#valiant hearts the great war

[drednixi]

[theowlhousefanboy]

Good/Great Games That Sorely Needed Expansion Packs/DLC Stories, if not More (And What They Might Have Entailed):

X-Wing Alliance (tying up the loose end that is Uncle Antan, whilst maybe extending to the Liberation of Coruscant)

Quake 4 (eliminating the remnants of the Strogg while fighting what may be fellow humans sent to hunt you down)

Return to Castle Wolfenstein+Enemy Territory (just more B.J. Blazkowicz adventures)

Star Wars: Squadrons (modding, more ships like the Assault Gunboat and E-Wing, and a far better and more expanded story campaign akin to X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter: Balance of Power)

Battlezone II: Combat Commander (probably cleaning up General Braddock's remaining yet fanatical forces, with an alternate campaign showing the full extermination of the Scion)

Batman: Arkham Origins (basically, a singleplayer campaign between Batman and Dick Grayson Robin based on the premise of the now defunct multiplayer)

Aliens versus Predator Classic 2000 (just more missions for the Colonial Marine, Alien, and Predator; maybe even more modding tools)

Original War (an Arab campaign that explains the main game's plot holes, among others)

SiN: Wages of Sin (perhaps an alternate timeline where the elusive Elexis Sinclaire was actually killed, thus preventing the existence of the lackluster episodic sequel)

Valiant Hearts: The Great War (an extension involving the American intervention, the fall of czarist Russia and the rise of Communism, and the end of WW1)

Command and Conquer: Tiberium Wars+Kane's Wrath (basically, Kane's Wrath-like takes for the GDI and the Scrin, with maybe a bonus campaign involving CABAL remnants and an actual crossover with Red Alert 2 by way of a Nod agent about to be sent back in time named Yuri)

Brutal Legend (even I can't think which)

Singularity (mayhaps an interquel involving another time traveller who may or may not be helping the protagonists)

Impossible Creatures (again, I can't think of anything)

Shadowrun Returns (Dragonfall and Hong Kong are great, but really, we need more)

BattleTech 2018 (same as Shadowrun Returns)

Mad Max (more adventures, vehicles, and franchise fanservice, and I don't mean the skin kind)

Halo Wars (just some side stories over the course of the Human-Covenant War)

Total War: Shogun 2 (Mongol invasion, 'nuff said)

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (I don't really need to say more)

Act of War: Direct Action+High Treason (either a campaign that shows us the fall of the Consortium or, better yet, a full blown alternate universe Consortium campaign)

House of the Dying Sun (more intriguing missions and ships, I guess)

Edit: OK, Valiant Hearts actually got a sequel named Coming Home in late January 2023, in a different medium that does show the American intervention and thus the end of WW1. Suffice to say, heard it did well.

[saiyef]

WHAT?! WE’RE GETTING A SEQUEL TO VALIANT HEARTS AND I’M JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS NOW?!

…Also confused about why there are game trailers on Netflix and what that’s about.

[pedroam-bang]

Valiant Hearts: Coming Home (2023)

[warcrimesandfrogs]

Mama by MCR is so Valiant Hearts

[arbitrarilyannoyedusurper]

Hitting a french officer with a shovel

[zarathesilentgamer]

Valiant Hearts: The Great War #14(End) - Zara The Silent Gamer

[inthehouseoffinwe]

It always gets me that literally *everything* hinged on the Fellowship getting this *right.* All the battles with Morgoth, Sauron, the events of the last Three Ages and beyond.

This was the final chance.

Either they succeed. Or all those battles and all that pain was for nothing, and Middle Earth falls to darkness.

And if ME does. It’s not far fetched to assume Valinor would be next.

-

But like it was always about the value of the little people. A value which historically, most people, the Princes of the First Age most of all, didn’t really… realise.

They dragged everyone into their wars and feuds and at the end of everything, everyone suffered for it.

They were out for themselves, because *they* wanted to be kings and queens, *they* wanted revenge, *they* wanted to go back to the wilds of Endorë and doomed everyone alongside them, cajoling and convincing them until they were riled up and probably not thinking straight.

They had to be right. If the rest of their people suffered for their bad decisions… too bad. There was so much pride and arrogance across the Sindar and Noldor both that their power, the thing that made them so great became their downfall.

The people of the Third Age, men and elves and dwarves, might have been ‘diminished’ but that meant they took time to appreciate their people. It means Aragorn at the Black gate sees there are young men from Rohan who are *terrified*, and entirely genuinely without judgement, allows them to leave. It means he goes around place to place, city to city, getting to know everyone as people. Seeing their value, seeing their worth as equal to his own. And he treats them accordingly as just as important rather than making everything about him.

It’s what allows him to deceive Sauron into thinking he’s acting as his ancestors did, proud and self assured whilst the whole quest and everything he does is about helping Frodo. About making sure he succeeds.

As he tells Frodo. “Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.” And that’s where these great heroes of the past fell short. For them, especially the elves of the First Age, everything was about valour and glory and victory. Literally Fëanor: ‘our deeds will be a matter of song until the last days of Arda.’

We needed the king who knew what it was to be a ranger, scorned despite being the only thing keeping them alive. The king who was a healer rather than a warlord. The man who only wanted his people safe, would pass all great deeds and live hated and homeless if only they could live without darkness.

The hobbits who were so pure of heart, who found joy in the little things. Even Legolas who would’ve grown up seeing Mirkwood steadily fall further and further into darkness, Spiders and orcs steadily encroaching, forcing the elves further into their last stronghold. The Dwarves who’d lost homes and knew their fortresses could only hold so long if Sauron enslaved everyone else.

All of these guys who held family and love for their people above all else. Who wanted a world free of war, who didn’t care for great deeds or ballads speaking of them. Who respected those of lesser official standing and saw them as people with opinions as valid as their own.

They just wanted their homes. They wanted their family and friends alive.

They longed for peace. Not glory or land.

And that’s where those of the First and Second Age failed.

[melestasflight]

I’m a Russingon girlie at heart and will never miss an opportunity to read into the romanticism of Maedhros’ rescue from Thangorodrim: ancient friends/lovers coming back together, Fingon finding compassion despite betrayal, all that good tear-jerker stuff.

But what makes Fingon’s heroism massive to me has nothing to do with the personal and everything to do with the politics at Mithrim. The fact that had he not gone to Thangorodrim, the Noldor in Beleriand would find themselves at literal war against each other.

This little passage from the Silm really deserves a lot more attention:

No love was there in the hearts of those that followed Fingolfin for the House of Fëanor, for the agony of those that endured the crossing of the Ice had been great, and Fingolfin held the sons the accomplices of their father. Then there was peril of strife between the hosts

Years later, when Fingon decides to look for Maedhros, the conflict between the hosts comes back as a primary reason behind his decision:

Then Fingon the valiant, son of Fingolfin, resolved to heal the feud that divided the Noldor, before their Enemy should be ready for war

This makes me conclude that the three years between Fingolfin’s arrival at Mitrhim (FA 2) to Fingon’s rescue mission (FA 5) must have been a continuous civil crisis. The hosts are in close proximity, a single lake dividing them, Fingolfin on one side, Maglor on the other, and for three years they cannot find a compromise. This crisis must have gotten pretty bad for someone to decide that braving Thangorodrim might be worth it.

And to me, this is Fingon's greatest contribution he ever made, not his battles, not his chasing of dragons, but preventing civil war among his people.

Of all the children of Finwë he is justly most renowned...

Yes, indeed, he is. Because without Fingon’s deed, there would be no victories for the Noldor, no Long Peace, no meeting of the Edain and Eldar. They would have fought each other endlessly until one group obliterated the other, or alternatively, Morgoth used this division (as the book seems to imply) to destroy them all swiftly. 

Fingon effectively accomplishes what Fingolfin and Fëanor never managed: peace, at least for a good while. Maedhros of course contributes in return by giving up the crown. He meets Fingon halfway, and they stay true to this alliance until Fingon’s death. They cross an impossible bridge no matter how you read their relationship. 

I’ll never tire of it. Ever.

[brynnmclean]

#turgon supremacy #i also love everybody but also TURGON IS BETTER #no offense but what has fingon done for me lately? #turgon built not one but TWO cities for his people #and he is tall and dadly #also Aredhel went with him and not Fingon so there's THAT #brynnmclean it's ONNNNN

Oh, it's on???? IT'S ON??????? FULL OFFENSE, YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT FINGON DID FOR YOU?????? HE COMMANDED ARMIES AND CAVALRY DECISIVELY ENOUGH THAT TURGON COULD BUILD THOSE BEAUTIFUL CITIES.

Can't have a flourishing Beleriand without someone beating back Morgoth's forces, including (baby) GLAURUNG.

Also rescuing Maedhros from Thangorodrim wasn't just an act of love (though I'm sure Turgon thought of it as some kind of betrayal at the time), it also was USEFUL in that it healed (at least some of) the estrangement between the Nolofinwëans and the Fëanorians-- like, NEED I REMIND YOU that Maedhros gave up the crown of the High-king to Fingolfin after the Rescue and that took tensions between factions down significantly. So that the war could be FOUGHT. So that the periods of peace COULD BE POSSIBLE. (We needed Maedhros to do this because Maglor and the rest of the Sons would have never, lmao)

I rest my fucking case, xoxo

I am SURE someone has already done this or something similar but a friend and I got into a shouting match over Fingon vs. Turgon yesterday so Nolofinwëan stans, I summon you for a v serious poll. Please show your work in replies/tags. 💜

[torchwood-99]

"But I do not offer you my pity. For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful, I deem, beyond even the words of the Elven-tongue to tell. And I love you. Once I pitied your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Éowyn, do you not love me?’"

There's an interpretation in the fandom that Eowyn's decision to go to war, her desire to fight for her people, her qualities that might stereotypically be described as "masculine", were a fault in her, a result of her depression and her general misguided thinking, and Faramir's love "cured" her of that, and in being cured she became appropriately "feminine" once more. Some people think approvingly of the message in this reading, others disapprovingly, but I don't think that message is there at all, when you read this quote.

Look at the reasons Faramir gives for loving Eowyn. "you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten"

He loves her for her valour. And far from Eowyn's desire for renown being something he has to school her out of, the fact she achieved it is something he celebrates for her.

Faramir recognises Eowyn was depressed, he recognises her sorrow and how that drove her to desire death, but he doesn't see her as some misguided, deluded woman who needed reminding of her proper place in life.

Their romance isn't based on Eowyn being some broken thing in need of fixing, for Faramir would love her just as much even if she was perfectly content. Before all else, he respects her. Just the way she is. He respects her courage. He respects her so-called "masculine" attributes, and celebrates them.

Eowyn's valour, her courage, her victory in battle, were all to be celebrated. The people who tried to force into something more "acceptably" feminine were proven wrong, doubly so because when she had her great victory, she did so proudly proclaiming her sex, the very thing the people around used to confine her. Eowyn wasn't wrong for behaving against her womanly nature, those who sought to confine her were wrong for thinking fighting for your people in battle and being a woman are inherently at odds.

The only thing Eowyn was wrong about, the only thing she needed to be corrected on was her belief that her life had no value outside of losing it in battle. Eowyn didn't need to change, she needed to understand her own self-worth.

And yes, Eowyn goes from basing her identity from being a warrior to that of a healer, but the world around her is changing from a world at war to a world at peace. And it's a world at peace because of the crucial contribution she made in battle.

"And then her heart changed, or at least she understood it; and the winter passed, and the sun shone upon her"

Eowyn's happy ending doesn't come from her changing who she is, just her understanding of who she is. She's still Eowyn. Still a "Lady high and valiant", still ready to fight for her people if war came again, but now she's Eowyn who values herself, and her life, and life in general.

[27moremoons]

Hamas, October 7th, 2024:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

A Flood Towards Liberation

A year into the ongoing heroic Al-Aqsa Flood Battle:

October 7th marks a historic turning point in our struggle, representing a natural response to zionist schemes aimed at erasing our national cause, consolidating control over our land and sacred sites, Judaizing them, asserting dominance over the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, persecuting prisoners, and continuing the siege on the Gaza Strip. This heroic battle, led with unwavering faith, determination, strength, and capability, was carried by the Al-Qassam Brigades, alongside all Palestinian resistance factions, with the support of our people across the homeland and abroad. At the heart of this movement were the steadfast, patient, and sacrificial people of Gaza, standing at the forefront of the nation, defending the land and the holy sites.

Since October 7th last year, over the course of an entire year, this Nazi enemy has committed the most heinous crimes and massacres, launching one of the most horrific genocide war against our people in modern history.

This ongoing aggressive war, now marking its full year, has claimed the lives of more than 41,000 martyrs, the majority of whom are women and children, with over 96,000 injured. Thousands remain missing beneath the rubble, alongside the thousands of detainees, all from Gaza alone. In the West Bank and occupied Al-Quds, over 600 martyrs have ascended, a quarter of them children, with more than 6,000 injured, while around 11,000 of our people remain imprisoned, subjected to the most brutal forms of torture, persecution, and the slowest deaths in the occupation's prisons.

As we mark one year since the Al-Aqsa Flood Battle, we in the Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas offer our prayers for the souls of our people’s martyrs, who ascended in our long struggle against the zionist enemy. We also pray for the martyr leaders who sacrificed their lives in this heroic battle: our brother, the martyr leader Ismail Haniyeh, our brother, the martyr leader Saleh Al-Arouri, and the caravans of the martyrs from our nation, especially from the support and defense fronts, led by the martyr, His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and the martyr leaders of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, whose blood mixed with the blood of our people on the path to liberating Al-Quds and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

We affirm the following:

First: The steadfastness of our great people in the Gaza Strip, their steadfastness on their land, their immense sacrifices, their rallying around and embracing of the resistance while remaining patient and steadfast for a full year, is the rock upon which all the occupation’s plans to displace us and eliminate our rights have shattered.

Second: The cowardly and criminal assassinations carried out by the fascist occupation against the leaders, symbols, and cadres of the resistance, both inside and outside of Palestine, and against the leaders of the resistance on the support fronts, only strengthen our resolve to confront the occupation and its aggressive schemes until it is defeated and vanquished.

Third: One year into the ongoing Al-Aqsa Flood Battle, we express our pride in the following:

1 - The legendary steadfastness of our great people in Gaza, who have written a glorious history for our people and our nation through their blood, suffering, hunger, and thirst, as they continue to defend their dignity, freedom, and independence.

2 - The bravery of the valiant resistance, including our victorious Al-Qassam Brigades, Saraya Al-Quds, and all resistance forces who have shattered the myth of the occupation and brought the despicable occupation closer to its inevitable end, offering the lives of their leaders and soldiers in the process.

3 - The heroism of our revolutionary youth and resistance fighters in the proud West Bank, who are confronting the occupation army and defending their land and holy sites against the enemy’s crimes, its hostile invasions of cities and camps, the rampages of extremist settlers, and their desecration of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Fourth: The Movement has made and continues to make significant efforts to stop the aggression and end the suffering of our people, positively engaging with all initiatives while firmly holding to a permanent ceasefire, the full withdrawal, the upholding of our people’s rights and aspirations, and honoring the blood and sacrifices of our people.

Fifth: All the lies and black propaganda promoted by the occupation and its fascist government against our people and resistance have collapsed and have proven to be false. Likewise, all the rumors and psychological warfare have failed to undermine the popular support for the resistance.

Sixth: We hold the U.S. administration, a partner in this aggression, fully responsible for the continuation of these crimes and acts of genocide. We call on it to stop its biased support for the occupation and immediately act to halt this brutal genocide war.

Seven: The expansion of zionist aggression to include Arab and Islamic countries—Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran—proves once again that it poses a real threat to the security and stability of the region, as well as to regional and international peace and security. Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need to deter this rogue entity, isolate it, boycott it, and shut down all attempts to integrate it into our nation or normalize relations with it.

Eighth: We highly value and appreciate the jihad and sacrifices of our brothers in Hezbollah, the Islamic Resistance, the Islamic Group in Lebanon, Ansarallah in Yemen, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. Their steadfast support, sacrifices, and participation in aiding our people and resistance during the Al-Aqsa Flood Battle are recognized. We call on all the forces of the Islamic Nation and its free people to join this heroic battle, gaining the honor of defending Al-Quds and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Ninth: We renew our call to our Arab and Islamic countries to take urgent steps to stop the ongoing aggression and genocide war against our people. We also urge the implementation of the resolutions from the Arab and Islamic joint summit held in Riyadh on November 11th of last year, calling for serious action to break the siege, bring aid and relief to Gaza, and cut all forms of political, diplomatic, and economic relations with the zionist entity.

Tenth: We express our gratitude to the Republic of South Africa for filing a lawsuit, and to all the countries that have joined this case, against the zionist occupation at the International Court of Justice for committing genocide in Gaza. We also value all the official, popular, and partisan stances, initiatives, and activities in our Arab and Islamic world, and across the globe. We commend the mass mobilization by all free peoples and those with a conscience in capitals around the world, the union movements, popular protests, and student demonstrations in universities supporting our people's rights. We call for an escalation of solidarity activities in all arenas and fields, strengthening the boycott of the occupation, condemning its crimes, and pressuring countries, entities, companies, and organizations that support the genocide war in Gaza.

Eleven: We call upon the masses of our Palestinian people in the West Bank, Al-Quds, the occupied territories, and in refugee camps and the diaspora to escalate all forms of resistance and struggle against the zionist enemy and its schemes. We also call on all Palestinian political factions, movements, organizations, and national figures to unite, close ranks, and prioritize national responsibility, focusing all efforts and resources to confront this fascist aggression.

In conclusion, we affirm to the entire world that there can be no compromise on our people's legitimate right to resist the occupation by all means necessary, to establish our free and independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital, and to live a life of dignity, free from siege, bombing, threats, or foreign control—like all other peoples of the world. Our great people and valiant resistance will continue their legendary epic in the Al-Aqsa Flood Battle, standing firm against aggression and thwarting its hostile plans.

Mercy, glory, and eternity to the martyrs of our people and our nation, swift recovery to the wounded and the sick, and freedom to the prisoners and detainees in the enemy’s prisons.

It is indeed a jihad of victory or martyrdom.

Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas

[middle-earth-mythopoeia]

There are about a million reasons why I love Faramir and Éowyn’s relationship and why I think it’s one of the most romantic relationships that Tolkien wrote, but do you want to know what isn’t talked about enough?

‘Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart, Éowyn! But I do not offer you my pity. For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful, I deem, beyond even the words of the Elven-tongue to tell. And I love you. Once I pitied your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Éowyn, do you not love me?’

A lot has already been said about Faramir’s confession that he would still love her if she were the Queen of Gondor—and rightly so, because he’s basically saying he’s so hopelessly in love that nothing could ever change his feelings—but what REALLY does it for me, even more than that, is Faramir saying that she is VALIANT. He admires her bravery and her accomplishments in battle, and he says she has won RENOWN. Yes!!! YES!!!!!!!!!

Look, part of the reason Éowyn doesn’t want pity is that she doesn’t want to be looked down upon, and that’s what she associates with being pitied. But this isn’t really about another person’s pity—this is about how Éowyn sees herself. All her life, she’s been held back from participating in battle and from doing great deeds. In her conversation with Aragorn at Edoras, in one of my favorite scenes in the book, she delivers these searing lines: ‘All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more. But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death.’ Aragorn asks, ‘What do you fear, lady?’ And Éowyn replies: ‘A cage. To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.’

But at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, she DOES great deeds! She and Merry slay the Witch-king of Angmar, Sauron’s MOST POWERFUL SERVANT. When you think about the power of fear that the Nazgûl had over most mortals, it’s absolutely astounding how brave this was for them to do. But even afterwards, Éowyn doesn’t appear to know the value of what she’s done. Part of this may be her grief for Théoden, and part of it may be the Black Breath, but the point is she doesn’t know what she has achieved. Because in the Houses of Healing, she says to Faramir, ‘I wish to ride to war like my brother Éomer, or better like Théoden the king, for he died and has both honour and peace.’ Éowyn still does not believe she has won honor—and so she does not have peace.

To this Faramir says, ‘It is too late, lady, to follow the Captains, even if you had the strength. But death in battle may come to us all yet, willing or unwilling. You will be better prepared to face it in your own manner, if while there is still time you do as the Healer commanded. You and I, we must endure with patience the hours of waiting.’ It’s important that Faramir doesn’t tell her she’s wrong for wanting to go to battle, only that she must heal, and battle may still come for them yet—and he says WE must wait. Éowyn didn’t want to be left behind to wait for the men to return, but with her and Faramir both waiting, it no longer has that meaning.

This is all important context for the confession. Because days later, in the most romantic conversation of all time, Faramir says these magic words: ‘For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten.’ LISTEN TO ME, IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT HE SAYS THIS! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT ÉOWYN NEEDED TO HEAR. It’s the FIRST THING HE SAYS IN THE SPEECH! Before he says she’s beautiful, before he says he loves her, he tells her she is valiant.

This is it. This is why this scene is peak romance to me. Because Éowyn desired to do great deeds and to win honor in battle, and she actually HAS DONE SO, but she doesn’t know it. And Faramir understands her, and not only that, he ADMIRES HER! ‘For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten.’ I don’t know about you, but that line ALONE would make me fall in love.

[pedroam-bang]

Valiant Hearts: The Great War (2014)

[purgetrooperfox]

I don't even play call of duty but you have dragged me along into the ghostsoap fandom with all the amazing art 👀 any fic / content recs for a new crew member of the RSS Ghostsoap???

ooohhh hi! here are some fics I'd recommend:

Pattern Breaker by mothbeast -- a re-imagining of the MW2 reboot with emphasis on what is and isn't inevitable

Affirmative, Sir by Wixiany -- an all-timer for me, 141 has a mole so Ghost and Soap shack up together at safe houses and so on. great character study

Widow of War by goth_iterations -- an AU where Ghost and Soap are on opposite sides, Ghost is a bastard and he's fixated on Soap

Where the Moonlight Meets the Sea by MildLimerence -- in progress I think? it's a mer AU, which isn't usually my jam but this one slaps. this art is for it

Poison Apple by surveycorpsjean -- comms banter. trust me

Something in the Orange by insomniamemoirs and RandomWordsAndStormyDays -- this is reboot ghostsoaproach where Ghost and Soap are together, then Roach is found alive, then there is a great deal of drama

gasoline in your heart by whisperwarm -- newfound ghostsoap collides with established ghostkönig with endgame polycule

some blogs and artists to check out:

bluegiragi -- has some very cool monster au stuff

amikoroyaiart -- gorgeous art, they draw quite a bit of '09 as well <3

yooo-lets-go -- their art is iconic, certainly not limited to ghostsoap either

spiltspit -- art + some spicy

valiants -- art largely in comic strips

hurrraaid -- has an extremely cool monster hunter au

@galacticgraffiti -- bestie beloved and certified ghostsoap enthusiast (+ art and fic)

@patchmates -- bestie beloved and certified cod enthusiast (+ art and fic)

I hope that's a good starting point? basically just went through my ao3 bookmarks and blogs off the top of my head so 👉👈 if for some reason you want ghostroach recs I can do my best in that department as well lmk o7

anyone else can add onto this of course, I'm probably forgetting crucial fics/blogs

[ahamasmiyodhah]

Something on Arjuna and Subhadra? If you are taking requests from the Mahabharata, that is. ✨️

Subhadra was numb.

Subhadra sat motionless, her heart frozen in a numbing ache that seemed to paralyze her very soul. Before her, Abhimanyu's lifeless body lay on the battlefield, covered with a thin shroud that could barely contain the evidence of his valiant struggle. The scent of the earth, now tinged with the iron tang of blood, clung to the air, mingling with the smoke and ashes of war. But Subhadra's senses were dulled; all she could perceive was the stillness of her son’s form, the same body she had cradled as a baby, now cold and unyielding.

Her gaze drifted over Abhimanyu's face, and in that lifeless visage, she saw not the warrior who had been felled in the thick of battle, but the child who once played in the courtyards of Indraprastha, laughing with boundless joy. She remembered how he would run to her, his tiny feet pattering on the marble floors, his voice a melody that called her "Maa!." How he had clung to her sari, his little hands tugging as he demanded to be picked up. The memory brought a faint smile to her lips, though it was more of a reflex than a true expression of emotion, for the weight of her grief was too heavy to allow any genuine feeling.

Subhadra recalled the countless nights she had spent telling him stories of heroes and kings, his young eyes wide with wonder. How he would gaze at her, asking if he, too, could be a great warrior like his father, Arjuna. "Yes, my son," she would say, brushing back the curls from his forehead. "You will be the bravest of them all." But now, those words seemed hollow, almost cruel, as she sat before the silent proof of his bravery.

Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision as she remembered the day Abhimanyu had taken up arms for the first time, the pride she had felt mingled with a mother's fear. She had blessed him with trembling hands, whispering prayers for his safety. He had smiled at her then, that same radiant smile that always managed to soothe her worries, and promised to return victorious. But now, that promise lay shattered like the remnants of the battlefield.

Subhadra's mind then turned to her elder Brother, her dear Dau, Balarama and her elder Brother Vasudeva Krishna, who had trained her and Arjuna's son in the arts of war, guiding him with the same discipline and care he had shown to his own brothers. Krishna had been both mentor and a father figure of immense strength and wisdom in Abhimanyu's eyes. She had often watched them train together, their bond growing stronger with each passing day. Baldau and Krishna had been preparing him for greatness, but not for this. Never for this.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Arjuna, his face twisted in a mask of rage and grief, his eyes burning with a fury she had never seen before. He marched toward her, his steps heavy with purpose, his hand clenched tightly around the hilt of his sword.

"Jayadratha," he hissed, the name seething through clenched teeth. "I will avenge our son. He will not escape my wrath."

Subhadra felt a surge of fear for her husband, knowing that the fury in his heart could drive him to his own destruction. But before she could speak, before she could reach out to him, Arjuna had already turned away, his focus singular, his resolve unshakable.

.

The heavy silence of the night hung over the tent as Subhadra and Arjuna sat together, each lost in their own grief. The dim light of the oil lamp flickered, casting long shadows on the walls, but neither of them noticed. Subhadra's eyes were red-rimmed, her tears long since dried up, but her heart ached with a pain that was too deep for words. Across from her, Arjuna sat with his head bowed, his hands clenched into fists as he struggled to contain the storm of emotions raging within him.

For a long time, neither spoke. The weight of their shared loss pressed down on them, making the air in the tent feel thick and oppressive. Subhadra could see the strain in her husband's posture, the way his shoulders were hunched as if carrying the weight of the world. She wanted to reach out to him, to offer comfort, but she hesitated, unsure of how to bridge the chasm of grief that separated them.

Finally, Arjuna broke the silence, his voice hoarse and trembling. "I failed him, Subhadra. I failed our son." His words were laced with self-recrimination, each syllable heavy with the burden of guilt. "I wasn't there when he needed me the most. I couldn’t protect him… my own flesh and blood."

Subhadra's heart twisted at the pain in his voice. She knew the depth of his anguish, knew how much Arjuna had loved Abhimanyu, even if circumstances had kept them apart for much of their lives. She herself had often felt the sting of Arjuna's absence during those long years of exile, raising their son alone, but she had always reassured herself with the thought that one day, they would be reunited as a family. Now, that hope was shattered, and all that remained was the cruel reality of their loss.

"Arjuna," Subhadra began softly, her voice gentle but firm, "you cannot blame yourself for what happened. Abhimanyu was a warrior, just like you. He knew the risks, and he fought bravely, with all the skill and courage you taught him." She reached out, placing a hand on his, her touch warm and steady. "You gave him the strength to face the world. You made him the man he was."

Arjuna shook his head, his expression twisted in grief. "But I wasn't there, Subhadra. I didn’t see him grow up, didn’t guide him as a father should. I was away, fighting battles far from home, while our son… our son was left to fend for himself." His voice broke, and he looked away, unable to meet her gaze.

Subhadra felt her own tears threatening to spill over again, but she fought them back, knowing that she needed to be strong for him. "We did what we could, Arjuna," she said, her tone resolute. "We cannot change what has happened. But Abhimanyu would not want you to be consumed by guilt. He would want you to honor his memory, to continue fighting for what is right."

Arjuna’s face hardened as he met her eyes, the sorrow giving way to a fierce resolve. "Jayadratha," he spat, the name dripping with venom. "It was he who blocked the way, who ensured that our son was trapped, surrounded, and slaughtered like an animal. I will not rest until I have avenged Abhimanyu’s death."

Subhadra nodded, recognizing the fire in his eyes. "Then do what you must, Arjuna. But remember, you are not alone in this. I am with you, always."

Arjuna took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. "I swear, Subhadra," he vowed, his voice low and intense, "before the sun sets tomorrow, I will kill Jayadratha. And if I fail… I will enter the fire myself. I will not return to you without fulfilling this oath."

Subhadra felt a cold dread settle in her chest at his words, but she knew there was no stopping him now. She could only pray that the gods would grant him the strength to succeed, for the thought of losing him as well was more than she could bear.

As Arjuna stood and prepared to leave, Subhadra rose with him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. "Come back to me, Arjuna," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Come back to me."

Arjuna held her close, his grip fierce as if drawing strength from her. "I will, Subhadra," he promised, his voice softening for a moment. "I will return, and I will make sure that our son's sacrifice is not in vain."

With one last, lingering glance, Arjuna turned and walked out of the tent, leaving Subhadra standing alone, her heart heavy with a mixture of fear and hope. She watched him go, silently praying for his safety, even as she knew that tonight will be the last night Jayadratha will laugh and celebrate his victory which burned her whole world.

Request by @desigurlie ✨

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