#he finally let go of the ‘great destiny’ resting on his shoulders

[regulusrules]

You know, I actually never saw anyone talking about why Merlin chose to reveal his magic at that exact instance. As audience, we know he will, because it's the last fucking episode and there is nothing left, but really, have we ever thought about just why then? The battle was won, he got Arthur out and was going to save him, he saw Mordred dead. Why reveal it now?

Because it wasn't enough.

Merlin did everything in his hands and still couldn’t prevent fate— couldn’t stop the vision that haunted him from happening. I thought I’d defied the prophecy, but he didn’t. I thought I was in time, but he wasn’t. So if he took all measures to prevent that misery and yet it still happened, might as well discard everything he’d been taught and finally, finally tell Arthur.

Because let’s be real; Merlin did not reveal his magic just from the desperation of seeking Arthur's acceptance.. it was also a detachment from the overbearing fear that consumed him. That did not allow him to breathe. He saw a lifetime of hiding from the one man he did it all for and said enough. No more listening to Kilgharrah and Gaius; no more running away from the one thing that he truly needed; no more hiding from his own self and from Arthur.

He gave up pleasing destiny, and for once, he chose them.

[saerotonins]

tied red strings of fate

ft. gojo satoru x gn!reader

request: omg .. tadhana by udd + satoru please ? 

content warnings: fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, jjk manga spoilers [ch 236], canon divergent, implied that reader knows about curses but is not a sorcerer, lowkey a character analysis but yeah, happy ending

wc: 1283

note: when i saw this request i was so happy because tadhana* is literally one of my fave opm classics! also, im sorry nonnie if this was long overdue, figured i'd give him some fluff at his death "anniversary" heh (albeit a little late). i miss our glorious king sm :(( happy holidays 🎀

song: tadhana-up dharma down

*tadhana=destiny

gojo satoru is a force to be reckoned with. his name rings a bell and brings shivers to the spine of any potential enemies he has. 

he's gojo satoru, the strongest of all, the holy grail of jujutsu sorcery. he's gojo satoru, whose power literally repels and divides everyone else and him.

but to you, he's a lover, a man of his own, an independent being who is capable of emotions. he's satoru. the love of your life.

so when he decided to call it quits, to say you were devastated is an understatement. you were left broken, calling out his name at night hoping he would appear in front of you just one, for closure. him closing the chapter of your book got you weeping and yearning for more of him. 

because even though he's your lover, even you have a hard time of catching a glimpse of who he really is. satoru is an open book, but he's hard to understand. you did all your best to ease him and make him open up, show more of himself to you, bare his truth, the good, the bad, and the ugly, all of them you're willing to accept.

alas, the universe has other plans, the challenge ended even before it began, he is most definitely an enigma, someone that you will probably never get to solve. satoru's backed turned against you was a sight you are never going to forget. you spent months moving on and try to live a life where he isn't yours. it's hard but you try to manage anyway.

so when a knock on your door was heard by the 31st of december, you didn't expect gojo satoru in his full glory standing before you. as shocked as you are, you see his eyes had sunken. he's beyond exhausted but when he sees you, his eyes lighten up and you feel the warmth of his arms and your feet off the floor. you miss this, you miss him, it was all so familiar and something you very much miss. every fiber of your being remembered the way he touched you, triggered by the way his hands gripped onto your waist for dear life. as confused as you are, you reciprocated his gesture, opting to rest your hand on his shoulder blades.

"satoru?" you managed to voice our before you feel him put you down but his embrace remain. he then rests his head on the crook of your neck, then you hear him sniffle. suddenly you feel something drop onto your skin. his tears slowly roll from his face to your neck and shoulders.

satoru's lips wobbles as he tries to contain himself but to know avail, he lets his cries out, deciding to bare himself to you and be vulnerable. he was so so so tired of fighting. as great as the title 'the strongest' sounds, it gets too lonely even for him. being on the top is lonely. and he knows it himself.

he'd rather fall from grace than live a life where he isn't yours. he was too late to realize it. he was so stupid, too cocky, too condescending that it took him facing death before realizing that he wants to live, just for you. so when he finally defeats the evils of the jujutsu world, his first thought is you. the only one who provided light in his dark and desolate world.

as charming and bright satoru is, he is often left in the shadows in the cave but when he came to know you, he was absolutely in love and smitten. you were like a fresh breath of air to him. but when he decides that creeping into your mundane and simple life would rather be selfish of him. someone cursed like him shouldn't be able to be with someone who is blessed and down to earth like you. 

but being selfish be damned, he had faced battles, including one that almost left him biting the dust. he wants you, he needs you in his life and letting you go was definitely a mistake, something that he will never do ever again.

when his cries had calmed down, you finally get his voice again after a long time. "i'm so sorry," satoru started. "i was an idiot, i love you so much and i never stopped loving you. i was so stupid to let you go, i have never loved someone as much as i did with you." satoru knows his worth is probably lesser than any other being the moment he let you go, the only pillar who provided stability and balance in his life. he was impulsive, too proud, and too strong. but the way you held him every time you caged him into your arms is like he was fragile, someone to be protected, someone to cherish.

satoru loved that. and he was stupid to think that was worth letting go.

knowing you has made him scared of death, an entity or event that could break the two of you apart and live in separate worlds, and he couldn't bare to face it. he loves you too much to let himself go and so he fought with you in mind and thank any deity that exists, he finally won.

gojo satoru is the strongest.

so seeing him crumble right before your very eyes as his knees meet the concrete is a shock. he had bowed before you first before he had bowed to any higher up. hell, satoru bowing before anyone else would come as a shock. he held onto your ankle for support, his voice begging to take him back as he spews even more apologies that he can manage.

"please, please, i'm so sorry darling, i'll do what it takes for you to take me back. i love you so much, no other human had made me feel this way, please i'm so sorry. i miss you so much, god, i can't even remember a life before you, please." satoru had begged, begged, and begged, his voice getting louder and louder and each increased volume of his voice his hurt is more evident.

with the way his voice cracked broke your heart, and that's when you knew he meant every single letter, every syllable, every drop of tear, and every breath of his apology. 

you had completely broken the strongest. but satoru doesn't mind. even if you break him a thousand times, he'd painstakingly pick up every single piece of himself to present it to you. and that's what he's doing right now.

"i forgive you 'toru," he barely hears you say through his wails and it slowly comes to a halt. he then lost the feel of your ankles as he sees you kneel yourself to his level. your hands reached to touch his face and there you see his eyes, glassed with tears, love, and regret. satoru feels the heat of your hands on his cheeks and his instincts leaned into it. "i was hurt, but i'm never mad, i just wished you'd tell me why," his heart broke when he heard your voice crack.

"but you're hear now, right? we can fix this, we can fix us." you say as you carefully wipe the tears on his face. satoru nodded as he holds your wrists and caress his thumb on it. "yeah, we'll fix us."

"together?"

"together," satoru said in confidence. 

and with a light heart, satoru leans in to catch your lips on his, sealing his silent promise to never hurt you ever again, or he will never get to forgive himself.

he's gojo satoru.

he'll always find a way back into your arms.

another note: i'm quite unsure with the ending but this is all that i got 😔 i hope this was on par with your expectations nonnie hehe 🫶🏻

[lotus02lavish]

some angst of breakup Headcanons with SWK, MK and Mayor from LMK? GN Reader btw. i just need some angst.

[Pain shall be fed into the beating heart] 💥

【If we ever broke up, I'd be sad. 💔】

{Sun Wukong, Mk, and Mayor breakup with GN! Reader}

➳ Lego Monkie kid (LMK) // Headcanons // Seperated // Angst! ✍🏻

──･ ｡ﾟ☆*. .* ☆ﾟ.──･☆ﾟ.──･｡ﾟ☆ *. .* ──

"You can love them, forgive them, want good things for them ... but still move on without them." - Mandy Hale.

Sun Wukong

The realization about a mortal human being and the immortal monkey king put into a loving relationship would not work.

Sun Wukong could give you his peaches of immortality to accompany him until the end of time. Except the horror that if you live forever, everyone and everything around you will move on. Somethings will die and forgotten without you. No peaches for you, hun.

Sun Wukong does not allowed to let anyone notice you as his lover, he just want to protect you from anyone that cause harm. Which makes you believe he is embarrassed to have you.

Sun Wukong is lacking the ability to explain of how he truly feeling towards you. From time to time again to have communication problems and abuse that cannot be solved.

In Sun Wukong's opinion, love is just another useless emotion to express that lead to heartbreak and disappointment. He is not ready to handle any of those qualities.

In conclusion, Sun Wukong is unexpectedly certain to break up with you, just to save you from himself. He is arrogant and a trickster is known to everyone who has heard of or had the chance to meet the legendary Monkey King.

"Eternal life can bring eternal suffering, I don't want you to feel the same way as me."

The fact that Sun Wukong has said his goodbyes to you and gone from your sight, the good thing is glad to know that you have great life and bright future ahead from destiny than his. The bad thing is, he will miss you deeply more than you ever know.

────･ ｡ﾟ☆*. .* ☆ﾟ.──･☆ﾟ.──･｡ﾟ☆ *. .* ──

"Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." - Marilyn Monroe.

MK

At first, Mk does not understand why you would choose someone like him to be your boyfriend, and he felt that not asking about it was better. He always thinking that he does not deserve your love.

Mk ponders about you cherish them because they are a powerful hero, and everything else within them has no importance. That is why the noodle boy worried that one day they would accidentally use their unnatural monkey magic skills to hurting you, and afraid they might fail to save you from danger.

Mk is often excusing himself with his training, delivering noodles, saving the world/universe, and joining his friends to avoid you.

Mk repeatedly forgets the important events, such as your birthday, the dating anniversary day, the national holidays, and meeting with your friends or family. Heis busy to handle with the fate of being heroic rest on his shoulders, and gaining more trauma through the rest of his journey.

One time, Mk send one of their clone to accompany you in the entire day. Later, the copy of them bluntly told you that they (Original self) actually felt forced in love and does not feel the same way as you anymore.

You have grown tired of him and finally choose to breakup for the best, which Mk had expected and planned this all along.

"I'm very sorry! You deserve someone else better than me."

Though still feeling awkward, you and Mk agree to became friends once again. Furthermore, both of you always ignoring the questions of "That's your ex?"

──･ ｡ﾟ☆*. .* ☆ﾟ.──･☆ﾟ.──･｡ﾟ☆ *. .* ──

"Sometimes the only way to let go is to love someone enough to want the best for him or her, even if that means not being together." - Anonymous

The Mayor

After years of dating, there is nothing special happening between the two of you. No happiness and no pleasure, just empty.

Oh, how unfortunate you do not know so much about him, even his real name is remain unknown. The Mayor is most likely to kept horrifying secrets and plans to himself from you.

Sadly, whenever the Mayor is near you, he did not have a smile on his face. Only emotionless can be seen in your eyes. Revealing his true colors.

The Mayor would rather focus on granting his Lady's requests than to spend all of his time with you.

It is a ridiculous suspicion that the Mayor is cheating on you simply because he worships The Lady Bone Demon as his only goddess until the bitter end.

At long last, you decided to breakup with the cold-hearted and odd man, his response is none other than a giggle and does not mind.

"You see, dear?" Mayor spoke up as he turn around, "letting someone go is actually easier than we thought."

At that exact moment, the Mayor show his silly toothy smile to you for one last time before he disappeared. Leaving you heartbroken and wish him for the best to accomplish his duty.

──･ ｡ﾟ☆*. .* ☆ﾟ.──･☆ﾟ.──･｡ﾟ☆ *. .* ──

True Colors - SLAVES

"Wait, did you ever take a moment just to think

About anyone, anyone other than yourself?!

Give me back the love I wasted now

Cold, one day it's gonna hit you, you're alone

I won't be there, won't be there

It's cruel to turn around

Give me back the love I wasted now."

[starforger]

“... I've already completed my final mission. Whether Penacony can awaken from this dream is all down to you.”

Seren couldn’t believe him, couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Gallagher was leaving everything to them, after all.

Himeko spoke up before she could express her anger. “Should we ever cross paths again, I'd love for you to visit the Express.”

“Alright. I'll have to add to that data bank of yours…”

The words were all but a blur to Seren’s ears.

“What do you mean?” She said suddenly, amidst the din of conversation.

All their eyes were on her, now. She could feel the gravity of her question fall hard on each of them, but she ignored it. Seren stepped forward.

“What do you mean, your ‘final mission’? It isn’t over yet, is it?”

“Seren…” she heard March’s plea, but it would not move her. From the other side came Himeko’s gentle sigh, laden with regret.

Gallagher leveled a hard stare on her. “I can’t go with you.” His voice was resolute, and once again, it made her even angrier.

“And why not?”

"Alright," he sighed, “come on.”

He turned to walk away, leaving Seren to follow after him. She took a hesitant step forward, then stopped and looked back at her companions. Himeko nodded. Go.

She followed. He led her through the gloomy Reef, to the very edge of Penacony. A great black hole loomed over them, and he stopped to stare up at the leaking memoria. His reason, his whole purpose for fighting, long as he had been. As he had done. And after all that, she still didn’t understand him.

“I’m fading, Seren.”

Her features creased deeply in a frown, her hands clenching at her sides.

“You keep saying these cryptic things, and I’m sick of it. Speak plainly! Why… why won’t you come with us?”

Gallagher turned around. He looked more tired than usual.

“I told you. I don’t have the time.”

“So make time!”

“That’s impossible.”

Her breathing quickened. It was true, time was running out for him. She had known it all along, ever since he first explained his situation to her and the rest of the Express crew. He wasn’t real, despite all of her memories with him. Not like she wanted him to be. It didn’t matter that she could reach out and touch him now. He’d be gone soon, and it would be as if he had never existed. He had no substance, he wasn’t tangible. She couldn't take him with her.

There was nothing any of them could do about it, and in the face of such hopelessness, Seren felt immeasurable rage and a burning desire to fight his destiny, to save him no matter what.

“Come with us…,” she began to bargain, “to the Express, please. You don’t have to fight anymore, just… travel with me.”

Gallagher sighed, his brow creased, a gentle, rueful smile on his lips. Behind him, memoria swirled in the darkened ‘sky’.

“It would have been easier just to let you hate me, wouldn’t it?”

Seren blinked. Numbness set in, and she almost didn’t feel his hand on her shoulder.

“But I had to be cruel.”

“That’s not true, I… I wanted to know you.” A thousand words welled up in her, and she could just barely arrange them in a way that made sense. “Hell, we’ve only just started getting to know each other, and now you’re going away?”

A heavy silence fell between them. Seren felt her psyche so saturated with emotion that she could burst. Tears welled in the corner of her eyes, and she hung her head.

“I know.” He said gently, his voice barely above a whisper. His finger curled under her chin, and lifted her head. Her tears threatened to fall.

“Allow me this last cruelty.”

Before she could ask for yet another explanation, he pulled her against himself. Seren gasped, feeling him enclose her in his arms, squeezing her as though he could hold her together all on his own. Nerves ran wild through her, manifesting as pins and needles in her skin. She shook violently, the shaking extending from her core to her fingertips. She could hold it in no longer. 

A choked sob escaped her, and then the tears began to flow. She felt his hand on her head, stroking her hair as she let her impotent, built-up rage escape her lips in quiet gasps. It encouraged her further. She hated this feeling of powerlessness, the inability to stem the charge of time. She had wasted her time with him, she knew it in her heart. Her overly-opinionated nature had made him into her enemy well before she could have made him a friend. She was too late to know him. Too late to save him.

And he did nothing to stop her. He ran his thumb across her scalp, soothing her with quiet words of encouragement, allowing her to express her frustrations in tears, allowing her to let herself out of her walled-up thoughts. He did not stop her, not until she fell completely silent and still.

At last, Gallagher pulled back, holding her gently by the arms as he examined her. Her face was red, puffy, and wet. She sniffled. Finally, she wiped her eyes.

He stepped back, reaching into his pocket and producing a handkerchief. He offered it to her, and after a moment’s hesitation, she took it and dabbed her face.

“Take all the time you need. When you’re ready, we’ll begin.”

She nodded dully, and with a final look into her eyes, he took his leave of her. Seren clenched the handkerchief in her fists, holding it against her face, tightening her arms close to her body. She would hold fast to the memory of his embrace with everything that she had.

Seren sucked in a breath, gazing up at the leaking memoria hole. Now was the time to do what she did best. Fight. For Penacony. For him.

Pocketing the handkerchief, Seren turned to rejoin her allies.

[savage-rhi]

"You’ve always been there for me, now, it’s my turn to be there for you"

Noctis and Ignis you pick romantic or platonic

The campfire crackled softly, casting a warm hue over the clearing. Noctis sat on a log, staring into the flames, lost in reflection. The night was quiet except for the occasional rustling of leaves and crickets chirping. A content sigh left his nose, thankful for the noise in the background. Though the cricket's cries were annoying, it beats being alone in one's thoughts at this late hour--at least, that was Noctis's justification for tolerance.

He suddenly heard footsteps approaching him from behind, knowing it was Ignis because of his steady steps.

"You're up late," Ignis remarked as he stretched while yawning, sitting beside him.

Noctis didn't look up, his eyes remaining on the flames ahead. "Couldn't sleep."

Ignis nodded, his gaze following Noctis's into the fire. "Something on your mind?"

For a moment, Noctis remained silent, unsure how to voice the heaviness weighing on his heart. The responsibilities, the expectations, the looming burden of his destiny—it all seemed too much, too overwhelming. He had done an excellent job playing into the facade of the "brat prince," someone who took things in stride and did not bother with the future. How could he anyway, when the world was falling apart at the seams? Nevertheless, Noctis knew in his heart of hearts that he couldn't keep up the act forever, especially since he cared too much for his own good. If any of his friends could understand that most, it was Iggy.

He bowed his head as his hands and fingers intertwined.

"Ignis," Noctis finally said, his voice low and troubled. "Do you ever wonder if I'm really cut out for all this? For being king?"

Ignis turned to him, the glowing embers from the fire reflecting in his glasses. "Noctis, I've known you since you were a child. If there's anyone who can bear the weight of the crown, it's you."

"But what if I can't?" Noctis breathed while he shook his head. "What if I fail everyone?"

"What's brought this upon you?"

"I..." Noctis bit the inside of his lip and shrugged. "Everything."

Ignis reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Noctis's shoulder. "You won't fail because you're not alone in this. You have us—Gladio, Prompto, and me. Whatever happens, we face it together."

Noctis looked up, meeting Ignis's eyes. Although he wasn't feeling any better, the soothing words could get him through the night. He could make it work somehow.

"You've always been there for me, Ignis." Noctis finally said, giving a small smile. "Through everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"And I always will be, Noct." Ignis smiled softly, a rare warmth gracing his features that was usually reserved. "Remember, this isn't just about you leaning on us. You're stronger than you realize. You've been there for all of us in ways you might not notice. Now, it's my turn to be there for you."

Noctis furrowed his brows. "But you've always had my back. Arguably, more than my father. I don't see how I'm doing much for you when you've had to play mom all this time to me."

"I never saw it like that," Ignis said sincerely, sadness in his eyes at his comment. "You've taught me much about myself, just as I have taught you about the world. We've learned a great deal from each other, you and I. I consider that worthwhile between best friends, don't you?"

The words hit Noctis with a quiet assertiveness, a reminder that their bonds were more than just duty—it was built on trust, and a deep understanding that couldn't be spoken for in earnest.

"Thanks, Ignis..." Noctis murmured, feeling a sense of calm wash over him.

Ignis gently squeezed his shoulder before letting go. "Get some rest. We have a long road ahead, and you'll need your strength."

Noctis nodded, the weight on his shoulders lifting a little now. As Ignis stood to leave, Noctis called after him.

"Ignis?"

"Yes, Noct?"

"I'm glad you're with me."

Ignis paused, a faint smile touching his lips. "As am I, Noct."

With that, he turned and walked back to his tent, leaving Noctis alone by the fire. The warmth of Ignis's words lingered, a quiet assurance that whatever lay ahead, he wouldn't face it alone. Noctis released a breath he had held back, realizing perhaps it was time to finally let go of the mask that had shielded him for so long. Maybe it was time to start acting like a king; the king his father knew was underneath the strife of a young teenager trying to find his feet. The king that Ignis believed in.

Noctis knew he could do it, as long as he had him.

If you like my work and feel generous, feel free to donate to my ko-fi account or my cash app account!

Cash App: $JayRex1463

[valorxdrive]

Life happens.

He acknowledges that. More important, he accepts that.

There comes a certain brand of pride he carries despite the natural tug of the 'blues' that want to wade their way in. Sora wasn't the sort however to go and let such emotion serve to triumph above all else. No, for all of the blood, sweat, confusion and tears they waded through, what developed amidst their bond was something that even grappling force of Space itself could never conquer. So much of this unforgettable time found itself beginning on these sunny shores, where a pristine shine, great friends and a loving family had drawn him into the world.

Now, it was time for the nurtured build of Heart to be a blessing for the hands of another, someone who truly saw him at his best and worst of days. They have futures to see, and right now, no greater machination would find the grounds of ever trying to bend or pervade the very gesture. The lively hum of a Gummi ship amidst Destiny Islands, familiar faces, it was an understandable well of emotion growing on this very scene.

Sora would be a liar if he were to say that the same wasn't being experienced through him. Why wouldn't it? After all, it was a surprising first for his perspective, to be at the celebration of his best friend's new journey. It'd be directly upon those same shores he raced upon that he'd find Riku, that studious, firm gaze peering off to drink in the memories of this scenery one more time. Burning it ever deeper into the resolute heart that managed to endure through so much. A few steps upon the sunkissed sands, and without a moment's hesitation, a firm, spirit rousing whap of the hand would be made on their shoulder.

Thus they would remain, an all too familiar size difference still being ignored to this day. A soft sigh would spill from the Keybearer's lips. "So, big shot. I heard for this particular script, you're the one who's taking the main lead and ensuring it gets where it needs to go. A raft of your very own.. Mind you, one I'm giving ya permission to name whatever ya like!"

A bundle of emotion builds once Riku peers over to him, that telltale fondness in his gaze, carried firm by a blatant disregard of his friend's antics. "Joy. Sora, to think all this time the main thing I need was your permission."

To that motion, he'd wind up giving the Master a wink, a nudge, and inevitably the two of them would burst out laughing on the spot. It was the sort of laughter that found itself belly deeper, as if allowing the very currents of their history to flow within this singular moment of action. Everything precious, everything stupid, everything worthwhile. It really dawned to the spiky haired hero just how much has changed, while in the same vein, remained the same this whole time.

Growth just had a lot of surprising ways of teaching them that.

..In truth, it was a little strange, a little natural.

"Riku, if it's you. I know you're gonna do great out there. You showed everything just how much you really changed, right, here." Sora finalizes, drawing his knuckles forward to tap upon that built chest. It would be directly where that vessel of unfathomable potential rests, nestled deep, forever growing with each and every new passing day. The confirmation of it all draws a sense of longing, a sense of peace, but above all else?

There was genuine excitement for this new chapter. For the two of them, there would be no tears for this farewell. Far from it.

When Sora peers up to Riku, tucked within those skylit eyes was a determination that no longer held doubt. A solemn strength that wouldn't buckle to the uncertain, or any worries that such a vast unknown would carry along.

"And man, I'm proud of you. ..This new life of yours, show 'em what you got, alright?"

"This bunch raised from Destiny Island have always been built a lil bit different. So show that off! If I gotta even find a note you're struggling too much out there!" Dramatically furrowing his brow, raising up a dramatized finger in tune..!

It'd immediately be lowered.

"Me, Kairi, our folks.. all of us. We'll be right there to help. Just know we'll always have your back."

"And thank you."

@litoredeem

_____

JAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

I want this to be my big thank you to ya you lug! A nice shoutout to whatever you decide to do from life here on. (not that it's different! Just one less hobby on the menu.) Thank you for giving me that unforgettable RP experience with your muses. From the awesome showdowns with Satsuki, the broships with Riku, not to mention the sweets with Kairi. (Ur Aqua is still a nerd tho.)

It's just been fun, and in kind, you really lit the invigorated fire under my ass to really be putting my best foot forward for the KH Franchise. Just think of this little drabble as a memento you can peek at if the mood reaches you! You've had an impact here, full on awesome and true to our dumbass ways.

So! From Jace to Jay! I want to wish you the best out there with whatever you decide to do.

[webslingerx]

Continued here part 1 with @the-stars-in-our-destiny

Yes! At least know he’ll have a few more moments with him to get to know him and hopefully learn a thing or two about him. As Starry seemly speed walks through the door Spider-Man has to pick up his pace to keep up with him now.

Once inside he sees Starry talking with one of the nurses now he couldn’t hear what they were saying but watching Starry’s body language… didn’t seem like a good thing. The hospital smelt like rubber gloves, rubbing alcohol and medications of some sort. His nose wiggles under his red, webbed mask as he looked around the hospital grounds.

As soon as Starry leaves the nurse’s side, he subconsciously tilts his head to the side thinking about this. What was going on? Even though he wanted to be with Starry while he got checked up he wanted to give him some privacy from him but this seemed urgent. Something was wrong. Once more the spider walks over to Starry but unlike earlier he leaves a small gap between them for space and cellphone privacy.

“Sorry to bother you… but I see you’re having some trouble. I’ll talk with the nurse and see if they’ll just ring us up as a guest for now okay? They can’t refuse to treat such wound alright? I got this.”

He softly pats his shoulder before turning around to leave Starry’s presence. He finds the same nurse that Starry was talking with previously. Of course once the nurse saw he, they shook his hand and was hyped up about her being there. Once he started talking to them, they listened nodding along with what he was saying about the situation. He expressed the wound was more severe than he thought and he needed to be seen immediately. He even offered to pay for the visit. After a few minutes of them talking Spider-Man heads back to Starry’s side.

“Alright I got us a room!.. for you’re head of course.”

He chuckles awkwardly for a moment while walking away but keeping his pace actually slow this time for Starry to follow him.

“They said it’s room 334… and the doctor will be there ASAP.”

They went past a few rooms before he finally found theirs room. The room was already opened for them. He walks in sitting down on one of the extra chairs provided. There were three chairs, two with green cushions and one with a red cushion and of course the table chair thing the patient sits on.

“Starry? I’m so sorry your day isn’t going well… first you’re head injury and now this crap? Sheesh… you need a rest and a deserved break after this is over. I don’t know what going on with your phone but do you want me to look at it? I’m pretty decent with technology.”

That was an understatement. He was great with technology but he wasn’t gonna let Starry know that. He had to hide who he was a good as possible. He must remain anonymous as possible. For him and for the rest of New York. But he wanted to try to help his new friend out as much as possible. He did find it odd that there were no records of him here… as there were records on everyone including him, as Peter and as Spider-Man. This wasn’t the time though to barrage him with a surplus of questions, no he needed sometime to think and sometime to remain calm and at ease. He pats the empty chair beside him softly.

“Wanna sit a spell with me?… the doctor will hopefully be here soonish.”

[skylarmoon71]

Lex Luthor (Smallville )AU Chapter 11

Lex basically sped out of the truck, rushing to the door.

Dashing inside, he saw someone stand at the entrance. Jonathan and Martha were in the living room. They all turned. The second you turned around, Lex felt all his fears just release. He ran over, pulling you into his arms.

“You’re okay.”

It was a sigh of relief. When he felt you gently push him back, he looked down. Only to meet the look of confusion.

“Do I know you?”

Lex’s smile dropped almost immediately, and Clark finally walked in.

“She was at the door. We thought she just got lost but then we saw her and we knew.”

It was hard to ignore the resemblance. You and Clark could have been siblings.

Lex released you, taking a step back.

You didn't recognize him.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this..”

All for nothing.

He felt like he’d robbed you of a future. Because you’d done all this for him, and now you may never remember your true life. He’d promised Jonathan he would bring you back, but he couldn’t. Lex staggered, moving to the counter to balance himself. He released a breath, straightening as he headed for the door. Clark didn’t even stop him, because nothing he could say would help.

This was so far out of his control.

He stumbled outside, moving towards the barn. He needed to be alone to figure out what the next step was, but for now, maybe all he needed was rest. Lex ventured to the loft, walking lazily up the stairs.

He didn’t even make it to the couch. He dropped right there on the floor. His shoulders shook as he let the exhaustion finally take its toll. Right there, he cried. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever felt this vulnerable. This entire situation had been one trip after the other. He was tired.

Of everything.

Proving he was a good person in his world.

Proving he was worthy to Jonathan in yours.

Fighting to show that his mistakes were what he’d learned from. He could change. He had. It felt like he did when he saw you. When he met you.

When you rebelled against your family to prove that Lex Luthor was not some monster that couldn’t be trusted.

“This is strange.”

Lex jumped at the voice. Because he knew this voice. His head whipped up, and right before him stood a blond male.

Older.

Wiser from what he could tell.

“Kal-El is capable of a lot, but never have I seen entire realities alter. Their journey is to be protectors of earth. Saviors.”

Lex’s shoulders dropped.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Of course I do. You’re Jor-El. It’s your fault we’re in this mess in the first place. You’re trivial tests and games. Why couldn’t you see that she was already following that path!! All she’s ever done was protect the people on this planet!”

“But love makes her weak, human.”

“OF COURSE IT DOES!!”

Lex was furious.

“It’s because of her humanity that she’s able to help people. (Y/N) risks her life every single day to help complete strangers. Believe it or not it’s those humans in there that raised her that way. Do you think she would have been so willing if she’d been abandoned? Humanity is corrupted, I’m proof of that, but she wasn’t. There are good people in this world. People worth taking a chance on, saving. Not that you would understand. You’re hell bent on forcing her through this destiny. This faith that you’ve decided.” Lex’s fist balled on the floor.

“I doubt you’d understand.” Lex turned his head, but when he looked, Jor-El was gone. He huffed out a bitter laugh.

“Great, now I’m hallucinating.”

Lex picked himself off the ground slowly. Dropping onto the couch. He was fresh out of ideas. He had no way to get you back.

“I’m sorry.”

It was a meek voice, at the staircase. There you stood, looking guilty for something that was out of your control. You hadn’t moved from the spot, and Lex slid his suit jacket off, running his hands over his face.

“It’s not your fault.”

How could he blame you?

You walked up the remainder of steps, still standing at a distance. Lex was still going through his bout of self loathing.

“This person, the one who you all know, you guys cared about her.” Lex turned his head.

“You. We all care about you.”

You shook your head.

“But I’m not her. I don’t remember being her. But that guy inside there he’s my brother. He has to be. That means those people are his parents. How does that happen? How does someone forget their whole family?” You took a seat right next to Lex.

“All I remember is waking up in the middle of the street. I barely recall getting to this barn. I just walked here because it felt right. I felt like I had to be here. That’s crazy right. I must be going crazy.”

“It’s not crazy.”

If he couldn’t get you back home, the least he could do was assure you that you weren’t losing your mind. He looked down at your hand. Hesitantly, he reached down, gently holding your hand. When you didn’t pull away, Lex’s eyes met yours.

“I don’t understand this, why do I feel like I can trust you..I barely know you.”

You were scared, rightfully so. Lex wanted nothing more than to tell you that everything would be okay. But he knew better. This wasn’t a situation where being hopeful would solve it. The only faith he was willing to accept, is one where he ended up with you. His body turned slowly, and he could see the way you swallowed when his free hand reached up and brushed your hair behind your ear. Your cheeks were glowing a shade of red now.

He should have stopped, that much he was aware of. But looking at you, he couldn’t help it. Maybe if he’d been more honest with himself, this would have played out differently.

“I’m sorry I can’t get you home, but I promise I’ll always protect you.”

Your heart was strumming a mile a minute in your chest at how strong his gaze was. You couldn’t find it in yourself to look away. You were hypnotized.

“You..love me?”

Lex smiled at the bashful way your eyes darted around after you’d asked the question. It was strangely comforting.

“I do. I love you (Y/N).”

Your eyes watered, and Lex was caught off guard when you closed the distance, kissing him with so much merit for someone who had very little memories. His hand slid down your cheek as he pulled you as close as your bodies would allow. This is what he’d been longing for his whole life. It felt so amazing.

“I love you too, Lex.”

There was a whisper of your voice, and he pulled back. You wore a brilliant smile, and soon the room was becoming enveloped by a light, he recognized.

“I’ll leave my daughter in your hands.”

It was Jor-El.

For the first time, Lex didn’t feel afraid of what was waiting, because the light before him felt so warm.

Inviting.

He could still feel you, all around him.

As long as you were together, he would be okay.

[creationofbek]

The Mother-Son Dynamic

In the 2014 film "Mommy", Xavier Dolan encapsulates the highs and lows of motherhood through Diane "Die" Després eyes. Recently widowed, Die is thrown into the single parenting of her charismatic, loving, but sometimes violent son, Steve. In the beginning of the movie, Die goes to pick up Steve from a boarding school program for troubled teens after he was kicked out for starting a fire that injured another student. A school official tells Die after a conversation about Steve that "Loving people doesn't save them. Love has no say." Die replies that she's going to prove the people who say that wrong. Xavier Dolan takes us on a journey of Die's struggles to maintain a job while now homeschooling her son.

In the scene pictured below, Steve is telling Die that he's going to take care of her, seemingly reversing the roles of a mother caring for her son when they're in their most vulnerable states as a child.

The theme of Mother/Son Mother/Child relationships has been explored throughout humanity in all cultures and religions.

Taken during the Great Depression, the photograph, Migrant Mother, depicts a mother in poverty gazing off with 2 children resting on her shoulders and a baby swaddled in her lap. This photo shows the dedication to motherhood despite the turmoil of circumstances.

In "A Twist of Fate", a woman and child are pictured with red strings tied to their fingers. In East Asian folklore, the red thread is a "symbol of fate and destiny, and the belief that two people are connected by an invisible red thread." For me, this painting shows the unwavering interconnectedness of a mother and child and represents that fate and destiny are unavoidable. The school counselor was right in telling Die that love doesn't save people. Fate has no say. Despite this, a mother's love remains the most powerful.

In the Ancient Egyptian sculpture of Isis and Horus, mother and child are pictured. In various religions and cultures, the Holy Mother, or Goddess, is seen with a child to represent the emotional bond of motherhood.

In "If the World Were Mine", WAK shows us a mother, almost painfully, offering the world to her infant son. The son can not possibly know the magnitude of the gift from his mother. She has given him life but seemingly that isn't enough for her, she wants to give him the world if it were hers to give. Mothers are always giving without asking for much in return. Die's entire life is built around Steve, just as many mothers let go of their hopes and dreams for motherhood.

In the final painting, Mother Mary is in despair. The fate and destiny of her son, Jesus, was unavoidable, but the love of a mother is unconditional.

“A mother's love is stronger than anything. I believe it. Stronger than life. Stronger than art itself. And certainly stronger than death." -Xavier Dolan

My personal firsthand experience of this theme is limited because my mother had all daughters. However, throughout life, I've had the chance to be an observer of mother and son through extended family, friends and romantic relationships. Regardless of culture, ethnic heritage, or religion, I have found one thing to be true- a mother loves unconditionally. 

[thefangirlthatwaited]

The City of Dreams and Crow's (Chapter 11) - A Destiny Universe Story

Uldren Sov x Original Character

Before I got the chance to sit, a foot slipped between my ankles, sending me crashing down, and I smacked my head off the bench.

It took me a moment to stand back up, my vision blurring. Great, first day as a Crow, and I got a concussion from a fucking bench. When I turned around, I saw Uldren standing there with a smug look. I wanted to scream and call him a coward for attacking me when I wasn’t looking, but he took another swing at me, ending any thought of my talking. 

I grabbed his arm and threw him over my shoulder, and it was his turn to crash into the bench.

“What happened to I wasn’t allowed to fight!” I yelled.

Uldren picked himself up and charged at me again. He was out for revenge, and I wasn’t gonna let that happen. Fighting Uldren was almost like fighting Jolyon. Their fighting styles were similar, which made it easier for me. They both tried to use my small size as a disadvantage, but I’ve learned how to fight that. Uldren kept trying to pin me down, knowing if he did, I would lose. 

We traded punch for punch and kick for kick, neither letting up. The rest of the room stopped what they were doing so they could watch. We’ve been going at this for thirty minutes, and I was running out of steam. My head was still ringing from earlier, and I was rusty. Finally, I made one wrong move, and his fist made contact with my face.  I fell back, my head hitting the ground, and the room spun as he pinned me. I heard him laugh as he knew he had won, but I couldn’t say anything. I had blood and vomit pooling in my mouth. I didn’t fight to get him off me, and I took deep breaths, trying to get the feeling of nausea to pass.

“No remarks?” He asked his hand on my throat. 

I stared at him, unable to speak. “Let Aurora go, Uldren,” my brother yelled. I swore internally. Jolyon would only make matters worse. “You proved your point.” 

Uldren scoffed but released me. Jolyon rushed over to pull me off the ground, and I made a run to the changing room, not wanting anyone to see me vomit.

Full Chapter on Ao3

[montcumbry-gaytor]

Nepenthe. chap 10

act two : razbliuto

THIS IS A OC INTEGRATION FOR THE WITCHER, IT IS NOT A X READER FIC.

— mrr... how many chapters have I wrote this week? idk, anyways! enjoy lawl :3

tw for : Canon Typical Violence, Nudity, Canon Typical Language, Burn Scar Mentioning.

(n.) the sentimental feeling about someone you once loved but no longer do.

It's early day, and I find myself relaxing in the nook of a tree as Geralt restlessly tosses a net into murky waters, it's the snap of a branch and a drunken singing that startles me out of my thoughts.

"Geralt! Hello." Says Jaskier, holding a flask of what seems to be ale, and his eyes then flit to me. "And Kael, You're here too, Great." He hums, before exaggerating how long it's been, though it's just been a few weeks.. or months.

"— "How are you doing?" i hear you ask." Jaskier says, making the silence obvious, and Geralt quickly answers. "I didn't." He growls as he gathers the net before moving to toss it out again.

He hadn't slept since the night prior, I understand why, while Geralt was never one for destiny, he was now strung by it with a child. "Well, The countess de Stael, My Muse and beauty of this world.. has.. left me.." Ah, so that's why he's drowning his sorrows.

"Again. Rather coldly and unexpectedly I might add." He adds, and as he rambles on I slip from the divot of the tree, Geralt moving like a silent plea to get away from the noise.

"What are you fishing for exactly?" Jaskier asks, tailing us, in all this time he still hasn't learned how to take a hint.

Jaskier trails on, begging Geralt to answer as he lists off names of fish, and finally Geralt speaks up. "I'm not fishing." He says, reeling the net back in. "I can't sleep."

There's almost a worried tone underneath the slurred words, and Jaskier is quick to speak up. "What's going on, Geralt? Talk to me." Geralt sighs for a moment, his eyebrows knitted with frustration. "A djinn." He states, and Jaskier asks the question that pops into my head.

"A what?" It's not that I don't know, it's that I know full well, but does Geralt really think a djinn will break Destiny? "I'm looking for a djinn." Geralt repeats.

Jaskier laughs softly, pressing more about the Djinn until Geralt finally snaps. "Yes. It'll grant me wishes." Geralt says, rising up again, the tension rising in his voice. "It's in this lake somewhere, and I can't fucking sleep!"

Geralt snarls, and I move to follow him, my hand brushing against his slightly and our gazes meet, it's a silent look between us that speaks a whole sentence.

And yet, Jaskier follows again, and this time he strikes the broken chord, bringing up the night in Cintra, and I step back a moment to bat Jaskier on the shoulder.

"No! it's not that." Geralt barks, and I move entirely away from the two, if Jaskier truly needs an answer he's going to carve away at Geralt, and I personally do not want to face the reprocussions.

"Did you sing to her before she left?" Geralt asks, kneeled at the shore as he bundles up the net. "I did actually, and she.. why? what are you implying?" Jaskier asks, before his jaw drops and he bellows at Geralt's underlying insult.

"Tell me Geralt, Be honest, Hows.. My.. Singing?" Jaskier asks, hands on his hips as if he could make Geralt regret any words that left his mouth.

"It's like ordering a pie and finding it has no filling."

Geralt answers, and I let out a soft chortle, and I cough with my fist over my mouth as I catch myself, watching as Jaskier stammers in shock.

"You need a nap!" Jaskier proclaims, and rambles on and on as per usual, and as Geralt gathers the net, a clay bottle sealed with a magical stamp rests inside.

"-Wow. Wow. What is- What is that?" Jaskier asks, and Geralt goes to explain before Jaskier tries to jerk it from his hands. "Take it back about my fillingless pie."

They bicker back and forth like children, and with a swift tug from Jaskier, the seal and the pot separate. "Oh.. Shit." I hiss, and push myself up as the wind picks up.

Jaskier goes on in theatrics about he's freed the Djinn, before Geralt tugs him back before he can use the last wish, and the two once again bicker and yell.

"Knock it the fuck off!" I hiss, and Geralt growls as he kneels, grasping the broken pieces of the pot, and as Jaskier goes to retort, he begins to choke, and wheezes out breaths as Geralt sends a pulse of energy through his fingers and the Djinn flees.

"Geralt—" He wheezes, and I watch as he coughs blood, and his eyes are filled with terror.

There's little time, Geralt and I lift Jaskier onto Roach and I mount Emir as we set off near the closest camp, Jaskier limply resting against Roach's back.

It all happens quickly, The next thing we know we're carrying Jaskier into a white canvas tent, an elvish man inside surrounded by bottles and smells strongly of herbs.

"A Djinn in a bottle? It's like a fairy tale." the man says, trying to observe the persistent swelling in Jaskier's throat. "Without the happy ending. Can you help him?" Geralt asks, his hand on Jaskier's shoulder.

"Oh Dear.." The medic murmurs "—What?" Geralt asks. "I assure you I have received the best medical education right here in Rinde, but.." The man begins to speak, and he sits back as he sighs.

"These injuries are of magical nature. I can help with the pain, but it's a bit like.." He trails off, and Geralt finishes the sentence for him. "Putting salve on a tumor?"

Jaskier let's out a weak "No!" And I'm quick to hush him, holding him upright as he sways limply, if it was bad enough, he had no reason to be speaking lest it destroy his throat more.

"His throat was attacked. If the spell's action isn't halted as soon as possible, that damage might be irreversible."

Jaskier's lips spewed blood into the grassy floor, I can't help but feel an inkling of pity, but as the elf speaks again, I can hear the fear in his voice.

"And the longer he goes untreated, the more likely it is to spread.. He could die."

Chireadan added, and Jaskier gasps a weak breath. "Oh, Fuck-" Jaskier fumbles for a bit, one of his hands landing into mine and squeezing, his knuckles are white but it's a weak grip at best.

"Yeah, We.. won't let that happen." Geralt states, patting Jaskier's back as Chireadan guides a small bowl of a opaque purple-ish liquid to Jaskier's lips, and he drinks almost like a child would.

"The medicine should buy him a few hours but he needs a magical remedy." The elf says, taking the bowl away from Jaskier as it's now empty. "You'll have to take him to another town."

"There isn't a mage here?"

Geralt asks, and the medic looks up at him for a moment. "The mayor says they are dangerous." There's obviously more to it, and Jaskier clings weakly to me to keep upright as they speak.

"What aren't you saying?" Geralt asks, and Chireadan's lips hang open for a moment as if having no words. "Tell me."

"Well.." He begins to speak, but he's wasting time. "There.. There is one mage.. I was tasked with bringing this mage to justice." The elf says, and his lips curl up into a smile as he speaks.

"But I was unable to penetrate certain defenses.. The mayor himself has made the catch and has imprisoned the mage in his house." Chireadan states.

But what sane man who deems a mage unsafe keeps them in the same structure he sleeps in?

"That wasn't so fucking hard was it?" Geralt retorts, and stands and basically drags Jaskier upright, and the elf warns him in a tone that almost sounds like he's fond of the mage.

We quickly set off in the direction of the mayor's residence, our horses hooves beat against dirt and mud, the thudding sound and it's dark when we approach, almost like a horror story.

"Woah! A fee for entrance." Says a man, waiting outside of the residence's doors. "A fee to see the mayor? this is urgent." Geralt huffs, but as the man persists, he huffs and goes to reach into a saddle pouch.

He's quick, but he uses the sack he pulls out to strike the man in the head, knocking him out cold, and we ride to the gates and leave our horses just barely outside of them.

Geralt carries Jaskier over his shoulder, which is a little absurd given his condition. "Do you really have to carry him like that?" I ask, and Geralt lets out a low grunt and carries on, ignoring the comment.

We walk through cobblestone halls, and we enter a kitchen of sorts, where Geralt eases Jaskier onto a table, and as I scan the room i regret having my other eye.

"Holy Shit." Geralt turns to look, and when his eyes meet the same sight he speaks up. "Woah-"

A nude and blubbery man stands in front of a fireplace holding a clay pitcher, but he drops it in shock as his eyes land on us.

"Welcome.. to my home." Usually the habit of not letting your eyes off of a stranger would be a good thing, but not in this case. "You're the Mayor of Rinde?.. not exactly what I was expecting."

Jaskier stammers as he tries to get Geralt's attention, but it's for not, his voice fails him in cause of his ailment, and Geralt excuses him before inquiring on the mage, to which the Mayor says nothing and speaks as if the question was never spoken.

"Ah.. the apple juice, she wants some.." He speaks, looking like he'll collapse at any minute as he does. "And she always gets.. what she wants." The mayor states, and Geralt and I look at each other in confusion, and I can't exactly rid the expression of distaste from my face.

"I don't understand, Does he want me to get him the apple juice?" Geralt asked, and I stare at the pitcher for a moment before shrugging in turn. "Fuck if I know."

Geralt reaches for the pitcher for a moment, and I grasp it and pass it to him, but by the time he turns to hand it to the mayor, he's sound asleep on a chair.

"If only sleep naturally came that easy." I remark, and Geralt raises Jaskier by his collar and guides him out, and I'm quick to follow, and as we push through the doors smoke fogs at our feet.

"The fuck?" Geralt retorts, looking around but finds nothing that could be producing it. "Ah.. shit, rich people and their fucking ambience." I murmur, waving away a puff of smoke that clouds my vision.

We push forth, and as we round a corner it's like an amalgamation of flesh and.. other bodily fluids, shared in every way possible, and while typically this would be a fantasy, I think the mayor left a sour opinion on such brash nudity.

"Geralt, is it too soon to get my other eye clawed out?" I ask, and Geralt lets out a hum as we push through the nude peoples, I feel uncomfortable even being close to touching them, while I never thought about it before, I want anything but to think of it now.

The smoke clears, and a noirette woman sitting alone, a masquerade mask does little to hide her purple eyes, and something makes my stomach churn in distrust as she looks at us.

"Stay." Geralt commands as he sits Jaskier aside, and as he walks forward I go to follow, but he halts again. "Both of you." He says strictly.

"Geralt, You already left me behind for a witch before, need I say anything else?" I retort, my brows furrowed as he looks back at me with the signature Stare, his lips pursed in a straight line.

"Fine."

I huff, and turn on my heels, skirting around hands that reach out, the slick sounds are akin to the noise of chewing with your mouth open, and in such an open space it forces a frown upon my lips.

I press my back to the hallway wall, parallel to the witch across the room, and while she gazes at Geralt with a hungry gaze, when she looks upon me it's.. curious, like she'd rather play with my corpse than eat me.

But, as she and Geralt converse, she stands and circles around him, her fingers grazing over Geralt's shoulders and back, he isn't mine in the way he was, but there's that lingering irk of jealousy or.. envy.

Her eyes flit to mine as that thought reaches my mind, and I let out a small scoff and avert my gaze, envy is for those that think they need more than what they are.

Still, She makes me uneasy, or perhaps it's this building as a whole, I'd prefer it'd collapse on my head than stay here for much longer.

Every time I switch my gaze to the foggy room, it makes me more uncomfortable than the last, they're too close for my comfort even though I'm far from her.

"Ragamuffin."

Her voice booms, and the alluring music halts with the people inside the room, and they all quickly jolt and flush out of the room, pulling clothes over their head and fleeing.

I'm wary of her more and more as time passes, and I stay by Jaskier's side as she heals him, and puts him to rest, even if she's away from Geralt my skin crawls being in the same room as her.

"You don't have to be that wary of me, you know." She remarks, and I turn my gaze out the window, my arms crossed over my chest. "There's always a concern for safety, no matter where I am." I retort, and she hums as if the idea fascinates her.

"It's safe to assume you're a Witcher as well? That scarring gives it away." She hums, her focus on Jaskier and yet she still can speak so leisurely.

My eye is like a dagger as it peers at her, I can't tell if she's playing games or otherwise, and she lets out an amused chuckle. "You're more aggressive than your.." She trails off, and waits for me to finish off the sentence, teasing the idea.

"It's none of your concern what he is to me."

I retort, and she hums once more, the magical glow of her hands fading away as she raises up, standing to her full height. "Well, That's all I can do for now." She states, and approaches the door.

"Care for a bath?" She asks in a sickly sweet tone, and I huff out a response. "If I trusted you not to drown me." I hiss, and she takes that as her answer and leaves.

It's quiet when her footsteps recede, and I move a chair from the corner of the room next to the bed and sit down, peering over Jaskier with concern, the lump on his neck is grotesque, as of growing a second person from your own self.

The night grows late and I can't find it in myself to rest in any other way than staying still, hardly even blinking in concern I might miss something that could end the bards life.

I haven't felt this worrisome since the accident of Gorthur Gvaed, it's exhausting.

It feels like hours before the door to the room cracks open and Geralt steps inside, the mage in tow, and I push myself to my feet as they walk inside. "This is a little tight." Geralt seethes, and as I get a good look at them they've changed clothes, it makes my skin crawl.

"I believe I sized you up quite right." She hums, peeking around the door, her eyes lay on me for a moment before going back to Geralt, and I skirt away from my fellow Witcher, as if he were one of the nude people in the room from before as he approaches the bed.

"Do you doubt my capabilities?" The witch asks, and Geralt pauses for a moment as he looks over Jaskier. "No, Just your intentions." He replies, and she looks almost.. sad by that remark.

"I said some things to him.. he's a.." Geralt trails off, he's never been amazing with words, not even when he confessed his love for me all those years ago did he do it verbally.

I should really keep my mind off that.

"A friend?" the witch speaks up, and Geralt turns to her. "I'd like it to not be the last thing he remembers." If it weren't for the circumstances, I'd smile.

"He won't remember much if he's dead." She remarks, hanging on the lip of the door, watching Geralt attentively, and she lets out a chuckle as if it's a funny idea that some aren't as corrupted to know care for another.

"It's a joke." She says, and I cock my head to her. "A shitty one." I hiss, glaring at her as she moves into the room.

"He will recover, and regain his vocal talents." She states, moving across the room with an uneasy glide. "Does that satisfy you?" She asks, her eyes flickering between Geralt and I.

"Not in the slightest, But don't reproach yourself for it, Yennefer." He says the name with a vile tone, and approaches her with a heavy gaze to return her own. "I'm not easily satisfied." Geralt says, and I watch warily as Yennefer gets uncomfortably close to him.

But, Geralt's gaze slips by, and then to the candles by the edge of the bed, and he makes the conclusion I was too caught up to make. "It's the sign from the seal.."

He hums, and Yennefer's face drops as she realizes she's been had. "I'll be taking Jaskier now." Geralt says, and moves towards Jaskier, ready to scoop him up and get the hell out.

"If you wake him before he is healed, the spell won't take." She states, a sinister expression taking over her face. "That's no way to treat a friend, Geralt." She purrs, and moves over to the Djinns seal, which was placed upon a nightstand.

"You want the djinn, but the amphora's broken." Geralt says. "The Djinn's already long gone." Geralt states, and a gust of wind surges through the room, and the candles by the edge of the bed light on their own.

"Do go on, Tell me how stuff works, The djinn is tied to this plane and it's master." Yennefer retorts, and I stay close to Jaskier, but my eyes never leave her, not even as they feel dry and desperate for me to blink.

"How many wishes did the bard express before he lost his voice?" She asks, and Geralt's head lifts as he realizes just what is going on. "You need Jaskier to make his last wish so you can capture it." And Yennefer rolls her eyes as he speaks.

"So that's.. two.. then." She hums, and steps forward slowly. "The djinn will fight you, if you try and bend it-" Geralt's head twitches, and he clears his throat. "That scent.. Lilac and-" "Gooseberries."

Yennefer hums, and as I move with my hand wrapped around the hilt of my sword she holds a hand out, like a threat now that she's in Geralt's head.

"He has a strong will.. but he can't contend with me." She hums, a smirk on her lips and as her eyes flit to mine it's like a head splitting ache, sickening like the churn of your stomach after smelling a rotting corpse.

"Sorry I couldn't be direct, I knew you and your.. friend here would fight it." Yennefer says, and leans up and presses her lips to Geralt's, it makes me sick, because in the end I'm still not over him yet.

"I do love a good old fashioned trap." She hums as she pulls away, and Geralt sways as his eyes open again. "Good old fashioned.. Nap." and his eyes flutter closed again, as if sleeping standing up.

"Now.. for you." Yennefer hums as she turns to me, leaving Geralt standing as she approaches, and as I go to move it's like I'm stuck. "Just when I thought Witch's could be okay I find that's just a one time thing." I hiss, and she lets out a low chuckle.

"How cute." She coos, trailing around me before grasping my shoulders. "It was hard getting into you, but the way you reacted to the candles told me all I needed to know."

Her fingers slide up, and peel at the collar of my shirt, and I feel where her fingers glide across my skin until I don't, the nerves scalded off all those years ago. "You know.. you're a real firestarter yourself."

She hums, and my head feels heavy, my ears filled with the crackling of fire and as much as I was trying to fight it, it's like standing in shallow water and somehow being dragged beneath it.

— AHHHH I FINALLY GOT TO FINISH THIS CHAPTER OH MY GOD.

[legends-of-time]

Amelia’s Story (BBC Merlin Story)

Chapter 33: The Tears of Uther Pendragon Part Two

Masterlist

Amelia's POV

Kilgharrah takes Anne, Merlin, and Amelia to an abandoned Cave on a cliff face. Anne has already passed out by the time they get there, so Amelia drapes her cloak over Anne to be used as a blanket while Kilgharrah uses his Dragon breath as a sort of healing spell. Merlin places his jacket under Anne's head as a pillow.

Amelia watches as Merlin gently brushes Anne's hair back from her forehead, fretting over her chills and the fact that she is also sweating bullets. Amelia loves how adorable the two of them are.

"I must confess, I didn't see your destiny taking this turn," Kilgharrah reveals as Amelia looks over at him. "You didn't fall under your sister's influence."

"My loyalty has always been to Anne, Merlin, and Camelot as it always will be," Amelia says. She looks over at her sleeping friend. "I'd do anything to keep them and Camelot safe."

Merlin shares a smile with her. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

Amelia shakes her head. "I do not blame you."

Their faces turn into ones of concern as they see Anne scrunch her face up in pain. Anne's eyes carefully open and she smiles gently when she sees them sitting by her. Merlin relaxes and now turns his head over to where Kilgharrah sits and smiles in relief.

"I didn't think you'd answer my call." He speaks.

"Merlin, I could not resist a Dragonlord, even if I wanted to," Kilgharrah replies.

"Dragonlord?" Amelia repeats, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion as she looks over at Merlin. "What's a Dragonlord?"

"I'll explain it all to you later," Merlin says, before turning back to Kilgharrah. "We're grateful. Thank you."

Anne tries to get up, but Merlin and Amelia grab her shoulders and gently push her down.

"Lie still," Amelia instructs.

"Uuugh, it hurts." Anne groans as she lies back onto Merlin's jacket.

"The Serket's poison is powerful. I have given you an enchantment that will help you heal, but it will take time." Kilgharrah tells her.

Anne is lulled back to sleep eventually, and Amelia and Merlin just sit beside her patiently as they let her rest.

"Morgana will be wondering where I am," Amelia says to no one in particular.

"Is she aware that you have come back to rescue Merlin and Anne?" Kilgharrah asks.

Amelia shakes her head. "I had to sneak out."

"I'm grateful and relieved," Merlin says.

"This is a very dangerous game you are playing, young one." Kilgharrah points out.

Amelia simply nods. "I am aware."

"And yet you play it anyways?" He asks. "When your sisters could find out about your betrayal?"

"I am not pleased with it but Morgana and Morgause have plans for Camelot, and as long as I am in the position to find out secrets and use them for good, then I shall. I have chosen my path." Amelia replies.

"How do you know it is the final one?"

"Of course it is." Merlin snaps.

They can't talk about it further as Anne suddenly lifts her head. She looks over at the three of them. "You shouldn't have let me sleep."

"I had no choice, young Sorceress," Kilgharrah explains to her. "The venom was too strong; you have to rest."

"We don't have time," Merlin tells him as he struggles to help Anne stand up and Amelia reluctantly helps though she would've preferred it if Anne rested more. Still, she knows they need to get going. "We need to get back to Camelot. The Kingdom is in danger, and it's my fault."

"Not just yours," Amelia says, trying to lift his spirits.

"I should've listened to you. I should never have trusted Morgana." Merlin continues.

"You did what you felt was right, and that shows great courage, but trust is a double edged sword," Kilgharrah replies.

"I thought...because she has magic, I thought we were the same. Like with Anne and Amelia."

"In some ways you are."

"No." Merlin denies. "I will never be like her."

"Us too," Anne adds.

"You have learnt an important lesson, Merlin," Kilgharrah says. "Your determination to see goodness in people will be your undoing. But I fear that your futures are now joined forever. She is the darkness to your light, the hatred to your love."

"What of me?" Amelia asks, genuinely curious.

"As I said before, you are at two paths, with many turns. One that will lead you to the light and one to the dark. Your beliefs and faith in those that you care about is a very dangerous thing as it will alter your path." He speaks. "You cannot escape it, no more than you can escape what your destiny shall be."

Amelia looks over at Anne and Merlin, and they all know what to do. For now, they have to push all of this aside and get on with saving Camelot.

"We need to get back to Camelot," Anne says to Kilgharrah.

"You are not yet fully recovered yet, Anne," Kilgharrah tells her. "Even if you have Amelia and Merlin's help, it's still more than three days' walk."

Merlin looks over to them with a knowing smirk, and Amelia instantly knows his plan.

"We have no intention of walking." He speaks.

Amelia finds herself riding Kilgharrah with Anne and Merlin to Camelot.

"Woo! Whoa. Ha-ha! Woo!" Merlin cheers while Amelia clings to Kilgharrah with wide eyes and wonders whether to be scared or excited. Anne howls with laughter.

Kilgharrah drops them off in the clearing near Camelot. "This is as far as I go."

"Thank you. I won't forget this." Merlin says.

"Be careful, you three," Kilgharrah warns. "The great battle for Camelot has begun. You all must be strong. For Arthur's destiny and the future of Albion lie in your hands." And with that Kilgharrah flies off.

"Right, you two need to get Gaius and get rid of the Mandrake root to stop the enchantment. I need to go to Morgana." Amelia tells them.

——

The three of them get to the Castle but Anne and Merlin go in a different direction than Amelia, who feels nervous about lying to her sister again, heads to her own Chambers.

"Amelia!" Morgana cries as soon as Amelia enters the room. "I was so worried sister! I did not know it would take so long to find your bracelet!"

"I know, I know I shouldn't have gone but it was from Morgause. I had to!" Amelia lies as they take a seat at the table in her Chambers. She hadn't really lost her bracelet; it was all a ruse to get out of Camelot under Morgana's watchful eye.

"You find it?"

"Yes, here." Amelia shows Morgana her wrist where the bracelet sits. "I was only late because I got lost, you know how I am with directions, took a stumble then had to heal myself with a spell."

"Look at you using spells!" Morgana praises with a smile. Amelia internally grumbles at the part that feels pleased with the praise Morgana gives.

"Shut up." Amelia looks down bashfully. She then quickly changes the conversation, worried about Morgana picking apart her alibi. "You, however, look exhausted Morgana. You need sleep."

Morgana nods and stands but pauses when she gets to the door. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Amelia rolls her eyes playfully though internally she doesn't feel that way. "Yes. Goodnight, sister."

"Goodnight, sister."

Amelia slumps with relief as soon as her sister leaves the room.

——

Amelia eats breakfast with Morgana in the elder sister's Chambers.

"May we clear away the dishes, My Lady?" Gwen asks Morgana after they had finished. Anne is still recovering from Serket poison so the lie is that she has a bad cold. So, Gwen is helping Amelia with whatever she needs until Anne is better.

Morgana stares out the window and doesn't answer her.

"Yes please, Gwen," Amelia answers for her sister. Gwen proceeds to do so and leaves the room.

"Morgana?" Amelia calls.

Morgana turns to her and gestures for Amelia to look out of the window. Amelia sees Merlin walking through the Square with Arthur. She now realises what caused Morgana's distraction.

Amelia frowns in fake concern. "This is not good."

"Agreed. How did he escape?" Morgana wonders.

"That's not important. Right now, we need to make sure he hasn't done any damage." Amelia says to divert her.

"The Mandrake root!" Morgana gasps. "He knows about it. What if he's done something?"

"It's possible. He did see us take it." Amelia agrees, glad that Morgana is no longer thinking about how Merlin escaped. They really don't need Morgana and Morgause learning Merlin's secret right now.

"I'll get dressed and look myself." Morgana decides. Amelia nods in agreement.

——

Merlin's POV

Merlin is walking along the Central Corridor feeling annoyed that Arthur doesn't know the truth when Morgana pops out of an alcove as Merlin walks by and pulls him into it.

"I don't know how you managed to escape," Morgana spits, "but I do know one thing: if you breathe a word of what you saw, Amelia and I will make your life a very short and painful one. Just think how Uther would react if he learned that a serving boy had tried to poison his beloved ward, my sister." Morgana struts off with a smirk. Merlin leans against the wall, feeling shaky after the threat.

——

Amelia's POV

Camelot's patrol return with news that Cenred's army is marching upon Camelot. Arthur calls a Council meeting.

"I estimate they will reach the City within two days," Leon informs them. Everyone stands on one side of the table while Arthur paces on the other with Morgana and Amelia, who stand by one of the pillars.

"Under whose banner do they march?" Arthur asks.

"Cenred's, Sire. We knew he was amassing an army—"

"How many men?"

"20,000 maybe more."

Amelia shares worried glances with Merlin and Anne but keeps it brief as Morgana is standing right next to her.

"I fear that news of the King's illness has spread beyond our borders. Cenred sees an opportunity." Gaius says.

"Then we must find a way to appease him." Leon decides.

"Not what my father would do, he wouldn't bow to our enemies." Arthur disagrees.

Amelia sees Merlin look past her towards Morgana and sees that the two are sharing a stony glare. Morgana must've threatened him. Just before the meeting, Morgana had told her that Merlin had destroyed the Mandrake root. Amelia is glad that Uther suffered a bit but is even more glad that the root will do no more damage to the security of Camelot.

"Forgive me, Sire, we are outnumbered two to one," Gaius warns.

"What concessions will Cenred insist on? What territories will he demand?" Arthur questions.

"We do not have to give him anything, but it could buy us valuable time."

"It shows weakness, Gaius." Arthur walks over to the head of the table. "There's only one course of action open to us." Arthur sits on the throne. Amelia tries to contain the pride and happiness she feels seeing him do that. "We must prepare the City for siege."

"Are you sure that is wise?" Leon asks.

"The Castle is our strongest weapon. No army has ever taken Camelot." Arthur replies.

"But what about the people in the outlying Villages?" Leon argues.

"Give them refuge within the City walls." Arthur decides.

"And what of their houses, their livelihoods? Cenred will destroy everything in his path." Leon counters.

"But they will have their lives. Go. Ready the army." Arthur orders.

——

Amelia and Morgana watch the citizens of Camelot prepare for the siege before they sneak out of the City. They are waiting for a while until Morgause shows up on her horse.

"Where have you been?" Morgana demands to know as Morgause comes over to them.

"What's wrong, sister?" Morgause asks.

"It's Merlin." Amelia spits with fake hatred. "He's alive. He's back in Camelot."

"He has thwarted us." Morgana continues. "He destroyed the Mandrake root. Your enchantment's been broken."

"Do not worry. The root has already done its work, and Cenred's army is less than a day from the City." Morgause reassures them.

"Then it is time?" Morgana asks.

"Are you ready?" Morgause responds, looking at the two of them with hope on her face. "Cenred's army is mighty, but they cannot bring down the City on their own. You two must also play your parts."

Morgana and Amelia share quick glances before smiling evilly. "Tell us what we must do," Amelia confirms while she squirms internally.

Morgause reaches from behind her to reveal a long staff. It is a long stick with lots of thick roots at the end. "It's carved from the Rowan tree that grows at the very heart of the Isle of the Blessed. Only the High Priestesses and their Blood Guard have ever set eyes on it. One of you will have to use it."

Amelia does not want to be the one to backstab the people of Camelot but doesn't to expose her true intentions. "Morgana?" She turns to her sister. "Why not you do it while I distract?"

Morgana shakes her head. "My magic is still weak. I do not have the strength to wield such an instrument."

"Do not worry. The staff will guide you. It carries its own power." Morgause says. She hands it off to them.

"We will not fail you," Amelia promises.

"I know," Morgause says simply, she turns around to get back to her horse.

——

The next day, Amelia reports to Anne.

"I had a meeting with Morgause last night," Amelia tells her. "She said that Cenred's army is less than a day away from Camelot."

"What else did she say?" Anne asks.

"She gave Morgana and I a staff. She said that it was carved from a Rowan tree that grew in the Isle of the Blessed." Amelia informs her.

"The Isle of the Blessed?" Anne repeats and Amelia nods in response. "Then it must hold very powerful magic."

"It does." Amelia agrees.

"How do you use it?" Anne presses.

"Morgana is to go down during the middle of all of the fighting to the Burial Vaults in the Castle," Amelia explains. "Then drive it deep into the ground."

"Why not you?" Anne asks.

"I suggested Morgana do it while I 'distract'." Amelia explains. "It gives me a better chance to work against them."

"Then during the battle tomorrow, we must keep our eye on Morgana," Anne concludes.

Amelia nods, and her stomach tightens. "Anne, the staff... there's a reason we're to use it in the Burial Vaults of Camelot."

"Why?" Anne asks, furrowing her eyebrows.

"It's supposed to raise an army of the dead," Amelia explains. "Morgause has said herself that Cenred's army isn't enough to bring down Camelot. Fighting and trying to kill things that are already dead?" She shakes her head. "Camelot will surely fall to Cenred, if not through his men, then through the dead."

Anne takes a deep breath as she says, "Then we must stop Morgana."

Amelia shakes her head. "We can't because if we stop her from doing something that nobody but me is supposed to know about, she'll surely know that I was the one who told you and there goes our advantage. Now that we know that she's going to do it, we can stop her quickly before any real damage can be done."

Anne nods in agreement. "I'll tell Merlin and Gaius."

——

People stream into Camelot from the outlying Villages. Soldiers prepare for the siege while Amelia helps out sorting out the Infirmary.

By evening, the opposing army is outside the City gates. Amelia watches them from her Chambers, feeling the nervousness and anticipation of what is to come.

"Are you sure you should be doing this Amelia? What if you reveal yourself to Morgause and Morgana?" Anne warns as she helps Amelia into her armour.

"It's a risk I'll have to take," Amelia replies.

Amelia hears footsteps and a knock and turns to see Arthur coming in. Anne curtsies to him and leaves.

"Your place is not on the battlefield," Arthur says as he pulls her away from the window.

"And why not?" Amelia huffs, irritated.

"I mean it. We spent too long searching for you and Morgana to lose either of you again now." Arthur replies.

"You underestimate me, Arthur. I'm a match for any man." Amelia retorts.

"You," Arthur puts his hands on her shoulders, "are to stay inside the palace." His face is serious. The irritation in Amelia calms down when she sees how worried he is.

"You needn't worry," Amelia reassures him. "I wasn't planning on leaving its walls." Morgana needs to stay within its walls and Amelia needs to watch her sister. She obviously doesn't tell Arthur this.

"Good." Arthur nods.

"What you should be worrying about is trying to tell Morgana to stay in." Amelia half jokes.

Arthur rolls his eyes and sighs. Amelia grins at him. She has missed this.

——

When the first fireball hits, the Infirmary is immediately filled with burned, bleeding people, and Amelia, Gaius, Morgana, Gwen, and Anne have their hands full to the max.

As fireballs continue to rain down on Camelot, more screams and shouts fill the air as more die or are wounded, the Knights and Guards are trying their best to fend Cenred's men off both on the ground and in the battlements.

Amelia is helping an elderly couple with burns all over them inside the Castle when she sees a flash of silver. Her eyes widen when she recognises Uther Pendragon pulling out his sword and running towards the centre of the battle in full body armour.

She wonders if she should do something when she hears the groans of pain from the couple. Amelia pulls her eyes away from the retreating Uther and helps the man and woman up the steps and into the Infirmary for treatment, helping others along the way.

——

Merlin catches her as she settles some more patients inside the Infirmary.

Merlin glances over at Morgana. "Gaius is keeping an eye on her but we need more than one eye."

"Don't worry, I'll help him," Amelia says, her eyes flicker to Morgana, and is relieved to see she hasn't noticed Merlin and Amelia interacting.

"You mustn't let her out of your sight. I need to get back to Arthur." Merlin leaves and Amelia gets back to work.

——

In the Infirmary Amelia is tending to a small child, whose arm is broken, trying her best to keep an eye on Morgana along with Gaius. Gaius looks away and Morgana catches her eye and they give each other a nod. Morgana leaves the room and Amelia quickly goes over to Gaius.

"Morgana just left to use the staff," Amelia tells him. "I'm going to find Merlin."

Gaius nods and goes back to his patient while Amelia runs out of the Infirmary.

"Wait!" Amelia turns to see Anne had called her. "Let me come with you."

"Anne, we already have enough going on in here for more of us to leave," Amelia tells her.

"You need all the help you can get," Anne argues. Amelia sighs and nods though a sick feeling creeps into her stomach.

——

Amelia and Anne struggle to find Merlin together so they have to split up. Amelia steps out into the Main Square when she comes up with the idea of trying to call out to Merlin with her mind.

"Merlin?" She tentatively calls.

"Amelia?" Amelia sighs in relief when she hears the reply.

"You need to get to the Burial Vaults now. Morgana's gone down to use the staff. I'll look after Arthur."

"All right."

Amelia is anxiously running around to find Arthur when she feels it. A jolt of magic shocked through Camelot. She almost loses her footing at the pure power and strength behind it, her ears ringing. Morgana had done it.

She shakes it off when she finally finds Arthur. "Arthur!" She calls, running over to him.

His eyes widen. "Amelia?! I thought I said stay in the Castle walls!"

"Technically I am." She retorts before freezing as she sees three walking skeletons with swords in their hands, approaching Arthur's back.

"Amelia?"

Amelia is gaping in shock as she points behind Arthur. Arthur turns to see the army of skeletons behind him, dumbstruck. The closest one makes a swing at Arthur, who takes a second longer than normal to react before ducking out of the way. Arthur fights it and stabs it but the skeleton shrugs and keeps fighting.

Amelia has to fight another skeleton and is able to lop its arm off. A Knight takes on the skeleton while Amelia soon has to begin battle with the arm on the ground.

——

Arthur and Amelia rush up the steps but stop halfway.

"Where's Merlin?" Arthur asks.

"I don't know." Amelia answers. Probably stopping Morgana.

Arthur gently shoves her up the stairs. "You need to warn Gaius. Tell him to seal off the Hospital."

Arthur turns to face the skeleton entering the Castle. Amelia numbly watches the silhouette approach.

Arthur turns when realising she hadn't moved. "Amelia, will you just listen to me for once!" Amelia rolls her eyes and huffs before rushing up the steps.

——

Amelia enters the Infirmary and finds Gaius tending to Uther. She pulls him away to talk. "You need to seal off the Hospital. The Castle is under attack from within."

"Morgana's used the staff?"

"Yes, I sent Merlin to try and stop it as quickly as I could but he didn't get to her in time but he could be with her now," Amelia tells him. "I'm going to find him. Tell Anne where we are." She runs off before he can stop her.

——

Anne's POV

Anne is panicking as she had been unable to find Merlin and then realises she can't find Amelia either so she runs back to the Infirmary in the hope that Gaius knows something.

She finds him talking to Arthur as Gwen bandages the latter.

"I don't know how much longer we can hold the Citadel. We need to get my father to safety." Arthur is saying as she approaches.

"How?" Gaius replies. "We no longer control the Lower Town. There's no escape, Arthur." Anne feels dread build in her stomach but shakes it off the best she can.

"Gaius." She greets him when he steps away from Arthur.

"Anne! Where have you been?" Gaius exclaims worriedly.

"That doesn't matter." Anne dismisses. "Do you know where Amelia and Merlin are?"

"In the Burial Vaults, but Anne—" She leaves before he can stop her.

——

Amelia's POV

Amelia huffs as she runs down the stairs as fast as she can, nearly tripping over everything that comes in her path. She slows down when she gets to the Vaults so as to not alert Morgana and Merlin to her presence until she's come up with a plan that doesn't expose her to the former.

As she gets closer, she hears talking and then sees Merlin and Morgana talking next to the staff that is now glowing. Amelia hides behind the Tomb as she listens.

"You of all people could change Uther's mind, but doing this? Using magic like this will only harden his heart." Merlin warns Morgana.

"You don't have magic, Merlin." Morgana snaps. "How could you hope to understand?" Oh, how wrong she is. Amelia wonders what would've happened if they had told Morgana the truth before she had become this person.

"I do understand, believe me," Merlin argues. "If I had your gifts, I would harness them for good. That's what magic should be for. That's why you were born with these powers."

"You don't know what it's like to be an outsider." Morgana counters. "To be ashamed of how you were born, to have to hide who you are." Amelia understands that feeling. "Do you think I deserve to be executed because of who I am?"

"No. It doesn't have to be like this. We can find another way."

"There is no other way."

Merlin nods as he backs up as if giving up. He walks behind a pillar and tries to dash around the other side to reach the staff. Amelia wonders if she should step out now when Morgana knocks the sword out of his hand and draws her own but doesn't know how. Morgana advances on Merlin, who backs up.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" Merlin challenges.

"You don't think I can?" Morgana retorts.

"If you're going to do it, make it quick."

Suddenly, Amelia feels someone crouch next to her. She had been so focused on Merlin and Morgana, that she hadn't noticed anyone approaching. She relaxes when she sees it's Anne.

Morgana slashes at Merlin. Merlin ducks and picks his sword up from the floor. They become locked in a tight battle with Morgana winning. Anne grips Amelia's hand in panic when Morgana disarms Merlin. She strikes wherever she can manage but Merlin avoids her attacks. Merlin then trips and falls to the side of the Tomb. Amelia holds back her gasp. Morgana raises her sword to deliver the final blow.

"Feoll bu brand!" Amelia then hears Anne chant then part of the Vault roof collapses on top of Morgana, knocking her out.

Amelia and Anne emerge from the hiding spot and Merlin smiles in relief at the sight of them.

"Thank you." He speaks.

"You're welcome," Anne says with heart eyes. They stare at each other for longer than necessary.

"Uuuhh, guys? We still need to destroy the root." Amelia interrupts. They turn to her blushing.

"Right, yes." Merlin picks up a sword and runs to the staff. "Snæde!" Merlin slices through the staff. There's a tiny explosion as the top part falls to the ground.

Amelia and Anne cheer in victory. The latter runs over to Merlin to hug him before the two pull back and begin kissing. Amelia awkwardly looks about, not really knowing what to do. She glances at the unconscious Morgana and knows they need to get a move on.

Amelia does a loud cough, which pulls the two love birds apart.

"Um, sorry." Merlin mumbles, blushing. One of his arms stays around Anne.

Amelia shakes her head, smiling. "It's fine but both of you should leave. I'm going to stay till Morgana wakes."

Anne looks over to Morgana. "Will she not be suspicious?"

"I've been lying for more than a year. I think I'll be fine." Amelia argues.

Merlin and Anne run out of the Vaults and Amelia runs over to Morgana. She drops next to her and pushes away any rubble and pieces of rock off her. Amelia gently begins shaking Morgana's arm.

"Morgana! Morgana!" She hopes there hasn't been any serious damage.

Morgana groans and carefully opens her eyes. "What happened?"

Amelia sighs in relief. "You gave me a fright. The skeletons you summoned, they dropped dead. I knew something was wrong and went down here to find you like this."

Morgana tries to sit up but gives up after it hurts too much. "The staff..."

"Somebody broke it," Amelia replies. "Who else was down here?"

"Merlin." Morgana spits. "He was trying to stop me, we fought and then parts of the ceiling broke and fell on me."

"The fighting above must have loosened it." Amelia quickly offers. Morgana nods, closing her eyes. "Morgana, you must stay awake and let me get you to the Infirmary. You're bleeding." There's blood trickling from a wound on Morgana's forehead.

"Then help me, sister. I do not want anyone else to." Morgana pleads.

Amelia nods then internally she feels annoyed. "Þurhhæle licsar min." Morgana sighs in relief. "We need to go, sister."

"But how will we explain why we are down here?" Morgana asks worriedly.

"We'll lie. Say we were the ones to defeat the skeletons." Amelia suggests. She doesn't like taking away Merlin's success but right now she needed to so to find the right opportunity to expose Morgana at a later date. This isn't the time.

Morgana smiles. "You're right as always, sister."

Amelia helps pick her up and they hobble out of the Vaults. Amelia glances back at the broken staff and feels relieved that it worked.

——

The next day, the siege is over though they are still recovering and Uther calls a meeting in the Throne room. Amelia stands anxiously next to Morgana in the crowd while Uther stands upfront. The two sisters had fed Uther the lie they had come up with.

"In my time, we've won many battles," Uther begins, "but none so important as this. Every man, every woman and child has performed their heroic best, and I thank you, and I salute you all. Even before the battle, we knew there was a traitor in our midst, one who was almost the undoing of us. However, we have to thank the one person who outwitted them, and who - almost single-handedly - turned the battle."

"Uther knows about Morgana?" Amelia hears Merlin ask.

"No." She simply replies.

"The Lady Morgana!" Uther announces. Morgana takes his outstretched hand and Uther presents her to the Court. The Court applauds. "For it was she who bravely entered the Vault, found the magical vessel, and destroyed it."

Morgana interrupts his speech. "But I wouldn't have done it without the help of one person." She announces proudly. Morgana turns to Amelia and holds out her hand. "The Lady Amelia!"

The Court bursts into applause. Amelia's stomach twists guiltily as she goes up and takes Morgana's hand, standing next to her.

"For it was her that went searching for me when I couldn't be found and healed me when I was injured." The Court starts clapping. Morgana gives Amelia's hand a squeeze and has a warm smile on her face directed at Amelia. Amelia gives a small, uncomfortable, smile back.

"We must be vigilant!" Uther decrees. "We must stand firm against the dark forces of magic, and ensure that they never penetrate our walls again."

Amelia shares worried looks with both Anne and Merlin. This is far from over.

——

A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

[destinyimage]

Isaiah’s Secret Message to Gentiles: The End-Times Mandate to Fulfill God’s Ultimate Plan

Of all the many unique features that the Gentile relationship with the Jew holds, Israel’s redemption is arguably the most important.

Isaiah speaks about the salvation and blessing of the Gentiles like no other and emphasizes the importance of the Gentile role in God’s plan for the Jew fifteen times. Gentile is stated as often in his writings as it is used in all the rest of the Old Testament. Isaiah’s prophecies are the only ones quoted in the Gospels (Matthew 4:15, 12:18; Luke 2:32).

If Paul is considered the apostle to the Gentiles in the New Testament, Isaiah could be the apostle to the Gentiles in the Old Testament. He seems to rejoice in God’s plan of salvation for all the nations. In his own words:

This is what the Sovereign Lord says, “See, I will give a signal to the Gentiles, and they shall carry your little sons [Jewish boys] back to you in their arms, and your daughters [Jewish girls] on their shoulders (Isaiah 49:22 TLB).

Also, the following:

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth (Isaiah 49:6 KJV).

As one reviews the extraordinary range of involvement for the Gentile in God’s plan for the Jewish people, the Gentile calling is essential to God’s plan for the Jewish people.

One area is the Ruth Calling, a deeply prophetic calling which is dramatically affecting the Gentiles and bringing much-needed partnerships to the Messianic Jewish mission.

The Ruth Generation

Many are familiar with the story of Ruth; a woman who became famous for her compassion for her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth stated, “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16 NIV). The question her statement raises: What does it mean to acknowledge a common destiny as Ruth did with Naomi?

For one, today it acknowledges oneself in a common future with the Jew; this is a profound truth with great relevance. Countless individuals are letting go of their own Gentile church culture to affirm their lot and future with the Jewish people. Often as part of the cost, it can bring separation from loved ones, accusations of converting to Judaism, or even erecting a wall of division; but despite it, they continue.

The real benefit that comes to the body through the Ruth generation is the true understanding of God’s heart for His firstborn. They come to be vital partners in the Messianic call, while demonstrating the model of the One New Man that is provoking both to Gentile Christians and the Jewish people. They become end-time light-bearers of God’s benevolent nature toward the Jewish people.

Aliyah, Jewish Return to the Land

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When God finally gave to the Jews their homeland in 1948, Jews returning to the land fulfilled what is termed “Aliyah” (Return). The essence of Aliyah is a virulent force in the Jewish people. Many of the Jewish people who return to Israel will do so with the assistance of the Gentiles. And Gentile ministries exist today whose sole purpose is to facilitate the return of the Jewish people.

Thousands are serving as these shepherds’ rods pointing the lost sheep of Israel back to Zion.

Jews who live outside Israel, the Diaspora, often return to Israel when anti-Semitism begins or economic and political difficulties arise. Some are compelled spiritually and prophetically, and some leave to take part in their own cultural return to live with their people in an entirely Jewish state.

More than 400 Scriptures in the Bible foretell the Jewish people’s return to the land of biblical history. The ingathering of the exiles, then, is a timeless principle. Tom Hess’s book, Let My People Go, is a classic reading for this train of thought. Consider the following:

And kings shall be thy nursing fathers and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me (Isaiah 49:23 KJV).

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you (Zechariah 8:23 KJV).

Provoking the Jews to Envy

With the gospel message falling to the Gentiles after Israel rejects her Messiah, the Gentile church has proclaimed the truth of the One True God to virtually every nation and tongue. Yet, the Gentile church was also to provoke the Jewish people to envy, a commission that is given in Romans 11:11 (NIV): the words of Paul, “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.”

Moses writes: “I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding” (Deuteronomy 32:21 NIV).

Sadly, Christendom has not understood the scriptural understanding of the relationship between the Jew and the Gentile—the Jew and the Christian church.

In this current time, however, God is wonderfully restoring love for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. He is restoring the Jewish root and making the church a more Jewish-friendly centered place. The body is being prepared to fulfill her final mandate to the Jew.

Gentiles Stand Against Anti-Semitism

Yeshua’s return, and the passage at length:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” “He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Matthew 25:31-46 NIV).

God’s devotion to His firstborn is affirmed again in a judgment that takes place at a future time in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. It is spoken of in Matthew 25 and is specific to the Jewish people.

Often misquoted and used to impart a heart for the poor and the needy, this future event occurs upon Yeshua’s return before entering the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Messianic age.

For more clarification, and as noted, the nations are brought into a valley outside Jerusalem that is formed by three hills and shaped like a throne seat. It is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

Those gathered for this judgment are the Gentile nations called sheep and goats. The goat Gentile nations are those who have mistreated the Jewish people; the sheep Gentile nations are those who supported, fed, and protected the Jewish people, Messiah’s brothers, during the great and dreadful tribulation period.

For greater context, this takes place at the end of the Tribulation period to determine who enters the Messianic Kingdom during the last half of the Great Tribulation. Amid this profound period of anguish, the non-Jewish nations aligned with the antichrist’s regime partake in the persecution of the Jewish people, thus relinquishing their opportunity to enter the Messianic Kingdom.

Those according to the flesh and natural seed of Abraham are Yeshua’s brethren, the Jewish people (Matthew 10:6; John 1:11). Throughout the book of Acts, Paul addresses his Jewish brothers forty-five times. In almost every instance, he speaks to a Jewish audience, his brothers.

 We should note that salvation is first and always in the belief in Yeshua. But the actions of this later group, the goat Gentiles, is simply damning evidence of their allegiance to the antichrist. For this reason, they join in the most horrific persecution of the Jewish people ever in human history.

In closing, review the following passages of the extraordinary role that the Gentile has in the cause of Zion. Let us pray that God continues to move upon the hearts of nations to fulfill the church’s end-days mandate to “all Israel.”

Gentiles are seen as gathers of the exiles: “‘But now I will send for many fishermen,’ declares the Lord, ‘and they will catch them…’” (Jeremiah 16:16 NIV).

Gentiles are guiding the Jews back to Jerusalem: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I will beckon to the nations [Gentiles], I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their hips’” (Isaiah 49:22 NIV).

Gentiles are drawn to Israel:

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee… (Isaiah 60:3-4 KJV).

The nations will be drawn to the Glory of Israel.

Gentiles recognizing God’s favor on the Jews: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, “Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you”’” (Zechariah 8:23 NIV).

Gentiles provoking the Jews to envy: “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious” (Romans 11:11 NIV).

Gentiles sharing with the Jews of their material blessings: “They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings” (Romans 15:27 NIV).

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[angeldrawsstuffs]

I feel like this post isn’t taking into consideration a bunch of factors that play into Misako’s choices, which I don’t blame you for, the show can get confusing because, unlike the movie where they spelled out what happened clearly, the show is a bit more few and far between with the details, giving us bits and pieces from different parts in the timeline that we have to then go back and put together into a cohesive timeline of events.

So, once again, I’m gonna break down why, weird as it feels, there was very solid reasons for Misako’s… complicated (to say the very least of it) feelings in regards to both her marriage with Garmadon and Wu

For one, getting this out of the way: she did not “abandon” Lloyd. The weight of the world was on her shoulders after she learned about her son’s destiny to become the Green Ninja and, I cannot stress this enough, kill Garmadon, her husband and Lloyd’s own father (keep in mind nobody knew The Overlord was the real villain of the prophecy and everyone thought it was Garmadon). With this knowledge, there is absolutely no morally justifiable choice she could’ve made that also helped her achieve her goal of stopping the prophecy and saving her family (even not acting on the information and just raising Lloyd like nothing was wrong would’ve been morally reprehensible, especially given she’s an archeologist with access to the Explorer’s Club’s resources).

Now, onto the love triangle situation, which I will be providing a timeline of events with an emphasis on Misako’s point of view and knowledge of the situation:

So, at some point, Misako meets Wu and Garmadon, and presumedly develops feelings for both of them. Understandable! Both are great guys and have their own charms, plus, she’s young, probably freshly a full adult from what we can guesstimate of the given times (if we say she’s in her 50s-60s as a guess by S2, then she’s in her 20s at the time of the Serpentine War, 40 years prior). As many young people who are in love do, she can’t seem to choose because, well, choosing means hurting someone, and, even if it’s not romantic love, she cares about both of them deeply as trusted friends/allies.

Then, one day, she gets a letter from “Garmadon” (Wu’s letter that Garmadon signed) that immediately sways her, his words heartflelt and sincere, how could she not fall for him and finally let her heart rest with her choice (again, reminder she’s maybe in her 20s, she’s young and in love). Yes, she’s aware of the Devourer Venom, but it’s never really been a major issue (that we know of) before, so it’s not unreasonable to assume he has it under control.

However long later, they have their son, Lloyd, and Garmadon gets worse. I feel like a detail that’s way too overlooked in the fandom is that Misako was with Garmadon as he was on the cusp of the venom taking over, and we know that, the closer he got to the edge, the more he lashed out, acted rashly, and gave into his evil side more (I want to clarify I am NOT IN ANY WAY saying Garmadon was an abusive asshole, I am saying that, with what we know of the venom’s progression during this time, Garmadon… probably wasn’t great to anyone in his life. Hell, the venom made him watch as his brother’s soul was ripped out thousands of years ago, and it’s gotten WORSE from then), eventually leading up to the Battle Between Brothers, where Garmadon is banished to The Underworld.

We know Misako was not physically present at the time of Garmadon’s banishment, she didn’t see it happen and that means Wu had to tell her. Based on timeline stuff, we can assume Lloyd was a newborn about then.

Reiterating that: Misako had to be told her husband, who was already worsening by the day, was banished to The Underworld after trying to steal the Golden Weapons and maybe kill Wu, leaving her a single mother to a newborn baby.

And we can assume sometime shortly after this is when Misako learned of Lloyd’s destiny. She, a now single mother to a newborn baby, is confronted with the information her son is destiny to grow up and murder the father he may never have the chance to know, at least as he once was. Nobody knows if there’s any coming back from the venom pushing him over the edge like this, and Wu is the only one who can maybe have an idea of the kind of emotions she’s going through. They probably only had each other, we don’t know of anyone else either had to lean on during that time after Garmadon’s banishment. Hell, we don’t even know if they did lean on each other, or if both were so caught up in their grief that they isolated themselves.

So, Misako, faced with no good option and stuck between a rock and a hard place with spikes at the bottom if she doesn’t hold it together and try to think of a plan (again, while being a new single mother to a newborn she has learned is destined to kill his father), leave Lloyd at Darkley’s, potentially because it would teach him values opposite to what the Green Ninja would need, it hides him from Wu, and it puts him in one place she knows of while she sets off to try to pick up the broken pieces of her family.

Jump to S2, it’s no wonder Misako is conflicted on if her feelings for Wu have returned! Garmadon has been committing evil act after evil after for a WHILE now, much more actively and maliciously than ever before, I’m not surprised the thought probably crossed her mind of what if she chose Wu? What if Lloyd wasn’t Garmadon’s son? Would he still be the Green Ninja? Even if he was, would it be an easier burden to bear because it wouldn’t be his own father? Would she not have had to pull herself up from the rock bottom Garmadon’s banishment sent her to just so she can try to scrape together what she could to stop the prophecy?

Would things have been better if she chose Wu?

S2 shows us that Misako, while she does still love Garmadon, does recognize the need for him to be taken down. She failed to stop the prophecy, it’s happening whether she likes it or not and it’s happening now. The best she can do is use her findings from her research into the prophecy to help Lloyd and the ninja (ex. The Temple of Light), as well as be there for the inevitable emotional distress this will all cause for him.

Skip to after The Final Battle, Garmadon emerges from the rubble, finally rid of the venom that tore the family apart for so, so long. Every trace of evil expunged and nothing is left but the kind, loving man she fell in love with all those years ago. I think anyone in Misako’s situation would be overwhelmed, immediately forgetting any thoughts of a potentially better life down a different path, away from the “what ifs” because her Garmadon is back.

And, of course, this family can’t just have nice things. Season 4, where Misako and Wu learn the truth behind the thing that won Misako’s heart. The letter Garmadon pretended he wrote, forever changing the courses of all three of their lives, a lie. A lie Misako’s whole marriage to him was based on. A lie that, even after the venom was gone, he didn’t tell her about and was seemingly comfortable keeping it that way until he was forced to confess to it.

Not even 24 hours later, Garmadon is sent to the Cursed Realm, a noble and necessary sacrifice, yes, but one that robs Wu and Misako of the chance to ask why. To maybe try and get some kind of answers or explanations from Garmadon about why he did it, if he ever felt bad, his thoughts before and after doing it-

Did he ever plan to tell them of his own volition, or would he take it to the grave?

It’s definitely not discussed how absolutely awful of a position this puts Wu and Misako in. All the “what ifs” come back, all the questions of what Wu and Misako’s lingering feelings towards each other mean? What exactly is their dynamic now that this massive bombshell has just been dropped on them and the only person who could give them answers and any healthy resolution to this is gone. Can you really blame them for at least trying to see where things might go? To see if maybe they can reclaim the lives Garmadon, quite frankly, robbed them of?

Obviously, we see they eventually settled to stay friends. The exact reasons why, we can’t say from the information we know. What we can say is that there’s a lot of shades of grey to this whole story, especially on Misako’s end, that often goes unacknowledged because of… well… misogyny.

Not calling people who have made arguments against Misako for all this misogynists, but I am saying a lot of the arguments are inherently rooted in misogyny, especially with all the times I’ve seen Garmadon treated as an innocent victim in all this, forced to grapple with his “awful, cheating wife”, as if he wasn’t the one who caused all this by basing his relationship on a massive, awful lie that he, again DIDN’T SEEM TO HAVE ANY PLANS OF ADMITTING TO EVER.

Lloyd is an unfortunate victim caught in the crossfires of his father’s actions and everyone else having to suffer the consequences. Canonically speaking, Lloyd doesn’t seem to have too big of an issue with his mom’s handling of all this. After all, he’s not the only one suffering right now and she’s coping as best she can, same as him.

Anyway, that’s my analysis/not so long summary of this. Again, this is what I can gather from the bits and pieces we get throughout the show on the story. It’d be great if we got something like the movie where we can actually see it play out explicitly so there’s no more room for misconstruing things or bad faith worst-case interpretations, but I think that’s wishful thinking…

/gen /nm

You all remember that little romantic tension between Misako and Wu that started in the second season? So I would like to give my opinions.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?

So just imagine for a moment, you are a forty-fifty (minimum) aged woman. Your husband turns evil and all. (That is entirely other long complicated situation with how she was feeling and all that so I’m not going to elaborate unless necessary) You had a son with him that you abandoned and left.

Then, after years of MIA you finally come back and for the first time in years see your son and also your brother-in-law that is currently taking of your son now.

The brother-in-law that you used to be in a love triangle with along with your now husband. But that was like many many years ago. Like atleast a decade or two probably if we consider everything. So the feelings should be gone by now. There are not.

Your son decided to forgive you for abandoning him and allowed you to join the group and help him because he really needs it and he can’t do this alone. The first thing you do is to start getting very very close to Wu.

And just think how this looked from Lloyd’s point of view. Lloyd is trying to deal with his emotional inner turmoil of having to deal with the responsibility of the green ninja, having to possible kill his father to save the world who even though wasn’t a good father and wasn’t there for him still deeply loves him and Lloyd loves him back and also the events of his mother coming back into his life among other things. And he could really use some support and advice on what to do because that is still his father while his mother is busy swooning over his mentor/uncle. To him, it could look like Misako was already trying to replace Garmadon, her husband, with Wu. This is could have been a very possible interpretation from his side.

She isn’t even technically divorced! And your husband is still alive and there! Maybe the first thing you do when you come back is not bring up several years old feeling that should be gone. Did she love Wu the whole time? Because that would be wrong on so many levels. If she truly loves him why didn’t she say something before this. Before getting married to his brother and having a kid and starting an entire family and all.

And then Garmadon comes back. He turns good again. And he actually is there for like about two seasons. But the romantic tension doesn’t just disappear. And they are in this love triangle again that should’ve ended long ago. She had made her choice and done all this. She can’t just go back on it. Why is she still trying to choose between them even though she already married one? Doesn’t that count enough as choosing.

In no situation should you be in a love triangle while married! In no situation should you be getting with your brother-in-law or even ex-brother-in-law!

There is probably an entire psychological reason and backstory and complicated issue behind this but this still felt so fucking weird to watch.

[linasofia]

Petite Voleuse

Part 3

Fandom: Pilgrimage

Relationship: Raymond de Merville x OC

Summary: When stealing something of great value and importance from a man like Raymond de Merville you never could have foreseen how your life would change.

Words: 3,5K

Warnings: 18+, smut, verbal abuse, non-con

A/N: This is the third part of this fic. You can read the previous parts here.

French Putain - Whore Ma petite voleuse - My little thief Mon agneau - My lamb

Special thanks to @legolasbadass and @lathalea 💙💙

I’m running. My feet hurt but the pain in my chest as I fight for air is stronger. The sound of branches breaking behind me makes me look over my shoulder, only to see Dugald closing in on me. He has released the dogs and I know I must run faster but the terrain is slowing me down. Suddenly my foot gets caught in something and I fall helplessly to the ground. Within seconds I am overpowered by the black-haired man and his dogs bark wildly around me and show their sharp teeth. But Dugald’s hard command holds them back.

”Sire Raymond will not take your escape lightly.” Dugald’s voice is filled with contempt as he speaks and his eyes show no sign of pity as he drags me up on my knees. ”He spared your life once, I doubt he will be equally merciful this time.”

A shadow falls over me and I do not need to look up to know who walks up to me. I can feel Raymond’s presence in all my senses. With tears in my eyes I force myself to meet the gaze of the man who has the power to change my destiny. He stares back at me, his eyes burning with wrath and his lips are pressed together in a thin line.

”Please, Sire,” my voice trembles, not really sure what I am begging for. Raymond raises his hand and I instantly become quiet. Dugald awaits his orders and even the dogs stop barking. When he speaks, Raymond’s voice is cold and sharp, like an icicle.

”She only needs one hand to pleasure me.”

Dugald gives me an evil glare and draws his sword. My heart feels like it will explode in my chest and I scream in agony as the sharp blade glitters in the sun.

A large hand harshly covers my mouth and I open my eyes in terror. I am lying on my back and it takes a few breaths before I can understand what is real and what is the cruel trick of my mind. Then I hear Raymond's husky voice close to me in the dark.

”Stop screaming, you will wake everybody within a mile.”

His warm body is pressed against mine and when I fall silent, he lets his hand rest over my mouth. A wave of shock washes over me, just like the salty water that nearly ended my life only two days ago. This time I cannot stop my tears from falling but I suppress the sob erupting in my throat. I am grateful for the dark, for it shields me from his piercing eyes.

”Are you in pain?”

I shake my head and swallow hard. Not the kind of pain he refers to. To my surprise he moves his hand to my hair and gives it a gentle stroke. ”Go back to sleep,” he mumbles sleepily before he comes to rest on his back. It does not take long before his deep snoring drowns my quiet sobbing. Too afraid to go back to sleep and return to my terrifying dream, I stay awake until the morning light once again illuminates the tent. For a very short time, I saw a glimpse of another side of Raymond and his unexpected touch confuses me. I twist and turn in the bed, trying to understand what it means. If it means anything at all except from him being half asleep. When Raymond finally wakes to face a new day, I already feel exhausted.

Assisting Raymond with the armor is hard work, but I manage to remember in what order the different pieces are put on his body. I had expected him to touch me during the process but he seems focused and lost in his own thoughts. Relieved, I try to work as quickly as I can but when I hand him his heavy sword he catches my arm by the elbow. A sly smile rests on his lips and he makes no effort to hide his amusement as he studies me closely.

”I prefer to look at your naked body in the morning. I will release my squire from this duty. It is now yours, in addition to warming my bed.”

With those words he leaves me standing with my fist clenched behind my back and I feel, if possible, even more trapped than before. The nightmare that takes place in pure daylight is far from over and I focus all my energy to find strength to not break down in tears.

I do not know how long I wait, but hope for a morning meal abandons me before I finally hear a voice outside the tent. I do not recognize the voice so I quickly shield myself by pulling the blanket tight around my body. I sit down at the edge of the bed and wait for whoever the visitor may be. A young man with fair hair enters after loudly announcing his arrival. In his hand he carries a bowl and I let out a relieved sigh. Briefly I wonder what happened to Raymond’s squire but I do not linger on the thought. The young man meets my gaze and I offer him a weak smile in appreciation for bringing me food. He smiles back at me and leaves as soon as he has placed the bowl on the table.

Like an animal on the bottom of the food chain, afraid that someone will steal the food from me, I eat quickly, shoveling the food in my mouth and swallowing quickly. While scraping the last of the porridge from the bowl, my mind wanders to the fair-haired man. He had a kind smile and he seemed younger than the squire. Maybe he is easier to manipulate. Maybe I dare to ask him for a needle and a piece of thread. Maybe…

I am going over the idea in my mind more times than can be counted during the long day, occupying myself with the thought and what it would mean if he actually accepted and succeeded in giving me the items. Then I start praying that he will return.

Evening falls over the encampment and my own isolated world inside Raymond’s tent. I feel nervous and restless. Not only because I have wished all day for an opportunity to address the young man from this morning, but I also know what awaits me when night falls and darkness wraps us all in its embrace. Just the thought of Raymond’s hungry eyes and greedy hands on me makes me shiver.

When the sound of men’s laughter reaches my ears I start to pace the small area beside the bed. I try to prepare myself for disappointment if the young man is not coming, but my mind will not rest until I know. Finally I hear voices outside and I stop in my tracks. My heart beats so fast and I feel almost dizzy from the rush of adrenaline. I run my hand through my hair, wrap the blanket even tighter around my body and brace myself.

It is him. My heart skips a beat and I try to control both my nerves and my voice as he walks inside with the bowl in his hand. I am just about to greet him when a feeling of doubt sneaks into my mind. What if he goes directly to Raymond and tells him about my request. How deep does his loyalty run? The thought is threatening to kill my plan before I even get a chance and I desperately watch the man turning his back at me.

”Excuse me.” I am astonished that my voice holds enough to say just those simple words. With a surprised look in his eyes he turns to me. He does not speak, but he takes a halt. It is up to me now.

”Please forgive me, but do you happen to know how I can get a needle and thread?” The words fall from my lips in a hushed voice and I instantly recognize a look of understanding in his eyes. His gaze then travels to the blanket and a small smile forms on his thin lips.

”Why do you need that?”

”I have some patching to do.”

”Why do you not ask Sire Raymond for the items?”

”Please, can you help me?” I lower my chin with a pleading look in my eyes.

”What will I gain from it?” Something greedy glows in his eyes when he meets my gaze again.

”I am sorry, I have no gold or anything else of value to offer in return.”

His eyes come to rest on the blanket again and something in the way he grins makes me feel like he can see right through it. He takes two steps closer to me. ”You have something else I am willing to accept as payment for my service.”

I take a step back but he follows me. ”Do not pretend to be so shy, putain. We all know that you keep Sire Raymond company at night.”

”That does not concern you.” I spit back at him.

”You are right, it does not. And I would not ask for the same company.”

”What do you want?”

”Just a small piece of the treat you hide under that blanket.” He takes another step forward and now he is unpleasantly close. ”I am not so foolish that I put a claim on your body. I have no death wish.”

He closes the distance and lifts his hand to run his fingers over the blanket, but stops before his dirty fingers land on the fabric. ”I could rip the blanket from you, but I want you to show me. I want to see you, all of you, and the memory shall keep me warm during the cold winter.”

”You are a fool if you think I will accept this.”

”You are in no position to make a bargain. This is my price and you can accept it or not. The choice is yours.”

”Please leave. Talking to you was a mistake.” I turn from him and under my calm surface the blood boils in my veins.

”As you wish. When the need for your items grows big enough, remember my price. Maybe you will be more accommodating then.” He gives me one last look and then leaves with a grin on his face. I sink down on the bed, disappointed with myself for thinking that I could receive something from a man in an environment like this, without giving something back. I should have known better, but still I let myself hope and believe my idea would actually work. Now I know better. The lesson could have come with a larger price, if the young man had been less afraid of Raymond. I will not make the same mistake twice and I will certainly not use my body as payment. I refuse to be his putain.

Much later, I am still alone and the dreadful waiting is slowly turning my nerves into hard strings under my skin. Not knowing when Raymond will arrive is almost as exhausting as dealing with him in person. Exhaustion takes a hold on me and I lie down to rest. The bed is rather spacious when Raymond’s broad frame is not occupying most of it, but without his body heat the blanket feels less warm. I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of the night. No laughter is heard from the large fire tonight and it makes me wonder if it has something to do with Raymond and his men. The wind is howling and tearing the canvas, bringing the ominous sound of thunder closer. I can hear dogs barking and they sound very restless. Maybe they too long to run free through the forest. I turn on the bed so I face the small fire. The flames lick the logs as if they are trying to seduce the cracking wood with their touch. My eyes become heavy and to the sound of the first raindrops against the tent I drift into an almost peaceful sleep.

I wake up to the alarming sound of chaos. Thunder is rolling over the encampment accompanied by a heavy rainstorm and lightning illuminates the tent over and over again. Outside, I can hear men shouting and a horse’s stressed neighing.

It is in the brief light of one the many lightning flashes that I see Raymond entering the tent. Anger has twisted his face into a frightening grin and when his eyes fall on me, I shiver. His tall body seems to fill the tent with its presence as he walks to the middle. There is no need for words tonight, for the expression on his face demands my immediate obedience. I hurry out of bed and stumble to his aid, afraid that he will take out his bad mood on me. Without a word I take his gloves and bracers as he removes them and I proceed to assist him with the rest of his armor. His body language makes me nervous, but I try my best to ignore the way his eyes darken when he looks at me. It is not just his fleshly lust, something is not as it was before, and suddenly I am afraid that he will hurt me for his own pleasure. Raymond’s armor, as well as the clothes underneath, are soaked and as I remove his tunic, I notice how drops from his wet hair drip from his temple and down his neck. Instinctively, I reach out to dry him with the back of my fingers before I realize what I am doing. As ifI just put my hand on one of the hot stones by the fire, I pull my hand back. He meets my gaze and I stop breathing.

”Is that how you greet me? By treating me like I was infected with the plague.” His voice is stern and laced with disappointment. ”Maybe I should teach you how to properly greet me… on your knees.”

”Forgive me, Sire. I—”

I am interrupted by yet another bang and I cannot stop my body’s reflexes. Involuntary I grab his arm and flinch at the deafening noise. As long as I can remember, I have been afraid of thunder and lightning. From an early age, I witnessed what devastating damages lightning can do to trees and dry summer grass and the noise scares both me and the inhabitants of the forest.

I let go of his arm and lower my head. I do not want to expose my weaknesses to him, but this time nature did it for me.

”It is only thunder,” he mutters and grips my chin with his thumb and index finger. He pulls my chin up so he can look me in the eyes and I almost get the feeling that he is about to stroke my chin. But as I look back into his icy stare I see cruelty blending with his usual lust. He lets his hand glide from my chin to my throat and when his long fingers tighten around my neck his lips form a wicked grin. He uses his thumb to caress my skin and I know he can feel my racing pulse under his touch.

”Do not hide your feelings from me. I see the fear and hate in your eyes, but your body tells me another story.”

Raymond towers over me and even without his armor he is so much broader than I am. Suddenly he pulls at my shoulder and spins me around. He adjusts his hand on my neck, pushes me hard against him and my body comes to rest against his damp chest. The rain has made his skin cold, but I do not doubt that he soon will be his usual intense self.

”Ma petite voleuse, you will think nothing of the storm after I am done with you.” His voice is nothing more than a low purr and when his lips press against my ear, I once again silently curse him for the effect his deep voice has on my body. Raymond’s other hand finds its way to my chest and I whine when he greedily grips my breast. There is no escape from his touch and the way his breathing gradually becomes heavier sends waves of shivers over my aroused skin. His hardness presses against me as a silent reminder of how the night will end.

I stumble when he pushes me forward towards the table and with his hands on my neck and shoulder he forces me to bend over it. The empty bowl hits the floor when I try to prevent my chest from slamming into the table. Raymond kicks at my ankles and uses his strength to spread my legs but tightens his grip on my neck when I try to resist. I cannot help but feel like a bitch in heat when one of his hands lands on the back of my thigh and travels higher while Raymond mutters something I do not understand. His big, strong hand, capable of both destruction and pleasure depending on his mood, reaches the apex of my thighs and I close my eyes as he runs his fingers over my slickness.

”At least your body knows how to greet me,” Raymond rasps in a satisfied tone as he buries his fingers inside me. I gasp at the sudden move but do not dare to make an attempt to move away from his grip. The exposed position allows Raymond to touch me in a way he has not done before and with my body pressed against the table there is nowhere I can flee. When he releases my neck and lets his hand follow my spine down to my waist, the pressure of his touch is enough to keep me in position, like he had me restrained by an invisible leather strap. I am grateful for not having the painfully tight strap around my wrists anymore, but I know that Raymond would not hesitate to both tie me to the table and whip me if he found it enjoyable.

His fingers suddenly leave the softness between my thighs and soon I feel the smooth and thick head of his member rubbing my entrance. Then he harshly grips my hips, and with a groan, he claims my body’s undivided attention as he slams his full length into me. I cry out and my voice is filled with the desperate combination of hate and need. His fingers dig into the softness of my hips when he starts thrusting, without even giving me a moment to breathe as he stretches me over his girth. I moan at the sensation of this new position which allows him to reach even deeper than before and I feel every inch of his length. He takes me violently, as if it will lift the burden and frustration from his shoulders, and after my body’s initial shock, I welcome his rough treatment. My hips will most likely bear the mark from his fingers tomorrow but at this moment I do not care. Raymond has the power to ignite my body and he uses every part of that knowledge to his advantage. My moans mix with the sounds of his hips slamming against my body and I am helplessly at his mercy. He sets every fiber in me on fire, and without control over my own lust I do the one thing I never thought I would do; I beg him for more. The words fall quietly from my lips and first I think they slipped by unnoticed. But then Raymond grabs my hair with one hand, pulls back hard and forces me to look at him over my shoulder.

”Say that again, louder.” His voice is merciless but I sense satisfaction in it too. Blindly I obey and repeat my pleading, and as the words echo between us, the look in his eyes makes me explode in a blissful feeling of sweet heat and pleasure. Like a beast he roars when I clench hard around him, the tightness of my body opening the gate to his relief and I feel his throbbing hardness swell before he finishes deep inside me.

Panting, I lean on the table, my hands resting on its surface while my legs are still spread wide in front of him. Raymond seizes my hair to pull me up and as I stand he wraps his other arm around my body. He breathes against my neck and holds me in a grip that could be mistaken for an embrace, if it was not for the cruelty in his voice as he speaks.

”Mon agneau, that was such a pretty plea. Next time I will make you beg for mercy. I—” Thunder drowns the last of his words and I flinch in his arms. Bastard.

Did you like it? Please like, comment or/and reblog! ❤️

Taglist and others who might be interested: @lathalea @legolasbadass @laurfilijames @i-did-not-mean-to @enchantzz @fizzyxcustard @middleearthpixie @xxbyimm @bitter-sweet-farmgirl @kibleedibleedoo @mariannetora @haly-reads @sunnysidesidra @rachel1959 @knitastically @jaskierthelover @quiall321

Please let me know if you want to be added or removed.

[drarrily-we-row-along]

Pride

Dear nonnie who requested that I write something for Pride month, I'm so, so sorry! Somehow this got lost in my inbox and I didn't see it until I started working on 'Bargain' this afternoon. Please accept this humble ficlet and my deepest apologies. <3

I'm kind of nervous about this one. I know coming out is a deeply personal experience and I'm not sure I wrote it terribly well. Please know that you are loved, valued, cherished, and accepted just as you are. I know for many people the struggle is so much greater than what I wrote in this ficlet. You are all amazing. <3

cw: Internalized homophobia, homophobic parents (happy ending)

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

June 12, 1999

"Hey!" Harry said, bursting into Draco's room like it was his own.

Draco looked up from the essay he was writing, the last one he needed to finish for his eighth year at Hogwarts. "Hi," he replied and he couldn't help but admire the dimple that stood out on Harry's cheek as he smiled at him.

"Some of us are heading down to Hogsmeade for the pride celebration they're having there tonight," Harry said. "Did you want to come?"

His brow furrowed, "Pride? Like house pride?"

Harry laughed but not unkindly like it would have been prior to this year, "No, like gay pride. It's to celebrate people who are lgbtq+, to affirm their dignity and worth as human beings, you know?"

Draco felt his cheeks flushing hot, "I'm not," he managed through the way it felt like someone had closed off his airway, shaking his head, "I'm not gay!"

"Err," Harry said, scratching the back of his neck, "Right, I wasn't trying to imply anything. Just," he shrugged, "I think I'm bi, and there's GInny and Luna," he continued, stumbling over his words.

"But I'm not!" he protested

"Right," Harry repeated, brow furrowing, "We just thought..." he trailed off, "Ron, who's like as straight as they come is coming too, to show his support."

"I can't," Draco said. "I've got all this work to do, I just-"

"It's okay," Harry said, shaking his head and holding out a hand, "Totally fine, sorry to have bothered you," he added as he quickly fled the room before Draco could say anything else.

(Continue reading below the cut)

He stared after him, still feeling panicked and full of regret at the same time.

Malfoys aren't gay. Malfoys aren't gay. Malfoys aren't gay.

And in spite of the fact that he'd told Harry he needed to finish his essay, he spent the rest of the night trying to get his heart to slow down, his breathing to come easier, and his mind to stop spinning.

The essay remained untouched.

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

June 9, 2000

Draco was having murderous thoughts.

They had a tradition on Fridays that everyone who lived in Grimmauld sat down together for dinner and if you were dating someone, you were allowed to bring them home with you for dinner. Draco never brought anyone home because the women he dated were so unattractive to him that he just couldn't bring himself to see them for more than a date or two.

Harry, on the other hand was always bringing someone home. He had men and women there with him every week. Usually, it was a different person every week and that didn't bother Draco all that much. But he'd been seeing Conor for six weeks now and the way the other man was always clinging to Harry, always laughing and batting his eyelashes at him; it made Draco feel ready to kill him.

"So I was thinking," Harry said when there was a lull in the conversation, "The Leaky is having a Pride Night celebration tomorrow. Maybe we should all go together?" he asked hopefully.

There were murmurs of approval all around the table and Draco dropped his gaze to his plate, his palms started to itch. Malfoys aren't gay. Malfoys aren't gay.

"What about you, Draco?" Conor asked, all toothy smiles as he rested his arm around Harry's shoulders.

He couldn't help but look over at Harry who was suddenly watching him in that way that made him feel like he was being held under a magnifying glass. People thought that Harry was oblivious but Draco knew they were wrong. Harry knew everything about Draco just from watching him.

Draco swallowed, "Yeah," he managed. "Yeah. I can come for a bit."

Harry smiled at him then, soft and sweet, his dimples showing, "Yeah?" he asked.

And Draco was fairly certain there was nothing he could have said no to when Harry asked like that, so he nodded.

"Great!" Conor enthused and the moment dissipated like fog in the sun. "It'll be so fun to have all of your friends there, babe."

"Err," Harry said, looking over at Conor, "Yeah. Totally." Then he turned back to look at Draco once more, "Yeah," he said again.

-----------

June 10, 2000

Draco had made a mistake.

Malfoys aren't gay. Malfoys aren't gay. Malfoys aren't gay.

"Hey!" Harry said, appearing out of nowhere and wrapping an arm around Draco, "I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too," he lied.

"Come on," Harry said, "Let me introduce you to some people."

Draco spent the next hour meeting all sorts of people, he listened to people telling their stories, people who were claiming their own lives and destinies, and all he could feel was loss.

Every person he listened to felt like another stone tied around his neck, their joy and freedom made him feel even more trapped. Harry went to fetch drinks as he listened to a trans woman named Jocelyn talking about how difficult it had been to come out to her family. And it was the final straw, he lost it. Tears slipped from his eyes and before he could do anything, she was hugging him, "We've all been where you are," she whispered.

He shook his head and pulled back, "I'm not-" he covered his mouth, he couldn't quite force out the lie.

She nodded knowingly, "We've all been there, too."

"I've got to go," he managed, rising on shaking legs and making his way out of the bar as quickly as he could.

When he got outside he bent over, resting his hands on his knees and trying to catch his breath.

"Draco!" he heard as the door opened and he wasn't ready for this.

"Don't," he said, standing up and holding out his hands to stop Harry from coming any closer.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, eyebrows furrowing in concern and Draco hated it.

"Malfoys aren't gay!" he exploded.

"What?" Harry asked as though his words hadn't been perfectly clear.

"Malfoys aren't gay," he repeated.

Harry tilted his head at him, "Alright."

"So you can stop this," he said, gesturing at the door. "I don't need help coming out. I'm not gay," he spat.

"I'm not trying to help you come out," Harry said, his voice measured and calm in a way that told Draco just how hard he was working at not getting emotional. "I just wanted to introduce you to-"

"Bull shit," he hissed. "Every person you 'introduced me to' told me about coming out."

"It's Pride, Draco. They're," he stopped and corrected himself, "We're celebrating coming out. We're celebrating not hiding who we are anymore. If you think it's about you, well," he shrugged a shoulder, "You probably have more in common with us than you want to admit."

"I'm not gay!" he shouted, shoving Harry away from him.

There was a flash of hurt across Harry's face before he put his hands on his hips and that fire that Draco so remembered from Hogwarts filled his eyes. "No one said you were!" Harry shouted back. "And if you were so afraid of having people think you are, why did you even come in the first place?"

"I guess I shouldn't have."

Harry took a step back away from him, shaking his head, "I guess not." He turned on his heel and stalked back into the bar, leaving Draco standing on the sidewalk, shaking as the adrenaline flooded through him.

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

June 11, 2000

It wasn't quite morning when Draco heard a soft knock at his door.

With no small amount of effort, he reached for his wand and cast a spell to open it. Harry was standing in the doorway and Draco huffed, "I've already packed," he said. "I'll leave in the morning."

"What?" Harry asked, sounding panicked, "No!" he said, stepping across the threshold of Draco's room and moving to the chair across from Draco's bed. "No," he repeated. "Draco, please don't leave. I'm sorry. Alright?" Harry said. "I shouldn't-"

"You're sorry?" Draco asked, sitting up and staring at the other boy, "No, I'm sorry," he said, quickly. "I was awful and I didn't le-"

"No," Harry said, shaking his head, "It's my fault. I shouldn't-"

"I'm gay," Draco blurted and then realized what he'd just admitted. He covered his mouth with his hand and his eyes filled with tears.

"Hey," Harry whispered, climbing onto the bed next to him and pulling Draco into his arms, "It's okay."

Draco shook his head but couldn't manage any words around the sob that was choking him.

"It's okay," Harry soothed, stroking his fingers through Draco's hair and rocking him. "I've got you," he breathed. "You're safe," he said, "You're safe," he repeated. "You're loved and you're accepted," he told him, "I've got you."

Draco sobbed, all of the fear, and the guilt, and the shame was built up high in his chest and he felt like he couldn't breathe around it.

"Okay," Harry soothed, "Slow breaths with me, yeah? Just try to match your breathing to mine," he said, his hand rubbing soothingly over Draco's back.

He sucked in a deep, gasping breath that burned all the way down into his lungs.

"That's it," Harry encouraged, "You're alright."

He continued breathing slowly and Draco tried to mirror it until his sobbing was just the occasional hiccup and the tears were just trickling out of his eyes.

"Okay," Harry breathed. "Better?"

Draco nodded and pulled back, "Sorry," he murmured, then he caught sight of Harry's shirt covered in tears and snot and wished that the earth would open up and swallow him, "Salazar, I'm sorry," he said, reaching for his wand and casting a hasty drying charm followed by a cleaning charm.

"It's fine," Harry said, reaching out to still Draco's motions. "It's fine," he repeated. "Look, I didn't mean to pressure you into coming out," he said. "I won't tell anyone," he added hastily.

He shook his head, "It's eating me up inside." Draco wiped the tears off his face, "I'm going to die alone."

"Don't say that," Harry said.

"Well it's true!" he said, "What am I supposed to tell my parents?"

Harry took his hand, "It's up to you," he said softly. "I won't pretend to understand the challenges you're facing. My parents are dead."

"Oh, thanks. Play the dead parent card."

Harry huffed a laugh, "Shut up. I'm trying to say that I can't imagine how difficult this is for you. It's not an easy decision and I want you to know that I am here for you, that I support you, no matter what."

His eyes filled with tears and he let out a groan, "Stop it."

The other boy wrapped his arms around him, "No."

"What is this?" he asked, from where his face was buried in Harry's neck.

"Affection."

"Disgusting," he murmured.

"Want me to stop?"

He shook his head because when Harry wasn't hugging him everything felt a little too big and a little too close.

And he had no idea what he was going to do but when Harry was holding him it didn't seem quite so scary.

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A few weeks later, he and Harry had started dating in secret. Harry was very sweet, very patient as Draco struggled against years of deeply ingrained negative thoughts. Draco still felt like he was a bit of a burden but Harry always insisted he wasn't.

Just over a month after that, Hermione had figured it out on her own, Pansy had tricked him into confessing, and Ron had walked in on the two of them making out on Harry's bed.

And the world didn't end.

Slowly, over the course of the next seven months, they told all of their friends. Everyone was supportive. Everyone was happy for them, happy for him that he'd decided to walk in the truth.

Truth be told, he was happy too. His anxiety still got the worst of him some days and his fear was sometimes bigger than anything else but he got through those days and those days slowly became fewer and fewer.

He got comfortable with Harry; comfortable holding hands, comfortable with casual kisses, comfortable with bickering that turned into flirting, just comfortable in his skin.

One chilly March morning, he and Harry were out to breakfast and they were laughing and teasing each other, like they always did and Draco was happy all the way down to his toes.

He looked across the table at Harry, "You've got whipped cream on your mouth," he laughed.

Harry stuck his tongue out and missed completely.

"Here," he said with a laugh, "Let me," he added as he grabbed the front of Harry's jumper and pulled him close so he could kiss it off his grinning face.

He was pulling back to check that he'd gotten it all when he heard a gasp that he would have recognized anywhere. Draco would never be quite sure what his face and body language were saying at that moment but Harry was instantly on alert, scanning the room for danger. "Shit," he breathed.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy," his mother hissed. "What in Merlin's name do you think you are doing."

"Don't make a scene, mother," he said and even he was surprised at how calm the words came out.

"I don't think that I am the one making a scene, Draco."

"Mrs. Malfoy," Harry said, "Why don't we go somewhere more private for this conversation."

"Oh no," she said, "I don't think there is any conversation to be had. Draco, we'll be leaving. Right this instant."

Draco looked at her, at the woman who had dried his tears, who had sacrificed for him, who had given him life and his heart yearned for her. He longed to reach out and hold her hand like he had when he was young, to let her reassure him that everything would be alright. And it could be. He knew if he walked away with her today, he'd go back to living the life that had been planned for him.

But then he looked at Harry and all he could see was freedom. His heart expanded as he remembered the late nights talking over a bottle of wine, the early mornings as the sun filtered in through Harry's window and painted him golden. He remembered the cuddles on the couch and the evenings spent cooking dinner together. And he knew that he could never go back. He could never live a life of duty and obligation knowing that this one was possible.

"I love you," he said softly as he stared at Harry.

The other man blinked before his mouth curved up in a grin, his dimples showing, "I love you, too."

He reached for Harry's hand to ground himself as he turned to his mother, "You know that I love you," he said to her, "but I can't live a lie. I can't be the boy that you wanted."

"Draco you are being ridiculous."

"Maybe," he replied. "But I never knew what it was like to be free before these past few months with Harry and I won't give them back."

She cast a belated muffliato. "There are plenty of Purebloods who are gay, Draco," she said, keeping her voice low, "You still have your obligation to have a pureblood heir. Marry a nice girl and take a lover if you must, but you will continue your bloodline."

He laughed, it sounded a bit hysterical even to his own ears. "Do you hear yourself?" he asked. "The Malfoy line can die with me. I'm not marrying some woman just to please you."

"Draco-"

"No," he said sharply. "No. I can't do this, mother. I can't be what you want me to be. I'm done." He shook his head, "You can accept this, accept me or not. Either way I am done."

She straightened her spine and smoothed the emotions from her features and Draco knew the decision she had made before she started speaking. He clasped Harry's hand tighter in his. "Very well, then," she said. "Good day," she murmured before she walked away without a backward glance.

They sat in silence for a moment before Harry asked, "Are you alright?"

"I don't know."

"What can I do?" he murmured, squeezing Draco's hand again.

"Can we go home?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, love. Of course."

He apparated them back and they spend the afternoon cocooned in Harry's room until their friends came to find them for dinner.

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

June 9, 2001

This year it's Draco who asked about going to the bar to celebrate Pride.

Harry smiled and pulled him in for a long kiss before nodding and getting dressed.

When they arrived, Draco slipped his fingers through Harry's holding his hand tightly; proud of Harry, proud of how far they've come, and proud of himself for how much he's grown and how brave he's become.

Several of the people he'd met the year before remembered him and are quick to congratulate him and welcome him again. The night was full of music and dancing, of listening to stories and starting to tell his own, it's everything Harry had made it sound like.

And he thought he might be happy, in spite of that little bit of his heart that always ached for his parents.

They're about to head up for another round of drinks when Harry tugged on his hand. "Look," he murmured, pointing to the door.

Draco followed his pointing and saw that there was a woman standing in the door who looked remarkably like his mother. "What?" he managed.

But Harry was already waving to her and nudging Draco forward.

"What?" he repeated when he was standing in front of her.

Without a word she wrapped her arms around him, enfolding him in the comforting feel and scent of his childhood.

"Mummy?" he whispered.

"Yes, darling," she replied, voice equally thick with tears.

Harry cleared his throat, "I'll fetch us some drinks. What can I get you Narcissa?" he asked.

"Whiskey neat," she replied without releasing her hold on Draco.

He pulled back after one more moment, "What are you doing here?"

"Where else could I be?" she asked. "When we didn't see you for your birthday last week," she shook her head. "Well, I knew that I was making a mistake."

Harry returned handing them their drinks and nodding toward a table nearby.

They headed over and she sat next to Draco, "You're my child, Draco," she said. "And I love you more than you can imagine."

He nodded once but didn't say anything. This sounded too much like the start to one of the 'I love you and if you love me, this is how you should act' talks.

"Fortunately, your Mr. Potter has sent quite regular correspondence."

"What?" Draco said, whipping his head around to look at Harry.

He nodded once but before Draco could question him his mother continued.

"He invited me to come tonight," she continued, "To support you. And I've missed so much already, how could I say no?"

"This isn't a phase," he said. "I'm not going to change my mind or be cured one day."

She nodded, "I know."

"Does father?"

She hummed, "We're getting there." She took his hand in her's, "For now, won't you introduce me to some of your new friends?"

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Two years later, when he and Harry got married, both of his parents were there, sitting right in the front row and cheering them on.

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Thanks for the prompt! I don't quite know what you were hoping for so I hope this is okay! <3