#royal advisor!robbie

[dreamdepot]

Dreams of the Kingdom - Chapter 18: The Prince's Advisor

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AO3 Wattpad or below!

You stared at your hand, still not believing it was gone.

“It doesn’t change you,” Link whispered, gentling running his thumb over your knuckles. The group had retreated back to Lookout Landing, where you had been carried to your house and your bed. You were propped up on some pillows. Normally you’d be upset about dirtying the sheets with your sullied armor and wounds, but you couldn’t bring yourself to think about that at the moment. “You were always amazing, Triforce or not. Nothing Ganondorf does can ever change that.”

You nodded, but your eyes settled on Link’s arm. Link had the power of light and the Master Sword. Zelda had the power of the Goddess and, apparently, time. Ganondorf was the source of all evil and held not only a secret stone but most of the Triforce.

Maybe Ganondorf was right. Where did that leave you?

Prince you might be, but what did that matter in a battle of people with the strength of gods? You looked over the other sages, all of them with their own secret stones and abilities.

“Stop,” Link said. “You can’t compare yourself like that.”

“I failed them. I failed everyone. And now I can’t even fight back. What kind of useless royal am I? Can’t even protect my people.”

“Bullshit. You rebuilt most of Hyrule yourself, and you were with me on our assault on the Calamity and you were right there, first to charge in against Ganondorf today.”

“But-”

“No, stop.” Link placed his hands on your cheeks, guiding you to look into his eyes, filled with fierce determination. “No buts. [Y/n], you have been working around the clock to save Hyrule. You haven’t failed anyone. We will find a way to fix this.”

Sidon coughed. “I think we should go and check with the monster control forces in town.”

“Oh okay, Link do you want to come with us?” Tulin asked.

“No, no, honey,” Riju said, patting his head. “Just us.”

“If you, uh, need anything… you know…” Yunobo said, before Sidon yanked him around the corner.

As soon as they were out of sight, Link pulled you into a bear hug, as if he was trying to crush your panic. You felt the tears start to well up. “It’s okay, you can let it out.”

You clung to Link, sniffling. “I’m sorry… I was… I just…”

“It’s okay, we’re going to figure this out.”

“Link, he has two pieces of the Triforce and a secret stone. And he has this all planned out from the start? How do we know he isn’t controlling me or that he doesn’t know exactly what we’re going to do or…”

“[Y/n] stop. He’s getting in your head. Second guessing everything and being afraid is exactly what he wants.”

“But…”

“No,” Link said, cradling your head. “C’mon now, breathe with me. Four, two, six, remember? In… hold… and out… in… hold… and out…good boy.” You could feel the feelings start to recede. “C’mon, let’s get you comfy.”

Link drew a warm bath for you – you had to thank Robbie for using Sheikah tech to make a small water heater for your plumbing. While you cleaned off, you could hear Link busy in the next room. By the time you got out, he pressed a mug of your favorite relaxing tea into your hands. He made sure to get your favorite pillow and blanket, wrapping you up before easing you onto the bed.

“What are we going to do?” You finally asked.

“We are going to rest, and you are going to get some sleep.” You opened your mouth, but Link shushed you. “Please, [Y/n], I’m begging. You need to rest.”

“I…” You sighed. “I don’t want to, but I’ll try. But Link, what about you?” His face grew stony. “People are going to need help. With Ganondorf’s extra power…”

“I know,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“I don’t want you to go either, but…”

“There may not be a kingdom left if I don’t,” Link finished.

You took his hand. “I promise I’ll be fine.”

“Of course you will, you’re my prince,” Link smiled and leaned in to kiss you. “Just please take it slow. I’ll stay until you fall asleep, okay?”

“Thanks,” you sighed as your eyes drifted shut.

==============================

You woke, feeling someone sitting on the bed behind you. “Link…? Is that you?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” said a slightly familiar voice with a little chuckle. That woke you up quickly. You flipped around to see a tall spectral appearance sitting at the edge of the bed. The goatlike man nodded to you in greeting. “I apologize for the intrusion.”

“King Rauru!”

“Please, just Rauru is fine. We are family after all.” He looked over the room, eyes lingering on your photos and trinkets. “A rather humble home for the prince of our kingdom. It’s quite warm and cozy though. Sonia loved collecting little mementos too.”

You carefully shifted up on the bed, propping yourself up on the pillows. “Am I dreaming?”

Rauru laughed. “With all the dreams you’ve had lately, I can understand why you would be skeptical. But, I assure you, I am very much real – or at least as real as a spirit can be.”

“Yeah, you’re not the first spirit I’ve met,” you said slowly, pinching your forearm just to make sure. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy you’re here, but why now?”

“Well, not exactly ‘now’, I’ve been around for quite a while.”

“You have?

“Of course, I have been watching over you and Link. I’ve been with you every step of the way, since Link reunited with you after you first discovered Ganondorf.”

Your mind returned to a certain night in a tent before the failed siege, your face heating. “…every step?”

Rauru crossed his arms. “I have enough class to give you your privacy for more intimate moments, [Y/n]. I’m not so old that I don’t remember being young. My… when I first met Sonia…” His eyes grew faraway for a moment. “Never mind that, I came to see you because you’ve had quite the ordeal.”

“You can say that again,” you muttered, a little mad at how childish your voice came out. “I don’t know what to do next. I don’t have the Triforce, my sword is broken… it feels hopeless.”

“You aren’t giving up, are you?”

“Absolutely not!” You gasped. “I’m not just going to hand my kingdom over to Ganondorf! If I’m still breathing, I’ll fight Ganondorf with a butterknife if I have to. How can you even-” Your voice trailed off as Rauru started to laugh. “What?”

“Determined and a bit hard-headed, aren’t you? That proves more than anything you’re my descendant.”

You moved to the edge of the bed. Rauru sat next to you, placing a ghostly hand on your shoulder. Despite your prior experience with the dead, it felt warm. “So, what do we do? I’ll fight him with a butterknife, but I’d rather go in with something that’ll actually end him.”

“There may be other ways you haven’t considered. Ganondorf prefers head-on assaults and manipulation behind the scenes. You will need to get creative.”

You thought for a moment, feeling like you were being tested. “There’s still the last piece of the Triforce, and Sharpe was adamant about his songs being important. I only know three of the five parts, so maybe Sharpe has something that will give us an edge.” You then frowned, thinking back to the confrontation. “Sharpe asked me to break the cycle. Then, during the fight, Ganondorf said Hyrule was always the story of three, insinuating I had no place in the fight against him…”

“Ganondorf has always been a master of manipulation, so I suggest taking anything he says with a grain of salt – like Link told you?” Rauru said, with a hint of the certain chastising tone only a parent could do. “Besides, he gloated about using you. You were clearly a cornerstone to his plan, as he wouldn’t have been able to get the Triforce without you.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“Patience. Ganondorf used you to get the Triforce because he knew that he nor Link nor Zelda could. He gloats about using you because he wants you to be despondent, unlikely to fight back. If you were key in his rise, you may also be key in his ultimate downfall.”

That did help a little. “But he forced me – or, err, Sheik – to be reborn, and he said my soul was bound to him. What does that mean?”

“I’m afraid reincarnation and the flow of time is Sonia’s realm of expertise, but I can give you my best guess.” Rauru fell deep in thought for a moment. “You may be the reincarnation of my friend, and his soul may be within you, but you are your own person. Like how every Link and Zelda carry the strength and burdens of their predecessors, so do you carry that of Sheik. But at the end of the day, you are Prince [Y/n], my descendant and the hero that the people of Hyrule are looking to for leadership.”

“So, what do I do? Can you like, give me some kind of Zonai superweapon? Maybe a secret stone?”

“A secret stone won’t help you, not that you need it. Think of all you’ve done without one, even before you came to this time. I am proud of you, my descendant. I know you will find the answer, but you need to think broader than just strength. Think less like Ganondorf and more like you.”

It was nice to hear but not exactly helpful. Worse, it felt like you hadn’t given him the answer he wanted. You laid back staring at the ceiling. “There has to be something I can do, but… ugh, how do I stand up to Ganondorf? He has a secret stone, two pieces of the Triforce, and millennia of preparation.”

“It does look bleak, but people like us don’t take what fate hands us laying down. We are leaders, and we must take responsibility for the wellbeing of all our people.” Rauru thought for a moment. “Ganondorf has been planning this for quite a while. His influence has been poisoning Hyrule for centuries.”

“That’s it!” you gasped. You tumbled out of bed and grabbed your pack, fumbling around inside.

“What do you have there?”

You held out the stone you found. “Not exactly a secret stone, but I know it has to do with time. I don’t fully understand it, but it helps me see the past and even let me step back in time for a bit. Do you know how to use it?” Before Rauru could respond, you started pacing as your mind raced. “If I can use it to step back in time far enough, maybe that will buy us enough time to help us build something to stop him, or maybe to drain his power! Wait no, we can use it to undo his preparations!”

Rauru simply watched you with a small smile. He composed himself when you noticed. “My apologies. Link was right, you do get a certain fiery look in your eyes when you strategize.”

“I’m sorry?”

“[Y/n], that man is obsessed with you. He would not stop talking about you up on the Great Sky Island. I had to meet you myself – though again I apologize it took a little longer than expected.” He gave you a thoughtful look before a smile bright as the sun bloomed on his face. “I may not be your father, but I have to say I approve of Link courting you and vice versa. Hyrule does need a strong symbol of partnership and love these days.”

You felt a blush on your cheeks. “Thank you for your blessing, but back to the topic?”

“Yes, of course. I was going to say I’m surprised,” Rauru said, reaching out and taking the stone from your hand, letting it sparkle in the light. “I haven’t seen one of these in quite a while. What you have is a Timeshift Stone. They were exceedingly rare, even in my time. The largest supply of them disappeared long before I was born, back in the time when Lanayru was still a desert. After the Age of Hylia, the stones mysteriously disappeared, possibly used to build something large. Others were studied by the ancient Sheikah people and used to develop their technology. The few that remained were kept by the Royal Family and used to form a magical treasure.”

“The Ocarina of Time.”

“Precisely. But considering the Ocarina of Time and any other Timeshift Stones disappeared hundreds of years ago… well, I’m certainly surprised. You might call it divine intervention that the stone ended up in your hands.”

You thought back to when you fell into the abyss. “Something like that.” You then stopped. “Wait. You knew all this already, didn’t you?”

“Guilty as charged I’m afraid.” Rauru laughed. “But as your ancestor, I wish to impart wisdom to you by teaching you to find the answer rather than just telling you. I know you will be quite the ruler, far better than many others in our family. You truly are as resourceful and resilient as Zelda said.” He gave you back the Timeshift Stone. “Now, my descendant, please understand I didn’t leave you completely hopeless in this time. This old man still has a few tricks!”

“What do you mean?”

“Ganondorf’s strength is also his greatest weakness. He is too obsessed with the flow of reincarnation and time, that he thinks he sees all the angles. He’s missing the forest for the trees, or in this case, the war for the battles. He acts like he’s been setting everything up, but there are ways to undo his preparation – as you deduced. Sheik and Sonia saw this coming long before I did, and we made our own preparations.”

“The Shadow Temple?”

Rauru gave you a sly smile. “Now how did you know about that? But yes, one of many precautions, though I believe it’s not what you need just yet.”

You thought back. “Breaking the cycle and focusing on the damage Ganondorf has done, right?”

“Yes, exactly.”

You ran back your dream in your head, trying to remember the details. “But… the Shadow Temple is locked. I need a key to get in, so… where’s the key? Or maybe I should be asking, what is the key?”

“Excellent questions. The key is a bit complicated. My sister Mineru helped to ‘design the lock’ so to speak. It’s partly magic and partly mechanical. You’ll need to go to her laboratory in the Depths, if you wish to get inside.” Rauru seemed lost in thought. “Before that though, I think you’ll need to use a different kind of key, since someone went through the trouble to make sure you got it.”

“Lady Din does like to be a bit more hands on.”

Rauru chuckled. “It is an opportunity though. That Timeshift Stone is more special than it appears. It is the key to something that will be of great help to you.”

“Something that helps us defeat Ganondorf?”

“I wouldn’t say it would give you any power against Ganondorf per se, but perhaps something that would give you the edge you need... more time in fact. Under the-” Rauru stopped, his image flickered. He rose his hand, energy glowing, as his third eye opened. “Something’s wrong. Ganondorf, he’s…!”

“Rauru!”

“Link…in trouble,” He said as he faded and flickered. “…look skyward… Great…Island. I believe in you… my…” His body faded away, leaving his words hanging like an axe over you. The words then sunk in, and you bolted out of bed, kicking the door open and running towards town.

==============================

“MOVE!” You barreled through the soldiers towards Purah’s lab; manners were the last thing on your mind.

“Prince! You’re supposed to be-” Josha’s voice trailed off as you shot up the steps. “Resting…”

You nearly tore Purah’s door out of the wall as you skidded to a stop, sending notes and books tumbling everywhere. “Purah! Where’s-” Your words caught in your throat. In the corner, Link and Sidon stood, mid-conversation frozen in time. “No, no! Link please!” Every inch of him, even Rauru’s arm, had completely turned to stone. Even the Master Sword was nothing but rock without even a drop of magic.

Purah slowly descended the stairs. “I’m sorry, I did my best to stop it but…”

“What happened?” You asked hollowly.

“I don’t know. One minute they were talking, and the next...” Purah pulled you into a hug. “It’s okay, I’ll figure out something.”

Just then the door opened again, and Captain Hoz and Scorpis entered. “Lady Purah, we… I see you already know.” Captain Hoz looked over the statues, trying to keep his face steady. “Right then. Scorpis, keep his majesty under guard. We need to figure out what’s going on.”

Your head snapped up. “But-”

“I’m sorry, your majesty. With everything going on…” He looked pained.

It didn’t take a genius like Purah to understand the implication. The words fell out of your mouth. “I’m the only one left, aren’t I?”

He frowned. “Yes sir. All of the sages, and Sir Link…”

“I see.”

“So, the five new champions and the Master Sword itself,” Purah muttered. She looked at you.

You understood the silent question. “Ganondorf wants me alive. For what end? I don’t want to think about it. He just wants me alone.”

“Is it magic? Some kind of gloom curse?” Scorpis asked.

Purah shook her head. “Solid rock. I’ve never seen anything like this. The old stories mention petrification, but that was never something related to the Demon King, more the practice of the Dark Mage Vaati. I’m sure there’s a scientific way to fix it, but it’ll take time.”

Scorpis stood close to you. “Your majesty, you should be resting anyway. Let’s take you back to your bed.”

“Just one moment, please.” The world felt numb as you stood before Link’s stony body. “Link… Please hang on, I promise I’ll save you.” Link’s now rocky hair was loose, and in his hand was his well-worn hair band – the only thing unpetrified. You took his hair band, slipped it on a leather strap, and tied it to your wrist. You leaned in and kissed his cheek, wishing it would bring him back to life like some fairy tale. Sadly, his body remained cold and still. “I’ll be back soon.”

==============================

Night seemed to take forever to come, but with the endless blood moon overhead, it hardly seemed any darker. It was just lucky that Ganondorf seemed to be biding his time, as monsters had yet to swarm you or Lookout Landing. Finally, your opportunity came. You snuck out of the house in the quiet of night, dressed in your Sheikah armor. Sneaking out of the house past Scorpis was the easy part – sneaking over to the Tower was a bit harder. You squeezed past the guards, sticking to the few shadows. With most of the town asleep, it was a little better, but everyone was on edge. The slightest twig snap would likely send your guards into a panic. You hurried across the last bit, nearly to the edge of the tower.

“What do you think you’re doing?” You froze as Purah stood at the entrance. “I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be under house guard.”

“Please Purah, I’m desperate. I need to get to the Great Sky Island.”

“You think I’m going to let the last hope of our kingdom run off alone? That’s crazy! And you’re not even fully rested yet!”

“I can’t rest if Ganondorf is still alive. I…” You swallowed hard. “I need to save Link.”

Purah stared you deep in the eyes, piercing you. “Alright,” she finally said. “What do you need from me?”

“What?”

“You don’t need to do everything yourself. We’re all here to support you, okay?” She flicked you on the forehead. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell, just please be safe.”

“Thanks Purah.” You looked down at the platform. “Can you pump some more power into this? A little extra height?”

“Say less,” she smirked.

Purah soon had her tools out and got to work making adjustments to the guardian arms. You hid in the shadow of the tower entrance, only visible to her. You passed her a wrench as you looked back up at the blood moon overhead. “Purah, promise me that if things get bad, you’ll evacuate everyone.”

“It won’t come to that-”

“Purah, promise me.”

She looked at you for a moment. “I promise. But promise me something, that you’ll be careful out there. You’re working yourself too hard. You’re no good to us dead.”

“I have to do something.”

“Yes, and you have. I know how it feels to be helpless. Remember, I lived through the Calamity, I had to help keep everyone safe when Ganon burned Hyrule for nights on end.” She fiddled with some of the gears. “I know you feel guilty, but it’s not your fault.”

“I practically handed him the tools to destroy us.”

“You’re saying that to the girl who helped rebuild the Divine Beasts and the Guardians.”

You winced. “I…”

She sat up and patted you on the back. “You may be our prince, but you can’t carry the weight of the world around forever. I trust you to do what you need to do, but don’t forget Hyrule is all of us – not just the prince and his knight. We aren’t going to let any Demon King destroy us without a fight. So, promise me, Prince [Y/n], you’re gonna come home safe – for me, for the kingdom, and most of all, for Link.”

“I promise.”

“Good!” She whacked the gears, and the terminal lit up again. “It’s ready to go.”

You tightened the belts on your armor, making sure you had your light pack secured. “Alright, Purah, I’ll be back as soon as I can.” The guardian arms spooled out, this time handing you a pair of goggles. The platform began to shake.

“You better. Good luck Princey.” She adjusted her glasses. “By the way, you have Link’s map data of the Great Sky Island. You could have just teleported there.”

“Wait, wha-” FOOOOM!

Wind whipped around as you flung skyward, higher and higher and higher. The air grew cold, reminding you of climbing to the Stormwind Ark with Tulin. You popped out your glider looking down at the specks of sky islands around you in the bloody light. If it wasn’t for Ganondorf’s influence, it would have been a beautiful night.

In the distance, Zelda glided through the air above Hateno. “I bet you’re checking in on your students,” you whispered to yourself. “You’ll see them soon, promise. Once I find the Shadow Temple and whatever Rauru wanted, I’m going to fix everything.”

You landed effortlessly at the edge of the Great Sky Island. Like Link had told you, there were Constructs everywhere, but they seemed to be asleep for the night. You checked your pack to make sure nothing had fallen out. You packed light, with clothes, your Royal Guard Armor as a second set, some arrows, a bow, lamp oil, rope, bombs, and some smaller blades to defend yourself. You turned one of the Eightfold Blades over in your hand. Link had fused a Blue Lynel’s horn to it for you, giving it a wicked edge that would make short work of most monsters.

You pulled up the map on your Purah Pad and looked at Link’s notes and travel history, trying to figure out where Rauru might have been thinking of. Then, you remembered the last dream and what Sheik said.

Rauru has secrets he doesn’t realize I know. The Temple of Time only needs the key.

Your eyes fell the Zonai Temple of Time. It was a far cry from the version you knew, but the unnatural swirl of light that rose from it called to you. You could practically feel the gears turning in your head as Rauru’s words came back to you.

Something that would give you the edge you need… more time in fact.

“Rauru… what did you have in mind?”

==============================

It took a bit to safely make your way to the Temple of Time, but soon you found yourself in the main atrium. Unfortunately, without the power of Rewind, climbing to the upper floor with the Goddess Statue took longer than you expected. You looked around but nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first. Then, you realized there had to be upper and lower floors, but no clear way to get to them. Furthermore, there was something causing a glowing light at the top, but when you had glided to the island, there didn’t appear to be anything there.

“Okay Rauru, what did you hide here then?” You pulled the Timeshift Stone from your pack as you wandered out the giant doors. You walked towards the collapsed balcony that Zelda had dropped you off on after Link pulled the Master Sword. You squeezed the stone, trying to summon any kind of vision, but there was nothing. “Would’ve been nice to just jump back in time to see Rauru or Zelda instead,” you grumbled, turning back to the Temple of Time.

As you walked back through the doors, the stone vibrated in your hand, softly starting to glow and pulse. You then heard the splash of footsteps. Below, you saw another echo of the past, but this time it was Sheik, dressed again in his robes reminiscent of Farosh as he strode through the cistern. You leaped down after him, but he disappeared as quickly as he came. Shimmying behind the waterwheel, you squeezed into the damp alcove to find a hidden door. It groaned on its hinges as you forced it open. You walked inside and followed the hidden staircase down into the darkness of the temple’s hidden levels.

It was a short walk to the lowest chamber, lit by a few dim Zonai lamps. The room had a small raised altar with a pillar made almost completely out of pewter. “So, are you the Shadow Temple?” you asked the open air. You wandered the room, not finding any other hints of hidden doors. Tapping the walls with your sword revealed nothing but solid rock. “Don’t suppose there are any torches for me to light either,” you muttered, before turning back to the conspicuous pillar. You climbed the altar, examining the strange object. It was cool to the touch, and lined with runes that were too faded to read in the dim light, even if you knew how to. There was, however, a notch in the center, just below a winged herald.

The Timeshift Stone leaped from your hand, as if magnetized and snapped into the pillar, leaving a smooth surface. For a second, nothing happened, but then all of the runes lit up with a blue light. A hum filled the room before the pillar burst into small blocks. A chill spread up your spine as the gravity suddenly dropped, and the blocks floated all around you. One by one, they spun and fit together into new shapes, slowly forming a giant circle. Then, with a burst of light, the shape smoothed into a giant gear, etched with the symbols of the goddesses and inscriptions that looked like music notes. The Triforce was proudly emblazoned in the center. Portals opened from the ceiling and two more gears dropped down, fitting into place perfectly. With a clunk, the gears began to turn.

An odd energy filled the room, making your skin tingle and your hair float. For a moment, you stared in awe but then it dawned on you. Your mother’s stories described it perfectly, as did some of the books you borrowed from Zelda. “The Gate of Time. Oh Hylia, the Gate of Time is real…”

You paced back and forth, mind racing. “Okay, not the Shadow Temple. Rauru, you weren’t kidding about more time.” You approached the gate, watching as the symbols faded away to reveal an endless tunnel of gears inside. “Yeah, this changes things. I can try to undo what Ganondorf did, but… where do I even go? Where do I start?” You tentatively pushed your hand into the tunnel, feeling the energy tingle. Slowly, you pushed a foot inside and entered the gate.

“Okay – not sure how to direct this exactly.” You wracked your brain. Then, a plan hatched in your mind. If you could ask Purah for help in the past, then Purah would have a hundred years to research a solution! She could unfreeze Link and then you could get Rauru’s help again. You could even ask the Champions for help, or maybe Sharpe could tell you what he meant by his five songs! “Please, take me back to before the Calamity!”

The tunnel pulsed with energy, acknowledging you. You started to run through the seemingly endless hall of gears, the light from the entrance fading, and a new light growing at the other end. Energy of the ages flowed by you, and you couldn’t help running faster and faster. The light grew brighter until it was nearly blinding…

==============================

“Oh, the poor dear, is he okay?”

“Such strange garb, he’s not a thief, is he?”

The voices shook you from your grogginess. You found yourself flat on your back, staring up at a picturesque blue sky.

“Oh, he’s getting up! Give him some space!”

You slowly sat up to see you were surrounded by people on a wide cobblestone street.

Wait, what?

You patted the ground, realizing the last time you saw well maintained cobblestone streets was before the Calamity. All the cobblestone roads left were near Castle Town, and none of them looked brand new like this. At first, you wanted to leap for joy – it worked! You had gone back in time! But then, you realized this town wasn’t like any other you had seen before the Calamity. You looked around the cozy but prosperous village. There was a nice plaza with a weathervane and a marketplace. You rubbed the back of your head. When and where exactly did you land?

“Okay everyone, let’s stop treating the poor man like a spectacle!” A rough voice said. An old man in yellow robes with a carved wooden staff walked up. He stroked his long white beard, looking you over. “Come now, can you stand?”

“I think so,” you said, getting up to your feet a bit shakily.

“Good, come with me.” You followed him up a hill to a large but plain home. He led you inside where an elderly woman was setting out some teacups.

“Please sit,” he said, pouring you a cup. “It’s not every day one falls out of the sky on our village – especially for someone wearing the mark of the Sheikah clan. You seem to have traveled quite a distance.” He set his staff down and sat across from you, removing his cap. “I am pleased to welcome you to Kakariko Village, traveler. My name is Sahasrahla. What is yours?”

[cowboybrunch]

a boy and his crow

let's talk about Robbie and Sir Cornfield!!

read Dust to Dust here

Robert "Robbie" Lyall is a medium in service of the royal family and the best friend of the princess. His familiar, Sir Cornfield, is a demon that often takes the shape of a crow.

When Robbie was nine years old, he stumbled into a deal gone wrong. A demon was trapped in a summoning circle after the other party fled for reasons unknown. Since Robbie is a medium, he could see the demon's true form, and it was horrifying (he was a child!). He smudged the runes with his shoe, earning the demon's favor... and evidently, his undying loyalty. The demon was unwilling to share his real name, so Robbie dubbed him Sir Cornfield (did I mention he was a child?) and the two became inseparable.

Robbie's parents didn't know about his gift, assuming that Sir Cornfield was an imaginary friend. When they found out about his abilities to speak to the dead, they sold him to the crown. For the remainder of his childhood, he was trained in spiritual necromancy, quickly becoming one of the most skilled mediums of his generation.

Sir Cornfield is snarky, blunt, secretive, and very, very protective of Robbie. He has issues with confined spaces, preferring to stay outdoors, and he only ever speaks to Robbie and Missy, the princess.

But what can he do as a demon? Well, we don't really know. He has a near-perfect memory, can linger in places to eavesdrop, and mainly acts as an advisor to Robbie. We know he has some abilities (he drops hints and threats often), but we haven't seen anything... yet.

We also don't know what his true form looks like. Only mediums can see him when he's not parading around as a crow, and Robbie doesn't offer any description. It's scary, though. Like piss your pants and start praying to a god you don't believe in scary.

Are Sir Cornfield's jokes about desiring human sacrifices actually jokes? How did he end up in that summoning circle, and who trapped him?

taglist (ask to be +/-)

@fortunatetragedy

[dykesynthezoid]

Ok bc my brain tortures me with Thoughts and Ideas… Here is how I think the general narrative layout of a Arthurian-esque Samtory story would go (this is by nature of course partially inspired by @leohttt ‘s samtory Robin Hood AU bc. Medieval folklore and all that):

- Kreese was the previous King of Camelot, and with no direct heir or relation he decided to form an elite coalition of knights (it’s the Cobras. Obviously) and whoever he judged the most worthy he would make his legal heir. This ends up being Johnny.

- Daniel, main-character-syndrome-haver that he is, does have some Arthur-esque elements to him but specifically in a more sword-in-the-stone way. Aka, he’s not of noble birth (not even secretly, in this instance), he’s just some scrappy kid who meets a really cool but often cryptic old guy which leads him on a whole adventure to change Camelot forever.

- Aka this kid moves to Camelot, manages to immediately piss off its most elite knights, and gets so invested in this conflict that he’s like hey this King sucks. We should get rid of him

- Guy who like, just got here leads rebellion to depose Kreese bc why not

- This entire conflict still leads to Kreese trying to kill Johnny bc of course it does!

- Johnny and the Cobras are unable to stop Daniel and his uprising from ousting Kreese; but, after Kreese tried to kill Johnny, and now that he’s gone, Daniel, of course, shows mercy. He and Johnny end up coming to an agreement that the legal line of succession is still valid and Johnny takes the throne, although with diminished executive power, which he’s fine with bc he’s actually majorly insecure and terrified of fucking up.

- Daniel becomes one of his most prominent advisors and they’re like. Obviously pretty close.

- Johnny is still, uh. Pretty fucked up in the head from everything though. As they get older his drinking worsens, plague and famine and other disasters exacerbate his already fragile self-worth as ruler, and his insecurities grow deeper.

- Eventually he ends up having an affair with a commoner that leads to her becoming pregnant, and at this point he just. Can’t do it anymore. So he literally skips town and leaves Daniel in charge.

- Daniel, newly thrust into a role as regent, does his best to figure out what the fuck to do about all of this. He finds out about Johnny’s affair, and realizing Johnny may have an heir, starts the task of looking for where this commoner might have gone and where her kid is.

- (By this time he’s married Amanda and had Sam already ofc).

- It takes years for the new circle of knights to find Robby and Shannon, and when they do Robby 100% tries to rob them first.

- He’s still a kid at this point; and the adjustment from peasant to royal life is difficult, to say the least.

- He and Sam grow very close, though, practically seeing each other as siblings.

- Sam’s role is… complicated, by all of this. She’s the first-born of the man actually ruling the kingdom; but she’s not the heir. Robby is, and once he’s old enough he’ll take the throne.

- She becomes a knight, along with Hawk and Miguel and Aisha. She wants to be useful; wants there to be a reason for her to hold the nebulous station she does.

- She also definitely has prophetic dreams and visions, but she keeps that quiet because having magic isn’t something you’re really supposed to admit to.

- Yes we are employing the Merlin-style “magic is outlawed” trope, for flavor. The harsher punishments and most extreme conditions were under Kreese, but even after, the ban was not completely lifted. Both Johnny and Daniel’s positions as rulers have been complicated and often fragile; neither of them had the absolute power to really change something like that, especially when so much of the nobility still views magic as destructive and evil.

- Finally, Robby’s about to ascend the throne. In the meantime he’s been betrothed to a noble’s daughter from a fief they’ve been trying to build an alliance with for some time.

- On the very day his betrothed is set to arrive, Robby stumbles upon the information that Daniel has actually known exactly where Johnny is hiding out for the last ~20 years, and is uh. Understandably upset and feels betrayed.

- Overwhelmed with anger and hurt, he storms out of the castle and disappears into the wood, declaring if Daniel won’t tell him exactly where to find his father, he’ll go find him himself.

- Cue Tory arriving in Camelot, already not exactly happy but trying to make the best of things, being married off to a future king and all that, but he’s Not Even Fucking There.

- His surrogate sister is, though, and she’s annoying as fuck.

- And totally not super hot or anything.

- Oh, and also Terry is a witch-king and warlord with an army of mercenaries living a couple kingdoms over.

- Also when I said Daniel ousted Kreese, did you think he was gonna not still be alive? Bc of course he is. Hanging with his evil sorcerer king bestie.

- “Didn’t Kreese outlaw magic?” Yeah. What about it.

- Kreese: Magic is evil and treacherous and disgusting

Everyone else: Isn’t your boyfriend literally a sorcerer?

Kreese: I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. Kill yourself

- Oh and Demetri is Hawk’s squire and manservant who is like. A beginner wizard who is really fucking bad at hiding the fact that he’s magical but Hawk is too dense to notice.

- There’d be a whole plot line where Moon gets accused of witchcraft and Hawk, indoctrinated by anti-magic beliefs, fails to defend her and agrees to carry out the order to exile her, saying she’s just lucky the punishment wasn’t harsher. And Demetri has to watch that from the background going “UH OH. HMM. UH OH”

- (Moon lady of the lake storyline mayhaps???)

- Piper is the leader of a group of bandits. Bc I said so.

- Aisha is a knight but also a scholar with an interest in alchemy, which puts her in a complicated position as far as the whole no-magic thing

- Carmen, as a healer, is also inevitably accused of witchcraft (even though she’s not actually magic)

- This is extremely difficult for Miguel and furthers the rift forming between the more tolerant knights (himself, Sam, eventually Aisha, and a couple others) and the more militant, “bring back the old days when we put sorcerers to death” knights (many of the show’s Cobra Kais, including Hawk; at least, for a while, I assume he gets his head out of his ass eventually)

- As soon as news gets out that Robby is missing tensions skyrocket

- Amid all of this though Sam and Tory are just. Having an insane amount of sexual tension, even though that’s like really NOT helping the whole “dangerous state of political unrest” thing that’s going on

- Sam and some of the other knights decide to set out to track Robby down and bring him home; Tory argues her way onto the expedition by requesting they drop her off at her estate to visit her mother and brother on the way

- On the way there, though, they’re attacked by mercenaries, and Sam realizes with growing horror and rage that Tory sold them out.

- Listen. Tory’s mom is sick, and the state of her fiefdom is fragile. Everyone wants their resources, and if they knew the lady of the land was ill, that it was unprotected, they would all immediately swoop in and carve it to pieces. Tory can’t let this happen. The problem is there is someone who knows about her mother’s condition, and that’s Silver.

- So she’s stuck with him. But he promises that if she plays along, he’ll help her find a healer to save her mother. He installs his mercenaries on her land to “guard” it and her manor, but she knows it’s also a threat.

- Tory decides she doesn’t have a choice. She does what she has to.

- It was Silver who devised the plan to set up the betrothal, although no one in Camelot knew of his involvement.

- Sam and her knights are taken into custody by Silver’s men and brought back to his lair. Sam does not stop glaring at the back of Tory’s head the entire time.

- Once there, Sam is surprised to find Robby is there as well, and not entirely unwillingly. (He truly. Left Camelot and fell into their clutches almost immediately). He tells her Kreese is the only person who’s ever been willing to talk openly with him about his dad. He wants to hear them out, wants to play it cool.

- So Sam is having a tough time. Understandably.

- Does she 100% sneak into Tory’s bedroom, telling herself it’s so she can get even or get answers and definitely has nothing to do with the fact that looking at Tory makes her feel like her insides are melting into very hot, very gay slime? Of course she does!

- When Sam and her knights make their escape, Sam manages to drag Tory back with her, but Robby refuses to come with them, overwhelmed and scared and desperate for stability.

- As Silver’s armies muster and Camelot is torn into civil war, Sam has to make the decision to defy both her father and her future king, and what does that make her? What does that mean for a knight? What if the only way to keep Camelot safe is to accept the burden of leading it?

- Also she might’ve stolen said future king’s future bride. So. That���s happening too.

[trixstriforce]

i wanna wait till i finish totk to post about it a lot(bc im still not far in game) but im lowkey disappointed a bit story wise? i was rlly excited on the sky islands and i loved what was going on w/ the zonai and then...link fell...to the surface...

1 why is zelda reinstating the monarch and hyrule’s systems of power with no clear deviations to how the power structure was already ran ie she is the ultimate authority no counsel or advisors??? ik we r early into the rebuilding so tbh, so maybe shge has plans but needs to start off small like how making lookout landing so idk if my fears r unfounded, but for botw to show how clearly and detrimentally hyrule’s system of power could destroy the nation bc the king’s power and authority was left unchecked leading to zelda’s own royal duties completely crippling her potential to help her kingdom and her not being shown to be the best fit for the life of a monarch i am just slightly raising my brow rn, im not arguing she shouldnt be in charge bc she is clearly doing her best but i do find it strange we r just...going back to hyrule’s monarchy and not something like an oligarchy including the other rulers and leaders?? maybe as i go to the other regions and meet more characters this will be explained more how exactly hyrule’s new government is going???

2 why is link so...unknown? this was a problem in botw too where basically no one knew about or rlly cared about link’s status as the hero which was notably more important in past games, now hes literally just some guy who follows zelda around and waves a fancy sword(even tho hes the reason calamity is gone not zelda even tho ppl acted like her sealing power was the key there :///). even ppl who know him in game assume he is a stranger which at first i assumed was bc he went missing but like...even by new characters who know him he is just aid to be zelda’s swordsman and zelda’s protector??? ppl seemed much more concerned she disappeared than link even the lookout parties specifically say they r for her not link...and the ppl of hateno thought he was a tourist when he lived there BEFORE zelda did? she literally is living in his house not the other way around???? people like robbie and purah of course know him but like why dont the people of hateno or hell even some of the stable people remember him?? why is he again delegated to just the princess’s knight when in botw it clearly showed that BOTH link and zelda suffered under their destined mantles? link is still following her around and being known only because of her not even known as the people’s hero? like was this a continue choice on link’s part or even after dying for zelda and losing his memories of everything except zelda n the champions is he still genuinely wanting to be her servant and not friend and equal???

i think my ass is a bit too anti-authority for loz bc i thought botw was going to deconstruct the hyrule monarchy and the role of the hero and princess and show how them falling into such stereotypes of the dauntless knight and pure princess was what caused them to be unprepared and fail in the first place. i thought in totk it would show them not as princess and knight but as idk?? more so guardians of hyrule who help out when needed but r not active leaders, i didnt think they were just gonna force link back to being a knight and force the crown and its burdens back onto zelda’s head especially when botw hinted heavily neither of them??? particularly wanted to be that??? the scene in the rain i thought implied they both felt pressure to be what the kingdom needed them to be and post botw they would simply idk live their best life

am i tripping like i feel like i am bc this is jsut...rlly bumming me out and it kinda knocked my excitement down when no one in hateno recognized me even tho link lived there for years and barely anyone even knew who link was outside of his relationship to zelda? it also made me rlly confused why zelda would even want to be princess again? i get her being a leader dont get me wrong, but there are other ways for her to do that then reinstating the monarchy like being a spiritual leader for hyrule or her and link being travelers who help wherever they r needed(which is...lowkey what i assumed happened after botw and kinda was right but also very very wrong :()))

maybe i read one too many fics where they let their pasts stay in the past and carved out a new place for them in this new hyrule bc clearly totk isnt rlly...going to be focused on those theme and is instead very much leaning into the relearning one’s history thing

[theopulenthq]

Welcome to The Opulent HQ, Laura, Pink, and the City State of Aukland! Please review the checklist and send in your account within 24 hours!

{jess hong, 28, ciswoman, she/her} We are so glad to see you safe, LADY YALING XU of AUCKLAND! It is dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are EMPATHETIC and INTELLIGENT enough to handle it. Just don’t let your INSECURITIES bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU BETRAYED YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW FOR YOUR UNREQUITED LOVE, {laura, 26, GMT+10, she/her, n/a}

{ emma d'arcy, thirty-two, non-binary, they/them } we are so glad to see you safe, ROYAL ADVISOR TO THE BONAPARTES ODETTE VASINA of SPAIN ( RUSSIA ) ! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are ANALYTICAL and RATIONALIZING enough to handle it. just don’t let your vindictiveness bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU ARE RAISING THE SECRET BONAPARTE HEIR OF THE FORMER QUEEN.

CITY STATE APPLICATION

City Name: Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau)

What essential service does this kingdom provide? Agriculture and minerals (pounamu, quartz, garnets and gold).

City Description: A beautiful city state with an abundance of natural resources, Auckland is situated between two harbours, providing access to trade routes from both the east and west coast. Surrounded by a number of volcanoes the rich soil and strategic position have allowed the economy in Auckland to thrive.

A coalition of sub-tribes (hapū) are ruled over by the Paramount Chief. The Paramount Chief leads with the advice of a council made up of the hapū chiefs/chieftesses and appointed elders. Whilst the Tāmaki family currently lead one of the strongest tribes in Aotearoa there have been political tensions between the governing family and the hapū chiefs/chieftesses, with some thinking it is time for a change of leadership.

Suggested Faceclaims: Alex Aiono, Taika Waititi, Manu Bennett, Antonio Te Maioha, Courtney Eaton, Miriama Mcdowell, Auli’i Cravalho, Frankie Adams, Uli Latukefu, Alex Tarrant, Robbie Magasiva

ASSOCIATED FAMILIES/ROLES:

THE TĀMAKI FAMILY: Governing family. Members of the Tāmaki family (unless married in or adopted) are of Pasifika/Māori descent.

Paramount Chief Tāmaki: head of the Waiohua confederation, 33+: OPEN

Chief/Chiefess Tāmaki (nee Xu): Spouse to the Paramount Chief, 30+: OPEN

Lady Yaling Xu: Sister-in-law to the Paramount Chief, Jess Hong FC, 28, she/her - TAKEN

Chief/Chieftess Tāmaki: Sibling to the Paramount Chief, 21-33: OPEN

ASSOCIATED ROLES: Associated roles can be of any descent. Please review any wanted connections/family ties that may impact your muse’s background.

Hapū chiefs/chieftesses (0/4) – Leaders of sub-tribes in Auckland and council members: OPEN

Advisors and appointed elders - Council member selected by the people: OPEN

[westeroslive]

Which wanted connections do u want to see the most??

from  me  opening  it  and  picking  those  that  drew  my  eye  -  i'm  going  to  put  a  couple  below  the  cut  that  i'd  love  to  see  !!!

𓏲ּ  ֶָ  𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑠𝒕𝒗  ⁝         JAENARA  of  house  CELTIGAR,  the  LADY  of  CLAW  ISLE  requests  the  presence  of  their  CAT  &  MOUSE  COURTSHIP  at  court.  their  portraits  seem  to  resemble  any  masc  fc  -  and  whisperers  among  the  court  seem  to  say  the  following  regarding  their  relationship:  inspired  by  most  fictionalized  versions  of  henry  viii  &  anne  boleyn  ,  someone  of  power  and  wealth  that  jaenara  has  caught  the  eye  of  -  all  by  design.  he  wants  her,  loves  her  (  as  she  believes  she  could  never  love  him  )  but  she  keeps  herself  just  out  of  his  reach,  she  will  be  no  lover  -  no  lustful  fancy  -  what  she  will  be  is  desired.  but  the  gods  are  funny,  and  she  may  yet  find  herself  the  mouse.  you  need  not  seek  contact  with  @BEGUILEAD  to  discover  the  truth  behind  these  whispers.    this  particular  dynamic  seems  to  be  POSITIVE  in  nature,  and  for  a  noble  of  23  -  29  name  days  it  is  most  surprising.

𓏲ּ  ֶָ  𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑠𝒕𝒗  ⁝         ARIANNE  of  house  VELARYON,  the  LADY REGENT  of  DRIFTMARK  requests  the  presence  of  their  FORMER BETROTHED  at  court.  their  portraits  seem  to  resemble  elizabeth debicki,   aaron taylor-johnson,   sobhita dhulipala,   henry  cavill,   enzo cogrincic,   simone ashley,   jonathan bailey, any  fc  -  and  whisperers  among  the  court  seem  to  say  the  following  regarding  their  relationship:   arianne  did  not  often  venture  beyond  the  vale  as  a  child,   protected  as  she  was.   but  you  are  from  the  vale  or  essos  (  for  she  made  yearly  tours  to  visit  her  mother's  home  ),   or  one  who  regularly  ventured  to  castle  runestone  as  a  child,   and  you  grew  together  as  friends  before  love  was  even  a  candle  flicker  of  a  thought.    learned  to  read  her  mind  as  she  did  yours,   matched  the  freckles  on  her  forearm  to  the  stars  in  the  heavens.    she  kept  every  letter  you  ever  sent,   your  handwriting  well  chronicled.    well  loved.  and  she  did.    love  you,   i  mean,   and  promised  to  marry  you  in  her  naive  way.    but  you  were  just  children,   two  trees  with  branches  grown  tangled,   and  a  rumored  truth  cleaved  you  in  half.    burned  you  to  ash  and  repackaged  her  as  firewood  for  the  sea  dragon.    you  have  scarcely  seen  each  other  since,   if  at  all,   but  certain  embers  simply  do  not  die.   and  if  they  are  fanned  now,   what  sort  of  fire  will  you  make  of  the  world:   will  you  forge  or  devour?   (  inspired  in  part  by  cecelia  and  robbie  in  the  atonement  ).    /    please  take  this  in  any  direction  you  like !   i  can  see  them  being  be  a  royal,   a  noble,   sworn  sword  of  house  velaryon  or  another  house,   etc.    you  need  not  seek  contact  with  @TIDEBURN  to  discover  the  truth  behind  these  whispers.    this  particular  dynamic  seems  to  be  POSITIVE  in  nature,  and  for  a  noble  of  32-37  name  days  it  is  most  surprising.

𓏲ּ  ֶָ  𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑠𝒕𝒗  ⁝         THEON  of  house  STARK,  the  RULING  LORD  of  WINTERFELL  requests  the  presence  of  their  ADVISOR  at  court.  their  portraits  seem  to  resemble  any fc  -  and  whisperers  among  the  court  seem  to  say  the  following  regarding  their  relationship:  this northern noble is someone who theon's father greatly trusted and thus became a mentor for theon - someone who's advice he highly values. they are fiercely loyal to the starks / the north and are committed to helping ensuring theon's rule and the north remains strong. they are an extremely thoughtful and strategic person, considering multiple options before deciding upon one to ensure they are following the course of action that most benefits the north. it's due to this habit that they've recently begun wondering if a north independent of the dragon's rule is the direction they should be looking. since the thoughts are a recent development, they aren't decided one way or the other, though they are likely keeping a close eye on the targaryens, but they have started subtly hinting about the prospect to theon, who's own thoughts on the matter are very divided, threatening to possibly complicate what has always been a untroubled relationship.  you  need  not  seek  contact  with  @steelfyre  to  discover  the  truth  behind  these  whispers.  this  particular  dynamic  seems  to  be  POSITIVE  in  nature,  and  for  a  noble  of  40+  name  days  it  is  most  surprising.

[bookshelf-full-of-bruises]

Tea Party

I decided that I wanted to christen my new writing blog with something warm and light. What better subject than a young Rosalind coming into her powers while playing make believe? If you found this place because you follow my main blog, you likely are already familiar with she and her father Robbie. If not, you’re in for a treat! Enjoy some pure tooth-rotting fluff as morning breaks over my new domain 💛

“How wonderful of you to join us, Robert. Please take a seat. We were just about to begin.”

Robert Gardner beams from ear to ear as he is granted entry, stepping through the doorway without missing a beat. He wears a white dress shirt beneath a spring green vest- the latter patterned with playfully sprawling vines- and khaki slacks. A warm brown tailcoat completes the ensemble, and his shoes have been freshly shined. His hair hangs in ornate braids that have been fussed over for the better part of an hour. He is ready.

“Thank you, your Majesty. You are too kind. Please excuse my tardiness- I’m afraid the royal stables are still in a bit of a tizzy from the arrival of Pepermint. I’ve spent all morning attempting to sort out her care schedule. She is with the smith now, and is being fitted for her winter shoes,” he explains, bowing gracefully towards the table set for tea.

Pepermint is the most recent in Rosalind’s collection of plastic ponies, gifted to her a few days ago on her sixth birthday. Oh, how her eyes had sparkled when the tissue paper was pulled away. Like charoite beneath the setting sun. She’s not yet old enough to wear the color contacts to help draw less attention to herself, and he can’t help but be so grateful for that every time she smiles. She has no reason to believe she needs to hide herself, yet. No reason to be afraid.

Against all reason, he hopes that will never change.

From her seat at the table, his little girl giggles, and it is a sound that could melt the thickest ice. She waves him over, hands clad in the white gloves from her dress-up trunk. They’re ruddy from frequent use, and her tiara is a bit crooked, but in all his many years, Robbie cannot remember ever seeing a more beautiful princess.

“That’s alright, daddy. Come sit! We have cookies! And I need my royal ‘visor.”

The table she invites him to is set for four, which gives him a moment’s pause as he moves to take his seat. Sir Milton is present, as always, and so is Dawa. But the fifth place setting that usually appears beside her beloved rabbit’s is surprisingly absent. “Is Puffball not going to be joining us today?”

His daughter sighs so dramatically that he has to force himself not to break character and giggle. She’s scolded him for that before- it’s not realistic if you don’t pretend right, daddy- and so he’s trying to be better about it. “That’s what I needed to talk to you about,” she says, as though it’s obvious.

He nods sagely as he reaches his seat, trying to keep up. “Ah, I see. Well, then, let’s get started, shall we? Milton, my good sir, it’s always good to see you. And Madame Dawa, you are looking quite lovely today. Have you done something different with your hair?” Bowing to each guest in their turn, he pulls his chair out to take his place. He takes great care in ensuring the coat of his tail falls correctly as he stoops to sit, ever the picture of poise. It’s only befitting of the Princess’s royal advisor, after all.

Said sovereign grins impishly as she reaches to pick up her little paper fan. It takes her a second to get it opened, and she has to manually spread it the rest of the way when her initial wrist flick proves insufficient, but she gets it figured out all the same. Raising it to cover her nose and mouth, she pretends to fan herself lightly.

It is then that the magic begins in earnest.

Milton, the Furby frog, is the first to respond. The click-clack of his beak and eyes have always unnerved Robbie a little, but he’s careful not to show it. The little guy one of his Rosebud’s favorites, and has to be treated as such. No matter how creepy he may or may not be. “𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦. ℝ𝕠𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕥. 𝕀𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕. 𝕋𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦. 𝕋𝕠𝕠.”

She’s getting better at projecting the tone she wants; the croaky rasp of Milton’s voice is almost strong enough he can’t hear his daughter’s sneaky whispers beneath it. Pride flares brightly in his chest. She’s amazing. His daughter is absolutely amazing.

“𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝓊𝓉𝑒 𝒶𝓈 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇, 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹,” Dawa speaks up, then. Her button eyes almost seem to glimmer in the glow of the tea lights. “𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝑀𝒶𝒿𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓎 𝑔𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝓃𝑒𝓌 𝓈𝑒𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒷𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝒾𝓇𝓉𝒽𝒹𝒶𝓎! 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒹𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀?” The head of the plush bunny tips a bit to the side, allowing her ears to fall in a way that shows off the floral barrette. The motion is still a bit rigid- the accent, a bit wonky- but for her age, it’s incredible.

“I think it’s absolutely lovely. The Princess was kind, to share her gifts with you.” The creasing of his little girl’s eyes speaks to the smile that blossoms behind the worn paper fan. She wiggles in her chair a little, too happy to sit still as her father reaches to pick up her pretty tea pot and begins to pour.

“𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈! 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓊𝓈. 𝐼𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎.” As Dawa finishes, though, Rosalind clears her throat to draw attention back to herself. She does not set the fan down, keeping it close in hand, but she does stop hiding behind it for the moment.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, but there is business to discuss.” She doesn’t even wait for him to put the tea pot down before she’s going for the sugar cubes: one in Milton’s cup, two in her own, one in his, and one in Dawa’s. Then a splash of milk in all four, just like normal.

“Yes, of course. You wanted to discuss Puffball’s absence, right?” He retrieves his spoon, then, and begins stirring the contents of his teacup. The tea is not hot enough to risk burning anyone, but it is warm enough that the sugar dissolves in fairly short order.

“I did,” she answers after a moment, voice taking on an almost solemn tint. It makes Robbie focus in a little more, caught off guard by the shift in tone. Had something happened to the Popple in the last….26 hours since he’d seen it last?

As if hearing her father’s internal questions, Rosalind continues with her explanation. “She got hurt during our walk this morning. The Healer sent her to the hot springs to get better, but she hasn’t come home yet. I fear for her, Robert. What if she can’t make it home on her own?”

Ohhhhh. So that’s why Jessamine had been running the washer this morning. He had been curious, knowing that he’d finished the last of the laundry last night, but…not enough so to get up and check it out. While his girls have always been early risers, he is…decidedly not. And that’s before taking into effect how little sleep he was able to get last night.

That’s why Jess had decided to take Rose to the park in the first place: to let him get a little more rest before today’s big to-do. He feels a sliver of guilt about not being there, but he also knows both would call him silly for it. They need their bonding time just as much as the next mother and daughter anyway, and everyone needs lazy mornings. Still, he always feels a sliver of regrets for the moments he misses in passing. One day, he won’t have a tea party to attend when he wakes up.

“Ahh, I see. That is troublesome.” Deciding against waiting any longer, he takes a sip from his cup. The warmth washes over him like a sunrise, and he closes his eyes to let the feeling of this second in time sink in. No matter what the future brings, they are together, here and now. And when he opens his eyes to find hers looking back at him, that is worth more than anything he’s ever owned.

“Perhaps when we’re finished here, I can go and escort her home myself?” He’s pretty sure he heard the dryer going not long ago, so with any luck, she should be clean and ready to go. If not, they’ll figure out where to take the story from there. For now, however, the suggestion seems satisfactory.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Rosalind nods sagely. “Go carefully, but bring her home safe.”

“Then it’s decided. I’ll go as soon as we’ve finished up, your Majesty. Now you really should try your tea; it’s magnificent.” He takes another sip in demonstration, then, and casts her a goofy grin when he returns the cup to its saucer. “Just like you.”

She giggles again, and it sets his world alight. “Thank you, daddy.” The play momentarily suspended, his heart melts. What could he ever have done to deserve something as precious as this moment? This life?

He may never know. But the one thing he does know is that he will protect it with every last fiber of his being.

“You’re welcome, my Rosebud.”

[fatefulfaerie]

congrats on 600 followers <3 may i request a little roleswap fic with prince link and hero zelda?

So I asked you if you wanted angst or fluff and you said fluff but apparently the question was do you want a lot of angst or a little angst. I don't think I know anything else. Oops...

Also a big thank you to @aurathian I could not for the life of me remember the word "smitten" but it was in your recent oneshot and I was like THANK YOU BIG BRAIN. Also read her role swap fic it's so much better than mine: https://aurathian.tumblr.com/post/654926454174416896/a-thousand-words

At First Sight

“How did it go?”

Prince Link nearly jumped out of his skin, but hid it well enough. He completely forgot that his royal advisor said he would meet him in his chambers before the banquet. Robbie was a sheikah, but he wasn’t exactly subtle in his appearance, which made Link wonder at how he didn’t notice him when he come in. He replied to the inquiry nonetheless as he looked into the mirror, straightening the crown atop his head and making sure his face was clean, tiny things that showed his newfound vanity crystal clear.

“How did what go?” Link asked.

“Meeting your knight attendant?” Robbie said, standing up. How could this boy forget? “I heard she’s the best sword wielder in the land."

“Oh,” Link said. “F-fine yeah, fine.”

Robbie’s forehead creased. He could only see the back of the young man’s head, the dirty blonde hair cut to proper length and trimmed every few weeks at the Queen’s behest. Link had never voiced an objection, not caring a lick about his looks. Robbie paced forward with crossed arms.

“I’m gonna be late for the banquet,” Link said, finally stopping his obsession with the mirror and heading back towards the doors, but Robbie grabbed his elbow and yanked him back. He got a good look at his face and…

“Are you smitten?” Robbie asked, almost not believing the color in his cheeks, the frenzy in his blue eyes.

“No.”

It was a bald-faced lie. Robbie could tell even without Link chuckling through it.

“O-of course not.”

Link ripped his arm from Robbie’s hold and the poor prince had to keep his heart from stinging. Of all the swordsmen and women in the land, why her? Why those green eyes? Why that golden hair? Why that outfit of brown leather that accentuated-

Link clutched his eyes closed with a sigh.

He was in trouble.

“You and I both know you can’t run from me,” Link heard Robbie call after him. Couldn’t he just drop this? “Who is it, the general’s daughter with the brown hair? That red-haired girl who follows you around with love poems? Oh Hylia, it’s not a commoner is it? Tell me it’s not a commoner.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Link said, his fists balled. He was practically storming away. If he walked any faster, his white pants and royal blue tunic may have caught fire.

“Is she going to be at the banquet?” Robbie continued. “Is that why you suddenly care about how you loo—”

“Why does it matter to you?!” Link barked as he turned on his heel to face Robbie, who was taken aback by the lash of anger. Link absolutely seethed, his chest heaving heavy breaths.

“Why?!” Link repeated, obviously expecting an answer, but apparently he changed his mind. “Why do you have to know everything about me? Why do you have to know that within ten minutes of meeting my knight attendant, my lips were on hers? Why do you have to know that I, Prince Lincoln of Hyrule, fell in love at first sight with the daughter of a farmer in Hateno? Why do you have to know how distraught I am that my mother would never accept our courtship?!”

Robbie let Link storm away, feeling terribly guilty for how had pushed the young man, who was only eighteen and yet preparing to rule a broken kingdom.

But Link stopped in his tracks when he noticed that Robbie wasn’t following him. The prince hugged his arms close, seeking the comfort he was never readily given.

If Link wanted to say something, he never did.

“I’m sorry,” Robbie said, after heave Link sufficient time to put his words together. “I didn’t know. I guess…I guess I’m used to the little boy who told me everything about his day. Sometimes I forget you are all grown up now, that what is on your plate is far heavier than what you had for breakfast.”

Link stewed in silence but Robbie could hear him sigh, could see his head tilt to the ceiling.

“I’m not going to the banquet,” Link said. Robbie could hear his honesty. “I’m going to see her. I can’t stop thinking about her.”

Link finally turned his head.

“Will you cover for me?” Link asked. Robbie graced a smirk.

“Anytime.”

[ranger-kellyn]

“You’re so lucky Robbie is here- I’da kicked your ass so hard you wouldn’t have woken up until the next time the Calamity awakens!!!!” Sometimes royal advisors think they know more than Dr. Purah. They never do. Robbie has lost count how many times he's had to carry her away. Sometimes, he's tempted to let her at them just to see what happens.

[wolveria]

Crucible - Ch 15

Pairing: Link x Reader

Prompt: For the Bittersweet Mini Bang!

Series Warnings (18+ only): Eventual smut, slow burn, violence, mild body horror, lots of whump, angst with a happy ending

Chapter Summary: The Champion's life hangs in the balance, and there's nothing you can do to aid him.

AO3

You pressed your knuckles against your mouth to keep silent, something bitter and acidic rising in the back of your throat. The disturbing sensation throughout your body was only getting worse, and there was no comfort from the fact that Link was still alive. Not when you so clearly remembered the way he had moments of discomfort and pain emanating from that same hand. Always covered and so secretive that he wouldn’t even share it with the Zora prince.

Something was terribly wrong with the Champion.

Keeping as quiet as you could, you followed after the procession moving with haste down the halls. It wasn’t difficult—they paid more attention to their destination than to their surroundings—but you remained cautious as you sped from one doorway to the next.

You didn’t have to go far; the guards disappeared into another hallway and through a large wooden door. Creeping closer, you kept against the wall as you approached the opening, ears alert for any approaching footsteps. But for now, there were none, and you strained to hear the voices inside.

“Set him here on the bed. Has word been sent to the scientists?”

“Yes,” came the familiar voice of the royal advisor. ��Purah and Robbie should be on their way.”

“Good, good. The rest of you may leave.”

“Lady Hannar, what has befallen Master Link—“

“That’s not for you to know,” the first voice snapped. The royal advisor was a bit more diplomatic in her tone to the Captain of the Guard.

“Please, tell no one about his condition. By the princess’ degree, it’s to remain a secret.”

The guards acknowledged their obedience as one, and by the time their footfalls approached the hallway you had already found a new hiding spot between a suit of armor and a wall-length curtain. You didn’t dare peek—curiosity was just as dangerous as clumsiness in these situations—and when the footsteps faded, you stayed where you were. The stone hallways echoed sounds a lot farther than they should, giving you an early warning system. Unfortunately, it meant any sound you made would carry as well.

Ears strained, you listened to the two voices speak Link’s condition, not understanding most of it, only just enough to know that the situation was grim.

“He may be hooked up to the machine as instructed, but I don’t know a damned thing about it. Those scientists better get here soon.”

“They will.” A heavy sigh. “The last time this happened, Link was only unconscious for a few minutes. And these lines right here were much more active. Auntie Purah—sorry, Lady Purah, said it measured the activity state of one’s mind.”

“Well, I don’t need a fancy machine to tell me that that boy’s gone and nearly killed himself. Still might have if his heart doesn’t stabilize.”

“Oh, no, Hannar, please don’t say that.”

“You want the truth, or do you want bliss? You don’t get both, Paya.”

There was a span of silence, and the royal advisor finally said, “The truth. Always the truth. Even if it pains the heart.”

“Wise answer. I see why she chose you.”

The answer the advisor gave was a mixture of embarrassment and pleased surprise. After a parting promise that she would send the princess an update, soft footfalls moved from the room down the hallway. Still, you waited, hoping whoever was still inside would move off, giving you a chance to enter without alerting anyone to your presence.

When you deemed it as safe as it was going to get, you moved quickly to the door and peeked around it, finding a large infirmary room lined with beds and privacy curtains. Aside from the grey stone architecture and the wooden buttresses high above, it wasn’t so different than the Zora healing room.

All of the beds had the curtains pulled back, all except for one. You did a careful sweep one last time before moving silently forward, holding your breath until you reached the white curtains and slipped inside.

Your held breath was released against your will at the sight of the Champion in the healing bed. His face was mired with dirt smudges, dried blood at the corner of his mouth, a large, angry red bruise forming on the side of his jaw. The rest of him didn’t look much better; he was disrobed to his waist, the sheets covering his legs, and his torso was littered in cuts and bruises.

The shoulder where he’d been shot through with an arrow was covered with a white bandage, but more importantly, his right arm up to the bicep enclosed in a thick casing. It was made out of stone but had lights twinkling along its surface, and it was hooked up to some sort of machine with a glowing window.

There was no sign of his caretaker or healer, but there was a basin of water on a small end table next to his head, a clean white cloth folded beside it.

You’re not sure what possessed you to pull up the chair and pull the basin into your lap, nor did you understand why you took the cloth and dipped it into the warm water. Something bubbled up inside you, the familiar molten heat of anger, and you glared down at the Champion as if he could see you beyond his closed eyelids.

You began to rub the dirt and blood off his face, your movements gentle despite the simmering in your veins.

Why? Why did you do it? Why did you put yourself in such senseless danger, you reckless fool?

You dipped the cloth into the basin and rung it out, the water turning pink. You wiped the blood from his lips, your own twisted into a grimace.

We could have ridden to the castle together; there was no reason for you to stay behind. What could you do that a platoon of guards couldn’t? What were you trying to prove, you stupid boy? What good is a dead hero?

When his face was sufficiently clean, you moved to his chest, but your hand froze after the first wipe. You continued on, cleaning his stomach and the side closest to you, and you confirmed what you saw was true over much of his body. Faded white scars lined his golden skin. They weren’t uniform: many of them looked like claw marks, others made with a curved blade, and quite a few large pockmarks that looked to be some kind of burn.

Anger was no longer the reigning emotion as something else pushed its way into your heart. Your eyes burned, your thoughts bitter and coarse.

“Don’t you dare die on me, Champion,” you said hoarsely. “I didn’t travel all this way just to be abandoned by you now. If you can hear me, prove you’re not a coward and wake up!”

Link did not awaken, and his eyes remained closed to you. The only sounds were the soft beeping of the strange machine and his erratic breathing. You frowned, remembering something being said about his heart being unstable.

Again, not knowing what you were doing, you placed the flat of your palm against his chest, right over his heart. His flesh was cool, alarmingly so, and you were unable to sense his heartbeat by touch alone.

Worry clutching at your own heart, you removed your hand and leaned forward, pressing your ear over his left breast, finally catching the staccato rhythm of life that beat there. But it was too faint, too uneven, and your anger was replaced by bone-deep fear.

You were afraid the Hylian was going to die, and worst of all, there was nothing you could do. If you had training or skills in the healing arts, they were locked away along with your memory. There was magic in the world, but you had shown no inclination toward wielding it.

You had nothing to offer him. Nothing to help him or heal him or… or save him…

Squeezing your eyes tightly, you focused on your own breathing and heartbeat, striving to remain calm.

Tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-tha-thump, tha-thump.

Link’s irregular heartbeat sent your own racing, but you forced it to slow and steady. Listening to the soft beats of the machine, you realized they coincided with his pulse. It was a monitoring device of some kind, but your curiosity was stunted when Link’s heart skipped another beat.

Come on, you thought, too stubborn to surrender to the fear even as you were unsure who you were talking to. Focus your breathing, calm your heartbeat.

You focused inward so completely you heard nothing else but the two heartbeats, one slow and uneven, and the other fast and steady. When you focused hard enough, you could almost feel the two rhythms, slowly merging and syncing together until they were eventually one line, beating at a strong, healthy pace.

It took you quite a long time to pull out of the strange meditative state, and when you did, something was different.

Link’s heartbeat, from the machine and under your ear, was even and stable, and as far as you could tell, back to a safe level. You listened for a full minute, verifying what you heard was true and wasn’t only wishful thinking. His pulse continued to beat nearly in time with your own, and even the skin you were touching was radiating with warmth rather than clammy and chilled.

The relief was so palpable, so overwhelming in the knowledge that Link would most likely survive, you didn’t hear the footsteps approaching in time to pull yourself away. So when the mismatched entourage, a group of advisors, guards, and what looked to be the princess herself, entered the healing hall, they found you with your head still pressed to Link’s naked chest.

You were on your feet in an instant, knocking over your chair and spilling the basin onto the floor. Every pair of eyes were on you, the moment frozen and silent for the span of a moment, until the machine began to beep in alarm.

One of the group, a small Sheikah with large glasses, ran to the machine and cried out, “His heart is in distress! Where is that healer! Robbie, help me with the stabilizer!”

The room erupted into chaos, questions being thrown at each other and at you, but before you had a chance to explain anything you were ushered from the room by a pair of guards. You struggled against your captors, dragging your heels and fighting to stay in the room, but you were quickly overpowered and dragged into the hall.

“We’ve been searching for you, Lady Blue,” one of them said. You were unsure if you’d met him before; all the guards looked the same in their grey armor and white tabards. “You will be escorted back to your room.”

“No!” You jerked your arm hard, but it remained fast within an armored glove. “Let me go! What’s happening to him?!”

“There’s nothing more you can do,” a quiet voice interrupted from the doorway. The princess, you assumed, judging by the elaborate tapestries and golden statues you’d seen in Tarrey Town. “We will do what we can for him, but please, return to your quarters and wait there. I have questions for you.”

For such a young Hylian, her expression was quite grave, and her tone held quiet authority. You were a stranger here, perhaps even an unwelcome one, and it was understandable that you didn’t have their trust.

You didn’t much care if they ever gave it to you. All you wanted was…

…was for Link to be all right.

With these confusing thoughts swirling through your mind, you allowed the guards to lead you away, the princess’ gaze on your back.

Once you were ensconced within your quarters, you heard the door latch behind you. There was a platter of fruits and bread on the table nearest the door, and you guessed whatever servant had delivered it had been the one to discover the room empty.

Your appetite was nonexistent, your stomach in tight knots, and you paced the room wall to wall, unable to remain still as your mind raced frantically.

What did it all mean? What was wrong with Link? The monsters had surely taken their toll, but whatever had happened to his hand seemed to be a separate issue, one that left the Hylians and Sheikah flummoxed.

It wasn’t until the sky began to turn pink that you collapsed onto the bed large enough to fit two people comfortably. There was a blue rose patterned canopy hanging above when you opened your eyes. It gave you a sense of enclosure and safety, much like the shrines did.

But unlike the shrines, the Champion would not appear now, finding your hiding place with a soft smile and kind eyes.

Burying your fear, your anger, and even your pride, you prayed to whatever deities would listen that Link would survive the night.

Next Chapter

[red-gekkouga]

Alright! Here’s one of my angsty AUs for Age of Calamity. This is a “What if?” AU.

What if Purah and Impa had a little brother? 

I named him Ebberi (His name comes from blueberry/blueberries, just switched up a bit.).

He’s very sweet and he loves his sisters more than anything, so he would follow them everywhere when they were younger. Though, that kind of annoyed them a bit since it was so often. That doesn’t mean they don’t love him though. Besides, are they really a sibling unless they annoy you sometimes? The reason why he’s always around them is because their parents are busy with stuff in Kakariko most of the time.

When he’s older he asks Purah if he could come with her to see one of the Guardians they uncovered and she tells him no. He says that he won’t touch anything and just wants to see what a Guardian looks like. She eventually lets him come with her. Everything seems fine until one of the researchers accidentally activates the Guardian and it shoots a stray laser beam, right in Ebberi’s direction.

Everyone scrambles to get his wounds closed to stop the bleeding, but it’s too late.

Purah watches in horror as her little brother dies right in front of her eyes. All while telling herself this is her fault. She knew she shouldn’t have brought him here, and now he’s dead because of her.

One group brings him back to Kakariko to prepare a funeral and tell Impa and Purah’s parents, the other group return to the lab. Purah tells them to never tell King Rhoam because of the possibility of being banished like before, because how else would you react to finding out the things you’re digging up to defend the kingdom killed one of the people they’re supposed to protect?

Back at Kakariko their parents get the news and put all the blame on Purah, telling her that Impa would never bring their brother to such a dangerous place. One of the reasons there’s tension between the sisters. They still comfort each other at times, but they also don’t like to talk about it. It’s too painful. Impa doesn’t blame her at all, so at least somebody has her back about it.

She never tells Robbie, who was working on a different Guardian at the lab. He sees something is off and she just never tells him. Not even the other researchers tell him what happened.

A couple years later the events of AoC happen. She still suffers frequent nightmares about the incident and often wakes up crying and usually has to do things such as get some fresh air or get a glass of water to try to calm herself down. Maybe even try to read. Robbie has woken up to her tossing and turning before and sees her crying in her sleep. When she wakes up he asks what’s wrong. For a while she still doesn’t tell him, but one night eventually does and he’s heartbroken. He holds her, comforting her and wishing he could have been there with her to prevent this. He’s the Guardian expert after all. He starts blaming himself afterwards because he feels he should have come along with them and just left the previous Guardian alone for a bit.

Once in a while Purah and Robbie will visit Ebberi’s grave in Kakariko. Impa visits sometimes as well. The three of them have even gone together before.

One of the reasons Impa dislikes Terrako so much is because if he could bring people from the future to the present, why can’t he send her or Purah back in time to save Ebberi? Purah has the same problem with him, but hides it better.

If Ebberi was alive, he’d bring Purah and Impa some meals made from the crops of Kakariko. Tending to the gardens has basically become his job, and he loves to bring his sisters food he makes to make sure they don’t go hungry on the job.

Impa is busy with royal advisor duties? Okay. Did she have lunch? Too busy for that? Have some food.

Purah is working at the lab and forgets to eat like Robbie sometimes? Here’s some food. He’ll even give Robbie some food too.

Ebberi is basically the number one PuRobbie shipper. Before they become a thing he usually teases her about Robbie. “Isn’t that the guy you said has a great singing voice?” or “You two hang out a lot, are you sure you’re not secretly married?” To which Purah would always reply “Shut it!”.

Also, instead of his eyes being a bright red they’re more of a boysenberry color. (I looked it up and that’s the name of the color.)

I still need to draw him, but this is what I have of the AU right now. A couple ideas came from @klw531, who I’ve talked about this AU with before and made it more angsty.

[theprinceofflies]

Sleeping Beauty

Ship: Danti

(dapperstache, google/chase/bing implied)

~`~`~`~`~

Dark walked the halls of the long empty halls of the old castle. No empty wasn't the right word. Frozen, that was it. Almost a hundred years had gone by since it had frozen. He paused in front of the Jims. Frozen in place chasing a dog.

A cruel twist in their fate. The fairy had said they would continue to age and die before their prince could awake. She must have changed her mind. Maybe she didn't want Dark to be lonely as he stayed to protect the prince. It wasn't much though everything around him had just stopped.

Dr. Scheeplestien and Dr. Iplier were frozen in the healer's ward. Dr. Iplier focused on mixing a concoction while Dr. Scheeplestien stared out the window, awaiting everyone's fate.

Jackie and a young squire were mock duelling in the ballroom. Marvin was frozen in fear, staring at where the fairy had appeared to bring her curse to them. The Host sat in the library talking to Bim Trimmer. Yandere was staring at a well-known knight who they had fallen for.

Google was reprimanding Chase and Bing for breaking a vase. Bing and Chase seemed seconds away from attempting to 'kiss it better' while Google, as usual, didn't notice.

Illinois was in the dungeons with Yancy, laughing because Yancy got himself stuck in jail for two days. Yancy was growling as he reached for the keys on Illionses belt.

Ed was in the kitchen sneaking some food. The Chef was about two seconds away from threatening to chop his arm off.

Wilford, Darks second in command, sat at a table surrounded by other knights and guards staring at JJ, a lovesick expression stuck on his face. JJ was sighing something to Robbie, stuck in a silent laugh.

The king and queen sat at their thrones joking about something. Jack was doing finger guns while Evelien was covering her mouth, eyes filled with joy.

Now only Dark was left. Left to make sure no one got hurt because of vines or wild animals. Oh, the vines. They stretched all over the castle, seeking to strangle the inhabitants. Huge dark green thorny vines.

Dark cut one down now as it was reaching for the Jims. He continued down the hallway, reaching a tower. He didn't know how the fairy did it but she had managed to place the tower right in the centre of the castle and make it seem like it belonged there. He ascended the steps now. Something he had done every day. At the top of the tower, there was a door, leading into a well-lit room. It was already open and Dark scolded himself for it.

The Prince lay sleeping on a bed. His green hair tied in a long braid behind him. It seemed to be the one flaw in the fairies spell. The only thing that didn't pause in time. Dark just braided it and prayed he didn't have to cut it.

Anti. Dark had been his guard when he was awake. Hopelessly devoted to him as Anti said. He could recall it vividly.

"Don't be so stuck up."

Dark sighed. "Come down from the tree your majesty."

"Oh come on that fairy needs me for her spell so she's gotta keep me alive till then," Anti said giggling. Dark sighed again, that was true. "What do you say I jump."

"Your majesty you can not-"

"One two three!" Anti shouted as he jumped from the tree.

Dark caught him as he fell. "Anti!"

"Aw I know you would catch me. Hopelessly devoted is what you are." Dark didn't respond, instead, he just glared. "And did you finally learned my name hot stuff?"

Dark blushed and set him on the ground. "I apologize to your majesty."

Anti laughed. "Seriously use my name dickhead."

"Language."

"Live a little. You've got another year of me and then I'll go to sleep and wake up with a handsome prince." Anti said and leaned again the tree.

Dark sighed. "And what is this handsome prince going to look like?" Anti froze. "You always say you want blond hair and blue eyes and," he said prompting Anti.

"He's going to have black hair and dark eyes. He's going to be kind to me. He's going to love me. And I," Anti trailed off.

Dark just stared at him. That wasn't what he normally said. His next sentence was about how his future husband would have a big dick and then he would go into fits of laughter. Beautiful maniacal laughter.

Dark shook his head and smiled at him. "You'll find out in one hundred and one years."

Anti nodded, not really feeling reassured.

~-~-~-~

"Come one I hate writing lessons. The Host hates me and you know it." Anti crossed his arms and glared at Dark.

"You are not skipping your lessons," Dark said plainly.

Anti sighed. "Fine."

Dark smiled and turned around. "Well-"

"Sike!"

Dark turned around to see Anti hopping out the window. "Shit!"

~-~-~-~

Dark dragged Anti out of a bush muttering to himself. "You can skip your lesson, just don't run away again and don't tell anyone I let you skip lessons."

Anti giggled. "Yay!"

"Why are you so adamant to skip your lessons?" Dark asked, letting go of Anti.

Anti hopped up and smiled sadly. "Well in like five months I'm going to fall asleep and wake up with everyone I love dead," he trailed off.

Dark nodded. "Do you want to watch the soldiers train?"

It was one of Antis favourite things especially if Dark was in charge. But if he wasn't commanding everyone he liked watching people fight Wilford who honestly played dirty most of the time. "Hell yes!"

~-~-~-~

"Wilford!" Anti shouted, running over to the training grounds.

"Anti darling, how are you?" Wilford drawled, leaning against a fence.

"Aren't you supposed to be training?" Dark asked.

Wilford chuckled. "Yeah, but I like the view."

Dark raised an eyebrow. "It's just the castle."

Anti frowned. "Yeah, I oh," he trailed off.

Dark looked concerned. "What is it?"

"JJ's working."

Dark turned to see JJ, the royal advisors apprentice sorting papers. Wilford sighed. "Isn't he just lovely?"

"Have you even talked to him?" Anti asked smiling.

Wilford shook his head. "Have you?"

"Well, it was rather awkward. He just stared at me, smiling. It was very one way."

"He uses sign language Will," Dark said.

"I can learn sign."

Anti laughed. "You're hopeless."

Wilford giggled, his moustache twitching. "I know."

"Just promise me when I go to sleep you'll talk to him."

"I promise."

~-~-~-~

"It's tomorrow," Anti said pacing back and forth.

Dark stood in the centre of his room nodding. "I know."

Anti grabbed at his hair. "My first kiss is going to be when I'm fucking passed out."

"You could change that I'm sure one of the squires would kiss you," Dark said.

Anti glared at him. "Help me pick an outfit."

"Outfit?" Dark asked with a chuckle.

"I'm stressed, Dark! Now green or blue?" Anti asked, peering into his closet.

"Black."

Anti looked back at him. "The black suit in the back of the closet with the green trim. You've always wanted to wear it, wear it."

Anti blinked at him. "Yeah, that's a good idea."

"I'm full of good ideas Anti."

Anti smiled and nodded.

~-~-~-~

The fairy had come the next day, early in the morning, taking everyone by surprise. She pulled Anti up the stairs and then he was asleep. He did look gorgeous in the outfit.

After Anti had fallen asleep and everyone had frozen, Dark was left alone. Not able to sleep or eat, just watch and guard everyone. He supposed he should thank the fairy for sparing everyone in the castle. He supposed.

Dark jumped as a crash cut through the silence. He walked out of Antis room and closed the door. He stood in front of the oak door awaiting the stranger. Footsteps approached and a young man appeared. "Hello? Who are you? Do I need to fight you?"

The man had sort of a blue and black swirl pattern on his armour. He had blond hair and black and blue eyes. He glared at Dark and grabbed for his sword. "No, I'm the guardian of the prince. He's in his room you can pass."

"Dude you look tired." The man said tilting his head.

Dark shook his head. "What's your name?"

"Die."

"Thank you, for saving us all from this curse."

Die laughed nervously and nodded at the door. "Could you move?"

Dark stepped aside and Die walked into the room. Anti lay still as ever in the room. Die sucked in a breath. "So I kiss him?"

"Yes."

"Ok."

Die walked over to him and leaned over. Dark turned away and closed his eyes. "Um."

"What?" Dark asked.

"It's not working."

Dark blinked and turned back to him. "Did you kiss him?" he asked almost frantically.

"Yeah see?" He leaned over and kissed Anti for about five seconds before pulling away. "Not waking up."

Dark walked over to Anti, panic evident in his expression. "He has to."

Die shrugged. "I don't know dude."

"But he has to!" Dark said, staring at his friend and prince.

"Why don't you fucking kiss him then?" Die muttered.

Dark stared at him. "What?"

"Kiss him. If he's supposed to wake up then you try."

"That's not-"

Die raised an eyebrow. "I dare you."

"Fine but when you try again and he wakes up you won't breathe a word," Dark growled at the prince. "Not a word."

Die nodded.

Dark sighed and leaned over Anti. He kissed him gently, meaning for it to be a peck on the lips before he pulled away and yelled at the other prince. That was until hands gripped the back of his head, pulling him closer. Anti pulled away giggling. "Hello, hot stuff."

Dark pushed him away. "Not me, him," Dark said, pointing to Die.

Anti raised an eyebrow. "I woke up kissing you," he said pointing at Dark.

"There was an issue with the curse it took too long, he kissed you first."

Anti nodded and turned to Die who smiled at him as if he had accomplished something. "Aw, that's cute you can leave."

Die's smile vanished. "But I-"

Anti waved him off. "Shoo get out."

Die blinked rapidly. "But I-"

"No not you. I didn't wake up kissing you so it's not you getting out."

Die left the room grumbling to himself. Anti stretched and hopped out of the bed. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a while."

Dark nodded taking a step back. "Your majesty I-"

Anti grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for another kiss. "Darky please," he whispered. "Use my name."

Dark blinked at him. "What?"

Anti groaned. "Oh my god, Dark, you're my knight in shining armour. Not him."

"How-"

"Because I fell in love with you, not some rando that didn't exist when I fell asleep," Anti said waving at the door.

Dark just nodded, standing stiffly and staring at Anti. Anti grabbed his braid. "Did you do this?"

"It was messy."

Anti laughed. "You know I asked her to let me grow my hair out, I've been trying for a while. Didn't think it would be this long."

Dark nodded again. "At ease soldier," Anti said.

Dark relaxed and paused for a second before he quickly pushed Anti against a wall, kissing him deeply. Anti squeaked in surprise but returned the kiss. "I've missed you," Dark whispered, running a hand through the prince's hair.

Anti sighed. "Well, I would say I missed you two but it was a blink for me."

Dark pulled away from the prince. "We should probably make sure the others are ok."

Anti perked up. "She spared them?"

"Yes."

Anti cheered, grabbing Darks hand and running down the stairs with him. They exited the tower and saw soldiers cutting down vines that had now grown aggressive. "Anti!" Wilford said, smiling. "Do you have any idea where all these vines came from?"

Anti shook his head and turned to his guard. "Dark?"

"They grew when Anti fell asleep."

Wilford frowned. "But he's right here."

Dark nodded. "It's been a hundred years Will," he said and smiled at his old friend.

"What," Wilford whispered.

"You were frozen for a while old friend."

Wilford thought for a moment and turned to Anti. "Wait then where's your prince?"

"Right here," Anti said, hugging Darks arm.

"You?" Wilford asked pointing at Dark.

Anti nodded and Wilford squealed. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you," Anti said and kissed Darks cheek.

Wilford giggled and swayed back and forth. "So Dark?"

"Yes?"

"I was frozen for a hundred years."

"Yes."

"Anti was asleep?"

"Yes, Will I don't know how this is not registering."

Wilford grinned and took off. Anti laughed and Dark stared at where he went. "Remember his promise to me? To talk to his crush? He's either gonna talk to JJ or fuck some shit up."

"I should-"

Anti grabbed his arm and pulled him down the hallway. "Oh no, you don't. We're going to talk to my parents." Dark nodded and yawned. "After that, we can go to sleep."

"I can go to sleep. I believe you and the rest of the castle will be up for the next two days."

Anti snorted. "I don't think I'll sleep for a week."

Dark laughed and smiled at the prince. "I think I'll sleep for a week."

"Don't you dare I want to talk to you."

"Ok," Dark whispered and kissed Anti on the cheek.

Anti nodded and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for protecting me."

"You're very welcome my darling prince."

[cowboybrunch]

I oh-so-humbly ask of you that you ramble about your favorite wip

Whatever you want to say, I want to hear

hi hi hi thank you for the ask <3 "favorite" is hard BUT it's been a minute since i've talked about Dust to Dust!

necromancy, arranged marriages, royal children shenanigans, and… murder!

rapid-fire infodump incoming

some important terms:

physical necromancy:

the ability to raise corpses and manipulate them as constructs. talented physical necromancers can shape bones and flesh beyond their natural forms. the vitality of the construct correlates with the necromancer's ability and their fatigue. for example, if the necromancer didn't eat a hearty breakfast/get a good night's sleep, the construct will be flimsier than if they were well fed and rested. training is a combination of studying anatomy/architecture and physical conditioning

spiritual necromancy:

the ability to communicate with spirits beyond the Veil. colloquially referred to as "mediums" or "Spiritspeakers". often tapped for the more cerebral aspects of war: interrogating fallen soldiers, investigating raids, etc. spirits must be willing and able to speak with the necromancer. training includes a study of dimensions, history, and communication/social skills

main cast:

Mischa "Missy" Di Petris

second child of the royal family

volatile, mischievous, impulsive

the most powerful physical necromancer of her generation

familiar: Boneman, a non-sentient skeleton, the first construct that she ever created

Jamie Di Petris

Crown Prince, Missy's older brother

dutiful, arrogant, calculating

trained and practiced in court dynamics, not as skilled in physical necromancy as his sister (but capable enough)

Robert "Robbie" Lyall

sold to the crown as a child due to his aptitude in spiritual necromancy

well-mannered, clever, inquisitive

missy's best friend. their relationship is a common source of gossip and conjecture

familiar: Sir Cornfield, a demon that Robbie unintentionally formed a pact with when he was a child. often takes the form of a crow

supporting cast:

Nikolas "Nik" Cambil

Jamie's squire and childhood best friend turned lover

insecure about his low-born status, no necromantic ability

Amalie Vasseret

eldest daughter of a neighboring territory, spiritual necromancer

exudes a naivety that may or may not be true to her character

Lucas Vasseret

Amalie's younger brother

despite his parentage, demonstrates no necromantic ability

the king's advisors:

Sir Eries

a prestigious spiritual necromancer, Robbie's tutor

General Shani

tasked with training Missy in combat

Master Agmenon

responsible for Missy and Robbie's non-necromantic studies

Lord Strouthum

Missy's tutor (when she shows up to lessons)

the king and queen don't have first names. let's not talk about that

important places:

(i do have a map but it's a very crude sketch… one day i'll make a real one)

Lithune aka "Bastion de Petris"

the di Petris' ancestral home

surrounded by mountains on three sides (north, east, and south)

desert climate

Bourfort aka "Bastion de Vasseret"

north of Lithune

snowy, trees, cold

known for the strength of their military. technically part of the kingdom but on the fringe enough that their allegiance is questionable

Torraine, Aramore, Pirn

small villages near the eastern border of the kingdom

Famont

a merchant town between Lithune and Bourfort

Voidhome aka "Beneath"

a third dimension beyond the living and the dead

home to "gods, demons, and the men stuck between"

little is known about this dimension as the only person to enter and return with his mind intact is Robbie's tutor, Sir Eries

and i'll wrap up with a moodboard :-)

[cascadena]

Rekindled - Prologue & Ch 1

SUMMARY: Post-BotW. Zelink. Hyrule now turns to an exhausted Princess Zelda to pick up the fragments of the fallen kingdom. Link, who is still piecing together his own past and traumas from his own journey, realizes that he has to be the one to help Zelda back on her feet. Together, they travel the land to begin the rebuilding process, and uncover a new, mysterious threat along the way...

GENRE: Adventure, Romance, Hurt/Comfort

WORDS: 44K

STATUS: Complete

RATING: T for Teen | Contains Action/Violence, Blood, and (Of-Age) Alcoholic Beverage Consumption, Kissing Scenes.

[Read on FF.Net] - The ENTIRE story is already posted there for your reading pleasure!!

[AO3 Posting coming soon!]

-

PROLOGUE

Link

The clouds of malice curling above me dissipated upon the Princess’s eradication of Ganon, leaving behind an untainted sky that shone with a more vivid blue than I had seen since awakening from my slumber. Rising from where I’d landed with my paraglider after sending the final ancient arrow right into Ganon’s core, I rubbed a particularly sore spot on my right shoulder where Calamity Ganon managed to land a more severe blow with an ancient blade in our duel at Hyrule Castle. The bleeding had slowed from my adrenaline rush but it would only hold off the pain for so long. I gripped my arm as I cautiously approached the girl whose voice I had only heard in my mind since my revival. Though we’d just destroyed the malicious Calamity Ganon, my heart still beat quickly in anticipation of the reunion with the beautiful girl from my memories.

The Princess lowered her arm, facing away from me as she took a slow, deep breath. I flinched when she began speaking. Her soft voice was just audible over the whips of wind as the last of the malice storm cleared around us.

“I’ve been keeping watch over you all this time… I’ve witnessed your struggles to return to us as well as your trials in battle. I always thought—no, I always believed—that you would find a way to defeat Ganon.” She paused for a moment as she seemed to consider her next words. “I… never lost faith in you over these many years,” she said. 

Finally, she turned. A strangely familiar warmth pulsed in my chest as she faced me for the first time since I died in her arms a hundred years ago. Her small smile was familiar to my memories. I wondered how in the world I’d ever been able to keep my focus on the demands of my duty to protect her in the past. 

“Thank you, Link...the hero of Hyrule.” Her expression softened. I nodded and swallowed a smile, unable to speak as hot tears welled in my eyes. Zelda seemed to notice, and a weight visibly lifted from her shoulders as she clasped her hands in front of her. “May I ask… Do you really remember me?”

“Yes, Your Highness, I do,” I managed to reply, but my voice cracked as a tear escaped down my cheek. Zelda smiled as she clasped her hands over her face as she suppressed a cry.

“We’ve finally done it,” she breathed, and then her balance shook. 

Within a second of seeing her waver, I leapt forward, just in time to catch her in my arms as her legs gave out beneath her. I cushioned her as the weight pulled us both to our knees. I wondered if holding Hyrule’s Princess so close was proper for her Appointed Knight. However, when I felt her arms tighten a little in gratitude around my shoulders, I knew it was acceptable in this circumstance. “Even now, you protect me from any harm when it threatens me,” she said into my shoulder. 

A smile dared to cross my face, until I realized my wound had begun to bleed onto the back of her dress. I inhaled sharply as the pain began to throb. The adrenaline was wearing off for both of us.

“Link!”

My head flipped to the right towards the source of the voice. A covered wagon charged towards us from the East. I instinctively reached to the hilt of the Master Sword at my shoulder but relaxed when I saw a familiar girl hop out and run ahead of the caravan to meet us.

It was Paya. The Sheikah had come to help us.

-

-

CHAPTER 1

Link

Everything that happened next was a blur. The Sheikah caravan halted and Dorian and Cado jumped out to assist Zelda into the wagon. A million pains began pulsing through my body.

“M-Master Link… We left as soon as we heard the rumble of Vah Ruta’s laser,” said Paya. She took one look at my arm before she fetched a makeshift bandage from the wagon and handed me a water skin. “Please, let us assist you…”

We began the journey back to Kakariko Village, where the Sheikah could help us. I insisted on riding Epona, my horse, to give Zelda more space in the wagon, as the exhausted Princess had passed out shortly after being helped inside. Epona was a tough girl, and though she was exhausted from the battle with Ganon, I knew she could make it to Kakariko after Paya fed her a hearty mix of swift and endura carrots.

Epona followed the wagon on a lead as we made our way towards the Dueling Peaks. Hyrule seemed so peaceful as usual, and I briefly wondered if any of the civilians were even aware yet that the calamity had finally been destroyed. Surely, the Sheikah weren’t the only ones to witness the Divine Beast lasers fire. 

I glanced into the open flap on the backside of the wagon and could see Princess Zelda sleeping in a shaft of sunlight. Her mouth hung open as she curled up on the cushion inside. After a hundred years of fighting off Ganon, her nap was well deserved. Looking upon the exhausted Princess in her dirtied, bloodied prayer gown, I felt a wave of guilt pass through my gut and my jaw clenched. If I hadn’t fallen a hundred years ago and just slayed Ganon back then, she would not have had to suffer and fight for so many years. 

Her pain was a result of my own failure.

I knew I would have to apologize to her at some point. But how could one possibly apologize for a hundred years of suffering and a fallen kingdom? My thoughts began to drift as my consciousness faded away with the rhythmic thud of Epona’s trotting. The shadows of moblins, guardians, and lynels flashed through my mind in a hazy dream as my brain processed all I’d just endured. I had fallen asleep on horseback a few times previously, but never for very long stretches of time. It was a miracle that I didn’t fall off Epona and drown in the river right there. 

The golden light of the sunset fell over the mountaintops surrounding Kakariko Village, casting the village in shadow so that only the warm illuminance of the resident’s windows brought light into the streets. When our caravan arrived in front of Impa’s house. I jolted awake as Dorian’s small children called my name. A few other curious villagers crowded around before Dorian shooed them away. 

Zelda awakened, and I was grateful that the evening light would prevent us from drawing much more attention from the villagers as we ascended the steps to the elder’s home under the cover of darkness. Only as I climbed the steps did I begin to realize how exhausted my body felt: navigating through the rubble of Hyrule Castle, defeating Calamity Ganon, and then riding all the way back to Kakariko all in the same day had done a number on me. However, I couldn’t complain, because the girl stepping up next to me had just fought off the ultimate demon for a hundred years straight.

We had not even reached the top of the stairs when the doors to the house flew open. Zelda gasped from beside me, faltering before she whispered. “...Impa?”

Impa grinned down on us. “It has been a long time, Your Highness.”

-

Before she began preparing food, Paya fetched a red potion from Impa’s cabinet for me. I felt  the pain in my arm and head dull considerably with the first sip. I then went to sit down with Princess Zelda where she kneeled beside Impa’s cushion. We briefly made eye contact and she smiled, though I could see fatigue clouding in her emerald green irises. I offered a crooked grin of my own in return. A flash of surprise crossed  her face, though she said nothing of it.

“You look like you haven’t aged a day,” said Impa as she placed a hand on Zelda’s own. “Some of us aren’t so lucky, unfortunately… At least Link has all those scars to prove he battled in the calamity, even if his memory is still imperfect.”

I almost choked on my potion with Impa’s joke. Robbie must have talked with Impa about how he confirmed my identity. 

Zelda glanced over at me with a raised eyebrow before she shook her head. “I was locked in a state of stasis. Even now, I don’t fully understand how everything has changed since I last walked through Hyrule.”

Impa chuckled softly then nodded. “I am sure it will take quite a while for you to process everything that has come to pass.”

Zelda clasped her hands on her knees in front of her. Her white dress, though stained from the events a hundred years ago, still fell around her in graceful, unwrinkled folds. “We… we must immediately plan the next course of action,” said Zelda.

“Indeed,” said Impa, shifting to lean forward in her seat. She put her hands on her knees and leaned forwards. “Hyrule looks to you, Your Highness.”

“Well, yes…” Zelda’s eyes flickered wide for a moment as if it had only now occurred to her that the leadership of the kingdom now fell solely on her shoulders alone. I frowned as the memory—though still a bit broken in my head—came back to me. A hundred years ago, we’d fled the castle in a hurry when the Guardians corrupted around us. Zelda had not seen her father die in the castle that day, but I knew of his fate from speaking with his spirit. 

She may have not had any time to even consider his death at all, until now.

“Impa… tell me, as my Royal Advisor, what do you think we should do?” Zelda asked in a low voice. Her hands fidgeted with the folds of her skirt.

Impa tightened her lips. “I believe we should start with the restoring of the castle. It is the heart of Hyrule Kingdom.”

Zelda swallowed and looked down at her hands. “Right, the castle…”

“There are monsters everywhere inside,” I said. Zelda glanced at me when I spoke. “We will need to get them out first. I also think there are some things inside that could possibly be salvaged.”

A hint of hope glimmered in Zelda’s eyes but it was lost a moment later. “Who will help us do this? The entire army is gone. The last of our soldiers fell in the battle at Akkala Citadel.” She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. “We could do nothing to save a single soul.”

“The Sheikah have always served the Royal Family,” said Impa. “I will see to it that we do everything we can to assist. Perhaps you can ask the other races of the kingdom for help too.”

I could tell Zelda’s mind raced as her fists clenched the fabric of her dress. “Perhaps. Thank you, Impa.”

“I am sure they will be willing to help,” said Impa. Zelda nodded but fell quiet. 

A few minutes later, Paya placed a tray of steamed vegetable skewers in front of us. My mouth watered at the sight of the colorful vegetables. I hadn’t eaten since I swiped some  raw mushrooms from a moblin’s hoard in the castle’s ruined dining hall. Zelda reached out to take one of the skewers, and I suddenly remembered something.

“Eat slowly,” I said before she even touched the hearty radish on the skewer. She sent me a questioning gaze. I blushed when I realized I’d given an order to Her Highness. I needed to clarify. “Uhm… when I woke up after a hundred years, my stomach rejected food for a few days.”

Zelda nodded, now understanding, and narrowed her attention as she delicately pulled off the radish on the end of the spear. I dug into my own skewer without much regard for table manners, savoring the sustenance while Paya and Impa watched me, a hint of amusement evident on their faces. Apparently, I used to be a slightly more... refined eater when I served in the castle.  After only a few bites, Zelda put a hand on her abdomen and offered the rest of her skewer to me. My hunch was right—her body was still fragile from her long stay in stasis.

Paya served the rest of the meal to us: meat, rice, and fortified pumpkin pie for dessert. I ravenously enjoyed the meal, much to Paya and Impa’s entertainment—but Zelda only took a small taste of each dish to be polite before she said she felt too nauseated to continue. After the meal, I cleaned my hands and asked Paya if I could assist her in washing anything, which naturally sent her into a flustered frenzy as she declined any help whatsoever from me or the Princess. 

-

I found Zelda outside on the back porch later that evening, leaning against the wooden guardrail, her head inclined up to the starry sky. Her dress, though stained with the blemishes of battle, still reflected the silver light of the moon.  The trickle of the nearby waterfall and stream broke the silence of the night. She glanced over her shoulder when she heard me approach. “May I join you, Your Highness?” I asked. 

She nodded. I stepped up beside her and leaned against the railing. “Are you feeling alright?” I asked.

She bobbed her shoulders and I knew that probably meant ‘no’ but she would not admit it. “I am…” She paused, considering her words, before continuing. “I am worried… the races of Hyrule will be angry at me as I am responsible alone for the state of the Kingdom. I owe them all an immense apology for failing them, and I do not think I can ever repay them for it.”

My heart sank with hers. I leaned an elbow on the railing. “I believe the ones who helped me cleanse the Divine Beasts would each take up the role of becoming Champions—leaders to assist in leading a rebuilding effort—if you wish to designate them.”

Zelda tightened her lips. “It is because of me that our old Champion friends, their greatest warriors, perished in battle.”

“That was because Ganon corrupted the Divine Beasts before we even knew what happened,” I reminded her. “Besides, they will all warmly welcome you with the news of Calamity Ganon’s defeat. That is good news for all.”

Zelda nodded and looked down at her folded hands. A frog jumped into the water below us with a splash. A quiet beat passed before Zelda spoke again. “Thank you for the prompt warning about eating earlier,” said Zelda. “I suspect I would have become quite ill had I forced too much food on myself so soon after coming out of many years of stasis. I’m sorry you had to experience that.”

“You’re welcome, Your Highness,” I said. “I wouldn’t want you to feel sick either. Fighting Ganon was more than enough pain for one day, let alone a hundred years.”

Zelda cracked a small smile. “You know, we never spoke nearly this frequently a hundred years ago. You used to be so quiet. I always wished I had more opportunities to talk with you like this.”

I straightened up a bit and stared at Zelda as I processed this information. Had my personality really shifted that much since my memory reconstruction?

If so… What would she think of me now? How would she feel about me?

Zelda drummed her fingers on the guardrail as she continued. “I do wonder how we will both fit into this world now. We have not aged like those around us who are left that we knew before the calamity.” She shook her head. “I’m still processing the drastic difference of Impa’s age, to be honest. When I first saw Paya, I thought she was Impa because she has such a striking resemblance. But no, she is her granddaughter.”

I nodded. “It’s been strange meeting people who knew me from before, though I didn’t remember most of them at first.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the shriek of one of the villagers in the plaza behind us, followed by the cry of a bokoblin. 

Instinctively, I grabbed Zelda’s hand led her into the safety of Impa’s house. I pushed through the front doors to view the commotion in the village below. I halted when I saw that Dorian and Cado, Impa’s guards, had already taken care of the stray bokoblin and its body disappeared into thin air.

Several villagers gathered in the area below, nervously discussing the monster. Zelda appeared beside me and I heard her exhale heavily in stress. One of the villagers noticed her and called up at us. “It’s the Princess!”

All of the Sheikah turned their heads to look up at us. A few cheered in delight as the crowd migrated towards the base of the stairs. Several people began yelling things at us at once.

“Princess!”

“Did you finally defeat the Calamity?”

“Are you really Princess Zelda?”

“Why are there still monsters attacking us?”

“What was that giant laser?”

“Will you defeat all the monsters around the village too?”

Zelda held a hand to her chin and took a step back as the villagers yelled all of their questions at her. Dorian and Cado waved their arms in an attempt to quiet down the excited villagers.

“Enough.”

Impa’s voice boomed over the village and the crowd fell silent. I glanced over to find Impa at the top of the stairs. She crossed her arms and frowned down at her villagers. 

Zelda cleared her throat and I could see her hand shaking as she lowered them. “I assure you I will see to the concerns you have,” she called down to the crowd. “Please know that Calamity Ganon is defeated, and Hyrule will rise from the ashes.”

Several of the Sheikah cheered upon the news of Calamity Ganon’s defeat. However, one of the young child villagers ran forward in the crowd. “Then why are there still monsters attacking the village?”

Zelda pursed her lips. “We will investigate,” she said.

More villagers began to ask all kinds of questions. I glanced at Impa and she nodded at me, as if to understand my thoughts. I reached over to Zelda and grabbed her hand before I gently pulled her back towards the door to Impa’s home.

“I will take all of your concerns for the Princess in due time,” Impa called as I pulled the door open. “For now, good night, and stay on your guard for stray monsters.”

-

Zelda let go of my hand when we reached the sanctuary of Impa’s house. She paced around in a circle and sighed. “Why did a monster come into the village? Monsters should never come into a village on their own, right? What are we going to do about this?”

“Your Highness, it was just a stray bokoblin—“ I started.

“The monsters should all be tame now. We defeated the calamity. They have no reason to feel irrational anger and come to attack people now. We should be able to live in peace with them.” Zelda held her arms to her head and leaned over as she panicked. “I did seal it away, right?”

“Your Highness…” I tried again.

“I must research this. The Calamity may not have been properly sealed away—“ Zelda stopped when I placed a firm hand on her shoulder. She flicked her head around and faced me. Though she was slightly taller than I, her green, anxious gaze pierced directly into my eyes. I prayed I was not acting out of line by touching her without permission.

“It was just a bokoblin. They aren’t very smart. It probably just wandered in behind us when it saw the caravan. Dorian and Cado took care of it,” I said while looking into her eyes. “Everything is fine. You don’t need to worry.”

She looked straight into my eyes with such great intensity that I wondered if I should step away before she broke the eye contact and looked down at the ground. She sniffed and nodded as tears began to form around her eyes. “I’m sorry, I think I’ve… overreacted…”

Impa cleared her throat. “I think the Princess needs to get some more rest. How about we clean you up and then send you to bed? We can continue talk of Hyrule Castle and monsters when you wake up in the morning.”

Zelda nodded slowly and Paya escorted her upstairs to her personal quarters. I wanted to follow and give her a tight hug, although I knew that would probably be way out of line to my duty as her appointed knight. Impa told me I was welcome to stay as well but I decided I would stay at the inn that night to offer them all a little more privacy. 

I attempted to fall sleep early that evening but my mind kept drifting to the events earlier with Calamity Ganon. I decided to instead use the time to address my arm wound once more. I probably should have been seen by a doctor but I was not in the mood to answer a million questions about the battle yet. I retrieved a fresh bandage from Epona’s saddlebag and walked to the peninsula at the pond where Kakariko’s Goddess Statue resided, and sat myself down under the light of the torches. 

The red potion had luckily healed much of the delicate internal damage I’d acquired but the wound from Calamity Ganon on my shoulder would take some time to heal completely. I removed my tunic and undershirt before I applied potion-infused ointment to several minor wounds all over my torso that I accrued from monsters and malice burns in the castle. I smirked when I looked down at my abdomen. A Gerudo woman had once scoffed at me for not even having visible abs early on in my journey but there was… some muscle defined there now from months of climbing Hyrule’s mountains and cliffsides. It was clearly enough muscle needed to defeat Calamity Ganon, anyways.

My ears twitched when footsteps treaded on the grass behind me. I instinctively thought to grab my sword, but then came a quiet, “Link?”

I looked over my shoulder, and relaxed immediately when I saw the figure behind me. “Your Highness, shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

Zelda folded her hands in front of her. Her golden hair was tied up behind her head in a bun and she wore a blue sleeping gown underneath a Sheikah robe that Paya must have lent to her. “I...wanted to thank you for calming me down earlier before I settled in for the night. I was just a little overwhelmed at how suddenly everything has changed.”

I turned around and wiped the remaining healing ointment from my hand onto my arm. “Nobody else seems to understand exactly what we’re going through right now.” I muttered. 

She nodded and pulled the collar of her robe up around her chin as a chilly breeze floated between us. If we weren’t having such a serious conversation, I would have considered more how it was quite a cute thing to do. She held her palm to her face as she sighed. “I...I do not think I am ready to go anywhere near the castle yet. Though it’s been a hundred years for everyone else, the memory of the destruction and loss is still too fresh, too painful in my mind...”

I stepped closer to her and she looked into my eyes once again. The light from the torches behind me flickered shadows onto her fair face. Fear and exhaustion plagued her face. 

My heart ached for her. 

She had just fought an unimaginable horror in the castle for a hundred years and now was expected to immediately begin facilitating the reconstruction of Hyrule. The villagers didn’t understand how they had set off this expectation in her mind, of course. Impa was correct that the castle needed reclaimed as soon as possible—but did Zelda really have to be there immediately?

I realized she had said something to me again but my mind had been lost in my thoughts. “Sorry, can you repeat that, Your Highness?” I asked, shaking my head.

“I said, I can see all of your scars... You have collected so many, if you don’t mind me saying. You’ve endured so much pain for us,” she said with a frown.

I looked down. The scars, a mix of the severe mortal ones I’d endured a hundred years ago and newer ones from my journey, littered in violent slashes across my body. I tightened my lips. People so easily understood I had been through pain when they saw my scars. However, nobody else seemed to notice Zelda’s struggle right now. 

I was probably the only one who could even somewhat understand what she went through with the events of the calamity. And now, she faced the immense pressure to rule Hyrule by herself. Such pressure on a single person was incredibly difficult to bear. In the past—as Zelda had reminded me earlier—the intense pressure of being the chosen wielder of the Master Sword had driven me to silence. I could not let Zelda fall to a similar fate of anxiety. 

  “Your Highness, would you like to go somewhere? To get away from everything for a bit?” I blurted before I could consider my own words.

She blinked in mild confusion. “Leave here? What about the castle? Hyrule?”

“With all due respect, Your Highness, you won’t be assembling the castle by yourself. You just defeated Calamity Ganon. Let some other people begin work on the castle.” I put my hands on my hips. “Your Highness, you need a rest, even if a brief one. To be perfectly honest, I need one as well.”

“What about my sworn duties?”

I laughed. “The land has lasted a hundred years without an active ruler. The people can wait just a little longer for you to recover. A lot of people don’t even know that you’re still alive.”

Zelda folded her arms and tightened her lips. “Where would we go?”

I thought for a moment. “Hateno Village? I have a house there. It’s very safe there, and nobody would bother you. We could visit Purah’s Lab.” I tapped my jaw as I considered the other perks of Hateno. “There’s also a beach nearby, so you could see the ocean.”

Zelda furrowed her brow as she considered my proposal. “It does sound like a lovely place... I’ve never visited there before, actually. I would love to see Purah again too.“ A smile graced Zelda’s lips as she nodded. “It’s decided then. I will direct Impa to lead the Sheikah to begin the reclamation of Hyrule Castle, and inform her that I will be taking a short rest before I begin the rebuilding process.”

I smiled back at her and nodded. “We’ll leave at first light in the morning.”

“Wonderful,” She bowed her head lightly. “Good night, Sir Link, I’ll see you in the morning,” she said cheerfully before turning away and retreating back to Impa’s house.

My cheeks heated against the cool air when she used the formal title. It only then occurred to me that she’d never used any kind of title with me before that I could remember.

...Exactly how close had we been before the calamity? 

[oceansmelodysblog]

Until my last breath

A botw Zelink reversed roles AU story

Chapter One - part two

Part one: https://freshbreezesworld.tumblr.com/post/639442716232761344/until-my-last-breath

[Notes at the end of the chapter]

His eldest brother Ecberht and his younger brothers Ragnar and James stood beside him and winked at him.

"Let's mix up the party a bit" said Ragnar, Link's loopy younger brother, as his eyes sparkled pugnaciously. His outfit was all black and more resembled leather battlefield armour.

James dressed in modest colours, blue fatigues and brown accessories. He stood behind Ragnar and muttered that a bigger place should have been chosen for the fest.

 Link sighed. Of course, his big brother Ecberht was dressed in white and gold. 

Ecberht smirked at Ragnar's comment and then addressed the people. "Please, do not stop dancing and singing, but let us celebrate together in honour of the gods, this festival. No rank and no rules, only our common faith will define us on this holy night. So let the feast begin!" he bawled theatrically.

Inwardly, Link sighed. 'I must correct myself, his brothers had a way with words when they had a political use for them.'

Shortly afterwards, the musicians began to play their instruments again, magically managing to harmonise all the different sounds. Link admired their talent to compose contrasting styles into a masterpiece, so he joined the musicians closer, along with his sister.

"Look dear brother, there are sweet crepes! Will you allow me to get one myself?" said Lagertha, making a pout.

"I'll give you my wallet just in case you buy more than one crepe." Link knew she just wanted to look around and would love to join in all the festivities. Therefore, he let her go, still glancing after her as she pranced happily to the stalls. Link, meanwhile, watched as Ecberht pounced on the clan leaders and mesmerised them, as Ragnar with a group of knights cheered on a weird fool in their midst to drink an alcoholic beverage from a barrel, and as Wilhelm talked spiritedly with the Sheikah scholars Purah and Robbie. He grinned, everyone was busy and content. It was time to be able to enjoy himself too.

But just as he was about to turn his attention to the food stalls, someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was none other than the royal advisor Impa of the Sheikah clan.

"Your royal highness, I am delighted to welcome you to the marketplace. Do you like it?"

 "Yes, it's incredible. We have your organisational skills to thank for that alone."

Impa was three years older than him and was like an elder sister to him. She was inspiring and always gave her all to her work at the farm, which was why Link respected her so much.

"Thank you very much, Link. Do you possibly need a recommendation from me on what you could do first?"

"No, I don't. I was going to inquire and marvel at the various interesting smells of the stalls, but I have a better idea now."

Impa knew very well that he was trying to express in a polite way that he wanted to gulp down all the food and grunted a suppressed laugh. "What would be your grandiose idea?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

But Impa did not expect Link to playfully bow to her and hold out his hand. "Allow me to have my first dance with you, honoured royal advisor."

They both snorted as Impa dramatically placed her hand on his. He straightened and escorted her to the dance floor.

The music changed to a Hylian folk dance that Link knew all too well. Impa and Link twirled around laughing to the rhythm of the tinkling instruments. Stepping and stamping, the dancers whirled up the snow lying on the ground. Icy wetness penetrated their clothes, but no one was disturbed, they were too deeply engrossed in their joy.

But suddenly golden hair flashed in the corner of his eye and he turned his head to the cause of his amazement. He wanted to make sure his eyes were not playing tricks on him and looked for the woman who belonged to those hairs.

When his eyes caught her at a stall at the other end of the marketplace, he stopped and stared at her. She had braided her hair in a long tail from the roots to the ends. A white scarf, tied together in a bow, held the braid together. Two thick strands of hair framed her pretty face, like a golden frame of a painting. She wore a white long and flowing dress, which had puffed sleeves and was tied tightly at her nether regions with a charcoal coloured leather arm guard. Her dress had buttons that she buttoned up to her neck. Over her white dress she wore a sapphire blue dress, which was longer than her white one and had narrow straps. It was tight against her chest and waist and parted in two from her midnight blue waist corsage. She, like him, wore a chest protector with the Hylian script for 'Medi Corps' and had a black leather belt fastened around her waist from which hung small cloth and leather pouches filled with medicines. She warmly attended to the injured and hypothermic patients at her stall. A small lanky boy hung from her skirt, he also wore a chest protector with the Medi Corps sign.

Link couldn't get out of his amazement, so Impa tried to see what Link was seeing, looking confused between the dot in the distance and his fixed gaze. She waved in front of his eyes to get him out of his embarrassed stare. "Your royal highness is something wrong?" she finally asked.

As if snapped out of his trance, he looked at her, puzzled, until it finally dawned on him. "Impa. This woman with the golden hair, her name is Zelda, and she is a student of the quirky healer Doctor Borville. Do you know who she is? That's all I've been able to find out about her."

Impa finally understood and mused for a while, but then she was struck by the resemblance to a woman who also had uniquely shimmering golden hair. "She would have to be the daughter of the Battalion Commander Rhoam Dejardin, whose family, served as loyal knights for many generations. However, her mother died when she was only six years old. Zelda Dejardin takes after her late mother. It is rare for Hylians to be born blonde and even rarer with the shimmering golden hair colour."

"By Hylia, how do you know all this?" he marvelled, looking at her piercingly.

"It's my work, Link." She chuckled. Impa paused for a moment, wondering why Link hadn't courted her long ago, but then a flash of inspiration came to her. "Link, go and dance with her." she encouraged him.

"Why would she want to dance with me, she didn't even want to work in the castle as a royal healer when I offered it to her."

"There are also women out there who don't want to spread their legs the moment they see a prince, your stupid highness," Impa said in a sarcastic tone.

Link smirked at her direct honesty and marched straight towards Zelda.

As he approached her he was followed by onlookers and curious glances. But someone else was more important to him at the moment. Zelda. Her name sounded to him like one of the relaxing water features in the ponds in the Sheikah's village.

He saw her expression change from wonder to relief as the light of the torch illuminated his face. She smiled at him, straightened up and pulled her dress into place.

"Madam Healer, please honour me with this one dance." he said in the most respectful way possible, as many people were present and could hear him. He bowed and offered her his hand, which she hesitantly accepted. He felt her frozen fingertips on his warm hand. He wanted to be her, but he had to resist his impulse. He straightened up and walked to the dance floor with her hand on his. Even the musicians had observed what was happening and changed the song this time it was a royal court dance.

But judging by her confident air and smile, she knew this song.

Their eyes fixed on each other, they danced elegantly and in slow steps in a circle, their hands always joined. Like an eagle spreading its wings, he stretched out his free arm and stopped on the spot. He lifted his knee to either side until he put it down. Mirroring Link's movements more daintily, Zelda spun around and placed her hand on his again. He clasped her hand, spun her in a circle and, in rhythm with the music, squatted down on his knees and half-turned to either side. Zelda stopped and made a dainty curtsy. He stood up again and let go of her hand and turned to face her, which she did in turn. The rhythm got faster and they repeated the same movements, only faster. The melody flowed smoothly into another folk dance and Link grabbed Zelda's hand and let it bounce against his chest, twisting himself. He grabbed her waist and lifted her above his head as he spun. He spun her around and around, their hands intertwined. A comforting, feeling of trust spread through Zelda's chest and she grinned from ear to ear. Since the death of her mother, she had not been able to build up any trust and now she realised how much she had missed this feeling. Link was radiant with his gleaming white teeth and tanned complexion. She was sure he could help her.

"Your Royal Highness, I have a request," she whispered as he grabbed her by the waist again and turned her to his chest. She turned her face to his and realised how close he was to her. She could breathe in his scent and the warm breath he expelled from his heated body.

"Whatever you desire," he replied, turning her away from him.

She had to gather her thoughts for a moment as his nearness had unintentionally befuddled her.

"The streets outside the central marketplace are still unsafe. The lives of my master, his seven-year-old errand boy, and mine, have been in danger since your last visit to us. I asked for an audience at the palace a week ago, but no one would listen to us."

He raised their clasped hands above their heads and led them in a circle. Lithely, he moved his hips to the rhythm of the music.

Link's smile faded and gave way to anger in his eyes.

"I will take care of it, tomorrow morning at the latest. But for now, I ask you to forget everything else for the rest of the dance and focus only on my eyes."

Indeed, she felt safer as she focused on his sea-blue eyes. Her limbs relaxed and her head floated as if on a cloud.

On the last beat of the melody, things picked up a little and Link leapt powerfully like a warrior in a circle around her; his fire igniting her fire.

The drumbeats grew faster and faster until they slowly died away and he pulled her close to him on the last sound.

Breathing heavily, Link looked deep into her eyes and smirked naughtily. Zelda found her hands resting on his chest, relaxed against his chest protector, as if it were natural. She stared at his lips as his grin grew wider.

Suddenly aware of where she was and what that just looked like, she jerked away from him and curtsied hastily before turning away.

Loud clapping around her switched through the entire marketplace. All around them, more people had found the courage to dance, but the gawking gathering of people from the various races was remarkable.

All eyes were on Zelda and Link, who danced masterfully to the folk dances in unison with each other.

Zelda looked around in amazement and blushed. She turned her head to the side as Link reached for her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

'His hands are so strong, warm and give you strength,' she thought secretly.

Link stretched his broad chest through and readied himself for an announcement.

"' The woman on my hand is Zelda Dejardin, daughter of the Commander of the First Legion. From now on, she and everyone closely associated with her is under royal protection. She and her master save lives daily and anyone who attempts to inflict suffering on them will not only be punished by death, but also the assassin's kin."

Link waited a moment, watching the various reactions of the onlookers. Awe, cheering, clapping and swarming were the usual reactions. However, he was looking for a specific reaction. His pupils twitched back and forth in alarm, looking for that one person, and finally found him.

Zelda stared at him in shock, but when she looked into his eyes she understood what he was trying to do.

"James! Ragnar! Come here!" he yelled over Zelda's head, not taking his eyes off the one person.

Two huge men, not much older than Zelda, ran up to her and stopped right next to her. Zelda marvelled at how apt her master's description was. Although Link already towered over her by more than a head, his brothers managed to be three to four heads taller than her. She felt as if there were mountains standing beside her, not men. Link let go of her hand and briefly explained to his brothers what his plan was and Zelda was amazed, at his keen senses, though he seemed heated after the dance.

'Or was it just a game?'  Zelda remembered the old man's tale and wondered if all four brothers had more in common with their father than assumed.

Slowly she turned her head to Link, who was heatedly arguing with his brother Ragnar, while both had a strange glint in their eyes. Zelda barely heard what Link was saying to her, she only saw him rush into the crowd with Ragnar, chasing after a man.

But then James cleared his throat and Zelda was dragged out of her trance. Jerkily, she turned her head to him, feeling that he had said something.

"Excuse me, Your Royal Highness, could you repeat what you said one more time?"

He laughed sheepishly. "All I said was that you had better come with me before you become the epicentre of attention any longer. Anyway, you look as if you're going to topple over at any moment."

Indeed, her legs were shaking, though it was not because of the cold. "Goodness, you're right!"

James laughed again and offered her a supporting arm, gratefully she leaned on him and pointed him in the direction she wanted.

"gracious Healer, I heard from my brother Link how gifted you were. He was just standing there and hadn't said anything yet, but youJ knew immediately where the pain was. I knew immediately that I had to meet you and work with you, because I recognise my equal immediately. I am also very interested in science and think that together we can achieve amazing things. My brothers unfortunately have their focus elsewhere and only Robbie and Purah can reasonably keep up with me, but with you I see a lot of potential that needs to be tapped and nurtured." Zelda heard the hint of disappointment and teasing sarcasm when he spoke of his brothers and had to stifle a laugh. She remembered the Master telling her that James was more focused on the sciences and thought of what it would be like to work with him.

"Agreed. Science is also my speciality and I feel severely underused with my Master. However, I will come with you to the castle under certain conditions."

"Of course, speak as you wish."

"My master's little runner is to be given a decent post in the castle with which he can support his family decently financially. With our master he got payment very irregularly, if anything at all, and so I always shared my portion with him."

As she spoke of her terms, the two walked through the crowd, past her master's stall and up to a point just before the bridge to the castle. Zelda sensed that this was only the beginning of a great change, but she had no idea what to expect.

End of chapter one

Notes:

based on the Zelink reversed roles AU Art of @/TheNebulace on Twitter I had the inspiration to write this multiple chapter Story of Zelda being a healer and Link being a Heir to the Throne.

Many characters name's are based on real npc from botw or are legendary/historically personalities.

Selim:historical chronicles says he was a ruthless and mighty emperor of the ottoman empire who protected the sacred religious grounds until his last breath. Lived in the 15th century

Ragnar: legendary Viking king and (is here) based on his Viking Series character

Lagertha: legendary queen, wife of Ragnar and warrior (here based on the Viking Series character with no relationship to her half brother Ragnar)

Queen Bonduca: [aka Boudicca] historically British Queen and Commander of a Legion 61 AC (here the mother of Ragnar)

Ecberht: King of the Wessex in 8th century, fought against the invasion of the Vikings, also here based in the Viking Series character

Queen Seaxbourgh: historical mother of the historical Ecberht

James: historical successor of Queen Elizabeth Tudor, has here red hair to honour the red haired Queen Elizabeth Tudor

Queen Elizabeth: historically daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Tudor-Family. Lived in the 16th century.

Nebb & Celessia: NPC from Botw

[fellhellion]

ok you know i gotta ask, what are your favorite things about hubert? :)

oh god dont do this to me youll open the floodgates fjkldshfjkshkjlfd

on the most basic of level is just find his post ts design and robbie daymond’s voice hot. ON A DEEPER LEVEL THO FDKJHJFKL i think he’s a very interesting and complex character. I really love the layers of his personal devotion to edelgard and her cause, how it’s connected to but not founded upon the backstory with his house’s domain being to serve the royal family. 

Devotion freely chosen is a trope that just...rlly fucks me up tbh. And to see characters that are willing to die for their beliefs is Good Drama. 

I also really love his interactions w the rest of the beagles, how they all bring out different sides of one another. U see his genuine care and affection for Bernadetta, the exploration of the nature of his relationship w edelgard in her support and dorothea’s (the latter is also Drama Recognising Drama which is very funny), the genuinely BANGER content of his support w petra where u have some legit very tense discussion about brigid’s circumstance as a vassel state, the hilarity of byleth being chill at two threats of assassination from him vs the fact that these characters place their life willingly into each other’s hands in their A support, the really interesting and sweet relationship progression w ferdinand as a pair of edelgard simps. incredible fantastic showstopping. 

I really like how seriously he takes his position as a spymaster and advisor to edelgard, how there’s this threat lingering in the background of him overstepping to an trust breaking point every time he goes behind her back to serve her cause in the way he thinks best. it’s also very funny and heartbreaking that shamir tells him right to his face that she thinks he’s unstable when he threatens to kill her if she betrays edelgard fjdkshfkjsd