#taryn baratheon

[houseofamidala]

LIONHEART / robb stark by @heartofmortis

TARYN BARATHEON AND ROBB STARK the queen and the king in the north

[heartofmortis]

Lionheart ✶ Prologue

Robb Stark x (Baratheon/Lannister!) Reader

warnings: none!

note: so this is also an oc fic on wp, but i wanted to try out something new! in rewriting to second person, some edits have been made. there will be no y/n, and there are other ocs in this fic (since that’s what i usually write) and reader does have some physical descriptions. // there is minor canon divergence regarding hotd/f&b here, which links to my other asoiaf fics and there are a couple of ocs mentioned in the chapter (hopefully that won’t be annoying lol).

word count: 2k

tag list: @houseofamidala @madeofstaardust @tojisrealwifey @justmymindandstuff (lmk if you want to be added of removed!)

You were four when blood first touched your innocent skin. Your skin was no longer pure, neither was your heart. All children learn the fragility of life in time, you learned of it through the sacrifice of a tiny bird.

The creatures always circled King’s Landing as vultures searched for the dead. “The little birds are always looking for trouble,” came Cersei Lannister’s warning in the castle gardens with you nestled close in your mother’s arms. “Watch your step or they’ll be waiting in your shadows all your life.”

When you were set down, your feet steady on the ground, you raced on ahead. Your long skirts clung to your little legs, blonde curls bounding behind you. The air was thick with sweet pollen and fruit, signs of a happy summer. Moss grew between the bricks on the cobbled ground, pushing the stone in uneven directions — you skipped over them easily, pausing to gaze at the bumblebees nestling inside tight flowerheads and the ladybirds crawling across bright green leaves. You wished it could be only you and your mother in the gardens forever. You slipped out of your mother’s line of sight to steal berries and press as many as possible into your mouth, licking sweet juice from your fingers to keep your dainty snack a secret.

Then you came to a sudden halt, almost tripping forwards in your haste, when you found your path blocked by a tiny bird — a bundle of brown feathers dappled with grey and white and red. Its body was horribly twisted, but it was still moving. You took the bird in your hands, scarlet smeared across your fingers. You did not want the poor creature to be damaged further. The bird squeaked desperately and tried to flap its broken wings.

You brought the bird against your chest, cupped with both of your delicate hands, and ran back across the path you had come down. You took the bird to your mother, who was quick to scold you for touching a dying animal. “But can’t the maesters help?” Your eyes were wide and glassy, mouth warped into a mournful frown. (Your mother always had the right answers — she was the smartest person in King’s Landing.)

Cersei laughed. It was not a cold sound, more of a marvel at her daughter’s naivety. “The Maesters can only help us, sweet girl. They cannot help a little bird.” They always look for trouble.

You huffed, deeming your mother’s response to be an unacceptable response. “Why?”

The Queen motioned for one of their guards to come over and take the bird’s frail body from your hands, which became a struggle with your reluctance. “We’re all built very differently. A dove is not a wolf, and a stag is not a lion.”

“But it will die!”

“All things do, eventually.” Cersei ushered forth two handmaidens that walked behind the two of you. “Now you have blood all over you — go and get cleaned up. There is no use in helping the dying while the living are still here.”

You walked with heavy steps back to the Red Keep, muttering about the unfairness of the bird’s fate — it was a baby, why could it not be saved? If all things die, why is life not more precious? Any day could be the last.

“Where are you scurrying away to, little doe?” Your father’s voice was a formidable boom when he caught you in the corridors, flanked by handmaidens, wandering towards your rooms.

You showed your father the specs of blood across your dress. “Mother says I have to clean up.”

Robert Baratheon laughed. He shooed away your company and picked his daughter up with one strong arm. “A little blood never hurts anyone. You’re a Baratheon, my stormbird. You’ll get used to blood in no time”

The King took you to the throne room. You liked it here: the tall ceiling, the ivy-strewn pillars, the warm glow of sunlight, and the Iron Throne. Robert took his seat and rested you on his knee. You stared around the room, you had never seen it from this angle before. Between the tower of swords from the first Dragon King, still sharp enough to tear you in half, it felt powerful to sit here. You could imagine hundreds of people knelt before them and understood why men spent their lives chasing power. (You felt like a true Princess.)

“This would have been your’s one day if your mother had not had that damn brother of yours.”

Your father’s voice was rough with bitterness. His words pulled you out of her daydream. Only a year younger than you, your brother, Joffrey, was a terror. Your mother doted on her children equally, but you knew your father had his favourite. You were secretly happy with it — the less time you spent with Joffrey pulling heads off flowers and doing worse, vicious things, the better.

“One day,” your King father continued, “you will marry a great lord, a good lord. But you should always have a place here, my daughter.”

/✿✿✿/

Robb Stark was eight when he learned what real summer felt like. In the aftermath of a rebellion in the Iron Islands led by his father and the King, Robb and his twin sister, Alys, travelled to King’s Landing with their father to attend Robert Baratheon’s Name Day celebration. Spring had passed and the snows around Winterfell were low. Robb spent half the journey complaining about how he wanted to ride his horse next to his father while their septa told him to pay attention to their lessons. Watching the country change shape along the Kingsroad did keep Robb moderately interested — glimpsing the lands outside of the North was rather novel. Alys shared Robb’s adventurous instinct and they ran amok, hiding between trees and tents of their father’s company every time they stopped for a meal. But there were only so many games two eight year olds could play.

For all Ned Stark had told his children about King’s Landing and the Red Keep, Robb found it all rather underwhelming. There was no grand welcome for the Starks when they arrived. The city streets were too busy and the air was too hot.

Robb and Alys were brought before the Iron Throne — the hideous, towering King’s Seat made with a thousand melted swords — to be presented to King Robert Baratheon, their father’s oldest friend. Robb was aware he had been named after the King (just as his half-brother Jon had been named after Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King). Perhaps Robb’s father saw greatness in his son’s future, a boy worth naming after a king. Robert Baratheon was not the formidable giant Robb had expected to meet. Robb could imagine the warrior king that had won the throne and broke the Greyjoy Rebellion and hoped he would never fight in a war.

The Starks were escorted to their guest rooms for the duration of their stay. Alys and Robb’s rooms lay next to each other. Before Robb could finish unpacking his chest, Alys snuck into her brother’s room. She laid back on his bed, Robb made a fuss when his sister got her boots on the sheets.

“I want to explore. Will you come with me?”

Robb did not hesitate before he nodded, a grin spread across his face. Unpacking was boring anyway.

The twins barrelled through red corridors, ducking under maids and Kingsguards. The castle was theirs for the taking.

The Red Keep was bigger than any of the Northern castles the twins had visited before, full of labyrinthine corridors. A maze without a centre for Robb — but Alys seemed to know where she wanted to be.

Robb and Alys were stopped in their tracks when Robb almost tumbled into a girl. She was their age, if younger by a few moons, dressed in pink and gold with dark blonde curls. A huge black cat with a grumpy expression was clasped in her arms. Alys recognised the girl first. Robb felt a winter chill blow through him, tethering him frozen in place. The girl was pretty like a colourful bloom in the snow. She looked at the twins, wide-eyed and curious. She held the kind of warmth the North only felt during fleeting spring days. Alys punched her twin brother in the stomach and Robb mimicked her bow.

You smiled, a pink glow on her freckle-dappled cheeks. “You must be the Stark twins. Father told me about you.”

“Can you take us to see the dragons?” Alys asked quickly, eagerly rocking on the balls of her feet. “I thought I knew the way but…”

You paused, bottom lip pulled between your teeth. The cat in your arms jumped free — he rounded the twins, giving judgemental looks, and brushed against Alys’s legs before darting away. “They’re all underground now,” you explained. “We aren’t supposed to visit them, but I know the way.”

It was evening by the time you and the Stark twins entered the cellar room beneath the castle. Golden hour light faded, leaving the underground room in growing shadows. Robb had not been as enthusiastic as Alys and Jon about House Targaryen in all their lessons, but his heart thundered in his chest, mouth agape when he saw the nineteen dragon skulls.

The smallest dragon skulls were even smaller than direwolves, tiny dog-sized creatures but their teeth were still dagger-sharp. As the three children ventured down the room, the dragons grew bigger. You explained that many of them were unknown. Robb wondered how magical it must have been to live centuries ago and see dragons patrolling the sky. The largest dragon skulls were those of Meraxes, ridden by Queen Rhaenys, Vhagar, ridden by Queen Visenya, and Balerion the Black Dread, ridden by Aegon the Conqueror. Most dragons have more than one rider, but later riders paled in comparison to the conquerors.

“This one is Vermax,” you told Robb, pointing to another dragon skull halfway down the room. “Ridden by King Jacaerys, First of his Name. He married a Stark. An Arya, I think.”

Robb turned to his sister to tell her that one of their ancestors had married a dragonrider, but Alys had stepped away. She was distracted by another dragon.

“That’s Syrax,” you said quietly to Robb. “She was ridden by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.”

Alys touched Syrax’s skull and smiled wistfully. “She was yellow.”

You tensed. “I don’t think we’re allowed to touch them. I’m not supposed to come down here after dark.”

Robb approached his sister, whose stormy eyes still gazed wistfully at the dragons, and touched her arm. “Let’s go to the kitchens. See if they have lemon cakes.”

Finally, Alys looked away and nodded. She cracked a smile. “But don’t tell Sansa — she would be upset if we had cake without her.”

Together, the children left the cellar room. Robb stared at the dragon skulls for as long as possible as you closed the door. To see a dragon fly over Winterfell… He sighed sadly and wished there was more magic left in the world.

You showed them to the kitchens. Alys skipped on ahead, wondering out loud about how wonderful it must be to live in the Red Keep and you were happy to fuel her daydreams. The three of you scurried up a spiral staircase, for once Robb did not challenge his sister to a race. Which was probably a good thing as Alys was ahead and she did not see him trip up the stairs. Robb threw his hands out, scraping his skin against the rough stone to catch himself. You looked at him and Robb turned red, embarrassed to make a fool of himself in front of the princess.

You helped him up. Blood from a small cut on Robb’s palm smeared onto your hand. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s only a little blood. Here–” You sat Robb down on the step and took the hem of your dress to dab away the blood.

Robb clenched his fist and moved away. “You’ll ruin your dress.”

You took his hand back, gently uncurling his fingers. “That doesn’t matter.”

You dabbed at the thin beads of blood, holding for a few seconds. You both waited as the blood stopped spilling. “I’ll ask one of the cooks to help you.” You stood and reached out to take Robb’s other hand. He took your hand gratefully and stood. “Don’t worry,” you added, “everything will be alright.”

[lurkerscale]

THE DANCE OF DRAGONS was a civil war during targaryen rule of the seven kingdoms. a war of succession between aegon ii and his half-sister rhaenyra over their father viserys i’s throne, the war began in 132 AC. it saw the deaths of both rival monarchs, and the crowning of rhaenyra's son, aegon iii.

“all our fine thoughts, all our endeavors are like as nothing. we march now toward our annihilation.” - ser criston cole.

as it was during the events of house of the dragon.

HOUSE TARGARYEN

PRINCE VALARR TARGARYEN ; thirdborn son and youngest surviving child of prince baelon targaryen and his sister-wife, princess alyssa targaryen. twin to prince daemon targaryen. dragonrider whose mount is the dragon aevar.

MYRA SNOW ; bastard daughter of lord kian warrin and drísa, a serving girl. handmaiden to queen aemma arryn. lover of prince valarr targaryen. murdered in king’s landing on the orders of her sister in 126AC.

RHAELYS WATERS, later lord rhaelys azantys ; eldest bastard son and first child of prince valarr targaryen and his lover, myra snow. former lover of queen rhaenyra i and true father of jacaerys, lucerys, and joffrey. husband of nesaerah ostaar. dragonrider whose mount is the dragon saagael.

VISAERA WATERS, later visaera azantys ; eldest bastard daughter and second child of prince valarr and his lover, myra snow. widow of the late ser harwin strong and mother of mereya strong, his only child. wife of lord ayrmidon vellaerys and lady of broken shield. dragonrider whose mount is the dragon bakkalon.

AERION WATERS, later aerion azantys ; second bastard son and youngest child of prince valarr targaryen with his lover, myra snow. lover of rosyn mallister. dragonrider whose mount is the she-dragon morgul.

LADY ALYSE WARRIN ; only trueborn daughter and youngest child of lord kian warrin with his wife, lady amarantha frey. wife of prince valarr targaryen.

NAERYS TARGARYEN ; firstborn daughter and eldest child of prince valarr targaryen with his wife, lady alyse warrin. twin to maekar targaryen. wife of lord lysario drennyr, mother of selaerys and aenar. escaped to dorne prior to the dance.

MAEKAR TARGARYEN ; firstborn son and second child of prince valarr targaryen with his wife, lady alyse warrin. twin to naerys targaryen. executed at the beginning of the dance.

ALAERYA TARGARYEN ; secondborn daughter and third child of prince valarr targaryen and his wife, lady alyse warrin. reluctant lover of king aegon i.

MATARION TARGARYEN ; secondborn son and fourth child of prince valarr targaryen and his wife, lady alyse warrin.

VAEGON TARGARYEN ; thirdborn son and fifth child of prince valarr targaryen and his wife, lady alyse warrin.

RHAEGAR TARGARYEN ; fourthborn son and sixth child of prince valarr targaryen and his wife, lady alyse warrin. died of a fever at a year old.

THREE STILLBORN CHILDREN ; fathered by maester erac. 123AC, 124AC, 126AC.

HOUSEHOLD

TARYNE FOSSOWAY OF CIDER HALL ; handmaiden and lover of lady alaerya targaryen.

MAESTER ERAC ; nephew of lord otto hightower. personal maester and lover to lady alyse warrin.

DANNYA STORM ; bastard daughter of lord borros baratheon. prostitute at sylvi’s brother. lover of prince aemond targaryen.

EXTENDED FAMILY

LORD AYRMIDON VELLAERYS ; firstborn son and eldest child of the late lord maelor vellaerys and his wife, lady meya tully. husband of lady visaera waters.

DAENYS VELLAERYS ; firstborn daughter and third child of the late lord maelor vellaerys and his wife, lady meya tully. wife of ser gwayne hightower.

LORD LYSARIO DRENNYR ; firstborn son and eldest child of the late lord drennyr. lord of ghost hill. husband of lady naerys targaryen.

NESAERAH OSTAAR ; the daughter of the sealord of braavos. wife of rhaelys waters.

SPOOL OF GREEN

{ LADY ALYSE WARRIN } ; imprisoned by rhaelys waters after the dance. starved to death.

{ ALAERYA TARGARYEN } ; sunk into a deep depression and flung herself from the red keep.

{ VAEGON TARGARYEN } ; died in battle with matarion targaryen in the riverlands.

{ TARYNE FOSSOWAY OF CIDER HALL } ; died in the fall of king’s landing.

{ MAESTER ERAC } ; executed by visaera waters and her dragon for treason after the fall of king’s landing.

DAENYS VELLAERYS ; survived the dance and avoided execution at the request of her brother, lord ayrmidon.

DANNYA STORM ; survived the dance by fleeing to essos. rumoured to have given birth to prince aemond’s bastard son.

SPOOL OF BLACK

{ PRINCE VALARR TARGARYEN } ; died in battle with prince aemond targaryen during the butcher’s ball.

RHAELYS WATERS ; survived the dance and founded house azantys of deadhold.

VISAERA WATERS ; survived the dance and remained lady of broken shield. mother of lord aenys vellaerys.

AERION WATERS ; survived the dance and married lady rosyn mallister.

{ MATARION TARGARYEN } ; died in battle with vaegon targaryen in the riverlands.

NESAERAH OSTAAR ; survived the dance and became lady of deadhold.

MEREYA STRONG ; survived the dance and married lord cregan stark. mother of jonnel stark, edric stark, lyanna stark, barthogan stark, and lord brandon stark.

LORD AYRMIDON VELLAERYS ; survived the dance and remained lord of broken shield.

[lostinfantasyworlds]

Thank you so much for the tag, @goshinote! 😄

I made this a separate post since it was getting kind of long, but here’s a link to the thread. I loved reading through these and getting to know everyone!!

What do you prefer to be called name-wise? Taryn (pronounced like Karen but with a T). I never had any nicknames or anything

When is your birthday? June 7th

Where do you live? Connecticut, USA

Three things you are doing right now? Attempting to finish this ridiculously hard project for work by tomorrow (Photoshopping out a bunch of stop lights from in front of a building - it’s a bitch), eating Dairy Queen, and watching Fruits Basket in the background

Four fandoms that have peaked your interest? The Mentalist (specifically Jisbon) was my OG fandom/ship and the reason I got into the fandom world on Tumblr. It was an amazing time getting to watch our slow burn ship finally become canon together! Then I also have a blog for Brooklyn 99 (specifically Peraltiago), and another blog for Game of Thrones (specifically Gendrya - although the last season of that show completely ruined it for me). And then of course the lovely Inuyasha fandom that I recently joined and has been amazing! :)

How has the pandemic been treating you? Not great. The beginning of quarantine definitely brought up my anxiety for a bit. I was super paranoid about my health, constantly taking my temperature and freaking out that I had Covid even though I wasn’t going anywhere or seeing anyone. Also couldn’t stop constantly refreshing the news and obsessing over the number of cases. Luckily that subsided after a while, but now I just feel really blah and depressed all the time. I’m sure pretty much everyone is feeling the same. 

A song you can’t stop listening to right now? Blinding Lights by The Weeknd

Recommend a movie: I love musicals, and one of my favorite movies of all time is Across The Universe. It’s a musical using all songs by The Beatles. I’m not a mega fan of The Beatles, I like them a normal amount, but I LOVE this movie. I saw it multiple times in theaters and watch it every so often.

How old are you? 28

School, university, occupation, etc: I have a BFA in Communication Design (basically Graphic Design but the program had other stuff like coding and video editing so they made it more general) from Parsons The New School for Design in NYC. I used to work as a Communication Designer for 4.5 years at a small ecommerce company. I loved the work I was doing but my boss was a manipulative narcissist (similar to Trump in certain ways). Now I work for an architectural photographer doing post production. Basically he takes photos of buildings (a series of them on a tripod) and I combine the different exposures into one final image. At this point I feel like I can do almost anything in Photoshop if I have enough time haha. I have had to remove the craziest shit from photos that I would have never thought possible. 

Do you prefer heat or cold? I very much prefer the season of Summer over Winter, but I guess I slightly prefer cold over heat as far as comfort level. I cannot sleep if it’s humid/hot, I always need the AC on. If I’m cold I can at least snuggle under tons of blankets.

Name one fact others may not know about you: I’ve been married for 4 years to my middle/high school sweetheart. We’ve been dating since I was 13, so we’ve been together for more than half my life! Although I just realized that’s not really a fact about me so also I’m an only child lol

Are you shy? Yes and no. I’m really shy when it comes to initiating conversation/starting friendships or knowing what to say at first. But if someone starts a conversation with me, or once I know you better, I can talk forever lol.

Preferred pronouns: She/her

Biggest pet peeves: Abuse of power/bad leadership

What is your favorite ‘dere’ type? I honestly didn’t know there were more than tsundere so I’m just going to go with that lol. I do love tsundere characters though!

Rate your life from 1-10: I could go with a 7 or 8. I can’t complain too much. I have a great life with my husband, our house, and our two dogs. And amazing family and friends. Just haven’t been taking care of myself because of pandemic-related depression, and I’m pretty over my job. But things could be much worse. I’m really grateful for my life!

What’s your main blog? taryn-artistic-optimism

List your side blogs and what they’re used for: 

goodluckteresta - The Mentalist/Jisbon peraltiagostyle99 - Brooklyn 99/Peraltiago gendrya-stark-baratheon - Game of Thrones/Gendrya

Is there something people need to know about you before becoming friends? I guess that I overthink and over explain everything? I also am not a super private person so I’ll tell you pretty much anything you want to know about me if you ask. Oh also I can be really bad at responding to messages sometimes, I suck

Tagging some people?

@born-for-eachother @redflamesofpassion @clementinesgulag @misteria247 @kaqura @juliatheanimelover7 @keichanz (I didn’t check who’s been tagged already - sorry - feel free to ignore if you’ve already done it/don’t want to do it!)

[pelaprincesa]

Conto I

Aqui está o primeiro conto! Conto sobre o Borys e Sieglinde na época em que o Baratheon estava como protegido em Dorne. Conto escrito por @holtzm-ann .

Borys Baratheon sentia-se como um peixe fora d’água.

Segurando a haste longa da arma que suas mãos estranhavam seu humor não era dos melhores, estando numa posição de inexperiência em combate, que era uma das poucas coisas das quais podia orgulhar-se em ser talentoso. Estacado no meio do pátio do Palácio Antigo, mantinha os olhos fixos em seu oponente, que portava a própria lança com a mesma naturalidade com a qual portaria um talher durante o jantar.

E, de fato, Benjicot o encarava como se fosse seu almoço, fazendo Borys cerrar o maxilar diante da óbvia condescendência com que era tratado.  

Eram observados por todos os pares de olhos Martell possíveis, salve os da própria Princesa que estava ocupada com seus afazeres, e ele não queria ser humilhado daquela forma na frente da família que o recebia. Àquela altura, ele não era um absoluto desastre no manuseio da arma dornesa, afinal, faria uma volta de lua desde sua chegada à Lançassolar – uma volta de lua em que, todos os dias, sem exceção, ia ao pátio junto ao herdeiro de Alto Ermitério e ocasionalmente de um sujeito Targaryen, ambos na mesma condição que ele de protegidos de Selaena Martell – ainda que o último preferisse muito mais estar nas costas de seu dragão Tessarion, alcunhada Rainha Vermelha, à manejando uma lança com os companheiros. Mas desde então o máximo que aprendera havia sido como perder da maneira mais digna possível do Dayne, que nascera com as artes de luta dornesas em seu sangue.  

Movendo-se no mesmo passo que Benjicot, num movimento circular contínuo em que mantinham uma distância segura um do outro, Borys decidiu que já era hora de ensinar ao ruivo arrogante o sabor de seu próprio remédio. Por isso avançou, o passo e o braço firmes, estocando o sujeito no ombro desprotegido. Os dorneses eram um povo estranho, não adeptos à proteção de armaduras, usando nem mesmo couros. E antes de chegar em Lançassolar, Borys os caçoava pela tolice como qualquer outro cavaleiro westerosi. No entanto, ao cruzar a fronteira entre as terras da tempestade e o território dornês, inteiramente vestido de cota de malha e aço polido, reviu suas concepções ao ser quase cozinhado vivo dentro das próprias roupas.  

Desde que entrou pelos portões do Palácio Antigo naquele dia fatídico, quase inteiramente despido,  Benjicot não o havia deixado em paz, fazendo chacota de sua cara continuamente enquanto o Baratheon lutava para se adaptar à cultura e costumes desconhecidos daquela terra estranha e hostil. Os homens eram violentos, as mulheres peçonhentas e lascivas, e Borys desgostava deles tanto quanto desgostava de Benjicot. Para completar seu desespero  não havia nenhuma outra pessoa até então que poderia chamar de amigo, salve o perjuro Dayne.  

Que, aliás, deslizou para fora do alcance de sua lança com a mesma suavidade com que daria um passo de dança. O ruivo manejava a própria arma no ar, rodopiando-a graciosamente, enquanto Borys penava para manter o foco em para onde ia sua ponta. Ele lhe deu um sorriso zombeteiro quando impediu seu ataque seguinte, chocando as hastes uma com a outra.  As lâminas tiniram uma segunda e terceira vez conforme o Baratheon, cada vez mais furioso, defendia desajeitado as investidas de Benjicot.  

Quando sua raiva explodiu, o herdeiro da Tempestade deu um passo firme em direção ao adversário, mirando a ponta da lâmina bem em sua garganta. Mas antes que pudesse alcança-lo deu um salto para trás quando uma flecha passou rente a seu rosto, cravando-se em um dos bonecos de palha que os mais novos usavam para praticar.  

Os dois rapazes se viraram ao mesmo tempo, sobressaltados e bravos com a interrupção de seu confronto. Com o sol batendo forte no rosto, Borys só conseguiu distinguir uma figura esguia e vestida de couros de treinamento na borda do pátio, com os dedos ainda na curva do arco que segurava. Caminhando com passos largos e irritados foi em sua direção, segurando a lança com força.  

O sujeito recuou, intimidado com a raiva que certamente viu em seu rosto, mas antes que Borys pensasse em qualquer coisa o cabo da lança de Benjicot cortou seu caminho.  

Com um sorriso jocoso, ele advertiu:

— Acho melhor não, Baratheon. Eu não mexeria com essa se fosse você.

Essa?  

Borys piscou, sentindo a fúria anterior arrefecer quando reconheceu o rosto que o encarava, sobressaltado. O cabelo tinha sido recentemente cortado na altura do queixo, por isso ele havia pensado que se tratava de um homem para começo de conversa. Nas vezes em que a tinha visto, até então só nas refeições que a família Martell dividia com seus hóspedes e homens mais fiéis, os cachos iam até sua cintura. Mas os cílios longos e os lábios largos só podiam ser de uma garota. Da garota.  

— Princesa. — Borys praticamente bufou o cumprimento, consertando a postura hostil com um aceno educado. Encarou-a de cima, ainda um pouco consternado com a altura que ela exibia mesmo sendo tão nova e sendo uma mulher.  

— Sor Borys. — ela abriu um pequeno sorriso, parecendo achar graça da sua irritação, mas foi educada o suficiente para não caçoar dele assim como todos os outros naquele lugar pareciam fazer. — Ben. Achei bom interromper seu combate antes que você fosse empalado pelo nosso convidado.

Benjicot riu, abandonando toda a raiva que parecia sentir por ter sido interrompido no meio do treino.

— Sabe muito bem que ele não conseguiria fazer isso nem se quisesse, Sif.  

— Não sei, ele realmente parecia querer sua cabeça numa estaca um minuto atrás. — a garota se voltou para Borys, que tinha cruzado os braços sobre o peito. — Não que eu possa culpa-lo. Eu mesma já quis fazer isso algumas vezes.  

Suas palavras fizeram o Baratheon sorrir. Um pouco.  

— Tudo isso uma clara demonstração de seu afeto por mim. — o Dayne continuou a cutuca-la com seu sorriso cortês, sem muito sucesso. Sieglinde só olhou-o de cima abaixo com um olhar que fez até Borys se sentir desconfortável e murmurou:

— É claro. — Sua fala foi seguida de uma salva de palminhas que vieram do outro lado do pátio, onde as outras crianças Martell descansavam e os observavam de debaixo de uma tenda. As mãos que batiam as palmas empolgadas pertenciam à Taryne e Elrie, as gêmeas, mas a garota do meio, Jaelyn, também parecia se divertir com a cena mesmo com o irmão recém-nascido nos braços.  

— Foi uma apresentação e tanto. Mas acho que é hora de parar por hoje. — Ben disse, finalmente desistindo de perturbar a Martell mais velha e dando tapinhas no ombro de Borys. — Você se saiu bem, Baratheon. Só não deixe a raiva consumir você. Um pouco de raiva é bom numa batalha, muita pode deixa-lo cego.  

— Não creio que essas palavras estão saindo mesmo de sua boca, Ben. — alfinetou Sieglinde, sem conseguir se segurar.  

Ele a ignorou, caminhando para fora do pátio assim que Borys acenou para ele.  

— Espero que possa me desculpar pela interrupção, Sor Borys. — o estrangeiro encarou-a, buscando algum traço de ironia em sua voz, mas não achou nada. E isso o pegou despreparado.  

Coçou o queixo, envergonhado ao pensar a maneira como tinha avançado nela mais cedo, com uma fúria sanguinária que ele sabia que não tinha nada haver com ela, e sim com as próprias frustrações de viver num lugar em que não parecia se encaixar.  

— Não precisa pedir desculpa. — disse, por fim, pigarreando para limpar a garganta. — Eu é quem devo me desculpar, imagino, por...  

—... Querer me empalar com a lança? — ela sugeriu divertidamente. Ele piscou. Então ela o ajudou, tendo a delicadeza de uma dama westerosi ao dizer: — Não se preocupe com isso. Eu vivo aqui há mais tempo que você.  

Borys sorriu aliviado por ela ter tirado dele a obrigação de contornar a situação constrangedora enquanto saíam de debaixo do sol, indo para a borda do pátio.  

— É claro. — concordou.  

— Vejo que você não está se dando muito bem com nossas armas. Nem com nossa comida. — a Princesa observou, solidária. — Nem com... Bem, Dorne.  

Borys suspirou.

— Temo que esteja certa.

Ela acenou, parecendo pensativa ao olhar o lugar em que haviam estado um segundo antes.  

— Acho que eu posso ajudar a tornar sua estadia aqui mais suportável. Considerando que não vai passar somente mais um mês por aqui, imagino eu.  

O Baratheon negou com a cabeça. Não estava certo de por quanto tempo passaria nas terras dornesas – tinha partido de Ponta Tempestade sem data de retorno. Só isso confirmava suas suspeitas de que seria um período longo.  

— Pode me ajudar? — perguntou, um pouco enervado. Essa era a primeira vez que trocavam mais que cumprimentos polidos, e a tranquilidade e prestatividade com que a Princesa agia era no mínimo suspeita. Nenhum dornês que conhecera até então havia sido tão sinceramente cordial, e Borys ficava tenso só em pensar que tipo de sentido as mulheres dornesas davam a ajuda.  

Não que tivesse medo de garotas. Tinha beijado um bom punhado delas até então. Mas aquela não era do tipo normal, isso ele podia ver só pelo arco que ela continuava segurando confortavelmente, como se fosse parte de seu corpo.  

— Claro. — ela acenou, convicta, com uma mão no queixo. Então olhou-o. — Me encontre depois do jantar. Acho que é tempo suficiente para terminar.  

— Depois do jantar? — ele repetiu debilmente.

— Isso. Pode ir para a Torre do Sol, embora... Eu ache melhor que nos encontremos em meus aposentos.  

Borys encarou-a, um leve rubor subindo em seu rosto. Com sorte, ela o atribuiria ao sol que havia levado na cara durante a tarde inteira.  

— É claro. — concordou. Mas ela já se afastava, acenando enquanto ia em direção às irmãs para se recolherem aos próprios quartos.  

×××

Quando o ocaso caiu, Borys saiu de seus aposentos na Torre da Lança, descendo metade da escadaria até o corredor que o levaria à Torre do Sol. A estrutura central do Palácio Antigo era provavelmente uma das mais belas que ele havia visto em sua vida, com a redoma vítrea condecorando seu topo, fazendo reluzir no chão e nos Tronos ali posicionados reflexos coloridos quando o sol estava à tina no céu. Mesmo á noite era encantador,  iluminado com castiçais e banhado pela brisa fresca do mar que o remetia imediatamente à sua casa.    Fizera somente um mês desde que havia partido e, no entanto, Borys já sentia saudade de Ponta Tempestade. Sentia falta da presença adorável de sua mãe, do sorriso acolhedor de Roberta, no qual sempre podia apoiar-se quando abatido, e mesmo da presença imponente de seu pai, que sempre esperava o melhor daquele que havia se tornado seu herdeiro desde que o primogênito havia decidido por tomar o colar de Meistre e partido para a Cidadela.  

Suspirou ao adentrar no salão sob a cúpula, conforme rememorava os rostos que eram tão queridos a si. Em contraponto, Dorne não parecia muito disposto a deixa-lo confortável em nenhum sentido.  

— Sor Borys. — a Princesa acenou do outro lado da sala, onde espalmava as mãos na superfície de vidro da parede.  

Borys parou, pendendo junto à porta. A família Martell em peso já sentava-se à mesa, junto ao Meistre que os servia e dos protegidos de Selaena que habitavam Lançassolar. O Baratheon estava desconfortavelmente ciente do olhar da Princesa Regente sobre si, e a última coisa que desejava era obter algum problema com a mulher que abrira as portas de sua casa a ele. Dirigiu-se em direção à Sieglinde, por fim, cumprimentando-a com um aceno de cabeça.  

— Estou observando o céu. — ela comentou, ainda que ele não tivesse lhe dirigido nenhuma palavra. — Aprecia fazer o mesmo?

— Temo que não.

— Foi o que achei. — ela abriu um sorriso discreto, mas não parecia zombar dele; apenas parecia satisfeita pela própria constatação estar correta. — Vamos, então. Reservei um lugar para você a meu lado.  

Borys seguiu-a, cada vez mais consternado por seu comportamento, mas o jantar correu tão normalmente quanto os anteriores. Como nas outras ocasiões similares, o herdeiro da Tempestade falou pouco, preferindo observar as interações muitas vezes barulhentas do excêntrico grupo. Todos pareciam dar-se bem, a seu próprio modo, adaptados à presença um do outro. E ainda que não o destratassem, tampouco dirigiam a ele mais que as amenidades polidas usuais.  

Naquela noite, no entanto, Taryne Martell parecia reservar outros planos para ele.  

— Olá, Sor. — a menina disse, aproximando-se dele quando o jantar já se findara e os presentes haviam espalhado-se pelo salão em diálogos esparsos. — O senhor gosta da vista daqui de cima?  

Ele não pôde deixar de sorrir minimamente ao dizer:

— Gosto, sim, com certeza, Lady Taryne. E você?

— Ah, muito! Gosto principalmente de olhar a cidade, lá embaixo. Ela parece tão pequenininha daqui, não acha?  

— Ah, claro. — murmurou Borys com pouca convicção, sentindo-se de repente meio velho e enfadonho. De canto de olho, ele notou que Sieglinde parecia divertir-se com sua aflição, observando-os de alguma distância.  

Taryne apenas sorriu com ar coquete e respondeu:

— Mas eu prefiro os Jardins de Água. O Senhor sabia que eles têm também uma história muito romântica?  

Sieglinde disfarçou o riso pondo a mão nos lábios, a traidora.

— É mesmo? — conseguiu dizer Borys, com algum esforço.

— É. — afirmou Taryne, com tamanha expressão de sabedoria que o Baratheon imaginou se não havia uma matrona de quarenta anos dentro de seu corpo de sete. — O Príncipe Maron Martell os construiu como um presente para sua noiva Targaryen, para marcar a união de Dorne com os Sete Reinos.

— Compreendo. — ele disse, suspirando em seguida como se estivesse frustrado. Lançou um breve olhar a Sieglinde, por cima da menina. — Bom, lamento dizer que esta não seja uma opção nesse caso.  

— Como assim? — a expressão dela foi sendo tomada pelo deleite quando entendeu o que ele estava querendo dizer. — Nesse caso?  

— Isso mesmo. Se terei de construir um palácio para cortejá-la, Lady Taryne, sinto dizer que precisaríamos esperar até que eu assuma meu posto como Lorde de Ponta Tempestade. Só assim terei o dinheiro e o poder suficiente para uma empreitada assim.  

— Mas você é filho do Lorde.

— Infelizmente, isso não significa muito quando se quer construir um palácio.  

Taryne o encarava com um misto de desconfiança e alegria. A desconfiança afinal venceu. Suas mãos foram parar nos jovens quadris quando ela estreitou os olhos e indagou:

— O Senhor está brincando comigo?  

Ele permitiu-se sorrir:

— O que a senhorita acha?  

— Acho que sim.

— Pois eu acho que seria um tolo se desafiasse qualquer uma das mulheres de sua família.

A menina pensou por um instante.

— Se decidir casar com minha irmã, tem minha aprovação — começou, fazendo Borys engasgar, ainda que não estivesse comendo nada. — Mas, se não se casar com ela — continuou Taryne, sorrindo quase timidamente. —, eu ficaria muito agradecida se esperasse por mim.  

Para a sorte do jovem Baratheon, que não tinha qualquer prática com meninas pequenas, Gaemon Targaryen surgiu das sombras, o cabelo louro reluzindo prateado debaixo da luz da lua. Ele tomou a mão da jovem Martell num beijo breve e cordial.  

— Minha senhora. Gostaria que me acompanhasse num passeio pela sala, o que acha?  

Taryne encarou-o, perplexa e encantada. Neste exato momento, a Princesa Sieglinde aproximou-se, puxando levemente a orelha da irmã mais nova ao indagar:

— E o que a faz achar que tem o direito de importunar nosso convidado com tais sugestões impróprias?  

Taryne fechou a cara de imediato, murmurando um pequeno “ai!” enquanto era puxada pela irmã mais velha para próximo aos Tronos, onde sua irmã do meio conversava animadamente com Benjicot Dayne.  

Quando ela estava longe o suficiente, Borys permitiu-se expirar, aliviado.  

— Obrigado por intervir. — disse educadamente em direção a Gaemon, somente porque precisava dizer algo para preencher o silêncio entre ambos.

Ele acenou brevemente de maneira solidária.

— A família Martell pode ser exasperadora, ás vezes. Mas você se acostuma. — ao dizer isso, o valiriano lançou um breve olhar em direção à Princesa, que retornava com passos decididos em sua direção.  

— É claro.  

Ao alcança-los, Sieglinde cumprimentou Gaemon, que afastou-se prontamente ao notar que a dupla intencionava dialogar entre si.  

— Precisava tirá-lo das garras dela, ou então nunca teria a chance de leva-lo para fora daqui. — Borys achou ter visto um lampejo de excitação cruzar os olhos cinzentos dela quando as palavras saíram de sua boca. Tomando seu braço, ela passou a guia-lo para longe dos outros presentes, então para fora da Torre do Sol e direto para seus aposentos pessoais.  

Durante todo o caminho ele perguntou-se se aquela era realmente uma boa ideia. Era fato que a garota era bonita; de um jeito diferente das mulheres de Westeros, mas ainda assim bonita. E, até então, fora uma das poucas pessoas com as quais ele se dera verdadeiramente bem em Lançassolar. Fazia apenas um dia em que haviam dialogado, de fato, mas havia sido tempo o suficiente para ele decidir que agraciava-se da companhia da Princesa. Ainda que tivesse ressalvas acerca de seu comportamento enigmático.  

E, contudo, Borys duvidava que qualquer atitude de sua parte passaria despercebida aos olhos atentos de Selaena Martell.  

Era nisso que refletia quando viu-se parado na divisão entre a antecâmara que prescindia o quarto da Princesa e o cômodo em si. Apoiou-se na porta, incerto sobre dar um passo a mais, e observou-a ir até a própria cama, sentando-se enquanto remexia em alguns papéis que repousavam sobre as sedas cuidadosamente forradas. Então ela olhou-o inquisitivamente.  

Borys inspirou antes de dar o primeiro passo. Ao alcança-la, sentou-se a seu lado, mantendo os olhos em seu rosto o tempo todo. Quando começava a se perguntar se ela esperava que ele desse o primeiro passo, a garota apontou com o dedo para uma das folhas de pergaminho que estava entre eles.  

— Veja. — indicou a figura que fora desenhada no papel.  

Ele piscou, então obedeceu-a, focando-se na imagem que reconheceu como sendo de um... — Tridente?

A Princesa acenou, parecendo particularmente empolgada ao começar:

— Eu achei isso dentro de um dos livros da biblioteca. Quando vi você hoje no pátio, imaginei que talvez fosse a solução para seus problemas com a lança. — explicou, usando o indicador para apontar as partes que eram importantes. — Quer dizer, ainda é uma arma de médio alcance, é verdade. Mas você deve se dar bem com elas. O manejo é parecido com o da Lança, mas a lâmina o difere completamente. Eu alterei o seu estilo para o que julguei que seria melhor para você.  

O Baratheon encarou o desenho intricado da lâmina tridimensional, que claramente fora feito acima do original mais antigo, o ânimo substituindo o lugar da surpresa pelo rumo da conversa.  

— Acha mesmo que eu me sairia melhor com isso? — indagou.  

Ela acenou vigorosamente com a cabeça, abrindo o maior sorriso seu que ele já vira até então. O sorriso alcançava seus olhos, que brilhavam com a percepção de uma de suas ideias realmente ser levada à prática ou tornar-se útil.  

— Eu posso pedir que o ferreiro comece ainda hoje. Talvez leve uns dois dias, mas logo você poderá testar no pátio.  

Borys acenou, incapaz de fazer muito mais que isso, desnorteado que estava pela gentileza repentina. Então, ao notar que ela comprimira os lábios, abriu um sorriso:

— Eu acho que pode dar certo. Muito certo.  

— Espero que Ben esteja preparado para isso.

— Eu espero que não.

Eles riram, então o rapaz encarou-a um pouco mais seriamente ao proferir:

— Obrigado pela ajuda, Alteza.

— Ora, Sor. Não se atenha a isso. Será meu prazer vê-lo espetar a bunda metida daquele Dayne com seu novo tridente.  

— Acho que Borys é o suficiente.  

— Borys. — ela tornou a sorrir um daqueles sorrisos espetaculares. — É claro. E Sieglinde também está ótimo.  

Ele acenou. Então, ainda que não o desejasse, pôs-se de pé.

— É hora de ir. — e, arriscando: — Vejo-a amanhã na forja?  

— Decerto que sim. — a Princesa acompanhou-o até a porta de saída. Quando Borys já descera dois dos inúmeros degraus que teria de enfrentar, no entanto, chamou-o uma última vez. Ao voltar-se, Borys foi surpreendido por um beijo plantado em seus lábios enquanto seu colarinho era segurado firme.  

Desceu o resto da escadaria como um furacão, indo deitar naquela noite repleto de uma ansiedade que pensou que havia esquecido desde que abandonara Ponta Tempestade. A percepção das coisas estarem aparentemente mudando em Dorne levou-o a demorar a dormir. Pôs-se a observar a vista da própria janela enquanto o sono não o alcançava e, pouco antes de por fim adormecer, pôde visualizar uma figura imensa disparando em direção ao céu noturno.  

A rainha vermelha, pensou, sonolento, enquanto o mundo dos sonhos o embalava.  

[inkandpapermagic]

Queen of Nothing: In-depth Theories and Analysis of loose ends and plot threads from TCP and TWK that still need to be addressed

    I had too much time on my hands on a summer afternoon, and since I just finished a reread of The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King, I wanted to get my thoughts together (I also am an English major and I’m starved for some literary analysis, yo). This series has so many cool prophecies and mysteries and there’s a ton of plot threads needing to be tied up in The Queen of Nothing. So, I chose a few of my favorites to over-think on.

Justin and Eva, the dumb kids who started this mess 

Justin and Eva, y’all. Justin and Eva. Ever since Jude saw her mother in the Lake of Masks, I have been dying to know the real story about these two. Jude doesn’t seem to be that curious, but during her entire conversation with Asha, I was screaming internally for Jude to shut up and let the woman talk about this mysterious pair. I could personally read an entire novel about them alone (Holly, if you’re reading this, please please please can we make some kind of faerie bargain about this?). 

In any case, there’s so many unanswered questions about Justin and Eva. I’m just going to dive right in, starting with Justin. He seems like a pretty straightforward guy-- dude just wanted to make swords. Like, really wanted to make swords. Justin was probably that kid in high school who played Dungeons and Dragons 24/7 and set the school on fire during wood shop class. He is a fictional, real-life Gendry Baratheon, and according to Taryn in The Lost Sisters, he sold his swords on Ebay.The only real hint we get that Justin may have been more than Eva’s hunky mortal baby daddy is what we hear from Grimsen: 

“Then I told him I would give him one of my secrets: He could learn the practice of a hundred years in a single day… if only he would part with something he didn’t want to lose.”

“And did he make the bargain?” I ask.

He appears delighted. “Oh, wouldn’t you like to know?”

Will we find out Justin’s bargain? I personally think he took it-- and lost his life.

Then there’s Eva, who we hear a lot about but know very little. We know that she had an idea of who her daughter would become-- but sadly, she was a bit misguided. 

“...do you know what the hag said? That Eva’s child was destined to be a greater weapon than Justin could ever forge.” 

    Of course, Eva thought this was Vivi, and Asha speculates that this prophecy might have influenced Eva’s decision to flee to the mortal world. But we don’t know that, or really anything about why she decided to leave, a fact Jude bemoans to Cardan.

“There are so many questions I wish I could ask my mom… why she married Madoc,” I say. “Whether she loved him and why she left him and whether she was happy in the human world. Whether she actually murdered someone and hid her body in the burnt remains of Madoc’s original stronghold.”

    I NEED ANSWERS, HOLLY. 

    Of course, Asha knows-- “...one or both of them killed a woman and burned the body to hide your mother’s disappearance from Madoc. I could tell you about that. I could tell you how it happened--” but she’s not telling without a reward. 

    While I can’t even begin to guess who that woman could be, I do think that Jude will consider her mother’s fate as she struggles with her own relationship with Cardan. It’s something Taryn struggled with, too, in The Lost Sisters. I also still like the theory I’ve seen floating around here that Cardan and Jude somehow end up in the mortal world together, permanently-- wouldn’t that bring things full circle. 

    Jude, Oriana, Jude’s bad life choices, and Oriana’s disapproval of Jude’s bad life choices 

    Speaking of crazy kids in love-- the subject of lovers, specifically those of the High King, is something that is explored very early on, in the first half of The Cruel Prince. Through the story of Liriope, we can understand that being the High King’s lover is a dangerous job. And since we know early on that Jude is attracted to Cardan, we’re worried for her. But it’s Oriana who inadvertadly imparts wisdom onto Jude about what she’s getting herself into. Oriana mistakenly thinks Jude is Dain’s lover, and their conversation, which at first seems throwaway and out of place, really intrigues me. First, Oriana admits she was Eldred’s lover, and tells Jude the story of Liriope. Then, she wraps up that story with a moral: 

“Hear me, Jude. It is no easy thing to be the lover of the High King. It is to always be in danger. It is to always be a pawn.” Then shit starts to get weird. Oriana says to Jude:

“If you go to Prince Dain despite my warning, if he gets his heir on you, tell no one before you tell me. Swear it on your mother’s grave.” 

    Jude, of course, swears, thinking she won’t have a problem keeping that vow. But why was that included at all? Just to show that Oriana is paranoid and crazy?

    I don’t think Jude will necessarily be having Cardan’s baby or anything like that. But I do think that Oriana’s lesson will come back to her, just as it did when she watched Eldred’s lover be murdered at the coronation. Jude has already become somewhat of a pawn-- after all, Orlagh abducted her, and Cardan bargained to get her back. And that was when she was only a seneschal. When Faerie finds out that she has become the Queen, who knows what might happen to her? 

    As for how her vow to Oriana fits into that-- I think that perhaps she will go to Oriana for help with something else. Maybe to tell her about their marriage, or ask her for advice, or even for revenge. Who knows? What I do know is that Oriana will not be having any of Jude’s nonsense. 

    “I want to tell you so many lies”-- are Jude and Cardan actually married? 

And now that we’re on the subject of lovers, let’s talk about those marriage vows. 

What really bugs me about this is that when they married, Cardan didn’t know that Jude had killed Balekin. So he had no plans to send her away when they married. Which makes me think that, in his mind, he really thought that he could crown Jude and they could rule together. The act of exiling her was just a frantic chess move to get her off the board so that Orlagh wouldn’t kill her outright. I’ve read and reread that scene, and I still come off with the impression that he was sincere. And that supposed sincerity is what brings me to the marriage vows, specifically Cardan’s. He goes first, which means that he dictates the terms of the vow:

“I, Cardan, son of Eldred, High King of Elfhame, take you, Jude Duarte, mortal ward of Madoc, to be my bride and my queen. Let us be wed until we wish for it to be otherwise and the crown has passed from our hands.” 

“Until we wish for it to be otherwise.” In her own vows, Jude puts it a little more simply: 

“Let us be wed until we don’t want to be and the crown has passed from our hands.” 

    This is interesting. If this rule holds true, than Cardan’s supposed betrayal of Jude would dictate that, if they’re truly at odds, that they technically aren’t married anymore since they supposedly hate each other. 

    Yet I think that, deep down, they both still wish they were married to the other. In that case, even though I’m sure they’ll pretend to be angry at each other, the marriage remains because they both secretly wish to remain married. 

The mermaids are out to get us 

Finally, I want to look at a little prophecy that takes place near the beginning of The Wicked King, but whose words I believe basically foreshadow the events of the entire book. 

“Spurn the sea once, we will have your blood,

Spurn the sea twice, we will have your clay, 

Spurn the sea thrice, your crown will away.” 

I think it’s safe to say that the “blood” was the drops of blood spilled when Nicasia accidentally hit Cardan while he was in bed. The clay, of course, is Jude, daughter of clay. I’ve seen several people on Tumblr discuss these theories and I definitely think that all makes sense. It’s the third line that interests me. But first, let’s go back to the Cardan’s final act of The Wicked King, when he exiles Jude. 

“Until and unless she is pardoned by the crown.” 

It all comes back to that line, doesn’t it? The general consensus is the Jude is the crown, and she can pardon herself. So how does this tie into the Undersea’s prophecy? 

Jude is exiled for killing Balekin, the ambassador to the Undersea. As a result, Cardan sends her away to the mortal world. 

“Spurn the sea thrice, your crown will away.” 

So, in conclusion, I believe that through a clever bit of wordplay, all three components of the Undersea prohpecy have come true-- in this case, because the crown, Jude, has been sent away in retaliation for her crime against the Undersea. 

        Queen Jude (doesn’t that sound amazing?)

There is one thing we can be sure of-- Jude Duarte will be queen of Faerie. After all, Baphen saw it in his stars: 

“The stars say this is a time of great upheavel,” says Baphen. “I see a new monarch coming, but whether that’s a sign of Cardan deposed or Orlagh overturned or NIcasia made queen, I cannot say.”

If you made it this far, thanks for sticking with me! I can’t contribute cool fanart but I can give you theories haha. 

And in short, this is me every day until November 19th: 

[moonraisedsunchild]

You seem to have a lot of OCs. Do you have like a master list of them or something?

oh god I have so many. 

Most arent considered mains to me, they are more like npcs, which means i probably only have their name and fc prepared. 

I might have a thing here and there about them in my brain and i might have some idea on how they would interact with certain mains but they aren’t as fleshed out as the mains. 

the secondaries can move to man if i start working on them more.

This isn’t all but this is currently all that i have found info on or remembered.

~

* means they moved from secondary to main.

☆ means share names but are different characters.

¤ means they have a canon counterpart but i am making changes.

~

i @’d them if i had a blog though i could have missed a blog or the thing didn’t link them/tag.

also for more homestuck ones go to @trolls-cherubs-and-kids

Italics mean they are on the @la-manada-de-muerte blog.

Bold means they are on the @unafraidofmoonlight blog

~

it will take a while to list them all (both main and secondaries) 

started on 4/9/18 in the evening and finished in the early morning of the 10th.

feel free to ask about any of them and i will do my best to answer!

Mains

1.      Nocovia Westly (story of my own that came from a rp)2.      Haven (LOZ/BOTW)3.      Eleonora Katharina Westergaard (Descendants 1&2) so much is written for this it’s kinda funny.4.      Idunn Fireheart (DA/Skyrim)5.      Yngvild (Vikings)6.      Yué Li (Star wars)7.      Cory Winchester (Supernatural)8.      Maggie Neely ¤ (TNW) x2 as different fcs steely-deliverer-neely9.      Mýrún/Muirenn DunBroch/Haddock (HTTYD/Brave)10.  Nanna (Undertale)11.  Natsuki Tachibana (Naruto/Bleach)12.  Dove Farseeker (WOW) @seekerdove13.  Snatch n Jab, Longshot, and Musey (DnD)14.  Xune'drada “Xuna” Of House T'sarran (DnD)15.  Maethriel (LoTR/Hobbit) @maethriel16.  Idunn (LoTR/Hobbit) @idunnthedwarrowdam17.  Casey Clearwater (Twilight)18.  Jax Pierce (Twilight)19.  Ara Rigel Argyris Black (HP)20.  Jax Kat Black Nee Argyris* (HP)21.  Chandra Bhatt Sharma (HP) @chandraofhufflepuff22.  Pyra Thera Nott  (HP)23.  Theodore Nott ¤  (HP) 24.  Moana Sigyn Herondale  (HP)25.  Haven Alexandria Potter (HP) @shelterofhogwarts​26.  Elara “Ellie” Pandora Black* (HP)27.  Nova “Novie” Calypso Black* (HP)28.  Oberon “Obie” Deimos Black* (HP)29.  Iris & Hazel Plank (HP)30.  Alejandro Rodolfo Martin (HP)31.   Calen JolanLycian (HP)32.   Nissa SimoneAdams (Riverdale/The Flash)33.  Hansa Chari (Riverdale)34.  Maëla Samaelson (Riverdale)35.  Morgause Mervyn (TW)36.  Yukio ‘Yu’ Kai-Zhāng Hale (TW)37.  Cordelia Jane Lycian (TW)38.  Talia Paisley Posey (TW)39.  Althea “Tia” Hestia Harman (TW)40.  Poppy Darcy (TW)41.  Pan Katsaros (TVD/TW/SH)42.  Ajax Megalos (TVD/TW/SH)   43.  Nemesis Argyris☆ (TVD/TW/SH)   44.  Meara Asherah Martin (PJO/TW)45.  Farley Halvorsen (TVD)46.  Ella Herondale-Graymark (SH)47.  Amara Bane (SH/TDI)48.  Morgause Jackson (PJO)49.  Kit Marinos (PJO)50.  Hansa Stark (GOT)51.  Eleonora Baratheon (GOT)52.  Ina Martell (GOT)53.  Lola Caraleah Barton (Marvel & maybe DC)54.  Lola Marie Blake/Banner (Marvel)55.  Adiand'r Kon-el/ Adiary Selene Anders-Kent AKAMoonfire/Superfire (DC/Marvel)56.  Anani Leah Bachman aka Volatile* (Marvel/DC)57.  Marisol Lola Robles-Sanchez aka Thunderbird* (Dc/Marvel)58.  Koraline Dalilah Isley (DC)59.  Hansa Marissa Harmaajärvi (DC) @hmh-azureriptide60.  Pyralis Titaia Zabat (DC)61.  Cordelia “Cory” McLellan (DC) picked a surname for her finally (for C & her 3 bs)62.  Sigyn Ran Allen (DC)63.  Hlin II Baldersdottir (Marvel) @daughters-of-baldr64.  Eir II Baldersdottir (Marvel) ^^65.  Samanta Fárbautisdottir  (Marvel) 66.  BlueShade (Marvel) only has an alias never named her.

Veronica Potts (Marvel) @watergrownpotts​   

Kenna (?)

  Secondaries1.      Jude Black (Twilight)2.      Nemesis Argyris (HP)3.      Dorothy Selwyn (HP)4.      Barbara Selwyn (HP)5.      Lucille Selwyn  (HP)6.      Theodosia Rosier (HP)7.      Dolorosa Rosier   (HP)8.      Josephina Rosier  (HP)9.      Amara Nott (nee Fawley)  ¤ (HP)10.  Richard Nott  ¤ (HP)11.  Thaddeus Fawley  ¤ (HP)12.  Sullivan Fawley  ¤ (HP)13.  Hansa Marissa Lillard-Patton  (HP)14.  Hestia Faye Bones  (HP)15.  Aiden  Nicholas Bones  (HP)16.  London Amelia Bones  (HP)17.  Líadan Aisling Ó Rinn  (HP)18.  Bran Meallán Finnigan (HP)19.  Harlan Cedric Howler (HP)20.  Aiden Nicholas Howler  (HP)21.  Nova Amelia Howler  (HP)22.  Hestia Faye Howler  (HP)23.  Noah Duncan  (HP)24.  Jacob Duncan  (HP)25.  James Duncan  (HP)26.  Caleb Duncan  (HP)27.  Freya Duncan  (HP)28.  Connie Quinn  (HP)29.  Matilda Quinn  (HP)30.  Taryn Quinn  (HP)31.  Slyvie Quinn  (HP)32.  Mulan Li  (HP)33.   Xing-Yue Li  (HP)34.  Chou ‘Cho’ mo chang/ Qiū Zhāng ¤ (HP)35.  Ling ‘lin’ he chang /Zhāng  (HP)36.  Ru ‘Rue’ Lian Chang/ Zhāng  (HP)37.  Arnav Chopra Desai  (HP)38.  Anvi Chopra Desai  (HP)39.  Mani Bhatt Desai  (HP)40.  Hari Bhatt Desai  (HP)41.  Asha Bhatt Sharma  (HP)42.  Darshana Bhatt Sharma (HP)43.  Damon Jones (Riverdale)44.  Mu Samaelson (Riverdale)45.  Stefan Cooper (Riverdale)46.  Morgaine McArthur  (TW)47.  Nimue Mervyn  (TW)48.  Alma Subi Kakar  (TW)49.  Imelda Vonda Althaus (TW)50.  Maud Ella Althaus  (TW)51.  Karou Jun Seung  (TW)52.  Zola Zidati Brisbane  (TW)53.  Ahyoka Wolfe (TW)54.  Espie Brigid O'Brien  (TW)55.  Thespa Arianrhod O'Brien  (TW)56.  Lewis Gimli Watts  (TW)57.  Ula Nimue Ó Muireagáin  (TW)58.  Ira Jude Evans  (TW)59.  Hazel Tatiana Vespera Petrova  (TW)60.  Clíodhna “Cleo” Deveraux  (TW)61.  Tracy Stewart ¤  (TW)62.  Erin Matthews  (TW)63.  Tala Bane  (TW)64.  Kendel Anderson  (TW)65.  Teagan Bennett  (TW)66.  Monica Andrews  (TW)67.  Noemi “Ami” Martinez  (TW)68.  Aili (eye-lee) Isaacson  (TW)69.  Rebekah “Beks” Kayne  (TW)70.  Amelia “Lia” Mills  (TW)71.  Rebecca ‘Harley’ Harlowe  (TW)72.  Stacy McCall  (TW) 73.  Jesse Harlowe  (TW)74.  Ara Yukimura (TW) 75.  Hestia “Hex” Raven Basurto  (TW)76.  Julianna “Jules” Wolf (TW) 77.  Mark Richard Bennett  (TW)78.  Kevin Robert Bennett (TW) 79.  Stella Rene Bennett (Nee Lycian (Nee Celeste))  (TW)80.  Duncan Owen Lycian  (TW)81.  Eline ‘Eli’ Gwendolyn Lycian  (TW)82.  Steven Marcus Bennett  (TW)83.  Seeley Blythe  (TW)84.  Renata Enid Bishop  (TW)85.  Ramona Henley Bishop  (TW)86.  Lukas Carter  (TW)87.  Denise Maeve Lemay  (TW)88.  Mira Ocarina Martin (TW) /Mira ‘Stark’ Tyrell (GOT)89.  Kavum Martell (GOT)90.  Chandra Martell  (GOT)91.  Aarushi Martell (GOT)92.  Adelaide Michaelson/Hamilton/Graymark/Herondale (SH/DC/TVD???) 93.  Heiđrún Halvorsen  (TVD/TO)94.  Serena Halvorsen  (TVD/TO)95.  Bistra Halvorsen  (TVD/TO)96.  Maiko Akamine (Naruto)97.  Rory Darrow (Homestuck/undertale)98.  Arizona “Rona” Robles (Homestuck/Undertale)99.  Cili (LoTR(?)/Hobbit)100. Eliza  (LoTR/Hobbit)101. Lalia Fairbairn-Greenhand  (LoTR/Hobbit) 102. Maire Fairbairn-Greenhand  (LoTR/Hobbit)103. Arodien (LoTR/Hobbit) 104. Idunna Odinsdottir/Dana Runa Astrid Meadows  (DC/Marvel)105. Hlina Odinsdottir/Leah Suzanna Fawn Meadows (DC/Marvel)106. Titaia Ianthe Alkmene Katsaros aka Tana  (DC)107. Mao Tachibana &  Kyōsei-sha/Dōsei (DC)108. Haven Amelia Buckley/Laila Aisha Al-Amin (DC)   109. Liam Alexander Buckley/Omar Ali Al-Amin (DC)   110. Warren Axel Buckley/Amir Jericho Al-Amin (DC)111. Luke Meadows (DC)112.Stephanie Meadows (DC)113. Veronica Marie Robles-Sanchez AKA Techward (DC)114. Noemi Robles-Sanchez AKA SolarMatrix (DC)115. Jane Sanchez AKA LunarSphere (DC)116. Nephele Anemone Zabat  (DC)117. Demetria Petra Zabat   (DC)118. Thalassa Arethousa Zabat  (DC)119. Bonnie Anita Blake (Marvel)120. Caroline Jolene Blake  (Marvel)121. Noah Blake  (Marvel)122. Eline Clare Dickson (?)123. Jane Marie Dickson (?)124. Neelam Nehal Sharma (?)125. Ara Sawako sasaki (?)126. Kira Aiko sasaki (?)127. Arun Madhava Soman (?) 128. Adithya “Adi” Kapoor Patel (?) 129. Sharada “Charu” Anjali Mahal (?)

Edit: add to main: Nissa Simone Larkspear (SH)

[taryn-artistic-optimism]

Updates

Finally, after having this blog for years and mostly ignoring it, I decided to update the appearance and my username! I don’t know what I was still using my full name as my url. I changed it from taryndooley -> taryn-artistic-optimism. Also, I was using a super old picture of myself as an avatar. I updated it to a newer one because I don’t really know what else to use at the moment for this blog.

Anyways, if you’ve followed me recently, welcome and thank you!! If you’re looking for fandom posts, make sure to follow one of my side blogs. This is just my main account so if I like your posts/follow you, it comes up here.

Here’s a list of all my side blogs:

Misc fandom but 95% Inuyasha right now = lostinfantasyworlds

The Mentalist = goodluckteresa

Brooklyn 99 = peraltiagostyle99

Game of Thrones = gendrya-stark-baratheon

[ao3feed-tywin]

Dead Men Tell No Tales

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2X3t2DL

by crimscntears

The House of Varens is shrouded in prestige, as Kings who refused to yield to the Targaryens instead bargaining for an alliance — sharing their wisps of wisdom in how to take down the rest of the noble houses. Though not as ancient as the Starks, nor as wealthy as the Lannisters, the House draws its power from knowledge. They bargain: for peace and survival, for life and death. However long since their prestige has prevailed — withstanding the terrible winters and endless battles — the members of House Varens have prided themselves on the fact that they have never surrendered their people or place. They are royalty through and through but regality has a price.

Their words all is not lost serves as a subtle warning to those who dare threaten them. No matter what they will prevail, no matter how weak they are perceived to be. Even what they had been fighting a losing fight against the Targaryens all those centuries ago the war ended with the Varens as victors, refusing to put their home in enemy’s hands. The small island of Verona — situated west of the North — is said to be inhabited by ghosts of days past. Their spirits linger and their presence ever glowing. They bequeath strength upon the Varens and Verona alike.

Words: 13762, Chapters: 3/80, Language: English

Fandoms: game of thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: F/M, Multi

Characters: Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Tywin Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Joffrey Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon, Tommen Baratheon, Robb Stark, Ned Stark, Sansa Stark, Catelyn Tully, Jon Snow, Bran Stark, Arya Stark, Rickon Stark, Elia Martell, Rhaegar Targaryen, Oberyn Martell, Varys, Petyr Baelish, Ashara Dayne, Arthur Dayne, Robert Baratheon, Sandor Clegane, Daenerys Targaryen

Relationships: Jaime Lannister/Elena Varens (OC), Sandor Clegane/Elena Varens (OC), Daenerys Targaryen/Arthur Varens (OC), Margaery Tyrell/Stefan Lannister (OC), Sansa Stark/Stefan Lannister (OC), Robb Stark/Raina Waters (OC), Cersei Lannister/Jaime Lannister, Garlan Tyrell/Rosario Martell (OC), Cersei Lannister/Ragnar Targaryen (OC), Tarik Varens (OC)/Amara Dayne (OC), Theon Greyjoy/Taryn Stark (OC), Gendry Waters/Taryn Stark (OC)

Additional Tags: War, Forbidden Love, Arranged Marriage, Robb Stark Lives, Game of Thrones - Freeform, a song of ice and fire - Freeform, Betrayal, Blood, Ghosts, Lannister, Stark - Freeform, Robb’s death broke me I’m not writing that crap, Jaime deserved better and I’m giving him better, Mix of book and show, pre season 1 - season 8, Will have many flashback chapters, Somewhat of an alternate universe, Idc about Jaime’s oaths he’s married bite me, Love, Lust, Desire

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2X3t2DL

[heartofmortis]

✶ Lionheart

Robb Stark x (Baratheon/Lannister!) Reader

TAGS: friends to enemies to lovers, slow burn, one bed, childhood friends, arranged marriage, female rage, eventual smut, hurt/comfort, canon compliant (boooo!), major character death

NOTE: so this is also an oc fic on wp, but i wanted to try out something new! in rewriting to second person, some edits have been made. there will be no y/n, and there are other ocs in this fic (since that’s what i usually write) and reader does have some physical descriptions.

i’m in suchhhhh a robb stark brainrot atm, this is how i’m coping 🫶

TIMELINE: season / book one onwards. a mix of show & book canon!

SUMMARY: A soft heart is no curse.

You are nothing like your parents. Your mother’s first-born, most deeply adored. Born in the ashes of a victorious rebellion, you are the brightest spring child in King’s Landing. Free as the breeze whistling through the trees, love burns in your veins like sun rays. (You’re too good for this world, your mother whispers as she holds her daughter close. No one will hurt you. You’re safe here with me.)

The Pearl of King’s Landing, they called you. Sun-bright and untouchable. To be beloved by the Smallfolk is a rare gift, and you bear it proudly. A little doe beside your father, a great stag, and your mother-lion.

A soft heart is no curse. You believe it until you spend a month travelling north with your family, a trip that spins your world on its axis, and won’t let you come home. When you are left alone in a vast castle with no true company, your pretty heart can only be a curse. No one trusts a naive girl raised in the lion’s den — not even when steel cuts across your palms, blood soaking your fingers as you try to protect a boy you hardly know. Your mother was the only one who allowed you to be yourself. (The North does not find courage in the kindness of princesses.)

Your soft heart is a curse until the day Robb Stark takes it in his hands and promises to keep it safe.

Against a thousand odds, in a moment of peace within a storm of chaos, he finally accepts you. And you feel like you belong for the first time since you left the safety of the Red Keep. (No one will hurt you here with me. I’ll protect you.)

A soft heart is a beauty on a battleground. A light in the dark, an anchor. Undying, and calling for your love to come home safe. Alive. But a soft heart is only pretty until it bleeds. Until it rains. Until it screams. Until you want to claw it from your chest and throw it to the lions who claim to love you.

(Your soft heart, devoured by the Young Wolf, rots beside him.)

wattpad / playlist

━━ ACT ONE; northern attitude

prologue

chapter one

chapter two