#silvian families...

[windmills123]

qxy's new maps! @c4wc4w is also here...

[enchantingkryptoniteheart-blog]

~The Best Of Intentions ~

Chapter 14

Mistlynn*

After making a few rounds walking through the Hall of Kings, she had managed to escape the festivities and flee to her room. She knew Sindri wasn't pleased with her leaving the festivities early either, or that Dis was probably trying to ascertain her whereabouts as well. Just what she needed; her two closest girlfriends irate with her.

She had never been good at making friends, she had been too caught up in her studies as child. Her mother wanted her well read and fluent in Khuzdul, Westron and Silvian. Her mother had also been one of the few Earth Chanters still left in their kingdom, and she had been adamant that she would pass down this gift that had been bestowed to the women in their family. Her mother had told her that her voice was an exceptional blessing from her ancestors; but after her mother's death her father had forbidden it, another thing he found too painful, too much of a reminder of his beloved late wife. All those years of study and discipline she often thought were for nothing.

By the time she was an adult, her people saw her as the princess, the incarnation of her mother, just like her father. She was granted no other identity. Thus, her drive to become a warrior of her own merit and blood. It was all she had that was of her own. Her drive is what allowed her and Argos to survive in that harsh environment of their youth. It was the very sinew of her and Argos relationship, something they both strove to be the best at.

And now, she found herself in danger of losing herself again, lost amongst layers of fine fabrics and decorum. It made her blood run cold, up to this point in time she hadn't spared one thought about Argos. Amid everything, her new life she had forgotten who she was truly, and why she was still among the living. If it wasn't for Argos, she wouldn't even be here, celebrating her engagement to Thorin, experiencing what it was to find her 'One'.

Argos had been cheated out of that. She found herself wishing Argos could have seen this place, that he could of run away with her instead of assisting her in the Proving; far away from that accursed frost drake that stole his life from him.

She hastily tore the dress from her body, as if it had been the thing suffocating her. She felt the all too familiar clutches of panic closing in around her chest whenever she allowed herself to think of Argos. A feral snarl ripped from her throat as her hands tore at the pins holding up her hair. It cascaded down her back in tangled curls, just as wild as her heart beating in her chest.

In a flurry, she put on her leather leggings, tunic and tightly cinched her corset up. She put up her entangled mess of curls up into a high ponytail then looked up in her vanity mirror to see that the mascara was running down her cheeks. She didn't even realize silent tears had been streaming down her face. She glared at herself in the mirror, wiping her cheeks with sleeve, not caring that it smeared dark under her eyes. In anger she shoved her boots on, ignoring Luna who was whining at her side.

Thorin, Dis, Fili, Kili and the rest of the company had become her family and closest friends. She even had a relationship with Dwalin, and that was not an easy thing to accomplish. So much had changed, so quickly, in such a short amount of time. So, when she saw Fili and Kili that morning bickering amongst themselves, she felt the abrupt stab in her gut. It was the precursor that set her off before their engagement party. She fought with her hands, not her words. Arming herself to the teeth with Fili's extra daggers had giving her a shallow comfort before Dis had unknowingly stripped her bare. All that was left were her ghosts and insecurities. Argo's face flashed in her mind; of the last time she saw him alive. The guilt rose so quickly it was becoming overpowering. How can she move on so freely as if he never existed?

She needed to get these emotions out, it was simmering under her skin like boiling water. Propriety be damned. She would deal with Dis and Thorin's disappointment later.

**Thorin**

In typical dwarven fashion, the celebration was still going strong. He walked through the crowd, his eyes constantly scanning, trying to catch a glimpse of Mistlynn's sparkling peridot eyes or her platinum river of curls. Sindri explained that she had needed to get some air, that she was simply overwhelmed and that she would return promptly. That had been over an hour ago, and now he was fighting to keep his growing concern under a calm mask.

He had Fili, Kili, Nori, Bifur and Dwalin searching for her inconspicuously. He didn't want to encourage any gossip of drama so soon in the engagement of the King and his betrothed. He really detested how his personal life and that of his family was the life blood of all gossip in the dwarven kingdoms.

Bifur came up behind him and gently touched his arm. Thorin spun around quickly to face him. Bifur was skilled at communicating with utmost discretion and was able to inform the concerned king that his fiancé was found in the empty training arena by his nephews and Dwalin, and that they were keeping an eye on her until he was able to get there.

Thorin closed his eyes for a brief moment and let out a long-suffering sigh. "Let Dis know and tell her to tell Dain and Sindri that she has been found. I'll go to her now."

He made a clean exit from the hall and quickened his pace to the training arena. It was alarming how quickly her mood had changed. It was as if a certain panic had set in after her and Dis's exchange only to be fanned by her introduction to Thranduil. He knew she was spirited and accepted that part of her wholeheartedly. But her mood swings were making him anxious; and her reaction to meeting the Elf King was troubling.

He knew she had feared his and his people's reaction about her mixed heritage, but would she know anything about Thranduil and his history with Erebor and his grandfather? Tauriel had taken an immediate liking to her, and not once did it seem they would be prejudiced against her, much like most of Erebor. It had taken a lot of work and pride to be swallowed for them to be on amicable terms and co-exist as neighboring kingdoms. Did she not trust him to keep her safe? His gut twisted at the thought.

He thought they had established a good foundation finally, their start had been rough, but he had thought they were of one mind now. She had not come to him with any concerns as he had asked her to. Sindri had stated that she had been overwhelmed, making the guilt eat further away at him. He had failed her by just assuming all was going well, he should have known better considering all that she was having to learn in such a short time span. He was such fool! His molars ground together in self-loathing as his jaw clenched. He would not be making that mistake again, he would not lose her to his short sightedness.

As he approached the main arena he saw Fili, Kili and Dwalin leaning against the main archway, hiding themselves from the sight of anyone on the grounds. Yells and grunts of anger echoed around him as he approached, his footsteps alerting his kin of his presence. They turned to him, all with concern written on their faces.

"She's been at It for a while already." Fili murmured; his tone laced with worry.

Kili just shook his head. "We didn't want to spook her. Figured you would be the best one to talk to her." He whispered as he looked at his uncle sadly.

"Thank you." He nodded, voice a low grumble as his eyes were transfixed on Mistlynn's lithe figure attacking the practice dummy with a blunted staff. With surprising deftness, she twirled it about her with blinding precision. Blurred circles surrounded her like shields as she weaved the staff in her hands before landing a shattering blow against her cushioned wooden target. A yell filled with rage and exertion escaped through her gritted teeth before she flipped backwards effortlessly, staff still held tightly in her hand before she landed in a precise crouch. Her eyes were closed as she began her complex routine again with the staff.

"I had n idea tha she was more than able of defendin 'erself." Dwalin grunted as he shook his head. "This I wasn' expect'n. I havena seen tha likes of tha afore."

"They didn't have the resources we have for weapons. They saved them for hunting purposes only. They learned hand to hand combat for fighting." Thorin stated, his voice low and distant with distraction as he watched her move about.

"It's incredible. I've never seen a staff used as a weapon like that." Kili was in awe, yet the worry still shown through his eyes.

"Fili, Kili. Return to the party, keep our guests entertained. I appreciate your discretion."

Thorin's voice was deep and firm as he started to shrug off his heavy formal jacket.

"Of course, Irak'nadad." Fili reply was brisk as he inclined his head respectfully. Kili followed suit, albeit more reluctantly than his brother. "Come brother." Fili encouraged, letting Kili see that he was just as concerned as he was, but trusted their Uncle to take of her, as it should rightfully be.

Thorin removed his crown from his head and handed it to Dwalin for safe keeping.

"Make sure no one disturbs us aye?"

Dwalin nodded briskly. "Aye."

Thorin, now only left in his dark blue tunic and embossed black leather vest, stepped up towards the arena edge. He grabbed another staff that was leaning against the wall next to wooden sparring swords and ducked swiftly into the ring.

Mistlynn was so wrapped up in her mediative movements, channeling all her anger, frustrations, and sorrows into a force to be reckoned with. Detecting movement at her peripheral, she launched herself into a defensive strike, only for her staff to be met with firm deflection, the other staff stopping hers unyieldingly. She found herself looking into Thorin's stormy eyes. She blinked, surprise and embarrassment contorting her expression before she stepped back, staff hanging loosely at her side.

"I apologize. I didn't realize it was you." She was breathing heavily, both with exertion and raw emotion.

She found herself trying to get angry at the worry that was shining in his eyes. "What is troubling you M'eudail?" His voice was soothing.

She shook her head. "No Thorin. I don't want to do this right now. I don't want to talk." She seethed, as she clenched her eyes shut, willing the burning tears back down.

He recognized and understood the turmoil that was flowing through her like a torrential tide. He took a deep breath while he rolled his shoulders and neck in preparation. "Very well." Came his reply.

Her bottom lip quivered slightly. She was chasing him away with her childishness, with her incompetence in dealing with this grief she couldn't seem to shake. But she couldn't find the strength within her to fight it back down at that moment. "Thorin, I…"

"Resume your stance." Came a cold command, jarring her in its suddenness. Her eyes flew open, and she looked up. She no longer saw love and tenderness in his eyes. They were now cold and calculating. The mighty Thorin Oakenshield, Battle-scarred Warrior and Conquering King of Erebor stood before her, unforgiving and steadfast in his stance. His big, strong hands held his staff at his side, at the ready. His muscular body was flexed, at the ready for their spar. She was in shock. He was going to spar with her.

"We don't have all night." He growled darkly. "Engage or step down."

She closed her mouth, which had been hanging open slightly in surprise. She nodded stiffly as she took a deep breath and took the proper stance.

They stared each other down for a moment, daring each other silently to take strike first. Her knuckles were turning white as she gripped her staff hard. He was unnerving her, as he stood as still as a statue. Her nose flared as she moved quickly in an aggressive offensive attack. He met her blow for blow, his face indifferent as he deflected her strikes with ease. He didn't seem phased as he deflected her attacks, She was used to her sparring partner to be as equal in their fervor as she. It was unnerving how calm he was, his eyes boring into her as if able to see every move she was planning to make before she even made it.

It was quick, his swift change of technique and she found herself on the defensive against his calculated blows. Her bones were being rattled with each blow. She gritted her teeth in stubborn resolution. She pushed back, hard, and lethal. She was using her small, quick frame to her distinct advantage.

She landed a couple blows, but he brushed them off with relative ease. His calm and clear headedness was the advantage he had over her. It was a bitter realization for her as she found herself on her back, wheezing as the air was knocked out of her lungs.

She had attempted a powerful kick along with a swipe of her staff, but instead he anticipated her move, caught her foot with his hand as he swiped her remaining foot out from underneath her to land hard on her back.

She blinked in surprise as she fought to regain her breath. No one had ever managed to catch and deflect that combo. She had always been too fast for them to catch it until they were seeing stars while lying on their backs.

"Again." His deep voice thundered around her. She fought to keep her face from turning red, as rage and embarrassment flooded throughout her. No, she would not let it show, she had to prove her worth to him. Taking a deep breath, she arched her back and braced herself on the staff she still clutched tightly in her hands. She sprung quickly from her hands and back onto her feet in a defensive crouch, the staff spinning deftly in her hand into position behind her, as if winding herself up for her next attack.

His expression remained passive as he slowly circled her, the intensity of his gaze upon her unfaltering. Frustration rippled through her as she launched herself into another offensive attack. Once again, he deflected and evaded her with ease. It surprised her how fast he was, how graceful he moved around her. The ability he had to hone in on her weak spots was infuriating. As the minutes accumulated, she could already feel the dark bruises forming on her torso, legs, and arms in spots she had left open for him to strike.

Her muscles began to burn with exertion, but her emotions were still running raw and hot. She was starting to get frustrated as her attacks became more inept than usual.

She managed to deflect his staff and distract him momentarily; and she seized her chance to try to disarm him. She didn't realize until she found herself spinning through the air that he had once again anticipated her attack and used her momentum against her. She hit the ground hard, and her staff shot out of her outstretched hand, skidding across the dirt away from her. She coughed as dust billowed up around her, filling her mouth, nose, and eyes with the gritty taste of defeat.

"You are allowing your anger to fuel you." His voice was stern and even. He didn't sound like he even broke a sweat sparring with her. She couldn't help but cringe at the disappointment she imagined laced his words. "It makes you predictable, no matter your strength your enemy will see it and take advantage."

Something between a gasp and a cough escaped through her clenched teeth as she rolled onto her stomach slowly, one arm wrapped protectively around her stomach while her other hand dug into the dirt underneath her shoulder and shakily pushed herself up until she was on her knees. She stared at the dirt in front of her as she breathed heavily, the anger that had been running rampant in her veins finally dosed in the bitterness of her loss, both current and past. His boots came into her view, making her shut her eyes tightly. It had been a while since she had been so thoroughly beaten in a spar. She had forgotten the taste of it, sour and bitter on her tongue, making her swallow thickly.

She had hoped that this would have chased away the pain and guilt eating away at her inside, but the hollowness of this failure only added to it. Argos's face flashed in her head, his expression frozen in fear and pain. A sob caught in her throat as she fought desperately to compose herself. She heard him sigh heavily as he kneeled before her. Not unlike that time in the throne room when he forced her to look at him; he lifted her chin with his hand, his fingers lightly caressing her chin and jaw.

"Talk to me." His tone was gentle but left no room for argument. "I can't help you with your battles if you don't let me in."

Mistlynn hated how her laugh came out shaky. "I just panicked. I feel better now."

"Mistlynn." Her name rolled off his lips in an exasperated sigh. "We've just sparred for the better part of an hour. That was anger, not panic."

Mistlynn pushed herself to her feet, ignoring her protesting muscles. "I'm angry with myself Thorin. I destroy everything I come across!" She spat irately, looking everywhere else but at him as he stood up and tried to maintain eye contact with her. "Where should I start? Which failure should I mention first? I need to apologize to Dis for my disrespect.

A slap in the face would have been better than the heinous attitude I gave her! I've embarrassed you and I have shamed Argos memory! I have dishonored his sacrifice. And the one thing I was supposed to be good at, sparring, fighting, combat? You just wiped the ring with my pathetic arse like a damned trainee! Bloody right I am angry! ." She let out a curse as she felt her lower lip tremble with searing emotion threatening to spill from her eyes.

Since when did she become such an unstable child? She couldn't bring herself to look at him, standing all solid and perfect before her. She was such a disappointment to Argos and the strong warrior that stood before her, who was listening patiently to her crazed ramblings. Mahal, he deserved better than her! She put her hands on her hips as she tilted her head up towards the rock cavern ceiling, fighting to get her rampant emotions under control.

She could feel his body heat as he stood before her, unnervingly silent after her little outburst. "Not to mention, I'm confident that Thranduil has knowledge of my family, and where I really come from. And I lied to him, like an imbecile. So that's just the frosting of the big giant shite cake I've baked for myself."

"Is that all?" Came his unimpressed question. She breathed in sharply. For Aule's sake, she couldn't handle his smart ass at this moment.

"I didn't ask you to follow me here." She growled as she started to take a step back, away from him.

"Mahal woman, I didn't mean it like that." He sighed as he grabbed ahold of her arm and pulled her back to him. "Will you quit being so bloody stubborn and look at me?"

She felt his hand cup her face, his touch loving. "I know this is a lot, and that its overwhelming. But the only thing you're losing yourself to is your own thoughts. You are your worst enemy at this very moment." He watched a lone tear escape her eye and trickled down her cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb gently. "Dis isn't cross with you. She understands more than you think she does. If you can't confide in me, seek her out. She wants to help you."

Mistlynn let out a defeated huff between her trembling lips. "I know she does. I value her more than what words can express."

"Regarding Argos. I highly doubt you have shamed his memory. You are a force to be reckoned with Kurdunuh. You would have been harder to disarm if it wasn't for your emotions blinding you." His voice was low and soothing as he searched her gaze. His brows furrowed in worry as she gasped, and more tears escaped beneath her eyelashes as she clenched her eyes shut.

"I'm not though Thorin." She gasped as her body began to tremble. "I was his big sister, and I couldn't keep him safe, not when it really mattered. He is dead because of me. And I haven't even thought about him this entire time I've been here in Erebor. Not really. How can I move on, and be happy when he is dead? My baby brother dead because I couldn't keep a cool head when it mattered most?"

She felt Thorin step closer to her and place both his hands upon the sides of her face. "Mistlynn, look at me." It was more a plea than command. She shook her head. "I can't. I can't bear to look into your eyes when I tell you the whole truth. It will break me to see the disappointment in your eyes." Her voice shook as if she had been plunged into a lake of ice.

Thorin pulled her into a tight embrace. "Nothing you can say will change how I feel for you. Nothing." His whispered words spoken so lovingly into her hair finally broke the dam and she gave in to the suppressed grief she had been hiding. Her body shook as she gave in to the violent sobs that wracked her. He held her firmly in his arms, supporting her fully as she clung to him. His heart ached as he felt the grief pour out from deep within her. At a loss, he began to rub her back soothingly, occasionally pressing a kiss to the top of her head as he rocked her gently in his embrace. He lost track of time as he held her close, and her sobs lessened and her trembling subsided.

Little did he know, his steady heartbeat grounded her. She sniffed as she nuzzled further into his neck and breathed him in. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so safe in someone's arms. It was now or never.

"I should have scouted the drake before I led them out on the Proving. I never should have blindly trusted the task to someone else." Her voice was quiet, but the ceased movement of his hands let her know that he had heard her.

She swallowed and pressed on. "But I didn't. I trusted Valinn's scout. I thought it was going to be like every other Proving, hunting and harvesting an adolescent drake that had been previously scouted. Except this time, it was one of the biggest, most ferocious Frost Drake's I had ever come across." She shuddered, and Thorin tightened his arms around her in response.

"It was too late to turn back. We had no choice but to fight, otherwise he would've hunted and killed us all. So, it was Argos and I with a couple other seasoned warriors and five inexperienced warriors in training." Thorin felt his stomach drop and tighten in dread. "We soon realized the ropes attached to our grappling arrows had been severed. All of them. We couldn't tie down its wings, or its legs and tail. Most were killed within minutes from its tail and talons. Soon, it was only Argos and I left. With our useless arrows and swords." Her breath shuddered at the painful memory.

"Frost Drakes don't breathe fire. They breathe out a stream of a cold so harsh it will freeze a living being instantly." He felt more tears soak his tunic. "I tried shooting it in the eyes, attempting to blind him. My foot fell through the ice, it was cracking all around us. Argos pushed me out of the way. I didn't fully understand what h-happened until I turned around and s-saw his f-face." She sobbed. "I could see the fear on his face. He was frozen, and s-so blue. His f-fear was j-just there, f-f-frozen on his face. H-his lips were so b-blue, he w-was j-just f-frozen t-there s-staring at m-me."

He closed his eyes; he could feel her pain radiating from her. He couldn't even begin to imagine seeing a loved one frozen like that with their last expression evident on their face; he couldn't think of anything that could soothe the anguish she was feeling. He continued to hold her, rub her back, and listen. Her body shuddered, and her breathing changed, from anguish to a simmering rage.

"That vile worm shattered him, breaking him as if he was nothing more than some old pottery." She seethed. "So, I screamed, and I sliced his one wing with my swords, and I jumped on his neck, and I started to stab him. I stabbed his eyes, his head, his neck. I just kept stabbing until he wasn't moving anymore." Her shaking stopped and she went still in his arms. "I was the only one left. Everyone else was dead but me. I couldn't face my father, he had already lost my mother when she gave birth to Argos, I couldn't face him and tell him that he had died saving me. I couldn't face Valinn and his arrogance. He would say it should have been me. Not Argos. Me."

He now understood why he had recognized the pain he first saw in her eyes and could relate it to his own pain that he battled daily.

It struck him as odd that so much had gone wrong with a tradition that had lasted generations in a nation of people who were proficient with slaying frost drakes, and her brother Valinn sounded like a real piece of work. But now was not the time to state his concern, she wasn't in the right presence of mind to discuss such matters.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, shifting her so that he could move his hand under her chin and make her look up at him. "It was out of your control Mistlynn. You all fought valiantly, and your brother had the most honorable death a warrior could ever hope for, protecting his loved one until his last breath. He would not want you punishing yourself like this."

Mistlynn bit the inside of her cheek, fighting the retort she wanted to throw back at him. She knew he lost his own brother in battle, and she knew deep down he was right. "How do I stop?" she whispered, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.

Thorin sighed. "I'm probably not the best to ask since I tend to do the same thing. Some days are better than others. But I can say with absolute certainty that I have bought myself more trouble clinging to the past, holding myself responsible for things I couldn't control. I've had to humble myself on many instances when I was finally able to let go and accept that what's done is done. There is no going back, we can only move forward."

She nodded stiffly. "It scares me how quickly you have come to mean everything to me. You, your family, your friends are my world. I only had that with Argos, my father was so distant and lost in his pain and Valinn always saw me as a threat. What I feel for you terrifies me. I can't even begin to put it into words."

Thorin nodded as he absorbed her words. "I can understand how that can be overwhelming. Its why I tried to keep you at a distance for so long. I saw what losing their One did to my father and Dis, to let you in fully into my heart just to lose you in some way, like I have lost everyone else, except it would be worse. I love you more than life itself, it would destroy me."

Mistlynn looked back up at him in surprise, her eyes shining with tears. She couldn't bring herself to say it back, not yet. "I feel like a petulant child, here I am crying about losing my brother, and you have just laid bare everything to me, unafraid."

"I'm old that's why. And growing softer by the day apparently." He deflected, hiding the hurt of her not returning any declaration of love herself. He knew she wasn't ready, that she was still battling with herself, but it didn't make the sting any less. "I've even grown fond of that fleabag that has taken up residence in my kingdom like some lapdog. Despite her ridiculous shedding."

Mistlynn laughed weakly as she wiped the tears from her face. "You're not old! Stop saying that!" She leaned back against him, relaxing as she felt his chuckle vibrate through his chest.

He leaned his head against hers, kissing her forehead gently. "Please let me know when you are needing to talk, about anything M'eudail. I can't help you if I don't know what's bothering you." He felt her nod into his chest.

"I'm not used to having someone to confide in Thorin. But I will try to."

"That's all I ask." He murmured softly as he stared off into the shadows where he knew Dwalin was keeping watch. He wasn't oblivious to the fact they still had a long way to go in establishing their relationship, and she wasn't going to make it easy.

*Mistlynn*

The next morning, she awoke just as the first tendrils of sunlight gave chase to the night. This was the first official day as Erebor's future queen, and her day was not for the faint of heart. She sighed heavily as she rolled onto her back, staring up at the dark canopy of her bed. She had to face Dis first and foremost, as she was to shadow the princess and learn. She felt as if there was a stone in her stomach. She still had to apologize to her friend for her callous words the night prior.

Thorin had assured her that Dis would be generous with her forgiveness and understanding. He had calmed the raging storm in her soul and chased away most of the cold shadows of doubts that had begun to suffocate her newfound happiness. But it was not lost on her how daunting the path was that now lay before her as his fiancé, as his very proudly proclaimed 'One'. And in order to face the vicious backstabbing noble dams of the court that just found out they no longer had a chance to catch the heart of the King, she needed Dis on her side.

A sharp knock interrupted her dreadful musings, announcing Dis's arrival before the door flew open.

"Rise and shine wildling." Dis sauntered in cheerfully, her hair and makeup already done up with simple elegance.

Mistlynn sighed. "Good morning, Dis. I am sorry I disappeared on you last night."

Dis nodded in acknowledgment before she shooed Luna off the foot of the bed, tutting in mock disgust at the hair the wolf left on the blankets. "One would think that creature would be bald with how much fur I find of hers left about." It was obvious Thorin had already talked to her, as he had promised to do first thing.

Mistlynn giggled as she watched Dis lay the dress across the chest on the foot of her bed instead. She silently chastised herself for being so nervous to apologize to Dis. Here she was trying to get her ready herself when she could have just sent in a handmaiden, but she knew that it made her uncomfortable, so she went out of her way to help her. "Dis. I just want to tell you how sorry I am for my wickedness last night. You have done nothing but help and look out for me, you didn't deserve my appalling attitude. I need to find a better way to cope with my nervousness."

Dis stopped fussing with the dress and looked over at Mistlynn, with a small smile on her face. "I know you didn't mean any disrespect. I'd rather you speak your mind with me than anyone else. I don't want your sharp tongue making your transition here harder than it must be. I just want the utmost happiness for you and my brother."

Mistlynn nodded, tucking in her wild curls behind her dainty ears to the best of her ability. "I know Dis. I don't know what I would do without you."

Dis let out a very unladylike snort. "You would still be dancing around your feelings for my brother, rather ungracefully I might add, if it wasn't for me. Not to mention all the ruckus and mayhem you would cause!"

They both laughed at the accuracy of the statement. "I won't even try to deny it. Poor Balin would have kicked me out already!" Mistlynn giggled as she rolled out of bed to give Dis a hug of gratitude. Dis hugged her back with a warmth only a sister could give.

"We have a long day ahead. And I must show you how us Durin women arm ourselves for the onslaught of the great passive aggression of Erebor's court!"

Later that evening…

“Dis, please! Have mercy!"

"We are almost there for the love of Mahal Mist!"

"Mahal surely must not wish for my feet to fall off."

"You're supposed to be a tough warrior! At the rate you're carrying on I'm inclined to think you were exaggerating your prowess."

"I don't give a wizard's teeth! I'm taking them off!"

“We are almost to the sitting room. Have some self-respect woman!"

"It's an act of disrespect to keep these infernal shoes on after a day of prattling and kissing a..."

"Don't even think of finishing that sentence! Durin's beard! That filthy mouth of yours is going to start a war one of these days!"

"I certainly hope so! I would love to see how those featherbrained twit's fight!"

"With your hot head and quick tongue? How ever shall you lose?"

The royal sitting room door was opened abruptly before Dis could reach for the door handle. Balin was on the other side, his bushy white eyebrows disappearing into his snowy hairline. "Ladies." He greeted, his amused smirk letting them know that he heard everything.

Dis let out a longsuffering sigh as she walked through the door, Mistlynn following with an exaggerated limp in her step. Balin chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he shut the door.

"I thought it was apparent for you to bring her back unharmed?" Thorin chuckled as he stood up from his seat at the table where a bunch of paperwork was laid out.

"She acts like she's the only dam who has to suffer through wearing appropriate court shoes." Dis sniffed in annoyance as she walked up to the couch nearest to the hearth.

"Why any dam in her right mind would choose to wear these infernal torture devices is beyond me." Mistlynn groaned in relief as she kicked off the offending shoes, immensely enjoying the feel of the plush carpet cushioning her sore feet.

"Are any of us truly in our right mind?" Fili was kicked back in his seat at the table. "Who does letter writing and paperwork after supper and still claim to be sane?"

"Pretty sure we were considered mad after we left Ered Luin to claim Erebor back from a bloodthirsty dragon." Kili chuckled as he attempted to fold a birdlike creature from an extra piece of parchment.

"And here we are, the victors without an inkling of sanity left." Thorin smiled as he took Mistlynns hand and raised it to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently as he gave her a playful look.

Mistlynn giggled. "Being sane is frightfully dull, I would rather us all have fun being insane together."

Dis threw her head back and laughed. "There is no shortage of insanity in this family let me assure you!" She sent a pointed look over her shoulder towards her sons who both had mischievous grins on their faces.

Mistlynn settled next to Dis on the couch so that Thorin could return to his paperwork, eager to have a comforting cup of hot tea she had grown addicted to. She accepted the cup Dis prepared her and savored the spice of cinnamon and clove that warmed her inside and out.

"Now is the perfect time for us to work on how to use a fan." Dis smiled teasingly as she looked at Mistlynn over the brim of her teacup. She chuckled at Mistlynns exaggerated eyeroll.

"I will not argue with you on that." Mistlynn sighed. "I just didn't use one so that I wouldn't make an utter fool of myself in front of the GENTLE LADIES."

Dis couldn't help but snort into her teacup at her friends emphasized drawl, which in turn made her brother, sons and Balin look up from their tedious task in surprise.

'You hush." She couldn't help but chuckle as she fought to regain some semblance of seriousness. "Now it's all about the wrist. Just a nice subtle flick of the wrist like so." She demonstrated with a practiced ease; her beautiful Durin's blue silk fan opened gracefully.

Mistlynn gripped her fan tightly in her hand, determined to get his simple action down. She had been jealous of everyone's fans earlier that day, the late summer heat had been a little taxing on her. Her first attempt was jerky and clumsy, making her growl in frustration.

"You're overthinking it my dear." Dis soothed. "Here, just flick your wrist like this. Don't grip it so tightly."

Mistlynn nodded, her lips pressed in determination. "Flick." She muttered to herself encouragingly as she prepared. She loosened her grip and snapped her wrist with a determined force, not realizing that she snapped her wrist with more force than necessary. With her loosened grip, the fan subsequently went flying from her hand and over her shoulder, smacking Fili in the nose before crashing into the inkwell, sending dark tendrils of ink splattering all over Balin and Thorin. The dwarf king blinked in surprise before he looked down, realizing that ink was now running down the edge of the table and pooling into his lap.

A brief stunned silence followed. Mistlynn slowly looked over her shoulder and took in the carnage of her projectile fan. Her eyes grew wide as she saw Fili gripping his nose in shock as Thorin, with his ink splattered face, held his arms up as he pushed away from the table while looking down at his ink-soaked tunic and pants. Kili had been in the middle of taking a drink of his wine and couldn't help but sputter and choke as he fought the urge to laugh.

She gasped as she jumped up and ran around the couch towards them. "Oh, Fili I am so sorry! I didn't mean…I didn't know…Oh no I ruined your parchment!" Her eyes moved from Fili over to Thorin in horror. She rushed to grab a napkin from the tea tray and rushed back to her fiancé.

"I am so sorry Thorin. Here, let me help." She pleaded, embarrassment making her face flush scarlet. She reached towards him with a shaking hand clutching the napkin tightly.

He quickly grabbed her wrist before she could reach his ink-stained legs. "Its best that I do that." His voice was low as he gave her a pointed look. She looked at his quizzically before it dawned on her where she was about to start rubbing the napkin and her blush became a deeper shade of crimson. "I am so sorry I didn't realize…" She trailed off as she looked past Thorin over to Balin, who was attempting to rub the black ink spots that peppered his white beard.

She wanted to melt into the floor. She couldn't believe her fan wreaked such havoc. "I should go now." She mumbled. What an end to an already epically awkward day.

Kili was losing the fight of controlling his laughter. "Oh Mist, you just made my night!" he wheezed. "Only you could make a fan lethal."

"Lethal is right! You gave me a bloody nose!" Fili snickered, his tone nasally and muffled as he held a napkin to his nose.

"It wasn't on purpose! I was just trying to flick it open!" She protested, still visibly upset as she looked at Dis imploringingly, only to find her friend hunched over with her hands covering her face as her shoulders shook with silent laughter.

"This is not funny Dis! This is exactly why I didn't use one during our luncheon today!" Her voice shook frustration as laughter erupted around her. "Oh, why are you all laughing this is so embarrassing! I can't even open a stupid fan!"

Thorin's laughter was deep and rumbling as he attempted to scrub his face clean, having given up cleaning his soaked pants. "I can only imagine the carnage of broken pottery and tea-stained gowns you would have left in your wake." His eyes were twinkling in mirth and fondness as he looked upon her flustered face.

She shot him an exasperated look. "I would rather it be Lady Miriam's beaked snoz and lavender gown accosted by my poor fan wielding skills than your paperwork and pants and Fili's poor face!"

The laughter in the room intensified at her petulant remark.

���Beaked snoz?!" Kili wheezed painfully as tear ran down his cheeks. Balin couldn't help the laugh that erupted from his lips as he turned and walked away, fighting to contain his amusement at the accurate description of that particular Dam they all knew too well.

"My poor face?!" Fili teased as he touched his nose gingerly.

"You know full well what I meant Fili! I am so glad you all are getting so much enjoyment out of my complete failure as a lady." Mistlynn sniffed as she folded her arms across her chest defensively. "I don't find this the least bit funny!"

Thorin was still laughing as he managed to pull her into his arms. He placed a chaste, loving kiss on her pursed lips. "Never change M'eudail. I would despair if you did." He whispered against her lips, in turn making her melt in his arms.

[hpowellsmith]

hi hi! I've been thinking about blood money lately and i was wondering how would meeting the ROs family (for the ones where this would happen lol) go?

This was very interesting to think about!

Aleixi: doesn't have a lot of surviving family that she's close to and would consider the Faces her family, so she's kind of gone through that already. Obviously things can be... tense in that situation depending on what the PC behaves but in the end once the PC has proven themselves, the Faces will accept them (especially if the PC prioritises them in the late game).

Ferro: I didn't think all that much about Ferro's family if I'm honest, but I think his parents probably live in another large city. He has a sister who works in politics in another city, and she would be very wry and sardonic about the situation - would clock the dynamic between them straightaway and maybe make a comment about "who's the trophy spouse in this situation, hmm?"

Nico: he gets on very well with his parents and extended family, who also live in relatively expensive rural areas - not huge mansions like the Delgados but in a village of picturesque houses. I can't think of a meeting that wouldn't be tremendously awkward! Nico's family love him a lot and would be Very Concerned about him dating a mob person and magician, especially if they were still with the family- but they would be intimidated too. It would be... a very long time before things would approach normal with them.

Pereira: their family would also be pretty concerned because, mob person and blood magician! I think some of the kids would be more informal/daring and would demand to know if the PC had murdered anyone (to be quickly hushed by parents). The difference between their family and Nico's would be that if the PC had left crime, Pereira's family would be a lot more relaxed and welcoming, and would genuinely be pleased that the PC had moved into a healthier way of life.

Silvian: as Silvian's estranged from her family, this wouldn't be likely to happen unless they happened to bump into each other. If that did happen, Silvian would be very defiant and flaunt the fact that she and the PC were together. It wouldn't be anything approaching a regular social get-together, haha!

[jjaybrown4-blog]

.｡*ﾟ+.*.｡Sugar Skull Baker .｡*ﾟ+.*.｡

Rags to riches Cottage Core, You are a baker with a mystical secret. You are the sister of the Grim reaper! You have incredible powers. Your parents and brother kept you a secret all these years. There are people who wish to harm you and use you for your majic.

At first you tried to hide away in the forest. You had 10 kids with your true love. And made a sugar skull for each one. The sugar skull connected the mother and each kid.

All you really wanted is to settle down in your lovely cottage in the woods with your little family. But you didn't realize that your enemies won't stop unless your dead.

The Dark Sisters of the Silvian Glade kidnapped all your children, broke all the sugar skulls and killed your husband.

This is when you crack. You turn from Aurora to Maleficent. No light will shine in your heart until your kids are returned.

-Logic Skill

-Fitness Skill

-Mental

-Max Grim Reaper relationship

- Find all the sugar skulls

You must beat the The Dark sisters in hand to hand combat.

-Lock the Dark sisters in the room and set them on fire

-Bring Your husband back to life.

-Unite with your children. Have the eldest get married and have a kid.

Name him after your brother :)

-Settle down in your lovely cottage and open a bakery

-You can End the Challenge when she sells her first item .

[orleans-jester]

Stealing from gift shops had kind of become their thing. Had he ever paid for the rings that they used for their ceremony at the aquarium? He couldn’t even remember. It didn’t matter a goddamn thing though, they came through in a pinch. And if people didn’t make such a big deal over nothing, they wouldn’t be having to hurry out through the gift shop, taking a couple of things, and he could have spent time in showing off that well-used credit card. So it was the museum’s own fault, really.

The necklace would look amazing pressed against that clavicle, whether it was Flotsam’s or Valerie’s. They both deserved to wear beautiful things, that’s what Thomas thought. So it barely occurred to him to wait for Valerie. It was both of theirs. He just wanted to be the one to secure the clasp and see it sparkle, matching Flo’s one blue eye.

“Only if you want ta,” He said, focusing more on his thick fingers with the delicate little clasp. They made these things so tiny. “Probably best if you do, this thing is going to shine.”

He got it without too much trouble, making sure that it was good and secure around his husband’s neck. No matter how small the clasp, he’d always get it, no matter how much work that he put into it. Then eagerly, he moved around to Flotsam’s front so that he could see it, hanging down over the exposed skin. “Immaculate.”

“That does sound like a tragedy,” Thomas said. He hadn’t known this story and was caught onto every word of it. Private menageries - they had one of their own and now he had his own thoughts about who would take care of it if something were to happen to his family. Poor Balrog, swimming circles alone for the rest of eternity, already dead.

“Are you getting any ideas, love?” He teased Flotsam slightly, since they did have a skill for collecting strange pets, and a hippo wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility. Hard to manage, hard to get but - not surprising.

And them a magical blonde, of course. Their babysitting duties had come to an end, it seemed.

Thomas grinned as he heard the exchanges between his new friends and Trinity. Adam really did sound like a kid that was getting dragged away from a playground, he couldn’t help but find it endearing. They really were well liked, weren’t they? They were becoming like the fun friends.

“Hey, it was a great time, thanks for coming with,” Thomas said with a wide grin to Adam and Silvian. And it had been. Of course, he and Flo and the triplets would have managed to have a fantastic time with themselves but .. these two added a little something extra to the experience. Made it .. more unforgettable.

“Yeah, give him our love back,” He said, putting an arm around Flotsam’s waist casually, hand on the handle of the stroller, giving Trinity a smile. He agreed with Flotsam - there was something increasingly funny about this whole thing. About this whole day, actually. It was one that he’d remember fondly.

"If you say so. Whatever you please."

Flotsam wasn't one to push and if he was pushing more than likely there was a prank involved, so beware. The guys were happy dappy with Flo's pics and on they went.

Of course Silvain knew. Caim was one to give a small brief. Silvain was watching Adam for the Hellbird, but demon president didn't trust either one of them out alone, much less together. He tried to play to on Silvain's emotional/mature side to keep him in line by giving him responsibilites, but it didn't always work out how Caim intends. So giving Silvain the briefs was part of that. Both boys noticed the swipes by Thomas. Points earned by the not so upstanding citizens. It was a move Silvain hadn't expected from the other lycan. He was taking mental notes while Adam was more simply amused and entertained by it.

The Valerie in Flotsam started to stir when Thomas asked about putting the heart on. His memories went right back to her mother of pearl necklace, also heart shaped, but much smaller than this one. For two seconds he hesitated and almost thought to say Valerie would want to wear it, but even Flotsam couldn't wait for her.

"Yes, please. I'd like that."

He turned right around for it.

He looked back. "Should I take off my tie? Yeah, I should, right?"

Then he loosened up the top buttons too after taking the bow tie off. He was having a little trouble deciding how many buttons to keep open on his shirt. He'd figure that out after he saw how the necklace hung he supposed.

As for the question directed at Silvain and his tragedy collecting Adam spoke up first, "You mean besides his own?" Then Silvain swatted his arm. "That one doesn't count exactly." Then the bug boy continued in all his paleness. "Pearl Harbor is an easy go to, but I like to find more obscure ones, like Pablo Escabar's hippo's. That was tragic. When he went down his zoo was abandoned with loads of animals, right? There was an effort to relocate them. However there were four hippos that got left behind and bred. Dozens of hippos were deemed dangerous and scaring the locals. So, people started to castrate all these poor, wild, hippos that never did anything to anyone. Potentially dangerous. That's what they called these animals. That is a tragedy."

Adam chimed in again. "Arresting drug dealers is bad for the environment."

Flo's eyes were wide. "Apparently so. Damn. And not one person thought of all those people who wanted a hippopotamus for Christmas?"

Adam, "Right?"

Suddenly, there was Trinity. Adam groaned. "Already?" He was like a kid who didn't want to go home yet. Adam nor Silvain who teleport. They weren't demons nor had magic like them.

"Yes, well reports are coming in about abulances needed due to unidentified snake bite at the museum. I think it's time to get you two out of here. Come along."

"Is Dad mad?"

Trinity laughed, "Are you kidding. He placed bets with Greed you couldn't make through one outing without him. He's rolling in his winnings as we speak. He's going to be unbearable to live with for the week."

"Can we move to the Russia House this week?"

"Maybe."

Silvain rolled his eyes. "That's a yes." Then Adam and Silvain fist bumped each other with an explosion off the end.

Then finally the pair would turn to their hosts for the day and start to re-thank them again for their day and make sure they had all their suvenirs in order.

Trinity was impressed the two dads had a decently normal day with the pair all things considering. "Dad his love and thanks again. He's preoccupied or he'd have picked them up himself."

"All good." Flo would shake his head and wave her on thinking the whole thing was rather funny.

[iminye]

Meet my Tolkien OCs

I saw that @yellow-feathered-faerie did a similar thing for their OCs and I thought why not do it as well! They're listed in alphabetical order with some extra information on the side.

The list might be expanded over time!

Aenion - Also named Cantëacurufinwë. Celebrimbor's and Sauron's child and therefore both extremely talented and probably very cursed. He was raised by Durin's people.

Aeweneth - Thranduil's sister. Still mourning the death of her wife and father in the last ring war.

Aiwë Nendil - Curufin's wife. A Telerin Silversmith who only went to Beleriand for her child's sake.

Andis - One of the Dúnedain and a very skilled healer. The wife of Gilorn and mother of the half elven Meneldil and Isilmir.

Aracundo - Curufin's younger child, Gil-Galad's husband. Highly intelligent mathematician and physicist. Refused the crown after his husband's death and hasn't spoken since then either.

Arrod - Maglor's grandchild through his daughter Gilloth and her husband Erestor. Extremely lively and mischievous.

Ataniel - Eldarion's twin sister and wife of Elfwine of Rohan. A just and strong willed princess and queen.

Belegur - Maglor's youngest son. A dedicated historian and scholar of languages. Has great love for mankind.

Calarië - Caranthir's spouse. Though born with a male body she always saw herself as a woman.

Carmatan - Nerdanel's brother. He assisted Fëanor in the making of the Silmarils.

Cellin - Maglor's wife, Daeron's soul sister. Her determination and dedication towards her family made her last through many hardships in life.

Curulaereth - Thranduil's wife. A Silvian woman renowned for her fighting skills and hatred towards the giant spiders.

Curuwen - Mahtan's wife, Nerdanel's mother. Her stone carvings decorate the walls of the royal palace in Tirion.

Elumir - Son of Meneldil Adassarion and Silwen Thranduiliel. Takes a lot after his great-grandfather Oropher in character and appearance.

Éofin I. - Grandson of Elfwine of Rohan. His soul bond with Belegur is what earns him the opportunity to sail westwards.

Eorl II. - Son of Elfwine and Ataniel. People call him the second coming of Helm Hammerhand.

Ethir - A marchwarden of Doriath and personal guard of Princess Elwing. Dies in the Second Kinslaying.

Finrod I. - Son of Eldarion and crown prince of Gondor. He inherited the golden hair of the Arafinwean bloodline.

Gilloth - Adoptive daughter of Maglor, wife of Erestor. Lost her voice during the War if Wrath and developed a strong sense for oswanë afterwards.

Gilorn Adasser - Maglor's brother-in-law, husband of Andis of the Dúnedain. A formidable warrior.

Gilrin - Maglor's younger daughter. A very skilled artist and a gentle soul, who was especially close with Celebrían and idolised her a lot.

Isilmir - Half elven son of Gilorn Adasser and Andis of the Dúnedain. Felt always more drawn towards his human half but ultimately makes the choice for immortality upon his death in battle.

Ithilion - Son of Meneldil Adassarion and Silwen Thranduiliel. A wild spirit that uses every opportunity to cause trouble wherever he goes.

Iúlien - Handmaiden of Melian and Ethir's mother. Her fate is unknown.

Mancariel - Nerdanel's youngest sibling.

Maquentima - Mancariel's wife and the daughter of Rumil of Tirion.

Meneldil - Half elven son of Gilorn Adasser and Andis of the Dúnedain. Bears an uncanny resemblance to a certain tragic figure from ages long past.

Mirwë - Brother of Miriel Therindë. Refuses to go west with his sister and only reunites with her many ages later.

Morgil - Oldest child of Tinwë and Norian. Their grim expression hide a gentle and good natured soul.

Mámandil - Maia of Irmo Lórien, who guides young children to sleep. They establish the tradition of counting sheep to fall asleep.

Narwë - A member of the Nelyar. Father of Norian, who died early in his daughters childhood.

Nelladon - Maglor's oldest biological child. A skilled woodworker and toy maker. Sacrificed himself in Smaugs attack on Erebor to buy the dwarves some more time.

Ninquelotë - Youngest Princess of Gondor. Holds all life in high regard, devoted follower of Yavanna.

Norian - The fierce and devoted leader of the Lanyar tribe. Mother of Morgil, Cellin and Gilorn Adassar.

Nólemë Cestarë - Finwë's sister. Felt obligated to take care of those who did not wish to go westwards.

Silwen Erassil - Thranduil's daughter and wife of Meneldil Adassarion. A lively soul and lover of small animals.

Tawandil - Thranduil's oldest son, crown prince of the Woodland realm. Lost his eyesight from the poisoned bite of a giant spider.

Thulwë - Curufin's father-in-law, Cirdan's soul brother. The best sailor in Valinor before Eärendil 's arrival.

Tindelómë - Maia of Lórien, also called the Dreamwarden. The first one to take up arms against the nightmares caused by Melkors corruption of the world.

Tinwë Lórnammon - The leader of the Lanyar, husband of Norian. Lost his eyesight shortly after he awakened but remained ever calm and caring.

[livinasimminlife]

My take on Gunther from Stardew Valley

Name : Gunther Silvian 

Canon Changes : Gunther has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have a family member who was diagnosed with OCD.Gunther wears gloves in Stardew Valley so it made sense to me to carry over those gloves into Sims. I had a feeling it was related to cleanliness or fear of germs (particularly with the delicate books he might work with) and so he wears gloves constantly. Fear of germs is often a trait of OCD. I want to be respectful to folks who have OCD.  It’s not something to be taken lightly, but I feel like it’s important to represent mental health diversity even in the Sims.

Traits : Bookworm. Art Lover. Neat. 

Bonus Traits : Worldly. Language Savant. Collector. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. 

Wonderful Whims Traits : Caregiver. Sage. 

Aspiration : The Curator 

Birthday / Star Sign : Winter 12. Aquarius. 

Lifestyle (s) : Frequent Traveler

Uni Degree : History Degree (B.A.), Language and Literature Degree with Honors (M.A.), and an Art History Distinguished Degree with Honors (Ph.D.) 

Job / Career : Museum Curator in the Archaeologist Career. 

Favorite Colors : Blue and white. 

Favorite Music : World Music 

Secrets :

Still sleeps with a nightlight. It helps him remain calm. 

Dislikes animals because he’s worried about their dirtiness. 

Speaks 5 languages: Simlish, Komorebego, Windenburgish, Toki Sulani, and Selvadoradian. If asked which was his favorite, he would say Selvadoradian. (frankk’s Language Barriers mod)

Spent multiple years in Selvadorada on an archaeological dig, studying the ancient Omiscian culture. Would return, except, he is terrified of the bugs there, and really hates dirt, but the real reason he doesn’t want to go back... 

His OCD worsened after the death of his partner. His partner died from a jungle poison dart accidentally discovered during work about seven years ago. For this reason, Gunther is afraid to return to working in the field and prefers to stick to his job in the Stardew Valley Museum and Library. 

[vaestronia]

Season 3. Episode 13 "The arrival" Her Royal Highness Prince Charlotte of Silvis arrived earlier today to Elkmire Palace, at Mirabella,Vaestronia. She will stay here for a few weeks until things for her safety. The young princess was welcomed by the royal family all together outside the palace. She greeted everyone with a hug and a kiss on the cheek except HRH Prince Theodor. She seemed akward seeing him. We can only assume that is because they don't have the best relationship since they were kids. Her Majesty escorted the Silvian princess to the purple drawing room where they had a cup of tea. Charlotte is by @silvis-royal-family

[writingfandomsandthings]

Whispers from Home

I had feelings and also started the section for this on AO3 just now so have an unedited Blood Money piece because I just...had feelings about the Delgado family imploding when my MC left the family and Otavia took it badly.

- line break -

It had been a long time since they had seen this face. She was older and more worn. Adri had heard what became of home, of the Delgados following their departure.

Fuchsia was dead and gone, but Otavia still lived. Adri suspected she hadn’t recognized them yet, since her eyes roved over them before she went to stand beside him. She had the face of someone with neutral disinterest.

Adri rolled the pebble in their hand and looked back at the river. The village was far smaller than Nasri City, and the loud laughter of passing locals where a far cry from the place of their birth. Adri had been running ever since they left with Silvian, but where she found a place Adri could not stop.

And yet they always found themselves on the water, and now home stood beside them.

“I love the river air,” Adri said. They wanted to prob, to understand why Otavia was here. “How about you?”

They gave a small smile and glanced at Otavia. Perhaps their demeanor would be different enough. Adri Delgado had been willing to make the hard decisions, to be coated in blood for their family, perhaps Otavia would not see their shadow in this friendly face.

“Perhaps,” Otavia said. “Though Nasri City’s river is certainly…heavier.”

“You’re a long way from home,” Adri remarked. They kept that smile on their face, but their back tensed as they waited.

Otavia hummed and leaned to look at her reflection in the river. Adri waited, and waited, they looked away. Otavia was done, and even if the power of Delgados was done, Adri didn’t think she would be appreciative of being close to the traitor.

“I thought perhaps I would find what I was looking for,” Otavia said. “But it’s been more than ten years…”

Oh no.

Adri held their breath, and they gripped the pebble into a fist. Phantom pain danced on their scars, old blood crying out, at last their sins would be paid in blood. At last they would see the ghosts again.

“My family was…rough,” Otavia continued. “But I could always rely on my oldest sibling, until…they left me and our sister.”

“Oh?” Adri asked, choked and unwillingly. They had turned to face Otavia, and weary bones ached at the tension.

Otavia gave them a look, but turned back to the river.

“I hated them for a long time for abandoning the family, but now that it’s all gone…It’s a silly dream.”

Adri slipped a hand into their pocket then, feeling an old ring they had never once abandoned. Not when they lost their inheritance, not when Casimira died, and not when they left Nasri City and never returned. They palmed it into their hand with the pebble and stepped close to Otavia.

“Well, it may be silly,” they said. “But dreams are good to pursue, to at least try.”

Adri touched Otavia’s hand, and she turned with a frown. They flashed the pebble at her.

“A good luck charm.”

Otavia opened her hand with a skeptical look - Adri wondered if she would drop the pebble into the river when they weren’t looking. With a quick movement, they placed their own signet ring and the pebble into her hand, and then forced her hands to curl around them.

“Happy travels.” Adri turned and immediately vanished into the crowds behind them, into the shadows of this city they couldn’t remember the name of. They looked back one last time, and where they had left, Otavia opened her hand to discover a round pebble with the Delgado signet ring accompanying it.

[ao3feed-klance]

The Wings Of Silvian

read it on AO3 at http://bit.ly/2FwDAn9

by MsBluebell

The Wings Of Silvian is getting it's own series! Actor Keith Kogane, cast in the role of fan favorite Arlan, is just happy to break away from comercials and B-list movies.

Fandom, acting, set drama, and all the interviews in between. And the real challenge is somehow keeping fellow star Lance McClain from spoiling everything.

Words: 2771, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Silvian

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Adam (Voltron), Kosmo (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Pidge | Katie Holt's Family, Kolivan (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Acxa (Voltron), Ezor (Voltron), Zethrid (Voltron), Lotor (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith/Lance (Voltron), Hunk/Shay (Voltron), Allura/Lotor (Voltron), Shiro/Adam (Voltron), Keith & Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Wings, Wingfic, Sort Of, Acting, Alternate Universe - Acting, They're actors in a tv show, A fantasy show, They live in a normal world, Social Media, Tweeting, Lance is a drama queen, Socially Awkward Keith (Voltron), Past Child Abuse, Slow Burn, Hunk (Voltron) is so Pure, Developing Friendships

read it on AO3 at http://bit.ly/2FwDAn9

[alkariaverse]

Character spotlight: Casimir Flameblessed

Casimir Flameblessed is a dako magic user who lives in Glarinhol. He ran away from his home in Dakotos at a young age, and was taken in by the ketten royal family. Because of this, his knowledge of his own culture is limited.

Casimir has dusty brown and green scales, and the bright orange-gold eyes of a Flameblessed. He has scarring up his hands and arms from overuse of fire magic when he was too young to control it, and wears gloves to hide the worst of it. One of his horns is broken at the base, and has a tear in one ear from where an earring was torn out. He carries a Singer-made longbow, and enchanted arrows with flammable tips.

Casimir is the only Flameblessed in his family. Initially his parents were thrilled, but as time passed and his powers proved to be weak and difficult to control, they grew harsh and abusive. Fearing he would disgrace their family, they pushed him to improve his magic in increasingly dangerous ways. After they locked him in a dark room without water for a week, he finally snapped and escaped. He learned afterwards that his family had disowned him for leaving, one of the worst insults in dako culture. He lived homeless in Alligare for half a year before he was found and taken in by Queen Leilani of the ketten. When Heir Silvian was born, he took on the role of an older brother, though to the public his position is known to be a bodyguard.

Because he is an outcast amongst his own people, Casimir dropped his family name and instead uses his title, ‘Flameblessed.’ As well as this, he prefers to be called Cas, the nickname that Silvian gave him when he was younger.

[ao3feed-safeklance]

The Wings Of Silvian

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2FwDAn9

by MsBluebell

The Wings Of Silvian is getting it's own series! Actor Keith Kogane, cast in the role of fan favorite Arlan, is just happy to break away from comercials and B-list movies.

Fandom, acting, set drama, and all the interviews in between. And the real challenge is somehow keeping fellow star Lance McClain from spoiling everything.

Words: 2771, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Silvian

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Adam (Voltron), Kosmo (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Pidge | Katie Holt's Family, Kolivan (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Acxa (Voltron), Ezor (Voltron), Zethrid (Voltron), Lotor (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith/Lance (Voltron), Hunk/Shay (Voltron), Allura/Lotor (Voltron), Shiro/Adam (Voltron), Keith & Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Wings, Wingfic, Sort Of, Acting, Alternate Universe - Acting, They're actors in a tv show, A fantasy show, They live in a normal world, Social Media, Tweeting, Lance is a drama queen, Socially Awkward Keith (Voltron), Past Child Abuse, Slow Burn, Hunk (Voltron) is so Pure, Developing Friendships

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2FwDAn9

[hpowellsmith]

hi! one of the last asks u answered got me thinking: how would married life/life in a long-term relationship look like w the blood money ROs?

Oh gosh. With some of the relationships I'm not sure if it would last or be super happy in the long term, depending on what had happened in the game and what the MC's personality was.

Spoilers below!

A few that are trickier would be:

- Someone who cut off all the ghosts from Nasri City and stayed there might struggle to maintain a long term relationship with Silvian; being a magician and the presence of ghosts are a major part of her life

- Someone who kept being in crime long term would have difficulty staying with Nico and he would likely break up with them when it became clear that they were incompatible in that respect

- Conversely Aleixi feels strongly that her gang is her network and family and might be less interested in an MC who moved into non-criminal dealings, though she wouldn't break up over it (she would if an MC seriously tried to get her to stop, though)

- Ferro isn't really interested in emotional intimacy with the MC and if it felt like the MC was wanting that, he'd break it off

On more positive notes:

- Silvian isn't someone who thrives in a settled, domestic situation but she does want someone who understands what life is like for her. I think a successful long term relationship between her and the MC could be a situation where they both go on ghost-related adventures, or where she has the adventure and the MC keeps the home fires burning and she has a secure warm place to return to. She considers the MC the one person she can truly trust.

- Pereira says they're not immediately up for a highly domestic situation but actually once they're in a longer-term relationship they get quite serious quite quickly (a bit of a lesbian U-Haul situation, maybe). I think they'd be keen for the MC to meet their family and such, even if it would be awkward, and also to meet friends. I actually think Pereira is the one who would be most interested in being a housespouse if the MC's rich enough to do that, heh. They're someone who would talk up the MC to anyone who would listen.

- Nico is keen to be a unified team and have home be a bit of an oasis/refuge from the stresses of work and the outside. He does work very hard which could impact that relaxation time, but he really does want to be mutually supportive and set aside time for just the two of them even if it's few and far between. He wants to be a steady place for the MC, especially as there will have been so many times that the MC has helped him.

- Aleixi likes the feeling of a mutual partnership and, eventually, the sense that she can tell the MC things that she doesn't tell the gang - more emotional stuff and vulnerability, though those are definitely things that come slowly. They'd be a very ferocious power couple.

- Ferro likes having someone he can count on and will rely on the MC more as time goes on, and will likely include them in more of his longer term plans and schemes. They would also be a kind of power couple but more shadowy and a bit illicit; it would probably become a bit of an open secret over time and the MC could decide how much they wanted to use the connection for further influence on Ferro's social circles.

[ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender]

The Wings Of Silvian

read it on the AO3 at The Wings Of Silvian

by MsBluebell

The Wings Of Silvian is getting it's own series! Actor Keith Kogane, cast in the role of fan favorite Arlan, is just happy to break away from comercials and B-list movies.

Fandom, acting, set drama, and all the interviews in between. And the real challenge is somehow keeping fellow star Lance McClain from spoiling everything.

Words: 2771, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Silvian

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Adam (Voltron), Kosmo (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Pidge | Katie Holt's Family, Kolivan (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Acxa (Voltron), Ezor (Voltron), Zethrid (Voltron), Lotor (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith/Lance (Voltron), Hunk/Shay (Voltron), Allura/Lotor (Voltron), Shiro/Adam (Voltron), Keith & Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Wings, Wingfic, Sort Of, Acting, Alternate Universe - Acting, They're actors in a tv show, A fantasy show, They live in a normal world, Social Media, Tweeting, Lance is a drama queen, Socially Awkward Keith (Voltron), Past Child Abuse, Slow Burn, Hunk (Voltron) is so Pure, Developing Friendships

read it on the AO3 at The Wings Of Silvian

[gentlemanfrown]

Hey anony from yesterday- so I figured out the name thing in sophomore year,,, woah wait that’s longer than I thought,,, I’m a senior now I’m nonbinary they/them and I liked Matt and Max and the various gender neutral names but none of them worked well my best friend tried so hard to help when I was trying out Matt I was the worst because some days I would be into it and others I wanted to yell if I was called that,,, eventually I settled on Alex and all my friends call me that since I’m (1/?)

(2/?) 17 and my folks think trans ppl are deranged I don’t get called alex by family except my cousin but I went through a few names some of them other people tried on me and others I just kept until I knew it wasn’t right for me Name journeying is all abt catching vibes and going with the flow you’ll be able to tell a name is good it’ll feel good in ur heart

Hey there friendo, you can come off anon, you know? My messages are always open.

Anyway, I’m so sad to hear what your parents’ opinion is. That must be so hard for you. Alex is pretty gender neutral, so what is the big deal in calling you that, anyway? 

I love to hear about name journeying though. Right now, I kind of want my name to be Silvian Spencer, but I also love my middle names that I have now. I can’t take four middle names... or can I be that extra?

[iminye]

Some family trees

because I have no self control, also excuse my handwriting

First up is Nerdanel and her family. Mahtans wife is named Curuwen which is very uncreative but it works. They have two more children besides Nerdanel. First there is their son Carmatan, who is very much like his father in terms of skill and interest's. He never married and feels no desire to but he loves his nephews and nieces to death (even after certain events take place). And then there is Mancariel, a skilled potter. They're married to a scholar named Maquentima. Together they have four children, three daughters and one son. All of them are a lot younger than Nerdanels children.

Next up is the Mirkwood family tree. Orophers wife is Nellas (the elf maiden from CoH because I headcanon them to be around the same age). They have two children, Thranduil and his eccentric sister Aeweneth. Aeweneth has had a betrothed once but she died in the battle of the last Alliance and Aeweneth is mourning her to this day. Thranduil is married to the Silvian maiden Curulaereth, who is adventurous and out going and also captain of his guard until she gives the position to her second in command Tauriel. Thranduil and Curulaereth have three children. Tawandil their heir who is the only one of them who got to know his grandparents and almost aunt, Legolas who we all know and love and Eressil/Silwen (I haven't decided yet), who is their only daughter.

This one's a bit bigger but also the most fleshed out because I have been working on this one for a while.

Maglors parents in-law are Tinwë and Norian the leaders of an Avarian tribe called the Lanyar. Besides their daughter they have two more children: Morgil who is a very stoic but strong willed individual and Gilorn also called Adasser who loved to travel. Gilorn was married to the healer Andis and together they had two children, Meneldil and Isilmir. Meneldil is married to Legolas's sister Eressil/Silwen and they have two sons called Elumir and Ithilion.

Aside from their foster sons Elrond and Elros Cellin and Maglor have three children who are their own by blood and one adoptive daughter named Gilloth who's birth parents were close friends of Maglor who died in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Maglor chose to raise her in their stead. Gilloth is married to Erestor and they have one son called Arrod. Maglors and Cellins remaining children are called Nelladon, who was a skilled toymaker, Gilrin, a formidable artist, as well as Belegur who would become a great historian.

Dead people: Fëanor, 6/7 of Nerdanels sons, Oropher, Nellas, Aeweneth's spouse, Gilorn, Andis, Isilmir, Nelladon

I would like to talk about each character in more detail on a later date because now it's just a cluster of names.