#poor xaden

[skyfallscotland]

Before that, I was writing tooth-rotting fluff. So here 💖

“Don’t cry.” I comfort her as best I’m able, rocking slightly on the spot. “I’m sure daddy didn’t mean to yell.” The last few words are pointed, a scowl on my lips as I eye him critically, certain that’s who he must be. He’s the spitting image of her, or well, she is of him. He’s beyond gorgeous—windswept black hair, high cheekbones and full lips, and tawny brown skin covered in tattoos. His eyes are a gold-flecked onyx I’ve never seen before and I’d say he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, but…he just made his three year old daughter cry.  He knows it too, judging by the way his face crumples as he reaches for her and she shies away. “It’s ok.” I try, brushing her hair back from her face as she releases a hiccuping sob. “I’m sure he’s sorry.” I glare venomously over her head, implying that if he isn’t already, he’s about to be.

[charityreadsabookanddrinkswine]

Onyx Storm Spoilers sort of

Just when i think i'm recovered from onyx storm some song like Silence or Half of a Man comes on and i'm spiraling again.

[booklovers-pleasure]

Xaden yelling "WELL THE FUCK AWARE" at Violet is honestly so funny to me. Like that is PEAK exasperated husband energy.

[mysterylilycheeta]

Liam: What, did you do? Xaden: Alright, but you can't be mad at us Liam: What. Did. You. Do? Violet: Okay, first of all, we were minding our own business Liam: BULLSHIT Xaden and Violet: WE WERE!

[disaster-with-a-hat]

[aprill-99]

Xaden: *about Violet* “Fuck, I can’t believe I’m going to have to care about her forever!”

Violet: “We’ll, you don’t really have t-”

Xaden: *rolling up his sleeves and pulling out knives* “-Nope. I’m gonna.”

[justascrollingghost]

I'm stuck between wanting Onyx Storm now and never wanting to open that book in my entire life.

[stars-that-pass]

Xaden “I’m so fucking tired” Riorson and Violet “And I’ll do it again” Sorrengail

[chaoticneutraltor]

[ann7av]

@sabu123098 just because you asked bestie

Since we’re here, does it look like she could bench press me with no issues or should I add a little more muscle?

For character consistency, of course, I’m very dutiful when it comes to cannon (as I make obvious in my page, no need to check this statement’s veracity)

Oh and Brennan is there too

All I have at the moment is a pencil guys, so no pretty colors but I’ll do some shading eventually, maybe, one day…. And they also need eyes

Edit to include Xaden and Vi, but this one is still in progress because there’s something bothering me about Vi and I can’t decide what it is for the life of me.

[acoraf]

Iron Flame concerns and thoughts???

Page 600:

*SPOILERS*

They have been rebuilding Aretia in the 6 years since it was burned down after the rebellion.. I dont recall it being mentioned how many survived or are currently living in Aretia and helping rebuild. It's also not mentioned how their economic situation is, but they don't seem to have much to bargain with, considering they can only promise weapons, they don't have yet might I add, to Tecarus in exchange for the luminary..

My concern is food... I'm guessing the people of Aretia must be supplying their own food, because they wouldn't have anything or anyone to trade with since they needed to stay hidden. So logically, they would have grown just what they needed to keep themselves, their livestock and the occational dragon alive and well fed. This would all be fine and make sense... Untill Violet and Xaden brings half of Basgiath..

Page 466:

Two hundred dragons and a hundred and one riders-nearly half the quadrant-strong. And more are coming, taking a slower route with hatchlings.

...And then Mira joins them aswell with 40 riders and 40 dragons...

This prompts Aretian forces to start search parties to look for any other riders who want to join the cause after learning the truth. We don't know how many riders are found by the patrols, but I'm guessing some must have been found, or they would most likely stop the searches, right?

And now they have joined another 100 plus of Fliers to the not even half rebuild city, and there is only mentioned ONE TIME about sheep for the dragons???

I get it's not Violets concern... But wouldn't she notice something if food was short? Not to mention her boyfriend is supposedly the.... Ruler? Commander? Leader? Heir? To the place, and he would probably ba aware of any issues and be concerned about an extra 2-300 mouths to feed... Not to mention the between 3-400 dragons and gryphons... 🙃

Oh yea.... And they want to BRING IN REFUGEES WHEN THEIR WARDS ARE UP???

Where does this magical food come from ? What are they trading with??? And fucking who????? Am I looking too much in to this??? Help 😭😭😭

🫶📚🐛🫖

[contententhusiast]

Lmao next book is gonna be all about violets deep mistrust of men. First Xaden then dain then her brother. 3 of the 4 most important men in her life have all lied to her 🤐

[charityreadsabookanddrinkswine]

Just finished iron flame.

[animezinglife]

I definitely did not fully think the audiobook thing through...

[thefuckingparawhore]

noooooo

(Hinted spoiler?)

So I am, of course, upset for Violet

…but I am devastated for Sgaeyl.

[writinginatree]

Cared For

Relationship(s): Bodhi Durran & Xaden Riorson & Riorson!reader

Summary: Xaden takes care of you and Bodhi after RSC.

Warnings: Mentions of torture, injuries, nonsexual nudity (showering together), reader has heart problems

You stumble from the interrogation chamber with the rest of your squad, blinking into the late afternoon sunlight as the professor who just finally released you drones on and on. You should be listening, in case he's talking about something important, like having to do this shit again or something, but you can't focus on the words, mindlessly clinging to Bodhi, whose arm is linked with yours so you can help each other stay on your feet.

Well, okay — if you're being honest, it's mostly Bodhi helping you. He's worse for wear too, but still faring decidedly better than you.

You're not sure why it is that they went especially hard on you — because your father had been the Great Betrayer, because they recognized you as the weakest link of your squad, or because you refused to show any pain and they were determined to change that. In the end, it doesn't matter. You didn't break. You survived. That's what you have to focus on. Another one of the stupid trials this cursed place puts you through that you've overcome. One step closer to eventually making it out of here alive.

Finally the professor is done talking and allows you to leave.

The walk back into the quadrant proper passes in a blur, one stumbling step after the other as Bodhi pulls you along. Since he's well aware of your aversion to healers, and since neither of you is that badly hurt, he doesn't bother to suggest going to the infirmary and takes you straight to the dormitories. Your room is closer to the stairs than his, so that's where you go, slumping onto the bed side by side, too exhausted to lift a finger, though you know you need to get cleaned up, or at the very least remove your boots. In a moment, you tell yourself. As soon as the room stops spinning, you'll get up and do it.

Minutes later, a knock sounds on the door, startling your poor, tired heart into doubling the pace of its beating.

"I think Cuir asked Sgaeyl to send us Xaden," Bodhi soothingly murmurs, sitting up and unlocking the door with lesser magic.

Sure enough it's your brother who enters the room a second later, grimacing at the state he finds the both of you in. "Shit, are you guys okay?"

"Yeah," you and Bodhi mutter, "Sure."

Admittedly, that's a bit of an exaggeration. But okay is a flexible term, and you suppose things could be worse. You know the question was just reflex anyway, and Xaden is perfectly aware that no one is ever truly okay after just getting out of an RSC torture session.

He comes over to the bed, crouching down beside it. You feel shadows stirr underneath and all around you — no doubt Xaden 'subtly' taking inventory of your injuries. You've lost track of what hurts where about an hour into the exercise, your whole body one big ache, but you're pretty sure most of the damage is superficial. It's your heart giving you the most trouble, thanks to having missed this morning's dose of your medication, and simple dehydration.

"Are you feeling strong enough to shower?" Xaden asks.

Bodhi nods, but you hesitate. Getting up the stairs without fainting had been challenge enough, so you roll over to turn a pleading look on your cousin. "Can we go together?"

When Bodhi nods, you nod too, and Xaden helps you to your feet.

"Alright," he says, "you two get cleaned up, and I'll be back with some food and a first-aid kit."

The showers are blessedly empty, and you let yourself plop down on the floor, the cold tiles digging into your bare knees as Bodhi turns on the water, a less than lukewarm spray raining down on you. Cold as you feel, you would have preferred your water steaming hot, but you know that would only make your already too low blood pressure worse, so you don't complain.

Bodhi sits down behind you, takes a handful of soap and gently massages it into your scalp, careful to avoid pulling all the tangles that have formed in your hair from the rough treatment you'd been given.

"You don't have to," you half-heartedly mutter.

In truth, you're not entirely sure you can muster the energy to do it yourself, and with the way you're finally starting to relax under his touch, Bodhi rightfully ignores the protest and continues to help you wash.

By the time you dry off and pull on fresh clothes, you're shivering with cold, but your head is a little clearer, and you don't feel like you'll pass out any second anymore, either.

Xaden is already waiting in your room when you return to it, the soft glow of mage lights illuminating the space since dusk has fallen while you were in the shower. He has brought not only the promised food and first-aid supplies, but also Garrick.

Taking a seat on your bed, you don't bother reminding him that it's illegal for more than three of you to be together; he's doubtlessly well aware of the trouble you'd be in if you're caught, and simply doesn't care because he can tell how much you need the company right now.

You shudder to think that he and Garrick had to go through the same experience last year without anyone to comfort them. Thinking back, you try to remember if you'd noticed any injuries on them around this time of year, but you can't recall. Even if you had noticed, Xaden would have brushed you off with some excuse to stop you from worrying.

The thought makes you frown. You have no doubt they'd been as hard on Xaden as they were on you — probably even harder. It's not fair that he'd had to get through that on his own, that he always has to go through everything alone because he thinks that's what being the one with all the responsibility means. Ever since the apostasy, since he took on that responsibility for all your lives, he never lets himself be weak in front of anyone — even you. Of course you're grateful for everything he's done, is still doing, his care and protection, but you wish he would let himself be taken care of, too, when he needs it.

His hand on your shoulder snaps you out of these thoughts, and you blink up at him, wondering when you closed your eyes. The plain worry on his face makes your eyes swim with tears, and you tell yourself to pull it together — to no avail.

"They did that to you too last year," you mumble, not quite a question. "You should have let us be there for you."

"First-years aren't allowed to know about RSC," Xaden reminds you, hand on your chin to angle your head sideways so he can get a better look at a scrape on your jaw.

You know that's not the reason he kept it from you, at least not the only one, but you let it go, knowing he just wants your best.

Treating your wounds doesn't take long. Mostly it's bruises — a lot of them, swollen and hot to the touch, decorating you in various shades of red, purple, and blue. There isn't much Xaden and Garrick can do about those, though they diligently smear them with some stinky salve that's supposed to soothe the worst of the ache.

To you it just feels cold and nothing more, but you don't complain. Not about the useless stinky ointment, nor about the burn of disinfectant in your open scrapes and cuts. You're simply too exhausted to do anything but force yourself to stay sitting upright, letting Xaden do whatever he wants. He knows better what you need right now than you do, anyway. You're limp in his hands, letting him turn you this way and that to get at all your wounds, his shadows supporting you when needed.

He pays extra attention to your wrists, the skin there rubbed raw from your fruitless attempts to slip free of the chains they'd put on you in the interrogation chamber. Even through the fog of exhaustion hanging over your mind, you don't miss the sorrow that passes over your brother's face as he takes in the harm you did to yourself. He is uncharacteristically gentle as he bandages your wrists, even going so far as to press a little kiss on top of each, the way your dad used to do when you were little. You tear up again at the action, have to bite your trembling bottom lip to keep from crying.

Done with your wounds, Xaden helps you get comfortable sitting against the wall with a pillow at your back, a soft blanket over your lap and tucked in around your waist. Bodhi already sits next to you much the same way; the comforting warmth of his shoulder against yours helps you ground yourself in the present.

Xaden puts a bowl of soup into your hands, ordering you to eat. It's not quite hot anymore, having stood on the desk while Xaden and Garrick patched you guys up, but still warm enough, and you consider it a bonus that you can't burn your mouth on it anymore.

When you're done, Garrick takes the empty bowls and leaves, but Xaden remains.

"I guess we'd better get you two to sleep," he says. "You've had a long day."

"Can Bodhi sleep here tonight?"

"Does Bodhi want to sleep here?" Xaden counters, looking to your cousin for answer.

To your relief, he agrees. You're not sure you could stand being alone right now, with the memory of today's torture still so fresh in your mind and the lingering dizziness you can't seem to shake.

"Okay," Xaden nods. "Then he can."

After tucking the both of you into bed, Xaden turns to leave. Before you can think better of it, you reach for his hand, silently pleading with him to stay a little longer. He sinks back to the floor beside the bed, brushing a hand over your face in an attempt to get you to close your eyes.

"Sleep. I'm here."

Bodhi moves closer — at this point he's practically lying on top of you — and butts his head against Xaden's hand with a little whine. Your brother gets the hint, and starts to pet Bodhi's hair, his other hand still gripped tight in yours. He doesn't need to have his hands free to make you close your eyes again — a soft layer of shadows descends on your face like a blanket, leaving you in complete darkness. It should be unsettling, but somehow, it isn't. Encased in the safety of your brother's shadow, you can finally keep your eyes shut and actually try to fall asleep.

Which is easier said then done, despite your exhaustion. While your body is fully ready to shut down, your mind won't stop racing. Bodhi is having the same problem, if the way you feel him fidget is any indication.

Xaden starts softly humming, and after a moment, you recognize the melody as an old Tyrrish lullaby. It had been your favorite one as a child, but after all these years, you'd almost forgotten it. Now the words come back to you like magic, even if Xaden doesn't sing them.

Trying to remember the song text and sing along in your mind gives you something to focus on other than the day's events; your racing thoughts can finally settle down. Slowly the tension leaves your body and your breathing evens out as sleep descents over you.

But just as you finally drift into that calm drowsy state, your heart skips a beat and you jolt wide awake again.

Xaden is quick to soothe you. The shadow over your face disappears, replaced by others that gently hold you so you don't startle Bodhi by sitting up. Xaden gives your hand a reassuring squeeze, more shadows caressing your face as he murmurs, "Shh, you're okay."

You slowly relax again, nuzzling your face into Bodhi's shoulder and mirroring his slow, deep breathing. Xaden starts to hum the lullaby again.

He stays until he is sure both of you are fast asleep, then he gently removes your hand from his, placing it in Bodhi's instead, and slips into the hall.