#you follow them and before you know it you're holding a bloody sword above the slain bodies of your kith and kin

[eleneressea]

the thought occurs to me that there's a distinct possibility that some Doriath march-wardens deserted, seeing the perils of the outside world and wanting to defend people from them…

and possibly they deserted to the Fëanorians.

[desultory-novice]

"The Only Thing I Know"

"...It's still blood shed..."

-

A little sketch for the accidental second (or third?) of the Thematically Noir Songs || Gotye's "The Only Thing I Know"

To me, this is 100% a song about the Summer Trio. Or how they came undone when those bonds were destroyed forever.

-

I love how the music in this song feels very cold, desolate, and wintry, just like Shiver Star. And then, it chooses to end on this oddly dissonant, warm, beach cafe music, which to me just digs the nail in further. Because going to the (non-existent) beach in search of a true summer is something that was always bandied about between them.

But Raquelle dies and Noir dies and Adeleine, poor dear, DOES get to go in Kirby 64, but it is not with the two of them at her side...

-

Lyrics wise, I feel like both Raquelle and Adeleine fit the "girl that I remember, who'll never leave or need to grow" as one is dead and one literally can't grow older anymore. The word "memory" in this case (the only thing I know) feels like a fitting metaphor for the control gear that locked around Noir after Raquelle's death.

(Frankly, all three of them are kind of trapped in this moment/memory, really)

"When the past gives me no comfort And though the future is the cost..."

-The past being times when things were happy, but that memory stings Noir now, because the only thing from the past he'd kept with him was his pain, which the Sword both fed off of and fed him with poisonous whispers that he could cut it all away and be better off. The cost was everyone's future. No one made it out normal.

"The way I'm choosing to remember I'll forever be the man I never was..."

-Noir is literally physically locked into the bloody role of being Zero's blade, enforcer, and executioner: The Swordsman. A role painfully unfitting for the sorrowful and wistful, ever-dreaming, deeply protective, all bark-and-no-bite teenage boy...

"And you, you fade But the memory remains the same"

"And I, I can't change And I think living with your memory Is slowly driving me insane."

-Same as above, really. What he did and the knowledge he cannot take it back is eating away at him and even speeding along the change into Dark Matter.

The last part, the B part following the long instrumental, feels like Adeleine's chance to finally say something about the situation Noir carefully crafted for her by caring about her so much that he...was too afraid to open up to her before things got THIS bad.

-

"You are perfect but you're empty And it gets so lonely in my mind"

"Cause your image in my memory's The only shred of you that's left behind" -He was the perfect big brother, at least, on the surface. Again, he never let her in and now she's left trying to reassemble a truer picture of what her brother was like without him and she's got so little to work from...

"You were real and but then you left me And that's the part I can't accept

So I'll keep on living with your memory Because it's all that I have left..." -As I alluded to in the Haircut From Hell comic, Adeleine has this kind of understated, defrosting horror in the back of her mind that Noir's "gift" to her (his curse) was to die while accidentally trapping her in the memory of a time when he was still alive

-

For the drawing, though it is a loose and hasty sketch, I did try to convey a few things, particularly in the way everyone's hands are being used. Raquelle has both her hands around Noir's shoulders (or neck) as if she's trying to cling to him mid fall. But that positioning echoes the idea that it was her death that locked the collar...

Noir has never needed to use his hands to wield the heavy sword, but here, he metaphorically holds it, taking "responsibility" for this death. But doing so keeps him from otherwise reaching out to her (as he didn't truly snap out of his emotion-dampened blood-haze till it was too late) and it keeps him from reaching out to Adeleine too... 

Though the tails of his scarf appear to try...

For as opposed to the star-crossed pair, tangled in each other's arms in a doomed fashion, Adeleine is but a singular figure forlornly walking away from the scene. She is alone and seems to know it. Her eyes meet no one's. One hand of hers is full with the Brush, but the other is still open. Yet there is no one to take it anymore.....

[kay-elle-cee]

A restless waves rise and fall microfic (series). 🏴‍☠️ Pirate Jily AU. @jilymicrofics April Prompt 8: Frustrated || 849 Words

Lily glowers from where she sits on the bed, watching James walk about the room and wrangle together his effects. Her hand rubs across her swollen belly—an agitated rhythm punctuated by each footstep James takes, his heavy steps thundering on the wood.

"I don't like this," she says matter-of-factly for what feels like the dozenth time, her teeth nervously chewing on her lip.

Earlier that morning they'd noticed an unmarked vessel trailing them. At first it seemed harmless, but after some purposefully questionable maneuvers on The Minnie's end, it seemed all but confirmed that this mystery vessel was indeed following them.

Instead of giving them the opportunity to catch up under the blanket of night, James (with input from Lily and Sirius both) had decided to turn around and meet them head on. It makes her skin prickle at the thought, being so reminiscent of their encounter with the HMS Ascension all those years ago, but as they make their way towards Eleuthera to see the Potters, it seems a prudent idea to keep any potential scuffle at sea.

If only she wasn't on bloody bed rest.

Gradually—and with much vocal complaint—Lily had finally acquiesced to her captain's insistence that she take a step back from her usual duties as her pregnancy progressed, but this week had seen her relegated to their quarters more often than not, based on Remus' medical advice.

It was frustrating and humiliating, but James had been so attentive, so thoughtful in holding all his meetings in their quarters so she could still participate in the ship's business. Through the aggravation, her heart beat a little stronger for him.

But she couldn't be there for this, and she tried not to worry, but found it nearly impossible.

She watches as James sheathes his sword, carefully picking up another and crossing the room to the bed. Kneeling down beside her, his eyes glimmer with determination and hope, but there's a hardness to them that speaks to the experience he's gained these last few years at sea. It's a silent promise that he'll not be caught unaware again.

Warm knuckles caress her jaw as his lips meet hers slowly, softly.

"I know you hate this," he acknowledges, his voice hushed even though they're the only two in the cabin. "I know you're frustrated and it's hard for you to stay down here, but it's what's needed right now." He places her sheathed sword beside her in the bed and lifts his free hand to rest next to hers on her swollen belly, thumb gently brushing back and forth as he rests his forehead on hers.

Lily squeezes her eyes shut, swallowing down the bitterness. "I feel so useless like this," she whispers, voice wobbling with constrained emotion.

James pulls back and looks at her so quickly she's blinking to make sense of his sudden absence. The hand that had been so soft along her jaw now tilts her chin to look at him, eyes alive with fire.

"You are not useless, Lily. Don't you ever say that."

Her heart flutters and she knows it's true but the pent-up frustration bubbles forth as she huffs a sigh. "The Prewetts and MacMillan are still laid up sick, how am I supposed to feel when we don't know what our odds might be?"

"You trust in us like we trust in you, Evans. You're doing more than any of us right now." His eyes break from her and look to where their hands rest above their child. "Not long now until you're back on your feet and running us all ragged."

She lets out a stilted laugh and his gaze is back on her face, roaming over every feature before he places a kiss to her forehead.

"You have your sword in case you absolutely need it, but please don't move unless you must. We've got this situation under control—older and wise, et cetera."

He stands to leave with a final squeeze of her hand, and Lily watches him go, her frustration burning off and giving way to fear as it claws at her throat, as her heart pounds against her ribs harder, faster.

"James?"

Her voice is high, pleading, and he turns around quickly, brows furrowed and shoulders rigid at the sound of her distress. She looks at him and sees the man she met all those years ago in her husband before her, sees how the time at sea has changed him—molded him to someone whose instincts have only sharpened and evolved—sees the captain she swore to follow to the ends of the earth and how formidable he's become.

She knows he'll be fine, but the fear is still here, nestled in her chest right above where their child grows.

"Be careful."

His face softens, shoulders relaxing as he realizes she's not in discomfort.

"I will, love."

"That's an order."

It makes him laugh, and he gives her a brilliant grin before opening the door and stepping into the hallway, his response of Aye, Potter, ringing in the empty room with her.

Read on ao3 Happy one-year anniversary to restless waves rise and fall's completion! :)

[whumperofworlds]

Heyy! Hope you're doing well :)

74. Disheveled/Messed-Up Hair and Clothing as a snippet? x

Eeeey! Hope you're doing well too!!!

Had to take a moment and think about this, so apologies if it's not my best! This is also my OCs, Lilac and Osier's debut!!! I feel this fits best for them, LOL!

CWS: Captivity, rescue, mentions of torture, blood, chained up

ENJOY!

_____

74. Disheveled/Messed-Up Hair and Clothing

Being captured sucked, according to Osier.

Having to be tortured was bad enough, but his good looks were now ruined. His black hair he spent a while taking care of was a mess--tousled and matted with blood. His clothing, even his favorite blue tunic, was torn and bloodied. And the pain lingered after the last torture session a few hours ago. The chains holding his wrists above his head didn't ease the pain at all.

He sighed, pulling against his restraints for a moment. He shuffled his legs so they would be in a more comfortable position as he sat there, stewing in his boredom and his frustration. His mind wandered to his friends, The Fierce Forests. To Lilac. His beloved.

He was sure that Lilac was upset with him for getting himself caught. But it wasn't his fault this time! He didn't expect an ambush in the forest that was meant for Alder. But alas, he was here.

A strand of black hair fell on his face, and he groaned before blowing it back. Ugh, he had to get a haircut after this. Though he wouldn't ask Mimosa for one next time. The last time she did one, he looked hideous. What an embarrassment.

A scream and a thud echoed in the dungeon he was being held in, and he glanced up, an eyebrow raised. What in the world was that?

"We have an intruder! Get her!" A voice yelled, one he didn't recognize.

More screams, and more thuds echoed. Osier's heart pounded in his chest as he heard heavy footsteps approaching his cell.

When he spotted Lilac, blood on her blue armor and her blue hair a mess, his heart skipped a beat. He grinned, waving at her with one hand despite the chains.

"Heeeey, Lilac!" He greeted. "I knew you'd come help me!"

Lilac rolled her eyes and sighed. "You could have been killed." She chastised, grabbing the keys on her person before she began to unlock the cell door. Once the door opened, she rushed in, pulling out her sword and cutting the chains that held her boyfriend.

Osier shook his head, standing from his position as he rubbed his wrists. "I know, I know," Osier sighed. "Wasn't my fault I got caught though!"

When he took a good look at Lilac again, his heart sped up, his face turning a tinge of pink.

Lilac, bloodied and her clothing torn up, looking like a hero that he had read in books... he never thought about it, but Lilac looked... hot, like this. His face turned redder at the thought. Before he shook his head to get rid of those thoughts. Now was not the time to think that. They needed to leave.

"We must leave," Lilac whispered, taking Osier's hand and tugging it. A sign to follow her. "More of Brennus' guardsmen are coming."

"Ah, r-right!" Osier stammered, his face heating up at Lilac's disheveled appearance.

With that, Lilac and Osier left the dungeon, taking a left turn to a secret entrance. Osier's heart picked up the pace as he ran behind his girlfriend, looking behind him occasionally. He hoped they would get out of this unscathed and not caught.

He heard the sounds of yelling guardsmen from a distance, screaming at them to halt.

Like we're gonna do that, Osier thought with a roll of his eyes.

Lilac reached a hidden door, pushing it open, and the light from the sun poured in the area. Osier closed his eyes for a moment to protect his eyes until they were adjusted to the light. By the time he opened them, Lilac was already helping him up to her white horse, Willow.

Lilac pulled the reins on her horse, and the horse galloped away from Brennus' castle. Both were free.

Osier held onto his girlfriend, his arms wrapped around her torso. He sighed, mumbling a "thank you".

"By the way," Osier whispered, "Can I ask you something, Lilac?"

"Hm?" Lilac hummed, turning her head slightly to face her lover.

"When we get back... think we could have a little... TLC time together?"

Lilac merely smiled slightly--a rare sight--before she said, "Of course. I think we both need it after today."

[targaryenssurvive]

this takes place on the same day as our previous chapter, in the early morning

Chapter 12 ???

Two kings men were sitting in a tavern in flea bottom, drinking, they had been in King Aerys service for a few months now, they were young and happy to finally be a knight, sure they weren’t kingsguard but they were still in a king's service, that was nothing to sneeze at.

The bard in all black played his song, it was a dark song, ‘Winter Won’t Come Again’, it was about the downfall of house Stark, about the way they burned, oh how they burned….not that the two young knights cared, they were happily drinking while the bard sang his sad song. Oh how the women looked at the bard, he was dressed dark but he was handsome, with thick knotted red hair and sad blue eyes, he was tall and unusually well built for a bard.

The kings knights continued drinking, occasionally one would try to grab a women and pull her closer but most would walk past before they could even be grabbed, the younger of the two guards with a young face, light hair and green eyes noticed that the bards eyes seemed to be following them, though it was hard to see in the faint lighting of the tavern. “Hey…hey Jacor…?” “What Seldan?” the older of the two was known as Jacor, he had a skinny longer face, gray eyes and black hair. “I…i think that bard is looking at us.” Seldan whispered. “So? Who gives a rats ass? I can’t even see his eyes in this dark ass tavern, and even if he is looking at us, who cares, he’s a bard, we’re knights, everyone knows who the better men are.” Jacor spoke the last part loudly trying to get the bard to hear to see if he would react but the bard continued his song. “See, just ignore him, he won’t do shit.” Jacor drank down his ale. “Yeah, yeah you're right…”

Jacor and Seldan stumbled out of the tavern several hours later, laughing and walking like fools, not watching out for what or who was in the dark. “Ahh life is good!” Jacor spoke. “That it is, this is the life we have worked for, all those years of training and finally we are set.” Seldan replied. Jacor was smugly smiling when he heard faint footsteps, not the sound of a person normally walking around but the sound of sneaking, Jacor stopped to look around and listen. “Jacor, come on, or else I’ll leave ya.” Seldan kept drunkenly walking through the streets, Jacor took a deep breath and was about to start moving forward when something pulled him back into a dark alleyway, only a gasp and a gagging sound before. Seldan stopped and turned when he heard the sound but no one was there, not a whore, a rat, a thief or Jacor were visible. “Jacor?” Seldan called out in drunken confusion. Seldan walked over to the area where he saw Jacor prior, he heard a slight choking sound coming from a nearby alley, Seldan drew his sword and walked into the alley, as he went further he saw “Jacor!” Jacor was lying in a pool of his own blood, his neck was split open, Seldan turned to run but behind him, a man in a black cloak stood, the man was holding two bloody daggers, due to Seldans drunken state it was easy for the cloaked man to fling the sword out of Seldans hand and pin him, the man put one dagger to Seldans throat and the other right above his eye. “Ple…please I’ll give you whatever…whatever you want, just don’t kill me….” Seldan begged. The man let out a cruel chuckle. “Who’s the better man now?” Seldan may have been drunk but he understood who the man was. “Please….i…i…im sorry….don’t kill me please.” The man slowly moved the knife away from Seldans eye and Seldan let out a breath. “Typical cowardly Targaryen scum.” the man's voice was a mixture of amused and rage as he stabbed his dagger into Seldans eye.

[art--harridan]

[Image one: The first page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. It begins with a panel of Wilbur’s hand placing a card on the table, and then one of Tommy with his head in his arms, drenched in blood. He asks "what're you up to now?", to which Wilbur replies "seven of hearts. it's a card game... obviously." After this, Tommy says "hilarious. how do you play?". This is followed by an image of Wilbur sitting at the table, blood leaking from his smiling mouth. He's holding a card in one hand, and resting his chin on the other. He casts a shadow on the table, which has "it's like a game of life:" written in it, followed by three hearts. Below the shadow, he explains "you start with 500 points and 7 cards and whatever cards you have at the end... well, you lose accordingly."

Image two: The second page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. Tommy lifts his head up and squints his eyes, asking "accordingly?? you sure you won't just make it up big dubs?". Underneath, there's a panel of Wilbur, grinning while he shrugs nonchalantly. He says "I'm a man of morals Tommy! And there's a precedent for these things:". Smoke billows behind this panel. Below this, Wilbur continues with "the 7 and ace of hearts subtract 150,", which is accompanied by two card-shaped panels depicting Dream and Tommy. They're both devoid of emotion. Next, Wilbur says "jacks take 50,", followed by the Cat disc and the Your Tubbo compass. Then, he says "8s and 2s deduct 25,", followed by a bloody diamond sword and a lit TNT stick. He continues "aces get 15,", which is next to a L'manberg flag, Tommy's red tie, and the tent from Logsteadshire. Finally, he says "the kings, queens and 10s take 10, and the leftovers are 5; nothing really (unless you're on death's door)." Above this, there's Mexican Dream's mask, Jack's melted glasses, and some of Ghostbur's blue.

Image three: The third page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. Tommy says "Great - now I know how to lose. How exactly do I win?". The first line is above a panel showing a bloody prison wall, while the second is above a panel of Tommy carrying a L'manberg flag past some pine trees. Drawn on top of this is Tommy, annoyed. Wilbur tells him "you get rid of your hand before anyone else." Near this is a panel of Wilbur dirty hand holding a lit TNT stick, an explosion behind the panel. Next, Tommy questions "how exactly?", his face falling flat while Wilbur explains. He says "there's a card in the middle, and you take turns adding one.". There's a single card next to this. Finally, he adds "you can only put down the same suit or number as the previous number".

Image four: The fourth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. "Jacks change the suit." it begins, followed by "They can be the crux of your play, and ruin another's.". There's 4 card-shaped panels in the middle, positioned in a diagonal line. They each show Tommy in different stages of his life. The first shows him in Business Bay, his suit, tie, and sunglasses on. He's got a big grin and his arms stretched wide. Next, he's wearing his L'manberg uniform, with a slightly smaller smile. After is him in Pogtopia, smile turning to a grimace. Finally, there's him while living with Techno, mouth fully closed and barely a smile. He looks nervous. The panels are framed by two arrows. One is descending, a L'manberg coloured arrow that looks worse for wear. It has a green ribbon tied around it. The other one shares a colour palette with Dream, and has a bloody tip.

Image six: The sixth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. The first sentence is "twos force the person after to pick up 2". Then, there's Wilbur’s hands with four cards between them, seemingly in the midst of dropping them to his bottom palm. The first card has an explosion flying out of it, background the colour of fire. Next, there's a card which has an obsidian/blackstone wall, a bloody diamond sword laying on top of it. The third card shows a bloody arrow floating in water, while the fourth is simply a rectangle of fire. Then, there's a panel of Tommy weeping hard at the bottom, with the sentence "you can stack them until some unlucky bastard picks up 8 cards" accompanying it.

Image eight: The eighth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. "but why is it called seven of hearts?" Tommy asks, arms crossed. Wilbur puts a finger near his chin and replies "It's simple really... if someone plays the seven of hearts, the round stops.". Furthere down, there's a panel showing Tommy reaching towards Wilbur back. The next panel is similar, but it only shows a diamond sword in the place of Wilbur, and Tommy's hand is pulling back. These are accompanied by the sentences "there's no negotiation, no getting out of that one. it just stops.". Finally, there's two panels showing the pair's reactions. Tommy looks withdrawn while Wil is smiling, shrugging nonchalantly. "that's bullshit." Tommy says, while Wilbur retorts "that's how you win...". This is followed by a lit TNT stick, and Wilbur continuing "(or not).".

Image nine: The ninth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. There's a split panel of them, Tommy bored and resting his chin on his fist, while Wil looks giddy, leaning to the side. Tommy questions "lovely - any more stupid rules I need to know?", with Wilbur responding "yeah, but they'll make more sense during play. I'll teach you them as we go.". Underneath this, he continues "c'mon then - let's play:". There's panel of Wilbur and Tommy both sitting at a long table in a dark void, cards set out. You can't see either of their faces. Further down, Wilbur turns over a card while saying "first you turn over the card in the middle". The final panel shows that this card is the seven of hearts.

Image ten: The final page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. There's a closeup of Wilbur’s mouth while he dejectedly tells Tommy "oh. game over.". Below this, there's a panel of a panicking Tommy who's just abruptly stood up from his seat, shoulders bunched up and expression shocked. "no, no, that doesn't make sense." he says. "that isn't fair! this isn't fair!" he continues, near two panels showing his death. One depicts Dream's bloody fist, while the other his bloody corpse. Next to this, he further continues "I didn't even get to play!". Finally, there's a long panel at the bottom. Tommy stands alone in the darkness of limbo, bright with blood and face expressionless. He repeats "I didnt even get to play...", and the comic ends.]

seven of hearts

[itsmypeach13]

[Read only if you are okay with female &female relationships. Warning because of strong language, fighting scenes. Rating is +18]

[Hello my ravens! ❤️It's been an eternity but please welcome my second chapter of my Soma POV fanfic, things will get messy and entangled full of angst and more angst. I hope you'll like it, I spiced things up with flirty Valka and women fighting🤭 Let me know what you think in the comments any opinion/thought is welcome🥺❤️]

TALES OF THE BEAR-HEART: SOMA

CHAPTER II.

Battling Hearts

The soft crackling sound of fireflames embracing hardwood woke me up tenderly. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Revna sitting by the fire sharpening her dagger, preparing for the battle ahead of us. Her raven-black long hair was braided at the sides and neatly It must have been around dawn, but it was still pitch-black outside. Busy voices surrounded us, swords clinked, horses were running up and down impatiently, some people shouted over to the other with instructions. Valka's magical sleep potion put me so well to sleep, that I was surprised at myself how late I could join onboard the ship towards the brewing sea of bloodshed. I had to pull myself together and that only worked with some ice-cold river water and some excercise.

'Good morning Revna'-I greeted my warrior as I swiftly sat up and put on my stone-hard armor.

'To you as well.'-she wiked at me playfully and lifted up the pair of the iconic hammers fixating them on her sides. ' Now you slept well for sure, how is that you sleep the soundest when battle is so near?-she laughed a little and took a sip of water from the table.

'Valka's hand in that.-I raised my brows slightly. 'Sorry, I didn't plan to start like this Revna. I have to go now and freshen up. Shall we meet at the entrance of the longhouse?'

'You're such a womanizer you know that right?'-she held up her tusk. ' Valka is a fine woman, I am happy for you now. I will meet you there nevertheless.'

'Ha!..You're absolutely misunderstanding, but I have to rush now.'- After this conversation, the fine shilouette of Valka's back flashed through my mind from last night. I quickly stepped into reality once I was out of my hut. The Raven warriors painted their faces with red and white strokes, most of them were saddling the horses.

I hurried to the shores of the river nearby, finally allowing my flaming skin to meet with the freezing waves of water. I gathered some liquid in my palms so that I could splash it onto my face over and over again. It felt like a hit on my cheeks that put me into the right battling spirits, and imagining Randvi's head on the enemy's helped a lot also.

I did some stretching and sprinting in the shores, while sloppy waves embraced the land. I was sharpening my axe and asked for Thor's strength and blessing, when I heard cat-like footsteps from behind approaching me.

'Your blade is already sharp enough, Bear-heart'-said Valka smirking, while she walked up to me.

'I could cut down a village with it yes. I guess it's just my ritual before I actually do it.'

'I bought you some food, here, some died figs with bread and a slice of boar meat from last night.'- she kindly handed over the plate.

'Thank you Valka, the gods bless your kind spirit. This will help me to do my best today. For Ravensthorpe..and Eivor.' While I started eating quickly, we sat by the shore and Valka carried on.'

'Soma, you have to remember, whatever happens today, you can count on me, you know where to find me. I saw into your soul last night and found loneliness there. But you are not so alone.' -she stroked my arm then stood up and disappeared in the crowd of warriors.

I was startled a bit, the last piece of bread almost choked me. Was that a friendly invite to her hut? I mean, private hut? I guess she needs cleaning there if you know what I mean. Who would have thought.

***

When I rode to the longhouse, a massive crowd of warriors have gathered in front of the building. The golden locks of Eivor showed up with that deadly, stern smirk on her face. She was riding a snow-white mare with her armor glistening in the awakening morning sunrays. A huge hunnish bow spread on her broad back and two axes were fixated on her sides, one can never be so sure with just one, right? Randvi followed her closely, rumour has it that she is going in battle after long years spent in the map room. I was curious how she would perform outside these walls. Revna joined me swiftly and we quickly caught up with Eivor and other leaders riding in the front.

As if she sensed my closeness, the wolf-kissed greeted me with a wide smile.

'Morning Soma, I hope you are ready to spill some blood today with me.'

How could she know I was ready to do anything with her, my eyes wandered on those rosy lips talking to me. She looked stunning with freshly dried warpaint framing her ocean eyes.

'I will smash skulls today, as my father taught me'I assured her. ' You don't want to make it a contest, I am the champion in this.'

'We'll see, I will beat your ass.' Eivor uttering those words brought me to the depts of my wildest fantasies for a moment. Holy mother of.. A shiver went through my spine as I actually pictured this. 'Okay, whoever wins this beheading game will pay for the best ale in land for a week.'

'That's a deal, officially.'-Eivor agreed playfully.

As we left Ravensthorpe Randvi joined us to briefly go through our plans , and of course to keep an eye on her drengr.

'Hi Soma..I hope you haven't lacked the care and wealth of Ravensthorpe.'

'Thanks Randvi, I had everything I needed' except for Eivor in my bed last night, but I guess that's the VIP package. It’s good I didn’t say this out loud.

'Good. Now our plans are the following. Eivor and you will hide in the thick bushes of the main road on both sides with our archers. When Birna's army is well inside the trap, Eivor will sign you with her horn, then both of your teams will fire and wipe out as many as you can. I will wait for Eivor's horn and join with a group on horsebacks to push them back towards the hills where their camp is. We'll follow them and burn it down to force them out of mainland.

Cheolbert's army will be only used if necessary. They are stationed on the right side of the forest.'

'Smart plan Randvi, I am sure we can protect our people, which is the most important aim, I feel honoured to be here today and lead this army' -Eivor answered then we positioned our forces in the thick undergrowth of the main road. Some archers even hid high on the old oak trees to have a nice and deadly view on the road. Our eyes met with Eivor and I was once again stunned by those piercing blue eyes, radiating godlike power and trust in me. She made me weak with one stern look, this feeling was brand new for me..Soma trembling like a leaf in the autumn breeze? My eyes wandered lower, on Eivor’s bulging arms holding those big, heavy axes.

Revna positioned herself right beside me like a protective bastian ready to spill blood, her hands firmly gripping the two hammers.

’They will eat my hammer for breakfast.’-she whispered to me, keeping her voice down.

A medium group of soldiers were nearing our forces, all of them on horseback.

They were led by a young woman with blood red hair, riding on a pitch-black horse. Just before Eivor could use her horn to give the sign for us to attack them, the enemy started throwing flaming throving balls into the thick and completely dry undergrowth that caught on fire in no time. They knew exactly where we were hiding, forcing us to be distracted for a second and be stunned by their unexpected moves. Revna quickly brought me back to reality with her loud roar she jumped out of the bushes and ranted at our enemy. As if she were a deadly panther, she pulled a man down from his straddle , threw him on the ground finally smashing his face on both sides with her double hammers. What left off that head was forming an unrecognizable mixture of broken bones and flesh.

I joined her swiftly and shouted at all of my men:'Don't just stare, cut all of the bastards down and burn their flesh!' The archers could perform a swift attack from above before the flames got to the upper branches, then joined us from behind our shield wall Eivor was forming with the Ravens.

I quickly got on my horse and joined at the side of Revna, who was sandwiched between two twin shieldmaidens fighting with swords. Just before the bigger one could plunge her longsword into Revna's spine, I trapped her with my axe, agressively pulled her body to mine from behind holding her still for a moment shouting in her face: 'I will burn your whole village for this.' -then I slit her throat and pushed the body down to the dust. My face became sprayed with fresh blood, and I could see Revna kept herself busy, the other one joined her sister in death.

-Thanks Soma, I am glad you have my back, literally -Revna shouted at me with ave.

-I am never late, you know me.-I winked at her assuringly. -someone betrayed us Revna..we have to find that son of a bitch. -I shouted back while I saw a huge man charging at me with a poisoned axe.

-You will die bitch-his deep growl ecoed in my ears as I prepared for defense. I thought I would end him with my wit instead of my valuable strength, I slipped between his legs and cut right into his balls leaving him a suffering mess falling on his knees, and finally collapsing in the bloody pond forming underneath.

-Not today, bastard.-I stated. While we fought our way a little further with Revna I quickly looked behind my back to see how Eivor was holding up. Then I saw the blood-haired war-chief woman charging on her horse at full speed towards the wolf-kissed, she wanted to end Eivor. Her plan was to cut the head of the snake, I saw her green eyes burning with ambition, fury and wrath, she jumped off of her horse slamming Eivor to the ground. Unfortunately, the charging horse killed several men around Eivor failing to hold the shield wall.

I felt my heart beating in my throat , as both Eivor and that killer bitch disappeared from my sight behind the crowd of clashing soldiers.

-Revna, you have to hold this mess, I will be back!-I gave my clear orders to my right hand , and with that I ran into Eivor’s direction as if there was no tomorrow. Many men tried to stop me on my way, but I cut them all, roaring like a beast, both of my arms were drenched in blood. The inner bear has awoken. I saw Randvi charging on her horse towards the same spot, my worry mirrored in her desperate eyes. She fought like an amazon, a tiger let out of her cage , she was never really tamed behind that map table after all. I must admit she fought fiercely. Her long copper braid was dancing around in circles as she slain anyone who got near her. Unexpectedly, her horse got an arrow in the front leg, causing Randvi to fell foward harshly, she was flying several meters from the saddle. The killer-witch had supporter archers at the top of a nearby rock, they were backing their leader and her evil plans.

I didn't have time to care for Randvi, I slammed into the shield wall to see what was happening with Eivor behind it.

The blood-witch was strangling Eivor with her strong arm, Eivor had deep cuts on her own arms and her side. Fuck.. she really didn't see it coming.. oh that fucking bitch ! Eivor wanted to kick her in the face but her legs were entangled in strong hold by that serpent. She fought differently, wrestled her enemy, held the body in position to slowly end it with deadly cuts. I couldn't let her finish her work..my heart would break in two for an eternity..

I grabbed her hair pulling her upwards, while I watched her cry out from the pain.

-Hey, you blood whore, don't you dare to move or I will cut your pretty head off. Eivor broke free swiftly, but instinctively put her right hand on her ribs. I saw a considerable blood stain growing there, which felt like a punch in my stomach. It seemed I actually got one, as the redhead tried to break away. Just before I could end her, I felt a powerful but blunt hit on my back, an arrow's burning head fought it's way into my flesh. I instantly fell on my knees then I started to crawl on the ground ghasping the dust.

Eivor didn't give a fuck about her serious wound on her side she ran towards that sly whore to avenge this mess. Randvi arrived just in time her huge smash with her shield put the escaping rat onto the ground. The blood-witch was cornered and there was no way out. My sight became blurry and I wanted to vomit from the pain that radiated into my chest and my back.

'Tie this one up quickly, we'll inerrogate her at Ravensthorpe. Randvi instructed two soldiers. -Oh God..Eivor you're bleeding-she mumbled with care as she stepped to the wolf-kissed, her eyes wandered on the huge blood stain. Randvi's bottom lip was craked and bleeding, probably from a huge stroke.

'I am fine Randvi, bring our forces left to safety, we have to retreat, now' Eivor's raspy voice echoed, turning to Randvi. 'I can only thank my life to Soma' Eivor hurried to me while Randvi called a retreat to Ravensthorpe, we could defend the way from the woods but it was clearly a trap. Somebody gave valuable information to the enemy, Birna and Ivarr could attack any moment.Both sides lost countless men, the woods was in flames around us.

'My poor bird..' Eivor whispered calmly, holding me in her arms in a second sitting on her knees on the ground. She turned my body really slowly to spare me from the additional pain, I could have screamed out loud in my despair, but I couldn't show the slightest sign of weakness while she was around me.

'I m have to get this out now' she said apologetically, furrowing her brows.

I couldn't speak as I felt my power leaving me, I was close to fainting, so I just nodded and let myself concentrate on those strong arms being folded around me. This was the closest Eivor ever got to me.. my heart was burning and beating fast both from the trauma I endured and the excitement that was ruling over me inside.

'I will be as quick and gentle as possible'Eivor promised with a light smile.

I held onto her arm and mumbled a few words:'Just do it, please..' I closed my eyes knowing what will come.

Eivor clearly had pratice in this, as she firmly held onto the arrow, turned it slightly in my flesh, then pulled it out with a powerful move.

It felt as if a burning blade was turned inside me ripping out my flesh. The pain was undescribable with words, I cried out, my eyes became blurry with tears.

'Fucking GOD' I shouted.

'The worst is over Soma, I promise. I can thank my life to you, so I am in your debt, I will help you through this and bring you to Valka.' Eivor lifted me up, placed one of my arms around her neck and holding my weight with her arms below my knees. ' 'I got you now -she gently stroked my arm and carried me to her horse, we headed back to Ravensthorpe with our forces left , following Randvi's soldiers.

As we rode along those old oak trees I could feel the sweet scent of Eivor's skin around her collarbone as I laid my head on her broad chest. Small sweatdrops were glistening on her perfect face while her ice-blue eyes stayed focused on the road, I could watch this living statue of perfection all day.

Spring breeze played on my cheeks while I closed my eyes to just feel the bumps and turns of the road.

I couldn't get a peaceful monent as my thoughts caused me an inner turmoil. Where the hell was Revna? Did she join to Randvi and her forces? How am I supposed to fight like this? The hardest part of this battle is still ahead of us..I came here to defend Ravensthorpe, not to behave like a whining child. And who was that blood-haired shieldmaiden?

***

[yeongwvnhi]

You and I on top of it all

This one is quite the brutal piece of work so proceed with caution and be mindful of the warnings. Do tell me if I missed something possibly triggering.

—

Pairing - Oneus Hyung line (only one makes it) x fem reader

Genre - Angst, Suspense, Suggestive, Horror, Gore

Warnings - murder, violence, blood, weapons, language, death, injuries, guns, shooting, graphic descriptions of murder and violence, romanticizing these themes for the plot

Taglist - @twancingyunhoe @runaway-fics @bearseokie @kingleedo @malzenn

Word count - 3k

》><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><《

It was 11pm and you were hurrying down the street to get back home. You weren't planning on being outside when it started. Last year still left you shaking in your boots, but this year you will turn the table and stop being afraid. 

What exactly is it? 

It is the purge. The day every crime is made legal and services like police, firefighters or paramedics aren't available. 

Originally you were planning on just hiding out somewhere safe until the 12 hours were over but not this year. This time you wanted to let loose, go absolutely crazy and see where the night will take you. Maybe you'll find a companion or more? Maybe you'll die, who knows? 

Back on topic.. Why were you even out this late? Simple. You bought some nice weapons for tonight. What were those weapons? An array of knives, a bat with spikes and even a damn katana. This time you wouldn't hold back. 

A guy came your way and immediately changed course after seeing your array of weapons. This was exactly what you wanted people to do. Fear you, be scared for their life and just run as far away as they could from you. 

Eyeing the clock above your TV in the living room while taking off your shoes, you realize that it's barely 11:20pm. The fun would have to wait. 

With a shrug you move into your bedroom to put on tonight's outfit. You were going crazy tonight and no one would hold you back, not even your damn clothes. 

You have carefully picked out your clothes a few days ago just for tonight. All black to blend into the night, your casual tight fitting jeans and shirt and your newly bought jacket. There you would store all the knives since it had a lot of pockets. 

The sound of a notification from your phone made you stop examining yourself in your mirror and with an eye roll you go to check. 

Hwanwoong: Hey Y/N, I know that you will be partaking in tonight's purge… I hope you won't die so I can see you again soon.. 

Your best friend has always been worried about you and everything that could happen. 

You: I will be just fine, Woong, don't worry. You better be safe tho or I will kill you. 

After you sent your reply, you didn't bother to check if he answered. You wouldn't be taking your phone with you tonight. Everything else besides your weapons will be staying in your apartment tonight… besides your keys, you decided to give them to your friendly neighbor since he would be waiting out the event tonight. 

Once again your eyes find the clock and a small smile slowly crawls onto your lips. 11:30pm. Soon the fun would begin and you just couldn't wait to finally get your sweet, sweet revenge. 

You secure your sword around your back with the holster and then take your baseball bat. These spikes were so sharp and you couldn't wait to see the damage they would cause. 

The weight of your jacket slowly increased the more knives you put into the pockets and you were so full of adrenalin, to find the person who took everything from you. 

11:45pm, the crazed smile slowly made its way back onto your lips. Just a little while. 

You got up and put your also black leather boots on, tired of waiting for the chaos to unfold. 

With the baseball bat in one hand and your keys in the other you exit your apartment. You lock the door and go to knock on your neighbor's door. 

The man opens the door and you give him a less crazy smile upon seeing the fear in his eyes. "Hey Keonhee, don't worry i just came here to drop off my keys!" You say and hold up said object. 

The taller guy visibly relaxes and smiles back at you. "You scared me there, Y/N" 

"Sorry~" you chuckle and put your keys into his outstretched palm. "Please be safe, yeah?" 

Keonhee chuckles nervously and nods. "You too" 

"Oh I will" you reply, "I'm going to go now. I'll see you tomorrow at 12" 

He closes the door and you hear several locks clicking shut behind it, one after another. 

You swing the bat up and rest it on your shoulder, mindful of the spikes, and walk down the street. It was awfully quiet now and your gaze meets the giant digital clock on a huge building. 

11:53pm 

"Hey!" Someone calls after you and you halt in your steps. "Where are you heading to?" 

You turn around and look at the guy. Tall, black hair and also full black attire. "Why would you wanna know? But I suppose you already know the answer judging from your choice of clothing" 

He walks closer and you now fully see his features. He looks too good to be true. The black turtleneck sweater isn't helping your thoughts either. "You're right" he replies with a sinister smirk. "I'm also going to fuck up someone's life" 

You immediately felt drawn to him, he looked just as crazed as you right now. 

But that didn't mean you'd stay here any longer to chat away, no. It was almost time and you wanted to get your hands dirty. 

So you give the guy an almost too nice looking smile and turn back around. 

"Hey, where are you going?" He asks and you hear his fast paced footsteps approach you. "Don't just leave a conversation like that" 

You chuckle and start swinging your bat around. "I don't really care about conversations right now, pretty boy" 

The Guy scoffs, but you see his smirk in your peripheral vision. "So… are you out for someone special tonight? Or do you just want to blow off some steam?" 

"Does it really matter?" You question in return and meet his eyes for a second. "Also, who even are you?" 

"I'm Youngjo" He replies and shoots you a grin, this time less sinister. "And I guess it does? I could help you out" 

He did have a point, maybe he would actually be of help. "Fine" you nod. "Someone-" 

A loud alarm shakes the silence of the city, the purge has started. 

The two of you immediately look at each other with an excited expression. "Fuck it, let's spill some blood" he says and grabs you by the wrist, dragging you right into the chaos of people running around left and right. 

You manage to escape his grip and fasten your pace to match his. 

"Out of my way!" Someone yells and you see a guy running straight at you. 

No way you're having that shit tonight. "Fuck off!" You spit back and swing your baseball bat right at the guy's head. 

Pretty much to his horror because he can't stop and runs straight into your death trap. His skull smashes against your spiky weapon and you feel his blood splattering onto your face. 

Youngjo has stopped running the moment he heard you spitting back at that guy and witnessed the gory scene. He felt his heart skip a beat and met your eyes, both of you dazed.

"That felt so fucking good" You murmur and Youngjo nods eagerly. For that moment the two of you completely blended out the chaos around you. 

Until there were gunshots, that's when you reacted and pulled him into an alleyway, hiding behind the wall to not get shot. 

Youngjo cornered you against the wall, one hand beside your head for balance. He had his gaze fixated on your side profile while you were checking where the gunshots were coming from. 

"Hey" The tall guy mumbles and your attention belongs to him this instant. "I never thought I'd think that watching a girl smashing a guy's head in would be this hot" 

You click your tongue and roll your eyes, but can't help the smirk that appears slowly. "You're crazy" 

Youngjo's head falls down and he breathes out a chuckle before looking you dead in the eye. "It would be boring if I wasn't, wouldn't it, sweetheart?" 

You can't deny the tingling feeling you felt in your stomach at that and your free hand went up to the back of his neck. "Shut up" 

"Make me" 

"What the fuck are you doing?" A new voice interrupts the two of you. "Wait- Hyung?" 

You turn to look at the guy, annoyance written all over your face for having interrupted the moment. "I fucking hate you for this" 

The guy chuckles nervously and Youngjo leans away to stand at a normal distance. "Why are you here, Seoho? And where is Geonhak?" 

"You didn't just ask me that" he retorts and holds up a bloody machete. "Obviously I'm out for blood tonight" 

A shiver runs down your spine, the vibes that guy gives off are insane. Quite literally. 

"Oh" Youngjo's mouth forms an o-shape. "I see. But now where is Geonhak?" 

"Ah! Right" Seoho piques up and nods his head in the left direction. "He started chasing some weirdo who was about to get a bit too comfy with this girl" 

"Still the nice guy even during a time like this, huh?" Youngjo laughs. "Anyway, we should continue our little fun game now, shouldn't we?" 

You grin and pick up your bat. "We should just go as a group, covering more people n shit" 

"What's your name?" Seoho asks you out of the blue, nodding at your suggestion. 

"Oh, I'm Y/N" You reply before making your way out of the alley and onto the street. "And I see a group of people right up front" 

"Let's spill some blood then, shall we?" Youngjo smirks. 

The two guys follow you and you hear one of them clinking blades together. 

"Hey you!" You shout and the group of four, three guys and a girl, look at you. "Wanna die?!" 

"What are you gonna do, little girl?" One of the guys shouts back and you halt in your steps. 

With a dark chuckle, you open your jacket and pull out a knife. "I'll fucking kill you" is your only response as you throw the knife at him. It connects with his thigh, making him scream in pain and fall to the ground. 

"You have good aim, doll" Youngjo mumbles while passing by you. "Now I'll finish him" 

"Leave some fun for me too!" Seoho whines and just runs at the group of people, slicing the girls throat with his machete with ease. 

Her blood pours out of the massive gash and you hear her gurgling on the liquid. 

One of the two unharmed guys squares up against Youngjo, but he's at a disadvantage in height. 

Youngjo makes quick work of the guy, pulling out a knife from a pocket on his pants and stabbing him in the chest. He pushes the guy away from him and he collapses on the corpse of the girl. 

The fourth guy must've ran away so it's only the injured man on the ground and your little group. 

"Finish him! Finish him c'mon!" Seoho jumps around and you look at Youngjo, but he just nods towards the guy. Your sign to kill him. 

"Too bad that you will die now, huh?" You say and lunge the bat right into his face, killing him right on the spot. "Bastard" You spit and pull out your knife from his thigh and put it back where you took it from. 

"Jesus christ" Seoho murmurs and you look at him. "That was fucking hot" 

You shake off the remains of the guy's brain from your bat. "Shut up" you hiss, slightly flustered. "We should find your friend instead" 

"Right" Youngjo agrees. "Let's go" 

He leads the way with Seoho and you following behind. 

"So… are you out for someone special tonight?" Seoho asks and looks at you through his sharp eyes. "You look tense, darling" 

"I probably won't find him anyways, I'm tense because I don't know if I will die tonight" You give him your answer and hold your bat just a little bit tighter. "So I'm going to use that as my fuel to create as much chaos as I can" 

"I see~" He chirps and focuses back on Youngjo who's still leading the way. 

After a bit more walking, the two guys spot their friend sitting next to a wall, gun in hand and blood on his hands and face. 

"Geonhak, what the fuck happened" Youngjo asks him straight away and kneels in front of him. 

"I killed that asshole, but I also accidently shot the girl. They're both dead" he mumbles, but a satisfied grin forms on his lips. "Now she won't suffer anymore" 

"Hey get up, we gotta create more chaos!" Seoho urges and you exhale a breathy laugh. 

"I think there are a lot of people in the inner city. It's getting louder the closer we get" You say and nod in the vague direction. "Let's go guys" 

"Ooohh sure~" Seoho immediately agrees and Youngjo also looks pleased with your suggestion. 

"Oh you guys brought a companion?" Geonhak asks and stands up. "What's your name pretty girl?" 

You shake the hair out of your face and scoff at the compliment. "I'm Y/N. Now let's go!" 

"I know a shortcut" Seoho exclaims. "It's just-" 

"No! Your shortcuts are dangerous as fuck!" Youngjo rejects his suggestion. 

"C'mon let's just go this way" you tell Seoho. "We can take your shortcut on our way back, alright?" 

"Fine" He grumbles in response. 

Your group quickly gets to the big commotion in the inner city and you just decide to let hell break loose. 

Geonhak starts shooting whoever comes into focus, Youngjo aimlessly stabs people in his way and Seoho attacks everything in his way. 

"Let's dance little lady" some weirdo says and faces you, pipe in his hand. "Got ya!" He yells and strikes at you. 

You dodge in the last moment, swinging your spiky bat at the dude's face, making him stumble back in surprise. "You got a mean one there, hun. Would be a shame if it went out of your hands, right?" 

"Shut up asshole" you hiss and and take another swing at him, this time grazing his arm with a spike and making it bleed. 

"That hurt you stupid bitch" he spits with venom. "I'll end you" 

"Good luck" you huff and take a step back. 

"What-" before he can finish his sentence, you hear a gunshot and blood splattering everywhere. 

"Nice shot Geonhak!" You shout and give the man a thumb up. "Saved my ass" 

After that little exchange you quickly go on and just smash in people heads left and right. 

One was a tough nut though. 

"You've got some nerves, little girl" a tall man smirks after he smacked the bat out of your hands and a good distance away from you. "Attacking others from behind. Tch" 

"Stop talking, bastard" you growl and pull out your katana, glad you took it with you. "I'll kill you" 

"Try to~" he laughs and throws a punch, but you step aside at the last second. 

"Go to hell!" You yell and swing your blade at him, slicing his cheek and leaving him in shock. 

"You'll pay for that you damn bitch" 

After that, a painful shout came from behind you and you heard Geonhak calling out Youngjo's name. 

"Shit-" you go to turn around and leave this fucker behind, but he kicks away your legs and you fall to the ground. 

"Fuck you" you huff in pain, the katana luckily still in your hand. That's when you see your three companions. 

Geonhak has Youngjo's head in his lap and repeatedly smacks his cheeks to get him to wake up. 

But he won't. 

He's dead. 

"Oh noo~ Did your friend die? What a shame" the man mocks and laughs. 

You clench your hand around the handle of the katana and roll onto your back and thrust the blade right into his torso. 

"What-" He coughs in shock before falling to the floor backwards. 

You just stand up and run towards the guys now, falling to your knees next to Youngjo's lifeless body in Geonhak's lap. 

"Who did this?" You ask, emotionless, eyes void of anything but rage. 

"I did" Geonhak mumbles, hanging his head. "I wanted to shoot the fucker you were fighting, but Hyung caught the bullet" 

You remain silent, but you see Seoho behind Geonhak going rigid. "You… killed Youngjo Hyung…?" 

"It was an accide-" 

Geonhak couldn't finish his sentence. Seoho slit his throat right there and the green haired man's blood splattered your already dirty face even more. 

But you weren't fazed. You couldn't help him anymore anyways. 

That's when you noticed just how quiet everything suddenly was, so you looked around and saw corpses upon corpses. 

"When did this happen?" You ask and look at Seoho, his blank stare not bothering you at all as you stand up. 

"I killed the last person before I saw you guys here" He answers and you step away from the two men on the ground, dead and bleeding out. 

You heard Seoho walking up next to you. "So this is it? We go home after this and try to get our lives back together?" 

"Not necessarily" he says, "we can stay together" 

"What do you mean?" 

"People who kill together, stay together" he explains and smiles. He actually looks cute and for a second you forgot that he's a serial killer. 

But so are you. 

"That sounds nice" you smile back. 

"So now it's you and I on top of it all" He whispers and pulls you in close by the waist. "You're mine" 

Your hands wander up to his shoulders and you move closer. "Only yours" you mumble against his lips and he closes the gap, greedily moving his mouth against yours. His grip on your waist tightens and pulls you impossibly closer. 

You'll never forget this day. 

[c-atm]

Who the hell breaks into a prison? Let alone ' Megalomax' ?"

 

This was the question on everyone's mind and lips, inmates and staff alike, as they heard the carnage from the first floor. The sound and smell of rapid gunfire from pistols, assault rifles, and shotguns filled the air as alarmed flashed and blared all through the elite correctional center for the supernatural.  

 

Screams of officers resounded throughout the halls. Blood-curdling, pain-filled, last time alive screams, all followed by a feminine voice calling for her lover. Her call only brought more officers to her, soon finding herself surrounded by another battalion.

 

"Stand down!" A large man in Kevlar armor called out. Stepping closer to her, his voice full of authority and anger as he walked up to the hooded girl. 

 

"Hey, do you know where they’re keeping Bisky," The girl asked as she looked at the towering man. A small expectant look on her face. She smiled a bit when the man stepped back, fear on his face

 

"You…" he whispered in terror. " Oh God, you really survived?"

 

"Survived?" She tilted her head before her mouth opened in acknowledgment, her visible black eye narrowed as her grin grew. " You were there, weren't you.." She flicked her wrist, and a cloud in the form of a pink blade with a star hilt appeared, solidifying and transforming into an actual sword, once she grabbed the handle. "Yeah, I remember you. You led a whole battalion just like this to our home…" Her gleeful tone dropped to that of frigid tundra, and her eyes zeroed in on the large captain. " Then you let use a hailstorm of anti-magi bullets through our bedroom window." She started to step forward. "I still feel the heat searing and tearing my flesh, everything I lay in my lonely bed...It replays."

 

Another step forward. "The glass shattering."

 

Another " The Bloodstained sheets ."

 

Another. "The dragging of his unresponsive body after he protected mine."

 

She paused, placing her hand on her scarless abdominal. "The lost."

 

The captain felt his heart dropped; guilt overtaking his fear for the moment. "I...You were...You aren't supposed to be..."

 

"Another false assumption," she glared at the captain. "You fear what we're becoming. Even after we chose to run and hide...Create our own lives...You feared us, hunted us, and tried to eliminate us…" Before anyone could react, the girl grabbed the captain by his jaw and pulled him close, staring directly into his eyes. "All because you couldn't control us…" She sneered, "I know all of you, in your ivory towers, can see me through this group of lummoxes. So let me make  this clear."

 

'What just happened?'   was the thought of the Captain as sudden weightlessness hit him. He tried to speak, but all he could make was gargle and choke up words. He could not turn his head; he gawked as blood sprayed on his captor's brown face as her black eyes bore into his smokey gray ones.

 

"I'm going to get my Bisky; we're gonna burn this hellhole down..." She grinned widely. "Then we'll be moving on to you."  She increased her grip on the skull, crushing the jaw under force. "Congratulations, you got our attention, your little weapons are coming home, lucky you!"  She yelled as she threw the skull to the floor, watching the inorganic light fade from its eyes. She turned her head to the group that surrounded her, all of them too scared to make a move—the chilling look from before back on her face.

 

"Well... Show me where Steven Universe is kept, try your hand at taking me out, or run away. It's your damn choice." 

 

"It's gone silent." He mused as he sat in his cell, hands behind his head. He wasn't worried about the commotion up above, unlike the others. No...He knew what was happening. Who was doing it. He felt their presence every day since they pulled him from their bloody, bullet-filled bed and left her for dead. 

 

Every second of every day for the last two months, he felt her getting closer, attometer by attometer, and now...Now it was as if he was enveloped by it. So when everything went quiet and all the other fools were whispering about what could have gone down or if they killed the attacker. 

 

He stood up from his bed.

 

Washed his face and hair with the faucet in his cell. 

 

And waited patiently with his back to the force field. The fools will tell him when she's on this floor.

 

"Who's that?" "She's gonna join us in here?"  "She's the one who attacked?"  "Damn, baby. Help me outta here I'll give-

 

Steven smirked at the sounds of a console being destroyed and a garbled scream that filled the hall, followed by small whispers and the clacking of heels that got closer by the second.

 

"Bisky?"

 

He grinned at the reassuring voice as he turned to her, his heart soaring at the cloaked visage. "Hey, Berry."

 

"Wait, hold on!"  She called as she rammed her sword through the control console, destroying it and disengaging the yellow force field. 

 

"Ah, man...it's good to be-oof!" 

The large pink-skinned man was interrupted by the force of his lover, tackling into him with a desperate trembling hug. The feel of her tears on his torso from silent sobs shook him to his core as he held her back just as desperate.

 

"You're safe... It's been too long." She cried through tears before reaching up to his face with a gloved hand. "They didn't hurt you, right?" She looked at his pink bearded face with his small side smirk that displayed a few of his teeth, his pink mystifying pink eyes that, usually full of mischief, now held an endless well of love The way his brows were slanted inward, pressing the space between them a bit.

 

He shook his head. "I'm fine. Diamond Inc. at least knows how to treat their guests." He joked with a chuckle.

 

She growled, "That's not funny!" She clenched the back of his black shirt in her fist, holding him closer as if she was afraid she'd lose him again. "Not in the least."

 

"Yeah...Just trying to be playful."

 

"There are better ways, you know." The twinge of seductiveness in her voice brought his mischievousness to the front.

 

"Is that so?"

 

"Yeah. It is." She nodded with a grin, wholly immersed by his husky voice and their mutual affection. She hummed and felt his toes curled as he gave her passionate and urgent lip lock. She basked in the feeling of his palm caressing her cheek and the gentle yet carnal suckling and nibbling upon her upper lip as he pulled down her hood. After a few more 'Chu' making kisses, he took a good look at her now uncovered face.

 

Despite having blood splattered on her on the lower left half of her face, her large, black love-filled eye(the right one, the left was covered by an eye patch) shined like stars. Her brows rose as she displayed a broad, toothy smile that radiated endless adoration for her pink skin love.

 

"What?" She asked, voice full of bashfulness. The smile, never faltering as her cheeks heated up. 

 

"You are so damn Beautiful, Cloudy ." He grinned before stroking her left cheek. "Even when you're  messy."  He held his index finger up to show her the blood he wiped off.

 

 "Oh...I can't believe I finally saw you and I'm such a mess. "she flushed, turning around, hands on her cheeks. "Just give me a moment to- Mm~MmhAahh!!"

 

She was interrupted by him slipping his arms around her waist as he sucked and bit on her collarbone. Her hand instantly found his nape, keeping him in place as she shivered in bliss. " Rosey," She moaned in arousal and yearning.

 

"I missed you, Cloudy." He hungrily whispered into her skin as he trailed his manipulations upward toward the back of her ear.

 

"I missed...haha." Her chest and breath hiked when he hit a particular spot. "You as well, Rosey. So much." She leaned into him, sighing. "We..have to stop..WOOHOHO..." She bit her lip before pulling her neck away but staying in his arms, looking at him in his eyes before pecking his lips. " We'll continue this later...I promise, but we have to leave before.."

 

"Freeze!"

 

The reunited lovers turned their sight to a team of armed guards, ready to strike them down. 

 

The two looked at each other and silently agreed on their course of action. After sharing one more kiss, the two gave the group their full attention.

 

It would later be reported that Megalomax correctional center was burned to ashes. The news articles worldwide would show the image of the place ablaze, with the silhouette of an unknown couple engaging in an intimate act in front of the flames.   

[whumpookies]

Merlin one shot, bit of humour can be found here

"No boat huh?"  Matthew muttered, scratching his head in slight confusion 

It was one thousand years later, and what would have been water was now fields, yet the Isle of the Blessed still sat on a hill in all its glory- the same hill that Talia and Matt stood facing. 

"No boat. That’s global warming for you," Talia shrugged easily as she placed down her longbow, making Matthew roll his eyes 

"So, what are we doing here?" Matthew asked as he sat on the hill looking down to the isle.

"Remember the last time we were here?" She asked, joining him sitting on the hill, their knees touching as they leaned back.

"Screaming vale, Doracha, cranky old woman, scarification of a soul to close the vail, Lancelot being an idiot, you warning the old hag..sure hard to forget, really. Why?" Matthew grinned cheekily. 

"Well, time for..revenge," she smirked. 

Matthew blinked..and blinked. "We're what?"

"Going to get revenge, well we ain't but..you’ll see," she half shrugged, laying back into the grass enjoying the rays from the warm sun.

"How? Or should I say why?" Matthew asked, looking over to her.

"Because I promised Lancelot I wouldn't get revenge...back then...didn't say anything about helping get revenge." Her eyes closed, unable to see the disbelieving look Matthew gave her. "You know he's gonna have kittens knowing what we're doing." She shrugged again, standing brushing the grass off her shoulders, Matthew following her actions. 

"That's why we'll tell him after we deal with the old crone," she grinned before grabbing Matthew's collar, dragging him down the hill towards the island.

"Just how are we doing this?" Matthew muttered climbing down the embankment.

"With a dragon." She answered, following him down the silence followed as Matthew stared at his best friend in shock. "A...dragon?"

"Yes, Merlin let me...borrow Kilgharrah"

"Borrow?" His eyebrows rose skywards, scepticism gracing his features. 

"Okay, not borrow...more like the dragon has it in for the hag, so we made a deal." Talia rolled her eyes before continuing along the field as Matthew huffed, "I don't want to know do I?"

"Nope." She answered, snickering. They carried on towards the Isle of the Blessed with a sense of mischief in their hearts.

"Just how did you get our swords and the longbow past the airport checkpoint?"

"You're really asking that now, Matt?"

"I'm curious, it’s not like you can say 'Hey officer, don't worry, just going to get revenge on Cailleach the old hag, then call a dragon, watch him eat her. Just ignore the swords, oh please don't check the blade, it's sharp. Oh look there goes your finger, don't matter if you hurry, it can be sewn on again!" Matthew counted off on his fingers, sarcasm dripping off his words.

"You finished?" She asked, rolling her eyes, once again asking herself why to the heavens. Surely deities were listening.

"Oh no, I've just started!" she sighed before clambering up the steps of the dry dock. "I actually said we're part of a cosplay team…"

"You what?!" 

"Now I bet you wished you never asked!" She cackled, walking down the dock, leaving a groaning Matthew. 

"You have no idea," he sighed.

It was as if time had stopped. The walls were damp, cobwebs spread in abundance, corridors dark until they spotted the light at the end of the tunnel leading to the altar. "How are we getting the old crone to come here? Not like we're sacrificing anyone...why are you looking at me like that?" Talia grinned at a very worried looking Matthew. "Don't worry, no scarification needed. Luckily Merlin knows a few tricks nowadays."

"Yeah, well he could at least get a haircut and a shave!"

"I think he's got the wizard look right down" she glanced over at him. 

"I still think Tolkien met him."

"What, to get the whole Gandalf look down?" She asked slightly confused

"Hell yes! Come on, both Merlin and Tolkien's characters have the beard and long hair… plus look what happened when you asked him to dress up at Samhain!" Matthew grinned, shaking his head. 

"Yeah..that was interesting," she agreed, her forehead creasing slightly.

"Tal, he declared Gandalf as a half-baked wannabe with a guilt complex the size of Albion."

"Point taken," she chuckled, shaking her head.

"Then Lancelot laughed that much he nearly passed out."

"Wait till this year at Halloween you'll love it…"

"If you say Merlin and Lancelot as themselves, I'm so going to be there to watch," Matthew said. 

"Nah, I gave up on that, thinking Harry Potter and Dumbledore." 

The laughter echoed down the empty passageway as they broke into the altar area; it was still large and lush with green grass swaying with the wind.

"You know Talia if this place wasn't linked to the old religion it would be perfect"

"I've nothing against the old religion, just the old hag with a god complex."

"Well let's do this, it's gonna be a long drive back."

Walking around the altar, Talia's hand running along the cool stone as Matthew stood leaning against the wall watching her. 

"How are we doing this?" He asked. 

"Easily, Cailleach is listening to the old hag and is too nosy not to! You ain't getting a sacrifice to some old hag. So come on let's have this out!" She yelled the last part, her voice echoing around the walls as she jumped up on the altar, sitting on the edge. 

"Are we really pissing her off?" Matthew asked.

"I don't get pissed off," the voice croaked behind him. 

"Bloody hell, you old cron don't do that!" Screeched Matthew in a high pitch voice that would make an opera singer jealous as Talia doubled over laughing. Cailleach stood behind the young man all in her dark glory. 

"What do you want, guardian?" She said.

"Oh come on, Cailleach. No hello? It's been, what, one thousand five hundred years, give or take a year...or ten," Talia shrugged, grinning ear to ear as she crossed her legs on the altar."The last I saw of you guardian...you threatened me, and I don't take well to threats," Cailleach accused, her eyes squinting at her.

"I don't take well to you trying to kill Arthur, Merlin or Lancelot," Talia shrugged easily, surprised  by her anger

"It is not killing.."

"Really? A sacrifice to close the veil isn't killing?. Don’t you have enough souls in the underworld?"

"Not yet," she grinned, looking to Matthew 

"Dream on hag, we're taken," Matthew muttered, walking over to Talia by the alter, sword in hand. 

"So it seems that you are, child." Cailleach mourned at the loss of another soul joining her.

"See, I promised someone I wouldn't get revenge on someone else." Talia brought the conversation back on track. "Lancelot." 

"Yes Cailleach, Lancelot, but I spent the day with a very large green-scaled dragon and it seems he still holds a grudge," she smirked, evilly sitting forward. 

"Oh look, Talia, I think it just dawned on her?!" Matthew laughed as Cailleach searched the skies above her as the wind picked up.

"So it seems Matt. Heads up hag, we've got a visitor!" Jumping down, Talia grabbed Matthew, dragging her friend towards the wall as wings came into view. 

"Done my part. Good luck Cailleach," Talia yelled over Kilgharrah's arrival.

"Amazing how hard it is to get a dragon to meet the gatekeeper," Talia muttered as she pulled Matthew into the gatehouse. 

"We are not gonna watch?" Matthew asked.

"Have you ever seen a gatekeeper and dragon go at it?"

"Well...no."

"Me neither, but Kilgharrah said to stay out of the…" A crash and crackle of magic hitting something stopped them.

Both looked to the door. 

"I think I get why now." Said Matthew worriedly looking over at her before a crash followed as rocks flew past the doorway. 

"Oh, that's one pissed off dragon." 

Talia nodded, sitting on an abandoned table. "Wouldn't you be? That old hag nearly killed Merlin, tried to stop the path of Arthur."

"Let's not forget the whole vail crap." 

Sparks struck the door frame as Matthew jumped back. "Oh, the whole Veil needs a blood sacrifice and all that crap. She has real issues with wanting blood." 

Fire bombarded the area passing the door; the heat could be felt with ease. 

"Damn, should have bought marshmallows," Said Matthew bemoaning the loss of a good crispy marshmallow.

"Next time."

"I'm bringing the sausages as well then!" She shook her head as Matthew watched the show as close to the door as possible.

"Well, the old hag needs a peg knocking out of her." 

"Duck!" Matt yelled, boards, bursting, showering bits of wood in all directions.

Talia ran to the door shouting around it. "Kilgharrah get a move on you overgrown lizard! That almost killed us!" 

Matt stood brushing debris off his coat moving away. 

"Bit close," he sighed. 

"Just a bit." 

With the table upturned, they sat behind it, flashes of lightning and flames, crashes and bashes, debris flew past the door frame or closer allowing them to duck, roars covered ears and magic was yelled as it all continued...

"How long?" Talia groaned heavily.

"Three hours and five minutes, in other words, five minutes from the last time you asked." 

"Damn"

"Tal, tell them to quit," Matt moaned whilst cleaning his nails with his sword.

"And get my head blown off?"

"Come on, it's getting late, Merlin can only keep him busy so long!"

"Your point?"

"I'm bored, hungry and they’re being.." he pointed to the door as a lightning bolt struck close by, "...idiots, and they’re going to get us killed!"

Sighing heavily Talia stood, brushing herself off and stormed to the door. "If I die, I'm haunting you!" She muttered before diving out the door quickly as a whip.

Matthew listened intently to the point of straining his ears above the yells of casting, roars and the odd flame until…."THAT WAS MY CLAW!" A deep booming voice Kilgharrah echoed.

"Well if you weren't such an arse, I wouldn't have to stab it, you stubborn bloody dragon! And don't you start either you old hag!"

Matthew snickered, leaning against the wall, shaking his head as laughter rippled through him, whilst trying to listen as Talia continued to rant.

"...yes, I know! Get over yourself, Cailleach or I'll run you through old woman…."

Matthew shook his head, wiping the tears away "...oh trust me, I go to that underworld and I'll haunt you so much that you'll be begging to kick me out.."

He had to agree, she probably would. Talia could be annoying as hell, that was for sure.

"..Yea you're pissed at each other, I get that but come on! When Arthur gets released from Avalon you both need him, so give it a bloody rest! Don't start, you overgrown chicken...and don't you start you wrinkled old pug!"

The second bout of hysterical laughter struck the young man bracing himself against the wall, only Talia would insult a dragon and the gatekeeper of the underworld.

"...Right, that's it!!! I'm calling a truce till next Samhain. You, Kilgharrah, home till Merlin wants you, and Cailleach back till the underworld…no, not Halloween, that my bloody time you get Samhain the eve of Halloween!"

Attempting to catch his breath, Matthew began gathering his and Talia's things.

"Yes, I promise I'll call upon you next bloody Samhain...just...behave till then!"

Matthew cleared the doorway as Kilgharrah flew off, no sign of Cailleach could be seen.

"Finished venting?"

"They are like bloody kids I tell you! I ain't cleaning this mess!" She vented, walking over to her friend gathering her stuff from him. 

"meh, we’ll just call Merlin on the way back; he can clean it up," Matthew reassured as the two made their way back out of the old palace.

"Next year we'll bring Lancelot and Merlin. It'll be fun," Talie said. 

"Only if we bring camp stuff and food," he replied. 

"Deal"

"Cool. Hey, can we stop by McDonald's on the way back? I'm starving," Matthew asked as Talia rolled her eyes. 

"Sure, Merlin wants a happy meal anyway"

[sending-the-message]

I've been to Valhalla. If you're smart you'll heed my warning and lay down your weapons now. by Vexxad

If I'd known then what I know now I would have put my 9mm against my chin and blown my fucking brains out before I ever enlisted in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I've had a great career. Scored so high that I got accepted into a deep covert special operations group very very early, was a top shot and an even better hand to hand fighter. As was everyone else in my squad, which is why it was hard for me to swallow that after 7 years of being "spooks" we were getting picked off in the middle of the desert.

We weren't a large squad, but like I said, we were highly trained. That's why it was strange when Stikes warm blood splattered all over my shemagh and the front of my uniform, the back of his head now a gaping hole. "GET DOWN, GET DOWN!! YOU DUMB MOTHERFUCKERS IM NOT TRAINING A BUNCH OF NE-." That had been Brooks shouting, for a moment at least before muzzle flash and more rounds than I've ever seen fill one man entered his body. I was rough. I was grizzled, but something about seeing two of your most experienced squad-mates unexpectedly explode in front of you tends to rip that training away. Apparently the other two left alive, Jackson and Gyllian felt the same.

"Northeast." It was the only word in my mind as sand exploded around me, assisted by my boots while I hit full sprint and the impact of rounds as the sprayed around me. I tried to follow their tracers, moving accordingly but keeping my eyes fixed on that shitty hut to my northeast. I heard a scream from behind me, nearly feeling the thud vibrate across the ground as Jacksons bloody legs gave out under him, Gyllian turning around just in time to eat one of the tracers, his body falling limp ontop of Jackson as Jackson screamed, switching between shouts of agony and anger, screaming at them to "Fucking end him, pussies!" I jumped into the door of the shack with my shoulder and felt it give way immediately as I fell on the shitty sand floor. I knew they'd granted his wish when the distant screams ceased, multiple loud pops singing to the tune before overtaking it.

"What the fuck is happening? What the FUCK is happening?!?" I shook the thought off quickly, only one thought in my mind now that I'd reached safety. Revenge. I was going to make sure these cunts didn't leave with zero casualties after wiping out our squad. I threw the pack I'd been carrying onto the floor, plastic explosives spilling out of the top and onto the ground.

They waited longer than I expected...a lot longer. Hell, they almost got the drop on me. Probably would have if it hadn't been for the broken glass outside of the window above my head in the bathroom I was in. My breath caught as the window exploded into splinters, rounds peppering the wall behind it as I flung myself onto my back, bracing my feet under the window and firing a round perfectly into the face of the masked cunt. Turns out, this was like kicking a beehive as the whole house suddenly exploded with noise outside of the closed bathroom door, insurgents breaching every window in the house. Just what I'd wanted, I didn't even need to see their faces, they'd know what was happening just from the noise.

I squeezed the detonator, feeling the cheap Chinese made plastic under my fingers, the quickening beeps letting me know my plan had worked as I squeezed my eyes, waiting for the intense heat of the plastic explosives to claw and chew at my skin. It hit my legs first, climbing quickly up my body, pain like I'd never known before chewing away at my skin as I screamed.

I don't remember when the pain stopped, or even whether or not I'd fallen unconscious. It felt like hours later when I finally pried my eyes open slowly. There was no fire around me or even the glowing embers of where one had existed. I could tell I was still in the shack, the only difference now being that the roof had been all but absolutely destroyed, opening a gaping hole to show the grey sky above. Something was circling above slowly at first, but as I blinked to clear my eyes I noticed that the creature was folding its wings, plummeting towards the earth or, more specifically, me. I tensed up as I felt a great mass land somewhere near me and heard the flutter of massive wings folding in on themselves and, as I opened my eyes my mouth fell open in surprise. A tall, tattooed and dark haired woman stood tall above me holding a great sword to my chest.

I was frozen there, starring up at her scarred and sharp face. I was stunned when she finally opened her mouth, speaking in heavily accented English as she jammed the sword into the hard dirt floor beside me. "You, strong warrior. This your weapon." She nodded slightly to the sword, a smirk playing on her lips. "Welcome Valhalla." She said coyly, and with that she spread her great, dark wings and with a thrust of her legs and wings in sync she flew off towards the sky.

I lay there for a while, trying to process what this winged woman had said. "Welcome Valhalla? What the fuck? I mean, I hadn't expected to survive that blast but I hadn't taken any time to consider the consequences ei-" footsteps, outside again. I rolled onto my stomach, pushing myself up on my knees before standing on my feet which, hours earlier I was almost certain had been blown right off. "This your weapon." I heard that voice echo in my head as my eyes caught the blade lying under the window. I realized I had much less time for thinking than I thought as I heard something heavy slam into something outside of the door.

I kicked the door open, coming almost instantly face to face with what I can only describe as what must have been some kind of gladiator type. This person was massive and built like a Fucking bodybuilder, only parts of his body sparsely covered in armor and the rest of him covered in deep scars. He had a massive axe in his hands, I couldn't help but notice that his first swing seemed effortless. I barely had time to move the sword to my side, blocking the better force of the hit, the rest catching my Kevlar and slicing through the outermost fabric easily. The thing was razor Fucking sharp. I saw an opening and took it, sending a kick towards his knee with my combat boot and noticing that it had little to no effect on what, at this point I couldn't help but notice couldn't possibly be entirely human.

He saw an opening and took it quickly, running the entire mass of his shoulder and body into my chest as he threw me onto the ground with an astounding roar and, as I hit the ground with such force my ears began ringing. I tried to force my eyes to stay open and move as he raised his axe above his head, but realized quickly that I had very little strength left, it was all I could do to ram the sword up as his axe came down.

Warm red blood dripped down cold steel and onto the floor as I coughed roughly, feeling the axe embedded deeply into my thick Kevlar vest. I let go of the handle of the sword as I watched the massive beast of a man topple onto his side, the steel jutting from his bleeding chest and pooling on the ground around him as I coughed deeply, sure that my ribs or internal organs had been crushed but glad to feel that it hadn't made it through the armor itself. I sighed in relief, but my relief was quickly dashed as I realized this armor was now unusable. I was lost in a strange place, armed with nothing more than a sword delivered by what, at this point I could only assume had been a Valkyrie. Only one thought was on my mind. I felt alive and I needed to get back to....wherever home was.

[shrikeseams]

#mostly i just want there to be some sort of folk song warning people away from strange songs from beyond the trees #you follow them and before you know it #you're holding a bloody sword above the slain bodies of your kith and kin #(yes this implies that the deserters participated in the second kinslaying) -@eleneressea

Upon consideration, the likeliest path would be Doriath ➡️ Dorthonion (since arguably arafinwians have closer ties to doriath, this seems like the likeliest choice for restless and/or disillusioned marchwardens) ➡️ scattered during the Bragollach ➡️ sheltering with, and ultimately joining the feanorian east.

But after the third kinslaying, that's not a narrative anyone wants to accept, so it becomes the feanorians seducing loyal iathrim away. Being seduced away by magic runs more along Melian or Luthien or Eol's MO, but wh has that ever stopped a good folk song? (C&C in Nargothrond seems more like appealing to self-interest than actual magical seduction, but your mileage may vary.)

the thought occurs to me that there's a distinct possibility that some Doriath march-wardens deserted, seeing the perils of the outside world and wanting to defend people from them…

and possibly they deserted to the Fëanorians.

[shrikeseams]

#mostly i just want there to be some sort of folk song warning people away from strange songs from beyond the trees #you follow them and before you know it #you're holding a bloody sword above the slain bodies of your kith and kin #(yes this implies that the deserters participated in the second kinslaying) -@eleneressea

Upon consideration, the likeliest path would be Doriath ➡️ Dorthonion (since arguably arafinwians have closer ties to doriath, this seems like the likeliest choice for restless and/or disillusioned marchwardens) ➡️ scattered during the Bragollach ➡️ sheltering with, and ultimately joining the feanorian east.

But after the third kinslaying, that's not a narrative anyone wants to accept, so it becomes the feanorians seducing loyal iathrim away. Being seduced away by magic runs more along Melian or Luthien or Eol's MO, but wh has that ever stopped a good folk song? (C&C in Nargothrond seems more like appealing to self-interest than actual magical seduction, but your mileage may vary.)

the thought occurs to me that there's a distinct possibility that some Doriath march-wardens deserted, seeing the perils of the outside world and wanting to defend people from them…

and possibly they deserted to the Fëanorians.