#and she was kept saying the queen would be unhappy

[the20thangel]

The Vow

Summary: Request: I was wondering if you could write something with Benji and Targaryen reader. She's like the apple of her parent's eye and nervous about marrying Benji and if he would be good to her. And loyal, like she's very scared that he would go and have bastards or mistress. She doesn't want an unhappy marriage. She's very insecure, and Benji reassures her that he will worship the ground she walks on and she will be the only one he ever beds.

word count: 1.9K

Masterlist

As you stood before the mirror, your fingers fidgeted with the rings, a nervous habit inherited from your mother. You gazed at your reflection, a vision of beauty. Your luscious white hair was elegantly pulled into a loose bun, with a few strands delicately framing your round face. Your eyes, a mesmerizing shade of lilac, were accentuated with light makeup that made them stand out. You were adorned in a stunning, vibrant red gown with golden accents. Despite the maids' admiring sighs, you couldn't muster any excitement. 

 On the day of your wedding, your nerves were in a frenzy. Despite your parents' attempts to reassure you, you couldn’t shake off the worry. You knew little about the man you were about to marry. Lord Benjicot Blackwood, the young lord who fought bravely alongside his aunt Black Aly and Lord Cregan Stark during the war. You knew your mother owed her throne to them, and in gratitude, she had betrothed you to him. But all you heard were stories of Bloody Ben, a monster on the battlefield, and armies trembling at the lad's name. The weight of this uncertainty was a heavy burden on your heart. 

You were shocked when you heard the stories and the news of your betrothal. You couldn’t understand how your parents could ever give your hand to someone described like that. Then your father, King-Consort Daemon, explained to everyone in the public how he was known as the Rouge Prince, but they didn’t know his true self. He asked you if you believed in all the stories spread about him, which you vehemently denied. Your father was brash and rude when he talked to his enemies, but he was a protective dragon to his family, making sure his family was happy and safe. Your father smiled and said, then do not believe everything about Benjioct. Speaking in favor of the raven lord. You nodded, saying how you would try. 

Now, you weren’t worried about him being cruel. No, you were worried about him being unfaithful. Dragons, like your family, don’t do well when people try to steal things belonging to them. You were the same, and you worried that Benjicot would only see your marriage as a duty. Finding happiness, pleasure, and companionship in the arms of another. This fear of an unhappy marriage, of not being able to handle such a betrayal, was something that kept you awake at night, a constant source of anxiety. 

As your maids and handmaidens finished, your mother, Queen Rhaenyra, walked in. Gracing you with her beautiful smile, she walked behind you, embracing you as she kissed your cheek chastly. Holding you close to her made you smile and close your eyes in contentment. Your bond with your mother was stronger than any of your siblings. She could know your millions of thoughts from one glance at your face, so she held you tight to her, giving you the comfort you desperately wanted. 

“He’s a good lad, my sweet girl. Honorable, fierce, and just. He would rather feed himself to your dragon than betray you.” she whispered, trying to erase your fears. 

As you nodded, you didn’t know if you were a way to assure her or yourself into believing the statement. You wanted to believe in your parents' statements, but you were still worried. You hardly knew this man, and in a few minutes, you would be his wife. You would not only be a Princess but the new lady of House Blackwood. The pressure was building inside of you. As you finished readying yourself, a servant came in, letting the Queen and Princess know that the wolf's hour had arrived and it was time to start the wedding. 

Taking a deep breath, you wrap your arm around your mother’s arms as the two walk into Godswood, where the ceremony will be taking place. Today was a more intimate ceremony, since House Blackwood followed the ways of the First Men and Old gods. Your family decided to honor the Blackwoods by having a ceremony in the old ways, marrying infront of a hearttree. 

As you walked down the corridors to reach Godswood, your family slowly started coming together, each holding a torch to light the way. Once entering Godswood stood your future husband, bringing you a first surprise. Instead of wearing red and black, his house colors. Benjicot Blackwood stood infront of the hearttree wearing pure black with gold accents, completing your dress beautifully. As the Blackwood members turned to the Targaryen family, they couldn’t help but gasp at the sight, power, and beauty of the Valryians. 

Your family took the other side of the aisle while you and your father, Daemon, waited for the signal from Cregan Stark, who would officiate the ceremony. Once you saw the slight nod from the wolf lord, your father took your arm, giving your hand a light squeeze as you both began your trek down the aisle, meeting your betrothed in the middle. 

“ Who comes before the Old Gods this night?” 

Daemon straightened himself, presenting the daunting regal Targaryen he is; Princess (Name) of the House Targaryen comes here to be wed. A woman grown trueborn and noble. She comes to beg the blessing of the Gods.” 

Cregan nodded as he turned to Benjicot, who grinned at his beautiful bride. “ Who comes to claim her?” 

Benjicot inhaled as he stared at his future wife and good father, “Benjicot Blackwood, of House Blackwood, lord to Raventree Hall. 

“Who gives her?” asked Cregan, looking at both a Daemon and Rhaenyra. 

“Daemon Targaryen, Her father and King- Consort of the seven kingdoms of House Targaryen of Old Valyria, ” proudly stated Daemon. 

You smiled slightly, turning to look at your future husband. He was quite handsome and lean, but you can see the outline of muscles around his body. Benjicot noticed your staring and gave you a smirking grin, causing your face to heat up. 

Your staring is broken by Cregan asking you, “Name, do you take this man?” 

You gulped, feeling the nerves coming back. Glancing behind him, you saw how intently House Blackwood stared at you, causing the nerves to worsen. Benjicot, noticing this, frowned slightly. He knew his family could be intense and wished that he could glare to ease them back. You took a shaky breath, smiling wryly at Cregan first before turning to Benjioct, reaching out with your hand as you stated. 

 “I take this man.” 

Benjicot reached to take your hand, giving it a slight kiss, gracing you with a warm smile as Cregan asked the the Targaryen princess and Raven lord to kneel. Then asking for the group to stay silent for a few minutes for prayer.  As you and Benjicot kneeled in front of the hearttree, you stared at the crying face, asking the Old gods to please bless her marriage, that Benjicot remained loyal to her and her only. After a few minutes, the couple stood as Aly Blackwood stepped forward, providing the marriage cloak. Benjicot removed your maiden cloak passing it off, before he took the marriage cloak, cloaking you with the proud Blackwood sigil of the weirwood tree and ravens. As Benjicot stood infront of his beautiful wife, he took your face into his hands, caressing your reach as he leaned in. Kissing you with sweetness and softly sealing their union in the eyes of the Old gods. 

As the rest of both Blackwood and Targaryen families went back inside, Benjicot held your hand firm, singling you to stay. Tensing, you turned to your husband, trying your best to give him your best smile. 

Benjicot smiled, kissing your cheek, trying to ease your tension, “I was hoping that we could speak before heading inside, my princess.” 

You nodded, biting your bottom lip, wondering what he might want to speak about. 

Benjicot stared at you, trying to memorize your beauty under the moon light, his breath being constantly taken away. 

“I know our wedding came as a surprise to you and so quickly…we might not know each other, but I’m hoping this coming moon, we take the time to understand each other and what we expect from this marriage.” 

You froze, was this it? Was he going to tell you now that he was going to have a mistress in the marriage?

Benjicot seeing your demeanor, quickly comforted you. 

“No, sweet girl, I meant that I want this marriage to bring you happiness just like I feel.” 

These words confused you; tilting your head, you asked, “What do you mean, my lord?” 

Grinning, he brought a hand to your cheek, “Ever since I saw you during the war, I have been taken by you. You are beautiful and cunning. Your sharp wit and fearless dragon-riding skills made me admire you from afar. When your mother made the betrothal between us, I felt immense joy at the chance you be married to you. Alas, though, seeing your tension and nervousness around these past few days, I fear the rumors about me have made you weary of me.”  

You quickly shook your head. Taking his other hand and holding it close to your chest, you defended yourself. 

“No, my lord, I- the rumors are just that, rumors; my mother and father assured me that you are an honorable, dutiful, wonderful young man. I believe my parents would never agree to our marriage if you were not kind and respectful. I…” 

You paused, unsure how to go on the way to ask..command..plead for him to always stay loyal in your marriage, no bastards, no mistresses. Benjicot, seeing you hesitate again, placed his forehead on yours and took you into his arms. This caused you to gasp, having such an intimate gesture.

“Go ahead and ask my princess; I shall not get offended,” Ben requested, staring at your beautiful eyes. 

As you, too, stared at his stormy eyes, you saw the softness in them, “I- I only have one request, my lord, which I feel will make this marriage a truly happy one. I ask that you always stay loyal to me and our marriage. That you forsake the thought of mistresses.” 

Ben smiled at you, leaning down to place a kiss quickly before whispering for your ears only. 

“That is an easy promise. No other woman can ever compare to you, my beautiful dragon-riding wife. I would rather feed myself to all of your family’s dragons than ever think of betraying you. I will stay with you entirely until my last days, living with you, respecting you, comforting you, and fighting for you. I swear this on the old gods and new and the fourteen flames…So much I promise this, it was meant as a surprise but I want you to believe in my vow fully. I ask your parents that tomorrow we have a Valyrian ceremony, blood-bonding us together. Like your dragons usually bond one rider at a time and mate with one mate forever, I want to bind myself to you. That I may become yours forever.” 

As he finished his vows, he studied your shocked face. Hearing his vow to you made your heart beat faster, and you finally allowed happiness to bloom in your chest. Giggling, you leaned up to kiss him, wrapping your arms around your husband. Benjicot smiled into your kiss, continuing to kiss you a few minutes more before you stepped back a bit, staring at his eyes as you reached to trace the scar on his lip. You made your vow to him.

“I vow to love you and only you, Benjicot Blackwood, until the end of my days. I want to be blood-bonded with you.”

[hyperactively-me]

Hi! I just wanted to say that I absolutely love your series of King! Ghost x princess AU.

I'm watching Bridgerton right now and I wanted to ask if you could write something like them planning a big ball and when it starts, Ghost seeing reader in beautiful dress, all pretty, going down the stairs, all eyes on her, looking at her in awe. (Main character vibes, yk what I mean.) Like him falling in love with reader again!

king!ghost x reader -- ball

warnings: none

The fabric of your gown rustles as you settle into the seat of your vanity, the strings of your corset being pulled from behind by a helpful maid. As she secures the last knot, she takes a step back, bows, and leaves you to finish getting ready. 

You shift in your seat, trying to even out the feeling of the corset pressing into your ribs and abdomen where you were stabbed a month and a half ago, sighing with relief when it eases into a more comfortable sensation. Turning your attention to your hair, you sweep it away from your face, adjusting the tiara sitting proudly atop your head. 

Standing up from your vanity, you look in the mirror for a final inspection. You trace the delicate patterns on your gown with your fingertips, the golden threads and intricate embroidery garnering your gown seemingly glittering with a life of their own, embodying the glory fit for the queen of Kastron.

The idea of hosting a ball in your honor was daunting to you, to say the least, but many members of the royal council insisted on it. They wanted to commemorate your first year as queen of Kastron, and while you could hardly believe that you’ve been here for a year, the reflection in the mirror tells a different story. You’ve grown and learned so much from Kastron, and without it, you’re sure you’d be extremely unhappy back in your home kingdom. Without Kastron, and without Simon’s guidance, you would’ve never thought that you would be this educated, this aware of the world. At home, being kept in a protective bubble for the sole reason of being a woman, was destructive and insulting to you. 

As you stand before the mirror, your gaze lingers on the place where the corset conforms to the contour of your healed wound. The memory of the stabbing is a reminder of the strength and courage coursing through you. The discomfort is a small price to pay for the contentment you have with yourself.

With a small breath, you turn away from the mirror, ready to step into the grand ballroom.

A footman standing outside your door ushers you to the double doors guarding the grand staircase you are supposed to enter. As you stand behind the doors, doubts creep in, and you find yourself hesitating. The bustling sounds of the ballroom makes you realize that all of these people are here just to see you. You know that Simon is down there, waiting for you, but the mere fact that this is something you have to do on your own is a little scary. The whole prospect of your grand entrance suddenly feels overwhelming.

The footman notices your hesitation and offers a reassuring smile. “Your majesty?” 

You don’t turn to look at him, fingers digging into the fabric of your dress. 

“I just… walk down the staircase, right?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

You nod, taking a breath.

“Okay… but what if I fall?” you ask, twisting your hands in your grip, looking up at him.

The doorman pauses and his gaze softens.

“Your majesty, a fall is unlikely. Stand tall, proud. You’ve done so much for our kingdom. Take each step with confidence, just how you’ve led Kastron alongside His Majesty. I believe in you.”

You didn’t expect your eyes to get a little watery from his words, but his genuine encouragement strikes a chord deep within you. A small, grateful smile forms on your lips as you blink back the unexpected tears. 

“Thank you,” you whisper, and the doorman bows with reverence. 

With newfound resolve, you straighten your posture, shoulders back, and take a final deep breath. You focus on the supportive words from the doorman and on spotting your husband.

In the ballroom below, Simon stands as stiff as a board beside the end of the staircase, hands clasped behind his back. He’s dressed head to toe in his military and royal regalia, a perfect blend of his identity. He scans the ballroom with an air of impatience, just dying to catch sight of you at the top of the staircase. Simon hasn’t seen you all evening, much to his dismay. You had giggled about wanting it to be a surprise for everyone, including him. He had grumbled at first, saying how it wasn’t fair to him, but he relented with an infatuated twinkle in his eye. 

Simon finds his thoughts drifting to you, lost in a little daydream, when suddenly the doors at the top of the staircase slam open. A blare of trumpets sound, and your full name and title is announced by a guard. 

As the doorman opens the doors, revealing the anticipation of the grand staircase, you step forward into the light cascading from the crystal chandeliers in the ballroom. Your hesitation transforms into a purposeful stride, each step guided by the realization of how much you’ve truly done and accomplished in the past year. The glamor of the ballroom unfolds before you, and the collective gasp from the attendees echoes in the cavernous room. The ballroom, now in full view of you, welcomes you with thunderous applause. But in that instant, all he sees is you—radiant, confident, and a symbol of exultation.

Simon swears he blacks out the moment you catch his eyes, his breath catching in his throat. The applause is deafening, but the only sound Simon registers is the rapid beating of his heart. His gaze, usually commanding and unyielding, softens into an expression of pure and unadulterated adoration. All around him, the court and guests might see a king, but in that moment, he feels like anything but.

As you descend the staircase, the eyes of the court, nobles, and dignitaries are fixated upon you. The rich fabric of your gown trails behind you, and the golden threads reflect like liquid sunlight, catching the glinting chandeliers above. 

Simon watches you intently, his eyes fixed on you with an intensity that could rival a forest fire, each step you take closer to him causing his heart constrict in his chest, threatening to burst. In this moment, you are not just the queen of Kastron; you are the center of his whole universe.

His mind races, replaying the past year he’s spent with you. The memories of challenges and blossoming love flood his thoughts. Simon thinks about the times you stood by his side, the strength you showed even in vulnerability, and the unwavering support that gave him new purpose, an anchor of his rule. He’s overcome with gratitude for having you as his wife, his confidante, and his love. The responsibilities and trials of his status fade into insignificance compared to the depth of emotion that resting his eyes upon you elicits.

As you reach the bottom of the staircase, and your hand finds his, Simon feels a surge of warmth engulf him. You stand before him, a vision of resilience and beauty. Simon bows deeply and reverently before you, nose brushing against your knuckles as he presses a delicate kiss to your hand.

You smile, cheeks warming at his revere. Simon lifts his gaze to meet yours, his eyes reflecting a mixture of awe and profound love. “My queen,” he murmurs, his voice a low, resonant timbre that resonates intimately between the two of you.

“Simon,” you reply, your voice a soft utterance that only he can hear. 

Simon straightens, a proud and genuine smile gracing his features. “Shall we, love?” he asks, offering his arm. You accept it with a graceful nod, and together you make your way to the center of the dance floor, leading the opening dance. As the music envelops you both, Simon leans in, his words meant only for you. “You look absolutely stunning tonight,” he compliments, his eyes never leaving yours.

You chuckle, the intimate moment lighting up your insides. “Thank you! And you are the epitome of regality. This uniform suits you well.”

Simon’s quiet laughter echoes in your eardrums, the sound blending seamlessly with the music. “Only because I have such a remarkable queen by my side.”

The courtly dance begins, and Simon guides you with practiced elegance. As you move in tandem, whispers of admiration from the onlookers fade into the background. It’s just the two of you, caught in a lovestruck dance. 

As the opening dance nears its end, Simon pulls you closer into him, his gaze unwavering. “To think,” he muses, “a year ago, we were at odds with one another. And tonight, we stand here together.”

You smile softly, the shared sentiment passing between you, unspoken yet deeply understood. “And look how far we’ve come since then,” you reply, your voice soft yet resolute.

Simon guides you into a twirl, your dress rippling across the floor at your feet. When he pulls you back in, you don’t hesitate leaning against him unabashedly. 

“Do you remember our first dance at the first wedding?” he whispers, a hint of nostalgia evident in his eyes.

“Vividly,” you reply, an amused smile playing on your lips. Your first dance was definitely something; you were scared out of your mind, and Simon had promised that you wouldn’t trip, and he made sure of it. You think that it was one of the first moments that you had felt a slight emotion for him other than disdain. 

Simon’s expression softens, his eyes holding a hint of humor. “I remember thinking I had never seen someone so captivating. Even then, you held a grace that inspired me. And, I have to admit, your spirit was quite something. Made me appreciate the fact that you were so combative to begin with, that you’re someone who’s unafraid of standing up for themself.”

You laugh at his admission, the memory of your initial clashes and the unexpected turn of events that brought you to this dance. “Spirit?” you tease, “I prefer to call it determination.”

Simon grins, his fingers gently tracing patterns on your back as the music slightly shifts. “Determination, then. It’s one of the things that drew me to you. You never backed down, not even when faced with this idiot of a man at times.”

“As if I could back down,” you reply, squeezing his hand in yours. “You weren’t exactly making it easy. Your jawline is what really sold you to me.” 

Simon’s laughter resonates through the room, a rich and genuine sound, his fingers tracing circles on your back as you continue to sway with the music. “My jawline?” he repeats bewilderedly. “Well, ‘m glad it worked in my favor.”

You chuckle, reveling in the lighthearted banter. “It was a contributing factor, let’s say that.”

Simon’s gaze deepens, his tone turning earnest. 

“In all seriousness, though,” he begins, the mirth in his eyes giving way to a more vulnerable expression, his voice a soft murmur meant for your ears alone. “There was always something about you. Through every challenge you’ve stood strong. And in your strength, I’ve found my own. Just knowing you has changed me for the better, and for that I am grateful, not just as a king, but as a man who found his equal, his partner. I’m so proud of you.” 

You don’t know what to say, getting choked up by the tears pricking the corners of your eyes. Simon notices the tears welling up in your eyes, and he cups your cheek tenderly. His thumb brushes away a stray tear, and you bite your bottom lip. Your love for each other, immeasurable and boundless, spills over into every glance, every touch, and every step of the dance. Your heart swells at his words, and you find yourself staring into his eyes, captivated by the depth of emotion reflecting in them.  

“God, Simon. I love you so much,” you finally manage to whisper, the weight of your feelings breaking through. Simon’s eyes soften even further, and he leans in to press a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“I love you too,” he murmurs against your skin, his hold on you tightening. As the dance concludes, the courtiers erupt into applause. Simon guides you off the dance floor, his arm wrapped around you protectively. You exchange glances filled with unspoken understanding, squeezing his hand once more. You lean into him, moving to rest your head against his shoulder, a serene smile gracing your lips. The warmth of Simon’s embrace, the quiet hum of the music in the background, and the knowledge that you’ve found your person makes you forget all about your anxieties. At that moment, it feels like the two of you are the only people in the universe.

- - - - -

(masterlist)

taglist: @analyseeeesworld @dragonstoneshortcake

[itsgameofthronesimagines]

Could I request a Cersei x f reader where the reader is Cersei’s secret lover but Jaime (Love him but needed a villain) found out and made up lies about reader so Cersei herself throws the reader to jail. When she’s finally freed after the allegations were proved wrong, reader is now cold hearted, avoiding Cersei who tries to talk to her. Go heavy on the angst. You can decide if it’s happy ending (at least as happy of an ending as you can get with Cersei) or not. Thank you! You don’t have to write it if you don’t want to

(Gif not mine but can I just say that I hate myself for loving how beautiful she is?)

Title: Lioness Roar

Fandom: Game of Thrones

Pairing: Cersei Lannister x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 4,719

Summary: Cersei’s brothers could do whatever they wanted with little to no consequences all because of their gender. Now as the Queen, Cersei believes she can do more.

Warnings: vulgar language, daddy issues (guess who), homophobia, angst, mentioned wlw smut, and I will admit it does kind of read like yandere.

Author’s Note: God I love writing about Lannisters. They’re so complex (and I know I’ve said that before so sorry if you’re sick of hearing it but I’m not sorry for saying it) and I think this might be the first time I’m writing a Cersei x reader so this was exciting!

(I do not consent my works to be reposted/copied)

~~~~~~~~~

Cersei always believed that if she were born with a cock, her world would be a lot different, but for the best.

As a child, she drew pictures of herself on the back of the dragon, and as she got older, her father kept promising to marry her to the prince, so then she began drawing Rhaegar Targaryen in those same pictures.

Before she grew into her female qualities, she was able to dress as her twin brother and attend sword fighting lessons without anyone able to tell the difference. 

While Jaime had no interest in listening to his father about the importance of their history, their finances, and the running of the keep, Cersei listened intently. She knew that if she were Tywin’s firstborn son and heir, he’d be proud of all of her accomplishments, and this was just one of many ways she tried to gain his approval. 

She did all these things to prove that she can do anything her brothers did possibly even do more than Tyrion but Lord Tywin always stamped down her ambitions other than the one that involved her getting married to the prince. No matter how hard she tried, Cersei could never get her father to actually see her aside from what she already was.

One look and Lord Tywin would’ve seen his daughter holding a sword better than Jaime ever could and reciting old text better than Tyrion could ever pronounce. If Tywin could only see past her gender, Cersei would truly be his golden child.

Alas, she was nothing but a bargaining chip; a pawn he liked to move around the board. When her marriage proposal to Rhaegar fell through and all the Targaryens were killed off, Cersei was married to Robert Baratheon and she became his Queen Consort. She gave him three children, despite the two of them being unhappy from the start. Even if her children didn’t look like the King, she didn’t care. She did her duty to the realm, to her husband, and to her father, securing the legacy Tywin always wanted for his family. Cersei did her part and now she felt inclined to her own right of freedom to do whatever she wanted.

That freedom came in the form of Lady Y/n.

As a wedding gift, Lord Tywin sent Cersei the daughter of one of his bannermen to act as her handmaid and confidant. Y/n was possibly the only truly kind gesture Cersei’s father ever made toward her, but the new Queen was bitter from the beginning. She did not confide in other women. Cersei felt as though she was above gossiping and hand-sewing, even when she was a little girl. With her father’s praise and boasting of her being the most beautiful woman in all the Seven Kingdoms, Cersei even believed she was above all the ladies of the country, including Y/n. 

Y/n was a quiet young woman. Dutiful towards her Queen and tending to her every need without question, the handmaid was smart to never speak openly to Cersei. She kept her thoughts tight-knit in her mind and only replied to the Queen if Cersei spoke directly at her. Even where Y/n was from, she heard certain rumors about Cersei and how the Lady Lannister’s best friend, Melara Hetherspoon, mysteriously fell into a well and only Cersei lived to tell the tale. Y/n’s mother was secretly concerned when Tywin Lannister sent her daughter away to tend to Cersei, knowing that the Lioness of Casterly Rock was always troubled and strangely devoid of any emotion other than anger.

Even Y/n believed this, and in fear, she never spoke a word to Cersei unless spoken to so as not to draw attention to herself. Tending to Cersei was like awaiting with anticipation for a barrel of wildfire to ignite. All it took was one tiny flame.

However, once Cersei’s children were born, it appeared as though that flame was tameable. Y/n often tended to her Queen’s children more so than the wet nurses. Many wondered if the wet nurses were just lazy, but one maid, in particular, had the bravery to whisper about the Queen being behind this, how Cersei ordered the wet nurses to do their duty to feed her children except Myrcella but to leave all other care to Lady Y/n and herself.

If this rumor was to be taken seriously, no one knew why Cersei would do such a thing unless she full-heartedly trusted her handmaid. But this was Cersei Lannister of all people, and no one, not even King Robert, was allowed to be near the princess and princes without Cersei’s presence.

And yet, Y/n could be found with all three children, alone, holding them to her chest when they cried or laughing as she chased them around in the gardens. If they weren’t with Cersei or their teachers, the royal children were likely to be found with Lady Y/n, who they lovingly nicknamed their aunt once they began to speak. Perhaps the children truly thought Y/n was part of their family and if so, Cersei had allowed it to appear that way.

The truth is Cersei grew to care for one other person besides her children and Jaime, but kept that close to her heart and locked it away, not even Y/n could reach it. At first, Cersei was disgusted with her thoughts and her feelings. There was a time in her inner turmoil when she would lash out at her handmaid even though Y/n did nothing wrong. Despite all this, Cersei blamed her for everything and was even tempted to send her away. But young Myrcella, barely able to write her own name, cried one night when Y/n was not there to tuck her into bed and told her mother how much she loved Y/n. Feeling defeated, Cersei never exiled Y/n and refused to look at the other woman for many months.

Cersei’s demons came to a head when she heard Jaime tell yet another story about Tyrion finding another whore to bed with... but instead of her usual disgust, another thought struck her. There was a time when Cersei could act like a boy all she wanted without anyone batting an eye. She could do whatever she wanted and even though she was now Queen, Cersei had yet to take full advantage of that. As long she remained married to the King and gave him children, her father could not tell her what to do and her husband cared very little about what she did as long as Cersei kept him out of it. Hearing Jaime’s story of Tyrion’s new woman, Cersei thought if her dear little brother could take any common whore to bed without scandal, why couldn’t she?

Lady Y/n was already her handmaid. It was already the perfect disguise. If Tyrion could do it and hide his lover as a servant girl, so could Cersei. If Robert could openly bring whatever woman he wanted into his bed, so could his wife.

Of course, Cersei could order Y/n to kiss her and bed her if she liked, but she was a clever woman and felt the excitement of playing the long game of convincing Y/n to love her. So as not to scare her, Cersei started off slowly, starting by subtly nodding her thanks to Y/n when she helped her dress and undress because yes, Cersei has never once thanked anyone before. When Y/n didn’t appear put off by this, Cersei slowly began to openly thank her, then slowly progressed to subtly touching her arm or moving Y/n’s hair off her shoulder. 

This slow progression is successful in many ways. Y/n doesn’t notice how much Cersei changed because Cersei had slowly done so without any red flags rising. Before Y/n could remember the story of Melara Hetherspoon, Cersei had her wrapped around her finger, practically brainwashing her handmaid into believing that she had always been a kind and loving queen towards her loyal subjects. Cersei’s patience paid off when Y/n began to openly talk to her about her hopes and dreams, even her opinions, without ever flinching of fear or repeal.

And, in a way, her patience also brought Cersei to love Y/n even more than just for lust. Listening to Y/n talk made Cersei wonder why she had suppressed the young woman from doing so in all the years she’s known her. Everything sounded exciting when Y/n spoke, her voice forcing Cersei to listen to every syllable. 

That is... until eligible suitors came searching for Y/n’s hand in marriage. When Y/n talked about her suitors, Cersei would immediately order her to speak of something else. She couldn’t bear to hear about the men trying to take her new interest away from her. She wouldn’t allow her brothers to steal a toy from her as children, why would this be any different?

It was the talk of the decade. Throughout King’s Landing, people whispered about how Lady Y/n must be cursed. Ever since her father announced opening a proposal for her, many of Y/n’s suitors have mysteriously disappeared or been found dead in their beds, sometimes even before they could meet her. Over time, several men have gone to King’s Landing in hopes of winning Y/n’s hand. None have returned to their homes and some houses were on the brink of extinction because of this curse.

It didn’t take long before men stopped asking for Y/n’s hand in marriage, and Cersei had never been happier to have her handmaid remain at her side.

By the time Jon Arryn mysteriously died, Y/n was more than just a confidant or friend. She became Cersei’s secret lover, and Cersei didn’t feel any shame or disgust the first time she kissed her. While making plans for the royal family to travel to Winterfell, Y/n shyly and breathlessly confessed her love for Cersei. Before she could escape the Queen’s chambers in her shame, Cersei roughly held Y/n’s face in her hands as she fervently kissed her. The victory going on in Cersei’s mind was all too sweet, hastily taking Y/n to her bed then and there, finally claiming her as no one but the Queen’s.

Cersei had begun to feel like a god with what she had taken as her own. With Y/n secretly under one arm and Jaime under the other, she began to believe and reminisce about the young girl she once was, a Lady Lannister who took no prisoners and always got whatever she wanted. As Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Cersei felt as though she held the world in her hands and was believed to be untouchable.

This god complex would continue to fester and grow as several events play out. While in Winterfell, Young Bran Stark mysteriously fell out of a window. When the royal family left the North, they brought Ned Stark and his two daughters with him as the new Hand of the King. When Cersei arrived back in King’s Landing, Y/n was waiting for her in her chambers with open arms and a hot bath. Cersei had never felt such power secured tightly in her fist before.

That is until it slipped ever so slightly out of her grasp and Cersei lashed out and nearly lost her mind. Under Lord Stark’s orders, his wife Catelyn took Tyrion as her prisoner and this prompted Jaime to attack the Hand of the King before escaping King’s Landing. Cersei could feel her power and influence slipping when, even as Ned Stark admitted to her accusations, Robert still refused to punish his old friend. 

Madness slipped through, for a split second, as Cersei snapped, “I took you for a king!”

“Hold your tongue.”

“He’s attacked one of my brothers and abducted the other. I should wear the armor, and you the gown.”

King Robert spun around and hit her before Cersei could say more. She proudly claimed she would wear this mark on her face like a badge of honor before swiftly leaving the room. She retreated to her chambers to lick her wounds and fester in her rage. When Y/n was summoned, she was horrified by the angry bruise on Cersei’s face and tended to it immediately. Unaware of what had happened, Y/n barely even blinked when Cersei ordered her to stay with her the whole night.

War began to brew after that and Cersei received word of Tywin and Jaime raising an army to bring back Tyrion. Sensing it was time to make her move, she had her cousin Lancel bring an armload of wine for Robert when he fled to the Kingswood to hunt. Of course, everyone knows that wine and hunting don’t mix, and when Robert returned to Cersei, his guts were spilling out of him. It wasn’t long before Joffrey was sitting on the Iron Throne after that, his mother sitting beside him.

Cersei had Ned Stark arrested and his daughters confined to the Red Keep. With her son as king, she now had all the power with no one to tell her otherwise. She still felt her self-control slip, however, when she heard of Jaime’s capture and then Tyrion returned to King’s Landing as Tywin’s Acting Hand of the King. When she heard the news of her twin brother, Cersei retreated back to her chambers and once again, kept Y/n in her bed all night long. Y/n was none the wiser, believing Cersei was only grieving her brother’s capture by taking her anger out on her lover. This anger got even worse when Myrcella was sent away to Dorne.

When Jaime returned, Cersei was still an angry woman and nothing was ever the same again. Cersei retreated from Jaime’s embrace whenever he reached out to her. At first, he thought it was because of his missing hand, but then Cersei gifted him a golden prosthetic as a replacement. When she didn’t appear disgusted by him, Jaime kept a watchful eye on his sister.

He suspected Cersei had another lover but failed to find any man entering his sister’s chambers, no matter the time of day. He did, however, always noticed Y/n freely walking around wherever she wanted. Even when Cersei was not around, Lady Y/n would enter her room and the guards standing outside wouldn’t even question her. Sometimes, Jaime even witnessed Y/n ordering the guards around as if she were speaking on the Queen’s behalf, and they listened to her. Jaime’s affronted thoughts came to a halt when one day, he noticed Y/n out in the gardens with Tommen, the young prince indulging the lady with a book he read out loud. Cersei was nowhere in sight.

Jaime was not the smartest Lannister, but he knew Cersei better than anyone, and he knew that his sister would not trust their her children with anyone unless she had complete faith in them.

He confronted his sister that night when he knew that Y/n was sent away after helping Cersei undress. With the Queen now alone, Jaime snuck in and didn’t hesitate to speak his mind, “You love her.”

Cersei froze, her back turned to him, refusing to say a word or even look back to face him. Jaime scoffs because that was enough of a confirmation for him. Cersei was never one to hold back her tongue; this would have been no exception if it wasn’t true. The emotions that began to build within Jaime were rage and disgust. He pushed a boy out of a window for Cersei. He kept their affair a secret for Cersei. He killed his cousin for Cersei. He even lost his hand when trying to get back to Cersei. How is it that he went through all that trouble the gods have cursed him with for Cersei, and she had already moved on and fallen in love with another? How could he live with this knowing that Cersei had pushed him aside for none other than a woman?

“As hateful as you are... you love her,” he seethed between his teeth, “All those years you made me believe you kept her around to keep all eyes away from us... when really you just wanted us both. You have always been a selfish woman.”

A wry smile curls over his lips, the brewing anger slowly turning malicious, “But I wonder how selfish? Or are you just too blind by love to see it?”

Cersei turned to face him, her expression sour and voice dripping with venom, “See what?”

“That she has fooled you,” Jaime lets the words spill out of his mouth like water, fluid and graceful, even he believed the deceit he spoke, “Lady Y/n’s father may be our father’s bannermen, but she is no ally to us. I intercepted a raven before my escape, one that was addressed to Robb Stark. It was sealed with your sigil but not your handwriting, so I knew it wasn’t yours. However, seldom few have access to your seal and your desk, so one could only wonder who had the means of contacting the King of the North bearing your mark?” 

Cersei stood still, eyes locked onto Jaime’s as her expression slowly twists and turns corrupt with barely restrained rage and madness in between the flicker of the candle flame. For a moment, a brief moment... Jaime thought that rage was directed at him.

~~~~~~~~~

Y/n was roughly woken by a few of the Queen’s personal guards, binding her and muffling her screams with a rag. Tediously, they bring her all the way down into the dungeon before throwing her into the deepest, darkest cell. With her bonds and gag loose, Y/n finally has a moment to yell and plead, her hands gripping onto the iron bars for dear life as she begged for someone to help her.

Her pleas stop, however, when from the shadow emerges Cersei, regal as always, dressed in her usual red and gold fabrics without the help of her usual handmaid, now trapped behind bars. The moment Y/n caught the light on Cersei’s face, she knew who to place blame for her arrest.

“Why are you doing this?! I deserve an explanation!”

“You’re a traitor,” Cersei hissed even with a sly smile on her beautiful face, “You betrayed my son, your king. And worse of all, you betrayed me. Did you truly think I wouldn’t find out about your secret little messages to the King in the North? Were you praying that Jaime would never return so that he wouldn’t be able to inform me of your treachery?”

Y/n was initially shocked by these accusations before turning to defend her honor, “Surely he’s mistaken! Your brother has been away from home for far too long. His mind might be sick from being Robb Stark’s prisoner all this time. Why would you believe Ser Jaime over me?”

The question dies in her throat, her face crumbling into fearful realization as Cersei continued to stand still, as quiet as a cat while smiling down at her mouse. Y/n’s voices drop down into a whisper as she tries to hold back her own emotions, “... Unless it’s true. The rumors have all been true. You and your brother...”

Y/n’s fear slowly reverts to anger as her thoughts spill openly from her lips, “I refused to believe the whispers. I was loyal to you from the very beginning. I stuck by your side through everything and yet-- How could you?” She finally snapped, voice rising once again as her grip tightens around her bars, “I sacrificed everything for you! I gave you all I had and it still wasn’t enough, wasn’t it? I loved you... with all my heart, but not even love can cure you from this madness.”

Cersei’s eyes bore into Y/n’s own, the two women standing in the silence of the dark, cold dungeon. The Queen doesn’t acknowledge her actions for not even she knew why she quickly decided to imprison her former lover. She herself felt disgusted. Cersei had been able to round up each of King Robert’s bastard children and slaughter them for the sake of Joffrey’s legitimacy, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to have Y/n executed even though the woman was accused of betraying Joffrey. Cersei once believed she would do anything for the sake of her children, and now she felt disgusted knowing that she couldn’t even kill a woman to uphold that silent promise.

Cersei held her chin high, her voice was as cold as the day she first met Lady Y/n, “I love my brother. I will only ever love my brother. How could I ever love someone as lowly as a servant girl?”

~~~~~~~~~

It didn’t take long before Tywin noticed his daughter had a new handmaid and not one who was trusted enough to tend to Tommen when Cersei wasn’t around. Without questioning the Queen, Lord Tywin conducted an investigation and quickly discovered Y/n in the dungeons. After briefly talking to her and investigating Jaime’s accusations, Tywin was able to concur that Y/n was innocent of such treasonous actions and set her free. When Cersei heard of this, she was enraged and immediately went to her father with demands of executing her former confidant. When Tywin brought his evidence to her attention, Cersei refused to believe it, turning a blind eye and cursing her father’s name. Even in disbelief, Cersei couldn’t help but internally feel the ache and anger in her heart. Deep down, she knew Y/n had done nothing wrong, yet she listened to Jaime anyway. The last nail was wedged into her coffin when Tommen asked Cersei where his Aunt Y/n had gone. Only then could she truly admit she made a mistake.

But it was too late. With Y/n no longer being Cersei’s handmaid, the lady avoided the Queen like the plague. Y/n was no longer the woman everyone once knew to be kind and compassionate. She was cold and calculating to everyone, including Cersei, if the two women ever had a brief encounter in Joffrey’s court.

Y/n couldn’t even find it within herself to feel sympathy towards Cersei when Joffrey was murdered at his own wedding. Long after Tommen was crowned King, Y/n continued to avoid Cersei and never once shed a tear for the boy she once loved as her own. As long as one bore the face of Cersei or sported any sort of Lannister trait, Y/n avoided them at all costs and even felt disgusted if she had to share a room with them. A moment of opportunity arrived for her to be rid of this Hell when the High Sparrow became a big influence on King Tommen and his people. Cersei had the High Sparrow annointed as High Septon with the belief that he would work under her rule, and Y/n watched this unfold from a distance until finally, she made her own calculated move.

In time, Loras Tyrell, Queen Margaery, and even Cersei had been thrown into various cells of the Great Sept when none of them confessed to the sins they were accused of. Cersei had felt the cold breath of karma ghost down her neck the moment her cousin Lancel entered the room to stand beside the High Sparrow. Weeks dragged on and Cersei was miserable in her cell, hair matted and body covered in filth, tongue dry from her thirst. The cell door opened one miserable morning and Cersei curled in on herself instinctively, ready to refuse the water when offered in exchange for a confession... but the septa never said a word. Slowly, Cersei looked up from her arms and found Lady Y/n standing there instead of a septa, dressed in travelling clothes and holding a small pouch of water in hand, devoid of emotion as she looked down on the former Queen she served.

Cersei didn’t look pleased or impressed, turning her away to lean against the cold wall of her cell, “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? The one thing you have always strived for; craved for... You have always wanted to see me suffer.”

“I don’t know if there is anything I can say or do to convince you otherwise,” Y/n scoffed while setting down the pouch of water, “I gave my life to you, yet you still believe I betrayed you somehow in some shape or form. Even when I was proven innocent, you despised me. Why?”

Cersei blinked slowly while staring off into space, trying to swallow her spit to relieve her thirst, “You were just some lowly reminder of a time when I was unfaithful.”

“To who? King Robert? Everyone knows you despised him. That is no secret. Everyone knows that you would have done anything to hurt him. But to hurt Jaime... I think most can suspect that at this point, you would have done anything to keep him at your side. You can’t fool anyone, Your Grace. Not anymore.”

“I have fooled no one.”

“No one but me. You had me fooled the moment you kissed me,” Y/n’s voice broke, ever so slightly, cracking her mask, “You had me believe what we had was love. And yet you threw it all away the moment you decided to believe whatever you wanted to hear.”

“I didn’t want you to betray me.”

“And I never did. But you didn’t exactly care, did you? Instead of just asking me, you threw me in a cell and left me to rot. Because it was Ser Jaime’s word against mine.”

“Why are you really here?” Cersei rasped, watching her finger as she absently traced shapes into her cell wall.

Y/n composed herself, hardening her heart again and quickly blinking away the tears before they could be shed. She straightens up her vest as she confidentally spoke, “I came to say goodbye and to pray we never see each other again. What happens to you is no longer my concern. King Tommen has granted me leave from your service and is sending me home today. My only wish... my only wish is that we part with our truths laid out to one another... the way it always should have been.”

Cersei finally turns to look up at the woman standing over her, feigned smile spreading over her filthy face, “What truths, pray tell?”

“The truth is you were right, Queen Regent. I did betray you,” Y/n carefully watched as Cersei’s face twisted with several emotions before continuing, “I betrayed you to the High Sparrow. I confessed my sins to him and thus revealed yours. I told him everything, from our affair to yours and Ser Jaime’s. It wasn’t your cousin who turned you in. It was me.”

For years, Y/n has watched Cersei play the game with eager eyes and thin smiles and it wasn’t until recently did Y/n want to see the smug smile wiped from her former Queen’s pretty face. In her dreams, Y/n could imagine this and feel satisfaction bloom in her stomach, fulfilling her without food or water and lasting her till she is old in age. Now, finally succeeding in making Cersei lose at her own game, Y/n doesn’t feel that satisfaction she desired. All she could feel was guilt and shame.

Cersei’s face crumbled until it was laid bare for Y/n to read her as a childrens’ book, the Lady Lannister’s voice becoming accusatory, “So I was right. All you’ve ever wanted was to see my downfall.”

Y/n felt as though she had been slapped in the face, hating herself even as the words fell out, “No... never. Not when I loved you.”

Cersei looked back up when she heard Y/n kneeling down to her height, meeting her shining eyes as her former handmaid whispered as though she spoke a secret, “You might not see it as I do, but if I were to recall... you were the one who betrayed me first. I only returned the favor. Farewell... my lioness. I will pray for the next whore you decide to take to bed.”

The way Cersei’s face fell only made Y/n feel worse as she stood, turning to leave. The former handmaid wanted this woman to beg for her life as she once did in her own cold cell. She wanted Cersei to squeal and cry and feel her heart break as she once did, betrayed by the woman she loved. In a last ditched effort, Y/n kicked her pouch of water close to the cell door, far from Cersei if she even tried to reach it.

“No-- wait, Y/n, please-!”

Y/n hastily made her exit, slamming the cell door behind her to shut out Cersei’s pleas. As she walked down the hall, Y/n could feel a tear slip past her detection... as well as a smile of freedom.

~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Hi I’m back on my bs again. It’s been a busy couple of weeks and now that I’m caught up on House of the Dragon and no longer working nights, I feel fueled to write again. Please support and leave a request in the ask box!

[writingsofwesteros]

Viserys x niece reader au. Yn hears rhaenyra and viserys arguing. She says some nasty things about yn and viserys doesn't defend her. She becomes sad and withdrawn from viserys and rhenrya. Daemon notices and offers to take her on his next adventure regardless if the king gives permission or not as according to him "you are my daughter and the queen. You can do what ever you want and I don't need permission to spend time with you". She also goes to driftmark where she spends time with her foster family. While she's gone Daemon confronts Viserys and threatens to take her away if she is unhappy cause *protective daddy Daemon*. Happy ending please.

AN:Hi, I hope you like it x

The beautiful, new red dress clung to your curves perfectly as you wandered the now familiar royal corridors. The bright locks famous in your household were tied up with pearls dotted in the soft locks. Your hands clasped behind your back as you moved to find your husband. He hadn’t been close by this morning.

It wasn’t so strange but as the hours passed you had begun to wonder where he was. It was why you were wandering aimlessly around. Thankfully, the familiar voices of your husband and his daughter sounded out. You moved to open the door before the words they spoke came to you.

“I can’t believe you married her.” Rhaenyra’s voice easily came to you and a soft frown moved over your face. You had thought the relationship between you and her was better; had it all been a lie? The silence from your husband had your heart pinching but you knew there was nothing he could defend.

“She’s just a whore.” The venom in the Princess’s shocked you more than the words as you stepped away. The silence from your husband was enough to crush your heart completely as you gasped. You had expected so much more. Gods, how could you have been so stupid, you thought to yourself.

The red dress flowed behind you as you quickly turned the corner. Your heels clicking against the marble floor. Your hands moved to your eyes as you kept your head down. The guards watched as you quickly moved past them. You needed to escape. It was as if you couldn’t breathe.

You finally found solace in the royal gardens as the sun continued to beat down on you. Not that you noticed as you stared far away into the distance. “Y/N..” The soft, familiar voice of Alicent came over you. You noticed instantly that she wasn’t alone. Rhaenyra beside her looked at you as if she hadn’t spoken such words.

“Alicent…Princess.” You greeted; the tone for Rhaenyra harsher than you had wanted but you couldn’t stop yourself. You missed the look of shock coming over the Targaryen as you stood from the ground. “My father has been looking for you.” Rhaenyra gently spoke and if you looked closer; you would have seen apologies in her eyes.

“I’ll go and find him.” You hummed and placed a smile onto your face before pressing a kiss to Rhaenyra’s cheek. It was a lie; you weren’t sure if you could face him, you thought to yourself as you clasped your hands once more behind your back. “Do you know where Prince Daemon is?” You asked the first guard you came across as you moved back into the keep. “The dragonpit, my Queen.” They answered and you bowed your head in thanks. The hurt you had felt was still so intense as you wrapped your arms around yourself.

Surely, your father would know what to do. You weren’t sure if you could even stay here anymore. You were clearly not wanted. How could you have been so stupid? Your eyes filled with unshed tears as those thoughts taunted you. You stared down at the floor as you continued to walk.

~

“My brother is looking for you.” Daemon’s voice came from behind you as your hand rested on your beautiful dragon. You only hummed before resting your head on her. Your fingers gently move over her scales. “Y/N..” Your father’s voice softly moved as he slowly stepped closer to you. “Is something wrong?” He continued and you slowly moved to look at him. Your eyes are flooding with tears. Daemon quickly reached for you as you softly sobbed into his chest. The strength you thought you had failed you. “Tell me.” Daemon moved to cup your face now for you to lock eyes.

“They hate me.” You finally whispered as you harshly nibbled on your bottom lip. Your eyes locked onto him again. “Who?” Daemon hummed and softly stroked your cheek as you moved to shake your head. “Tell me.” Your father continued. “Viserys and Rhaenyra.” The words fell from you without warning.

“They don’t hate you.” Daemon whispered and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead and brought you into his chest. “I heard them.” You nearly snarled as the anger you held before was quickly returning. “She called me a whore.” You whimpered out before moving to shake your head. Gods, you were so weak.

“She did. Did you wait for my reply, little love?” The voice of your husband moved into the dragon pit. Your body froze as you stayed locking eyes with your father whilst the King only moved closer. Your dragon huffed and nudged your side as he did. You still looked away in silence. In that silence, Daemon took his leave. You moved to follow but Viserys stepped in front of you. Those eyes of his burrowed into your own. “My wife..” Viserys' voice as ever was so soft to you but you fought against melting for him. You only raised an eyebrow as you finally locked eyes with him.

His hand gently moved to cup your face. “It’s rude to listen to conversations.” Viserys hummed softly to you. You only hummed; a scoff escaping you as you turned to look away but the King kept a gentle hold. “Or at least wait until the conversation is complete.” He whispered; his thumb moving over your bottom lip.

Your eyes narrowed. “I heard enough.” You whispered as your heart began to break once more. Gods, you just wanted to escape. “Did you?” Viserys hummed and his hand gently moved down your side.”I suppose you heard me punish my daughter for saying such words?” The King asked with a raised eyebrow.

Your look of confusion was all he needed as he hummed. “I thought not.” Viserys whispered to you. “She should not have said or called you that.” He leaned in and brushed your noses together so sweetly. You could only duck your head; there wasn’t much more for you to say now. “Do you think I’m a whore?” You whimpered out.

“No, of course not. You are my wife.” Viserys whispered into your ear before pressing a soft kiss to your temple. “I love you.” He gently cupped your face once more as you finally decided to lean in. Your lips lovingly moved against his as your arms looped around his neck. “Forever.” He promised.

[butterflypeatea3456]

Yandere! Alicent x Yandere! Rhaenyra x Reader x Yandere! Criston

Part 2 (There will probably be a 3rd)

As the years went by it’s be a lie to say it was all smooth sailing. Though in the present you lived a more than comparable life. Between the lavish gowns of emerald green and ruby red. All gifts from Alicent and Rhaenyra, often they loved to personally dress you in. And a large chamber right between theirs. That you and Ser Cole often shared.

When Alicent and Viserys married, you ended up spending more time with Rhaenyra. As Alicent became more busy with matters of the kingdom, that concerned the young Queen. As much as you tried to mediate the tension between the two. It pushed you further into Criston’s arms. Not that he minded, using the situation to his benefit. Often you spent time with him, especially during meals. He tried his hardest not too bad mouth Rhaenrya in front of you. After she rejected his plan of the three of you running away together.

Little did you know you are a big chunk of what caused these tensions. As a married woman, Alicent was not permitted to spend as much time with you. Always in the corner of her eyes, she saw Rhaenrya you around without her. She and Ser Cole agreed that you were getting too far away. More and more often you started being called to the Queen’s champers. With Alicent’s reasons stemming from only liking the way, you brewed her tea. To help her dress for the day. During these times in her chambers, she’d send all the other servants away and Ser Cole would be the only guard present.

The ever going rift between the three disheartened you. They were really the only people in the castle that made your stay enjoyable. But the issues they had with one another were things you couldn’t remedy from your perspective. You were growing ever aware of how close by the Queen, Princess, and Knight kept you. Not you minded, as odd as the behaviors struck you at time.

They made you feel important, more than a mere Lady could ever dream of. But it also made you afraid, if you lost favor between them it could very well be a factor. In when your maidenhood would end and you would have to wed. If you no longer seemed to wield influence to your family or proximity to the throne.

It seemed like one day the problems between Rhaenrya, Alicent, and Cristion came to a full stop. Much to your confusion, one day the two women were icy towards each other. And the next you all walked the Red Keep arm in arm. With Alicent on your left, Rhaenrya on the right, while Cristion followed closely.

What you didn’t know is that Rhaenrya overheard a conversation between her father, your's, and Otto Hightower. She was simply going to speak with her father at another time till your name was mentioned. She already had a strong dislike of her father’s hand. But his suggestion made her want to feed him to Syrax as a mid-day snack. He was trying to convince them to betrothed you to his son. Her only friend left under the control of that man. She was convinced that you’d be treated terribly, so much so that she immediately went to tell Alicent.

When Alicent heard the news she felt a flurry of emotions. You were one of the only things untouched by her father. But in a sense, you’d be closer to her. But what if your marriage made you as unhappy as she was? Rhaenrya put a comforting hand on her old friend’s shoulder. An olive branch, Alicent realized, that you would be soon be married off. If not to her brother then some other lord. That would surely keep you away from her, and Alicent could not stand this, she wouldn’t.

Ser Criston was then brought into the conversation. She was aware that he, she, and Rhaenrya felt strongly about you. And that Criston and Rhaenrya had spent some ‘time’ together. Alicent never held any of those feelings for her guard, or men in general. But she felt a growing need for you. Rhaenrya devised a bold plan to keep you with them. That Ser Cole would ‘convince’ your suitors or betrothed to change their mind. While Alicent convinced the King to allow Criston to marry. In particular, marry you. And you would continue to live in the castle between the three of them.

Criston could almost not believe what he was hearing. That he could continue to be a knight but have you forever. Granted he knew that he wasn’t the only one between the Queen and Princess. But you would be his to love, worship, protect, sire children with. All he had to do was get his hands a little dirty, but Criston was sure the mother would forgive him. After all, it was out of duty and protection.

[t4transsexual]

have you ever dated cis women? when did you decide to be t4t?

i have dated a couple of cis women, one for a little while and we didnt get on because she was one of those fems who doesnt want their butch/masc/transmasc partner to have feelings and needs and also didnt want me to say no to sex and we didnt last long because i was deeply unhappy with her

as for when i decided to be t4t, i guess its probably about time i open up about the specific instance(s) that lead to me deciding to be exclusively t4t, because i havent actually talked about what pushed me to make the shift into exclusively dating trans people. i was trying to run a more positive page and frankly i wasnt really ready to talk about this so publicly, especially with the terf/transphobe interaction i get almost all the time on this account, but i figure i can now and ill probably turn off replies if i can figure out how

tw for graphic description of sexual assault and transphobia under the cut

when i started medically transitioning, i decided to try dating guys again. keep in mind i had a lot of comphet before deciding i was t4t; i basically only really beat that around 2022 when i turned 20. and i matched with a cis guy on tinder, who looked like he had a lot of personality judging by his photos i was 18, almost 19 at the time

literally the first thing this man says to me, after i tell him im trans, is "oh, cool, i love femboys." red flag #1. i said, "im not a femboy, i present masculinely, dont call me that." he apologized, and we moved on

at some point, we're talking about sex. he says hes very subby and a size queen. all fine, i told him i was a stone top/dom, i didnt really like experiencing penetration and it was painful for me due to a condition i had at the time. he says thats fine, everythings good. this will be important later

later, he tells me he told his parents i was trans. i asked him why, given that he both didnt ask me first and said his parents were transphobic. he says "my mom asked, was i just supposed to lie?" i say, yes. he apologizes, i /really/ want to call the whole thing off at this point but he seemed nice enough that maybe he just didnt know trans dating as well as i did

the entire relationship, he just says transphobic shit. he told me that he "understood why people didnt want to date trans people, because its a lot of baggage." he was an active alcoholic by the way. and also dating a trans person. he would neg me for being trans and then turn around and say that i was such a hot guy. he even misgendered me one time, and got upset at me for getting pissed about it, and made me believe i was overreacting. he made me believe that he was doing me a favor by ever dating me

at some point, we're at my parents house, and he tells me he wants to fuck me with his penis. i tell him no, that i dont want to, that i dont know about it, that im scared, pretty much anything i can say to get him to reconsider, but he argued and said itd be good for me and that i can choose which hole but it became very clear to me that i had no choice. so i said he could fuck my pussy

it was excruciating. it hurt so bad, but i knew i couldnt say no. he couldnt stay hard unless he was degrading me and i didnt want him to, so he kept making me jerk him off so he could keep raping me

eventually he stopped, and i wasnt even really aware i had been raped at first. ive been sexually abused by several people in my life and generally it has taken me a while to accept when ive been sexually abused by a person. so we kept dating like normal, long distance btw, but my mental health was deteriorating. i was suicidal for the first time in a while. i was self harming again. i couldnt stop thinking about killing myself.

eventually, he breaks up with me for being suicidal. he says im guilt tripping him or something, i dont remember. and that was december of 2021

we go no contact. i still dont realize he raped me. but i knew that there was something deeply wrong in the way our relationship was

right after him, i dated a trans woman who we went to the same high school. just the difference in how i was treated by her than by him, with her she treated me like i was an actual equal in the relationship. with him, he felt he was superior to me; like he "owned" me, or something

we broke up, we werent really compatible, but when i got with her, she taught me what being t4t was, and the implicit understanding and the comfort and safety i felt. after we broke up was when i decided i didnt like men, and still remained t4t after

i realized what he did to me was rape nearly a year later. he correctively raped me for being a stone top, more specifically, and i dont think he wouldve been "empowered" to rape me if i was a cis man, or even a cis woman. i understand that the "off" feeling i felt throughout that relationship was because he, as a cis person, felt superior over me as a trans person, and felt that if he wanted to fuck me, i shouldnt get a say. he talked about doing other actions to me that i didnt want done at the time, certainly not by him, and if we werent long distance, he probably wouldve raped me several more times

being with my current girlfriend, we click in a way that i havent felt with any cis person, the women included. she definitely isnt going to rape me for being trans. ive undergone physical therapy so that if i ever got raped again, it wouldnt hurt as bad, and it worked and ive actually enjoyed bottoming (consensually) with my girlfriend. she makes me feel very safe, and we understand each other and each others needs as trans people very well, and being with her has helped me process the time i was raped, and the several other times ive been sexually abused by other people

now that ive had time to process these things, i would say that i dont feel the same way around trans people (including me) dating cis people anymore. when i first started this account, i wouldve never admitted this then btw, i fully did not think trans people should date cis people, because i had fostered such a deep distrust of cis people as a result of that whole relationship and assault. i believed cis people would always be bad partners to trans people, but i dont believe that anymore. in the very unlikely circumstance i find myself single again, i may even consider dating a cis woman again. but probably not, because ive grown to really like the implicit understanding that we as trans people get with other trans people

thats why im t4t, and when i became t4t was around the beginning of 2022

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 13 (A Landgraab Curse?!)

For an uncle she didn't know she had until she was in her teens, Heather's Uncle Karl had become one of her favourite people. He'd been there the day she first met Malcolm in the park, and she could trust him with her insecurities about love and relationships.

"It was so uncomfortable, Uncle Karl! She was awful! And he can be so much like her!" she complained, shoveling a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth between breaths. "And she looked so excited at the prospect of selling my clinic!"

Karl and his husband Mortimer listened, waiting for a chance to interrupt. Finally, she took a drink of orange juice long enough to get a word in. "If he doesn't make you happy, you don't have to stay with him," Karl said.

"He doesn't make me unhappy," she argued. "And it's his mother I really can't stand."

Karl and Mortimer shared a wistful glance. "His father doesn't sound so bad," Karl offered charitably as he stood. Heather groaned. "Sorry, sweetie, I've got to run to work. Mortimer doesn't need to leave just yet, so don't feel like you need to rush through your breakfast."

He embraced his niece quickly before he threw on a tie, kissed Mortimer, and raced out the door. Mortimer smiled, fiddling absently with a brick of clay while he considered Heather's night with the Landgraabs. "Can I tell you a story?" he asked.

Mortimer, the writer, a lover of stories, would never think of telling his husband's niece what to do with her life, but Heather was all too eager to hear what he had to say. "Is it a good story?"

"That'll depend on your perspective," he admitted. "My great-grandmother, Lady Ravendancer, died in an attempt at magic gone wrong. Before she died, she passed down a story of a Landgraab ancestor, Lord Demetrius Landegraab, and his bitter feud with a pirate queen named Clarissa Darktide. Demetrius and Clarissa clashed over shipping in the Simlandia Sea, and their hatred grew with each passing season."

Heather listened intently as Mortimer recalled his great-grandmother's tale. "Clarissa had a daughter, Misty, and Demetrius had a son, Dacian. These two didn't care about their parents' constant feuding and fell in love, but they kept their relationship from their antagonistic parents. Lord Demetrius had Clarissa banned from half the ports in Simlandia, and Clarissa had enough. She couldn't compete with Demetrius' growing empire, so she sought out a pod of mermaids who placed a curse on Demetrius and his descendants."

"But the pirate queen didn't know her daughter was dating the lord's son!"

Mortimer nodded. "Misty was pregnant when the mermaids laid the curse, and as long as Demetrius and Clarissa's descendants have survived, as the story goes, so has their cursed fate."

Heather smiled. "It is a good story, but I don't believe in curses." As she said it, Malcolm’s own words at the Romance Festival – that his name was a blessing and a curse – flashed through her mind. "No...it can't be true." She forced a laugh.

"My great-grandmother was a lover of tall tales," admitted Mortimer. "But you should still be careful with the Landgraabs. My family has nothing to do with them today, but our histories are littered with conflict."

"Sounds like an even longer story might be in order for another time," said Heather with a grin.

"I could write a book! The only reason I don't is the Landgraabs would sue until Bella and the kids lost the house. Your life is your business, but your uncle would never forgive me if I didn't at least warn you they can be trouble, with or without a curse. The Goth x imprint and its board refuses to do business with the Landgraabs for a lot of reasons."

Heather wished she could say the same about her clinic, but she shook off the story and returned home. ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

NOTE: My Landgraab family tree plays on Sims lore and tries to connect known canon Landgraabs. Demetrius and Clarissa and their children are supposed to be from The Sims Medieval but to simplify the tree for this playthrough they're colonial era pirates and nobles.

NOTE 2: Quick recap on Karl and Mortimer. I gave Neal (Heather's dad) a long-lost brother late in Gen 1 who had been a random townie tossed into the world by the game and given the last name Nesbitt. Felt like fate, had to use him. When I put Karl onto a residential lot and checked his stats he was friends with Mortimer and they had a romance bar. So I invited Mortimer over, had them flirt, and suddenly the notification pops up that they're soulmates (thank you @janesimsten's Soulmates mod!)

So I played out Mortimer having an affair, telling and leaving his wife and remarrying Karl at their penthouse in the city, but Bella was never all that bothered by the divorce and they're still great friends. His kids are also cool with it (Cassandra, Alexander, and a third son Bella had when the older two were teens named Dexter) but he doesn't get to see them very often since they're in Brindleton Bay and he's in San Myshuno.

[lucy-water]

HEAD CANNON ABOUT PRUSSIA x FEM AUSTRIA

I just discovered that King Frederick William III of Prussia did marry an Austrian noble lady, Countess Auguste von Harrach in 1824.

So now I cannot stop a headcanon that at one point in history Mr.Prussia married Ms. Austria. (Or Mr. Austria to Mr. Prussia. Or Ms. Austria to Ms.Prussia. Or Ms.Prussia to Mr. Austria. Whatever floats your PruAus boat).

However, the marriage between Countess Auguste and King Frederick was a sad one. As Auguste was a Catholic (she later changed to Protestant) the marriage was kept a secret at first and when the Prussian court knew about this, not many of them welcomed her. Auguste also came from a small noble house which unfit to marry a King so she was never regarded as a queen in her own right. In the Prussian court, she was ranked after all the princes and princesses of the royal family. She had to sit behind them in the opera theater and at the meal she could not sit beside the King but had to sit in the last row of the table, far away from her husband. Even King Frederick treated her coldly, never spoke to her nor looked her way when they were in public.

But despite all of the humiliation, Auguste still composed herself with kindness and kept her warm nature to everybody. Soon, she gained the respect of the court and was allowed to attend her husband's funeral. According to some accounts that I could find, she was usually sick and had frequent travel to France and Italy to visit her relatives. But some suspect that the true reason for this might come from the way she was treated at the Court. When she wrote to her family, she always tried to hide all the suffering she faced but one still can feel the sadness in her letter. Auguste did not have any children and passed away when she was 72 in 1873.

So my head cannon for the marriage between Gilbert and Annaliese would be the same as Auguste and Frederick- an unhappy kind of marriage. But I don't think Gilbert treated her badly as the King of Prussia did with his wife. I think they married a few years after 1824, and to be able to do so they did it as humans rather than as countries. Countess Auguste had tried to warn the sad fate of an Austrian marrying a Prussian to her friend, but Lady Annaliese Von Edelstein was head in the cloud for the Cavalry Colonel- Gilbert Beilschmidt, who rescued her from Paris when the Revolution happened. One could say Colonel Beilschmidt and his lady wife were a happy couple. He truly cared for her and did not give a damn about the protocol, he proudly introduced everyone to his musically talented and beautiful wife at the Prussia court, he sat with her, danced with her at the balls, and held her hand while they walking in public. Although was neglected and being treated with coldness in the Court when Gilbert not around, Annaliese still thought her life was happy like a fairy tale for the first time after many centuries of political marriages.

But everything changed around 1848, Gilbert was busy with the Schleswig war so he usually left the house. Without Gilbert's appearance, Anna was not welcome at the Court nor even in her own house. The servants listened and obeyed Lord Beilschmidt rather than the lavish Lady Beilschmidt. Some whispered she was too much like that Queen in France, spendy and only cared about herself. While her husband was on military campaigns, risking his life; she traveled on her own whim. Some even rumored that she had love affairs behind her husband's back. This put many strains on Gilbert and Anna's relationship. Every time he came home, Gilbert could not find his wife sweetly waiting for him like she used to as she was on her trips, and the rumor about her "love affair" came to his ear. So when Anna returned, both of them started to fight. He demanded to know why she kept leaving. "I just want some fresh air", Anna would only answer him like that. (Truthfully, she felt neglected and disrespected that why she ran away.)

Of course, he knew she lied, so he ordered the servants not to let her leave the house without his permission. Anna started to develop serious illnesses (mental problems were not a thing back in those days) which required her to be bedridden for many days. As countries, this is really strange as they do not usually fall ill like this. But Gilbert did not have time to dig more on the matter, he had a war to worry and the best thing he could do for Anna at that moment was brought her to the countryside for resting. She tried to run away back to Austria but the servants always guarded her carefully so Anna was never successful. Gilbert kept her there most of the time between 1848-1864 and only brought her back to Berlin or Vienna when ordered by his King. At this point, Prussia and Austria were in alliance, Anna was being told to make Gilbert feel more at ease with her so Austria would have more advantage in the political situation. In short, even when stayed in Vienna, Anna could not find any help and had to return back with Gilbert. Life with Gilbert in the countryside could never be said horrible, he spoilt her to the root every time he was around her, but Anna felt suffocated. She knew that once Gilbert back to his campaign, the people around her would treat her with coldness and she would be left alone again. She missed the time when she could gather all the ladies at the court and had a small music concern, she missed the walk in the Vienna woods, she wanted to see the newest opera and discussed with all her lady friends, stay up late at night read books in the library, or just wandering around Vienna and admire the beauty of Cathedrals and Palaces. Anna missed her freedom.

The situation between Austria and Prussia got worse by the end 1864. Austrian Court demanded Anna to be returned but Gilbert decided to keep her closer to him to make her a bargaining chip if the situation called for. He moved her to a more rural area and made sure she could not hear any news from Berlin or Vienna. Even put soldiers to guard her instead of normal servants. The Austrian Government sent men to rescue her, but since Gilbert hid her too well all the attempts had to be abandoned. Anna decided to plan her escape on her own. Somehow she succeeded this time and ran far away as best as she could just to realize, she lost. When Gilbert found her again, she already passed out from hunger and dehydration. He took care of her, but she refused to talk to him nor eat anything, only drank a little bit of water. A lot of drama happened here, but in the end could not see Annaliese suffering like that, Gilbert agreed to let Anna back in Vienna. A few months before the Austro-Prussian war happened.

Ludwig at first did not know much about his brother's relationship with Miss Austria except big historical event between them. However, during a summer holiday, while staying at the Beilschmidt country's house. He heard the people around told about a story of a Colonel and his mistress, the previous owner of this house. That the mistress was a noble lady from Austria, being kidnapped by the Colonel and locked here. Passed away while being held captive, the ghost of the Austrian lady was still full of hatred and haunted the place. When Ludwig asked his brother about this, he laughed and told him that just a silly old wives's tale. But Ludwig could sense that his brother was lying and when Miss Austria came to visit him, he saw the peasants nearby were afraid of her. That woman, she shared the same face as the Mistress. The peasant whispered like that and the rumor about the Austrian ghost returning to take revenge on the Colonel's descendants spread among the whole area and made Ludwig's vacation end sooner than planned. Back to Berlin, Ludwig did some of his own research and found out about his brother's marriage with Miss Austria. But until recently, Ludwig discovered that this marriage was still valid as his brother nor Miss Austria had never requested to annul this marriage yet. Now he understands why his brother can stay at Miss Austria's house without any of her protests about this.

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

Credit to Aguste Von Harrach. Here a picture that I really like about her. (Thank you lady for inspiring me to write a whole fanfic plot for my OTP. Truly hope you got your own happiness right now than the previous life you got).

[julietwiskey1]

Have you ever thought of a Brave AU with Ursa and Azula?

I haven't. Or at least not until you sent this ask, which prompted me to watch Brave for the first time. It definitely would work well for an Azula and Ursa AU with some significant changes.

Assuming that you want it to be kept mostly Canon compliant and after the war when Ursa and Azula have found there place in the Fire Nation again it could be interesting. Though it could also work for a no war AU and stay more true to the original story.

For those who don't know in Brave Princess Merida is being set up for an arranged marriage by her Mother Queen Elinor. In all Merida and Elinor clash quite a bit over the Mother training her daughter to be the perfect lady and princess. A lot of demands and Merida is not that type of girl. She is tomboyish, would rather shoot arrows from a horse then command a room. Not wanting to go through with a wedding Merida is given spell by a witch to change her mother and therefore stop the wedding. But also changes her mother to a bear and the pair have to work together to change her back. Ultimately requiring them to repair their mother daughter bond. Just the type of thing that I love in my stories about Ursa and Azula.

So emotionally and story wise I would love to see Azula and Ursa experience something likes this. And come on, Ursa is just asking to be turned into a bear with her name. Ursa I think works quite well in the slot of Elinor, she wants the best for her daughter but making Azula the perfect princess is important. It also allows them to have tender moments like Merida and Elinor did.

The real issue with making this AU work is slotting Azula into the role of Merida. While they both are forced to be the perfect princess they react to the role in opposite ways. Merida chafes at the demands and requirements, outwardly rebels and seems to do a rather poor job. Azula excels at being the prefect princes and makes it look easy while enjoying it, but is also a rather submissive character to her father and mother. Azula also represents duty above own desires, the aspect of her character that makes me love character. And one that makes this AU difficult.

For Azula an arranged marriage isn't unexpected, but rather her duty to her nation. Such notions as a marriage of love probably wasn't a thing she grew up expecting or desiring. It just was never going to happen. And quite frankly I am the wrong person to talk to about "true love" and other such babble.

So I think changing the conditions Azula finds herself contacting a witch would change. Its most likely something that comes up in a moment of weakness and seeks her out, knows what she wants even if Azula would never indicate it. And in that weakness Azula takes the witch up on the offer and Ursa is turned into a bear. And the inciting incident is a lot more subtle then an arranged marriage, these character would be better served by it coming about by a ton of just inconveniences that build up unresolved.

The story would also change what needs to be fixed between Ursa and Azula. Most importantly its communication more than anything else. Why Azula used a spell wouldn't be anything she outright admits or says, at least not for awhile. It also requires Ursa to pause and push Azula to talk and to really listen to what Azula wants and the hints that she drops. For Ursa it would be putting together the clues to know and understand why her daughter is unhappy.

[dangara2610]

(4/10) Young adult Ulla - Part 10

Hi there 🎹🍉🎁🍎🎲🎹 Let's continue where I left

Ulla really wanted a family, so, she told Quirin if he didn't want one, she would understand, she loved him, but, if they couldn't share dreams, both would be unhappy if they kept together, so, after the royal baby born, she would go, it was a pleasure to meet the Demanitus desendant, it was a surprise is the only one left.

Quirin was surprised by this but tried to not show it and just accept it with resignation, as he had been doing all his life whenever someone try to give an opinion to change his life style, this is his mission and reason to live, isn't it? Protect the royals forever.

Time passed, during one random night, one of the insurrectionist tried to get in the national treasure to rob money, he got arrested, later another tried to murder the royal family but failed once the brotherhood got him easily.

Donella and Cyrus were convinced, any of the posible clients were broke and unable to make a new purchase, she would move, and she told Ulla about it to tag along with her.

Ulla agreed she would go with her to the next town, and maybe go back to her family next travel, just wait for her until the born of the royal baby, she was going to participate on the birth.

Twins were the result, both males , she was amazed, being a twin herself, and knowing how many twins Ulf searched for his tesis and finding very few, this was a miracle and a rare occasion.

The Queen looked like thinking and asked one of the nuns to hand her Prince Horace, not signaling one in particular, so, the nun picked the first born and gave it to the queen to embrace.

Then the Queen announced the second baby would be a secret, not even the king should know about this, a backup for the future, no one shall know the location of this twin, only the queen, as well these witnesses shall keep the secret, later she is private would assign someone to nurse him.

Ulla was offended by this separation of twins, but said nothing, this was royality decitions, once they presented the children to the king for him to hold him, there was a banquet announcement, everyone in the castle staff and court was invited.

But not the Brotherhood , at least, not in front of these people, they would have their own private party, after all, they were a secret to keep, Ulla opted for going half day to each banquet to say her goodbyes to all the friends she made among them and taste the feast.

The Brotherhood teased Quirin about losing the girl but shortly agreeing that was the best, this was their kind of life.

Ulla was allowed to carry food from the banquet for her journey back home, most of the food was going to the trash or the staff's houses anyway.

Donella asked Cyrus to go along but separately, so Ulla wouldn't suspect about her real armory and weaponry business, he traveled on the unofficial roads or even underground (thanks to Ulla's mother Holda soil scan technics they plagiarized without Ulla noticing ).

When both were having a lunch outdoors they felt an earthquake and saw an explosion over the Dark Kingdom castle , and then a new expansive explosion of spiky black rocks with few blue fluorescent veins, the screams of the people were herd where they were.

Donella was stunned but analysing, the cult of the Moonstone talked about this happening, explaining how the dumb king they had was so disrespectful to the essence of the opal and it was a matter of time before he tried a nonsense as touch it without the according blessing.

Ulla was stunned as well and analysing the escape routes of the city and were her friends were supposed to be at this hour of the day, so she got back to the camp to retrieve her aid kit and alchemy formulas to help.

Donella insisted it was not their business but Ulla insisted and went faster to the exit doors, tried to quit all the things blocking, and she used her explosives and acids, all the wood disappeared , all the stones gave away turned to dust,but the black rocks with blue veins would stay any way, there were indestructible.

She resigned, helped as much as she could, and gave up, she and Don let geo and went back to Pitchfork.

And well, I have to go, see you around, thanks for reading 🌺🌻🫐🌺🌻🫐✅🫐🎨🎛️✅🌺🫐🪷🌺🫐🪻✅🫐🌺🎛️✅🌺🫐🎛️✅🌸🧭🌻📚🍥🌻✅🎨���🌤️✅🎨🍥🌷✅

[joachimnapoleon]

“This even seems a bit like pimping.”

But the princely couple in which he will be most interested is that of Joachim Murat and Caroline, the most ambitious of Napoleon's sisters with Élisa. “Impressive in her pretensions,” Claire de Rémusat says of her, still dreaming of a throne as the Grand Duchess of Berg at the beginning of the Empire. At odds with Talleyrand, she very quickly sensed the services that Fouché could render her and entered into his intimacy. "She bound him to her by a host of little confidences," Madame de Rémusat goes on to say. Fouché allows himself to be approached with pleasure and does not miss an opportunity to be useful to her by placing his proteges in her service: "I am too zealous to do what can be useful to Your Imperial Highness,” he wrote to her about one of them. “[…] I will eagerly seize the first favorable opportunity.” There are a thousand of other such examples like this. He flatters the wife, but he also flatters the husband. We will never know how far this man's indulgence went when it was useful to his interests. In August 1805, he certainly acted as intermediary between Murat and the beautiful Juliette Récamier, Madame de Staël's friend, who turned all heads and in whom Napoleon's brother-in-law took a close interest. Lucien had already fallen in love with her at the start of the Consulate. It nearly became a family affair. We find in the private letters of Fouché to Murat sentences of this kind: “I have undertaken to fulfill the mission that Your Highness has entrusted to me. I presented my compliments to Mme R[écamier]. She sent me a letter in reply, which I have the honor to address to you.” This even seems a bit like pimping. At the same time, the former member of the Convention did everything to persuade the beautiful Juliette to enter the service of Caroline Murat, who at the time already had a court and "ladies for accompaniment." It would have made the husband's business easier. He would not succeed, despite the arrangement of a timely visit by Juliette Récamier to the Château de Neuilly where Caroline Murat was then residing. It never ends with Fouché. For years he would shower Caroline with praise, especially from 1808, when she became Queen of Naples. "She is further embellished on the throne and she knows how to spread charms, even in the circles of her court," he wrote to her husband in 1809. “We hope she does not quite become Neapolitan, and keeps a memory for the Parisians who think a lot about her and who will miss her all their lives.” As he moves away from Joséphine, he gets closer to the Murats, who detest her. They took his side strongly in the divorce affair, and Joachim did not miss an opportunity to support him with Napoleon. Caroline will be flattered to have as sister-in-law a descendant of one of the great sovereign houses of Europe. This will bolster her ambitions. In Fouché's eyes, Murat is popular and easy to maneuver. From 1807 and again in the last months of 1808, he was for him the ideal candidate, if by chance Napoleon were to die in Spain. When Murat came to the throne of Naples in August, he orchestrated a veritable propaganda campaign to his glory in the press. This will also be complained of in the entourage of Napoleon. “Fouche said loudly that he alone could succeed the Emperor, that he alone would inspire the necessary fear in Europe; that he alone enjoyed the confidence of the military.” For his part, the new King of Naples has every reason to be unhappy. He wanted to be king in Poland in 1807, then king of Spain in 1808. Naples is for him only a last resort, at worst a measure of separation. He also complains of being kept on the margin by Napoleon, who does not let him govern as he pleases, and Caroline continues to stir up his ambition. But Murat is only one card in Fouché's game. He is a joker in the event of a hard blow.

—Emmanuel de Waresquiel, Fouché: Les silences de la pieuvre, 2014.

[jihyocentric]

cant stop thinking about daddy nayeon… i noticed that jihyo got a size kink so may i please request something a long the lines of nahyo bought a new toy that’s the thickest jihyo ever tried (maybe it’s a knotted toy 😳)

but anyways, nayeon is filming the process of preparing jihyo to be able to take the entire toy and when jihyo finally hilts the entire thing, nayeon is praising how pretty jihyo looks stretched around the toy and how proud she is of jihyo being able to take all of it. saying that she’s a dirty girl being all messy and unable to speak coherently

maybe jihyo squirts around the toy or is extra sensitive, up to you or you can totally ignore this. i just needed to share this bc that most recent nahyo post got me 🥵

jihyo is really the number 1 size queen, nobody likes a challenge more than her. based on this fill.

-

"hyo, talk to me!"

nayeon is nearly whining when she grips jihyo's arm, making the wolf in sheep's clothing that was her girlfriend turn her head around.

jihyo had been a pragmatic and unapproachable to nayeon ever since they've met. later on, nayeon realized that jihyo was only like that to her, and nobody else. to others, jihyo was a total sweetheart, the type of person to share big smiles and light up the room, but nayeon was an exception. and if nayeon was an exception, in her mind, that could only mean that she was special to jihyo. (she wasn't all that wrong.)

after jihyo gave nayeon a chance, an actual chance that was not only corresponding to her flirting but really making things official (and nayeon made sure jihyo wouldn't go back on her decision of becoming her girlfriend by making her sign a fake contract that she quickly wrote down on a napkin), nayeon came to the conclusion that jihyo was not that threatening or unapproachable. jihyo became a soft girlfriend who loved to be in her arms and hear anything silly nayeon had to say, and it really took nayeon by surprise.

it was when they had their first fight that nayeon realized that, despite being adorable, her so called 'babygirl' could look scary at times. it happened mostly when jihyo thought nayeon was being too much and gave her the cold shoulder, or when nayeon fed bbuyo more than what he needs and makes her cat look huge with the amount of canned food nayeon gave him (in her defense, he kept asking for more and she couldn't resist his cuteness because he was just like his owner), or when nayeon didn't stop girls from flirting with her and it made jihyo's blood boil under her skin.

that look of displeasure on jihyo's face was hot, but it was particularly scary and nayeon didn't know if she loved it or if she wanted to hide, afraid that if she said anything jihyo would get even angrier.

"you want us to make a sex tape? is that what you're suggesting?" jihyo asks, her voice low and eyes focusing on the tv nayeon had back in her room. it was smaller than the one at the living room, but it was a perfect setting for when they wanted to cuddle and watch movies.

jihyo didn't look happy to hear what nayeon had to say, but she didn't look unhappy either. she was frowning just like she did when she was angry, and had her arms crossed. unfortunately, nayeon didn't know how to explain what she wanted in a better way.

"i-i'll be away for two weeks, hyo... i just want to have something to remind me of you when i'm touring. i even bought a new toy for us to try out!" nayeon tries to sound serious but it comes out more like a blabber, and jihyo looks at her with a straight face that makes her shiver.

being clearly more mature than her girlfriend, despite their two year age gap where jihyo is the youngest, jihyo thinks about the possible consequences to nayeon's wish.

"aren't you worried about it leaking? what if someone finds the video and posts it online? nayeon, we need to be careful with those things." she says it softly, sighing because suddenly the idea of getting recorded while nayeon went down on her sounded way too appealing.

"i won't have it on my phone!" nayeon is quick to reply. "nor the computer. i bought a camera for this, and the video is staying there. it'll be even less likely to leak, you can trust me on that," she says, then clears her throat, knowing that if she showed jihyo the other item that she'd bought, maybe the younger would change her mind. "wait, i'll show you the toy."

before jihyo gets a say, nayeon gets up from the bed and runs towards her wardrobe, getting a box from there and then placing it on the bed. jihyo gets curious, sitting on her knees as she watches nayeon untie the ribbon on it, in order to open the box.

"i thought about giving it to you as a gift," nayeon says, taking the toy from the box. "it's why it's baby blue! so you'll think of me when i'm not here!"

jihyo wants to slap her own face when she sees nayeon holding a dildo while acting as if that was just a regular gift. nayeon smiled like a cute bunny, and jihyo didn't have the heart to find it ridiculous. instead, she found it precious. it doesn't even look like nayeon is the same person she calls daddy and makes her see stars in bed, but jihyo was used to that contrast already.

"is that a..." jihyo's eyes widens when she realizes there's a bump at the base of the toy. "is that a knot?"

nayeon nods. "it is! i thought you would like to... you know... get knotted by daddy."

instead of slapping nayeon anywhere her hands can reach, because nayeon does sounds ridiculous now, jihyo blushes at the dirty thought of getting that thing inside of her. all of it. it looked bigger than the biggest toy they owned before, and jihyo didn't know if she'd be able to get it in deep enough for the knot to fit, but she was definitely going to give it a try.

if it is a challenge, then jihyo won't say no.

"okay." jihyo says, taking nayeon by surprise when she seemingly agrees to indulge her.

"really, baby? can i record us?" nayeon asks, and if she had a tail it would be wagging fast at that point.

jihyo nods. "okay."

it's all jihyo says, and nayeon takes it as a permission to go get the camera. she places the box somewhere else and sets the camera in a place where it would get the bed in a good angle, where she was sure they would appear clearly and nicely.

as nayeon knew that the new toy was considerably thicker and lengthier than what jihyo was used to taking, and that jihyo always wanted to start with fingers first (it was the better way to stretch and get jihyo wet enough), she helped jihyo take her clothes off and went straight to her favorite place, eagerly placing kisses across the valley of jihyo's breasts.

that was truly what nayeon loved the most. watching as jihyo lost composure and became a person no one but her knew about was delightful in many ways, even more so when the younger was already writhing at the slightest touch on her tits — nayeon found it endearing even, and she couldn't help but get wet with the fact that the same girl who was making her quiver in fear just minutes ago when she looked slightly angry, was now calling her daddy as she sneaked a finger inside of her dripping pussy.

jihyo was stiff at first, she couldn't help but be extremely conscious at the fact that they were being recorded. not only could that video leak, but if nayeon wanted to watch it when she wasn't supposed to and any of her band mates saw jihyo as that whimpering mess, entirely submissive to nayeon (or, as jihyo herself calls, daddy), she'd dig her own grave and bury herself alive.

nayeon seems to notice it and she stops, keeping her finger in jihyo but taking her mouth off her nipple. "relax, babygirl. what's going on? do you want to stop?"

jihyo shakes her head. "it's okay. one more finger, please."

nayeon complies, sliding another finger in her slick entrance, placing a kiss on jihyo's neck. "if you want to stop at any point, tell me and i'll stop recording..."

"no, it's alright. i want to give you something to remind of me when you're away, too. just promise me you won't show it to anybody. and that you'll be careful with that camera." jihyo says while looking into nayeon's eyes. she trusted her, obviously, but she wanted nayeon to give her reassurance.

"of course i promise," nayeon pecks her lips softly. "i'd never let anybody watch my girl getting fucked."

jihyo sighs and pouts. "there you go ruining the moment."

nayeon smiles and kisses her pout before she dives back into her tits. nayeon could never get satisfied, latching on jihyo's nipples hungrily as she thrusts her fingers in and out, feeling proud when jihyo moans and her narrow walls tightens around her fingers, knowing she was doing a great job.

without pulling her fingers out, nayeon inches away from jihyo's breasts, placing gentle kisses over her tummy and then her thighs, then looks up at jihyo as her mouth finally went to where jihyo needed. nayeon was way better than jihyo had originally thought — her ego was too big and jihyo thought she was all bark no bite, but then she found out about how talented nayeon was in bed and everything changed.

jihyo's back arched, closing her eyes tightly when nayeon kisses her just right in her most sensitive spot, she was already too sensitive and they hadn't even gotten the toy yet. all it took was nayeon's command for jihyo to come and the younger's thighs were suddenly trying to close, despite nayeon's head being right there to prevent that from happening.

"there you go, babygirl. did that feel good?" nayeon asks, placing a kiss over jihyo's tummy.

jihyo hums. "more than good." she touches nayeon's face and brings it closer, letting her hands on nayeon's cheeks as she kisses her deeply. "i'm ready now, daddy. give it to me."

nayeon nods, almost eagerly, taking her fingers out and sucking them dry as jihyo watches. she takes the strap, placing the new toy where the dildo should go, and jihyo flushes at the thought of really taking it all. the reality finally hits her and she finds it too big. perhaps her need to win had taken her too far this time, and maybe she should give up. but then she saw nayeon happily lubing it up and she didn't have the heart to tell nayeon that she was chickening out.

jihyo took a deep breath, reminding herself that she was no coward.

"i'll go slow." nayeon reassures, placing the bottle of lube at the nightstand where she could grab easily if needed, although jihyo was wet enough by herself and the amount she'd spread across the shaft should work just fine.

"you better," jihyo hisses, letting nayeon settle between her thighs.

"feisty kitten." nayeon coos. "i should get you ears and a tail when i come back. you'd make a pretty kitty."

nayeon is such a sweet talker that jihyo almost doesn't feel the tip of the toy sliding inside of her. almost, because it's impossible to ignore it when it was that big, and the first reaction she has is to sink her nails in nayeon's shoulders, making the aspiring rockstar whimper at the stinging pain.

"this is too big... i can't," jihyo whines, part of her enjoying the intense stretch, but she also felt pain. nayeon lets jihyo discount the pain on her shoulders, moaning at the way the harness brushes against her own clit, pushing it further in despite jihyo's disbelief in herself. "daddy!"

"it's already halfway in, babygirl. you look so pretty," nayeon inches closer, brushing their lips together before she takes jihyo's lips in hers briefly. "even prettier when stretched around my cock."

the sensation of pain jihyo feels at first becomes more bearable and she starts to enjoy it. nayeon doesn't try to sink deeper, keeping short and slow thrusts that makes jihyo moan huskily against her lips, until she feels jihyo's legs wrapping around her waist as a sign that she should keep going and stuff her more.

"want more," jihyo asks, almost pleads, feeling vulnerable at nayeon's mercy. "think i can take it."

"of course you can. my pretty girl can take anything i give her." nayeon praises, moving her hips forward tentatively and reaching deeper, watching closely as jihyo's eyes start to water. "crybaby."

"faster!" jihyo asks, hands getting lost on nayeon's back.

nayeon doesn't refrain from putting more effort behind her thrusts, she knew just how jihyo liked it — intense and rough. slow and passionate could wait for some other time, because all jihyo wanted was to keep getting more of that shaft inside of her and nayeon complied, loving the way jihyo cried out whenever she pushed in deeper, until jihyo could feel the bump at the base of the shaft prodding at her entrance. the same one she'd seen earlier.

the feeling made her legs tremble, finally acknowledging that she had managed to take the entire shaft inside of her. jihyo even dared to take a look between them, cheeks getting red when she noticed the slight elevation on her tummy. that toy was that thick and jihyo took it proudly.

jihyo started to love the way it stretched her sooner than nayeon would've thought. it was intense and left jihyo breathless, but she kept wanting more. nayeon was evidently more than happy to give her anything she asked, holding jihyo's waist with both hands as she sped up, almost drooling at the sight of her girlfriend's pussy being greedily stretched by the toy, wanting to know what would be jihyo's reaction if she slipped that knot in.

it was certainly tempting and nayeon would love to see her messy girl cry and struggle to take it, but she wouldn't do anything jihyo didn't want. yet it seemed as if jihyo had read nayeon's mind, tapping nayeon's big hands that secured her hips, asking for her attention.

"i want you to push it inside me." jihyo asks, needy and all flushed, making nayeon slow her thrusts down. jihyo whines at the lost of pace, walls clamping around the thick shaft, one of her hands slipping between them so she could rub her swollen clit.

"ask politely." nayeon says, almost growls, feeling as if she was losing her sanity by seeing jihyo trying to fuck herself on the very same shaft she had thought she wouldn't be able to take.

looking up at nayeon with her eyes dark with lust, jihyo licks her lips, knowing exactly what she should say to absolutely break nayeon.

"please knot me, daddy."

"fuck." it's all nayeon says before she takes off, kissing jihyo deeply as she speeds up.

jihyo doesn't have to wait much, gladly, because nayeon forces the knot in soon enough, and it makes her moan loudly.

she cries, her cheeks get wet from the painful stretch but it feels better than anything she'd ever experienced, guiding her into a strong orgasm that makes her sob into nayeon's neck. she stops rubbing her clit and hugs nayeon as she comes down from the edge, nayeon's sweet words muttered close to her ear helping her get back to normal.

"are you alright, hyo?" nayeon asks softly, pressing kisses down jihyo's shoulder.

jihyo lets go of nayeon and lays limp on the bed, regaining her strengths ever so slowly. she can't answer with words, so instead she nods.

"can't even speak, huh?" nayeon coos, moving away so she could gaze at her well done work. "just one time won't be enough, though. it's two weeks that i'll be away. you better get ready, hyo."

jihyo can only shudder when she feels nayeon nibbling at her neck.

[darkestspring]

Hey there! This is the Yandere!Rhaegar anon, so here's Part 3!

(btw in 279 ac, Reader is 18 years old)

Elia's POV

279 AC (Royal Wedding)

Everything looked absolutely perfect.

From the food to the decor. Nothing but the best for the newly wedded royal couple, Prince Rhaegar and Princess Y/N.

Elia remembered everyone was smiling that day. From the highborns to the smallfolk, they all rejoiced to the fact that their perfect crown prince was finally married to their beautiful and kind princess.

Even King Aerys looked saner than usual. But it was most likely because that the royal bloodline would be remain "pure” which the King obsessed about.

Everyone was happy. Everyone except the most important person in the room. The bride herself.

Y/N was undoubtedly the most beautiful royal bride to grace the halls of the Red Keep. In her ivory wedding dress, she looked as if she was the Maiden reborn.

But when one looked close enough, they could see how false her smiles were. How she shuddered every time Rhaegar kissed her lips or cheeks. But her eyes were the biggest indication of how unhappy she truly was.

Y/N’s enchanting lavender coloured eyes that would light up whenever she smiled now looked empty, as if they were drained of life.

And Elia knew why.

Elia shifted her gaze and glared at the groom. Prince Rhaegar was grinning as though he was a victor who won a battle. His grin would get bigger every time he stared at his wife's figure, particularly at her stomach.

Elia remembered the day when Y/N discovered she was with child. It was supposed to be a happy moment, but how the babe came to be made it impossible.

“I never wanted this! But Rhaegar h-he— Oh gods!” Y/N was crying uncontrollably. Sobs going past her lips, with tears pouring down her face like a never-ending rain.

Elia instantly went to her best friend’s side and gave her the tightest hug that she could possibly give. Y/N eventually stopped crying but she looked so broken and it was a heartbreaking sight for Elia to see.

The entire time that she was in Elia’s arms, the princess kept on repeating one phrase that sent chills down in Elia’s spine.

“He ruined me. He ruined me. He ruined me.”

History remembers the day when King Rhaegar and Queen Y/N got married. In a ceremony as grand as the Golden Wedding. Oh how the handsome groom was so hopelessly in love with his beautiful bride.

But they never found out one small detail.

That the princess was already with child a month before her wedding day.

283 AC

“P-promise me that you will always protect them. Please, I beg of you. Protect my babies.” Begged the Queen to her friend whilst she layed on a bed stained with her own blood.

Queen Y/N gave birth too early and Elia was was the only one who could help her since it would be disastrous if anyone else was in the room with them.

Y/N gave birth to twins— a girl who had her mother’s Valyrian beauty and a boy who had all the hallmarks of his father’s house.

If word got out that the Queen gave birth to a babe who looked nothing like the King, who knows what Rhaegar would do to Y/N.

“Y/N, I—” Elia didn’t know what to say. What could she even say in a time like this? Elia stared worriedly at Y/N who was going paler by the minute.

“Take my son away from here! Quickly Elia, before Rhaegar arrives!” Y/N was desperate. But a mother’s love knew no bounds, she had to do this for her children. They were the living proof of Y/N Targaryen and Brandon Stark’s love.

Elia nodded and quickly got to work. She cleaned the boy and wrapped him in a blue blanket. But before Elia could leave the room, she heard Y/N calling out her name.

Elia turned around and saw Y/N smiling. Even in her weak state, the Queen still managed to remain beautiful and her beauty only magnified with the smile that she had.

“Promise me that you will tell them that I love them both with all of my heart.”

“I promise.”

And that was the last memory Elia Martell had of her dearest friend, Y/N Targaryen.

This is so good aaaaaa poor reader.....

[leafkingofbirds]

Title: Clearing the Air

Book: The Cursed Heart book 2

Word count: 2,500

Warnings: none.

Spoiler warning: none.

Summary: Kieran learns about Oleander's use of magic against Ella. And he is not happy.

Tagging @valiant-noble-soul as requested! I hope you like it!

I'm not 100 percent confident it's as good as it was in my head, but continuing to mess around with it probably isnt helping soo here it is!

~~~

Kieran didn’t make a sound as Ella changed the blood-soaked bandages throughout the night and the next morning after the attack. Even as she peeled the bandages from the sticky mess of blood and cleaned the long, jagged tear in his flesh that spanned from shoulder to hip as best she could, he bore all the pain in complete silence. 

Almost like he was paying penance.

It had been a whirlwind few days. The frolic, the attack, the funeral…navigating Kieran’s complicated grief and his terrible wounds. So much tragedy in such a short time had taken a toll. And it had been enough to push that terrifying moment in the hallway with Oleander out of Ella’s mind completely. The horror at being frozen against her will, the gnawing panic of being helpless which lasted mere moments, but in her memory felt endless. Absolute powerlessness in the face of capricious Fae. Even if Oleander was Kieran’s friend, they were very obviously not hers. If they had kept her there much longer, she wouldn’t have been able to keep herself from begging.

In light of everything else that’d happened, that fleeting incident seemed unworthy of mention. Kieran was already shouldering so much; there was no reason to add to it.

But this morning she’d awoken with a sickening dread, memories of Radiance's cruelty brought fresh the surface. That moment of helpless fear, frustration, and revulsion at having her bodily autonomy stolen once again, just as Radiance had done, weighed on her like a sodden cloak as she dressed and readied herself to travel to the Sun Palace. 

“It will be different this time,” she told her reflection firmly, even as her insides quaked.

Oleander had been somewhat gentler to her since the funeral. Ella couldn’t be sure, but she wondered if they harbored some amount of guilt.

“There’s no reason to be afraid,” Ella reminded herself. 

The Moon Source had healed Kieran, thank goodness. The fresh new power he’d siphoned directly from the Source had renewed and reinvigorated him, deepening his already intense aura of power.

It was a relief – and at the same time, frightening. The Prince of Night was always a sight to behold, his presence overwhelming even when he was loving and gentle with her. But this morning the air around him felt almost electrified. He was on edge, as unhappy about returning to the Sun Palace as she was. When he entered her room, he seemed to carry shadows with him.

But now, with Kieran’s hands comforting and strong at her waist, the intense strength of him at her back, his power felt like reassurance. Ella gazed at their solemn reflections in her floor-length mirror. The midnight-blue dress speckled with stars that he had conjured made her look like queen, but it didn’t change how she felt about herself inside. 

“Do you feel ready to face the Sun Court now, beloved?” came his husky voice in her ear.

He clearly expected her to say yes.

Fae high society is all about perceived power, she tried to tell herself. And you look powerful. Even if you don’t feel it.

All at once, the memory came back, as if to remind her just how powerless she was. Forced to her knees by a simple, off-hand command from Oleander. Control of her body stolen in the span of a breath. 

How easy it would be for Kieran to do the same. 

He would never hurt her. She knew that. 

But he could. 

And so could Oleander.

Even when she thought herself safe, within the walls of the Moon Palace, with Kieran’s oldest and trusted friend, wearing Kieran’s magic protection around her neck, she had still blundered into that trap so easily.

Oleander had driven home their point quite thoroughly: Nothing would truly keep her safe here. Not even Kieran’s magic. 

“What is it?” Kieran’s eyes narrowed, his hands clenching her waist as he sensed the shifting of her emotions. “You had a very grave look just now.”

Ella sighed. “I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

Kieran smirked at her in the mirror, but his eyes still held a grim, anxious quality. He reached out and curled his hand around her forearm, gently. “It’s unnerving that you feel the need to hide something from me at all, beloved. Tell me. Please?”

She smiled at his attempt to soften the order. He was trying to stifle some of his bossier instincts for her. 

“The dress is stunning, and will certainly help with my confidence. It’s simply that…after what happened with Oleander…”

His pupils narrowed to sharp black points, suspicious, the heavy energy in the air growing thicker. “After what happened with Oleander?”

Ella’s eyes widened, and then she was looking at her own shocked face in the mirror before she broke away from Kieran’s arms and faced him, abashed. “I never got a chance to tell you…Everything happened so fast. But please don’t be cross with them, you’ve only just rekindled your friendship, and I–”

Now there was a flare of alarm in Kieran’s eyes along with the suspicion; his brow furrowed even deeper. “I make no promises as to being angry. But I will make an attempt at restraining myself. Now out with it.”

“The day of the frolic, after you left me alone with Oleander…They were just trying to make it plain how important it was that I’m careful to be specific with my words.”

“What did Oleander do?”

She had to look away from the fiery power of those eyes. “They demonstrated how…they could still order me to my knees and keep me there against my will, despite your charm. That it’s not foolproof, so I had best keep on my guard.”

The temperature in the room dropped. Kieran’s face drained of color; then something in his eyes went dead – became black and hard as chips of flint. His hand dropped to his side.

Without another word, Kieran turned and left the room.

“Kieran!” Ella chased after him down the hall, but he was already out of sight.

She followed the trail of cold air and ice-frosted windows, his newly-strengthed power breaking free of his control. Even the candles had been snuffed out in his wake. 

“Oleander!”

Ella broke into a run. The voice had come in the direction of Oleander’s private parlor.

She rounded the corner and came up short. 

Kieran had Oleander pinned up against the stone wall, his fist twisting at their collar and black shadows rolling off him like swirls of snowfall. 

Ella shivered, her breath fogging in the unnatural cold. “Kieran, don’t.”

Oleander met Kieran’s fury with a placid expression. Unsurprised and unafraid, their hands held up in surrender.

“Hello, Kieran,” Oleander answered, utterly calm. “I was wondering when we might have this discussion.”

“You will answer for what you did to Ella,” Kieran growled.

“Kieran, stop this” Ella reached out to grab Kieran’s shoulder, but Oleander’s eyes slid past Kieran to give her a look of warning. 

The message was clear: this was between the two of them.

“Kieran has every right to demand recompense,” Oleander said mildly. “I did, indeed, trespass against the royal consort. I accept that I must answer for it.”

“You swore to become a member of my court. My subject,” Kieran growled. “And the very next day, you force my consort to her knees against her will and in defiance of my very own magical protection.”

“As a lesson,” Oleander replied. “As you entrusted me with your consort’s education.”

Kieran practically growled. “And her safety.”

“Ella was entirely safe, as my intentions were solely instructive. You would not have entrusted me with her if you believed otherwise.” 

Ella held her breath as the Kieran glared and Oleander gaze calmly back, Kieran’s power swirling unabated and fierce. Oleander appeared not to notice. They made no move to fight back, but nor did they surrender. 

Kieran loosened his hold on Oleander’s collar, so that they could breathe a little easier, but did not let go. “I don’t quite care as to your intentions. It is in your actions that I find fault. You compelled Ella to her knees against her will. No matter how old our friendship, I cannot overlook a transgression so egregious.”

“I’m aware my actions were likely to displease you. But if I may remind you, Ella came to no harm. Twas but a momentary inconvenience. And you were about to throw Ella to the proverbial wolves, taking her to Opulence’s manor before she was properly prepared. I did what I believed was best, as I always have done. As you knew I would when you brought me into your court, Kieran.”

Kieran’s hand tightened once again, bringing Oleander’s face minutely closer. “You will address me as your prince.”

Oleander’s eyes flashed open with surprise. “Yes…my prince,” Oleander said slowly, as if to an angry animal poised to bite them. 

Ella was impressed not to detect even a hint of sarcasm. Ella herself had not always had the self-restraint not to infuse a bit of mockery into that exact phrase in the past. But then, Oleander knew at this moment they were not being held at the throat by an old friend, but by a High Prince of Fae, with all the expectations of that title, and ruled by ancient laws that they all must abide. A Ruler of All Fae.

And a very angry one, that.

“Apologize,” Kieran snapped. 

Ella stiffened. This was far too similar to the story Oleander told of how their friendship soured long ago. Oleander acting on their own, according to their own particular morals, and Kieran demanding an apology they would never give. 

She held her breath, not wanting to once again be the woman who came between the two friends…but how could she put a stop to this?

The skin around Oleander’s eyes tightened ever so slightly with annoyance, but they wisely didn’t voice any complaints. “Apologies, my prince. I overstepped.”

“Apologize to her.” 

Oleander’s eyes flicked over to Ella, breaking their contact with Kieran for the first time, and their eyebrows rose incrementally. 

“Do you know what I did to the last Fae who enthralled her?” Kieran growled, quiet and low. 

“I know enough,” Oleander replied.

Kieran’s voice was cold. “No, you don’t. So allow me to elucidate. In the Sun Palace, Radiance stole Ella’s voice. Controlled her body, just as you did. He compelled her to deliver unto me a curse that nearly destroyed me, not to mention our realm – via a confession of love. Unable to speak a single word of warning. You may know something of hardship, Oleander. But you do not know what my Ella has endured. That she remains here in the world of Fae of her own volition is a sacrifice I strive to be worthy of. Here, in her own home, under my protection, is the one place in this realm she should feel entirely safe. And I will suffer no one – not even dear old friends – to take that sense of safety away from her under my roof ever again.” 

Behind the stiff collar, Oleander’s throat moved on a swallow. There was a moment of grave silence. And when they spoke, their voice was thick, unusually sincere. “Understood. My prince.” 

At long last, Kieran released Oleander, the heavy cold air of his furious magic giving way to soft, warm sunshine through the windows once more. His jaw was still set.  “Apologize to my consort, Oleander. For it is she that you have wronged, even more than myself.”

Oleander straightened their vest with a dignified tug. Their pride unaffected, Oleander crossed one arm in front of them, the other behind, and executed a sharp, contrite bow. Then straightened and met her eye with bold respect.

Ella was rendered quite speechless. Silence reigned, until Ella realized Kieran was looking at her expectantly, waiting to see if she would accept.

“Allow me to offer my sincerest apologies at having compelled you, Your Grace. At the time, I believed the risk of angering Kieran was a small but worthy sacrifice to best impart my warning; but now I see my mistake. I did not consider the distress it would impart upon you, and that I truly regret. We Fae may be all too accustomed to thoughtless cruelty even amongst ourselves, but certainly we grow callous to it. And give far less concern to magicless mortals who have no power to protect themselves from us. No matter my ultimate purpose, Kieran is quite correct. You should not need to fear members of your own court in your own palace. Such a mistake will not happen again. This I swear."

“Of course,” Ella said somewhat breathlessly. “We perhaps got off on the wrong foot, Oleander. But I do appreciate that you risked Kieran’s wrath to try to protect me, in your own way. ”

One corner of Oleander’s mouth tugged upward just slightly, and Oleander shot Kieran a look of smug victory, as if they were silently saying, “You see? Ella understands.”

“Don’t be too angry at them, Kieran,” Ella said, smiling and winding her arm through his. “I expect most Fae wouldn’t understand how much worse it is for mortals to be inflicted with magic. I imagine you all likely get rather accustomed to cursing each other at a young age.”

Kieran huffed, unamused. “Something like that.”

“Well, they seem sufficiently contrite. And we can’t afford to chase off your one and only friend.”

Ella and Oleander shared a look then. Ella, a small smile of forgiveness and understanding; Oleander, a gleam of amusement mingling with newfound respect.

Kieran sighed shortly. “Fine. You are forgiven. But do not think to impose your will upon her again, no matter how good your intentions. For though Ella may be a singularly lenient person, this will be the one and only time I offer forgiveness.”

“Then we are again on equal footing, my old friend,” Oleander said.

To Ella’s surprise, Kieran broke into laughter, clapped them on the shoulder, and the tension was gone like snow in sunshine.  

“Come on, then,” Kieran said to them both, tightening his bicep to tuck Ella's hand more tightly into his side.

Oleander raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You mean for me to accompany you to the Sun Palace? My reputation has barely recovered. I'm not certain now is the best time for me to–”

Kieran took hold of Oleander’s shoulder and bodily steered them in the direction of the carriage, escorting Ella down the hall. “Enough of your dithering, Oleander. Now is as good a time as any. I shall need both of you to fortify me as we face those golden gates again.”

Kieran would hear no more complaint, and so Oleander acquiesced with a sigh, shooting Ella a look behind Kieran’s back. Ella hid a giggle into her palm, feeling somewhat better than she had before.

Together, Moon Court rode out toward the Sun Palace, each of them bracing to return to a place that held bad memories for them all, ready to face their demons as a united front.

[this-is-a-name-dont-worry]

21/08 - Tell the baby a story about warriors

drawing was done yesterday, but it was night so I waited daylight for the pic

"Uhm, so.... Once upon a time, there was a peasant. He was the seventh son of a seventh son and seventh daughter, which immediately made the king interested in him. Deciding to become his godfather, the family of the peasant lived well, and their seventh son was able to learn with the princes and princesses.

The second prince, third princess, and the seventh son became best friends, and because the seventh son was charming, cunning, and quite well mannered for his origins (and because a third princess is not much to worry when you have five of them), the king and the queen offered their third daughter's hand to the seventh son.

Back then, it was well accepted that the first son becomes the heir, the first daughter becomes the one with the good wedding, the second son becomes a warrior, the second daughter weds the son of an ally, and the third children become religious. The others, they don't matter as much, even if more hands to work is always good. Because of these well thought rules, the first son of the peasants became quite upset with how his little brother would be marrying in the royal family, by doing nothing but being born, and the fourth princess was frustrated to realize she'd become a nun instead of her sister. And so, the first son and the fourth princess started to scheme together.

Strangely, the second prince, the third princess, and the seventh son seemed quite unhappy with the arrangement too. Indeed, the third princess didn't want to marry, and preferred the company of other ladies that the covenant would offer her; and the seventh son fancied the second prince more than he fancied the third princess.

Unfortunately for them, their jealous siblings heard of this, and pretending to help them, tricked them into being found out. The third princess was sent to the covenant to punish her, the second prince was told to leave and never come back, and the peasants stopped receiving gifts from the royal family, even showing harsher judgement of them. The seventh son, knowing his family's problems cane from him, decided to leave.

The seventh son and the second prince, who kept in contact through letters, arranged to meet outside the capital city, and live on the road together; after all, the second prince was trained to lead armies since childhood, and the seventh son received lessons to fight in the same way the other princes would. As such, they could be traveling warriors, maybe even become heroes, and never have to leave each other's sides again.

And so, they went together, happy."

Ai stares at xir mom.

"What?" she asks with a smile, looking just a tad bit too wide to be only comforting. "It's a story about warriors! Well, warriors in the making, but it still counts!"

Ai quickly writes on their tablet.

"Where's the rest?"

His mom chuckles, and pats her hand on the top of his head.

"I guess you'll have to imagine it!"

Ai stares.

"Fine, I'll tell you the rest next time. But for now, it's late, so I think we should both go to sleep, ok?"

Xe is not fully satisfied with this, but Ai says nothing, knowing she's right. Xir mom laughs again, seeing xir annoyed face, and gives xem a good night kiss.

"Next time I can, I promise," she tells him.

Ai nods, impatient already.

"Sleep well, pitchoune, and may your dreams be filled with warriors, princes, and princesses."

[doevademe]

Slightly angst idea: during a fight, Nico is injured during the battle, it looks worse than it actually is, but Nico (who isn’t dating Percy right now, Percy has already confessed but Nico rejects him because he doesn’t take Percy’s feelings seriously) watches as Percy goes into what I playfully calls “Hurricane Perseus” where he is just going across the battlefield, wiping out everything in his wake, other people have to get out of the way to avoid being dragged into his path of carnage. After every monster is dead, Percy goes to Nico and cries tears of relief that Nico is okay. Nico can’t tell if he is touched that Percy loves him that much, or he slightly concerned considering that put other campers lives in danger. One thing he is certain of, he doesn’t doubt Percy’s feelings anymore and gives Percy a little kiss on the cheek saying the need to talk once he gets looked at.

Blood can be a bit of a drama queen, Nico had found out.

Some places, like anywhere near the head, tended to gush with blood at even the slightest scratch, despite it being superficial.

There was just no way to know for certain how bad an injury was until an expert looked at it.

The only thing Nico knew for certain was that his head hurt, there was blood flowing into his eye and blocking his view, and that he felt a little dizzy from the cyclops that had whacked him, but that he would ultimately live.

Try telling that to Percy Jackson, though. The young man was holding him up in pure panic, even ripping his shirt to try and wipe the blood from his face.

"Nico, just... just hold on, all right?" He asked desperately. "Help is on its way!"

"Percy, it's not that bad," he tried to say, though his speech was a little slurred due to the hit and came out more like "Purshy, izzon't sabbat."

"D-don't force yourself, okay?" he said softly. Behind them, the other campers kept fighting the small army conjured by some big name monster general that had returned from Tartarus after a few years trapped down there. "Help's on the way."

"...Not Will," he managed to say. Having his ex-boyfriend take a look at him in the middle of a battle was not high on his list of priorities.

Percy chuckled.

"I'll take any medic right now," he said. "And hey, better him than me, right?"

Nico winced. It hadn't been even 24 hours since Percy had asked him out, and the awkwardness had been palpable.

Nico knew that Percy was on the rebound. His break up with Annabeth had been relatively recent, and that in his state he would have asked out anyone who was available and made him feel not alone.

It was not that he didn't like Percy. It was that he knew that it would be a short-lived and unhappy relationship.

Taking his history with Percy into account, Nico felt they deserved a real romance, if it ever happened, not a temporal thing to get the son of Poseidon back on his feet.

"I'll take care of him," a girl, Kayla, said. "You need to go back there. Kampê is slaughtering us!"

"But Nico—"

"I expected more of the generals who felled me the last time," the half-dragon woman screeched as her whip snared a child of Hermes's sword. "I guess the Hekatonkheir was the reason they won."

About five demigods threw themselves at her, but Kampê just cracked her whip again and sent them all flying.

"Even one of their champions fell to a hit from a lowly foot soldier," she gloated, looking straight at Nico. "I'll enjoy torturing him as payback for what his father did to me!"

Percy's eyes darkened. He gently placed Nico on Kayla's lap and turned, drawing out his sword.

"You won't ever touch him again," he said in an eerily calm voice.

The monster laughed.

"And how do you plan to..." Kampê stoped herself as rain started pouring heavily, the raindrops hitting her and then going to Percy, making the water gather around him like a typhoon. "Troops! Focus on that one! Destroy him!"

The cyclopes, dracanae and hellhounds barely had time to register her order, as Percy jumped and started slicing the monsters apart.

The strength of the winds and water around him dragged the monsters to him, leaving them open for slaughter.

"Florian!" She gasped, as the small son of Demeter who followed Kayla around was sucked into the maelstrom along with the hellhound he had been fighting.

"Clossmy woond," Nico slurred, Kayla turned to look at him. "Now! You... can sheck me laterrr."

Terrified, the daughter of Apollo nodded. Nico felt the itch of his wound disappear as Kayla sang a hymn to her father. Nico thanked her and ran towards the newly formed hurricane.

"Retreat!" Kampê shouted, but it was too late, her whip had been caught in the storm, and it was dragging her into Riptide's bloody path.

"Your stupid revenge scheme hurt him," he heard Percy say coldly. "Everything that happens to you now, you deserve."

Nico gulped as Percy slashed like a madman. Due to Kampê's dragon skin, the slashes weren't deep enough to kill her, but they all bled, and the half-dragon woman cried out in pain as Percy continued his assault.

The campers were shouting, about three of them had joined Florian inside the maelstrom, and at least one of them had lost consciousness.

"Percy!" Nico shouted, making Percy look at him. "End this now!"

Percy nodded and waved his hand. Kampê screamed as a flow of water came out of her, dehydrating her and making her so fragile the next slash cut her in half.

The storm stopped, and the campers caught dropped to the grass like dead flies. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kayla and Will rushing to help them.

"Nico, how are—oof!" Nico hit Percy with the hilt of his sword in the stomach. "What was that for?"

"That was for endangering the campers!" He said, glaring. "Control your powers better! You can't just... are you crying?"

"I'm just... so relieved that you're okay!" Percy sobbed, hugging Nico. "I... I thought I would lose you!"

And Nico couldn't help but wonder, was he really so sure that Percy was just rebounding, or was he... too scared of finally having him?

Nico hugged him back and separated himself a little, giving him a experimental kiss on the cheek.

Percy lit up like a christmas tree.

"N-Nico?"

"My head's still pounding," he announced. "I need to have a full check-up."

"Uh... right, right," Percy said dumbly. "I'll take you to the infirmary."

"After that... we need to talk."

"About what?"

Nico smiled and tightened his hug as Percy picked him up.

"About yesterday," he said softly. As the adrenaline left his body he felt more and more exhausted. "I think we owe each other an actual conversation."