#attacking the seat of power of their father's enemy

[thenationofzaun]

Vi and Jinx - The Monster You Created

[city-of-ladies]

"Embet Ilen (c. 1801-1851), was a woman of high birth who played a distinguished political role during the Zamana Mesafent (Era of the Judges, 1769-1855) in the region now recognized as Eritrea. Her fame is underlined in nineteenth-century sources by the unusual reference to Ras Woldemichael as the “son of Ilen” without any connotation of disparagement. The society's norm otherwise required one to be called after the father. She was no doubt the most emancipated woman in Marab-Millash (highland Eritrea) in the nineteenth century. 

Very little is known about her upbringing, education, and family history. Even the name of her father is not given with certainty. Killion calls him “Aite Hagos, Kantibai of Zagher” and the informants of Kolmodin refer to him as “Ayte Fisseha, the son of Ayte Seltan” (p. 142), while Yesehaq Yosef uses both names alternately. However, all sources agree that she was extraordinarily intelligent, a persuasive speaker, an astute politician, and a valorous leader. She is said to have personally commanded men in combat and fought herself like one of them, but she was never taken captive in the field. 

Ilen entered politics, not by choice but by the exigencies of the time. She was given in marriage to Ayte Selomon, who was the eldest son of Kantiba Zar’ay of Hazzega, who ruled the greater part of Hamasen—the highlands around Asmara—for over forty years. They had a daughter, Temertsa, and two sons, Woldemichael and Mar’ed. After her husband’s death, she had two more children from political liaisons. Her husband apparently suffered from poor health and was not popular within the family or powerful in the political arena. His own father, Kantiba Zar’ay, was said to have preferred Gabray Habtetsayon, a grandson, to be his heir; but tradition required that he name his son. He did, however, bequeath much of his wealth, including slaves, to Gabray, while Selomon received the hereditary office.

These circumstances developed into a bitter rivalry within the ruling family. Ilen was forced to deal with incessant intrigues during her husband’s lifetime and after his death around 1837 in order to preserve her sons’ right to ascend to the ruling seat. Sometime after his accession to the office in the mid-1820s, Selomon attacked the neighboring district and rival center of Tse’azzega for an unknown reason. His men were quickly routed by the defenders, and he fled to Gura’e, Akkale-Guzay, his mother’s home region. The unprovoked attack revived an old conflict between the two centers of Tse’azzega and Hazzega, which continued unabated until the Italians arrived in the region in 1889.

Ilen mobilized the remaining men of Hazzega and her relations in Karneshim and attempted twice to avenge the defeat of her husband but in vain. Fighting two fronts—Tse’azzega, on the one hand, and Gabray (who split her base), on the other—was too much for her. She then looked beyond the Marab for help. She allied with the ruler of Tigray, Shum-Agame Subagadis, who, having subdued Marab-Millash, appointed Ilen governor of the whole of Hamasen. After the death of Subagadis in 1831, the old rivalries of Marab-Millash broke out anew and Ilen had to look to other quarters for support. She succeeded in winning Dejjazmatch Wubé (also Webe) Hayla Maryam, ruler of all the northern provinces from 1831 to 1855, to her side and was confirmed in her office. She tended to treat her enemies harshly. Consequently, Gabray refused to submit to her rule and lived as a rebel in the heavily forested Ansaba region for many years, a situation which made her all the more uneasy and vigilant. She was generally regarded as excessively revengeful, an attribute which not only terrorized opponents but also brought about her untimely death.

In the late 1840s, she felt it was time for her to give up her regency in favor of her elder son, Woldemichael, who was then in his mid-twenties. Probably she was also tired of the ceaseless conflicts. She retired to the St. Mary Church of Hazzega as a nun. It was here, incidentally, that Kantiba Woldegaber, head of Dimbezan, visited her on his way back home. She received him cordially, in spite of the fact that they had been enemies for a dozen years.

Selomon had allegedly entrusted to him 40 rifles on behalf of his young children, but Woldegaber gave them away to Wubé as a present. When Woldemichael and Mar’ed requested him to hand them over some years later, Woldegaber denied having received any rifles from their deceased father. Besides, he had mistreated and dismissed his wife, the daughter of Ilen. Hence, Ilen had fought and defeated him in a battle some years before this unexpected visit. Woldegaber was murdered after his departure from Ilen’s friendly reception, a tragedy which the people of Dimbezan attributed to a sinister scheme of Ilen. As a consequence, Woldegaber’s relations surprised Hazzega; Ilen escaped and took refuge in a neighboring subdistrict. But her protectors feared an attack by her enemies and extradited her together with two of her small grandchildren, who were eventually tortured to death. This event became one of the underlying causes for Woldemichael’s contemptuous and rancorous attitude toward Hamasen for the next 30 years. "

Bairu Tafla, "Ilen, Embet", In: Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong; Henry Louis Gates (eds.). Dictionary of African Biography

[fourthwingfan]

Madness - Chapter 5

Hello there readers. This is the new chapter, I hope you'll like it. It's a tiiny bit long though. I warned you.

Note: Violence, blood, injuries etc.

Ps: I won't be coming with a new chapter for a while because my best friend has a bachelorette party tomorrow, but I start writing the new chapter at Monday. Thanks for your patience.

Knowing I am in direct disagreement with General Melgren’s orders, I am officially objecting to the plan set forth in today’s briefing. It is not this general’s opinion that the children of the rebellion’s leaders should be forced to witness their parents’ executions. No child should watch their parent put to death.

– The Tyrrish Rebellion, an official brief for King Tauri by General Sorrengail

“Welcome to your first Battle Brief” Professor Devera says from the recessed floor of the enermous lecture hall later in the morning, a bright purple Flame Section patch on her shoulder matching her short hair perfectly. This is the only class held in the circular, tiered room that curves the entire end of the academic hall and one of only two rooms in the citadel capable of fitting every cadet. Every creaky wooden seat is full, and the senior third-years are standing against the walls behind us, but we all fit.

It’s a far cry from history last hour, where there were only three squads of first-years, but at least the first-years in our squad are all seated together. Now if I could only remember all their names.

Liam is easy to remember – he was the first who talked to me after Parapet. Somehow we became friends. But if I want to be honest, I don’t mind. He’s really kind and somehow I feel that I can trust him. It’s strange. My father always told me not to trust anyone. And despite my hatred for him, this sentence become one of the pillars which hold my life.

“In the past, riders have seldom been called into service before graduation” Professor Devera continues her mouth tensing as she paces slowly in front of a twenty-foot-high map of the Continent mounted to the back wall that’s intricately labeled with our defensive outposts along our borders. Dozens of mage lights illuminate the space, more than making up for the lack of windows and reflecting off the longsword she keeps strapped to her back.

“And if they were, they were always third-years who’d spent time shadowing forward wings, but we expect you to graduate with the full knowledge of what we’re up against. It’s not about just knowing where every wing is stationed, either.” She takes her time, making eye contact with every first-year she sees. The rank on her shoulder says captain, but I know she’ll be a major before she leaves her rotation teaching here, given the medals pinned on her chest. “You need to understand the politics of our enemies, the strategies of defending our outposts from constant attack, and have a thorough knowledge of both recent and current battles. If you cannot grasp these basic topics, then you have no business on the back of a dragon.” She arches a black brow a few shades darker than her deep-brown skin.

“No pressure” I mutter laughingly to Liam.

“The most powerful general in Navarre is your father. I think you can manage this class somehow.” He snorts.

“Hey. I’m not a genious, you know.” I whisper.

“And even humble.” He openly laughs at me. “You know all the answers in history. But I don’t think it counts if you only told me and not the teacher when he asked questions.”

“I don’t care what they think of me.” I say in a serious tone.

“This is the only class you will have every day, because it’s the only class that will matter if you’re called into service early.” Professor Devera’s gaze sweeps from left to the right and pauses on me. Her eyes flare wide for a heartbeat, but she gives an approving smile and nod before she do the same with Violet. “Because this class is taught every day and relies on the most current information, you will also answer to Professor Markham, who deserves nothing but your utmost respect.”

She waves the scribe forward, and he moves to stand next to her, the cream color of his uniform contrasting with her stark black one. He leans in when she whispers something to him, and his thick eyebrows fly high as he whips his head in my direction then he looks at Violet.

“Shit.” I mutter as I slide lower on the chair. “Why can’t I be invisible?

“You’re stand out a little bit to that.” Liam answer helpfully. “Maybe if you didn’t dye your hair, you didn’t stand out as much. I mean those silver stripes are a little bit flashy.”

“I didn’t dye my hair. It’s been like this since I was born” I answer while staring straight ahead of me. I don’t like to talk about my mother. I didn’t know her but it’s still painful beacuse of the many what ifs. What if I knew her? Would she loved me? If she were alive would I have a normal family? It’s painful.

“Oh, I see.” And he didn’t push the subject any further as if he sensed that I’m not comfortable with it.

“It is the duty of the scribes not only to study and master the past but to relay and record the present” Professor Markham says, rubbing the bridge of his bulbous nose. “Without accurate depictions of our front lines, reliable information with which to make strategic decisions, and - most importantly - veracious details to document our history for the good of future generations, we’re doomed, not only as a kingdom but as a society.”

“First topic of the day,” Professor Devera moves toward the map and flicks her hand, bringing a mage light directly over the eastern border with the Poromiel province of Braevick. “The Eastern Wing experienced an attack last night near the village of Chakir by a drift of Braevi gryphons and riders.”

Oh shit. A murmur rips through the hall.

“Naturally, some information is redacted for security purposes, but what we can tell you is that the wards faltered along the top of the Esben Mountains.” Professor Devera pulls her hands apart and the light expands, illuminating the mountains that form our border with Braevick. “Allowing the drift not only to enter Navarrian territory but for their riders to channel and wield sometime around midnight.”

My stomach sinks as a murmur rises from the cadets, especially the first-years. Dragons aren’t the only animals capable of channeling powers to their riders. Gryphons from Poromiel also share that ability, but dragons are the only ones capable of powering the wards that make all other magic but their own impossible within our borders. They’re the reason Navarre’s borders are somewhat circular - their power radiates from the Vale and can only extend so far, even with squads stationed at every outpost. Without those wards, we’re fucked. It would be open season on Navarrian villages when the raiding parties from Poromiel inevitably descend. Those greedy assholes are never content with the resources they have. They always want ours, too, and until they learn to be content with our trade agreements, we have no chance of ending conscription in Navarre. No chance of experiencing peace.

But if we’re not on high alert, then they must have gotten the wards rewoven, or at least stabilized.

“Thirty-seven civilians were killed in the attack in the hour before the squad from the Eastern Wing could arrive, but the riders and dragons managed to repel the drift.” Professor Devera finishes, folding her arms over her chest. “Based on that information, what questions would you ask?” She holds up a finger. “ I only want answers from first-years to start.”

My initial question would be why the hell the wards faltered, but it’s not like they’re going to answer a question like that in a room full of cadets with zero security clearance.

I study the map. The Esben Mountain Range is the highest along our eastern border with Braevick, making it the least likely place for an attack, especially since gryphons don’t tolerate altitude nearly as well as dragons, probably due to the fact they’re half-lion, half-eagle and can’t handle the thinner air at higher altitudes.

There’s a reason we’ve been able to fend off every major assault on our territory for the last six hundred years, and we’ve successfully defended our land in this never-ending four-hundred-year-long war. Our abilities, both lesser and signet, are superior because our dragons can channel more power than gryphons. So why attack in the mountain range?

“The only logical explanation is that they were looking for something.” I mutter to Liam.

“Are you not going to speak up in this class either?” He asks.

“Nope.”

“Come on, first-years, show me you have more than just good balance. Show me you have the critical-thinking skills to be here.” Professor Devera demands. “It’s more important than ever that you’re ready for what’s beyond our borders.”

“Is this the first time the wards have faltered?” a first-year a couple of rows ahead asks.

Professors Devera and Markham share a look before she turns toward the cadet. “No.”

The room falls pin-drop quiet.

It’s not the first time.

Which means they were looking for something for a while? Interesting.

The girl clears her throat. “And how… often are they faltering?”

Professor Markham’s shrewd eyes narrow on her. “That’s above your pay grade, cadet.” He turns his attention to our section. “Next relevant question to the attack we’re discussing?”

“How many casualties did the wing suffer?” A first-year down the row to my right asks.

“One injured dragon. One dead rider.”

Another murmur rises from the hall. Surviving graduation doesn’t mean we’ll survive service. Most riders die before retirement age, especially at the rate riders have been falling over the last two years.

“Why would you ask that particular question?” Professor Devera asks the cadet.

“To know how many reinforcements they’ll need” he answers.

Professor Devera nods, turning toward the meekest first-year in Violet’s squad, who has his hand up, but he lowers it quickly, scrunching his dark eyebrows. “Did you want to ask a question?”

“Yes.” He nods, sending a few locks of black hair into his eyes, then shakes his head. “No. Never mind.”

“So decisive” another first-year in that squad  mocks from next to him, tilting her head as cadets laugh around them. A corner of her mouth tilts up into a smirk, and she flips her long brown hair over her shoulder in a move that’s anything but casual.

“He’s in our squad. Show some loyalty.” A third woman chastises.

“What a friendly squad. They like a big family.” I whisper to Liam.

“You’re not friendlier then them, you know.” He smirks at me.

“Maybe.” I cross my arms and turn my attention back to the class.

“If Fourth Wing is done picking at one another?” Professor Devera asks, lifting a brow.

“What altitude is the village at?” Rhiannon asks. I’m sure it was Violet’s question. She doesn’t like the attention.

Professor Devera’s eyebrows rise as she turns to Rhiannon. “Markham?”

“A little less than ten thousand feet.” he answers. “Why?”

Rhiannon darts a dose of side-eye at Violet and clears her throat. “Just seems a little high for a planned attack with gryphons.”

“It is a little high for a planned attack” Devera says. “Why don’t you tell me why that’s bothersome, Cadet Sorrengail? And maybe you’d like to ask your own questions from here on out.” She levels a stare on her

Every head in the room turns to her direction. If anyone had an inkling of doubt about who is she, it’s long gone now.

Poor Violet.

“Gryphons aren’t as strong at that altitude, and neither is their ability to channel” She says. “ It’s an illogical place for them to attack unless they knew the wards would fail, especially since the village looks to be about what…an hour’s flight from the nearest outpost?” She glances at the map. “That is Chakir right there isn’t it?”

Scribe’s training for the win.

“It is.” A corner of Professor Devera’s mouth lifts into a smirk. “Keep going with that line of thought.”

“Didn’t you say it took an hour for the squad of riders to arrive?” Her gaze narrows.

“I did.”

“Then they were already on their way,” she blurts, immediately recognizing how silly that sounds. Her cheeks heat as a mumble of laughter sounds around her.

“Yeah, because that makes sense.” Jack turns around in his seat from the front row and openly laught at her. “General Melgren knows the outcome of a battle before it happens, but even he doesn’t now when it will happen, dumbass.”

I feel the chuckling of our classmates reverberate in my bones. I can feel my rage rising.

“Fuck off, Barlowe,” Rhiannon snaps.

“I’m not the one who thinks precognition is a thing,” he retorts with a sneer. “Gods help us if that one ever gets on the back of a dragon.” Another round of laughter has her face flaming more.

Enough!

“You’re so familiar with General Melgren that you know exactly what he’s able to do with his signet Barlowe?” I glare at him. “With you’re level of brain, be thankful if a dragon will choose you at Threshing, if you can make it there. It’s way above your skills to get to know the General.”

“Pff, the same goes for you girl.” Someone shouts behind me.

I glance behind me to look at that stupid man who said that. I found him. He wears a first-year emblem on his jacket, and looks like he’s in Violet’s squad.

“He’s my father, you jackass.” I glare at him.

“He doesn’t have a daughter, you liar.” He retorts.

That’s it. He’s even dumber than I thought. It’s a shame to argue with him.

“And they try to become riders. Without the knowledge what’s going around them. I pray that at least a handful of cadets be smarter than them or Navarre is lost.” I sigh in mock sympathy while I turn back. “Maybe General Melgren’s signet isn’t able to identify the when, but if you can’t understand what Cadet Sorrengail implies, then you won’t make it Threshing. I gurantee that.” I smile at Jack while my implied threat still in the air.

“That’s enough. You should know that listening to other cadet’s questions is just as important as asking.” Professor Devera says to Jack. “And Cadet Melgren you should work out that temper in the gym.”

“Oh I can’t wait the challenges Professor.” I answer while glaring daggers at Jack.

“Why do you think that way, Violet -“ Professor Markham winces. “Cadet Sorrengail?”

Nice distraction.

“Because there’s no logical way they get there within an hour of the attack unless they were already on their way” Go, Violet tell them. “It would take at least half that long to light the beacons in the range and call for help, and no full squad is sitting around just waiting to be needed. More than half those riders would have been asleep, which means they were already on their way.”

“And why would they already be on their way?” Professor Devera prods, and the light in her eyes tells me she’s right.

“Because they somehow knew the wards were breaking.” She lifts her chin

“That’s the most-“ Jack starts.

“She’s right” Professor Devera interrupts, and a hush falls over the room. “One of the dragons in the wing sensed the faltering ward, and the wing flew. Had they not, the casualties would have been far higher and the destruction of the village much worse.”

I snicker at Jack who looks completly baffled.

“Second- and third-years, take over” Professor Devera orders. “Let’s see if you can be a little more respectful to your fellow cadets.” She arches a brow at Jack as questions begin to fire off from the riders behind us.

How many riders were deployed to the site?

What killed the lone fatality?

How long did it take to clear the village of the gryphons?

Were any left alive for questioning?

I write down the important questions and answers, my mind memorizing the facts, organizing into logical sequences.

“How can you make notes when you don’t even look at the paper in front of you?” Liam wonders

“Years of practice.” I cut it short.

“What was the condition of the village?” A deep voice asks from the back of the lecture hall.

The hairs on my neck rise, my body recognizing the imminent threat behind me.

“Riorson?” Markham asks, shielding his eyes from the mage lights as he looks toward the top of the hall.

“The village.” Xaden restates. “Professor Devera said the damage would have been worse, but what was the actual condition? Was it burned? Destroyed? They wouldn’t demolish it if they were trying to establish a foothold, so the condition of the village matters when trying to determine a motive for the attack.”

Professor Devera smiles in approval. “The buildings they’d already gone through were burned, and the rest were being looted when the wing arrived.”

“They were looking for something,” Xaden says with complete conviction. “And it wasn’t riches. That’s not a gem mining district. Which begs the question, what do we have that they want so badly?”

„Wow. You said that they were searching for something too.” Liam stares at me with surprise.

„Yeah, so? It was obvious.” I blink at him.

„No. It was not. You really have a sense for it, haven’t you?” he whispers.

I just shrug, then turn back my attention to the class.

“Exactly. That’s the question.” Professor Devera glances around the room. “And that right there is why Riorson is a wingleader. You need more than strength and courage to be a good rider.”

“So what’s the answer?” a first-year to the left asks.

“We don’t know,” Professor Devera answers with a shrug. “It’s just another piece in the puzzle of why our constant bids for peace are rejected by the kingdom of Poromiel. What were they looking for? Why that village? Were they responsible for the collapse of the ward, or was it already faltering? Tomorrow, next week, next month, there will be another attack, and maybe we’ll get another clue. Go to history if you’re looking for answers. Those wars have already been dissected and examined. Battle Brief is for fluid situations. In this class, we want you to learn which questions to ask so all of you have a chance at coming home alive.” Something in her tone tells me it’s not just third-years who might be called into service this year.

After class the cadets started to flow out from the lecture hall. I packed up my things and when I turned to Liam, Professor Devera said my name.

„Cadet Melgren. For a word.”

„I think you’re in trouble.” Whispres Liam. „I’ll wait for you outside.”

I nod then turn toward the Professor.

„Yes?” I ask.

„General Melgren sent a message that he wants to speak to you after today’s classes are over.” She answers

„Understood. Where?” I ask tensly.

„In his office.”

„Then if there is nothing else, I would like to go. I have gym.”

„Yes, go ahead.” She dismisses me.

Outside of the hall I see Liam talking with Xaden at the corner of the courtyard.

That’s my luck. I have one somewhat of a friend and he’s just coincidentally a big buddy of Xaden it seems.

They must realised that I finished talking with Professor Devera beacuse they make their way to where I stand.

„Is everything all right?” Liam asks worriedly when they aprroached me.

„Yeah, she just wanted to pass on a message.” I shrug.

„A message? From who?” Xaden asks suspiciously.

„It’s not your business Riorson, but is seems that General Melgren wants to see me after classes are over.” I say with a forced smile.

„General Melgren?” He raise an eyebrow.

„You’ve got a problem with that?” I narrow my eyes at him.

„No, it’s just interesting.” He says. „But I think you don’t have time to chat with me. If I remember correctly you have gym class soon, and Professor Emetterio doesn’t like latecomers.”

„Shit. Then we should go Liam. I really don’t want to be late because of Riorson.” I fake a horrified expresson.

„Ah, and I thought we could converse once without your insults.” He smirks.

„In your dream Riorson. If you don’t like my style then you would be doing a favor for the both of us if you would avoid me in the future.” I say while grabbing Liam’s arm and start pulling him in the direction where the gym class will be.

„Then we will definitely see each other later.” He stares at me with an unreadable expression. „I almost forget. Have fun in the gym, Sunshine.” I hear him laughing.

When I try to turn around, this time Liam grabs my arm and pulles away faster.

„We need to hurry if we don’t want to end up late.” He drags me with him.

---

„You seriosuly knew every answer in histroy and apparently every right question to ask in Battle Brief.” I hear Rhiannon says it to Violet. Coincidentally their squad are standing behind our sparring mat. „You’re not even going to have to study for tests, are you?”

There are already two first-years on the mat from our squad. They’re evenly matched in size. One of them is Ethan whom I have seen talking to Liam. He has a rebellion relic too. I don’t remember his opponent’s name but I’m sure he’s a little less irritating than the others in our squad.

„You seem pretty calm. Are you not worried about who your opponent will be?” Liam watches me with interest shining in his eyes.

„No. I’m sure that I can beat most first-years. Quite a few have developed muscles if you look them closely. You’re one of them so I’m curious how well you can fight.” I look over him.

„Maybe we will be paired up.” He winks at me.

„Yeah. Who knows?” I shrug, and the vest Mira made us shimmers slightly with the movement. Other than the times the scales catch the light under the camouflaging mesh, it fits right in with the tops we’d been given from central issue yesterday. All the women are dressed similarly now, though the cuts of their leathers are chosen by preference.

The guys are mostly shirtless because they think shirts give their opponent something to grab onto. Personally, I’m not arguing with their logic, just enjoying the view…respectfully, of course, which means keeping my eyes on my own squad’s mat and off the other twenty mats in the massive gym that consumes the first floor of the academic wing. One wall is made entirely of windows and doors, all left open to let in the breeze, but it’s still stiflingly hot. Sweat trickles down my spine under my vest.

There are three squads from each wing here this afternoon, and lucky me, First Wing has sent their third squads, which include Jack Barlowe, who’s been glaring at me from two mats over since I walked in.

„Stop circling each other like you’re dance partners and attack!” Professor Emetterio orders from across the mat, where Theo watches Ethan and the other guy’s match – maybe his name is Lucas? Or Luke? Something like that – with our squad executive leader, Zanaya.

Ethan launches toward Lucas – I think I will go with this name until someone tells me his name – but he ducks, sweeping out his leg and tripping Ethan. He staggers but doesn’t go down. He pivots quickly, palming a dagger in his hand.

„No blade today!” Professor Emetterio bellows from beside the mat. He’s only the fourth professor I’ve met, but he’s definitely the most intimidating. „We’re just assessing!”

Ethan grumbles and sheaths his knife just in time to deflect a right hook from Lucas.

„What about you? You don’t seem worried either.” I ask Liam as Ethan lands a jab to Lucas’s ribs.

„Shit!” He shakes his head and backs up a step. „I don’t want to hurt you.”

Lucas holds his ribs but lifts his chin. „Who said you hurt me?”

„Pulling your punches does him a disservice” Theo says, folding his arms. „The Cygnis on the northeast border aren’t going to give him any quarter if he falls from his dragon behind enemy lines, Ethan. They’ll kill him just the same.”

„Let’s go!” Lucas shouts, beckoning Ethan by curling his fingers. It’s obvious he had a proper trainig before entering the quadrant, when he slips a jab from Ethan and twists to land a quick jab to his stomach.

Ouch.

„I’m pretty good on the mat. My foster brother whom I grew up with taught me many things.” He answers while watching the match.

„You have a brother? I didn’t know.” I look at him.

„He’s not my brother by blood, we grew up together after the apostasy and that made us close friends. That’s why I said he’s my brother.” He shrugs. „Now watch the match.”

Apostasy is the Tyrrish term for rebellion. I rarely heard it mentioned this way.

That’s when Ethan charges Lucas taking him to the mat with enough force to make me observe him more. He’s surprisingly strong for his light build.

Lucas hooks his legs around Ethan and somehow leverages him over until he’s the one on top, landing punch after punch to the side of his face. Blood spatters the mat.

A tooth goes flying. Ouch.

„Enough!” Professor Emetterio shouts.

Lucas rolls off Ethan and stands, touching his fingers to his split lip and examining the blood, then offers his hand to help Ethan up.

He takes it.

„Zanaya, take Lucas to the healers. No reason to lose a tooth during assessment” Emetterio orders.

A couple of mats over, someone shrieks, and we all turn to look. Jack Barlowe has another first-year in a headlock. The other guy is smaller, thinner than Jack, but still has a good fifty pounds on me.

Jack yanks his arms, his hands still secure around the other man’s head.

„That guy is such an ass-„ Rhiannon starts behind us.

The sickening crack of bones breaking sounds across the gym, and the first-year goes limp in Jack’s hold.

“Sweet Malek,” I whisper as Jack drops the man to the ground. I’m starting to wonder if the god of death lives here for how often his name must be invoked.

“What did I say?” their instructor shouts as he charges onto the mat. “You broke his damned neck!”

“How was I supposed to know his neck was that weak?” Jack argues.

“Eyes forward,” Emetterio orders, but his tone is kinder than it has been as we all look away from the dead first-year. “You don’t have to get used to it,” he tells us. “But you do have to function through it. You and you.” He points to Liam and another first-year in our squad, a man with a stocky build, black hair, and angular features. Shit, I can’t remember his name. Trevor? Thomas, maybe? There are too many new people to remember who is who at this point.

Liam makes quick work of the first-year, stunning me every time he dodges a punch and lands one of his own. He’s fast, and his hits are powerful, the kind of lethal combination that will set him apart.

„Do you yield?” he asks the first-year guy when he takes him to his back, his hand stopped mid-hit just above his throat.

“No!” he shouts, hooking his legs around Liam’s and slamming him to his back. But he rolls and quickly gains his feet before putting the first-year in the same position again, this time with his boot to his neck.

“I don’t know, Thomas, you might want to yield,” Theo says with a grin. “He’s handing you your ass.”

Ah, that’s right. Thomas.

“Fuck off!” Thomas snaps, but Liam presses his boot into his throat, garbling the last word. He turns a mottled shade of red.

Yeah, Thomas has more ego than common sense.

“He yields,” Emetterio calls out, and Liam steps back, offering his hand.

Thomas takes it.

„You-” Emetterio points to one of the second-years with a rebellion relic. „And you.” His fingers swings to me.

He’s at least a head taller than me, and if the rest of his body is as toned as his arms, then I can’t let him to touch me. I need to be faster.

I nod and step onto the mat.

„You’ve got this.” Liam says, tapping my shoulder as he passes me.

„Melgren.” The man looks me over like I’m something he’s scraped off the side of his boot, narrowing his pale green eyes. „You really should dye your hair if you don’t want to stand out like this. Soon, everybody will know who is your father.”

„Never said I cared if everyone knows who my father is.” I circle the second-year on he mat.

I say while trying to distract him. General Melgren often says the minutes you let emotion enter a fight, you’ve already lost.

„You bitch” he sheethes. „Your father murdered my family.”

He lunges forward and swings wildly, and I quickly sidestep, spinning then landing a hard punch where his kidneys are located.

He grunts then turns around and we start it again. We do this for a few more rounds, and I land a few punches here and there. Always moving faster than him.

After another punch he stumbles and I kick his leg out from under him and I pin his legs down so he can’t move. That’s it when he manages to land a punch.

I can feel my head snapping to the side, my ears ringing, but I don’t move. I’ve endured worse. If I move now then he can use his legs and I will be in trouble.

I punch him in the face. When he raises his hands to protect it, he leaves defensless his neck. I hit the side of his neck causing him to be momentarily unable to breathe and he puts his hand to his neck, then I punch him in his face, and I can feel the bones breaking. I broke his nose. I hit again.

He starts coughing while his blood is dripping from his nose. He can’t do anything in this condition.

„He yields.” Emetterio calls out, and I back off from him. „Hey you” he points to another second-year „Escort him to the healers. We don’t need him bleeding all over the mat.”

I step next to Liam and a new match starts.

„Gods, Aelin. You were really scary on the mat.” Liam says looking at me. „And your face, are you all right? Want me to accompany you to the healers?”

„I won’t go the healers, Liam. I’m fine.” I look at him confused.

„What? No way. You’re bruse is already turning black. That must have hurt.” He looks at my face with concern.

„A little bit. It’s not that bad, really. I have much worse bruises when I started to train.” I try to calm him.

His eyes widen and opens his mouth to further question me when…

„Yield, Violet!” I hear Dain yells.

What? Violet? I turn around quickly and I see Violet and a pink-haired second-year on the mat. With a rebellion relic. Shit.

„She yields.” their instructor says. „That’s enough.” I hear it again – the macabre sound of snapping bone – but this time it’s hers.

[inistellan]

Stellan perched atop the jagged hill adjacent to their camp in Hallowfall, silenced sniper rifle at the ready in case anything thought of breaching the light. He himself sat in the eerie darkness that the void phase of Beledar cast over the lands, melded into the shadows so neither friend nor foe would be able to locate him. Perhaps others would find it a poor choice to not stay within the safety of a brazier’s light, but Stellan preferred it this way. His eyes were able to adjust to the darkness and he had a full view of their camp, as well as neighboring camps and the surrounding lands. Not to mention that all matter of creature to be found here wasn’t exactly smart or had possessed much will to scout around the tops of a rocky ledge.

As long as he remained silent, he remained safe.

The faint tremors of the ground didn’t quite reach his location, but the confused expressions painting the faces below was enough to know something was about to happen. Peering down the scope of his rifle he watched with an expectant expression as the ground split open inside the neighboring camp, toppling their brazier and other sources of light until they were bathed in shadows.

As expected, Talonoa immediately sprang into action. The man never slept, he never needed to sleep, and instead he spent his free time keeping watch or helping around the camp. No one questioned it, or his peculiar powers. Some things were best left unknown.

Eyes darted around, making a mental note where his own people were and what they were currently doing. While they did a great job at watching each other’s backs, it was dark and the enemy was numerous. With a gentle pull of his trigger he demolished the hooked pincer swinging for Fiorenze, and then the many-eyed face of a spider-like creature making a dash for Dicenne. Luckily for him, the air down here was still and not as many factors had to be taken into account for aim accuracy. Not that he ever missed his targets, at least not recently, this had been his life for many, many years.

The insectoids were swiftly picked off little by little, focusing mostly on the ones seeking to attack his own people, and secondly on those they were trying to save. The moment seemed to happen in the blink of an eye with the amount of focus he maintained throughout, and when he was finally able to relax, he hadn’t realized how long he was sitting in the same position. With a few soft pops, Stellan took to his feet and made his way down the rugged terrain and into the camp, first making eye contact with Talon to let the elder know he was safe.

The chaos of the fight had given way to a different type of chaos in the camp. Everyone scurried about collecting first aid supplies while the healers worked tirelessly to fix what they could. The casualties would be many in the other camp, but not as many if they had not been there to help. 

He surveyed the area, eyes landing on the Garren who seemed to be just staring down at his hands. The poor guy had been through so much in his young life already, and top of that his father was now actively missing and likely dead. Stellan had taken it upon himself to look after him when he was able, and help him with his aim - although he was already quite good for his age. “Garren, you okay?” Stellan made his approach from the side, eyes darting from Garren’s face to his bloodied hands.

Garren blinked out of the daze he had found himself in, “Yeah just…just forgot what I was doing.”

“It’s okay. C’mon, let’s get you cleaned up and you can go help with collecting some extra clothes for our guests.” Pulling him away from the healing tent seemed the best course of action. He could spot deep-seated war trauma from a mile away.

It was going to be a long night, and a long rest of the day. Once Beledar made its shift to Light, they would more than likely be transporting the wounded somewhere safer where they could get more help before having to return to their own contract. There was still a job here to be done.

@themercenaries @talonoa @fio-renze @dicenne @garrennorassin

[kasagia]

Our little game pt. 5

Pairing: Klaus Mikaelson x witch! reader Summary: Klaus is making a major, huge mistake of his life, for which you are paying the price. Will you be able to forgive him? Or maybe it's too late for everything. Warning(s): angst, talk about death, Klaus fights and suffers because of Mikael, family drama, blood, violence, curses, I used some famous lines from TVD and TO Word count: 6,9k

Third person's POV | 2 hours earlier

The original hybrid left the party in a hurry, loosening his tie as he practically ran towards the parking lot. His younger brother was right behind him, barely catching up with him.

"Nik! Wait a minute!" Kol screamed, grabbing his brother's elbow and stopping him halfway. He completely ignored his hostile, stern look and continued. "We need to think it over."

"All we need to do is get rid of him from our lives once and for all!"

"We can't do it alone. We need Freya…"

"Freya will never stand against him! We're on our own unless you're a coward." the man cut him off, yanking his arm out of his grip.

"Well, let's at least take Elijah…"

"I'm not going to ruin our brother's wedding day! I already killed him once; I can do it again. We have to hurry before he calls for backup. Will you help me, or should I rely on myself?" Kol sighed as he studied his brother's determined face. If they had attacked out of the blue, they might have been able to defeat him together while he was still weakened.

"All right. But we're keeping Davina out of it."

"As well as Y/N." they nodded to each other and walked hand in hand towards the parking lot.

Klaus had to do it quietly. His little witch needed a break, and a fight with the Mikaelsons' psychopathic father wouldn't help her at all (or convince the woman to stay in New Orleans much longer than she planned). Elijah deserved a respite from his problems, and so did Rebekah. Nor could he rely on Freya's strength and power forever. After all, she wasn't immortal like them; she had her limits like any witch. Kol and he had to deal with it on their own. For everyone's sake.

"Do you even know how he managed to get back to the surface of the earth? I thought you killed him for good last time."

"Believe me, I'm just as surprised as you are."

"You think it's the mother's work? She has regained her powers and is resurrecting all our enemies from the other side?"

"You tell me. You spent a few months there before we finally begged your witch to help us bring you back. What were our parents' moods?"

"You know, I tried not to get too close to them. But I met your father; he's actually a nice guy."

"What did you say?" he asked in shock, staring at his brother in pure surprise.

"Yeah, I was surprised too when he saved me from Mikael and introduced himself as your dad. We had a bit of a fight at first, but he turned out to be a good guy."

"You met… my father."

"Maybe it's not a good time, but I think you should know that. If he somehow magically appears here, and I'm pretty sure he'll do it; he's said many times that he'll get the fuck out of here as soon as he gets a chance, you shouldn't hurt him. Hope deserves at least one normal grandpa. Ansel would be a good fit for this; he was babbling about her all the time, and my head was bursting as he raved about her. You know I love her, but how much can you talk about a baby? Hey? Nik?" he shook his brother's shoulder as he sat silently in the driver's seat, not bothering to start the car.

"How did he know about Hope?"

"He's been keeping an eye on you since… you know. He probably knows everything about you, which is actually as scary as it is cute."

Klaus continued to listen to Kol's story in silence. As he drove the car, he pondered the new message. His father watched over him.

His real father.

The one who supposedly abandoned him and didn't care for him...

Could that be true?

Could he believe it?

Allowing himself to live a boyish fantasy of having a father who truly cares for him? He could believe that Esther would be able to lie to him about his real father's feelings toward him, and it was hardly possible that Kol could be so cruel. So, could Klaus have been so lucky after all?

Could he have had the love of his true father, the beloved daughter who was the light in his dark life, and the love and devotion of a woman he wanted more than anything in this world?

Could Klaus, after so many years of pain, sorrow, and fury, be given such enormous blessings?

He found out a few hours later.

He found out a few hours later, when he and Kol were returning as fast as they could to their family after Mikael nearly killed them two. However, it wasn't just the two of them in the car on their way back...

~•♤♤♤•~

"Father! Come, come wherever you are!"

It was supposed to go fast and smoothly. Klaus was supposed to act as bait (after arguing with Kol for several hours, they played paper, rock, scissors, and he lost… 10 times), and Kol was meant to heroically step in with a white oak stake and try to kill their father.

Piece of cake. Nothing possible could go wrong.

But it did. Very, very quickly.

They underestimated Mikael's ability to win people over. While Klaus was able to single-handedly take down his father's band of minions and come out of the fight uninjured, the fight against Mikael proved to be more of a challenge. Especially since he had a bit of an advantage over them...

"You're alone, boy? Did your siblings finally abandon you?"

"Don't worry about them. I don't need anyone else to help me send you back to hell."

"Very courage from your side to assume you can kill me all alone. Or stupid. I think the second one suits you much better. You didn't change at all, Niklaus. Thousand years, and you're still a quick-tempered, impulsive boy seeking the approval of others. I guess you've never learned from your mistakes. But it's even better for me. It'll be so easy to finally end your miserable life."

"Thousand years of trying, and you were never close enough. What makes you sure this time will be different?"

"This time, I know your weakness." Klaus' heart stopped for a moment in fear. He couldn't talk about Hope. His daughter was safe with Hayley, the pack, surrounded by Freya and Y/N with all sorts of protective spells.

"I don't have any."

"Don't you?" he looked at him carefully with a sinister smirk on his lips. "Then let me remind you. The blonde one, powerful witch you've met not so long ago. Y/N, right? Her blood must taste ambrosial with such magic running through her veins. She would make such a beautiful corpse, don't you think? "Klaus' composure dropped to zero, and his and Kol's plan went to hell. No one will threaten his witch, especially Mikael.

Without thinking, he lunged at the man, trying to punch him in the face. Mikael braced for his outburst, grabbed his fist, and twisted his arm. Klaus shouted, twisting his hand out of his grip, and pushing him to the boxes behind him. Mikael staggered, trying to regain his balance. The hybrid took advantage of this by throwing a metal rod at him and speeding towards him with the intention of snapping his neck. The older man grabbed the object flying towards him, pierced Klaus' side, and pushed, sending him crashing to the floor.

Klaus pulled the metal out of his body, but the wound on his side wouldn't heal. Suddenly he felt as if his whole body was on fire; every nerve in his body shot through with unimaginable pain. He felt as if his mother had put a curse on him, cutting him off from his werewolf side.

Suddenly, a circle of fire formed around him, and none other than the mother of the originals emerged from the shadows, muttering a familiar spell that began the 1,000-year search for the doppelgänger and the moonstone. Panic rose in him, along with the pain he felt.

NO! He couldn't go through it again!

"Who'll fight for you now, boy?!" Mikael shouted, walking slowly over to him and pulling a white oak stake from his coat pocket, patiently waiting for his wife to finish her spell and get rid of her unwanted son from their lives once and for all.

"I will." Kol stepped out of the shadows, pushing his father away from the circle where his older brother was trapped. Mikael laughed, looking at his son with contempt.

"I was wondering which of you would come to rescue this abomination. I never expected you'd be the first one to protect him. Wasn't he the one who locked you in a coffin for centuries? Will you defend him after what he did to you? You know best of all what he's capable of. Don't you want revenge? To see him suffer for all his sins against you? Join us, my son. Let's do justice to him together."

"Forgive me, father. I'm not on the retirement team." Mikael's smirk fell, and an ominous, dark look returned in its place.

"So you will watch your failure."

Mikael threw himself at his son in an instant, overpowering him. He turned his back to him and clamped his hand around his neck, forcing him to watch as his brother writhed on the floor in pain, occasionally getting close enough to the fire to sear him. Kol shuddered.

"In a moment, your mother will finish reciting the spell, and your treacherous brother will become nothing but a vampire again, and then... I will pierce him through before your eyes, son, so that you will remember once and for all how those who oppose me end up. Maybe then you'll join us."

"I'd rather die." Kol growled, trying to wriggle out of his father's grip.

"So you will."

And then, when everything seemed over for the two siblings and all hope of survival was lost, the appearance of one person changed the fate of the originals.

Suddenly, a wooden bolt shot out of the darkness of the building and pierced Esther's stomach, causing her to break her spell. The woman fell to the floor, screaming. Another wooden stake flew towards Mikael, who was forced to let go of Kol and catch the flying piece of wood before it hit him.

Klaus stopped shaking in pain, taking quick, heavy breaths. He used his remaining strength to look at his savior.

It couldn't be true…

"Get away from my son!"

Ansel jumped off the container, falling right in front of Klaus and shielding him with his own body. He held his crossbow high, aiming it at an angry Mikael. Kol stood beside him, handing him a white oak stake, which Mikael dropped and took out their weapons himself.

"I've already killed you once!"

"And I can already tell you that this time the ending will be different. Now, get out of here, or I will skin you for what you have done to MY SON."

"What can you do to me?! I'm a vampire, the original! Some weak werewolf can't kill me!"

"Be careful. That weak werewolf has many friends, and some of them..." Mikael and Esther cried out in pain as they fell to their knees on the floor. "Are very powerful witches. Touch my son again, and I'll kill you right away, without a blink. But for all of this, you've already done to him..." more bolts fired from his crossbow, wounding the parents of the originals. Most of them were aimed at the seething with anger Mikael.

"Kol. Take your brother out. I'll join you in a second."

"Are you sure, old man?"

"Yes. Just give me a few seconds." Kol nodded uncertainly to him, not wanting to leave Ansel alone with his parents at all. But the younger original carefully took his exhausted brother into his arms and carried him outside at vampire speed.

The werewolf took a few steps towards the kneeling two, firing the few bolts he had left at the man. Esther screamed shrilly beside them as the witches continued to torture her with their magic.

"I'll make sure you suffer in ways even your cruel, psychopathic mind can't imagine and believe me... a thousand years on the other side teaches great creativity and patience, Mikael." Ansel drove one of the stakes through Esther's heart and watched with satisfaction as the woman who had kept his only son away from him fell to the floor dead. "He'll suffer one more time because of you, and I'll make sure you don't get any peace even on the other side. I hope you understand."

"This whore of his will die before he gets to her! You won't protect him from that."

"We'll see. Again, please!" Mikael howled louder in pain as the witches strengthened their attack. Ansel smiled slightly.

Ansel left the warehouse, leaving the vampire writhing in pain behind him. He had more important things on his mind than torturing him. His son needed him, and he wasn't going to spend a single minute doing anything other than helping him.

After all, family was the most important thing. For always and forever.

~•♤♤♤•~

Kol drove the car, watching the two men in the back seat in the mirror. Ansel told him to get back to their siblings as soon as possible, especially Y/N.

The original had already learned on the other side that it was better to follow his orders. Ansel usually knew what he was doing, and after saving Kol countless times, he had the younger vampire's full trust.

Klaus could be a little more like him.

"What are you laughing at there, jester?" Ansel asked, looking up from his sleeping son and noticing the smirk on Mikaelson's face.

"Don't get offended, but he is nothing like you."

"I know, and I'm proud of him. He's his own person."

"Elijah will be delighted when you tell him that. Another believer in Nik's redemption."

"He is my son. Of course I believe in him and want the best for him." Kol's face morosed as he remembered how, just an hour ago, his father had tried to kill him and nearly ended his brother's life. "Don't make such a face. He is not your father. No father would make his child suffer. He doesn't deserve your attention, thoughts, or anything."

"But he's right about one thing. We are monsters."

"No. You're all lost. You may be a thousand years old, but really you are like children who have not been taught how to be adults. You know no other way to deal with your emotions than to succumb to this bloodlust. The worst of all is that you've allowed yourselves to be told that you are monsters when everything you do is out of your will to survive or strong feelings."

"A living ticking time bomb, eh?"

"If that's what you want to call it." Ansel murmured, shifting his gaze to his only son. Kol glanced at the two men in a car mirror.

Klaus will be damn surprised to see such a caring and tender look in his biological father's eyes. But he deserved it. After everything Miakel and Esther had put him through—what they all went through because of their parents—they deserved a normal, healthy relationship.

Kol would give anything to have someone like a werewolf for a dad.

"He needs you. Don't fuck it up." instead of admitting this childish desire to himself, he decided to warn Klaus' father. 

"I'm not going to waste my chance, Kol. This is rarely: to come back from the other side."

"I'm still going to keep my eye on you. Especially around Hope."

"I would expect nothing less from you."

"Good. Wake up our princess. We're almost there."

~•♤♤♤•~

They expected it to be hard. Some hidden group of vampires and witches ready to attack at any moment, maybe a few deadly traps await them.

They wouldn't have expected the house to go up in flames. Vampires didn't usually die from fire... but humans did.

Klaus got out of the car the moment he saw the burning building. He didn't care that Kol hadn't stopped the car yet or that his newly found father was sitting right next to him.

All the original hybrid had on his mind was getting to Y/N as fast as he could.

He screamed her name and ran like a madman through the collapsing house. She had to be around here somewhere, unless she evacuated. The man did not allow even the slightest thought that his beloved could be trapped in the building, dead from the fire. He had to find her, lock her in a safe place, defeat Mikael, and return to his love, only to finally reveal his feelings to her and keep her with him where she belonged. There was no other way out of this situation.

However, Klaus, despite his best efforts, found someone completely different.

Katherine Pierce-Mikaelson lay unconscious among the collapsing ruins of the hall. Klaus stopped. Dark thoughts flooded his mind. How easy it would be to leave her here once and for all and let some stray plank fall and pierce her stoned heart. He shook his head.

Whether he wanted it or not, she was part of the family now. And he never left them behind. (Also, Y/N wouldn't approve of him leaving her friend to die. Elijah wouldn't be too pleased either.)

He took her in his arms and carried her out of the building. He laid her down on the grass, checking to see if she was injured.

"NIKLAUS! KATERINA!" Klaus raised his head, turning his gaze to his brother, who was running towards them. "Is she okay?! Where is Kol?! KOL?!" the elder brother rushed home after making sure his wife and Klaus were okay.

The hybrid caught up with him and grabbed his jacket, stopping him from entering the building.

"He is fine. Have you seen Y/N?" Elijah fell silent, looking away from his younger brother. Klaus grabbed him by the shoulders and forced him to look into his eyes. "WHERE IS Y/N?!" he shouted, shaking him.

"Niklaus..." the hybrid didn't even bother to listen to him.

He let go of the lapels of his jacket and ran towards the collapsing building, but before he could get close to the fire, his brother caught him. Klaus tried to break free from his grip. They both fell to the ground, fighting until the younger original snapped the older's neck.

"NIK!" his sister's scream stopped him from going home again, he ran towards her. Rage and fear shone in his eyes.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" he shouted at the jittery blonde. He had to get to Y/N, and his sister's tearful, devastated face didn't show she was safe. His anxiety and panic only increased as he searched Rebekah's eyes for any answer.

"She... she is in our house." Klaus had never felt such need and blissful relief flood him so quickly. Unfortunately, it left him as fast as it came. "She is in transition."

The original froze. He felt as if the whole world stopped around him for a moment. The one thing Klaus wasn't sure how Y/N would take in their (then very likely) future relationship was her possible transformation into a vampire. Now that it was actually happening, Klaus worried what his beloved's reaction would be.

"What? But... how?"

"Our father's minions attacked the building. Elijah and I managed to escape in time and evacuate Freya. Katherine was supposed to join us with Y/N, ​​but they never showed up. We went back into the building and found her with a metal rod in her chest. We thought she was dead, but Freya did some weird tricks on her, and it turned out she had vampire blood in her system. Your blood, Nik. I'm so sorry."

"They attacked Katerina. They snapped her neck when she tried to help Y/N. We need to find them and Mikael. They will die for what they did." he growled, preparing a very savage plan of attack in his head.

He would destroy those who hurt his love. They will be begging him to send them to hell quickly.

"Klaus! You knew that, right? That our father returned. Is that why you disappeared with Kol? You went to kill him on your own and you lost. You provoked him, so now it's our fault that Y/N is dead."

"YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MY PLANS WERE!" he shouted furiously. Rebekah had no right to say that when all he was doing was trying to protect Y/N and his family.

"THAT'S THE PROBLEM, NIK, IT'S ALWAYS YOUR PLANS AND NEVER OURS! And now Y/N is dead and it's all your fault!"

"SHE'S NOT DEAD! SHE WILL BE WITH US FOREVER AFTER TURNING INTO A VAMPIRE!"

"SHE WILL NEVER FEED!"

Her sudden statement restored complete silence, broken only by the sound of the burning house. Klaus quickly came to the conclusion that the sound of the fire burning in the fireplace, instead of bringing him relief and peace as before, would become the cause of his anxiety, a memory of the fear and horror he felt today. Another trauma for the collection.

"What?"

"She won't be one of us. She will die, Nik, and you will have the blood on your hands of the only person who has ever truly loved you."

"YOU'RE LIAR! SHE WOULD NEVER LEAVE ME!" he shouted, feeling the tears start to gather dangerously in his eyes.

"Are you sure?"

Klaus screamed, rushing furiously at his sister, but a strong hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Be calm, son. Don't do something you'll regret. We'll go in turn. We'll kill Miakel first and then deal with Y/N, right?"

"And who the bloody hell are you?" Rebekah asked, eyeing the newcomer suspiciously. Especially when her brother hadn't ripped his arm off or maimed him after he touched him.

"Rebekah, this is my father... Rebekah!" Klaus screamed as the blonde vampire walked over to the older man and slapped him across the face.

"It's okay, Niklaus. I think I deserved it." Ansel groaned in pain, clutching his sore cheek.

"What do you want from him?" she growled, shielding her brother from him with her body. The Mikaelsons' experience had taught them to be careful in their dealings with their parents. They didn't have a very good experience. Klaus, on the other hand, rolled his eyes at his sister's protectiveness. If Ansel wanted to hurt him, he would have done so long ago; he certainly wouldn't have saved him from the clutches of death. Which didn't mean he trusted his father. He would have to deserve it and prove his good intentions to the sibling.

"I want to protect him. He's my son."

Klaus' heart beat faster. His son. It had been a long time since anyone had said that about him (he doubted he'd ever heard those words spoken with such pride and feeling). After all, Klaus wasn't made of stone. He could pretend his father's attitude didn't bother him, but he guessed they all knew how it affected the cruel hybrid. But before their big family meeting about Ansel could take place, they had to defeat their parents. And nothing unites and strengthens family bonds like hunting down their enemies.

"I threw the newlyweds in the car! If you've finished this dramatic scene, get your ass to the car before we all burn up from this fire, behind you, idiots!"

Maybe Klaus would have taken his father into the family after all. He would make a great replacement for his annoying little brother...

~•♤♤♤•~

Y/N's POV

I groaned as I slowly began to regain consciousness.

My head was bursting like hell, my throat felt like a desert, and the lights of the New Orelan lanterns that flooded into the room blinded me, causing me additional pain.

I felt like I had a huge, unforgettable hangover.

However, I don't remember much from last night. I guess I got drunk at the wedding faster than I thought and ended up in Klaus' bedroom again. At least he cleaned up after our recent… activities.

I slowly got out of bed. The world seemed to spin in my head. I closed my eyes, trying to compose myself. Suddenly, I heard an awfully loud jazz band playing in the streets of New Orleans. I swallowed, wondering who normal plays at night under other people's windows.

Someone entered the house with a bang, slamming the door mercilessly behind them. I hissed, clutching my throbbing head in pain. I've never had such a big hangover in my life.

Klaus came in covered in blood. Instantly, I felt the excitement flooding into my body, and my tongue moved to wet my chapped lips. I felt hotter in the room. My god, I fucked him only 24 hours ago, I couldn't be such a whore to him.

"Y/N." he sighed, standing stunned in the doorway. Well, he probably wasn't expecting me in his bedroom again.

"After all the noise outside, I can tell you didn't get rid of those musicians after all. Who did you fight? And please don't tell me it was Elijah." I asked, trying to control my sudden and unexpected turning on by the hybrid in the blood. Fucking hormones before a period.

"Noise?"

"Do not change the subject. With your super-hearing, there's no way you can't hear it." the man gave me a concerned look as he approached me. "Okay, I'm starting to worry. What happened to you?"

"Y/N..." he whispered, reaching for me, but I took a step away from him and wrinkled my nose.

"There's no way I'm letting you hug me or even touch me when you're covered in blood. Know my good heart, I'll clean you." I made a familiar flick of my wrist, but to my surprise, nothing happened… my magic didn't even move in my veins. I tried again, but nothing happened. I transferred my annoyed, hostile gaze to the original. What right did he have to lock me up in his house and block access to my magic?! "What the hell have you done to my magic?! Why did you keep it from me?! What kind of game are you playing right now?!"

"Y/N, I need you to calm down..."

"DON'T TOUCH ME! What did you do to me?! Why can't I feel my power?!"

"I'm so sorry, love."

"No… you can't just imply that… No." I shook my head in disbelief, unable to accept what he was trying to tell me. He must have been making cruel fun of me. But his painful, worried expression indicated otherwise.

"You're in a transition, Y/N."

"No, no, no. I can't! I didn't even drink a vampire's blood or die!"

"You drank from me last night, and today at the wedding, my father's minions disrupted the party. They started a fire and…"

"NO! You're lying! I can't be a vampire!"

"Y/N, please just listen to me..." he took a step towards me, but I backed away from him in panic, afraid to be so close to the man covered in blood... I could smell the wonderful, intoxicating smell of the red liquid on him.

"DON'T come closer. It is impossible. Are you playing some sick game, or is that some fucking plan of yours? A way to get me stuck here?"

"You think I'd stoop so low that I could do something like that to you? One of the few people I care about more than myself?!"

"You tell me. I don't know you."

"Do you really want to argue the same thing over and over again? When do we both know the truth?"

"I'm in transition, I'm scared, I'm angry, and I feel like my whole body is on fire with pain, and you're still able to bring everything back to our fucked-up relationship? You are an unbelievable narcistic psycho."

"Well, I know a very simple solution to your problems." he walked over to his desk and opened a drawer, leaving a bloodstain on the wood. He turned back to me, tossing me a bag of blood. "Drink."

"Are you crazy?! I'm not going to turn into that bloodthirsty thing that you are!"

"I've never heard such a beautiful compliment, love. Now. Drink. Before I pour it down your throat."

"You can't fucking make me!" I screamed, throwing a bag against the wall, which wasn't a good idea at all as its contents started to run down the wall, creating a small puddle on the floor. My gums involuntarily itched. My stomach rumbled as the delicious smell of fresh blood hit my nostrils.

I closed my eyes, sighing as I tried to control the overwhelming hunger. Klaus took advantage of my moment of weakness, coming over to me and enclosing me in a tight, strong hug. The smell of blood that covered him attacked my senses.

It was funny how his arms were both the only place that could bring me peace and make me fearful of the inner need caused by the vampire blood in my system.

"I can see how you are struggling and how persistently you are trying to overcome it. But why fight it? Why when you can get so much? Have you ever thought about the benefits of being a vampire? Your lovely, pretty face will never age a day, being able to dazzle others with its unimaginable beauty forever. All human diseases and ailments will disappear. You will be able to enjoy eternal life, discovering the mysteries and wonders of this world, even if not with me by your side, then with someone who will worship you until the end of this world. All you have to do is drink some blood and let us take care of you until you learn to control yourself. Is that such a big price to pay for eternal life?" he let me pull away from him a little so I could look into his eyes as he held me tight, desperately trying to convince me to stay alive.

"Who said it would be a happy life? That I'll learn to control myself and not go crazy or become a ripper? That I won't come back covered in the innocent blood of humans every night like you?"

"I must admit I'm a little offended, but I won't blame you for making such vicious accusations against me." he said it in such a tone that I laughed involuntarily, bringing a tender smile to his face. He could always make me laugh, even in the darkest of times. "It's the blood of Mikael and his minions; they definitely weren't innocent, love. Besides, I know you. You will not attack an ordinary man for your own pleasure. And even if you want to, I'll make sure you don't do anything stupid."

I got out of his grip, walking away from him to a safe distance. I might have been in transition, but of the two of us, the man was still the more impetuous. His reaction to my final decision may vary, and I prefer not to risk an untimely death by suffocation.

Besides, Klaus would never forgive himself for that.

"I can't, Nik. I won't feed." his calm facade dropped, and the desperation in his eyes and fear became more evident.

"Y/N just listen to me..."

"It seems like the only fair way out, you know? I helped you plan that stupid wedding; now, at least, you can return the favor by giving me a big, epic funeral."

"Don't even joke like that."

"You know, when Bonnie became sort of an anchor for dead supernaturals to find their way to peace or whatever it is, I couldn't believe at first that the dead actually went somewhere. It seems logical that after you've lived so many years with all these super powers, you just… die. No special effects, no second life, or another reality where there are other dead people. Now, I wish I believed in an afterlife, but I just don't buy this peace story."

"Vampirism is by definition an afterlife."

"I'd rather go into the unknown than live in pain." as if on cue, a sudden, painful spasm seized the left half of my body, causing me to double up... I thought I was beginning to decay from the inside out.

Klaus was near me in no time, holding me up. Fear and despair were painted on his face so clearly that I had to look away from him to chase away the remorse.

"The longer you wait, the more you'll suffer."

"Yeah. I think it's better this way. I mean, look at me. I'm gonna make a super-hot corpse. Perfect for an open casket..."

"Y/N."

"I want a huge party. Everyone has to drink themselves into oblivion and reminisce about all the happy times, funny jokes, or God knows what else. And don't let Kol officiate my funeral, because he'll definitely bring up that stupid story about drunk me flirting with you in a wedding dress or that you were my last fu..."

"STOP IT!" he shouted, interrupting me."I'll not entertain this kind of talk any longer. You must feed. I need you." he growled, glaring at me madly as if that had ever impressed me or worked on me.

He wanted a furious lovers quarrel? Here we go, I'll give him a fucking, last argument.

"This is not about you, this is about me! I liked who I was! I've spent my entire life being that exact version of myself! Years of hard practice and experimentation with my magic went for nothing. I'm nothing! I will never be who I used to be. It is better if I die as someone I'm proud of than live as someone I despise!"

"NO! It is better to live a flawed life than to waste it rotting in clay!"

"But that's not your decision to make." I whispered with tears in my eyes.

He thought I wanted to die? Leaving the love of my life when our story was just beginning? That I didn't want that fucking fairytale ending where the princess got her prince charming?

But I was never a Cinderella, and Klaus was no cut-off to be a prince on a white horse. And we had to accept this.

"Y/N..."

"I HAVE NOTHING, KLAUS! Without my magic, I am a meaningless shell of my former self. I will always be just a shadow of the person I used to be, unable to cast even the simplest spell or feel the fucking energy of plants! My immortal life will be one big void that nothing can fill!" I walked over to him, taking his hands. I didn't want him to leave. Since I was about to die, I didn't want to do it alone. But I knew full well that he wouldn't stay with me to watch me die, because if I were in his place, I wouldn't be able to watch him go away forever either. "I don't want to live like this, Nik. I can't stand such a pain, and certainly nothing is worth it."

"If you want to go back to the arms of death so badly, I won't stop you. I only hope the bugs will eat your rotten body soon, love." he growled, pulling his hand out of my grip, and he stormed out of the room.

"Klaus! Wait!" I shouted after him, trying to take a step towards the door, but I was too weak to move. I slumped to the ground, letting all my heightened emotions come to light and burst into tears as I listened as the hybrid left the house, slamming the door angrily.

This wasn't how it was all supposed to be.

Everything was meant to fall into place after the wedding, but my life was coming to an inexorable end, and my epic true love left me alone and ran away, hurt by my refusal to accept eternal life by his side.

Suddenly, I felt arms pull me into a comforting, firm embrace as someone began to stroke my hair reassuringly. I looked up. It was Klaus' father.

Klaus told me about it several times and even showed me one of the most traumatic memories for him—finding his biological father, pierced through and through by Mikael's sword. I spent half the night with him then, trying to distract his mind from his memories about his true origin.

Apparently, Ansel must have returned with the parents of the originals. He must have trusted him to let him into his mansion.

"All right. He will calm down a bit and come back to you, darling. He will not waste the last hours with his beloved on pointless wandering in anger around the city."

"I... don't want to hurt him. I just can't... I... was never supposed to become... It's all so fucked up." I sobbed, letting Ansel move me to Klaus' bed, so we were sitting next to each other.

"Try to understand him. The love of his life is dying, and while he could shove blood down your throat and save you, he can't do anything without your permission. He's powerless, and that's one of the few feelings my son doesn't take well."

"I don't think I can do it, Ansel. I don't want to be a vampire, but… I want him to be okay. He finally has some happiness and peace in his life, and I'm taking that away from him, making him unhappy again. If only I could turn back time and…"

"And do what? Never met him?"

"That would be best for him and his family."

"I think my son knows what's best for him. And I think..." he got out of bed, rolled up the carpet to get to the floorboards, and pulled out one board. He put his hand into the hole and pulled out a huge bundle of papers. He put everything back in its place and came over to me, handing me the package. "He discovered it himself a long time ago."

"What is it?" I asked, wiping tears from my cheeks, and (after wiping my hands on my dress) I took it from him.

"Something for you. Ah, these postmen! They always lose something or don't deliver it on time, don't they? I'll leave you with that for a while. I'll make sure you have some privacy." Klaus' father went out of the room, closing a door behind him.

A werewolf left me with the strange envelopes alone.

I looked at them distrustfully, not certain if I really wanted to open them. But my innate curiosity made me ask myself one important question all the time.

What was in them?

With trembling hands, I opened the first sealed envelope.

I'd recognize Klaus' practiced, beautiful handwriting anywhere. It's been haunting me since he sent me an invitation to Mikaelson's ball. After every little note he gave me, I could tell I was an expert at his refined handwriting. Thanks to this little obsession, after the first glance at the letter, I knew it was written by him.

Y/N, I have to admit, I'm a little offended that you're not answering my calls. Are you so busy with Mystic Falls stuff that you don't have time for old friends? It'd be nice to know you're alive, Klaus

My malicious witch, my nuisance, It's really awful of you to torment my poor soul. What have I done to deserve such a cold shoulder? Have your little friends turned you against me? If Rebekah and Katherine deserve weekly video calls, what do I have to do to have the honor of hearing your irritating voice? Stop with that attitude, or I'll show up in this musty hole myself, Klaus

A thorn in my side, a waking nightmare, I see you're ignoring me on purpose. I have to admit, I didn't expect such a game from you, but here you go. Want to play games? Expect me to be a willing participant. Let the best win, Klaus

My stupid little witch, Heretics will no longer bother you. Do not thank me. Put your life in danger for these morons one more time, and you will know my wrath, Klaus

My little tormentor, Have you cast a spell on me to think about you every night? Does this possession make me see you everywhere I go, only to be disappointed when I reach a person who is not you? Is this another one of your new tricks? Making me miss you awake and asleep? I swear I'll draw you into your own trap, Klaus

My lovely witch and the sweet bane of my existence, You win. I love you. Truly, madly, deeply. I dare you to come to me and get your price. Yours, Klaus

If it was possible, I cried more than before. Why now? Why didn't I find all these letters sooner? If only I had known about the letters sooner, now at least I would have had something to remember on the other side.

But the most important question was, did I really want to go to the other side, now?

[bananadrinkxxx]

THE BLOOD CROWN (20)

[Aemond Targaryen x Original Female Character ! I fem!reader]

[Dark Romance / Enemies to Lovers / Revenge]

Content for adults. 18+

[warnings: smut, sex content, dark romance, angst, fights, domination, murder]

[description: Aemond Targaryen meets his niece under a different name and falls in love with her without knowing that she is supposed to be his enemy.]

Masterlist - click here for all available parts

"We have found four burnt corpses on the edge of the forest near Harrenhal, my king."

Aemond looked tired to Grand Maester Orwyle, and suddenly he felt life coming into him again. Burnt bodies? Orwyle had spoken to the king, but his gaze was on Otto, who looked intently at the old man.

A Grand Maester was the king's personal maester, a learned man wise in history, science, and medicine who also provides counsel. Aemond had always wondered why Maester Orwyle had been given this position, a foolish man with too much misogynism in him. Of course, he saw it as Maester Orwyle did that Rhaenyra had no place on the Iron Throne, but only because he followed the laws of his ancestors and he knew that someone like his half-sister, who trampled on honor and decency, had no right to sit there and not because he hated women in general. There was no one he respected more than his mother.

"Daemon Targaryen has been sighted nearby aboard with his dragon Caraxes. It suggests he did it. The type of fire is definitely from a dragon."

Why would Daemon burn four unknown men? It seemed unnecessary and risky.

"Now the Rogue Prince is killing innocent people, too? His madness knows no end," says Jasper Wylde, Master of Laws. "This is an abomination."

"Maybe it was also Rhaenyra who gave the order?"Orwyle said again with a touch of poison in his words. "She's like Maegor, only with tits. Now that she can squeeze her bastard back to her breasts, there's no stopping her."

Aemond watched his mother raise her eyebrow disapprovingly and Orwyle shrink in his seat. "Forgive me, my words, Queen Alicent."

"For Rhaenyra the iron throne is more important than peace," Otto interrupted. "She has now proved that. She has refused every offer of peace from us and we expect her attack at any minute."

"An unsuitable candidate for the inheritance of Aegon I the Conqueror. It's good that her revered father came to his senses in the last few seconds," Lannister added, looking at Alicent contentedly. But his mother did not respond to his words and looked to her father.

"She has already declared war on us. She already did when she attacked our family."

"Barbaric."

"We must respond with fire and blood."

Aemond glanced at his brother. He stared around like it was none of his business. They hadn't much to say since their fight. Aegon seemed disinterested and once again Aemond realized how inappropriate Aegon seemed in this round. If he had been born as the firstborn, Rhaenyra would have been on her knees by now or, at best, already dead.

But his mother had insisted it had to be Aegon and Aemond understood. The Greens claimed that the firstborn son had to ascend to the throne, and what basis would their government have if he were to overthrow Aegon? It would have been best if he had brought Aegon to the ships, as the elder had begged him. In doing so, he would have spared Aegon the burden of the crown, to which he was no match, and he would have received what he was best suited for of all his siblings.

Aegon was weak.

"Ser Criston shows outstanding successes," reported Otto, alternately looking at Aegon and Aemond as if he heard his thoughts. "He's laying siege to Rook's rest right now. Ser Criston sent us a message. He's counting on the black attack."

He'd be ready. She should come. He would finally be able to show that he not only flew the oldest dragon but also the most powerful. He would crush their rebellion. He would know no mercy.

Ever since the attempted murder of Aegon's children, it's been willing to do anything. He would kill every single one of Rhaenyra's children, he would leave none to remain, as long as he traveled with Vhagar across the seven kingdoms until he had ensured that the last child of that bitch had died.

"My brother and I will ride on Sunfrye and Vhagar to Rook's rest," said Aemond, sensing Aegon's gaze upon him. Who was the king here? "We will not tolerate another black crime act."

He exchanged a glance with Aegon and his brother nodded.

"I agree," Aegon confirmed, and Aemond nodded contentedly.

"When they see you, they will return immediately, my king."

"Wouldn't it be advisable to inform Prince Daeron? Three dragons are better than two."

"My brother flew to Altsass this morning. Until we reach him, it won't be until the hour of the moon. Rhaenyra could attack at any time," Aegon contradicted and stood up. Suddenly he seemed determined and ready to fight. No sign of the weakling who had sat in his seat before.

"We're going to lure them into a case. We'll be close by, and if my sister attacks, we'll meet her on Sunfrye and Vhagar."

. . . . .

Rhaenyra had been expecting her lord husband back in the evening, and she felt a sense of relief when she could see Caraxes in the sky. Losing Daemon would be the downfall for them. Both as a personal loss and as a Queen. She stepped down the steps of Dragonstone, and went to the landing site where Daemon had already landed on Caraxes. She smiled and was about to greet her husband when she saw Daemon pulling out a girl. First she saw the brown curly hair, which was completely ruffled, then the torn dress and the wounds on her arms and legs. For a moment she looked like a young Alicent, and Rhaenyra inevitably remembered their childhood and friendship, but then the girl turned her head in her direction and Rhaenyra felt all the air leaving her body. The blood in her veins froze and it was suddenly hard to breathe.

Her eyes.

Rhaenyra stepped forward and grabbed her chain. The necklace she had given to herself and Aemma for her fourth name's day.

The engraving on the back is etched in forever, just like the meaning of the words.

In dreams we are united.

It couldn't have been.

The closer they got, the more frightening the resemblance Aemma and this strange girl shared. That's how Rhaenyra imagined her daughter. These eyes, these lips and their heart-shaped face.

Suddenly, a thousand memories flashed before her mind's eyes.

Aemma on her lap, cuddling herself asleep in her arms.

Aemma as she and her dragon Marax made a connection.

Aemma, who played with Lucerys and her older brother made her a dragon out of paper and Aemma proudly presented it to her mother.

Rhaenyra felt a tear roll over her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. Her hand trembled. Her eyes had to play a vicious game with her. She had longed for her daughter for too long, that she had longed to see her again, that now she suddenly thought a girl she had never seen before in her life was her daughter who thought she was dead.

"Mother," a familiar voice shouted behind her, and Rhaenyra broke away from the sight of the girl. She saw Lucerys coming towards her. He had his eyes on his mother, but then Rhaenyra watched Lucery's gaze wander to Daemon and he opened his eyes.

"Rose," he said, and Rhaenyra looked at her son in surprise.

"Rose? You know the girl?," Rhaenyra asked surprised.

Lucerys looked serious at her. "Yes," he nodded. "This is the girl I told you about. She is the one who reminds me of Aemma."

So she wasn't the only one? Your eyes didn't deceive you? Didn't play with their cruel games? Her son's words gave her relief, but at the same time they frightened her.Rhaenyra turned to Daemon to take another look at the girl to see that they were only a few steps away from her. The closer they came, the more Rhaenyra saw the resemblance. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest.

"My Queen," Daemon greeted her, pulling the girl roughly in front of him. She stumbled and almost flew there if the prince hadn't held her. Rhaenyra gagged about his rudeness.

The girl, Rose, as Lucerys had called her, looked up and her brown eyes stared straight at her. It was as if she looked into her soul and swallowed Rhaenyra. If it was Aemma, wouldn't she have to recognize her mother? That she wouldn't recognize Lucerys would be understandable due to the change his development brought about, but even if she had grown older, would she have to recognize her mother or not? But she saw only surprise and shock in her eyes, which gave Rhaenyra a disappointing sting.

"I brought us Aemond Targaryen's whore."

Rhaenyra looked surprised at Daemon, who looked at her content. Then she looked behind her, to Lucery's squeezing his lips. She had a connection to Aemond, to her brother, to her enemies? The girl who looked like Aemma, and who seemed to deceive both her and Lucerys, had a close connection to the Greens, their enemies?

What a cruel joke of the gods.

. . . . .

Larys had to admit that it wasn't easy not to be noticed when he heard about the four bodies burned. Since he was neither stupid nor naive, and none of the men he had hired had come to collect their payment, he knew that something must have gone wrong.

The burned bodies. The girl, Rose, was not among them. He had ordered four men, there were four bodies, and none of them had been a woman's body. He could only hope that the girl had died some other way. Perhaps the men had already killed the girl before the Rogue Prince burned her. Larys was not in any danger at the moment, he would not have any consequences to fear, no one knew of him as a client, but he hated the feeling that he had no certainty.

He'd have to move on quickly with his plan.

. . . . .

Aemond did not turn around when he heard a gentle knock on his door and how it was opened timidly. He watched himself in his mirror and straightened his clothes. Rose didn't say a word when she entered his chambers. Daeron had told him that she had woken up, but that she had been asleep when he had visited her. Aemond had not visited her, but the feeling of relief and gratitude had brought him to the Sept and made him pray to the gods. For the first time, she had granted him a wish. Rose was alive. He sacrificed everything for that. He had not forgotten his oath to the gods. He made a deal with them. He promised them that if they let Rose live, he would do his duty and not bring any further disgrace upon her. He'd give anything to keep her alive. He was a believing man, since he was a child, his mother had taken him to the Sept, and since then he was a god-fearing man.

And that was the deal. His happiness for Rose's life.

But he didn't expect it to be so hard for him. Yes, he hated the feeling of weakness that she caused in him, and he didn't want to let her go into his heart, convinced himself she didn't mean anything to him, but no matter how much he lied to himself, it didn't change how much she had crept into his heart.

But he had decided to put that connection behind him. That's why he lied to himself and everyone else, denied it and its value to him. Only the gods knew what Rose meant to him, and he had no intention of changing that. He knew that he had to be cruel to her now, so that she too would quickly believe that she had no meaning to him. He didn't want to hurt her, but her life was too worthless for him.

He would rather see her alive and happy at the side of another man than plunge her into her misfortune.

He felt a touch on his shoulder and looked into the mirror again, but the reflection that was facing him was not the one of the woman he had been expecting. He quickly turned around and grabbed the hand of Alys Rivers, who looked at him in fright.

"What are you doing to her?"He hissed and squeezed hard. Why was she in his room?

"I have been assigned to you, my prince," she replied, closing her eyes.

"Why? I have a maid."

Alys looked at him again. Her eyes were deep and invited to sink into it.

"Do you mean Rose?"

"Who else would I mean, woman?"

She annoyed him. Her innocence didn't work on him. He thought it was ridiculous that a woman her age would still play these games. Perhaps Rose was still too weak to fulfill her duties to him? Just because she was awake didn't mean she was ready to go back to work.

"But, my prince," began Alys, looking at him pityingly. "You don't know yet?"

"What should I know?"Aemond hissed and had to control herself not to break her wrist. What did she know that he didn't?

"Rose has decided to leave the Red Keep and King's Landing. She told me yesterday. She was going to say goodbye to you and ask permission, but her things are gone, which is why I thought you signed her release."

Aemond didn't know what to think for a moment.

His head was empty. His mouth is dry. Suddenly it was painful to breathe and it felt as if his intestines were contracting in his body. The blood rushed in his ears.

Rose was gone?

How could that be possible?

No, she wouldn't dare it.

She wouldn't dare to leave him. She wouldn't dare leave him without saying goodbye. She wouldn't betray him. She wouldn't. Never.

"She said she fears for her life here and doesn't want to be in danger anymore."

That's bullshit. She was in danger if he couldn't protect her. He would never have let her leave him. How dare she? She wouldn't dare, would she? She wouldn't leave him.

She was his. His.

Just because he decided he wanted to stay away from her didn't mean she wasn't his anymore. He would have taken care of her anyway. He would have accepted it even if she had chosen a man at some point, but it would have been a man he considered worthy.

Rose belonged to him and neither she nor anyone else could say otherwise.

"Are you all right, my prince?"Alys asked, and Aemond shook as she put her hand on his cheek. Her hand was soft and cold, but for Aemond it felt as if she were burning him. He ripped his eye open and pushed Alys away. She breathed in fright, and Aemond put his hand around her neck. The anger in him was unstoppable. Alys gasped in a panic and tried to release his hand from her throat.

"If you dare to touch me again," began Aemond, and for a moment he no longer recognized his own voice, so cold and strange, "then I will kill you, do you understand me?"

He meant it. He'd kill her and he wouldn't hesitate. He was exploding inside, ready to kill anyone who stood in his way.

Rose didn’t leave him.

She wouldn't.

She must have been around.

He would do his duty today to his family and to this kingdom, and then he would turn every single stone after her.

He would bring her back, even if he had to put her in chains.

Alys nodded and he saw the horror in her eyes.

She feared for her life. All right. She should. She would never again make the mistake of touching him without his consent. He snorted and pushed her away. She stumbled backwards, over her own feet, and Aemond looked down upon her. He didn't feel sorry for me. She was of no value to him.

Without paying any more attention to her, he turned around and left his chambers. Nobody dared to speak to him, and that was a good thing. He didn't know what he was capable of at that moment.

Arriving in the Dragonpit, Aegon was already waiting for him, who looked at him surprised.

"What happened?"He asked, irritated, but Aemond didn't say a word. He ignored his brother and went to Vhagar, who looked at him attentively. She felt his inner struggle. She knew exactly how he felt. He approached Vhagar, pressed his hand against her scaly skin and saw her right in her eye looking down on him.

"Let's kill them all today," he said in Valyrian, and Vhagar gave an approving sound.

Aemond looked up to her contentedly.

. . . . .

"We can use her against Aemond," Daemon suggested, and Rhaenyra felt an irritating sting in her heart. She had no connection to Rose, and yet it felt to her as if Daemon was proposing to sacrifice one of her children.

But Rose was not her daughter. Or ? No, that was impossible. Or ?

Rhaenyra didn't know what to think.

"Are you sure she means something to the prince?"Lord Corlys asked, and he had a good argument. "Just because she's supposedly sleeping with him-"

"She does."

"Just because she is sleeping with him," Corlys corrected with a raised eyebrow, "doesn't mean she's important to him."

"Well, I think we can only find out if we try."

"And how do you imagine that, Daemon?"

"We can-"

Daemon was interrupted by Ser Erryk, who pushed open the door without permission and bowed deeply to Rhaenyra. She saw the look he gave Lord Corlys, and she felt it had happened. Something terrible.

"A letter from the Crownlands, Rook's Rest, from Lady Staunton," Ser Erryk said, and Rhaenyra accepted the letter.

Her hands trembled. Rhaenys was there. Why didn't she get a message from her?

She looked at Lord Corlys who seem to think the same. She saw fear in his eyes.

She opened the letter and read the words she had feared.

Everything in her pulled together. She trembled as her gaze turned to Lord Corlys and she saw that he understood.

"No," he breathed, and his pain was clearly audible.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Corlys. My beloved cousin, Rhaenys Targaryen was killed fighting Aegon and Aemond," she had to pull herself together not to cry. She couldn't be weak. She was the Queen, the protector of the realm. She couldn't afford to be weak. It wasn't about her at that moment.

"Meley's head was taken to King's Landing. Just like Lord Staunton's head, beheaded for treason."

"And Rhaeny's?"Daemon asked, and she heard the anger in his voice. The hate. The same hatred she felt.

She looked at Corlys, who suddenly looked like a broken man. But he also looked at her, hope was still in his eyes, which she would destroy immediately.

"They left a body behind," her voice sounded strange. "Lady Staunton and her men are unsure, but a woman's body was found burned right next to her dragon Meleys."

That's exactly what Rhaenyra wanted to prevent. She didn't want anyone to die for her. And now this war had claimed its first victims. Rhaeny's had decided for her in spite of the disagreement with her. Rhaeny's died because of her.

And she didn't seem to be the only one to think so.

"It's your fault, Rhaenyra," Corlys sneered suddenly and she looked at him. Daemon also had his gaze fixed on him. "If you hadn't held back your children, Rhaenys wouldn't have flown alone. You sent her to her death."

Lord Staunton had asked for support when the Greens besieged him, but she had forbidden Jacaerys and Baela to join Rhaenys. She was scared. Unbearable fear. Lucerys had no dragon since Aemond attacked him and Rhaena was still dragonless. Rhaenyra was not willing to make the same mistake twice. She had tried to stop Rhaenys from flying there, she wanted to send men on foot, but Rhaenys had made it clear that it would be foolish to sacrifice men if you had a dragon that could quickly fix the problem.

So she let Rhaenys fly alone.

And now Rhaenys was dead.

Corlys stood up full of hatred, anger and sadness in his eyes and Daemon walked towards him, but Rhaenyra held him back. "No," she said quietly, shaking her head. She watched Lord Corlys leave the room and Ser Erryk followed him silently.

"It's not your fault," Daemon said to her. "You didn't force her to fly there."

"But I let her fly alone."

"It was her own decision."

Rhaenyra nodded. It wasn't just a personal loss for her. It was also a great loss for the blacks. Rhaenys had been a powerful opponent. She had been a smart woman, with a strong dragon, and now she had lost both. She looked in fear at the table on which the whole kingdoms had been drawn. She grabbed Rhaeny's figure and took it off the table.

She watched it in her hand.

She knew it wouldn't be the last loss she'd have to endure.

She wondered when this war would end, knowing that it was only the beginning.

"I want revenge," Rhaenyra said, turning to Daemon. "I want to punish them for everything. Every single one of them."

Daemon nodded and approached her. He grabbed her hand and opened it. He looked at the figure that symbolized Rhaenys and Meleys. He knew how to hide it, but she saw the grief in his eyes. He, too, had been wounded by her death. And worst of all, Rhaenys died believing her two children were dead. Rhaenyra could never forgive herself.

"Let's execute the girl," Daemon said suddenly, and Rhaenyra looked at him in surprise.

"What?"

"Let us execute her and send her head to Aemond. I want him to know we'll pay him back twice for every loss. This is just the beginning, Rhaenyra."

Rhaenyra knew that Daemon's suggestion made sense. She probably would have agreed immediately if there wasn't an inner struggle raging inside her, a struggle of feelings. Something in her told her it was a mistake to kill the girl, but she wondered if it was just the wish that Rose could be someone she probably wasn't, or the certainty that she would kill an innocent girl.

Taglist

@watercolorskyy @marvelescvpe @ammo23 @helaenaluvr

[ancientforgcd]

About Vegeta

Name: Vegeta (IV) Title: Prince of All Saiyans Allegiance: Dragon Team / Z-Fighters Occupation: Martial Artist, Former Saiyan Elite Warrior Age: 45-55 Birthday: Unknown Race: Saiyan Morality Alignment: Chaotic Good Gender: Male Sexuality: Straight Handedness: Right-handed Height: 169 cm Eye Color: Onyx Hair Color: Black Misc: Does not have his tail.

Personality:

Vegeta embodies pride, resilience, and an unyielding drive to be the best. As the Prince of the Saiyan race, he carries a deep-seated pride in his heritage, which fuels his relentless ambition and fierce sense of honor. Unlike Goku, Vegeta’s pursuit of power comes from a complex blend of loyalty to his Saiyan roots and an intense desire to prove himself. His rivalries are born out of respect but also a deep-seated frustration that someone else, especially Goku, could surpass him. This has created a complex bond with Goku, where respect and rivalry intermingle in every battle and training session they share.

Beneath his stern exterior, Vegeta is surprisingly introspective and loyal. His journey has taken him from a ruthless warrior intent on domination to a family man with a strong sense of responsibility toward his loved ones and Earth. Despite his often gruff demeanor, he is fiercely protective of his family and will go to any lengths to keep them safe. Vegeta’s honor also prevents him from using underhanded tactics; he prefers to face opponents head-on, driven by a need to win on his own terms rather than through trickery.

Vegeta’s stoic front sometimes masks a deep vulnerability and a desire to find his place beyond his past sins and failures. His pride may be his strength, but it also isolates him, as he struggles to fully express his affection or admit his admiration for others. However, this stoicism slowly shifts with his growing bond with his family and the friends he once viewed as beneath him. In his quieter moments, he reflects on his journey, taking a subdued pride in the warrior and protector he has become.

Background:

As the Prince of the Saiyan race, Vegeta was raised with the belief that he would one day rule and restore his people to their former glory. His childhood under the oppressive rule of Frieza shaped him into a hardened, ruthless warrior, committed to fulfilling his father’s legacy. Following the destruction of Planet Vegeta, he became one of Frieza’s most powerful soldiers, working under him with a simmering hatred that fueled his desire to one day break free and defeat his master.

After coming to Earth and facing Goku, Vegeta’s perspective on strength began to change. His pursuit of Goku’s level of power gradually evolved from bitter rivalry to a grudging respect and an understanding of what it truly meant to be a warrior. This journey saw him through battles with enemies like Majin Buu, where he sacrificed himself for his family and the planet he’d come to care for. His redemption arc is marked by moments of self-reflection and growth, transforming him from an enemy to a staunch ally and protector.

By the time he encounters the God of Destruction Beerus and witnesses the depths of divine power, Vegeta’s journey has come full circle; he no longer seeks power purely for revenge or supremacy but for a sense of fulfillment and the desire to protect those he cherishes.

Trivia:

Vegeta’s hobbies include training intensively, bonding with his family in his own unique way, and occasionally indulging in Earthly customs that amuse him.

He has achieved Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue, and his unique transformation known as Ultra Ego, which enhances his power through battle damage and getting lost in the lust of battle.

Unlike Goku, Vegeta often pushes himself to his limits from the start, relying on sheer intensity and power.

Vegeta’s fighting style is aggressive and unyielding, showcasing his powerful techniques like the Galick Gun, Final Flash, and Big Bang Attack.

While he rarely shows it, Vegeta is fiercely proud of his wife Bulma’s intellect and appreciates her unwavering confidence in him.

His Saiyan appetite is nearly as large as Goku’s, but he often enjoys meals in a more composed, almost regal manner.

Vegeta’s pride means he often declines help, preferring to face challenges alone if possible, though he has learned to accept assistance when absolutely necessary.

[fanficapologist]

Of Dragons and Maelstroms

Themes and Warnings: slow burn, enemies to lovers, blood, violence, explicit language, sexual violence, period-typical misogyny, sexual themes, smut, tension, marriage, jealousy, pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, attempted sexual assault, breastfeeding, major character death, divergent timelines

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon/Fire & Blood/Game of Thrones characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Chapter One:

Rain House, the ancestral seat of House Wylde, stands as a captivating testament to the might and resilience of the noble house. Located amidst the Stormlands of Westeros, the castle was perched majestically atop a rugged cliff overlooking the roaring waves of Shipbreaker Bay. Its imposing stone walls rose high into the sky, providing a formidable defense against any would-be intruders. The castle's turrets and battlements gave it a distinctive silhouette against the coastal horizon, evoking an aura of strength and power.

Septa Mathilde hurried through Rain House, long robes heard swishing in the halls, a letter in hand that that had arrived that morning by Raven. It was from her lord, Jasper Wylde, the current Master of Laws serving on the small council of the newly appointed King Aegon, second of his name.

With three knocks on the heavy wooden door, the Septa entered the chambers. But there was no sign of Lord Wyldes eldest daughter. The Septa had left her in there not long ago, an hour at most, to continue practising with her lyre, before being called to collect the correspondence that had arrived. It appeared that once again, the young lady had abandoned her duties and had sneaked away from her chambers. To the training yard to spar with her brothers no doubt, a common occurrence. The Septa huffed and then made her way back down the stairs.

“Lady Maera!” Septa Mathilde called behind the wooden fences in the courtyard, as she saw the young lady who had abandoned her gown and was now clad in leathers, dagger in hand and covered in mud. The eldest daughter of Lord Jasper showed a likeness to her father, having inherited is green eyes and dark brown hair. Underneath her thick mane was a stripe of silver, a reminder of the Targaryen blood that also ran through her veins thanks to her late mother.

She stood opposite her two elder brothers, Luthor and Faran, her long hair drawn back from her face in an intricate braid down her back, waiting for one of the men to attack. For many years, Maera was used as target practice for all her elder brothers when they were sparring, as a way to deter her from bothering them in the courtyard. However this did the opposite, as not only did the girl learn to defend herself with the sword, but also to strike the first blow.

The Wylde siblings had always shared a competitive spirit, and sparring sessions were not uncommon among them. Today was no exception. Lady Maera, though not as physically imposing as her brothers, possessed a grace and speed that often caught her opponents off guard. Faran swung his broadsword with force, aiming for Maera's defenses. She deftly parried, countering with a swift strike of her own. Luthor, the quickest of the three, darted in and out, testing Maera's reflexes. But she was no novice, and her years of training had honed her skills to match her brothers' prowess.

They moved in a dance of steel, the clashing of swords and the grunts of exertion filling the air. Maera felt a sense of exhilaration, embracing the challenge that came with sparring against her the two men. The sibling rivalry was not about proving superiority but pushing each other to be better.

The Septa shouted for the Lady once more, and as Maera turned to look, Faran had kicked her in the chest, Luthor had yanked the dagger from her hand and both brothers held their swords to their sisters throat as she lay on her back in the dirt.

“I yield” Maera groaned, propping herself up with her elbows on the muddy floor. Faran extended and arm and pulled her up onto her feet, smiling triumphantly. Maera glared at him.

“Well that was hardly fair, how am I meant to concentrate with Septa screaming at me as though the whole of Rain House is burning down?!” Maera dusted the dirt off her leathers as Luthor placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Many a great warrior have died in the battlefield due to distraction. You must never let your guard down” he said.

“What would you know about that, brother? The only battles you’ve seen are the ones in the story books” Maera said cheekily before sauntering over to the Septa, who had a face like thunder and would no doubt give the Lady a stern talking to.

“Yes, Septa?” Maera said as she reached the edge of the training yard, leaning against the wooden fence casually. “I thought I left you practicing The Ballad of Visenya and Vhagar upstairs?” Septa Mathilde stated gruffly. Maera laughed and said “Yes well as exhilarating as that was to practice on the lyre, I found myself distracted by watching those two idiots practicing like tavern wenches with their swords out here” she pointed to her brothers who rolled their eyes in unison as they were collecting the training equipment. The Septa did not acknowledge the Lady’s statement or smile . Maera then looked down and gestured to the piece of parchment in her hands. “What is that?”

“A letter from your father in the Capital. It arrived by Raven this morning” replied the Septa. Having heard it was from their father, Faran and Luthor also came to the edge of the yard to read the correspondence over her shoulder.

“Maybe Guston has been writing to father about what an absolute pain in the ass you’ve been since he left” laughed Faran, earning a huff from his sister. As Lord Wylde was performing his duties to the crown, the eldest son Guston was serving as the Lord of Rain House. Needless to say he did not approve of Maera’s demeanour and considered her a bad influence on the their younger sisters. Maera mostly just avoided her eldest brother and was clever enough to partake in the activities that were deemed “unladylike” by Guston, such as training in the courtyard or hunting with her other brothers, when he was busy with his Lordly duties. With a slight unnerving feeling in her gut, Maera broke the seal and read the letter.

Maera,

It is with great urgency that I write to you. The dowager Queen Alicent herself has requested your presence at the red keep. Queen Helaena is struggling to become accustomed to her new role and Queen Alicent feels that if she were to have a friend by her side during these difficult times, it would make the transition easier

Of course she’s struggling, Maera thought, shaking her head to herself. Married to a drunken, whoring oaf like Aegon, who had now all of a sudden ascended the Iron throne instead of his sister and Viserys’ named heir Rhaenyra, Helaenas world had been turned upside down almost overnight. The letter continued

Furthermore, I feel it would be good for you to return to the capital again. You are well past the time to be wed and Queen Alicent has assured me that as companion to Queen Helaena, the position will draw out many well-matched potential suitors. Guston has written that although you have grown more into your role of a Lady, there are still many things for you to learn, and your lack of commitment to your duties is having a negative impact on the other young ladies at Rain house.

“Bastard” Maera muttered under her breath, drawing a stern look from the Septa and a snort from Faran. Both her father and eldest brother intended for her younger sisters to be raised in a way that would suit their future husbands. They could not be their own person, have their own thoughts or interests or feelings. They simply existed to birth heirs and be an extension of a man that they had been tied to through matrimony.

Nevertheless, I would urge you to leave as soon as possible. I have asked the servants to pack your belongings and prepare a carriage for you to leave once my letter has reached Rain House. Given the delicate situation of the crowning of our rightful King, and the support his Queen requires, it looks as though you will not be returning to Rain House for quite some time. Rest assured, your younger brothers and sisters will be in the safe hands of the Septas and the wives of your elder brothers. I need not remind you that it is an honour and a privilege to be asked to serve the crown in direct manner such as this. I wish you a safe journey.

Lord Jasper Wylde, Lord of Rain House and Master of Laws

Maera finished the letter with a look defeat and Faran was heard to audibly gasp as he also reached the end of the letter.

“Seven Hells, Kings Landing seems to keep drawing you back to it” sighed Luthor, shooting a worried look to Faran in the process. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Maera was there, yet it had only been three years. So much had changed in such a short space of time. Would her friendship with Helaena remain as strong as it was years ago? Would Aegon be as insufferable as he was last time they met? And then there was Aemond. Aemond…

“When are you to leave my Lady?” Asked Septa Mathilde. “My father has suggested as soon as possible, so on the morrow I am presuming” replied Maera, folding the parchment and slipping it into her vest pocket. “Inform my family that we shall eat supper together this evening, if Guston is agreeable, and I will tell them my news”

“Yes my lady” the Septa nodded, and she left the yard to alert the maids. Maera turned to her brothers, both of which had concern in their eyes, which she returned with a sad smile. “I suppose I best ready my belongings and bathe. I can’t show up to Kings Landing looking like I have emerged from a swamp” Maera laughed and left the courtyard, entering the stone walls of her home.

As she walked through the halls towards her chambers, wiping her mud-covered face on her sleeve, her mind raced with thoughts of serving the Targaryens directly for the third time in her eighteen years in the world. It had been several years since she last set foot in the capital's court, and memories of her previous experiences flooded her thoughts. The intrigues, the politics, the ever-shifting alliances - they all weighed heavily on her mind. Lady Maera was no stranger to court life, but after spending time away from it, the prospect of returning filled her with a sense of anxiety, as well as curiosity of what was to come.

Thank you so much for reading! Comments, feedback, likes, and reblogs are greatly appreciated 🖤

[polutrope]

🦤 a quote you had to delete :( (but still wanna share!)

Thank you for the ask!

Here's a flashback scene I cut from the latest chapter of And Love Grew, of the murderbrothers discussing their decision to attack Sirion. It got away from me and the character motives I'd already committed to, but I think it's still a cool scene.

~

“How many times?” Amrod cried. “How many times must she refuse us before you will rouse yourself to action?”

He had railed for minutes. Dornil, arms steepled and knotted in front of her mouth to conceal any sign of emotion, had watched Maedhros, silent and enduring at the head of a table in the neglected council chamber of Amon Ereb. The tapestries, those that had not been thrown into the hearthfire in a fit of rage at the past they recalled, were frayed and faded. The stone walls were rimed with ash. They had not been cleaned since Doriath.

When his brother paused for breath, Maedhros said, “Be seated.” Amrod seethed a moment, hesitating, then obeyed. “We have not given up hope of reclaiming the Silmaril by means of negotiation.”

“How long until Morgoth sends his legions against them?” Amrod persisted. “How long before it falls back into his hands?”

“The Enemy is bound by no Oath to reclaim the jewel,” Maedhros explained, edged with only a hint of impatience. “Moreover his power does not extend so far as Sirion. Ulmo still guards those waters else the haven would have been taken years ago. By all reports the settlement thrives. Morgoth will wait until the time is ripe.”

Amras had sat silent and sullen since their counsel began, but now he spoke. “You do not know his mind.”

The lash of his words was palpable. Maedhros snapped. “I know his mind far better than any of you here.”

Perhaps, thought Dornil. But where had it led them? Maedhros’ professed knowledge of the Enemy’s counsels, his consolation for years of torment, had brought them nothing but ruin and disgrace.

“We need not fight them,” Dornil said. She lowered her arms. “The people of Sirion — of Nargothrond, Doriath, Gondolin — will know a force too great to resist when they see it. They have all suffered defeat. Dior was stubborn, his daughter is stubborn. She is too young to remember. But that is not true of all her people. When they see our strength, they will surrender.”

“And if they do not?” Maglor challenged when she had finished — not unkindly, but in the way of father, or a teacher, coaxing a thought to fullness.

“Then we will answer,” Dornil said. It was not the answer he wanted to hear, but sometimes a teacher must learn from his pupil. An elder from his junior. This Maglor understood well.

“Maedhros,” Maglor said. “We cannot risk losing more of our people.”

“You mean more of your brothers?” Amras cut in before Maedhros could answer. “You mean us?”

Maglor’s head snapped to him. “I mean our people.”

“No,” Maedhros said, as if to himself, “you do not.” He raised his voice. “And you are right. There are warriors among them also, and it takes only one blade, one arrow, to end a life. We all believe we will pass in glory, against a foe far greater than us. Was Caranthir not shot down by archers skulking in trees? Did Curufin not end upon the knife of an unarmoured Sinda queen? Was Celegorm not felled by a half-mortal king scarcely out of his youth?” Each of these names flew from his tongue like a lance, all the sharper for how infrequently he spoke of them. “I will not have that life be any of yours.”

“Then you will need to restrain us,” Amrod said. “For we go to Sirion with or without your support. Brother.”

Dornil felt herself go taut.

But Maedhros was unaffected. “Yes. I thought you might say that.”

“Then restrain them!” Maglor cried, eyes flashing at his twin brothers. “If they are set on madness, is it wrong to do so?”

Swift as a snake, Amras lunged. His fist hit Maglor’s jaw. A moment later, blood pooled at the corner of Maglor’s mouth. He wiped it away with the back of his palm.

Maedhros did not move, did not speak. He did nothing.

Dornil burned with defensive fury. She knew she was not alone among the assembled captains. Too often of late they had witnessed their lords strike against each other — with blows or words, the difference was slight. The sons of Fëanor were fracturing, calving ice floes on which they, their followers, were helplessly adrift.

“A person may be bound and shut behind bars,” said Maedhros at last. “But an oath such as ours cannot be restrained. Four of us who swore that Oath remain. Two are set on pursuing its fulfillment through threat of violence, or violence indeed if it should come to that. My heart at present does not agree with this course of action. But if my brothers tell me, as you do, that our father’s Oath is now stronger than the one you swore to follow me, I cannot keep you from it. Is it this that drives you?”

“Yes,” Amrod said without hesitation.

[misguidedasgardian]

The White Dragon (25)

25. In the Dragon's den

MASTERLIST

Summary: The consequences of Aemond’s actions

Pairings: main Harwin Strong x Fem!Targaryen reader

Warnings: cursing, medieval and A song of ice and Fire AU customs, minors getting married, talks about “bedding” and “having sex” about underage persons. 

+18, MINORS DNI

Wordcount: 3.4 k

Notes: SURPRISE! I finished it early!

Criston Cole being petty HAHAHA his part and thoughts in this are written sarcastically, just so you know! 😂

Since Aemond confessed to the small council of the horrible accident, the meetings were tense, and almost awkward. 

He had gained a seat in it, alongside his brother, the King. Aegon had to be dragged to attendance, sometimes suffering the spoils of the night before where he indulged in wine and sex. Since he rose to power he didn’t even bother in leaving the Keep, he just brought his ladies from the skin trade and his other vices to the Keep through secret passageways and sometimes he wouldn’t even bother in hiding them. 

“Had the Blacks declared war yet?”, asked Aegon, playing with the dragoneye in front of him

“No”, Otto muttered, their silence was terrifying. They expected a full scale attack, they were sighting the skies for enemies every hour. But the silence was worse. They had been 

“What about the ravens we have sent?”, asked Alicent 

“We received letters from all over the Kingdoms”, said the Hand with a smile, “Ha! see? a letter from the North, already the lords of the seven Kingdoms are falling in line”, claimed Otto, removing the seal and opening the letter. Alicent had a pleased and content smile on her face. But at seeing his father’s grin change suddenly, panic quickly settled in

“What? What is it?” she asked, Aegon raised his gaze as well to look at his grandfather

“They recognized Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen as the legitimate Queen of the seven Kingdoms” he said, reading. 

“What?”

“They left it clear that they bend the knee, recognizing her as the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne”, he continued, “Furthermore, they know about the death of the princess and they…”, he swallowed hard

“What?”, asked Alicent

“They considered it an act of war, they called their bannermen, they are gathering the northern army to march south”, Alicent opened her eyes widely

“They won’t dare go this far south”, she said

“Once they meet with the Knights of the Vale, they will”, Otto said, “the northerners went ahead even more, they repudiate the ascension of Aegon the drunk, calling him a usurper”, he said firmly

“They would wage war against the crown?” she asked, indignant

“...Against the usurper”, he called, “That wretched princess whored his sons to Cregan Stark, it has to be” she muttered

“They loved each other since they were children”, said Alicent. They were interrupted by a guard, who entered solemnly, guiding a maester, a letter in his hand

“Lord Hand, a letter from Dorne”, he said, delivering the letter a making a bow, and then abandoning the room

“Let’s see”, he opened the letter and read attentively, and then his face showed that it wasn't good news either. “We don’t with dance dragons” he muttered, “But Dorne recognizes no King, but Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, and will not recognize the rule of the Usurper Aegon the drunk”, he spitted out, “For the Princess’ death, we will collect every soldier that crosses the border and sink every ship that dares to cross our shores”, he read

“Gods be good”, cried the Queen, “what about Highgarden? and Riverrun?”

“No news of highgarden, the Riverlands are of the Strongs and the Tullys, both houses are Black”

“So…” muttered Aegon, who was suffering the consequences of the exploits of the night before, “We don’t have the North… we don’t have the Vale, of course we don’t have the Riverlands because of the Strongs… We don’t have Dorne either” 

“We have the Stormlands” mutter the Queen, “We might have the Reach, we have the Westerlands”

“We haven’t got word from The Reach” muttered Otto, “They keep this Kingdom’s food in their storages, we do not risk in involving them, they will stay at the sidelines, as they had always done”, but then he smiled, “but we have Oldtown, they had been preparing their army for years”, Alicent looked at him with warning. 

“We can’t leave the castle because they have the city watch, mother”, murmured Aegon, “One step out of the keep and we are dead”

“THIS IS YOURS BY RIGHT!” she snapped, “VISERYS…” and then she got quiet, “wanted you to be King, this is your birthright” she continued, in her eyes unshed tears, “the Gods are with us”

“They Gods don’t have armies”, said Aemond

“You killed the only person that was preventing the blacks from coming for our heads”, said Tyland, “Rhaenyra doesn’t give a shit about Aemma, Daemon won’t hesitate to throw the entire country into war”. 

“Yes, Aemma…”, said Otto, “the only valuable asset we have, she is the key to the Riverlands, Harwin is still alive, as are their brothers, three grown dragons…” 

“Wed her to me”, said Aemond

“Before she found out what you did?”, laughs Aegon

“Yes”

“It could be a good idea”, muttered Tyland. Larys only looked at everything with a shy smile

“How long until our army is here?”, asked Alicent

“It could be months, but the Baratheons are preparing as we speak”, said Otto, “and we have the royal army”

“If the City watch takes arms against them it could mean a civil war”, said Alicent 

“What news of Harrenhal?”, asked Alicent to Larys

“It’s been quiet, my brother hasn't call for his banners yet”, he said with that unsettling smile

“He must be in mourning”, whispered Alicent

“We could take the advantage”, said Tyland, “Harrenhal is essential, is a great garrison to gather a large force, and the closest to King’s Landing”

“I agree”, said Otto, looking right at Aemond, “we need Harrenhal”, Aemond knew his grandfather was speaking directly to him. He understood his role, he was the dragon rider with the biggest dragon, the one that was dispensable, his brother was King and his sweet sister, she couldn’t ride to war.

So he was the chosen one

To fly into battle and destroy his family, the family that he had come to love. Perhaps he could speak with Aemma, perhaps he could talk to Rhaegar and Maekar, and. He drew a sharp breath, he had killed their mother, they would kill him in sight, or try to. He wouldn’t be able to bear to kill his nephews.

“We will find the most suited commander to lead the forces from the capital to take Harrenhal”, said Otto. 

Perhaps Aemond killing the Princess wasn’t so bad, it’s like the cut the head of the dangerous dragon. Well, the dragon did have another two heads, two chaotic, restless mindless heads… Daemon and Rhaenyra will eat each other first.

“In Harrenhal we don’t have more than a thousand men, but as soon as Daemon reaches Riverrun we are expected to gather the entirety of the Riverland army”, told Harwin pointing at the map, “But I’m worried about those little towns in the path of the Lannister army, we will have to guard them, either way, when we secure the Neck The northers and the army from the Vale will gather easily, when we gather that force we will destroy everything in our path”, said Harwin, sure of his word

“But if we gather all the forces, it will be easier for a dragon, Vhagar, to burn them all”, observed another 

“Yes, it would be wise to keep them separated”, said Rhaenyra

“Lord Borros has allied with the Greens”, said Daemon

“So it looks like the North against the South”, muttered Rhaenyra

“We need to find a way to block The Lannisters from joining King’s Landing Army”

“The Riverland army seems to be the obvious choice”

“So Harwin, I need you to call in your bannermen”, said Daemon, “we need you in the Riverlands”

“I will…”

“No!”, said Rhaenyra, calling the attention of everyone there, “It’s too dangerous”, Daemon wouldn’t miss how Rhaenyra grabbed his hand. But Harwin retracted his hand from hers

“This is what I need to do”, he said firmly, “this is how we fuck them up, I want theirs heads in spikes”

“Don’t we all”, said Daemon, looking at him, amused. 

Meanwhile, in another room in the castle

“This shit is ridiculous”, growled Crestan, as he packed the few belongings he had on his bag, “I’m going to look for her and nobody is stopping me, fuck this shit!”, he mumbled to himself, “Like hell they will burn me, they don’t know shit!”. He grabbed his sack and threw it over hsi shoulders

Great dragon lords these ones, not even a scout to search for her!

He will take matters into his own hands

He managed to exit the castle without being bothered, and now he was walking towards the small village, crossing it to get to the dock.

But before he could reach his boat, I mean, ship, he was intercepted by none other than Daemon himself

“Where are you going?”, he asked

“To search for her”, he answered plainly

“If you sneak me into King’s Landing I will let you leave”, he said, his hands grasping his famous Valyrian Steel sword, Dark sister

“King’s Landing? Are you insane?”, he asked. Daemon just shook his head

“Speak nothing of it, and you will be able to leave this gods forsaken island never to return”, he said firmly

“So the only thing I have to do is take you to King’s Landing?”, Daemon nodded, “Well, raise the anchors”, he said with a mocking smile

“What are you going to do there?”, he asked

“A nephew for a niece”, he cryptically said

In Winterfell, the castle was on high alert, all the Lords and ladies had returned home to gather their men, and soon they would all march and gather all of their force in Moat Cailin. And then, wreak havoc in the Capital.

They knew the Riverlands belonged to the blacks, so they didn’t quite know who they were going to face. It was expected that small towns could rise against their lord in allegiance to the Usurper, but still. 

Maekar and Rhaegar had stood alongside Cregan, and the man trusted them with everything regarding the preparations for the march. They had reports of all the Lord and Ladies ready to march from their homes, so clearly Winterfell and all the towns around it had gathered their men and were preparing to depart.

Maekar grabbed his brother and took him to the God’s Wood, so they could have a proper conversation, alone. 

“I spoken to Cregan, and i made a decision”, he said

“You made a decision?”, Rhaegar asked

“We both are parting ways”, he said firmly. and Rhaegar looked at him, angry 

“But mom said…”

“Mom is gone”, he said firmly, “she might be gone for good, or she might be in some distant beach, washed up on some shore, but right now, she isn’t here”

“What should we do, then?”, asked Rhaegar 

“What is the first place those fuckers are going to try and take?” Maekar tried to reason with his brother. “They are going to Harrenhal, that one-eye bastard on that fucking flying dinosaur and I have to be there with our father”

“We are going, then”

“No, you are staying here”

“I’m not letting you leave to go fighting and probably dying, while I stay here doing nothing!”, he fought back

“You are not doing nothing, you will stay with Lord Cregan, and march South with him and his army” 

“But…”

“They are our allies”, he sentenced, “they are going south, they are putting their lives at risk for us, for our cause, for mom, you and Karnax are going to guard them and protect them” 

“You are going to die”, he said firmly, “you cannot face Vhagar alone”

“I probably won’t be alone, there is Daemon, and Rhaenyra, and Jace, and Luke, they all have dragons, together we will defeat Vhagar”, he said, sure of his words but not truly believing them, he pictured many members of their family flying into the battlefield atop their dragons, Aunt Rhaenyra wasn’t one of them

“We will meet in Harrenhal then, but you have to promise me one thing”

“Yes”

“You will call for me, whatever happens”

“Very well”, and Maekar offered his arm, and Rhaegar grabbed his forearm and his twin did the same.

“Good luck brother”

“Don’t fucking die”, said Rhaegar, “Or I will kill you”

“How are you going to kill me if…”

“Shut up”

It was hard for them both, they were the oldest of the siblings, they had a responsibility, and that responsibility was their two baby brother and sister. They were too small to understand what was going on, so they couldn’t quite explain it, but, they couldn’t just leave and abandon them

“Will you be good?”, asked Maekar to both children, and they nodded

“Why is everyone leaving?”, Asked Saera

“We have to go to King’s Landing”, said Rhaegar

“Why? Can we go with you?”

“You must stay here”

“Where is mama and papa?”, asked Vaegor

“They are in Dragonstone with aunt Rhaenyra”, they didn’t have the heart to tell them you had perished, not yet.

“You have to stay here, and be nice”, demanded Maekar

“When mama and papa are going to come?”, asked Saera

“Soon we will all come back, and then we will go home”, said Rhaegar, “but right now you have to stay here”

They weren’t proud of abandoning their little siblings, but they did know that this was the safest palace of all, that here they were going to be safe, war was no place for children, Dragonstone was the enclave of The Blacks, sooner or later the war was going to reach it. 

Leaving Saera and Vaegor they got out of the castle, ready to part ways, the entirety of the Stark family and the rest of their court was outside, to say goodbye to the men that were going to war. Rhaegar went straight to his betrothed, as Maekar walked towards Cregan to let him know of his decision 

“My brother will guard your march, I have to go ahead and go to Harrenahl, my father is going that way”, Cregan nodded

“Be careful boy”, he answered, I’ll see you in three weeks time

“If we fail, can you promise me you’ll retake Harrenhal?”, he asked hopefully, Cregan only smiled

“I promise”

“When I’m back from war”, Rhaegar said gently, “I’m coming back for you”, he said sweetly, she slapped his chest playfully

“You better Southerner”, she warned cheekily, “I’ll be waiting for you”, Rhaegar smiled

“When I’m back, we will marry”, he said and she smiled and nodded, “and in your belly you will carry the most beautiful girl”, he whispered, making her blush

“And then the strongest boy”, she continued. Rhaegar stole another kiss from his betrothed, “Where will we live?”, she asked

“Wherever you want”, he offered, “we could stay here, or we could go South, to the Whitehall”

“I’d love that”, she said

“Very well”, he leaned in and kissed her again, “Can I ask you to…”

“I will take care of your siblings”, she said with a wide smile

“I love you”

So with sweet words and hopeful promises, Maekar flied towards Harrenhal on Aerion, while Rhaegar rode his horse at Cregan’s side, his dragon Karnax flying above them

They sat Aemma in the small council meeting, she looked at all of them there, Queen Alicent, Otto Hightower, Aegon and Aemond 

“We want you to write a letter”, said Alicent. “to your family in Dragonstone”

“And what will I write in that letter?”, she asked in a whisper

“That your wish is to avoid the war”, she said, “that you want to return to your family and for doing so, the armies that had gathered against us will dissolve”

“The war is breaking out?”, she asked, with her big eyes wide open

“Yes”, said Otto, “but it is not too late, write this letter for your aunt…”

“I’m not comfortable with this”, she said

“I don’t give a shit!”, jumped Aegon, “write the fucking letter!”

“Aegon!”, called Alicent. Aemond placed a hand on Aemma’s back making her jump

“This could be very helpful”, he said in a whisper, “we want to avoid bloodshed, we want to avoid war”

“If you wanted to avoid war you shouldn't have usurped a throne”, she said looking back at him

“We didn’t usurp it”, said Alicent, “this is King Viserys last will”

“Oh I bet it was”, she mocked, she slid the piece of paper and the quill back to Alicent across the table, “you are not going to use me”

“She is right mother, perhaps we should send Rhaenyra and Harwin a finger or one of her ears”, Aegon mocked. Aemma jumped backwards trying to get away from him

“Ser Criston, escort Princess Amena back to her chambers”, commanded Otto and he, with a complaint smile, did.

Criston Cole looked at the princess, disgusted, he loaded the young princess, why?, because he recognizes the type in her, the type of girl that would bewitch a good man such as Aemond, and drag him to damnation, and to forget his vows, just like princess Rhaenyra. She seems all sweet and good, but he knew better

When she left, Alicent took a long sigh

“You will not marry that girl”, sentenced Otto, and Aemond looked at him

“What?”

“She is a traitor, of a family of traitors, she will not bend the knee, we cannot have you marry her, we need you to secure other alliances”, his grandfather explained 

“But we will ask something of you”, said Alicent, grabbing his hand over the table. “Make sure to put a baby in her belly”, whispered the Queen. Aemond looked at her with his eye wide open

“What?”, he asked cautiously. His mother was embarrassed, he knew as much

“I’m not proud…”, she began, “but Rhaenyra's strongest ally is her sister’s family, we have her daughter, she would never put her at risk, as long as we have her they won’t attack, if Aemma is with child the risk diminishes…”

“The Princess is dead”, he said bitterly

“But her allies aren’t”, said Otto, “her siblings aren’t, they have two grown dragons, and the North!”

“I’m not marrying her…”, he whispered, “and you want me to defile her…”

“Aemond”, called his grandfather, but the young man just had to look at him once for him to keep quiet

“It’s Aemma”, he said to his mother, “my Aemma, and you want me to ruin her, to break her” 

“She is our hostage”, said Otto, and that made Aemond’s blood boil

“She is not “ours”, she is mine!”, he said firmly, “My Aemma”, he grunted, “Not our hostage, she is mine”. ANd with that, he left the room

Indignant, he felt disgusted, betrayed, his mother! what she asked of him. He wanted to be alone, away from all these people, maybe what he truly wanted was to go back to those times where he thought he had a complete and happy family, with Aemma and his nephews and his sister. 

She needed to see the one good person he realized that lived in the Red Keep, so he went to look for his sister, but Aegon found him instead 

“Did you enjoy the mission I gave you?”, he mocked 

“No, she is barely a woman”, he said firmly. He was not going to reveal to him how much he loved her, NEVER. 

“The more younger women are, the most delicious”, he whispered 

“I can’t believe the Gods put you on this earth before me”, he grunted

“Oh I bet you are”

“I will comply with this disgusting mission”, no he wasn’t going to comply to their sick mission, but Aegon didn’t need to know, the last thing he wanted was him going after Aemma, his sick brother drunk with wine and power

”Are you sure brother?”, asked Aegon, ignoring his brother, “that you are up to the task?” he rolled his eyes, asking the gods for patience, “because if you want, I could break her in for you”, at that he grabbed his brother by the collar of his tunic and threw him towards the wall of the hallway

“If you touch her…”, he whispered, “...I’ll kill you”, he whispered dangerously against his face

“I’m your King”, muttered in threat

“You more than anyone know how little that means to me”, he answered, releasing him and kept walking, forget Helaena, he needed to clear his head, and what better to do that then a quick flight on Vhagar’s back

More notes: You should have realised by now how much I love cliffhangers HAHAHA SORRYYYYY

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@notmundane3000 @kamisunshine

[meredith511]

I know they want to make the greens as complex and deep something something, but their terrible writing only makes them a bunch of morons just like season 1, no worse than season 1.

I mean, your brother killed 13-14 years old, son of the black queen, grandson/heir of one of the most powerful families in the Kingdoms, and they happen to live nearby. His mother, his stepfather, his brothers, his step sister and his grandmother are all dragon riders, also you fail to get supports from majority of the great houses you need but the king is in high mood, being a funny guy enjoying himself and jokes around like it's so good to be a KiNg!!

Sure, they have Vhagar, but still They need to prepare the attack because it's a war. You'll never know what's happening next. And after hearing a child murdered unexpectedly where and when he shouldn't be harmed, you would want to protect your children with all costs and the largest dragon wouldn't be enough. But they just all...decide to enjoy sexual pleasure...?

And then a big fun loving father Aegon takes his anger on his father's building model, declaring the war. Wait, no. The war was already happening when he sat on the throne, they started the fire first. So, what did you expect? You gave the seat of the council to your brother who murdered the boy. You were totally fine with that murder but expect your enemies to play it by the book?

They can't be that stupid...

[theglitterypages]

✨Fairy and Feathers✨

Summary: After All Might's resignation, the crime rate in Japan got higher, the government asked for the aid of some Pro Heroes overseas. A hero with fairy like powers was sent to work under Hawks' agency.

Pairings: Oc fem! Character x Hawks/Keigo Takami

Chapter 2: Old Wounds

Endeavor received a call about a Nomu, so he rushed to fight it and just like what he expected, it was a strong one. It was fortunate that no civilians were hurt but the properties damaged by the Nomu was quite pricey.

"This one's not interested in hurting civilians. Unlike the ones I've used to encounter." Endeavor told Shoto, Bakugo and Izuku who are currently under his care, he has to do his best to train them and make them reach their full potential so that they could rise once the previous generstion of heroes have fallen.

"Father, there's an article saying there's another Nomu attack near Hawks' agency. It was taken down by the new hero from US." Shoto scrolled through his phone and showed some photos taken from the scene to his father.

Endeavor took his phone and examined it closely. His brows furrowed as he recognize Hawks near an unknown hero. "Hmm, that one's a little smaller than this one." He observed. Even if that Nomu was smaller, Endeavor knew that Nomus don't really base strengths in size, it's the quirks that they wield that makes them terrifying and dangerous.

"Endeavor! There's an emergency meeting for Heroes nearby, you're invited to join. Multiple Nomus are released in different parts and your statement is needed for investigation."

Endeavor ordered the teens to stay alert in the areas nearby just in case there'll be more attacks while he went to attend the meeting. He hopes that they won't pull off anything but he'll never know, heroes these days have a lot of enemies that are lurking beyond the shadows.

Coincidentally, Fae and Hawks arrived at the same time that Endeavor did, the winged hero immediately noticed his senior. "Oh, Endeavor-san! Don't tell me you've caught one too?!" Hawks walked towards the number one hero while the latter just narrowed his eyes at him. "I did." He answered simply before stepping inside the elevator, Hawks looked back at Fae and motioned her to follow, but the latter shook her head, her face pale as she ran and fly toward the stairs.

Hawks was left in awe, now, he knew that Fae is timid and shy but she was never rude, so why would she be running off without saying any word to him or to Endeavor?

"So she decided to work for you huh?" Endeavor commented. Now that he saw her upcllse, Endeavor realized that she was the hero who was supposed to work with him but he was told that she refused to.

He was disappointed, he wanted her in the agency to give his interns some new perspective, the differences of system from country to country would also be a good subject for study.

Fae folded her wings on her back when she finally reached the floor. She noticed that she arrived at the floor first and she sighed in relief, she didn't mean to be rude but her instincts just told her to run off the moment she saw Endeavor.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves just to be disturbed by an unfamiliar voice.

"Oh you must be Fae! Your wings are gorgeous! And tell me where you get your hair done, I love the color!"

Fae turner to her left and saw another female hero walking towards her with a smile, she seems so excited considering she's meeting Fae for the first time. Fae awkwardly waved back at her.

"Good morning, I don't get my hair done. It's my natural color." She said before she was held by the female hero and they sat down in a vacant seat, while looking remaining vacant seat for other heroes that are yet to come.

"Oh? That's awesome! So is it connected to your quirk or anything?"

Fae opened her mouth to speak but her eyes were caughr by the people who entered the room. She met Hawks' gaze, she was expecting a glare or a firm look on his face but she saw the opposite, Hawks was smiling in relief upon seeing her in the room.

Hawks looked for Fae before anything else, he couldn't reach her in time earlier because the elevator has closed already but he was worried of her face expression after seeing Endeavor.

He saw her awkwardly talking to other heroes, as she sat down beside Mount Lady, and he just knew he has to take Fae away from her so she won't get overwhelmed. He knew she doesn't love too much attention.

Hawks has observed that she is indeed an introvert who prefers to have her own space but because she's the new one here, it's only natural that they'll be all over her.

"Alright, alright folks let's settle down. Mount Lady is it alrighr for you to sit beside Kamui Woods?" Hawks walked towards Fae and Mount Lady, the latter pouted and glared at the red winged hero before she let go of Fae's arms.

"Fine, I'll call you later or add you in your Socials! We need to talk about your beauty routines!" She said before standing up to go to Kamui Woods.

Hawks sat beside Fae, he bumped her shoulders and her icy blue eyes met his gold ones. "What happened to you earlier?" He whispered but she just smiled awkwardly and turned her head to the front where the head of investigations for Nomus stood.

"We all know that multiple Nomus are released today. We'd like to get your statements about the Nomus you've all encountered. Hawks, would you like to begin?"

Hawks shook his head and placed his arms around Fae gently, he felt her tremble underneath his touch. Which is why he slowly removed his hands off of her. "Fae is the one who defeated that Nomu. You should listen to her, and before we begin maybe you can introduce yourself Fae?" Fae held onto the hem of Hawks' jacket, a silent plea to not let her be the center of the attention of every heroes in the room. But Hawks gently took her hands off of him and whispered, "You gotta show them what you're capable of, Sparksfly. I'll take over if it gets too much." Hawks reassured her, as much as he wants her to stay in her comfort zone, it's better for her to gain the trust of other heroes and build connections since she might need to work with them in the future, he squeezed her hands gently and he gave her a small smile to reassure her that he'll be there to back her up and that's when she stood up, her knees trembling for a bit.

"Hi, I'm Fae. I'm the new hero from US. I'd like to share my thoughts about my encounter with a Nomu earlier..." She cleared her throat, looking around at the room, all of their eyes are on her and she disracted herself by looking at the cork bord with sticky notes attached into it, yes, she shouldn't think that they're all watching, she should pretend that it's nothing. "It didn't take me much effort to knock him down and that's what I find strange..." She reached for the laptop near her and typed something before showing the screen to everyone.

"So...my quirk allows me to extract harmful substances in trees and other plants. I turn them into pixie dusts and I used them against the Nomu. The problem with the Nomu I've fought is that he was knocked down almost immediately after one blow of handful of my pixie. And there are only three possibilities as to why he was knocked down that fast."

A small smile made its way across Hawks' lips. He knew that Fae only needed a little push to come out of her shell and show everyone how smart she is and how capable she is as a hero.

"First, it could be because of the fact that Nomus don't have a strong will and strong mentality due to the fact that they've been biologically altered and my pixie dust is the worst match for people who don't have the will to break free from it."

"So does this mean that you can take down stronger Nomus despiter their quirks? If all of them don't have this will?" Aizawa asked curiously.

Fae bit her lower lip, trying to find a right way to answer. "I still have to see if that's how this works. Plus every Nomu are different so we can't be certain about that." She smiled, Aizawa nods and gestured his hand to tell her to go on.

"Now for the Second one, this weak Nomu could be a mere distraction to keep our eyes away from something bigger or it must've escaped from their facility too earlier for its true potential to be shown."

The heroes nodded and they agree to most of Fae's observations, "Though this would only apply for the Nomu that I fought, I wouldn't know the difference in power of the ones you've encountered." She added before sitting down.

"So do you guys agree that most Nomus sent are weaker?" Asks the head of the investigation team.

"Yes." The heroes answered.

They're definitely weaker, not as strong as the ones that Endeavor fought, if they were as strong they're all doomed.

Fae slowly raised her hand to add something once again, "If that's the case, it might be because of the fact that they've caught on to the fact that there are investigations about Nomus and their origins. They must be trying to throw us off the investigation by keeping us busy." Fae knows how villains brain might work, they'd love to throw them off their game to escape and get away but they must make sure that they won't.

"My son, Shoto, Bakugo and Deku were able to help me with ease in defeating the Nomu I've encountered. If they're weak Nomus can we be confident that most students can handle them so we can focus more in dangerous works?" Endeavor asked.

Fae shook her head, trying to make an eye contact with the number one hero even if she's nervous. "No, we can't. I have a feeling that they wouldn't just be using weak Nomus, it could be a trick that they're trying to make us confident and comfortable with our power level and then they'll send the strong ones to beat us." If there's one thing thay they need to prioritize other than civilians, the students shouldn't get involved. They're the future, if the students would fall before they reach their full potential that'd be more chaotic and more favorable for villains.

The heroes clenched their fists, they're already short handed in the society as bad as it sounds they really need the students to do some grunt work despite their age, they have no choice but to give all they have because lives are at stake and worse? The whole hero society is at risk. And there's also the bitter possibility that some heroes are traitors and it led to them keeping small numbers of heroes to handle top secret missions to ensure its triumph.

"Also, none of the Nomus who attacked were focused on hurting civilians, they were more focused in destroying properties. This would cause the government to compensate for damages done and people might end up complaining that their safety shouldn't be the only thing to take care of." the heroes focused more upon hearing Fae's observation. Now that she mentioned it, no civilians were hurt badly. Some were held hostages but that's it.

"They're playing a long term plan, making us exhausted by fighting numerous Nomus here and there and destroying properties to tick people off until it accumulates and blows up."

Fae's hands covered her mouth when she realized that she's been talking non stop and Hawks tapped her knee, "You're fine, you did great." He whispered. Fae must've been excited to share her thoughts at some point, because the heroes are kind enough to not interrupt her speech.

"Thanks..." She whispered.

---

The meeting ended and because of Fae's short speech, she was officially added to the team assigned to take care of Nomus. She had no complains and she felt satisfied that she did great in her first day, though she knows she should overcome her fear of speaking in front of too many people.

Hawks closely observed Fae, she seemed to be over of whatever caused her to run away from Endeavor.

Well that's what he thought.

"Hawks.."

Fae froze upon hearing Endeavor's voice behind her and Hawks immediately noticed, her wings folded and he looked at the taller man.

"Endeavor-san, sorry but let's talk over the phone later. Fae and I need to go."

Fae was polite enough to bow down as a goodbye to Endeavor before they flew together. Hawks didn't say anything as they fly up. Fae decides to observe him from his back, his red fierce wings flapping magnificently.

"H-Hawks san."

Hawks slowed down his pace and matched Fae's speed, trying to observe her face closely. "Why? Do you want to turn down the offer to be the new hero to lead the investigation team for Nomus?" He was afraid that she was too scared to say no, he could volunteer to do it, he's sure he can find time for it if he'll want to.

Fae shook her head and smiled, her wings sparkled even more as her face lit up. "No, I actually love it. I just want to apologize for looking rude in front of Endeavor-san..." She apologized, her lips pursed.

"It's nothing. Plus, Inoticed that you looked uneasy. But I bet he didn't, he's not one to care about those kind of things, don't worry about it." Hawks told her with a smile. Endeavor is not really the type to notice if someone acts differently around him, unless it's his youngest son and Hawks know it, witnessing the number one hero's small tantrums every now and then whenever Shoto doesn't respond to his texts ot calls.

Fae is trying to reason with herself, it's her first day in this job and she doesn't know who to trust, but her heart tells her that this man is worth trusting because her hear knows that this man is also hiding something, she doesn't know what it is but there's definitely something that they both share.

"I-I don't get along well with fire quirks. I-I encountered a villain when I was a student and my wings were burned..." She couldn't continue, the memories were too disturbing and dark, she's afraid she'll break down.

Hawks stopped mid air. He was not expecting her to open up about it, it takes a lot of courage to do so, especially to someone she just met and he felt privileged to be the one to know about this for some reason. And as a fellow hero who have wings, Hawks value this part of him, he owes his speed and most of his abilities with his wings and he can't imagine how Fae must've felt when she had her wings burned. As winged heroes, their wings somehow equates to their own identity and losing it must've felt like losing your own self.

He looked at her body language and Hawks can see that she hasn't get over of it yet. She's still shaking, her eyes were unfocused as she tries to find the right words to say. Her wings turned a shade dull.

"I know that Endeavor is a hero but I just can't help it. I know that another time may come for me to face someone that may do the same but I'll do my best to overcome it. I promise, I won't slow you down." Fae bit her lower lip as she meets Hawks' gaze. She knows she has to overcome it, she needs to. And she's hoping that she'll get over it before it's too late.

Hawks didn't let her add anything to that, instead, Hawks encircled his wings around her as if protecting her, trying to make her feel relaxed inside the safety of his wings. It's not enough to erase the memory of her almost losing a part of her but he hopes that she'll feel safe at least, safe enough for it not to happen ever again.

She was shaking when she started talking about her past and even if she probably didn't notice he saw the tears were streaming down her cheeks. He embraced her with his wings, a part of him that she can relate to, to tell her that he's here and he understands her, to make her feel that she's protected.

"You didn't have to tell me that but I promise to keep your secret." Hawks whispered, still letting her relaxed in the safety that his wings offers.

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Story Masterlist

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@angelaevangelion

@justagirl-with-aphone

[goldenavenger02]

a hundred thrown out speeches i almost said to you

She had hoped she wouldn't be like the others.

(Expanded and edited entry for Who Wrote That. Enjoy my very Taylor Jenkins Reed inspired work)

She had hoped she wouldn't be like the others.

After all, she had been with Cliff longer than his long list of ex girlfriends, flings and one ex wife; so long that despite having her duties as the elemental master of lightning that kept putting off their honeymoon, he insisted that he would wait.

He was rich and famous; the combination that resulted in him owning his own yacht and his private mansion nestled deep within the mountains of Ninjago far away from any paparazzi or freelancers looking to make a quick buck off of their romance.

That same combination also meant that he could simply talk to whoever was listening, sign an autograph or two and be in a five star resort within the hour.

So what if their honeymoon had to be postponed until after she played her part in defeating and trapping the Serpentine, only to be immediately followed by the betrayal of Krux and Acronix? Cliff stayed the whole time, insisting that it didn't matter how long it took, they would be together.

But, all things fade with time; in hindsight, she should have known that he would leave her for another woman.

It was a pattern that she had foolishly chosen to overlook where he would find a fresh face and treat her as if she was the only woman in the world, only to leave her when the next shiny face caught his eye.

Maybe that was why she never told him when she found out she was pregnant just two months after he slid the divorce papers across the table without a word after what felt like years of zero communication, or maybe it was when she finally found it inside of her to tell the elemental masters who had children of their own as she sought out advice.

But maybe it was as she held her son close to her sweaty skin after hours and hours of labor, with his bright red hair and two different color eyes that represented Cliff in the amber brown and herself in the bright blue, only to realize that she wasn't as strong as Maya and Lilly.

He would constantly be in danger from the various enemies that attacked her and the rest of the elemental alliance, especially if he developed her powers as he grew up.

Not to mention the fact that despite the venom of the Devourer continuing to corrupt Garmadon, he as well as Wu were on the track to become Masters in their own right just like the First Spinjitzu Master had been; she had been a first hand witness to how violent and how deadly the battles could become and the thought of her own child being a player in the large game of destiny made her stomach hurt.

So, she searched.

She scoured all of Ninjago, looking for someone who would make sure her little firefly would grow up safe, normal and away from everything that had to do with his father's fame and her duty to the world.

Until she found the scrap yard; sure, a scrap yard wasn't an ideal place to raise a child, but it wasn't the business that made her sure, rather, the couple who ran it.

Ed and Edna Walker were on the older side with zero children, but the way Ed spoke to his wife in the loving tone she had heard from Cliff back when she was his world and the delicious smells of all sorts of various dishes wafting feet from the small trailer made her confident that they would raise her boy in the way she wished she was able to do so.

As she laid her firefly down in the car seat and strapped him in, she made sure to bundle him tightly with the zebra stuffie that Maya had given her. Her son, Kai, had never really found an interest in it unlike her baby, who was fascinated with it from the moment he saw it.

She let him hold her finger as she tried to pen a note to her boy, trying to imagine him as a teenager after being told the truth but for once in her life, no words came to mind; it wasn't like she could look into her own future and tell him things that she didn't even know.

In the end, she simply wrote down Cliff's address and used the last of her scotch tape to tape her spare key to the envelope before tucking it in beside him in the car seat. When he found out, he could go to his father and learn about her that way.

Despite how much she despised her ex husband, she knew he would be safer that way; there was no world where fame was less safe than being the bearer of pure, elemental power.

But before she could bring herself to knock on the door of the trailer, she leaned in close to him and took in the new baby smell one last time before saying her final words to him.

"You'll be safe here, my little firefly."

With that, she pounded on the door firmly and quickly before ducking behind a stack of tires, obscured from the view of the door as it swung open to reveal a middle-aged man.

"Oh my stars!"

"Ed? Is everything alright?!"

"Come quick, Edna!" The man bent down to lift her son out of the carseat, holding him tight to his chest just as the woman came out, wrapped in her pink bathrobe.

"Oh, Ed…" She trailed off as she touched her boy's cheek, resulting in a tiny sneeze, "he can't be more than a few days old."

"But why is he here?"

"It doesn't matter why, he's ours now," Edna declared matter of factly before reaching over and pulling her boy into her arms, "our own special gift."

She stayed there long after the lights dimmed again before finally bringing herself to sneak out from behind the tires and leave the scrap yard, allowing herself to follow the wind no matter where it led her.

[alwaysrememberjesus]

For You: The Believers Warfare Prayer

Because we are children of God, the enemy will always attempt to attack and distract us in any way he can. That’s why it is so important that we stay connected to God through the study of His word and in constant communication with Him in prayer. The enemy can’t defeat us when we entrench ourselves in prayer and reading of the Bible. Every attack we experience has a spiritual basis. That’s why Paul says,

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” — Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whenever you face attacks of any kind, whether it be in your mind, emotions, health, finances, relationships or other areas of your life, I encourage you to declare and pray the following prayer, The Believers Warfare Prayer, out loud…

Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before You. I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as my protection. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life to You. I take a stand against all the workings of Satan that would hinder me in my prayer life. I address myself only to the True and Living God and refuse any involvement of Satan in my prayer.

I command Satan, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave my presence with all of his demons. I bring the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ between Satan and myself.

Heavenly Father, I worship You and give You praise. I recognize that You are worthy to receive all glory and honor and praise. I renew my allegiance to You and pray that the Blessed Holy Spirit would enable me in this time of prayer. I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that You have loved me from past eternity and that You sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die as my substitute. I am thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ came as my representative and that through Him You have completely forgiven me. You have adopted me into Your family; You have assumed all responsibility for me; You have given me eternal life; You have given me the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ so I am now justified. I am thankful that in Him You have made me complete, and that You have offered Yourself to me to be my daily help and strength.

Heavenly Father, open my eyes that I might see how great You are and how complete Your provision is for this day. I am thankful that the victory the Lord Jesus Christ won for me on the Cross and in His Resurrection has been given to me and that I am seated with the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenlies. I take my place with Him in the heavenlies and recognize by faith that all wicked spirits and Satan himself are under my feet. I declare, therefore, that Satan and his wicked spirits are subject to me in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for the Armor You have provided. I put on the Girdle of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Sandals of Peace, and the Helmet of Salvation. I lift up the Shield of Faith against all the fiery darts of the enemy; and take in my hand the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I choose to use Your Word against all the forces of evil in my life. I put on this Armor and live and pray in complete dependence upon You, Blessed Holy Spirit.

I am grateful, Heavenly Father, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoiled all principalities and powers and made a show of them openly and triumphed over them in Himself. I claim all that victory for my life today. I reject all the insinuations, and accusations, and the temptations of Satan. I affirm that the Word of God is true and I choose to live today in the light of God’s Word. I choose, Heavenly Father, to live in obedience to You and in fellowship with Yourself. Open my eyes and show me the areas of my life that do not please You. Work in me to cleanse me from all ground that would give Satan a foothold against me. I do in every way stand into all that it means to be Your adopted child and I welcome all the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

By faith and in dependence upon You I put off the old man and stand into all the victory of the Crucifixion where the Lord Jesus Christ provided cleansing from the old nature. I put on the new man and stand into all the victory of the Resurrection and the provision He has made for me to live above sin.

Therefore, today I put off the old nature with its selfishness and I put on the new nature with its love. I put off the old nature with its fear and I put on the new nature with its courage. I put off the old nature with its weakness and I put on the new nature with its strength. I put off the old nature with all its deceitful lusts and I put on the new nature with its righteousness, purity, and honesty.

In every way I stand into the victory of the ascension and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby all the principalities and powers were made subject to Him. I claim my place in Christ as victorious with Him over all the enemies of my soul. Blessed Holy Spirit, I pray that You would fill me. Come into my life, break down every idol and cast out every foe.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, for the expression of Your will for my daily life as You have shown me in Your Word. I therefore, claim all the will of God for today. I am thankful that You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I am thankful that You have begotten me unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I am thankful that You have made a provision so that today I can live filled with the Spirit of God with love and joy and peace, with longsuffering, gentleness and goodness, with meekness, faithfulness, and self-control in my life. I recognize that this is Your will for me and I therefore reject and resist all the endeavors of Satan and his wicked spirits to rob me of the will of God. I refuse in this day to believe my feelings and I hold up the shield of faith against all the accusations and distortion and insinuations that Satan would put into my mind. I claim the fullness of the will of God for my life today.

In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I completely surrender myself to You, Heavenly Father, as a living sacrifice. I choose not to be conformed to this world. I choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, and I pray that You would show me Your will and enable me to walk in all the fullness of Your will today.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, to the casting down of imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, in my own life today I tear down the strongholds of Satan and smash the plans of Satan that have been formed against me. I tear down the strongholds of Satan against my mind, and I surrender my mind to You, Blessed Holy Spirit. I affirm, Heavenly Father, that You have not given me the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I break and smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my emotions today and I give my emotions to You. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my will today, I give my will to You, and choose to make the right decisions of faith. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my body today, I give my body to You recognizing that I am Your temple. I rejoice in Your mercy and goodness.

Heavenly Father, I pray that now and through this day You would strengthen and enlighten me, show me the way Satan is hindering and tempting and lying and distorting the truth in my life. Enable me to be the kind of person that would please You. Enable me to be aggressive in prayer and faith. Enable me to be aggressive mentally, to think about and practice Your Word, and to give You Your rightful place in my life.

Again, I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that You, Blessed Holy Spirit, would bring all the work of the Crucifixion, all the work of the Resurrection, all the work of the Glorification, and all the work of Pentecost into my life today. I surrender myself to You. I refuse to be discouraged. You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead, and I claim in every way this victory over all Satanic forces in my life. I pray in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving. Amen.

© Victor Matthews, Emeritus Professor of Theology at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary

[orangeboulevard]

Four: Questions (Harry Potter)

This is actually pure crack, idk what possessed me to do this but oh well. Only intellectuals will get this post. 🥶

Summary: Ron asks a question in History class and everyone suffers because of it.

Word Count: 752

"So, where do babies come from?" Ronald Weasley asked with an inquisitive tone, the students of History of Magic ceased their conversations to look at the red-headed boy incredulously.  

Professor Binns, their ghost professor, froze in his spot, his hand still gesturing to the large blackboard filled with chicken-scratch writing about the fall of the Goblin Empire and the invasion of medieval England by nomadic fairy people: his pale and usually placid face tinted with red as his brows furrowed, rose, and furrowed once more. Harry Potter who was sat next to Ronald stared at him with disbelief- surely the wizard youth received some form of sexual education, right?

"Don't be daft, Weasley," Draco Malfoy sneered, "They're delivered by storks, everyone knows that." This was met with a burst of laughter that caused Draco to blush violently, he felt rather chagrined as he shouted, "That's what my father told me!"

"Are you actually serious?" Hermione Granger asked in a condescending tone, "Were you not taught basic biology?"

"Children, children!" Professor Binns snipped and gathered the student's attention, "It is a perfectly valid question, thank you for asking it, Mr... Mr Wotsits-" "It's Weasley." "-Ah, yes, Wotsits." The ghost Professor flicked his wand and the blackboard cleared itself, a piece of chalk floated upwards, and started scribbling words onto it; Several students started taking notes, Draco Malfoy included. 

"So, as you all may very well know, babies are not human," the professor said with a tone of finality. He raised his hand to silence the shouts from the muggle-born students. "A terrible truth you must come to know, ah yes, babies and even some toddlers are actually fae-spawn. This is all because, as we were just talking about, the TinkleWinkle fairy tribe's invasion of England in the seventeen-hundreds."

Harry Potter locked eyes with Hermione, she looked just as astounded and shocked as he felt. The professor paced the lengthy expanse of the classroom as he lectured, the chalk continued to make notes on the topic behind him.

"It was a genocide," Professor Binns informed, "there were systematic attacks on humans, and the fairies targeted children, as naturally, they are more vulnerable. Over a short period, all human children were effectively eradicated." Harry Potter couldn't stop his jaw from falling open from sheer surprise and incredulity at the statements that were coming out of the decorated professor's mouth.

"Of course, this pushed Humankind and Goblinkind to work together to defeat a common enemy, and from this alliance, the idea of 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' arose. However, not even with their combined forces could they defeat the all-powerful and malevolent TinkleWinkle fairies who were willing to fight without honor, unlike the honor-crazy humans of the time, and were not afraid to get blood on their hands."

The Hogwarts students were poised on the edges of their seats, hanging onto every word that poured from the professor's mouth. Never before and never again had Professor Binns ever arrested the complete and unwavering attention of a class. Ronald's brows furrowed and he raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr Wotsits?"

"It's Weas- whatever. What does this have to do with where babies come from?"

"Patience, Mr Wotsits. All in due time, all in due time." Professor Binns walked back to the front of the room. "So, you all have to be aware that our ministry is run by the descendants of the TinkleWinkle fairies." Harry Potter gaped at that statement, Hermione also seemed to be doing the same fish-out-of-water act. 

"No? Oh well, it is. Anyway, it is written into our founding laws that any humans which are wanting to have children must inform the government, and from there they meet a fairy consultant who matches them with a fairy egg that contains similar characteristics to the couple. They must sit on this egg for nine months before it hatches into a baby. This procedure must be followed, lest we wish to initiate another wizarding world war."

"Wait... so wouldn't that make us all fae-children?" Hermione asked with a doubtful tone. 

"Yes, until the following Tuesday."

"Why the Tuesday?" she questioned, looking even more confused.

"Because England was created on a Tuesday. Nevertheless, I hope that answers your question Rona Wotsits."

"It's- okay, yeah, yeah..."

With the ring of the bell, the students packed up their equipment, they left that classroom with more questions than answers and a growing distrust of the ministry.

[dankinamalur]

The Spade Brigade pt. 1 - Anthony Spade, Battlemage Focus: Might/Sorcery Weapon(s) of Choice: Chakrams/Staff/Greatsword Armor: Robes w/ heavy arms, feet, & helmet

The younger brother of Amalur's Queen savior, Naomi Spade; Anthony is a one-of-a-kind gentleman and scholar.

Growing up in the Plains of Erathell, Anthony was taught how to be strong from a very young age by his older sister and father; however, he believed that strength wasn't just about muscle and wielding a giant sword, but also about using the mind and elements. Anthony became fascinated with magic after encountering a Thresh deep in the wooded forests of The Wolds at the age of twelve. Rather than rush to attack the beast, he offered the creature peace in exchange for knowledge; much to his surprise, the Thresh accepted Anthony's offer, and allowed him to study and understand it. The two developed a unique friendship over the years and the Thresh (who was eventually named Byron) protected him from other creatures of the wood, and provided the knowledge Anthony wished for to become a skilled spell caster.

At the age of twenty-two, Anthony's love for magic earned him a permanent seat at the Scholia Arcana in Rathir, where he studied for many years, still residing there to this day. It didn't take long with his extensive knowledge and incredible skills in sorcery for him to become a successful student, mentor, and eventually even the Arcsage of the college. Anthony developed many friendships at the Scholia Arcana and was known for his wit, charm, and intriguing magical techniques.

During his initiation as Arcsage, Anthony demonstrated to everyone what would happen if an enemy were to try to destroy the Scholia under his watch; his eyes instantly turned to lightning sparks as dark clouds reined in on the sky. Byron, his long-trusting Thresh friend, spawned beside him, a sinister smirk appeared on Anthony's face. Heavy rain began to pour and thunder roared its loud song. Anthony's smile grew wider as he pointed forward; a massive clone of Balor appeared behind the crowds, the people grew terrified but remained ready to defend. Anthony reached to grab one of Byron's branches and the unimaginable happened; the branches meshed into Anthony's skin and he started to grow bigger and bigger until the two swirled into a large tornado Thresh! A deep, demonic voice erupted from it, as two mystified glowing eyes appeared in its core. Before the Balor could act accordingly, what was about to go down in Amalur history as the "most powerful belch" stormed the courtyard with 800mph winds (luckily, Anthony remembered his Freeze All spell for his spectators!) and hurled the clone of Balor far into the eternal cosmos. After the Balor disappeared, the stormy weather ceased, and Anthony was no longer a giant Thresh. The crowd was silent for mere moments before bursting into applause, laughter, and cheering, marking the beginning of some of the greatest years the Scholia Arcana had seen in such a long time.

Byron is often a guest on the Scholia grounds, still keeping his vow to protect his friend and even became the mascot for the school's coolest guild, The Miasmic Mages. Twice a week Anthony teaches its members the art of peculiar elemental magic. The guild was named in honor of his famous great-great-grandfather, Fruntbert the Miasmic (you can read about him in the book Famed Mages.) Naomi was the guild's official first member.

When he isn't at the Arcana or meditating in Ysa, Anthony travels across Amalur in search of ancient knowledge, forgotten history, and the best tavern spots for a bottle of Port.

copyright © 2024, dankinamalur