#emyr thorne

[forystr]

Make that old man BLUSH!!

[keitorin3]

OK so I'm new to Tumblr but I had this weird (but I think is awesome) idea that I really just wanted to share.

So I am a big fan of the Damien/Merlin AU idea. It was actually inspired by a book I once read in Ao3, full credits to the author.

Damien AU

I imagine Merlin was obviously immortal and been around waiting for Arthur, and during this time ~ like 4 to 5 years before Damien's 30th birthday ~ he was about to go on Vacation to the Pacific but got news of a new medicine program ~ or something ~ in America and changed plans.

He's a 21-22 year old meds/arts (idk either sound plausible) college student who befriends a girl, Kelly, due to an unfortunate encounter (Kelly was in the wrong place at the wrong or right time, and Merlin jumps in to help but it was unnecessary as Kelly being a badass takes them down. She's an aspiring war photographer, she got to know some fight moves!)

Their friendship was built and thanks to Kelly with her connections and friends, Merlin meets Damien Thorn at a get-together he was invited to at the pub.

Picture Merlin seeing this dark haired and scruffy version of his dear friend wearing modern clothes and a brown leather jacket. His accent American and Merlin's magic is suddenly gooey and vibrating under his skin when they shake hands. But his smile... Merlin was gone for that smile.

Kelly: *Introducing Damien and Merlin*

Damien: *Smiles* "Damien Thorn, Pleased to meet you."

Merlin: *Dazed and goofy because he's magic high and hooked* "Merlin Thorn, I met you pleased..." *Suddenly realises, and blushes bright red* "Wait! No- I meant Emyrs! I'm Merlin Emyrs! Your not Thorn, wait no! I'm not- I mean uh... Pleased you met me-- NO-?!!"

Kelly: *At some point pulled out her camera and start recording*

Damien: *Surprised and charmed by the adorable guy with cute flushed ears* *Smirks pleasantly and flirts back*

Merlin: *Scrabbles on what to say, unknowingly flirting back*

Kelly: 'Oh just wait until I show Simone this!'

And so not long after the two met they started dating. At first Merlin thought he could help Damien remember, but over their time together Merlin came to really Love Damien. He loved Arthur and a part of him always will, but getting to know Damien, Merlin fell fast.

Meanwhile Kelly is being the ultimate Wingwoman who's looking forward to the day they get married so she can play all the *cough*blackmail*cough* memories shes caught of them.

Now, Damien who has never been so happy before meeting Merlin, saw Merlin as like his Ray of light and lucky charm. Since his entire life has been a series of misfortune all around. Merlin, this skinny, pale white, big earred, doe eyed guy with a heart stopping smile. Never has he fallen in love so seamlessly.

Damien: *During their third Date where Merlin is arguing over something with sparkles in his eyes. Damien not even sure what he's saying, smilies fondly at the adorable man.*

Merlin: "Damiiiienn! Are you listening to me?! What's going through that thick head of yours?"

Damien: *Laughs* "Nothing, it's just, there's something about you Merlin. I can't put my finger on it." *Gives Merlin a significant look* "But you're special."

Merlin: *Flushes red while flailing in embarrassment*

They are together for a year before merlin gathered the courage to tell Damien about himself, his magic and his past. He has made the mistake of lying to Arthur in the past and after recent years of therapy, he could not live in another lie with Damien.

It took time to process after being shown evidence of magic and weeks of discussions ~ a lot of them hard for Merlin to tell as he cried at times like Arthur's death and Camelots fall, going through depression while isolating in a cave for a century.

In the end, Damien determined Merlin's character and love to be true. And honestly wasn't even mad at the other. Damien could never fully be mad at Merlin. Not when he can see the cracks of a too worn heart, hidden behind a youthful face. It makes his own heart break at the seams.

So Damien held on to this impossible man, and swore he would not let him go.

Merlin: *Makes a butterfly with his magic, eyes glowing like golden stars, gazing back at Damien like a miracle come alive*

Damien: *Laughs when the butterfly lands on the tip of Merlin's nose, who makes a cross-eyed at the small creature.* 'You were a fool Arthur. The world was by your side and you left him alone.'

Damien: "I Love You, even if you're an old magical man of legend."

Merlin: *Hits him lightly for the old comment before kissing him* "And I love you, even if you're a bit of a sap."

Damien: *Kisses back* "Not that your complaining."

Merlin: *Heavily in love* "No, no I am not."

It is not long after this where their bond has gotten stronger, that Damien proposes to Merlin.

Kelly is there to film and photograph the event with Amani as help (the two helped plot to get their besties together after all). It was beautiful and made even more magical when Merlin, overwhelmed with such happiness, released some of his magic and caused it to rain flowers and sparkles.

This was so fun! And I wish I had the patience to actually write a book of this. I'm not done yet, I've still haven't reached to Damien's 30th birthday, when his powers Awaken. I've got ideas, and even more crossovers to think of for this and other AUs.

I'm still thinking if I should make this mpreg like the fic (the top Ao3 link). I quite like the idea of children honestly. Like bring back Aithusa as DamienxMerlin's kid.

Till next time, fellow dreamers~! 👋🥰✨

[ohpollenpowder]

And last but not least, we have the handsomely buff Emrys! His might read a little bit different than the others layout wise. Apologies for that.

Emrys' Dream—Dragons aside—had a bunch of unfamiliar forms (no clear faces) as well as a dusty desert vastly unlike any core maps, littered with crystals. Knowing he had to be a strong pillar for all that was to come, Emyrs started to build his form; broad shoulders and imposing (for a Sylvari) height, strong enough to easily lift a dolyak three times his weight. All of this and learning the fighting forms of Guardians and Warriors, unable to choose between the two. But then he got to talking with Caithe as they stumbled into one another—her trying to talk a Dreamer out of a dangerous situation they found themselves in. And Emyrs offered the physical aid in the moments that she could not.

They would meet up constantly after that; Emrys being her hands within the Dream. It's not until the Shadow of the Dragon appears, and she gets thrown into the Dream by Mother that he sees her in action. And he's captivated. Inspired even. But the growth he had already done was stuck as he found himself struggling how to be a thief from others. Emrys woke from the Dream three weeks after that fight—much to Caithe's concern.

To say his first few weeks after waking were action-packed would be an understatement. First he helped Tiachren with Ysvelta, then Gairwen asked for his aid with Bercilak, and that lead them to the rumors of the White Stag. Meeting Gavin ended up being an "awakening" for Emrys—before the Guardian, he'd been content with being alone. But Gavin woke a fire inside him, those feelings were reciprocated, and they had a few wondrous nights together before the ugly truth revealed itself. Emrys ended up nursing a sore thorn after killing his lover; Caithe attempted to help by offering Trahearne's quests as a distraction.

Arlon and Pellam needed help retrieving a poison from the wrong hands, using a marketplace as their base of operations. The marketplace also held tale of an Orrian mirror, leading him to Carys and helping her get Tegwen back to safety. Tegwen ended up telling him of a mysterious Sylvari in a nearby village—one that was originally a Soundless one until the Court showed up, with the Wardens coming in behind to clear them out. His interactions with all five Sylvari did indeed bring him out of his dark pit.

The meeting at Lion's Arch was the first time that he'd felt relatively near his old self. Right off the bat, he could tell everyone was holding themselves back and if they were to work together in some capacity—that wouldn't do. So he zeroed in on the one least guarded and struck—up a conversation with Nilo. Compliments on style always give you good points, and he found the Mesmer quite the conversationalist. They traded banter back and forth, Emrys shared a few words with Nilo's twin, Nicoletta. He found the concept of twins fascinating, considering how rare pod-twins are. Tarsicia intrigued him simply because she was what he had aspired to be, but she also reminded him of Gavin with it. Izar he found handsome, if burlish, a chip on his shoulder broader than his own. Oiba he was wary on simply from racial history, but her pets seemed happy and calm, so that to him meant she could be trusted.

Izar remained a tough cookie to crack for Emrys, with them eventually melding into seamless teamwork, easily switching weapons back and forth on the battlefield. Emrys was the first to figure out Izar had a thing for Nilo, but it didn't stop him from also enjoying himself with the Mesmer. And Emrys was all too happy to hang out with and encourage Nicoletta; he eventually got her to join him in teasing the two. Tarsicia he often felt like he worried to near death with his endless questions. But she also seemed to be amused by him, so Emrys was never sure if she was giving him honest answers or not. Oiba was the one who initiated contact first—or well…her pets did. The cats especially liked him (and his faint smell of catnip) and AID-1 queried him on proper Sylvari care. And he's pretty sure she listened in on his questions with Tarsicia a time or two—at least.

Trahearne was a joy to see at Claw Island, it'd been a while since he had seen the Necromancer last. However, the rest of their visit to the defensive isle was far from enjoyable. Emrys was the first to realize what Tarsicia was attempting to do as their mentors stood between them and death. He had to yell several times at Izar for aid, as much as he wanted to do the same as her, they needed to survive this—he knew it. Tybalt had taught him and Izar (and Demmi) everything they needed to be (at least) successful Lightbringers. For weeks after that, he often woke Izar out of nightmares, but they never really went away.

Emrys is…actually the reason behind the others and himself becoming Trahearne's hand as Commander. He went to the Firstborn after Claw Island and went into depth about his Dream. About himself and the others alongside Destiny's Edge and thus the beginning of the Five Commanders started to take shape. Later on, after they'd survived Zhaitan more or less intact, he let himself take a breath. Emrys' bout with the magic sickness took him back into the Dream, much like how Caithe had. He Dreamed again of dangers to come that had his hand on them and those of his friends. This prophetic ability/ability to Dream seemed to grow with each Dragon's death.

[placesyoucallhome]

☄️ Does your OC believe in fate and destiny or do they think it’s a load of garbage? Would they ever get this fortune told? What would a fortune-teller tell them about their future? - Miqojak!

ty @miqojak !

Since I’ve already had Ruhka answer, let’s let Emyr answer-

“Yes, life can certainly turn you a certain way, give you a path to follow.” Emyr nodded, but it seemed half hearted, “But why can you not change it too? You can be fated to end up some way if you continue down that path, but then can you not also find a different path? Or make a new one? They may not be as easy, but not impossible. It is like, ah-” he scrunches up his nose in thought for a moment, looking up at trees and sky for the right words, “It is like a forest trail. The one you are on now is perhaps the easiest for you to follow now, but if it is going somewhere you do not wish to be, you can try to find another, or make a new one that others can follow. Perhaps the undergrowth is sparse and you can find another trail quickly, perhaps it is full of thorns and progress is slow and painful, but you must keep walking, the sun will rise and set without you, and you will not get anywhere by standing still.”

Emyr shrugged and smiled, after all, it was of little consequence to him, his own path was fairly clouded by fog. “Would that some fortune-teller could give me a map, that sounds like an interesting time, doesn’t it? Perhaps if I come across one I’d ask what path I was on!”

[lentaska]

Apaixonar - OMC/Tessa Blanchard

A/N: OC, third POV, part of a fanfic project This is a work of fan fiction using characters from wrestling, I do not claim any ownership over them. Tag: I don’t even know who wanna read this...

She hates to be called “little girl” by him, she hates when he mouths her “I’m proud of you” when she wins, and she hates to see him chatting with other female wrestlers while waiting for her like a loyal golden retriever.

“Can you stop calling me ‘little girl’? I’m an adult and a wrestler. That nickname is stupid.”

He is surprised at her wording but soon returns to his regular manner. He smiles and pats her head, “but you’re my little girl, Tessa.”

Tessa Blanchard hates it when he is so tender and elegant, yet she enjoys his touch. Although they’re dating, Tessa still occasionally feels uncomfortable to “show off” this relationship. She gets a glimpse of the oVe guys grimacing at her, so she acts cold and shakes off his hand, “don’t do that, you’re embarrassing me.”

“I’m sorry.” The cheerful light in his eyes dims, but his smile does not fade. “I won’t again. Promise.”

She bits her lips in agony and walks towards the exit, as always, he follows closely like a shadow. They stops at a corner of parking lot, Tessa turns around, asks, “Emyr, why are you always nice? ”

The question confuses him.

“How can you still smile after being yelled? What’s wrong with you?”

His head lowers like a ragged doll, Tessa can’t help feeling guilty but she forces herself to swallow back the apology. She gets into the car and starts the engine.

After all the time being together, Tessa still considers Emyr as a puzzle. She has never seen such impeccable person, although he told her that he was raised in such manner, something about him makes Tessa feels inferior. They are contrasting - she is extroverted and obstinate, while he is quiet and docile. Despite of his height, Emyr seems to be feeble comparing to the wrestlers Tessa works with, but somehow even Sami Callihan has decided to not mess up with the man - Tessa swears it’s not because she said she’ll kick between Sami’s legs if he bullies Emyr.

Tessa doesn’t understand how Emyr’s gentleness and genuine smile provoked her to an intolerable level today, to be honest, the man did nothing wrong. In general, Emyr treats her well, he always knows what she wants and enjoys spoiling her, even though she has emphasized that she is nothing like a princess from medieval time who needs to be taken care of all the time. On the other hand, she does have problem with him being too nice.

Frowning, Tessa opens the door.

You shouldn’t frown much. Emyr once said. Frown makes you look unapproachable, but we - I and your friends - all know how beautiful your nature is.

Shut up Emyr. She murmurs, as if the man is standing right beside her. Shut up.

Too many petty things about him playing in her mind: his gentle and persuasive utterance, his low-pitched voice, his brown eyes with lights dancing inside, his profile when sitting by window, the warmth of him that radiates from the tip of his fingers... And that damn nickname.

Little girl.

 Gasping, Tessa wakes up. She struggles to sit up, but she feels dizzy. She looks around, behind the worried friends are medicine cabinet and pale walls of hospital, a place she has become a regular visitor to because of all the wounds she receives from wrestling matches. It doesn’t take long to absorb information and figure out what happened: she was attacked from behind while walking home from grocery. The odd thing is, the attacker was found nowhere and there’s a pool of blood left on site - definitely not from Tessa, she would have died after such loss of blood.

One of her friends says she has been in coma for only couple hours, so she leaves the hospital in hurry. Leading by her blurred memory, she finds the alley she walked along, the police tapes verify her guess: something went wrong.

She notices several drops of blood lead a trail into bushes, so she follows. The trail ends at the entrance of an abandoned sewer, and this is where her investigation should end, the curiosity is no longer necessary as the impulsion of seeking for answer is cooled down by the dreadful image presented in her eyesight.

The young and brave wrestler huddles in a shell created from shiver. The formidable shadow in front of her has extended to her feet - it is snake and lion, fangs and claws, and everything rusty and devastating.

The first time ever in her life, she wants to flee, but she is welcomed by a pair of arms.

“You shouldn’t leave the hospital.” Says the man, he is not smiling this time. “The world is dangerous.”

 Tessa wakes up on her own bed this time. The vivid image of dismembered human parts sickened her, she thought those are only in stories and movies. She drags her exhausted body out of bedroom but freezes when she sees the man standing in the kitchen. Emyr - or a creature in the skin of Emyr - is washing hands, water gurgles down into sink sewer, droplets drip down from his shoulder-length hair. He is not wearing shoes, his white shirt is in a mess. Tessa sees dark-colored footprints on floor, tries to recall the if Emyr has ever lost his manner before, the answer is unsurprisingly negative.

At this point of time, fear is already shed away like wolf shedding its winter coat, Tessa craves to see his face - will he smile like he always does? Is he going to call me “little girl” again?

When the floor squeaks under the pressure from faltering, the sound of water stops. Emyr turns around to Tessa, eyes hid under hair, there are horrific slits from both corners of his mouth which crossed half way up on his cheek, spikes and thorns thrust out of skin and flesh like they grow from seeds planted in his heart. He grunts with congested throat, “don’t...”

Don’t what? Don’t come closer? Tessa wonders.

“Don’t look at me...”

He sounds like sobbing, but in a monstrous way.

In Tessa’s memories, Emyr does not cry, he has no reason to, and she hates to see him in such shape, so she walks up to him, brushes his hair away. He won’t scare me, because he is Emyr. Her mind is determined. No matter what he is.

Her hand finds its way to his face, his skin is cold. Emyr attempts to keep distance from her, “you will get hurt.”

But she is Tessa Blanchard and she can be stubborn, so she insists, “I don’t give a damn.”

Spikes and thorns fall off from him as Tessa throws arms around his waist, the slits on his cheek slowly close up. He hugs her and place head on her shoulder, “I’m here, little girl.”

“Welcome back.”

 Epilogue

Sami Callihan has been wondering why Tessa is fine with that nickname given by Emyr - he personally thinks it’s a cute nickname but Tessa hated it. Moreover, she doesn’t even shake off Emyr’s hand anymore when the Crist brothers and he make fun of them by heckling and grimacing. The whole thing of embarrassing the couple becomes as vapid as a bad monodrama.

“Did you hear anything about them?” Sami asks the person walking with him.

“Nothing.” The muffled voice sounds annoyed. “I am not panto-pragmatic like you.”

Turning his eyesight to the couple afar, Sami shrugs, “I’m just curious.”

“Callihan.”

“What?”

“Get a life.”

[dash-of-sunsets]

Emyr knew the guy the moment he'd spotted him. Not by name or even by face, but instead by experience and intuition. The guy sat with his back against the wall at a small table in the Crown and Thorn Inn. A green hood covered a portion of his face and he looked at first glance to be relaxed, pipe in hand. There were two type's of clients. The suave over confident one's who thought themselves very clever as they relayed how simple the plan to get the job done would be - never knowing that Emyr and his sister always made their own plans -  and those who made it very obvious they were new to Emyr and "his crowd." This guy, the man Emyr had noticed almost immediately, was the latter. He knew the signs. The white knuckled grip on the pipe; the quick rise and fall of their chest. By this point they were usually second guessing themselves. Emyr's cloak billowed behind him as he slipped through tables upon tables of inn patrons, fluidly avoiding the flailing limbs of those wildly gesticulating as men were wrought to do when gathered so closely, telling the tales only uttered when tongues were loosened with drink. The original reason Emyr had arrived this evening. A drunk man tells no lies.

"Care for some company?" 

Without awaiting reply Emyr slipped into the chair opposite the individual. Now, up close, Emyr could see beneath the hood. A man roughly in his thirties sat stiff while taking in all of Emyr that he could. The thief could see the mans resolve secure as he pulled himself up straighter, much more confident and authoritative. Perhaps the man did fall into the category of his first clientele; perhaps he knew exactly how to draw in thieves. Emyr sat back, eyes narrowed and cautious.

"I have a job," he paused.

"Congratulations," Emyr responded dryly, ignoring the way the older man scowled.

"I have a job," he repeated, "for you." The man leaned forward, setting his pipe on the table and resting his forearms against its edge. Emyr eyed him impassively. When it was clear he wasn't going to speak, the other man sighed irritably and continued. "Quick and easy one man job."

"I can't help you." The other man's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm a two person job king of thief." Emyr had shifted, readying himself to stand, when a hand clamped down on the arm he had rested on the table. His entire body stiffened and immediately his free hand went to rest on the hilt of the blade beneath his cloak. With a deep calming breath his eyes trailed from the offending hand up to meet the man's gaze. A very desperate gaze. Emyr forced himself to relax; forced the muscles in his shoulders to loosen and calmly said, "It would be very wise to keep in mind that the next time you lay a hand on me it'll be the final time you lay a hand on anything." In a split second the hand retracted and the man coughed, trying to cover up his discomfort. "Now, let's start over. Perhaps you should start with a name."

Again the man shifted uncomfortably and when he spoke he sounded significantly less confident. 

"Jameson." 

Emyr's eyes narrowed once more, but instead of scrutinizing the man - James - he was tugging at a memory.

"As in Jameson Winthrop." It wasn't a question. "The Viscount." The man in question leaned forward.

“Yes,” he hissed before continuing. “Maybe you could..." he motioned for lowered voices. Emyr paid him no mind but didn't speak. After a few deep breaths on the Viscount's part, he continued. "I have a job for you." Emyr raised an eyebrow. "An easily two person job."

"I'm listening."

[ladyobsidian]

Paganism & Pagan Holidays: Happy Beltane/May Day 2018!!

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane

Beltane (/ˈbɛl.teɪn/) is the anglicised name for the Gaelic May Day festival. Most commonly it is held on 1 May (1 November in the Southern Hemisphere), or about halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In Irish the name for the festival day is Lá Bealtaine ([l̪ˠaː ˈbʲal̪ˠt̪ˠənʲə]), in Scottish Gaelic Là Bealltainn ([l̪ˠa: ˈpjaul̪ˠt̪ˠɪɲ]) and in Manx Gaelic Laa Boaltinn/Boaldyn. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Samhain, Imbolc and Lughnasadh—and is similar to the Welsh Calan Mai.

Beltane is mentioned in some of the earliest Irish literature, and it is associated with important events in Irish mythology. It marked the beginning of summer and was when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures. Rituals were performed to protect the cattle, crops and people, and to encourage growth. Special bonfires were kindled, and their flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around the bonfire or between two bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused and then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire. These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food and drink would be offered to the aos sí. Doors, windows, byres and the cattle themselves would be decorated with yellow May flowers, perhaps because they evoked fire. In parts of Ireland, people would make a May Bush: a thorn bush decorated with flowers, ribbons and bright shells. Holy wells were also visited, while Beltane dew was thought to bring beauty and maintain youthfulness. Many of these customs were part of May Day or Midsummer festivals in other parts of Great Britain and Europe.

Beltane celebrations had largely died out by the mid-20th century, although some of its customs continued and in some places it has been revived as a cultural event. Since the late 20th century, Celtic neopagans and Wiccans have observed Beltane, or something based on it, as a religious holiday. Neopagans in the Southern Hemisphere often celebrate Beltane at the other end of the year (around 1 November).

Before the modern era

Beltane (the beginning of summer) and Samhain (the beginning of winter) are thought to have been the most important of the four Gaelic festivals. Sir James George Frazer wrote in The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion that the times of Beltane and Samhain are of little importance to European crop-growers, but of great importance to herdsmen. Thus, he suggests that halving the year at 1 May and 1 November dates from a time when the Celts were mainly a pastoral people, dependent on their herds.

The earliest mention of Beltane is in Old Irish literature from Gaelic Ireland. According to the early medieval texts Sanas Cormaic and Tochmarc Emire, Beltane was held on 1 May and marked the beginning of summer. The texts say that, to protect cattle from disease, the druids would make two fires "with great incantations" and drive the cattle between them.

According to 17th-century historian Geoffrey Keating, there was a great gathering at the hill of Uisneach each Beltane in medieval Ireland, where a sacrifice was made to a god named Beil. Keating wrote that two bonfires would be lit in every district of Ireland, and cattle would be driven between them to protect them from disease.  There is no reference to such a gathering in the annals, but the medieval Dindsenchas includes a tale of a hero lighting a holy fire on Uisneach that blazed for seven years. Ronald Hutton writes that this may "preserve a tradition of Beltane ceremonies there", but adds "Keating or his source may simply have conflated this legend with the information in Sanas Chormaic to produce a piece of pseudo-history."  Nevertheless, excavations at Uisneach in the 20th century found evidence of large fires and charred bones, showing it to have been ritually significant.

Modern era

From the late 18th century to the mid 20th century, many accounts of Beltane customs were recorded by folklorists and other writers.

Bonfires

Bonfires continued to be a key part of the festival in the modern era. All hearth fires and candles would be doused before the bonfire was lit, generally on a mountain or hill.  Ronald Hutton writes that "To increase the potency of the holy flames, in Britain at least they were often kindled by the most primitive of all means, of friction between wood."  In the 19th century, for example, John Ramsay described Scottish Highlanders kindling a need-fire or force-fire at Beltane. Such a fire was deemed sacred.  In the 19th century, the ritual of driving cattle between two fires—as described in Sanas Cormaic almost 1000 years before—was still practised across most of Ireland and in parts of Scotland.  Sometimes the cattle would be driven "around" a bonfire or be made to leap over flames or embers. The people themselves would do likewise.  In the Isle of Man, people ensured that the smoke blew over them and their cattle.[6] When the bonfire had died down, people would daub themselves with its ashes and sprinkle it over their crops and livestock.  Burning torches from the bonfire would be taken home, where they would be carried around the house or boundary of the farmstead and would be used to re-light the hearth.  From these rituals, it is clear that the fire was seen as having protective powers.  Similar rituals were part of May Day, Midsummer or Easter customs in other parts of the British Isles and mainland Europe.  According to Frazer, the fire rituals are a kind of imitative or sympathetic magic. According to one theory, they were meant to mimic the Sun and to "ensure a needful supply of sunshine for men, animals, and plants". According to another, they were meant to symbolically "burn up and destroy all harmful influences".

Food was also cooked at the bonfire and there were rituals involving it. Alexander Carmichael wrote that there was a feast featuring lamb, and that formerly this lamb was sacrificed.  In 1769, Thomas Pennant wrote that, in Perthshire, a caudle made from eggs, butter, oatmeal and milk was cooked on the bonfire. Some of the mixture was poured on the ground as a libation. Everyone present would then take an oatmeal cake, called the bannoch Bealltainn or "Beltane bannock". A bit of it was offered to the spirits to protect their livestock (one bit to protect the horses, one bit to protect the sheep, and so forth) and a bit was offered to each of the animals that might harm their livestock (one to the fox, one to the eagle, and so forth). Afterwards, they would drink the caudle.

According to 18th century writers, in parts of Scotland there was another ritual involving the oatmeal cake. The cake would be cut and one of the slices marked with charcoal. The slices would then be put in a bonnet and everyone would take one out while blindfolded. According to one writer, whoever got the marked piece would have to leap through the fire three times. According to another, those present would pretend to throw him into the fire and, for some time afterwards, they would speak of him as if he were dead. This "may embody a memory of actual human sacrifice", or it may have always been symbolic. A similar ritual (i.e. of pretending to burn someone in the fire) was practised at spring and summer bonfire festivals in other parts of Europe. Flowers and May Bushes

Yellow flowers such as primrose, rowan, hawthorn, gorse, hazel, and marsh marigold were placed at doorways and windows in 19th century Ireland, Scotland and Mann. Sometimes loose flowers were strewn at the doors and windows and sometimes they were made into bouquets, garlands or crosses and fastened to them. They would also be fastened to cows and equipment for milking and butter making. It is likely that such flowers were used because they evoked fire.[5] Similar May Day customs are found across Europe.

The May Bush was popular in parts of Ireland until the late 19th century. This was a small tree or branch—typically hawthorn, rowan or sycamore—decorated with bright flowers, ribbons, painted shells, and so forth. There were household May Bushes (which would be placed outside each house) and communal May Bushes (which would be set in a public spot or paraded around the neighbourhood). In Dublin and Belfast, May Bushes were brought into town from the countryside and decorated by the whole neighbourhood.  Each neighbourhood vied for the most handsome tree and, sometimes, residents of one would try to steal the May Bush of another. This led to the May Bush being outlawed in Victorian times.  In some places, it was customary to dance around the May Bush, and at the end of the festivities it may be burnt in the bonfire.  Some, however, were left in place for a month. Thorn trees were seen as special trees and were associated with the aos sí. The custom of decorating a May Bush or May Tree was found in many parts of Europe. Frazer believes that such customs are a relic of tree worship and writes: "The intention of these customs is to bring home to the village, and to each house, the blessings which the tree-spirit has in its power to bestow."  Emyr Estyn Evans suggests that the May Bush custom may have come to Ireland from England, because it seemed to be found in areas with strong English influence and because the Irish saw it as unlucky to damage certain thorn trees.  However, "lucky" and "unlucky" trees varied by region, and it has been suggested that Beltane was the only time when cutting thorn trees was allowed. The practice of bedecking a May Bush with flowers, ribbons, garlands and bright shells is found among the Gaelic diaspora, most notably in Newfoundland, and in some Easter traditions on the East Coast of the United States.

Other customs

Holy wells were often visited at Beltane, and at the other Gaelic festivals of Imbolc and Lughnasadh. Visitors to holy wells would pray for health while walking sunwise (moving from east to west) around the well. They would then leave offerings; typically coins or clooties (see clootie well).[14] The first water drawn from a well on Beltane was seen as being especially potent, as was Beltane morning dew. At dawn on Beltane, maidens would roll in the dew or wash their faces with it. It would also be collected in a jar, left in the sunlight, and then filtered. The dew was thought to increase sexual attractiveness, maintain youthfulness, and help with skin ailments.

People also took steps specifically to ward-off or appease the aos sí. Food was left or milk poured at the doorstep or places associated with the aos sí, such as 'fairy trees', as an offering.  In Ireland, cattle would be brought to 'fairy forts', where a small amount of their blood would be collected. The owners would then pour it into the earth with prayers for the herd's safety. Sometimes the blood would be left to dry and then be burnt.  It was thought that dairy products were especially at risk from harmful spirits.  To protect farm produce and encourage fertility, farmers would lead a procession around the boundaries of their farm. They would "carry with them seeds of grain, implements of husbandry, the first well water, and the herb vervain (or rowan as a substitute). The procession generally stopped at the four cardinal points of the compass, beginning in the east, and rituals were performed in each of the four directions".

The festival persisted widely up until the 1950s, and in some places the celebration of Beltane continues today.

Revival

As a festival, Beltane had largely died out by the mid-20th century, although some of its customs continued and in some places it has been revived as a cultural event. In Ireland, Beltane fires were common until the mid 20th century, but the custom seems to have lasted to the present day only in County Limerick (especially in Limerick itself) and in Arklow, County Wicklow.  However, the custom has been revived in some parts of the country. Some cultural groups have sought to revive the custom at Uisneach and perhaps at the Hill of Tara. The lighting of a community Beltane fire from which each hearth fire is then relit is observed today in some parts of the Gaelic diaspora, though in most of these cases it is a cultural revival rather than an unbroken survival of the ancient tradition.  In some areas of Newfoundland, the custom of decorating the May Bush is also still extant.  The town of Peebles in the Scottish Borders holds a traditional week-long Beltane Fair every year in June, when a local girl is crowned Beltane Queen on the steps of the parish church. Like other Borders festivals, it incorporates a Common Riding.

Since 1988, a Beltane Fire Festival has been held every year during the night of 30 April on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, Scotland. While inspired by traditional Beltane, this festival is a modern arts and cultural event which incorporates myth and drama from a variety of world cultures and diverse literary sources.

Neo-Paganism

Beltane and Beltane-based festivals are held by some Neopagans. As there are many kinds of Neopaganism, their Beltane celebrations can be very different despite the shared name. Some try to emulate the historic festival as much as possible.  Other Neopagans base their celebrations on many sources, the Gaelic festival being only one of them.

Neopagans usually celebrate Beltane on 30 April – 1 May in the Northern Hemisphere and 31 October – 1 November in the Southern Hemisphere, beginning and ending at sunset.  Some Neopagans celebrate it at the astronomical midpoint between the spring equinox and summer solstice (or the full moon nearest this point). In the Northern Hemisphere, this midpoint is when the ecliptic longitude of the Sun reaches 45 degrees.[44] In 2014, this was on 5 May.

Celtic Reconstructionist

Celtic Reconstructionists strive to reconstruct the pre-Christian religions of the Celts. Their religious practices are based on research and historical accounts, but may be modified slightly to suit modern life. They avoid modern syncretism and eclecticism (i.e. combining practises from unrelated cultures).

Celtic Reconstructionists usually celebrate Lá Bealtaine when the local hawthorn trees are in bloom. Many observe the traditional bonfire rites, to whatever extent this is feasible where they live. This may involve passing themselves and their pets or livestock between two bonfires, and bringing home a candle lit from the bonfire. If they are unable to make a bonfire or attend a bonfire ceremony, torches or candles may be used instead. They may decorate their homes with a May Bush, branches from blooming thorn trees, or equal-armed rowan crosses. Holy wells may be visited and offerings made to the spirits or deities of the wells. Traditional festival foods may also be prepared.

Wicca

Wiccans use the name Beltane or Beltain for their May Day celebrations. It is one of the yearly Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year, following Ostara and preceding Midsummer. Unlike Celtic Reconstructionism, Wicca is syncretic and melds practices from many different cultures. In general, the Wiccan Beltane is more akin to the Germanic/English May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as maypole dancing). Some Wiccans enact a ritual union of the May Lord and May Lady.

Name

In Irish, the festival is usually called Lá Bealtaine ("day of Beltane") while the month of May is Mí Bhealtaine ("month of Beltane"). In Scottish Gaelic, the month is called (An) Cèitean or a' Mhàigh, and the festival is Latha Bealltainn. Sometimes the older Scottish Gaelic spelling Bealltuinn is used. The word Céitean comes from Céad Shamhain, an old alternative name for the festival.

In modern Scottish Gaelic, Latha Buidhe Bealltainn or Là Buidhe Bealltainn ("the yellow day of Beltane") is used to describe the first day of May. This term Lá Buidhe Bealtaine is also used in Irish and is translated as "Bright May Day". In Ireland it is referred to in a common folk tale as Luan Lae Bealtaine; the first day of the week (Monday/Luan) is added to emphasise the first day of summer.

Etymology

Since the early 20th century it has been commonly accepted that Old Irish Beltaine is derived from a Common Celtic *belo-te(p)niâ, meaning "bright fire". The element *belo- might be cognate with the English word bale (as in bale-fire) meaning "white" or "shining"; compare Old English bael, and Lithuanian/Latvian baltas/balts, found in the name of the Baltic; in Slavic languages byelo or beloye also means "white", as in Беларусь (White Russia or Belarus) or Бе́лое мо́ре (White Sea). A more recent etymology by Xavier Delamarre would derive it from a Common Celtic *Beltinijā, cognate with the name of the Lithuanian goddess of death Giltinė, the root of both being Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- ("suffering, death").

In Ó Duinnín's Irish dictionary (1904), Beltane is referred to as Céadamh(ain) which it explains is short for Céad-shamh(ain) meaning "first (of) summer". The dictionary also states that Dia Céadamhan is May Day and Mí Céadamhan is the month of May.

Toponymy

There are a number of place names in Ireland containing the word Bealtaine, indicating places where Bealtaine festivities were once held. It is often anglicised as Beltany. There are three Beltanys in County Donegal, including the Beltany stone circle, and two in County Tyrone. In County Armagh there is a place called Tamnaghvelton/Tamhnach Bhealtaine ("the Beltane field"). Lisbalting/Lios Bealtaine ("the Beltane ringfort") is in County Tipperary, while Glasheennabaultina/Glaisín na Bealtaine ("the Beltane stream") is the name of a stream joining the River Galey in County Limerick.

[too-many-lavellans]

Contents

Tarot Cards | Comics | Inktobers

Settings:

 Origins | Awakening  DA 2  Inquisition

Little ‘Vellans - Child Lavellans

PreQuisition - Pre-Breech

The Inquisition - Main game inserts/rewrites

Trespasser - Trespasser DLC inserts/rewrites

Post Trespasser - Post Trespasser DLC 

NotQuistion - Alternate Lavellan Inquisitor

Modern AU - Modern Dragon Age

Class Swap AU - Alternate Player Class 

The Veilguard

Kiddos:

Tevhal Mahariel | Warden Mahariel  Hounds: Ena & Halam

Emyr Tabris | Warden Tabris  Hound: Brandy

Avaer Andras | Warden-Commander Andras

Twin Champions

Garrett Hawke

Marriane Hawke

.

Andros Lavellan | Inquisitor Lavellan

Cerill Lavellan

Von Lavellan

Wes Lavellan

Shep’lan Lavellan

Pehn Lavellan

Venui Lavellan

Clan Lavellan | Parents:

Keeper Deshanna Asharill Varanar Taerahel Varanar Dehris Lavellan Galen Lavellan Ordina Ariathra Von’arel Ariathra Lihra Gevann Seranni Lavellan Valaris Nessina Serran Lavellan Semiel Ariathra Cylian Lavellan

Children

Hanin Rutherford Lavellan Castella Pavus Serafina Lavellan Montilyet  Junrian Lavellan

Paragon Adaar

Kieva

Taleah

House Stromae

Hera Stromae Malcom Stromae

El’hari Aldwir

Isska Thorne

Segwin Ingellvar

Ath’ema Laidir

Sulehn Laidir

Iero de Riva

Kellum Mercar

Pairings:

Tevhaliana - Leliana and Tevhal

Zevremyr - Zevran and Emyr

Nathandras - Avaer and Nathaniel

FenHawke - Fenris and Garrett

Vhawke - Varric and Marianne

Bullavellan - The Iron Bull and Andros

Solavellan - Solas and Cerill

Pavellan - Dorian and Von

Pentavellan - Cassandra and Wes

Cullavellan - Cullen and Shep’lan

Montivellan - Josephine and Pehn

Venieva - Venui and Kieva

Seradaar - Sera and Paragon

Davrook - Davrin and El’hari

Hardrook - Lace and Isska

Taashrook - Taash and Segwin

Rookanis - Lucanis and Ath’ema

Bellarook - Bellara and Sulehn

Neverook - Neve and Iero

Emmrook - Emmrich and Kellum

[forystr]

Daydreaming about your crush ❤️❤️❤️

[forystr]

How does emyrn like being called darling by emmrich?

I don’t think he’s ever been called it before!

[forystr]

what was Emyr like when he was younger?

Looks longingly at docktown……

[forystr]

would emyr like some cookies and milk? I made extra 🥺 🍪🥛

Actually he would very much like some 🥺🥺🥺 …

[forystr]

what's emyr's general disposition? is he a grump is he shy is he a fighter is he a planner

Quite frankly he’s a problem . Mostly stoic and diplomatic. He has a good heart to do the right thing but he’s also an asshole as well

[forystr]

what class & factions are your rooks??? 👀

a quick guide!