#yes i fully believe and ship boots and hazard

[haveihitanerve]

Boots: hey hazard can i ride you? Gregor: *spits out drink* Luxa: *inhales soup and chokes* Ripred: *wheezing into his shrimp* Howard: *freezes mid conversation with hazard* Ares: *falls from sky* Aurora: *also falls from sky* Nike: *falls from sky but from laughter* Hazard: i-er- uh-um *looks at gregor* i- uh Boots: i've ridden howard before! Its fun Ripred: *chokes* Gregor: *death glares him* Boots: yeah he used to carry me all around the palace when i was little Hazard: *immensely relieved* oh! You mean a piggy back ride! Boots: *confused* yeah? What else would i mean? Ripred: *opens mouth* Ares: *covers mouth with wing* don't you fucking dare

[madamquacklemore]

Chapter 8-Destinies Intertwined

a/n again my apologies for the slow updates! This week has been a mental one! Warning mature content!! And language!! Spoiler alerts set during s03e06 I also decided not to put the confrontation scene in this chapter ‘cause it would just be rewriting the episode so it’s set just after it 

And bowl me over black and blue It's far too hard to say I love you And take my pulse and hose me down My heart’s on fire

Scars on 45-Heart on Fire

Saltwic

Unable to sleep Tarian kept finding herself replaying this evening arugment in her head over and over. Should she have stepped in?  But she remembered quite clearly Uhtred's glare and his words at Beamfleot. Oh I hope this is part of their plan because a drunken Sihtric was ready to make the square. Uhtred was to depart to help dead brother find peace but he did not part on pleasant circumstances, to add insult to injury he had called his former friend, Sihtric, his father's son not mention he promised to kill him when he returned if he was still here. Finan was at a a loss, there was nothing Tarian could do to help she had remembered Uhtred's words in the wood-that Finan's ignorance would save him. Was this the lie they had conjured? She hoped so as her lover was torn insisting it was the lack of sleep and ale to blame. (That Dagfinn and his loose tongue didn't help the situation either). Exhausted Finan kissed her quickly on the forehead once they were alone and left to go to his own bed. It was then just as Tarian thought sleep had finally claimed her that she sat up alerted to the sound of horses and shouting. "Tari?" Lilwen mumbled. "Go back to sleep my love." "Are we under attac-" "No just the horses startled by drunken guards. Everything is fine sshssh.." she kissed her forehead and wrapped her back under their furs. Silent as a mouse Tarian found her cloak and boots not even bothering to dress fully she headed to their door catching Finan right before he came to her door. Tarian pressed a finger to his lips. "Sss. You wake her you stay with her." she joked. But it was not a time for joking Finan nodded solemnly. "Hes gone. Sihtric. Took the prisoners. All of them," he whispered then pounded his fist on the wall. "Come we must join the others," she replied and took his hand leading them to the courtyard. The lovers went to join the guards at the gate who told them that no one had been too badly injured. Seemingly Sihtric had rendered them all unconcious stolen the keys and left the estate. The captain of Aetheflead's guard went to fetch the lady of the estate she had decided it would be best not to persue the prisoners as it was too late and too dangerous. It seemed that no square would be drawn for Uhtred and Sihtric after all she had pointed out. The group dispersed leaving Tarian and Finan alone "I don't know how I'm gonna break it to Osferth," Tarian looked up at the handsome Irishman it was the first time she had ever heard him use the young monk's actual name. "I mean I get Uhtred leavin' I do. But that Sihtric a traitor? And the men? I dunno wha-' to do Tari I just-" The frustrated man ran his hands through his hair and proceeded to punch the wooden pole beside the armory. As he yelled in pain Tarian took his hand in hers she kissed his raw knuckles then rubbed them gently. "Hurting yourself won't do anyone any favours my love." she whispered. "Come let us go to the hall have some ale." "Ale isn't going to fix this. Sihtric having too much got him in this situation. Everything has turned to shite all over that witch and this bleedin' curse or at least their belief in it." "Now you listen to me Finan." Tarian took his face in her hands forcing him to face her, not caring who could see them. "Everything is not shite as you so put it. It just seems it so." "Everything is gone people are deserting I-" "You have me." She placed one of his hands on her chest over her heart. This seemed to calm him or so she thought he closed the space between them and pressed his forehead against hers. "I need you now. Where?" Tarian smiled against him and answered him not with words but with actions and lead the way to the stables in the very last stable that now lay vacant. No words were needed and so none were spoken he needed her right now and Tarian constantly found that the dull ache inside her was only ever eased when she was alone with him. Finan threw down his cloak and proceeded to take her from behind ripping her leggings off he plunged inside her with a ferocity Tarian had not yet experienced from him. He was hard. He was rough. And she loved every minute of it. He wrapped his hand in her hair his other digging hard into her hip as he proceeded to pound into her. Just as Tarian's  knees began to buckle he met his climax pulling out just before he released. They were no fools the last thing either of them needed was a swollen belly.

Tarian collapsed on her front on Finan's cloak as he adjusted himself and lay beside her. "Jaesus. I didn't mean to go so rough are you-" Tarian turned to face him grinning "That...was..well.." "You enjoyed too huh?" "Guess its true what they say angry sex is the best sex" The two of them both laughed and he pulled her close to him kissing the top of her head. "Oh love I needed that. I'm sorry I just-" Propping herself on to an elbow she looked him in the eye. "Ssh my love should I not want it it won't happen and you will now that for sure." "I'd never force-" Tarian laughed. "I know that. I just want you to know Finan that whatever happens wherever our paths lead us I will never forget these times and I will always aid you and the others where ever I can." "Tarian why are you telling me this?" Grabbing his hand in hers watching their fingers interlink she replied "Just to be sure you said yourself we are warriors and death is a hazard. Is it not?" Finan breathed a little easier seemingly satisfied with her response. He sat up a bit against the hay stack and kissed the top of her head "Tari there's something I want to-no need to say-" he swallowed hard. Where was this coming  from? It was a good a time as any he thought as he tried to shake the possibility of one day facing Sihtric on a battlefield. Tarian pulled away slightly to look him in the eye as she watched him struggle to find the words she too felt apprehensive. She had an idea of what he was trying so hard to say was she ready for him to say it? Was he even sure? "Don't" she whispered. Finan looked at her "Don't?" "Not if you don't mean it." "Oh but I do there's not a shred of doubt Tarian. I'm bonkers about you-I love you."

There was a still in the air how much time had passed neither could say it was if the whole world had come to a standstill.  "How can you be sure?" "Tari-I -what?"  "How can you be sure? I mean I understand you care for me but how can you be sure?"  "Sure? Tari I'd give my life to save yours I'd go to hell and-"  "You would give your life for your friends for the men-"  "Yes but I don't want wake up in bed beside them every morning do I? Should we live to an old age and given the luxury of an easier life then I want that life to be with you. Marry you. Have children with you grow old and watch Liliwen kick the arses of any man who gives her trouble and me along with her." he half laughed anything to relieve the tension. How could she question him on this? He noticed the pained expression on her face perhaps it was too soon? 

"Look Tarian I didn't mean to upset you I-" "It's not that Finan. It's just the last man who told me he loved me died saving mine and Lil's life. I was never certain as he was as you say you are now of his feelings for me and that guilt will always haunt me. I can't have the same thing happen to you I just can't." Her eyes began to water as she turned away from him she would not let him see her cry she would not. Finan bit his lip and closed his eyes briefly. He had guessed she'd been with a man before that wasn't what had bothered him it was this burden of grief she carried that weighed her down like an anchor to a ship. "Everyone has their own path to follow. You know what Uhtred is always saying destiny is all? And if that man died following his own path then that was his choice his destiny. As warriors death is something we accept our only hope is that it is of our own choosing and it was of his." He gave her a moment to collect herself if Tarian wanted to him to see her crying she wouldn't have turned away. Finan rubbed her back as she steadied herself and dabbed at the corner of her eyes. What a strong beautiful woman-his strong beautiful woman. "As for me I honestly didn't think I'd live this long I never told you how I came to be a slave did I?" It was a rhetorical question they both knew that Tarian turned to face him ready for him to truly expose his demons and his heart. "It was because of a woman. Not the woman's fault but mine I fell in love with a woman the wrong woman and we wanted to elope needless to say we didn't get far. She was murdered and I was sold as a slave." Tarian gasped and looked at him. "So believe me Tari I really do know the value of love and sacrifice." "Finan-I-" "Sssh my love if you aren't ready or if you don't yourself know that's fine. Maybe you never will. But I know I'd never rest easy whether it be heaven or hell if I didn't tell ya before I went." "Finan.." her voice trailed off as she straddled his lap and kissed him. Finan smiled against her mouth and matched her passion flinching slightly as her cold hands reached for the top of his trousers he ran his hands on the inside of her tunic hungrily. Roaming up and down her back  then her front cupping each breast. If God almighty were to strike him down now he would gladly die a happy man even if she didn't feel the same. It didn't take long before they were both ready for each other again as Tarian positioned him inside her. Rocking back and forth they were in no hurry just simply enjoying the closeness and pleasure of each other until at last they both reached their own ecstatic release. "I love you too Irishman." And for the first time in her life she knew she could say those words truly without reservation. The gods had brought Finan into her life to stay no matter what the future held they had each other and always would

Powys

"Are you certain that is what you saw?" Arthfael asked. "Positive master." Illewyn replied. "My Lord?" "Well you heard the Jarl Arawn is not our concern. He is fate is a matter for father and daughter." "But Lord I fear he could be a threat to your-" "Arthfael. You and I both know you fear for Tarian more so than myself." "Lord I-" "It is no matter. I do not take offense. Arawn will be watched closely at a distance he will be more dangerous if he realised we know the truth. The information you have provided us Illewyn will not leave this room." "Agreed." "Yes Lord." "We need to get word to Tarian Lord with your permission-" Arthfael began. "No." Ruari said. "We cannot waste any more of our time and resources. Jurgen will be coming himself to deal with their problem. We will not help nor hinder." The chieftain moved to the round table in the center of the room guesturing his men to look at it. "Danes have attacked our Southern allies in Dyfed." he explained pointing at map then brought his finger to the opposite end "There is an uprising in the northern part of our lands. We are stretched thin and so cannot waste anymore time running around after my niece. Is that clear?" "Yes Lord." "We all have our own paths our own destiny’s. Tarian has hers and we have ours. Go now prepare for battle it will surely be on our doorstep in the days to come."

@laketaj24 @tesstrash @medievalfangirl @geekandbooknerd @therealcalicali @ariellostatci @itzmegaaaaaaan @sprinklesthrows17 @xthezodiacage @miahelizaaabeth

[matrixaffiliate]

Glimpsing Happiness

Co-written with @hufflepuffmarlenemckinnon​

FFN and AO3

Chapter 6

A hint of a smile still lingered on Sirius’s lips after Sister Marlene uttered her last clever retort and bid him goodnight at shift change.

It occurred to him that he had no reason to be smiling. He was still dreadfully ill, and missing one of his more vital senses. He hated this whole experience and everything that went with them. Sister Marlene included. She was certainly not a reason for him to smile.

Except, he was sure he had been smiling a moment ago while they traded mild barbs. He may have been blind but he could still feel the expressions on his own face.

...was he… flirting with her? Why would he flirt with a woman who could be a complete hag for all he knew?

“Idiot,” He mumbled at himself.

Rationally he knew it was some sort of reflex he’d developed. He wasn’t sure he could turn off the flirtatious edge that must have been part of his interaction with just about anyone who was receptive to it. Apparently he didn’t even need functional vision to pick up on who was receptive. Sister Marlene was definitely receptive to the playful back and forth.

That had to have been it. There was no more to it than that.

There was, of course, more to the reason he developed the reflex. But that was immaterial. Mostly…

He had the hardest time pushing thoughts of Reg from his mind. His younger brother who’d been the son his mother wanted. His younger brother… who he failed to save…

His charm and good looks were the only thing he had that Regulus didn’t. Though Sirius had been born before the royal family of Saxony were forced out, and Regulus after, it was always Reg who would have made a better prince. His mother had never failed to point that out.

Sirius had to learn to play things to his advantage. He managed to sweet talk and flirt his way into and out of all sorts of scenarios. He fell back on those tools, when he didn’t know what else to do. That was an occupational hazard of being the unfavored son. He needed to make use of what he had.

But really, it meant nothing. He shook his head and rearranged the smile on his face into a more neutral expression.

He really had nothing to be smiling about. He’d heard references to the British Expeditionary Force work as the “Phoney War”, so called because aside from attacking the Naval Base in Scapa Flow, the Germans seemed content to make France and England wait.

Sirius pressed his head back into his pillow and scrunched his eyes shut before laughing at the irony of his actions. Why were the two countries willing to stand by and let Hitler march around Europe? Had they already forgot the Great War?

Where was James? James could talk him down from all this. He always did. James helped him to remember how people did stupid things when they were afraid. James grounded him, he always had. But James was still in France, probably spending his time writing Lily and then doing everything he could to keep his men in shape. That was a battle within itself.

He'd complained about it in his last letter to Uncle Alphard. Did he even get to read it? Sirius tried to breathe through the tightness in his chest. He'd done the math and Sirius couldn't be sure, the letter would have arrived within a day either side of his passing. All he was sure of, was that Uncle Alfie was gone, and the doctors blamed it on his wounds from the bombing and sinking of the Royal Oak, his ship, his favorite ship, actually. Of all the battleships his uncle had been assigned, he'd told Sirius the Royal Oak was his favorite. It was all rather poetic really. Uncle Alphard didn't go down with his ship because he was saving members of his crew. But when the saving was finished, he followed her to the grave.

All he could do now was try to be a man his Uncle would have been proud of. Uncle Alfie had always had faith in him, Sirius reminded himself before settling in to try to go to sleep.

At least in his dreams he’d be able to see.

“Good morning Captain. Where did you pick up German profanity?”

“Sister Marlene. You’re starting your intrusive questions early today. Maybe I just appreciate how angry the language of our enemy sounds. Would that explanation suffice?”

“If you want to lie to me, sure…. In any case, it looks like you’ve got post.”

“Looking forward to snooping through more of my mail, are you?”

“Yes, it’s what it live for” Marlene’s tone dripped with sarcasm.

“Who’s it from? Prongsie again? One of my various and sundry admirers?” He added, in a calculated move.

Sister Marlene should know that this was just how he was. He had girls who thought they were in love with him in nearly every county in the South. She wasn’t special. He didn’t even know what she looked like. He tried not to dwell on that fact, but mostly failed in the process.

“It’s from a Mrs. Tonks. Are you seeing a married woman, Captain? Scandalous!”

“She’s my cousin! It’s not like that… I was never on board with all the… cousin matches… my family was ever so fond of.” He had to quickly correct himself to edit out to the more vulgar phrase ‘cousin-fucking’ though deep down he thought Sister Marlene would be amused with the wording rather than offended.

“Fine, fine. I’ll just have to take you at your word there. Shall I read Mrs. Tonk’s letter?”

“By all means. Dromsy is great.”

“Alright then here goes.  ‘Dearest Baby Cos, I’ve just received your letter.’ I don’t remember sending a letter to Mrs. Tonks, was this the one Mary wrote?”

“Lovely to know the lot of you have been talking about me behind my back. Yes. That was the day you cruelly abandoned me.”

He was definitely putting on a show, and he didn’t quite understand why, but he also resigned himself to his inability to stop it. This was just who he was.  

“Sister Mary happens to be my roommate. We’ve been best friends since we were children. I don’t make a habit of gossiping about you with Miss Fig and Doctor Dodge”

“Well that’s too bad. I was going to see what I could get out of them about you.” He attempted to wink but it probably looked incredibly stupid because he had only the vaguest notion as to where Sister Marlene was relative to him in the room. He resolved not to do that again.

“You’re really insufferable, you know that? I’m going to go on with your letter so as not to undo all my hard work by killing you myself. So she says ‘I’m so sorry to hear of your illness. I do so hope you recover quickly. If I have the opportunity to visit, and the doctors say it’s safe to come with little Dora, I’d like to visit you before you’re sent back to the thick of it.

Speaking of little Dora, she’s gotten quite good with her letters and she’d love to write you a letter herself one day soon. I told her we could hold off on that until you had regained your vision. (So you can fully appreciate her penmanship and all.)

I have it on good authority that my daughter will have a cousin of her own sometime this year. No, the rumors about our dear Bella are still not true, as far as I know. But it does seem that Cissy has fallen pregnant with Malfoy’s heir.’”

Sirius heard Marlene’s throat clearing and regretted agreeing to hear the letter. His family was none of this girl’s business. Droms was like to speak freely and it was all very uncomfortable subject matter, outside the select few who’d experienced it along with him.

Her pause lasted just a hair too long. He knew she was reading ahead and was taking in all the sordid details of his Nazi family and feeling disgusted by him.

For a moment he felt glad he couldn’t see the look on her face. He hated watching people be disappointed with him. He’d gotten quite enough of that from his mother, thanks. He gathered his resolve and nodded to Sister Marlene in hopes she’d get on with it.

“‘It pains me that I had to learn this through the grapevine. I was once so close with our Cissy. She was such a sweet girl. But I can’t support her choice to follow her husband into the pits of hell itself. I still haven’t corresponded with her since before the wedding. I don’t think it’s likely to change.

I know it must be just as painful for you, being one of us white sheep of the Blacks. Now that our beloved Uncle Alfie has gone there’s just the two of us. I want you to know, Baby Cos, that I am here if you need me. I’m your family. The rest of them might be licking Hitler’s vile fascist boots, but you know me. If you ever need a home, you have one here with Ted and me.

I miss you ever so much and hope to see you soon. More than that, I hope you can see me soon as well!’

There was a silence. If he had to guess what the sound he heard was, he would say it was Sister Marlene sucking air in through her clenched teeth. But perhaps that was only his own projections. This was right and properly awkward. He would be avoiding eye contact if he had the faculties to do so.

So then it’s signed; ‘Your older and wiser cos,

Dromsy’’”

The silence went on too long. Sirius felt compelled to say something. Anything. Just to prove to himself that she hadn’t up and left.

“Uh… so… I guess this makes my lie about the German profanities especially flagrant.”

He heard a small and sad sounding little chuckle from Sister Marlene.

“I suppose it does. Don’t worry, Captain Black. It wasn’t as if I believed you anyhow. Besides, the King has more German blood than the Germans themselves. I can’t really hold your family against you while loving my King and country, can I?”

“Yeah. His Majesty is something like a 2nd cousin once removed? We’re all cousins, really, if you go back far enough. It’s properly disgusting.”

“So you really don’t go in for the cousin fucking?”

Sirius felt his jaw drop. Had she really just said that? He really wished he could see the look on her face right as she said it. Was she smiling, knowingly? Was she playing it totally neutral as if she hadn’t said a word that would make the poor sweet cat lady, Miss Fig, blush?

He chided himself for letting his mind wander back to Marlene’s appearance. It was such an unknown though, that it gnawed at him to not know. He wondered if it would help to invent a picture of her in his head as a placeholder. He concentrated, but couldn’t come up with an image of a girl who didn’t look something like some combination of the girl from Kent who’d been surprisingly leggy for her height, and the one lass with the curly blonde hair from Cork. This was not helping anything at all.

Sirius realized that he’d been in silent awe for far too long. He blinked his annoyingly useless eyes a few too many times and made himself speak.

“Sister Marlene! I held my tongue before and you went on ahead and said it.”

He put on a tone of being scandalized, but he was sure his amusement was transparent. He knew she was the type of broad to appreciate a diverse vocabulary. He was glad she’d proved him right.

“I could hear you thinking it.”

“You’ve read me like a book. Credit where credit is due…”

Her laugh was real this time. The sound was music to Sirius’s ears. His stomach began to settle in from the wave of anxiety. No one was going to call him a traitor or a Nazi today.