#tdoe 2023

[frozenprocedural]

TDOE... just late

Another (late) submission for TDOE. This time for the picture "A Lover's Tryst by Moonlight, Plaza Mayor, Lima" by Johann Moritz Rugendas.

Alarik and Beata belong to @patricia-von-arundel. Leisel belongs to @couragedontdesertme.

RATED E UNDER THE CUT!!!!

Costume Change

Rating: E

"Oh no, no no no no no!"

"Elsa? Are you alright?"

Alarik placed his hand on the handle of the bathroom door, but made himself stop just before turning it. It was rare for Elsa to want to get dressed in privacy, and the distress in her voice warned him that his presence would likely be unwelcome. 

"N- I mean, I'm fi- I don't know!"

Alarik placed his palm on the door, wishing it rested on her instead. But he remained where he was, pitching his voice soft and soothing. 

"Okay, Elsa, I'm right here. Can you breathe with me? In for three, hold for three, out for six. Ready?"

He exaggerated his breathing, tapping the door with a finger to keep count, repeating until he heard her follow along. After a few cycles, when he heard nothing else, he decided to ask. 

"May I come in?"

A long pause, and he prepared for a refusal when…

"Yes…" She spoke in a voice so quiet he nearly missed it, but Alarik slowly turned the knob and walked in.

Elsa stood facing away from him, but he could see her reflection in the mirror- her eyes were red and puffy, and tear tracks trekked down her cheeks. The purple mini-dress for her costume was only zipped up an inch or so, and seemed not to fit as well as he remembered. When Elsa caught his eye in the mirror, fresh tears trailed down. He desperately wanted to wipe them away, but kept his distance, letting her decide when he could move closer. 

"It… it doesn't fit."

"Your costume? Okay, we could find another…" He stopped when she shook her head frantically. 

"No! You don't understand!" Elsa spun to face him, wringing her hands. "It fit just fine last month! And it's not the only thing that doesn't fit right! And I've been sick in the mornings, and… and… Alarik, I've missed… I've missed…"

Elsa made some strangled noise, her eyes wide and pleading. In that moment, the realization hit Alarik like a physical blow. 

"...your period. How many?"

Elsa held up three shaking fingers, the tears coming hard and fast. Alarik could see her trembling, and held out his arms. With a sob, she sunk into him, and he held her tight, running a hand through her hair. They stood like that for several minutes, until Elsa's sobs reduced to sniffles, and she pulled away, staring at the damp spot on his white shirt. 

"Sorry," she whispered.

"No, no, it's fine. Should we go to the store and get a test? They're still open."

Elsa shook her head and reached over to open the drawer she kept her cosmetics in, pulling out two slim boxes and setting them on the counter. Catching Alarik's confused look, she flushed, her eyes dropping to the floor. 

"I… I started to suspect about a week ago and got these. But I just… I couldn't make myself take them. I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier, but I-"

"Elsa, no, please don't apologize. I understand. When you were ready, you would tell me. Now, let's try this. You still look a bit flushed. Why don't I go get some ice so you can do the test part," he nodded towards the toilet, "and then we'll wait together for the results. Here, use my phone timer."

Elsa nodded, and he gave her hands a squeeze. "I'll be right downstairs if you need me." He unlocked his phone and sent it on the counter, and after planting a gentle kiss on her forehead, left to give her some privacy. 

He returned minutes later with a bag of ice wrapped in a towel, hearing the sound of running water. He rapped his knuckles on the door. 

"Come in." 

Elsa sat on the edge of the tub, still in the unzipped dress, her gaze fixed on the two tests she'd placed on toilet paper next to the counter. Alarik sat beside her, gently placing the ice on the back of her neck. Elsa leaned into him, taking his other hand in hers. He gave it a squeeze.

They sat in silence together until the tinkling sound of the phone alarm announced it was time. Elsa started against him, and Alarik squeezed her hand again in reassurance. 

"I'm right here Elsa."

She nodded, and he helped her stand. They walked to the counter, and while Alarik turned the timer off, Elsa picked up the tests. She looked at him, took a shaky breath, and flipped them over.

Both had plus signs. 

"I'm… pregnant."

She looked back up at him, her eyes shimmering. "Alarik, I'm… I'm pregnant."

Alarik brought his hands to her shoulders, rubbing his thumbs in small circles. "How are you feeling?"

She took a long moment to answer, and when she did, her voice was soft. "Scared. But… happy too. I want to do this." She looked down at her stomach, then back up at him, a small smile starting to form. "We're going to have a baby, Alarik."

Now it was his turn to cry as he folded her into his arms, burying his face in her hair and murmuring how much he loved her, how wonderful she was, and anything else that came to his deliriously happy mind. 

It was Elsa who tilted her head up, lifting a hand to cup his jaw and nudge it down towards her. Alarik wasted no time in fulfilling her unspoken request, bringing his lips to hers. The soft warmth of her lips against his made him close his eyes, choosing to feel and taste instead. The hand that had been cupping his jaw slid to the back of his neck, joined by the other one, her fingers playing with the fine hairs there. She pressed against him, and Alarik could feel her mood changing. 

He pulled away, just enough to speak, his lips still brushing hers. "Elsa?" 

Her eyes were bright, pupils beginning to dilate. As she spoke, her fingers dug into his curls, pulling gently. 

"I need you."

They were supposed to be leaving soon for Anna and Kristoff's house. But there was no way he would deny his wife her need. 

Feeling a sudden thrill of inspiration, he swung low to sweep his arm under Elsa's  knees, eliciting a startled yelp from her as he scooped her into his arms. She clung to his neck, eyes dancing with mirth, as he carried her to the bedroom. 

"Goose."

"Always and forever your goose."

He set Elsa back on her feet by the bed, his hands sliding to her back, finding the zipper. When she nodded, he pulled it the rest of the way down, then followed the curve of her spine up to her shoulders, surprised to feel goosebumps beneath his palms.

"Are you cold?"

"No." Her voice came out as a husky whisper, and a thrill worked through him when he realized Elsa's already high sensitivity to touch had increased. 

"Ahhhh…" Alarik brought his hands to her shoulders, and slid the dress off slowly, making sure to keep contact with her skin. If she was even more sensitive, he intended to take full advantage of it. 

By the time the dress pooled on the floor, he felt her trembling, her hands gripping his arms as if she needed to steady herself. He kissed her then- he had to- and she moaned into it, her tongue tracing his teeth. He reached behind her and unclasped her bra, sliding it down her arms before flinging it away to join her dress. When he cupped her breasts, thumbs brushing the nipples, Elsa pulled away from his lips with a gasp, sitting on the bed.

She reached up to find the knot of the ascot he wore, working it loose and tossing it aside before attacking the buttons of his shirt. He shrugged out of it as quickly as possible, loathe to be parted from her skin for too long. He returned to her breasts, pinching the nipples, drinking in each soft, needy noise his ministrations drew from her. His lips roamed down her neck, sucking and nipping at her skin. 

Elsa fell back onto the bed, pulling him with her. He kept laying lines of kisses across her skin, following the V of her throat to the valley between her breasts, then up to her right nipple. He took a brief moment to lock eyes with her before closing his mouth around it. Elsa gripped his back, arching into his touch as he sucked the hardened bud between his teeth, pinching its twin as he did. After a few more seconds, he switched to her left breast, making sure to give it the same attention. 

Giving one last gentle nip, Alarik pulled away, sliding down her torso, nipping and sucking at her skin until he reached the midpoint of her belly. He spread his hands over it- still flat, but he could feel a slight difference there. It could be his own imagination, of course, but he couldn't tear his eyes away, thinking of the tiny life growing inside Elsa. 

“I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.” Elsa covered his hands with her own, and he looked up to see her looking down at him, one corner of her mouth quirked up in a small half-smile. He kept his eyes on her as he first kissed her hands, then her stomach. 

“it's extraordinary. You're extraordinary.” He let his lips brush her skin as he spoke, watching goosebumps rise in response. Elsa sighed, one hand burying in his hair, stroking his scalp, and he swirled his tongue into her belly button, delighted at her shiver. 

The hand in his hair pushed on his head, and he laughed at the none-too-subtle hint. He continued his journey down, pausing to kiss the skin just above the thatch of pale curls between her legs. He knew where she wanted him, and while he may have teased her on a different occasion, this time called for a direct approach. 

He flattened his tongue, starting at the bottom of her folds and dragging it to the top, using the tip to flick her bud. She was already soaked, her flavor strong, and he couldn't suppress his own delighted shiver as he set back to work, lapping up all she had to give. He traced her clit with his tongue, then sucked it into his mouth.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” 

The hand in his hair tugged, hard enough to produce a slight tinge of pleasant pain, and Alarik hummed his delight. Elsa's heels pressed into his back, and he sank two fingers into her core as he continued to suckle her clit. It took him no time at all to find the rough patch on her front wall, and he stroked it, eliciting further cries of pleasure. 

“Don't stop!”

“I wouldn't dream of it, darling.” He kept his mouth close to her, darting his tongue out to lick her bud every so often, his fingers continuing their steady rhythm. “Do you know how beautiful you look? How lucky I am to see this?” 

He pressed a kiss to her clit, and she dug her heels in, a wordless cry leaving her. She was close- he could feel the flutters of her walls, her trembling, the death grip on his hair. 

“Let go.” The words came out as a low whisper, tinged with his desperation to see her release. “Let me see you, darling. Let me feel you.” Once more he sucked on her clit, curling his fingers at the same time, and she was done.

And oh, how glorious a sight it was. He pulled away, just enough to see her- her body taut, breasts jutting towards the ceiling, head thrown back as she screamed his name. One hand left his head to grip the sheets, knuckles white. The other gripped his hair hard enough to burn deliciously, and he moaned his delight. His fingers cramped a but as her walls tightened around them, but he continued their movements, albeit slower, letting her come down. 

Elsa sank back into the mattress, panting, eyes closed, and he pulled his fingers free, running his tongue over them and savoring the taste. He laid down beside her, running his knuckles up and down her arm in a slow, steady pattern, watching her breathing settle. Eventually Elsa opened her eyes, and the look in them made him shiver. She rolled onto her side to face him, one arm wrapping around his neck, pulling him down into a fierce kiss. She suckled on his lip, ran her tongue over his, her fingers running down the knobs of his neck. It was his turn to moan, knowing she was still ready for more. 

Elsa pulled away, just enough to speak. “On your back.” She nudged his leg with hers, and Alarik was all too happy to comply, shivering at what he knew would come next. 

For a moment, Elsa remained lying on top of him, resuming their kiss. Then she was sliding down, laying kisses in her wake, until she was crouched just below the hem of his jeans. She popped the button loose, then slowly slid the zipper down, the sound almost obscenely loud in Alarik's ears. As she reached the end of the zipper, Elsa drifted her hand down to cup his evident bulge, and Alarik bucked his hips, groaning. 

Elsa chuckled, but wasted no more time, gripping the hems of both the jeans and boxers and pulling them down in one swift movement. Alarik moaned as his erection sprang free of its confines. Elsa smiled, tracing a vein upwards with a finger, then circling the weeping tip. 

“Ahhhh… Elsa…”

Her fingers closed around his length, stroking up and down, and a low whine left him as he clutched the sheets with a white-knuckled grip. He heard Elsa chuckle before she rose onto her knees, lining him up with her center. Alarik let go of the sheets to grab her hips, steadying her. Keeping her eyes locked on his, Elsa sank down on his shaft, her pace agonizingly slow. When he was finally buried to the hilt, both of them gasped, Elsa falling forward, and Alarik holding her tight, needing to anchor himself. 

They took several seconds to calm their breathing, locked in each other's embrace, bodies trembling with need. 

“Easy,” Elsa whispered, rubbing her hands up and down his arms, and he realized just how hard he was trembling. 

He buried his head in her shoulder, breathing in her scent, a soft, needy noise escaping him. “You feel so damn good,” he hissed, and bucked when she shifted, “I'm trying to… hold on.”

Elsa shuddered against him, making both of them groan. “Don’t worry… I'm… close… already.” Then she pushed up, resting on her knees, taking his hands and placing them on her hips. 

She kept her eyes locked on his as she rose up and nearly off him, before falling back, her head thrown back in ecstasy as he filled her. Alarik dug his fingers into her hips, knowing it would bruise, knowing she loved it. 

And then she had a rhythm going, her head thrown back, hands gripping his, allowing him the most delicious view of her breasts bouncing with each movement and the slide of his shaft in and out, shining in the low light. He drew his knees up behind her and thrusted in time with her movements. 

He was babbling, telling her how gorgeous she was, how good she felt, anything to convey the fire growing with each thrust, threatening to consume him. Elsa responded by guiding his hand to her clit, where he took the hint and started circling it. Her walls were fluttering around him, her arousal dripping onto his torso. 

“So… close… just… there…ALARIK!”

She threw her head back, body arching, hands fisting into the sheets as she came, pulsing tight and hot around his shaft. Alarik tensed and cried out, emptying himself in heavy spurts as he followed suit. For several seconds they remained that way, until their orgasms finally passed, and they went limp, Elsa lowering herself onto his chest. 

They lay together for a minute or so, simply focusing on regaining their breathing, until Elsa shifted and rolled off of him, both of them moaning when he slipped free of her. She settled beside him, finding his hand and gripping it.

After a few more minutes, Elsa let out a sigh and released his hand, only to burrow into his side, making soft, contented noises. He rolled so that he was facing her, wrapping his arms around her. He wondered how long they would be able to do that. How long before the tell-tale swell formed. 

Elsa must have been thinking along the same lines, for she looked up at him and whispered, “We're going to be parents.”

He laughed, burying his face in her hair, overwhelmed by the joy of it all. “We are. You are going to be the most amazing Mama.”

She nuzzled his shoulder. “You'll be the most amazing Papa.”

They both startled when Elsa's phone rang. She shifted to glance at the screen, and groaned. “It's Anna. She's going to kill me.”

An idea came to Alarik as he spotted the discarded sheets at the end of their bed. “Tell her you had a costume emergency and we'll be on our way out soon. I have a plan.”

……..

“Finally! I thought you two would never- Elsa! Where is your costume!?” Anna looked the two of them up and down. 

Elsa shrugged from inside the old sheet she'd draped over herself. “We had an emergency. This is what we could come up with on short notice. I mean, the Scooby gang does need a ghost to chase, right?”

Anna waved them inside. “Okay, but what happened to your Daphne costume? Did it rip?” 

Elsa glanced up at Alarik, then pulled off the sheet. She wanted to look Anna in the eyes when she gave the news. 

“No, it didn't rip. It doesn't fit because… well, I'm pregnant.”

Anna stared at her for several moments, mouth hanging open. Then she squealed and launched herself forward, almost knocking Elsa over as she hugged her. 

“I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNTIE!!!” Anna let go of Elsa and looked over to Kristoff, Neta, Leisel and Beata, who had run into the room upon hearing the commotion. 

“HA! I won the bet!”

[svalleynow]

TDOE Releases 2023-24 3rd Grade and 4th Grade ELA TCAP State-Level Results

The Tennessee Department of Education has released statewide average 3rd grade and 4th grade results for the ELA portion of the spring 2024 Tennessee Comprehensive Academic Program (TCAP) assessment. Third grade student scores remained steady as 4th grade student scores showed significant improvement, thanks to the nation-leading, comprehensive statewide literacy strategy for Tennessee public…

[thxnews]

OWL Fest: Building Home Libraries Together

Curated Bookstore and Reading Event

In a bid to enhance early literacy and build home libraries, the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) joins hands with the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) to introduce Opportunities with Literacy (OWL) Fest. This unique event, set to travel to 31 Priority elementary schools across Tennessee in September, offers a curated bookstore and shopping experience for students. OWL Fest allows students to select high-quality books to take home, free of charge, with the aim of boosting reading proficiency and fostering a culture of reading.   A Lifeline for Literacy in Tennessee Tennessee faces a literacy challenge, with only 40% of its 3rd graders reading proficiently. Priority schools, in particular, grapple with reading proficiency rates ranging from 22-38%. Recognizing the profound impact of home libraries on academic success, vocabulary development, and career attainment, GELF's OWL Fest aims to bridge this gap by providing students with the opportunity to bring books into their homes.   Student-Centric Book Selection Research from the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™ underscores the importance of students selecting their books. A staggering 92% of children report that their favorite books are the ones they've chosen themselves, and 93% are more likely to complete a book they've personally selected. OWL Fest embraces this approach, allowing Pre-K through 5th-grade students to choose 6-8 books that resonate with their interests and preferences.   Building Home Libraries Year-Round OWL Fest is part of GELF's K-3 Home Library program, designed to bolster home libraries and combat learning loss by delivering books to students and teachers each summer. In 2023 alone, the program distributed a remarkable 1.2 million books to over 200,000 students, teachers, librarians, and media specialists across the state, including Priority schools.   Shaping a Literate Future James Pond, a spokesperson for GELF, shares the organization's vision: "Our goal is to promote a culture of reading in Tennessee by meeting students where they are with the books and resources they need to become lifelong learners. Through OWL Fest, we are bringing a book shopping experience, without the cost barrier, to students who may not have this kind of opportunity." "We want to give students the freedom to choose their books, call them their own, and get excited about reading. It's more than books. It's the future of Tennessee."   Empowering Tennessee's Young Readers Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education, emphasizes the significance of reading proficiency: "Teaching children how to read, and how to read well, is one of the most important things we can do to set them up for success in their education, in college and career, and in life. Thanks to our partners at GELF, students across the state have access to free books through OWL Fest to help them become strong readers."   Scholastic's Commitment to Literacy Amanda Alexander, Chief Academic Officer at Scholastic, expresses the company's pride in supporting GELF's mission: "Scholastic is proud to continue the critical work with GELF to ensure children have access to books that they are excited about reading this school year and beyond."   School District Leaders Praise OWL Fest To develop effective support for Priority schools, GELF actively sought input and feedback from school district leaders who understand the vital importance of literacy. Dr. Thomas Rogers, Assistant Superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, says, "Literacy is life and the bedrock to all other subjects. OWL Fest has helped us to align and recommit ourselves to early and ongoing literacy for all students, regardless of the zip code." Dr. Terrence D. Brittenum, iZone Instructional Leadership Director (ILD) - Zone 10 of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, adds, "OWL Fest has facilitated our schools in prioritizing literacy by providing the resources to do so. Through the OWL Fest initiative, we will continue to support our schools by increasing students' access to grade-appropriate texts and evidence-based literacy instruction."   Prioritizing Priority Schools OWL Fest receives support from federal funding aimed at promoting literacy in Priority schools designated by TDOE for the 2021-2022 school year. Priority schools, also known as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools, represent the lowest-performing five percent of schools in the state due to sustained low academic performance. Below is a list of participating Priority schools that OWL Fest will visit in September: Achievement School District - Memphis Scholars Caldwell-Guthrie - Cornerstone Prep Lester Campus - Journey Coleman School Hamilton County School District - Orchard Knob Elementary - Hardy Elementary School - Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy - Hamilton County Virtual School Jackson-Madison County School District - Jackson Career Technology Magnet - Lincoln Elementary School Knox County School District - Green Magnet Math And Science Academy - Maynard Elementary Metro-Nashville School District - Bellshire Elementary - Ida B. Wells Elementary - Tom Joy Elementary - Jones Elementary Memphis-Shelby County School District - Cummings Elementary/Middle - Hamilton School - Memphis Delta Prep - Freedom Prep - Westwood - Geeter School - Riverview Elementary/Middle - Arrow Academy of Excellence - Alcy Elementary - Larose Elementary - Frayser-Corning Elementary - Georgian Hills Elementary School - Whitney Elementary School - Granville T. Woods Academy of Innovation - Memphis Scholars South Campus - Hanley Elementary  

Aiming to Make a Difference, One Book at a Time

OWL Fest underscores the commitment of GELF and TDOE to enhance literacy outcomes in Priority schools, offering students access to the transformative power of books, one page at a time.   Sources: THX News & Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation. Read the full article

[tennesseepta]

TDOE Public Opportunities on School Letter Grades

Throughout the fall, the department is inviting all Tennesseans to participate in public engagement opportunities on best practices for determining School Letter Grades, which will measure how the state’s K-12 schools are serving students and helping them succeed academically. 

In addition, Tennesseans are invited to submit public comment on their top priorities for measuring a school’s academic success, and how the state should measure progress towards those priorities. Public comment can be submitted to schoollettergrades@tnedu.gov by September 15, 2023. 

The School Letter Grades Public Town Hall schedule is below: 

View the department’s Facebook page for additional logistics information.  

Tuesday, August 22: Southwest Region  

Location: Bartlett High School (5688 Woodlawn, Bartlett, TN 38134) 

Time: 5:30- 7 p.m. CT 

Access Microsoft Teams Livestream 

Facebook Event 

Wednesday, August 23: Southwest Region 

Location: Southwest TN Community College Macon Cove Campus (5983 Macon Cove, Memphis, TN 38134) 

Time: 5:30- 7 p.m. CT 

Access Microsoft Teams Livestream 

Facebook Event 

Thursday, August 24: Northwest Region 

Location: Dyersburg Middle School, (400 Frank Maynard Blvd., Dyersburg, TN 38024) 

Time 5:30- 7 p.m. CT 

Access Microsoft Teams Livestream 

Facebook Event 

Tuesday, August 29: Southeast Region 

Location: East Brainerd Annex (555 Goodwin Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421) 

Time: 5:30- 7 p.m. ET 

Access Microsoft Teams Livestream 

Facebook Event 

Thursday, August 31: East Region  

Location: Central High School (5321 Jacksboro Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918) 

Time: 5:30- 7 p.m. ET 

Access Microsoft Teams Livestream 

Facebook Event 

Tuesday, September 5: Upper Cumberland Region  

Location Cookeville High School (1 Cavalier Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501) 

Time: 5:30- 7 p.m. CT 

Access Microsoft Teams Livestream 

Facebook Event 

Wednesday, September 6: Mid-Cumberland  

Location: Ellington Agricultural Center (440 Hogan Road, Nashville, TN 37220) 

Time: 5:30- 7 p.m. CT 

Access Microsoft Teams Livestream 

Facebook Event 

Thursday, September 7: South Central 

Location: Shelbyville Central High School (401 Eagle Blvd, Shelbyville, TN 37160) 

Time: 5:30- 7 p.m. CT 

Access Microsoft Teams Livestream 

Facebook Event 

[mtsu4u]

Source:

Tennessee Department of Education [TDOE]. (2023). Tennessee safe schools report for 2021-22 school year. https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/safety/save-act/Annual_Safe_Schools_Report-Feb_2023.pdf 

[frozenprocedural]

TDOE 2023 Day 1

Here's my first story for TDOE (a day late, but oh well!)

For the picture "The Norwegian bark Friedig at sea under reduced sail" by Antonio Nicolo Gasporo Jacobsen:

Hideaway

Rating: G

The ship's wide sails were the first to be spotted- stark white against the darkening sky, fluttering like the wings of some great bird as it made its steady way to port. 

He wished he were waiting to board, to be taken wherever he desired. Away from this town too small for him, away to grander places- Oslo to start, and then beyond. A chance to soothe the restlessness that plagued him. 

Instead, he stood by his father, waiting to receive one passenger. Then back to the manor, where it would be the same as always- his father trying and failing to make him into a leader, and he yearning for something more. 

Shouting and movement on the docks brought him back to the present, where the dock hands bustled about, preparing for the nearing ship. He watched with some interest then- he'd always enjoyed watching the process of docking. The complicated, yet practiced movements of the ship's crew working with the dock hands, bringing a bulky vessel to rest. 

Finally, the gangplank was lowered, and the few passengers- not many, given it was a supply vessel- made their way down. All adults, save for the one small figure- a girl- frozen at the top of the gangplank, a figure that drew his eyes.

“There she is,” his father said, and waved a hand over his head.

The girl started, then scurried down the gangplank, making her way through the small crowd with hunched shoulders, arms wrapped around her protectively. She looked up at his father's wave, and after a moment's pause, made her cautious way towards them, her movements jerky and uncertain. 

When she drew close enough, he was struck by just how very small she looked. It wasn't just her height, although he was already nearly a head taller than her, but how much she shrank into herself, as if she were trying to hide from the very world. Ice-blue eyes gazed at him from beneath white-blonde hair that was starting to come loose from its bun. That's when he saw the tear tracks. 

He remembered what his father told him on the ride to the docks- how she'd lost her family in a Southern Isles attack on the Arendellian border, and only recently. Now she was in a foreign country, with no one she knew, and everyone she loved gone. He felt sorry for her, and wished he could say or do something to help. But he was terrible at that sort of thing, so he thought it best to keep quiet. 

A sudden lull in the conversation between his father and the girl brought his attention back to the present. He realized his father was waiting on him to introduce himself, and without thinking, he offered a hand. The girl shrank away, fear in her eyes, and he withdrew his hand quickly, feeling quite suddenly sad. He wondered what had happened to make her react so. 

“I'm sorry,” he murmured, and offered a slight bow instead. “I failed to catch your name earlier.”

“I'm E-” Her mouth closed, lips forming a thin line, and she shook her head. “I'm Johanna. It's a pleasure to meet you.”

He wondered at the hesitation and the clearly fake name, but a look from his father kept him from prying further. Instead he smiled, hoping that might help. 

“I'm Alarik. Welcome to Geatland."

[frozenprocedural]

TDOE Day something part 2

Set to the painting "Spirit" by George Roux.

Alarik, Jenny and Dag belong to @patricia-von-arundel

D-A-G

Rating: T

He tried not to think of how wrong it looked. How wrong she looked.

A veritable maze of tubes and wires ran from her arms and chest, making it look as if she were being consumed by some mechanical beast. And her skin! Grayish and papery, as if she might crumble to dust any second. 

Alarik had to swallow when he took her hand- it was too warm- but he held tight. Elsa's brow furrowed and her face scrunched before her eyes fluttered open. They were hazy, and it took a few moments for them to focus on him. 

“...’Larik?” Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “Where…” 

Her eyes drifted down, then shot open. “The baby! Where-” she cried out, clutching her abdomen. 

“Elsa, no, he's in the NICU. Lay still, please, you just got out of surgery.” Alarik grabbed her shoulders, avoiding the wires and tubes, ignoring the alarms that trilled at Elsa's sudden movement. 

“I…” she scanned the room with wide eyes, her breathing rapid and harsh. Eventually she sank back into the pillows, moments before two nurses came rushing in. Alarik pressed against the wall, but held onto Elsa's hand as they checked her over and silenced the alarms. Once they were finished and left the room with a reminder for Elsa to take it easy, he sat back down. 

“What… happened? I remember the… the pain…”

Elsa's voice cut off with a choked sound, and Alarik grit his teeth at the memory. Her screams for him, rushing to their bedroom to see her kneeling in a puddle of blood…

He gripped her hand a bit tighter, and made himself speak, keeping the story as short as possible. The ambulance, Kristoff racing behind it. The hospital, and the agonizingly long wait for news. A C-section to deliver the baby- who was whisked off to the NICU immediately. And then there had been bleeding, so heavy it required a hysterectomy. 

Elsa listened with quiet tears streaming down her face. Alarik grabbed some tissues and dabbed them away. 

“I failed. I failed our baby. Alarik, I'm so sorry…”

“What? Elsa, no! None of this was your fault! You did nothing wrong! Please,” he took her hand back and pressed his lips to her wedding band. “Please don't let yourself go there. You did everything you could. And our son is in good hands.”

For a moment, she simply stared at him, then used a shaking hand to wipe at her eyes. “Our… son?”

For the first time since seeing Elsa bleed, Alarik smiled. He clasped his hands around hers, squeezing tightly. 

“Yes. We have a baby boy.”

………..

When Alarik stepped inside their house, it was quiet. Anna, Kristoff and Neta had taken Jenny to the zoo, and the silence was deafening after the constant noises of the hospital. 

Alarik checked the clock- they'd be back within a half hour. He knew he should try to get some rest with how much he'd been running back and forth. But his mind wouldn't let him relax. 

He paced around, restless and antsy, until his knee caught the corner of the piano bench. He cursed, then looked at the keys. His fingers drifted over them, brushing away the thin layer of dust that had accumulated in his absence. Then he sat down. 

He splayed his fingers across the keys, not playing just yet, just letting them rest there. For several minutes he sat like that, staring at the white and black contrast, but only seeing the hospital. Seeing his son in a plastic box, connected to an array of tubes and wires. His wife's pale face, tracked with dried tears. 

And a name, the idea coming from Jenny counting the days.

Three notes. 

D-A-G. 

He played them again. Dag. Norwegian for “day.” 

How many days now? Four? Five? They tended to blend together in a blur of exhaustion, sadness, and hope. 

D-A-G.

Hope. The word resonated with him. Hope for both mother and son to be alright despite all odds. 

Alarik began to add to the notes, starting off soft and slow, letting the sound build. He let his hope play through his fingers, let the song swell into something big and strong, and yet still soft and sweet, the way he wished his son would be. 

Let him be alright. Let him grow into who he's meant to be.

The song softened, slowed, until he was back to the original three notes. 

D-A-G. 

He hadn't written it down, but Alarik knew he wouldn't need to. It was engraved into his mind- Dag's song. He would write it down at some point, but only for his family. One day, he hoped he might teach it to Dag. Just as he was trying to teach…

“Papa!”

A blur of red hair flew towards him, launching into his side. He grunted, and pulled Jenny into his arms, comforted by her warmth, her energy. It was such a difference from her quiet brother, and he freed a hand to wipe away a stray tear. 

“Papa, are you alright?”

Jenny's face reminded him so much of Elsa, save for his hair and eyes. He made himself smile, fighting back a sniffle. 

“I'm alright, Eldig. A bit tired, but alright.”

A hand rested on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Anna smiling at him. She tilted her head towards the kitchen. 

“We'll be right around the corner making dinner.”

Alarik nodded, mouthing a silent ‘thank you’. He didn't know what he would have done without Anna and Kristoff's help. He was a very lucky man. 

“Papa? What were you playing? I heard it in the garage.”

Alarik smiled and shifted Jenny so she could reach the keys. He guided her fingers so she could reach the notes.

D-A-G. 

“I was playing your brother's song. Just like you have your song.”

Jenny giggled and plunked out the first few notes- E-D-G. Alarik continued, playing a lively, staccato tune that hopped up and down, reminiscent of something fiery- her nickname. 

When he finished, Jenny looked up to him. “Papa, can you play Dag's song again? I liked it.”

Alarik chuckled, and kissed the top of her head. “Of course, little one. Will you help me with the beginning?”

Jenny nodded so enthusiastically Alarik had to jerk his chin away for fear of getting struck. He brought Jenny's hands back to the piano and tapped out the first three notes. 

D-A-G. 

And in that moment, Alarik knew he would one day teach his son his own song. 

[frozenprocedural]

TDOE Day... something

I'm double-posting today, since I'm behind. This set in the CAAAL universe. Pure, smutty fun.

Alarik belongs to @patricia-von-arundel. Set to the painting "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt.

RATED 'E' UNDER THE CUT!!!!

Slow Mornings

Rating: E

He comes awake slowly, reluctant to leave the clutches of sleep, and more importantly, the warmth of his wife. He"d much rather remain in bed, pull her a bit closer and-

Wait. 

He can. 

Alarik grins, opening his eyes to take in Elsa. She's facing him, her face soft and relaxed in sleep, mouth parted slightly. A strand of hair near her mouth flutters with each breath, and he reaches over to move it away. His knuckles brush her cheek as he does, and Elsa's face scrunches up. She breathes in sharply, eyes blinking open, before focusing on him. 

"Do you have to go?" 

Her voice is thick and muzzy with sleep, a petulant note tinting the words. Her hand finds his and pulls it back around her, grumbling when he chuckles. 

"No," he whispers, letting his breath fan across her scalp. "Not today, darling."

Her eyes fly open, and she smiles, wide and happy, before wiggling closer to him, humming in contentment.

"Not today." She echoes. "You're done with your project, and I get you aaaalllll to myself this morning."

He kisses the top of her head, his hand sliding down to cradle the small swell in her middle. "That you do."

Elsa sighs in contentment, bringing her hand up to cup his jaw, her thumb stroking the days-old stubble there. 

"You need a shave."

"I'll have you know that's the beginning of a magnificent beard."

Elsa giggles and shakes her head. He could no more grow a beard than she could, and she prefers him to be smooth-shaven. He grins and rubs his cheek against her neck, eliciting a startled squeak. Further nuzzling produces more squeaking, and soon he's chasing her around with his chin and jaw, while she tries to evade him, both of them laughing uproariously. 

Eventually Elsa dives under the covers, pulling them tight around her in protection. He responds by poking at her figure to make her squirm and giggle until she finally throws the sheets off.

"You win!" She gasps, swatting at his hand now that she can see it. Alarik ceases his tickling.

"Mmmm. What's my prize?"

Elsa considers it for a moment, then slides back up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Then her lips are on his, warm and soft, the tip of her tongue probing at his lips until he parts them. Then it's running along the edge of his teeth and playing with his own tongue until he can't hold back a moan. When they pull apart, foreheads resting together, Elsa smiles.

"How was that for a prize?"

Alarik kisses the tip of her nose. "It was very nice. But I wouldn't say no to a few more…"

They kiss again, a little harder this time, a bit more desperate. Elsa's fingers play with the soft hairs at the base of his neck, her nails scratching lightly. He runs his hand up and down her spine, delighting in the shiver it produces. 

Alarik realizes how much he missed this- the unhurried pace, the chance to explore one another's bodies. The slow warmth spreading inside him is a welcome balm to the exhaustion and stress he'd been experiencing for the past few months, and he wants to make sure to enjoy it as long as possible.

But he needs her clothes out of the way.

Elsa has the same idea, for she pulls away, pressing one last kiss on his lips as she finds the buttons of his worn flannel pajamas, working each one loose. He watches, knowing just how much she enjoys doing this, only moving to pull free of the flannel when she finishes. Elsa runs her fingers through the curls on his chest, giving them a gentle tug every so often. Alarik shudders when her fingers brush his nipples, and he can't hold back any longer.

His hand seeks and finds the hem of her nightshirt- an old shirt of his- and starts to tug it up. Elsa helps on the right side where he cannot grip, and soon she's bare before him. He takes in a sharp breath, astounded as always by her remarkable beauty. The changes of pregnancy have only made her even more striking in his eyes. 

It's his turn to touch her now, his hand trailing across her collarbone and down, sliding through the valley between her breasts and coming to rest on the swell of her stomach. He spreads out his fingers, spanning as much of it as he can. He can't help himself- ever since she'd begun to show two months ago, he loved feeling the physical evidence of the baby growing inside her. 

A soft groan made him look up to see Elsa wincing, one hand going to her back. 

"Spasm," she grunts by way of explanation. 

"Here, roll over."

Elsa does as he instructed, and Alarik presses his hand against her back, massaging the knot he feels until it loosens and Elsa sighs in relief. As she relaxes, Alarik trails his hand to her front, pulling himself so she's lying pressed against him once more, and he can resume tracing patterns on her skin. Their new position has placed him within easy reach of her ear, and Alarik wastes no time in taking advantage of that. 

Elsa whimpers when his lips meet the special spot behind her ear, a sound he relishes. He uses his tongue to trace the outer curve, then suckles the skin there, making her arch against him. Meanwhile, he cups a breast in his hand, circling the areola with his thumb and occasionally giving the nipple a flick. He repeats this with the other breast, then pinches the nipple, enjoying Elsa's breathy sigh. 

As he plays with her breast, Alarik continues to attend to the spot behind her ear, then continuing down her neck to her collarbone. He spends some time sucking at her pulse point, feeling it speed up with his ministrations. Elsa tilts her head to give him better access, while one of her hands cups the stump of his wrist, stroking the skin there. She's soft and pliable, and he can tell she's still a bit drowsy, so he keeps his pace slow and steady, letting her pleasure build gradually. 

Eventually he traces his hand down, tracing it back and forth as he does, enjoying the shivers that follow. Elsa was sensitive before she got pregnant, but now it's increased so much more. He keeps going lower, pausing to circle his thumb at her hip bone. Elsa knows what he's doing, and presses against him in a silent request, one he cannot deny her.

A slow slide to the patch of curls between her legs, and his fingers seek, then find, the wet warmth there. He draws one through her folds, from bottom to top, ending by swirling around her nub. She moans, her fingers tightening around his stump, and he shifts that too, bringing it to her breasts, rubbing them the best he can. 

He lingers at her bud, tracing lazy patterns, keeping his touch light. He dips his middle finger into her center, not quite enough, he knows, but he wants to draw this out. They'd had their share of hard and fast during his project. He wants their time to last.

Elsa stretches languidly against him, lifting and resting her stump on his leg to give him better access. He adds a second finger, seeking the rough patch that will give her further pleasure. When he finds it and starts to rub, Elsa gives a soft cry, her fingers tightening around his stump, pulling him in closer. 

"That's it, just enjoy it." He nuzzles her neck, giving the skin a gentle nip. "I've missed you. I've missed you so much, darling."

"Me too…" Her voice is soft and drowsy, but there's a husky tinge to it. She rocks against his hand, but he keeps his pace slow and even. Still, he can tell she's close. Her walls are twitching, and she's trembling, panting, until it has her. 

She arches, taut as a bow, her fingers digging into his stump. His name leaves her in an ecstatic cry as her walls pulse around his fingers, trying to draw them in further. Alarik doesn't stop his movements- he increases them instead to coax a second orgasm onto the heels of the first. Only when she gasps and pulls at his hand does he relent, carefully pulling free, although even that is enough to make her whimper. 

"Sorry." He whispers.

Elsa shakes her head, her body slowly relaxing. She releases his stump and rolls over to face him once more, her face flushed but satisfied. 

"I'm alright, just sensitive. Give me a second."

"Of course."

He brushes some stray hairs from her face, then smooths her hair down her back, watching her breathing slow. Eventually she reaches up to cup his jaw, fingers brushing over the stubble, and pulls herself up to press her lips to his. It's a slow kiss, as they spend more time exploring one another's mouths, tongues playing together. 

Elsa's hands start wandering over his body, playing with his chest hair, then following it down his torso until she comes to rest at the waistband of his boxers. They pull apart, and Elsa smirks at him before running a finger over the telltale bulge in the fabric. Alarik tenses and sucks in a sharp breath. 

Elsa hooks her fingers onto the waistband and pulls the boxes down, freeing his erection. She takes it in her hand, tracing the veins and weeping tip, while he grunts and grabs a fistful of the sheets.

"Elsa… I'm not going to last too long if you keep doing that… unless you want to do it that way…"

She shakes her head, lifting her leg to rest on his and drawing him against her folds. "No. I want you. Inside."

He groans at her words, his knuckles going white as she guides him inside. He has to draw deep breaths as he slides in- she's so wet, and warm, and tight, and it's a delicious agony with each inch he goes. To distract himself, he finds her lips again, kissing her with fervor. She isn't doing much better, he can tell. Her body trembles, and she moans against his lips, pressing against him as he finally buries himself fully within her. 

They stay like that for a minute or so, parting so that they can pant and steady themselves. Once Alarik feels he has better control of his need, he gives an experimental rock of his hips, both of them sighing happily at the movement. 

"Okay?"

Elsa responds by sliding a hand down to his butt, giving it a firm squeeze and causing his hips to buck. 

"More, please."

"Of course."

He pulls back, just the tip inside her, then presses himself in fully with one motion. His hand seeks and finds her nub once more, and within moments he has a steady rhythm going.

"Oh… Alarik…" Elsa's fingers dig into his backside- they're sure to leave marks, but the pain only serves to drive his pleasure even further. He kisses her jaw, her neck, anywhere he can reach. She buries her head in his neck, nipping his skin, making him hiss. 

Unlike before, there is nothing slow in their lovemaking. They chase their release, pressing into one another, trembling and groaning…

Elsa's head falls back as she cries out his name, body tense and walls pulsing. He tumbles after her, pressing his hips as close to her as he can, pumping hot spurts deep within her until he has nothing left to give. 

They collapse against one another, clutching and panting until they are able to relax. Alarik pushes Elsa's sweat-soaked hair free of her forehead, and she does the same for his curls. He shifts to give her some room to cool off, sliding free of her while doing so. Elsa makes a small noise of complaint at the loss, and he rubs her hip until she smiles.

"I'd almost forgotten how good it is to go slow," Alarik murmurs, using his knuckles to caress her skin. 

"I missed that. We both needed it." Elsa cuddles against him, and he wraps his arm around her, sighing in contentment.

They'll have to get up soon enough to clean up. But for now they can savor this moment. 

They can take their time. 

[frozenprocedural]

HAPPY TDOE!!!!!

It's that wonderful time of year again! Twelve Days of Elsarik 2023!

This year we are doing 12 picture prompts, listed below. Please note the order is only for the pictures posted, not numerical order! Choose whichever picture you would like to start with, and have fun!

Posts can be pictures, stories, whatever you'd like! Any rating allowed, just please use "read more", warnings and proper community ratings for M and E fics!

Please tag your posts with TDOE 2023 or Twelve Days of Elsarik 2023!

The dates are December 21st (Elsa's birthday!) to January 1st.

Happy TDOE!

Picture names below!

First group, left to right:

+ The Meeting on the Turret Stairs by Frederic William Burton

+ The Goose by Nikolai Astrup

Second group, top to bottom:

+ La Belle Dam Sans Merci by Frank Dicksee

+ A Sunday Afternnon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat

Third group, top to bottom:

+ The Norwegian Bark Friedig at Sea Under Reduced Sail by Antonio Nicolo Gasporo Jacobsen

+ Under the Mango Tree by Fernando Amorsolo

Fourth group, top to bottom, left to right:

+ Spirit by George Roux

+ Paraphrase on the Finding of a Glove by Max Klinger

+ The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

+ A Lover's Tyrst by Moonlight, Plaza Mayor, Lima by Johann Moriz Rugendas

Fifth group, top to bottom:

+ Photo of a couple looking at Monet's Water Lilies at the Museum of Modern Art, from National Geographic's web page

+ Little Girl Reading by Berthe Morisot