#he-man and she-ra: the secret of the sword

[iconuk01]

I Have the Power (Cover) - Tuesday Knight, Daniel Benedict & Johnathan Fan Evans

[80smovies]

[for-the-evulz]

oh ya when i first watched secret of the sword i made this

[moon-ayyye]

What people seem to forget is that jason should, by all means, kick Bruce's ass any time they truly fight.

You're talking about a child who could see untitled at like 8 years old. Talia al ghul saw potential in him but ultimately decided against taking him in. He survived for a while before being adopted, and even then, he had the balls to steal the tires of the batmobile and then swing at batman with a tire iron at 11. A malnourished kid, at 15, was regularly breaking adults' collar bones. This is a kid that terrorised goons with ease while being shorter than 5 feet (his death certificate stated that he was 4'11).

And this is pre death, pre training. He was in a comatose state, and his body remembered how to fight. At 17, he snuck into Titans Tower and knocked out every member in order to clear the area to fight tim. He planted a bomb under the batmobile and CHOSE not to set it off. Then you get to the murder tour in lost days, where he trained with the best, with the ultimate gial of killing batman. This teenager managed to go through the same regiment bruce went through while learning more, since he wasn't bound by a desire not to kill. He learned more techniques and forms from more people and managed to kill the best of the best.

Ra's al ghul, a centuries old man, called him a plague to earth, and he was also deemed fit for the all caste, who are experts on the soul and magic shit. He's the chosen one of a secret sector of warrior monks with magical flaming swords imbedded into his soul while being too young to drink alcohol. The all mother herself said that he'd brung death and destruction wherever he went.

Additionally, he's a strategic genius who managed to run circles around batman and his team, only revealing what he wanted to, all while taking over the underground and beefing with black mask and other kingpins.

No way in hell does he get beat by dick, or future tim, or damian. The only one who could even give him a fight is cass, and even then, she would struggle. When dick got turned into a juiced up vampire, jason stopped holding back and laid him out immediately. When he was drunk and in mouring and damian came in with the intent to fight, he still kicked his ass.

It fucking sucks that DC decided to turn him into a bitch just to prop the batfam up, this man is a THREAT, stop fucking with the powerscaling it doesn't make any sense.

[elizabethemerald]

Don't Sneak up on People with Swords

@im-totally-not-an-alien-2 made a prompt about Danny sneaking up on Jason Todd and @sky00asara made a comment in the tags about what would happen if Danny did that to Talia. So here is my version of that! Enjoy.

Talia al Ghul watched her beloved from afar. He was out, again patrolling his city for those he considered wrong doers. Her son was by his side. She scowled at how Damian’s fighting style had changed, softened in the company of her beloved. Despite her love for the man under the cowl, he had a tremendous ability to take even the most ruthless of killers and change them to spare the undeserving. He had even tried it with her. 

She was hidden on the roof of an abandoned tower nearby. The tower had succumbed to fire and was now condemned until the city got around to destroying it properly. For now it made the perfect place for her to observe her beloved and her son work undisturbed. 

“Excuse me?” 

Talia whirled, drawing her blade as she spun. Her blade moved fast enough to almost cut the air itself yet the small shape ducked under her stroke and back-pedaled quickly to move out her range. 

“Jeez! Why is everyone in this city so jumpy!” 

The voice more than anything made her realize that the person who had somehow snuck close enough was an actual child. Their black hair and blue eyes made her wonder if this was another of her beloved’s adoptees. Except surely this boy was too young to catch Bruce’s eye? 

“Well maybe you should not sneak up on people?” Talia hissed, her voice soft yet stern. To say nothing of how a child who couldn’t be older than five had snuck up on her at all. 

“Well maybe you shouldn’t brood on the roof of my home!” The child snarked back, just like one of the Bat’s brood would, completely unafraid of the blade still in her hand. Talia raised an eyebrow at him then looked around at the burnt skeleton of the building they were standing on. 

“This building is not fit for human occupation.”

“Neither was the last place I lived.” He said dismissively. “This place hasn’t even killed me yet, so it’s practically a paradise.” 

She was tempted to take the child’s words as sarcasm, yet something in the way he spoke made her think he meant it more truthfully. 

“You’ve died before?” Talia asked. She relaxed her hold on her blade, allowing it to rest at her side. 

“Oh yeah, I die all the time.” He said, then he looked at her curiously tilting his head first one way, then another. “You’ve died too, huh?” 

She nodded, now examining him closely, looking for the signs she would recognize. She could see the hint of a scar on the boy’s palm that might have caused a death. 

“What is it with this town that so many people have died and come back?” The boy asked, apparently rhetorically as he didn’t let her answer. “First the stabby Robin, then the stabby Batgirl, then Batman, and even Red Hood. It’s like everyone I run into is contaminated.” 

Talia’s eyes widened. 

“You can sense those who have utilized the Lazarus Pits?” She would have to inform her father about this child. He could put the entire League of Assassins at risk. The child before her just shrugged. 

“I have no idea what that is. Red Hood mentioned some kind of pit as well, but I’ve never seen anything like that. I just know y’all are contaminated with ectoplasm, though not enough to make a core.” 

“What is this… ectoplasm?” Another name for the Lazarus Waters? Had there perhaps been a Pit outside of League control? In the midwest somewhere based on the boy’s accent. 

“Oh it’s this stuff.” He held his hand out and Talia couldn’t help keep her expression of shock withdrawn despite all her training as his hand filled with the glowing green light of the Pits. He held the Pit Water in his hand then tossed the glowing orb to his other hand in a half juggle as if he weren’t carrying the League's greatest secret and weapon. 

Nevermind telling her father about this child, he could never learn of him. If Ras had the power this child had under his control the world would never survive. There was only one option. She needed to train this child to wield this strength. With the stealth he displayed in sneaking up on her and his power over the Pits themselves he could make an assassin like the world had never seen. He could be the next Head of the Demon under her guidance. She knelt down to the boy’s level, slipping her sword back away as she did so. 

“Tell me, young one. Are you living in this death trap of a building all by yourself?” 

“Yeah, but don’t worry, I’ve got it taken care of. I know I’m little, but that just means people are less likely to notice me. I’m able to steal all the food I need from that big box store down the street.” 

“Oh of that I have no doubt. My name is Talia al Ghul. What’s yours?” 

“Hmm. I’m Danny.” The boy seemed hesitant to trust her, which to be perfectly honest was probably a very smart thing to do, but at least she had a name for this gift of Lazarus. 

“Danny, how would you like to come live with me? You won’t have to steal any more, or worry about food ever again, and I could train you how to fight even better than the Bats.” 

He narrowed his eyes at her, looking her over closely. 

“Would I get a sword?” 

“If a sword is what you want, then once you were trained in its use I would acquire one for you.”

Danny looked like he was about to nod, but then he froze, his head tilting to the side as if he was listening to something. His eyes widened and Talia tensed. 

“Uh-oh. Fruit Loop incoming. I gotta go.” 

Talia half turned as she heard the sound of one of her beloved’s grappling lines catching on the building’s edge. By the time she had turned back to face him, Danny had completely vanished. She hadn’t even heard him leave. She stood and scowled as her beloved landed on the rooftop next to her. 

“Talia.” He grunted at her, glaring all the while. 

“Beloved. Must you ruin every nice thing in my life?” Talia snarled back. The boy, Danny, had the gift of Lazarus at his beck and call and Batman had scared him off. 

Bruce looked momentarily stunned at her fury, but quickly hid it behind his mask. However Talia couldn’t care less about her beloved right now. She just needed to lose him so she could return to find the boy. The boy who would change the world with his power. 

[milday-dewinter]

I'm 48. About to turn 49 later this month. So I grew up with the original She-Ra. Watched the show religiously. Collected the toys and books.

She-Ra Princess of Power had to walk so She-Ra and The Princesses of Power could run.

I am watching He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword for the first time in four decades. And it holds up surprisingly well.

Character designs, and backgrounds are top-notch. Characterization is simple, sure. The storytelling is good but not groundbreaking.

Watching it made me realize that animation from the 90s to the present owes so much to the shows of the 80s. It's like a solid foundation on which a beautiful house is built.

Princess of Power was progressive but is still a product of its time. White, cishet characters, black-and-white morality, and everyone has the same body types.

Princesses of Powers pushes for more inclusivity. People of color, queer characters, moral ambiguity, and varied body types.

And on top of that, it's just a great show. I love it so much.

[ghostbsuter]

Twins, minus the Demon (Part 1)

.・゜-: ✧ :-

When Damian and Danyal were created, it was not to become the League's successors, but to be the children for the trio to raise.

It didn't work, eveyrhting shattered when Ra's Al Ghul found out about the heirs.

Their Umi, Talia, went back to the League when the two were taken, Mother and Father none the wiser.

And so, they were trained carefully beneath the watchful eye of their grandfather.

Until they were 10.

Talia, Umi, revolved against the leader of the league and sent her boys to Gotham. She kickstarted a war with a battle cry, holding her sword up and chin never lowered.

Knowing Umi would be back, because she always did come back, they separated and planned.

Damian left with Father, Danyal with Mother.

Neither knew of the other, lest they ruin the suprise after all.

Like cats on a mission, truly.

—

Studying his self-proclaimed blood son, he noticed with sadness that he had Talias eyes, her tan, and walked just like her.

Yet he also reminded him of Selina, with the swiftness of a cat, eyes never straying and only satisfied when succeeded. He mildly notes he had her unruly curls with amusement.

He was a mix of demon and cat, but also with the spice of bat.

Stubborn like him, never backing down and always fighting.

He wonders why Talia left them, hiding a secret child along.

The spot for Robin was free, Tim having renamed himself with a new hero alias and finally flying from the nest.

Bruce should tell Selina, with his new Robin by his side.

—

While the man mourned, Selina had been enlightened when her eyes met his.

It was bittersweet in a way, to know the woman you loved had hidden a child from her and Bruce, but it also brought hope.

Because wherever talia was, this, this proves she didn't leave for nothing.

Selina sees the similarities between her and Danyal, he was quick-witted, let his emotions in the moment lead, and loves just as fierce as Talia does.

She also sees his hair curl just like her own, blue eyes that can only be from Bruce, lighter in shade than Talia is and with the matching paranoia of the bat included.

And she sent her son to her.

Their son.

Because she couldn't take care of him right now, something happened, and it forced her hand and focused on protecting the child first.

It meant one day, she would come back.

To her, to them.

She needs to introduce him to Bruce.

—

While Robin had his fair time as vigilante sidekick, Ragdoll robbed the rich and made sure to tease the other as much as possible.

It wasn't until they met, that the light was flipped and the truth revealed.

(For being such a old guy, Danyal really tips his head to Dick, the guy figured him out in a second, not far behind was Tim.)

(He really should have concealed his eyes, would have been more fun.)

They met on a rooftop, Catwoman leaning on a gargoyle as her little helper stood by her side.

(Catwoman wasn't fooled as easy, it took just a few longer glances that she'd figured out the switch.)

The bat's and birds on the other side, and soon enough, Batman gestures to his Robin, who steps forward.

Mirroring the bird, so did the cat.

"This is Robin." He introduces, and selina bites her laughter back, because–

That's her boy, or apparently, one of her boys.

"Ragdoll." She gives a fleeing smile, tilting her head to her apprentice.

"Okay, so, Nightwing, Red Robin and Black Bat immediately figured it out." Robin speaks up, two firm grips on his costume, and one tug has him dressed as his cat counterpart. He seems sheepish.

(Dick in particular is leaning forward with a wide grin, dragged behind him is Jason, interested but stubborn.)

"Tt," Ragdoll throws his own costume away, revealing Robin. "You need more practice. It took catwoman only 3 hours. I win."

The boy walks forward to his twins side, it seemed to amuse catwoman even more.

"Nuh uh! Technically speaking Batman didn't even know!"

Both pointedly look at the clad in black outfit wearing man, frozen stiff and looking between the two.

"Really, father?" Another 'tt' and Robin grumbles. "Fine, I'll take you to the stupid milkshake cafe."

Cheering, Ragdoll is throwing his arms around Robin's neck, dangling in front of his, the older twin having a secure grip on the black collar, lest Ragdoll fall.

"I get my milkshake!" Robin only seems more exasperated at his behaviour, shaking his head.

With delight and literally vibrating from his spot, Nightwing jumped at the two, staring between them with curiosity.

With his lead, so did the other birds and bats, teasing and playfully giving them head pats.

"Twins?" Batman's gruff voice breaks through the little gathering they have.

"Yes, father." The firstborn easily replies, the second only following behind. "Umi didn't want to overwhelm you and Catwoman when she sent us here. Don't be mad?"

"Now that we're talking about this, neither explained your circumstances nor why now?" She nears them with her cat like dance, slipping next to Batman and leaning into his side.

Both twins share a look.

"Umi was adamant that we'd meet and get along first before bringing in our situation." Robin explains, his voice is steady yet unsure in the way only a child with recent loss could sound.

"It's not that she didn't trust you," Ragdoll explains to Batman when the man looked like he wanted to interject. "Umi knew you'd help us regardless of our blood connection."

They share another look, one fiddles with his hands, the other having a steady grip on his hilt.

"This is no conversation for anyone to hear, we can't risk being found because we slacked off in security."

The twin wearing leather and cat ears snorts, mischief twinkling, and jumping forward to give Red Robin a pat on the chest.

A smile only a cat could wear takes over, and with joy he hollers. "Tag! Your it!"

Not even a second later, he was thrown over Robins shoulder and both skedaddled to the cave.

"Tt, truly experts, to freeze like that on a rooftop. Assassins could have easily killed all of you in that moment."

Robins tease echoes through the comm and causes them all to unfreeze.

With a huff of laughter, Red Hood pushed Nightwing to RR as sacrifice and bolted after the twins.

A yelp and Nightwing was swiftly tagged, RR disappearing with Spoiler in tow.

When he searches for a target, both Batman and Catwoman are already gone.

"Aw man."

—

In the end, Robin comfortably sits at the chair in front of the batcomputer, Ragdoll on the arm rest with his legs tossed out on the others lap.

"You guys are so slow!"

As the other mile around, Damian and Dnyal exchange hushed whispers, only drawn out when Batman urges them by clearing his throat.

"Okay, this won't be easy," Danny drawls the words, fumbling with Damians hair instead.

The other scowls but does nothing else. "First of all, Umi did not leave you willingly." He speaks loud and clear, mask off and staring at Bat and Cat.

"She never planned on leaving, but complications arose with our birth."

Smiling nervous, Danny takes over.

"You're familiar with our grandfather, yes?" At the nods, he grimaces. "When he heard he had potential heirs, he kidnapped us once born. Umi had to follow immediately, lest one of us dies because grandfather wasn't careful."

"She couldn't exactly flee either, with two toddlers, so what she could do, she did. It might not have been the best childhood, but umi did her best!"

While the children of the bat stay mostly silent, Bruce, without cowl, and Selina don't.

"Why now? Why did she send you two at 10?"

Damian drums his fingers on the others legs laid out on him, humming.

"On our 10th birthday, Grandfather gave us a rather... peculiar mission." He winces at the explanation, those words bring no truth of the situation to light.

"What akhi means, we're twins." Dnany holds up two fingers. "Two people, one destiny. Grandfather did not like that two remained, seeing as only one can become the next Demon head."

Someone took a sharp intake of air somewhere, he can't really focus, the memories are not pleasant ones he'd get reminded of.

"Umi didn't let it happen," Damian drawls, massaging Danyal's fingers with bored expression, the forced nonchalance doesn't fool anyone.

"She swung her sword and declared war on grandfather. It was the start of a civil war in the league, dangerous to us for we were still known as heirs."

Danny meets Selinas eyes. "Umi didn't just send us here because of the chance, it was also for protection. With groups joining the civil war for the throne, some might have the idea to kill off the heirs, us in this situation."

A wince and he starts blabbering. "Not that I'd like to die in the next few hours, or days, or weeks, or—"

"You're rambling, daynal."

"Sorry akhi."

With a wave of his hand, Batman nods at the rest of the bat's and birds, they leave to continue patrol.

Silence in the cave, only interrupted by drops of water and the clicks of the bat's above them.

"Thank you." Her voice is soft as she walks to them, heels clicking on the ground. Her gloved hands ruffle the ebony hair of the two and brings them into a hug.

"We will protect you, love you and wait for Umi to come back," Selina declares with careful words, nails running through thick curly hair.

Damian and Danyal can't argue otherwise, the other not as comfortable as his counterpart with the hug, but leaning in neverless.

This will be a journey, neither parents having had twins before and growing back closer with them.

(When talia left, Bruce and Selina grew apart. It brought tension they'd ignore in publics eye, vulnerable moments only for the other to see and so much mourning.)

(Talia is not back, but her children are. Their children. Wonderful twins that will stomp and smash the tension between them and bring back what Talia took.)

(They cannot wait for the day their third will rejoin them.)

[jessilynallendilla]

DPXDC LOA & COURT OF OWLS FIC REC

TITLE/LINK RATING COMPLETED-WORD-COUNT SERIES

DP FIC REC HOME POST

let me know if the links aren't working and feel free to suggest any

& THE LEAGUE OF ASSASINS 

Ghoulish  M 14,758 SERIES 

Danny meets and grows closer to a stranger named Ra's. He has time to regret it. 

The Grandfather Paradox  M 11,097 SERIES 

Falling through time and space is not what Danny had planned for his day. Being saved by an unknown stranger was definitely up there too, and he definitely hadn't meant to grow attached to a time period he could never stay in. At first it had just been a curiosity. Who would not be curious about a mysterious child from a foreign land wound up suddenly in the desert sand? But interest had turned into fondness, fondness into affection. The boy is his son. In everything but blood. Ra's is not entirely wrong about that. He just missed a generation in between. 

The Lazarus Child  T 3,712 SERIES 

“You told me a child did it.”  “But no ordinary child. A child born in hell.”  What if the child who managed to climb out of the Pit wasn’t who we thought? Instead, it was a black-haired with icy blue eyes child whose face resembles one man we know. Enter Danyal al Ghul. 

Outta Your League  G 1,202 

Maddie wanted to know why a boy that looked just like Talia al Ghul was in Gotham. Damian wanted to know why a random woman felt the need to run from him in terror. Danny just wanted to know what was going on. All-in-all, Danny's campus visit to Gotham U went pretty poorly. 

Two Of A Time  T 

Ra's Al Ghul and Danny Phantom just can't help but keep meeting each other throughout all of time! 

An Heir For You And Me  M SERIES 

Ra's talks Talia into summoning the holder of the Ring of Rage to get a new heir. Talia will do it but she has her own plans. 

Growing Ghosts And Silent Swords  M 

What if Danny managed to sneak up on Talia? She would totally adopt and train him as an assassin right? 

Walking Side By Side  M 

Danny thought he escaped the League and his father's expectations for good when he was 8. To his surprise they came back for him. Recently escaping from the government and his adopted parents alike and trying to avoid both the GIW and the League he gets sucked back in anyways. He has a nephew now though, so thats cool. He's getting out again but at what cost? Is the gain worth it? Danyal Al Ghul-Fenton, the son of Ra's Al Ghul, Talia Al Ghul's younger brother, and the Demon Heir- fell into the Fenton's life at the age of 8 only to get ripped back into his old life ten years later. He manages to get out again with Jason Todd under the assumption he'll assist him in his mission. He assists him a lot more positively instead. The league is still on his back though, after all Ra's still needs an heir. Can Danny escape his family again? 

& THE COURT OF OWLS 

Infiltrate And Annihilate  T 1,998 SERIES 

Danny as Ghost King, unfortunately, has to sneak into the Court of Owls' ranks to tear them down and bring them to justice in one move. He didn't really expect the Bats to be there. 

The Adventures Of Big Talon And Little Talon.  T SERIES 

Jason would like a one Talon please. No, not the Other Talon. He wants the Little Talon. The one with yellow green eyes. The short one. You know the one that chirps. No, he's not turning into his Father, he swears. Little Talon doesn't know what he wants but he knows this new Big Talon is good. 

Remember, Remember(To Think Before You Jump)  NR SERIES 

Danny is a failed clone from the Court of Owls, and was sent away and miraculously(lol) got adopted by the Fentons. But when something with the portal accident knocks the old memories loose, what will Danny do once he discovers Dick Grayson’s secret? And, through connection and memories, the rest of the Bat’s secret identities? 

Dead Man Walking  M 8,384 

None of this was Danny's problem— and he's determined to keep it that way, no matter what the cops, the weird dude in full-on themed body armor, or the secret society of rich people hiding in the sewers of Gotham had to say. If he wasn't getting paid for over time and he wasn't on the clock, then what was he supposed to do about it?? Or: Talons, Talons, everywhere, and nary a living Mortician around to clean them up. 

The Undead People Won't Stop Coming For Me.  T 

Danny didn't predicted this happening at all when he became a mortician in gotham. He was just drinking his daily ectoplasm juice after fixing up two dead bodies between preteens and adults only to see them Stand up, staring at him with glowing amber and green eyes staring at his ectoplasm shot drink like hungry vultures. Sighing as he doesn't get paid enough for this as he offer them some... Only for the next 2 weeks, his mortician is filled with other undead, bring more bodies. Meanwhile, the leader of court of owls and league of assassins are starting to noticed a increasing amount of members disappearing.. 

[iconuk01]

I Have the Power (Cover)

Tuesday Knight, Daniel Benedict & Johnathan Fan Evans

Originally the theme song to the 1985 animated movie "He-Man & She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword"

[lionwitch]

I've been listening to EPIC:The Musical on repeat for the last few days, and just so you know, I was this close to making one of my fics into a reincarnation fic (DC x EPIC. Especifically Epic and not The Odyssey because the whole fic revolves around music so it's fitting)

So the fic as it is is Tim being married to a woman named Wren, an OC. Together, they are musicians, they're a duo called Howling At The River, and their identities are hidden because Tim didn't want his parents knowing, so Tim is Wolfhart and Wren is Hummingwave.

They met when they were 5 and went from friends to lovers and ultimately eloped during the Brucequest, so his family doesn't know. It's not that he keeps it a secret, it's just that she's such an important and central part of his life that he thinks they know. They don't. They don't know he makes music either, because their identities are magically hidden and it hasn't been brought up.

It's a slice of life fic that I write in between my other fics to keep the creative juices flowing when I have none. It has no plot beyond the Batfam finding out Tim's married and is a relatively famous musician. Beyond that, it's slice of life and a bit of a ranting space because I gave her my disability so now when I'm in a flare, I write Wren in a flare, and she used to be a dancer but now she can't, because dancing was my dream and now I can't (though she did get training where I didn't get to). That's all there is to this.

I'm only two chapters in, and two drafts. So a lot can still change, so I almost made it a reincarnation fic.

Tim would be Odysseus, Wren would be Penelope. Not quite soulmates, not random people either. The Fates figured they made Odysseus suffer enough and took too much family time away from him, so they decided to reincarnate their souls over and over, but not in every lifetime did they find each other.

It is already stated in the first chapter that their meeting felt right, even if they were only five years old. Their love is beyond just love. It's adoration, worship, devotion. They're each other's whole world.

And then Ra's would take her.

And Tim would go full Odysseus on him. Full man-made monster. It's not a battle, it's a damn massacre, as Tim storms into Ra's base, slaughtering any and all assassins he finds. The rest of the Bats arrive a little late and go after him, following the trail of bodies, the absolute river of blood.

They try to stop him, because they don't kill. They'll get her back, just not like this.

Odysseus Tim is not having it. They took his Penelope Birdie. They're going to die.

And so he aims a bow he took from an assassin to them, to his family.

"Listen, I love you. But I love her more. And I will destroy anyone who stands in my way. So move, or I'll go through you." and he's not bluffing. There's no hesitation in his grip. If they try to stop him, they will get an arrow sent their way, whether it'd hurt them or end them isn't something they want to find out. So they let him through.

Meanwhile, Ra's has Wren tied up, and she's surprisingly unafraid. Maybe she's trusting that Tim will get to her. Or, Ra's thinks, maybe she's just stupid and naive.

He figures she can serve as training. There's a young prodigy, a preteen, son of assassins and raised as one as well. He follows orders, he's a natural at fighting, especially swords and bows. And so Ra's brings him forward and tells him to hurt Wren. Not kill—he wants her alive for now— but inflict pain on her.

The boy nods and unsheathes his sword. And then he looks into her eyes and he can't hurt her. He can't. It's not that he can't hurt people. It's not the fear in her eyes, or the lack of it. It's not the pity and compassion in her face. No, it's none of that. He can't put his finger on it, but he feels an unyielding loyalty towards her. He just met her, but he feels the need to protect her.

"Go on, boy."

But he can't. He can't. Ra's gets impatient, and he reaches for her, meaning to tug her up. The boy swings his sword.

Not to Wren. To Ra's. It makes a cut on his arm, superficial, but it's treason. It's a death sentence. Ra's draws his sword, disarms the boy, grabs him by the collar, and prepares to strike the boy down.

And then Tim storms in, shooting an arrow straight towards Ra's. He has tunnel vision right now, he sees red. He doesn't register the boy yet, he just wants Ra's gone.

The arrow misses him for a few inches, but it makes him flinch back and away from the boy, who immediately picks his sword back up, and instead of running, he fights off the other assassins that try to take Wren, while Tim fights Ra's.

Tim doesn't pull back this time. He stabs Ra's repeatedly (think Poseidon) and eventually cuts off his head. Will his death stick? Probably not. He then turns to kill the rest of the assassins, only to find most of them are already dead or wounded. He deals a final blow to the wounded ones and turns his sights on the remaining three assassins, two fighting one. An arrow to the throat takes one out, and the other's throat is slit by the young assassin.

Tim snarls, not trusting this assassin even though he killed the rest. The boy drops his weapons and raises his hands in surrender. He moves slowly, Tim's arrow aimed at his head the whole time as he leans down to take the keys to Wren's cuffs, telegraphing his moves.

"Why did you help her?"

"I don't know. I couldn't hurt her."

"Free her and run. Try anything and you're good as dead, kid."

"Yes, sir."

With slow moves, the boy gets on his knees before Wren, and his trembling fingers get the key into her cuffs. They fall to the ground, and he goes to open the ones on her ankles. Wren runs a hand through his hair.

And the world stops. For all three of them.

Memories of another life rush in. Of waiting, of fighting, of protecting. A husband, a wife, a child. A father, a mother, a son. Memories of days spent weaving, nights unthreading. Of a son protecting his mother from the suitors, of waiting for his father. Memories of fighting gods and ending lives to get to his family.

This is their son. Their Telemachus. Born on another age and to different parents, probably orphaned by Tim's hand, born halfway across the world, with another name, and only like ten years younger than them (they're 22), but their boy nonetheless.

Tim drops his weapons and they embrace. They're safe. Tim won't let anything happen to his son and wife.

"Telemachus..." Wren whispers, tilting the boy's chin up. The boy nuzzles into her palm.

"Mom..."

When the Bats catch up, Ra's is dead (at least for now) as are many other assassins, Wren is safe, and there's a twelve year old assassin being embraced by Tim and Wren.

"Who's that?"

"My son."

"...??? Tim you're twenty two."

"Hi, I'm Elliot."

"And he's my son, ages be damned."

"Ah, pulling a Bruce, I see you."

With their memories now awakened, Telemachus Elliot and Odysseus Tim are unbeatable. They have literally more than a lifetime of experience fighting, after all. Tim was always good, but now he's unstoppable. And he's the only one who can beat Elliot, though Dick is a tough challenge for the boy (not like he encountered many acrobatic-style fighters in Ithaca, or in the League)

Tim gets bolder with his strategies, no longer shy about them. He steps into Odysseus' leadership.

The boy eventually becomes a wolf themed vigilante. Not a bird because he doesn't answer to Bruce, he's not Batman's bird. He's his father's Little Wolf. Maybe Red Robin eventually changes to an owl themed vigilante (nod to Athena)

Father and son are unstoppable. They work with decades of teamwork, they move fluidly, reading each other's moves in a way no one else can.

And they speak Greek. They do so during patrol so that the enemy can't eavesdrop, or during planning, on instinct. They speak Greek between them when they're just hanging out, and they speak Greek with Wren when they want.

Speaking of Wren, they treat her like a Queen. Tim always has, she's his everything. But Elliot started treating her like royalty as soon as he got his memories. He makes her tea, reads to her aloud, and protects her like a loyal guard.

He's very protective of her when it comes to men. If anyone is even remotely creepy to her, he's going all out on them. Tim does so by ruining their lives and exposing their secrets, because he's better adapted to this lifetime. But Telemachus? The boy who had to listen to his mother's suitors talk about abusing her? The boy who guarded his mother's door with his life because if he didn't, they'd use her? He's not having any of it this time around.

One day, while Tim is at work, Elliot and Wren go to a mall. He insists on carrying her bags, even though she can do it. People assume he's her little brother, because again, she's 22 and he's around 12.

At some point, his gaze lingers on a toy section of a store, but he doesn't say anything because he doesn't want to leave his mom or make her wait. Luckily, she doesn't need to be told. She notices his longing gaze and encourages him to go check the toys out and get some if he wants while she checks out some clothes. It takes a little convincing, but eventually he agrees.

When he comes back, an owl plushie cradled in his arms, he sees a man ignoring Wren's boundaries and personal space. She repeats that she's married, asks him to leave her alone. He doesn't listen, and instead he reaches to grab her waist. Telemachus sees red.

The toy drops to the floor as he lunges at the man, landing a solid hit to his jaw. That usually would be enough for him, but this guy harassed his mom (just like them). He keeps hitting the man, and Wren knows it's a matter of time before security is called and they're escorted out, probably getting into trouble if he continues.

"Elliot, stop." he doesn't hear her, bringing down hit after hit "Elliot, that's enough!" but he's zoned in, the man pinned to the floor receiving the beating of his life.

"Telemachus!" she snaps. The boy snaps to attention and hurries to get off the man, getting into a soldier position, his focus on his mother, his Queen. He ignores as the man scrambled to his feet, but snarls in his direction as he hears a "crazy bitch" muttered. Wren leans down and picks up the discarded toy, and hands it to him.

"Thank you for defending me, sweetheart. I appreciate it. Let's just not get arrested, hm? Come on, kid."

When they tell all this to Tim, he high-fives his son. When Jason finds out, he buys him candy.

He's the kind of boy that holds other men accountable. Rape jokes and comments do not fly with him. He has and will punch guys twice his size for making those sorts of comments. "What was she wearing?", "she was asking for it", "shouldn't have been out/drunk/alone", "did she say no?", "playing hard to get" and comments of the sort are all one-way tickets to his shit list and probably the hospital, depending on if you double down or apologize.

Elliot is the kind of boy you'd trust with your drink at a party. The kind that covers them and hunches around them, glaring at anyone who comes close.

Also, from his late teens onwards, he acts as a sort of bodyguard for any girl who might need it. It started with a friend of his sitting next to him and asking if he'd do her a favor.

"So, you're... Intimidating."

"Oh? Oh! I'm sorry. Do I make you feel unsafe? Because I would never hurt you, and if it's something I do, please tell me and I'll-"

"No, a good kind of intimidating. The kind that wards off creepy guys. Look, I just, my little sister has a party she has to go to, and there might be a boy there that won't leave her alone. I was wondering if you could accompany her, make sure she's safe? I'll pay you! I can pay you by the hour, I don't care how much, I just want my sister safe and—"

"Hey, stop. Yes, I'll do it. I'll keep her safe. I charge one origami star per hour though." he jokes, because that specific friend makes origami stars all the time and he likes them.

And he goes to Jason to play up the whole "scary guy" vibes. And at the party, the boy approaches the girl, and Elliot looms behind her, and he leaves her alone.

He doesn't like parties, they overstimulate him, but he goes as a bodyguard to his friends so they can enjoy without creepy men. Sometimes he returns home with blood on his knuckles, and it's not his.

Also, just so you know, these two also kind of adopt Bart (who I made five years younger than Tim because creative liberties) and he and Elliot have a funny relationship because while Bart is older than him, Elliot can sometimes behave like the old soul he is. So they're in an eternal circle of "I'm the older sibling", "No, you're not", so they settled on twins.

Anyway, that was the idea I had. But I highly doubt it'll happen, because those who are reading the fic are there for wholesome interactions, not adventure, and they're there for Tim, not for Odysseus and Penelope. Also, I have never written action and I don't know if I could truly write the whole League of Assassins part the way it should be written.

[silvermagpie0]

My personal ranking of He-Man shows

#6 - New Adventures

This one just never grabbed me, it's the same ballpark as the original show in terms of style but executed in a way that isn't as good. I like that they tried the new setting though, sci-fi is very fun.

#5 - The Live Action Movie

The 2000 D&D movie is better so bad it's good sword and sorcery. I watched this once and never will again. I did like that they brought a character back for Revolution, but that's for later.

#4 - He-Man 2002

This is the platonic ideal of an early two thousands animated show for young boys. I love it. It also is just edited badly, there are so many pauses between each action. In a later arc He-Man gets a claw attachment on his arm and I guess those toys sold because he never fucking takes it off.

#3 - He-Man and the- these all have the exact same title you'll have to bear with me. The cg one from the 2020s.

It's for kids. Not much to say here. It's like white bread mayo and turkey. I don't like the designs, I don't like the focus on attack names. There's a lot I don't like upon reflection. But I'd watch this before I watch the 2002 one, probably just because it's. well. white bread.

#2 - the original one!!

It's a classic! I did not grow up on it, but it's just a good fun time. Bad and funny in a lot of ways. Wish people wore more pants.

I am not going to include any she-ra stuff in this, by the way. Secret of the Sword is kinda a blast but it's not going in here.

#1 - Revelation and Revolution (2020s, Netflix)

These are listed as two distinct shows but it's more a part one, part two sequel thing. Maybe they should have been just one season each, but, whatever.

I fucking love these shows they're a genuine blast. I love the animation, I think the story is great, and although they are short it works really well as a more narratively-driven show instead of the usual episodic fare we know and love. In essence, this show functions as a soft "what if the original show's back and forth between good and evil finally hit an ending", working with those old designs and characters but shaking up the status quo and seeing what happens.

People don't like these shows. Some of that is probably because Teela gets a lot of focus, wears pants, and cuts her hair. Some of it is also because the shows have a lot of genuine flaws. I love it despite of them. It's a genuine blast that I could gush and complain about over and over again.

[nicos-w101-liveblog]

Firecat Alley Post-Commentary

I got like 11 minutes of ads to earn crowns. Did not know I could get that many before I stopped getting them.

Roberto the Insignificant was so ready for Diego. Had a whole speech going as soon as he heard the trap door only to realize that it was not, infact, his brother.

By the way, Diego's trinket was a "lucky unicornshoe". Which to them would be... just a shoe. Because they're unicorns. This family heirloom is just their great-grandsire's shoe.

Not me completeing the Hallowe'en ghost collecting quest by just standing there, talking to private Quinn.

Not me whisting The Tenth Planet every time there's dead air. It haunts me, even from middle school band.

The fact that i cannot skip Eleanor Abernathy (the crazy cat lady) 's dialogue when she's literally just making kissy noises at the firekittens is so uncomfortable, actually. Sure, I'm exactly the same when I go home on breaks and see my cats, but still.

Her VA's rent was due tho. Applause.

Larry the Blockhead husband <3. Get a divorce, hun. Bernice is a POS and this is emotional abuse. Poor man reminds me of my Uncle Chris. Married to a very... disagreeable woman who happens to also be my aunt.

Hey. Lucky Hookline. Could you maybe give me the fishing luck potion to use in my own time? Instead of just shoving it down my throat and forcing me to keep fishing for rarer fish after I grab the Icecuda and Frost Dekoi? Thanks.

Firecats: The Musical. Downvote. Dislike. No.

Is a literal child voicing the Fire Elves?

Did Lizzo Forespitter just use "cuckoo bananas" unironically?

Shelus Gruffheart reminds me of Clint from Stardew Valley. The uncomfortable family member that asks "where's my hug?". I do not like him.

Seriously the Fire Elf faces make me so uncomfortable. Why are their mouths and smiles so big? Why are their teeth defined? I don't like it.

Gretta Darkkettle my beloved. I'd have loved to have an alchemy teacher in Ravenwood.

I do not blame Bastilla for being bitter towards the elves when they ended up killing her. Very proud of her for her "thriving Underworld theater career".

Seriously I am so mad that the ghouls have abs. Yes the suit and tophat are dapper and you are killing it, but you should not have any muscle definition!

Bastilla doing an evil monologue while I'm just doing a victory jig not 5 feet away.

Gretta casually dropping the Malistaire lore Nico didn't know until now. People casually believing he blew himself up with the Death School.

Also, the exiled alchemist living in Firecat Alley just being an open secret is iconic.

Ironic I got chills reading/hearing the History of Fire Magic

"Juicicle Cat". I may commit death.

Gotta say, whenever I even try to think of any song from Cats, all I get is the spell from Hocus Pocus. "Twist the bones and bend the back..."

Let me keep the sword relic, man. Let me honor the Skeletal Warriors' wishes. Let the blade see battle as it should. I'm sure Diego would love it.

I'm seriously so mad about the literal corpses having muscle definition. If I had artistic skills you bet I'd draw what I think it should be. But I think I wrote it well enough in the live-reaction post lol.

BARTELBY MY FAVORITE!!!

Also, is Colossus Boulevard a side quest? Or is that only until I actually enter it? Bc rn its a side quest and I remember it being more significant.

Seriously how many names have I been pronouncing incorrectly? Sapphyra is "Saf-eye-ra" and not "Saph-ear-a"?

Silly Dialogue:

[happyk44]

Nico was staring at Walt. For the millionth time in his life, he wished he knew what was happening in the other’s head. His eyes were black, emotionless, face neutral.

Walt had met Hades once or twice while spending the day with Anubis, enjoying the strange sensation of fluttering between different realms, different Underworlds, comparing intake and rebirth numbers. The man had a similar look. Unreadable. Calculating.

All until someone else came in, someone permanent in his life like Melinoe or Persephone, and then it shattered and he was smiling, something soft, sweet, pleasant.

Walt was slowly waiting for that day it would appear on Nico.

He wasn’t into Nico.

Gods, he barely understood why Percy was. Nico was cute, yeah, but uncomfortably dirty, always covered in a thin layer of shadows. They clung to him like cobwebs. It was gross.

But they’d been getting closer since Nico first showed up at Anubis’s request. Since he’d started training him. Having never had a host before, Anubis barely knew where to start. His powers were instinctual. He never could explain it the right way.

It caused them both a lot of frustration because he wanted to be more than just a life force and Walt wanted to be more helpful than just manifesting linens. He wanted to be able to assist the others without having to go fully hosted every time.

Nico was helpful. Obviously, despite the fact they both drew godly energy in and out of themselves, there were differences but it was helpful either way.

Walt could unbury the dead, he could send souls back to the Underworld - usually his Underworld, but, sometimes, if he focused enough, he could send them to the right place. Nico had been warming up to him and his jokes.

Then he’d asked about the ghosting thing.

He remembered it so easily. Hot afternoon. She-Ra was playing on TV. He was lounging on Sadie’s lap. Then Nico showed up in a sudden burst of shadows, right in front of the couch. Percy’s sword had slid through his body like he was air.

At first, Walt had just thought he was watching Nico shadow travel out of danger, but when he slapped back into place as though nothing had happened, it hit him.

Incorporeal form.

That was so fucking badass.

He’d begged for days. And just like that everything between them vanished. He didn’t understand why, didn’t realize what it was, figured it was just the suddenness of danger in a place he’d considered safe quaking in on him.

It wasn’t until Percy tugged him aside and explained that he realized why it was a touchy subject.

“They kept him in a jar,” Percy had said quietly. “He survived off these seeds from his step-mom. He realized it wasn’t guaranteed he’d have them if it happened again so he taught himself how to temporarily die without dying. So he wouldn’t need to use them. If he didn’t have them. Or… if someone else was there who needed them too.”

Percy’s eyes had gone faint before he dropped them to the floor. He shook his head. “It’s not something you should be asking about, Walt.”

He stopped asking after that.

It was a touchy subject for Nico, and, when he really thought about it, something touchy for him. And Anubis. Dying, even temporarily, even in a way that wasn’t really death, was in no way something he wanted to do.

And it explained the way Anubis would shift inside him, disgruntled. Of course, the other would never hiss Nico’s secrets without his permission, but he’d never made it out like it was something good. Something Walt should be aiming to do.

Walt had just thought it was cool.

But it was risky. It sounded horrifying to do, something disorienting. Turning yourself into a ghost and trusting you could pull yourself back into human form, into reality before you faded away to be collected. Trusting that he could do it without sending Anubis fully out of him

He was on the verge of death and every second the god was in him was just a slight extension to his sentence. His life - it was like a trick. It reminded him of something he’d read. Technically you can only live for a couple minutes but every time you breathe it resets the clock.

Anubis’s presence was just a constant reset, ongoing without pause.

Even a mere step and the clock would slow it’s ticking. They’d manage to figure out how much he could truly stretch himself away and that had been more of a test to see how much Anubis could disappear before his presence stopped registering to magic wards. The answer was not at all.

He didn’t have to listen in on everything, same as Walt didn’t have to take in everything on his end but he did have to be there.

Or Walt would shatter into a broken down man, pain encompassing his whole body as everything shut off inside him like a checklist.

Access to legs? Check. Kidneys? Check. Liver? Check. Lungs?

Checkity-check-check.

He could still remember the morning he woke up and thought, My heart stopped.

The next day he left home to go join the Nome. He was dying, he knew that. He’d make the best of the time he had left.

And then he was granted more time. It was like the universe was sending out a letter. Here’s some extra time in exchange for helping to defeat Apophis. Thanking you in advance, the Duat.

Walt unwrapped his hands from the linens that had spurred around his skin.

Nico’s sword glittered in the light as he shifted forward.

“I’m working on it,” Walt said, even though he knew it wasn’t an issue to the other. Nico didn’t care so long as it didn’t impede his ability to do anything else. And having his hands wrapped up made him feel safer about touching things when his powers were on.

He’d only just barely gotten over the whole “disintegrate everything into ash” side of his powers. It still had him on edge, itching at the back of his mind every time Sadie dove in for a kiss or one of the anklebiters demanded to be picked up and carried to their next destination.

Nico regarded him. “I know.”

Despite towering over him, Walt always felt so small.

It reminded him of the first time he’d met Sadie. She was so in tune with herself, her skills. She laughed loud and free, full of life and unearned confidence. When she walked into the room, she commanded the attention of everyone in there without a single word.

She was an explosive expression of a person and she knew it. There was no stopping her.

Nico was so vastly different from Sadie from tone to personality to fashion sense, but that was something nobody could deny. They both knew very clearly who they were. And they were both so very confidently settled in their identities, in such a way that it was envious. How could anyone know who they were so easily?

Without question?

Even after years of living with her, of learning her, he couldn’t tell if it was all just a facade or not.

"I'm going to teach you how to make yourself incorporeal."

"I'm going to teach you how to make yourself incorporeal."

A bundle of emotions exploded in him. Most of them were Anubis. Walt only felt cold shock - like a jug of ice water had been directly injected into his nerves. Nico's eyes were still hard to read. He remained unchanged.

As they were just talking about the weather.

"I-"

Please do not.

Walt scanned the training room, trying to find the words. It was so rare that he'd ever find himself speechless and it seemed to happen most around the lanky teen across from him. "I thought you didn't want to teach me that?"

He shook his head. "I changed my mind."

He glanced up at Walt, something painful etched into his face before it vanished. "You might need it one day."

Walt froze where he stood. Nico was a feral cat. He slipped in and out spaces, treated everywhere like it belonged to him. He knew the other pantheons accepted his presence, whether they liked it or not. He knew that Nico had accumulated more knowledge that way than any demigod or magician or whatever other user of godly power that existed had ever could.

He took a step forward, swayed in place.

Uncertainty bubbled in his stomach. "Is something going to happen?" he asked.

Nico squinted at him. "No. Why?"

"Because-" Walt splitters, gesturing widely while Anubis settled, disgruntled and annoyed. "You just said-"

"Your reaction time is slower than everyone else's."

Going quiet, Walt blinked, listening.

"You're not as instinctual. It's fine. That will come with time. But as it stands, you file through what you can and can't do and it slows you down. You're too used to choosing between amulets and you treat your powers the same." Nico cocked his head. "One second can be the difference between life and death. If you don't move fast enough, you'll be caught or killed."

"Oh."

"If you don't want to learn it-"

Uncertainty and fear still rabbled in his chest, a protest to what he was thinking. "I do."

Do not, Anubis begged. It's too risky.

"You don't need to be so worried, Anubis," Nico said before he turned on his heels.

Sadie saw the difference between them so easily. She saw when he was present, even if he wasn't talking. It was body language. Something about the way it looked when two people were in one body, the way Walt walked like he was in constant conversation.

When Anubis was in control, it was different. He held himself taller than Walt was, pulled more inwards.

To Sadie, no matter how slight, the changes were obvious.

To Nico, it was so much more different. It was harder not to feel invaded when he did it, even though he knew it wasn't intentional. He couldn't tell by body language or the way Walt's eyes would flash black instead of brown. He just looked at him and saw two souls instead of one

He analyzed from there.

He said he picked it up from a dead sibling of his, who went blind early in life. The way he talked about it, the slip of his face - Walt had a slight feeling it was more than accidental but he refused to pry.

Maneuvering the world through watching the souls within each person was better than just watching them. It was morally questionable to do that to the living so he admitted he didn't do it much. Just when he had a bad feeling. Or when he was talking to Walt.

It was like cutting into a person for autopsy. The secrets behind them revealed in a small little glowing orb. It made Walt feel like a fish, gutted open. Utterly exposed for consumption. But he didn't say anything against it because it was…

It was strangely pleasant to have someone simply look at him and know what the other mingling inside was saying. Instead of always having to translate, he could just be known.

Sadie just had to watch him.

Nico just had to take a look inside and analyze what he saw. Then the answer laid so easy.

Maybe if it were anyone else, Walt wouldn't feel so okay with it. But it was Nico, who showed up whenever he called and sometimes brought pie and was slowly teaching him what he knew even though there was no real reason for him to do it. He was safe

"I'm allowed to be concerned about my host dying," Anubis said. If Walt listened hard enough, he could hear the changes that Sadie had attuned herself to. The slight lowering of his voice, the subtle change to his accent.

"If he dies, I'll bring him back," Nico said. He put his sword down and took off his coat, folding it neatly onto the floor. "I can move faster than collection."

"Nico-"

"Relax. When have I ever deceived you?"

[sardonic-sprite]

Part 4 of Dad!Tim AU!

(Thanks for reminding me Q /gen)

(Tw for... idk general shitty stone-age misogyny?)

Part 1

They've had Eira for a month now, and honestly... Bruce was wondering when this would happen

He's very glad that Jason's at home with Tim tonight, because otherwise God only knows what would have happened, but there'd have been a lot more blood, Bruce is sure

Instead it's just him and Damian at the very edge of the city limits when a woman, bleeding and disheveled and bruised, nearly past recognition, sprints close, slows to a stagger, and collapses on her knees before them, one hand reaching out to fist in each of their cloaks as she gasps for breath

But Bruce could never not know those green eyes. The ones his smallest son shares with his

"MOTHER!"

"Talia! What the hell-"

But he doesn't wonder for long. And again, he really should have known it would happen by now

A group of assassins steps out of the shadows, weapons raised and still wet with Talia's blood. She drags herself up, beside Bruce, in front of Damian, and raises her own sword, but Bruce steps in the middle, finding that ice-cold place of fury that he's struggled for half a year now to keep hidden from his children because of how ugly it is

"Stay out of my city," he snarls. He reminds them of the piss-poor but completely binding treaty, that the league is forbidden to cross the city limits

"Except to redress grievances, Detective."

"You wanna talk about *grievances?*"

But the assassin just smirks. He starts pontificating about children and fathers and PROPERTY like its still the damn stone age. Then he starts pushing the idea of claiming ownership, as pointed as his weapon, and says, "The boy Lord Ra's is willing to grant you. But you are now harboring two stolen possessions of the Demon's Head, and he wants his property back."

Talia spits out a string of Arabic, all words Bruce has heard, but never in so... creative an order. Behind them both, Damian stifles something that might be either a sob or a giggle. Or a choking on air.

This is why Bruce is glad Jason is at home

What Bruce wants to say - shout - is that Talia is a WOMAN and Eira is a BABY and they are HUMAN PEOPLE not CATTLE and HOW DARE RA'S--

What he says, moving his hand behind his back to signal Damian to turn on his comm, maximum reciever volume, is that Ra's is not in fact the nearest male relative of woman or child

Talia's nearest man? Its Bruce. Yeah. Do they wanna see the marriage license? Talia smirks next to him, because they've had that thing ready for this exact situation for YEARS

He feels shitty claiming "ownership" but he knows Ra's is the shitty one and Talia knows what Bruce really means.

Damian makes another very odd noise.

Anyway, Eira? Did Ra's forget that Tim is her fucking FATHER? They've got birth records RIGHT NOW stating that she belongs to HIM, proving her legal existence and citizenship and EVERYTHING.

The assassins hesitate. Bruce knows they're searching. He prays. Talia's hand finds his and squeezes. The marriage record is there, one hundred percent legal, witnessed, valid, only kept secret because thats what had suited them for so long.

The birth certificate... all those other documents...

Its clear the assassin is suspicious, but Bruce thanks God for Barbara’s speed, because the assassin can't tell him the records aren't there. Can't even prove they were dashed together by one woman in the space of five minutes

"As you can see," Bruce says, grin downright feral, "They are both within my protection. Come one step closer to my family and it will be Ra's who violates the treaty

And I *will not hesitate* to call the entire Justice League to war."

The assassin scowls.

But they all melt away, conceding defeat.

When they're gone, Talia sways and nearly collapses again, but Bruce and Damian catch her and call for the car

They go home

Part 5

[iviarellereads]

The Shadow Rising, Chapter 58 - The Traps of Rhuidean

(THIS PROJECT IS SPOILER FREE! No spoilers past the chapter you click on. Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For the link index and a primer on The Wheel of Time, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

(Wheel icon) In which I get really cranky for the most petty reason.

PERSPECTIVE: Rand follows steps through the darkness beyond his now-closed doorway. He can see a man ahead of him, and is sure it's Asmodean. He's riding some kind of platform, and Rand copies him, moving faster without running. Rand catches up enough that when Asmo turns his head, Rand recognizes Jasin Natael, the gleeman. He was sure it would be Kadere.

Asmo picks up speed and throws firewalls back toward Rand. Rand falls behind, having to deal with this. Eventually he sees Asmo jump through a gateway, and Rand manages to squeeze a thread of the Power through and open it back up for himself.

He lands next to the fog wall around Rhuidean, so Rand runs through. He finds a trap laid for him, hair-thin ribbons floating in the air, at the level of his waist, chest, and neck, sharp enough to put any razor to shame. If he'd run into them instead of ducking, he'd have been cut clean through. A tiny surge of the Power, and the ribbons crumble. Rand continues into the city, cold with anger.

He finds Asmo, they battle back and forth, destroying many of the artifacts left here by the Jenn, their final attempt to follow their path. Eventually Asmo throws himself toward the figure of the man holding a crystal sphere, and a heartbeat later Rand touches it as well.

Rand is aware of the half-buried statue in Cairhien, and the Power surges in him. He thinks he could even have healed that dead child, with this much power. The taint fills him as much as the Power does, though. Once again, Rand and Asmo fight, this time for possession of the figure. Rand begins to tire, fearing he'll be swept away by the rush of saidin and destroyed as surely as Asmo will do if he lets go. Asmo is sweating, and Rand wonders if he's as tired as himself.

They're balanced, each drawing half the capacity of the sa'angreal. But Rand remembers the little angreal in his waistband, a tiny thing next to this, but it might be enough. Rand envisions the black steel wires he saw around Asmo in the void and once before,(1) then reaches through the angreal in his waistband, and more Power flows into him. He forms it like a sword of Power, and strikes, as one with the sword, as one with the wires.

Asmo screams, and falls over. Rand collapses and barely has enough strength to hold onto the ter'angreal, the key to the sa'angreal, and roll away from Asmo.

He looks around, at the ruin of Rhuidean. Avendesora is blazing like a torch, and the plaza looks like it's seen a hurricane, an earthquake, and who knows what else all at once. Some of the mountains in the distance even look lower than they were before.

Lanfear appears, observes that neither of them can even stand up, and says there was a shield on this place, but it's gone now. She notes the ter'angreal, and asks if he felt the immensity of it, saying with both together they could displace the Dark One himself.

Asmo begs her to help him, but she says he only got half of what he deserves.

Rand stands, refusing to continue on his knees in her presence. He explains that since they gave their souls, and let the Dark One attach himself to them, he's cut Asmo off from that attachment. Lanfear is, for once, shocked. She didn't think it was possible. And he's changed nothing else about Asmo.

Rand says he's still the man who gave himself to the Shadow in the first place. How long could he keep it secret? How many would believe he didn't do it himself somehow? He's glad Lanfear thought it impossible, maybe the rest of them will as well. She gave him the idea, a man to teach him how to channel, but he won't be taught by a man linked to the DO. Asmo no longer has a choice: he can stay and teach Rand, and help him win, or he can hope the rest of them don't take the excuse to kill him themselves.

Asmo says they'll believe her, he wouldn't be here except for her, they'll believe her when she says he's still faithful to the DO. Lanfear wonders aloud how much is Lews Therin, and how much the shepherd, then tells Asmo they'll all believe that he turned to Lews Therin's side. He's always followed where he thought his best chances lay. She gives Rand a gift: she shields Asmo, so that he can only channel a trickle, enough to teach. It'll wear off in a few months, but by then he'll really have no choice but to stay with Rand for protection.

Asmo screams NO! Mierin, please, she can't do this. Rage twists her face as she says her name is LANFEAR! She hoists Asmo up, and Rand has to channel through the angreal to distract her so she doesn't kill Asmo. She comes back to herself, and he asks her if she hurt anyone at Alcair Dal. After some exchange, she says no, even she doesn't kill or hurt without cause.

She examines the plaza, then looks back at Rand and tells him to use Asmo's teaching well. Sammael envies him, Demandred hates him, Rahvin thirsts for power always. They will all seek to bring him down when they discover he holds the ter'angreal, and Graendal might want him for her collection. She considers him for a moment, he thinks she might take the thing from him, but instead she turns and makes a doorway.

Rand asks which one she was. She says her pride can support a little fat when it must, implying she was Keille. Isendre only thought she was dealing with normal Darkfriends, she's probably right now trying to explain why a large quantity of stolen gold jewellery belonging to Aiel women is at the bottom of her chest, as she did steal some of it herself. Lanfear continues that these Aiel are so different from what they were. You could slap a Da'shain and all he would do was ask what he'd done wrong, all day long. As she leaves, Rand remembers the name Asmo used: Mierin. He heard that name in the glass columns, the woman who found the Dark One's prison and opened the Bore.(2)

Asmo says cutting him off from the DO just makes him vulnerable to the taint, and he's still no great teacher. Rand says there isn't anyone else, and looks until he finds the female sa'angreal key to match the male one he holds.(3) Asmo says Lanfear was looking for that, she'd rip even Rand's heart out to set hands on it. Rand says she'd sooner rip Asmo's out, for keeping it secret.

Rand realizes the fog around the city is gone. Water is spilling out of the great crevice their battle opened through the middle of the city. Rand realizes people might be able to live here now, grow crops, tend Avendesora.

Rand channels through the little angreal to open another doorway, and as they float on the platform across the darkness, he says he can't call Asmodean by that name. Asmo offers his birth name: Joar Addam Nesossin. Rand can't use that either, who knows what scrap of paper might have held it? No, he'll have to go on being Jasin Natael, the Dragon's personal gleeman. Excuse enough to have him close. And the first thing he'll teach is how to guard Rand's dreams.

In Alcair Dal, the rain has stopped, but the canyon floor is churned mud. There are perhaps a quarter fewer Aiel than before, but not fighting. Everyone gapes when Rand steps out of the doorway, and stares more when Natael follows him. He tells Adelin to send someone to stop beating Isendre, she's not as big a thief as they think. Shocked, she tells one of the nearby Maidens to go.

Egwene asks how the heck he even knew about that, and Moiraine asks where has he been, no Aes Sedai calm to be seen. Instead of answering, he asks what happened here. Rhuarc says the Shaido have gone, and Han adds that some of each of the other clans left as well, though not with the Shaido, and none of the Taardad, Rhuarc adds at the last. Rand isn't done with the Shaido, but has to let it be for now. The faces in the canyon are shaken, though they stayed. But, the Aiel are only a means to an end. He has to be even harder than they are.

Rand mounts, and everyone takes their places, Natael at his new place at Rand's left stirrup, mirrored on the other side by Aviendha at his right. He says when the rest of the clan chiefs come, it begins. Rhuarc says it began long ago, the question is where and how it ends. Rand has no answer for that.(4)

And when the blood was sprinkled on ground where nothing could grow, the Children of the Dragon did spring up, the People of the Dragon, armed to dance with death. And he did call them forth from the wasted lands, and they did shake the world with battle. —from The Wheel of Time by Sulamein so Bhagad Chief Historian at the Court of the Sun, the Fourth Age(5)

The End of the Fourth Book of The Wheel of Time

=====

(1) Ishamael, as Ba'alzamon, was described with similar wires in the confrontation at the end of book 1. Here we learn what they are: some connection to the Dark One, protection from the taint. (2) So basically all the male Forsaken went darkside because they were jealous of Lews Therin Telamon. The only woman whose motivation I can speak to is Lanfear's: she sought for women to be able to wield power equal to men, which is how she ended up drilling the hole in the Dark One's prison and setting off the Pandora's Box, as it were, partly because she felt jilted (to put it lightly) by LTT choosing Ilyena. On the other end of things, Graendal's "collection" of young men doesn't sound ominous in the slightest, right? (3) Ah, at long last, Chekov's Power Amplifiers. At least for now he has enough self-awareness not to trust himself to use the uber sa'angreal much, just like he made himself give up Callandor because it felt dangerous. (4) So this is the tail end of the climax and then there are a grand total of three pages of resolution. Because who needs a proper denouement in the middle of a series, amirite? (Me! I want a decent amount of breathing room!) (5) Aha, and here feels like a good time to draw attention. Have you noticed why they distinguish which ages these quotes are written in? Because they're not all the same. There's been a reasonably even distribution of third and fourth age excerpts so far. But, I hear you asking, why does that matter? Because this is the story of the end of the Third Age. Part of why I have absolutely no patience for people who will call any damn thing a spoiler is because so many people don't bother to think about what they're reading, what it means, what the implications are, and what it might indicate is coming next. We're reading a fourteen-book epic. Do you really think it's going to end with defeat for the Light? No, of course not. But it's very interesting to subtly contextualize that victory from the viewpoint of history, where the bias is to the winner. We've seen the Court of the Nine Moons mentioned, that's Seanchan, but we've never seen a Court of the Sun. Where and how do you suppose that might arise, in another age? These little bookend quotes aren't just for funsies. They don't give away any particular spoilers but they do add little touches to the world.

[fantasies-fairytales-n-fics]

Thranduil and Josie Pt. 139- Milestones

Summary: Thranduil informs Legolas of the deathly events at Lestat's on All Hallows Eve that led him to Jareth's. Raven experiences a strange emotion. A theory of a dead man is shut down. Jace and Raven face reality. A war continues with new aid. Thranduil fights his own mind. He has harsh words for some. Raven panics. She and Arwen converse. The riders are all in their thoughts, especially Thranduil. A secret is mentioned. Evil cometh!

*Warnings* Angst, violence, language

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist

It was a surreal moment for both Legolas and King Thranduil as they came face to face. Even more so for the Prince in seeing his father alive and well, if one could consider him well after the torture that had been inflicted upon him by Jareth and his brother Harker. For a brief moment, Legolas's mind drifted to you. How would he bring such news? This was something he would have to answer for himself at a later time, for they still had to flee the mountain and realm that was greatly infested with more of it's evil occupants. Jasper and his army of the dead had taken out merely a fraction of them there on the west corner of the Hoarwell and Misty Mountains but others would come from in an on the far-reaching mountain and deep within the wide-ranging dark forest.

Thranduil took a moment to briefly explain how Caroline was mainly responsible for his apparent demise, for his mind was now clear on all of his past memories, but his feelings were still greatly amiss, in which all would be made well aware of that soon enough.

Raven's leg was throbbing in pain from Gollum's bite which luckily enough for her, the injury was on the same leg as her sprained ankle. Jace carried her piggy back style through the narrow pathways as she weakly rested her head on his shoulder. The smitten warlock smiled as he angled his eyes down to glance at her closed ones and whispered to her.

"You're safe now."

Jace could feel the breeze from the outside air and see the light peering around the corner. Freedom was near but an obstacle was even closer. As he rounded the bend, there sat an anxious Gollum crawling around in circles, arguing with his other self. He had beaten them to the small opening leading to the outside world, for the cave dweller knew every inch of the mountain's mazes.

"Raven, wake up!"

Her eyes popped open and Jace set her down on her good leg, then drew his sword.

"Move aside creature, or a head you shall have no more." Jace conditionally compromised.

Gollum growled at him and galloped forward on his hands and feet. "Gives us the precious first!"

Raven swiped the sword from Jace's hand and held it to Gollum's throat.

"Listen here you little shit! I have had it up to my wits end with your bullshit. I should kill you right now for what you did to me! In fact, I think I will."

Gollum's broad eyes became dejected and slightly tearful as they slowly moved over her and Jace. Raven was suddenly overtaken by a feeling that was greatly foreign to her...compassion.

Gollum had a hellish life just as she had endured, trapped inside a world neither wanted, but she couldn't let that deter her from her own path to freedom.

"Or I can just leave you here in your own misery which is worse than death."

She slowly lowered the sword and as she did so, Gollum's eyes changed from sorrowful to sinister as he began to bear his unsightly teeth.

Jace's arm wrapped around her waist and she gasped as they went up into the air of the shallow tunnel, knocking Gollum into a backwards somersault as their low hanging feet hit his head.

Gollum regained his balance to see the two vanish into the light at the end of the tunnel that he would not enter. He then reeled and cursed them both.

"We hates them forever!!!"

Thranduil and Legolas were just getting ready to head out to meet the others Aragorn, Boromir, Gandalf, Gimli and Tauriel who all had waited outside to give the King and his son some privacy in their reunion, but then Raven and Jace came around the corner. The look on Legolas's face was staggering, needless to say, when he saw the dhampir and some stranger allowing her to use him as a crutch.

'What are you doing here and whom are you?!" the Prince barked as he raised his bow.

"Oh Leggy, put it down. Why Thrandy, you did not tell your son about me? Not surprising, since you left us for dead in Gollum's lair which I greatly suspect you knew about. That little fucker took a bite out of my leg! After all I have done for you, saving your ass more than once mind you. You said you would take me with you!"

"Adar??" Legolas inquired as his eyes glided to the side where Thranduil stood while maintaining his aim on the witchy vampiress.

"Legolas." Thranduil nodded to him to lower his bow. "Always exaggerated, are you not girl? You have obviously found deliverance with the warlock's aid, as well as mine. Without my help, you would have been left at Jareth's mercy, as would you male witch."

"We have names you know. I am Raven, this is Jace, or is that too difficult for your elven tongue to speak?"

Thranduil's lips pursed as his neck stiffened up, then came towards her in a fury.

Jace stepped in front of her with his sword drawn as Raven's eyes almost rolled from their sockets at Jace's daredevil move against the notorious sprite.

The Elvenking's eyes slitted like a snake as Legolas drew his bow on Jace this time.

"You dare challenge me warlock??! You are a bigger fool than your father."

With that said, a loud ching could be heard as Thranduil's subulate sword lacerated Jace's blade right through it's center, sending the severed pieces clanking to the ground.

Jace's eyes widened briefly and they narrowed, wanting to open fire his magic on him, but he withheld....for you.

Thranduil raised his head in great pride and then turned to Raven.

"You see...Clover, which THAT is your true name, Jareth's sword was dull and useless just as I had assured you it was. Legolas...the unsightly warlock before you is another of Jareth's offspring, as if one was not enough of a thorn in my side."

Thranduil thought of you with disgust as his side literally still stung from the injury he received when his mind betrayed him and his protected secret by projecting himself as the white hart.

"You're...Josie's brother?" Legolas asked in shock as he then lowered his bow.

"What does his relation to that wretched witch have to do with any of this? He's the son of Jareth and drew his weapon on me. Hold your aim!" Thranduil snapped at Legolas who reluctantly resumed his hold on the warlock. His father was right about Jace, for Legolas knew nothing of his true nature. For all he knew, he could be just like the goblin King. His defense of Raven confirmed that thought. But his father was very wrong in the way he spoke of you.

Jace could now see the true damage Jareth and Harker had inflicted upon the King's mind and it worried him over what this would mean for you. Although he had witnessed you in an intimate moment with Garrett, he knew how deep your love for Thranduil went, and when you learned he was alive, Jace knew this new and unimproved version of your King would scar you worse than his supposable death had done.

"Adar, she is your Queen...Why would you speak of her in....."

"Hold your tongue boy, for it shall never speak those words again. That gaffe of a union is now null and void, just as yours and Tauriel's had been. We are now rid of the two nuisances and I will now claim my daughter and another to stand at my side."

Legolas lightly gulped as he also had kept one of his company a secret from his father...Tauriel... and soon, Thranduil would be just as blind sided as Legolas was when he saw Raven.

Thranduil reached his hand out to Raven who hesitated at his shocking words as Legolas was stood in sheer horror, unable to stop the mad King, even if he had tried.

"Come now! You groveled to me to take you with me. Surely you must have known what it would entail just as I surely know this is what you have always desired, is it not?"

It was what Raven always wanted, from the very moment she laid eyes upon the King in Lestat's castle, but that was before Thranduil was mind warped into behaving no better than Jareth...and it was also before she met Jace. And even if Thranduil hadn't had his mind scrambled like eggs, he still would never want her. He had always made that clearly known.

"Adar...are my ears deceiving me?"

"I will be questioned no more! The dhampir will be coming with me as agreed upon. You will pay your debts to me for your partaking in your evil mother's diabolical plan. Although Caroline paid hers with her worthless life, you chose to carry out what she could not and it is upon you for all that occurred after. Shall I continue on about the filthy advantages you took of me while I was severely disadvantaged? Did you think I would never recall such treachery? Now you will suffer the same fate. Besides...you have nowhere else to go that is safe. Nazgul will still hunt you for the slaughter of all those children in Laketown. Is that not why you remained with Jareth in the first place?"

"It is...but Thranduil....Jareth is dead, that is what you told us."

"I assure you, the goblin King is not dead and will return and your only refuge will be under my wing."

"H..how do you know he is still alive?" Raven fearfully squeaked.

"Naive girl. You just informed us he was. You were just bitten by Gollum yes? If Gollum still walks, so does Jareth."

"Raven, Thranduil is right. The spell Jareth placed on Gollum would have broken if Jareth were dead. And if you also have death dealers after you, they will never stop hunting you. There will be no safer place for you than with the Elvenking." Jace confirmed.

"Wait...so you're...telling me to go with him? When you now know of his reasoning for wanting me there? How am I safer with him when he is acting just like your father??? You have NO idea what Jareth did to me!"

"I do not know what he did but I can surely imagine it...and I do not know of your prior dealings with the Elvenking either...but I cannot help you any longer. It's what's best."

Raven was crushed, for she had stupidly became somewhat attached to Jace, for no one had ever made her feel like she mattered and had the potential to change....and she had also stupidly believed that there was some magical connection between them.

"Why did you ever help me in the first place then or be so nice to me huh?? Oh that's right, you needed to be freed so you used me. I've been through that scenario before! Well, why not then. What better and deserving place for a bad seed like me to be then at the side of the infamous Elvenking!" she snapped as her eyes teared up. "How stupid was I to believe you when you said you saw good in me because now that you have just heard of my past indiscretions, you're bailing. Which part was it that put the nail in the coffin? The children massacre that happened when I myself was a child in my newborn phase or my sexcapade with the Elvenking, whom by the way had his way with me of his own will at one time and certainly enjoyed it?? I told you there was no hope for me. I was born to be evil. You were wrong to ever think I could change. Oh wait, that was just a lie."

"No it wasn't. You could have taken Gollum's head clean off back there...but you didn't."

"That's because he will suffer for eternity in his desolation of doom and gloom in which he deserves....just as I do. It's also because I actually believed you...that will never happen again, for you're no better than Jareth, nice at first to get what you want and then turns on me. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?"

Jace was hating every bit of what was happening and what he had to do. He did care for her, for it had snuck up on him like a thief in the night, but he knew he could not fight for her at this time, not against Thranduil and his company...he also knew he would be back for her....

Raven whipped around before Jace could even speak and walked to Thranduil, then held her hand out to him.

"I will go with you."

As Thranduil took her hand with a triumphant grin at Jace, horns began blaring. Legolas then knew who Tauriel spoke of that would come.

"I galadrim -o Imladris! (The elves of Imladris)" the Prince raved with wide eyes.

They all went to the doorway to see Elrond and his elven army taking on more hideous orcs and goblins that surfaced from within the mountain and more could be seen descending it.

Elrond could then be seen and heard as all hell broke loose.

"Tangado haid! Leithio i philinn!" (Hold [your] positions. Fire the arrows)

The armed elves of copper metal raised their bows and fired into the rushing crowd of mostly orcs.

Legolas and Thranduil ran off to join the fight while Raven stood peeking around the doorway in pure fright. She glanced back to look at Jace but he was gone, just like that. She whimpered and turned her gleaming eyes back to the mosh pit of elves and the enemy. In her eyes, the elves were the enemy too. She now stood alone with her only weapons... her powers and Jareth's useless ring while awaiting to head off to her new life.

As lord Elrond slayed orc after orc and goblin after goblin, he felt the presence of his long time elven friend and stopped to glance over at the raging Elvenking and his twin swords taking the beasts out like a tornado.

Thranduil then caught sight of the Rivendell lord and they both offered a welcoming head bow, then carried on with their mutual mission.

In a matter of less than an hour, the west side docking entrance was cleared of the foul demons and the seven warriors united while Raven watched from her solo post.

"King Thranduil. I must say it is a great pleasure to see you amongst the living." Elrond professed. "Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, Gandalf, Gimli and.....Tauriel." he continued with the greetings, giving a surprised raised brow at the former captain of Thranduil's guard and ex Mrs. Greenleaf.

Thranduil scowled when he saw her and side eyed his son which told Legolas they would soon have a talk about her presence.

"Lord Elrond, your aid is highly appreciated. Was it your foresight that brought you here?" Legolas inquired.

As he went to answer, Arwen came riding up on her glowing white horse with a bloodied sword in hand and perfect untangled long flowing dark strands, as if she had not just battled a raging army.

Aragorn's eyes lit up as she dismounted and they ran into each other's arms with loving smiles and soft kisses.

Thranduil had a sudden flashback of the time he had been shot by Malsin's arrow and he had disappeared to go heal by the Forest River. You had frantically searched for him with Tauriel and when you found him, you leaped off of your horse and ran into Thranduil's arms as Arwen just did with her King. In that moment, the King of Mirkwood could taste your lips.

Legolas saw it, the brief pain in his his father's eyes that abruptly turned to frustration as he stood firm and guarded against his own mind.

"Legolas, as you know, I was in Lorien when you had arrived. After your departure with Aragorn and Gimli, I rode hard to gather the aid of my father and his company, for I feared you would all need it."

"You will all need more. "Elrond continued. "For more will come and will follow. I have a base camp near the Bruinen's edge. We can make it there by nightfall and continue on to Rivendell come dawn. It is the only means of refuge considering our position, unless King Thranduil opposes and desires to trek down the Hoarwell to the east side and carry on into Mirkwood which would add an extra day of treacherous travel with the new spider infestation I have been made aware of...and of course the orcs that will track your paths. With that being said, the journey to the Bruinen will still be dangerous. Arwen has gathered your horses. A choice must be made quickly."

Everyone brought their eyes to King Thranduil, for it would be his decision and whichever he chose, they would faithfully follow.

Thranduil was momentarily silent as he pondered on his options which were precisely two. He surely loved Rivendell and missed the magical city and his refuge of Moonlight deep within the realm's forest. Would it still be a safe haven for him now with the memories of you invading his special place? He scoffed at that thought and decided he would not let your memories plaque him any longer, although that would be easier said than done and he knew it....especially after what happened against his will

"Imladris it shall be. I will add that since my son has brought an unwanted and uninvited guest, I have one of my own that will be traveling at my side."

"That is the gratitude I receive for assisting in your retrieval?" Tauriel retorted.

"We both know as all know, that you did not come here to aid me but in fact to get back in the good graces of my son which will never occur. We all know your love of dwarves. You should take Gimli and be on your merry way."

Gimli stood quietly in shock, for he had forgotten about the King's conditioning that caused Thranduil to despise him all over again.

"Adar!" Legolas snapped in defense of his dwarf friend and even Tauriel. "They both risked their lives regardless of motive. Gimli is my friend and will be joining us in our journey forward, as will Tauriel...it is not safe for them to travel alone. We do not know the whereabouts of Harker and Julian."

"So be it. I have endured far worse in my time here. What is one more day of perdition."

Tauriel glared at the King. "It would seem your anger towards me is misguided due to what you have suffered, but my mind is quite clear of your past misdeeds where I am concerned."

"Misdeed it was!" Thranduil barked as he came towards her. "For your reasonings and my reasonings for the fraught experience are NOT the same. Mine was of grief and over indulgence, yours was merely of revenge and even that was not enough for you in your continued unwanted pursuance of myself...so it would seem that my anger is very well validated. Now...I am done wasting my time here. Raven! Tul- hi!" (Come now)

Raven shook like a leaf at his call to her by her name, not having a clue what he said, for she didn't know elvish. Judging by Thranduil's slight hand toss in the air and everyone's eyes staring in her direction, she figured she was supposed to go to him...and so she grabbed her bag and headed out, feeling like she was going to toss up the contents of her stomach again as she began to hyperventilate.

All the eyes judged her as she neared the King...all but one. Arwen. Her eyes were kind, although she had just witnessed the beautiful she elf mutilate hundreds of orcs all on her own. Raven was a dangerous and natural enemy of the elves but all Arwen saw was a scared little girl trapped in a lion's den.

Once she was at Thranduil's side, her overbearing nerves consumed her as she bent over and vomit showered the Elvenking's boots. Raven's eyes fearfully fluttered up to Thranduil's and the look of repugnance in his eyes sent her passing out cold on the ground.

"Someone tend to that. It is time to go." Thranduil snapped and marched off.

The sun was slowly setting, leaving only a few hours left of daylight as they all traveled west down part of the Hoarwell's banks to avoid the dark forest. Once at it's edge, they would then travel South, making their way to the start of the Bruinen River near the high pass where Elrond's base camp was set up.

Raven began to awaken to a soft bouncing and the smell of roses as her head laid upon something of a satin feel. As her weary eyes traveled up, she saw dark luminous strands of hair and the angelic vision of Arwen's face. Gasping, she sat up to realize she was riding on a horse, seated in front of the she elf.

"Hush now child, you are safe." Arwen sweetly said to the frightened ginger haired girl.

"Wh...what happened? How did I get...here?"

"After the contents of your stomach found King Thranduil's footwear, you suffered a fainting spell. I suppose your fear of his reaction brought that about. Understandably so."

"Oh my god...he...he is going to fucking kill...oh shit...oh...no, I mean...oh my god...I didn't mean to swear...I swear. I'm sure someone such as yourself does not speak in such a manner."

Arwen chuckled. "Do not fret. We are known to express our feelings verbally from time to time in our own way apart from yours...but I would advise you to be cautious of them around my father."

"You..you mean that elf with the dark hair who's eyebrows make him look angry?"

The she elf then giggled. "That would be the one. For your benefit, he would be addressed as Lord Elrond and it would serve you well not to speak of his eyebrows in his presence. I assure you though, he is not angry, just wise, old and somewhat cynical when it comes to outsiders such as yourself, and rightfully so. He does have a kind side under his sullen expression."

"But...you're not? Cynical I mean... I mean..don't get me wrong, you kicked some serious ass...I mean butt back there, but you seem...kind as well. Why am I riding with you and...why are you being so nice to me?"

"It was best you rode with me. I can see who one truly is and I do not believe you to be all of a blackened heart. There is something inside of you that will bring out your true nature, something that you are unaware of."

"Well, that other man elf, Haldy. He sees that too and he certainly didn't say that about me when we met. Verbatim, he said 'you bring great evil with you'. and then I think he cussed me out in elvish or something."

"Yes, Haldir of Lorien. At that time, did you not? It would be understandable of him to believe so, for I am aware of the choices you have made, especially those against your own kin...and vampires as you know, are natural enemies of the elves, more so to Haldir on a personal level."

"Soooo...what is it that you see inside of me then?"

"I think that is a conversation for another time."

Legolas rode on with Gimli at his backside while the others each rode solo. He was extremely unnerved over his father's remarks earlier. Although Thranduil's words to Tauriel rang true, Legolas was still humiliated that all now knew as to why his union with her was divided. The Elvenking was always a force to be reckoned with, but this version of him was a loose cannon and anyone who was in his line of fire be damned.

He tried to silently reach you again while keeping his father in the dark, but again, he had no success in connecting with you and he still didn't understand how it ever even happened in the first place. Could it have only been the evil of the dark forest messing with his mind? Was it his guilt for leaving you? For he had never done so before...or was it simply his heart missing you terribly?

So many thoughts consumed him now that he was able to peacefully think for once, but his next thought was far from peaceful. There was still the issue of Amara and his arrangement with her when he would return to the Woodland realm with his father very much alive and well. This was something he dreaded explaining to Thranduil. Even if the King hadn't had his mind altered, he still would hunt her down and make her pay with her life for coercing his son.

As Aragorn and Boromir trekked along side by side at a distance from the others, the ranger could see that his friend was in deep thought and he had a feeling it was about the reason he truly came there.

"Boromir. We appreciate your assistance, bravery and loyalty my friend. If you need my aid in recommencing your previous journey to Dorwinion, know I will assist if needed be. What you revealed to me in Lorien only days ago will escape my lips to no one. "

"I just may take you up on the offer, for the one I need to speak with does not know me and would have no reason to trust me, but she knows and trusts you. We are not out of danger yet. If for any reason I cannot make it there, I need your word that you will take what you know to her. Only she must be told for the time being."

'You have my solemn vow, but you my friend will tell her yourself very soon." Aragorn assured as they rode on.

Thranduil was also in his own little world of thoughts as he and Elrond led the group. The Rivendell elf lord could see his despair and would later speak to him in private about it, for he knew the conversation would be sensitive to the King now and only anger him further, but Elrond could easily handle him, for he knew the Elvenking better than anyone there.

No matter how hard Thranduil tried to distract his mind from you, there you were, even when he told himself earlier that he would not allow it anymore. He kept seeing you, sitting right there with him, your hair brushing in his face from the breeze, his arm snuggled around your waist as you sang to him. Through his anger and pursed lips, he felt a peace there as he could smell your cherry blossom scent trickle up his flaring nose. He saw you turn to look up at him with your blazing blue eyes that he had given to you. With that thought, he had had enough, for how were you his soul mate when he despised you so? He knew what Jareth did to him, but he still felt how he felt.

Your scent suddenly evolved into another one. A malevolent one. Thranduil swiftly charged ahead on the glorious white horse Elrond had brought for him, and then abruptly halted and turned to the group.

"They have come for the dhampir. Black riders are among us!"

'Wh..WHAT?!!" Raven shrieked as she sprung up, her eyes bulged and racing about the surroundings.

Just then, the sinister screeches of the Nazgul could be heard in the distance, along with the pounding hooves of their horses.

As Raven's head whipped around to the horrifying sounds, the death dealers appeared from the forest.

Aragorn looked at Arwen with a pressing look. "GO! Ride hard!!"

"Cover your head. Do not look at them!" Arwen commanded to Raven and galloped off at racing speed through the forest as the nine death riders pursued at her heels.

Thranduil and company charged off behind them, following them down to the river where Arwen crossed through it as the vampires remained on the bank, seemingly threatened by the water.

"Give up the dhampir she elf." one of the hooded fiends growled.

Arwen faced them and drew her sword. "If you want her, come and get her!"

Raven's eyes snapped up to her. "What?? No. don't come and get me! Are you crazy??!"

"Some might believe so yes." Arwen quipped with a dead stare on evil ones.

Raven swore she peed herself as the dealers came rushing into the river. She burrowed down into Arwen's gut and squished her eyes shut as she trembled profusely at the thought she was about to be ripped apart....but then she peeked out through one eye. Arwen began to speak in an unworldly echoing tone of elvish and the water began to rise.

"Nîn o Chithaeglir lasto beth daer; rimmo nín Hoarwell dan in Ulaer!" (Waters of the Misty Mountains, hear the word of power, rush, waters of Hoarwell, against the Ringwraiths)

A massive tidal wave gushed around the bend and shapeshifted into a stampede of white water wild horses, plowing over the fleeing Nazgul and swallowing them whole.

Just like that, they were gone.

"Holyyyy shit! Bad ass!! What just happened???" Raven asked in astonishment as she surfaced from Arwen's chest.

"Magic. Just as you have, do you not?" Arwen simply stated. "They are gone for now but more will come as they smell your freedom."

"I...I do but...not like that! and...mine is weak right now from silverbane exposure...and...oh god...so is my stomach!"

Raven hauled ass off of the horse and fell to her hands and knees, vomiting again...only this time, it was blood.

Arwen leaned down and laid her hand on Raven's back to comfort her.

"Oh my god, why am I throwing up blood??! This cannot be from the silverbane..." she frantically asked.

"It is not.." Arwen answered and then turned to the others who were now across the river at their side. "We must get her to the camp. She needs food and rest."

Thranduil stared down at Raven with a glare and then trotted off.

"Great...now he's even more pissed off at me for bringing them here. Can...can I sleep in your tent tonight? I swear I fear him more than the dealers."

Arwen smiled as she helped Raven back onto the horse. "The King is not going to harm you or he would not have brought you with him. Rest now while we ride. We have a long ways to go."

@redeemer46