#Five land shore excursions

[tinypurplewizardfan]

(Okay okay okay this post is ANCIENT and has been sitting in my drafts for a year or two at this point, so I figured I should probably post it-)

Stuck with certified Veigar(TM) brain and this fanfic idea won't leave me. If I was ever to write one of those 100,000 word epics that become famous in the fandom, it would be this:

Mordekaiser has returned. The Shadow Isles fell swiftly, unified for the first time under his iron fist. Now the islands serve as the base with which to conquer the rest of Runeterra. The forces of the dead swarm in the waves that roll up to the shores of Noxus. His army makes a beeline towards the Immortal Bastion. Noxus, severely overextended, fighting multiple expansionist fronts, is starting to crumble. Demacia nervously builds it own forces but is unwilling to so quickly ally with its longtime rival, and the Freljord is too wrapped up in its own struggles to intervene. Piltover and Zaun are overrun with refugees attempting to cross the sea and flee Valoran. The world holds its breath.

And in the far-off town of Boleham, a dark mage plans a one-yordle siege deep into the heart of the Shadow Isles.

The plan is simple- no really, it is simple. First he needs Rabadon's Deathcap, the most powerful magic-enhancing artifact in all Runeterra, from its cozy spot deep within the Demacian Vaults. Then he'll need Everfrost, the famous staff of true ice wielded by the defenders of the Frostguard Citadel. Next up are the Ionian boot of Lucidity, which shouldn't be too hard to steal from Ionia's most holy site, then after that swing around and pilfer a Void Staff from some poor archeologist in either Piltover or Zaun, and then lastly, a Morrelinomicon from a Noxian war mage on the way.

And then after that, he'll march up to the Immortal Bastion, flick aside the petty forces that try to stop him and then kill Mordekaiser!

And so Veigar heads off on his world-spanning quest- and he finds he vastly overestimated how difficult this trek would be. He gets caught by authorities in every heist, but as he heralds his plan to ace Mordekaiser, something strange happens. . .

The attack on Demacia's magic-sealing vaults? Throws the kingdom into enough fear and chaos that they finally overcome their inertia and begin to fight back against Mordekaiser's expansion.

The excursion into the heart of the Frostguard Citadel? Wakes up the Freljordians to what's happening to the rest of Valoran and finally gives the tribes a common enemy to fight.

The 'pilgrimage' to Ionia? Makes the magical masters realize that Mordekaiser's rule would be much worse than whatever Swain had in store for their lands.

Piltover and Zaun? Well he gets distracted by discovering Hextech, and causes the Hextech inventors to realize they can use their technology for good.

Snagging a Morrelinomicon from the remaining Noxian forces? Oops, he accidentally rallies the displaced forces to join him on his final raid of the Immortal Bastion.

So because of Veigar's shenanigans, all five major powers in Valoran/Valoran adjacent join forces in an epic showdown against Mordekaiser's rule. As everyone shows up and allies up, they all ask each other, "what brought you here to fight?"

And they're aghast to find out they all followed the same little purple wizard bastard.

[goldentrips556]

Discovering Adventure and Beauty: Tanzania Travel Packages

Tanzania, located in East Africa, is a land of diverse landscapes, rich wildlife, and vibrant cultures, making it a dream destination for adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. For those looking to explore this captivating country, Tanzania travel packages offer an ideal way to experience the best of what Tanzania has to offer.

At the heart of many Tanzania travel packages lies the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak and a bucket-list destination for avid trekkers. With specialized Kilimanjaro tour packages, adventurers can embark on the journey of a lifetime, summiting this majestic mountain and basking in the awe-inspiring views from its summit. Experienced guides lead trekkers along various routes, each offering unique challenges and breathtaking scenery, ensuring a safe and unforgettable ascent of Kilimanjaro.

Beyond the towering peak of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania travel packages also encompass a wealth of other attractions and experiences. From the vast savannahs of the Serengeti National Park, where the Great Migration unfolds in a spectacle of wildlife drama, to the pristine shores of Zanzibar, with its turquoise waters and spice-scented streets, Tanzania offers a diverse array of adventures waiting to be discovered.

For wildlife enthusiasts, Tanzania travel packages often include safari excursions to renowned national parks such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire, where travelers can witness the Big Five and a plethora of other fascinating species in their natural habitats. Whether embarking on game drives, bush walks, or hot air balloon safaris, every moment promises a thrilling encounter with Africa's untamed wilderness.

Cultural immersion is also an integral part of Tanzania travel packages, with opportunities to visit Maasai villages, learn about traditional tribal customs, and participate in community projects aimed at supporting local communities. By engaging with Tanzania's diverse cultures, travelers gain a deeper appreciation for the country's heritage and traditions, forging meaningful connections along the way.

Whether you're seeking adventure, wildlife encounters, cultural experiences, or simply relaxation amidst stunning natural beauty, Tanzania travel packages offer a comprehensive and hassle-free way to explore this extraordinary destination. With expertly crafted itineraries, experienced guides, and seamless logistics, travelers can embark on a journey of discovery and wonder, creating memories to last a lifetime in the enchanting landscapes of Tanzania.

[kenyaluxurysafariofficial]

All-Inclusive Kenya Unveiled

Have you ever dreamed of a vacation that seamlessly combines adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration? Look no further than the enchanting destination of Kenya! In this blog post, we will delve into the wonders of an "All-Inclusive Kenya" experience, where every aspect of your journey is crafted to perfection. Get ready to embark on a journey filled with wildlife wonders, pristine beaches, and vibrant local culture, all wrapped up in the warm embrace of Kenyan hospitality.

The Allure of All-Inclusive Kenya

Kenya, a land of breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems, has emerged as a haven for travelers seeking an all-encompassing experience. The concept of "All-Inclusive Kenya" goes beyond the mere convenience of bundled packages; it encapsulates a philosophy that aims to cater to every facet of your travel desires.

Wildlife Safari Extravaganza

No visit to Kenya is complete without a thrilling safari adventure, and an all-inclusive package ensures you get the most out of this iconic experience. Picture yourself cruising through the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve, witnessing the Great Migration, and capturing the untamed beauty of Africa's Big Five – lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos.

These safari excursions, guided by seasoned experts, provide an immersive encounter with Kenya's rich biodiversity. As the sun sets over the savannah, enjoy a sundowner cocktail, surrounded by the symphony of the wild. With all-inclusive packages, your safari experience is not just a tour; it's a transformative journey into the heart of nature.

Seaside Bliss in Mombasa

After the exhilaration of the safari, it's time to unwind along the pristine shores of Mombasa. All-inclusive resorts in this coastal paradise offer an oasis of relaxation, where azure waters meet golden sands. Imagine waking up to the sound of waves gently caressing the shore, with the promise of a day filled with sunshine and serenity.

Indulge in a plethora of water activities, from snorkeling in vibrant coral reefs to thrilling water sports. Your all-inclusive package ensures that you can savor the freshest seafood delicacies and exotic cocktails without worrying about additional costs. Mombasa's all-inclusive resorts aren't just accommodations; they are gateways to a coastal haven where luxury meets nature.

Cultural Immersion with Local Flavors

Kenya's allure extends beyond its natural wonders, and an all-inclusive experience invites you to explore the vibrant local culture. Engage with the Maasai people, known for their colorful attire and rich traditions. Witness traditional dances, participate in beadwork workshops, and gain insights into the community's deep connection with the land.

The culinary journey is equally captivating, with all-inclusive packages offering a gastronomic adventure. Savor authentic Kenyan dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients, and let your taste buds dance to the rhythm of Swahili flavors. From street food delights to fine dining experiences, your culinary exploration is seamlessly woven into the fabric of your all-inclusive Kenya adventure.

The Essence of Kenyan Hospitality

What sets an "All-Inclusive Kenya" experience apart is the warm embrace of Kenyan hospitality. Beyond the luxurious amenities and curated activities, it's the genuine smiles and welcoming spirit that make your journey truly memorable. The staff at all-inclusive resorts are dedicated to ensuring your comfort and satisfaction, creating an atmosphere where you feel not just like a guest, but like a cherished friend.

Practical Benefits of All-Inclusive Packages

Besides the immersive experiences, all-inclusive packages offer practical benefits that enhance your travel comfort. Say goodbye to the stress of budgeting for meals, activities, and unexpected expenses. With everything prearranged, you can focus on enjoying the moment, creating lasting memories without the worry of hidden costs.

In addition, all-inclusive packages often include airport transfers, making your journey from arrival to departure seamless and stress-free. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple on a romantic getaway, or a family seeking adventure, the convenience of all-inclusive arrangements ensures that everyone can relish their Kenya experience to the fullest.

Conclusion

In the heart of Africa, where the savannah meets the sea, an all-inclusive Kenya experience awaits. It's a journey that transcends the ordinary, where each moment is a brushstroke on the canvas of your memories. From the majestic wildlife of the Maasai Mara to the tranquil beaches of Mombasa and the vibrant culture that weaves through the fabric of Kenya, every element is seamlessly integrated into the allure of "All-Inclusive Kenya."

So, pack your sense of adventure and let the magic of Kenya unfold before you. Embrace the warmth of the people, the thrill of the safari, and the serenity of the coast – all in one extraordinary package. Your all-inclusive Kenya dream is not just a vacation; it's a celebration of life, nature, and the boundless wonders that make Kenya a truly exceptional destination.

[rajatravels]

Rameshwaram tours and travels

Welcome to Rameshwaram Tours and Travels - Your Gateway to Unforgettable Journeys! 🌟

Experience Rameshwaram's Wonders with Us!

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey to the sacred realm of Rameshwaram? Look no further! Rameshwaram Tours and Travels is your trusted travel partner, committed to curating exceptional travel experiences that immerse you in the spiritual and natural beauty of this divine destination.

📌 About Us: Nestled in the heart of Rameshwaram, Rameshwaram Tours and Travels has been serving travelers and pilgrims with passion and dedication since [year]. Our team of expert guides and travel enthusiasts is dedicated to making your visit to Rameshwaram truly memorable.

🏖️ Explore Rameshwaram's Marvels: Our thoughtfully crafted itineraries promise an enriching journey:

🔹 Spiritual Awakening: Immerse yourself in the divine aura of the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple, take a purifying dip in the holy waters of Agnitheertham, and seek blessings at the Five-Faced Hanuman Temple.

🔹 Serenity by the Shores: Relax and rejuvenate at the tranquil Dhanushkodi Beach and Ariyaman Beach, where the soft sands meet the azure waters.

🔹 Historical Marvels: Uncover the mysteries of Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu) and take in breathtaking panoramic views from Gandhamadhana Parvatham.

🔹 Adventure Awaits: For the adventurous at heart, we offer thrilling water sports, invigorating trekking excursions, and captivating wildlife tours.

🚗 Why Choose Rameshwaram Tours and Travels? Selecting us ensures a remarkable and seamless journey:

✅ Local Expertise: Our experienced guides are locals who possess an intimate understanding of Rameshwaram's culture and spiritual significance.

✅ Tailor-Made Experiences: We understand your preferences and craft personalized itineraries to match your interests, schedule, and budget.

✅ Comfort & Safety: Your safety is paramount. We provide well-maintained vehicles and adhere to strict safety measures.

✅ Transparent Pricing: No hidden costs or surprises. We believe in transparent pricing and delivering exceptional value.

✅ Exceptional Customer Service: Your satisfaction is our priority. Expect prompt responses and attentive service from our team.

🌟 Contact Us Now! Begin your spiritual and natural journey in Rameshwaram with Rameshwaram Tours and Travels. Connect with us for:

📍 Location: [Your Address]

📞 Phone: [Your Contact Number]

📧 Email: [Your Email Address]

🌐 Website: [Your Website URL]

📱 Follow us on Social Media: [Add links to your social media profiles]

Let Rameshwaram Tours and Travels be your guide to exploring the wonders of this sacred land. Embark on a journey of a lifetime with us and create cherished memories in the divine realm of Rameshwaram!

[johnjankovic1]

Ulysses

Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars. Carl Sagan, Cosmos, 1980

In the prologue to the Apollo moonshot the mastery of spacewalks, rendezvous, docking, long-duration flights, reentry and precision landing had to be mastered first by the workhorse of the Gemini Project. The practical application of theoretical physics cultivated by a series of tutorials was the risk mitigation needed to thread the needle of docking in orbit and to walk atop the lunar surface for the Apollo excursion. Over twenty months as each new mission’s complexity became more edifying than the last NASA laid the groundwork for this big exploit. Rendezvous entailed station-keeping and docking between two craft in a zero-G environment. The moonwalk although etched in civilization’s hagiography with the iconic images of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin cavorting about on the Moon would only materialize after Gemini’s 12 hours and 25 minutes of spacewalks (Machell 1967). Multiple redundancies of backups were also exported into Apollo to eschew primary-system failures. In the gospel of engineering such failsafe devices are critical to isolate malfunctions that can cascade into catastrophe. Amidst the Gemini VIII mission a runaway thruster convulsed the vehicle into an uncontrollable spin until the last-minute Hail Mary pass by astronaut Armstrong arrested the rate of rotation. Learned mistakes then bolstered Apollo.

As the apotheosis of the space programme Washington’s industrial policy did not exercise any austerity for the successor to the Mercury and Gemini projects. In its Keynesian stimulus for a dash of Cold War bravado NASA mobilized over 20,000 industrial firms at the cost of $25.4b or $186b in real value (DiLisi et al. 2019). This fiscal demand mimicked the audacity of landing a man on the Moon versus splitting the atom in the Manhattan Project which was monetized at $2b or 34 billion in constant dollars. Nuclear fission at the Los Alamos Laboratory at its zenith saw a headcount of 130,000 personnel in a foil to the moonshot’s 400,000 (Huges 2003). Therefore in Apollo’s anatomy a bevy of august firms were conscripted into service for the three million working parts of the Saturn V rocket whose power could be analogized to the output of eighty-five Hoover Dams (Bilstein 1999). It was this crown jewel of the space programme dwarfing Mercury’s Redstone and Gemini’s Titan II that brought humanity to the Moon and back. Washington’s calculated use of public funds architected an entire industry from the ground up in the space race. Between the creation of the bureaucratic mechanism in the guise of NASA and pecuniary investments in R&D an Industrial Revolution was co-authored by state-driven capitalism and firms.

Apollo embodied the Everest of engineering across the gamut of rocketry, metallurgy, thermodynamics, aerodynamics and astrophysics to cement man’s presence onto the distant orb of the Moon. But success is not at all the default of industrial policy when bureaucracies are prone to beget sinkholes of profligate spending. Where Washington excelled was to marshal a uniformity of purpose for the high stakes of President Kennedy’s promise to plant America’s flag atop the Moon. A delegation of contracts solicited expertise from Boeing, Chrysler, Rocketdyne, North American Aviation’s Space and Information Systems Division (S&ID), Douglas Aircraft, IBM and Grumman. NASA’s Marshal Space Flight Centre in Alabama helmed by the feted von Braun and his retinue coordinated all these discrete nodes of operations. Boeing and Chrysler were tasked with integrating the five F-1 engines abreast of fuel tanks and avionics for the first stage of the Saturn V rocket. Rocketdyne designed those mainstay engines together with its J-2 variant. These smaller units were married to the upper stages whose in-flight restarts parked Apollo into earth’s orbit whereupon a second controlled burn pushed the craft into its Trans-Lunar Injection path. Reawakening an engine in the cold vacuum of space was fraught with complexity.

Within this leg of propelling astronauts beyond earth’s upper atmosphere it was S&ID that fitted the five J-2 powerplants to its second stage vehicle. These furnaces of thrust catapulted Apollo into orbit to await its manoeuvre towards the alien plains of the Moon. Inside the cylindrical hull fabricated from alloyed aluminum were vast reservoirs that cradled the propellants of liquid hydrogen and oxygen. Next to this coup of engineering would be the third stage manufactured by Douglas Aircraft whose import hinged on slingshotting the crew on its final approach to its mission objective. This smaller sibling of the Saturn V rocket innovated the bulkheads separating fuels with a substantial cut in mass for greater efficacy of operations when weight was at a premium. Right above this third stage sat IBM’s magnum opus. Wrapped around the circumference of the Saturn V there stood a three-foot high ring of digital computers and sensors in miniaturized form computing trajectories across the sky and into the sea of stars. Micro-adjustments in milliseconds remedied thrust deficits and directions across the battery of engines should one fail. Directly abutting the foregoing nerve centre of the Saturn V there nestled in the upper stages of the rocket was the Lunar Module under the stewardship of the Grumman Aircraft company.

This vehicle draped in Kapton foil since the want of an atmosphere fails to mediate extreme temperatures would descend upon the Moon’s regolith with a form factor resembling an arachnid. Outfitting the spacecraft with four spindly legs and an engine with modulated thrust ensured a soft landing on the alien world where the streamlined shapes of aerodynamics had no currency. Once ensconced on the surface courtesy of the vehicle’s throttleable velocity the second stage launched the explorers and their soil samples back out into space to rendezvous with the Command and Service Modules. Whilst each facet of the mission proved precocious the mission was greater than the sum of its parts. The alchemy of coordinating a phalanx of companies towards one end of landing a man on the Moon cannot be extolled enough. In this seminal act of innovation not only did a whole industry manifest from nothing but also America’s production shifted wholesale towards a knowledge economy. President Kennedy’s foresight to align industry and academia in colonizing the Moon became the verve and vim behind the boom in innovation that ushered in the era of postindustrialism. The return on investment would be a boon to technology in the crucible of Apollo as the brainchild of Washington’s industrial policy.

[auclubmed]

Experience Paradise: Unveiling Top Mauritius Resorts

If you're looking for guidance in deciding on a trip, you've come to the right place. Heaven on Earth can be found in the form of Mauritius and Maldives' five-star hotels. Amazing luxury hotels and stunning natural scenery await you at these breathtaking destinations. Mauritius's pristine shores and the Maldives' stunning scenery both promise unforgettable vacations. This is your chance to become an expert on Mauritius resorts and Maldives resorts, so buckle up! Get ready to be whisked away to a land of serenity, adventure, and delicious delicacies. Come with me on an island hopping tour with moi!

Discover Peace and Contentment on the Southern Coast of Mauritius

A haven of tranquility and prosperity can be found on the relatively undiscovered southeast coast of Mauritius. Those in need of some rest and relaxation to renew their spirits will find it in this secluded haven. With its pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and lush tropical surroundings, this location is the epitome of peace and quiet.

You can savor the sunrise more fully if you take a long walk down the beach or perform yoga poses on the sand. Feel your worries melt away as you partake in relaxing spa treatments that fuse traditional medicine with cutting-edge technology.

The dense jungles offer thrilling pathways for hikers, while the clear waters below are teeming with exotic aquatic life. Some of the most tranquil travelers flock to the unspoiled southeast coast of Mauritius.

Awaken your taste senses with delectable dishes prepared using local, seasonal ingredients. From the finest seafood to the robust spices of Mauritius, each dish is a unique culinary excursion.

If you're looking for a place to get away from it all and recharge your body and mind, look no further than the unspoiled southeast coast of Mauritius. This picture-perfect getaway is ideal for recharging the batteries and creating lifelong memories.

Having a sense of calm, excitement, and trying new foods

The pursuit of Joy, Discovery, and Temptation Without the adventures you enjoy while in Mauritius or the Maldives, the trip would be meaningless. These pursuits are designed to please the senses, educate about local customs, and lead to the discovery of hitherto unknown treasures.

Mauritius and the Maldives are two of the most serene vacation destinations in the world, thanks to their pristine beaches and clear, turquoise waters. Envision yourself relaxing with a spa treatment or lounging on a private patio overlooking the beach. This is the absolute quietest place on earth.

These destinations are home to stunning natural beauty and rich cultural traditions, both of which are explored throughout the discovery trips. Experience the thrill of adventure sports like snorkeling and scuba diving as you search for hidden aquatic treasures, and travel back in time by seeing ancient temples and vibrant local markets.

A feast for the senses awaits you, with each dish a masterful fusion of traditional ingredients and modern techniques. Restaurants at luxury resorts in Mauritius and the Maldives use exotic ingredients like local seafood and herbs and spices to create delectable dishes.

Visitors wishing to unwind on the beach, experience adventure on the high seas, or learn about and appreciate the local culture and cuisine will all be satisfied by a stay at one of these five-star resorts.

Convenient Bundles for Relaxing Vacations and Exciting Experiences

Travelers seeking opulence need look no further than our Journey of Serenity or Journey of Flavour Packages. Let yourself be transported to a wonderful realm of repose, revitalization, and delicious pleasures.

The Journey of Serenity Package is designed to provide you both mental and physical relaxation. Indulge in one of the many spa treatments or practice yoga on the beach; everything here is designed with your relaxation in mind. Take advantage of nature's healing powers by strolling through lush gardens and dipping into cool ponds.

A gourmet's dream, the Journey of Flavors Package has it all. Indulge your taste buds with the wonderful dishes prepared by Michelin-starred chefs using fresh, local ingredients. From regional specialties to cutting-edge fusion dishes from around the world, every meal is a new and exciting gastronomic excursion.

These vacation packages have options for both couples and families, making it possible to accommodate a wide range of preferences. In honor of an anniversary or to create brand new memories with loved ones, these packages are ideal.

That being the case, you shouldn't wait. You can start dreaming about your upcoming vacation to one of our Mauritius or Maldives resorts right now. Visit picturesque locations with breathtaking views and create unforgettable experiences.

Private Pool Villa Romantic Getaways in Paradise with All Meals and Drinks Included

Resorts in Mauritius and the Maldives give visitors with a wide range of amazing experiences, such as Romance in Paradise, All-Inclusive Luxury Package Deals, and a Luxury Pool Villa Escape. Whether you're interested in a wellness retreat on the pristine South East coast of Mauritius or simply seeking some peace & quiet, exploration, and culinary adventures, you'll find that all of these picture-perfect locations will help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

With their stunning landscapes, clear waters, and luxurious accommodations, resorts in Mauritius and the Maldives are perfect for a well-deserved break. Spa treatments and extreme water sports guarantee that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The cuisine is also fantastic, so don't forget that! Get the most out of your hotel stay by taking advantage of special dining packages like the Journey of Serenity or the Journey of Flavour. Sample the global cuisine prepared by renowned chefs from around the world, or indulge in the local delicacies.

There are all-inclusive Luxury vacation packages available for those who want the ultimate convenience and comfort throughout their trip. Enjoy upscale meals, beverages, and entertainment without worrying about the cost.

The resorts in Mauritius and the Maldives offer the highest standards of luxury and relaxation, making them ideal destinations for honeymoons or romantic getaways.

That being the case, you shouldn't wait. Get started straight away planning your perfect getaway. Relax and enjoy the friendly locals and stunning landscapes of these tropical paradises. On your next trip, be sure to check out the stunning beaches of Mauritius and the Maldives.

[island-mljet]

A Boat Tour You Shouldn't Miss!

Do you yearn for adventure but are unsure of where to begin? Consider taking a boat excursion instead! This led expedition is ideal for all ages and interests, whether you're an experienced sailor or just seeking for a novel way to explore the waterways. Everyone will enjoy this memorable excursion, which offers stunning scenery and thrilling wildlife sightings. The boat excursion you don't want to miss is about to depart, so grab your sunscreen and get ready to go!

What to anticipate from a boat excursion

San Francisco is best seen from a boat. From the bay, you can take a tour of the city or a cruise down the Golden Gate. What to anticipate on a Odysseus cave boat tour includes the following:

Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf or Pier 45 in Nob Hill are often where boats leave from. The city and its sights may be seen beautifully from both positions.

All of Miljet's well-known attractions, from Alcatraz to Telegraph Hill, will be discussed by your tour guide. Additionally, there can be chances for photo stops and even snacks if you grow hungry while traveling.

Be prepared to wait in line or join a group if you don't want to wait if excursions are very busy at a certain time of year. The sun in Miljet is harsh, so don't forget your sunscreen!

Ideas for having a great boat tour

Make sure to take your interests and preferred trip type into account when organizing a boat tour. Select a port tour if you want to see the best of the harbor or city. Try a city trip instead if you are more interested in wildlife or scenery.

 The duration of the tour should be taken into account as well. While some tours take only two hours, others can go on all day. Finally, choose whether you'd prefer to be seated on land or in a boat. Although sitting on the shore may provide a greater view, it can also be more expensive.

The top boats for a driving tour

There is a boat excursion out there that will meet your budget, no matter what it is. Our guide has you covered whether you're searching for a calm trip around the port or a rush as you zoom by dolphins and seals.

 To begin, choose from one of our best tours below:

 • The Carousel Tour: On this circuit, guests are taken on a beautiful trip around the port while taking in music and learning about the history of the city.

 • The Explorer Cruise: Guests have the opportunity to explore the underwater world on this voyage. This voyage would astonish any intrepid traveler with its coral reefs and caves.

 • Take the Whale Watch Tour if you want to see some actual wildlife! Passengers are escorted by sailors as they travel through the waters close to whales and other large animals, providing a memorable experience.

The ideal season to enjoy a personalized trip is

Without having to worry about crowds, why not explore some of the best waterways in the nation? Think about taking a private boat tour! You can interact closely with nature through these unique opportunities without the crowds and commotion of a public tour. The following five seasons are excellent for booking a private tour:

 Spring: Going out on the water in the spring is a lovely idea. The weather is pleasant, and there is less traffic than at other times of the year. This results in a calm and comforting atmosphere on your private boat tour.

Exploring the Great Lakes is best done in the summer. Views are hard to come by in lakeside towns because of the hot weather and the large number of tourists who frequent these areas. You may still take in breathtaking scenery while avoiding the throng, though, by making reservations for a summer excursion on a smaller boat!

Autumn: Since it's often less crowded than other seasons, autumn is another excellent time to take a private boat excursion. Amazing colors can be seen in the trees, and visibility is improved by reduced haze in the atmosphere. Additionally, you can plan your trip to coincide with the changing colors of the leaves, which is not possible during other seasons.

Winter: If you're seeking an unusual experience, winter travels can be extremely enjoyable. While floating on ice-covered canals, iceboat excursions provide a spectacular view of frozen landscapes. Additionally, if you're daring enough, you can go on a snowmobile excursion through the dangerous winter.

Boats used for boat cruises vary in type.

Depending on the tour operator, several vessels can be utilized for boat trips, but they frequently include a selection of cozy cruisers, opulent yachts, and sailboats. Kayak and paddleboat tours are also provided by several businesses.

 The majority of boats utilized for boat cruises are cruisers. They frequently feature a ton of conveniences, like as music systems and televisions, and are very comfy. Luxury yachts often offer more space for passengers and a higher level of luxury than cruise ships.

The best ways to enjoy a small group tour

In your plan for the Netherlands, don't forget to include a small group trip. For individuals who wish to experience the country's top attractions without being overrun by other travelers, these tours are perfect. Listed below are some tips for maximizing a vacation with a small group tour mljet:

Selecting the right tour is the first step. There are alternatives for both half-day and full-day trips, as well as additional small group outings. Read the product specifications carefully so you can select the best choice.

You should make advance plans as a general rule. Tour reservations should be made as far in advance as possible because they frequently sell out.

Have comfy clothing available. A cooler climate is anticipated? Bring a lightweight jacket or sweater because most small-group outings involve pit stops at neighborhood restaurants and bars.

Pack some snacks and water. Since you'll probably be moving around a lot throughout the day, you'll need to eat and drink along the way. If you don't have time for lunch or dinner while on the trip, bring portable food like energy bars or trail mix. And always keep in mind to hydrate well, especially on Holland's hot days!

Take in the ride! Don't lose out by skipping out on scheduling a small group tour to experience Holland from a fresh angle!

Conclusion

Consider signing up for a boat excursion if you're seeking for an interesting activity for the day. There will undoubtedly be a tour that appeals to you because they provide a variety of tours throughout the day. They're also ideal for social gatherings of friends or family members who want to have fun. So, whether you're seeking for something special in your life or simply want to have a fun day out with friends and family, boat trips are definitely something to think about!

[cinqueterretours]

Nessun Dorma Cinque Terre | Cinqueterretours.com

Cinque Terre Tours, Wine Tasing, Pesto Classes,Shore Excursions La Spezia, Fun & Innovative Tours of the 5 Terre , Experience the Real Essence of the Five Lands.. Visit us to get the best offer from our tour Operators in Florence, Italy.

Nessun Dorma Cinque Terre

[ahmed-yasser88]

Reasons behind why Egypt's popularity keeps rising among Tourists from west

Egypt is Witnessing a growth as a tourist destination after the pandemic, along with enormous increase in flight booking and demand on holiday packages close to surpass 2019 figures, Given that, it is reasonable to claim that the country of North Africa is currently the most popular travel destinations.

After recovery, the demand for Egypt increasing regularly sine mid-2022, the country abandons the restrictions allowing tourists to enter whether vaccinated or not.

Americans are in the front of this recovery, expecting that U.S arrivals will exceed 2019 level by 2024. Nile Cruises are the most demanding activity, Nile Cruises are among the activities that you can enjoy in Egypt, you can check out Egypt Tours they are offering variety of Travelling packages in which you can choose from what suits your interests, budget and how many days you want to spend

You can check Top Egypt Tour Packages to access a wide collection of travel packages, you can visit many historical places including Giza Pyramids, the great Sphinx you'll cover most of sightseeing tours in Egypt in addition to take attractive pictures of temples in Egypt if you're interested you can check out Egypt Classic Tours.

If you're willing to experience one of Egypt Nile Cruise Tours through the eternal Nile river and the main source of life for centuries, you can enjoy sunset scene while enjoying your dinner in a romantic ambiances. Furthermore, you can also add one of Egypt Day Tours to your traveling program, they are one day or half a day trip in Egypt as example if you want to visit Tutankhamun's tomb along with Queen Hatshepsut's tomb in Valley of kings and many historical places as Luxor is rich in antiquities you can check out Luxor day tours.

AmaWaterways stated that its initial Nile river tour only in 2022 shows extreme demand on Nile Cruises so they will launch a second ship in 2024, Another cruise line, Viking, has noticed a substantial increase in demand for Nile cruise reservations. According to Richard Marnell, the company's executive vice president of marketing, its "offerings" in the area are expanding in reaction to the successful restart of tourism.

why do Westerners are attracted to Egypt

One of the oldest and most culturally significant countries is Egypt.It is most renowned for being the Land of the Pharaohs and boasting an infinite supply of wonders from the Ancient World. It is situated in North Africa, in the historic Maghreb region.

Its huge capital, Cairo, is a megalopolis noted for being the biggest city in all of Africa and a tourism powerhouse home to the iconic Egyptian Museum, where visitors may view some of King Tutankhamun's items and other treasure troves.

When Someone mentioned Egypt, the first thing comes to mind is the pyramids of Giza, you can check Egypt Luxury Tours to Enjoy your stay on a luxurious Nile cruise while visiting the most significant historical monuments in Luxor and Aswan and taking in the sunset. Learn about Egyptian civilization and the well-kept secrets of Egyptian history. Appreciate the excellent level of service and mental tranquilly. if you are looking for something more affordable, Egypt Cheap Budget Tours to walk and discover the other cities and Cairo's renowned and magnificent Medieval alleyways. Learn more about Egypt tours, history, the legacies of the kings and queens who ruled the country during its golden age, and more.

Beyond Cairo, Egypt houses five main ports and its coast extends along the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, Alexandria Shore Excursions the Mediterranean's pearl and the habitat of many historical palaces the Montazah Palace, one of the city's royal palaces and the location of several hotels geared towards tourists. Alexandria is regarded as on of the best Egypt Shore Excursions since it has a large number of beaches spread out throughout the city's districts and is divided into different sorts to meet all forms of tourism in Egypt.

[hagerkamal]

the longest river in the world

Watch the magic of the Nile River and the greatness of the Egyptian civilization and its sunny atmosphere, the most prominent tourist attractions. You can listen to the best atmosphere in Egypt and the best scenes through Nile cruises, You can also stay in the heart of the Nile in the most beautiful atmosphere that enjoys ancient and amazing civilizations through these special trips. you can make the most beautiful tourist tours by choosing multiple places and making it possible to visit a number of places and provinces on the same trip through Egypt travel packages, Trips vary and are characterized for a day or two in several ways, as was by flying or riding modern air-conditioned cars through Egypt Day tours, A unique distinction in the rapid journeys through Egypt shore excursions. You can enjoy the most beautiful tours through Egypt Trip. MS Nile Carnival Cruise from Luxor: We offer the best 5-star Nile cruises in Egypt! Our luxurious MS Nile Carnival cruise ship will take you on an unforgettable journey down the Nile River. You'll enjoy all the amenities of a 5-star cruise ship, plus the added bonus of being able to explore the ancient wonders of Luxor and Aswan. We offer an all-inclusive experience, so all you need to worry about is having the time of your life! 5 Days MS Alexander the Great Nile Cruise: Enjoy Alexander the Great Nile cruise and sail between Luxor & Aswan attractions with an expert tour guide. Discover the best sites of ancient Egyptian civilization. Visit the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Karnak, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and more. MS Nile Premium cruise from Aswan to Luxor: When you Book the 4 days tour from Aswan to Luxor you will enjoy great luxury and endless fun especially when it is on board of MS Premium boat, this boat has a great experience with the Nile river, and you will never find a better boat than our MS to spend your vacation around the ancients lands. 5 Days Steigenberger MS Minerva Nile Cruise: On our 5-day Steigenberger MS Minerva Nile Cruise from Luxor, enjoy Egypt's most breathtaking Nile cruise excursions and uncover the mysteries of ancient Egypt's architectural masterpieces. Visit the Temple of Karnak, Luxor's Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and the Temple of Hatshepsut, as well as Aswan's High Dam, Temple of Philae, and Unfinished Obelisk. Along the way, the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu can be observed. Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise from Luxor: Looking for an amazing standard way to see the Nile River? Check out the Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise from Luxor! This five-day cruise takes you on a journey through some of the most amazing scenery in Egypt. You'll see the Karnak temples, the Valley of the Kings, and the Philae temple. Plus, you'll get to experience the luxurious accommodations and amenities on board the Chateau Lafayette. Merit Dahabiya Nile Cruise from Aswan: Luxor and Aswan Nile cruise on luxury dahabiya ship Merit offers you a unique chance to visit the most famous sightseeing of Egypt by comfortable sailing. Visit Karnak Temple, Hatshepsut Temple, and other sites! 4 Days MS Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise: With a uniquely elegant style, the Deluxe Five-star Steigenberger Legacy creates the perfect atmosphere and a comfortable home base. It offers combines the luxuries of cruising and enjoying hotel services. 4 Days Mövenpick MS Royal Lotus Nile Cruise: The MS Royal Lotus, a 5-star luxury cruise on the Nile, is operated by Movenpick Nile Cruises. It allows you to visit the ancient Egyptian ruins in grandeur and comfort.

[jovialjellyfishstarfish]

South Goa Lavish Lodgings: Get Spoiled in an Extravagant and Mitigating Feel

What convinces very good quality sightseers to remain at lavish lodgings in Goa? Laid out as a Portuguese province in 1510, South Goa is the regulatory settle of this little Indian state. This locale is enveloped by the North in the north, Middle Eastern Ocean in the west and Karnataka in the east and south. It is mostly popular for its salubrious environment and quiet feeling offering an ideal isolation. Supplementing the quiet atmosphere of South Goa sea shores are the five star inns that are furnished with top notch offices. In this article, I will make reference to four conspicuous lavish lodgings worked under the support of premium inn networks.

The Leela Goa

Out of all lavish lodgings in Goa, one name which is catching the greatest consideration of abroad voyagers is The Leela Goa. The lodging is an optimal choice for explorers who's thought is to blend business in with recreation. It displays a consistent combination of Portuguese stylistic theme and Dravidian engineering. 206 in number, the visitor rooms and suites inside this lodging are characterized into 7 classifications. On the feasting front, The Leela has 3 multi food cafés The Eatery, Riverside and Susegado-that serves customary Goan, Italian and fish rarities. While remaining in this lodging, one can participate in a few sporting offices, for example, hitting the fairway, sun luxuriating and enjoying Ayurvedic rub.

Park Hyatt Resort and Spa

Victor of a few honors from movement experts and magazines, Park Hyatt Resort and Spa is an unmistakable name in the rundown of Goa lavish lodgings. Arranged in the midst of 45 sections of land of finished greens, on the edge of the unblemished Arossim ocean side, this lavish lodging shows a topical stylistic layout of Indo-Portuguese town and neglect the sparkling tidal ponds and manicured gardens. The lodging is home to perhaps of the best spa in the country-Sereno Spa-where visitors can partake in a restoring experience.

Zuri White Sands Resort

Situated on Varca ocean side, The Zuri White Sands Resort is the main five star inn on this ocean side and spoils visitors in a rich setting and extreme style. As far as eating, the inn has multi cooking cafés serving scrumptious food going from skillet Asian to fish. Spending Goa get-away at this inn is a fun in abundance as there is no lack of sporting conveniences to enjoy.

Also Read : Goa Visit: Excursion That could only be described as epic

Ramada Caravela Ocean side Retreat

Spread more than 24 sections of land of very much manicured gardens, the Ramada Caravela Ocean side Retreat is a four star inn situated on the perfect Varca ocean side. The lodging has a sum of 199 visitor rooms outfitted with classical decorations, current conveniences and enormous confidential overhangs. The plan and engineering of this lodging draw motivation from the Old Goan design which itself assimilates the elements of Portuguese design. The hotel additionally includes a flowing cascade and a terrific tidal pond like pool that falsehoods lined up with the Bedouin Ocean.

[dontditchtheluxurybushbaby]

Five Excellent Designer Safari Tent Lodges

Luxury tented lodges have certainly redefined safari experiences in recent years, offering the traveller optimal comfort and often extravagant luxury, while still feeling that sense of wild African adventure.

There are a number of beautiful tented lodges that one can choose from when going on safari, however, these five have really caught our eye for their unusual design, their perfect location and flawless hospitality.

The Highlands, Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Carefully positioned for maximum privacy high on the slopes of the Olmoti volcano, guests enjoy sweeping views all the way to the Serengeti. Inspiration for the 8 canvas-and-glass domed suites was drawn from the traditional Masai bomas that dot the landscape. Warm, intimate and contemporary, this is quite simply the perfect place from which to discover the wild and pristine Crater Highlands.

The Ngorongoro Crater is an iconic natural wonder of the world and this unusual lodge is set on the edge of the mountain forest, hugging the Olmoti volcano to the north of Ngorongoro Crater, The Highlands strikes a perfect balance between a true wilderness experience and a high-style, contemporary escape.

The northern flank of the Olmoti volcano offers good wildlife viewing. Nearby Empakaai Crater is a smaller but similarly impressive crater famous for the thousands of pink flamingos that line the shores of the soda lake on the crater floor.

As well as the spectacular wildlife viewing, the area is also renowned for its extraordinary flora and fauna.

Mahali Mzuri, Masai Mara

Mahali Mzuri is the newest addition to Sir Richard Branson’s portfolio of retreats.  The lodge is located in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just north of the Masai Mara National Reserve, and is right in the path of the annual migration. There is also an abundance of resident game all year round both near the camp and also a short distance away by a vehicle.

Each tented suite sits on a raised platform and includes a spacious bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, sitting area and a terrace with views over the landscape – perfect for spotting the game that will almost certainly wander into view!

Expert guides will be able to tell guests all about the various animals and their behaviour on daily morning and afternoon/night game drives. As well as game drives, guests can also go on a cultural day trip to learn more about the local Masai tribe, enjoy a walking safari, or even take a hot air balloon trip.

In-between activities, the lodge team will treat guests to a wide selection of African and international menus, and in the evenings, dinner might be served in the main dining tent, out in the bush or even somewhere private just for 2.

AndBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp, Okavango Delta

AndBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp is located on the edge of the Okavango Delta in an exclusive private wildlife concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana.

This fantastic location of Nxabega offers a combination of both water and land-based game activities with game drives and mokoro excursions. The lodge is intimate and tents have a raised wooden platform making the best of the sensational Delta views.

Meaning ‘Place of the Giraffe’, Nxabega is ideally positioned to explore the magnificence of the Okavango, the largest inland delta in the world. A wetland wilderness of looping channels, islands forested with palms and wide grassy floodplains, the Delta is home to a magnificent array of wild animals and exceptional birdlife.

Marataba Safari Lodge, Waterberg Mountains

Marataba Safari Lodge is situated in a Big 5 malaria-free private concession at the foothills of the Waterberg Mountains which forms part of the Marakele National Park, just a 3.5 hour's drive from Johannesburg. The Marakele National Park is a haven for an impressive variety of wildlife and contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys characterise this spectacular area.

The canvas-and-stone tented suites offer a contemporary twist, each with its own private deck overlooking the sweeping plains and meandering river below. A free-standing stone bath is the main feature of the bathroom, while indoor and outdoor showers take full advantage of the dramatic scenery of the Waterberg Mountains.

Marataba also has the Thabametsi Treehouse which often features articles about best the best places to sleep under the stars and is certainly the most luxurious treehouse experience that we have seen to date. Guests arrive just before sunset and the coolness of the approaching evening brings animals into the open. A gourmet picnic can be enjoyed at the table on the deck, where guests have front-row seats to the wildest theatre. The lower level of this two-storey treehouse offers a large bathroom with a huge walk-in shower and his-and-hers basins.

Chisa Busanga Camp, Kafue National Park

Set to open in June 2020, Chisa Busanga Camp is a new intimate bush camp located in the north of the Kafue National Park that really looks sets itself apart from any other in that it offers amazing tree houses built in the shape of birds-nests!  These stunning rooms will have a canvas lining to the nest structure for comfort and to protect guests from the elements, and they really are unlike any other room we have seen at a safari lodge.

The Busanga Plains are a hidden gem of Kafue, with a high abundance of characteristic antelopes, birds and predators. It is truly one of the most unique wilderness areas Africa has to offer. Watch elephants walking steadily in the early morning mist at sunrise, or a herd of lechwe jumping through the various steams and floodplains.

Chisa Busanga offers both morning and afternoon game drives, along with walking safaris. In addition, the camp features an electric game-drive vehicle, to enable silent safaris. Experience even more game and enjoy the sounds of the bush, without the constant rumble of a diesel engine.

Each tree house/nest offers complete privacy and a birds-eye view of the plains, both from inside the bedroom and outside on the observation deck.

Also read: Spectacular tent options from a safari tent manufacturer with years of experience, deep love and care for nature and sustainable tourism - Tentickle manufactured safari tents.

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Info compiled by https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/

[yachtscaymanmexico]

How About A Caribbean Vacation?

Let us day dream for a while, shall we? Close your eyes for a moment and just imagine… white sand beaches, beautiful blue translucent waters and the sun brightly shining on the horizon, and a breeze going through your hair.

Can you hear the wonderful dance of the waves? How peaceful! There are no worries or cares in the world to disturb you. It is a perfect environment for relaxation and gives you a great sense of well-being.

The Caribbean is the number one destination for travelers around the world. Whether you are escaping just to be alone with your better half or taking your whole family there, the bright sun, warm waters, breathtaking landscapes of the islands make the ideal setting for a vacation that can be as luxurious, adventurous, peaceful or wild as you wish.

Let me give you an idea of what you may encounter in at least ten of those islands and what makes them so desirable:

Anguilla is a British oversees territory. It is known for its coral reefs. It has a quiet atmosphere and offers excellent snorkeling, horseback riding and bird watching (136 species).

Aruba is a favorite port for cruise ships. It has a Dutch feel. It offers many water sports activities Cayman boat rentals, including some of the best windsurfing in the world. Shopping is abundant, with duty-free stores offering jewelry, perfume, linen, designer clothing and liquor. There are plenty of discos and nightclubs and gaming is legal and found at 11 resort casinos.

Barbados is bathed by two oceans; the Caribbean Sea on the west side and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, meeting on the southern shores where you find little hotels and lots of windsurfers. There is an exciting festival there, every year, at the end of the sugar-cane harvest. It is called Crop Over, lasts for five weeks and includes markets, carnival shows, calypso concerts and colorful parades.

Belize, formerly called British Honduras, has excellent fishing, safe waters for boating, scuba diving, and snorkeling, numerous rivers for rafting, and kayaking, various jungle and wildlife reserves of fauna and flora, for hiking, bird watching, and helicopter touring, as well as many Maya ruins. It also has the largest cave system in Central America.

Grand Cayman is the best known of the Cayman Islands and it is home to the blue iguanas. Its capital city is George Town which is a shopping paradise. In addition to its shops, there are many local vendors and craftsmen throughout the districts who work from their homes. An amazing variety of local treasures await you, including shell jewelry, thatch work, wood carvings, crocheted items, pepper sauces, tropical fruit jams, honey and special figurines made out of Cayman's semi-precious stones.

Jamaica's scenery is a blend of fish-filled coral reefs, white-sand beaches, breathtaking waterfalls and thick rain forests. It is another destination for water sports lovers, including sailing, scuba diving, jet skiing, para sailing, sport fishing, and glass-bottom boat excursions. The music is simply contagious. The Jamaican people represent one of the most diverse populations in the Caribbean, coming from African, Chinese, Indian, British and German heritage.

Martinique is a French island. Its cuisine is a blend of French and Creole cooking that is well worth trying. The northern part of the island attracts tourists who are looking to hike the mountains around Mt. Pelee, an active volcano, and explore the rain forests, while the southern portion offers shopping, white sand beaches, and nightlife which takes on many forms including nightclubs, piano bars, lounges, hotel events/parties and casinos.

Tobago is home to over 6000 species of plants and animals, including one of the highest densities of bird species in the world, on just 116 square miles of land. So, it is a must for bird watchers. Having won an ecological award from the World Travel Awards for Best Eco Destination in the world, it offers protected secluded beaches and nature trails will allow you to explore the forest's diverse flora and fauna. This island has a great variety of luxury rental villas suited for every taste and budget.

[natalieironside]

"IN THE COURT OF THE NAMELESS QUEEN" now available for pre-order (wow!)

Hi, everybody! My dark fantasy erotica collection In the Court of the Nameless Queen is gonna be released on February 13th and you can go ahead and pre-order it now on Amazon and Gumroad for the low low price of five American dollars.

Herein we've got dark magic, swashbuckling adventure, sword-swinging women who love women, trans girls being cool & sexy, lots of kinky f/f sex, and a big sexy monster lady. If that sounds like your thing, come check it out for a $5 donation to my "help your friendly neighborhood disabled queer indie author afford food and rent" philanthropy fund.

Take a trip across the sundered worlds to the Queendom of Corynnod, a dark realm of sorcery and desire, ruled over by she who is Queen, goddess, and mother to us all, in four fantastical and titillating tales of wonder, adventure, love, sex, and—of course—spiders.

BROOD: A true and credible account of how Freydis Thorkilsdottir, war witch, became Freydis Gothi and the Mother of Abominations.  Freydis Thorkilsdottir, soldier and war witch in the army of the Nameless Queen, has always struggled to find a place for herself as a transgender woman.  She volunteers to lead men over the walls in a castle assault, in hopes that, should she survive, she might earn the attentions—and the favors—of her great and terrible araneidan Queen . . .

THE APOSTATE:  An account of how Freydis Gothi made the acquaintance of her most beloved and treasured servant.  Fleeing oppression and unspeakable abuse, Kristina Kaminski—a woman who loves women in a land where such things are not allowed—travels into the grim and mysterious north and meets a most peculiar woman upon the shores of the sea.  As she settles into her new life, it comes to pass that a dark conversion often necessitates a dark baptism . . .

TRANSMUTATION: An account of the coming of Steff Pelczynski, diabolist, to Caer Eldur and the court of the Marchioness.  Steff is no man, but don’t try telling her that.  When the young wizard travels into the north, seeking a change, she—with the help of a rather commanding older woman—finds a change she didn't know she was looking for . . .

THE CARNIVAL OF CARNAL DELIGHTS:  An account of how Freydis Gothi acquired her legendary sword. Freydis Thorkilsdottir, Kristina the Apostate, and their friends take an excursion to a festival of wondrous terrors and delights where nothing is as it seems . . . and things already seemed pretty suggestive to begin with!

(cover design by the amazing @soul-hammer)

(a full list of content notes for each story can be found here)

[mymothershumility]

neverflownwithme asked: “Perhaps the world is in need of change.”

past transmissions || { always accepting }

{ Part 1 } & { Part 2 } & { Part 3 } & { Part 4 } & { Part 5 }

{ Part 6 } & { Part 7 } & { Part 8 } & { Part 9 } & { Part 10 }

{ Part 11 }

{ @neverflownwithme }

“This is the last of it.”

Gaze lifts from her desk, quill coming to pause above the parchment she has been recording the contents of the hidden room upon. The process has been a lengthy one, stretching a week and a half after the room’s discovery. Many of the scrolls and tomes from within the space have been accounted for, recorded upon Laira’s parchment as she looked over each and every one.

There are a number of journals among the tomes that she has skimmed, personal ones penned by the hands of Lady Shiera Seastar, Princess Rhaena of Pentos, and Queen Visenya Targaryen. There are others of an unknown origin, as well, penned in an unfamiliar --yet strikingly familiar-- hand.

Thus far, her work has centered around sorting and identifying the tomes, journals, and scrolls that had been scattered upon the desks and shelves within the room. She and Hal have yet to tackle the various trunks that have been pulled from the space. They remain stacked on the opposite side of her solar, shrouded in mystery. It is what Hal now carries easily in his hold, crossing the room to set the last trunk among the others.

When Laira looks back across her solar, she finds the space of the room void of everything but the desks and shelves that are set against the walls as well as the Myrish carpet lining the floor. The look of it seems entirely foreign for a moment. Yet, despite all of their work, there are still a number of questions looming above them. Laira has yet to finish one of the tomes pulled from among the stacks in full. It will take her and Hal both months to do so if they attempt such a task. Of that, she is certain.

And, in the end, it is possible that such a task will be the only way to discover the answers they so desperately wish for.

Setting her quill back upon her parchment, Laira pens the last of her entries upon the surface. There are well over a hundred journals, tomes, and scrolls upon her list. With her recording finished, Laira sets her quill back into its inkwell. She is glad to have the task done, though her back and her eyes now ache because of it.

“Visenya Targaryen and Shiera Seastar penned many of these,” Laira comments, fingers brushing upon the Lyseni crafted journal that had once belonged to the Star of the Sea. She traces the silver three headed dragon that is emblazoned across the amethyst leather, letting a soft sigh escape her. “Princess Rhaena of Pentos has penned several of them as well,” she goes on. “There are others as well, though I cannot discern to whom they once belonged.”

The journals and scrolls that she mentions are scrawled in the language of the Old Empire. Of that, Laira is certain of. She recognizes the language as easily among the ancient pages just as she does among Shiera Seastar’s recounts. What strikes her odd above all else are the mentions of the Freehold, of the descriptions of the dragonlords and the never ceasing ebb and flow as power slipped from one to another and back around again.

There is more, though... recounts of the Five Forts and the Great Empire of the Dawn… of the Blood Betrayal that had ushered in the first Long Night.

Such recounts only spawn additional questions. They only serve in deepening a tale that is already wrapped in far too much mystery.

“Perhaps a change of scenery would do us both good,” Hal recommends, leaving the trunks for then. He leans against the sturdy form of Laira’s desk when he is near enough, casting a look down at the work that she has done. “It seems as if we’ve scarcely left these walls of late.” They have had good reason to. Hal is aware of such a thing. Still, he believes setting their task aside for a time could be of benefit to them. It is possible their answers may be easier to find if they look for them with fresh eyes.

Laira listens as he speaks, gaze drifting over him as he settles his form against the edge of her desk. She cannot disagree with his words. She finds herself smiling, in fact, at his suggestion. It is a welcomed one. “I am surprised that you would object to spending your time secluded away with me, my Lord,” she teases him, watching the way the lines of his body seem to soften with her words. Such a reaction has become more frequent as of late. Laira enjoys witnessing it. “Pray tell,” she begins, chuckling as he moves and bends to set his hands upon the armrests of her chair, “have you grown bored of me already?”

“I feel you already know the answer to such a question, Your Grace,” he says, moving closer to her when she reaches to press her hand beneath his chin. “I believe you merely enjoy teasing me,” he accuses, leaning to steal a kiss from her.

She laughs against his mouth, fingers shifting until her palm is pressed to the line of his jaw. “No more than you enjoy teasing me,” Laira reminds, speaking when he pulls from her. Her thumb briefly strokes against his cheek, the pad of her finger tracing the line of a faint scar hidden beneath the light stubble of his beard. “Did you have something particular in mind for us to partake in?”

Their week has already been one of great change and challenge. In the midst of their exploration and discovery within the walls of her solar, Sansa and Helen had arrived on Dragonstone from King’s Landing in the midst of a torrential storm. Having sailed upon one of the Velaryon ships that often ferried supplies from the capital to the islands of Claw Isle, Driftmark, and Dragonstone, the girls had arrived in the dead of night, utterly terrified after additional events that had transpired within the capital.

Such events still set her husband upon edge when they speak of them. They do much the same to her. There had been little favor for the Tyrells in her husband’s heart when he arrived on Dragonstone, having already forbidden a marriage alliance that Olenna had attempted to put into place between Sansa and Willas Tyrell while he was occupied in the Stormlands. There had been little favor left in her with her husband’s revelations.

When the girls had arrived --cold and hungry and fearful-- only to reveal that Olenna had not only attempted to see Sansa married away, but had also attempted to betroth Helen to Oliver Redwyne’s son, any favor that had lingered within her and her husband for the Tyrell matriarch had burned away to ash.

“The day seems as though it may remain favorable,” Hal says. Those days upon Dragonstone are few and far between, the weather ever changing and often giving way to storms. “Perhaps we could journey down to the village with the girls,” he proposes. “Or take them down to the shore.”

“I believe they would enjoy time on the shore.” Laira has made her fair share of journies down to the village since arriving upon the island. And while the markets are filled with trade from across the sea, she believes that the girls would enjoy their day all the more if granted the time to play. Laira is uncertain when another fair day such as this one will occur on the small island.

It will be best to take advantage of it while possible.

Hal takes hold of her hand as she speaks, turning so his mouth can catch along the inside of her wrist. The kiss that he plants against her skin is whisper soft. “My thoughts as well,” he agrees. He is straightening in the next moment, drawing Laira carefully up from her seat as he goes.

She laughs again, both at his affection and his enthusiasm. Laira is happy to see it after the events of the week. There have been too many times as of late that she has seen the weight of Olenna’s betrayal pressing down upon him.

Such a matter, Laira will be certain is addressed. She will see justice given where it is due. Daenerys would have no need for a Hand who acted in such a traitorous manner. She was confident in that.

“I will ask the cooks to prepare something light for us to carry with us,” Laira said. They had broken their fast with the girls when they had woken. Midday would be upon them shortly, though, and hunger would soon set in upon them once again.

It takes little to convince her niece and her good-cousin to accompany her and Hal down onto the shore. Helen is quick to agree to such a journey, entirely enthralled with the sea and all the mysteries that it holds. And, wherever it was that Helen journeyed, Sansa was always quick to follow after her. It has become far more uncommon, in fact, to find Sansa away from Helen’s side. Both she and Hal find some comfort in such knowledge.

For, wherever the girls travel, their direwolves are there to go with them. Only a fool would attempt to harm the girls with such staunch protection at their sides.

No more than an hour later, Helen is skipping along the smooth flagstones of the courtyard with Sansa’s fingers wrapped securely in her hand. Rose and Dawn trot along in front of them, heads and ears high as they observe everything around them. Several steps behind the girls and their direwolves, Laira walks arm-in-arm with Hal. Her husband’s direwolf companion has positioned herself at Laira’s opposite side, having shown herself to be increasingly protective as of late. She suspects Hal’s own mood to be a contributing factor. His bond with Moone has already shown itself to be similar in nature to her own bond with Viserion.

And, as Viserion often feeds off Laira’s own emotions, she believes that her husband’s direwolf companion does quite the same where his own are concerned.

“They both seem excited,” Laira murmurs to Hal, smiling at Helen’s chattering and Sansa’s answering giggles. Her young niece has been engaged in excited conversation with her eldest cousin since learning of their excursion down to the shore.

“Neither of them have been afforded a great amount of time upon the shore or in the waters of the sea,” Hal tells her. Despite having lived for a time in White Harbor, Helen has never been able to wander about on the beach or play in the water as she has been able to during her time upon the island stronghold. The beaches at White Harbor differ vastly from Dragonstone’s own. The shoreline of much of the North, in fact, is rocky and unforgiving. Its waters are much the same, too frigid even in the heat of summer to swim about in. “However, Helen has been exposed to the water far more than Sansa,” he goes on.

His cousin had confided not so long ago, in fact, that her first time spying the sea had been when she had come to King’s Landing as a bride for Joffrey Baratheon.

Laira hums in understanding, tucking herself closer to her husband’s side as they begin their trek down the winding pathways that will take them to the shore beyond the castle. “I believe they would enjoy Lys,” she says, thinking of the last time that she had visited the Free City. “It is still warm there,” she continues. “They could swim in the water if they wished to. Or, play about on the sands and look for shells at their leisure.” The beach beyond her mother’s manse within Lys had been well guarded at one time. It would be again should Laira ever return to it.

“Perhaps we will be able to make the journey there in the near future,” Hal tells her, bringing her closer when she slips more into the length of his side. He knows that Helen would enjoy the coast of the Free City, having already shown a particular love for searching out tide pools there upon Dragonstone and observing the sea life found within them. And Sansa, he knows, would love the markets.

She smiles at such a notion, leaning until she is able to brace her head against the line of his shoulder. Another quiet hum leaves her, opposite arm reaching across her so her fingers are softly pressing against the palm of his hand. She cannot stop the whispering flutter of her heart inside her chest when his own fingers --warm and strong-- curl carefully about her hand in response. “You spoil me,” she murmurs up to him.

A smile twitches up at the corners of his mouth when he feels the press of her head against the expanse of his shoulder, grows all the larger when Laira’s fingers seek out the expanse of his own hand. “You’ve spoken fondly of Lys on more than one occasion,” Hal reminds, thumb stroking along the bumps of her knuckles. “I don’t believe it’s spoiling you to return you to a place that holds such fond memories for you.”

“No?” she questions, the word marred with a gentle laugh. “A fortunate thing for myself, then.” She pauses, watching as Helen goes dashing out onto the sand ahead of them. The young girl is giggling as she runs, her direwolf giving chase after her down the beach. Sansa follows after her, though she walks instead of runs. Laira can hear her laughing all the same. “There are other places that I am fond of as well,” Laira goes on, still watching the girls as they make their way towards the edge of the water.

The sea around Dragonstone is often colored deep azure, though the water closer to shore is often clouded with sand that is stirred up from the storms that plague the island. Today, at least, Laira can see that the shallows are clear. The water looks incredibly inviting even from where she and Hal are walking.

“What places are those?” Hal has his own thoughts about what they may be.

“White Harbor was of particular interest to me in the short time we lingered there,” she offers. It had been a mere stop in their return to King’s Landing from the War for the Dawn. Yet, the Manderlys had shown them every courtesy possible during their stay. Laira had become especially fond of Lady Wylla and Lady Wynafryd during her time in their hall. “However, WinterfelI, I believe, is the dearest of them all to me,” she carries on.

Laira imagines that he knows the reason, can see the quick flickers of realization as they slowly settle upon him.

“The war that awaited us aside,” she continues, “I was quite happy there.”

“So was I.” Even though Hal had never grown up at Winterfell, it remained familiar. He’d spent more than enough time among its walls, visiting his family with his father. Most of his childhood had been spent among the walls of Karhold. “It was likely the company that made the stay so easy, though,” he went on, smiling at the way she was looking over at him. “I left Harrion Karstark as steward before we departed back south,” Hal reminds. He and Harrion had grown up side by side at Karhold. He was practically a brother to him. There had been no one else that Hal would have trusted to guard Winterfell for Sansa. “He would welcome us back if we decided to make the journey there.”

“We could journey there first,” she offers, her voice sincere. Laira is not opposed to such travels. The more distance, in fact, their family can put between themselves and Olenna Tyrell’s plots, the better. She will not have Sansa or Helen near enough to the woman for them to be used as potential pawns.

“We’ll look to somewhere warmer first,” Hal says, looking up in time to see Dawn bounding into the shallows. Rose is at her heels, chasing after her with high pitched yips. Mere steps from where the direwolves are playing, Sansa and Helen are crouched near a cluster of rocks. Hal doesn’t need to be closer to know they’ve discovered a tide pool. “Winterfell can wait for a time.”

“If my Lord insists.” She smiles at the quick laugh that he gives, the sound partially covered by a snort.

“Will this always be a game between the two of us?” he asks her, returning her smile.

“It is a fitting one, I believe,” Laira answers. “To accompany all other manner of teasing that we engage in.”

“If memory serves, you’re the one who began our little game.” There’s a great deal of fondness in his tone, eyes glancing back to check on the girls. They’re still enthralled with their discovery at the edge of the water. Dawn and Rose are nearby as well, at play in the shallows.

Laira laughs at his accusation, her own gaze turning skyward. Though Viserion is beyond her line of sight, Laira can feel her flying high in the cloud cover. The dragoness will descend soon enough and she will find Laira when she does. No matter where she lingered, Viserion always seemed to come to her. “I regret to say that your memory is mistaken, husband,” she says, laughter still present in her tone. “You showed yourself to be quite proficient in your teasing during our time in Oldtown,” she points out. “You began our game, in fact, the very night that followed your arrival.”

By then, they have stepped farther from the edge of the water. The cliffs now loom high above them, casting dark columns of shadow out along the sand. They are still near enough to the waves, though, that Sansa and Helen are easily seen. Laira reaches to take the canvas bag that her husband has been carrying upon his opposite shoulder, having seized the bag from her as they had departed the Great Hall. He had refused to relinquish back to her as they had walked, insisting that he be the one to carry it down for them. That she had healed from her ordeal within the capital had been reminded and acknowledged, though Hal had continued to insist he carry it in her place despite such a reminder. It is endearing, in truth, how he continues even then to worry over her in such little ways.

The cooks and the maids had done as she had requested, preparing a meal for the four of them that could be easily packed away and carried down to the shore. Mira had even been kind enough to fold the pale gray blanket from Laira’s apartments and slip it into the bag with their meal. Laira had used the blanket during one of her last visits to the beach. It is the blanket that Laira withdraws from the bag, unfolding it and spreading it out over the white sand.

Moone is quick to take up a spot along the edge of the fabric, lying so that her belly is half on the fabric and half in the sand. Her head rests against the top of her large paws, mismatched eyes watching as Rose and Dawn continue their games within the water. Laira comes to sit beside the direwolf on the blanket, feet slipping out of her sandals and legs stretching until she can rest the soles of her feet atop the cool sand. Hal pauses before he moves to sit beside her, looking out to where Helen is calling excitedly for him. She is gesturing to one of the pools that she and Sansa have located, clearly overjoyed at having discovered something of interest.

“You are being beckoned,” Laira says, smiling at the way Helen now runs for them. Dawn is at the young girl’s heels, yipping after her.

“Uncle Hal!” Helen exclaims. “Sansa and I found sea stars! Come look at them! They’re so pretty!” Helen quickly turns her attention to her aunt, smiling at her. “Will you come look too, Aunt Laira?” she asks, her tone hopeful.

“Perhaps in a few moments,” Laira says. “Take your uncle with you, though. Make him entertain you.” She motions Helen closer when Hal pretends to be distracted by something. “See if you can trick him into the water,” she whispers.

The recommendation makes Helen giggle, hand pressing against her mouth to keep her uncle from hearing. Then, she makes a grab for her uncle’s hand, pulling him along with her. “Come see, Uncle Hal!”

Hal pauses long enough to look back at Laira, his expression shifting to something more serious for a split second. “Will you be alright?” he asks. Even though they are far from King’s Landing and among trusted individuals on the island, he still worries about straying too far away from her.

“I believe that I am well guarded,” she assures, hand rising to rest itself against Moone’s head. The she-wolf had made no move to follow after Hal, remaining at Laira’s side instead. “Should I need you, I will call out for you. I have faith that you will come to my aid if I require it.”

Even if Hal had been too far from her, and Moone along with him, Laira would not have worried. Not there. Though she is still hidden from view, the Queen can now feel Viserion lower among the clouds. She is near, likely flying about the Dragonmont or about the far ends of the island. The dragoness could be to her just as quickly if she found herself in need. Still, Laira has no fear of lingering on her own there upon Dragonstone’s shore. The island is safe. Of that, Laira is certain.

Laira watches as her niece leads her husband away, only the faintest hints of reluctance entering the line of his shoulders. It fades easily enough as Helen draws him away, chattering about all that she has found with Sansa. At her side, Moone settles more into her spot, body scooting itself until she is pressed along the stretch of Laira’s own legs. The direwolf’s tail beats gently against the sand when Laira reaches to press a hand to her head, happy with the attention that she’s given.

For a time, she observes her husband and their family along the sands. Hal has always shown himself to be wonderful with children. From the first moment that Missandei had met him, she’d been drawn to him. The young scribe had remained practically attached to Hal’s side in the days that had followed Daenerys’ attack within the Holdfast, seeking safety where she had known it could be found. And, even though they were both older than Missandei, Irri and Jhiqui had shown a similar draw to him as well. Laira expected girlish infatuation in place of anything else, however. Even the stableboys there upon the island and Mira’s own daughters flocked to her husband when he was near to them.

Laira quite enjoys watching such displays. Hal is always attentive, always listening and conversing with the children that seek him out. Should the gods allow it, he will make a wonderful father. She feels her heart give a brief flutter at such a thought, grief momentarily snapping within her chest. Had poison not been slipped into her cup within the Holdfast, how close would their children have been to birth by then? Three moon turns? Possibly four? It would not have been so far away. By then, Laira would have been able to feel their movements.

It has been a time since Laira has allowed her thoughts to linger upon what was stolen from her and from Hal in the capital. She does not like the pain that swells in her heart when she does… does not like the sorrow she sees reflected in Hal’s own features when she mentions it. Still, Laira cannot help but dwell upon what might have been if someone had not struck against them.

There is nothing that can be done to right the wrongs that have been done in the past, yet there is a hopeful part of her --one that is far more idyllic-- that wishes there was something that could be done. The thought is pushed away just as quickly as it comes. She knows better than to allow foolish naivety a place within her.

The shift of Moone at her side brings her thoughts back to where they should remain. Laira reaches to press her palm to the she-wolf’s head. She feels a vibration beneath the wolf’s surface when she does, a growl emanating from her throat. Moone’s head rises a moment later, emerald and sapphire gaze settling upon something down the shore. Laira’s own gaze follows the wolf’s. There is a brief flicker of crimson and darting shadow, movement that disappears behind an outcropping of rock a split second later.

For a moment, the Queen is thrown back to the night she and Hal had discovered the room within her solar. A brief flash of memory springs forward, recollection of the being that had lingered beyond the windows of her apartment. She sees the flash of shadow and then the three glowing points of crimson light glowing in the dark.

A hand against her shoulder makes her flinch, heart fluttering wildly in her chest as fear sweeps down the column of her spine. Her head snaps to her side. Sansa is standing beside her, having drawn her hand back from her. The young girl is staring down at her, her eyes wide and hand clasped to her chest.

“Sansa,” the Queen breathes, attempting to calm herself. Her heart is still thundering wildly in her chest.

“I am sorry,” Sansa speaks, her voice small. “I thought you heard me. Please forgive me.”

Reaching, Laira sets her hand upon Sansa’s arm, her touch gentle. “You startled me, sweetling,” Laira says. “Nothing more. I was merely lost in thought,” she admits. She does not turn her gaze back down the shore, though Moone continues to watch the area. “There is nothing for you to ask forgiveness for. You have done me no harm.”

Sansa nods, mouth turning up into a little smile. “May I sit with you?” she asks. “Hal and Helen are still looking in the pools.” Her cousins have wandered a little farther down the beach, Helen perched atop Hal’s shoulders as they search out the various pools and the life that resides within them.

“I would love the company,” Laira admits. She pats the spot beside her, watching as Sansa moves and sinks down onto the blanket with her. The girl’s own sandals have been cast aside, left somewhere out upon the sands closer to the water. “Are you hungry?” she asks, gesturing to the bag at her side. “Mira and the cooks were kind enough to pack a meal for us. You are welcome to anything that you wish to have.”

“Thank you.” Sansa smiles over at the Queen --her good-cousin-- and reaches into the mentioned bag.

In the top of the bag, there are sweetened biscuits with dried cranberries and orange zest as well as savory rolls with garlic, herbs, and sharp cheese wrapped in linen napkins. Below the biscuits and rolls, the cooks had packed wooden bowls wrapped in cheesecloth. In one bowl, there are pieces of thinly sliced cured ham, the very kind that the Queen enjoyed wrapped about figs with sweetened goat cheese. In the same bowl, there are slices of firm white cheese. In the second bowl, Sansa finds carrots, radishes, and sweet peppers. The last of the bowls is filled with sweet black cherries, tart green grapes, and fresh strawberries. There are glass bottles within the bag as well, each of them filled with water.

Taking a sweet biscuit for herself, Sansa breaks a bite of it off from one of the corners. It’s heavenly tasting. The pastry is flaky and sweetened perfectly. “The biscuits are delicious,” she tells her good-cousin with a smile.

“I am glad that you like them.” Laira reaches for one of the savory rolls, breaking it in half before offering part of it to Moone. A flicker of concern slips through Laira when the direwolf does not immediately take the offering from her. Moone frequently begged her for food whenever she and Hal ate, never once refusing anything that Laira offered to her. Only a moment later, Moone stretches her head forward and gingerly takes the roll from Laira’s fingers. Her attention is turning back down the coast only a second later, focus back on the outcropping of rock along the cliffs.

Laira looks back at the area, though she cannot see anything that concerns her. The dart of crimson and shadow had likely been nothing more than her eyes playing tricks upon her. All the same, Moone’s continued focus makes her uneasy.

“Hal says that we may travel to Lys for a time,” Sansa says, taking another bite of her biscuit. “He says that it is warm there… that you have a manse within the Free City where we could stay.”

“The manse belonged to my mother,” Laira explains. “It has been held by members of our family since the dragonlords of the Old Empire reigned.”

Sansa hesitates, nibbling another bite from her biscuit. “Would we be safe there?” she asks, glancing down the beach where Hal and Helen are still walking. She does not believe that Hal will venture anywhere with them that will not be safe.

“We would ensure that you and Helen remained well protected, sweetling,” Laira murmurs, her own gaze following Sansa’s.

“I hadn’t felt safe in a long time… not until I was reunited with Hal,” Sansa admits. For so long, she’d been a caged bird… a little dove in a gilded cage. “But then…” she trails off, her eyes beginning to tear up at their edges. “Lady Olenna cannot force me to marry Lord Tyrell, can she?” Sansa questions, her voice breaking.

When Sansa had first been offered the opportunity to marry Willas, she’d thought the chance to be her only way to freedom. That had been before Queen Daenerys had helped orchestrate the plan that had stolen her away from the Lannisters. That had been before she had been reunited with Hal. All Sansa wanted now was to be with her family. She did not want to be Lady of Highgarden. She did not want to marry a man twice her age who knew nothing about her.

“What Lady Olenna attempted was treason, sweetling,” Laira murmurs. The roll in her hand is largely forgotten. She extends it out to Moone, watching the direwolf take the second half with no hesitation. She seems more at ease now, her head resting heavily against Laira’s knees. “She had no right to attempt to force you into a marriage with Lord Tyrell. She had no right to attempt to force Helen into a marriage with Lord Redwyne’s son.”

To do so while Hal had been occupied in the Stormlands and Laira had been away upon Dragonstone had been all the more underhanded.

“You needn’t worry over such a thing any longer,” Laira continues, her voice gentle. “You will not marry anyone that you do not wish to. Neither will Helen. Do you understand?”

Sansa nods as the Queen speaks, reaching to dab away the tears in her eyes. “Promise?” Sansa whispers, her voice breaking again.

“I swear to you, sweetling,” Laira murmurs, reaching to press her hand down atop Sansa’s. “If anyone attempts to force you or Helen into another marriage, they shall answer to me and they shall answer to your cousin.”

Let Lady Olenna or any other attempt such a thing with her family once again. They would have her wrath in answer to it.

Dabbing at her eyes again, Sansa sniffles and picks a dried cranberry from her biscuit. “I have always wanted to marry someone for love.” Sansa has always wished for a life and a love like those within a song. “Mother always said that love could come after… that love did not necessarily come before a marriage.” Her mother had been fortunate in her marriage, had been fortunate to have loved her father and that he had loved her in return. Sansa knew such things did not always occur. “I wish…” she trails off, considering her next words carefully.

Hal is Winterfell’s heir by Westerosi inheritance law. He has no intention to keep the Northern seat, though. He has already told Sansa as much. He will act as her regent until she is of age. Then, Winterfell will pass into her governance. It was such power that others would always see. They would see a hold on the North through her. They would see her as nothing more than a puppet to be flitted about on strings. “I wish the world would allow for someone to love me for me and not for my family’s seat,” Sansa finally admits. “I do not think that such a thing will ever be possible, though.”

The Lords of Westeros would forever look to their daughters and see tools to gain power.

“Perhaps the world is in need of change.”

Both Laira and Sansa glance up, finding Hal now standing beside their blanket. Helen is still atop his shoulders, looking down at them with a quiet little smile.

“I think that’s what Queen Daenerys intends to do,” Hal goes on, lifting Helen off his shoulders. He sets her back on her own feet, giving her a moment to become steady before he lets her go. She immediately goes to Sansa’s side, squeezing herself between her cousin and her aunt. When Sansa offers her a biscuit from the canvas bag, she eagerly takes it.

“Your cousin is right,” Laira says, smiling when Hal leans to press a kiss against the top of her head. “Daenerys wishes to build a world where little girls are no longer used as collateral to secure power.”

Laira can only hope that she succeeds in such an endeavor. The Lords of Westeros would not be so easily swayed.

The rest of their day upon the shore is without incident. Sansa and Helen linger with Laira and Hal long enough to eat a few treats from their lunch before dashing back out to play along the sand and in the shallows. The trek back up to the castle is as light as their trek down to the beach had been earlier in the day. The girls giggle back and forth between themselves, trading stories and showing one another shells that they have gathered throughout the day.

With sunset still some time away, Hal asks the stableboys to fill one of the large water basins within the gardens with fresh water. All three direwolves are damp from the sea and matted with sand from their playing. Even Moone, who had spent most of her time lingering at Laira’s side, had taken a run into the shallows not long before they departed. They will all need to be bathed and rinsed before entering the castle again.

The girls stay behind to help, Helen already starting to pour clean water over Dawn’s back as Laira walks the steps up into the Great Hall. The direwolf sits without a fuss, letting Helen do as she wishes.

It is cool inside the castle. The torches along the walls have been lit in preparation for night. As Laira walks, she can hear the chattering of the maids and the cooks within the kitchens, all of them going about their tasks. It’s a comforting sound, she realizes. Everyone within the castle seems utterly content. It’s a stark change from the Red Keep… from the attendants that had been present within the palace when Daenerys had taken the city. She lingers for a moment, poking her head into the busy space to check on all those within.

Mira gives her a smile when she sees her, seated at a small table with her daughters and her mother. Ser Aeron is seated across from Mira and her family, talking and laughing with her maid’s little girls. Celesse is pouring a splash of cream into a bowl across the kitchen. She brings it back to Ser Aeron, setting it down in front of the man with a kind hand against his shoulder. The master-at-arms smiles at her, thanking her before taking a bite of what Laira believes to be peach cake. The cooks had received fresh peaches just a few days ago and had been using them frequently in sweets and salads.

“Did you and your family enjoy your day, Your Grace?” Mira calls, standing from the table. She carries a tray in her hands as she does, moving so she can deposit them in the sinks across the kitchen.

“We did,” Laira assures. “Perhaps your little ones could accompany us the next time that we venture to the shore.” She smiles when she notices the way Mira’s daughters brighten. She doubts they have ever been extended such an invitation before. “Sansa and Helen would no doubt love to have playmates closer to their own ages.”

“That is very kind of you, Your Grace,” Mira answers, smiling over at her daughters. “I am sure they would enjoy such a thing very much.”

Laira looks to Ser Aeron then. “Be sure that the stableboys eat as well, Ser Aeron,” she tells him. “They were kind enough to help my husband with an endeavor with the wolves,” she says. “Be sure that they both take food home for their families. And you as well.”

“I’ll fetch them myself, Your Grace,” Ser Aeron answers, spearing another piece of peach cake with his fork. “Thank you.”

Laira leaves them only a few moments later, pausing to be certain that Celesse and the cooks have enough to eat and enough to carry food back to their families. When Laira enters the hallway that houses her and Hal’s apartments, she pauses at its end. The doors to her rooms are ajar and there is a shadow moving within the space. Her husband and her family are still down within the gardens, tending the wolves, she knows. And her attendants are within the Great Hall, milling about in the kitchens.

She hesitates only a moment before she is moving, feet quiet against the dark stone. Glancing around the doors into her apartments, Laira finds the space empty. Across the living space, the doors to her solar are thrown open. There is a fire burning within the hearth. Another shadow flickers along the wall within the small space.

Dark Sister is still propped at the end of her bed, resting against the onyx colored chaise. She moves without a second thought, hand wrapping about the grip. The Valyrian blade is pulled from its scabbard as she crosses the room, the steel gleaming in the faint firelight. There is a feminine figure standing before the hearth when she steps into the solar. Clad in all crimson, dark hair spills down the other’s back. The design upon the woman’s crimson robes identifies her before anything else can.

A Red Priestess. A servant of the Red God, R’hllor.

The priestess’ head tilts slightly. Laira can see the quirk of the woman’s mouth from where she stands. “Daughter of Death,” the woman speaks, the words flowing off her tongue in the language of the Old Empire. “We have much to discuss.”

{ @truetargaryen & @fullrangeofemotions & @thequeenmaker & @xcoatlicuex & @hisvipereyes & @viperparamour & @nolongerhispawn & @shewhoisironborn & @adornishviper & @anunfailingkindness & @ialwayswasthebest & @iveneverbeenagoodgirl & @aladyofwinterfell & @therosesofhighgarden & @arisiarrxb & @alionessroars & @zaldrizo & @fairytalesandstars & @queeniolande & @yrracynrxl & @scaleddoe & @scraniknatu }

[eskcreative]

I started a new fanfic 😊

Here is an excerpt from chapter one. Follow the link at the bottom to read on:

Spared - A Philip Lombard Fanfic

The strong current lapped at the sides of the tiny motorboat, carrying five silent passengers to Soldier Island. The dark clouds hung low in the sky like an ominous warning against the voyage. But the reason for indulging the escapade in the first place held enough threat on its own.

A tip from a local boatsman had Plymouth Law Enforcement scrambling to make their way to the tiny island off the Devon coast. His words had suggested an array of terrors. Odd behavior, unrest, halted communication, injury, death.

No one in the boat knew what had happened on the island that had spurred boatsman Fred Narracot to call in officials on his hunch. None of them really wanted to find out.

Yet, they rode forth, with Mr. Narracot at the motor. On the left sat two constables, Bernard Wallace and Arthur Farlow, squinting into the breeze toward the sharp cliffs that lined the foreboding island. And on the right, Doctor Clyde Banks of the Plymouth City Hospital with his nurse, Evelyn Spare.

The young woman, barely twenty-five, grasped the edge of the wooden boat, knuckles white in nervous anticipation. She’d been brought onto the hospital job by Dr. Banks less than a year prior, as the need for more nurses spiked amidst murmurings of impending war. Despite her inexperience, Evelyn caught on easily and quickly became Dr. Banks’ choice assistant. He’d instructed she accompany him on this emergency excursion, giving her no chance to contemplate the dangers it might pose. With barely a hesitation, she responded with an earnest ‘yes.’

In the distance, the island rose tall above the sea, an expanse of sharp cliffs on all sides. One lone, large house sat at the center of the land. Evelyn could see the waves crashing onto a tiny beach, too far to recognize many details, but it was the only bit of shore available to dock on.

Each passenger was silent as the boat rocked against the waves. The silence was deafening.

But that quickly changed.

BANG.

A shot rang out; the sharp ripples of the sound radiating all the way to their small vessel. The constables sat up straighter, studying the island with a frenzied intensity.

“Was that a…?” Evelyn shifted her nervous gaze to Dr. Banks.

“A gunshot, yes.” He finished her sentence, not tearing his eyes from the cliffs either.

BANG. Another shot.

Bernard and Arthur drew their own guns, holding them close to their sides. Evelyn grasped her bag full of medical supplies as if it could provide her some protection.

Barely a few seconds later; BANG. BANG. BANG. Three more shots, and then the silence returned.

Evelyn squinted across the sea, trying but failing to keep her heart rate even. She knew how to handle sickness and blood, death and dying, but she’d never witnessed the crimes herself. She wasn’t used to being thrown headfirst into the danger. When she was younger, she’d seen the sharp slap her father had placed across her mother’s cheek. It had been one of many, becoming commonplace in the Spare household. But this—the gunshots—they threatened so much more.

She mentally ran through the items in the bags that the doctor had brought. Bandages, scalpels, sutures, morphine…all temporary fixes for moderate injuries. But she had a feeling that moderate was not the kind of situation that awaited them on the island.

The motor purred loudly at the rear of the boat as it cut through the water in the direction of the beach. Evelyn squinted again toward the waves that lapped at the shore. Something lay across the wet sand, just barely touching the angry current.

No, it wasn’t something. It was someone.

The blood rushed to her ears, pumping loudly as she made out the form of a man on his back, arms splayed out as if he were hung on a cross. The front of his shirt was completely saturated in deep, red blood.

“He’s been shot…” She breathed, feeling her own blood leave her head.

The constables peered up at the cliffs, guns still drawn in search of an assailant.

“How many are on the island?” Dr. Banks’s voice was even as he addressed the boatsman.

“Ten souls, sir.”

Bernard spoke up as they reached shore. “From the looks of it, no more than nine now.”

When she felt the bottom of the boat sweep across the sand, Evelyn jumped into the shallow waters without a second thought, drenching her shoes and the bottom of her dress as she scrambled up to the beach.

“Evelyn!” Dr. Banks called from behind her. “Be careful there, darling.”

She was next to the man in a few short strides, kneeling down into the blood-soaked sand around him. His face was slack and pale, contrasting his dark brows and the damp hair on his head. She placed two fingers against his neck as the Doctor joined her.

A heartbeat. So faint. But it was there.

“He’s alive.” She touched his shoulders, his chest, trying to figure out how many bullets he’d taken. Based on the amount of blood, clearly more than one had hit.

Bernard had walked by without much of a glance, already focused on the steep cliffs surrounding them. But Arthur stopped at her side.

“He won’t survive, Miss.”

Evelyn looked to Dr Banks, who’s expression was grim. But again, she lowered her gaze to the wounded man. He was alive. To her, that meant he could survive...

Read the full chapter:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/35308732/chapters/87998242