#she is carrying the war on her back

[evebestt]

"Would that you were the King" best line ever written

[bxriles]

I just finished my re-read of Empire of Storms and I gotta come out and say it.

Aside from Aelin, Lysandra is really the most useful one of the entire fucking group. Yes, everyone in Aelin's court is hella powerful and they all carry their own weight, but GODDAMN. LYSANDRA REALLY BE CARRYING HALF THE DAMN WAR EFFORT ON HER FUCKING BACK.

[hansolosupremacy]

damn alright then

[tovaicas]

↳ ꜰꜰxɪᴠ — ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ + ᴅʀᴀʜᴍ ᴋᴏʜʀ

ᴅʀᴀʜᴍ ᴋᴏʜʀ (ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴇᴄʜᴏ) ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴅʀᴀᴠᴀɴɪᴀɴ ᴡʏᴠᴇʀɴ ᴏꜰ ɴɪᴅʜᴏɢɢ'ꜱ ʙʀᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀᴍᴇʀ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴀᴠᴀɴɪᴀɴ ʜᴏʀᴅᴇ, ꜱᴘɪʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʙᴏɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀɪᴅᴇʀ ʀᴏᴜᴠᴀꜱᴛʀᴇ ᴅᴇ ʟᴇᴜᴠᴇᴄʜɪᴇʀ ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴꜱᴏɴɢ ᴡᴀʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴜᴄᴄᴇꜱꜱᴏʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜʟ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢʟʏ ꜱᴜʙᴊᴜɢᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴ ᴏꜱᴋʜ ꜱᴛʀᴀʜ, ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ꜱᴏᴜʀᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏᴏɴ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴇꜱ ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴇᴘꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀɪᴛʜ. ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪɴᴛᴇɢʀᴀʟ ᴀꜱ ᴀɪʀ ꜱᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴅᴏᴍᴀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇꜰᴇᴀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ꜱʜɪɴʀʏᴜ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀʟᴀ ᴍʜɪɢᴏ, ꜱᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘᴇʀɪᴀʟ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇꜱ ᴀꜱ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴄᴜᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀɢᴇɴᴛꜱ ʜɪᴇɴ ʀɪᴊɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʟʏꜱᴇ ʜᴇxᴛ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʜɪᴍʟʏᴛ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇꜰᴇᴀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ʙᴀʜᴀᴍᴜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴇʟᴏᴘʜᴇʀᴏɪ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴛɪᴀᴍᴀᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀꜱꜱᴀᴜʟᴛ ᴏɴ ᴢᴏʟᴍ'ᴀᴋ, ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴡɪꜰᴛ ᴅɪꜱᴛʀɪʙᴜᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴜᴘᴘʟɪᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴇʀɪᴀʟ ʀᴇᴄᴏɴɴᴀɪꜱꜱᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴏʀᴢᴇᴀɴ ᴀʟʟɪᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀʀʟᴇᴍᴀʟᴅ ᴏꜰꜰᴇɴꜱɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴡɪꜰᴛʟʏ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱᴘᴏʀᴛɪɴɢ ᴇꜱᴛɪɴɪᴇɴ ᴠᴀʀʟɪɴᴇᴀᴜ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴀʟᴅᴇɴᴀʀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴀʀʟᴇᴍᴀʟᴅ ʙʏ ᴀɪʀ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴꜰɪʟᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ɢᴀʀʟᴇᴍᴀʟᴅ. ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜʟᴛɪᴍᴀ ᴛʜᴜʟᴇ, ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴍᴇᴛᴀᴍᴏʀᴘʜᴏꜱᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀɴ ᴀʟᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀᴍ ᴏꜰ ᴀɴ ᴇʟᴅᴇʀ ᴡʏᴠᴇʀɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴀᴅᴀᴘᴛᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴᴇᴜᴠᴇʀᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛᴀʙʟʏ ᴄᴀʀʀʏ ᴀ ʀɪᴅᴇʀ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴀᴄᴋ.

[juicyspacesecrets]

Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!

[wildstar25]

MiqoMarch Day 08 - Fav. (Side) Job

When she's not running around as Ninja or Summoner , Arsay's next choice is the lance. Being bestowed a source of draconic power by Midgardsormr moments before his slumber, and knowing how to channel the powers of Bahamut with dreadwyrm trance, Arsay's power as a Dragoon rivals that of even the former Azure Dragoon. With that said, she'd much rather use her polearm to hunt monsters.

[softquietsteadylove]

oh nooooo you've done it again and now heracles au is my new favorite au (what a shame!!!!). seriously that was PRECIOUS and i'd love to see more, maybe he gets himself into trouble and gil and thena have to get him out of it?? cue worry wart gil and thena being annoyed that she was worried sick about him too

"Have you seen the boy?"

Phastos barely looked up from his current project. "The boy--come on, T, you gotta be more specific."

But Sersi had no coyness, looking away from their irrigation plans with a worried expression, "Heracles? No, I haven't-"

Thena continued, becoming increasingly more off put with every person she had to ask. First the young pup won't leave her be and now he's nowhere to be found?

But Gilgamesh was worried. He had been expecting young Heracles to show up at the bake house to sample some pastries, if not get some bread ends for himself. But when the child hadn't shown up, of course sweet hearted Gil became anxious.

She had found him already out searching for the child. That was the only reason she was joining in the effort. If anything, she was increasingly incensed that he would put Gilgamesh through such torment.

Thena walked swiftly, even leaning forward in her stride, walking like a hunter. People not even remotely close to her stepped aside, not wanting to incur any wrath from the Goddess of War. She looked at the edges of the streets, trying to spot any small head of blonde barely a metre off the ground.

"You!"

The guards startled but turned and stood at attention. Their eyes did exchange a look of terror or two.

She walked straight to them, palms already sparkling. "Where is the boy?"

They looked between themselves. Their captain - still without a replacement for the helmet she had defaced last they met - stuttered, "uh, a-a boy, Goddess?"

She gripped the edge of his armour, lifting him off the ground. "The boy--the orphan whose only possession you broke! When did you last see him?!"

Any crowd that was gathered to see the goddess Athena walking the streets was turning and running by now. She shook the man the way she would rattle a jar stubborn to give up the last of its sweets.

"W-W have not seen him, Goddess, we swear upon-"

"Upon what--me?" she snarled at them. She dropped the man to the ground. "If you do see him you will report to me immediately. If I find him first, you will swear upon your own lives not to cause me such bother again!"

The guards scurried off. Perhaps they would take heed and give her a wider berth from now on (she could only hope as much).

"Heracles!" she resorted to shouting his name as she walked. This was the reason she referred to him as a stray. He was loyal, gentle in nature, and - usually - he came running when called.

Poor Gilgamesh would be worried sick.

"You haven't found him either?"

The two streets joined in a point. She frowned at the look on Gil's face, twisted in worry. He was walking around with a pastry in hand, as if to lure the boy out of hiding with it. She shook her head.

Gilgamesh sighed heavily, walking with her as they headed in the same direction. "I know he's probably fine. But you know how that kid likes to get into trouble.

"Indeed," she grumbled. She did know just how much the boy liked to seek out mischief under the guise of being brave. But her anger had to compete with the occupation of her mind Gilgamesh commanded. She took his free hand in hers, "we will find him."

He smiled at her at least, pulling the hand up to his lips.

"Let me go!"

Thena took off like a shot. Gilgamesh wasn't far behind her but she leapt through the streets, propelling herself the way a goddess should. "Heracles!"

"Lemme go!" the small voice repeated, little legs kicking in the air. "I said lemme go or the Champion is gonna show you!"

The shop owner was unmoved, holding Heracles by the back of his tunic like a stray kitten. "Ooh, the great Champion is gonna come save you?"

She would scold him for using Gilgamesh as an excuse for his mischief later. She slid on the cobblestones and stormed over to the man. "Unhand him!"

"Goddess Athena!" the man startled, letting go of the boy.

Heracles landed on his back but recovered quickly, scurrying behind her legs. "He said he was gonna throw me in the fire!"

"That's not true," the baker drawled, but Thena was unmoved. He sighed, "I caught him rooting around in my barrels out back. The young can't just take whatever they want because they're parentless."

If they were barrels containing his waste and day old breads then what did it matter if a child looted them for food? But Thena just glared at him. She had half a mind to string him up like the guards.

Gilgamesh put his hand on her shoulder though. "Sorry for the confusion."

"Champion," the gruff old man nodded to them before turning to return to his work.

"Lay a hand on the child again and I'll slice the building in half like the ends of your bread!"

"Thena," Gil scolded her, waving the alarmed man inside. "She didn't mean that!"

"You cannot speak for me," she grumbled as he nudged her shoulders around and in the opposite direction. If the baker refrained from handling her orphan like a mutt again, then he had no reason to fear.

"And you," Gilgamesh kneeled down to the boy playing with the bottom of his tunic. "I was worried, y'know. Where were you?"

The boy became shy in the face of explaining himself. But Gilgamesh stood in the way of the comfort of hiding behind the dress of the Goddess of War. "The others said you only let me into the great hall because I'm always hungry."

So, if he came already fed, he could prove that his company was welcome and not just out of charity or pity.

Thena also leaned down to better see the child's perspective. "That is why you went rooting for scraps? To prove our company is genuine?"

His cheeks went ruddy and tears collected in his wide green eyes. "I'm sorry, Thena."

She sighed; how anyone had the heart to be mad at such a small and fragile life was beyond her. She was trying with all her thousands of years and she simply did not have the mettle for it.

Gilgamesh moved aside as she stretched her arms out. Heracles, being used to it with his small body, reached out to be picked up automatically. Gil chuckled.

"What?" she eyed him around Heracles' face nuzzling into her shoulder. She was always letting this child get his tears and snot all over her white linens.

"You're a natural at that," he nodded, indicating the way she cradled Heracles' small body against hers, letting the boy sob into her shoulder.

"I disagree," she rolled her eyes, which was quite a strong declaration from her in regards to Gilgamesh.

He just smiled though, pulling her - and by extension, Heracles - close and folding himself around her. His arms closed around her waist, under hers holding the young one. "Come on, you two, let's get some real food."

Heracles only cried harder. Children were such baffling creatures. But Thena rubbed his small back, letting him let it all out.

Gil pressed his lips to her temple. "You were really worried about him, huh?"

She sighed as his lips helped release at least a little of the tension that had built up within her. "No, I was concerned that you were worried over a boy who enjoys trouble too much."

Heracles nuzzled her shoulder, burying himself away in her toga strap.

She rubbed and patted his back some more. "I know that a brave, young champion doesn't worry those around him for selfish reasons."

The boy understood her scolding, nodding with his head still determined to push its way into her shoulder bone. But his small body gave off great warmth, and she found herself leaning her cheek against his mess of blonde hair. "Then let us be home. Gilgamesh was making quite a feast before he discovered you were missing."

"I'm sorry."

On some whim of the moment, she turned her head, pressing her lips to the child's hair. "Do not repeat this."

"I won't."

"And don't eat from people's spares," she ordered. But the boy rested his head on her, his forehead pressing to her cheek. She adjusted him on her hip, "come to us. I will not have you living on scraps."

She felt Gilgamesh give her far shoulder a gentle squeeze, "softie."

She did not think this made her soft. If Heracles was indeed intent on becoming a champion of Athens one day then he needed proper food, not just some old, burnt bread from the gutter.

And if anyone thought she would tolerate him being fed a stray's reject's then they would be meeting the full wrath of the Goddess of War. He was a stray, but he was a ward of the gods, as far as she was concerned. He was an orphan, but he was their orphan.

[fayzday]

Sabine, after she's found by Fenn Rau's crew on Concord Dawn

[wizardnuke]

i love dnd..i love playing heavy utility/support/backfield and i love having three to six attacks in a turn and an insane ac. at heart im a support player ill get my hands on whatever we're missing in a group

[bereft-of-frogs]

I finally did it, I asked someone on reddit WHY they think Indara faked her own death in the first episode. Because I don't see any evidence of it and idk I just don't get the sense they'd throw out that much of a curve-ball without any foreshadowing? I feel like she'd definitely be coming up more. They almost never mention her except in the list of targets/the bit where Jecki is arresting Mae. But this theory keeps popping up and it's on my list of 'things that would tank the ending for me' if she turned out to have faked her death in some bizarre 5D chess match that hasn't been telegraphed in any way in the text. It's definitely way more foreshadowed that one or more of the witches is alive (see: 'my mother could do that' from last episode).

I get too wanting more Jedi Master Carrie-Anne Moss, but I think she's really just going to be in the second flashback episode and I'll take what I can get even if that ends up being a combined total of like 20 minutes of screentime XD

[spiteriisen]

tag drop ; isande.

( even scorched by fires of war ; i will fly on wings of my own making. ✧ ic. ) isande. ( gold as the rising sun ; she holds her shield aloft to greet the dawn. ✧ visage. ) isande. ( what good is any faith if in yourself you hold none ; be your own devotee. ✧ isms. ) isande. ( through shade & sleet-- through all winter's wrath ; the thistle maid blooms in xanntash. ✧ aesthetic. ) isande. ( born in the dark but her heart never beat ; not 'til light touched her face was she truly complete. ✧ lore. ) isande.

( a message to all the holy temples dedicated to me ; you all really make up any shit huh. ✧ crack. ) isande. ( do not follow me-- do not pray ; choose to walk alongside me and i will stay. ✧ game shenanigans. ) isande.

connections ;

( i'd trade all tales human & divine to turn back time ; for song in your smile & light in your eyes. ✧ isande & finnegan. ) passionfell. ( you seek no god & i never sought to be one ; not demanding or bestowing-- i am asking for a champion. ✧ isande & ankita. ) passionfell. ( you can't wield a sword for me-- i don't carry one ; pledge oath to you & let blind faith be gone. ✧ isande & alwin. ) risingretribution.

[the-ipre]

[id: a digital drawing of Faiden and Zol, two Star Wars ocs, as they hug. Faiden is a blue Theelin with a large fluffy tail and puffy orange hair, wearing a flowy top and white armor with orange paint on her hips. Zol is an orange Zabrak with a few broken horns, wearing all black with long pointed gloves. He has his face buried in Faiden's shoulder as he hugs her, hands balled in her shirt, and she hugs him back just as tightly /end id]

these siblings will be the death of me

[ethereance]

Au where Altea only appears at the end of the series because they’ve all accidentally been plonked into another reality. The one Honerva tried to reach. The Alteans aren’t exactly pleased to see the lions after a day of having their planet used as a battleground.

[partly-cloudyskies]

i like ahsoka but i hate how all the recent material just basically frames her as a jedi like she left the order for a reason

[acourtofquestions]

KINGDOM OF ASH (by SJM)

Chapter 48

THE FAMILY REUINION🥹😆😭🫶& MY SOULLL

But when they reached Princess Hasar's battle tent, when they had all gathered around a map of Anielle, they had only a few minutes of discussion before they were interrupted. By the person Chaol least expected to walk through the flaps.

A moment later, Chaol was glad he was sitting down.

Nesryn breathed, "Holy gods."

Chaol was inclined to agree as Aelin Galathynius, Rowan Whitethorn, and several others entered the tent.

They were mud-splattered, the Queen of Terrasen's braided hair far longer than Chaol had last seen. And her eyes ... Not the soft, yet fiery gaze. But something older. Wearier.

Chaol shot to his feet. "I thought you were in Terrasen," he blurted. All the reports had confirmed it. Yet here she stood, no army in sight.

Three Fae males-towering warriors as broad and muscled as Rowan—had entered, along with a delicate, dark-haired human woman.

But Aelin was only staring at him. Staring and staring at him.

No one spoke as tears began sliding down her face. Not at his being here, Chaol realized as he took up his cane and limped toward Aelin.

But at him. Standing. Walking.

The young queen let out a broken laugh of joy and flung her arms around his neck. Pain lanced down his spine at the impact, but Chaol held her right back, every question fading from his tongue.

Aelin was shaking as she pulled away. "I knew you would," she breathed, gazing down his body, to his feet, then up again. "I knew you'd do it."

"Not alone," he said thickly. Chaol swallowed, releasing Aelin to extend an arm behind him. To the woman he knew stood there, a hand over the locket at her neck.

Perhaps Aelin would not remember, perhaps their encounter years ago had meant nothing to her at all, but Chaol drew Yrene forward. "Aelin, allow me to introduce"

"Yrene Towers," the queen breathed as his wife stepped to his side.

The two women stared at each other.

Yrene's mouth quivered as she opened the silver locket and pulled out a piece of paper. Hands trembling, she extended it to the queen. Aelin's own hands shook as she accepted the scrap.

"Thank you," Yrene whispered.

Chaol supposed it was all that really needed to be said.

Aelin unfolded the paper, reading the note she'd written, seeing the lines from the hundreds of foldings and rereadings these past few years.

"I went to the Torre," Yrene said, her voice cracking. "I took the money you gave me, and went to the Torre. And I became the heir apparent to the Healer on High. And now I have come back, to do what I can. I taught every healer I could the lessons you showed me that night, about self-defense. I didn't waste it-not a coin you gave me, or a moment of the time, the life you bought me." Tears were rolling and rolling down Yrene's face. "I didn't waste any of it."

Aelin closed her eyes, smiling through her own tears, and when she opened them, she took Yrene's shaking hands. "Now it is my turn to thank you." But Aelin's gaze fell upon the wedding band on Yrene's finger, and when she glanced to Chaol, he grinned.

"No longer Yrene Towers," Chaol said softly, "but Yrene Westfall."

Aelin let out one of those choked, joyous laughs, and Rowan stepped up to her side.

Yrene's head tilted back to take in the warrior's full height, her eyes widening-not only at Rowan's size, but at the pointed ears, the slightly elongated canines and tattoo. Aelin said, "Then let me introduce you, Lady Westfall, to my own husband, Prince Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius."

For that was indeed a wedding band on the queen's finger, the emerald mud-splattered but bright. On Rowan's own hand, a gold-and-ruby ring gleamed.

"My mate," Aelin added, fluttering her lashes at the Fae male. Rowan rolled his eyes, yet couldn't entirely contain his smile as he inclined his head to Yrene.

Yrene bowed, but Aelin snorted. "None of that, please. It'll go right to his immortal head." Her grin softened as Yrene blushed, and Aelin held up the scrap of paper. "May I keep this?" She eyed Yrene's locket. "Or does it go in there?"

Yrene folded the queen's fingers around the paper. "It is yours, as it always was. A piece of your bravery that helped me find my own."

Aelin shook her head, as if to dismiss the claim.

But Yrene squeezed Aelin's closed hand. "It gave me courage, the words you wrote. Every mile I traveled, every long hour I studied and worked, it gave me courage. I thank you for that, too."

Aelin swallowed hard, and Chaol took that as excuse enough to sit again, his back giving a grateful tinge. He said to the queen, "There is another person responsible for this army being here." He gestured to Nesryn, the woman already smiling at the queen. "The rukhin you see, the army gathered, is as much because of Nesryn as it is because of me."

A spark lit Aelin's eyes, and both women met halfway in a tight embrace. "I want to hear the entire story," Aelin said. "Every word of it." Nesryn's subdued smile widened. "So you shall. But later." Aelin clapped her on the shoulder and turned to the two royals still by the desk. Tall and regal, but as mud-splattered as the queen.

Chaol blurted, "Dorian?"

Rowan answered, "Not with us." He glanced to the royals.

"They know everything," Nesryn said

"He's with Manon," Aelin said simply.

Chaol wasn't entirely sure whether to be relieved. "Hunting for something important."

The keys. Holy gods.

Aelin nodded. Later. He'd think on where Dorian might now be later. Aelin nodded again. The full story would come then too.

Nesryn said, "May I present Princess Hasar and Prince Sartaq."

Aelin bowed—low. "You have my eternal gratitude," Aelin said, and the voice that came out of her was indeed that of a queen. Any shock Sartaq and Hasar had shown upon the queen bowing so low was hidden as they bowed back, the portrait of courtly grace.

"My father," Sartaq said, "remained in the khaganate to oversee our lands, along with our siblings Duva and Arghun. But my brother Kashin sails with the rest of the army. He was not two weeks behind us when we left."

Aelin glanced to Chaol, and he nodded.

Something glittered in her eyes at the confirmation, but the queen jerked her chin at Hasar. "Did you get my letter?"

The letter that Aelin had sent months ago, begging for aid and promising only a better world in return. Hasar picked at her nails. "Perhaps. I get far too many letters from fellow princesses these days to possibly remember or answer all of them."

Aelin smirked, as if the two of them spoke a language no one else could understand, a special code between two equally arrogant and proud women. But she motioned to her companions, who stepped forward. "Allow me to introduce my friends. Lord Gavriel, of Doranelle." A nod toward the tawny-eyed and golden-haired warrior who bowed.

Tattoos covered his neck, his hands, but his every motion was graceful. "My uncle, of sorts," Aelin added with a smirk at Gavriel. At Chaol's narrowed brows, she explained, "He's Aedion's father."

"Well, that explains a few things," Nesryn muttered.

The hair, the broad-planed face ... yes, it was the same. But where Aedion was fire, Gavriel seemed to be stone. Indeed, his eyes were solemn as he said, "Aedion is my pride." Emotion rippled over Aelin's face, but she gestured to the dark-haired male. Not someone Chaol ever wanted to tangle with, he decided as he surveyed the granite-hewn features, the black eyes and unsmiling mouth.

"Lorcan Salvaterre, formerly of Doranelle, and now a blood-sworn member of my court." As if that weren't a shock enough, Aelin winked at the imposing male. Lorcan scowled. "We're still in the adjustment period," she loudly whispered, and Yrene chuckled.

Lorcan Salvaterre. Chaol hadn't met the male this spring in Rifthold, but he'd heard all about him. That he'd been Maeve's most trusted commander, her most loyal and fierce warrior.

That he'd wanted to kill Aelin, hated Aelin.

How this had come about, why she was not in Terrasen with her army ... "You, too, have a tale to tell," Chaol said.

"Indeed I do." Aelin's eyes guttered, and Rowan put a hand on her lower back. Bad— something terrible had occurred. Chaol scanned Aelin for any hint of it. He stopped when he noticed the smoothness of the skin at her neck. The lack of scars. The missing scars on her hands, her palms. "Later," Aelin said softly. She straightened her shoulders, and another golden-haired male came forward. Beautiful. That was the only way to describe him. "Fenrys ... You know, I don't actually know your family name."

Fenrys threw a roguish wink at the queen.

"Moonbeam."

"It is not," Aelin hissed, choking on a laugh.

Fenrys laid a hand on his heart. "I am blood-sworn to you. Would I lie?"

Another blood-sworn Fae male in her court.

Across the tent, Sartaq cursed in his own tongue. As if he'd heard of Lorcan, and Gavriel, and Fenrys.

Aelin gave Fenrys a vulgar gesture that set Hasar chuckling, and faced the royals. "They're barely housebroken. Hardly fit for your fine company." Even Sartaq smiled at that. But it was to the small, delicate woman that Aelin now gestured. "And the only civilized member of my court, Lady Elide Lochan of Perranth." Perranth. Chaol had combed through the family trees of Terrasen just this winter, had seen the lists of so many royal households crossed out, victim to the conquest ten years ago.

Elide's name had been among them.

Another Terrasen royal who had managed to evade Adarlan's butchers.

The pretty young woman took a limping step forward, and bobbed a curtsy to the royals. Her boots concealed any sign of the source of the injury, but Yrene's attention shot right to her leg. Her ankle. "It's an honor to meet all of you," Elide said, her voice low and steady. Her dark eyes swept over them, cunning and clear. Like she could see beneath their skin and bones, to the souls beneath.

Aelin wiped her hands. "Well, that's over and done with," she announced, and strode to the desk and map. "Shall we discuss where you all plan to march once we beat the living shit out of this army?"

[softquietsteadylove]

Hi!

In your latest thenamesh special force au Gil said he doesn’t trust them to keep her safe.

What if something happens that puts Thena in great danger and Gil rushes to protect and safe her? Bonus if he carries her in his arms!

"Fall back! I repeat, fall back: area is not secure!"

"Move in!" Gil announced before any order was given. Technically he was second in command in Thena's absence, him and Kingo being the most senior Agents present. He didn't need to hear anything else.

Thena was in danger, and he wasn't going to allow it.

The junior agents were scattered around, some having been taken out as soon as they were in the building.

Gil hauled one up by the collar of his shirt, "what the hell happened in here?!"

Kingo put a hand on his friend's shoulder, squeezing as best he coudl over their thick layers of protective gear. "Take it easy, Gil."

"Th-They were waiting," the young agent squeaked out. "We didn't know until all units were in the building. Something came through the vents, then they jumped us."

Gil dropped the kid to the ground again, stepping around his body and proceeding with caution around every corner. "Eyes up, masks on, people!"

Kingo hand signalled the rest of the unit following behind them. Kingo leaned closer to Gil, "Boss was in the third unit to enter."

Which meant she shouldn't have been too far in the building by the time things went wrong. Gil walked around their comrades as they proceeded. "Tell medical about all these stupid kids."

"Come on, man," Kingo admonished. "You were all buddy-buddy with these 'kids' less than a week ago."

"And if anything happened to Thena, I'm gonna have them all kicked out of the agency or worse."

Kingo gave up on trying to talk him out of it, knowing it was a lost cause. Gil and Thena both weren't the best at being particularly logical when it came to one another. "Focus, Gil."

It only managed to rile him up more, because it wasn't Thena's soft voice telling him that. "Fuck you."

"Okay, good talk," Kingo sighed until they came across the most troublesome area. "Shit."

Clearly they had put up a fight on both sides. Agents were sprawled about, but so were some of the low level participants of the operation they were busting.

"Boss!"

"Thena!"

She was a few feet away from the rest of them, probably having tried to go further in before whatever was in the vents had incapacitated her as well. She had even pulled off her bulletproof vest, probably to check herself for injury after being shot at.

"Thena!" Gil rushed over to her, practically sliding on his knees to reach her. He pulled the inner material of his collar down from his nose and mouth, pulling her up into his arms.

It was in complete disregard for protocol. He didn't check for her injuries first, he didn't wake her and ask her the standard 'can you speak',. 'can you breathe', etc. He pulled her into his arms and all but shook her in his desperation to see her open her eyes again.

"Gil?" she groaned out, pinching her brows together as she came to.

"Thena," Gil gasped out in relief, pulling her closer and cradling her head protectively. "You're okay!"

"What are you doing here?" she frowned, glaring at him out of one eye (with some blood from her forehead having gotten in the other). "You were ordered to wait as backup."

"I know, but the kids blew it and we had to move in," he scoffed, reaching into his standard issue cargo pants and fishing out what was definitely not a standard issue handkerchief. He wiped some blood from her eye before dabbing at her forehead. "Can you stand?"

Thena nodded up at him, "it looks worse than it is. All that really happened was we spooked them out the back of the trap. Tell me we were waiting for them at the rear."

"Yes, we got 'em all," Gil chuckled, letting her grip his sleeve in need and then release it almost immediately. He frowned at her, "I know I asked if you can stand, but are you sure you should be on your feet?"

"It's fine, Gil," Thena attempted to protest, although she didn't actually succeed in attempting to pull herself up out of his arms. "Just...I'm just...jus-"

Gil shook his head. Whether it was blood loss or a concussion or the gas, he wasn't about to let her try walking by herself. Medical would have his head for moving her without their permission, and the higher ups probably wouldn't be happy with him either.

Thena would be livid once she woke up again.

But Gil picked her up in his arms, carrying her like a bride back the way they came, past the rest of the agents also being collected in the aftermath of the disastrous operation. He had no sympathies for the kids being picked up off the ground. Not with Thena lying limp in his arms as she was. He bent his head down close to her, "almost there."

"Gil," she sighed, drifting in and out of it as he carried her. "M'fine."

He smiled down at her. She would absolutely have his badge for thinking she looked kind of cute when she was sleepy, but he could keep that thought to himself. "Yeah, you seem real fine, Boss."