#lorcan makes an appearance

[acourtofquestions]

Dont be angry, Finnula said. Be smart.

[hollowed-theory-hall]

What are your thoughts on vampires in the Harry Potter universe? The little we know suggests that vampires are mortal and can either be born or turned. Full-blooded vampires appear capable of passing down their traits genetically, creating half-vampires, or turning wizards into vampires. How do you think the concept of vampires fits into wizarding society?

Hello 👋

Vampires are a weird one. We're told so very little about them, and they seem more like an afterthought rather than fully-fledged beings. That in itself actually tells us something important — that vampires are kinda rare and not beings you will just stumble upon.

Vampires as Beings

As you mentioned, vampires in HP are capable of reproduction (Lorcan d'Eath who is a half-vampire), this to me suggests they are not only mortal, but that they can't actually turn other humans into vampires. I mean, if they could, they wouldn't need to reproduce. Also, the fact they are mortal (albeit with even longer lifespans than wizards) suggests they are alive and not undead as vampires are usually portrayed.

So basically, long-living but not immortal bloodsuckers that can't actually turn via a bite. The fact they can't turn humans actually makes how they are treated by wizards make much more sense, so that's what I chose to believe. Further quotes and explanations in the next section. It's under a cut because it got long:

Vampires in Wizarding Society

So how are vampires seen in the wizarding world?

I copied all the quotes from the books relevant to this to try and create a cohesive understanding of wizards' treatment of vampires and the interactions between wizards and vampires.

“Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin’ outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience. ... They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o’ trouble with a hag — never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject — now, where’s me umbrella?”

[...]

The class everyone had really been looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Quirrell’s lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he’d met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days.

(PS)

Vampires seem to live in secluded societies of their own, completely separate from wizards. Such vampire communities exist in Romania and in the Black Forest in Germany. In general, it seems vampires rarely leave their own communities and that they don't often foray into wizard spaces. Vampires are spoken of as cool mysterious beings because most wizards have never met a vampire in their life.

So vampires, unlike werewolves, are treated more as a dangerous curiosity rather than a physical threat (especially in the UK where there don't seem to be any major vampire communities).

That being said, wizards do treat vampires as dangerous. It seems reasonable to them to be traumatized by vampires.

Remember I mentioned I don't think HP vampires can turn with a bite? The whole thing with Quirrell is a bit of a proof of that. He was supposedly terrorized by vampires, that was everyone's assumption, so, they would then assume he was bitten and had his blood drunk, I mean, what else would vampires do to terrify him so much? But no one is concerned Quirrell is then a vampire even if it's logical to think he was bitten.

My conclusion from this is that vampires bite for food and the victim isn't turned. I assume most bite victims just die of blood loss, hence the danger factor. The fact vampires can't turn others is a major factor in why they seem to be treated with slightly more respect than werewolves.

I mean, an international singer (Lorcan d'Eath) can be a known part vampire and no one has a problem with it. There seem to be no rules against vampire employment or ownership of homes the way there are against werewolves. And I think this is because they are considered beings and not a disease the way Lycanthorpy is.

Harry looked into the shadowed eyes of Sirius Black, the only part of the sunken face that seemed alive. Harry had never met a vampire, but he had seen pictures of them in his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, and Black, with his waxy white skin, looked just like one.

(PoA)

Harry just explains here the vampire look and I wanted to mention it. The fact Sirius is said to look like a vampire (and some descriptions from HBP) suggests vampires in the DADA books and in wizards' minds are, in general, hot.

This quote by Dean and some stuff I'll mention later:

“Wonder what they’ll give us next year?” said Seamus Finnigan gloomily. “Maybe a vampire,” suggested Dean Thomas hopefully.

(PoA)

Suggests vampires are seen as hot, mysterious, and dangerous by wizards and there are most definitely erotic magical novels with vampire love interests. Basically, vampires are seen as sexy, dangerous, exotic, and mysterious by wizards who never met them (which is most of them).

Ron and Hermione were standing underneath it, examining a tray of blood-flavored lollipops. Harry sneaked up behind them. “Ugh, no, Harry won’t want one of those, they’re for vampires, I expect,” Hermione was saying.

(PoA)

This shows some of the vampires' better treatment from werewolves. Even though there aren't many vampires in the UK, Honeydukes has blood-flavoured candy for vampires. They are seen as respected enough beings to have their own candy lines that are sold in wizarding shops. I don't think any other magical creature can say the same.

I pull down about a hundred sacks of Galleons a year!” one of them shouted. “I’m a dragon killer for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.” “No, you’re not!” yelled his friend. “You’re a dishwasher at the Leaky Cauldron. ... but I’m a vampire hunter, I’ve killed about ninety so far — ”

[...]

“That woman’s got it in for the Ministry of Magic!” said Percy furiously. “Last week she was saying we’re wasting our time quibbling about cauldron thickness, when we should be stamping out vampires! As if it wasn’t specifically stated in paragraph twelve of the Guidelines for the Treatment of Non-Wizard Part-Humans — ”

(GoF)

But they still are seen as "dark dangerous magical creatures" by some of wizard society. A wizard claims (he's 100% lying) to be a vampire hunter, so I assume some think that's something that should be done.

Even though Percy mentions vampire hunting is illegal according to the Guidelines for the Treatment of Non-Wizard Part-Humans. So while some wizards think vampires should be hunted down (like some people think werewolves should be hunted down) they are treated as human and therefore are protected by wizarding law, unlike werewolves who are discriminated against legally to a much worse degree.

“Harry, I’d like you to meet Eldred Worple, an old student of mine, author of Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires — and, of course, his friend Sanguini.” Worple, who was a small, stout, bespectacled man, grabbed Harry’s hand and shook it enthusiastically; the vampire Sanguini, who was tall and emaciated with dark shadows under his eyes, merely nodded. He looked rather bored. A gaggle of girls was standing close to him, looking curious and excited.

[...]

“I would be delighted to write it myself — people are craving to know more about you, dear boy, craving! If you were prepared to grant me a few interviews, say in four- or five-hour sessions, why, we could have the book finished within months. And all with very little effort on your part, I assure you — ask Sanguini here if it isn’t quite — Sanguini, stay here,” added Worple, suddenly stern, for the vampire had been edging toward the nearby group of girls, a rather hungry look in his eye. “Here, have a pasty,” said Worple, seizing one from a passing elf and stuffing it into Sanguini’s hand before turning his attention back to Harry.

(HBP)

The final quote I want to bring up is the only vampire we ever see in the HP books. Sanguini is described exactly like Sirius is in PoA and how vampires are shown in DADA books, so there is some truth to these descriptions (or Worple found himself the perfect poster vampire to walk around with). The gaggle of giggling girls is also noteworthy as it adds to the idea that wizards see vampires as sexy, mysterious, and dangerous in a good way.

The fact both Worple and Lockhart find popularity and success with their books about vampire life, again shows wizards are curious and interested in reading about these mysterious beings called vampires. I'm sure there is a lot of trashy fiction dedicated to them because of that.

Sanguini, though, seems more interested in the girls' blood than anything. Like, it seems he doesn't mind drinking the blood from a bunch of random school girls, but it's hard to say if it's a vampire issue or that Sanguini personally just doesn't give a shit (Harry does mention he looks bored).

I find it odd how Worple talks to him like a dog, though. It shows again, wizards' sense of superiority. Even though they treat vampires like curiosities (which is better than most creatures get) they still don't see them as equal even if they are in the camp that doesn't want to hunt them down.

What's more surprising is that Sanguini listens. It's possible Sanguini and Worple are fucking and they are into that sort of thing, and that's my personal headcanon for it. Sanguini was there as Worple's secret date and nothing could convince me otherwise.

[bubbles-for-all-of-us]

Hii I'm glad you're writing today!! Can you write something for fenrys. Him being in a new relationship and feeling like he can't give her enough because he's not too intimate (because of his trauma) and he sees her laughing with someone else and thinks she's better off without him but reader finds out and comforts him? Some angst/fluff please 🤌🏻💚

Healing hearts

He was scared. Down petrified if he was being honest. Fenrys wasn’t looking for a partner. No, you practically just appeared as if someone sent you down for him. Maybe it was his brother. By the river, you had found him. He had walked away from the training with the Cadre, the devastation of no longer having his twin there, hitting him with a wave of bitter anger. You had walked to the river to refill the buckets for laundry when you had caught his frame slumped against the tree.

The sound of buckets falling had caused Fenrys to turn then. To you running through the high grass. Running towards him. He had frowned, his mind not putting things together. And then you had touched him, out of concern but it had sent him into an overdrive and he shifted right in front of you making you lose your balance as you stepped back. Falling back onto the sharp stones. The metallic smell of blood filled Fenrys’s nose as you lifted your bloody palms to shield yourself from him. His head scrambled even more as he backed away as well, he didn’t want to scare you. He didn’t mean to hurt you. But then you had looked at him. More like looked through him. At the white wolf whining as he pressed against the tree. “It’s okay”, you muttered, “I’m not hurt and I mean no harm. You were just…”, you swallowed thickly, “Against that tree I thought you were having a heart attack, I don’t know… I’m sorry”.

The rest took long weeks to unfold. He was skittish. Craving companionship. But every time you would get close he would run. Leaving you for days without showing up. It was Gavriel who had visited you with a slightly apologetic look on his face. “If you have it in your heart, don’t give up on him”, he muttered as you poured him a fresh ale, “He took so many blows. Life hasn’t been kind to our boyo”. You had only nodded that night. Knowing better than making promises to ancient soldiers.

It felt like trying to get a stray to trust you at first. But then slowly, little by little, he had started to open up. You let him take the lead at all times. Even in the moments when your fingers itched to touch him, you held back. Telling him time and time again that he was in control here, nothing he didn’t want to do he didn’t have to. You had cried the night he had finally leaned in to kiss you. After months of waiting for him, being there with him. “Was it that bad?”, Fenrys had frowned, brushing his thumb against your cheek. “No, it was that special”, you muttered back, eyes getting lost in his. And that was enough for him. Fenrys had been a goner ever since. His heart calling out to yours beat after beat.

“Can we get another one?”, Lorcan lifted his empty cup at you as you scurried through the tavern. “Don’t bother her”, Fenrys was quick to clip back but you only threw their table a smile, “Lorcan, you asking nicely… Scribble the date down for me boys”, you mussed, causing Lorcan to roll his eyes. “You’re doing okay?”, you stepped aside, letting another girl pass through. Giving you enough of a reason to brush your fingers against Fenry’s palm. He simply nodded, looking around the room. You knew that he hated crowded places like this but he came back for you. And that was a gesture in itself. So not wanting to put more pressure on him, with a slight squeeze to his wrist you turned back, hurrying to fill the empty glasses.

It made his guts turn that he couldn’t claim you like other males. That he wasn’t playful. That he didn’t pull you into his embrace as you walked by. Fenrys was envious of the smile you kept giving to others. Of the flirtatious comments, those drunks gave you. And a part of him screamed that you deserved them more than him. That you would be happier with them.

“Don’t do this, boy”, Gavriel’s voice cut through Fenrys’s thoughts like a blade. “I ain’t doing nothing”, Fenrys scowled, eyes still fixed on you laughing at a joke some random bloke had told you. Doubting that it was that funny. “She waited for you and she’s been choosing you for months. You would be a prick to break her heart now”, the older male stated but that only annoyed Fenrys more. “You know nothing about us”, the white wolf stated firmly. “Oh, I know more than you know, clearly”, Gavriel inclined his head towards you and Fenrys was met with your worried glance from across the tavern. You must have sensed the tension. Fenrys simply gritted his teeth before pushing to stand, showing the double-sided door open as he went.

The late-night glow glistened in the lake in front of him. The only thing disturbing the peace was the occasional pebble Fenrys threw into the water. “Here you are”, the voice drifted through the night but Fenrys didn’t turn. “You had me worried, love. Did something happen”, your soft palm grazed his shoulders as you sat next to him.

“Do you want to be with me?”, the question left Fenrys’s lips before he could even think it through. “What… why are you asking me this?”, you frowned, “I’ve been choosing you every day for a while now, Fenrys”. “Choosing yes, but that can be from obligation”, Fenrys stated, “You feel sorry for me so you stay”. His words hit you like a blow. You wanted to be mad with him but instead, you reached your hooking your finger beneath his chin, turning his face towards you.

“I love you and I will fight your demons with you”, you stated firmly, “You are worthy of love and I will give it all to you. I’ll love you for all the people who didn’t”. Fenrys eyes glistened with tears as he watched you. “I can’t give you most things other men can”, he argued but you only shook your head, “As long as you love me behind the closed doors, as long as you find comfort in me - I don’t need anything else”, you reassured him and finally he nodded alongside your words. “Don’t leave me”, he whispered, “I won’t survive if…”, “I am not going anywhere. I’m with you. I chose you and you are my life now, Fenrys”, you leaned in pressing your forehead to his. His arms wrapped around you as he pulled you in, head on your shoulder as he breathed you in. He didn’t say anything else, you knew that he wanted to. You knew what three words lay sealed behind those lips so pushed your fingers through his hair softly, you whispered against his ear, “I love you too, Fen”, before pressing a gentle kiss to his temple.

[nalgenewhore]

give her his onliness

elide x lorcan, canon-divergence/circus era, NSFW + feelings, shifting allegiances, word count: 5347

It’s hot, and the smoke in the air mixes with the humidity to form this oppressive fog. 

Lorcan feels like he hasn’t had a full lungful of air in days. The weather tightens the lead on his temper, and he’s forced to bite back a snappish remark every other minute. 

He’s laying on the riverbank now, his shirt, boots, and socks discarded beside him. Once the sun goes down, he’ll be forced to put on that sticky, dust-collecting oil and go back on that pathetic stage to entertain the peasant masses. He is not a gifted nor humble performer, but that doesn’t deter the bold and foolish few who proposition him after. 

As if he could want any of them. 

He knows now what it means to really desire someone, and not only as a means for his pleasurable ends. Since that night in the oracle’s tent, he thinks of one thing only, dreams of one thing only.

There's rustling in the trees across the river. He slits open his eyes, making no other movement, to find the subject of his desire. 

Elide puts her hands on her hips. His lips twitch - she’s so wondrously stubborn, a trait he would loathe in anyone else. She actually bared her blunt teeth at him once, the brave little thing. 

“I know you’re awake,” she accuses him. “We have work to do, you know.”

Lorcan shuts his eyes again. “I am not eager to return,” he says. “If you are, feel free to go.”

The next thing he hears is a soft splashing, and then she’s standing over him. Elide drops her skirts. “What are you doing?”

“I believe it’s called relaxing.”

She nudges him with her foot, and faster than she can react, he captures her ankle. She gasps, hopping slightly to retain her balance. Lorcan lets go when she stumbles so he can catch her falling. Elide glares at him. “You did that on purpose, you brute.” Her small palms are pressed into the muscles of his chest. 

“Sit,” he says. “Relax.” He sets her down on the rocks beside him. “We have time.”

Elide huffs a humourless chuckle at that. They don’t, really. They can pretend they do, they can carve it out of stone. He sees the tension around her eyes melt; she relents in silent agreement. 

She exhales a sigh that’s too weathered. Lorcan reclines once more and reaches out to press his hand against her back. It may seem casual to an outside view, but the touches between them are never casual. She relaxes when he strokes her spine with his thumb. “It’s too hot,” she complains.

“Take off your clothes.”

“Lorcan!” she snaps, twisting to glare at him. The heat makes her irritable. 

He lifts his hands. “I won’t be anything less than a gentleman.”

“You don’t know the meaning of the word.”

He chuckles, “I am not propositioning you. It’s hot, and the river is cool. Bathe in it.” Her eyes are still narrowed. “I won’t look.”

For some reason, that doesn’t eliminate the irritation lining her face; it switches to something else, equally bothered. Lorcan shuts his eyes, too tired to decipher whatever that means. He listens to her stand, and then articles of clothing drop onto the stones, something landing on his chest.

He keeps his eyes shut as she walks away, her steps uneven. Lorcan sends out a little strand of his magic to brace her ankle. Elide hums a bit, and the water splashes as she runs forward with a laugh he seldom hears.

It makes a crooked smile appear on his face. Her joy, to him, is something precious, which he doesn’t fully understand. For the first time in a while, not knowing something doesn’t bother him; he lets it be as it is.

“Lorcan,” she calls him.

“Hmm?”

She clicks her tongue, “Lorcan.”

She wants something, his attention maybe, and he knows it. He smirks to himself. “Yes?”

Next, she does something he doesn’t expect and splashes him. Lorcan sits up with a raised brow. Elide looks back at him with a coy smile, delight shining in her eyes. She moves her hands to splash him again, and he warns her, “Don’t you dare.”

Elide cocks her head to the side. “No?” She pushes the water harder, some of it hitting his torso. 

Lorcan stands up, fully ready to charge her and make her regret it, but something tears her gaze from his. She backs away, but not from him, with wide eyes. “Lorcan,” she whispers. He turns and sees that snivelling man, Nik, skulking in the brush. 

Anger rolls through him, and no small amount of fear - how did not sense another’s presence? Lorcan moves in front of the mortal man, his lips curling back from his teeth. “What do you think you’re doing?” He looms over Nik, ready to wrench the man off his feet, but Elide as his ever-present observer curbs his murderous urge. “Spying on another man’s wife while she bathes?”

“I- I--”

He reaches down anyway and pulls him to his feet so he can shove him backwards. “Leave, or I will rip your eyes from your skull,” Lorcan seethes. He lowers his voice so Elide can’t hear. “Do not push me, boy. If you think you’ve learned what pain is, I guarantee I can prove you wrong.”

Nik scrambles away, and the scent of his fear makes Lorcan’s nose wrinkle. He watches the man until he’s gone, then faces Elide.

She’s coming out of the river now, stumbling because her arms are wrapped around herself. Lorcan goes to help her. “Elide.”

She shakes her head and lets him pull her close till their bodies press together. Elide won’t look up at him.

“You’re alright,” he tells her.

She doesn’t respond.

Lorcan loosely holds the side of her neck, his thumb brushing her jaw. “Look at me,” he says softly. With a roll of her eyes, she does what he says. He strokes her jaw again. “You’re alright. I’ll always make sure of that.”

Slowly, she nods, her hand lifting to hold his wrist. “I know.” It seems like she means her words.

Whatever peace they found in this oasis has been ruined, and they won’t stay here anymore. He hands her his shirt to dry herself with, but Elide ends up donning it. Lorcan doesn’t let his surprise show as she folds back the sleeves.

He collects the water pails and doesn’t let her carry anything. They’re silent as they return back to camp. Nik avoids them, the only smart thing he’s done today. 

Lorcan has no time to talk with her more because Ombriel steals her away to dress her in that ridiculous costume and Molly snaps commands at him. 

✵✵✵✵✵

Outside, Molly rings the big bell to signal the end of the night’s show. 

Elide wears a brittle smile as she ushers her last customers out of the tent. The minute the fabric doors fall back into place, she rips the gods-forsaken headdress off. She hobbles towards the back where she stashed a jug of water and some cloths. The thick make-up she wears feels like a mask.

She wets a rag and drags it over her cheek, scrubbing at the white paste. She has no idea how something can be both oily and tacky at the same time. 

She’s so wrapped up in her need to feel clean that she doesn’t notice the figure approaching from behind.

A hand lands on her shoulder, and she nearly jumps out of her skin. 

Elide whirls around with a soft shout, her hand dropping to the knife stashed in her waistband. 

“Woah,” Lorcan says, realising his mistake. He backs away with his hands raised. “It’s me, just me.”

Her eyes fall shut. She sighs and reaches out to push his stomach. “Don’t do that.” Elide steps closer to him, needing a refuge. When Lorcan backs away, shirking her presence, she gives him a hurt look.

He shakes his head, explaining, “I’m covered in oil and sweat.” He rolls his shoulders. “I need to clean myself.”

“Here,” she passes him a few cloths and a jug of water.

They work side by side in tandem, cleaning themselves as best they can. Elide wipes at her face until no more white paste comes off. There’s probably more, but she’s too tired to care. She sits down at the table and stares into nothing while Lorcan finishes up.

He joins her a little while later, his long legs stretched out. He’s looking at her, but his gaze is just a little bit off-centred. 

“What?”

“You have some more,” he says. Lorcan reaches under her chair to tug it closer; Elide gasps through her nose at the display of strength. “Let me get it.”

She indeed lets him. He’s gentle with the rag, softly wiping the spot behind her jaw and her ears. 

He watches her face, depthless eyes tracking every emotion even in their absence. “What’re you thinking about?”

She rouses slightly. Her gaze meets his, hopeless and flat. “I can’t stay here,” she tells him in a hushed tone. “I have to leave.” Elide rubs her sternum with the flat of her palm. “I feel it - in here. I’m not safe.”

“Because of him?”

“It’s not just- today.”

“Where will you go?”

Elide swallows. “Anywhere. I’ll make it work, I’ll find another way.” She lowers her voice even more but knows that he’ll hear it just fine. “They look at us like we’re commodities, Lorcan. They’ll sell us out to the highest bidder.”

“So you’re going?”

“As soon as I can,” she vows.

Lorcan looks at her with heavy eyes, saying something she can’t quite decipher. He puts the cloth down. “It’s late. Bed?”

Her lips quirk with an appreciative smile. 

They stand up to leave together, and Elide slips her hand in his elbow. As they walk out, she realises belatedly that her companion is still shirtless. It wrinkles her brow. She asks, “Where is your shirt?”

“Sold it. Got a silver piece this time.”

“Look at you,” she teases, her worry lifted for a moment. “What ever will they do without you?”

Lorcan glowers at the straggling circus-goers that stare at him. They’re shameless, barely even noticing the male’s supposed wife hanging off his arm. His nostrils flare when he sees a familiar piece of black linen clutched against some blushing farm girl’s chest. “Do they have any shame?”

“No, none,” Elide shakes her head.

He mutters something about manners, and she stifles her laughter against his arm. Who would’ve thought that Lorcan Salvaterre could say anything about other people’s propriety? He shrugs off her touch so he can wrap his arm around her. She allows a smirk to show. 

They stroll past the caravan and go further, their tent near the forest line. 

Just as they’re almost out of ear shot, someone stops them. “Where’s your earnings? We settle every night.”

Lorcan looks over his shoulder with flat eyes. “You’ve had my wife working since sunup, and now we will rest. You’ll get your cut in the morning.” He’s almost daring Molly to say something.

Elide tugs on his belt.

He shifts his eyes to her, and she softly shakes her head, telling him to let it go. He lets out a long suffering sigh. She pulls him along with her, too tired for any more conflict. 

Once they’re in the tent, Lorcan puts up a shield of his magic so that it will block any sound or signs of movement from outside even when the candles are lit.

He takes off his boots and pants before reclining on the thick bedroll. Lorcan stretches his arm over his eyes, listening to Elide undress. 

She lets out a long breath as she kneels. She swaps her heavy skirts for his buttoned shirt, bare beneath it. Next Elide begins the painstaking process of taking down her hair. The one kind thing Ombriel has done for her is give her a little bag of pins. She pats her coiled braids to find each little metal twine and pulls them out.

Once she’s sure they’re all out, she tries to uncoil her braid, but it holds fast. Elide tips her head back in exhausted frustration, groaning.

She senses more than hears her companion sit up. He passes his hand up her back till it braces the back of her head. Elide mumbles as she turns into him, “Do it for me.”

Lorcan doesn’t say a word as he looks over her scalp, picking out every pin she missed. Which, as it turns out, is quite a few. She thinks he’s going to stop now, but he also undos her braid. Elide leans her cheek against his chest. They sit in a comfortable silence, and he starts to stroke her hair. It’s slightly awkward at first, like he’s petting something, but it becomes more natural soon enough.

He asks when she hasn’t moved for a while, “‘lide? Are you asleep?”

She hums, “Not yet.” She lifts her head up. “Are you tired, Lorcan?” He raises a brow. “Because I am. I feel like I’ve been tired all my life.”

It’s wrong, he thinks, for someone her age to be wearied. He should not feel that her soul mirrors his. “Lie down,” he says. “I’ll let you sleep.”

They both know that’s not the kind of exhaustion she speaks of. His side prickles, cold now that she’s moving away. He returns to his spot and watches her when she reclines, about a foot of space between them. She curls on her side, facing him. Lorcan reaches out, “C’mere.”

Elide’s eyes open quickly. She looks surprised as she eyes his outstretched arm, the space he’s providing for her on his bedroll. She goes to the protection he’s offering. 

Despite the difference in their size, they fit together so well. The dip between his shoulder and torso provides the perfect crook for her cheek. She hesitates slightly, not sure where to put her arms. Lorcan drags his fingers up her forearm till their hands meet. 

They remain silent now. Elide looks up at his face. The flickering candlelight casts shadows across his harshly hewn features. His cheekbones jut out, just as proud as the aquiline ridge of his nose. She swallows when she stares at his lips, full and round. 

She wants to feel them against hers once more.

Elide moves a hand up to his jaw and turns his face towards hers. His eyes open, just a bit, a question in them. Before he can ask it, she kisses him. It’s a little off - she’s still new at this, unfamiliar with the mechanics of it all. 

Lorcan responds slowly, guiding the embrace into something smoother, less choppy. Elide feels herself sinking into it. She cups his face as he pulls her closer. He shifts onto his side so there’s more room for her to be pressed against him. 

The hand that held hers moulds to her waist. 

Her breath comes faster when he forces them to part. He stays close, though, and they share the same air. “What do you want?”

“You.”

He rubs her side. “Like how you wanted me the other night?”

She nods, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth.

“D’you want to fuck, Elide?”

She recoils at the term, denying its aggression. “No,” she says. Her eyes search his. “I want to be with you,” she presses her palm over his heart, feeling its thunderous beat. “I want you .”

His face softens. Lorcan brings her back to him for a gentle kiss. She doesn’t know why he does that. It’s like he’s trying to force her back by being too harsh.

Elide lets those thoughts float away. She parts her mouth when his tongue slides over her lips. 

His tongue against hers makes that tight, expectant feeling return to her belly and lower. He slopes a hand down her spine to her backside. She inhales through her nose, exhaling with a soft moan. 

When Lorcan pulls his mouth from hers, she lets out a disappointed sound that he quickly soothes, kissing her jaw instead. She tips her head up for further access, her hand curling around the back of his neck. “Yes,” she sighs, biting her lip as he sucks at her skin.

He teases her with the edge of his teeth and finds that one sensitive spot. She shudders slightly. 

Lorcan hums against her throat.

That spark blooms in her centre, making her twist her hips for relief. His hand moves to her thigh so he can bring her leg over his hips. Elide swallows, her breath faster. Slowly, she rocks her hips against him. She could cry at the reprieve it gives her.

“That’s it,” he murmurs. “Take what you want.”

It’s not enough.

She realises she spoke aloud when he lifts his head, now helping her movements. “Is that what you need?”

Elide shakes her head, chasing his lips. “More,” she mumbles against them. The feeling of his shirt against her skin is too warm now, she wants to feel his flesh instead. She scrapes her fingers down his chest, following the dark hair that trails beneath his waistband.

Lorcan catches her hand. In a quick motion, he’s got her flat on her back, wrist pressed against the padded ground. “I can give you more,” he swears. “I can give you everything.”

She nods, wanting that. She thinks he’s going to kiss her again, but he props himself up on an elbow. Elide waits in anticipation.

He fingers one of the buttons on his shirt, asking her permission. Elide nods again, battling against the urge to rut her hips against his thigh. 

As the shirt falls from her body, the cool air makes her shiver. His gaze falls to her chest, as he’s wont to do. She smiles to herself, slightly smug. Unlike the other times that people gawk at her body, she likes seeing the desire force the black of his pupils to overtake his iris. 

Lorcan drags the backs of his fingers up her stomach till he can grasp her breast. She curves her spine into his touch, a gasp falling from her lips when his thumb circles the peak. He lowers his mouth to the other one, lapping at it before pressing it against his teeth. 

Elide moans loudly before slapping her hand over her mouth. 

He looks up, then softly draws her hand away. “They can’t hear,” he promises. “The shield blocks it.” A strand of his magic snakes up her leg from her ankle. It feels cool against her hot skin. The inherent danger behind it makes her grow wet like last time. 

She squirms a bit. He kisses the heavy underside of her breast and then tracks his lips lower, to the cradle of her hips. Elide pushes herself up onto her elbows, “Whatareyoudoing?”

His thumb strokes the inside of her thigh, soothing. “Do you trust me, Elide?”

She nods choppily because she does, but she has no idea what he’s trying to do now, nor why he’s so far down. Lorcan presses his lips to the hollow of her hip, making her head tip back. “Oh.”

“Last time,” he murmurs, brushing kisses across her pelvis to the other hip. “I used my hand, remember?” She huffs a laugh - how could she not? He grins against her skin, then nips at the delicate flesh stretched over her hipbone. “I want to use my mouth this time.”

“People do that?” she asks, purely curious. “You would put-” she gestures, “down there? How?”

“With my tongue,” he says, then drags it over the junction between her leg and centre. “Or my teeth,” he bites her and sucks to create a little mark. “And my lips.” He kisses her then, hands sloping to the undersides of her thighs. 

“But… why?” Elide feels her cheeks growing red. She’s had it in her head her whole life that her own body is something to shy away from, an unfortunate embarrassment to deal with.

“I like making you feel good. And it will, I promise.” 

Elide nods as she breathes hard. “Yes.” She crashes onto her back, her arms giving up. He guides her legs over his shoulders, and when she doesn’t know where to put her hands, he guides them to his hair.

She grips the silken strands with a hum. 

Her eyes fly open when his thumb splits down her slit, his tongue lapping at that spot. She moans a bit, eager to watch him. 

She tries to pay attention as he uses his mouth on her, but with every moment, that arousal within her heightens till he’s stroking her towards that end - the climax.

His tongue dips inside her, curling against the front for a second. Then, he’s pressing sloppy kisses against her cunt. Lorcan’s hum vibrates through her. Elide gasps, not quite sure she’s breathing properly.

Apparently she’s moving too much since he bars a corded forearm across her lower stomach. She tries to push her hips against it, but he holds her fast.

Lorcan sucks on that little bundle of nerves, flicks the tip of his tongue against it. 

She starts babbling, saying all sorts of stuff but what comes out are repetitions of his name and ragged breaths.

Her release catches her by surprise, so much quicker than before. She feels her body tightening again and she stops breathing for a second. Elide pushes up on his arm without realising how tight her legs are around his head. Her fingers find purchase in his hair to pull ; she needs something to keep her on this earth.

“Oh, my gods,” she cries out. “Lorcan, Lor…”

He rises above her, and her legs fall to his hips, calves lying across his backside. Lorcan joins slowly, busy with tracking kisses up her torso. She slips her hands to the sides of his neck when he presses his lips to hers.

Elide blushes, realising she can taste herself. She notices a second or two later that she doesn’t mind it, actually. 

She opens her legs to let his body fit between them. One of his arms slips under her body and he winds his fingers in her hair. Their bodies grind together. She can feel that hardness beneath his undershorts. It makes her bite his bottom lip.

Lorcan chuckles, “Vicious.”

She grins against his mouth. Feeling bold, she trails her hand down his stomach. She relishes the way his body shudders, his head bending to watch her hand. Elide scrapes her teeth against his jaw and pushes her hand lower. 

He groans, pressing into the contact. “Lochan,” he bites out, his voice rough. “I, fuck…”

Elide nods even though he hasn’t asked her anything. “Please,” she says.

They part so they can both rid themselves of all clothes.

When they come back together, he kisses her deeply. Elide holds his shoulders, relishing in the way his weight bears on her. 

Lorcan fists himself to slowly drag his cock up and down her sex. Small noises fall from her lips, muffled by his, as he teases her. She moves her pelvis in time with him. “Please,” she repeats. “I want it.”

He hums, notching the head of his length inside her. Elide swallows. “You want it?”

She nods and is rewarded by another inch. “You want me?” he asks.

“Yes.” The word escapes her throat, desperate.

He continues like that, teasing her with a slow entrance while he asks her questions, only moving when she answers.

Elide feels like her lungs are in her chest when she’s taken all of him. She can feel him in her, and the walls of her sex flutter errantly. She puffs out some air, her eyes unable to focus on anything.

“Breathe,” he tells her, stroking her side. “Elide, breathe.” He inhales and exhales dramatically until she starts to copy him, her gaze locking on him. “Look at me, just me.”

She exhales shakily as he pulls out to thrust back in. Elide swears she’s trying to focus on him, but with every roll of his hips, her eyelids flutter. She wants to lose herself to this feeling. Whatever moment of peace they can steal away, she wants to stay in it.

“Lor,” she moans out.

He slips his arm under her knee and pushes it closer to her chest. He hits deeper now, each stroke rubbing against that spot inside of her. “Elide,” he pants, “Elide, Elide, Elide, darling.”

His breath is ragged and his head bows to press their brows together. Elide arches her back with a moan when he thrusts into her, her hands squeezing his shoulders. 

“‘lide, I promised to keep you safe,” whispers Lorcan, panting. “Elide, don’t go, don’t fucking leave me.” His voice is that of a broken person. It sounds like he’s on his knees before her. The most feared male throughout the kingdom begging her to stay. “I—“ he cuts himself off with a pleasured groan, his hand sliding down from her waist to grab her thigh, “I want—“

She presses her lips to his, hoping her answer was clear through her kiss. It’s hungry and deep like she’s trying to meld them into one being. Lorcan responds similarly, stilling inside of her with his hips pressed tightly against hers. A lump of emotions form in her throat and her eyes sting with tears. No one has ever wanted her to stay, no one has ever pleaded for her the way he does. Nobody, nobody, nobody, in her whole life. 

Tears leak past her lashes, trickling down her temples. He must realise because he draws back with a sharp inhale. Elide makes a sound of protest, wanting to tell him to ignore it, it’s not the time—

“Darling…” he murmurs. He hangs his head in defeat. “Don’t tell me. If you’re going, don’t tell me.”

She blinks up at him, her hands cupping the sides of his face. “Look at me,” Elide says softly. 

Lorcan shakes his head, mumbling something indistinctive. He tries to shift, to pull out of her, but Elide tightens her thighs around his hips. 

“Look at me,” she repeats. 

He slowly drags his gaze up to hers. 

“You are stupid,” Elide says. His brows draw together and she runs her finger over the crease that forms. “You are the stupidest male that has ever existed if you think that I-“ her voice catches and she sniffles, “would leave you .” He raises his head, stricken with wordless surprise. She rolls her eyes, clicking her tongue. “Och, you’re making me cry.”

A small smile glimmers on his lips, and Lorcan dips his face to kiss her soft skin. “Forgive me, darling.” She hums neutrally and he slowly rolls his hips, pulling out and filling her again. 

Elide gasps wetly, still tearful. Her hands immediately grab his shoulders once more as she squeezes her thighs around his hips. She lets out a low moan, her head falling back, “Oh…”

Her arms wrap around his neck to pull him closer. In this new position, she’s barely giving him any room to move, but he makes do. Elide thinks that the last time they did this, her first time ever, it was pleasurable and he satisfied her, but now, this is something else entirely.

She sighs into his ear, then bites the lobe. Lorcan’s teeth press into her neck, long canines almost breaking the skin. It makes her tip her head back again; she wants him to do it. Instead, he simply kisses her pulse and whispers, “Not yet.”

A moan breaks from her throat, maybe it’s the implicit promise or his touch, but whatever it is, Elide wants more. She tries to squeeze her legs tighter, wanting him closer, wanting him deeper. “Lorcan,” she pants. She makes a frustrated sound.

“Mm, what? What d’you need?”

“More.” She swallows. “You, I need you.”

Lorcan swears to her, “You have me.” He’ll give her anything she asks for, go to any length to preserve her contentment. He’ll bleed out to see her happy smile, one she wears in utter serenity. Just to stop himself from telling her, he kisses her. 

Elide arches into him as she inhales sharply. She slides the pink tip of her tongue across his lips, which part on an exhale. Their embrace grows deeper and brings them even closer. 

His weight bears on her when he grinds his hips against her pelvis. Elide shudders a bit, feeling it float out there - it’s so close. She whimpers softly and pulls away to stare up at him. His laboured breaths fan over her cheek. 

An attempt is made to tell him, needing someone to ground her. Her mouth won’t form the words, though, and it gets harder to think, her mind fuzzy. 

Lorcan nods. He understands her. “I know,” he murmurs. “Just feel it, it’s alright, darling.” He fucks into her a little harder, losing his control, and she moans, a wild and loud sound. “Let it come, ‘lide.”

She shuts her eyes when her body starts to tighten. Air doesn’t leave her chest as easily, and she thinks she’s about to faint. “Please,” she sighs. “I,” she swallows, “I want it…”

Elide cries out his name as she finishes. He bites her at the peak and lets his canines break skin. She holds the back of his neck so tight her nails make crescents. Through it, his hips don’t still, which both prolongs her pleasure and overwhelms her scrambled mind. 

She gasps when he reaches his own end, pulling out quickly. Lorcan cums with his face in her shoulder, his fingers digging into her hard. Elide blushes when she feels his spend smearing across her stomach.

The tent fills with the sounds of their uneven breathing. They lie together as sweat and his release cools rapidly. 

Goosebumps appear on the sides of her thighs. She grunts softly, nudging Lorcan. His hand rubs the outside of her leg. “What is it?”

“I’m cold.”

He presses his lips to the purpling skin where he dug his teeth in. He whispers an apology that she shakes her head and pulls his face up to kiss. “Don’t, I wanted it.”

He groans with some frustration. They exchange soft pecks until she knows they must part. Elide hated this part last time. She felt alone the second his back turned, even though he was only fetching her a shirt and a cloth to clean her with. 

This time, she still feels off but doesn’t fear being abandoned. Her body sinks into the thick bedroll, and she hugs her arms over her chest to stave off the chill. She lets her eyes fall shut; they’re begging for it. If she tries, she still might not move at all.

“Darling,” he says softly. Her heart warms at the term, and she lets him pull her up. Lorcan tosses a scrap of fabric into the corner after wiping her stomach clean. Elide feels sluggish as he helps her into his shirt once more, a different one this time. He smooths her hair back.

She smiles a bit, then pitches herself against him. “Sleep?”

Lorcan hums in agreement and they lie down once more. She curls against his side. He’s never been one for intimacy post-coitus, but with her he wraps her in his arms so she’s pressed into his chest. A blanket covers them and could offer her sufficient warmth, yet he endeavours to keep her close. His hand fits in the cradle of her waist.

Elide idly traces the line of his collarbone, tiredness forcing her words to slur. “Will you come with me?”

“I will.”

“For how long?”

“However long you want,” he murmurs, a vow.

She wonders outloud, “What if I want you forever?”

“I will be with you always.”

She smiles against his hot skin and drifts off with a warm feeling in her chest. When they wake to steal away before the sun, she’ll realise that it’s hope.

✵✵✵✵✵

an: ive had the last scene rolling around my head for a while but didnt know where to fit it, so im pretty happy abt finishing this! we'll see if this writing/posting thing continues but i am headed into finals soon soooo boo!

tag list: @sassyhobbits @empress-ofbloodshed @celestialend @the-regal-warrior @shyvioletcat @icecream52 @elentiyawhitethorn @goddess-aelin @julemmaes @sunshinebingo (lmk if u want to be added/removed)

[yazthebookish]

I posted my take on the Lightsinger theory and Gwyn's "luring" powers theory on Reddit two days ago but thought I'll reshare it here (with some additional thoughts)

The only canon information we have on Lightsingers:

Nesta winced. Cassian went on as she scanned the bog, "There are lightsingers: lovely, ethereal beings who will lure you, appearing as friendly faces when you are lost. Only when you're in their arms will you see their true faces, and they aren't fair at all. The horror of it is the last thing you see before they drown you in the bog. But they kill for sport, not food."

Does this correlate with anything Gwyn did in ACOSF? The answer is no.

I am not saying it is impossible for her to be a Lightsinger though where things stand it's unlikely in my opinion, but I'd attribute any potential powers either singing or glowing to her River Nymph heritage. We have no idea of her powers and she's also half High Fae of course she'll have powers like every other High Fae.

I think a lot of the "canon evidence" are different interpretations of the text but sometimes try to present itself as concrete evidence or proof when it isn't. Some attribute her singing during the services as the cause to Nesta having vision of the Prison and the Harp, but that also means we will have to ask what connection is there between Lightsingers and the Prison/Harp? And some believe it's the lyrics that trigger the vision as they're written in the ancient language and "Nesta saw what the song spoke of". Some believe Nesta power reacting to the crackling energy around Gwyn is a sign that she is a Lightsinger, but like... that's an indicator she has powers just like how Nesta in a later chapter felt Merrill's ornerry power. How is crackling energy means it's a Lightsinger when we never saw them? Powers recognize each other sometimes, just like how Feyre was surprised when Eris was able to detect a cold flame in the Dagger Nesta forged when it was given to him as a gift (like calls to like, Eris also has flame power).

In the bonus chapter, it's described at one point that the Shadows danced with Gwyn's breath as if it heard some Silent MUSIC (emphasis on music and not song). What was referred to as Music between Souls? The mating bond. Interestingly enough it was that same night when Nessian consummated their bond and they were connected by a music between their souls. So that could be a hint, and at the end of the scene Azriel hears a distant beautiful singing and the shadows sing back, hard to tell whether if it's Gwyn, who went back to trying to cut the ribbon, starts to sing or it's also another wording for a hint at the mating bond (also called the Song of the Soul).

I'm more keen to believe it's the mating bond because there are far more parallels and similar mate language to support it across all her three series and if someone is going to tell me "but Lorcan's chest glowed after he took the blood oath from Aelin—" my love context matters in this case and it doesn't invalidate the 10+ examples I can pull out of similar mate language like in the bonus chapter.

To ADD, for Azriel to be lured to the library at 7pm because of said Lightsinger singing, he has to be able to HEAR the singing for the power to influence him and Azriel didn't hear any singing, he was conscious and aware of his actions. It was mentioned Nesta sang with Gwyn at the services frequently and she didn't make any comments on a vision being triggered or her constantly seeking out Gwyn so there are holes in those kind of conclusions—again, because we never see Lightsingers on page.

"But when he arrives to the library it chimed 7pm!! That's when they sing for the dusk service" welp that's another hole in the theory, it depends on Azriel being drawn to the library because of Gwyn's singing but if he showed up at the library and they don't sing until 7pm then before the clock chimes at 7pm, they weren't singing so... not a convincing answer. Also, Clotho is usually seen during those services and Azriel still found her at her desk.

Early on when ACOSF came out, some readers made connections between Lightsingers and Shadowsingers and made the assumption that Lightsingers are the Shadowsingers' Light counterparts. That's why you had people musing about Azriel's mate being a Lightsinger, but canonically Lightsingers are evil once we go back to the text but we don't even see them to know for sure how they wield their powers or if they even sing because Shadowsinger Azriel doesn't need to sing when he uses his power.

In an Elain book (in this scenario it's her and Azriel), I don't see any purpose of Gwyn being revealed as a Lightsinger or anything about her powers because it'll be used as a plot device for an Elain/Azriel romance rather than contribute to Gwyn's own growth and that's why I don't like it. It will have implications on Nesta and the Valkyries dynamic too. If that's the case it will mean Gwyn will need more page time in an Elain and Azriel book to tackle something like that, especially if they're going to "help" her since that's the reasoning I see often—that she's not evil but she doesn't know it and if she did they will help her but like... why? To make her realize she has been keeping them apart or that she wanted a necklace she didn't even have any clue about.

Given Gwyn's history who even at the end of the book said despite training it didn't erase the fact that she let her sister die, she is still dealing with survivor's guilt, she still refuses to wear the priestesses stone, and also her desire to leave the library and see the world (which we didn't see yet). She has a lot of promise as a character than be a plot device for someone else's relationship.

The way I see it, Gwyn's theoretical powers is used to absolve Azriel of any accountability for his actions (ala Necklacegate) because it's not a good look on him, so it's better to pin it on someone else by saying he was lured against his will (since I often see that the reasoning behind her presence in the bonus chapter is to hint at her powers).

So if I have to read about Gwyn dealing with her powers whether they're good or bad, I'd rather see it from her point of view and for it to be beneficial for her own personal arc and healing journey. My problem isn't her having questionable powers (which I don't mind because many SJM characters had questionable powers but used it for good), I don't want it to be used as a plot device for another couple just to smear her as a character and clear the actions of the other male character so his "love interest" doesn't blame him for his actions.

Whew, this was long but I adore Gwyn and I am not a fan of the current version of the Lightsinger theory. I think even if SJM makes it happen, it would probably play out way differently than the fandom expects.

Also, it's not in SJM's style to use other woman drama in her romances. The other women are often 💀 or insignificant past lovers. I don't see her taking that route with Gwyn at all.

She could be half Asteri and I would still love her and be eager to explore her powers and story, I just don't like it being used to further another couple's conflict or whatever (they already have Rhys and Lucien).

And no, I hate the idea of Gwyn being controlled by either Koschei or Merrill because it takes away her agency and the suggestion here is about her doing things that harms others, how will that not have any implications on Nesta and Emerie and the trio's healing journey? Given her own tragic history and the fact that she was helpless and powerless to help her twin sister and she's still dealing with survivor's guilt over it all.

"Why did you sign up for this, then?" Nesta drank the glass Gwyn extended. "If you already have mind-calming exercises you're accustomed to?"

"Because I don't ever want to feel powerless again," Gwyn said softly, and all those easy smiles and bright laughs were gone. Only stark, pained honesty shone in her remarkable eyes.

Her being controlled is putting her in a powerless position again because she has no choice but to do Koschei or "evil" Merrill's bidding that could potentially harm Nesta and the others. I despite it.

And if I have to read about any comparisons between Gwyn and Ianthe as proof that priestesses can be evil, I'll go insane.

Also, if Gwyn's power can influence anyone through her singing, it would've influenced every single person in the services. It would have influenced other members of the IC. This particular theory is weak and depends one interpretation of the text that tries to present itself as evidence of an evil creature that never even shows up on page.

Gwyn wasn't added in the bonus chapter by coincidence. Sarah confirmed she left crumbs all over the book and specifically his bonus chapter, and what we speculate may or may not be confirmed in the next book so you can't dismiss the bonus by saying it has no relevance when the author said she left crumbs for readers to theorize about, which leads me to believe she wants us to come up with different theories until she publishes the next book where we'll know for sure if we nailed it or not.

[thelongforgottenrealm]

Potential New Characters:

I'm toying with the idea that maybe some of Marian's family will make an appearance in the next tier or two and I was wondering if @forgottenmarian had another other headcannons beyond the following?? (I added in one more sister / her mother as potentials, too/filled in the ages but all of that can definitely be changed!)

*the ones bolded are the ones i'm most considering adding -- at least to start

Dad (Charles Dance) - ambitious / influential / power hungry / xenophobic / is/was in a sort of battle for political power and influence w/ rian's dad

Mom (Diana Rigg??) - toying with the idea of having her mom around, too, unless you think she's died??

Marian (46)

Severin (45) - eldest brother / helping run their father's estate

Brother #2 (42) - currently a steward over the smallest country that Roderick has conquered

Albrecht (38) assisting his bro / super close to Marian / someone Marian hopes to possibly put in charge of Malconaire

Brother #4 (37) - one of her brothers who dotes on cassandra and is always sending her presents and fabrics for dresses or things he'll know she will love!

Sister #1 (37)- twins to the above brother / either married with her own family or possibly has taken religious orders??? Either way, I imagine her as super religious/rigid/no fun at all / doesn't get on well with marian ... nor most of her siblings tbh

Brother #5 (35) - Merchant / has been to Astaira in the past and harbors some secret affection for a Calleary/Lorcan girl

Brother #6 (33) - a brother did something sort of idiotic a couple years ago which is part of the reason more of her family hasn't gained holdings in Astaira as roderick is reminded of it from time to time mysteriously (spoiler: its because of Amira)

Brother #7 (32) - desperately in love with guin!

younger sister/Holliday Grainger? (30) - wants to marry alaric but marian does not want this!! does not get on with Marian well at all

[rowaelinsdaughter]

imagine lorcan x reader, where she touches his arms and chest and blushes and says wow have you been working out extra, you feel much bigger, suggestive pls, literally would boost his ego through the roof, like he’d flex his biceps while she’s squeezing them and then she’d giggle SHE IS SO REALLLL

author note: hope you dont mind that ive made this a headcanon, but I have tried to put everything you asked for, I hope you enjoy it

𝕻𝖗𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊 (𝕷𝖔𝖗𝖈𝖆𝖓 𝖝 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝕳𝕮)

WARNING: praise kink, suggestive (?)

Lorcan is 500 years old, so he is well built.

Tall, quite tall, and muscles all over his body.

Who wouldn't be touching it all the time?

At first Lorcan did not care so much about his physical appearance, in the sense that he had muscles but only for his work.

That changed when you arrived.

At the beginning of the relationship, Lorcan imposed himself on you, who wouldn't? He had been trained to kill, to serve. His aura emanated violence.

As time went by, you gained more confidence and learned that beneath that aura, of his powers blessed by Hellas... There was a person who needed love and affection.

It was by chance, but you discovered that he had a praise kink.

From then on, you praised him whenever you could.

That day you were having dinner with the Cadre, in one of your favorite restaurants.

The Cadre had been away for two weeks… two weeks in which you had not seen your mate.

Sitting next to him, you appreciated his arms and swore they had grown. You gave him a once over and he had grown, not in height, but in muscle.

You're touchy all night.

You caress his arm with your nails and Lorcan tenses next to you.

Fenrys and Rowan are the only ones who notice that Lorcan has become tense and all because of your attentions, of course they are the ones who notice.

“Mmmmm, my handsome mate, so big and buff just for me”, “So strong, just so you can protect me from the bad guys”

Lorcan feels like his heart is going to burst.

And not just because of your comments.

You spends the entire dinner one hand on his arm, on his leg, caressing his forearm, touching his biceps...

“Do you like me telling you how strong you are, Lorcan?”, "So good to me, making me feel good with your hands"

You know perfectly well the effects those comments have on him.

So it's no wonder that night he makes you say those comments while making you feel good the way he knows you like.

Praise kink 100%.

𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 ©𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 / 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆.

[nikethestatue]

So tired of the narrative that SJM 'changes love interests all the time!' People love using it as a crutch for their lil ship, but in reality, SJM's done it

ONCE

Tamlin. Feyre. Rhys.

That's it.

Celaena and Chaol/Aelin and Rowan were NOT a switcheroo. The relationship between Celaena and Chaol was absolutely, irreversibly over and done with. Rowan didn't even appear until book 3. Aelin had moved to a whole different kingdom by the time he came about. That's not a switch of LIs. A proper switch would've been Chaol. Celaena. Dorian. If SJM would've switched those 3 around, then I might agree and say it was a real LI change.

Other than that, who else was switched?

Lorcan and Elide? No

Manon and Dorian? No

Hunt and Bryce? No

Ruhn and Lidia? No

Aelin and Rowan? No

Nesta and Cassian? No

Lysandra and Aedion? No

Having a previous relationship isn't the same as 'switching LIs'. For example, Chaol had a brief relationship with Nesryn. It was over. He met Yrene and she met Sartaq, and both of them had moved on from each other. Elain had Graysen. Whoever she ends up with is not a LI switch. Dorian had Sorscha. Him ending up in a relationship with Manon isn't a switch.

Feysand vs Tamlin situation was literally the setup for the entire trilogy. Switching Azriel from Elain to Gwyn would make no difference whatsoever. It's a one book situation. Most likely, IF SJM wants to give both Emerie and Gwyn stories, she'd just give them new LIs.

[tomtenadia]

Detours to You - 20

Hello all,

Here I am with another chapter. This is a bit angsty but I swear it's the only one. There is a big disaster that I hope it make sense. Since I finished ALB I am not used anymore to write these epic scenes with big disasters. So yeah, I hope it makes sense.

Enjoy.

MASTERLIST

Rowan jumped in the car and started driving to the destination, sirens and blue lights blazing.

He heard the address over the radio and his heart sank. It was a factory fire. A place that he had been inspecting on a regular basis recently because on his first visit he had spotted so many health and safety infractions that it was a miracle the place was still open. He had pushed for changes and improvements but there had been so many red tapes from the big bosses that it was frustrating. All his connections had not been enough to help prevent what he had labelled in his reports as a disaster waiting to happen. And now, while rushing to that site he had a feeling that the worst case scenario had happened and that once again money and politics had placed the lives of his firefighters in danger.

Instead of spending time with his girls, Rowan was driving towards a five alarm fire.

*

 As the address grew closer, black plumes began to appear at the horizon and his heart sank. His mind started making possible plans. The smoke was very dark which meant a volatile fire. He pressed on the gas and pushed to the extreme the privileges that the sirens gave him in an emergency.

The location in question was a textile factory where the tanks containing highly flammable liquids were kept at the right storing temperature by a generator. In all his inspections Rowan had noticed signs of old age in the tanks and the generator had three system failures in a short time span. Rowan just tried to guess which one had failed.

He arrived at the site and quickly wore his bunker gear and walked to Lorcan who was acting as Incident Commander for a report.

“Chief.

“Lor, what is the situation?”

The dark-haired captain looked at the fire in front of him “we are evacuating the workers. The generator is failing and one of the tanks with treating chemicals has a leak that started a fire in a section with stored acrylic clothes. They caught fire and as you can imagine it spread quickly. We are working on containing it.”

Rowan looked at the inferno in front of him and rage surged in him.

“Triage is ready, mass casualty plan has been activated and we have four stations on duty.” Lorcan added to finish his report.

Rowan nodded “That is perfect, Lorcan. I take it from here, now.”

Lorcan nodded and ran to grab his gear and joined his team inside.

He took over the scene and started directing the rescue and gathered more information every time more firefighters came out. There were still workers trapped near the centre of the plant, the core that was likely minutes away from breaking down. If the generator failed, the tank would stop working properly and from there the whole site would just blow up.

“Chief to all units, what is the situation near the generator?”

Static was his answer.

“Chief to captain Salvaterre, do we have the fire contained near the generator?”

“One of the storage tanks is leaking heavily, we will need hazmat.”

“Copy that, asking dispatch now.”

“Chief,” Ilias voice came through the radio “We have found a group of four workers, taking them out now.”

“Copy that Ilias, paramedics are ready.”

Not long after he saw two firefighters take out a group of wounded workers. The paramedics ran to them and carried the victims to triage to be assessed. 

Lorcan ran out of the building with a firefighter that had to be rescued after he got separated from his buddy.

“Lor, what happened?”

The man ripped his mask from his face and took a deep breath of air “It’s impossible to get to the centre. We can’t get any deeper. The smoke is very thick and dark.”

“Hazmat is on another call.”

Lorcan swore.

Rowan looked up and watched the smoke change “Lor, you take back command, I am going in.”

“Fuck no, Rowan.”

Rowan started to wear his SCBA “I have visited this factory more times in the past few months than any other industrial site. I know where everything is and I know how to get safely to the generator and where the failsafe panel is.”

“Rowan, that place is a time bomb.”

“I am aware, but there are four of my men inside and probably more workers. I am not going to another firefighter’s funeral, Lorcan.”

Rowan finished getting ready and ran inside “Keep the water going Lorcan, and tell hazmat to get their arses here ASAP.”

Lorcan shouted orders to the four teams “Let’s attack this fire and kill it,” he ordered another team inside to attack the centre of the factory and keep the generator cool to allow Rowan some time.

*

Rowan made his way inside the building and all he saw was thick smoke, but with the help of some burnt landmarks he found his way around. Progress was slow and time was a luxury he did not have. The fire around him was still raging and he only had his memory to guide him through the inferno. Deeper in the venue he heard a PASS alarm and his heart sank. One of his men was down and he rushed towards the sound.

“Chief, Lorcan, I have a firefighter down on the south east quadrant near the central room.”

“Copy that, Chief I am sending in rescue.”

Rowan waited for the two firefighters and then continued on his mission. He was so close but the smoke started changing badly and he knew that he was close to the epicentre. What made things worse was the very distinctive smell of electrical fire “Lor, keep water away from the centre of the structure. Electrical fire.”

He did not wait for his friend’s reply and with his axe he just smashed his way through the door and found four of his men and then two workers on the floor. The PASS alarms haunting his dreams. He grabbed the two workers and dragged them outside in a safe location, alerted Lorcan and then he stormed back inside and took out two of his men at a time. They had a pulse, faint but they were okay. He kept dragging the people as far as possible until he was exhausted. Rowan radioed his teams to rescue a few more people and then got ready for the last mission. 

The generator had a failsafe switch that he hoped was still working and not being destroyed by the fire. He knew he had minutes to stop the plant from blowing up and flatten the building. He stood, gathering all the strength he had left, looked at the oxygen meter on his wrist and realised he had less than ten minutes of air left. It was enough, he kept telling himself. Enough to do his job and hopefully make it out alive. He wanted to get back to Maya and finish celebrating her birthday. He wanted to have a moment alone with Aelin and finally tell her that he was in love with her. That he was tired of pushing his feelings aside and overthink it. She was the love of his life and if he made it out alive he was going to tell her.

With a mighty roar he burst inside the plant room and crawled to the bottom where the smoke and the toxic air was less thick. The air was thick with electricity and one of the panel was clearly shorted. Slowly he elbowed his way to the centre and found the core computer that was barely working. Blindly he found his way to where he knew the failsafe panel was. Or was meant to be. He froze when he realised that it was not there anymore. The computer that would allow him to safely shut down all the tanks was gone. 

“Lorcan, Chief,” he coughed “Mission has failed. Push back, the building is lost.”

Slowly he made his way back, his oxygen was starting to run low and Rowan went through all of his old training routines to keep oxygen consumption low. 

He was dragging his sorry arse out of that hellish place when he saw all the signs. He tried to run, his body screaming for oxygen, his legs failing him. And when he noticed the fire pattern change he threw himself on the ground as a series of flashovers spread through the building.

Aelin and Maya’s laughter the last images in his mind before the darkness engulfed him. 

*

Lorcan hated that he was outside. Rowan should be there and he should be inside, that was his job. But Rowan knew the place inside out. He had been conducting regular inspection and Lorcan knew that place was a ticking bomb, Rowan had told him the fights he had been having to change things but it looked that no one listened to him.

Pushing aside his rage he listened to the teams for what was happening. More workers kept being found alive and he counted that as a success. Rowan’s voice came through the radio alerting him that he had found the firefighter that had gone missing after he lost track of his partner. 

“Come on, Rowan…” 

The fire started to change and Lorcan called for more water to be pumped on the building, the water cannons moving to concentrate on where the tanks were. 

Hazmat was still busy and he needed the team there immediately. He called dispatch for another update and he got the same answer. Time was ticking and he was growing worried. Surely Rowan’s oxygen was about to run out soon. Why the fuck he was not out yet?

The radio became alive once more and Rowan’s voice came through alerting him that he had more survivors. He sent Fenrys, Brullo and two more firefighters in to recover the people Rowan had saved.

Long minutes passed and silence stretched. He called Rowan but no answer came through.

“Lor, it has been too long. We need to get in to get Rowan.” Fenrys walked to him and shouted “He is inside that inferno on his own. That’s not how we do things.”

“Rowan, come through.”

More silence.

And then his strained voice finally reached him “Lorcan, Chief,” he coughed “Mission has failed. Push back, the building is lost.”

Lorcan’s heart sank at the words.

“Push back everyone. Move the perimeter back.” His voice thick with panic for his friend.

His men got into action and started to retreat to safety and then the explosion hit. Lorcan waited for the flashovers to die down and then grabbed his gear “Ilias, you have command, I need to save the Chief.” He shouted like a desperate man.

“Fen, Brullo and Ansel, with me.”

The three firefighters exchanged their bottles and grabbed a jump bag and a stretcher from the paramedics.

From the outside, Ilias restarted the water attack to allow them further progress inside.

Lorcan had an idea of where to go because had listened to Rowan when had talked abut the building but had never been inside. He followed his instincts and walked towards the centre of the structure until in the distance he heard the unmistakable sound of the PASS alarm. One of the sounds he hated the most, especially when it meant his best friend was in peril.

“Rowan,” screamed Fenrys at spotting Rowan’s body on the floor.

“Slowly, Fen.”

The young man walked quickly among the debris, pushing aside beams and part of structures “Fen, be careful.”

He did not listen and Brullo and Lorcan followed with Ansel in tow. When they finally arrived Rowan’s body was sprawled on the ground “Ilias, we got the Chief, we are assessing him just now.”

“Copy, I have paramedics on standby.”

Ansel crouched to his side, removed his broken mask and started assessing him “he is breathing but it’s very shallow.” The woman placed an oxygen mask on his face to help him breath better. The mask was cracked and he likely had inhaled toxic fumes. She checked his sats and she had her answers when the number turned out to be too low.

Brullo opened the jump bag. All firefighters had some sort of first aid training, but Brullo and Ansel were also certified paramedics so Lorcan let them work.

Fenrys helped them remove his bunker jacket and that’s when he saw a piece of metal sticking out of his left flank. 

“Don’t pull it,” said Brullo “The spike just now it��s preventing him to bleed to death.”

Lorcan helped remove some of the debris covering his body “Possible fractures in the lower body,”

Ansel inspected his side and saw some burnt marks along his right arms down his chest “Second degree burn on his right side.”

“Is he stable enough for transport?” Asked Lorcan.

Ansel passed the stretch-board they had carried and with Brullo’s help they slid it under Rowan’s back.

“Yes, we are good to go. Alert the paramedics we have him and we are coming out. We need immediate transport to the hospital.”

Once outside, Lorcan stared at his team carry Rowan to the paramedics, watched them gave him initial treatment and then load him on the ambulance and disappear at the horizon.

He took command back from Ilias and guided the team until the fire was extinguished. Hazmat eventually arrived and took over the scene and Lorcan sent his teams inside for overhaul.

The sun had started to set once the scene was clear. Lorcan ordered engine back to quarters but he took the truck to a side mission.

The vehicle slithered through the traffic of Orynth and he prepared how he could tell Aelin about what happened. It was Maya’s birthday and he was about to destroy that day.

*

Aelin, Lys, Aedion, Elide and her parents had remained at the bookshop to continue the celebrations. Maya was sitting on her plastic table with her uncle and grampa and they were all reading some stories.

Aelin was about to start cleaning up when she saw a big fire truck park in front of the shop.

Her book tumbled off her hands when Lorcan stepped in, blackened by smoke and a dark stare.

Aelin’s hand shook and she felt sick.

Elide stepped at her side and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Aelin,” he paused “I need you to come to the hospital with me.”

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[leiawritesstories]

Okay I saw “First time getting drunk” on one of the prompt lists and now I’m imagining aelin or rowan maybe having their 21st, having waited all that time without having alcohol and maybe the other one’s teasing them for being such a goody-two-shoes, and then they get drunk together and it’s either hilarious or there’s a love confession or literally anything at all, this is just where my brain headed but you can go anywhere you want to with this prompt, your ideas are always amazing

(And congrats again❤️)

HI ABBY THANK YOU SO SO MUCH ❤️❤️❤️this made me CACKLE and i hope it makes you laugh too ;)

Word count: ~1.4k

Warnings: swearing, alcohol, drunken antics, *someone* is a lightweight

enjoy!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Staghorns Bar was packed by the time Aelin and Rowan walked through the old wooden doors, instantly bombarded with the barrage of blaring music, tattooed skin, and beer stench that was so familiar to Staghorns's regulars.

"Welcome to your new favorite place!" Aelin called into Rowan's ear, raising her voice over the thumping music.

He rolled his eyes and pulled her closer against him. "I already want to leave."

She laughed, pinched her best friend's cheek. "Where's the fun in that, birthday boy? You don't even have to pay for your drinks tonight."

"Fine, I'll stay," he relented, grinning at her. "If only for the free drinks."

"You've never known the pain of paying for your booze," she reminded him, snickering. Rowan's refusal to touch alcohol until he was 21 had been a longstanding joke among their friend group.

"And whose bank account has that benefitted, hmm?" He raised his split brow.

"Okay, you can stop now." She poked him in the ribs. "I got the full college experience, booze and all, and I'm still in one piece, despite your hovering, Mom." She delivered that last word with heavy sarcasm. She might be eight months older than her best friend, but he hovered like an overprotective mother hen.

He snorted. "You keep calling me that, Ae, but we all--urk!" His snarky comment was cut off by a trademark Fenrys Moonbeam Hug Attack, which he allowed for exactly two seconds before shoving the blonde off of him.

Ever enthusiastic, Fen turned his sights onto Aelin, hoisting her off her feet in a bear hug. "You brought the birthday boy!" he exclaimed.

She laughed. "It took some bribery, but yeah, he's here."

"And he's gonna get druuuuuunk!" Fen cheered in a sing-song tone of of voice that had Rowan rethinking his decisions.

"Uh-uh, nope, I know that face." Aelin linked her arm through Rowan's and tugged him towards the booth where their friends were waiting. "No running away now, birthday boy."

"I'm not getting drunk," Rowan griped.

She snorted under her breath. "Since when have you ever listened to Fen's wildness? You'll have a beer, maybe taste some liquor, take a shot and cough on it like all the new drinkers do, and go home finally knowing what alcohol tastes like."

"And I should be excited for that?" he asked, deadpan.

She smacked his broad shoulder, which did more damage to her hand than his rock-solid muscles. Damn athletes. "You'll at least be able to tell your big bad hockey boys that you've graduated from the kiddie table." They reached the booth, where far too many people were crammed into a space meant for eight people, maximum. "He's here!"

"Happy birthday!" cheers sounded from their friends, and Rowan found himself deluged by more hugs and handshakes and back slapping.

"Never thought I'd see your pansy ass in a bar," Lorcan smirked, clapping him on the back.

"Fuck off." Rowan clapped Lorcan's back harder. The two of them had been teammates since they were in middle school, and Lorcan had been trying--unsuccessfully--to get Rowan to come to hockey team parties for years.

The taller man smirked wickedly and turned around, holding out his hand. "El, baby, pass me a cup?" A plastic cup full of beer appeared in Lorcan's hand. courtesy of his girlfriend, Elide. "Here you go, Birthday Boy." He picked up how own drink and tapped it to Rowan's. "Cheers, bitch!"

Rowan caught scent of the beer and immediately wrinkled his nose. "Smells fucking awful."

Appearing at his side, Aelin laughed. "We're college students, Ro, we only buy piss-cheap beer." She raised her own glass to him and pressed her lips to his ear. "Drink up, and I just might buy you something better."

"God damn, you're a terrible influence," he muttered, teasingly. "Cheers to me, then!" Saluting the booth, he tipped the cup back and took a long drink.

And gagged. "Fucking hell!"

Aelin chugged her whole cup in one go and laughed. "Not a fan?"

"No!" He switched cups with her. "Where's my real drink?"

"Aww, look at our little boy, all grown up and wanting liquor the second he tastes his first alcohol," Lorcan crooned, dropping his arms around Aedion and Rowan's shoulders.

Rowan shook him off. "Jackass."

Aedion slid a shot glass full of clear liquid across the tabletop. "All yours, birthday boy!" His grin was just as maniacal as Aelin's when she was up to no good.

Aelin shot her cousin a sharp look. "Aedy, is that--"

"Let him drink it and we'll find out," Aedion interrupted before she could finish, making a dramatic shut up! gesture.

She rolled her eyes. "You're a terrible influence." Swiping the other shot from Aedion, she took a quick sniff--yep, tequila. "Okay Ro, ready?" He nodded and picked up his shot. "Happy birthday, bestie!" She clinked her shot with his and, in unison, they tapped their glasses on the table and threw back the shots.

Rowan coughed and wheezed as the tequila burned down his throat, his face flushing red. "What the fuck?"

The booth burst into raucous laughter as he dropped his shot glass, reached for the glass of water sitting in front of Elide, and gulped it down desperately.

Only to find that what looked like water was in fact vodka.

"Look at our little alcoholic go!" Elide cheered, taking her drink away from Rowan as he coughed and spluttered some more.

"Wuh-water," he managed to wheeze. Aelin passed him her water bottle, and he took a tentative sip to confirm it was actually water before guzzling three-fourths of the bottle in one go. It helped, but didn't do anything to clear the glassy sheen his eyes had already taken on after half a cheap beer, one shot of tequila, and a generous helping of Elide's vodka.

"Better?" Aelin took back her water bottle. "Ro? Is that better?"

He turned to face her, blinking at the way her outline was...fuzzy? He shook his head. That couldn't be right. "Huh?"

A wide, wicked grin slipped across her face. "Rowan Whitethorn, are you drunk already?"

"No, I'm not!" he protested. It came out more like "no-uhmmm-not."

She snickered. "Should've known you'd be a lightweight after all your years refusing to drink." Standing, she draped his arm around her shoulders and waved to the table. "I'll make sure the birthday boy doesn't pass out before he gets home."

Rowan swayed on his feet but let her lead him out of the bar and across the parking lot until they'd reached his beat-up old pickup. He went to step up into the passenger seat, missed the running board, and flopped forward, catching his upper body on the seat.

Aelin sighed and rubbed his back comfortingly. "C'mon, you big drunk oaf, you have to get into the truck. I can't lift you."

"I'n lif' you," he slurred, grinning a big silly grin.

"I--wha--Ro!" She gasped as he turned around and lifted her easily, setting her down in the passenger seat. "Um, you've got it backwards, Rowan. You're way too drunk to drive. Hell, you might be too drunk to think properly' I can't let you drive."

"Am not!" He stuck out his lower lip. It was adorable. "'M'thinkin' jus' fine, an' I think I love you."

Aelin froze.

Rowan blinked at her, his hazy eyes wide with concern. "Ae?"

"You...you love me?"

A soft pink blush crept up his cheeks. "Yeah."

Her lips curved into a tiny, hesitant smile. "And you had to get drunk to admit it?" He opened and closed his mouth a few times, at a loss for words. She laughed softly and caught his chin in her hands, her bringing his face close to hers. "I'm just teasing, Ro." Gently, she pressed her lips to his, tasting the lingering alcohol.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her harder, breaking away after a long, sweet moment. His bright grin settled into a dark, cold corner of Aelin's heart and warmed it right through. "Stay wi'me?" he asked, his words still slurred together.

Beaming, she hopped down from the truck, boosted him into the passenger seat, went around to climb into the driver's seat, and started up the engine. "Of course."

Despite falling asleep within the first two minutes, he held her hand the whole drive back to campus.

~~~

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[starryhiraeth]

Lorcan x reader

Warnings?; Kidnapping, murder, blood, gore and ✨spelling errors ✨

It was dark in the cell, you could only make out the dirty brick walls around you and the bars in front.

It was cold and the air was damp, somewhere off in the distance there was a dripping sound echoing through the cell? Dungeon? You couldn’t tell.

You didn’t know what had taken you, one second you were going to give some reports on the small rebellions rising here and there to your friend and queen, Aelin and the next, a cloth was over your mouth, you tried not to breathe in the powder but in the end you could hold your breath.

And what’s worse?

No one knew you were gone.

Your tried to reach out to Lorcan through the bond but still no one had come for you

You were going to die there.

You thought back to the days when life was much simpler, you were known as the most beautiful female to ever live, even to the point of some males thinking you were a demon.

So carefree.

So naive…

You’d been toying with two guys much older then you and they found out about each other, they had gotten into an altercation and probably would’ve killed each other if it ether for him.

Lorcan.

Your mate.

He’d rolled his eyes once he saw the males fighting and was half tempted to leave them to it and then he saw you

Your eyes tearing up and hands shaking.

The bond hit him like being run over by a carriage

He immediately dragged the males away from each other and walked you home whilst you ranted about how you didn’t know they would go that far and how you felt and how you’d gone to far this time.

Lorcan said nothing, only throughout the journey getting physically closer,

At first you are just walking together then he got closer then a hand on the shoulder then to your waist until when you finally got home and said goodnight, you looked him in the eyes and it clicked.

You were going to die. You are also positively sure that the ones who kidnapped you are from the rebellion.

Fae haters.

Tears started to fall as you realised that you would probably never see any of your friends or mate again, rethinking all the things you wished you’d said to them, to him.

Until a scream came from the darkness, you flinched shuffling away from the bars as more cries on agony screeched out of the darkness, you started to cry harder.

Until from the shadows he came out, Lorcan himself, covered head to toe in blood that wasn’t his own,

“Lorc” you whimpered out

He raised he sword and demolished the bars before he rushed over and took a tried, dirty and bleeding you into his arms,

Tears of relief poured from your eyes and he his whispered words of comfort into your pointed ears,

“Your okay”

“Your alright”

“I’ve got you baby”

Carrying you out of the dungeon, bridal style, you noticed that it had been carved into a cage on the side of a mountain and once your eyes adjusted to the light you looked down and saw fighting.

A white leopard. Lysandra.

A white wolf. Fenrys.

Thunder and wind. Rowan

A giant silver sword. Aedion

And roaring fire. Aelin

They all came for you.

You looked to their opponents, your kidnappers.

You recognised them, the males from all those years ago, the ones who had fought over you, and others of whom you had broken hearts.

This wasn’t an act of rebellion, it was an act of revenge, for breaking all their hearts.

Suddenly you felt a rush of guilt surround you before Lorcan squeezed your thigh and looked you in the eyes, almost sending you a message

It’s not your fault, it was hundreds years ago, you’ve grown up, it’s not your fault.

It was then two of the males who had fought over tog long ago appeared behind Lorcan and you,

Loran remembered them, the much older males who had fallen for his, naive at the time, mate.

The ones who distressed her when they fought and said the winner would keep her, Lorcan saw red.

He placed you behind him and drew his monstrous sword. Covered in blood and charged at them,

The battle continued as Lorcan sliced them up, by the end of it they were merely tiny pieces of flesh, blood and bone on the rocky floor. It was cold and viscous, you were almost worried that when he would turn back around you wouldn’t recognise the male you loved

Boy, were you wrong.

He turned back to you and there was darkness in his eyes, sure, but also love. Love for you had turned Lorcan into that dark killing machine, you reached reach out you him again as he very easily picked you up bridal style, again and held you closer just as you did

The scent of blood and death was the only thing you could smell on Lorcan but you couldn’t blame him.

You wouldn’t blame him.

He did it all for you. To get you back. To get back to his love,

You couldn’t blame him, for it was love that made him crazy.

[acourtofquestions]

Kingdom of Ash Chapter 61

Chapter; Highlights (okay the entire chapter is a highlight)🤣

As requested @mysterylilycheeta I NEED TO SQUEAL IN WYVERN FANGIRL WITH YOU NOW CAUSE OH M GOODNESS THIS CHAPTER ON SO MANY LEVELS I JUST AHAKWIHUHFEJLZXBKEKA

Agony was a song in Lorcan's blood, his bones, his breath.

Every step of the horse, every leap she made over body and debris, sent it ringing afresh. There was no end, no mercy from it. It was all he could do to keep in the saddle, to cling to consciousness.

To keep his arm around Elide.

She had come for him. Had found him, somehow, on this endless battlefield.

His name on her lips had been a summons he could never deny, even when death had held him so gently, nestled beneath all those he'd felled, I, and waited for his last breaths.

And now, charging toward that too-distant keep, so far behind the droves of soldiers and riders racing for the gates, he wondered if these minutes would be his last. Her last.

She had come for him.

Lorcan managed to glance toward the dam on their right. Toward the ruk rider signaling that it was only a matter of minutes until it unleashed hell over the plain.

He didn't know how it had become weakened. Didn't care.

Still Elide kept urging the horse onward, kept them on as straight a path toward the distant keep as possible.

No ruk would come to sweep them up. No, his luck had been spent in surviving this long, in her finding him. His power would do nothing against that water.

The farthest lines of panicked soldiers appeared, and Farasha charged past them.

Elide let out a sob, and he followed the line of her sight.

To the keep gate, still open.

"Faster, Farasha!" She didn't hide the raw terror in her voice, the desperation.

Once the dam broke, it would take less than a minute for the tidal wave to reach them.

She had come for him. She had found him.

The world went quiet. The pain in his body faded into nothing. Into something secondary.

Lorcan slid his other arm around Elide, bringing his mouth close to her ear as he said, "You have to let me go."

Each word was gravelly, his voice strained nearly to the point of uselessness.

Elide didn't shift her focus from the keep ahead. "No."

That gentle quiet flowed around him, clearing the fog of pain and battle. "You have to. You have to, Elide. I'm too heavy-and without my weight, you might make it to the keep in time."

"No." The salt of her tears filled his nose.

Lorcan brushed his mouth over her damp cheek, ignoring the roaring pain in his body. The horse galloped and galloped, as if she might outrace death itself.

"I love you," he whispered in Elide's ear. "I have loved you from the moment you picked up that axe to slay the ilken." Her tears flowed past him in the wind. "And I will be with you ..." His voice broke, but he made himself say the words, the truth in his heart. "I will be with you always."

He was not frightened of what would come for him once he tumbled off the horse. He was not frightened at all, if it meant her reaching the keep.

So Lorcan kissed Elide's cheek again, allowed himself to breathe in her scent one last time. "I love you," he repeated, and began to withdraw his arms from around her waist.

Elide slapped a hand onto his forearm. Dug in her nails, right into his skin, fierce as any ruk.

"No."

There were no tears in her voice. Nothing but solid, unwavering steel.

"No," she said again. The voice of the Lady of Perranth.

Lorcan tried to move his arm, but her grip would not be dislodged.

If he tumbled off the horse, she would go with him.

Together. They would either outrun this or die together.

"Elide-"

But Elide slammed her heels into the horse's sides.

Slammed her heels into the dark flank and screamed, "FLY, FARASHA." She cracked the reins. "FLY, FLY, FLY!"

And gods help her, that horse did.

As if the god that had crafted her filled the mare's lungs with his own breath, Farasha gave a surge of speed.

Faster than the wind. Faster than death.

Farasha cleared the first of the fleeing Darghan cavalry. Passed desperate horses and riders at an all-out gallop for the gates.

Her mighty heart did not falter, even when Lorcan knew it was raging to the point of bursting.

Less than a mile stood between them and the keep.

But a thunderous, groaning crack cleaved the world, echoing off the lake, the mountains.

There was nothing he could do, nothing that brave, unfaltering horse could do, as the dam ruptured.

Rowan made himself stand there, to watch the last moments of the Lady of Perranth and his former commander. It was all he could offer: witnessing their deaths, so he might tell the story to those he encountered. So they would not be forgotten.

The roaring of the oncoming wave became deafening, even from miles away.

Still Elide and Lorcan raced, Farasha passing horse after horse after horse.

Even up here, would they escape the wave's reach? Rowan dared to survey the battlements, to assess if he needed to get the others, needed to get Aelin, to higher ground.

But Aelin was not at his side.

She was not on the battlement at all.

Rowan's heart halted. Simply stopped beating as a ruddy-brown ruk dropped from the skies, spearing for the center of the plain.

Arcas, Borte's ruk. A golden-haired woman dangling from his talons.

Aelin. Aelin was—

Arcas neared the earth, talons splaying.

Aelin hit the ground, rolling, rolling, until she uncoiled to her feet.

Right in the path of that wave.

"Oh gods," Fenrys breathed, seeing her, too.

They all saw her.

The queen on the plain.

The endless wall of water surging for her.

The keep stones began shuddering. Rowan threw out a hand to brace himself, fear like nothing he had known ripping through him as Aelin lifted her arms above her head.

A pillar of fire shot up around her, lifting her hair with it.

The wave roared and roared for her, for the army behind her.

The shaking in the keep was not from the wave.

It was not from that wall of water at all.

Cracks formed in the earth, splintering across it. Spiderwebbing from Aelin.

"The hot springs," Chaol breathed. "The valley floor is full of veins into the earth itself."

Into the burning heart of the world.

The keep shook, more violently this time.

The pillar of fire sucked back into Aelin.

She held out a hand before her, her fist closed.

As if it would halt the wave in its tracks.

He knew then. Either as her mate or carranam, he knew.

"Three months," Rowan breathed.

The others stilled.

"Three months," he said again, his knees wobbling. "She's been making the descent into her power for three months."

Every day she had been with Maeve, bound in iron, she had gone deeper. And she had not tapped too far into that power since they'd freed her because she had kept making the plunge.

To gather up the full might of her magic.

Not for the Lock, not for Erawan.

But for Maeve's death blow.

A few weeks of descent had taken her powers to devastating levels. Three months of it

…

Holy gods. Holy rutting gods.

And when her fire hit the wall of water now towering over her, when they collided —

"GET DOWN!" Rowan bellowed, over the screaming waters. "GET DOWN NOW!"

His companions dropped to the stones, any within earshot doing the same.

Rowan plummeted into his power. Plummeted into it fast and hard, ripping out any remaining shred of magic.

Elide and Lorcan were still too far from the gates. Thousands of soldiers were still too far from the gates as the wave crested above them.

As Aelin opened her hand toward it.

Fire erupted.

Cobalt fire. The raging soul of a flame.

A tidal wave of it.

Taller than the raging waters, it blasted from her, flaring wide.

The wave slammed into it. And where water met a wall of fire, where a thousand years of confinement met three months of it, the world exploded.

Blistering steam, capable of melting flesh from bone, shot across the plain.

With a roar, Rowan threw all that remained of his magic toward the onslaught of steam, a wall of wind that shoved it toward the lake, the mountains.

Still the waters came, breaking against the flames that did not so much as yield an inch.

Maeve's death blow. Spent here, to save the army that might mean Terrasen's salvation. To spare the lives on the plain.

Rowan gritted his teeth, panting against his fraying power. A burnout lurked, deadly close.

The raging wave threw itself over and over and over into the wall of flame.

Rowan didn't see if Elide and Lorcan made it into the keep. If the other soldiers and riders on the plain stopped to gape.

Princess Hasar said, rising beside him, "That power is no blessing."

"Tell that to your soldiers," Fenrys snarled, standing, too.

"I did not mean it that way," Hasar snipped, and awe was indeed stark on her face.

Rowan leaned against the battlements, panting hard as he fought to keep the lethal steam from flowing toward the army. As he cooled and sent it whisking away.

Solid hands slid under his arms, and then Fenrys and Gavriel were there, propping him up between them.

A minute passed. Then another.

The wave began to lower. Still the fire burned.

Rowan's head pounded, his mouth going dry.

Time slipped from him. A coppery tang filled his mouth.

The wave lowered farther, raging waters quieting. Then roaring turned to lapping, rapids into eddies.

Until the wall of flame began to lower, too. Tracking the waters down and down and down. Letting them seep into the cracks of the earth.

Rowan's knees buckled, but he held on to his magic long enough for the steam to lessen.

For it, too, to be calmed.

It filled the plain, turning the world into drifting mist. Blocking the view of the queen in its center.

Then silence. Utter silence.

Fire flickered through the mist, blue turning to gold and red. A muted, throbbing glow.

Rowan spat blood onto the battlement stones, his breath like shards of glass in his throat.

The glowing flames shrank, steam rippling past. Until there was only a slim pillar of fire, veiled in the mist-shrouded plain.

Not a pillar of fire.

But Aelin.

Glowing white-hot. As if she had given herself so wholly to the flame that she had become fire herself.

The Fire-Bringer someone whispered down the battlements.

The mist rippled and billowed, casting her into nothing but a glowing effigy.

The silence turned reverent.

A gentle wind from the north swept down. The veil of mist pulled back, and there she was.

She glowed from within. Glowed golden, tendrils of her hair floating on a phantom wind.

"Mala's Heir," Yrene breathed.

Down on the plain, Elide and Lorcan had halted.

The wind pushed away more of the drifting mist, clearing the land beyond Aelin.

And where that mighty, lethal wave had loomed, where death had charged toward them, nothing remained at all.

For three months, she had sung to the darkness and the flame, and they had sung back.

For three months, she had burrowed so deep inside her power that she had plundered undiscovered depths. While Maeve and Cairn had worked on her, she had delved. Never letting them know what she mined, what she gathered to her, day by day by day.

A death blow. One to wipe a dark queen from the earth forever.

She'd kept that power coiled in herself even after she'd been freed from the irons. Had struggled to keep it down these weeks, the strain enormous. Some days, it had been easier to barely speak. Some days, swaggering arrogance had been her key to ignoring it.

Yet when she had seen that wave, when she had seen Elide and Lorcan choosing death together, when she had seen the army that might save Terrasen, she'd known. She'd felt the fire sleeping under this city, and knew they had come here for a reason.

She had come here for this reason.

A river still flowed from the dam, harmless and small, wending toward the lake.

Nothing more.

Aelin lifted a glowing hand before her as blessed, cooling emptiness filled her at last.

Slowly, starting from her fingertips, the glow faded.

As if she were forged anew, forged back into her body.

Back into Aelin.

Clarity, sharp and crystal clear, filled its wake. As if she could see again, breathe again.

Inch by inch, the golden glow faded into skin and bone. Into a woman once more.

Already, a white-tailed hawk launched skyward.

But as the last of the glow faded, disappearing out through her toes, Aelin fell to her knees.

Fell to her knees in the utter silence of the world, and curled onto her side.

She had the vague sense of strong, familiar arms scooping her up. Of being carried onto a broad feathery back, still in those arms.

Of soaring through the skies, the last of the mist rippling away into the afternoon sun.

And then sweet darkness.

[bubbles-for-all-of-us]

DANG IT I just thought of braiding lorcan’s hair. I can’t even braid…

Now I just couldn't resist myself...

"Sit back down", you tapped onto your lover's back. You two had been going through some paperwork together for the majority of the day, cooped up in your tiny office.

"What?", your mate shot you a confused look. Standing still between the chair and the table, "Sit, sit", you tapped onto his back once more. Silently motioning for him to fall back into the chair where he had been sitting for hours already. Lorcan let out a muffled growl. Of course, he'll obey you. Maker damn him if he did not. His body listened to you. Not in a forceful way. Lorcan just loved seeing you happy. Nothing made him more content than sensing that sweet smell of happiness lingering on your skin. Happiness brought by him.

"Weren't we supposed to go eat dinner?", the lord questioned, folding his arms over his chest. "Yes", you trailed off, "We will. Once I'm done". Now he didn't even need to see your face, he could tell that you were smirking. Happily smirking to yourself as you pulled up another chair, to use as a step-stool because even with the fae worrier sitting down, you barely reached the top of his head.

An excited shriek left your lips as your fingers pushed through the dark roots of his hair. Lorcan himself let out a satisfied sigh. Nothing took the toll of the day from his shoulders faster than your nimble fingers brushing through his hair. Long gone was the ever-cold-faced male, the cunning man. He knew the rest of the cadre would tease him for an entirety if they saw him in such state. Beast turned into a tiny purring kitten. Lorcan shook his head at that thought.

"Hey, no moving around", you whined quickly, pulling just a bit tighter on his black hair. "Inform me, love, what are you doing?", for some reason Lorcan had a feeling that he didn't want to know. "What do you think I'm doing, silly? I'm braiding your hair", you said happily. Lorcan pinched the bridge of his nose. A sigh left his lips. "Oh, don't you start brooding. When I'm done with you, you'll be the prettiest male in Terrasen", you chirped, "Why do I not wish to hold that title?", the male grumbled. Yet did nothing to move away. He could easily just stand up, brush your fingers away and go. But he staid put and that in itself made the biggest smile appear on your face.

"If only I had daisies to put in between the braids...", you whispered mostly to yourself as you wrap the onyx braids around the back of his head. "You are in a mood to make a fool out of me", he cuts into the train of thoughts, "The prettiest male, Lorcan, the prettiest male". He shook his head slightly, careful as to not mess up the braids too much, "If our enemies saw me now..." You let out a laugh. It was such an honest and joyful laugh that even Lorcan's lips curved upwards slightly. "Never let them know your next move. Isn't that what they say?", you giggled to yourself, "You show up with flowers in your hair and they might think that you've gone soft but then you butcher them with your dark magic". Lorcan's arm reached behind him, carefully pulling you upfront. To his surprise, you obeyed his silent request. Settling onto your mate's lap as you admired the two braids and how they framed his face. Reaching out to smooth the tiny strand of hair that had fallen loose over his face. "Happy?", Lorcan asked admiring your satisfied expression. You knew that he didn't need to ask to know. He could sense it. You nodded your head anyway, cupping the side of his face lovingly. "Still think flowers would have made a big difference", you mumbled quietly, biting your lip. Lorcan just shook his head, "You'll be the death of me, woman".

Leaning closer he gently placed a loving kiss on your face, which you were quick to return. "Your friends will be the death of you once you go down to eat dinner like this", you purred against his lips, quickly shimmying out of his grip and darting towards the door. Yet Lercan was quick to lock the door with his magic. And once you turned to face him once more he was stood towering over you, "Not so quick, little vixen. Two can play this game".

[shadowqueenjude]

Rowan would have liked nothing more than to slit the male’s throat for leaving Aelin to die at the hands of the Valg princes. He might very well get the chance to do that—soon. “I will never forget, not for one moment, what you did to him that day in Doranelle. Your miserable existence is at the bottom of my priority list, but one day, Lorcan …” She smiled a little. “One day, I’ll come to claim that debt, too. Consider tonight a warning.”

Sorry, but... Rowan and Aelin's reasons for hating Lorcan don't even make sense. Especially when you consider this:

Rowan ran, shoving aside his oldest friend, shouldering past the other towering male who now appeared—Lorcan. Even Lorcan had answered his call.

Lorcan came to help. And he came to help ROWAN, not Aelin. But the darkness did not advance over the ward-stones, and Rowan, who had been restrained by Gavriel and Lorcan in the grass outside the fortress, knew why. Lorcan AND Gavriel were restraining Rowan, yet only Lorcan gets the blame. Plus, they were doing it to save his life. Lorcan swore over the roar of the torrential rain. “She is dead, you fool, or close enough to it. You can still save other lives.” They began hauling him to his feet, away from her. “If you don’t let me go, I’ll rip your head from your body,” he snarled at Lorcan, the commander who had offered him a company of warriors when he had nothing and no one left. IT WAS LORCAN WHO OFFERED ROWAN THE FIRST FRIENDS HE EVER HAD. LORCAN. LORCAN. NOT ANYBODY ELSE. Celaena went for Goldryn, but the twins went for Rowan, who did nothing, didn’t even struggle as they gripped his arms, forcing him again to his knees. Two others emerged from the shadows behind them. Gavriel, his tawny eyes carefully empty, and Lorcan, face stone-cold. And in their hands … FENRYS AND CONNALL RESTRAINED ROWAN. Gavriel sent his whip flying so fast Rowan had only a breath to recover. There was no remorse on Gavriel’s lovely face, no sign of the male she’d thanked weeks ago. Gavriel AND Lorcan whipped Rowan. ALL FOUR WERE CULPABLE. IT WAS NOT LORCAN'S FAULT ALONE. BESIDES, THERE WAS THE FREAKING BLOOD OATH. REMEMBER??? “No,” Fenrys agreed. “But we would offer that strength to another.” And he looked at Rowan as he said, “When we got your call for aid this spring—when you asked us to come defend Mistward, we left before Maeve could get wind of it. We ran.” “That’s enough,” Lorcan growled. But Fenrys went on, holding Rowan’s steady gaze, “When we returned, Maeve whipped us within an inch of our lives. Tied Lorcan to the posts for two days and let Cairn whip him whenever he wished. Lorcan ordered us not to tell you—for whatever reason. But I think Maeve saw what we did together in Mistward and realized how dangerous we could be—to her.” LORCAN DID THIS FOR HIS HOMIE ROWAN. I KNOW ROWAN DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT LORCAN STILL DID IT. ROWAN SEVERELY UNDERESTIMATED THE DEPTH OF LORCAN'S REGARD FOR HIM. Reading all of this and then seeing Rowan say Gavriel was his only friend just makes me so mad. At the end he called them all his brothers, but I was MAD pressed in the middle here.

[moonlightazriel]

Day 3: AU

For @elorcanweekofficial

Main Masterlist

Tangled!AU

Elide always dreamed about the stars, looking outside her window at night, wishing to be out there with them, but ever since she can remember, on her birthday, another thing took place in the sky, she had mapped the stars, but those were different, lanterns flying to the sky.

She looked at them in wonder the first time she saw them, but they haven’t appeared again, not until a year later, on the same day. Since then, she dreamed of watching them up close, and discovering what they meant, tucked away in her heart, she had a feeling they were for her.

But whenever she asked Maeve, her mother, about them, she dismissed her, saying they were the regular stars that lingered in the skies every night, but she knew her mother, at least for once, was wrong.

Her mother was away, leaving her alone to her thoughts, reading the books she had available again, she sighed, she wanted to go out, even if the world was a scary place, filled with bad people who would cut her hair and kill her for her power. But tomorrow would be her birthday, so she was planning to ask her mother to let her go out, just this time, to see the lanterns.

“Elide!” Maeve’s voice sounded from the ground, which meant that Elide had to help her come in, throwing her hair out, Maeve started to climb, her hair was incredibly long, with more strength than it looked. Maeve always told she was blessed by the moonlight, her hair glowed like the darkest nights filled with stars, and when she sang, she was able to heal people.

“How are you, Mom?” She shyly asked.

“Mom is feeling so tired, darling. Maybe you want to sing to me?” Elide nodded, quickly placing everything she needed and then she started to sing, her hair glowing as she muttered the words in a frenzy, she needed to ask before she lost her bravado. “You’re going too fast, stop Elide.” But Maeve’s words fell on deaf ears as Elide kept singing.

“Done!” She happily exclaimed. “Now, can we talk?”

“Sure.” Her mother’s violet eyes were fixed on her.

“You know that tomorrow is my birthday, right?” Maeve raised an eyebrow.

“That cannot be possible, it was last year, I remember it very well.” She said, getting up and walking away.

“That’s the thing about birthdays, they happen every year.” She stated and her mother turned to her again. “I WANT TO SEE THE FLOATING LIGHTS.” She blurted and Maeve scoffed.

“You mean the stars?”

“That’s the point mom, I mapped the stars and these are different, they only appear on my birthday, every year, just on my birthday. And I kept thinking they’re for me, I need to see them, not from my window, but in person.” Maeve’s gaze made her immediately shut up.

“You already know how the world is, I WILL NOT let you go outside.”

“But Mom, I’ll be fine.” She guaranteed.

“Do not ask me that again.” She waved her hand, dismissing Elide. “I need to go out again.” Tears pricked in the corner of her eyes and she nodded, helping Maeve to go down again.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

“Fenrys! Connall!” Lorcan Salvaterre greeted, his hands tightly clutching the bag with the royal crown, as the twins helped him up.

He started to run away from them, to the hell that he would share the money he would get if he sold the crown, he needed to hide, both from the twins and from the Royal guard that was chasing him, Chaol Westfall on his mare, Farasha, yelled for him to stop.

“Try to catch me.” He mocked, jumping over a broken tree that blocked the way. He kept on the run, but Chaol and Farasha managed to jump over it as well, he needed to be smarter than them. He climbed a tree, holding on to a strong vine, swinging in as Chaol passed, knocking him out of the mare.

“Let’s go.” He commanded but Farasha stopped on her tracks, her head turning to him and they both stared at each other, until the mare tried to snatch the bag with her mouth. “Stop it! What are you doing?” The mare started to kick and spin as she tried to get the bag, making the bag go flying to a tree branch.

Lorcan and Farasha ran for the bag, but the branch broke down and they ended up falling in different directions. Entering a cave covered by leaves, he managed to escape the mare but found a Tower, that should be a safe space to hide his bag.

He started to climb it until he reached the open window at the top. The tower was dark, but it didn't matter, he grabbed his bag, opening it, and smiled at the princess' crown inside. That was the last thing he saw before everything faded to black.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Elide's eyes were wide as she kept staring at the closed door of her wardrobe, the man that had entered by the window was locked in there.

"There's a person in my wardrobe." She spoke in disbelief, looking at Abraxos, the tiny chameleon that kept her company all the time. Twisting the frying pan in her hands, she whimpered when the iron hit the side of her head, rubbing the spot until the pain faded.

She reached for the bag he brought, finding a crown carved with diamonds, she held it, turning to her mirror as she put it in her arm like a bracelet, confused about what this object was. Abraxos shook his head and she removed it from her arm, holding it atop her head, slowly letting it sit on her beautiful dark hair. Staring at her reflection, something felt so right about it, Abraxos shook his head again in denial, so she removed it.

"Elide!" Her mother's voice made her begin to panic, grabbing the object and the bag and throwing them in a nearby flower pot. She ran to her window, letting her hair fall down until Maeve could climb it. "I have a huge surprise." She stated as she climbed through the window.

"Mine's bigger." Elide mumbled, walking closer to the wardrobe, hand resting on the chair that kept it locked.

"I'm doing mushroom soup for dinner, surprise." The violet eyes of her mother landed on her trembling figure. "What do you want?"

"You think I'm not strong enough to take care of myself." Elide started.

"I know you're not." Maeve interrupted her.

"But if you would just listen to me…"

"I assume it's not about the stars again."

"Why don't you listen?" Elide insisted and Maeve's towering frame stalked closer to her, making her feel so small.

"YOU WON'T LEAVE THIS TOWER. NEVER." Her mother screamed and her hand slowly fell to her side.

"I…. I was just going to say that I know what I want for my birthday." She whispered.

"And what is it, Elide?" Meave sighed.

"That white paint, made from the seashells you brought me once."

"But this is going to be a three-day journey." Maeve rubbed her temples.

"I just thought it was a better idea than the stars." She finished and Maeve hugged her.

"Are you going to be fine?" She asked and Elide nodded.

"Like always."

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Lorcan groaned, stirring awake, trying to move his arms to stretch his muscles, but he found himself unable to as he was tied to a chair, he looked down, frowning as he saw what was holding him in place.

"Is this hair?" He mumbled. Looming in the dark, a small figure caught his attention.

"Struggling is pointless." The woman said, climbing down from where she was watching him, slowly walking towards the light. "I know why you're here, and I'm not afraid of you." She stated and Lorcan raised an eyebrow confused.

"What?" The girl walked towards where he could see her, brown eyes met him, and the longest and darkest hair pooled around her, she timidly held a frying pan in her hands.

"Who are you?" She spoke a little bit firmer this time. "And how did you find me?"

Lorcan kept staring at her beautiful face, unable to muster a response for her, lost on the delicate curve of her nose and her plump pink lips. He cleared his throat.

"I don't know who you are nor how I came to find you, but may I just say…." He inclined his head, a smirk adorning his lips, maybe using his charm on her would make her let him go. "Hi, how are you doing? My name is Lorcan Salvaterre, how is your day going?" She looked at him utterly confused, brows knit together and ready to strike him with the pan.

"Who else knows my location, Lorcan Salvaterre?" She pointed the pan towards his face, forcing him to flinch a little.

"Alright, sweetie." He started.

"Elide." She interrupted.

"Here's the deal, I was in a situation, running around in the forest, I came across your tower and..." He paused, looking around in despair as he couldn't spot his bag anywhere. "Where's my bag?" He demanded.

"I've hidden it somewhere you'll never find it." She crossed her arms in front of her chest, a proud smile graced her delicate features and Lorcan scoffed, looking around and spotting a very suspicious flower pot.

"It's in that pot, isn't it?" He pointed and the whole world went to black again. He opened his eyes minutes later, to find a chameleon licking his ear until he woke up. Screaming and rubbing his ear on his shoulder he looked at her.

"Now it's hidden where you'll never find it!" She started to walk around him. "So, what do you want with my hair? To cut it? Sell it?" She pointed the pan at him and he shook his head.

"What? No! The only thing I want to do with your hair is to get out of it. Literally." He wiggled his body, restrained by her hair, he wanted to ask about it but he didn't think he was in a situation where he could ask questions.

"Wait.." she paused by his side for a moment. "You don't want my hair?"

"Why on earth would I want your hair?" He breathed annoyed. "Look, I was being chased, I saw a tower, I climbed up, and end of the story."

"You're telling the truth?" She watched him, her eyes clouded with doubt.

"Yes." Coming from in between her hair, the chameleon walked towards him, giving him a scary look, and Lorcan shivered, what the hell was wrong with the animals? She pulled him to the side, and Lorcan watched as she whispered to the animal in her hands.

He started to move, making the chair jump away from her, but she turned, clutching her hair and pulling it towards her, making all his efforts go to waste.

"Okay, I'm prepared to offer you a deal." She moved, pulling him with her. "Do you know what these are?"

"You mean the lantern thing they do for the princess?" He asked, looking at the drawing and noticing how her face lit up in excitement.

"Lanterns? I knew they weren't stars." She looked at him once again. "Well, tomorrow night they will light the night sky with these lanterns, you will act as my guide and take me to these lanterns and return me home safely. Then, and only then, I'll return your bag to you. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, not going to happen." He said and her smile faltered. "Unfortunately the kingdom and I aren't exactly simpatico at the moment, so I won't be taking you anywhere." Walking towards him again, she pulled his chair, until he was mere inches from her face.

"Something brought you here, Lorcan Salvaterre. Call it what you will, fate, destiny.."

"A mare." He sarcastically replied.

"So i decided to trust you."

"A horrible decision, really." She ignored him, her hot breath fanning over his face, this close, he could see the tiny freckles on her face and some golden points in her irises.

"But trust ME, when i tell you this. You can tear this tower apart, stone by stone, but without my help you will never find your beloved bag." He cleared his throat again.

"Let me get this straight, I take you to see the lanterns, bring you back home, and you give me my bag back?" She nodded.

"I promise." Lorcan raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "And I never break my promises. Ever."

"Alright, I'll take you to see the lanterns." She happily clapped as she started to untie him.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Elide couldn't quite believe what was happening, the soft breeze on her face and the feeling of grass between her toes, it was like a dream she didn't want to wake up from. But at the same time, she had a feeling in her gut, that she would get caught, that she was the worst daughter for disrespecting her mother's wishes, if Maeve ever found out, she would be so disappointed.

She couldn't control her emotions, so Lorcan watched as she jumped around in happiness and ended up sitting against a rock to cry.

"Maybe you should go back." He started, still looking at her sobbing figure. "That way you can keep your beautiful mother-daughter relationship." She looked at him.

"I'm afraid she will be disappointed," Elide confessed and Lorcan nodded.

"She will, it will probably break her heart." She looked at him confused.

"Break her heart?"

"Yes, but don't worry, I'll spare you from our deal and we can go back right now." Her eyebrows knit together once again, but in an angry expression, which made her look cute.

"I'm not coming back." She stated, getting up, the creepy chameleon on her shoulder.

"What? Why not?"

"I've been a good daughter my whole life, it's time to do something for me." Lorcan groaned.

"No way to get my bag back?" She shook her head in denial and he raised his hands in defeat. "You know what will make you feel better? Eat something, I know a nice place we can get a hot meal." Lorcan smirked as she started to follow him, maybe this would work then.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Farasha kept sniffling around, trying to spot Lorcan, but something caught her attention, someone was walking around in the forest, hiding behind a rock to get him, she waited, jumping from her spot when it approached her.

"A royal mare..." The woman's violet eyes spotted the animal, a dread feeling setting in her guts. "Without its captain." She started to panic.

Rushing back to the tower, Maeve called for Elide five times before she started to walk to the secret entry on the side, when she got into the house, she found it empty. Her heart beat faster as she thought of where Elide might be.

Something sparkled, and Maeve held the princess’s crown in her hands with horror. Sweat ran down her spine as she threw things around in anger, she NEEDED to find Elide. Finding her dagger in a drawer, she got to the forest again.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

She held her breath, shivering from head to toe as they entered the Snuggly Duckling. The scary and armed males looked at her, she held her hair, pointing her frying pan to each side, trying to protect herself. The door closed with a loud thud behind her, making her turn quickly, a man was holding a poster against the door, a smug in his lips.

"Isn't that you?" He pointed to Lorcan, and Elide almost giggled at how weirdly big they had drawn his nose in the wanted poster.

"Why do they never get my nose right? Isn't even that big!" He complained and the smirk in the man's face grew wider.

"Go call the guards, we'll deal with him." They started to walk towards Lorcan, he tried to run but ended up being held by the others, while the man from the door tried to punch him, Elide kept begging for them to release him but her pleas weren't heard.

Using her hair, she pulled a tree branch, until it hit the man that was trying to punch him, the room fell silent as they all turned to look at her.

"Please let my guide go, he promised to take me to see the lanterns, I need him to make my dream come true. Do you not have a dream too?" She blurted, her cheeks red as she shivered in panic. Lorcan almost started to mourn her loss when the guy approached her.

"I have a dream." He said, and Lorcan's jaw fell in disbelief as one by one, the males in the place started to tell her about their dreams, while she encouraged them to pursue them, her eyes shining as she listened. "What's your dream?" He asked him and Lorcan almost rolled his eyes.

"I don't have time for that kids." The man pointed a sword to his throat. "Well, my dream is simple, a desert island, a big castle, and lots of money just for me." The males scoffed and he almost felt offended as they mocked his dream.

Outside, the guards were arriving to get Lorcan, and someone spotted them from the window, warning them. The man that Elide knew now was called Aedion pointed to a lever, revealing a secret passage, pointing for them to get in there.

"Go, follow your dream." He said goodbye.

"Thank you, I will." Lorcan replied and Aedion gave him a quick slap on his head.

"Your dream sucks, I was talking to her." Elide blushed, giving him a quick peck on his cheek before he closed the door and they started to walk down the path.

Down in the tunnel, Lorcan was still astonished as they walked in silence. "What was that?" He asked.

"Sometimes you just have to listen." She smiled at him, he wanted to ask her so much but he knew she wouldn't answer, so they kept walking, until more steps sounded in the tunnel. "Lorcan?" She called, and he shoved her hair in her hands, grabbing it and they started to run.

They ran until they ended up in a dam, the royal guards behind them and Connall and Fenrys in front of them.

"Who are they?" She asked, trying to find a way to escape.

"People that don't like me very much." He replied, and Elide had an idea, throwing her hair, she swung down, and landed on the floor, starting to run, Lorcan was alone trying to think of something when he started to run again, sliding down through some water pipes.

"Farasha NO!" Chaol yelled as the mare kept hitting the pillar that held the dam in place, knocking it over, the pressure of the water made the dam break, the water flowing like a river, making Lorcan grab Elide by the hand and run until they reached a cave, with the strength of the water, a huge rock was knocked over the entry of the cave, trapping them both inside. Elide started to panic as the cave started to fill with water, she couldn't die there.

They tried without success to find a way out, but nothing worked, the water was above their necks when Elide remembered.

"My magic hair starts to glow whenever I sing." Lorcan looked at her and Elide started to sing and her hair started to glow, leaving him speechless, even more, when he saw the hair pointing to a way out, pulling the rocks, he was able to free the two of them.

They were panting, gasping for air as they looked at the bright sky. "WHAT WAS THAT?" He asked, nervously watching her.

"My mother says that before I was born, I was blessed by a ray of moonlight that fell on the earth, and that's why I can heal people. Come here." She demanded, and he did, she wrapped a hair strand around his hand, the one he hurt while he opened the way in between the rocks, and started to sing again, her voice was beautiful.

He looked at his healed hand and started to gasp, completely marveling at her. She got up, telling him she was going in for a walk, and he sat there with the little chameleon looking at him.

"Are you enjoying it?" A voice startled her and Elide turned to see her mother looking at her.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" She mumbled.

"I could ask the same, Elide. But it doesn't matter, let's just go home, shall we?" She grabbed Elide's arm and started to pull.

"No!" Elide stopped, Maeve turned to her, her eyes laced with fury as she scoffed!

"No? You go out once and you think you already know everything about the world? Silly, silly girl." She opened a bag, holding the crown in front of her nose. "Do you really think he cares about you? Once he gets what he wants, he won't even remember you." Maeve taunted and Elide felt the tears.

"He's different." She wasn't going to go back, not now.

"Then test it, give it to him, and see what he does." She threw the crown at Elide, turning her back and walking away. Elide eyed the crown, he wouldn't leave her for it, would he?

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

They were halfway into the city when Farasha found them again, running full speed towards Lorcan, who hid behind Elide, making the mare stop.

“What is happening?” She asked, spotting the animal in front of her.

“This mad mare is trying to get me arrested.” He pointed to her and Farasha scoffed.

“Ooh, this good baby is trying to do her job.” She started to rub her chin and the mare happily wiggled her tail. “Are you tired of chasing the bad guy?” The mare nodded, to Lorcan's utter shock. “Let’s make a deal? Today is very important for me, you let him take me to do what I need, and then you can chase him all you want.”

“What?” Lorcan asked in disbelief and the mare nodded again, looking at him with displeasure before letting them go. He was still marvelled at her abilities to make people, and apparently, animals too, bend to her will. She just needed to use her endless kindness to get what she wanted.

She tugged his shirt, and Farasha followed them closely as they entered the village, people prepared to celebrate, dancing around and laughing. Lorcan even paid some young girls to braid her hair to make things easier for them. They danced and enjoyed the moment, until Elide stopped, looking at a huge painting of King Cal and Queen Marion holding the missing princess.

“She disappeared when she was a baby, they still look for her, the lantern serves to guide her home.” He whispered to her ear and she looked at him. He could see some semblance in between them, something about her felt weirdly familiar to the princess.

���˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Moonlight casted a glow to her beautiful face as Lorcan rowed until they reached the middle of the lake, she looked around at other boats where families and couples held lanterns to light up.

“I have a surprise.” He announced, pulling two lanterns from behind him. “Thought you may like it.” He handed her one and she looked at it.

“It’s beautiful.” He smiled as he watched her. After a minute, he grabbed a match, lighting both lanterns and they let them go, alongside the others. He swore she glowed, he was mesmerized by her beauty, the way her eyes watered as she fulfilled her dream.

Lorcan couldn’t help, as he leaned in, holding her face in between his large hands, pulling her to him. Her lips were soft and she didn’t know what to do, but he delicately guided her through the kiss, making her breath get caught in her throat.

As they parted, he spotted Fenrys and Connall on the shore, and he shivered, afraid they would hurt her. He moved the boat there looking at her.

“I need you to stay here, I’ll be right back.” Elide thankfully agreed, an then he walked to them. “Boys!” He greeted them.

“Where’s the girl?” Connall inquired.

“Girl? Which girl?” He played dumb.

“Cut it, Salvaterre, we know the girl is worth a million crowns.” He swallowed harshly.

“Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Let’s see then.” And with that, they launched at him.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

“Lorcan?” Elide asked, but one figure turned to two and she started to run away from the unknown males. She heard some grunts and the sound of someone falling on the floor, turning to where they were chasing her, she spotted her mother holding a huge tree branch.

“Darling!” Maeve called and Elide rushed to her, hugging her mother and sobbing on her chest.

“They appeared out of  nowhere, I was so afraid, I don’t know where Lorcan is.” Maeve rubbed circles on her back, turning her head so she could see Lorcan back at the boat, crown clutched to his hand as he sailed away.

“I know you thought he was different and I’m so sorry, let’s go home now.” Elide nodded, and followed her mother home.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Lorcan woke up in the cell, Captain Chaol told him he was sentenced to be hanged and it should be done on that same day. As he walked to his destiny, he spotted the twins in a cell.

“Where is she? What did you do to her?” He asked as he grabbed Fenrys by his shirt, the guards tried to pull him away.

“We didn't do anything, it was the old lady.” He said, and Lorcan knew he was being honest, he needed to get out of there.

She was in danger and he needed to go back to her, the only thing he didn’t knew was that more people cared about her, the males from the Snuggly Duckling were all arrested that day, and as he pleaded with them for help, he received, and he knew that it was because of her.

So at that moment, he found himself rushing through the forest, Farasha impossibly fast as they tried to get on her tower, he just wished he wasn’t late.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Elide couldn’t sleep, something didn’t feel right, and as she started to think more about it, everything became clear in her head, and she gasped, feeling overwhelmed. Maeve yelled from somewhere in the tower asking if she was alright.

Feeling utterly disgusted by the woman in the house, she lifted from her bed, opening the curtains that separated her room. She met Maeve halfway, as she walked upstairs towards her room.

“Are you alright?” She asked again.

“I'm the lost princess.” She mumbled and Maeve rolled her eyes.

“Speak clearly, you know I hate when you mumble.”

“ I am the lost princess. Aren’t I?” She spoke louder and her mother’s violet eyes widened. “Did I mumble now, mother?” The sarcasm was evident in her tone as she said the word mother. “Or should I even call you that?”

“Do you even hear yourself?” Maeve scoffed, walking towards Elide. “Why would you ask such a ridiculous question?” She tried to hug Elide but she shoved Maeve away.

“It was you, it was all you!” She yelled, Maeve’s face contorted into a frown.

“Everything I did was to protect you.” Elide walked past her, going downstairs.

“So you hide me all my life, from people who would use me for my power when it was you, using me all this time.” Elide accused.

“Where do you think you’re going? Do you really think he will be waiting for you? That he loves you? You’re a fool.”

“I don’t care if he is waiting for me, I just want to get away from you.” She tried to put as much distance as she could from her. But then she stopped! “What did you do to him?”

“That criminal is going to be hanged for his crimes.” Maeve was smiling like this was the greatest news of all time. “It’s alright darling, everything will go back to normal now.” She tried to brush Elide’s hair but her hand didn’t reach as Elide grabbed her by her wrist.

“You were wrong about the world, and you were wrong about me. And I will NEVER let you use my hair again.” Maeve struggled to get away from her grip, as she released herself, she stumbled on a mirror, breaking it as it fell to the floor.

“You want me to be a villain, fine, I’ll be a villain.” Maeve said, before she lunged for Elide, she was bigger and stronger, which made it easier for her to stop Elide and get her locked up in chains, as she prepared to leave the tower.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

“Elide, let down your hair.” Lorcan yelled as he reached the tower, but no answer came, so he prepared to climb up there. Elide's hair flew across the air as she waited for him, for a second, he felt relief as he climbed up. “Elide, I thought I would never see you again.”

Lorcan said with hope, but only to spot Elide across the room, chained to the floor and a cloth covering her mouth. She fought against the shackles, mumbling against the cloth, but nothing worked, she watched with terror icing her blood as Maeve stabbed Lorcan.

“Now look at what you did, Elide.” She cleaned her dagger on her cloak. “Don’t worry dear, our secret will die with him.” She walked closer to Elide, she was sobbing, trying to release herself from this torment. “And as for us…” she pulled the chains, pulling Elide away with her. “We’re going somewhere, where no one will find you ever again.”

Elide fought with all her strength, trying to go to him, even Abraxos tried to stop Maeve, but she kicked him away, Elide yelled, pulling harder.

“Stop fighting!” Maeve complained. Elide managed to get rid of the cloth covering her mouth.

“NO! I won’t stop fighting, ever, not even for a minute for the rest of my life. I will never stop trying to get away from you.” The look on her face told Maeve that she was telling the truth. “But if you let me save him, I’ll go whatever you want, just don’t let him die.” She pleaded.

“No, no Elide, don’t go with her! I need you.” Lorcan tried to crawl to her.

“I’ll never run, I’ll never try to escape, just let me heal him and you and I will be together, forever.” Maeve seemed to consider it.

She chained Lorcan to a pillar, while Elide was almost on top of him, her eyes shining with tears as she watched him in pain. She pulled his hand away from the wound, and he winced, she sighed.

“I’m so sorry, everything is going to be fine now.” She reassured him, starting to wrap her hair around him.”

“No, Elide.” Lorcan tried to push her away. “I can’t let you do this.”

“And I can’t let you die.” Elide said, her voice cracking as she cried.

“But if you do this, then you will die.” He struggled to talk.

“It’s going to be alright!” She reassured him, her hand cupping his cheek.

“Elide wait.” He pleaded, his hand caressing her cheek, Elide gasped in surprise as Lorcan grabbed a handful of her hair, and chopped it off with a piece of the mirror he was hiding.

“Lorcan, no!” She held her hair, which lost its shine, her hair was reaching her shoulders now, the ethereal glow that always had, gone as a plain black covered her strands.

Maeve’s jaw slacked open as she started to scream in despair, rushing to get to the remaining hair that was still shining. All the years she avoided getting old, started to put weight on her as her skin turned wrinkly, her hair white and she could barely stand, screaming in agony as she got older and older until she disappeared in a pile of dust.

Elide was panting, she didn’t have her power anymore, and as she turned to Lorcan again he was wheezing, almost dead, she cried on top of him. She held his hand to her hair, singing over and over again, but it didn’t work, a single tear fell to his face, and Elide closed her eyes, feeling completely lost without him.

She held his cold body, crying on top of him, until she felt him stirring beneath her, she lifted her head, looking at him surprised as he opened his eyes. She hugged him with all her might, and he hugged her back, happy to see her pretty face.

He cupped her face, kissing her, again and again until they couldn't breathe.

“Are you ready to go home?” He asked her, Elide smiled.

“Only if you come with me.”

[darkfictionjude]

Related to the previous question, how will be RO + Family reaction about an MC who decided to leave and years later appears with a child and with a wedding ring in their finger. Assuming the ROs don't have a partner in that moment.

So you just like to see the world burn don’t you anon?

Imre:

He would be happy for you. So so so so so so so so so so happpppyyyyyyy. If his smiles looks too hard to be genuine and if his eyes have a certain sorrow to them it’ll be as gone as quickly as it came. He wouldn’t be around much and when you ask him to hold your child he’ll make up an excuse that he’s afraid he’ll drop them.

Nia:

She keeps coming in the house and going out because she’s smoking up a chimney. She’ll be as amicable and silent as can be because if she says more she’ll start a fight and that would be pathetic. She greets your spouse stiffly and will buy your child a toy but refuses to touch them or be near them. She’ll be around only to show she doesn’t care (sure jan).

Lorcan:

Oh yeah he’s fucking off. He might be a little masochistic but not enough to endure watching that. If he runs into your spouse he’ll rudely ignore them and can’t even stand to look at the child, their existence is the proof that his regret at not leaving was justified.

Victor:

He’ll think: “finally, never thought that would happen.”

Prudence:

Her thoughts depend entirely on who the spouse is and how pretty the child is.

Sally:

He says he’s happy for you but there’s something uncanny about his face when he says that.

Percy:

If the spouse gives him cash and the baby doesn’t cry too much he’ll congratulate on not being a fuck up.

Orla: (Again if she was alive).

Obvious jealousy, she would bring her spouse and child over to show how much better she has it (even though subconsciously she doesn’t believe she does).