlement on the coast of some vast continent.

Elsa saw ships sailing in and out of the city’s vast harbour, the ships floating above the ocean with their sails being powered by sunlight, gliding across the surface of the water. Behind the city, Elsa gazed up at the tall dormant volcano, ominously looking down upon the city like a vengeful god.

As Elsa walked towards a nearby cobbled road, she thought about if she should visit the city this time. She’d been there a few times, but today, she mostly felt like taking in the scenery. Ship duties had taken a lot out of her and as such, she very much preferred to relax.

But before she had a chance to do so, she saw a cart being driven down the road next to her, a wooden cart being pulled by a six-legged reptilian creature covered in bony armour, its driver being a humanoid woman with green bony crests protruding from her forehead.

“Need a lift, stranger?” she asked Elsa, in an accent that Elsa’s translator interpreted as similar to Human Irish.

“Oh uh no thanks,” Elsa replied.

“You sure?” the woman asked. “You look a little tired.”

“I’ve had a long day,” Elsa told her. She felt a bit embarrassed that a hologram of all things was commenting on her rather weary looks. Fortunately, her Vulcan side was being more than enough in preventing Elsa from becoming too irritable.

“Ah fair enough,” the woman accepted. “Well, be seeing you.”

As the woman rode off with her cart, Elsa walked over to a nearby rock and sat upon it, gazing at the city. The azure sky and the rolling waves below her certainly helped ease her tension. The past week had certainly been rough for the Part-Vulcan Starfleet captain.

A large survey of an uncharted star system, a rather unsavoury encounter with a group of Ferengi traders plus the pressures of command had been more than enough to take their toll on her. She knew Kristoff, her first officer, could handle things, but Elsa was the sort of woman who preferred to meticulously co-ordinate and plan everything personally.

However, despite her stress, she knew she could always come here to this program, to step into a piece of ancient history from another world. She could lose herself here, to shed off all her responsibilities and be herself, even if she was going to be going back on duty in another four hours.

Archaeology had always been a great love of hers. The study of cultures long gone, pondering the wonders of the races that came long before humans, Klingons and even Vulcans. With the vast number of ancient civilisations out there, Elsa had quite a number to find herself lost in. It was a helpful distraction for her, not to mention her other hobbies.

But there was one person on the entire ship who Elsa knew helped her more than any hologram ever could.

“I thought I’d find you here,” a voice spoke to her.

Elsa looked over her shoulder, seeing the holodeck door appear again as a certain strawberry blonde Betazoid in a blue uniform walked towards her. At that moment, Elsa forgot about the simulated sun that hung in the sky above her, as her girlfriend was the one whose light and warmth were filling her world.

Anna was the ship’s counsellor aboard the Ahtohallan, a wonderful charming bubbly young officer who’d managed to sweep Elsa off her feet from the moment she first came aboard. She often remembered the rather humourous incident where they first met, here on that very holodeck no less, not long after Elsa took command.

Since this was her first deep-space assignment, Anna had been feeling rather homesick for Betazed and as such had started a program of a festival from her homeworld, one of the many occasions where her people celebrated in the nude. It wasn’t exactly the first choice for Elsa to meet the love of her life, but the memory did remind her that life aboard a starship wasn’t always serious and did have it’s lighter moments.

The freckled redhead partly undid her hair out of its bun and let it flow, sighing in content. Those ginger locks of hers flowed freely in the breeze as if her whole form was being carried on a gust of ethereal wind. Elsa melted at the sight of her girlfriend’s beauty.

“This program is beautiful,” Anna admitted.

“Have I never told you about it before?” Elsa wondered.

“No, I don’t think so,” Anna replied. “You’re always so private about your personal life.”

Chuckling, Elsa smirked at her lover. “Nothing is stopping you from looking anyway.”

“Hey, that’d be a very rude and improper use of my telepathy,” Anna stated, playfully nudging the captain’s shoulder.

Sitting beside Elsa on the rock, Anna sighed as she laid her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder. Elsa felt a sensation of warmth flow through her, perhaps Anna telepathically sharing her sensation of content with her. Whatever it was, it was definitely helping her stress fade away considerably.

“So… what brings you here then?” Elsa wondered.

“Do I need an excuse to spend time with my girlfriend?” Anna remarked. She chuckled. “I just got off duty and figured you could use some company. I don’t need to use my abilities to know how stressed you’ve been this week. Plus, Kristoff was worried about you.”

Rubbing her temples, Elsa groaned wearily in response, a clear sign of her stress. “Yes… this is the first free moment I’ve had in days.”

Anna leaned closer and kissed Elsa on the cheek, making the blonde blush. “Well… you know that I’m here for you, always. As both counsellor… and your girlfriend.”

It still felt a little odd to Elsa. There wasn’t exactly any rules against ship’s captains dating their officers. Hell, she knew an old academy friend who was actually married to her first officer. But to Elsa, it still felt a little strange unusual. Perhaps it was because she and Anna hadn’t been a couple for very long.

Looking out at the ocean again, Elsa sighed calmly, taking in the quiet moment she and Anna were now sharing. She hadn’t asked for Anna’s presence, but she was all the same very glad that she was here. It was as though Anna was the one element the program had been lacking and now that she was here, it was finally complete.

“So… where exactly is this place?” Anna wondered. “Why do you always find yourself running this program?”

Elsa smiled. “It’s the city of Vetalis on Ezlor V. Approximately 2000 years ago.”

“Vetalis… hmmm, doesn’t ring a bell,” Anna admitted.

Standing up, Elsa gestured to the city. She loved to go on about various historical facts to Anna, having a voice that made the tales of the past come alive. “It’s not exactly well known, but it is a fascinating story. I actually visited the ruins of it when I was younger, though the planet doesn’t exactly look as beautiful as this.”

“Oh?”

Elsa nodded. “Around 1200 years ago, the planet suffered a severe climate shift and this city was destroyed by not only a massive tsunami and earthquake, but it was subsequently buried in volcanic ash and lava when that volcano over there erupted.”

“Hardcore!”

The captain gave her girlfriend a look of confusion.

“Uh, sorry.”

“It’s uhh… alright,” Elsa responded, with a giggle. She walked closer to the side of the hill overlooking the ocean. “It’s truly a miracle that any remnants of this city survived at all. For centuries, Vetalis was actually considered a myth until an Andorian science team found it about forty years ago.”

“So… why do you find yourself coming here?” Anna asked. “You didn’t exactly wander that part of my question.”

Stroking her chin, Elsa pondered the answer. If she was honest, she hadn’t really thought of it. Yes, coming here relaxed her, but in all these years she had never considered why. Self-reflection wasn’t one of her strong points. It was Anna who was the therapist, not herself.

“I guess… I guess it’s because this place has always served as an inspiration for me, ” Elsa theorised. “That no matter what I’m going through in my life, I’ll make it through it and survive.”

“That’s a good outlook on things,” Anna stated. “But I find it odd that you feel that way about a city that got destroyed.”

Elsa laughed. “It is a bit weird I admit… and please, I’d rather this stay just between us.”

“Oh don’t worry,” Anna assured her. “You can always trust me.”

At that moment, Elsa got a delightful idea. Perhaps today… she’d got into the city after all. Especially since Anna was here. Showing her the wonders of ancient Vetalis had been something she had been considering for a while now. She looked over at Anna and grinned.

“Hey, why don’t I show you around the city?” Elsa offered. “I mean, if you’re not too busy.”

Anna chuckled. “Why, I’d love to, Elsa.” She held her hand. “Lead the way.”

Elsa shook her head. “Nuh-uh. We’re going there in style.” She cleared her throat. “Computer, create for us one Zyuranour, docile.”

Next to them on the path, one of the large six-legged creatures that Elsa had seen pulling the cart appeared before them. The beast groaned and Elsa walked over to the animal, stroking it softly. The beast growled back in response, nuzzling her hand.

Her Betazoid lover gulped, looking at the creature’s large bony spikes and clubbed tail. “Uhh… you sure that thing’s friendly?”

“She’s a herbivore don’t worry, ” Elsa assured Anna, “Although I wouldn’t annoy her if I were you. Supposedly, they also had a bad temper.” She climbed onto the creature’s back, holding her hand out to Anna, like some fairytale prince from an old story.

Anna smiled, taking Elsa’s hand and getting onto the creature’s back. She wrapped her arms around Elsa’s waist, the blonde blushing a little as she felt Anna hold her tightly. She had quite a grip, but Elsa loved that feeling, especially when Anna spooned her at night.

“Comfortable?” Elsa asked.

“Very,” Anna said, kissing her girlfriend on the cheek.

Nodding, Elsa petted the creature as it trotted down the path towards the city. Now that she had shown the ancient city to Anna, she wanted nothing more than to share all of its wonders with her.

[cuscojourneys]

VILCABAMBA TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

More information: http://bit.ly/2dmO1si

Vilcabamba Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days /4 Nights, On this truly spectacular and special hike – the Vilcabamba to Machu Picchu trek- enjoy a wealth of flora, fauna, snow peaks, impressive valleys while at the same time visiting the last refuge of the Incas – Vilcabamba and it’s archaelogical sites. After we leave the charming village of Huancacalle, we trek along some excellent examples of the Qhapaq Ñan – or royal roads of the Incas before heading off into “unknown territory”. We cross three consecutive passes, often covered in snow before descending to the wonderfully warm jungle. Crossing a great mountain chain, we finally arrive at Machu Picchu. This custom designed itinerary was the first of its kind when Apus Peru started to offer it in 2005. The Vilcabamba trek is one of the hidden treasures in peru

OVERVIEW

The Vilcabamba Trek takes you right off the beaten path to the area of Cusco where the Incas made their last stand. Following the Spanish conquest the Inca withdrew far in to the jungle from where they continued to resist the occupation. Vilcabamba was the last Inca city and this trek takes you to some of the last domains of this once great empire. With beautiful scenery, Inca sites and a wide variety of flora and fauna the Vilcabamba Trek is a great option.

By booking the Vilcabamba Trek with Cusco Journeys & Adventure you are choosing the best. Don’t believe us? Check out our reviews on TripAdvisor!

Useful Information

Starting Altitude – 2911m / 9550ft.

Highest Altitude – 3915m / 12,844ft.

Walking Distance – ?km / ? miles

Longest Day – Day ?, approximately ?km / ? miles

Overall Difficulty – Difficult

ITINERARY

Day 1: Cuzco – Casapata

We leave very early in the morning, taking the road to the Sacred Valley of the Inkas. Passing the town of Ollantaytambo, we head towards the Abra Málaga (mountain pass) which we cross, and then descend through the Puna towards the high jungle.

At this ecological level the principal activity is agriculture, mainly products such as tea, coca, coffee, cacao and fruits; and we will see the crops.

Our first stop is at the archaeological site of Huamanmarca, where there is an important Usnu or ritual platform and a precinct with four double jamb doorways facing the four cardinal points.

We continue to the settlement of Santa María, where we can rest for a few minutes, to then continue on to Huancacalle, the village where we will leave our motorized transport. The journey is long; but the reward is the solitude we enjoy as tourism is not very developed in this area. Here we meet our arrieros (mule-handlers) and mules which will accompany us on our walk. We have lunch.

After a short break, we begin our walk to visit the Rosaspata – Vitcos sector of the Vilcabamba Archaeological Park, including a tour of the famous Ñusta Hispana. It is suspected that the tomb of the rebel leader Manco Inka II can be found in this area of the Vilcabamba cordillera. We will also see the famous white rock.

By dusk we arrive at Casapata, which will be our campsite, where we enjoy our dinner and rest.

Meals: lunch and dinner

Maximum Altitude: 3060 masl / 10039 ft

Minimum Altitude: 2950 masl / 9678 ft

Distance Travelled: 5 km / 3.10 ml

Approximate Walking Time: 3 hrs

Day 2: Casapata – Hatumpampa

We leave early in the morning, climbing up through the ravine of the Pumachaka river to the Chupana sector where this river begins. Here we find segments of Inka Trail which we will follow. We can observe local flora, which is used to dye textiles produced in the area.

We walk through Quechua, Suni and Puna ecological levels. When we arrive at the Pillaujasa mountain pass, we can see the Jasutina pass nearby, in the middle of an Andean landscape worthy of a postcard.

We begin the trail which descends to the valley of the Racchchaka river and following the river upstream, we arrive at Hatunpampa, where we will camp and enjoy a beautiful view of the Tuytubamba snow-capped peak.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Maximum Altitude: 4086 masl / 13406 ft

Minimum Altitude: 3060 masl / 10039 ft

Distance Travelled: 17 km / 10.56 ml

Approximate Walking Time: 10 hrs

Day 3: Hatumpampa – Nogalpampa

We take the path which climbs to the Yanacocha mountain pass, finding a forest of native trees (Qeuña y Kiswar) at over 4500 masl. At the pass itself, we will enjoy a view of the Yanacocha lake, and then begin our walk to the Mojon pass, the last high pass on our trek. The landscape of the Puna reminds us of how far we are from civilisation.

We descend through the Mutuypata ravine, where we have lunch, and after a rest we continue to the valley of the Saqsarayoq river which we will cross to reach Nogalpampa, where we set up camp.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Maximum Altitude: 4500 masl / 14764 ft

Minimum Altitude: 2788 masl / 9147 ft

Distance Travelled: 14 km / 8.69 ml

Approximate Walking Time: 8 hrs

Day 4: Nogalpampa – Aguas Calientes

We resume our walk downhill through a spectacular native forest, towards the town of Yanatile. Here we take our transport to the train station at the Hidroelectrica (hydro-electric plant), where we will board the train which will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes. Overnight in a hotel.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Maximum Altitude: 2788 masl / 9147 ft

Minimum Altitude: 2100 masl / 6890 ft

Distance Travelled: 13 km / 8 ml

Approximate Walking Time: 5 hrs

Day 5: Machu Picchu – Cuzco

After breakfast we will board the bus which will take us to the biggest energetic center of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”. As part of our itinerary the same professional tour guide from the Vilcabamba trek;   will teach you about all the history of this mysterious and mystical place. We will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial. It will be an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore on your own.

If you have booked Wayna picchu, you will need to coordinate with your guide for Machu Picchu visiting depending on your scheduled time to the mountain, for people not hiking any of the mountains there are some other optional activities on your own (not included in the price):

Visit the Sun Gate: You will have an opportunity to walk (approx. 2 hours up and down) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to see Machu Picchu from a different angle.

Hike to the Inca Bridge: The Inca Bridge offers a dose of adventure for your next Machu Picchu visit. However in this case, the adventure is a little less strenuous, but a lot more death defying, not for people with vertigo.

Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast

Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft

Highest Elevation: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft

Included:

Trek briefing with your guide

Professional local guide (on hike)

Second tour guide for groups of 9+.

Private transport and professional driver (to the starting point of hike)

All entrance tickets and permits for Vilcabamba hike

All necessary tools for tree planting

Cusco Journeys  T-Shirt

Pick-up from hotels

Transfer in bus to Lares, Quiswarani (starting point of the trek)

2 person per tent Igloo tents (new, spacious and comfortable)

A roll pad mattress

Dining and cooking tents with tables and chairs

Excellent tour guide (2 guides for groups over 12)

Full board meals: 3 Meals per day, snacks each afternoon

First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank

Chef and cooking equipment and kitchen tent

Excellent meals (4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners)

Food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, and rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking (Vegetarian, vegan or special diet meals upon request)

Horses or mules and Indigenous horsemen to carry camping equipment: client tents, dining and cooking tents, table, stools, cooking gear, stove, gas container, cutlery, plates, food and fresh vegetables.

Hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes

Boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning

Expedition Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes

Expedition Train return from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and private transport to Cusco

Entrance fee to Machu Picchu Archaeological Complex

Guided tour of Machu Picchu

Hotel in Aguas Calientes (double or triple accommodation)

Porterage of 8 Kg per person.

Round Trip Bus Tickets

Meals: 4 Breakfast, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners

Tea time before dinner (tea, coffee, coco, biscuits, popcorn)

Oxygen Tank & First aid kit

All local taxes

Not Included:

Sleeping bag

Water on Day 1, just half day

Energy snacks which can very useful such as chocolate and granola bars and dried fruits

Breakfast on Day 1, Lunch on Day 5

Waynapicchu Mountain (Walk to the top without a guide. The trail is well marked.)

Tips: Guide, Cook, Porters

Bring for the Vilcabamba Trek to Machu Picchu

A good daypack: Eagle Creek Afar Backpack –appropriate packs to carry your personal belongings.

Original passport with the migration Peru card (for Trains, Machu Picchu Park, and Hotels)

Travel insurance (strongly recommended but not required).

Swimwear for the hot springs of Lares

Lighter trekking boots (with good ankle support)

3 pairs of trekking pants (not jeans): 1 hiking, 1 cotton–which is just enough. Please spray both pairs with an insect repellent before the trip.

Layers for variable temperatures especially at night

1 rain jacket: The first night the temperature can be as – 5 degrees Celsius/41 degrees Fahrenheit. The rain jacket can be helpful, because there are rainy days even if we are in dry season!

1 warm/Winter jacket

Thermals: wool socks, gloves, scarf, and woolen hat for cold nights.

4 pairs of underwear, 5 pairs of socks (Bamboo or cotton/nylon-blend socks dry faster than 100 percent cotton, which lose their softness when air-dried). It is nice to have a couple of extra pairs of socks to change into at night when you’re not hiking. Also, we recommend bringing both really heavy hiking socks and lighter socks because the weather is variable, so you want to make sure you’re not too cold or overheat.

4 t-shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts

1 good sleeping bag liner that is super lightweight and easy to pack. Definitely does its Job!

Travel-size tissues and wet wipes–The air is cold and damp so your nose is going to run a lot. Everyone seems to run out of tissues by the end of the trek. Also, most bathrooms do not have toilet paper (if you even get a bathroom), so wet wipes are key.

Iron tablets and pills for altitude sickness. Several people on the hike have varying degrees of altitude sickness and both of these remedies (in addition to the coca tea) are very helpful in alleviating the symptoms.

Sun protection cream (SPF 45 or higher recommended).

Bug spray with 30% DEET in it–which you need, but it doesn’t work very well. The issue with Cusco outdoors is that most of the bugs are not mosquitoes. They are these small flies you can’t even see that leave weird bites that first look like you pricked your finger and then blow up into itchy red bumps. Unfortunately, these bugs seem to bite you no matter what kind of spray you put on, so an anti-itch medication could be helpful.

Re-usable plastic or metal water container or a hydration pack such as Camel back

Water (only for first day hike). Then we will provide you with water throughout the hike.

Camera and film

A headlamp to navigate camp in the evenings and pre-dawn mornings with spare batteries

Bandages or moleskin

Flip flops to change into at night–your toes will thank you!.

Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste/floss, shampoo/conditioner, brush/comb, Vaseline (for feet great for potential blisters), feminine hygiene products, deodorant, nail clippers/file/tweezers, spare glasses and/or prescription, mini-eyeglass repair kit, contact lenses if required and supplies, hand sanitizer etc.–and whatever else you need, but pack light.

Medication (Imodium AD or something for your stomach. Some people get an upset stomach on the trek. With 8-10 hours of hiking each day, you need to get over whatever the day throws at you quickly, so bring some meds.

Plastic bags for dirty and wet clothes

Something to read in the evenings

Extra money for souvenirs, drinks, & tips to your staff

Additional Notes

Gift for Andean children “Optional”

Vilcabamba Trek. We recommend bringing: Coloring books, crayons, pens, notebooks, pencils, stickers, clothes, toys, etc. but not candies or chemical products. . Children will love to receive these gifts when we pass through Andean communities which have schools.