#horseshoe my beautiful wife ..

[originallandlockedmariner]

Jampackedfullday part 3

[horseshoemybeloved]

Suitehearts side profile pencil doodle that I’m gonna draw over digitally at some point

[navybrat817]

You're a Firework

Pairing: Roommate!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Summary: You're all set to watch fireworks with the gang and Bucky can't keep his hands to himself. Word Count: Over 2k Warnings: Explicit sexual content, vaginal fingering, semi-public sexy times, pet names, inner monologue, established relationship, humor, feels (it's me), Bucky Barnes (he's a warning, okay?). A/N: I KNOW it's Steve's birthday, but my muse demanded Stud and Smartie. ❤️ I'm so sorry, lovelies. Not beta read and written on my phone, so any and all mistakes are my own. Divider by the talented @firefly-graphics. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

“You know,” Natasha began as she handed you a drink. “You and Bucky could've had your wedding today. No one would have objected.”

“With Steve's birthday right around the corner? And take away from Sam’s amazing barbeque? No way,” you smiled, stepping out of the way as Clint walked by with sparklers in each hand. You refused to take attention away from either of them. “I’m glad we’re all hanging out though.”

Today was a good day. Not only was the weather as close to perfect as it could get, not too warm or too cold, it was a chance to get together and mingle since everyone had a few days off. Between the sunshine, food, and games, the gang had a lot of fun. You imagined your wedding reception would be fun, too.

Maybe the two of you could even have sparklers to celebrate, if only to entertain Clint.

“Bucky called you his wife earlier,” the redhead commented.

“He did?” You smiled, your heart swelling.

“He did. When you beat Sam at horseshoes, he looked right at Steve and said, ‘that’s my wife' with a huge smile on his face.”

Yeah, I am. Almost.

You nearly swooned, giving your fiancé a glance as he set his chair by the fire pit. “And that’s my husband.”

Natasha lightheartedly rolled her eyes and nudged you. “Better go and join him then. The fireworks are going to start soon,” she said, heading to her seat beside Clint. The town was shooting off fireworks in the nearby park, but you all decided it was better to hang back. The yard was a great spot to view them and no one had to worry about the crowd.

“Be right there,” you said, shivering as a light breeze rolled in. Sam had the fire going, but you hadn't realized how chilly it was now that it was dark. Grabbing your blanket from your bag nearby, you also realized as you walked over to the gang that there wasn't a place for you to sit. Bucky looked your way with a gentle smile and patted his thigh before you could ask if there was an extra chair available inside. You caught a glimpse of heat in his eyes as you made your way closer.

You loved that look.

“Is that my seat?” You asked.

“This could be your seat.” Bucky pointed at his face as you bit your lip. If everyone wasn’t around, you’d consider it. “But this one might be more comfortable to watch the fireworks,” he added, patting his massive thigh again.

His face. His thigh. Both were incredible places to sit.

“Yeah, comfortable. That’s the word,” you teased, shrieking as he dragged you onto his lap once you were within reach. You were lucky you didn't spill your drink. “Easy, tiger.”

He growled and nuzzled your neck once you situated yourself and placed your drink the cup holder. “This tiger will also keep you warm,” he promised.

“Aww. You two are just the cutest,” Sam said, swigging his beer with a chuckle when Bucky huffed.

“Yeah, we are. And in case you forgot, my girl kicked your ass earlier. Beauty, brains, and brawn,” he boasted. You didn’t have to look back to see the smug smile on his face. “Proud of you.”

I will not get giddy or aroused from that praise.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ll get you next time,” Sam scoffed, looking over at you with a smile to let you know it was in good fun. He was a good guy, like Steve. You hoped they each found someone who made them feel the way Bucky made you feel.

“Or she’ll kick your ass again,” Bucky said without skipping a beat.

Oh, boys. So endearing. So competitive.

“Enough of that. Sam, I’m pretty sure I got lucky and I’d love a rematch. Stud, you just concentrate on keeping me warm,” you teased, draping the blanket over both of you. His embrace was always warm. “Surprised we don't have s’mores.”

“Those are for after the fireworks,” Steve said from the other side of you.

You smiled over at him before tilting your head back to gaze at Bucky. You weren't sure if the guys did it on purpose, but they each wore the same tight fitting T-shirt in patriotic colors. They all looked handsome, but your man looked look sex on legs. The love of your life would always turn your head.

“Not for us,” Bucky said, placing a kiss on your shoulder as his hand rested possessively on your hip. “We’re going to bed.”

You giggled and snuggled back against him when the rest of the gang protested. “But what if I want a s'more?”

“I’ll personally make you one and feed it to you in bed,” he half growled.

“You’re really not going to stay up with us?” Steve asked, a knowing look on his face.

“Oh, I’m sure something will get up,” Natasha deadpanned, making everyone laugh. She wasn't wrong.

“On your birthday, we’ll stay up as late as you want. Tonight, we’re watching the fireworks and going to bed,” Bucky grumbled, brushing a finger over your engagement ring. “Unless you really want to stay out here.”

You giggled again. Bucky had to share your attention with everyone all day and was still sharing it now. He was more than ready to have you all to himself. You understood the feeling.

“I’m fine with going inside after the fireworks. We’ll check on the cats and then go to bed,” you assured him.

With everyone drinking, you all decided it was better to crash in the same place instead of going home. Neither of you wanted to leave Alpine or Soot at your place though in case any neighbors decided to shoot fireworks off the roof, so you brought them over. They had a space set up under the guest bed with some white noise to help block out some of the sound. Anything to help put them at ease.

Bucky tilted your chin a bit more to place a soft kiss on your lips, the tension crackling like the fireworks had already started. “Thank you, Smartie.”

“You’re welcome, Stud.”

As if on cue, the show began.

You looked up at the sky in awe as the first firework rushed into the air. An explosion followed by a vivid display of light, they were like rainbows in the night brightening the darkness with color. They were beauty and wonder, a form of art that faded almost as quickly as it was created. Watching with loved ones made it all the more special.

You tilted your head and smiled when you caught Bucky staring back at you. “Why aren't you looking at the sky?”

“Why aren't you?” He teased, bumping his nose against yours. “Besides, I don't need to watch the sky when I have the most beautiful view right here.”

Your cheeks warmed. So did your heart. “You flatter me so,” you whispered, looking back at the sky again.

Bangs, crackles, and thunderous sounds continued to fill the air with the gorgeous display. You couldn’t keep the smile off your face. You almost regretted not having your phone beside you so you could take some pictures.

Though you likely would’ve dropped it when you felt Bucky’s hand move from your hip to under your skirt.

“Stud?” You gasped, quickly looking around as his hand trailed up your thigh. No one was looking your way. They were too occupied with the fireworks.

“Just keep looking at the sky, Smartie,” he said against your ear, your legs opening more as his hand found its prize. “And I'll keep touching you.”

Oh, fuck.

You shivered in his grasp despite the blanket and his body providing more than enough heat. His touch was possessive yet tender and you could feel your body turn to jelly as he rubbed you through your panties. You tried to concentrate on the colors above you, the material damp from his expert touch. And you couldn't stop your heart from pounding in your ears, adding the explosive noises around you.

More fireworks went off, but you blocked out the “oohs” of your friends as he pushed the wet fabric aside. “Bucky,” you whimpered, biting your tongue when he traced a finger along your slick pussy.

“I’ve wanted to touch you all day,” he whispered against your neck, teasing your folds. Your hole clenched before the fingertip even touched it. “I can't believe you’re mine. Keep asking myself how I got so lucky.”

I’m the lucky one.

His finger breached you, making you gasp and grip his arm. His palm pressed against your clit and you couldn’t help but push your hips down, seeking out more friction. You wanted to take care of him, too. Maybe when the two of you went to bed…

Another finger slipped in, curling and thrusting quickly. If you were at home, he’d take more time in taking you apart. He wouldn't stop until you soaked the sheets and even then he might keep going. And he'd make sure you were a quivering mess, mewling and begging for mercy or reprieve.

“Have I told you today how much I love you, babydoll?” He asked, static pleasure coursing through your body as you climbed higher.

Orgasms were a lot like fireworks. Some tumbled slowly in the sky, like a slow fire that coursed through your veins. Others exploded, so large and powerful that you couldn’t keep the sounds of awe in. Then there were small bursts, the ones that got the job done and still felt good.

You wondered what kind of orgasm Bucky would give you tonight.

“I love you, too,” you whispered, colors dancing behind your eyes as you shut them.

You wanted to shout how much you loved Bucky Barnes. You wanted your love for him to burst through the sky like a shooting star. But you didn’t need to put on a show for him to know you were his. He knew you belonged to him.

But you’d still have to try and keep quiet as you clenched around his fingers.

“Please,” you whispered, ready to fall over the edge as his palm rubbed your clit again.

Your head turned and his mouth slanted against yours to swallow down your moan. “Open your eyes,” he whispered, his fingers curling once more as you listened to his command and watched the colors light up his blue eyes. “And come for me.”

Your walls pulsed as the finale began, your cry drowned out by the rapid booms. Your wetness coated his fingers, every nerve cell vibrating as brilliant hues illuminated the sky. The hues swirled in your dizzying head, too. You were flying. Sinking. Floating.

You were a firework.

“Beautiful,” Bucky whispered, guiding you back to him.

Your body stayed lax against his, wishing he didn't have to take his fingers out. “You’re beautiful,” you exhaled, watching him subtly bring his hand to his mouth to taste your release. “Menace,” you added.

This man. I really just let him finger bang me with everyone sitting around.

“Yeah, I am,” he smiled, placing another kiss on your lips as Steve and Sam got up. Natasha and Clint were already up, too, to get more drinks.

If anyone knew what happened, they didn't draw any attention to it.

“Those were even better than last year,” Sam said.

“They were. And now we can have s'mores,” the blonde smiled, stopping to look at his best friend. “I thought you two were going to bed.”

“In a minute,” Bucky said, shifting his hips under yours to let you feel how hard he was. Getting you off turned him on. “Think I need to relax a bit more.”

Yeah, so no one sees you walking around with a raging hard-on.

You wiggled your hips, smiling when your fiancé quietly groaned. “Yeah. Relax,” you sighed, feeling him squeeze your thigh in a warning.

Well, he wanted your attention before and now he had it.

And I’ll make him see fireworks before the night is over, too.

Stud and Smartie need to talk to my muse and make sure Steve has a good birthday. 🥰 Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[bananabread63]

A Cowboy's Wedding

The couple decided to hold the ceremony and reception at the Rusty Horseshoe where they met. They decided not to close the venue down to the public. Chestnut Ridge was huge on community after all. The only invited guests were the immediate family.

The couple said their vows just before sunset. The weather was beautiful for their outside celebration. Marie desperately tried to get Victor to get his hair done before the ceremony, but he refused.

“I promise to love and care for you until I take my last breath. From the moment I saw you sitting at the end of the bar I knew you would be the one I would spend my life with.” Victor spoke as he slid a ring over Marie’s finger.

“And I promise to love and care for you until I take my last breath. Victor, you have been nothing but kind to me. I never knew someone could treat me as well as you do. Every day I wake up next to you is a blessing.” Marie recited her vows while sliding the ring onto his finger as well. The couple kissed with so much love, and the scene was so picturesque the entire family’s heart swelled with love.

Having spent the entire evening together with their family and community close by, the couple decided they wanted to experience their first dance alone. Inside the party was in full swing while the pianist played- Kaylyn wanted to preform for the event, but Victor wanted his sister to enjoy her night. Besides, having been the only male offspring in a matriarchy family Victor wanted this one day to be about him and his wife- not about his almost famous little sister.

[bu1410]

''Mr. Plant has owed me a shoe since July 5, 1971." - Chapter III - March 5th, 2024

Bari - Italy

Bar - Montenegro

Kotor - Montenegro

Sveti Stefan - Montenegro

Dubrovnik - Croatia

Lake Skadar - Montenegro.

BAR - MONTENEGRO- FORMER YUGOSLAVIA – October 1982

I returned from Saudi Arabia quite disappointed by the behavior of the Works Director, Eng. Birago. I liked the Taif hospital project, but I think the old Engineer had the whiskey affair tied to his finger, and at the first opportunity he got rid of me. I therefore responded with enthusiasm to the call from VOLANI, a company from Rovereto (Trento, Italy) specialized in industrialized architecture, essentially a direct competitor of FEAL Milan. I went to Rovereto for the interview with the Chief of Staff ''accompanied by Mother''! In the sense that my mother, as soon as she learned that I was going to Rovereto, immediately jumped on the car: beyond the desire to go around, it was one of her favorite destinations! The interview went well, and I was offered a job at their construction site in Bar, Montenegro, then still a territory of Yugoslavia. Before leaving for Bar, I wanted to spend a weekend in Madesimo, in Italian Alps. In 1981 there was no Internet, and therefore we had not booked the hotel. When we were in Medesimo we soon realized that the hotels were all closed (we learned that October/November are the months in which hoteliers go on holiday). In the end we turned to the local Carabinieri station, who suggested we go up to Alpe Motta where there was an alpine refuge that was definitely open.

JOURNEY TO BAR I had bought a new jacket, grey/blue on the outside, and with yellow padding on the inside. I took the flight to Bari, and then from Palese airport a taxi took me to the port. The ferry to Bar would leave in the evening. I enjoyed a single cabin, and the crossing of the Adriatic was uneventful. In the morning, when I tried to open the cabin door, I bumped into the bodies of those less fortunate than me, who had spent the night sleeping on the floor in the ship's corridor. We went ashore, and I noticed that I was surrounded by the usual dozens of women who at the time were shuttling between Italy and Yugoslavia, bringing all sorts of merchandise to their country. One of them, a middle-aged woman, asked me in in somewhat broken Italian:

Do you have something to declare?

No….

Well, it means that you will go through customs with these bottles of cognac, these shoes and these t-shirts on my behalf.

Ok…… Once we passed the customs control, the woman hurried to collect her goods, and she didn't even say thank you!!. I had made a first approach to the typical rudeness of Montenegrins; I would later have to experience other, even worse examples.

HOTEL SUTOMORE At the port exit there was the Site Manager waiting for me. A nice gentleman originally from Mantua: middle-aged, beard, open smile, had already been in Bar for several months with his wife and a few-month-old daughter in tow. He took me to the Hotel Sutomore, located in a village of a same name, a few kilometers north of Bar. The semi-deserted hotel given the season, a 9-storey building, was directly on the small but beautiful beach - the transparent sea reflected the sun of the afternoon that has just begun. It was lunch time, and after a shower, I went to the hotel restaurant, located on the mezzanine. Very large dining room, on Saturdays it was always occupied by receptions and weddings, with horseshoe tables, full of bottles of whiskey as per local custom. (Perhaps this is the reason why wedding dinners often resulted in furious arguments between relatives and friends?) I sat down in the half-empty room, took off my jacket and placed it on the back of the chair in front of me. The waiter, a young man around 20-22 years old, appeared out of nowhere, and without saying a word he took off his white jacket, took my jacket and put it on. -It's fine with me - he said, looking satisfied in the large window - how much do you want?

I looked at him astonished, with a mixture of surprise and anger and told him: it's not for sale, take it off immediately.

And he: but why not? Here all foreigners do this?!

''As well as? I said annoyed.

In the sense that they come wearing new things, sell them to us, and then leave again.

Well - I replied - I'm not "everyone" and I bought the jacket for myself - end of negotiation.

Oh well… if you say so….

What is there to eat? And here was the second unpleasant impact with another locals.

NIGHTCLUB Below the hotel there was a disco-dance hall. On Saturday evening it was packed, with a musical group that performed a Slavic variant of the rock songs popular in the 80s. The evenings inevitably ended in fights, to which alcohol, which was consumed in large quantities, made a substantial contribution. One evening I was at the entrance of the club, and an obviously drunk guy, with the help of a chair, demolished all the telephone booths positioned at the entrance of the club. I asked the girl at the checkout why no one called the police.

It's better not - she replied - things would take a worse turn - and in any case we know who he is, and the police will show up at his house around 5.00 am tomorrow, when he will be sleeping and will be unable to resist.

Ah… okay – I said.

OUR PROJECT The project consisted of the construction of a building for the Municipality of Bar, one to be use by the new Court, plus a school complex. Also included in the same contract were the rehabilitation of an analysis laboratory building in the hospital of Podgorica, 50 km inside Montenegro, as well as the capital of the state - The construction of a clinic in Ulcinj, 26 km south of Bar, the last city in Montenegro next to Albania border. In view of the supervision and some particular processes in which Italian labor was used, the bulk of the workers employed in the project were Yugoslavians. I noticed a detail that I remembered later, when the war broke out in Yugoslavia in the 1990s: carpenters, bricklayers, structure assemblers, were organized into ethnic groups (Slovenes – Serbs – Croats etc) and had no relationship between them. The construction time was from 7.00 in the morning to 2.00 in the afternoon - at 10.00 am there was a break, during which meals were consumed, sometimes cooked on site, with improvised barbecues. All the buildings were of a high standard, with continuous aluminum facades - the Bar complex stood out for a certain elegance, and the imprint of Italian design and materials immediately caught the eye.

THEFT ON CONSTRUCTION SITE Unfortunately the construction site had been the subject of a series of thefts, which essentially never stopped. An estimation made showed that the total value of the thefts amounted to the considerable sum of 870,000 USD. Several reports to the local authorities had brought only one result: one day we Italians were all summoned to the police station where they took our fingerprints. The Chief of Police told us that ''thieves don't exist in Yugoslavia, so it must be one of you who steals the materials''.

We had noticed - and photographed - that numbers of shacks buildings used as garages or warehouses had arisen in the vicinity of the construction site and beyond - all made with particular metal sheet that only VOLANI imported from Italy. One morning I arrived at the construction site very early, and I saw a man had loaded into a van some our anodized aluminum sheets - we used it as pillars cladding - I stopped him and asked him outright what he was doing: - Well – he replied – I saw these sheets of metal on the ground and I thought you didn't need them anymore.

Put them back where you found them – I told him

Okay… okay… no problem….

PODGORITZA Every now and then it happened that for work reasons I had to move to Podgoritza. The road first wound along the coast, and then inland, passing through Lake Skadar, the largest in the Balkan peninsula, which Montenegro shares with Albania. For lunch we used to stopp at a restaurant on the lake shore, where they served excellent fried carp. These gigantic fish were the result of cooperation between the then allies Albania and China: the Chinese had introduced millions of carp's fry into the lake, repopulating the waters which risked being left without fish. One morning we were going from Bar to Podgorica – me and a colleague of mine in two different cars. It was late November and very cold. It had rained during the night, and the morning frost had formed a thin film of ice on the road. Suddenly my colleague's car began a series of spins - I was following him closely, but luckily I managed to engage a low gear, and without touching the brakes I stopped on the edge of the road, also scraping the side of the Ritmo FIAT against the mountain rock that flanked the road. The colleague's car stopped in the middle of the road, with its nose facing against the direction of travel. I ran to help him get out of the car, just in time: another car arrived, the driver had lost control and crashed into my colleague's car! We realized that the situation had become very dangerous, and that we had to go to both sides of the road and try to signal the oncoming cars. Luckily the traffic was light at that time and we somehow managed to stop the traffic before anyone else ran into the two damaged cars. Then other drivers who arrived helped us to push the damaged cars towards a nearby dock. Once everything was over, and traffic was restored, the police arrived. First thing they asked me why we had moved the cars.

Because they were in the middle of the road, and represented a danger to other drivers – we replied.

No, said the policeman, you had to wait for our arrival, how can we do the investigations now?

Well, do as you like – my colleague told him.

But since the local police, when they meet a foreigner, always looked for every excuse to steal money, they gave us a report for having ''caused danger with dangerous driving''. And we had to pay immediately, otherwise the cars would be confiscated. So eventually we could leave that nightmare of wind and ice.

LIFE IN FORMER YOUGOSLAVIA IN '80. We stayed in Podgoritza for about two weeks, there was a need for a major overhaul in the work at the local hospital. Our Construction Manager had reached us and brought his family with him. His wife was desperately looking for diapers for her daughter, a rare commodity in Yugoslavia in 1982. Finally one day, through one of our local employees, the lady came into contact with a transporter who made frequent trips abroad and who had availability of otherwise unobtainable diapers. They met at a newsstand, generally in the early hours of the morning, and packs of diapers were wrapped in newspaper, so as not to arouse ''suspicions''. Annother day a colleague who had just returned from Italy told us that he had brought an 8 kilo bag of coffee. Unfortunately the coffee was in grains, therefore someone suggested to go to a small supermarket, where he had seen that there was a machine for grinding coffee near the cash registers. Very bad idea! While my colleague was inside the supermarket grinding the coffee, when by magic - perhaps attracted by word of mouth - dozens of local people showed up asking ''where is the coffee'…we heard that the coffee has arrived…'' The cashier said no that the coffee had not arrived (we learned that it had been missing from the supermarkets for some time) and that it had been brought by an Italian who had just arrived from Italy. But the crowd did not want believe it, and began to shout that it was ''the usual story of making the goods disappear and then selling them on the black market at increased prices''. My colleague, frightened by the crowd, didn't even finish grinding all the coffee and left the shop in a hurry, fearing for his own safety. In the meantime a couple of cars from the ''Milicija'' had arrived and quickly put an end to the uproar.

NOVEMBER 29TH - DAN REPUBLIKE PARTY

November 29th was a special day in the former Yugoslavia. Two important events in their history were celebrated: the second plenary session of the AVNOJ (Anti-fascist Council for People's Liberation of Yugoslavia) in 1943 and the first session of the Yugoslav Constituent Assembly in 1945. Propaganda via radio and TV had begun about ten days before , and it portrayed Germans and Italians as oppressors, occupiers of sacred Yugoslav soil, and responsible for countless war crimes. We had been instructed to keep a low profile, not leave the house or hotel in the evening, and to limit inspections on site as much as possible. Despite this, we suffered various provocations from the local authorities, until the day when a delegation from the Municipality of Bar held a remembrance ceremony inside the complex still under construction, where they had forced us to prepare a classroom complete with carpet and stage for the authorities. And so after having set up the classroom, the mayor gave a speech lasting almost two hours, during which he did nothing but insult Italy and Germany. The sovereignist and nationalist rhetoric still took root in a nation that would soon descend into a war which, as an Italian journalist said during the Yugoslav conflict ''was fought with the ferocity of ancient wars but with the lethal weapons of the era modern''.

A SAD STORY OF AN ITALIAN COLLEAGUE. There was this colleague, Adriano, a young man from Udine, who had been datinga beautiful local girl for some time. Adriano would be returning to Italy for a period of holidays, and was preparing for the return journey with his own car, with which he had reached Montenegro along the entire Adriatic coast. He asked his girlfriend's mother if he could take advantage of this trip to take her with him to Italy. Permission was granted, and on the morning of departure Adriano arrived early at the girl's house. At the honking of the horn the girl looked out from the balcony and urged Adriano to go up into the house. What happened a once the Italian boy entered the apartment it was never really clarified. From what we learned from Adriano it seems that his girlfriend's policeman brother had returned from Belgrade during that night, where he served. And had said he was against his sister's relationship with the Italian guy. The fact is that we were called around 10.00 am from the local emergency room, where Adriano had been admitted in a state of shock and with multiple fractures, especially in his face and upper limbs. A complaint was filed, but the local police, knowing who was involved in the beating, dropped the matter, classifying it as a ''Private Accident''. Adriano returned to Italy after 2 weeks in hospital, with an ambulance sent by VOLANI Rovereto.

WEEKEND's During weekends I always took the opportunity to visit the region around Bar. I have beautiful memories of Dubrovnik, a walled city built by the Venetians modeled on Venice but dry. Very beautiful and evocative is Svety Stefan, the islet connected to the coast where General Tito spent his holidays - Kotor, a picturesque fjord which during World War II was used to hide warships. Cavtat, a fishing town near Dubrovnik, where you could enjoy excellent fish and local wine. I also visited Cetinje, little more than a mountain town, birth placeof ''Jelena Petrović-Njegoš, princess of Montenegro, and then Queen of Italy'' following her marriage to Vittorio Emanuele III, King of Italy. At the time, Montenegro and Croatia showed great potential for tourism development, even if heavily penalized by the socialist system. In essence, the reception was modest, the infrastructure was missing or insufficient. With liberalization - and the arrival of the large international hotel chains - I believe that these shortcomings have been filled.

END of 1982 - ABANDONMENT OF THE PROJECT At the end of 1982, VOLANI decided to abandon the project in Montenegro, given the continuous thefts on the construction site, and the lack of payments by the Yugoslav Government. All Italians returned safely home for Xmas & New Year Holidays. I board a flight of then JAT Yugoslav Airlines, which reached Milan' Linate airport after a stop over in Sarajevo.

VISIT TO BAR IN 1984 In August 1984, on the way to a holiday in Greece, I did made a detour to see what had become of the Bar complex. Arriving near the former construction site, I found a disastrous situation: the project had been abandoned unfinished, the local population had wreaked havoc, stealing and dismantling everything they could. The unkempt grass reached up to the first of the 4 floors of what should have been the new town hall. Broken glass, false ceilings, doors, blown out windows, everything was in a state of abandonment. A disconcerting and somewhat incomprehensible vision. I didn't understand the reason why the local administration hadn't finished the project and taken the buildings into use, given that it was so close to finishing them.

[weepingandgnashingofteeth]

this beautiful opal horseshoe ring my wife got me

[le-brave-des-braves]

There was a chateau in Coudreaux. A place she loved and cherished in her heart as much she loved the lively venues of Paris. But Paris belonged to the Emperor, the courtiers, the people. This chateau belongs to her and her husband and their four beautiful sons. Her heart skipped a beat when she finally heard the sound of horseshoes on the driveway and the wheels of the carriage. Of his carriage. She knew she was not the first nor the only woman in his life. But he always came home with that loving smile so unusual for him. Her Michel.

He stepped out of the carriage, and smiled as he saw those five figures - the tall one holding an infant and three small ones, his beloved sons.

Slow down! I’m not going anywhere! Oh my little men, are you trying to choke me?

He fell on the ground on purpose so his little sons could finally hug him. He is smiling as he saw the wide smile on his wife’s lips

Aglaé: I’m so happy you came home

So am I, ma chère. So am I…

[mxaxwx]

7/6/23

I hang out at high school. It’s the last day or so of school. I’m the age I am now and everyone else is younger than me and it feels like the end of something. I leave with my brother...

I’m in my brother’s room. There are no windows and it’s dimly-lit but peaceful. I look at an old video game in a black cartridge called “Dracula Blue” that I bought and remember letting him borrow. It's for the Atari 2600. There are also some Nintendo games. We play a Bram Stoker's Dracula game for the Super Nintendo that's really dark, intricate and cool and has great graphics/presentation. It’s very impressive.

.

I head somewhere after school. I go over to a certain side of town to meet a friend... I think about either not returning to school for the remaining period of time or not needing to go (which is a common theme in my dreams)...

.

I talk to someone about how vintage vampire stuff from the 1950's/60's is cute...

I see the beginning of a really dark and beautiful Addams Family movie. Uncle Fester is in his room doing something to the wall, which seems to be dripping with something (like blood?). He may be holding an old horseshoe magnet to it and is getting electrocuted. His wife gets up from the bed across the room and  sticks her head forward out of the darkness and looks at him with an evil monster-like face as if she’d planned the whole thing. He yells “I sometimes always die!” as he continues to be electrocuted.

Then there's a beautiful cross-fade into a wide shot of a big empty, grayish living room with some colorful patterns like sun-rays across the far wall. It's artfully and beautifully done. I think about how this movie is directed by Richard Donner.

Uncle Fester is now at his job where his boss is accusing him of drinking on the job. His boss doesn't seem to like him an decides to make him take an alcohol test, so he goes off to get one. Fester's co-workers, who are all a certain kind of black monster with dreadlocks, come and talk to him. I get the feeling they don't like him either...

.

I'm with my parents out in something like a back yard (theirs?). It's sunny and beautiful. My dad tries to figure out what a certain bible verse means. It says something about “bearing a wife—but not for your lot, for your neighbor's” or something... He is confused by this and I say very simply “maybe it means ‘not for your gain, but for theirs’” and he considers this.

I walk around a large wild/unruly pile of brush that is growing out of a small pit in the center of the yard and think about how, since I'm done with school, this is all I have to do now—which doesn't feel like much and makes me feel a bit uneasy, though the sun is bright and beautiful and everything is colorful, nice & pleasant...

[myflighttrip]

6 Beautiful Places in Manali, Must Visit

Manali is a stunning hill station in Himachal Pradesh that offers breathtaking views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges. Whether it’s a honeymoon tour to Manali or simply a backpackers trip, Manali has spectacular valleys, snow-capped mountains, and lush forests. Old Manali is a favourite neighbourhood for young people, with ambient cafes, restaurants, and convenient shops. There are budget-friendly hotels, home stays, and hostels for accommodation. It's also a great base for trekkers to explore the Himalayas.

The hill town has developed into a retreat for those with a traveling spirit and has certain cultural treasures that are exclusive to this region of the world. If you’re planning to visit Manali in the near future, below mentioned are some of the beautiful places that you can check out for Manali sightseeing. Remember, if you wish to witness snow then the best time to visit Manali is from December to March.

Jogini Waterfalls:

Jogini Waterfallis a popular tourist spot due to its mesmerizing beauty and scenic trek through pine trees and orchards. The trek takes about 3 hours, and tourists can capture the stunning views of the River Beas and Rohtang peaks. The waterfall is considered a romantic attraction, and adventure and recreational activities are also available in the region.

Kullu:

Kullu is a picturesque valley that is also known as the “Valley of Gods”. It is famous for adventure sports such as paragliding, river rafting, and trekking. Kullu is home to several temples, including Bijli Mahadev, Raghunath, Hanogi Mata, Jagannath Devi, and Gauri Shankar. Apart from this, there are other famous places to visit in Kullu that you can explore while you’re here.

Manikaran:

Manikaran is known to be a popular pilgrimage spot. It has multiple temples, including Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib, and hot springs that attract both pilgrims and tourists. Three hot springs are available for bathing, one inside the Gurudwara and the other two privately owned by guesthouses. The hot springs' sulfur-rich water is said to have healing properties. Book the Manali tour package now with My Flight Trip and get a chance to witness this holy place.

Atal Tunnel:

Atal Tunnel, also known as Rohtang Tunnel, is a horseshoe-shaped highway tunnel connecting Manali and Lahaul-Spiti Valley. The all-weather tunnel allows access to the valley during the winter months, and the North End of the tunnel brings visitors into Sissu, surrounded by high peaks. This tunnel has become a famous tourist spot recently as it provides an amazing experience of driving to people.

Hidimba Temple:

The Hadimba Temple is a well-known temple in Manali that honors Hidimba Devi, the mother of Ghatothkach and the wife of Bhima. It stands on a rock that is said to resemble the goddess and is encircled by cedar woods. It is referred to as Dhungari Temple in the neighborhood and has a distinctive architectural design with timber walls, doors, and a cone-shaped roof. If you're in Manali, you must see this temple.

Rohtang Pass:

Rohtang Pass, located 51 km from Manali at a height of 3978 meters, is a popular tourist attraction known for its immense beauty and film shootings. This place tops the list of Manali sightseeing. A sled ride, which includes sliding through the snow in a wooden beanie, is a must-do for every winter adventure. Another thrilling activity that can be done at Rohtang Pass is riding mountain bikes off the main road and into less used tracks.

Manali is known for being the most visited hill station among travelers for worthy reasons. The list continues when we talk about places to visit in Manali. Tourists are drawn to this place because of the ambiance and experience that they acquire here. If you are a newly married couple looking for an escape in the Himalayas, 4 nights 5 days Manali honeymoon package is your call. Get to explore all the famous places and spots while spending some quality time with your loved one.

[gilthairpins]

Book 1 Chapter 14: Hand in Hand, Travel All Over Fang Cong

The grasslands in July are astonishingly beautiful. A sea of blue where the breeze blows in waves and small flowers in bloom dot the background like a brocade. In the afterglow of the setting sun, Eighth and I often walked arm in arm amongst the blue sky and green grass.

Sometimes we would walk quietly without saying a word for half the day, when night comes and the moon rabbit rises in the east; sometimes I would chirp and chatter to him about my likes and dislikes. I would complain to him about the sun being too big and my hair was too dry, and he would laugh and listen. I would point at the sun and ask him if Kuafu had ever chased the sun. Then he would insist on yes when I said no, and no when I said yes. I would drag him with long speeches, which brought out all my skills from when I used to participate in debate; or look at the moon and beg him to recite poetry about the moon. He would recite them to me one by one softly in my ear. Sometimes when I would fall asleep, he would gently carry me on horseback and ride slowly back. When we saw the stars, we looked for Vega and the Cowherd and he would say he found me. He always laughed when I pouted and ignored him. He would hug me, saying he liked me best when I was angry. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t help but feel a smile tugging on my lips.

Minmin pestered me to teach her how to sing. I had no choice but to teach her a play that the sisters the the dormitory used to play when we had class parties. But when it was time to teach her, I had another idea and so we rehearsed several times.

One night I said to her, “I invited someone to watch our opera tonight.”

“Who is it?” Minmin asked curiously. I pouted my lips into a smile and didn’t reply.

I changed my clothes myself. Hair was combed and braided, I wore a white robe with a gold belt and a small cap on my head.

“You look handsome in men’s clothing.” Minmin said after seeing the final result.

“You are also very charming in this Jiangnan daughter’s outfit.” I looked her up and down with a smile.

We were teasing each other when Minmin’s servant came in. “Lord Bei’le is here.”

“Is he the theater-goer that you invited?” She asked. I nodded. “Please have Lord Bei’le come in and sit down.” She told her servant.

Minmin and I hid behind a screen as Eighth came in and took his seat. He seemed a bit surprised, but had guessed we would be behind the screen. He picked up his teacup with a smile and took a sip.

I pushed Minmin. “You go out first.”

She didn’t move and whispered, “I am a little nervous!”

“What are you afraid of? You were singing and dancing in front of so many people before.” I laughed.

“But this is a first time I’ve sung an opera.” She muttered. She placed her basket on her arm and vanished around the screen.

I watched Eighth’s expression through the gap. He was taken aback by Minmin’s dress and watched the screen curiously, trying to guess how I would be dressed. With a slight smile he turned his attention back to Minmin. I stayed behind the screen. I knew he couldn’t see me, but my heart had skipped a beat at his smile.

Minmin was holding her basket and pretending to pick mulberry leaves. I gently waved my fan, walking up slowly and sang “Qiu Hu rode his horse to his hometown, and the horseshoes were busy on the pedestrian road. It is difficult to sit and stand. Looking: I saw a sister in law snap a limb of mulberry with one hand. The front view is like the daughter of Luo’s family, and the back view is like my wife’s room. I’ll meet you immediately…”

Minmin and I sang back and forth, asking and answering. She played Luo Fu, a girl who had been alone for more than 20 years. I played Qiu Hu who visits his wife at home. When Hu met his wife, he pretended to be a stranger in order to test her chastity.

I tipped Minmin’s head up with my fan under her chin with a half smile and provocatively sang, “Leave my sister in law behind to keep the empty room. You are bright like Haoyuekong, buried in the golden soil. You are like flowers no one appreciates. And humble people are like flower pickers. There is no one to go, learn from the goddess to match a king.”

I touched her face as I finished singing and Minmin blushed. She opened my fan shyly and sang, “The officer guest doesn’t think about what he says. But this slave family listens carefully to what he has to say. Why do you feel bad…?”

When I usually sang with her, I never teased her so seriously. Probably no one ever dared. This little girl even blushed while being teased by another woman. To me, she didn’t look like a woman who became angry and scolding due to the teasing.

After we sang, I appeared normal, but Minmin’s cheeks were still flushed. She quickly glanced at Eighth who was applauding and ran out of the tent in embarrassment.

“If Lord Suwan Guerjia knows you are teaching his daughter to sing these songs, what will you do?” He smiled and then sighed at me.

“What should I do? It seems to be something you should consider instead of me?” I gave him a sideways smile.

“It seems you will be more troublesome in the future, but…” He approached me and wrapped his arms around me. “I can only hope my wife will feel sorry for her husband. Don’t cause so much trouble, I want to spend time with my wife, as a husband.” He whispered in my ear and gently stroked my cheek.

Although I had thick skin, my face suddenly became hot. I couldn’t help it. He scrutinized my expression carefully and then backed away with a slow smile.

When Minmin came back in, she had already changed her clothes. She saw me standing there, blushing, and ducked her head to ask, “Are you going to get changed?”

Before I could respond, Eighth said, “Don’t change yet. This looks different this way.” He glanced over at Minmin. “Merry charm.”

I shot him a look. Minmin didn’t have an unusual reaction and said with a smile, “I think so too!”

I had dressed up like this for the sake of Eighth and now that purpose has been achieved. I pouted a bit before smiling at him. I snapped the fan open and tossed my braid back and swept out of the tent to change my clothes.

One day, just before my work hours, I smelled a fragrance before I even got to the tent. I wondered if the jade sandalwood overturned with my jasmine powder box. When I pulled back the tent flap, a sea of white greeted me. On the table, the ground, my chair, my couch, as far as the eye could see, jasmine flowers every where! They filled the tent with a warm and leisurely air. The green leaves were crystal clear and elegant like translucent jasper. And the small flowers were blooming like snow: warm and white.

I was stunned. I immediately felt a trace of joy flowing in my heart. I really didn't know where he had gotten all of these flowers. It was a lot of flowers. And though it was such an old fashioned means, it did move me. I couldn’t bear it any more and buried my head among the flowers and sighed.

“Sister?”

I had been in a daze and hearing Yutan, I panicked and turned to her. I didn’t know how to explain all of these jasmine flowers to her.

“This is what Eunuch Zhang had just sent over. What are their uses?” She smiled at me.

“There are many uses. Dried flowers for tea, to soak with in a bath, for inserting them into your hair.” I quickly said. Yutan just continued to smile and she took her things and left.

I took a bath in jasmine and tied my hair up. I took a sachet and stuffed some blooms into it and hung it on my belt. I quickly made my way to the appointed place and saw him there already, sitting on the hillside, waiting. I tiptoed over and quickly covered his eyes.

“Who am I?” I asked hoarsely.

He placed his hand on mine and smiled, “Prairie Fairy?”

I snorted, “No, it’s a man eating monster!”

He laughed, pulling me into his arms. Turning, he pressed me into the grass and pressed his nose to my neck and sniffed. “So, it’s the jasmine immortal?” He looked at me tenderly.

We were so close together. I could see my reflection in his eyes. My heart was pounding hard. He slowly lowered his head, touching his warm lips to mine. Suddenly I thought of Fourth and his cool lips. My heart twitched and I turned my head to avoid his kiss.

He didn’t mind that I had avoided, thinking I was being shy. He kissed my cheek instead and slowly made his way back to my mouth. I closed my eyes and meekly responded to his kisses. His tenderness, pity, and love were all passed along to me through the lingering between his lips and his teeth. The nervousness I had at the beginning gradually dissipated. I felt like a cloud: dizzy and floating.

“Ruoxi, do you know how happy I am?” He hugged me close and whispered to me.

I put my head on his shoulder and blurted out, “Will you be happier than seeing my sister for the first time?” I wanted to slap my mouth after saying that. I was crazy and I was jealous of my sister.

He was silent for a while. He held me and looked into my face. “That is different. When I first met Ruolan, I was pleasantly surprised. After Royal Father granted our marriage, I felt happy. But when I lifted Ruolan’s vail, I knew I was wrong. I liked the Ruolan of my imagination. Wishful. I had never thought if my impression of her had been correct. I just wanted that clear laughter, but I didn’t know…” he paused and stroked my cheek. “Ruoxi, I have already made that mistake once. How could I make it again? I was surprised when I saw you. You and Ruolan look so much alike. But ever since Tenth’s birthday, I had realized you both are very different. Ruolan is like a clear and shallow stream, it is impossible for her to be strong and powerful to gain an upper hand. When the leaves were falling, you had questioned us why our own destinies should be decided by others. Your cold and stern expression still very clear until now. At Tenth’s wedding when Thirteenth had taken you away and you came back half frozen, you didn’t once complain. I was actually unhappy about this. So I had realized you had been in my heart before I had realized it.”

While tracing my eyebrows with his fingertips, he continued, “Do you know how much I have missed you over the years? I want you to marry me willingly and happily. I don’t want a repeat of Ruolan. But your heart is so unpredictable. I feel like you have me in your heart, but I cannot understand why you reject me. I don’t know what I have to do for you to be willing.” He covered my eyes with his hand. “Don’t look at me like that! Why do you always look at me like this? When you were younger, four years ago, you also had this look full of sadness and pity. What are you sad about?”

I shook my head and reached out to hug him to me tightly. “It’s been fine. I don’t want to lose you. I always want to be by your side. Don’t lose me.”

He startled, staring at me in surprise. And he hugged me tight just as quick. “You will not lose me. I will always be by your side.”

I rested my head against him thinking back over the past year. His good and his bad. Recalling how he had me standing in his study for half a day, him pinching my chin with his cold look to force me to answer. I bit his shoulder hard. He snorted and continued to hug me, unmoved. I slowly let go and he looked at me suspiciously.

I raised an eyebrow at him and gave a smile mixed with satisfaction. “Ten years is not too late for a gentleman’s revenge.”

Eighth burst out laughing after a moment. We spun a few times on the grass. I was dizzy when his lips descended on me again. It was different from the tenderness and meticulousness previously. This kiss was fiery and domineering, so intense! As if a lifetime of lovesickness erupted in that kiss. My sanity was burned instantly and I completely forgot myself and everything else, only responding to him instinctively.

The sky and earth become more vast as the September wind blows. Under the combined training of Eighth and Minmin, my riding becomes much better. I can gallop along the green grass under blue skies, like flying in the wind, under the sun.

Both Minmin and I love riding at high speeds. There is a kind of carefreeness that can’t be described. No restraints! You could roam freely, but no where to go-endless. Eighth deliberately didn’t chase after us, instead lagging behind and smiling as we galloped. We would often compete, Minmin and I, though I would lose quite frequently. It would be nice to win more often. We would laugh and laugh.

When she got up, Minmin would sing Mongolian songs. Even though I didn’t understand it, I knew she was singing of the blue sky, the green land, the white clouds, and the breeze. I loved it so much, this piece of heaven on earth.

My laughter has never been so loud or so bright as it is now. Only in this world, galloping on horseback, can I truly forget everything for a while, forget that I am not Martai Ruoxi.

When Minmin was around, I kept my distance from Eighth. Although I knew in my heart that this lie would be exposed one day, I didn’t want to face that just yet. Eighth would smile and shoot me teasing glances, but he thankfully didn’t force me.

But his eyes never left me. When I laughed, he looked at me dotingly. When I was proud, he had a look of admiration. When I praised Minmin for her singing, he shook his head in disapproval but still smiled. Sometimes I was afraid of Minmin catching the glances he shot me and would glare at him. He would smile and duck his head. However I kept meeting his eyes.

I had never seen Eighth like this. In the past his smile never met his eyes. But now, even if it wasn’t evident, there was always a smile to his face, even if it wasn’t on his lips.

In the evening after my duties I was planning on bathing and having dinner with Eighth. I caught sight of the crown prince coming down the path. I stood off to the side and greeted him. After he drew level with me, he looked me up and down a few times.

“You seem very busy these days, Miss.” he said with a smile.

I smiled but didn’t reply.

“I’ve heard rumors that you and Eighth are quite close these days. Riding together often.” He continued.

“I don’t know which foolish person you have been listening to Crown Prince, there has nothing going on. Besides, the emperor has given me permission to learn to ride. Eighth has only taught me as he saw how eager I was to learn and live up to the Emperor’s grace. After all, those soldiers only took into consideration my identity and feared something may go awry and didn’t have the courage to teach me. [holding the idea of ‘not seeking merit but seeking no faults’] I bowed my head when I finished.

The crown prince stared at me a while and smiled, and then he turned and left.

I hurried to my tent after I bowed to him, sending him off.

After tidying up, I went to Eighth’s tent. Dinner was ready. Eighth’s food and clothing was extremely fine, everything striving for perfection. During the time away from home, he isn’t as picky as he normally was, however there were moments when he didn’t move his chopsticks.

I am also picky, I won’t eat skin or internal organs.

The cook must have been feeling depressed. Not only did he need to take into consideration Eighth’s tastes, but there were certain things he wasn’t allowed to eat [taboo]. This wasn’t allowed, that wasn’t allowed, and it might be difficult to taste delicious.

As long as he made it once, and it wasn’t eaten he wouldn’t have a second chance to serve it again. I was moved by his carefulness. If I didn’t like it, Eighth didn’t necessarily not have to eat it. I didn’t like the following dish and didn’t eat it. The final dish was fish that had its skin peeled. Afterwards, we drank tea.

“The Crown Prince is growing suspicious of us.”

“What am I supposed to do?” He laughed. “Just let him suspect. I don’t intend to hide it from him. Once we return to Beijing, I will be settling our affair. He is just jealous of you. With you serving Royal Father, you could put in a word and save us some time and trouble.”

I stared at my teacup in my hand and frowned.

He stood and pulled me up to follow him to his desk.

I studied his writing absentmindedly. Kangxi has always thought his handwriting was too soft. He said that he should practice his calligraphy more. However, I thought he was more meditative than caring in his writing. He finished the sheet and stared at it thoughtfully for a long while.

I couldn’t help but stare at it curiously.

Yin Tai- Governor of Sichuan and Shaanix

Kali- Governor of Jiangna and Jiangxi

Jiang Qi- Admiral of Gansu

Shi Yide- Jiangnan Admiral

Pan Yulong- General Zhensui

Nian Gengyao- Governor of Sichuan

It was fine to see other people’s names, I didn’t know the relationship between these people. But when I saw the last line, I couldn’t stop myself from murmuring “Nian Gengyao”

Eighth glanced sideways at me staring dazedly at the paper. He pulled me into a hug, resting his head against my shoulder. “Why are you always so concerned with Fourth’s matter?”

My heart beat violently while I quickly thought. “Probably because of Thirteenth. You know I have always been close to him. So by extension I was a bit concerned for Fourth.” I didn’t know if he believed me or not. I didn’t have a better excuse.

He didn’t speak, so I quickly changed the subject and asked, “Is this the emperor’s latest official assignment?”

“That’s right. But Nian Gengyao’s transfer order hasn’t been issued yet. I’m afraid we will have to wait until I return to Beijing.” He squeezed my hand.”

“Is this transfer to your advantage or not?” I asked.

He chuckled twice. “It’s not bad. Luckily, Fourteenth came in time. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the list now.”

I endured it for a while, but I couldn’t hold back. I felt that I didn’t have any guilt in my heart. Why did I hide it? So I asked, “Is Nian Gengyao’s appointment good or bad for you?”

He didn’t reply immediately, just hugged me in his arms tightly a while. Soon he smiled and said, “If you were different I am afraid I wouldn’t sleep so well tonight, but I am relieved after you did this.”

I glared at him and slapped his shoulder.

“It’s just a slave in clothes.” He said with a smile. “Now I think about him too much when talking about good and bad. I have to let Fourth get some sweetness and I will go along with the Emperor.” What he meant was two things were easily gotten along with, after all, he had helped us a lot in Beijing this time.

I frowned slightly, staring at Nian Gengyao’s name. You think Fourth is helping you?

“What are you thinking about? I want to know. You have never paid attention to these things. How did you know about Nian Gengyao?” Eighth laughed.

I sighed in my heart. How could I not know about the great general whose life had been full of ups and downs? With humble background and low official rank, he is still not ranked in the Forbidden City. He still has to continue to borrow Thirteenth’s influence.

Smiling I replied, “I had heard Thirteenth mention him several times and praised him as ‘smart and open-minded, eloquent, good at writing and extremely capable of handling affairs.”

Eighth nodded and sighed. “With his background, he was promoted to governor of Sichuan in less than ten years. Although he had Fourth’s backing, he has won face for Fourth. Your mother left a younger brother by your side. What a pity, as long as you have a bit of intelligence and thoughtfulness and you are willing to put in some effort, Royal Father will value you more. I don’t envy Fourth there.”

I felt a bit unhappy when I heard him say this. He was comparing me to Fourth’s concubine, Nianshi. I didn’t respond, just snuggling quietly into his arms. I couldn’t help but think- would another woman sit in his arms just like this?

These were the thoughts of my heart. Softly, to myself, I chanted “My heart is a rock, I cannot turn it. My heart is a mat, I cannot roll it.” I laced my fingers together, clasping them tightly together. “Death and life are inseparable says Zicheng. Hold your hands and grow old together.”

He was silent a while, head bowed. Sighing heavily he said word by word into my ear, “I will give up to my lovesickness!”

It’s not that I haven’t been in love, but at that time “I remember when I was young and you loved to chat and I loved to laugh. Sitting side by side under the peach tree, the wind was blowing through the tree tops and the birds were singing. Somehow I fell asleep and the flowers fell in my dreams. How much do you know?” This was simple and relatively playful.

When you taste the bitterness, you are already at the end of the song. But now my sweetness is always mixed with bitterness. And after the laughter there is still regret and endless thought.

Happy times can go by extraordinarily fast and it is already the end of September in the blink of an eye. Minmin has already returned to Mongolia and we will be returning to Beijing in two days. Thinking of the high red walls of the Forbidden City, I am more nostalgic for this vast world. Thinking about these times, frozen moments, never wanting to return.

Eighth felt my infinite attachment and especially took me around to all the places where we had left footprints. Riding a horse in wide circles from sun set to the darkening sky littered with stars. In September, the grassland nights become colder. He wrapped me in his cloak and held me tight. And he would let the horse continue if I didn’t tell him to go back.

“In the future, I will order people to turn a whole courtyard into a horse farm. You can ride whenever you wish.”

I didn’t say a word. It wasn’t the riding I enjoyed the most, but the sense of freedom that came from riding. After a while I said, “I want to dismount and walk a bit.”

He reigned in and lifted me off the horse. We walked arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder. I pondered for a long time, but still found it difficult to speak. But today I have to say it. Everything I had done over three months to get to today and I still couldn’t open my mouth?

I had carefully and deliberately wove a love network just to hold his heart. But now I was afraid of what the final answer would be. I still couldn’t speak after several hesitations.

Eighth had stopped in his tracks and turned back to me, a tender look on his face. “Ruoxi, what do you want to say?”

I lowered my head and remains silent. He quietly pulled the cloak tighter about me. I focused on my shoes and took a deep breath. “If I asked you to do something for me, would you agree?”

He held my hand tightly and asked softly, “Do you still need to ask me such a question now, Ruoxi?” He lifted my head with one hand and looked into my face. “But if you want something, ask. I will do my best to do what you want.”

I turned my head and stared up into the endless night. That’s right. You are a prince of the Qing Dynasty and at the height of your power right now. There are probably few things you cannot do for me in this world. My request is…

I turned back to face him and said slowly, “What if I asked you to give up the fight for the dragon throne?”

The smile on his face completely disappeared at the sound of my voice. His dark eyes wore a mix of shock, confusion, and dazed.

“Would you agree to this?” I continued to stare into his eyes.

There was no emotion in his eyes, though his face still showed outward calm. We just stared at each other. After a while he said, “I don’t think this has anything to do with us.”

I looked at him. “If you agree, we will be together. If you disagree, we will separate.” I said slowly. I just felt like this life had never been like this. It took a lot just to finally say this, with all my strength. Every word hurt my heart.

He stared at me in disbelief. I stared at him with a serious expression. I wasn’t joking. Everything I had said was in all seriousness.

Our hands turned cold. He turned and violently started dragging me back. “You’re tired and should go back and have a good rest.”

I tried my best to dig my heels in and refuse to move. “I am serious and sober.”

He stopped and turned his back to me, still as a rock. His stance was so desolate and sad. I took two steps forward and wrapped my arms around him, my face on his back.

“We lived so happily these days. We can do the same in the future. In spring we can enjoy the flowers, go boating on the lake in summer, in autumn we can ride horses and gallop on the green grasslands, in winter we can embrace next to the heat of a stove and enjoy the snow and plum blossoms. We can read and write poems. I can sing songs for you and dance. I haven’t had the opportunity to dance for you this time. You will definitely like my dance. I have always wanted to enjoy the scenery of the north and south of the river. We can go to see the misty and rainy Jiangnan together and we can go to the desolate Saibei. I can also cook a lot of dishes, although I am out of practice. They are delicious and some are entirely new to the Qing Dynasty. I’m afraid no one else can cook them but me. I will…”

“You premeditated your actions these last few days haven’t you?” He interrupted me coldly. He would not face me. Breaking out of my embrace he turned to look at me. “Every song you sang, every tune, all your words, were leading up to today.”

I bit my lip, tears springing to my eyes. “My feelings for you were not a lie.”

He stared at me coldly, no reaction. The cold look in his eyes made me feel terrified.

I pressed his hand to my chest and shouted, “You know! You know I have you in my heart! You know, you know!”

Closing his eyes, he heaved a deep sigh and pulled me into his arms. “Ruoxi, why? I still clearly remember what you had said back then. ‘Why should my fate be at the mercy of others? Why can’t you decide for yourself?’ Although I had scolded you at the time, why didn’t I think so in my heart at that time? Because of my mother’s lowly status, I was neglected in the palace when I was a child. But I have always been strong. I am cautious in every thing, careful in everything. Polite and humble when dealing with others because I had no power at all. Crown Prince, elder brother, Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth all have distinguished mothers and have outside support. But what do I have? I have nothing! I can only rely on myself! For many years I have worked hard at every step. I just think that my destiny is in my own hands. If the Crown Prince can do it, why can’t I? How can he convince the public? Just because his mother was Royal Father’s favorite queen, can he have these things from birth? I don’t accept that! You know, I have never been valued by anyone. Underestimated. How much did I pay? How much effort did I spend on Ninth, Tenth, and Fourteenth to have them follow me? I have no relatives to support me. I can only make friends with courtiers. How much of my efforts have I spent…?”

He didn’t finish his sentence. I was already in tears and my heart cut into pieces. He held my face in his hands, wiping my tears away gently with his fingers.

“Ruoxi, I want the throne and you too.”

I hugged him, but kept crying. It felt like all the sadness in this life had gathered in just this moment. He hugged me with one arm and stroked my back with the other. I was heartbroken. But I knew I couldn’t be soft hearted in this moment and go back on my words.

Now it is just a battle between you and the crown prince. Fourth hasn’t directly conflicted with you and even now is secretly on your side. But in another two years everything will be different. Once you and Fourth start fighting, the situation will no longer be salvageable. I know it, but couldn’t say those decisive words.

He hugged me silently while I slowly calmed down. He took out my handkerchief I had been wearing and wiped my face clean. He carried me on horse back to camp. When we arrived, he ignored the surprised stares from the patrolling soldiers and sent me back to my tent.

“Don’t think about it. Have a good rest.” He said gently.

Yutan was already in our tent resting when I had entered. I lay down in the dark. Have a good rest? How can I have a good rest?

The rolling wheels took me away from the grassland and approached the Forbidden City. I didn’t want to go back. I would pretend to be happy in front of others, but by myself, I was sad. Yutan, who shared a cart with me, became quiet due to my abnormal behavior. We often sat in the carriage without saying a word for the whole day.

I deliberately avoided any and every opportunity to see Eighth. I never looked at him any more. I couldn’t avoid it. What should I do? I had to think about it clearly. I didn’t know if Eighth felt the same way about needing space to think and calm down. Or would there be too many other things waiting for him once he got back into the city?

Eighth has been nice to me, but it is like a man treating a woman he likes. The good within the scope of ability is not the best for the king. He is by no means a person who loves beauty but does not love the country. Power is already a part of his life and he will never give it up. Now it seems that he will definitely withdraw from this battle for the throne because of my request.

But together, can I help him deal with Fourth? And Thirteenth? These brothers have been trapped in power struggles since the time of their births. I’m afraid that while I was still playing in the sands of the Gobi Desert, they were already fighting each other. How to get the emperor’s attention. What they have learned during their schooling was the art of governance, and they can apply what they have learned practically to their struggles at the time. However, my biggest worry since I was a child, was that my first love has left me.

The only book I knew about for strategy “Sun Tzu’s Art of War”, I hadn’t read yet. Thirty six tricks and knowing only ten. And I haven’t even watched the period drama “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” because there was no love. Just a bunch of old men going back and forth all day. Compared with this battle for the throne, the fighting spirit in offices could be seen as child’s play. In the past four years I have been in the palace, I have improved a lot, but compared to them [the brothers], they can see through my little wrists at a glance. And what I rely on is only Kangxi’s respect of me.

I know that Fourth will ascend the throne. But who could tell me if he had secretly arranged for this? What was his action plan? In modern times it was much debated whether Kangxi had passed the throne to Yongzheng or if Yongzheng had usurped the throne. It’s arguing in terms of scheming.

Eighth doesn’t know how many ranks are higher than me. Where does he need my advice? Where can I come up with a plan to help Eighth fight Fourth? What do I know about everything in officialdom? I had told Eighth to beware of Fourth because Fourth is the most powerful contender to the throne. How much can this help? Is Eighth not wary of Fourth now?

If I tell him Fourth will gain the throne, will Eighth believe me? A woman? If I tell him my soul is from 300 years in the future and I know what will happen, he will probably think me crazy, or a monster. I have done it once, trying to hold a man’s heart in vain. Do I have to pull a Bai Suzhen again? To test whether a man who seemingly loves you to accept a different kind? I am not afraid he will call Fa Hai to accept me? [legend of white snake reference]

Over and over again, back and forth I think in circles coming to a dead end. There are people in front of me. There is no where to go. I cover my face with my hands and bow in pain.

“Sister?” Yutan is sitting next to me and called out in concern.

I didn’t move. “If you knew a person was going to die, and you want to save them, but they won’t listen to you, what would you do?”

She didn’t say anything for a long while. “Sister?” She asked timidly.

I quickly raised my head and looked at her. “It’s nothing, just speaking nonsense.”

“How do you know they will die? You told them they would, why wouldn’t they listen?” Yutan turned her head thoughtfully. This really didn’t make much sense to her. I just shook my head. If I stood up, she would obediently not ask any more questions.

We will arrive in Beijing tomorrow. I asked Yutan to help me dress up carefully tonight. She tried her best to release my beauty. Curved crescent eye brows, sad and affectionate eyes, plump jade skin, lips that seem to be smiling but not. She in the mirror appears to be mocking me. You still haven’t given up. Are you stupid?

Li Fu opened the door and saw it was me. He bowed and let me in. Eighth sat behind his desk with a face like bright jade and eyes like clear water. I watched him quietly. Gentle gentleman, what is hiding under that calm water? I can’t see thoroughly. I asked myself, I actually wanted to change the will of such a man with the love between a man and woman? When did I become so naive? I fully understand, but I still had to try.

He stared at me a while before getting up and coming up to my side to embrace me.

“I will return to Beijing tomorrow and I will ask Royal Father for a marriage as soon as possible.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. Let me stay in his arms a while. This may be the last time. We hugged each other quietly for a long time. I pushed him away, enduring pain in my heart. He placed a hand on my shoulder and stared at me. I bit my lip, I didn’t really have the courage to look into his eyes again.

I lowered my head and my gaze. “If you can’t agree to my request, you don’t have to ask the Emperor for a marriage I won’t agree to.”

He tightened his hold on my shoulder and said gently, “With an imperial decree how can I allow you to mess around again?”

I looked up at him and said with a tactful smile, “Even if you have an imperial decree, if I don’t want to marry you, who will marry me? Also can’t help me. It’s a big deal to lose my hair and become a sister in law. If I can’t, I still have three feet of white silk.”

He smiled lightly, but I felt the painful pinch on my shoulders. He nodded frequently and said coldly, “So you are still such a fierce woman! It’s just that I don’t understand why you can die and refuse to marry me? Woolen cloth?”

“It’s not that I refuse to marry you. I just hope you don’t want to fight for the throne. That’s all.” I said softly, looking at him.

“I don’t understand that even more. What does it matter if you marry me and whether I agree to your request.” He said.

I lowered my head to consider. I looked back up at him. “The battle for the throne is extremely dangerous. If you win, you live about ten thousand people, but what if you lose? At best, it’s just like that the big brother who was defeated and imprisoned for life. Almost… but you, you… will die in the future. Do you still want to fight?”

He let go of me after hearing what I said and slowly walked away. He sat in a chair and calmly stared off. “Win and be the king. The loser is the bandit. I would still like to bet!” He turned his gaze back on me. “But if I want to give up now, it is absolutely impossible. What I have learned since I was a child, and what I have worked hard for all these years- is impossible for me to give up now!” He paused. “Don’t say that I have a greater chance of winning than the Crown Prince. Even if I have no chance, I have to fight all out at least once.”

Although his tone was gentle, I fully understood that he would never give up. Even if the price was his life.

I had no strength. I asked, “Why can’t you be like Fifth? Isn’t he an outstanding literary talent? Didn’t he also learn all the time?”

Eighth sat quietly, unresponsive. I leaned down, bowing to leave. “If I ascend the throne in the future, I promise you will be Empress. Are you willing to play the game with me?” He asked behind me.

I stopped in my tracks and turned back. “I don’t want my destiny controlled by others. But I have never thought of controlling the fate of others.”

I turned to leave when he gave a low shout, “Stop!”

I stopped again.

“TURN AROUND!”

I faced him again. His eyes showed sadness, even though his expression was calm. And my heart ached. I quickly averted my gaze, unwilling to look into his eyes again.

“You threatened to die in order not to marry me. So why can’t you live with me? What about dying together?” He asked.

Yes… why can’t I live and die with him? I was shocked. I had just been thinking of ways to have him avoid the final ending all day long. But I had never thought I could choose, where you didn’t care about life or death, honor or disgrace; just grab some happiness that was in front of you.

At most, all I could say, “I don’t know. I have to think about this.”

“Then you should think about it.” Came his soft reply.

When I turned and left, I heard him sigh.

“If you are afraid, I will not blame you.”

[horseshoemybeloved]

Horseshoe,,,, my beautiful girlfriend,,, ma wife,,,, she is quite lovely,,,

[agentrouka-blog]

The way Arya stans have such little empathy for Jeyne Poole's plight is disgusting. It's made worse by how they make Jeyne's trauma all about Arya. I hate it more than the way they diminish Sansa's.

Like for example, there's a scene where just before Jeyne marries Ramsey, she tells Theon that unlike Arya, she's pretty. Arya stans fail to realize that the focus isn't on Arya. It isn't about Jeyne's past teasing of Arya. It's about the fact that Jeyne knows full well that if the Boltons managed to get a hold of the real Arya (or Sansa for that matter), they would kill Jeyne without a second thought. In Jeyne's mind the only thing protecting her is that she's pretty. Therefore, if she's pretty, Ramsay won't care that she's not actually a Stark and therefore the Bolton hold on Winterfell is bogus. It's very similar to Sansas thoughts on Willas. Sansa hopes that if Willas finds her beautiful/falls in love with her, he won't care about her claim to Winterfell.

Anyway Arya stans are trash (not all) and Jeyne Poole is just one of the reasons why

Jeyne is literally offering herself up to Theon as his "wife or whore" in a last desperate attempt to escape this horrific situation. She is terrified. She is trying to find anything to give herself hope. 

The bride raised her eyes. Brown eyes, shining in the candlelight. “I will be a good wife to him, and t-true. I … I will please him and give him sons. I will be a better wife than the real Arya could have been, he’ll see.” 

Talk like that will get you killed, or worse. That lesson he had learned as Reek. “You are the real Arya, my lady. Arya of House Stark, Lord Eddard’s daughter, heir to Winterfell.” Her name, she had to know her name. “Arya Underfoot. Your sister used to call you Arya Horseface.”

“It was me made up that name. Her face was long and horsey. Mine isn’t. I was pretty.”

Tears spilled from her eyes at last. “I was never beautiful like Sansa, but they all said I was pretty. Does Lord Ramsay think I am pretty?”

“Yes,” he lied. “He’s told me so.”

“He knows who I am, though. Who I really am. I see it when he looks at me. He looks so angry, even when he smiles, but it’s not my fault. They say he likes to hurt people.”  (......)

“Help me.” She clutched at him. “Please. I used to watch you in the yard, playing with your swords. You were so handsome.” She squeezed his arm. “If we ran away, I could be your wife, or your … your whore … whatever you wanted. You could be my man.”

(ADWD, The Prince of Winterfell)

Anyone who zeroes in on "she called Arya Horseface! She is a BULLY!" instead of the visceral terror felt by this child in mortal danger... needs to take a step back and reasses if they really think the author is giving a flying horseshoe about Arya’s petty childhood nickname in this scene. As opposed to depicting a human being caught in a horrible trap, grasping at straws for any shred of hope.

“I can serve this purpose if I try. I can give him sons. Does Ramsay think I am pretty? Might this save me? He likes to hurt people. Could anyone or anything save me?” 

It’s heart-wrenching. GRRM wants to remind us that these were all children together at Winterfell, with petty childhood conflicts that pale in comparison to the horrors they are all going through now.

At Winterfell they had called her "Arya Horseface" and she'd thought nothing could be worse, but that was before the orphan boy Lommy Greenhands had named her "Lumpyhead." (ACOK, Arya I) 

Literally the opening of her first chapter after her father is murdered. If a nine-year-old can put things in perspective, an adult reading a novel about her should be able to do so as well.

[erodasfishtacos]

The Tour

Disclaimer: H is a literal billionaire in this story so yeah - he can buy whatever house available really.

His job description and income

This is my story - so I decide where they live, I apologize if you don’t picture it this way.

This is a $37 million dollar mansion in real life.

I chose different interior because the real interior looks outdated.

Reblog, like, recommend!

Come give me your thoughts on their house!

Support me & buy me a Diet Coke?

—

Styles’ Purchases Most Expensive Estate in London.

Harry Styles’ and his wife have purchased the eye-catching manor for a hefty lump of change - £37 million! Yep, you heard that correct! They snagged this 4 acre property last week!

It will be added to the growing lists of properties owned by the two. From their Italian Villa to their Tribeca New York City Apartment, to the small Island of the coast of Asia that Harry allegedly bought for his wife as a wedding gift.

Let’s take a tour!

Close-up! The meticulously tended to lawn is execentuated by a beautiful criss-cross drive that leads into a horseshoe shape.

The marble statue in the center is rumored to be worth a whopping £500,000 alone. Then to the left leads to his garage.

The garage is said to be able to hold up to twenty-five cars which works well due to Styles’ love and expansive collection of vehicles ranging from Bugatti’s to Maserati’s.

The house has a PURE WHITE formal dining room. It’s a brave choice we think! Especially because it’s rumored they are expecting a baby!

The black marble helps created contrast with these bold pillars and archways that make the hallways feel even more expansive with the help of the cathedral ceilings.

The chandelier is custom and imported from France. It is estimated that Styles’ dished out near £125,000 for the fixture.

A inside source stated that it was Harry’s house-warming gift to his wife. I guess the normal flower arrangement wasn’t stylish enough for him?

The guests will feel at home with the beautiful rooms (8 of them) to be exact. I would never want to leave with a modern fireplace and flatscreen in the wall.

The master suite - oh my! It is alleged that the Styles’ have already scrapped all the white and have it spiced up with color.

Their interior designer hinted that Harry’s wife wanted less modern and more home-like so they’re renovating to fit her taste.

Would you change this room?!

This is where Mr. Styles will presumably be storing all of his custom suits from his friends at gucci. The closet looks to be the size of a small boutique with rows of racks and slots for shoes.

And skipping to the best part! The pool! We’d love to fit in all the photos but with the mansion measuring at 31,000 square feet - well we don’t have THAT much time.

Their world-renown designer told us about the property, “Mr. Styles did not have as much input as you would think.

He really let his wife take the reigns in the decision for this house.

All the renovations (estimated to cost an additional £2.3 million) are sparked from Mrs. Styles desire to make it a family home.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

LOL. Unabashed whataboutism. A red herring.

"I don't like this politician or the people who have this particular faith" is the same as "if you show a picture of our prophet, take off your hijab, leave our religion, or disparage our book, we'll murder you," apparently.

Your lack of perspective is the result of you not having any actual problems to worry about, so your psychology magnifies the trivial issues you do have in order to compete. I mean, if you saw this...

"Someone hasn’t been paying any attention to the radicalized woke Democratic left or the American socialists."

... you'd roll your eyes and realize how much of a giant snowflake such a person was. But you are exactly the same. You don't have real problems, other than half of the population having different opinions than you.

The fact you get triggered about politicians you don't like, who are voted in and out through a constitutionally governed process, can only be because you don't have larger problems. If you didn't live in a country that was so safe, secure, prosperous and free, you'd be a little more concerned about more fundamental issues, like being arrested for blasphemy, or living under a totalitarian regime you can't vote out. Instead of "their opinions hurt my ouchies."

The idea that your ideas or beliefs should never receive any opposition, that there is no legitimate disagreement, that anyone who disagrees with you is "radicalized" reveals your own totalitarian streak. The fact that there are progressive and conservative forces pushing back on each other, always trading places, always creating pressures against each other, is part of the beauty of the liberal system.

“Bertrand Russell once said that “order without authority” might be taken as the motto both of political liberalism and of science. If you had to pick a three-word motto to define the liberal idea, “order without authority” would be pretty good. The liberal innovation was to set up society so as to mimic the greatest liberal system of them all, the evolution of life. Like evolutionary ecologies, liberal systems are centerless and self-regulating and allow no higher appeal than that of each to each in an open-ended, competitive public process (a game).” -- Jonathan Rauch, "Kindly Inquisitors"

It could only be a totalitarian dictator who would want to permanently end the game, steal the ball, and declare themselves Winner for Life. (They really need to bring back civics classes in school...)

Your little tirade is particularly ironic because Islam is a far-right, conservative religion. Countries operating to canonical Islamic theological principles (shari'ah) murder, imprison or forcibly transition gay people, endorse beating your wife, handwave rape (she must provide 4 male witnesses, or else she can be accused of adultery), sentence apostates and blasphemers to death, imprison women's rights advocates, and implement male guardianship laws. (I bet they're not "true" Islam, though, right? But that would make you a blasphemer.)

The fact you're on the side of the hard-line, right-wing conservative religion which is far more regressive than the First Amendment-restrained Xianity, puts you squarely on a different side than you think you're on. Pretending you're on the left when you're defending the far right is the most amusing thing I've seen all day. You're a right-winger, sweetie. Far-right, even. (And they try to pretend that horseshoe theory isn't a real thing.)

The only difference between you and the people you hate is the conservative religion you defend; you happened to go with the even more conservative, more regressive one. Otherwise, you're the same.

Your ignorance and the extent to which you've been ideologically compromised is truly breath-taking. I'm honestly impressed the extent that you've been manipulated to stand in opposition to your own values, and even feel pious and virtuous about doing so. Intersectionality broke your brain.

It's not "hate speech" to criticize an ideology that threatens to murder you.

"If a religious text that calls for the death of atheists & blasphemers isn't hate speech, then neither is condemning it and calling it evil." -- Ricky Gervais

That you want to defend a book of hate and violence, and silence the people targeted by that hate and violence, tells us how disturbed your mentality is. The koran literally tells the faithful to kill apostates, wage war against the non-believers, the "people of the book" (Jews, Xians) are the "worst of creatures" and will be slaughtered on Judgment Day, and that the Islamic mission is to fight a neverending war until all worship is for Allah. And we are to smile and say nothing about this, or be accused of "hate speech"? What the actual fuck is mentally wrong with you? If you're concerned about "hate speech," then begin with the koran itself.

No, #NotAll Muslims. Because Muslims aren't a hivemind - despite the eerily Borg-like qualities of their doctrine. Many Muslims don't want to do this. They're the ones who don't take it seriously. But whether they do it or not, their koran is the same koran as the beheaders, and the ones who throw gays off buildings, and throw acid in the faces of women who have improper hijab.

But also, if you can figure out that Muslims aren't all the same, why don't you acknowledge that Xians aren't all the same either? You want nuance with Muslims, but none with Xians. You're a hypocrite. I tell them all the time that they already don't follow their bible, that they're better than their monster god, that they keep fixing their god by rewriting it using their evolved secular morality. But if Xianity was a bigger threat than Islam, why do you still live where you live? Why haven't you already moved away?

We both know why you haven't. You live a privileged life in a safe, prosperous, first world country, and your problems are limited to politicians you don't like and pretending to be oppressed by microaggressions and the mere existence of men. You flash around these virtue signals in the same way that, twenty years ago, you would have flashed around a Gucci bag or a Hermes scarf. You don't know anything about what you're whining about, you're just showing off for social status.

Nobody is obliged to respect beliefs. Least of all beliefs that show no respect for people. Islam is not entitled to respect, not least because it shows none. And beliefs aren't people. Indeed, the biggest victims of Islam are Muslims. Just look at Iran. It's weird that you're siding with the regime, although it makes sense for a far-right, conservative, anti-gay, anti-woman Islamic apologist and fetishist such as yourself. (I bet you wear a hijab on Hijab Day. Am I right? I'm right, aren't I?)

If Xianity was doing all these things, I doubt you'd have so much trouble spotting the problem in your hypocritical diatribe. You certainly wouldn't be so rambling about how "important and valued" Xians are.

Ultimately, you didn't actually say anything here. You didn't make an argument, or even any single point, you just unloaded your hurt feelings, which is useless, and kind of implies you don't even have a point. Otherwise you probably would have made one.

"If someone tells me that I've hurt their feelings I'm still waiting to hear what your point is." -- Christopher Hitchens

The fact that you hold Islam to a different standard than Xianity, and demand to shield it from scrutiny, while simultaneously excoriating Xianity makes you the only bigot - and rampant hypocrite - here. Considering Islamic countries murder gay people, endorse violence against women, imprison or execute apostates and blasphemers, your progressive, inclusive bona fides are counterfeits. You're a fraud. You don't give a shit about them.

Anyway, anyone can criticize Islam, the koran, the immoral doctrines, the supremacist ideology (declared openly in the koran), the violence, the hate, the destruction it perpetrates against both Muslims and non-Muslims... without any guilt, shame or apology.

"Criticizing Islam - just as you would Christianity, Mormonism, or Scientology - doesn’t make you a bigot. Singling it out for protection does." – Ali A. Rizvi

Bigots gotta bigot.

To restate my opening position: LOL.

"There’s only one faith, for example, that kills you or wants to kill you if you draw a bad cartoon of the Prophet. There’s only one faith that kills you or wants to kill you if you renounce the faith. An ex-Muslim is a very dangerous thing. Talk to Salman Rushdie after the show about Christian versus Islam. … All religious are not alike. Can you imagine if they did ‘The Book of Islam’? Could they do that? There’s only one religion that threatens violence and carries it out for things like that. … Now, obviously, most Muslim people are not terrorists. But ask most Muslim people in the world — if you insult the Prophet, do you have what’s coming to you? It’s more than just a fringe element." -- Bill Maher

[horsesarecreatures]

Book review - The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

This book is the story of Cyprus, revealed by a fig tree as she tells the life of her rescuer, a botanist named Kostas, who is a Greek Cypriot, and his lover/eventual wife Defne, an artist, archeologist, and Turkish Cypriot. Without being pedantic, the book unravels the recent history of the island and how it was divided during the civil war where thousands on both sides were killed. To this day it is still divided, though tensions have lessened to an extent. 

The books starts off in England, focusing on Kostas’ and Dephne’s daughter Ada, who is struggling with the death of her mother. She knows her parents are from Cyprus, but knows nothing of their love story or the suffering they went through while there. The fig tree, which is also from Cyprus and knew Kostas and Dephne years ago from when they met secretly at a tavern called The Happy Fig with the permission of it’s owners Yusuf and Yiorgos, narrates their part of the story. Kostas and Dephne got separated during the war, and how they eventually united 25 years later and why Dephne passed away is a mystery that is revealed more and more as the book goes on.

The book, which is dedicated “to immigrants and exiles everywhere, the uprooted, the re-rooted, the rootless..” is not just about history, but also eco-consciousness, interconnectedness, and generational trauma. The story itself is compelling, but what especially stood out to me are some of the beautiful quotes, which are as follows:

“So I guess it is in my genes, this melancholy I can never quite shake off. Carved with an invisible knife into my arborescent skin.“

...

“People assume it's a matter of personality, the difference between optimists and pessimists. But I believe it all comes down to an inability to forget.”

...

“Because in real life, unlike in history books, stories come to us not in their entirety but in bits and pieces, broken segments and partial echoes, a full sentence here, a fragment there, a clue hidden in between. in life, unlike in books, we have to weave our stories out of threads as fine as the gossamer veins that run through a butterfly's wings.“

...

“Humans are strange... full of contradictions. It’s as if they need to hate and exclude as much as they need to love and embrace. Their hearts close tightly, then open at full stretch, only to clench again, like and undecided fist.

Humans find mice and rats nasty, but hamsters and gerbils sweet. Doves signify world peace, whereas pigeons are nothing more than carriers of urban filth. They proclaim piglets charming, wild boars barely tolerable. Nutcrackers they admire, even as they avoid their noisy cousins, the crows. Dogs evoke in them a sense of fuzzy warmth, while wolves conjure up tales of horror. Butterflies they look on with favor, moths not at all. They have a soft spot for ladybirds, and yet if they were to see a soldier beetle, they would crush it on sight. Honeybees are favored in stark contrast to wasps. Although horseshoe crabs are considered delightful, it’s a different story when it comes to their distant relatives, spider... I have tried to find logic in all this, but I have come to the conclusion that there is none.”

It’s a bittersweet book with lots of sad moments but also lots of hope. I enjoyed the unique narrator of the fig tree, who at the end is revealed to be not just one being but two. 

[suchalonelysunflower]

Searching Clearer Skies

Where The Storm Gathers - Chapter 1

Pairing: Stable Lad! Calum Hood x Princess! Reader

Summary: Safe and sound at the Crimson Islands, Y/N and Calum adjust to their new life

Warnings: Mentions of abuse. Violence. Blood. Murder. Guilt. Language. Some grammatical errors (English is not my first language, I’m sorry)

Word Count: 8K

Author’s Note: My babes are here! I would love to know your thoughts for this 🥺Remember that Reblogs, Feedback, Comments and likes are super important and they help me a lot 💕 Hope you like it and Happy Reading 🦋🌻✨

My materialist // wanna be part of my taglist?

Book 2 Materialist || Prologue

The whinny of the horse echoed throughout the woods as the horseshoes crashed against the mud, slipping a few times on its steps but still standing tall as the race continued, encouraged by its rider.

The storm was strong and merciless, dark clouds hovering over the sky crashing one against the other and creating thunders that lasted for more than a minute. The winds whistled threats as the raindrops soaked the ground violently, flooding the path. One wrong move and everything could be lost for those who wander under this storm, but only madmen are capable of doing it.

But Calum was not a madman, he was desperate. His heart beat fast as he hunched over the horse, commanding him to go faster and faster into the darkness. His clothes were soaked and his eyelashes were glued together due to the raindrops that cut through his body like a knife, making it impossible for him to see past the head of the horse.

Lightning crashed, the thunder roared and still, they weren’t as loud as his voice calling his beloved’s name.

He went wherever his heart would tell him to, no second-guessing as he jumped over the fallen carcass of trees that were hit by the wild winds that were blowing, but his determination allowed him to stay put, never once failing to catch himself back in the moment, running faster and faster hoping to get there in time.

“Y/N!” He shouted above the thunder, commanding the horse to take a sharp left as a flash of lightning came crashing down near them.

How did they end up there? So far away and without each other. What made them torn apart? Yet, none of those questions could be answered right now. There was no point to them. Not when she was gone and he couldn’t find her.

The woods seem to expand with every gallop, just a sea of darkness in front of him, an endless void of a starless night, and an unreachable ending as his hopes were starting to falter.

“Y/N!” He cried, voice already hoarse and strained. The strings of his heart almost breaking to the point of feeling nothing but pain every time silence would answer him “Y/N!”

“Calum!”

It was faint, almost inaudible over the rain. Anyone could think that it was just a simple and cruel trick of the mind. But only Calum could recognize that voice anywhere; it was his love and she was in danger.

“Calum!”

She called again, but from where? The echo made it seem like she was everywhere and nowhere at once. Almost as if she was some kind of bird in which his name was cursed to be her calling, always chasing but never catching it.

“Y/N! Where are you?!”

He ran, as far as the horse’s legs would let him as he encouraged the animal to go even faster as they went against the storm walking right into it as he kept calling her name. Knowing that even if she was in the middle of a hurricane, he would never stop until he found her.

“You’re running out of time, boy” A sinister voice accompanied by her cries mixed with the thunder echoed through the woods, but for Calum, it felt almost as if they were whispered in his ear.

The stable lad tightened his grip on the reins and commanded the stallion to go faster “Y/N!”

But he hears nothing but cries. Earth Shattering screams bleed into his head, suffocating him as he cried for her, praying to every deity that was still loyal to them that she would be okay.

“Calum!” It seemed so far, but so close at the same time “Calum!” So he kept going.

Trees would fall; lightning would scatter and the thunder roared, and he ignored all of them. He just needed to get to her even if the world around him seemed to fade into nothingness.

Y/N’s screams seemed to get louder and louder until suddenly, they disappeared.

Calum pulled on the reins, making everything but the rain stop. His heavy breathing was ringing in his ears as he looked around, wondering where she went. But it wasn’t until a ray of lightning hit the ground that he saw her.

She was standing at the edge of a cliff with a tear-stained face, looking straight at him but not moving an inch. Her hair clung to her face as the rain-soaked her entire figure, making her white dress become nothing but a rag.

“Cal…” She whispered, but he still heard it loud and clear.

He jumped off the horse the moment he saw her, an immense sense of relief and happiness came over him as he started to run, calling out for her as the moon calls her stars.

But then, he saw it. A silver light shine pressed against her neck; only a glimpse, only a second, but enough to make him stop in his tracks, just a few meters far from her.

“Glad to know that you have some common sense, boy” The sinister voice called again, but this time Calum knew exactly who it was.

As quick as a bolt of lightning, King Richard made his appearance, wrapping a leather-gloved hand over Y/N’s throat, making her head fall back onto his shoulders as he squeezed just enough to make tears spill from her face.

A condescending, pleased smirk came to his face, watching with red-blooded eyes how she succumbed to his strength. Then, he slowly turned to Calum, showing all of his teeth in a wicked smile.

“So glad you could make it,” He said, pressing the tip of the knife into her skin “I was starting to think you would never find us, and what’s the fun in that?”

“Let her go” Calum nearly growled, taking a step closer to them but stopping the moment Richard pressed the knife harder, drawing a drop of blood from her neck.

Richard smiled “You’re smart. Good At least I know my daughter has a bit of sense when it comes to her choosing a partner” He sneered

“Let. Her. Go” Calum repeated, clenching his fists at his sides and with his heart beating as fast as the rainfall “She’s got nothing to do with this”

“She has everything to do with this!” Richard barked, moving the grip from her neck into her arms and digging his fingers into her skin, leaving marks that might stay there for days.

“Father, please-” Y/N begged in between coughs for air “Leave him be”

“Oh, I will dear. But I must teach this boy a lesson first”

Calum set his desperate eyes on her, unable to hide the fear in them as he watched how she tried to regain her breathing without any sudden moves that could get her closer to the knife.

“Y/N-”

“Cal, please go” She begged, pressing her lips into a thin line to try and drown the pain and the fear “He can’t hurt you here”

He shook his head “I’m not leaving without you”

“How touching”

Calum’s eyes became hard as stone as he turned to the King, standing straighter despite the rain’s attempt to bring him down with them.

“Leave her alone,” He said coldly, taking one step closer “Or I promise you, your head will roll down that cliff with the scum where you belong”

The King just laughed hysterically, closing his eyes as he shook his head slowly “You really think you can threaten me? Me?! I am your King!”

“Calum…”

“You are nothing but a fake! A coward who hides behind his daughter’s body. If you’re so valiant, come and face me like a man”

Richard smiled, almost as if he was waiting for it.

“Oh, Calum, Calum… That’s where you’re wrong” He said, eyes darkening as his smile widened “I’m not a man. I’m a King”

And all that Calum could hear afterward was the sound of the knife slashing her throat.

*

He jolted awake with beams of sweat running down his forehead, his whole body was drenched in sweat which made him think he was back in the woods. But Calum wouldn’t, Calum couldn’t because the woods were at home in RoseWood and there were no woods in the Isles.

His brown eyes quickly landed on his side, finally being able to breathe with some sort of relief the moment he saw her sleeping there: His wife.

Y/N had her face pressed into the pillow, shifting slightly and mumbling something in her dream when his hand came to brush some of her hair that had fallen into her face, covering her beauty from him. Calum watched her sleep for a few minutes, thanking every god there is for allowing him to live this moment, even if it was just for a few more hours before they have to wake up. He just wished she could sleep peacefully tonight, no nightmares.

Outside the window it was still raining, it hasn’t stopped since they came here almost six months ago. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw the sun, but he knew he always felt warm with her by his side. And she was by his side, and that was the most important thing. She was there with him, alive and well and still in love with him. He could go a lifetime without sunshine if it meant to keep her safe.

Thunders were roaring and he was thankful that Y/N was a heavy sleeper, he even was a little jealous because he knows he won’t be able to fall asleep again. He never does after those kinds of nightmares.

The memory of that afternoon in the woods still haunts him. The screams the Princess let out when she begged her father for mercy still live in his head, reminding him that this was all his fault. He could still hear her call his name; feel her cling into his aching body on the damped, humid cells of the dungeon; and, even if she won’t admit it, he still remembers the sadness in her eyes when they had to leave home because “home” was not safe enough. And he can’t help but to feel guilty.

Calum rose from their bed, wiping a damped cloth over his face as he walked up to the window, hoping that the rain could wash out his fears and bring him back to the present. He leaned over, pressing his forearm to the glass as he watched the clouds crash against one another, counting the seconds after the lightning to hear its sounds.

He doesn’t know how much time he stayed there, maybe a few minutes, maybe hours. What he knows is that he could never truly relax until he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist, smiling when he noticed a gold wedding band adorning one of the fingers.

“It’s cold without you there” She mumbled, pressing her cheek against his back.

“I know, I’m sorry,” He said, placing his hands on top of hers.

“Hmm, you knew and you still left” Y/N reprimanded, making him chuckle as he lifted her hand and placed a soft kiss on her palm “It was another nightmare, wasn’t it?”

“It’s always the same, at least the ending is”

“You could talk to me, you know? Maybe it could help” She offered, slipping into his arms and ending up in front of him, doe eyes looking straight at him “I hate to see you so caught up in there,” Her hands flew to either side of his face, cupping it delicately “Just let me in, let me help you”

Calum smiled softly “You’re too kind, my rose. But this is not a burden I’d want you to carry. It is only mine to bear”

“It doesn’t have to be,” She said. “You’ve helped me carry my burden for years, creating a safe space with you while my nightmare was just beginning. You’ve helped me so much, Cal. Why can’t you let me do the same?”

“Because I’m selfish,” He smiled “And besides, now it’s not a time to talk about nightmares”

“Why?”

“Cause the sun’s coming up”

Y/N gasped and turned around, but was only met with cloudy skies and a light drizzle. Then, she turned around with a frown only to find Calum trying not to smile.

“That’s not funny,” She said, punching him lightly on the chest. “Besides, how do you know it’s morning already? You can’t see anything past those clouds and the fog”

“Take the word from a man who worked his whole life on a field” He laughed, placing one hand at either side of her waist and pulling her closer “And you also look gorgeous in the morning”

Y/N hummed as he kissed her forehead “Didn’t my husband say I look gorgeous every single time of day?”

“Did he?” Calum asked, placing kisses all over her cheeks and down to her jaw and neck “Must be a very observant and smart man”

“Yes,” She let out a breathy giggle, tangling her hands at the back of his head. “But don’t tell him, or his ego would be unstoppable…” She sighed when his lips met the spot behind her ear, curling her fingers but finding nothing to hold on to “God, I miss your curls”

“They’ll grow back” He whispered in her ear, biting it slightly as his hands traveled to the back of her thighs, picking her up with ease without ever stopping the work of his mouth on her skin.

“Cal…” She breathed, “Take me to bed”

“As you wish”

He pulled away just in time for her hand to cup his cheek, bringing him closer as their lips met, carefully savoring their moment as he carried her to bed.

*

Life at the Isles was nothing like in RoseWood, that was for sure.

Thanks to Ashton, Y/N could keep her title as The Princess of Roses, yet the benefits she used to hold at her birthplace did not follow. Here, she was just another member of King Alex’s court and so was Calum and although it was not what they were used to, they managed to adapt pretty quickly.

Early in the mornings, all members of the court were expected to stand in the throne room to receive the King and Queen and discuss what’s been going on with the Kingdom; after that, Y/N and Calum went their separate ways.

The ladies of the court were free to choose any activity or class of their liking, something foreigner to the Princess who's been told all her life what she should do. While the men of the court were sent to train or to their own business to negotiate trades with other kingdoms. When they arrived, Calum offered his service as a Stable Lad, yet that position was already taken and King Alex thought he might work better as an apprentice of the Welder, hence the ring on his wife’s finger and his matching one on his left hand, made out of just for her by his own hands.

Still, life at the Isles was pretty lonely. Words travel fast, especially when a runaway Princess and her new not-Royal husband escape their Kingdom a day before her wedding to a powerful King. And while King Alex was very aware of the situation, the other members of the court had their own ideas, and so, rumors started to spread.

But neither Calum nor Y/N paid much attention to them. They knew their story, they knew what they went through. So the words of strangers did not damage them but made them stronger, ready to prove them wrong when they were underestimated. And, after all, they had each other and they were safe, that was the only thing that mattered to them.

“Do you think he’ll notice we were late?” Y/N asked as she hurried her steps through the stone-floored hallway

“There is still time,” Calum assured her “Although we might not make it to our places in time”

“And surely Lady Johana will have something to say about it” She rolled her eyes “I can’t believe you convinced me to stay in bed a little longer than we’re used to”

Calum chuckled “It’s not like you needed much convincing anyway, Rose. After all, dear wife, who was the one that couldn’t keep her hands off-“

“Say another word and I’ll tell Lord Gillian how interested you are in learning ancient geology” She challenged with a smile, the same one she held every time she playfully threatened him since they were children.

Calum just rolled his eyes and grabbed Y/N by the waist, sweeping her off her feet and pulling her closer to him as she squealed, trying to get away from his grasp as he started to tickle her.

“Cal! Noooo” She tried to hold her laughter as he hid his face on her neck, putting her down and wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her closer “You’re a menace”

“Yet, you still chose to marry me” He kissed her cheek “So I’m your menace, no one else’s”

“Hmm, you better” She pecked his lips “But my menace of a husband is going to make us late”

Y/N slid from his grasp, grabbing his hand and pulling him with her as they made their way to the throne room and take the small space in the corner, earning a few glances from the not-so-friendly members of the court.

King Alex’s throne room was not as big as the one in RoseWood, nor as brightly lit. But it was enough to hold all 30 members of the court, the monarchs, their pets, and a few servants who always stayed put in case they were needed.

All members of the court stood in a semi-circle around the two throne chairs, all of them with an assigned space where they would wait until the King or Queen asked them something, or until the meeting was over.

It was weird for the couple to see such order and respect for each individual, given that Y/N’s father was not one to take advice from people and just act out of his own thoughts and ideas, no matter how cruel or crazy they might be. But King Alex was always fair, a bit eccentric and sometimes narcissistic, but always fair and respectful towards others; not to mention a good friend for the RoseWood’s Prince, taking Y/N and Calum in and promising them nothing but safety in his realm.

He was a respected man, a noble, humble King that carried no weapons in his court because his trust was always in his friends. Yet, today when the servants opened the door for him and the Queen, it was the frown set upon his face that made all conversations die as he made his way to his throne.

King Alex’s eyes surveyed the room, biting the inside of his cheek lightly as he laid his eyes on the RoseWood bound couple before sitting down.

“Sir Steriff!” The King called, making everyone in the room shake at the sudden boom of his voice.

“Y-yes, your Majesty?” Poor Sir Cleamont Steriff stuttered, but King Alex just rolled his eyes.

“How’s the situation down at the bay? Sources say that there’s a clear decline in the production”

The questions were not as serious or as important as his voice made them out to be. Y/N could recognize that tone of hidden anger, it was the same tone her father used when he had to speak to her in a public setting, and the same one Ashton used when something about his royal duties as an heir bothered him. She knew Calum could recognize that too, so when her eyes met his she found the same comforting look he used to give her, as well as a tug on her hand for reassurance.

It was in the small moments where Y/N found herself back in RoseWood; a simple whisper or ill-intentioned look brought back the memory of her father; the sound of crystal shattering or the sound of a whip or a slap; even the shadows that surrounded the palace made her wary of what may hide inside them, wondering if there could ever be free of the crows and her father’s power over her.

Because even when they were kingdoms away, a father’s harm can still hurt and the memories may never be forgotten as long as they shall live, but they’ll live differently in a separate perspective where one is a villain and the other one is smiling over that fact. Y/N was still learning to live with that darkness, make it part of herself so she could let go and grow with it and never let it win.

Luckily for her, Calum was willing to do anything and everything to make sure that she was safe in every single sense of the word. For Calum has had his own share of darkness, the moments that haunt him at night even though the proof of their victory is still the beating of their hearts. It was the demons they had to face, but they would never do it on their own, not as long as their hands are intertwined and their love lives in their hearts.

“I would like to request an audience with Princess Y/N and Sir Hood” Alex’s voice made them go back to reality, feeling all eyes on them as they solemnly nod and bow “Alone. You are all dismissed”

The whispers were louder this time. A handful of eyes looking in their direction going from pitiful to curious to confused. The King rarely asked for private audiences, so no one really knew if they should feel grateful or jealous at the couple’s fate.

Once the room got cleared out except for The King and Queen, a few servants, and Calum and Y/N, King Alex finally let out a sigh, leaning his back against the throne and pinching the skin right between his eyes.

“Your Majesty,” The two of them said in unison as they approached the throne, bowing.

“Rise,” King Alex commanded. “I assume the two of you would not hide something from me after I gave you shelter under my kingdom, correct?”

“Yes, Your Majesty” Calum answered, not even batting an eye “We could never hide something from you”

“You’ve been so good to us,” Y/N added, a kind smile playing on her lips as she looked between the monarchs “We owe you two so much for all your kindness and understanding. We might never be able to repay it”

“There is no need for a settlement of debt” The Queen smiled, placing her hand over her husband’s “And we have no doubts about your intentions in our kingdom, knowing how difficult it was for you to get out of RoseWood. But-”

“But there’s been some unsettling news that traveled all the way overseas” The King finished “And any information you have about it would be useful for us”

“If we can ease Your Majesty’s mind with something, then we’ll do our best for it to be so,” Calum said with a nod, standing straighter and looking directly at the King so he knew he wasn’t lying.

“There is a rumor running around,” The King of the Isles said gravely “That the King of Roses has an army ready for battle and that he wants to go to war with all the nearby Kingdoms who oppose him”

Y/N’s breath hitched in her throat “It can’t be”

“It is said that other kingdoms have started to revoke their promises to RoseWood until a true leader comes along and that Richard is not happy about it. Would you happen to know anything that could confirm or deny this rumor?”

“I’m afraid we possess no such information, Your Majesty” Calum said, practically ripping the words out of Y/N's Mouth even though she was too frightened to even speak “The last time we heard news about King Richard was that he lost all support from The Vail when King Luke swore allegiance to his son, Prince Ashton. Maybe the other kingdoms got winds about the deal and did the same”

“And my father does not have an army,” Y/N added, hands shaking at the memories “He offered to marry me to King Luke to gain the most powerful army with the warriors of The Vail since RoseWood’s soldiers could not face so many kingdoms at once. The last news we got was from one of King Luke’s letters saying that my father was in shambles when it came to political power, and do believe me Your Majesty when I say that King Richard is not a strong man to pick himself up on his own”

King Alex’s hummed, seemingly pleased with the answers “I know your loyalties lie with the right side of the story,” He said, making the two of them let out a breath of relief “But truth is that you’ve been away from home for far too long to know if things have indeed changed in the months you’ve been here in Crimson Isles. Say, Your Highness, any news from our dear Prince?”

Y/N visibly tensed and her hand reached for Calum’s in an unconscious and instant move at the mention of her brother's name, the only one who’s been consuming her thoughts with worry for she didn’t know anything about him since they went away.

“I’m afraid not, Your Majesty,” She said, clearing her throat “Although I’m hopeful that by the next shipping news will come from RoseWood”

“Let us pray it’ll be that way” The Queen answered with an understanding smile “Our dear Prince Ashton must be very busy as always, but he will not forget us”

“Captain Merrick will come in a fortnight” King Alex added “I’ll request an audience with him and with the two of you. My Lord,” He said, referring to Calum who nodded “I take your lessons are going well?”

“Yes, Your Majesty”

“And your lessons, Your Highness? Is Maester Lorcas treating you well?”

Y/N smiled with ease “I’m learning a lot from the Maester, it’s an honor to be his pupil and I’m thankful for the opportunity”

King Alex smiled as well, pleased that the two of them were content in his court “And we are grateful that you’re here and safe. Now, you may go on with your day. You’re dismissed, if anything new comes regarding King Richard, I’ll let you know”

Calum and Y/N thanked the King and Queen with a bow before exiting the throne room. They walked a few meters, making sure no one was following them when Calum pulled her to a secluded hallway, finally letting out their worried breaths as they stood one in front of the other.

“Calum…” She said, eyes wide open with a threat of tears gathering at the corners.

“It’s okay, Rose,” He said, cupping her cheek with his palm, masking his own worry. “It’s just a rumor. We both know your father cannot do much with Asthon there, and even if he sent him to another political trip, the army is not strong, not under his command”

He was trying to be reasonable. RoseWood’s army was good and it could manage in a battle. Yet, with King Richard on the throne the administration of it never really progressed into anything else than a simple guard. They were not equipped for war and it seemed rather impossible for them to become a force to be reckoned with in less than a year.

“But we don’t know where Ashton is!” Y/N whispered, trying to bite her tongue almost as if the blood that might drop from it might keep her grounded “Calum, it’s been months since his last letter and I know my brother. I know he won’t break his promise to write to us; to me. And I can’t shake this feeling that maybe-”

“If anything were to happen we would already be informed” Calum tilted her head so she could look him in the eyes “I’m not disregarding your feelings, my love. But we also try not to draw conclusions too quickly. The weather here might’ve delayed any letters and if Captain Merrick is on his way he might bring news from him. We must remain hopeful, Ashton will be fine”

The stable lad pulled her close, placing a small kiss on her forehead as he felt her shoulders relax into the embrace.

“Do you want me to walk you to the laboratory?” He asked with a small smile, running his hands up and down her arms. Y/N shook her head.

“I’ll be fine, my love, thank you. Thank you for everything”

Calum smiled, cupping her face one more time as he took her in. All of her and her beautiful eyes looking at him, filled with love and comfort, he knew he was right where he was meant to be just by looking into those eyes.

“I love you, my little rose”

“I love you more”

*

The color of the liquid changed from yellow to green inside the little pot as it started to boil, making the Maester gasp as Y/N smiled proudly at her mixture.

“Your Highness! That’s a perfect ointment there!” The old man said, practically jumping with joy as he mixed the spoon with the now gooey product “And on your first try! May the gods bless those hands, Princess. You’re a natural!”

A small scoff was heard around the room, undoubtedly coming from one of the other ladies from the court that also chose to learn more about medicine. Yet, Y/N kept her head held high, as a Princess she was raised to bow to no one that didn’t deserve her respect and she was not going to let some ill-intended comments get to her, not after everything she had to endure from people that were meant to love her.

But that didn’t mean Maester Lorcas would keep the same composure.

“Lady Gillian,” He said, raising one of his white, bushy brows “Care to share with the class what this ointment does? From what I see, you still haven’t finished yours”

Lady Gillian gasped as her cheeks turned beat red, mumbling under her breath: “I did finish mine”

Maester Lorcas hummed with disdain “Can anyone else tell me what is that you’re doing right now? Why is important? Anyone?”

Y/N raised her hand “The ointment is mostly used to treat scars; one needs to scatter it across the damaged tissue every six hours and let it rest on the patient’s sink. If treated immediately, it could potentially erase the scar and prevent further damage and infections. It also works to erase any dark spots of the skin if accompanied by other treatments”

The old Maester smiled and laughed joyfully at her answer “See?!” He asked the other ladies “That’s what happens when you pay attention instead of talking about the latest gossip that everyone already knows on this small Island. You learn. Good job, Your Highness, as usual”

“Just because she’s a princess doesn’t mean she gets special treatment” One of the other ladies scoffed under her breath. Y/N only rolled her eyes and went back to her mixture “She had the perfect life anyway”

“Maybe if you stop whispering about her as if she wasn’t in the same room, you’ll be able to do something more than to waste everyone’s time,” Y/N said, not even turning around as she added a bit more chamomile seeds “I was raised to see honor and value in everything except on empty words and ill thoughts, and to respect every soul as an equal, no matter their background, something that you all lack. But maybe it’s a Princess’ thing and you wouldn’t know about that” She said, finally turning around with an unreadable face “Feel free to keep talking, it’s your right. But it is going to take more than that to try and hurt me. And maybe I could take it more seriously if you say it to my face”

The ladies all snickered and scoffed, lifting their noses and going back to their own pots as they tried and failed to get the recipe right. Y/N turned around, sending a complicit look to the Maester who stood and watched with a proud smile at how those nasty women were put back in their places with such grace.

Still, Y/N could not share the same joy as she sighed, going back to her work without saying another word.

She knew that life at the Isles would be a hard adjustment, but she was doing a great job considering the rumors that surrounded her. From the very first day in court whispers about how she was a runaway bride, breaking a powerful King’s heart as she decided to flee with her secret lover from a much lower social class. Others said she was bewitched; others that she was some kind of witch herself. No one knew about the hell she went through or the pain inside her heart at having to leave her hometown and the only family she loved behind.

Yes, she always dreamt of flying away from home, finding new horizons with Calum by her side. Find the home she never had on RoseWood, to begin with. But the guilt of leaving her beloved brother behind after knowing what her father was capable of; the pain of leaving behind all her mother’s memories; and the undying feeling of knowing something was wrong consumed her every day, wishing she could have more time to say goodbye to the place that saw her become the person she was today, maybe one last goodbye to the tree that saw her love bloom or one last trip to the square town, promising to go back one day when the skies were clearer and the danger was far gone.

She knew that time would come eventually, but without any news from Ashton, those hopes seemed farther and farther away.

“Your Highness?” Maester Lorcas asked, bringing her back from her thoughts “May I have a word?”

Only then did Y/N notice that the lesson was over and they were the only ones in the old lab.

“I must say, Princess, that I am very impressed,” He said, sitting on his chair with some difficulty “Are you sure you’ve never had any experience in the medical field?”

Y/N smiled, looking down as her cheeks were tinted pink “I can’t say I have, Maester. RoseWood didn’t let the royal family ever step foot into the infirmary unless it was an emergency. Fearing we might get sick”

Maester Lorcas laughed, raising his brows “Say, I never took you for one to follow the rules”

“Certainly not,” She laughed as well. “There were… situations in which I had to fend for myself to get an ointment or two without anyone noticing. My husband used to help me get them after I told them which one would be useful and effective, taking the information I stole from the Maesters at the palace”

“Must be a loyal one, that husband of yours”

“I wouldn’t be here without him,” She said, smiling at the memory of Calum helping her heal the wounds her father would give her, stealing from the town’s Maester or directly from the palace with the empty promise of it being the last time he would have to see her in pain because “it won’t happen again, you’ll see” until it happened again “Still, I was always interested in healing. So when King Alex so kindly offered to take these classes, I knew I couldn’t say no and prevent myself from so much knowledge”

“And let’s pray you might never have to use this knowledge if you come back home”

Those words seemed to spark something in her as she raised her gaze to the old Maester who looked at her with crystalized eyes and a knowing, merciful and understanding smile. Almost as if he could see the scars and old bruises that still covered her body. Still, he said nothing and Y/N was thankful for that.

“It’s an honor to have you as a student, Your Highness,” He said “For what its worth, I am glad that you came here”

Y/N pressed her lips in a thin line, nodding lightly before bowing and leaving the room. Feeling somehow validated by a stranger, finally someone she could trust.

*

The evening rain was stronger than this morning’s, still, that didn’t stop Calum from training, nothing did.

He swung the sword with such ease, cutting through the rain in synchronized moves; placing his feet where they were supposed to be; his breathing calm and collected as he raised his elbow to the level of his eyes, ready to strike again against the invisible evil that stood in front of him.

Grunts due to the effort escaped his lips as the rain fell on top of his buzz-shaved head, soaking him completely and making his white shirt cling to his skin, rain, and beads of sweat mixing and falling to the ground. But Calum didn’t care about how tired he might be or who might see him fight the rain. In his head, he could still hear her screams and watch her fall to her death without him being able to do anything about it.

The vivid memory of Y/N’s screams back in the woods; her father’s laughter as he started to hit her, grabbing her by the hair and kicking her sides while she pleaded for mercy on him, pleading with tears in her eyes for his guards not to hurt the man she loved.

All he could see at that moment was her. He did not care about the guards beating him up, if anything he couldn’t feel anything anymore, not while she was in pain, and all because of him. He tried to stand up, oh how many times did he try, but all that got him was mocking laughs from the King and his guards, feeling pathetic as he couldn’t protect her.

The sword made a swoosh sound, cutting his thoughts short as he started to hit the mock doll that they had ready for training. Only a crazy person would be training under the rain; but Calum was not crazy, he was determined. Determined to get those screams out of his head.

When King Alex offered him a job as a welder apprentice he took it with the condition to also have time for training. Y/N asked him why the sudden interest in learning how to fight with a sword, but how could he even explain without bringing her more pain than the one she was already carrying?

For years he stood and watched the mistreatment she suffered at the hands of her father; the abuse and cruelty she went through. Still, she managed to smile and see the beauty in everything, carrying such compassion in her heart and the hope for things to change. He wished he could be better, just like her. And he tried when she begged him to wait for her birthday so they could finally be free… He now knows he should’ve strode into the castle that night and confronted him, consequences be damned, but at least she would’ve been safer.

His heart was beating strongly inside his chest as he closed his eyes and let his instincts guide him on his next movements, imagining that exact moment in the woods and all the things he could’ve done.

Y/N watched with a heavy heart how her husband moved under the rain, hitting the target once, twice, three times before starting again with different moves.

She ponders on how much Calum has changed since they came to the Crimson Isles. He cut his hair short, fearing someone might recognize him upon arrival and bring Richard’s rage upon them; the muscles on his back and arms were more defined, more broadly as he scheduled at least two training sessions every day without missing a single one. But it was in his eyes where she could notice the biggest change, they were still warm and full of love whenever he looked at her, but it was in the moments when he thought she wasn’t looking that got her worried; she could see the storm that was hiding in them, all the thoughts he didn’t share, the pain and cold memories that haunt him.

It was impossible to lie. For Calum, it was impossible to lie to her, even if he was just hiding the truth.

She jumped when the iron sword hit the ground, Calum was still giving his back to her as he crouched to get the bow and arrow that was lying on the ground, moving swiftly towards the Alamy that stood at the other side, shooting arrow after arrow as the muscles on his back tensed.

Her eyes gazed at the sky, getting darker as the storm was getting restless, not thinking twice as she walked towards him, letting the mud cling to her dress as the rain covered her whole.

“It’s late,” She said as Calum hit the target.

“I know,” He answered, grabbing another arrow from the quiver, not even turning around to see her “I’ll be there soon”

“Calum,”

The thunder roared above them, but neither of them even dared to flinch as the arrow hit the target once again.

There were so many things unsaid under the rain, a pang of shared guilt and an indescribable fear, so similar and yet so different at the same time.

“Calum, let’s go to bed” She insisted with a sweet but firm voice “It’s time”

“Just- I need to get this right”

“Why? We are safe here” She put a hand on his shoulder, making him visibly relax “Cal…”

“It’s okay,” He whispered with a sigh, turning to look at her through the raindrops “I’ll be up there soon, my rose. You don’t have to wait out here in the rain”

“You shouldn’t be out here in the rain, my love”

“I want to be ready”

“For what?” She sighed, shaking her head before meeting his gaze once again “Sometimes I wish I could know what you’re thinking, the things you’re not telling me for some reason”

Calum looked at the floor “I don’t think there’s anything you don’t already know, my rose”

She nodded, giving him a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes like she used to do. Then, she took a step back but stood still as her eyes never left his.

“Y/N,”

“I’m not letting you be in the rain all on your own, Cal,” She said, squinting her eyes due to the rain.

“You’re going to get sick,” The stable lad argued, but the Princess just shrugged.

“Too bad!” He was about to say something else but she cut him off “We are a team, Calum. Where you go, I go. If you get sick then so will I. You knew that before we married so don’t pretend I’ll leave without my husband”

Calum couldn’t help but smile, even though he tried, but the word “my husband” coming out of her lips still brought butterflies inside of him, reminding him of how lucky he was to be able to call her “his wife”

He knew there was no way to stop her if she wanted to stay. Y/N was never the one who took a no for an answer when her head was stuck on something so firmly, so stubborn yet so kind and loving. Calum could not love her more even if he tried, and he knew she loved him, too. So how not rejoice in that?

“What kind of husband will leave his wife standing in the rain?” He asked, taking a step closer to her.

“The worst kind, of course,” She smiled, placing her hands on his chest “But mine stays with me, so the debt is paid”

“The other husband should take notes”

“Maybe he should”

They both smiled before Calum wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her closer as she stood on her tiptoes, brushing their lips together as they started to feel warm under the cold storm. Knowing they’ll be alright after all.

*

When the morning came so did the breeze, making Y/N shiver as she nuzzled into Calum’s chest, letting his heartbeat be the melody that will lure her back to sleep. She could feel his strong arms wrapped around her, bringing her closer as he stirred awake, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head.

Their legs were tangled under the sheets, finding warmth and comfort in each other’s embrace as they didn’t say a word. There was no need to say what they already knew, what they already felt deep inside their hearts. Safe and sound as they let the morning take its time to arrive.

Still, the breeze kept blowing, getting colder each time as it blew through the sails of a ship called the Kaleidoscope where a man stood proudly with a smirk as The Crimson Isles could already be seen standing a few kilometers away.

“My Lord?” The captain of the ship called his attention “We’ll be arriving shortly, just wanted to let you know so you can get your luggage ready”

“Thank you, Captain Merrick” The man smiled, extending his hand, taking the captain to shake “You are so very kind. I’m anxious to go back to the Isles after so many years”

“You said you were traveling a lot?”

“For work, yes”

Merrick hummed, narrowing his eyes “What do you do for a living, my Lord? If you don’t mind me asking”

“Ah, I worked for several Ladies and Lords from different courts around the world” The man smiled “Some easier to work with than others”

“I see,” The captain nodded “Is that where…?” He was pointing to the scar that ran down the mysterious man’s left eye, a mark he seldom saw in travelers.

“This? Got it from an altercation at The Vail. A misunderstanding, you see, people from The Vail are… not as trustworthy as one might think”

The charming smile that man wore could convince anyone of his lies as the captain clearly believed him.

“Haven’t heard from people from The Vail in a while”

“Really?”

“Yes, the last conversation I had with someone with a connection from that place was a Princess and her new husband,” The captain said, trying to sound as vague as possible for the stranger that unbeknown to him was already aware of the story “I heard nothing but good things about their King”

“You might be surprised” The man muttered under his breath “You said you were going to King Alex’s court once we get there, is that correct?”

The captain nodded “King Alex is an old friend, and he requested an audience.”

“Would it be okay if I come along?” The man asked “I want to present my loyalty and service to the crown and I believe it would be comforting to do it in the presence of such a nice acquaintance”

“I don’t see why not. Could you remind me of your name, my Lord? That way I can let the King know we’re on our way”

“Jefferson,” The man said “Bernard Jefferson”

And just like that and with a simple but elaborated lie, the crow’s plan started to take flight.

*

*

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