#Dark Web Links Guide

[kingrock970]

The Ultimate Directory for Dark Web Enthusiasts - Visit DarkWebLinks Guide

Are you fascinated by the mysterious and often misunderstood world of the dark web? Are you eager to explore beyond the conventional internet and uncover hidden sites and services? Look no further than DarkWebLinks.Guide, the ultimate directory for dark web enthusiasts. Our site is your comprehensive resource for all types of dark web links, in-depth information about dark web sites, trending topics, exciting features, and everything else related to the dark web.

A Comprehensive Collection of Dark Web Links

At DarkWebLinks.Guide, we offer an extensive and meticulously curated collection of dark web links. Our directory spans various categories, ensuring that you can find exactly what you’re looking for, whether it’s marketplaces, forums, privacy tools, or secure communication services. Each link is thoroughly vetted and regularly updated to ensure that it is both functional and safe, providing you with a reliable gateway to the dark web’s vast expanse.

In-Depth Information and Guides

For those new to the dark web, diving in can seem daunting. That’s why DarkWebLinks.Guide provides detailed guides and educational articles to help you navigate this hidden part of the internet safely and effectively. Learn the essentials, such as:

How to Access the Dark Web: Step-by-step instructions on using tools like Tor to access dark web sites.

Safety and Anonymity: Tips on maintaining your privacy and security while browsing.

Understanding the Dark Web: Insights into the differences between the deep web and the dark web, and the types of activities that occur there.

Our resources are designed to be informative and accessible, making the dark web approachable for anyone interested.

Stay Updated with the Latest Trends

The dark web is a dynamic and ever-changing landscape. At DarkWebLinks.Guide, we keep you informed about the latest trends and developments. From emerging marketplaces and innovative technologies to significant events and security updates, our trending section ensures that you stay ahead of the curve. Whether you’re interested in the latest encryption methods or notable changes in the dark web community, we’ve got you covered.

Exciting Features for the Dark Web Enthusiast

We understand that dark web enthusiasts seek more than just links; they want tools and features that enhance their exploration. DarkWebLinks.Guide offers a range of exciting features, including:

Verified Links: Continuously updated and verified to ensure safety and functionality.

User Reviews and Ratings: Community-driven feedback to help you choose the best and most reliable dark web services.

Educational Content: Comprehensive guides, FAQs, and informative articles covering various aspects of the dark web.

Trending News: Stay updated with the latest news and trends in the dark web world.

All About the Dark Web

The dark web is a fascinating realm, shrouded in mystery and often misunderstood. It operates on encrypted networks, requiring special software such as Tor for access. While it is frequently associated with illicit activities, the dark web also hosts numerous legitimate sites focused on privacy, free speech, and information sharing. DarkWebLinks.Guide aims to present a balanced view, highlighting both the risks and the legitimate uses of the dark web.

Join Our Community

Exploring the dark web doesn’t have to be a solitary journey. Join our community of like-minded individuals who share your curiosity and enthusiasm for the dark web. Engage in discussions, share your experiences, and gain insights from other users. Our forums and comment sections are open to anyone eager to learn more about this hidden part of the internet.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a newcomer to the dark web or a seasoned explorer, DarkWebLinks.Guide is your go-to resource for all things related to the dark web. With our extensive directory, educational content, and up-to-date news, we provide everything you need to navigate the dark web safely and efficiently. Visit DarkWebLinks.Guide today and start your journey into the unknown!

Visit DarkWebLinks.Guide for a handpicked selection of dark web links and immerse yourself in our insightful blog articles for the latest updates on the dark web.

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[breelandwalker]

The Web of Light - A Community Ritual

In late January of 2025, I joined a group of witches online to conduct a ritual for the protection and healing of our communities and for hope to sustain us though the weeks and months to come. Many wonderfully talented people contributed to this working, and I was honored to present an invocation of Brighid and to lead the portion of the ritual where we created the Web of Light.

With the permission of the rest of the circle from that evening, I want to share my portion of the ritual with all of you. (I'm not looking for notes or feedback - this was purpose-built and it exists as it was written.) The more strands in the web, the more lights in the dark, the more love and energy we can give this spell and others like it, the better.

If you feel comfortable doing so, I'd like to invite anyone who is willing to help to join in this working, either by yourself or with your circle. You can do the full blessing, invocation, and casting if you feel comfortable doing so, or just the casting alone. Feel free to invite any helpful spirits, ancestors, deities (especially fire-related), and so forth that you work with to lend their aid.

All you need for this spell is a quiet place to sit and a candle. (Live flame or LED, either is fine, and if you can't find either one, a flashlight will do.)

Perform whatever opening steps you usually do to begin a ritual (preparing the space, casting a circle, grounding and centering, etc) and when you're ready, begin.

WEB OF LIGHT

Suggested Music for the warmup:

"Brighid's Flame" and/or "Brighid" by Kellianna "Imbolc" by Lisa Thiel

[BLESSING]

Into this sacred space, I call the light of creation, the light of inspiration, the light of healing, the light of the forge, the light of the hearthfire, the light of hope, which neither wanes nor falters, but burns bright and perpetual within and around us all. Bless those who are gathered here and may the spirits, deities, ancestors, and powers almighty that we invoke here strengthen our resolve, shield us from harm, and guide us in our workings, as we gather to do what is RIGHT, not what is easy.

[INVOCATION]

With the consent of those assembled, I invoke the name of Brighid and invite her presence in this place. Holy Lady of Cill Dara (pron. Kill Dahrah), protector of hearth and home, teacher, poet, healer, forgemaiden, flamekeeper, living link between the old ways and the new, be with us and lend us your aid.

Brigid of brightness, I bid thee welcome, Brigid of blessing, come thou in. Brigid of strength, I bid thee welcome, This night and every night, this day and every day.

Brigid of the threshold, come thou in, Brigid of the hearthfire, take your ease, Brigid of the cook-pot, sup with us, Brigid of all comforts, live in our hearts.

Ancestors all, I embody your legacy, Ancestors all, I ask for your blessing, Ancestors all, I offer Brigid’s flame To light the needfires of deep memory.

Brigid of the timeless flame, bless your [children]: Those who keep the circle bright, Those whose faith has never failed, Those who keep your name ablaze.

Brigid, lend your righteous sword To those who work for justice, To those who speak the truth, To those who seek a better world.

In the name of Brigid, who empowers the oppressed, In the name of Brigid, who released the enslaved, In the name of Brigid, who lifts up the downtrodden, May all our people be honored and free.

[Casting]

Tonight, we come together with courage. Tonight, we come together with hope. Tonight, we come together in common purpose, to turn our combined strength to save what can be saved, to shield what can be shielded, to heal what can be healed, to burn away what must be cleansed, and to keep the darkness of despair and hatred at bay.

Tonight, each of us is a point of light. We are the tenders of the hearth. We are the bearers of the flame which lights the way. We are the workers at the forge. We are the spark before the fire, the dancing light upon the snow, the seekers of snowdrops, the keepers of the healer’s tent, the knowers of the promise of spring.

For even as summer fades into fall, and fall into winter, so the cold and dark must one day yield to warmth and renewal. Even the longest night must end and we will see the sun rise again.

(Light your candle.)

Hold the light within you. Warm, bright, everlasting, a fire which burns bright but does not consume or diminish. This is a fire which shields the helpless, which offers illumination to the lost, which gives hope to those in sorrow. Each of us alone is but a candle, but together, we are a conflagration. 

Picture the array of us, spread out across the sleeping world, a scattering of earthbound stars twinkling in the night. Physically, we are apart, but in our hearts and in our magic, we are all a part of each other and of this world. We are the weavers and keepers of this spell, a web that spans mighty distances and connects us all. We are the beacons which will hold the darkness at bay.

Let the light of your magic spread out from you like the lines of a spider’s web, like the roots of a tree, like the paths of a river, like the crackle of lightning. Picture it spreading across the distances between us, each strand connecting one working to another, and another, and another, strengthening with each bond, growing until the space is covered. Each of us holds a line and weaves a portion of the web, and we are blessed to know that none of us walks alone. 

Like the roots of the trees, like the mycelium of the mushrooms, this web of light is not visible to all. Those that seek to harm, to disrupt, to oppress, and diminish, let them be blind, let them be powerless, let them find nothing. We give them NOTHING. But those who have need of us, those who need healing or shelter or knowledge or hope, we give them eyes to see. And those that see, let them light beacons of their own, until the night is bright as day and the sun comes up again.

(Extinguish your candle. If you ever feel that you need strength or hope or the time feels right to further empower the spell, light it up again.)

Suggested Music for the cooldown:

“Star Maps�� by S.J. Tucker "Wonders" by S.J. Tucker

(If you choose to share this ritual elsewhere, please credit me. Thanks!)

[beastyeastfreak]

Mystic Flour x GN! Cacao kingdom soldier! reader.

Part one of four

Link to next part

Cw and tags: suggestive if you squint, flirting, non descriptive canon typical death

Edit: the draft for this was way more suggestive than the final product, tags were inaccurate mb

Summary: You were a selfless Cacao kingdom soldier who embarked on the journey to beast yeast with your king and peers. Unfortunately, it seems you have caught the eye of a beast.

🌾 - When Dark Cacao announced his expedition to Beast yeast, you volunteered to go as many others did. You were a loyal Cacao kingdom soldier, it would be wrong not to. A plague was devouring the people whole, sweeping through the snow like a gluttonous swarm of springtails. So, the team sailed across an unnervingly calm Licorice sea, carved through untamed jungle and soon into the ivory pagoda.

🌾 - Your team meets a Haetae aptly named Cloud Haetae who offers to be a guide. Your group tours through the pagoda as Cloud Haetae told tales of their master, Mystic Flour cookie, you felt as though eyes were on your dough. Statues of this being felt like they were staring at you, and you felt as if the fog had eyes boring holes into your soul. Cloud haetae told a tale of a powerful cookie who granted wishes, helping cookies struggling.

🌾 - “What is your wish?” Cloud Haetae asked you as you lingered a bit away from the group while they ate, passing on the snacks so everyone else could have their share. You were perplexed, Cloud Haetae asked that to Dark Cacao too though. “I don’t think i have one,” you start, “I just want my kingdom to be safe and happy, if i can help someone else get what they want then that makes me happy” you say. “How selfless! My master likes… would like you!” Cloud Haetae would, you wonder why it almost seemed like they wanted to say something else.

🌾 - You soon meet this leavened one. The group stands in front of a colossal cocoon, the Cloud Haetae showing their true colors. Leading them into the metaphorical and literal spiders web. Mystic Flours voice echoes throughout the chamber, she stands like a white pillar in the room. A powerful being no mortal dare go up against, she tells a different story of apathy and futility. As she speaks, your allies begin to become infected.. except you. “May the curse of the Ivory Pagoda befall all who fail to recognize this truth,” she says. As she leaves, you almost swear you see her eyes linger on you for a moment which makes your dough feel like it had been infested with bugs. Your friends are falling before your eyes, but as the fog began to settle you watched Mystic Flour leave and began to chase after her. You weren’t sure what this would accomplish, it didn’t do anything actually, when you found your way out of the mist you were on a mountain peak alone, separated from your king.

🌾 - You were wondering aimlessly through a land of clouds and stairs, alone but not useless. If you could reach this Mystic Flour cookie maybe you could guide Dark Cacao to her! You began to wonder up the mountain, but as you venture you take in the beauty of this world. You wonder why you were spared, you and your king alone, a lowly mortal and an Ancient. Each step up the long and winding steps was another thought. “My master likes… would like you!” Cloud Haetae’s voice echoes in your mind, then it hits you. Did she like you? You wince at the thought of gaining the affection of a beast such as herself.

🌾 - After many arduous steps, you reach the top. Carved into the mountain was the entrance to a dark temple like place. You quietly walked through, feeling tiny in comparison to the pillars stood proud and murals recessed into the stone. The stale scent of flour wafts through the air, many had been reduced to dust here you were certain of it.

🌾 - “You are not the one who i expected to arrive first,” her voice calls through the chamber. She stands some distance away, eyes closed and hands still in that same position. Fear shoots through your body. “I..” your words are cut off. You remember the epiphany you had earlier. You know that if she kills you now for speaking wrong then you will be of no use to the cacao kingdom. You recall her stories, she had no followers here. Her last interactions with cookiekind were likely negative, maybe there was a way you could smooth talk your way out of this…

🌾 - You kneel with your head slightly turned down, a gesture of respect, your chocolate armor rustling. “Master of the Ivory Pagoda, Leavened one, i do not come seeking a fight.” You say and place your weapon on the ground, its clinking echoes through the halls at least thrice. She is silent, her steps are quiet until she’s practically in front of you. “Why have you come then?” Great, she wasn’t trying to turn you to flour, something was working. “To give the respect that my people have failed to give you,” you say, lifting your head only to place your hand out. She places her hand in yours and you kiss it reverently. She hums at your words and actions, “stand, soldier.” She says in that same slow fashion while her had drifts away. You obey her words, her eyes are nearly opened. “I do not grant wishes, if this is an attempt to gain something i will not be merciful.”

🌾 - “I consider myself all but selfish,” you respond. “I do not want to ask anything of you, i have no wish only that you’d grace a cookie such as i with your grand presence.” She raised an eyebrow just barely at your words then stepped forward, her eyes staring into yours. Those slit pupils felt like they were cutting you. You were nervous- no scared, her expression was impossible to pinpoint, they had better luck fighting a licorice ocean monster than figuring out what went in behind those eyes. “I have kept an eye on you for some time,” she says and places a single finger under your chin. You fight the urge to flinch away. “You have nothing, you’ve given everything, pointless is it not?” She says, eyes grazing over scars. “If my actions have lead to me meeting you then in my heart i know it was worth it,” you say. You really hope your theory was right and that she did like you.

🌾 - She stops, her mouth agape as if she had not anticipated that answer. Then her cheeks begin to flush ever so slightly. “How… odd,” she says and her hands return to their position. Her surprise fade soon, then her hand comes to your chestplate. Its cold, and it spreads throughout your whole dough but you dont flinch. “This armor is pointless, your words alone have weakened a beast. This is only reserved for me, tell me that i am wrong.” She says, fingers hooking beneath the chest plate onto the tunic beneath. “You’re right,” you respond quietly. Not sure whether to be scared or attracted. Her eyes dart back onto your face. “You will toil no more,” she says and steps forward so her face is close to yours, your face heats up, her other hand grabs your chin between her pointer and thumb. “You will not wave the cacao flag,” she says quieter. You really hope that by doing this you’re buying Dark Cacao some time or something of value. “You will not surround yourself with those unlike you,” her face is an inch away, you find yourself leaning into it. “I am the only one who is like you.”

🌾 - She closes the distance between the two of you, your eyes flutter nearly shut. Your heart is beating, its really quick too. In your days of defending the wall, fighting monsters and serving your king this was simultaneously the most scared you’ve been in your life and also oddly the most attracted you’ve been to someone, that alone made you feel worse. Her sharp claw like nails left your chin and came to your neck, keeping you in place. Not that you showed any signs of leaning away. She didn’t have to push you against anything or hold you still to keep you with her.

🌾 - “MYSTIC FLOUR COOKIE!” You hear your kings voice echo, a loud roar. He was coming up the stairs, you flinch and she leans away then looks at you, “hm.. unfortunate… when i have taken back my souljam, i will decide what to do with you.” She said, her thumb brushing against your lower lip before pulling away. Your vision began to blur and become white, you close your eyes to clear it but you cannot open them, your body becomes numb. “I will awaken you soon… Y/N…” you hear as you begin to fall into a deep rest, dreaming of soft clouds, a lack of armor and dumpling immortals playing Go.

[pixelsandpins]

Let's say you see the new Venom movie this weekend. Then you want to read the comics. Reading guides can be very overwhelming. So as a Venomaniac, let me give a broader approach discussing main storylines, what's worth your time, and where I think you should/could start.

80s-90s: Origin, First Villain Run, Transition to Hero

The Alien Suit Saga begins in Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984) after Peter finds the goo in Secret Wars #8. Then more specific Eddie/Venom shenanigans start in 298-300. Venom's whole origin story can be found in a trade paperback (aka a TPB) called Spiderman: Birth of Venom which also includes issues from other series to fill out the story. Venom continues to be a villain in Spider-Man for awhile, so most of his story up through 1993 is found across Amazing Spider-Man and Web of Spider-Man. There're couple of collections that cover parts of this, but the most complete is Spider-Man Vs Venom. From this era you can also get the trade paperback called Carnage: Born in Blood which covers the arrival and birth of Carnage. A more in depth reading guide will give you these individual issues, and you can find them all in Marvel Unlimited or other online source.

(I'm having a hard time finding what I feel is the optimal link, but these have the information, at least).

Birth of Venom individual issues.

Birth of Carnage individual issues.

These are all very 80s and 90s comics, however, so they require a little bit of fortitude if you've never read comics before. This theme will continue up through Venom's solo work through the 90s.

Venom's solo stuff begins with Venom: Lethal Protector in 1993 (available as a TPB). This is the arc where Eddie moves from villain to hero. It also introduces the first symbiote spawn and a few other major lore elements.

Up through the rest of the decade there are A LOT of 3-4 issue mini-runs starting with Venom: Funeral Pyre. You can knock each of them out in an evening, and they provide some details about character and story. You absolutely don't have to read most. There are some key ones, though, where the lore carries through:

Venom: The Madness brings value not in lore, but in narrative. It shows the way Eddie and the other physiologically affect each other. It's also just really good.

Venom: Separation Anxiety separates Eddie and the symbiote, exploring the changes in their relationship and deals with more spawn. This one is a major influence on the first movie.

Carnage: Unleashed gives more development to Carnage and sets a story beat up for later.

Go back to Spider-Man for Planet of the Symbiotes. This expands on symbiote lore and is a key element of Eddie and the others relationship. You can read it as individual issues or as a TPB. This one has a major influence on Venom 1 and 3.

Venom: Sinner Takes All introduces She-Venom, traumatizes Anne, and sets some later lore hooks for story.

Venom: The Hunger expands on the brain eating/addiction and introduces the chocolate substitute. They also hold hands at the movies, and I think that's super important, personally.

Venom: Seed of Darkness is one of the lesser priority ones but does provide some interesting Eddie backstory.

Spider-Man: The Venom Agenda sets up some new story and lore beats for the Venom/Spider-Man relationship.

Venom: Finale the symbiote temporarily dies, and it sets up narrative for future comics.

If you've never read comics before, this whole era might be a difficult starting place. Mostly because the ethos of comics have changed, and it can be harder to connect with material from the 80s and 90s. It's not bad, it's just different. It's kind of essential narrative and lore establishment, however. So either accept the challenge or come back to it later and accept you'll have gaps in the lore. If you've read pre-2000s comics before, you'll be fine. Read from the beginning. It's a riot.

Venomnibus 1 and 2 covers this era. The first bout of Epic Collections also end here.

1999-2010

There's a bit of a tricky transition here over the change in millennia as Venom goes back to being a villain for a bit, joining the Sinister Six. Because of this most of the story moves back to Spider-Man. The problem is: there's major story shit introduced, and there isn't a collected edition that covers this era properly. You'll require a reading guide or accept the lore gap.

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #9-10 covers the return of the symbiote to Eddie.

Amazing Spider-Man #19 features the death of Anne Weying, Eddie's ex-wife and, at one time, temporary host.

In 2003 they start expanding the Venom story again, in earnest, but he's still an antagonist. The first solo run here is Venom Vol 1 by Daniel Way. This is collected into 4-5 trades, also appears in Venomnibus 3, and consists of 4 arcs. This one never got narratively resolved, but Wolverine is there. So that's something. This is probably the most skippable of the "big series" however you could use this as a starting place. It's early enough that you won't be missing the second phase of lore, and it's a more "modern" story. However, it's not the strongest of the runs, so it might set the wrong expectations.

Spectacular Spider-Man: The Hunger adds an element of maliciousness to Venom's motivations. It's moderately essential narrative but very divisive.

Venom/Carnage is pretty good, introduces Toxin, and transitions us into the next narrative beat.

The Symbiote and Eddie Part Company, Scorpion!Venom Begins

Here is where Venom becomes a proper villain again, only...he's a protagonist? A PROTAGONIST VILLAIN, YOU SAY?

Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #5-12 are often left off reading guides, but they transition the symbiote from Eddie to Angelo Fortunato to Mac Gargan.

Gargan, as Venom, then joins the Thunderbolts for a while. This is in Thunderbolts #110-127 and continues in Dark Avengers

Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man is the story of Mac Gargan fuckin' around as Venom/Dark Spider-Man.

I'm of the opinion you can pretty much skip the entire Gargan era, and you won't lose much going forward. But it's also...kind of a fun read? And it does expand on what the influence the symbiote has on their host looks like.

Venomnibus 3 also collects much of this, but not all. Marvel Knights, Thunderbolts, Dark Avengers, and Dark Reign are all available as TPS/Omnis

Also skip Venom: Dark Origin, for now. It sort of rewrites Eddie in a way that didn't really stick going forward.

Right at the end here, Carnage gets a few more series and Eddie as Anti-Venom is first introduced in Spider-Man. Anti-Venom barely shows up, at first, but he persists going forward. There's no dedicated collection to the era, but the primary comics are collected in Spider-Man: New Ways to Die, and Anti-Venom: New Ways to Live.

2010->today

Flash Thompson/Agent Venom Begins

Here, the government strips the other from Mac and gives it to military vet Flash Thompson

If you start here you're coming in right at the start of the next major phase of lore for Venom that covers all the Cool Space Shit. It's a fan favorite and an objectively well-written run, but it's also thematically and narratively a bit of a turn from all the others. It will also be a really really long time before you see Eddie as Venom. So just keep that in mind going forward.

After a bit of Spider-Man prologue, this kicks off properly in 2011 with Venom Vol 2 by Remender and Bunn. The Spider Island crossover as part of this run goes in tandem with Amazing Spider-Man. You can use a guide to sort these issues or get the TPB or Epic Collection that covers them.

Right in the middle of Venom Vol 2, Flash joins the Secret Avengers in issue #23. This is the sort of "official" intro of the Agent Venom iteration specifically. You'll also see this era tie in to the Minimum Carnage crossover. It's an okay read, but doesn't leave a lot of lasting impact on the story. You can skip it, for now.

Agent Venom also joins the Thunderbolts from issue #1-23 (Way and Soule). This is skippable.

Superior Spider-Man #22-25 is the pretty darn Superior Venom story and coves the gap between the end of the Agent Venom run and the beginning of the upcoming space-based stories. It's an an odd comic, though, in that very quickly changes the shape of Flash's relationship with the symbiote, but that relationship holds going forward.

Flash Goes to Space

His story continues in the Guardians of the Galaxy run from 2014, joining in issue #14. The most important part of his tenure with Guardians, however is issue #21-23. This is where we see the symbiote/Klyntar homeworld.

He rejoins the Guardians for 20 issues in the next run starting in 2015, but it's skippable.

These are both available as their own omnis or TPB collections.

Venom: Space Knight is sick as fuck and my favorite with Flash. A lot of good, juicy alien lore.

Eddie Becomes Venom, Again

Before Eddie goes back to his boyfriend, he spends some time as Toxin. The bulk of this is covered in the 2015 Carnage run by Conway.

Venom Vol 3 by Costa begins in 2016, and we see the transition from Flash to Lee Price briefly then finally back to Eddie. This is my personal favorite major run. It currently comes in 4 TPB. Starting here gives you street level Venom again but does drop you deep shit into the lore. You can one-hundred percent start here, though, extremely easily because they treat it as a soft reboot.

Within this run you'll see crossovers for Venom Inc. and Poison X. These expand on the overall story by introducing Mania and the Poisons, the latter of which are lead-ins for the first Venomverse comics. You can skip the Venomverse storylines, for now, but they are a lot of fun.

First Host is a really great mini-run in 2018 that talks about the true first host of the symbiote and introduces Sleeper. It's available as a TPB.

The Cates run (vol 4) (also has Bunn on it) begins in 2018, and it's very very good. It's where the character of Knull comes from, as featured in the new movie. A lot of people start here and have a good time. The way it's narratively constructed, it's beginner friendly, but you're sort of coming in at the end of Eddie's arc.

This also involves the Absolute Carnage and King in Black crossover events which are collected in a TPB/Omni.

This is also all collected in the recent Cates and Stegman Venomnibus.

The current Ewing run (vol 5) ends in November (cries), but you CANNOT START HERE. Without the previous Cates run, at minimum, the current run is missing vital story and lore information. You will be so lost, at first, that it simply won't be fun.

You'll note I've skipped a number of side runs including a few Carnage runs and Toxin. Slot them in if you want additional lore and story, but you can get by without them if it all becomes too much.

The lore drops that appear in Spider-Man in between solo runs might seize you up for a moment, but when necessary, the solo comics will catch you up as needed.

The past five years have also seen a handful of retro-runs that go back in time to tell stories from Eddie's early time with Venom. You could slot them in with the other 90s mini-runs, but I think they're more fun after you've been reading for awhile.

A new run is starting in December called All New Venom where Eddie will no longer be the host. Who will? We don't know! The way it's being advertised, I'm going to make a guess it ends up being a passable starting point for new readers. I'll know when I get my issue #1.

[alexanderwales]

The Index

This is an index of things I've written and posted online, with minimal descriptions because most of them have blurbs if you click the link. This list is not exhaustive, especially because there are a bunch of short stories and dribbles in various places. If something you liked is missing, let me know.

Web Serials

Worth the Candle - Juniper Smith is a teenaged Dungeon Master who ends up in a world filled with all the things he dreamt up for his campaigns, along with signs of his friend who died months earlier. This Used to be About Dungeons - Five teenagers live in a house together, bake bread, tend the garden, and occasionally fight monsters in dungeons. Thresholder - Thresholders travel from world to world, fantasy one minute and scifi the next, always encountering an opponent, growing stronger as they battle. Shadows of the Limelight - Fame gives you superpowers, and Dominic just saved the world's greatest hero from defeat in full view of a large audience. Glimwarden (unfinished) - A small town huddles around lanterns that keep the darklings at bay. Four teenagers must grow in power as the darkness encroaches. The Dark Wizard of Donkerk (unedited) - Two men steal a baby from an orphanage, then find out he's too cute to sacrifice and raise him as their own.

Fanfic

The Metropolitan Man (Superman) - Lex Luthor attempts to unravel the secrets of the alien. A Common Sense Guide to Doing the Most Good (Superman) - Superman gets really into effective altruism. Instruments of Destruction (Star Wars) - A fable of project management aboard the second Death Star, through the eyes of Admiral Tian Jerjerrod. Branches on the Tree of Time (Terminator) - Sarah Connor is working as a software engineer at UCLA when a naked man shows up on her doorstep. A Bluer Shade of White (Frozen) - Elsa can make life, and Olaf is smarter than he looks.

Shorts

Eager Readers in Your Area - Artificial intelligence has left authors scrambling for readers. Charlotte clicks on an ad. Variations - An orc visits an art exhibition where she feels out of place. Contratto - Julia takes a job as a marketer, working for the vampires to keep their secrets safe. The Randi Prize - James Randi offers a prize for anyone who can demonstrate supernatural abilities. Coming Home - After a long time isekaied to a fantasy kingdom, an errant father has coffee with his estranged son.

I also post short stuff to this very tumblr, which can usually be found under the #microfiction tag unless I forget. Usually this is mirrored on AO3, unless I'm lazy.

Web Comics

Millennial Scarlet - Lamont Pearce is a gig economy demon hunter whose mother ran a government agency meant to defend against Hell. Worth the Candle - A webcomic adaptation of the web serial

Non-Fiction

The AI Art Apocalypse - Slightly outdated thoughts from 2022. Why to Write a Sex Scene - Observations on the narrative purpose of carnal pursuits. Game Review: Underhill - This review contains no screenshots, because this game does not exist. Writing: An FAQ - Accumulated wisdom from 4 million words and counting. Creating Interesting Magic - A much-requested post on making interesting magic systems (and characters, and plots, and worlds). How to Write a Web Serial - It's both easier and harder than you think. The Trouble with Writing Nazis - On giving villains too much credit. Interesting Things to do with Time Loops - Exploring the boundaries of the conceit.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Are the Backrooms a broken TARDIS?

Are the Backrooms a broken TARDIS?

🪞 What Are the Backrooms?

For those unfamiliar with the mythos, the Backrooms are a human urban myth/legend that describes an endless, liminal labyrinth of fluorescent-lit, yellow-carpeted rooms that one "noclips" into by accident—that is, by falling through reality itself. Once inside, escape is rare, sanity is optional, and time seems to move… wrong.

Key features include:

Shifting architecture: rooms repeat, distort, and change dimensions.

Non-Euclidean layouts: corridors loop or stretch in an impossible manner.

Chronological instability: time appears to pass inconsistently, if at all.

Paratextual paranoia: Vaguely-described 'entities' may stalk the corridors.

🌀 So, Are They a Broken TARDIS?

Let's examine the possibilities.

📦 TARDISes and Interior Collapse

When a TARDIS is damaged, especially from temporal stress, its dimensional interior can collapse into paradox loops or misfire into recursive spatial traps. We've seen:

Corridors twisting endlessly, and rooms vanishing from memory.

A corrupted TARDIS creating an infinite prison of alternate timelines.

So yes—TARDISes are capable of housing rooms that shouldn't exist and sometimes do so maliciously.

🔧 Diagnostic Parallels

Backroom-like phenomena could be explained by:

A rogue or feral TARDIS losing control of its architectural configuration.

An Interior Perception Filter gone haywire, trapping occupants in looping cognitive constructs.

A crashed prototype (pre-Type 40) abandoned in the vortex and left to rot until reanchored to N-Space.

🚫 Counterpoints

But let's not jump to conclusions:

The Backrooms have no known control room or Eye of Harmony.

The "noclip" mechanic is anomalous even by Gallifreyan standards. TARDISes don't usually kidnap people without a psychic link or a darn good reason (though you may counterpoint this one with sheer madness).

No known signs of a symbiotic interface.

🏫So ...

Could the Backrooms be the decaying husk of a broken TARDIS? Possibly. But they could just as easily be:

A collapsed pocket dimension.

A trapped reality fragment from the Dark Times.

A thought-based prison from the 10th Dimension.

Or (most likely) a low-level spatial trauma node clinging to a forgotten corner of the Web of Time.

Either way, we don't recommend it.

Related:

💬|🛸🌌Can a TARDIS be altered for travel in the multiverse?: How you might go about getting to the multiverse in your TARDIS.

💬|📱🕸️What does the Web of Time look like?: Overview on the Web of Time and its relevance.

💬|📱👁️What’s Eye of Harmony?: What this is and how it works, and how crucial it is to Time Lords.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[emma23]

Masterlist:

This masterlist will be about Oscar Isaac characters. I will maybe do some Pedro pascal characters too but it will be mainly about Oscar Isaac.

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U can know tips if u like my fics. Those will help me paying my school. Thanks all 💕

Link: https://ko-fi.com/settings?tab=profile

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The most recent fic:

27/06: line we didn’t cross…right ?🌹 (Santiago Garcia x reader)

26/06: caught in the crossfire 🌹🔥 (Poe dameron x reader)

24/06: the prodigal knight 🌹🥰 (marc spector x reader)

23:06: not people, only you 🌹 (Jake lockley x reader)

20/06: beneath the charade 🌹 (Santiago Garcia x reader)

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Fluff: 🥰

Romance: 🌹

Angst: 😔

Hurt: 💔

Confort: 🤗

Smut: 🔥

Magic: 💫

Dark: 🖤

Mystery: 🕵🏻‍♂️

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Oscar Isaac character:

Headcanon

Masterlist Poe dameron:

Masterlist Steven grant:

Masterlist Jonathan Levy:

Masterlist Nathan Bateman:

Masterlist santiago Garcia:

Masterlist marc Spector:

Masterlist Jake Lockley:

Masterlist Llewyn Davis:

Masterlist duke Leto astreides:

Masterlist Blue jones:

Masterlist moon knight:

Masterlist King John:

Masterlist shiv:

Miguel o’hara:

Dark Miguel 🖤

Maybe the tests aren't quite right 🤗

It’s just a dare 🌹

Boss Miguel 🖤

Caught in the web of love 🌹

Chasing ghosts 💔🖤

The taste of cherry 🌹

Rydal keener:

The honeymoon 💔

The worst tour guide ever 🌹

Cats confusion and a charmer named Rydal 💔

Orestes:

Orestes x reader 🌹

The fall of Alexandria 😔

The sun and the moon 🤗

The astronomer and the prefect 🌹

Kane:

Kane x reader 😔

In the shadow of the Shimmer 😔

Bud Cooper:

Unmasking Suburbicon 🕵🏻‍♂️

Unexpected encounters 🌹

Basil Stitt:

The Lightning connection 🤗

Lightning in a bottle 🔥:

Cecil Denis:

Melting point 🔥

Chaotic rhythms 🔥

Beneath the surface 🤗

Wait, I don’t get it, please explain 🥰

Waiting for something special 🌹

William Tell:

Rolling the dice on us 😔

The odds of us 🔥🌹

A house of his own making 🖤🌹

Two hands one heart 🌹

Playing with fire 🔥🌹

A flutter of choices 🥰🌹🔥

Richard Munoz:

Muffled confessions 💔

Boundaries and bullies 🔥

A seat reserved 🔥

Anselm Vogelweide:

The crumbling brick 💔

The translation game🌹

Laurent leclert:

The art of deception 🌹

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Pedro Pascal charecter:

Masterlist Joel miller

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Tom holland characters:

Masterlist Peter Parker

[theshypinkflower]

HEADCANON TIMEEEEEE

There’s definitely a gore archive that exists on the dark web within the btd and tpof universe

It’s probably ran by like two loner neets who spend all their time on the internet. It looks all pink and cutesy but you need to type in a specific link to find the site, and even then to get to the archive you have to do some specific clicking. I imagine the URL changes often as to not be tracked.

It has like its own community board. Has videos and pictures of old disturbing videos (especially stuff from Strade), announcements about streamers, and a how to guide on how to watch these streams. It’s most likely not a tor website, just needs a specific URL for you to gain access.

Speaking of streams, I thought about how fox does his streams. For starters, to realistically run his red rooms, he’d need to use a VPN, and so would his viewers. Second, all his profits come in the form of bitcoin. I imagine he has some password to get into his streams that he reveals in the form of twitter or Reddit posts, maybe 4chan since 4chan is much more anonymous (let’s be real, he was definitely a 4chan user). It’s probably some long paragraph who, to the average user looks like it makes no sense, but of course to his fans, it’s the secret word to their deepest desires.

[experi-sketches]

Rowan and Ash - Chapter Three

Honestly, is it even slavefic if there isn't a bath scene?? I think I was contractually obligated to write this.

PS, I've started posting this on my A03 - any chapters containing risqué stuff will link out to there, just to be safe.

(If you're wondering what the deal with this story is, or what's going on with An Iron Blood Tale, check out my notes in chapter one.)

This is whumpy slavefic so please mind the content warnings. Enjoy! _____ Content warnings: whump, slavefic, m/m master/slave dynamics, captivity & restraints, self-harm, power dynamics/size difference, dubcon, brief mention of past noncon Rating: explicit Word Count: 3,511

Chapter Two // Chapter Four

_____

Banks led Ash to a large washroom in an entirely separate part of the home, guiding him through airy hallways that opened onto high-ceilinged, uncluttered rooms. Ash didn't pay much attention, allowing the corridors to drift through his peripheral without note. None of it mattered. The world was grey at the edges, and he felt small, like a fly caught in a spider's web. 

The washroom was sizable, with a large bathtub against the wall that was big enough for three people at least, and a separate water closet behind a closed door. Banks flicked the light on, washing the muted green walls in the warmth of incandescent bulbs, and closed and latched the door behind them. He turned to Ash and eyed him with an assessing, dark gaze, slowly up and down, evaluating.

The quiet stretched. Ash stood on the cold tiles in the center of the room and shivered, heart thumping in his chest, and wished again, desperately, to be free of the bridle so he could at least wrap his arms around himself for the illusion of protection. His hands flexed in the cuffs, metal scraping against skin. 

Banks studied him a little longer, then sighed—a habit of his, it seemed—and went to the tub to fiddle with the knobs until gently steaming water poured from the faucet. Satisfied, he stood and reached for Ash, and Ash failed to stifle his reflexive flinch.

"Easy," Banks said, low and calm. "You don't need to wince every time I touch you. Here, turn around. This needs to come off." Ash's nerves flared at the mild admonishment. Wonderful. It hadn't even been half a day, and already his new master was calling him insubordinate. How long would Banks' tolerance last before his patience ran out?

Ash didn't want to find out. He quickly turned, and Banks' hands went to the back of his neck to negotiate the saints' bridle. The collar came unlatched with a loud click and Ash's throat was suddenly free, the skin oddly cool were the metal had been. 

"Careful," Banks said, coming around and slowly lowering Ash's arms down in front of him, easing the elbows straight. Hot pins and needles burst through Ash's shoulders and scattered down his arms, making him hiss at the ache. Banks gently rubbed the sore muscles. "I know, darling. Move slowly. You're going to be stiff. This has been on for too long."

Next Banks undid the wrist manacles and at last pulled the bridle away, dropping the contraption onto the floor with a loud clatter. Ash was flooded with relief to be rid of it, feeling as though he could breathe again, but Banks didn't release him. He held Ash's hands in his own, turning them over to inspect the wrists and trace the deep red marks left behind with his thumbs, careful not to press hard against the tender skin. A wrinkle formed between his dark brows. 

"These are going to bruise," he observed, and then cursed. "Fucking moron." Ash hoped he meant Sefton.

Banks removed the ankle manacles next and tossed those aside as well, cursing again at the bruises left behind. He shook his head but didn't dwell on it, instead moving to lift the hem of the shapeless shift up and over Ash's head, and for a moment Ash was blinded by the coarse fabric before it was gone and he was left standing, cold and naked, in font of his new master. 

Banks looked him over even longer than before, that small wrinkle still there, his expression darkening into grim displeasure as his gaze lingered on the long, angry cuts. Ash sweated under the scrutiny. His hands fidgeted at his sides, wounds throbbing in time with his rising pulse. Was Banks angry? Was he angry with Ash? Stupid question—of course he must be, Ash was the one who had done this to himself. But Banks had known that when he'd purchased him, so why would he suddenly get angry now? 

Ash's shoulders curled forward under the weight of Banks' attention. He wanted to run and escape that stare. It held a certain intensity that he didn't like, an acuity that hinted very clearly at gears operating with quick, jewel movements behind those reflective dark eyes while revealing nothing of what, exactly, Banks was thinking. Banks was by no means an unattractive man; he was perhaps in his late thirties or early forties and handsome enough, with a square jaw and long nose, but his gaze had a shrewdness that made him off-putting. It was disarming, like he could take one look at Ash and read exactly what was going on inside his head, while Ash had no idea of the opposite. 

That wasn't good. It was a dangerous thing, not being able to read one's master. If a slave didn't know what his master was thinking, he couldn't give him what he wanted, and if he couldn't give him what he wanted…well. It never ended well for the slave.

Ash swallowed. 

"I should put the unfetterates onto him out of spite alone," Banks muttered, his low voice rough. Sefton, then. Ash dropped his eyes respectfully, glad that Banks' anger wasn't directed at him. Hopefully Banks wouldn't turn that frustration onto someone who couldn't fight back. A chill went down his spine at the thought.

A light touch on Ash's chin urged his head up again. 

"It's all right. I don't blame you for what happened. The fact that you felt you had to do—this," Banks gestured to the cuts, "is a reflection on Lord Sefton, not you. He made you desperate." The touch vanished, but those keen eyes stayed trained on Ash, some of the anger smoothing away. "That's not how I want you to be. A bondslave shouldn't be desperate. He shouldn't fear his master's attention, he should crave it, and that can only happen if the slave trusts his master. That's what I want from you, darling. I want your trust. Do you understand?"

Lofty words. Ash closed his eyes and nodded, fighting back the lump in his throat. 

"Good. There's a good boy." Another gentle touch to his cheek, and this time Ash made sure not to flinch. "Do you have a name?"

His voice felt scratchy. "Ash, sir. If—if it pleases you."

"So you can speak," Banks said wryly. "Is that your real name? Your preferred name?"

It was the name Crowle, his first pimp, had given him when he'd rescued Ash from the chattel camp nearly six years ago, and it was close enough. "Yes, sir."

"Then it pleases me. You may keep it."

"Thank you, sir." 

Banks smiled at him, then reached up to undo the buttons on his own shirt. 

Ash's pulse started racing again as Banks pulled his fine clothes off piece by piece, neatly folding each garment and placing it onto the countertop beside the sink. The strength that Ash had felt earlier was now plainly visible. Banks had the body of a man who'd clearly been athletic in his prime and was maintaining as he aged, though with a little softness around his middle that surely hadn't been there ten years ago. He was not as bulky as his older brother, but he was large enough, and the thick muscle on his arms and shoulders suggested he could easily pluck Ash up by the scruff one-handed if he chose. Ash's mind unhelpfully conjured visions of the damage those limbs could inflict, the ways those hands might hurt him or hold him down, and he instinctively retreated a step back. 

Continue reading the rest of chapter three on my A03 - the subject matter gets a little too dicey here for tumblr's tastes.

_____

Thanks for reading! lmk if you liked or if you want to be added to a tag list for future posts.

tag list: @definiteberry @there-will-always-be-blood @emanresus-blog @mantrasong @hellodecisionparalysis @alexmundaythrufriday

[ms-demeanor]

Heya, got a question about cybersecurity meetups. Do you think folks would be cool with a rando showing up because they're curious and like learning new stuff, especially for writing? And also because internet privacy is super important rn and there's no good books or written sources I can find on hacking, the dark web, etc; let alone digestible to somebody who knows what a directory is and how to use command line and not much more.

Also. I know it's gonna vary per location, so if you can't speak for all of 'em, I get it. Are these kinds of spaces like 2600 and Defcon queer friendly? Or I guess what I'm asking is are they notorious a place queer people should avoid. I'm non-binary and don't rly pass as remotely normal or straight, and I have nobody to go with me :|

Thank you!

Meetups that are publicly listed are very cool about randos showing up to learn new stuff and talk to weird people. Most meetups tend to be about 5 parts socializing and 1 part "tech activity" like a talk or a demo if they have a tech activity at all, so you're mostly just going to be meeting people and talking to them about themselves.

I will say, if you show up specifically saying "i'm a writer and i'm here to learn about stuff for writing" you're probably going to get some trolling - that's pretty common and a lot of meetups do have to deal with stuff like journalists periodically showing up to get the inside scoop about the scary hackers and that usually gets some fairly mean-spirited teasing directed at them.

So it's better to show up because you want to learn generally. People don't like being used as reference material during their socializing; they're there to hang out and talk to people with similar interests, so ask them about their interests. You can just say you're new to the scene and you heard about hacker meetups online and wanted to learn more.

If you want to do something to pregame and learn a bit about hacking ahead of time you may want to try hackthissite.org, check out 2600 magazine, or look on the DefCon forums to see what's going on in your local DC Groups. There are some good books about hacking; I like The Cuckoo's Egg and am asking anyone with good books or memoirs about hacking to chime in in the notes.

I will say, asking about the darkweb specifically might get you some eyerolls because it's something that sounds a lot scarier and more intimidating to most people than it actually is. You can get on the darkweb now. You can do it on your phone. Here's a very basic get-started guide. I don't think it's necessary to use a VPN to use Tor (most guides recommend it and then link to pages full of affiliate links for VPNs), and here's the Tor user manual to get started if you want to. Be careful, and if you're planning on doing anything that requires actual anonymity do a LOT more research before you follow the advice in any guide, but yeah pretty much everybody with an internet connection can get access to the darkweb in about twenty minutes. It's just websites that you need to use a slightly different set of tools to navigate to (granted, the content of the websites might be horrifying, so. Again. Be careful.)

Anyway moving on:

Defcon has had Queercon (a queer party for queer hackers) as a part of the con for at like twenty years and I know many queer and trans people who are part of the scene. And there are a lot of trans folks who I know who are volunteers at defcon and help to run hackerspaces and who volunteer and attend and run all manner of cons. I can't speak for your local group, but I've found that hackers in generally are more tolerant of a *lot* of things than the broader population is (they are weird people who engage in a hobby or who engage in work that is often technically criminal - they don't have a lot of room to judge and the more sensible ones among them know that).

HOWEVER I have personally had problems with defcon the conference specifically about harassment and infosec does lag behind other parts of the tech sector in participation from women. Defcon is working on it and i know their current head of conference security is very serious about ensuring that it's a welcoming space for people and that if people DO have problems at the con it is handled in a serious, sensitive way. (Legitimately, he's a good dude) I just. I don't go to defcon. There's more info in my pinned post. That conference is burned for me.

BUT there are a lot of other conferences, big and small, and there are a lot of local groups to look into. You'll have to get to know your local scene, but I'd bet that if one part of your local scene is unwelcoming that other parts are more open.

[kingrock970]

Unveiling The Mysteries of the Dark Web - A Journey into the Depths of Cyberspace

In the ever-expanding landscape of the internet, there exists a realm shrouded in secrecy and intrigue - the Dark Web. For many, it represents the digital equivalent of the Wild West, a place where anonymity reigns supreme, and anything seems possible. But what exactly is the Dark Web, and what secrets does it hold? Join us on a journey as we delve into the mysteries of this enigmatic corner of cyberspace.

Understanding the Dark Web

The Dark Web is a hidden portion of the internet that can't be accessed through traditional search engines. It requires specific software, such as Tor (The Onion Router), to navigate its depths. Unlike the surface web, which comprises websites indexed by search engines, the Dark Web operates on encrypted networks, offering users a level of anonymity that is unparalleled.

Exploring Hidden Depths

On the Dark Web, users can find a plethora of websites, forums, and marketplaces catering to a wide range of interests. From anonymous communication channels and whistleblower platforms to illicit marketplaces selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data, the Dark Web is a melting pot of legal and illegal activities.

But beyond its more notorious aspects, the Dark Web also hosts valuable resources and communities. It's home to forums dedicated to privacy, cybersecurity, and digital activism, where users can exchange information and ideas without fear of censorship or surveillance.

Navigating the Unknown

For those brave enough to venture into the Dark Web, caution is paramount. While it offers unparalleled anonymity, it's also fraught with risks. Malicious actors lurk in the shadows, ready to exploit unsuspecting visitors. From scams and phishing schemes to malware and hacking forums, the Dark Web presents numerous hazards for the uninitiated.

That's where our platform comes in. We provide users with a curated selection of Dark Web links, categorized and vetted to ensure safety and security. Whether you're interested in exploring hidden communities, accessing privacy-enhancing tools, or simply satisfying your curiosity, our platform offers a gateway to the Dark Web's hidden depths.

Shedding Light on the Shadows

In addition to providing access to Dark Web links, our platform serves as a beacon of knowledge, shedding light on the intricacies of this clandestine world. Through informative articles, guides, and analyses, we aim to demystify the Dark Web and empower users to navigate its depths safely and responsibly.

From understanding the technologies that underpin the Dark Web to staying informed about emerging trends and threats, our platform equips users with the knowledge and tools they need to explore this digital frontier with confidence.

Conclusion

The Dark Web remains one of the internet's last frontiers, offering a glimpse into a world where anonymity, secrecy, and freedom coexist. While it presents risks and challenges, it also holds valuable resources and communities for those willing to explore its depths.

With our platform as your guide, you can embark on a journey of discovery, unlocking the secrets of the dark web links while staying safe and informed. Join us as we navigate the unknown and unravel the mysteries of cyberspace's hidden realm.

Welcome to Dark Web Links Guide, your gateway to exploring the hidden corners of the internet. At darkweblinks.guide, we provide a comprehensive collection of Dark Web links, covering a wide range of categories from marketplaces and forums to privacy tools and more. Our site not only offers these links but also provides detailed information about various Dark Web sites, helping you navigate this complex and mysterious realm with ease.

Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and happenings on the Dark Web through our regularly updated content. Dark Web Links Guide features exciting and user-friendly tools to enhance your browsing experience, making it simple to find what you're looking for and discover new, intriguing aspects of the Dark Web. Whether you're a newcomer curious about what lies beneath the surface of the internet or an experienced explorer seeking reliable resources, darkweblinks.guide is your trusted companion in the journey through the Dark Web. Visit us today and uncover the secrets of this hidden world!

[thedragonbloody]

~ Fire & Love ~

previous chapter / next chapter

masterlist

CHAPTER 6

Rhaenyra

For many moons, the fear of motherhood loomed over Rhaenyra like an unsettling shadow. The annals of her house revealed the heavy burden that pregnancy carried, particularly through the painful records of her own mother, Aemma Arryn. The queen, a beloved maternal figure, found herself ensnared in the intricacies of childbirth from the earliest days of her union with King Viserys Targaryen.

Aemma, like all women, bore the duty of producing an heir, and she experienced a tragic cycle of broken promises, with successive miscarriages extinguishing the light of her hopes. Amidst these shadows, a son was born, only to encounter the fleeting light of the world before returning to the darkness of an empty cradle.

Aemma's torments, a mother whose heart was entwined with hope and sorrow, cast a shadow that Rhaenyra would feel for a long time. Each attempt to give birth, an act imbued with longings and fears, carried with it the memory of her mother's shed tears.

In King Viserys’s deep desire for a son, Aemma embarked on a final journey, a pregnancy shrouded in hope and apprehension. The fruit of this desire was a son named Baelon, in honor of the king’s father. However, cruel fate conspired that the child would share with his mother only a brief breath of life, leaving Viserys grieving a double loss.

Rhaenyra's story, thus, was interwoven with the fragile threads of motherhood, where joy and pain danced in a delicate and unpredictable waltz. To be a mother in this world meant more than simply nurturing and guiding children; it was a burden of responsibilities, a web of duties and expectations.

Rhaenyra, despite being the princess heir, was not immune to the hindrances of motherhood. Her children were heirs destined to bear the weight of leadership, and with each birth, she felt the burden of lineage upon her shoulders, a responsibility manifested in the inquisitive gazes of the court.

Motherhood for the princess was not all sweetness; it was a mix of love and high expectations. She watched her children grow, not just as individuals but as key pieces in the complex game of power in Westeros, just as she and others before her had been. Each counsel was a guide to a destiny charted from birth.

For Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, motherhood was a delicate balance between duty and love, between guiding and allowing freedom. In her eyes, there reflected not only the ancestral fire of dragons but also the burning flame of motherhood that transcended the splendor of thrones and crowns.

Because of this, she cared deeply for each of her children, fostering their desires and ambitions, yet always firm in the position they occupied. Marrying Ser Laenor Velaryon had once seemed a necessary decision, appearing as a transaction of convenience, a necessary arrangement on the board of power and Valyrian lineage. From the start, even before considering Laenor as a potential husband, Rhaenyra recognized the whispers that echoed about him. These whispers fed the uncertainty in her mind’s corridors, making her question whether harmony could exist between them.

However, over time, as layers of Laenor were unveiled before her, Rhaenyra discovered more than a mere consort; she found a companion, a friend, and, surprisingly, a confidant. Despite his idiosyncrasies, Ser Laenor revealed himself as someone with whom the princess could share laughter and even secrets.

What had initially been approached with skepticism transformed into a peculiar partnership, where the imperfections of both blended to create a truly unique union. She recognized that Ser Laenor Velaryon brought with him the unique and inconsequential essence characteristic of House Velaryon. This peculiarity, almost unpredictable, was an intrinsic part of her dear companion. She knew that, somehow, this unique characteristic of the Velaryons had passed on to one of her daughters, like a magical link connecting the generations.

Despite this inconsequential nature, Laenor Velaryon embraced Jacaerys and Lucerys as his own sons with remarkable tenderness. His love was not limited to blood ties but embraced the bond formed through affection and companionship. Jacaerys and Lucerys were, to Laenor, as truly his children as they were Rhaenyra’s, and he cared for them as a dedicated father.

There was a tacit understanding that transcended conventional boundaries. Rhaenyra deeply respected Laenor’s varied and peculiar loves, knowing that his heart was a vast and diverse terrain, with space for many forms of affection.

And secretly, in the most protected corner of her heart, Rhaenyra harbored a forbidden love for Ser Harwin Strong. This was her most well-guarded secret, a burning fire that blazed in her soul but remained hidden from the world’s eyes. And, surprisingly, Laenor, with his unique sensitivity and rare understanding, respected this silent love.

Ser Harwin Strong was the object of this forbidden love, and even though he remained in the shadows, his presence was felt deeply in the princess’s heart. From this clandestine bond, which escaped the eyes of the court and society, fruits were born.

As she gazed upon the faces of her children, Rhaenyra experienced a whirlwind of emotions. Though the circumstances of this relationship were complicated and the secrets were burdensome, the bond between mother and children was undeniable.

Rhaenyra felt the profound joy of being a mother, a sensation that surpassed her fears. Her children were silent proofs of an intense love she concealed from the court’s critical eyes. Every laugh, every curious look bore the indelible mark of the connection she shared with Ser Harwin.

At the same time, the princess could not ignore the inherent challenges of the situation. Malicious whispers were like poisoned arrows, pointing to the supposed stain on her honor.

Rhaenyra, however, was a woman of iron determination, willing to face the obstacles life imposed on her. Each malicious word, each look of reproach, she met with the haughtiness of a true Targaryen. She knew the truth, understood the love that burned in her chest and had given birth to the children so harshly criticized.

The princess was resilient in the face of accusations, but she could not deny that, in the depths of her heart, the cruel words echoed with an intensity that hurt. The unforgiving society of the court fed gossip like a voracious creature, and Rhaenyra feared that even her strength had its limits.

In the silent nights, when the curtains of the fortress closed, the princess held her children in her arms and wondered if they would ever truly escape the whispers about their legitimacy.

The true heir to the throne was Rhaenyra, and Viserys’s acceptance, the king, further strengthened her children’s position as legitimate members of House Targaryen. On many occasions, the king himself expressed his confidence in Jacaerys’s future reign, disregarding any unfounded doubts the court might raise.

Rhaenyra was aware that the controversy extended beyond mere offense; she perceived that the core of the issue lay in the audacity of a woman to lie with another man. If she were a man, the court’s voices would be silenced.

Her children were as Targaryen as she was, and the love that united them was a flame that burned more intensely than the palace gossip could extinguish.

Maternal love was unwavering and unconditional.

— Mama?

Lucerys was known for his caring and gentle nature. His empathy and compassion made him beloved not only by his mother but by those around him. His deep brown eyes had a certain sparkle. Rhaenyra always found him a joyful boy, and his smile was as sweet as fresh berries.

He was an adorable boy but, deep down, very brave. He was courageous when needed and naturally gentle with those he deeply loved.

— Yes, Luke? What is it?

She smiled at the boy as they walked hand in hand down the corridor.

— Do you think Arrax will grow quickly? — His eyes lit up.

— Arrax may take his own time, dear. But I’m sure he’ll be as big as Syrax one day.

— Really?! — he exclaimed. — Syrax is so beautiful!

— Yes, she indeed is…

— She suits you, mama! You’re very pretty too.

Rhaenyra smiled joyfully.

— Thank you, my sweet boy.

Suddenly, the castle corridor was abruptly invaded by the distinctive sound of King Viserys’s rhythmic cane strikes against the stone floor. Each impact was a ceremonial echo, announcing the monarch’s imposing arrival. The sound was accompanied by the metallic cadence of the Kingsguard’s white cloaks, with the firm posture of Harrold Westerling and Erryk Cargyll, all marching in perfect synchronization behind the king.

Rhaenyra, upon hearing the familiar sound, looked up, noticing the approach of the king and his entourage. Her heart beat with a mixture of reverence and familiarity, for she recognized in that sound not just the royal presence but also the figure of her father. The metallic clink of the Kingsguard’s armor added a solemn weight to the chorus of sounds filling the corridor.

As King Viserys came into view, his cane striking unmistakably, Rhaenyra made a graceful bow, Lucerys at her side following her example.

— Good morning, Your Grace.

— Good morning, Majesty — said the little prince.

The princess noticed as her father’s face softened into a fond smile, easing the lines of worry that marked his expression.

The king’s smile was like a beam of light, illuminating not only his face but also the surroundings. His eyes, once serious and piercing, gained a warm glow as he greeted his daughter and grandson.

— Good morning, my dear Rhaenyra. Good morning, Lucerys — the king greeted with a voice that conveyed not just authority but also a tone of affection. His smile revealed the tenderness he held for his family. A simple gesture, a good morning spoken with warmth and affection.

King Viserys Targaryen, still smiling, joined his daughter and grandson in the corridor lit by high windows, echoing with the soft sounds of the Kingsguard’s steps and the light scrape of the cane.

— And where are we heading today, Rhaenyra? — Viserys asked with curiosity, maintaining a calm and regal pace.

Rhaenyra, walking beside her father, replied with a light smile.

— The small hall, Your Grace. Breakfast awaits us there. Jace and Lys have already gone ahead, but Rhaella… well, you know how she is. I think she’s still in the gardens, lost among the flowers or trying to tame some horse in the stables.

The king laughed softly, the melody of his laughter blending with the echo of the corridor.

— Yes, yes, my little Rhaella has a free spirit. Let it be. If she’s too late, Harrold can guide her to us. — The king breathed deeply and sighed as if recalling an earlier time. — Your grandmother, Alyssa, had a remarkable presence. A truly notable woman. I miss the times when she walked these corridors.

The king’s gaze shifted to Rhaenyra, and an affectionate smile lit up his wrinkled face.

— Rhaella has the same flame in her eyes. A blend of fire and freedom. Alyssa would have been proud to have a descendant like her.

The princess smiled proudly.

— Indeed, Your Grace. Sometimes I think she has a spirit as untamed as my grandmother’s. Certainly, there’s no boredom when she’s around. — The princess looked solemnly at the king. — Lord Corlys might want to disagree, according to him, Rhaella is more like him.

— Well, he’s not entirely wrong. She is a true mix of Velaryon and Targaryen — Viserys laughed in agreement. — Vhaelys, on the other hand, is much like you. She has the same boldness, the burning flame I saw in you when you were younger. And, of course, there’s a spark of your mother in her. Aemma had a good heart but was fierce, with a great sense of duty. She would be proud of you and your children. I have no doubts.

Rhaenyra cast a thoughtful look at her father.

— I miss her…

The shadows of the past danced on the stone corridors. Viserys’s gaze, though firm, reflected a melancholy that only the passage of time could create. Their mourning was a shared journey, though lived in solitude. And as they faced the dark days, there was hope that, with time, the pain would diminish and the light of acceptance and transformation would begin to penetrate through the clouds of grief, illuminating the hearts of Rhaenyra and Viserys once again.

— There are days when I miss Aemma so intensely that it’s as if my own heart remembers the void she left.

Rhaenyra nodded, understanding the longing they both shared.

— The castle seemed brighter when she was here.

Viserys smiled, recalling the days when happiness lit every corner of the castle.

— Yes, she brought a light with her. Her laughter filled the corridors like a joyful melody. Sometimes, I still feel as if she’s around. As if time cannot completely erase her essence.

Rhaenyra held her father’s hand, sharing the silent lament.

— Aemma lives in our memories and in the lineage she helped create. You, my daughter, and my grandchildren carry her flame, each in a unique way.

Rhaenyra gently squeezed her father’s hand.

— She is gone, but her legacy continues. Her teachings shaped me. We are living witnesses to what she left behind.

— What was grandmother like?

Lucerys broke the momentary silence with a delicate question.

Rhaenyra and Viserys exchanged looks, recognizing the curiosity and tenderness in the prince’s words.

— My boy, she was a remarkable woman. Your grandmother brought light and warmth to this castle, and her absence is still felt by all of us.

Lucerys nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and fascination.

— Did she like to tell stories? Did she play with you, mama?

Rhaenyra smiled, recalling the days of her childhood when Aemma’s presence lit up the castle.

— Oh, your grandmother was amazing. She had a contagious laugh, and we always gathered to tell stories before bed. We played in the gardens when I was as little as you.

Viserys placed a gentle hand on his grandson’s shoulder.

— She was an extraordinary woman, Luke. Her love shaped this house, and her spirit lives in each of us. Your eyes share the same gentle sparkle as hers.

Prince Lucerys nodded, feeling connected to a part of history he only knew through his family’s stories. The silence that followed now carried the weight of past generations and the echo of a love that had transcended time.

Rhaella

Rhaella’s dress unfolded in shades of black and blue, evoking the unique beauty of the ocean’s depths. The deep black, like the darkest night, was intertwined with hues of celestial blue, creating a tapestry of colors that seemed to dance in the morning light streaming through the bedroom windows. Intricate embroidered details, resembling the bony plates of a seahorse, adorned the sleeves and hem of the dress. The skirt flowed like the dark waters of the ocean, creating an image of grace and fluidity.

Ser Laenor assisted in the task of dressing her, trying to handle the delicate fastenings and ties of the dress. The air was filled with urgency, intensified by the growing lateness.

— If you don’t stay still, dear, I won’t be able to tie this thing.

— Right. Sorry! — the princess’s leg wouldn’t stop swinging.

As Laenor finished the last adjustments, Rhaella prepared to brush her hair and dry it as quickly as possible.

The echo of boots resounded in the stone corridor, and it was only when they reached the door of the room that the princess’s breath caught. The door opened, and inquisitive eyes scanned the room for something or someone. Ser Harwin’s face changed into a courteous smile upon seeing Ser Laenor assisting Rhaella with her preparations.

With a respectful bow, Ser Harwin greeted them both and closed the door behind him.

— Good morning, Ser Laenor. I hope everything is in order here. — One of his eyebrows arched.

— Good morning, Ser Harwin. Everything is under control, but I will need your help to find Rhaella’s towel and shoes.

— Of course, at your service. — He faced the princess. — Good morning, Princess.

— Good morning, Ser Harwin... — she smiled playfully.

— Princess Rhaenyra asked me to find you, could you tell me where you were this time? — he approached the screen and grabbed a towel, handing it to Ser Laenor.

— Oh, it’s a secret. I can’t tell.

Ser Laenor and Ser Harwin exchanged amused looks.

— Princess Rhaenyra was worried — he lifted some strands from the princess’s forehead. — And it seems with good reason.

The girl pulled the strands back to cover the bruise and signaled him not to speak about it.

— It’s nothing, just a scratch. Don’t tell Mama, okay?

Ser Harwin knelt and put the shoes on the girl’s feet, laughing gently.

— I can’t lie if she asks.

— She won’t ask if you don’t say anything!

— Rhae, don’t put the commander in a difficult situation — Ser Laenor said as he finished braiding the girl’s hair. — He’s not wrong, you know.

The girl pouted.

— I know, I know.

— Are we very late? — Ser Laenor asked.

— It seems the king and queen are taking a bit longer. You still have some time to get to the small hall.

— Alright, it looks like we’re done. If we hurry, we can get there before our absence is noticed.

Vhaelys

In an era where shrewd glances and sharp speculations were the currency, Vhaelys began to cunningly devise a way to cover up Rhaella’s tardiness. It was evident that something was afoot, a furtive escapade that needed to be skillfully concealed.

— Ah, Daeron, you know how Rhaella is. Sometimes she likes to take her time. She must be getting ready, I’m sure.

Daeron raised an eyebrow, suspicious, and Jacaerys joined the conversation.

— Maybe she lost track of time while admiring her own reflection in the mirror.

Vhaelys laughed, trying to divert attention from the matter.

— You both know how she is. Always late, but always charming when she finally shows up.

At that moment, Aegon Targaryen entered the small hall with an air of nonchalance, but his tired violet eyes and the dark circles beneath them indicated a long and perhaps tumultuous night. His silver-gold hair, usually meticulously arranged, was now slightly disheveled, suggesting a certain lack of care in his appearance.

With a relaxed posture, Aegon wore an ironic smile on his lips, as if always on the brink of a sarcastic joke. His eyes, despite the fatigue, retained a spark of liveliness, indicating that even after a turbulent night, he could still maintain a certain sharpness.

Vhaelys, observing him, couldn’t help but roll her eyes. To her, Aegon represented volatility and lack of commitment. His erratic behavior often put his siblings in complicated situations, and his nights of excess and endless parties were a constant source of exasperation for Vhaelys.

As he approached, she couldn’t help but frown at the signs of fatigue on his face. It was a familiar sight but no less irritating. The relationship between the two was marked by constant friction, as Vhaelys had little patience for her uncle’s impulsive attitudes.

Even though Vhaelys disagreed with many of Aegon’s actions, there was still a blood bond that connected them, and she could not entirely ignore his presence.

Noticing the conversation between his brother and nephews, Aegon interjected, as usual, with a mischievous smile.

— Wasting time on trivialities as always? Our lovely Rhaella seems to enjoy the company of animals — the prince grabbed a goblet of wine and served himself. — Sometimes I fear she thinks she is one of them.

Vhaelys, visibly irritated by the unpleasant remark, replied firmly.

— Mind your own business, Aegon. Rhaella’s reasons should not concern you.

— Oh, Vhaelys, always so defensive. I was just making a light observation. — Aegon, keeping his ironic expression, retorted. — No need to be so serious.

Vhaelys’s expression hardened, and she replied firmly.

— Your observations are rarely harmless, uncle. Perhaps if you cared more about your responsibilities than your bad jokes and drowning in wine, you’d have fewer problems.

Aegon laughed, approached his niece slowly, and flicked her forehead.

— You’re quite the little know-it-all, aren’t you?

— Don’t try to provoke her, Aegon. It wouldn’t end well for you. Believe me — Jacaerys tried to ease the tension, smiling. — Rhaella will arrive when she arrives, and in the meantime, we can discuss more important matters. For instance, will you be practicing with me later at the Dragonpit?

— I’m not too concerned about the harsh words of a brat. — He smiled ironically. — She just needs to learn to have a sense of humor.

— It’s just advice — Jacaerys said calmly. — Now, about the practice at the Dragonpit, what do you think, Aegon? You said you’d give me some tips.

— Alright, Jace. — Aegon shrugged and sighed — I’d love to show you and everyone how it’s done.

Vhaelys, still irritated by Aegon’s earlier comment, decided to intervene.

— I just hope you can stay mounted this time, uncle. We wouldn’t want to have to rescue a Targaryen from the Dragonpit.

— We’ll see, Vhaelys. Maybe you’ll even learn something by watching — Aegon laughed, seeming unconcerned by the provocation.

Jacaerys rolled his eyes, and Daeron smiled subtly from the other side of the table.

— Could you two go a minute without annoying each other? — Jacaerys commented wearily.

As the tension hung in the room, the door to the small hall opened again, and Queen Alicent entered accompanied by Prince Aemond and Princess Helaena. Her dark eyes, however, carried a calculating and observant expression. The queen cast a piercing look around the room, immediately noticing the tense atmosphere. Her eyes rested a moment longer than usual on Aegon, and she sighed inwardly.

Everyone rose from their chairs in respect.

— Good morning, everyone — Alicent greeted with calculated serenity, ignoring the palpable hostility. — It seems I’m missing an animated conversation.

— Nothing much, mother. Just discussing practice at the Dragonpit — Aegon tried to ease the atmosphere. — For the upcoming event.

Vhaelys observed the queen consort with a mix of respect and caution.

The queen’s expression was a blend of dignity and shrewdness, as if she were carefully weaving the threads of the political game in her mind. Her eyes, though observing every movement in the room, maintained an apparent calm.

— Nonetheless, we have many matters to discuss today. Let us sit and wait for the king.

Seated at the table, the queen directed her keen gaze toward Vhaelys, seemingly noticing the absence of some members of the royal family. Her voice, soft and controlled, broke the silence as she addressed Princess Velaryon.

— Vhaelys, my dear, it seems the royal family is incomplete at this breakfast. Where are the others?

Vhaelys, aware of the queen’s ability to probe and seek information, responded in a carefully neutral tone.

— They are on their way, my queen. They must be attending to some matters before joining us.

Alicent smiled, but her eyes retained their intensity.

— Matters? Interesting. I would like to know more about these matters.

Vhaelys felt the pressure of the words but remained firm.

— Of course, my queen. But some issues take time to be addressed and are not so important as to demand Your Majesty’s attention. It’s unnecessary to worry.

Alicent tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating the princess’s words.

— Oh, dear. You are so young, but so eloquent with words. But united families share their burdens, Vhaelys. I see no reason to keep secrets among us. No matter is less important when it concerns the family.

Vhaelys perceived the shrewdness behind Alicent’s words and, determined to preserve the family’s privacy, responded with respect but firmness.

— Thank you, Your Majesty, I work hard on my studies. But allow me to explain. You are right, we are a family. The issue mentioned is that my mother is quite particular about formalities. She believes it is crucial that we are properly dressed and presentable when receiving guests, especially in the presence of nobility. It’s a matter of respect, a care to ensure that our appearance does not disgrace Your Grace. — Vhaelys paused, choosing her words carefully. — My father and my sister, Rhaella, are following my mother’s instructions to ensure everyone is properly prepared. It’s a process that takes some time, as my mother also insists on preparing Lucerys, but I’m sure they will join us soon. Thank you for your patience, Your Majesty.

Vhaelys kept her gaze steady, showing confidence in her words, as she awaited Alicent’s reaction to the justification she had created to protect her family.

Alicent, although maintaining an impassive expression, stared at Vhaelys for a brief moment before responding.

— Princess Rhaenyra is indeed meticulous. I expected no less from her. However, Vhaelys, do not forget that punctuality is a virtue appreciated at court. Whether at important events or a simple breakfast, it is essential that everyone is present. — The queen paused and looked around before continuing. — I hope the delay is not frequent. King Viserys and other members of the court have their expectations. Be mindful of these details. Now, while we wait, perhaps we can discuss some lighter matters. How have your recent days been for you and your siblings?

The queen looked at Jacaerys and Vhaelys, seeking answers.

— The days have been quite busy, my lady. As always, we are dedicated to our studies and training, striving to meet the expectations of the court and our family — replied the princess.

Alicent nodded approvingly, but her expression remained cold.

— It is good to hear that you are dedicated. You are the future generation of House Targaryen and Velaryon, and it is important that you are prepared for the challenges ahead. I certainly expect a lot from each of you.

Vhaelys and Jacaerys nodded respectfully, striving to hide any discomfort they might feel under the queen’s intense scrutiny.

— Yes, Your Majesty. We are aware of the responsibility that falls upon us.

As the conversation continued, Vhaelys realized she would have to deal with Queen Alicent’s expectations, who seemed attentive to every word and movement. Breakfast promised to be a challenging occasion, and Vhaelys hoped that the arrival of her mother and the other family members would alleviate the tension hanging over the small hall.

— Jacaerys, I’ve heard that you’ve been dedicated to your studies lately. They say your sword skills are standing out. How do you feel about that process?

Vhaelys felt a growing discomfort from the intense way Queen Alicent directed her gaze at Jacaerys. The atmosphere in the small hall became tense as the queen’s eyes scrutinized every detail of the heir prince.

Jacaerys, aware of the special attention he was receiving and the uncomfortable dynamics in the room, responded politely.

— Thank you for your words, my queen. I strive to improve my skills daily, following the example of great knights.

Alicent nodded, but the princess noticed as the queen's gaze intensified.

— Oh, that's wonderful, dear. And which knights might serve as your example?

Vhaelys shifted uncomfortably in her seat, fearing where this conversation might lead. Jacaerys was clever, but often she found him too naive. She was not like that — she suspected everything.

But before Vhaelys could say anything, the queen's eldest son spoke up.

— Mother, I heard we will have the honor of the Lady of House Arryn's presence. The Maiden of the Vale, Jeyne Arryn, if I'm not mistaken...

Alicent diverted her gaze from Jacaerys and responded to Aegon's query, changing the tone of the conversation.

— Yes, that's true. Lady Jeyne Arryn's presence is always notable, and we will also have the presence of Lord Belmore's son. Lady Jeyne comes accompanied by Carsen Belmore. We must receive our guests with all courtesy.

A solemn creak was heard as the doors of the hall opened. The sound echoed through the room, bringing sudden attention to all present. The noise of the hinges was like a prelude to the king Viserys’s grand entrance, and the doors parted to admit the royal figure. All present rose from their seats in a respectful synchrony, as if moved by a single will to honor the monarch. The soft rustling of garments, the slight scraping of chairs being pushed back, and the gradual fading of conversations composed a discreet symphony of reverence.

Beside the king, Vhaelys saw her mother, Princess Rhaenyra, walking gracefully. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her gaze, though serene, carried nobility. She radiated a strong, regal presence, as befitted an heir to the Iron Throne.

And beside the princess, Vhaelys’s younger brother, Lucerys, displayed a noble bearing despite his youth. His eyes reflected curiosity and excitement for the family breakfast. Vhaelys found him endearing.

The momentary silence that followed, filled only by the soft sound of the doors closing, resonated like an echo of the court’s reverence for the king.

— Good morning to all — greeted Viserys with a firm yet cheerful voice. — I hope we can enjoy today’s breakfast.

Vhaelys observed her grandfather with a mix of respect and curiosity. His once golden-silver hair was beginning to show the marks of time, nearly white with the passage of years. Each silver strand seemed to tell ancient tales, memories of battles and decisions that shaped the Seven Kingdoms.

Illness and advanced age had left their marks, but they had not erased the dignity he carried. The royal mantle, embroidered with symbols of dragons and crowns, fell elegantly over his shoulders. His now more serene eyes still conveyed the wisdom accumulated over the years. They swept the hall with a mix of authority and affection, as if each face present was a distinct chapter of his story.

The cane that had become his constant companion tapped rhythmically on the ground. Each tap seemed to echo the weight of the responsibility he bore, while his presence emanated an aura that commanded respect.

The sight of the aging king leaning on his cane evoked a deep sense of duty and loyalty in Vhaelys, reinforcing the responsibility she felt as a member of House Targaryen.

— Good morning, my king. How did you pass the night? — Alicent inclined her head in greeting, her lips curving into a subtle smile.

Her good morning to the king was spoken with a serene voice, but her eyes betrayed her shrewdness.

Viserys responded with a warm greeting, while Vhaelys noted the exchange of glances between the king and queen.

— The night was calm, my queen. — Viserys replied, leaning slightly on his cane. — How is everyone this morning?

Alicent cast a quick glance over the assembled, including Vhaelys, with an expression that was hard to decipher. Vhaelys knew that behind the courtesy, there was always a web of potential intrigues.

— Everything is proceeding as it should, my king. Everyone is eagerly anticipating the upcoming events.

Vhaelys noticed Alicent’s skill in conveying much with few words. It was as if each sentence was a calculated move in a game of chess, and Vhaelys wondered if she would ever master such an art.

The queen extended a greeting to Princess Rhaenyra with a blend of grace and diplomacy. Vhaelys watched with keen attention, knowing that every interaction between her mother and the queen consort was part of an elaborate performance.

— Good morning, princess. How did you pass the night? — Alicent inquired, her voice sounding melodious, but with an undertone of assessment behind the words.

Rhaenyra, in turn, responded with a polite smile, skillfully masking any resentment she might feel. Her demeanor revealed a mixture of courtesy and reserve, aware of the delicacy of courtly relations.

— Good morning, Your Majesty. The night was calm. Thank you for your kindness in asking — replied the heir princess, maintaining an elevated posture, as befits a princess.

Vhaelys noticed the exchange of glances between the two women, a silent game of courtesy. No matter how much Alicent tried to maintain a facade of cordiality, her presence was a constant reminder of the political complexities that permeated everyone.

As the interaction between her mother and the queen consort unfolded, her eyes swept the hall for the arrival of her sister Rhaella and her father, Ser Laenor. Their delay did not go unnoticed, and Vhaelys felt the tension growing around her.

King Viserys Targaryen, supported by his cane and maintaining the dignity of his position, moved to the central place at the table. As conversations continued, the princes and princesses took their designated seats, and the small hall began to take on an air of formality. With a respectful bow, the monarch took his seat, assuming the prominent position.

The table was adorned with fine dishes, silverware, and crystal goblets. Skilled servants began to bring delicacies, filling the table with a variety of savory foods. The atmosphere of the hall was imbued with a mix of anticipation and respect as everyone awaited the start of the royal breakfast.

The tension increased as the queen took her place and cast inquisitive glances around. Queen Alicent Hightower followed the etiquette with grace and elegance, sitting beside the king, complementing his presence with authority. Vhaelys felt the queen’s eyes on her mother, as if trying to decipher the secrets behind Rhaella and Laenor’s delay.

The doors of the hall finally opened, but it was neither Rhaella nor Laenor who entered, only the knights changing their shifts. And Queen Alicent, in turn, did not waste any time and went straight to the point.

— I notice that some of our dear family members are absent. Where are Princess Rhaella and Ser Laenor, Princess Rhaenyra?

Vhaelys gripped the skirts of her dress anxiously. And watched her mother closely, waiting for her response. Rhaenyra, though maintaining her dignity, did not hide a trace of discomfort in her expression.

— My queen, Ser Laenor and Rhaella will join us shortly. They had some setbacks but are on their way.

Vhaelys could feel the tension hanging in the air, and every word exchanged in that small hall seemed laden with meaning.

— Punctuality is a virtue we expect all in the royal family to cultivate. It is important that everyone be present before the king.

— I apologize, Your Majesty. I understand the importance of punctuality, but I also believe that being well-presented is of equal relevance. I hope you can understand.

Alicent nodded with a slight smile, but Vhaelys could perceive the subtle suspicion in the queen's eyes.

— Indeed, princess. It is essential that we all align with the court's expectations. However, punctuality is a manifestation of respect to those present and a demonstration of discipline and organization. This is particularly crucial for the royal family, as it serves as an example to the entire realm. I also hope you understand this.

— Certainly, Your Majesty. I will ensure that these words are conveyed to both of them.

Rhaenyra’s response did not seem to fully satisfy Alicent, who maintained her gaze for a moment before nodding with a swift gesture.

King Viserys Targaryen intervened in the conversation between the queen and the princess. His countenance, though marked by age, still reflected authority and wisdom.

— Alicent, my dear, we should not be too harsh with the children. Let them enjoy their youth — he touched his wife’s hand and paused before continuing. — They will soon have enough responsibilities.

Alicent, maintaining a firm stance, responded to the king's remark.

— With all due respect, my king, punctuality is a virtue that should be cultivated from an early age. Discipline is fundamental, even in youth.

Viserys, however, displayed an indulgent smile, defending the lighter stance on the issues raised.

— I understand the importance of discipline, Alicent, but we must also allow the children to have fun. Rhaella will have time for that, my dear. Let my grandchildren’s childhood be filled with joy. Responsibilities will come soon enough; there is no rush.

Alicent, though maintaining her posture, yielded to the king’s firmness.

Vhaelys watched intently as the doors of the small hall opened, allowing the entrance of Princess Rhaella and her father, Ser Laenor Velaryon. The atmosphere in the room subtly shifted, and eyes turned to the newcomers.

Vhaelys noted the subtle disapproval on Queen Alicent Hightower’s face at the delay, but the king Viserys’s earlier intervention had somewhat eased the tension in the room.

Rhaella, with her distinct grace and beauty, wore a dress in deep black and blues — Vhaelys quickly identified the dress and smiled. Her silver hair was delicately styled in a long braid.

Beside her, Ser Laenor Velaryon, the proud father, displayed a confident demeanor. His silver hair was neatly tied back, and his refined attire accentuated his imposing figure. Despite any speculation surrounding his personal life, Laenor Velaryon remained a figure of respect.

King Viserys, upon noticing the arrival of his granddaughter and son-in-law, greeted them with a warm gesture.

— I apologize for our delay, Your Grace. I received an urgent message from my sister, and we could not ignore her call. I hope you all understand.

Murmurs in the hall subsided as the gathered guests processed the explanation. Rhaella, beside Ser Laenor, accompanied the apology with a charming smile, attempting to soften any potential discontent.

— I am sorry for the delay, Your Majesty — she inclined her head.

The king, in turn, nodded, supporting Laenor and Rhaella's explanation.

— Ah Rhaella, and Ser Laenor, how good of you to arrive. Do not worry about the delay; we are just beginning. Family should always be a priority — the king glanced around the table — We understand the need to attend to such calls. Please, make yourselves comfortable. What news does your sister bring us? Is everyone well?

Ser Laenor nodded respectfully and responded.

— She is on her way for the princes' name day, bringing with her her daughters Baela and Rhaena. Even while pregnant, she insists on being present to celebrate this special occasion with her daughters and the rest of the family.

Viserys smiled at the news, showing contentment.

— Ah, that is excellent news! It will be a joy to have Lady Laena and her daughters with us. Their presence will only enrich the event. Has she handled the journey well?

— The journey does not seem to have affected her negatively, Your Grace. Laena is eager to reunite with the family.

Viserys nodded, satisfied with the information.

— Very well. Let us prepare to welcome Lady Laena and her daughters with the hospitality they deserve — he turned his gaze to Queen Alicent — This will be a special day for the princes and for our entire family.

The queen smiled and turned her attention to the Velaryons who had just arrived in the small hall.

— Certainly, Your Grace. Her arrival will be eagerly anticipated by all of us. And how is Lady Laena's health? Her pregnancy seems not to have diminished her determination to attend the events.

— Laena has always been strong and resolute, my queen. Even the prospect of a child does not prevent her from being by her family's side during important moments such as this. But according to her message, her health is excellent.

Alicent nodded in silent agreement.

— A remarkable virtue, without a doubt.

The scene continued with Rhaella and Ser Laenor taking their seats, while the family's attention gradually shifted to other matters. The soft and constant hum of conversations filled the air, with laughter, murmurs, and debates on various topics. The long table was covered with a variety of dishes, from fresh breads and fruits to eggs prepared in different ways, and the tempting aromas of the dishes lingered in the air.

The gentle clinking of cutlery against plates and glasses created a constant soundtrack. The metallic sound indicated the frenetic activity as they savored the various dishes served at the table. The footsteps of the servants circulating, attending to the family's needs, contributed to the sense of efficiency and discreet service characteristic of the Red Keep.

Here and there, spontaneous laughter and exclamations of surprise or delight stood out.

— Jace, Daeron, how are you feeling with the celebration approaching? — asked the king, with his characteristic smile.

Prince Jacaerys looked up from his plate and responded with good humor.

— I’m excited, Your Grace. Mother and the dragon keepers have been preparing me well. The training for the first flight is intense, but I am determined to impress.

— I share the same enthusiasm, Your Majesty. I have been training with Ser Criston to hone my skills.

Daeron responded and shared a smile with the queen, his mother.

— I still remember my first flight as if it were yesterday. The sensation of freedom in the skies is unmatched, my lads.

Vhaelys had heard stories echoing through the castle corridors about her grandfather, King Viserys, and Balerion, the Black Dread. The imposing figure of Balerion, with his black scales and enormous wings, was passed down through songs and stories from generation to generation in House Targaryen.

However, after Balerion’s departure from this world, Viserys did not seek to claim another dragon for himself. This fact intrigued Vhaelys, as many Targaryens yearned to bond with these magnificent creatures.

Her grandfather’s decision remained shrouded in mystery. Was it out of respect for Balerion’s legacy, recognizing that no other dragon could replace the Black Dread? Or perhaps it was a personal choice, a renunciation of the unique bond between rider and dragon? Vhaelys pondered these questions, trying to unravel the reasons behind the decisions of the past.

— That is what I like to hear. The first flight is a rite of passage for every dragon and their rider. Do not worry, my lad, you are destined to be a great dragon rider, and certainly a good king.

Viserys’s gaze toward Jacaerys was filled with pride and affection, an expression not lost on the keen eyes of Princess Rhaenyra and Vhaelys. Rhaenyra could feel the warmth of the moment, a tacit confirmation of the recognition and appreciation her father held for Jacaerys. Each word from Viserys seemed to be accompanied by a subtle smile, and Rhaenyra felt her heart swell with happiness witnessing the scene.

The conversation about the name day approaching and Jacaerys’s training for his first flight was a reflection of the royal family’s commitment to the tradition of dragons.

— I will do my best, Your Majesty. Aegon said he will teach me all the tricks he learned in the air, and Daeron has been training hard with me alongside Tessarion. — said the eager lad. — So, I promise not to disappoint.

Aegon seemed to be listening intently to the conversation between his father, King Viserys, and Jacaerys, his nephew. The small hall was filled with soft murmurs and the occasional clinking of cutlery, but his thoughts were centered on the interaction before him.

When Jacaerys mentioned that Aegon had said he would give him some tips, Viserys’s gaze swept the room, searching for Aegon’s face. Vhaelys, observing closely, noticed a look of interest and expectation on the king’s face. There was a mixture of curiosity and approval in his eyes, as if Viserys saw it as a positive gesture from Aegon towards family harmony.

Aegon, for his part, felt the eyes upon him, especially that of King Viserys, and even though his expression was hard to decipher, it was evident he was aware of the importance of the moment.

— If my words can be of any help to Jace, I would be happy to share my modest experience. After all, we must keep the family tradition alive, mustn't we, Father? — he said, raising his goblet.

— Aegon, my son, it is always admirable to see the family supporting each other and sharing knowledge. The tradition and legacy of the Targaryens are a responsibility we must honor. I am confident that both of you will live up to our house’s name. — Viserys smiled, acknowledging Aegon’s gesture. — Your first flight and Daeron’s were a spectacle. But now, it is Jace’s turn, so savor every moment, my lad. — Viserys looked at Jacaerys. — These memories will be treasures throughout your life.

Rhaella

The small hall was abuzz as Princess Rhaella, accompanied by Ser Laenor, entered the room. Her violet eyes shone, hiding her nervousness, as she walked gracefully toward her seat, situated between Vhaelys and Lucerys. She leaned slightly toward her sister, her soft whisper seeking privacy but laden with complicity.

— Sorry for the delay, sister. I lost track of time while training with the bow on the cliffs.

The princess's expression carried a mix of apology and anxiety, her eyes reflecting the awareness of the delay that might have caused inconvenience. Her lips, usually curved in carefree smiles, now held a softer line, denoting sincerity in her words.

Rhaella’s gestures as she sat down showed a conscious effort not to draw unnecessary attention to her tardiness. The way she held herself, with her hands delicately folded in her lap, was an attempt to compose herself in front of the family, indicating that she acknowledged the importance of being punctual.

In her heart, Rhaella felt the responsibility to represent the family properly, especially in front of the queen, and she felt terrible when she failed.

Vhaelys smiled at her sister, understanding Rhaella’s passion for her favorite activities.

— Don’t worry, Rhae. I was starting to get worried. Did Father help you? — she tilted her head, indicating her sister’s hair.

— He helped me get ready. He even did a different braid for me. — She smiled. — You know, I can’t do that properly myself.

— It looks nice; I like the choice of the dress. And about the training on the cliffs, be careful. You don’t want a new scratch on our brother’s name day.

— It seems your advice came too late...— Rhaella averted her gaze for a moment, subtly pointing to her forehead, where a small bruise rested discreetly. Her expression was a mix of mischief and lightness, as if sharing a secret just between them. — But don’t worry, it’s just a scratch. You know how clumsy I can be sometimes. I just hope Mother doesn’t notice.

Vhaelys’s eyes widened in surprise.

Rhaella winked, conveying to her sister that the situation was not as serious as it might seem.

Vhaelys leaned toward Rhaella, her curious eyes seeking more details about her sister’s little mishap.

— How did you treat that scratch? — she asked with noticeable concern. — We need to make sure Mother doesn’t find out, right?

Rhaella let out a muffled laugh.

— Father helped me take care of it. It was just a scare, and it looks much better now. — Rhaella smiled, acknowledging her father’s effort to reassure her.

Her sister looked at her with a mix of relief and affection in her eyes.

— You scared me! Luckily, Father was there to take care of you. — She offered a comforting smile to Rhaella. — But seriously, you need to be more careful. Mother will be upset if she finds out you’re taking such risks.

— I know, I know. I promise I’ll be more careful next time. I didn’t mean to worry anyone. And you, how was your morning?

— What are you two whispering about? It sounds like you’re plotting something.

Observing Lucerys, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of pride and tenderness. Lucerys, the youngest brother, was an endearing child. His curious eyes sparkled with innocence and an unwavering curiosity. It was evident that he looked up to his older sisters with admiration, a blend of respect and a desire to be part of the wider circle of conversation and confidences.

Rhaella noticed the innate innocence and gentleness in Lucerys, and he warmed her heart every time.

The two sisters smiled at their younger brother.

— Nothing much, Luke. We were just talking about my "little incident" this morning. It’s nothing serious.

Lucerys frowned, worried.

— Did you hurt yourself again, Rhae? Be careful...

Rhaella laughed and gave her brother's hand a gentle pat.

— It’s fine, Luke. It was just a scratch. Besides, Father took care of it for me. I’m perfectly safe now — She placed a finger on her lips and spoke. — But don’t tell Mother.

Lucerys smiled and nodded.

— Alright, I won’t tell...

— Won’t tell what?

Jacaerys didn’t waste time asking, with a look of amusement in his eyes. But Rhaella recognized that beneath it, there was a mix of affection and responsibility, as if he was used to being protective.

Lucerys smiled at Rhaella with complicity, as if to assure her that their little secret was safe. She couldn’t help but smile back.

— Don’t worry, Rhae. I know how to keep a secret, okay?

— I know, Luke.

— Is it some conspiracy I should know about, or is our sister just plotting her next escape?

Vhaelys rolled her eyes and smiled, and Rhaella made a face at her older brother.

— It’s none of your business...

Jacaerys raised his eyebrows as if pretending to be surprised.

— I’m feeling left out, a secret just between you two...

Vhaelys sighed.

— It’s nothing like that, Jace. Rhae just had a little mishap this morning, and Luke promised not to tell Mother.

— Mishap? — He frowned — Did you hurt yourself again?

— It’s nothing serious, Jace. And Father has already helped me; it was just a scratch.

The conversation was interrupted when the powerful voice of their grandfather, King Viserys, echoed in the small hall. He turned his attention to Jacaerys, a proud smile lighting up his aged face.

However, Rhaella’s gaze was drawn to Aemond, her uncle. She noticed the shadow of discomfort on his face, as Aemond still did not have a dragon of his own. She always thought this was a trivial concern; she liked Aemond for who he was, not for the dragon he rode.

His platinum-blond hair fell in soft waves that nearly reached his shoulders. His violet eyes were intense and expressive. Rhaella saw in them a fascinating mix of strength and insecurity.

That morning, Aemond wore finely woven dark-toned garments that accentuated the paleness of his skin. Silver details embroidered on the edges added a touch of nobility. Dark trousers and leather boots completed the ensemble, highlighting his posture.

Aemond averted his gaze, avoiding the evident pride of King Viserys regarding his siblings and their future flights. Rhaella felt a pang of sympathy for him. She knew Aemond had his own insecurities, but that didn’t diminish her esteem for him. She especially enjoyed the times when Aemond read to her.

With perceptive eyes, Rhaella tried to discreetly get Aemond’s attention. She cast soft and reassuring glances, trying to convey a silent message of support. Her gestures were subtle, like offering an encouraging smile. She wanted Aemond to know that, in her eyes, the absence of a dragon did not lessen his worth.

He was someone she could share secrets and dreams with. A friend. She longed for the moment when Aemond would realize that, whether or not he had a dragon, his presence and affection were invaluable to her.

Aemond’s subtle glances and gestures did not seem to have gone unnoticed by him. When their eyes met, he responded with a shy smile, silently thanking her for the understanding she offered.

As King Viserys continued to speak, praising the feats of his children, Aemond’s eyes met Rhaella’s from time to time, as if seeking solace in her comforting expression.

She subtly tilted her head, discreetly exposing the bruise on her forehead to him. Her eyes conveyed a mix of amusement and complicity, as if sharing a light secret. Aemond, noticing the gesture, responded with a frown as if concerned.

But her smile seemed to have calmed him, as soon after he rolled his eyes, and the hint of a smile appeared on his lips.

The subtle exchange between the two went unnoticed by some, but it did not stop Queen Alicent from casting a watchful glance at the young princess. Each time their eyes met, a sense of judgment hung in the air. The queen was a commanding presence, with eyes that seemed to probe deeper than just the surface.

— Rhaella, my dear, how have your lessons with Septa Noelle been? I hope you are diligently applying yourself to the teachings and learning the virtues that are so important for a princess — There was something in that look that transcended words, a silent communication laden with judgment and expectations.

Rhaella, between bites of finely prepared food, raised her eyes to the queen. Even in her youth, the princess was not naïve. She sensed that Queen Alicent was observing her closely, evaluating her actions and words.

— The lessons are going well, Your Majesty. Septa Noelle is kind and patient. I’ve learned a lot about the history of the Seven Kingdoms and the virtues that the gods value. Courtesy, patience, and composure are values I’ve been striving to incorporate into my daily conduct.

Rhaella, in turn, tried to remain dignified and gracefully aloof to the perceived pressure. Yet, the persistent sensation of being under constant scrutiny did not escape her sensitive perception.

Queen Alicent seemed satisfied with the response but did not delay in moving on to another matter.

— With the princes' Name Day celebrations approaching, I hope you are prepared to represent the family with grace and elegance. You will have the opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge before the gathered nobles; I wish for you to stand out.

Rhaella felt her stomach tighten with a mix of anxiety and nervousness, as if she already knew what was coming. Her hands tightened on the fabric of her dress, and she felt Vhaelys's hand gripping hers under the table.

— Certainly, Your Majesty. I would be happy to contribute to the celebrations — The young princess tried to mask her unease with a polite smile, responding to the queen with courtesy. — How can I be of service during these events?

The queen smiled with satisfaction, a sharp glint reflecting in her eyes.

— Excellent, my dear. Besides your skills as a lady, I would like to request something special from you. During one of the celebratory dinners, it would be charming if you could grace us with a melody. A demonstration of your artistic talents would be greatly appreciated by everyone.

Inside, however, Rhaella worried about the expectation of performing before the court and guests. Septa Noelle, her music instructor, was well aware of her limitations with the harp. The princess feared that her lack of skill might expose her weaknesses before everyone.

Vhaelys, noticing her sister's discomfort, tried to intervene delicately.

— My Queen, Rhaella, as you know, gets a bit nervous before an audience. Perhaps this is not the ideal moment for her to perform.

Queen Alicent listened attentively to Vhaelys's words, but her determination remained unwavering.

— Vhaelys, both you and Helaena have had the opportunity to delight the court with your music. Now it’s Rhaella’s turn to shine. Each of you has your own gifts, and it’s important that they are appreciated by everyone during the celebrations.

The sisters' hands clasped each other as a sign of their camaraderie.

Princess Rhaenyra observed the scene with a serious expression, while Queen Alicent maintained her firm stance regarding Rhaella’s participation. When the opportunity arose, Rhaenyra spoke, her voice sounding firm and determined.

— My Queen, I understand the importance of sharing our talents, but perhaps there are other ways Rhaella could contribute to the occasion. She could be an exemplary reader at a ceremony, or perhaps enjoy dancing. These options would allow her to participate without insecurity.

— Music plays a special role in these celebrations, Princess. And believe me, everyone will be delighted to witness Rhaella’s talent. Besides, both Helaena and Vhaelys have performed before.

King Viserys, observing the interaction between his wife and daughter, decided to intervene.

— Rhaenyra is right about young Rhaella’s comfort, Alicent. Our children are talented in various ways. Rhaella can shine in other areas besides music. Perhaps she could enchant us with a reading or a graceful dance during the celebrations.

Feeling anxious and nervous about the prospect of playing the harp before the entire court and guests during the Princes' Name Day celebrations, Rhaella sought a solution to navigate the situation. She knew her harp skills were not as refined as Queen Alicent expected.

Septa Noelle fully understood the princess’s musical limitations and therefore tried to encourage Rhaella to find other ways to express her talent. However, with the pressure to participate in established traditions, the princess felt cornered.

Rhaella, however, had a secret. She used to sneak away from the Red Keep to explore King’s Landing, where she would find troupes of performers and be enchanted by various forms of artistic expression.

Rhaella’s talent with the harp might be lacking, but she had another secret, shared only with groups of entertainers that docked in King’s Landing to perform. In moments of relaxation, away from the court's critical gaze, the princess found comfort and joy among street performers.

With this secret in mind, Rhaella saw an opportunity to surprise everyone. She would accept Queen Alicent’s challenge, but not with the harp.

Thus, while anxiety persisted, a spark of confidence grew within Rhaella. The harp might be her weak point, but she had her secret weapon.

— Excuse me, Your Majesty... — she swallowed hard, but felt encouraged to continue when her grandfather looked at her with an affectionate smile. — If Princess Helaena and my sister Vhaelys can face the audience with their skills, I see no difference in facing the challenge with music. It is true that I prefer reading and dancing, but the Queen is right. Music plays a fundamental role in these celebrations, and I would have to face an audience anyway. So, if you could grant me this opportunity, I would prefer to face the challenge, even if it is difficult for me. It would be a pleasure to contribute my music to the festivities. I am honored by your suggestion, my Queen.

The revelation caused a pause in the room, as everyone processed the unexpected change. Rhaella, feeling the pressure of the court’s watchful gaze, squeezed Vhaelys’s hand under the table when she noticed her sister’s shocked look. Her older sister quickly composed herself and smiled.

King Viserys, observing his granddaughter with proud eyes, broke the silence.

— If my granddaughter has a sincere desire to improve her musical skills, I see no reason to prevent her from pursuing it. You have my blessing to seek additional instruction in music if you wish. I want you to feel confident and comfortable during the celebrations.

Rhaella, relieved and grateful for her grandfather’s understanding, nodded in thanks, avoiding the questioning gaze of the queen and her mother.

💕: @immyowndefender

[lines-from-my-diary]

Zettelkasten

Ah, dear wanderer of knowledge, come sit by the fire, and let me tell you the tale of Zettelkasten, the ancient and powerful method of keeping one’s thoughts as organized as the archives of Minas Tirith, yet as alive as the Ents of Fangorn.

What Is the Zettelkasten System

Zettelkasten — a word from the tongue of the scholars of old Germany — means "slip box." But do not be deceived by its humble name! It is no mere box, but a treasure chest of ideas, bound together like the great libraries of Elrond’s house in Rivendell.

At its heart, the Zettelkasten is a forest of notes, each a living tree. These notes grow, twist, and link together with threads. As your collection grows, your understanding deepens. The system becomes your companion, your guide — like Sam to your Frodo — leading you through the long road of study and creativity.

How to Take Notes in Zettelkasten Style?

Let me teach you the Three Great Arts of Zettelkasten Note-Taking:

1. Fleeting Notes – like fireflies in the dark

These are your wandering thoughts, things you hear or read that sparkle for a moment.- Where to write them? A notebook, a scrap of parchment, or your magical device. What to write? Just enough to remember the idea. What next? Do not hoard them. Review them within a day or two, or they shall vanish like mist.

2. Literature Notes – wisdom from the tomes

These are notes you take while reading scrolls, books, or listening to the wisdom of others. What to do? Summarize ideas in your own words. No copying! Make them clear. As if writing for your future self 100 years hence. Write only what sings to your heart — that which you find meaningful or useful.

3. Permanent Notes – the gems of your mind

These are your true notes, each a polished jewel forged in the fires of thought. One idea per note. Not too long, not too short. Just enough to stand on its own. Give it a clear title — like naming a sword or a star. Link it to other notes. Use references, IDs, or tags — so your notes can speak to each other like the Elves of Lothlórien.

And how do the notes connect?

Ah, this is the magic of Zettelkasten: each note is not alone. Through links, they form a web — strong as the bonds of the Fellowship.- "This idea reminds me of that one," you might write.- Or, "To understand this, you must see that."- Over time, they become a map of your mind, guiding you through the wilderness of thought.

The Tools of the Craft

Some scribes use parchment. Others use tools like Obsidian, Zettlr, or Roam — enchanted notebooks that help link and search your notes. Use what fits your journey.

Final Words from the Shire: Begin small, dear friend. One note at a time. And over the years, as surely as the leaves fall and the stars wheel overhead, you will have a living library. A place where ideas never die, but grow — like the White Tree of Gondor — into something magnificent.

[honourablejester]

Blades in the Dark Character Concept: A Dockside Gull-Hound

Continuing to play around with Blades concepts, and I’m looking at the Hound playbook. Hounds are somewhat the ranger equivalents, the hunters and snipers, and one of the things they get is a hunting pet, a trained animal that works with them. And. Is this plausible? Possibly not, but. Doskvol is a haunted port city on the shore of an inky void sea. I kind of want a really spooky seagull?

I’m think I’m definitely aiming this character towards a Smuggler crew type. A waterwoman with a beady-eyed, slate-grey scout that ghosts along the canals and rivers and shorelines of Duskwall ahead of her.

So, heritage, I want her to be a local. Akorosi. I want her family to have been in this city forever, to have been plying the waters here since the Old North Port was functional, and even before. Local waters, they’ve been running fishing boats and small water craft, pilot vessels, not the bigger trading ships. She has Duskwall blood. If of a slightly fishy flavour.

For background we’re going Labor. She’s a waterwoman. I feel like pilot boats, guiding larger ships out around the islands of the North Hook Channel, more than the canal boats of the interior, though she’s no slouch on the smaller waterways either. I just don’t think she’s an ex-Gondolier or anything like that. More the sea and possibly the river than the canals. Her family are one of the larger fishing families in the city, but let’s say she had a bit of a falling out with them, while refusing to work for any of their competitors, so the fishing fleets weren’t an option. Piloting was good business for a while, but if you’re already working the near shore, there are more lucrative things you could be guiding around, you know?

For her action dots, she gets two in Hunt and one in Survey as a Hound. For her heritage dot I think we’ll give her Command (her family is old, and used to commanding vessels). For her background, Skirmish. She’s been on the end of a blade or two in this business. The two free dots, we’ll put one in Consort, as she has a web of contacts in and around the docks, and one in Prowl, as she’s slipped sideways into this shadier sort of business.

For her special ability, while Scout would absolutely make sense, I really have to pick Ghost Hunter. Because I’m here for her spooky seagull, and this makes said gull so much spookier. Ghost Hunter imbues her hunting pet with spirit energy, giving it potency when fighting supernatural foes, and also gives one of three possible arcane abilities: ghost-form, which lets the gull go ghostly and intangible for a bit, mind-link, which lets her see through its eyes, and arrow-swift, which lets it outrun any creature or vehicle. And while all of those would be very useful, we are fully going mind-link, so this spooky bloody waterwoman can cast her eyes downriver or further up the canal or across the harbour to see ambushes or targets before they arrive.

For our friends and rivals … I like the look of Celene, as an ally. Celene is a sentinel, a protector of someone or something, and it doesn’t go into more detail than that. I wonder if I’d be let … Say her family has been here since the Old North Port was functional. Suppose they still have links there, even though it’s been abandoned to the Deathlands. Let’s say Celene guards a community with links out there. Perhaps a congregation? Because. Haunted waterwoman with spooky seagull companion. I kind of want our girl to have Faith as her vice? A forgotten god of the sea, perhaps the one called the Lord of the Depths? So Celene might be her friend and her purveyor both. For her enemy … Veleris. A spy. Possibly originally for one of the rival fishing families, someone our Hound knew when she was still working the fishing fleets, but one that got hints of something else her family were involved in. The cult, perhaps. And now that she’s out on her own, Veleris perhaps sees a weak link to cull out and use to gain access to things that could bring her family down.

The vice, again, will be Faith. They’ve got ink and salt in their blood, her family. They’ve been here forever. Others have forgotten certain gods, but they haven’t. She hasn’t. She knows who you leave offerings to if you want to leave the harbour.

For the name … I’m going to borrow a surname from a different setting of mine, Harrow’s Rock, but I think we’ll go with Whitmarsh. For a given name, I feel like Emeline isn’t a bad shout. Emmy, for short. An incongruously innocent sounding name. And the Alias, of course, will be Gully. Because the first thing anyone remembers, if they’ve gotten close enough to see them properly together, is the spooky-ass bloody seagull.

The gull’s name is Cutter. Because it’s bloody vicious. Hunting pets are cohorts, and cohorts get edges and flaws, strong and weak points to them. Cutter’s edge, I think, will be Independent, he can function perfectly well by his lonesome, thanks, and she trusts him, but his flaw is going to be Savage. Because gulls, if they want something, will get it, and they will cheerfully fuck you up in the process. Cutter’s not particularly combat-oriented, he’s primarily a scout, but if you’ve ever tried to defend food from a seagull, you know that they can definitely make your life extremely unpleasant for a minute or two.

(I know, given the name of the playbook, that hunting pets likely are intended to be things like hounds, but I just really wanted the seabird. I wanted a salty smuggler with an avian scout. So, well. Here we are?)

Emeline ‘Gully’ Whitmarsh. A stout, weathered, plain-faced woman in heavy woollens and a waxed greatcoat, both faster and lighter on her feet than she looks, often accompanied by a sharp-eyed grey gull. A waterwoman, a Duskwall native, a daughter of the salt and the ink and the sea. A smuggler and a hound, hunting the waterways of this haunted seaside city.

[taranida]

The loops and spiral of the first game

Airight, I’ve written extensively about Thomas Zane the Poet, 70’s and what happened, to my belief, at the time. All of it accessible through this post with links on every expanding theory. I will not even try to claim that I was consistent with my conclusions and views, since with each dive I was finding new things, rethinking everything and looking at what’s presented in the games and extras from a different perspective. Some theories (like who wrote the eruption) never changed, some (like is Thomas Zane this benign man, who cared about the future and the world) did — a lot. But that’s alright, I’ve created this blog to make sense of everything meself in the first place; theories will evolve, change and grow as I sink deeper into madness.

Now I want to talk about loops. Without making sense of them I can’t even start to talk about the Bright Presence (who literally scratches on my brain), since his actions cannot — in my opinion — be explained without explaining the loops of the first game. I’m not sure there is even one moment when the Bright Presence acted on his own volition, but we’ll see how this belief will change later.

Let’s start with the in-your-face evidence:

just like in the second game we have things that change on your “final draft 0.1” playthrough on nightmare, that you can unlock only by finishing the game on any other difficulty — nightmare only manuscripts.

at the end of the game, right after the famous line “it’s not a lake, it’s an ocean” we hear Alice’s voiceline “Alan! Wake up!” from the moment on the ferry.

in the Well-Lit Room Alan claims “the last page is still in the typewriter. I need to read it first. Everything needs to be just right. Zane tried to cut some corners, and it didn’t end well.” Yet the page in the typewriter is about the last fight between Alan and Alice, right before she was dragged into the lake.

the cutscene that follows Alan writing the ending to Departure, repeats what happened after his fight with Alice in the Bird Leg Cabin.

although little bit less obvious, but the nightmare in the prologue and the monologue of the Hitchhiker also points on Alan already being in the loop: “you’re in this story now”.

I’m going to unpack those points a bit.

The nightmare manuscripts pages might be written off as a game mechanic, of course, a reward to the player for tackling the highest difficulty in the game, but they simply do not appear on your first playthrough. The first loop doesn’t have those pages. On the nightmare difficulty, however, they appear on their own places, not replacing anything, and given that the Bright Presence outright spells that he’s delivering the right pages in the right time, they are as crucial part of the last loop as the simple ones. The guide explains that the Nightmares might be particularly difficult:

This little thing in the guide, presented as in-universe book, also hints that those so-called Nightmares are not one and done occurrence. Each of them is yet another loop and not all of them are “particularly difficult”.

Other question is: do those pages even matter? Well, for the most of them the answer will be — no, not really; they expand on the story and characters, give you lyrics of both songs by the boys of OGoA and Thomas’ poem, but it’s just flavour text. There is one, however, that affects the story in much more significant way; it changes or defines the Dark Presence’s power and intentions at the start (of the loop):

It also so happens to hint that the writer is already in the Dark Presence’s web, jerking and kicking, although the incentive is still needed. When exactly Alan was in this situation? His “jerking and kicking” starts after the Dark Presence kidnaps Alice, as it’s shown in the game. So, does this page point to the dream Alan had on the ferry or is it another confirmation of the loops?

The Alice’s voiceline, I believe, is self-explanatory. What’s interesting in it is that it sends us to a point in time where this particular loop starts. The loop, not the struggle against the Dark Presence; after all, Alan’s main objective is to save Alice, and to do it perfectly, how he put it:

“Everything needs to be just right. Zane tried to cut some corners, and it didn’t end well.”

The Dark Presence or Place might’ve been involved way before the ferry. Here I will jump to the Hitchhiker point. His monologue is sus. He states that Alan is being trapped in the story, talks about Alan playing god and killing people off for the sake of drama, all of which is actually true. And he’s the first Taken that we encounter.

Now let me return to the previous points. Alan claims that the last page of the Departure is in the typewriter, and there is a page, alright:

The page that reads:

…by Wake and Alice, Barbara Jagger stands in the shadows in the cabin. As soon as it began, the flickering stops and Jagger is gone. Alice is startled by the flickering lights. Wake is too angry to stay. He needs to cool off, to clear his head. Wake storms out of the cabin. He is certain that…

Looks familiar, isn’t it? When Alan sits to write the camera shows us the clock, they move properly to 12 am/pm and then start to go back rapidly and we’re thrown to the cutscene where Alan returns to the cabin, following Alice’s cries for help — direct continuation of what was written on the page. He jumps and the scene ends. Just like in the beginning.

That’s quite in-your-face, let’s add a bit more subtle things into the mix. Alice in the second game says about her time in the Dark Place “the same events and images, looping again and again”, whole second game hammers down the point that this is exactly how the Dark Place operates. And the cutscene, that follows Alan’s jump after Alice, now shows us how from that moment the time moves on again to the morning when Alice is resurfacing from the lake — another loop ends there; ultimate or penultimate, depends — if you completed the game on nightmare or not.

Back to the dream. Here was a huge chunk of text, that was growing and growing, as I wanted to touch on everything in there, and I’ve decided to move it into another post. But for the sake of this theory we need to know that Clay Steward, the man we encounter, in his in-universe book The Alan Wake Files, claims that dreams like that started two years prior to the events of the game and were loops in which both him and Alan died to the darkness or men consumed by it over and over again. Alan, how it comes out in the game, forgot all others, except for the one that was invaded by the Bright Presence.

So, when exactly did this dream happen? Contrary to the game, I would say: we don’t really know. You see, aside from Alan’s lack of recollection about other dreams like that, there is an interesting detail, that comes with one of the extras. In the game Alan is awakened by Alice on the ferry and she also lets us on the details of how the vacation was arranged:

“Come on, slowpoke. You get the full service here. I’ve made all the arrangements. I drive the car, I’ll even carry the bags. All you have to do is drag your cute butt into the car and enjoy the ride.”

But in the Bright Falls mini-series, prequel to Alan Wake, the final scene shows Alan driving the car to Bright Falls with Alice on the passenger seat and no ferry involved:

In the second game in the song Herald of Darkness we have the part, that is a bit questionable. The ferry is there, but we see Alan being prepared with flowers and a bottle as if this vacation was not Alice’s idea, which is also hinted in the first game’s second flashback, when Alan says “once this is over, let’s go away together — a vacation, just you and me. Some peace and quiet”. Taken together with the words of the song, the clear picture of how the Wakes ended up in Bright Falls starts to blur.

Just one shot, one more chance For him to save their marriage Away from the city A romantic getaway

Whose idea was it? Alice was sure set on Bright Falls because of Dr. Hartman, but was it her desperate attempt to fix their marriage or was it Alan’s? And how did they get into the town? On the ferry or drove the car? Given the loops, I’d say all of those things. Therefore, we have no way of knowing when exactly the dream occurred. Alan was looping and looping, trying to fix Alice’s disappearance, he might’ve written dozens of stories of how exactly they got to Bright Falls and how nothing happened to her in the first place, only to fail over and over again.

And that’s when Thomas Zane comes in. I’ve taken apart everything I could (remember) on what happened in the 70’s and I think that the true story is simple. Barbara drowned, Thomas wrote her back, after some time realised that it was not his Barbara and took her for a last dive, creating a private island in the Dark Place, where they are living their happy ever after. The meat on those simple bare bones — the eruption, the shoeboxes, even Cynthia’s ruined life — was added by Alan. He needed a guide, someone, who already ventured this path and broke some rules here and there for Alan to learn those rules when he will forget. And those tools worked splendidly; even the Clicker, that was in Alice’s possession (let’s not mistake Zane’s Light Switch for Alan’s Clicker, we have pictures of both of them and they could not be more dissimilar), was now safely tucked away in the Well-Lit Room with clear instructions on what to do next, while the shoebox in the cabin filled Alan on the gaps in his knowledge and understanding of the Dark Place and Presence. Cynthia’s articles pushed him in the right direction, not mentioning how helpful were her stashes. Everything fell into place, we got the final loop, that perfectly served Alan’s purpose: Alice is safe and well, the Dark Presence is no more, collateral damage such as people who died in the hero’s journey Alan had to complete or Mr. Scratch going out to play — all could be the lesser evil than what Alan witnessed in his previous attempts (we can count the dream where the darkness took over the world with the last safe place being the Light House as a clairvoyance or a fading memory of another failed loop).

Fist game is not at all unlike the second or AWAN, where loops and spirals play a major role. If the player goes into the Bird Leg Cabin before turning the generator on, in the writer’s room Alan has a vision of the Dark Presence and says “for a moment, the oppressive feel of the nightmare I had seen on the ferry returned”, he senses the danger, recognises it, yet cannot escape it. As I said before, despite all Alan’s ramblings about threading on reality, he writes pretty unreal events right and left — honestly, his own reaction to what he encounters during the first game can be summarised in his go-to phrase: “what the fuck?” — but he believes in it while writing, so it comes true. He cannot simply “cut some corners” and write that he and Alice were never in Bright Falls, because he won’t believe in it, it’s a paradox; as well as he won’t believe in nothing happening to Alice and them just having a nice vacation together. He might’ve tried that at first, but ultimately failed, until the story became how we know it from the game (yet, there are still things that hint on the story being a bit different). But how the Wakes got in Bright Falls, what were Alan’s previous attempts and how many of them he went through will remain a mystery. Time means nothing in the Dark Place and Alan’s memory — even less.

The unanswered mystery is what stays with us the longest, and it’s what we’ll remember in the end.

[link-hero-of-time]

Read The Four Heroes by Link-hero-of-time on Wattpad today! https://www.wattpad.com/story/376060269?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=share_reading&wp_page=reading&wp_uname=Link-hero-of-time

When the legendary Four Sword splits the hero of Hyrule into four distinct individuals—Green, Red, Blue, and Vio—the bonds of friendship and love are tested in a world filled with danger, emotions, and lingering shadows. Green, the determined leader, struggles with guilt and self-doubt, believing his actions have caused his companions untold pain. Red, innocent and carefree, provides moments of levity but is deeply committed to his friends. Blue, stubborn and prideful, hides his vulnerability behind a tough exterior. Vio, the intellectual and composed strategist, harbors hidden fears and a budding romance with Green that adds complexity to their journey.

Accompanying them is Shadow, a mischievous yet enigmatic being born from darkness who teeters between ally and tormentor. His playful demeanor masks a deep understanding of the group's struggles, often acting as a mirror to their innermost feelings.

The heroes find themselves navigating not only the perils of their quest but also the intricate web of their emotions and relationships. From moments of lighthearted teasing to confessions of love, their journey takes them to the Four Sword Sanctuary, a place of both fond memories and haunting truths. As the group grapples with their shared trauma and the consequences of Green's decisions, they realize that their unity is their greatest strength.

With humor, heartache, and hope, The Four Heroes explores the complexities of friendship, the resilience of love, and the courage it takes to face both external and internal battles. Together, they must confront the past, embrace their true selves, and prove that even in the darkest times, the bonds of their hearts will guide them forward.

Themes:

Found family and unconditional support.

The impact of guilt, trauma, and self-forgiveness.

LGBTQ+ representation and self-discovery.

Balancing humor and emotional depth in character-driven storytelling.