#tamar valley

[rherlotshadow]

Blackthorn blossom lane

[musicrunsthroughmysoul]

I rewatched Wendell & Wild recently and I have got to say...if you can possibly watch it, PLEASE, PLEASE WATCH IT! IT IS SO, SO, SO GOOD. 😭💗 And the selling point for me, which I will share here also in case it persuades anyone else to see it, too - THE SOUNDTRACK IS INSANELY GOOD. Also, if you've seen and enjoyed any other films by Henry Selick (like The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and my fave of all faves, Coraline) or Jordan Peele, who both co-wrote and produced it, you should definitely see this one, too.

[nataliesnews]

Jordan Valley, 11.12.23 Dafna Banai and Tamar Berger (photographe

Jordan Valley, 11.12.23 Dafna Banai and Tamar Berger (photographer)

A general strike was declared in the West Bank and we were supposed to take the blind Miriam for eye injections at the Turmos Aya but we thought the eye hospital would be closed. We decided to check and it was open but it was too late to go to Fasail and bring Maryam. So we moved on.

In the area of the pumps between Gitit and Makura (the bath of Gitit) the fields are being plowed and across the road we met a young shepherd. Maher, who lives east of the pumps since the day he was born. 2 families. In the summer they move to Akbara and in November they return to the Bekaa.

We continued to the Bekaot checkpoint area, to meet a young shepherd from the Abu El Kabash family for whom I arranged a SIM card so that he could call for help if Moshe attacked him and/or take pictures. The sim broke down and I couldn't find out with Pla Pon about the problem. But he is afraid to go through the checkpoint, lest the soldiers shoot him. We reached the checkpoint to cross to the other side. The reservist, with long hair and a nostril, said that it was impossible to pass because it was forbidden to enter Area A. We told him that we were not entering Area A (which is 5 km beyond the checkpoint) but were meeting someone 200 meters away. He waved us through. We returned a little later After half an hour and the soldiers stopped us on the claim that we had entered area A. 2 military jeeps with 8 soldiers arrived with sirens. "You jumped the whole army" the soldiers were angry "You breached the checkpoint" the soldier who first allowed us to pass lied. Half an army messed with us for an hour, as if There is no war in the world. Finally a police car arrived and the officer confirmed that the place we were staying was not Area A and released us with a warning not to go there again.

At 11:30 we arrived at the yellow iron gate in front of Roy. This gate was placed a few months ago on the road leading to Atof and serves as the only way for the residents of the north of the Bikaa to bring water. Let's start with the fact that Israel, which took control of a land it doesn't own in the Jordan Valley (and in the entire West Bank), took control of all the water sources in it and gives it to its settlers while all the pastoral communities are water engines. What does water motors mean? that even the cisterns for storing rainwater were wasted by our glorious army. In recent months, the State of Israel has been building a new, wider water pipeline to bring more water to the settlements. The Palestinians wanted to connect with him. And refused, of course.

With no choice, the Palestinians travel with tractors towed to water tankers to bring water from the territories of the Palestinian Authority. Their lives depend, literally, on that water.

Last summer, the army placed a gate on the road to Atof, from where water is brought, and raised the dirt walls that block the motorized passage from the valley to the center of the West Bank - to a school, a doctor, and even shopping and water. With the outbreak of the war, they closed the gate and stationed soldiers there, and since then bringing water, the most basic human need, has become a nightmare. For days the soldiers prevented the Palestinians from crossing, and all the communities remained thirsty. At first, they still stationed soldiers at the gate, and the soldiers sometimes opened and other times they didn't, depending on the mood, or according to their political views. Sometimes 3 days passed when the rusty water tanks drove to the gate and returned empty. Whole days that thousands of people were left without a drop of water!!

  We arrived at 11:30 and found 2 tankers hitched to tractors, a truck/tanker and a feed truck for sheep on one side of the gate and a water tank on the other side. The gate is locked and there are no soldiers. The tanker from the western side of the checkpoint arrived at 7 in the morning and went to the water, but when it returned at 8, it found the gate locked. The others, on the eastern side, arrived on the 8th. Everyone waits in the sun for hours.

On the gate is a phone number for emergencies. The Palestinians call - they don't answer (apparently they recognize the numbers from other days) Tamar called but as soon as she said it was about the gate, they hung up and then didn't answer. All of our inquiries to the Ministry of Defense, the Bekaa Center, the HML, were not answered.

At 12:30 the soldiers arrived, made a turn by the gate, saw the waiting people and left. Only an hour later, at 1:30 p.m., they came to open.

First of all, the soldiers drove us away from the place on the grounds that we were disturbing them, but a few minutes later a transit arrived from which about 15 Chabadnik boys got off, pulled out loudspeakers and boxes of donuts, entered the checkpoint area and began to sing and dance with the soldiers while being completely oblivious to the suffering caused here. They respected , by the way, us too, but not the Palestinians.

Then the soldiers announced that they would only stay for half an hour. The Palestinians begged to be given at least an hour because checking the certificates, and the road and pumping the water require at least an hour. did not help. When the tankers returned with the water, at 2:15 p.m., the gate was locked and the soldiers had long since left.

The Palestinians had to wait again. And again, desperate calls to the army and the military headquarters, and only at 6:30 p.m. did they open the gate again. The Palestinians waited 9 and a half hours just to bring water.

Depriving people of water is an unequivocal war crime. Water is life and preventing it is equal to murder. The misery of a rich and armed army from head to toe that does everything to abuse an innocent civilian population, their children, sheep, is a shame for all of us. Think how hard it will be for us if, due to a malfunction, our water is shut off for a few hours! There is no justification for the fact that the Palestinians will not be connected to the water network and will have to wait at the checkpoint for many hours to get water. Shame!!

And we are responsible. Our silence makes it possible!!!!

After that we continued to Farsia. On the way we stopped near the place where Tarek lived and on 10.10 he and his neighbor were evicted by the settler Uri and with the help of the police who arrested him when Uri attacked him. After repeated attacks, when in one of them the settlers urinated on his tent, when he could not bear it he left his property and moved to the place Safer. 15 more families like him since the beginning of the war.

When we arrived, the Jordan Valley activists were in the field because representatives of the Rotem settlement came to harass the shepherds and the army came to help them. Before we left, a call came that settlers were stealing goats from a pasture, near Shademut. The Jordan Valley activists went there and the police also arrived. Most of the goats scattered in the area and were eventually returned to their owners, but the police did not stop or even check the identity cards of the settlers. Full cooperation.

_._,_._,_

[in-my-feels-probably]

NIKOLAI LANTSOV MY LOVE

Maybe some angst/hurt/comfort where reader patches him up or from the show the aftermath of the battle where he's wounded

Salt In The Wound

Request: Maybe some angst/hurt/comfort where reader patches him up or from the show the aftermath of the battle where he's wounded

Hi! This is my first time writing for Nikolai! Bear with me while I try and get his character worked out, he’s a bit hard to write for. But I hope you like the outcome! Thanks for the request :)

(Warnings: season 2 spoilers, mentions of death, mentions of fighting, blood and wounds, general angsty shit, let me know if i missed anything)

—

When you arrived back in Keramzin, you found Nikolai and his crew in tatters. You had gone with Tolya to find the Sword of Neshyenyer, orders directly from Nikolai himself. It was bullshit, in your opinion. 

He had done it to keep you safe, you knew that. He didn’t want you anywhere near the Fold, not while the Darkling still lived. Tolya was more than capable of keeping you safe, so you were sent with him. It wasn’t like Nikolai thought that you couldn’t handle yourself. That wasn’t it at all. He just preferred being the one to keep you safe, and he couldn’t do that while the Darkling was still in play. You had whined, but relented, not wanting to cause him any more stress than he was already under.

After your own obstacles, you finally made it back to Keramzin with the sword in your possession. To your horror, Nikolai’s ship was found wrecked in the valley. 

Tolya ordered everyone to split up, and you followed him. You fought alongside him, letting him take the lead. When you caught onto Nikolai’s trail, a Heartrender found their way up the cliffside where you and Tolya were hiding. 

“Take a deep breath,” he whispered, holding you still by your shoulders. “I have to slow our heartbeats so she doesn’t know we’re coming.”

You nodded, sitting as still as you could beside him. It felt like you were suffocating, your body going rigid. Tolya held you like that until he was sure the other Heartrender was gone, and then he released you. You gasped for breath, slumping against the boulder behind you. Tolya stood, bracing your arm with his to hoist you up.

“Your heart is pounding. Are you that scared for him?” He asked, continuing on Nikolai’s trail. 

You quickly followed behind, trying not to think about the worst possibilities. He could be hurt, or–Saint’s forbid–dead. The thought nearly made your knees buckle. You shook your head, trying to rid yourself of the idea. But there was no point in pretending. Tolya knew your heart. He knew who it was beating for.

“I always am.”

—

Minutes later, you had followed Tolya all the way through the first crowd of Grisha that were blocking Nikolai and his crew into a corner. Together, you took them down one by one, following their trail all the way to where Nikolai was hiding. The Crows came in from the opposite direction, taking out what was left of the band of Grisha still fighting. 

Tamar buried her axe in the last Squallor’s head, and Nikolai stood to shoot the last remaining Tidemaker. 

The one you would come to hold responsible for the death of Dominik Vertov, Nikolai’s oldest friend. Tolya boosted you over the wooden wall just in time to see her body hit the ground. 

“Nikolai,” you gasped, taking in his appearance. 

He was caked in dirt, his clothes torn. He had cut himself somewhere along his temple and cheek, with blood and grime matted into his hair. His pants were ripped, revealing a nasty gash in his lower thigh. He appeared to be limping as he turned at the sound of your voice, his shoulders slumping in relief. 

You closed the gap between you both, wrapping your arms tight around his neck. He pulled you into a bone crushing hug, pressing his face into the crook of your neck. 

“You’re alright,” he murmured, breathing you in. “Saints, I thought that was it for me for a second there. Sending you with Tolya was smart thinking on my part.”

You squeezed him tighter, grumbling as you scolded him. “I’m never listening to you again! From now on, you’re staying by my side. I don’t care what your orders are. Look at you, you’re hurt!”

“Barely a scratch, darling,” he said reassuringly as he finally pulled away, taking your hand in his. “You can yell at me later, alright? The blade, did you find it?”

Kaz picked up his cane, nodding. “Inej has it. They’ve gone to find Alina and Mal.”

“We have to do the same. If Kirigan brought the fight here, he’s gunning for her.”

Tolya patted Nikolai on the shoulder, getting his attention. “Y/N and I cleared a way into the fort. Come on!”

You wanted nothing more in that moment than to whisk Nikolai away from all the chaos and madness of the looming threat in front of you. Keeping him away from the Fold and out of harm’s way was what your brain was screaming at you to do. But you had your duty to Nikolai, and to Ravka. You had a duty to Alina, who was going to save you all. You had to put aside your own wants, and do what was right. 

Nikolai nodded, squeezing your hand. “Come on, milaya.”

Sweet girl.

You sighed, wrapping one arm around Nikolai’s waist, letting him hold on to the other to brace himself. Once you were sure he was ready, you moved in tandem. Together, you hurried behind the group into the fort. 

—

The following events couldn’t have taken more than an hour. But it felt like a lifetime, watching Nikolai’s every move in the Fold. 

Kaz had given him his cane so that your arms were free. You were able to fight then, and you fought with your life alongside your friends as you made your way through the fort. 

By the end of it, the Fold was gone. The darkness was gone, and the Darkling along with it. 

But not before the nichevo’ya got ahold of Nikolai, clawing him in the shoulder as it dragged him up a column. 

That was the worst of it. Knowing he was looking death in the eye, and there was nothing you could do to stop it. The nichevo’ya were unkillable without the blade, and Inej was nowhere in sight. You had clambered to get to him, screaming and waving your hands to try and distract the monster, begging for it to let Nikolai go. 

Tamar had held you back, letting Tolya take the lead alongside Adrik and Nadia. 

“He’d kill me for letting you die for him, and you know it!” She said solemnly, her face crumbling at the sight of her King. “I promised him I would keep you safe, Y/N! Let them do this.”

You felt your knees buckling, and your throat beginning to burn as you let out desperate wails and pleas. You could barely see through your tears as you begged Tamar to let you go, trying to wrench yourself free of her hold. Nadia and Adrik continued to use their powers to try and separate the shadows, their attempts failing.

Finally—to your relief—the monster disappeared upon the Darkling’s death. 

Nikolai dropped to the floor, landing with a harsh thud. Tolya moved to catch him, and Tamar let you go, joining her brother at Nikolai’s side. 

“Kirigan must be dead!”

You scrambled to the floor, reaching for any part of Nikolai you could hold on to. He immediately chased your touch, clinging to your arms as you laid by his side. He gasped for breath, clutching his chest. 

You let out a cry of relief, cupping his jaw. Your throat was raw, your voice small. 

“Nikolai,” you said through tears. “Are you alright?”

He clutched at his shoulder, grimacing in pain. He remained stoic, trying to hide his fear for you. It was a valiant effort, but he couldn’t keep up the facade, a few stray tears rolling down his cheeks as he breathed heavily. 

“I’m alright, darling,” he nodded, not sure if his words were more in an effort to reassure you or himself. Either way, not much comfort came from his words. 

He clutched your hands tightly for a moment, before allowing you, Tolya, and Tamar to help him up off the floor.

—

Outside, you rested Nikolai on top of a crate to get him off his feet. 

Inej came down with Alina to confirm the death of the Darkling, letting Nikolai know that Zoya was guarding the body. With your help, he shakily stood, thanking everyone for their help. Much to your displeasure, he asked you to take him back to his ship. He needed a minute to himself, before everyone needed to gather and discuss what to do next.

“That’s a lot of walking on that leg, Nikolai,” you said anxiously, walking cautiously behind him as he led you up the hill. “You’re so stubborn, sometimes.”

He smiled, leaning into you. “You love it.”

You rolled your eyes, keeping your arm around his waist as you followed Tamar and Tolya back to the ship. Aboard the ship, you eased him down onto a turned over barrel. Tolya came over to hand you a sack full of bandages and clean rags.

“Take care of him,” he smiled, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder. “We’ll be over here if you need anything. We should head back to Alina soon, though.”

You nodded, giving him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Tolya. For everything.”

—

“Are you alright?” You asked once everyone had settled, and Tamar and Tolya had given you a moment alone.

“Dominik,” Nikolai answered sadly, casting his eyes to the deck.

“That wasn’t your fault,” you firmly reassured, wrapping an arm around his shoulder to pull him into your side. “He died for his King and country. He was brave enough to save your life. For that, I’ll be eternally grateful to him.”

Nikolai’s face crumbled, and he hid his expression into your side. “I don’t want anyone dying for me, Y/N. I don’t want to be the kind of King who has to ask his people to lay down their lives for him.”

You ran a hand up and down his back, bending down to press a kiss on the top of his head. 

“Listen to me. You’re going to be the best King that Ravka has ever seen. And that comes with making sacrifices. It’s not fair, I know. I know you don’t want it, and I wish I could take on that burden for you. But you’re all we’ve got, and I believe in you. We all do.”

Nikolai sniffled, letting his cheek rest against your stomach. You combed your fingers through his hair, careful to avoid the gash on his temple. 

“I’m so sorry, my love. I know how much Dominik meant to you. But his death wasn’t for nothing, I need you to understand that. He didn’t die in vain. His bravery will be remembered, I promise you that. And so will yours, because of today. I’m so proud of you, lapushka.”

Darling.

“I’m getting blood on your shirt,” he spoke, muffled into you.

“I don’t care, love. It’s just a shirt.”

You lightly chuckled, letting him change the subject. For a man who speaks so highly of himself, Nikolai didn’t take genuine kindness and adoration well. It was a good thing his face was hidden in your shirt. His cheeks were flushed a rosy pink at your words, his eyes glazed with tears. You continued running your fingers through his hair, when he finally sniffed, pulling back.

“I care,” he grinned, looking up at you. “That’s my shirt you’re wearing.”

You smiled sheepishly down at him, nodding. “Forgot about that. Well, I suppose we should get you cleaned up, then. Alright?”

Nikolai nodded, and you reached into the bag, pulling out a couple of clean cloths. You used your canteen to wet them, crouching down to deal with the gash on his leg first. You wiped as gently as you could, grimacing when he would wince. 

“I don’t think you need stitches. Best get a Healer, though. I don’t want you limping the rest of the day.”

You finished wrapping his leg, standing to grab a fresh cloth. You wet it, standing to the side of Nikolai to try and wipe the caked blood and dirt out of his hair so you could find the source of the bleeding. You sighed in frustration, gently untangling the hair matted to his temple. 

“What?” He asked quietly.

“Nothing. I just can’t figure out where you’ve cut yourself. I’m not hurting you, am I?”

“No, darling,” he murmured. 

You nodded, continuing to wipe away the dry blood from his temple. It was a miracle he wasn’t more injured. You huffed, trying not to think about the fact that you weren’t with him when the ship went down. Trying not to think about the fact that he could have died, and you never would have seen him again. Never would have gotten to run your fingers through his hair again, or hold him in your arms. Never—

You were pulled from your thoughts when you felt hands grip your hips, pulling you forward. 

You looked down to see Nikolai gazing up at you, his hands resting on your hips. He pulled you into him, slotting you between his legs. You rested your hands on his shoulders, steadying yourself. 

“Stop looking at me like that.”

You wouldn’t meet his gaze, clutching his shirt in your hand. “Like what?”

“Like you’re looking at a ghost.”

You clutched him harder, taking a deep breath. You finally met his eyes, and he was looking at you with determination. He tugged you further into him, holding you still. 

“I’m right here, milaya,” he said, reaching for your hands. “I’m alright.”

“But you almost weren’t,” you said shakily, squeezing his hands tight. “I was so worried, Nikolai.”

He stood on wavering legs, wrapping his arms around you. He pulled you into his chest, squeezing you tight. You pressed your cheek into his chest, clutching him as close to you as you could. You decided to stifle the thought, dropping the conversation. 

He was here with you, right here. And he was alive. That was enough.

“I didn’t finish bandaging you,” you murmured into his chest.

Nikolai chuckled, pressing a kiss into your hair. “I’ll have Genya do it. You were butchering it, anyway.”

You pulled away, playfully slapping his arm. “Was not!”

“You were,” he mused, taking your hand. “But that’s alright. I don’t keep you around because you’re a good Healer.”

You raised a brow, turning to head off the ship back in the direction of the fort. “And what do you keep me around for, moi tsar?”

Nikolai smirked, taking your hand as you guided him down. “Other things, milaya. Other things.”

—

A/N - Hi! Hope this is alright :)

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Vardzia, a Medieval Cave City in Georgia (South Caucasus), c.1150-1200 CE: Vardzia was built as a fortress/monastery, and it was accessible only through hidden passageways; it contained more than 6,000 caves, 15 chapels, 25 wine cellars, an apothecary, a forge, a bakery, farming terraces, and an irrigation system

The monastic caves at Vardzia cover an area of about 500 meters. They are carved into the cliffs along the Erusheti mountains, which are located in Javakheti (a southern province near the borders between Georgia, Turkey, and Armenia).

Vardzia was originally meant to serve as a fortress, particularly in the event of a Mongol Invasion. It was protected by defensive walls, and the cave system itself was largely concealed within the mountain (though much of it is now exposed); it also contained a secret escape tunnel and several dead-end tunnels that were designed to delay/confuse enemy forces. The cave city could only be accessed through a series of hidden passageways that began near the banks of the Mtkvari River (which runs through the valley below the cave complex). Water was supplied through an irrigation system that was connected to the river, providing the inhabitants with both drinking water and agricultural irrigation, as the site contained its own terraced farmland.

The cave complex also functioned as a monastery, with a large collection of manuscripts and relics ultimately being housed at the site.

In its prime, the complex at Vardzia was inhabited by tens of thousands of residents.

Unfortunately, most of the original structures at Vardzia were destroyed by an earthquake that struck the region in 1283 CE, just a century after its construction; the earthquake sheared away the outer layer of the cliffside, exposed many of the caves, and demolished almost two-thirds of the site. The surviving structures represent only a fraction of the cave complex that once existed at Vardzia, with only about 500 caves still intact.

When the earthquake tore through the site in 1283, much of the fortress and many of its defenses were also destroyed, and Vardzia lost most of its military/defensive purposes. Still, it continued to operate as a Georgian Orthodox monastery for several hundred years after that. It narrowly escaped the Mongol Invasions of the 1290s, but it was raided by the Persians during the 16th century; the invading forces burned many of the manuscripts, relics, and other items that were stored within the cave system, leaving permanent scorch marks along the walls of the inner chambers. The site was abandoned shortly thereafter.

Medieval portrait of Queen/King Tamar: this portrait is one of the Medieval frescoes that still decorate the inner chambers of Vardzia; Tamar was the first queen regnant to rule over Georgia, meaning that she possessed the same power/authority as a king and, as a result, some Medieval sources even refer to her as "King Tamar"

Vardzia is often associated with the reign of Queen Tamar the Great, who ruled over the Kingdom of Georgia from 1184 to 1213 CE, during a particularly successful period that is often known as the "Golden Age" of Georgian history. Queen Tamar was also recognized as the Georgian King, with Medieval sources often referring to her as King Tamar. She possessed the powers of a sovereign leader/queen regnant, and was the first female monarch to be given that title in Georgia.

The initial phases of construction at Vardzia began under the command of King George III, but most of the complex was later built at the behest of his daughter, Queen Tamar, who owned several dedicated rooms at Vardzia and frequently visited the cave city. Due to her relationship with the cave complex at Vardzia, Queen Tamar is sometimes also referred to as the "Mountain Queen."

Despite the damage that the site has sustained throughout its history, many of the caves, tunnels, frescoes, and other structures have survived. The site currently functions as a monastery once more, with Georgian monks living in various chambers throughout the cave system.

I visited Vardzia back in 2011, during my first trip to Georgia. It's an incredible site, though some of the tunnels are very narrow, very dark, and very steep, which can get a bit claustrophobic.

Sources & More Info:

Atlas Obscura: Vardzia Cave Monastery

CNN: Exploring Vardzia, Georgia's Mysterious Rock-Hewed Cave City

Lonely Planet: Vardzia

Globonaut: 5 Facts about Vardzia, Georgia's Hidden Cave City

Wander Lush: Vardzia Cave Monastery (complete visitor's guide)

[april-is]

April 10, 2024: The Winter Palace, Philip Larkin

The Winter Palace Philip Larkin

Most people know more as they get older: I give all that the cold shoulder.

I spent my second quarter-century Losing what I had learnt at university.

And refusing to take in what had happened since. Now I know none of the names in the public prints,

And am starting to give offence by forgetting faces And swearing I’ve never been in certain places.

It will be worth it, if in the end I manage To blank out whatever it is that is doing the damage.

Then there will be nothing I know. My mind will fold into itself, like fields, like snow.

--

Also by Philip Larkin: + This Be The Verse + The Trees, Philip Larkin + Aubade, Philip Larkin

Today in:

2023: On Keeping Pluto a Planet, Greg Beatty 2022: The Terrible Beauty of the Reserve, Billy-Ray Belcourt 2021: Puerto Rico Goes Dark, Juan J. Morales 2020: Winter Psalm, Richard Hoffman 2019: King Kreations, Angel Nafis 2018: Letter to Larry Levis, Matthew Olzmann 2017: Only she who has breast-fed, Vera Pavlova 2016: First Love, Jan Owen 2015: At Navajo Monument Valley Tribal School, Sherman Alexie 2014: Boogaloo, Kevin Young 2013: The Fist, Derek Walcott 2012: Turning, W.S. Merwin 2011: Consolation for Tamar, A.E. Stallings 2010: Frida Kahlo to Marty McConnell, Marty McConnell 2009: Bike Ride with Older Boys, Laura Kasischke 2008: Let’s Move All Things (September), Denver Butson 2007: The Day Flies Off Without Me, John Stammers 2006: A Supermarket in California, Allen Ginsberg 2005: Tortures, Wislawa Szymborska

[naushtheaspiringauthor]

~Child Of The Storm~

Nikolai Lantsov x OC

Image by - @brokendreamtale2

Warnings- mention of "the sergei incident"

A/N- Let me know if you'd like to be added or removed from the taglist!

Taglist- @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @sirisuorionblack @evelyndane @marauders-wife

Ch-58 ~What you call home~

“Was that-?” Zoya asked with a petrified gaze as she rushed towards her

Anaya looked down at her feet as she nodded

“What has happened to him” Zoya asked in a low voice

“He’s- he doesn’t look like himself in the slightest” Anaya’s voice was not above a whisper

“Did he hurt you?”

Anaya shook her head

“Come on we need to head back, it’s getting dark” Anaya felt an arm slowly wrap around her shoulder

“What were you even doing here anyways?” Zoya asked as they strode forward

Anaya sighed, “Turns out I needed a proper cry” 

Zoya stopped for a short moment and Anaya wondered if she would show her some form of unwanted empathy but she only said, “Next time, let me join you”

                                ………………………………….................

They explained everything to the group as they headed back to their makeshift camp. 

They’d already cleaned and spitted the game Mal had caught and had sat around the fire, eating and passing around a flask of kvas, watching the flames over the hull of the Bittern.

The group had been in utter dismay upon hearing of the event, however they couldn’t spend all their time pondering upon it. They had a lot to discuss. Who would go with Alina into the Sikurzoi and who would remain in the valley, whether or not anyone even wanted to stay.

 Abruptly, Zoya spoke, “I should have known Sergei couldn’t be trusted. He was always a weakling.”

 “Oncat never liked him,” Harshaw added. 

Genya fed a branch to the fire. “Do you think he was planning it all along?”

Anaya wondered the same thing. Perhaps all his fear, his grieving, all of it had been a ruse, so they’d see him as meek and timid and would underestimate him.

And she’d seen too many monsters wearing the masks of kind, innocent people.

 “I’ve been wondering that,” Alina agreed. “I thought he’d be better once we got out of the White Cathedral and the tunnels, but he almost seemed worse, more anxious.”

 “That could have been anything,” said Tamar. “Cave-in, militia attack, Tolya’s snoring.” 

Tolya threw a pebble at her and said, “Nikolai’s men should have watched him more closely”.

 “Did the nichevo’ya really just… tear him apart?” asked Nadia, glancing at Anaya

She remembered Sergei’s head being torn off from the rest of him, the sudden stillness of his trembling body.

“Without any hesitation” she said, remembering the way they’d torn him apart.

 “What about Nikolai?” Zoya asked. “What exactly did the Darkling do to him?”  

“I don’t know” Anaya responded and glanced at Alina, wondering if the girl had any clue but she only shook her head in distress.

“Can you help him? Anaya asked Alina.

“I don’t know that either” she looked down at her feet.

“David?” Anaya then turned to him, wishing he had some hope to offer.

 “Maybe,” he lifted a shoulder. “I’d need to study him. It’s merzost. New territory. I wish I had Morozova’s journals.”

Abruptly, Adrik snarled, “I’m glad Sergei’s dead. I’m just sorry I didn’t get to wring his neck myself.”

 “You’d need two hands for that,” said Zoya. 

There was a brief silence, then Adrik scowled and said, “Okay, stab him.”

 Zoya grinned and passed him the flask. Nadia just shook her head. 

Anaya looked at the people around her.

Home, her mother had once said to her. It’s not the place you’re at. Not four walls and a roof. It’s the people you’d go to any extent for, whom you’d protect at all costs. Without whom, your life would be unbearable.

Anaya realized she was right. She realized how she would actually go to any extent to protect them. 

To have Tolya reciting long verses of epic poetry, even though it bored her. To protect Tamar and Nadia who couldn’t restrain themselves from complimenting the other.

She would do it all for them.

 For Adrik who despite all, had continued to remain the bravest among them. For Genya and David, and Alina and Mal to have a better future. For Misha to still have his childhood.

 Even for Zoya who would keep on taunting and having pointless arguments with her but would still help her move forward.

She would do it all for them.

She truly realized how sometime during all the chaos, they’d become her family, her home. That was why she needed to pull herself together and keep striding forward, for the ones that were gone, for all that still remained.

When Adrik handed the flask back, Zoya took a deep drink and said, “Do you know what Baghra told me at my first lesson with her?” She lowered her voice to imitate Baghra’s throaty rasp. “Pretty face. Too bad you have porridge for brains.” Harshaw snorted. “I set fire to her hut in class.” 

“Of course you did,” Zoya said.

 “Accidentally! She refused to ever teach me again. Wouldn’t even speak to me. I saw her on the grounds once, and she walked right by. Didn’t say a word, just whacked me on the knee with her stick. I still have a lump.”

 He yanked up his trouser, and there was a knob of bone visible beneath the skin.

 “That’s nothing,” Nadia said, her cheeks pinking as they all shifted their attention to her. “I had some kind of block where I couldn’t summon for a while. She put me in a room and released a hive of bees in it.” 

“What?” Alina squeaked. 

“What did you do?” Tamar asked incredulously.

 “I managed to summon a current to send them up the chimney, but I got stung so many times, I looked like I had firepox.”

A while after recovering, Anaya had found out about Baghra's fate. The woman had been rash and immensely difficult to deal with, but she’d taught her all she didn’t know she’d needed to learn. And she had helped her lose the fear of using her power, even though her methods had been rather…harsh.

“This one time, I couldn’t properly summon for a long while” Anaya began, deliberately leaving out some details. “She wanted me to summon a hurricane in the lake and when I couldn’t do it, she pushed me in the lake” She chuckled slightly, remembering the event.

Alina’s eyes widened, “She pushed you in the lake?” she asked in utter disbelief.

“Yeah” Anaya shook her head, slightly grinning

“And did that help you actually summon?” Genya asked

“Oh it did, and I absolutely despised that it did” she gave a tight-lipped smile.

Zoya grinned and passed her the flask. Anaya took a long sip from it and then handed it back to her.

 “I have never been more glad I’m not Grisha,” Mal said with a shake of his head.

Zoya lifted her flask. “Let’s hear it for the lone otkazat’sya.”

 “Baghra hated me,” David said quietly. 

She waved dismissively. “We all felt that way.”

 “No, she really hated me. She taught me once with the rest of the Fabrikators my age, then she refused to ever meet with me again. I used to just stay in the workshops when everyone else had her classes.” 

“Why?” Harshaw asked, scratching Oncat under the chin. 

David shrugged. “No idea.” 

“I know why,” Genya spoke.“Animal magnetism, one more minute in that hut with you, and she would have torn off all your clothes.”

 David considered this. “That seems improbable.”

 “Impossible,” Mal and Alina said at the same time. 

“Well, not impossible,” David said, looking vaguely insulted.

 Genya laughed and planted a firm kiss on his mouth

They’d agreed to split into two groups. Tamar, Nadia, Anaya and Adrik would travel with David, Genya, and Misha. They’d secure lodgings in one of the settlements at the southeast edge of the valley.

Even though Anaya had offered to go with them to look for the firebird, Alina had denied and had insisted that she needed more time to heal.     

   ………………..…………………...........................

The fire had long since dampened down and the rest of the group had retired for the night. Anaya gazed at the burnt pieces of wood as she remained seated with Alina and Zoya by her side.

“What happened at the Spinning Wheel when he…attacked?” Alina turned to Anaya, hesitation lingering in her voice

Anaya let out a sigh, “We, Nikolai and I, we were watching the Bittern prepare to leave” she began, remembering how she’d almost believed it would work out. “It was then the nichevo’ya attacked, and then he came'' she toyed with a tiny wave she’d summoned.

She could feel Zoya’s gaze on her, but kept all her focus on the wave.

“He stated how I owed him for…well everything” Anaya lifted a shoulder. ”For my life” she said. “He wasn’t wrong, but then I found out that- he killed my parents” she dropped the wave.

She saw Alina go still and Zoya looking at her in utter dismay.

“He killed your parents?” Zoya asked, her hushed voice having a tremor to it.

Anaya looked down at her hands as she nodded. 

“Why?” Alina asked, appalled by Anaya’s words.

So she explained it all to her. She hadn’t really been close with Alina, but she trusted her enough to tell her all of it. Except leaving out how exactly she’d survived in Ketterdam, she told her all of it.

She told her how her parents had searched for the Sea Whip for days and how they’d then come to realize that it was never going to end well, so they’d decided on not giving up its location to him. 

And that it was the sole reason why the Darkling had chosen her to find the Sea Whip, why he’d kept her alive.

No one else had really pondered upon it, no one else had asked. Only Nikolai had.

When she’d finished, Alina had gently placed her hand on Anaya’s and said, “I will try my best to not let their hard work be in vain”.

She gave a single nod. She wished the same.

“We’ll make him pay” Zoya’s voice rose from a corner, making their heads turn to her. “For all he’s done”, her voice was unusually somber. For a moment, she gazed forward distantly, as if she’d been reminiscing.

Anaya knew what it was.

We believe in you, words they’d spoken to her when she’d almost been lost to the waves.

We believe in you.

She did her best to believe in herself too.

[pennyvalleyrailway]

Penny Valley Profile: The Railway

The Penny Valley Railway is a heritage railway in South-West England. The line runs from a shared station with Network Rail at Totnes down through Rattery, Avonwick and Ivybridge before reaching the town of Plymouth. Through Plymouth, the rails run parallel to the main line, sharing Plymouth Station and Dockyard Station with Network Rail, the PVR sometimes receives freight contracts from the various shipping companies in the docks, giving the resident pair of heavy freight engines something to do. Beyond Dockyard Station, the railway follows the mainline as far as the River Tamar before it branches off, having a completely separate stationof it's own in Saltash. From there, the railway finally reaches it's namesake town of Penny. From Penny, a line branches off to the towns of Tillworth and St. Harriet’s, with a colliery at the bottom of a 5-mile 1:50 gradient at the end of the line.

The line began life as the Penny & Tillworth Railway Company in 1864 running between the towns of Penny and Tillworth with an extension to St. Harriet’s to profit from the colliery. At the 1923 the grouping, it was absorbed into the Great Western Railway and all of the company's original designs were sold for scrap, by which time it had grown to it's full length. In 1948, the line was nationalised under the Western Region of British Railways. In 1964, the line was declared redundant and closed to traffic. A small group of volunteers, not willing to let their railway die away, rallied in the town of Penny in 1965, selecting the wealthy business partners of Mr. Jones Luke and Mr. Stephen Hughes. The pair had made their fortune in the shipping industry and had always wanted to move into railways. With countless long hours from the volunteers and thousands upon thousands of pounds, the railway opened again in 1967, the first train being hauled by a banged-up, raggedy Caledonian 264 by the name of Craig. From there, the railway's fleet grew and grew, but that's a story for another time.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The War of the Kings

1 In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim 2 went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

3 The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert. 7 Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.

Abram Rescues Lot

10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.

11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom.

13 Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

15 During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram (Psalm 110:1–7; Hebrews 7:1–10)

17 After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High — 19 and he blessed Abram and said:

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth,

20 and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.”

22 But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.” — Genesis 14 | Majority Standard Bible (MSB) The Majority Standard Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Genesis 10:10; Genesis 10:19; Genesis 10:22; Genesis 11:3; Genesis 11:27; Genesis 12:5; Genesis 13:10; Genesis 13:18; Genesis 16:14; Genesis 21:21; Genesis 24:3; Numbers 34:12; Deuteronomy 1:4; 1 Samuel 30:8; 2 Samuel 18:18; 1 Chronicles 10:12; John 1:27; Acts 9:2; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 7:4; Revelation 10:6

Melchizedek Blesses Abraham

[mybeingthere]

FAITH CHEVANNES, UK.

Drypoint intaglio prints with acrylic.

Hand printed by the artist in Cornwall using Intaglio Etching Ink and natural 300gsm Hahnemuhle acid free specialist printing paper.

"Faith trained in the 1990’s at Falmouth School of Art and DeMontfort University, Leicester achieving a BA (Hons) in Visual Arts and a PCGE in Art and Design Education. She is a Royal West Academy (RWA) artist network member. Faith Chevannes is constantly inspired by her environment, her memory of it and her sense of place. She is fascinated with nature and the ever-changing seasons. She works from her studio in North Cornwall which is near the wild Atlantic Coast, the Tamar Valley AONB and the remote romantic moors of Bodmin and Dartmoor."

https://www.faithchevannes.com/

[counts-of-hven]

Realms of Hven, Corvary

Borrowing its Helengoric roots, Corvary is a state that once conquered and consolidated the people of the northern Sun Mirror Lake (Mzisacha) and one of its river valleys, called "Corvalè" by its Helengoric and Corvar residents, and occasionally "Dynkvelo" by the others. It's masonric and silverworking traditions contribute to its influence over Hven, serving as a point of trade between Helengor, Chalby, Bechedy and the southern Hnoli lands. It's currently ruled by the avaracious Countess Tamar Crow.

The smaller and winding Avchali Lake is defined by a short, yet wide outlet into the Mzisacha, allowing smaller vessels to traverse it without issue. The Bechial town of Avchaly rests upon this passage, enforcing tolls and controlling a strategic point between Corvary and Bechedy.

Directly to its east, the marshy townships of Chalby steer trade directly from the Chalkis River and its many tributaries, competing with Corvary but managing to stay afloat thanks to the harsh terrain and mercenaries offering to maintain this important, neutral hub.

Morgan is defined by its mighty castle and walled village, once serving as the frontier with the Ravsby County and the Hnoli, and is ruled by the iron-willed count, Gavin Akdaw. Nowadays, it enjoys a steady influx of trade and is a major centre for Corvary's military.

[rherlotshadow]

Field with a view

[ghcstinthewvlls]

❀ *◦ lee siyeon. non-binary. they/them. demiromantic pansexual. ⇝ hey, isn’t that athena pallas-dexicos / mae dal-nim? i think that the thirty-one year old from meteora, greece works as an art consultant for the hanging arts museum & paranormal investigator, but outside of that people describe them as leather jackets over victorian lace, the scent of petrichor and the forest floor, burgundy lips curled in surprisingly warm smiles, ouija boards on the living room table and altars to the old gods, ripped denim and platform combat boots. i hear they are mercurial & callous, but they are also known to be inquisitive & warm hearted. consider giving them a visit at their home in seal harbor apartments and get to know why they’re called the moonchild.

( and then we have this sweet baby angel demon child )

triggers: abuse, chronic illness, mental illness, self harm

𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓲 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮 𝓭𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓬

full name: athena circe tamar pallas-dexicos

birth name: mae dal-nim

nicknames: thena, athie

age: 31

dob: february 14, 1992

birthplace: mokpo-si, south korea

hometown: meteora, greece

occupation: art consultant for the hanging arts museum & paranormal investigator

gender: non-binary

pronouns: they/them preferred, she/her acceptable for close friends and family

sexuality: demiromantic pansexual

big three: aquarius sun, aries moon, cancer rising

𝓲 𝓶𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓰𝓸 𝓽𝓸 𝔀𝓪𝓻 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷

height: 4’11”

weight: 102 lbs

hair color: naturally black, typically rocks an electric blue balayage

eye color: grey

build: petite and slender

tattoos: floral sleeve including belladonna, lily-of-the-valley, lavender, and roses on their right arm; ufo behind their left ear; quote as above / so below along their left shoulder

piercings: four in each lobe; right ear industrial; septum; medusa; dermal in between their clavicles

distinguishable marks: faded self-harm scars located on the insides of their wrists and legs; near crescent moon shaped birthmark on the back of their right thigh

aesthetic: leather jackets over lace, the scent of petrichor and the forest floor, burgundy lips curled in surprisingly warm smiles, ouija boards on the living room table and altars to the old gods, roses in an empty jack daniels bottle instead of a vase, dark oak furniture that tells stories of former owners and times gone by, tea leaves on saucers next to grimoires

𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲 𝓬𝓪𝓷'𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓪 𝔀𝓪𝔂

born in south korea, raised in meteora, greece before being relocated to manchester england, with their siblings fostered and later adopted internationally

second oldest quadruplet

speaks greek, portuguese, hebrew, korean, english, and bsl

english is their fifth language, though, so some things get stuck in translation sometimes

suffered munchausen by proxy syndrome as a child while also having their insulin withheld from them

still experiences after effects

this wasn't the only such abuse athena would experience growing up, nor the worst any of the siblings suffered by a longshot

they’ve got much of the physical abuse blocked out as a coping mechanism

type I diabetic; takes insulin injections

athena’s been seeing and speaking to spirits since they were a child

clinically diagnosed with adhd, manic depression, c-ptsd

they have all sorts of plants and herbs growing in their home, and a small, carefully cultivated poison garden on their balcony

athena collects antique oddities as a hobby

witchcraft is another long cultivated hobby

firmly believes that anything is possible

while demiromantic, athena is a sucker for tear jerker romance movies and a hopeless romantic at heart

goth scream queen in demonias

chaos incarnate

[mysticbloom]

Wrist corsage with Tamar Valley Tasmanian spray roses, fluffly fresh gyp and trailing ivy. Expertly modelled by the talented @creating_li ✨️ #floraldesign #floristrystudent #corsage #rose #wristcorsage https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVbOIABYym/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theoldsmelly]

I’d be more worried about the arsenic…..

Fun fact: Arizona is the only place in the country where the state mine inspector is an elected position

Another fun fact: this is one of my favorite political ads of all time, straight out of 2014

[april-is]

April 10, 2023: On Keeping Pluto a Planet, Greg Beatty

On Keeping Pluto a Planet Greg Beatty

Yes, Pluto is small. Near Jupiter, he'd be one of the myriad masses, smaller than Titan, Triton, et. al. Uneven, unbalanced, elliptical, not even the farthest out, when he hides within the seas. But consider, if you will keeping Pluto a planet. For consider, if you will, this: would you rather death remain the farthest god, outer edge of the norm, be given titles undue, due to his chill and final powers? Or would you rather death be one of many Kuiper bodies slowly infiltrating our system, a thousand thousand deaths minute, uneven, unfair drifting into the family, until all our rounded, sunlit orbits fill with tiny, icy deaths intrusive that flare and strike unwarranted? Let's keep Pluto a planet, shall we then? For the sake of a single death.

--

Also: Pluto, Maggie Dietz 

More space-y poems.

Today in: 

2022: The Terrible Beauty of the Reserve, Billy-Ray Belcourt 2021: Puerto Rico Goes Dark, Juan J. Morales 2020: Winter Psalm, Richard Hoffman 2019: King Kreations, Angel Nafis 2018: Letter to Larry Levis, Matthew Olzmann 2017: Only she who has breast-fed, Vera Pavlova 2016: First Love, Jan Owen 2015: At Navajo Monument Valley Tribal School, Sherman Alexie 2014: Boogaloo, Kevin Young 2013: The Fist, Derek Walcott 2012: Turning, W.S. Merwin 2011: Consolation for Tamar, A.E. Stallings 2010: Frida Kahlo to Marty McConnell, Marty McConnell 2009: Bike Ride with Older Boys, Laura Kasischke 2008: Let’s Move All Things (September), Denver Butson 2007: The Day Flies Off Without Me, John Stammers 2006: A Supermarket in California, Allen Ginsberg 2005: Tortures, Wislawa Szymborska