#she's only there to ... marry. increase family wealth. be a bridge for the next generations who knows

[jils-things]

constabell 💭

there's this one short song that i think abt a lot which works really nicely with them... it's called A Lady by Tally Hall the lyrics are super meaningful and i imagine it goes really nicely with how nørton thought of her

the first line as as goes —

i know a lady, good and evil

obviously said lady is irene. when he calls her good, he refers to her personality - as lore points that irene was constantly finding ways to see if he was fine, dropping by to offer warm bread, some coins that were stolen from him, or even a new candle that could replace his melted one. it could be anything, just for her to see to it that he was... okay. this to him, is her good traits - what made him initially grow on her. the evil traits refer to her lifestyle - he has nothing but distaste for people in the upper class- which she indeed is... but that's the only thing that made him distance himself from her - he just couldn't trust the fact that she was from a wealthy family. who knows if she's being genuine with her actions or if she's having ulterior motives (the latter is most definitely not true however.)

told me that i was a gentleman

the main reason why she even bothered to care in the first place was the fact that she noticed that he was such a hard worker, yet he still lives impoverished. he even gets robbed of his efforts from the coworkers. the said scenario is was caused her to make a move and show deep concern for him. he was indeed a diligent person, and even caring for his father's old friend, visiting the old lad in the nursing home. she wanted him to know that he deserved so much better but he was sometimes hard on himself to really believe what she's saying

wait for the girl to blossom into colors that grow where you can

this one's the last, but it's a little tricky to decipher! so here's a more symbolic take on what i want to think this means:

at some point does she confess that even if she wanted be with him, she could not - for she was already arranged to be with someone else - but she promised somehow she'll find a way to be with him even if it meant it would disappoint her family. it was definitely a selfish move on her part.

but all her life - irene never felt like she really truly got to experience the life she wanted because she was playing the life her family wanted. she had hoped that... if she'll truly find way to embrace the life she wants, she'll start with him. (wait for the girl to blossom into color).

i imagine this whole promise has been made post-explosion, she nursed him back to health in secret and she confessed everything when he kept asking why did she always bother to care for him even in potential death.

she was mostly keen on helping him, but as time went on and the more he softened up to her, it was hard to deny the fact that she's starting to see something charming in him that gives her more purpose to see him.

irene was no different from nørton in reality, she was born in a difficult time and she remembered everything from her old days she was only lucky now because she was adopted and she has everything penny alive now. it still left her hollow inside though, wanting something more to live for and she was stuck with this resentment. but then seeing him where he is, simply inspired her that even if he's stuck like this, he's still finding ways to make a change and irene simply admired it. she could... give him the change if she wanted, and she did.

she just needed to figure out how to escape her current predicament to be with him

[ambiguouspuzuma]

Cutting in line

Harry Winther, 16th Earl of Bleicester, had been born with just about everything else. He had the title, the land, the wealth - as much as any of his peers, and several factors more than most. He divided his time between the estate in the country - vast enough to be a country of it own - and the palace in Town - flogged off by some profligate regent of generations past - but spent all of it longing for the one thing that he lacked. The crown he desired above all else.

Harry came from an old family, but it had mostly run in parallel to the one which counted. If there was royal blood in those veins, it flowed a long way from the heart; if he appeared on the palace family tree, it was as a distant appendage, having diverged a long way back. He would need to climb up a lot of branches to get to the one with his name dangling from its end. He had all of the trappings, but not the thing that made them count.

It was frustrating. In terms of sheer force - both men-at-arms and financial might - he was the most powerful man in the country. But there would always be that golden ceiling, a gap that no amount of self-improvement could bridge. His third cousins kept having third children, and at today's count he was 184th in line to the throne. It might be 185th by tomorrow. Harry was a patient man, but he'd wanted this his whole life, and it only seemed to get further away.

"They princes are young," he said, convincing himself as much as Sir Rupert, one of his cavalry offices and personal guard. "We can easily capture them when they visit, and I'll proclaim myself king in their place."

It was a bold statement, treasonous, but enough was enough. He hadn't minded bowing to the old king, who was at least his peer. But the royal stock seemed to be increasingly watered down. The king's second wife, as regent to their snot-nosed child? Their son grown up, somehow even more snotty as a man? His daughter, a sickly thing who'd somehow lived for long enough to marry and spawn more useless heirs? Her sons, literal children? It was humiliating, to prostrate himself before someone so small they'd still be able to look him in the eye.

Sir Rupert seemed unconvinced. "Pardon, my lord, but what about the Duchess of Sotherton, their great-aunt? She would surely be next in the succession if... if some tragedy were to befall them."

"Fine, we'll just have to get her out of the way too. The Sothertons have grown soft of late. They barely have a household guard."

"And the family? All 26 of them?" His scepticism only increased. "Forgive me, my lord, but some of them are settled overseas. To tear them out, root and stem, would be quite the undertaking."

Harry sighed. He was a man in possession of a great many things, but he seemed to be flush with cousins most of all. They seemed to multiply: once, twice, three times removed, and he might not be able to remove them fast enough. "Fine, I get your point. If we were to do this, how many would we need to... prune?"

"Regretfully, my lord... you're 184th in line. Including the young princes, there are 183 ahead of you."

"Right." He knew that. "Let's see that as an advantage, eh? If I'm that far behind, they'll all have their backs to me. This far away, nobody would see the push coming."

"Those further down the line might catch on, my lord. After the first hundred murders or so."

"Well, let's make sure to start from the other end. That'd be the clever was to do it, right? Target the bottom of the list and work up; try to make them look like accidents where possible. Nobody at the top will pay attention until it's too late - and we can then finish off with the princes, with me already in place as their heir."

"Ah... there was one other thing, my lord."

"What now?"

"Begging your pardon, but I'm 142nd in the succession. From Queen Elspeth's line, I believe. I'm actually second cousins with the Viscount Northrop."

"You're higher than me?" Harry rubbed his temples. The humiliation wouldn't end. He knew that bloodlines didn't follow rank, but it felt like it should still count for something. "Fine, fine, very good. Thank you Sir Rupert, you're excused. Just send in the lieutenant on your way out. I, er, just have a quick favour to ask him."

"He's even further in the line than I am, my lord," Sir Rupert said, anticipating his request. "A lot of the officers are. It's seen as an honourable posting for third sons from noble families."

"I see." Harry sunk back into the chair which would never be a throne, and ran a hand over his uncrowned scalp. "Well, thank you anyway."

"If I may, my lord?"

"Please." He waved a derisory hand. "By all means, pile on even more bad news."

"You will never be the prince's heir, I am sorry to say. The numbers are too great. But there is another option."

"I'm not going to marry them, if that's your thinking."

"No, but you could welcome them under your wing. Protect them, guide them; give them the benefit of your strength and experience. They don't need an heir, not yet, but they do need a father figure."

"You think I could serve as regent?"

"As mentor, at the minimum. Be the voice they turn to for advice. Don't ask to be their heir, or plot to replace them. That ship has sailed. But if it's your legacy you care for, you could certainly make them yours."

[yourcoolfriendwithallthecandy]

The Eagle of Unasta and The Dragon of Zarcade Part 1

So guess who had the most mindblowing dream and IMMEDIATELY had to write about it? Me. Tagging @waiting4inspiration​ because you’ll enjoy this, that and this has STRONG Witcher vibes and it features the same DRAGONS and dragoners as Keep Your Eyes On Me but like- midieval. it’s glorious. 

Anyway, enjoy. 

The Eagle of Unasta and The Dragon of Zarcade

Part 1 

“You called for me grandmother?” Zaq asked as he came into the room where his great grandmother was reclining in her bed as his grandmother and mother attended to her. 

“Yes, I have one last prophecy for you before you leave.” She informed him, her old hoarse voice cracking with her advanced age as Zaq came and kneeled next to the bed respectfully as he grasped her withered hands and eagerly awaited her words as her daughter and granddaughter eagerly and anxiously awaited this prophecy as well. 

“This weekend your betrothed will reveal herself to you, your Golden Eagle. Do you have her gifts ready?” Lena prodded her great grandson Zaq. 

“Yes, I just finished polishing the enchanted lapis in her dagger and her cloak just got finished this morning and the rest of her gifts are being put together as we speak.” Zaq nodded as she nodded in agreement.  

His great grandmother had announced at his birth that he was betrothed to someone who she simply referred to as “the Eagle” but would not tell anyone who exactly it was but even then, she made sure that the betrothal gifts would begin to be worked on so that they would be perfectly crafted by the time his betrothed would make herself known to them. 

“Good, your Eagle prefers blue, you will know her by the color shifting dress she will wear, royal blue in one light, majestic purple in an another- yet pink as the sunrise and blood red in another. She will be the most magnificent woman besides the bride to be- at the feast in everyone’s eyes, especially yours and to you- she will have no equal, but she will only have eyes for you once she really sees you for you. You will flatter her, and she will try to use your words as weapons against you because she will be naturally defensive as all eagles are. The other Zarcadians will surround her like a pack of wolves, you must be the dragon you are and rescue her and she will still think you are a wolf until you prove yourself to be a dragon. She has been taught to hold destiny in one hand and fate in the other and reject both so she can carve out her own of each with her own hands. But you are her fate and destiny and there will be no other than you for her so you will help her embrace both. You will be her friend first, love of her life second and marriage mate last for the rest of your days as she will be those things for you in turn and your love will burn brighter than dragonfire and will be the envy of all. You will break chains for her and she in turn will break your chains before you break hers so that both of you will fly free together and your nests and roosts will be each other. Beware though, she will come here and hold our downfall in one hand and our salvation in the other because her mind is sharper than her eyes, so you must help her choose the later. Leave her and our house will fall to rubble. Love her, be honest with her, remain loyal to her and prove true and she will build the foundations anew herself so that even if all the others were to fall, ours will stand to times indefinite and she will bring in a new era of dragons and dragoners and be the best dragoner the world has yet to see. Cast your pride and ego aside and humble yourself before her and she will build you up and make you stronger than all of us. You will be the first to achieve the impossible, but you will not be the last, pave the way for others to follow.” She prophcied, channelling her dragon’s magic to do so as it laid over her the way a beloved pet would as she used her free hand to stroke the old dragon’s face scales affectionately. 

“Let it be as you’ve said.” Zaq agreed before his mother and grandmother mirrored his words. 

Your name was Anya Unasta, you were the granddaughter of Eli Unasta, a great military commander and general in the kingdom of Suter. Your grandfather had married the love of his life- your grandmother- Sitka who came from a family of very humble birth but large and loving who accepted him with open arms. Because of your grandfather’s conquests for the Empire of Suter, your family was given nobility as Lords and Ladies and modest lands that were befitting of that title along with a yearly earning that would take care of them for the rest of their days and a small handful of slaves which your family immediately freed who stayed to be their loyal servants. 

Upon them moving into the lands, they proved to be as fertile as the days in the summer were long. Vivid green pastures made their flocks abundant and your family and their servants never went hungry because of the super rich soils which in turn gave you over abundant crops in addition to a surplus of meats, milks, butters and cheeses and wools from the flocks which you traded for fine silks and satins before mastering even those and created textiles that had no equal. Pure rivers, springs and lakes were abundant in your family’s property that watered all the lands well and even in times of drought, they were able to pull water from the deep wells and natural springs with surprising ease. 

Your grandfather encouraged his many, many children to pursue what they wanted to since the lands provided so well. So that your uncles and aunts were all artists and artisans in addition to being merchants, vintners, engineers and farmers and barrons of the flocks. Your large extended family unlocked the secrets to beef so marbled it practically melted in your mouth. Horses so fine- they could pull the war chariots of kings or carriages of any elite or run races with prestige. Pigs so huge they could feed a small tribe, sheep and goats with wool so fine and soft- it rivaled silk. They even made tea, wine and cheeses so delicious that they had no equal.

The designers, inventors and engineers in your family could design bridges and houses alike- that would stand for centuries without repair or much upkeep, houses that could have earthquakes right under their foundations or hurricanes or tornados right over them and yet the stones would never crack and the houses would never fall and to invent and embrace new technology in your homes and lives in addition to designing clothes that set the fashion standards of the times. 

They could even got into metals- both precious and common that rivaled the best foundries in the world so that the family’s weapons were on par with any other if not surpassing so that Suter's military carried Unasta steel swords that were second only to dragon tooth swords in Zarcade. And in the precious metal business you soon had gold, silver, pearls and jewels flowing  into the family like a mighty river so that every member of the family had an overabundance of jewelry of all kinds, even other kings and queens and empresses and emperors, czars and czarinas and sultans and sultanas were draped in Unasta jewelry because it was considered the best and finest and was without equal. 

Some of the Unastas got into pottery and glass and made it so magnificent that every wealthy family from all over the world felt they needed at least one piece among their treasures and collections which increased your family’s wealth so that you now could buy even more lands and build great mansions instead of houses and soon your lands were so vast, it became its own district with all of your extended family within it and your own family became famed so that whatever they touched became amazing and whatever they choose to do, they found success and notoriety. 

But yet there were a few that followed in your grandfather’s footsteps and became military strategists and were more victorious than your grandfather ever could be so that your family was even more elevated to Dauphins and Dauphines within the Empire of Suter so that you were among equals at the Emperor’s inner court. Some Unastas even went into politics and advisors to the Emperor himself after their military careers. 

You were all taught from infancy to be humble, to learn everything you could and to keep your curiosity, to pursue your passions yet treat those around you with respect and dignity and to free every slave you purchased, in addition to paying your workers and servants fair and thriving wages for their labor so that you practically had an army of servants and workers at your fingertips. 

Your grandfather forbade any of his children from orchestrating their children’s marriages and he wanted all of his descendants to marry for love like he did and how all of his children did as well- and to marry who they wanted except for Zarcadians, who were forbidden from entering the family by marriage and that any Unasta would be forbidden from leaving the family to join a Zarcadian one- which to you was puzzling and your parents and grandparents refused to tell you or any in your generation why but still, you were very grateful for this commandment since all of your peers had to bow to their parent’s will and arranged marriages were the norm, often a generation in advance upon a child’s birth and no nation was more famous for this custom than Zarcade, which clung to customs and traditions that seemed to be as old as time itself. 

This evening you found yourself at an engagement party for one of the “lesser” princesses, one of your best friends actually, Ester, a grand duchess of Suter, a younger sister to the crown princess- to Xander of the family Ceda, one of the noble families of Zarcade and everyone came from all over to celebrate with them, Your came the day before and watched from Ester’s balcony as all the Zarcadians flew in, landing their dragons in front of the palace since you came ahead of your family since you were involved in some of the wedding planning and finalizing the details and had spent the night with Ester in her room, laughing and giggling half the night. 

You spent all day getting pampered and prepared for the feast side by side with Ester for this evening and even was her escort to the feast tonight, both of you being introduced in grand style before you spent most of it at her side at her table since you were going to be her maid of honor.  A great honor indeed as you feasted with her and stole looks at the groom’s table that was full of his friends and family, not a single Unasta among them while Ester had dozens of Unastas at hers- both tables eagerly stealing looks at the other since this was as close as the unmarried Unastas were allowed to be to Zarcadians. 

Zarcade was one of the oldest kingdoms of the world. It was situated on top of a high mountain, surrounded by even more high mountains and had never fallen to another kingdom. Zarcade was unique in that in the “old kingdom” which was the original city walls when the city was founded, stood over a dozen gigantic houses, all of them having super high towers so that they looked like they scraped the skies themselves and bases so large that it was only these houses could fit inside the old kingdom’s walls. 

However your grandfather and patriarch of the family hated Zarcade with a passion, something he tried to share with his family but it seemed that this hatred missed you completely. If anything, it made you curious about it. So much so that you fired a barrage of questions at Ester about her stay in Zarcade and about the family she was marrying into while you were with her. Your own appetite for it unquenchable as Ester happily and excitedly shared her answers with you, herself intrigued as to why there was this commandment in your family and even the Zarcadians were curious as to why one of the richest and most notable and successful families outside of Zarcade would keep politely declining their offers of marriage, no matter how much business they did with them or how friendly they tried to be or how handsome the offer. 

Unastas always seemed to have a protective invisible wall around them that the Zarcadians could not penetrate. It was like magic but none that they could understand or break no matter how hard they tried, to the point that even they secretly began to covet the possibility of having an Unasta, no matter how distant or lowly- in their family tree one day if it was the last thing they did, it was something that soon consumed almost all of them.  

Zarcade as a whole did their best to never an enemy of anyone, always doing trade and business with everyone all over the world and since your family were mostly merchants, your family did quite a bit of business with them, although you yourself weren’t personally involved in it. Your grandfather however demanded that everyone in the family demand top dollar for products sold to Zarcade- and the Zarcadians, seemed to have limitless wealth and paid those prices happily. The more expensive the better to the point that Zarcadian gold and silver boulin was the standard currency world wide. But if you ever tried to cheat them or sell them lesser quality items since they demanded the best in everything, suddenly you went out of business and no one would do business with you. A lesson you all learned by watching other merchants do business with them. So you all found you had to walk a fine line with Zarcadians. 

At the feast, there were young men from the noble families of Vaci, Boder, Silini and Ceda of Zarcade there who took one look at you at the bride’s right hand as you entered the feast with her and instantly became smitten and soon the Empress herself had the mothers of these young men asking her who you were and what family you were from and tried to get all the information they could get about you before they reported this information to their families, especially their sons who were betrothed to lesser ladies as you in turn asked Ester about the families in question as she told you all she knew that she was able to find out by talking with her fiance. 

When Ester’s attention was pulled elsewhere by the Empress, you went to the punch bowl to get more punch and a macaron from the dessert table before you found yourself instantly surrounded by hopeful Zarcadian suitors and you couldn’t help but feel like a sheep surrounded by a pack of wolves. 

“My Lady, your jewels are magnificent.” One complimented with a flattering smile with a glint in his eyes that you recognized in the eyes of wolves from watching them try to hunt your flocks and herds. 

“My Lady you are a great beauty.” Another added who looked at you like you were a fine pearl he was appraising that he was looking to put in his crown.  

“My Lady, your dress is exquisite,” A third chimed in who stared at your cleavage like a hungry nursing babe. 

“Would you like to dance?” A fourth, seemed to come to your rescue as he offered his hand with kindness in his eyes before you quickly put your hand in his, giving the others a polite smile as he pulled you out of kill circle and led you to the dancefloor. 

You however were still on the defensive as you tried to politely study your new dance partner. 

“What?” He asked, his amusement practically glittering in his eyes and dancing on his features. 

“Is there something on my face?” He asked and for some reason, you blushed as you couldn’t help but smile because he was rather ridiculously handsome. You recognized him. He was the younger brother of Ester’s groom Xander. Surely he could be dancing with any other woman here at the feast. But yet he chose to ask you. Odd. 

“Nothing more than the usual features.” You answered dismissively.  

“That’s because you’re hogging all the extraordinary ones.” He grinned and your eyebrows rose in surprise as your smile grew as you quickly tried to think of a way to turn his words against him. You would know he was Zarcadian even if you didn’t recognize him by the way he dressed in dragon silk, something dragoners dressed exclusively in and was twenty times as expensive as the finest silk but yet it was died and spun in such a way that it mirrored your own dress, like he had somehow knew what you were going to be wearing and dressed himself to match. You mused you looked like a couple to the common observer. Coincidence surely. 

“Isn’t ‘extraordinary features’ a term polite company uses to flatter the ugly?” You returned and he laughed, showing off his bright white teeth and genuine if not charming smile. 

“Only the beautiful swans who still think they’re ugly ducklings would think such things.” He replied and you had to admit he was at least quick and as witty as he was handsome as you playfully narrowed your eyes but you couldn’t wipe the smile from your face no matter how hard you tried as your cheeks blushed harder. 

“Swans and hens eat the same to wolves and foxes alike.” You bantered and he looked like he could kiss you as he simply beamed proudly at you. 

“But do not the eagles feast on the wolves and hunt the foxes?” He pointed out. 

“They do, only because they can fly faster than the persistent wolves can run and outsmart the cunning foxes, otherwise even they could fall prey to such hunters if they’re outnumbered.” You agreed. 

“So what can a wolf do to prove that he’s not out to hunt the eagle?” He asked metephorically. 

“I’m not sure. Wolves have insatiable appetites and we are at a feast after all.” You noted as you nodded out to the former young men who were now trying to pray on your sisters and your cousins who quickly ducked behind their parents and aunts and uncles who readily told the potential dance partners to look for another dance partner before they left and tried to “hunt” among any and all other young women there. Others gladly becoming their pray for the evening. 

“Then let this wolf differentiate himself. My name is Zaq, from the family of Ceda of Zarcade.” He introduced himself as he continued to dance with you undeterred, his hold on you respectful but not possessive in the slightest which surprised you considering the others did the opposite as he confidently took the lead and moved you all around the dancefloor with masterful precision and you found yourself easily following his lead. 

“And this eagle is Anya of the family Unasta of Suter.” You returned. 

“A golden eagle at that.” He appraised and you were instantly flattered and could do nothing but agree to that sentiment. “Your mother is Jezya of the family Sudi, one of the greatest horse breeders of the last century and your father is Leo Unasta, a horse trainer but yet that is not what you want for yourself.” He deduced. 

“Oh? And what would that be?” You asked curiously before he leaned forward, looking like he wanted to share a great secret which urged you to lean in too, turning your head to the side and tilting your ear towards his mouth so that he could whisper what he wanted into your ear. 

“You want to be a dragoner.” He whispered as you felt every hair on your body stand on end and now that he was so close- you could smell the smoke from dragon’s fire on him in addition to his cologne and his personal scent which you found intoxicating and could appreciate the dragon scales sewn into this dragon silk and the way they shifted beautifully in the light in the fabric on his shoulder. 

What made Zarcade- well- Zarcade- was that they had dragons and were dragoners and possessed the same magic their dragon’s possessed who lived at the top of all the mountains surrounding Zarcade, where massive dragon’s nesting sites were. Dragons loved to nest in the caves and hang out on the tops of the great houses and eventually over time- all the noble and royal families tamed and now bred the dragons the way your family did to other livestock. But only Zarcadians however could own dragons. They bought all the livestock from all over to feed themselves and their dragons who in turn defended the nation for them and why Zarcade had never been defeated or sieged. 

“What makes you an eagle, is that you want to be free to fly. Which is a sentiment I wholly understand because I am no wolf, I’m a dragon myself.” He continued to whisper in your ear his face gently nuzzled with yours so that your eyes fluttered closed, his hand coming to rest on the small of your back as he gently held you closer, your arm reached up and laid over his shoulder, your hand resting over the base of his neck so that your chest practically pressed up against his so that your hearts practically beat next to each other and you felt your heart leap for joy in your chest and go out to his before the song ended and he pulled away and damn your body, you found yourself leaning towards him like there was a giant magnet inside yourself being attracted to him, wanting to reestablish the closeness as you looked up at him in awed wonder. And for the first time, you didn’t see a Zarcadian- you saw him. You saw Zaq and when you looked in his eyes it was like you could see his soul as he could see yours. And he was beautiful inside and out and suddenly you were the one instantly smitten. 

“Who told you such a thing?” You whispered curiously, afraid to even breathe such words too loud for fear anyone else would hear you. 

“No one had to, your whole life, you try to pet every dragon you see, which they all seem to let you do- especially the ones who are lucky enough to land at your estate to pick up whatever the other Zarcadiens buy from you, they let you pet their faces and put your forehead to theirs and you feel connected to them, like you are destined to have them yourself some day. Plus you keep staring at our dragon silk and scales and you watched as all of us arrive on our dragons and watched us like the eagle you are before you went to the dragon’s stables and pet even those, recognizing the dragons before you recognized the riders.” He smiled proudly before he took the dragon tooth dagger from his waist and presented it to you- in it’s dragon leather sheath. 

“A gift- from one soarer to another, may the winds be kind to you and lead you to where you need to go.” He smiled before you took it from him and looked at him, wondering what he was going to ask from you for you to keep it but all he did was kiss your hand as he bowed respectfully which prompted you to bow in turn before he righted himself, smiled adoringly at you again before he turned away, leaving you to walk a few steps after him before you stopped yourself from following him further before you just stood there- dumbfounded, your cheeks and your ears burning and your soul on fire and your heart yearning and the hand that he had kissed felt like it had just gotten blessed as you were holding this oh so precious possession before you clutched it to your chest possessively before you turned to walk back to your family since Ester was now talking with her fiance and the Empress about the wedding details, before you casted a curious look over your shoulder at Zaq who was now talking with other members of his own family, in particular his grandmother and mother and holding a young niece in his arms as she rested her head on his shoulder as he was swaying in place to try to get her to sleep despite all the noise of the feasters, who was already half asleep as he rubbed soothing circles into her back and had his back to you as you walked back to your mother who had watched the scene unfold curiously. 

“What just happened?” You whispered to her. 

“You just got given a gift,” she mused an amused smile on her face. 

“No, like, I know dragoners are...different, their culture is different than ours, what does this mean?” You asked as you held up the dagger for emphasis. 

“I don’t think it means anything,” she shook her head before you put the dagger away into your dress. 

You didn’t believe her, you felt in your bones that this was something special and you couldn’t not touch it the rest of the night as you just stared at him from across the hall, watching as he sat down and held his now sleeping niece in his arms and you could not stop yourself from thinking what a wonderful father he would be some day and not being able to take your eyes off of him, for fear if you did, you’d lose him in the crowd for the rest of the evening as he simply smiled at you as you smiled back at him and watched him like the eagle he referred to you as, fingering the handle of the dagger he gave you like it was your own worry stone, the lapis stone of the handle pressing into your palm and fitting your hand like it had been made for you rather than him. 

After the feast your family went to their rooms that were being shared with them at the palace, and you were surprised when you were given your own room, right next to Ester’s, expecting to share one with your sisters and cousins now that they were here, but all of your things were now in here and you weren’t going to argue about the arrangements. 

It was a grand room though and it came with a private balcony and once you changed out of your dress into your nightgown and robe, taking your hair down from it’s special arrangement so that it fell like a waterfall down your back and taking off your makeup and jewelry and put it away- you walked out onto the balcony, you saw the people of Zarcade flying their dragons in the moonlight, doing flips and turns and corkscrews and you had never been so jealous in your life! 

Suddenly a dragon swooped down in front of you from it’s perch on the roof of the palace directly above you which made you gasp and fall back onto the balcony as you stared at the magnificent dragon flying in place in front of you and on it’s back was none other Zaq wearing an outfit that was clearly more dragon scale armor over more dragon’s wool and if he had been looking handsome before, his looks could kill now as your body betrayed you and you suddenly felt even more heated than if you were standing in front of a furnace yet cold in that you wanted him to warm you up. 

“Sorry to scare you. I didn’t mean to, but I was starting to wonder if and when you’d come out here.” He smiled apologetically as his dragon landed delicately on your balcony and helped you up to your feet by nuzzling it’s head to you and letting you grab it’s horns so it could lift you up. “Wanna go for a ride?” He offered hopefully.

“I’m clearly not dressed for it.” You gestured to your robe over your nightgown before you self consciously crossed your arms over your bosom so he wouldn’t see your nipples try to poke their way through both garments since you could sense they were hard enough to cut through glass right now. 

“Then put this on.” He gently tossed a dragon’s wool cloak at you from it’s spot tied behind him as you caught it and inspected it in the bright moonlight and it was the most amazing beautiful cloak you had ever seen in your life. God damn it. 

“Damn it.” you cursed yourself under your breath before you put it on and noticed it fit you like it was made for you and you were instantly comfortable before you pet the dragon he was on, happily petting the delicate scales on its face as it closed its eyes in serenity before you pressed your forehead to it’s forehead happily before the dragon turned and laid down, so you could get in the dragon’s saddle as you got behind Zaq and held onto him as you put your slippered feet into the stirrups before there was a belt attached to the back of the saddle that he had you put on that clipped into the saddle and his own special harness he was wearing so it would keep you in the saddle no matter at what angle the dragon would fly at. 

“Ready?” Zaq asked once you got settled as you were amazed that this saddle was practically made for your bountiful behind and was ridiculously comfortable.  

“As I’ll ever be.” You nodded as you felt your excitement rise before the dragon leaped from the balcony and flew away and it was better than any horseback ride you had ever had in your life and watching the ground below you shrink but yet the sky grow larger so that you felt like the world around you was 90% sky. Not even in your dreams where you flew was it this amazing and magnificent. 

“Wow,” you breathed in awe as you looked around, feeling like at any moment you were going to run into the moon before Zaq did a dive, which made you squeal and laugh in delight as you held him tighter as the other dragoners laughed and giggled before you peeked out and saw Ester riding next to you behind her groom as she waived and smiled at you which made you smile and nod back, not trusting that you wouldn’t fall right off if you let Zaq go. 

You lost track of how long you flew with Zaq for - but soon your sleepiness won out and when that happened, you didn’t even need to say anything- Zaq flew you back to your room, the dragon delicately maneuvering to land gently on your balcony again before Zaq unclipped himself and you from the saddle and carried you back into your room, since your limbs were exhausted from holding onto him and the dragon all night before he tucked you into bed. 

“Here,” you tried to sit up and take the cloak off but couldn’t even get that far, your hands blindly reaching for the waist of the cloak. 

“No, keep it. Another gift.” He insisted as he stilled your hands but held them, his hands surprisingly warm, a perfect mix of calloused from work but yet soft as his thumbs gently if not reverently stroked the back of your hands. 

“Why?” You asked sleepily.

“Because I want you to have it.” He answered simply. 

“Oh,” you nodded, your eyelids growing heavier and heavier now that you were in bed but your soul felt weightless as your heart soared with happiness. “Thank you for everything, I had so much fun...flying free.” You managed to say with a broad dreamy if not sleepy smile. 

“My pleasure Eagle, get some sleep.” Zaq urged before you did as you were told, your eyes closing and not opening again as your breathing slowed down before Zaq leaned down and kissed your forehead before he tucked you in with even more care and practically skipped out of the room and got back on his dragon, flying victory loops before going to his own room. 

His own mind, heart and soul were still soaring cloud high as he laid in bed, staring up at the ceilings as his hands fidgeted with the blanket over him. His great grandmother had been right on all accounts! You were The Eagle, The Eagle of Unasta! The family that appeared to be impossible for any Zarcadian to join for a reason that escaped them all, but if that wasn’t enough you were His Golden Eagle, he knew it in every fiber in his being and there was no mistaking it, your hair and a golden eagle’s feathers were the same exact colors. Your bright eagle eyes that saw and caught everything, missing nothing and that impressed him. You had a natural affinity for dragons. You instinctively tried to bond with every single one you met and you didn’t even know it and the fact that you said the exact words- fly free- meant everything. And once you had entered the feast, he couldn’t take his eyes off of you if he tried and after his dance with you- you didn’t take your eyes off each other and he could feel through his own enchanted lapis handled dagger that you were trying to figure him out, trying to figure everything out because your mind was sharper than any eagle’s beak or talons and it had pleased him so well that you looked at him with his niece and saw the kind of father he hoped to be someday. To dance with you was a rare honor, and you fit against him like your bodies were made for each other and he couldn’t get over your hourglass like curves and you were already so strong from riding horses all your life, you were a natural and to feel your body pressed up against his was sweet torture. That and his dragon loved and adored you, that in itself should have been all the vetting and approval he needed and you had set up such a strong connection to her too, so that when you felt sleepy, she sensed it and gave that sense to him so that you didn’t have to say a word. It would be nearly impossible for him to keep his distance from you now. He was so beyond smitten, he was falling head over heels in love with you already, heaven help him. 

[fall2017ugc111]

Rome- Republic vs Empire notes

- 509 BCE to 100CE. - Key themes: Roman ID -> special to them and importance of republic. - Participating in Roman ID (esp. for women) + looking at diversity and agency outside of political sphere. - Roman republic -> empire -> living in the empire. - Republic: representative democracy -> elect officials to represent you. Usually homogenous group of ppl. -> eg. Same lang and culture. - Empire: Absolute authority for 1 individual. Usually formed via conquest (sometimes by alliance). Usually takes up large amt of territory. - 509 BCE to 44 BCE: The republic: - Transition to empire is gradual. - Rome started as a small city of Latin ppl abt 750 BCE. - Abt same time Assyrian conquered Israel and China is in warring state. - Ruled by foreign power initially called Etruscan kings, ruling from 650 to 509 BCE. - Ruled via kingship. - Abt 509 BCE, romans overthrew the last king and transitioned to Republic. - This became the heart and soul of Roman ID. - Key value: balance of power. - 2 forms: btw 2 major classes in their society -> patricians (3 part names) and plebeians (2 part names). - Roman classes based on bloodline. - Patrician -> can be senate and have political rep. Usually men. Can be wealthy or not. - Abt 400 BCE, plebeians get rep politically. - Ideal -> all involved in governance. - Maintained the senate and assembly for over 400 yrs. - Ppl of rome can be elected to the assembly. - Collective physiology -> deeply afraid of possibility of kingship. - They started conquering others almost immediately after overthrowing old kings -> always at war. - Not typical for republics. - Conquered majority of places before considering themselves as an empire. - But why conquer? - 1) “Defensive Conquest” -> conquer others before they conquer them. - Tied to military -> to serve in military, you must own land coz if you do you have a stake and you will fight well. - But commoners did not own much land. - So, they suggest giving land -> recruit ppl by promising land. - Created a feedback loop -> recruit ppl -> need more land -> conquest -> new boarders -> recruit ppl. - As Rome expanded, they needed ppl to look after the land so created provincial governors. - Provincial governors -> like kings in own territories. - Easy to gain personal loyalty from soldiers -> no need to listen to republic. - Infamous generals who did that: Marius, Sulla and Caesar -> turned around and conquered their own city. - Julius Caesar -> last nail in the coffin for the republic -> 100 to 44 BCE. - His actions and appointment as dictator for life -> resulted in his assassination. - Previously called Octavian but changed his name. - Augustus -> baby on leg considered a genie (divine right and inspiration to rule). - Means “the great one”. - Was in power mostly coz of Caesar’s will. - Caesar’s will was read in public and his wealth was divided as ifts to public, also to his soldiers. - In his death, controlled 17 legions of army vs Senate which had 12. - Proclaimed that he was the first citizen of the state -> gets to speak first in senate meetings. - Usually given to senior and older senates members. - Put under the guise of republic while Augustus actually holds great power. - Romans are deeply religious ppl. - THE HISTORIES (LIVY): - Themes: praise, condemnations, Rome as a city/state is described as? Possible perceptions? - City founded by slaves, outlaws and men so there was no women in the foundation of Rome. - When Rome was ruled by foreign kings -> considered a golden age by historians as they engaged in trade and was stable and wealthy. - Last few kings were very unstable and horrible. - Romans however, consider this a darker day of their history. - Initially took place in variety of city state. - In the city of Alba, near Rome. - Livy praises: - Para 3: As they were twins and no claim to precedence could be based on seniority, they decided to consult the tutelary deities of the place by means of augury  as to who was to give his name to the new city, and who was to rule it after it had been founded. - Praised the idea of finding divine judgement instead of own choice. - Also praised collective equality. - 4: Praise self-reliance and independence. - 9: Shows what self-reliance and divine help can get you. - 7: Praise citizen’s support of Romulus by giving personal resources -> duty as a citizen. - 3: praises humble beginnings -> started from the bottom and ended up great idea. - Livy condemns: - 13 and 14: Gives perspective of pelsavines NOT romans. - Roman’s actions were condemned. - Also for condemning of intermarriage btw romans and neighbours by neighbours-> seems insulted by this. - 3: Also condemned kingship by foreign king -> “cruelty”. - Threatened by children and also romans perception of king. - Roles of fate and the gods: - Thinks Rome is great coz of divine help. - God and fate is related. - Not a go to god for everything -> deities seem to be more distant. - Fate = divine. - Similar to Chinese and their ancestors -> augury -> read via animal entrails vs bones for Chinese. - Courage and self-reliance seem to go with divine intervention all the time -> tied together. - Rome created by both ppl and gods. - Seems that ppl who are self-reliant and have courage earns divine intervention. - Bad things -> more of human failure. - Good things -> they did well even as humans so earned divine favour. - Rome (city and state) is described as and perceived as…?: - Describes the city as great and powerful with neighbours being amazed by them too for their rapid growth. - Despite fact that this was used to cheat their neighbours later. - Makes neighbours seem less impressive. - Why are women at peace after abduction? - Livy thinks the attractive argument -> honourable wedlock, property, civil rights and ability of mothers to free men and promise of affection from their husbands. - Also, Roman’s highly value relationships btw husbands and wives. - Livy believes that would led to females being appeased. - But rmb, Livy is a guy trying to look at a girl’s point of view. - For romans these are valuable things. - Best way to move from our gut reaction and better understand this text? - Acknowledge your own beliefs and see what Roman’s thought and believed -> balance the two out. - Look past action of Romans and see the intention (betterment of society). - Look at text as a whole. - Note: Empire is where trade happens. - Next reading: Pliny is a new governor and don’t know what to do with Christians. - Asked the emperor what to do and later condemned Christians for political reasons. - Other reading: Clement of Alexandria -> same as Hellenistic world lecture. - Is a religious leader. - Just after a period of persecution of Christians. - Can be a response to persecution. - Romulus and Remus: Fractricide, a cruel king, barbarism, omens and gods. - Cincinnatus -> Roman senator that became dictator to fight a war, previously a farmer and was half naked, other senators convince him to go to war and in 14 days he saves the city. - Best part: as soon as his work was done, he gives up his power. - Horatius at the bridge: he and his troops stay at the bridge that is the only access to the city, Horatius fought well, managed to escape and had the help of gods. - Is a legend and a myth. - Point of both: self-sacrifice for Rome. - Livy tells these stories to connect to readers and this was done during Rome’s transition to empire. - Living in Roman Empire as a young girl or as a woman? - Tells abt nurturing, childhood, daily life and family structure. - Married fairly early- shorter lifespan and not educated. - 15yo married = good wife coz have children. - Romans love women with domestic abilities – ie. Worked well with wool. - Sources not official for women -> headstone and graffiti. - City of Pompey -> much graffiti abt who slept with who. - But sources not often written by women themselves. - Roles depend on class and age -> women’s roles. - Upper class -> educated but not expected to work, lower class = occupation bt not educated. - Women worked as midwives -> shown by inscriptions showing women in birthing chair. - But unsanitary and midwives with birthing chair and helper considered well to do. - Sitting position -> gravity helps women give birth better. - Midwives -> must be literate, soft hands, good memory, charge fairly, etc. - As orators -> women speaking in public. - Hortensia -> daughter of famous Roman politician. - She stormed the Roman capital to give a piece of her mind to the increase in taxes. - Says that they have to pay taxes but were not given power, fame or anything else in compensation. - Only possible for women in higher class like she is. - *** - A Christian in the Roman Empire: - Christianity development in Roman empire. - Context: Roman empire (primary), Judaism and Hellenistic world. - Note: Hellenistic world still playing a role but not explicitly. - Roman empire: - Like Persia -> practices religious tolerance ( as long as you offer sacrifices to the emperor) -> but Jews allowed to pay taxes instead coz they practice monotheism. - Like Greece -> appreciate spread of knowledge and are intellectual ppl. - Distinct to Rome: Citizenship rights as a reward for good behaviour -> offer full citizenship rights to anyone who plays well into the empire. Eg. If they conquer you and you do not fight back, you can be a citizen -> can run for political positions, full legal rights and protection under laws, etc. - Jewish ppl do not get citizenship coz Judea was a pain in the butt for the Romans. - Jewish hated being conquered and it took abt 100 years before they were fully conquered. - There was periodic revolts and was ultimately unsuccessful. - Romans became really hard on Jews as a result. - Jews are angry over being occupied but Romans did bring great things to the places they conquer -> eg Education, wine, medication, water supply, etc. - Jesus -> is a Jewish teacher/ rabbi who was concerned with the 600+ laws, born in Judea, is concerned with proper worship and rituals and how to perform them. Also has multiple accounts of miracles and died in 20 CE by Roman crucification. - Was considered a political threat to the Roman empire -> seen as a charismatic leader. - After his death: stories that he is resurrected circulated initially by female followers only, they met in secret, had secret meetings, sacred meals -> as Jesus still considered political prisoners. - Took up tendencies of Hellenistic world more than Jews. - Romans see religion as civic or private. - See religion as having 2 pieces -> public facing and private facing. - Christians only do private facing -> so Romans very worried. - Vs Judaism was organized and the Jewish leaders had worked it out well with the Romans via bargains. - Even Jews had a public (civic) face but Christians did not. - Plus, Christians were not big enough (or old enough) to do bargaining. Not as organized as well. - Most ppl are polythetic so one more “god” does not matter but Christians are monotheistic so they do not do sacrifices. - No sacrifice = wishing the emperor is dead/ ill. - For civic: - pietas - reverence for things that deserve reverence -> roman word that applies to civic religion -> apply to emperor, participation in public faces. - Sacrifices to the Emperor - Attendance of public feasts & religious festivals - Roman Religion: Private - Hellenistic Mystery Cults - Secret, ceremonial, gradual initiation - Most popular: Mithras. Originally an Indian deity and is a sun god. - Followers are baptised into a cult and also had a resurrection story. - Romans had great issues with Christianity. - Due to… romans being suspicious about mystery cults in general. - Early sources of Christians was that they were participating in incestuous orgies and eating babies. - Also feared rebellion in Judea due to previous conflicts. - Primary issue: did not want to sacrifice to empire -> seen as political rebellion. - Resulted in sporadic persecutions until 313 CE -> Romans never went about to wipe out Christians. - Tacitus -> Text: Germania. - He roughly concurrent with Pliny and Alexandria. - Grew up in roman empire as a whole but not in Rome (travelled there though). - Took up almost all political positions available. - Also, friend of Pliny the younger. - Text was in his midlife and Rome has not conquered the territory he talks about. - Tries to make sense of who these ppl are -> ethnographic piece. Who they are and how they fit to Rome. - A technical writer -> interesting details in text. - Pliny: - Concerns? -> abt rate of spread of Christianity and the future impact (temples are abandoned). - Also, of the undermining of traditional roman religion. - Seems confused on what to do with them and slightly sympathetic (gives reason for torture). - Expected something worse but just found superstitions he did not agree to. - Avoid condemning them wholeheartedly. - Also describes as a Christianity as a contagion (disease) -> looks down on Christianity. - Methods of judgement in terms of fairness? -> Seems so, just give a sacrifice and you are spared. - But can be hypocritic since Christians are monotheistic -> but must sacrifice instead of give money and considering Romans are supposed to be okay with religion, religious tolerance does not seem to exist. - Follows good roman procedures in general. - Also, unsure if he should take anonymous tips -> but was told not to or false accusations can happen. - Pliny acts with Roman tendencies and persecutes minorities legally. - What are some of the ways we overlook persecution in the modern day, even id it is legal? - Alexandria: - Similar to letters Paul wrote to church. - Paul is famous for writing letters of advice in earlier times of 1st century. - Similarity and differences -> tone is the same, period of uncertainty so there was an idea of comfort/ reassurance in the letters. - Alexandria has a godly figure in his letters -> god will take care of everything and text is orientated towards god. - Bhagavad-Gītā -> does orient towards divinity too. - Basically, let go of everything for the faith you belief in. - Genesis and Alexandria -> both faced persecution but in G. the rewards are explicit but Alexandria talks about reactions instead. - Epictetus and Clement was around the same time as each other. - Alexandria -> promises more abstract and very vague (delayed gratification), ask a lot more than other religion -> VS other religions with explicit rewards that are almost always immediate. - Clement advises his readers to lay low -> don’t call attention yourself during persecution. - Gives practical advise on how to avoid persecution by Romans. - *** - Christianity later became a major religion in Rome and in the tribes that caused the fall of rome. - Conversion of Constantine: - Roman emperor that ruled later converted to Christianity. - Was a gradual acceptance as his mother and advisors became Christians. - Legend battle of the Milvian bridge -> forces are out numbered and goes to sleep in desperation and despair, later wakes and finds under this sign you will conquer (a cross) and he did. - 313 CE. - His convergence meant Christians were accepted and made official in the empire. - But also raises qns of exact beliefs and codes -> need to codify way of thought and doing. - These debates continued for a long time. - Paul -> first Christian to move out of Judaism and tried to include gentiles (outsiders) in the mix. - Some issues -> they are not circumcised, etc. - Reached peak in 323 CE in counsel of Nicaea -> what are the correct beliefs for Christianity. - Constantine was heavily involved as he was the emperor. - Major concern: orthodoxy (means right beliefs) -> major difference -> prioritizes beliefs over actions (compared to other religions). - Prioritizes your internal life and your beliefs -> are they right? - What to do with Jesus? - He is divine in some way but what does it mean for him to be god? - Debates if he is fully god, fully human or both. - Later decided he was both. - He was fully god but incarnated into fully human. - After defining right beliefs define wrong beliefs -> Heresies. - Some disagreements like… - Arians -> He is not as fully god as the father, Headed north and went to Germania. - Monophysites  -> he is more god. - Gnostics -> he is more a spirit. - Were all kicked out of the church. - But they don’t think they are wrong, they still belief they are right. - Also developed the trinity -> three persons, one god. Three persons inherent in this one god -> the father, the son and the holy spirit. - Religion that makes them comfortable with mystery in their belief -> philosophical vs beliefs -> similar to Daodejing. - These heresies had a life outside Rome and headed to other countries. Later returned. - 313 BCE -> primary religion of Rome is Christianity. - Became the major religion in successor states after Rome fell. - Key: idea of continuity and change. - Rome fell -> but in some ways, it also transformed. - Germanic tribes took over western rome. - Divisions in Rome -> 1st is btw 2 political hubs of empire. - Roman emperor believes that the empire is too large to rule over so he divided it into 2. - Both parts stayed majority Christians. - Eastern roman empire vs Western roman empire. - Govern by different political centres. - Took different trajectories and collapse at different times. - Eastern side fell at 1453 CE, much late than the other half. - Eastern half -> benefited from trade routes and was a lot wealthier. - Western half had to delegate trade to them. - The wealth allowed them to pay the Germanic tribes to not attack them. - Some Germanic tribes remain unconquered by Rome. - Division btw Western and Eastern Church: - W. Rome: Pope, homoisios, called themselves the catholic church (universal church). - E. Rome: Patriarch, homousios, called themselves the orthodox church (right belief church). - Arians -> went and seek converts in German territories. Became very successful and most of the tribes converted. - Fall of Rome: last roman emperor Romulus Augustus (nickname: little Augustus). - 476 CE Germanic tribes took over the city and kicked him out of the city and he went on to live with the Eastern roman empire. - Warlord: Odoacer -> named changed as he thinks himself as Roman. - Romans have no clue who the Germanic tribes are. - Just name them as eastern and western goths. Ie. Visigoths and Ostrogoths. - Can recognize a common structure of their leadership -> a comitatus (war band) -> primarily, the leader/ chief is the one to divide the spoils of war while the warriors have to act as advisors and loyal supporters. - Germans look at webs of loyalty or enmity -> blood feuds in Germanic tribes for several generations is possible. Tribes/ families are at war with each other. - Similarly, alliance is very strong btw families and personal ties matter a lot -> will run on for several generations. - Roman boarders with Germans will always be very unstable -> conquered Germans are paid well and have some rights and benefits, they are official allies. - They serve as border guards against other German tribes -> motivated by money. - Readings: - Thomas -> Germans hold up the leadership of Rome and that created medieval Iraq. - Is a francisian firar -> an insider and a member of the religious order. - Written same year that Francisis is made a saint. - Is very literal, not all crazy (although he talks to animals). - Very dedicated to his religion. - Establish a new form of monastic life -> life of a monk. - He transformed it from a secluded thing to a urban thing. - Mendicant order = strict vows of poverty, often on the move, primarily urban.