#Magic Kingdon

[loriache]

do you ever think about how delgal never blamed the winged lion for what happened to thistle?

I'll preface this by saying that he certainly COULD have done. most of the arguments that delgal had with thistle about returning the golden kingdom are off-page, and he doesn't seem to have relayed a lot of detail to yaad about how he understood thistle's behaviour.

however.

what we can infer, i think, is that if delgal blamed anything for thistle's increasingly erratic behaviour, it was the influence of "black magic" and power.

the winged lion is the golden kingdom's guardian deity, and that is how they understand it up to the present - including yaad. the prophecy that convinced delgal to leave the dungeon (which i assume the winged lion intended to use to attract another, more easily controllable, dungeon lord) is likely to be part of a long campaign the lion made of deliberately isolating thistle from the people of the golden kingdon and presenting itself as the victim.

we see that the lion is convincing, and keeps a facade of concern for thistle long past the point that it has any chance of winning him over - i don't have any doubt it was easy to present this narrative to the kingdom's people, including delgal.

but isn't it incredibly sad to think that the person who thistle trusted most in the world and did all of this for was unable to see the true victim, between him and the winged lion?

we see that very shortly upon becoming the dungeon lord, both marcille and laios become lost in their desires. this is standard.

Laios is only able to get through to marcille because he sees the root of her pain, and understands that ...

...the dungeon's power is evil.

thistle isn't acting rationally from the very beginning, but it is possible to reach him - if delgal could understand where his desire and his fear stemmed from, and that the winged lion is evil.

Thistle at least seems to know that the winged lion isn't to be trusted. Thus why he sealed it in the book. perhaps he picked up on what it was doing, manipulating the kingdom's people and him both.

But if he ever said that the winged lion was dangerous, not to be trusted, to delgal, he wasn't believed. to delgal, thistle sealed and misused the power of the golden kingdom's guardian deity. As a student of ancient magic, I believe thistle understands that isn't what the demon is - or at least not all of what it is - even if he doesn't know the details of why it's so dangerous, or that it can devour his desires. But as an 'outsider' to the golden kingdom, despite his (unofficial, i'm sure) adoption, and the fact he's been there most of his life, I doubt his saying so would be received well by the kingdom's people.

As far as we know delgal also doesn't understand the fear that is driving thistle's refusal to let the dungeon go -- the need to be useful that he instilled.

Even if he doesn't really realise, he is talking to a, at most, 15-16 year old in relative human years, and putting the responsibility for the kingdom on him - it's no wonder this is a weight that Thistle isn't able to let go of. Especially if this is how he attempts to persuade him:

It doesn't get to the root of why he asked thistle to do this to begin with - the fear of death. It's just "hasn't it been long enough, people want to leave." Well, if they leave, they will die - thistle's right about that! The only way to get him to accept that is what Yaad eventually does on his behalf at the end of the manga.

To admit that he was wrong to ask to begin with. To ask Thistle to accept loss and death. To accept it himself, truly.

Without doing that, there's no way he'd ever get through to him. So the route he takes - running away from thistle, begging that someone kill the "lunatic magician" - might be the last resort of a desperate man who blamed himself for what happened to his brother. But it's also something he does because he can't understand Thistle, and can't see his pain for what it is or his relationship with the Winged Lion for what it is.

The way that the lion manipulates others' perception to make him the victim and thistle the - well, the 'lunatic', the unstable villain and captor - really evokes DARVO to me. the demon as a metaphor for an abusive relationship. like.... look at this extra:

and it makes me sad that no-one realised what was going on until it was too late for thistle.

[potionpeddlerpatchy]

Patchy I love this event!! It’s so cute!! You have so many pretty things here…

I did spy a lovely book that I wouldn’t mind taking a closer look at… the one with the worn, brown cover? If you don’t mind… 👀

Meggs, how kind it is of you to travel all this way to want to celebrate in such festivities! It does warm my heart with how fond you are of all my bobbles, trinkets, and potions.

So, I suppose, I can gift to you that old book upon my shelf, though it is not part of those I wish to give away. After all, I cannot change the fates - if it called to you, then it is meant to be yours. I trust that you will keep it safe.

Now please, reach out and take it, after all, a closer look is a good idea 🔮

Darkness sounded you, a strange phenomenon as you could vividly recall the warm light of the shop you had entered, recall the worn book your fingertips danced across, and the feeling of uneven cotton within the cushion you decided to sit upon as you heard the small creaking noise of the spine of the book being opened.

All of it now seemingly a faint and distant memory as you laid surround by inky blackness. A heaviness seeped deep within your bones, making a normal act such as moving your hand, or lifting your arm, impossible. Forced it seemed, that you were to be held captive in your own mind; awake as your thoughts ran wild as you body kept itself in a deep slumber. You were unsure how this could have happened, unsure how such a thing could befall upon a person, but you knew one thing was for certain – you were cursed and now at the mercy of another to free you from this lonely and desolate confinement.

For who knows how long.

Though it was not just you stuck frozen within the confinement of you own mind, the entire kingdom that surrounded you was stuck in a endless sleep, perhaps in their own way keeping you company as you traveled through time, never aging, so whenever the miracle came to allow you wake once more you would not be alone; instead have those you grew accustomed to stand alongside you again – at least that is what you hoped. Though one small gratuity of kindness could not make up for the never-ending curse that loomed, one that had no clear way or answer on how to lift it.

It was perplexing, all of it, to Kirishima as his large crimson wings carried him over the grey and frozen land; watching as it all stood eerily still with not even a gust of wind to move a single blade of grass. It sent a shiver down his spine as he wondered what someone within that land could have done to desire such a fate.

Perhaps someone insulted his Queen? And thus inferred her fury? Nonetheless, curiosity took hold of him as he soared lowered to take a closer look at the Kingdon and it’s slumbering inhabitants, going to deliver goods to the dragons of the North no longer captivated his interest any longer – besides he knew that could wait another day, who knew how long these people could?

He landed with a silent thud, taking a moment to adjust his feet to the now even ground, before he began to wander throughout the lifeless town. A sense of unease made purchase deep within his soul as took more of the sights in; how everything seemed to fall in order of routine that these people had and yet remained perfectly untouched. A dichotomy that would have never crossed his mind, never one that seemed impossible to achieve. Yet, he knew given his encounters with magic and all things mysterious, that it could.

Before long, mere minutes of wandering about, looking into the lives made still of these poor people, did a bright beam green light made itself know. One that made him wince as he tried to look upon it, to see where it came from; for if there was a light being cast it could mean a person who could provide him an insight to all the questions ran through his head. His heavy boots seemingly made the ground shake as he dashed his way towards, and up, the tall stone tower where the beacon laid; like a lighthouse to a boat it seemed to call him forth to allow him home. That sense of familiarity, of homeliness, further caused his brows to furrow in confusion as he ascended the tower.

Though as he stumbled through the wooden door that sat at the very top, bursting forth into the room behind it, did it all seem to make sense. For there you laid, the fair maiden that had managed to bewitch him with an alluring smile way back during the Summer Solstice, slumbering peacefully like an angel from the heaven’s above.

It was because of you, he was sure, as to why this curse befall over this land. Your beauty and grace would make anyone jealous. Perhaps you accidently captivated a lover already taken by a powerful sorceress? And that this was now your punishment, and the punishment of those you ruled over.

Licking his lips to try and rid himself of the dryness of his lips, Kirishima let out a shaky breath as he stepped towards you. It was as if he was not in command of his own body anymore as he slowly creeped to your bedside, wanting just a closer glimpse of your beautiful face.

Shifting down upon one knee, balancing his weight so he would not lean any of his weight upon your bed, before gently pushing a few strands of your hair away from your face. He took a moment to brush his thumb over your cheek before he leaned his face closer to your own, lips parting slightly as he began to close his eye….

~

“Excuse me ma’am…!”

The peddler’s voice, though soft, startled you out of your trance as you jolted away from the paged upon your lap to look upon her face; you felt almost sheepish as you closed the weathered book. Once she noticed your attention was on her, she gave you a kind smile, as she placed a gentle hand upon your shoulder.

“I do apologize for startle you. But it is late, and I do wish to retire for the night” She guided you up from your chair, pushing the book deeper into your hold “Though, I do encourage you to keep reading once you get back to your abode.”

“I-I can keep it?” You stuttered out, mind still trying to catch up to all that has happened, as your feet faltered in their stride.

“Of course, you can, it called to you after all” The peddler chuckled, opening the door for you to walk through. “The story within it is now yours to keep.”

“It is? Truly?” With a final sigh, one more of amusement than disdain, she nodded her head – closing the door briefly “Just promise me you’ll take good care of it? If you do, I guarantee your dragon love will stay with you.”

You seemed very captivated by how the story was unfolding; as if the world itself no longer existed and it was just and those worn pages. Just like Kirishima seemed to be with you when he stumbled upon you once again.

Never fear, even once those pages run out of ink to read, his love for you will be ever-lasting - and it will be shown to you soon enough, you just need to look for it in this world, not that one 🔮

I do hope you wish to keep what you found, for all 'sales' are final

[curufiin]

@nighttimepatrons @wanderingarcherviola

OK SO you two commented so i will tag you.

TLDR: Calantar is my cute and silly and awful Curufin/Sauron fanchild who is just as terrible as his dads, and i plan to have him feature in my ringmaker curufin long fic (assuming i ever even finish chapter one lmfaooo)

He was born about maybe a year after Finrod’s death, after Celebrimbor for whatever reason leaves Nargothrond for Doriath since Curufin won’t be banished just yet. and because he emotionally cannot handle not being a dad, he decides to turn to Annatar, whose identity he is now well aware of and whose power he’s equally aware of. But here’s one issue! They’re both guys. How are they going to have a kid?

After a lot of pacing around and think emoji’ing and probably bad influences from Annatar, Curufin decides that Clearly, the best way of having a child is to Literally split his fëa and then inbue a piece of it into flesh. Let’s just say that’s a terrible idea and Curufin will be paying for it later. But here’s the other problem: he doesn’t just want Any flesh for his perfect son, oh no no. he has to be SPECIAL. So Annatar chops off his own finger (dw he can still regenerate it at this point) to bond the piece of fëa to, and after a Lot of bad magic and possible necromancy, Calantar is born! In a cloud of glitter and rainbows obviously.

His birth name is Laurinquar Curufinwion which is LITERAL HELL to Sindarize. And he looks like a typical baby at first, minus the cute little orange streak he inherited from “Annatar”. But since he does have Maia blood, he does get some nifty powers: in this case light manipulation, which is where the name Calantar (lord of light/bringer of light) comes from, and he has a limited shapeshifting ability (he can shapeshift but only into different elven forms. no animals, RIP). Also his sindarin name would be Calador (light lord) and I think it’s cute

He’s like. An Interesting Person let’s just say. He is like the insane familial loyalty of Curufin combined with the self serving manipulative and self righteous part Sauron combined, so he is literally incapable of ever admitting his parents are bad people because he thinks they’re not! They’re great! You’re wrong and he will kill you for saying otherwise!

He doesn’t do much in the first or second age since y’know. Baby. And also daddy is off to usurp a kingdon brb, but in the third age he’s tasked to return the ring to dad at all costs. I’m sure he’s had some fun interactions with Celebrimbor

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester City U18s 1-2 Manchester United U18s

MANCHESTER IS RED (go with it)

When United are mint, everything is mint, and fuck me are United's Under-18s mint - and also double winners. Up the fucking reds!

United started strongly at Leigh Sports Village, with a driving run and fizzing shot from Ethan Williams in the 3rd minute testing City keeper Brits. Three minutes later and Ruben Curley was doing the exact same again, but to no avail. Then, one minute later, magic happened.

A deep ball from just over the halfway line by Nolan lofted into Ethan Wheatley's path perfectly, but the touch and control to bring it down into a shooting action was technique Dimitar Berbatov would have applauded. Unreal composure and confidence, and topped off with a great finish at the near post past the stunned Brits.

City came back at United, and the game opened up into more of a back-and-forth affair, trading shots on goal, but United's organisation kept a very tight defensive structure and limited the Citizens from any real threat on Elyh Harrison's goal - not that the wunderkind needs too much help. Kid's a future star keeper.

The middle of the half approached and Harrison punts a goal kick up field towards RW James Scanlon. The Gibraltan international nods the ball wide to attacking full back James Nolan, who drives a curled pass forward along the ground into the path of Ethan Wheatley. A defender slides, he knocks it, but Wheatley has the pace. He nips in, rounds the keeper, slots home. 2-0 United and LSV is in bits. SCENES.

City kept up the battle though, and a great killer through ball nearly opened United up in the 34th minute but for a huge body interception and block by Harrison in net. City captain Heskey was potentially fouled in the United box by Jack Kingdon - no foul given though - but otherwise come half time there could be no complaints at United's lead.

The second half was more City, with United making substitutes for rotation's sake but also due to the dearth of depth in the first team squad meaning certain promising youngsters have been requested by Erik Ten Hag for Wednesday's Premier League game against Sheffield United.

Both sides had reasonable chances on goal but nothing too serious until Stephen Mfuni nodded home from a corner to give City five minutes of hope... which was almost realised but for a fantastic full-stretch save by Harrison off Alfa-Ruprecht's header.

City's play and persistence did deserve a goal, and with the arguable penalty in the first half, on another day it could have been a different affair. It is nice to see the best two teams make the final though, and make it a memorable contest.

It's the result that matters though, and the silverware is ours. The league and now the cup. What a bunch of lads.

Two games remain this season - both at home. Sunderland visit us this Saturday, and then there's one last game versus Everton on May 4th. Lets end strong. GGMU.

[49-ibr]

27 Soul

(Send me 1-49, a keyword, and Character/Place and I'll make you something non-canon from the world of 49!)

I'll pick Place since you didn't pick one lmao

In the depths of the kingdon of Ice is a frozen crystal that glows with magic. Inside is what was once a child, but is now a trapped soul: never to be freed by anyone

[xanderxciv]

Frozen What-If: Part 3 - Spark

During the events in Part 1, the time Itri was doing tasks for Aladheid, at one point he had enough of the kingdom, after bullies that were messing him, hurt Iwa. It was supposed to be one final task, and he was done.

Turns out Itri was gathering magical artifacts that can grant one powers similar to his own. An angry Itri arrived after seeing unusual lightning bursts, because Aladheid's lackies ended up hurting his dog. Turns out he never hated Itri, only envied him. Because he never used his power to conquer. When he gained Lightning magic, he revealed that his original plan was to anger him enough so he'd destroy the kingdom, and Aladheid would look like a hero by defeating him. He also revealed that he's the one that's responsible for his parents' deaths, and King Noah's death.

A fight ensued, Itri ended up getting the trust of ALL the civilians, and defeating Aladheid was partly due to Iwa & Leon. The kingdom always had this magic, golden sword around, and it seemed to have drained Aladheid's power. After the sword was broken, it turns out that Leon is just like Itri & Iwa. He controls lighting & was able to drain alot of Aladheid's power. After the battle, Aladheid is imprisoned, and also very weakened because whatever he did to gain that power, there was a price. They learned that an ancient threat is returning. One that Aladheid made a deal with to recieve power.

During Part 2, before Itri & Iwa's later events, they were all dealing with a different threat to the kingdom. The Boogg. They made them retreat, but later returned with assistance from some dark presence that Adalheid is familiar with.

Leon lead the charge & used his powers to fight, but he's not on Itri & Iwa's level. After their Spiritual Revelations, they returned & won the battle.

Months later, Leon's personal journey begins. Before, the three were gathering info on what this ancient threat is, with the only clue being that their parents once fought it.

There was also another threat, one just like them, but born with Wind magic. His goal was revenge for something Itri did back when he first protected the kingdom & used his blue flames in rage(That side of the story will be explained in Part 4).

But later events led the Wind magic user & Leon to their Spiritual Revelations and get the answers they seek. Leon's took place at the Kingdom of Jove, the native homeland & resting place of his mother, Queen Luna. All he knew about her was she died shortly after he was born. He learned of the old War from both his parents. Which was against the Darkness spirt, jealous of the other Elements living in the light, being a part of all life. So the spirit intended to destroy all life, so darkness thrives. The people of Perchtia witnessed that threat, and Aladheid was there as well.

During the war, King Noah proven to the Lightning Elemental Spirt that he's a good king, willing to protect not only his people, but others, even enemy kingdons. He knew that the only way to stop the threat was to have magic of his own. But because he wasnt born with it, recieving such power has a price. In his case, that price was rapid aging. It wouldve been worse if Leon's mother didnt also take the burden. King Noah, Itri's parents & the Spriggans defeated the Dark. But only temporarily because not all the elements were present.

After the war, the Lightning Spirit decided to grant his gift, to Leon. After his Spiritual Revelation, he returned to Itri & Iwa, who were holding off another emergence of the Dark. And Leon wasnt the only one...

To Be Continued in Pt.4 - Tempest

[wakestoriespod]

Long, long ago, in a time so distant that the oldest of us have lost its memory, there was a man, a great king who had a son. His son Elnai, was a gentle man. He spent his days in learning, music and craft and history, the statecraft of his father's rule.

When Elnai was of age to be a man, his father asked him how he would begin learning the duties of a king. The young man thought for many days on this, and finally returned to his father with an answer.

"I would see this kingdom in its whole, my father, not simply as it shows itself to a prince. I would walk its roads and meet its people without them knowing me." His voice was quiet and sure. The king nodded, pleased with his son's answer.

"Then you will do so, and you will learn what it is to be a man instead of a prince. Do you still have your old harp, the one you put aside a few years ago.?" When the prince nodded, his father continued. "Then go, my son, and take that harp with you. Clothe yourself as a humble harper, and you will know welcome anywhere within the kingdon."

Elnai smiled and bowed deeply to his father. "I will return to you, my lord, when I have seen what I need to see." He left the king's rooms and returned to his own, gathering together his harp and traveling packs. He went quickly to the marketplace and bought some clothing, well made and warm, but not as fine as his princely garb. By morning, he was ready, and with the harp and pack upon his back, he set off to see the kingdom.

Spring and summer passed quickly as the harper, calling himself Lennas, wandered the roads. Every town and village he passed called to him for news and songs and tales, and he passed nearly every evening inside an inn or tavern, surrounded by the people of his father's kingdom. When his voice was tired, he would ask one of the local storytellers to give him tales from the town, and by the end of the evening, he was one of them, a friend in the tavern.

Now it was the middle of autumn, and the wind had turned cold. Lennas found himself very far from his home city, and thinking of the coming winter. His wanderings took him to the manor house of a noble lord, where he asked humbly for a place for the winter. So distant was he from the castle that his news from there was still new, and his stories fresh. The lord welcomed him greatly, giving him a guest's place at table, and comfortable, warm rooms.

The winter began with harsh snow and wind as the harper entertained the lord, his lady, and their daughter. He wove story and tale and song each evening for them, and all their household, but soon enough it was only the daughter his thoughts were on when he sang. In his eyes, his harpstrings became her honey brown hair, the smooth wood of the instrument the smoothness of her cheek, and as his heart filled with love for her, his songs filled with magic.

Ilithe smiled on the harper, feeling the magic of his songs twine around her spirit. She spoke to her father about him, and the lord thought long and hard about the match his daughter and the harper might make. Then a message came from the king's palace that changed everything.

The harper hid while the messanger was within the manor, fearing anyone sent by the king might recognize the young prince even in disguise. He smiled, seated with his harp near the fire, making plans for when he would bring Ilithe home, to be married. His fingers drifted lovingly over the strings as he planned the day he would ask her, the day he would tell her his true name and nature, but still, he was silent on it when she entered the room. Playing harper was too comfortable, and there would be time enough later to be a prince.

There was not. Some few days after the messanger had returned to the palace, Ilithe came to him. Her face was drawn and pale as she faced the young harper and told him of her betrothal. "A great lord has asked my father for my hand, in marriage to his son." she said softly as the whisper of harpsong stilled. "It is a match none with sense would refuse.. and my parents are sensible people. It is.. a great honor." She tried to smile, but her voice was flat, her eyes filled with unshed tears. She looked for a long moment at the harper, and then sat on the stool next to him. "I would rather.."

He cut her words off with a shake of his head. "Let me sing for you, my lady, and ease the pain away. Very few of noble birth have the luxury of choosing their marriage, but.. you will find love in it. You could do naught else." His voice was hoarse as he began the singing, but soon grew warm and strong again. With his music, he stilled her twisting thoughts, and his own, and for an evening, there was peace in that small room. When the singing was done, she rose quietly, seeming calmer. He almost told her then, but any talk of marriage would have shattered the peace. "There will be time enough tomorrow." he said to himself, banking the fire and climbing into bed.

When morning came, Lennas rose and dressed quickly in his finest clothing, slipping on the signet ring he had left off for so long. He made his way quickly to the study the manor's lord spent most of his days in. Where usually there was peace, he found disarray. Lord Noral was questioning his servants urgently, and guards ran off quickly in every direction.

"My lord?" he asked quickly. Noral didn't even take the time to look at the harper before speaking.

"She's gone, Lennas. She left a letter for me, saying she wouldn't stay to marry some strange lord. Ilithe has run away."

The harper's breath caught. His heart stilled, thinking of Ilithe out alone in the wind and snow."

"If I'd only know how she'd react to being betrothed, I would never have accepted. Better to lose her to a humble harper than to the snow." Lord Noral's hands shook as he waited for word to return to him. He and the harper both paced the floor, and Lennas found himself drifting away, barely listening to Noral's words, until-

"She wouldn't even let me speak to her of Elnai. I'm told he's a gentle, good man."

The harper stopped his pacing and turned to face Noral completely. "It was Elnai who she was asked for, the prince?" When the lord nodded, he closed his eyes and drew a breath. "Bring her back, my lord. Bring her home and all will be well." He opened his eyes again, turning quickly away and going to his rooms. No music echoed in the hallway.

Days passed, and all of the guards returned from their search empty handed. Lord Noral went out to search himself, with the silent harper at his side. Together they combed the base of the winter touched mountains, one calling out her name, the other simply watching, trying as if his eyes could see through the stone. Long past where the others had given up, this pair searched together.

It was dusk when they saw her. Any darker and they would have missed the shadow against the snow. The harper, silent for days suddenly cried out and fell to his knees. He dug into the snow, freeing Ilithe's still form and lifting her up into his arms. Noral stood beside him, eyes shut against the wind. As Lennas cradled her against him, he began to sing again, a solemn, wordless cry sent out to the heavens themselves. Perhaps the heavens heard him, but Ilithe drew no breath.

Both men were silent as they returned with her body to the manor.

The harper sang at her funeral, song speaking grief that others had no way to voice. His voice was rough from the cold, choked with tears, but it drifted clearly over the snowy plains. When the singing was done, and the funeral pyre lit, only those closest heard his whispered words. "Is this what it means to be a man instead of a prince?"

The next day, Lennas the harper went to lord Noral's study once more. The mountain passes were clear, and spring was coming to the land. He stood silent before the nobleman for a moment before Noral looked up to see him. "What am I going to tell the king, and his son?" Noral asked. His face was further lined with grief, but as always, his mind was on duty.

"You need not worry my lord. I will speak to the king upon my return. It is the least I owe you." The harper's voice was quiet, tinged with an edge of bitterness Noral had never before heard it carry. He searched the young man with his eyes, shaking his head.

"What do you owe me?"

"The truth at least, for if she or you had only known it sooner, you would still have a daughter, and I a wife." Slowly, the harper drew the signet ring from his finger and placed it on the desk between them.

Noral drew the ring to him, turning it over in his hands. As recognition dawned in his eyes, so did anger. "You.. YOU are the high prince? You are the very man my daughter would die to keep from losing, and die to avoid?" His voice rose sharply. "Why did you not tell me?"

"It was a promise between myself and my father, though he had no way of knowing I would end up in this place. When Ilithe came to me, I knew not which lord she had been betrothed to. I thought.. I didn't know she would run. I thought I has time to speak." Elnai's voice was a husky whisper. "If I had known.."

"The games of princes and kings!" Noral roared, crossing the room to where the young prince stood. "Harper, be gone from my home at once. You will not pack, you will simply go from the door. If you live to see your father, tell him what this game has cost."

"My harp.." the prince began.

"Will die here, where you should. Were you any other man I would have your life for my daughter's. Instead, you will live, knowing what has been lost." Noral turned cold eyes to the harper turned prince's face for a moment more, then turned his back to him. "Go, before I call the guards."

Elnai took the ring from the desk and slipped it into a pocket. Harper he came, and harper he would go, though when he left the manor, he didn't rest or tarry, but walked until he could walk no more, then after a short rest, began again.

He reached his father's castle in a matter of weeks, worn to exhaustion from travel and cold. Soon enough, he told his father the story, and the fate of his betrothed, Ilithe. The king said nothing for a long time, simply nodding and watching his son. Finally, he rested his hand on Elnai's shoulder and sighed. "You have learned more of being a man than I ever wished. Remember her, my son, and love her for as long as you breathe. She will live in you."

The king died several years later, and his solemn son took the throne. In time he married, and his queen bore him children. All the tales of him spoke of a good king, thoughtful and caring, generous without being foolish, a king who had learned the ways of ruling well. They also spoke of the gentle king who now never sang, and rarely spoke unless he had to.

In time, age took its toll on him. His wife passed many years before him, and his son was long past old enough to take the throne. The ceremony that made his son king was brief, and quiet as ceremonies go. In the midst of the celebration, after a tender farewell, the harper Lennas again took to the roads.

Few travelled to this part of the land in winter. The manor house within the valley was all but cut off by the mountains around it. Bent with age and wind, Lennas made his way to the plains before the manor and stopped. Not far from where he stood was the outcropping of stone by which he'd found Ilithe. His steps were slow as he found the spot, then knealt on the packed snow.

Someone in the manor house, out on a winter hunt, heard the singing. The hunt was called over, several well wrapped men and their shivering dogs making their cautious way toward the source of the sound. They couldn't make out the words until they were very close... but several times, they heard the song repeated. When they finally found the old harper, he was still singing, but ice had frozen his eyes closed, and his words were slurring. The cold had long since stiffened his fingers.

"Who do you hear on the wind and who do you wait for on the ridge in the snow, in the cold of long and longer night

Your breath, a white puff in the sky Your tears, clear water frozen dry In the snow, as you watch the rising light.

I hear the whisper of my love. She calls my name. I wait to see her crossing over the snowy plain. I hear the echo of the only song our voices ever shared. I wait for her. She will melt the snow. I wait for her. She will melt the snow. I wait for her. She will melt the snow.

Come my love to your home again. Come my love and shed the ice and rain Let me sing to you beside the rising flame.

Your hands, untangling your hair. Drinking my words in with care. Let me sing to you of what our love became.

We wed in summertime, the flowers fell around us. We walked together, hand in hand under the trees. Our children played in falling leaves and we made angels in the snow. We grew old together, and you never left me. We grew old together, and you never left me. Grew old together, and you never left me.”

When the song was done this time, his voice fell still, and winter took him.

The hunters never forgot him, nor did their children, or their children's children. And if you find the manor house today, tucked away in its snowy valley, there will still be those who swear they can hear the old man, king and harper, singing his simple, final song into the wind.

[edwardskhakipants]

23 books for 2023

Thank you for the tag @goldengirlschildhood! These are some of the books that I'm excited to read this year. I think I'm going to copy your format and not add books of the same series and mark my rereads with a (*).

Neverwhere by Niel Gaiman

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (me too!!)

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

The 7-1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (this one is about an octopus that solves a murder ? lol)

Tigana by Guy Gavreil Kay

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin *

Piranesi by Susana Clarke

Twilight (on brand) By Stephanie Meyer *

The Princess Bride by Willian Goldman (I missed bookclub... whoops) *

Ninth House by Leah Bardugo

We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

The Drowned Woods by Emily Llyod-Jones

Josh And Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

The Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan (again, me too!!)

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin

A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

To Kill a Kingdon by Alexandria Christo

Put The Righteous way at the end of your list, because the last book doesn't come out until Dec 5th 🥴🥴

Anyone who wants to set themselves up with reading goals, feel free to jump on this trend!! @acewardcullen ? @edwardsvirtue ?

[rue-bennett]

Do you know any artists with similar work to evermore/folklore. it fits exactly into the niche im into right now but I haven't found anything that really captures that kind of magic. I just really wish I could take off and live up north in the first for a month im tired of the city

Ahhh yes I do, I love this little niche a lot and feel those vibes more than anything. I actually created a playlist with songs that gave me folklore vibes back in summer 2020 because I couldn't get enough either so I'll just share that here. I'd definitely also recommend the music of Bon Iver if you haven't dived into that already, because I think it was a huge influence on these two albums, even the songs Justin Vernon wasn't involved in. Most of their music is literally created in cabins in the middle of the woods, lol, especially their first two albums (which are entirely on the playlist, "For Emma Forever Ago" and "Bon Iver") and their later albums are more experimental and remind me more of evermore than folklore and I like them a lot too. Some other artists definitely tap into this ~feel like Florence + The Machine, Hozier, Ben Howard (his "Every Kingdon" album), Sufjan Stevens, Lord Huron, a ton. All below! Without further ado, lol, the playlist:

[abookishdreamer]

Character Intro: Thanatos (Kingdon of Ichor)

Nicknames- Lord of Death, Reaper of Souls, The Dark Knight by the people of Olympius

Mr. Death by Hades

Jackass by Hecate

Age- 18 (immortal)

Location- The Underworld

Personality- Thanatos can be stoic, introverted, and apathetic at times. When performing his duties, he's known to be merciful (to those who deserve it). Aside from his boss Hades and the other gods that inhabit the Underworld, he doesn't care much for the other gods in the pantheon. He has a dry sense of humor and is very protective of his sisters. He’s single.

He has the standard abilities of a god. As the god of death, his powers/abilities include pain manipulation, sensing people's life and death auras, and umbrakinesis- controlling darkness & shadows. He also has the power of flight, his glittering black wings resembling those of a moth's. His natural scent is similar to embalming fluid.

In the Underworld, Thanatos lives in a condo past the shores of the river Lethe, a few miles away from his twin brother Hypnos (god of sleep) who he’s very close with. He keeps in storage a tall adamantine scythe that has a sharp Stygian Iron blade- which was designed & forged by Hades. On his front door, there's an inverted torch. Inside, the primary colors are black, dark violet, and cobalt. There's leather furniture & butterfly/moth motifs everywhere.

As a child he used to be ghastly afraid of his older sister Keres (goddess of violent death). He also hated being her unofficial "punching bag", her making fun of him at every chance. Now, their sibling rivalry has mellowed out a bit.

Thanatos plays the drums in the band Death Theater along with Hades, Hypnos, and his older brother Charon.

In his down time, Thanatos enjoys many things like photography (he takes pictures for the Underworld travel brochure for tourists), lava surfing amongst the ruins of Tartarus, ice hockey, poker, basketball, reading, playing video games, sword fighting, carving adamantine figurines, and cooking.

He once spent an entire year getting high with his brothers- with them smoking pot laced with black opium!

Thanatos has a seat on Hades' council.

He loves cooking with his mother Nyx- his favorite meal being her delicious beef patties, hot pepper soup, sweet potato pie, and baked pastitsio with extra pepper jack cheese.

His go-to drink is beer. He also likes blackberry flavored soda, pomegranate mulled wine, & his mother's hot chocolate.

With the other beings in the pantheon, Thanatos is also really close to his older brother Charon (Ferryman of the Underworld). He’s cool with Ares (god of war) and he does enjoy Hestia's signature honey cake! He also looks up to Phlegethon (Titan god of fire), Cocytus (Titan god of wailing & lamentation), and Acheron (Titan god of pain) as male role models aside from his father. He's also friendly with Despoina (goddess of the arcadian mysteries, frost, winter, & shadows) and Lykos (goddess of wolves). Thanatos was mentored by Iapetus (Titan god of mortality, pain, & death).

As far as romantic relationships go, Thanatos claims he's too busy for a serious relationship. He has gone on a date with one of The Furies, Alecto and he has an unrequited crush on Hecate (goddess of magic & witchcraft). He also used to have a crush on Clotho- one of The Moirai.

He despises Sisyphus, though he does sympathize with the plight of Merope (Sisyphus' wife & their kids). Thanatos also dislikes Asclepius.

Thanatos is the owner of several funeral homes throughout the country and crematoriums as well as a company that makes caskets and urns- for cremated individuals. He also has his own merch line, which include graphic tees.

"Death is the only forever."

[regalfairytaleacademy]

Royal Draconahearts and Pernelle family

Ella Sliver

The mother of Seraphine Isabella and Laurel.

Ella is the current queen of the Dragon Empire, having previously served as the royal lady knight of he kingdom.

She is a serious and introverted person who rarely has strong reactions. She is very attentive that matter she does.

She is usually laid back, but can be wary or even hostile when it comes to the security of the kingdom. Despite her calm demeanor, she will often go into a pronounced drowsiness, though not cursed or anything like that.

Ella is always acts as either as advisor to her husband or a mediator between him and their twin daughters to their stubborn nature.

Likewise, she is a very loving person who holds a lot of love for her family, kingdom and comrades. Her love towards everyone important to her acts as the source of her bravery and determination.

Although she know the importance of the royal etiquette, Ella seems to prefer to be flexible, as she would be more than happy to change some of the rules if it meant keeps her children happy. She can also act as a benevolent guide to her twin daughters, as her oldest daughter was in her youth.

Ella was an orphan adopted by her at a young age. Therefore, she learn that she is an ordinary human, unlike her adoptive family who are fairies. Even she found out they aren't blood related.

Although Ella is a magic-less human, she attracts small animals such as squirrels and bluebirds. She even talks to them sometimes if she feels bad about not being good for her family and kingdon. She also asks them for help with sending messages or finding things she can't find.

She aspires to become a knight like her adopted father in order to repay him for raising her.

During the fight, she is remarkably calm and composed, refusing to her emotions get out of hand as any misstep. However, if any of her loved ones are in mortal danger, Ella becomes more reckless and panicked.

Before marriage, Ella enjoyed fencing as her favorite sport and training. After becoming queen and having children, she rarely fencing, but sometimes does fencing training with her husband during her breaks.

While her husband can be domineering at times, Ella gives her children the space they needs to live freely, believing they have become the wonderful princesses the kingdom needs.

Albert Francisco Draconahearts

Seraphine, Isabella and Laurel's father as well as Ella's husband.

Albert ruled the Dragon Empire as king, once serving as captain of the royal knights alongside the female knight who was his future queen.

Albert is a brave and determined man who's very protective of his family and people. He is loving and compassionate to his family, and may also be overprotective to them. His overprotection can also make him stubborn and easily irritated.

Albert is a half-blood fairy, his power is stronger than other mages.

Because of this, he was always outspoken about his stubbornness and looked down on humans, as seen in his often futile arrogance.

Through this, Albert proves to be a man who sticks to royal traditions, but only because he believes he can keep his family happy and safe. Once he sees his actions are doing more harm than good, Albert will try to make amends even if the person he's trying to apologize doesn't forgive him or to regret him.

Despite his stubbornness, Albert is also willing to compromise, especially when faced with a huge threat, as evidenced by is the captain of his knight. He has also proven to be a competent leader, how he leads his team and currently leads his kingdom after the war with the dark wizard.

Moreover, he and Ella are described as not afraid to do the right thing, even at the cost of their own lives.

In addition, Albert is shown to be an ardent protector of his domain, and often putting a lot of effort into getting things done.

He used to view his future queen (/fellow countrywoman) Ella as a rival before their marriage.

Albert owns a sword called, "Courage". He constantly uses to protect his family and kingdom away from the dark mage.

Except for swordsmanship, Albert is able to horseback-riding, although horses are afraid of him for unknown reason.

Philip Stephen Draconahearts

The younger brother of Albert.

Philip is an extremely strict, uptight, hot-headed, no-nonsense prince who puts duty above everything else. It is his strong sense of responsibility that cause problems in relationships. He wouldn't hesitate to put people in place. However, he can and will give praise in due course.

He protect his family and people. This protective side make him stubborn, forgetting the importance of cooperation. While it takes time, he is reasonable and able to see through the flaws and overcome them.

He expects professionalism but often overlooks personal relationship.

Damara Eudoxia - Draconahearts

Philip's wife, and Seraphine's aunt.

Before becoming queen, Damara was a former model and philanthropist working on educational philanthropy.

Damara appears to be a kind and empathetic woman, but also has a wise and rigorous side. She also shows that she is very respectful of her duties and will be tough when needed, however she does care about her child and nieces, especially Isabella, and understands their feelings.

Damara also disapproves of those those who "watch deeply" people and is not afraid 5o express the disapproval.

Compared to her husband, she notices the details of things.

[writingonesdreams]

Happy STS! If there was one AU you'd like to write for your WIP, what would it be about? @duskforged

Aww this is the perfect question for me. I live on AUs and crossovers with my WIP 😂

I want to talk about two AUs heavy on mind mind lately.

Werewolf AU

One is a crossover inspired of my two favourite books by the same author, Rachel Neumeier. Zephyr would be a werewolf leading a werewolf kind of tribe, who would come down to warn human kingdom from the threat his father's rival poses to them - he wants to enslave humans for their weakness. Lots of werewolves enjoy their dark instinctive violent sides and don't want to be bogged down by rules and civility. Humans consider werewolves monsters, but they don't mind them if they stay out of sight (meaning they just couldn't fight them and win). Zephyr and his faction really support control of the werewolf shadow magic and the bloodlust in favour of clear thought and civility and so he comes down to human general and spends considerable time proving he can control himself and help protect them from the lesser demonic werewolves send to hunt his army. He forces his part of the pack to fight as humans even between themselves (which they like to do a lot) to show and teach them perfect control. He would win the general and his advisor (a prince from another tribal kingdom) over, and they would become good friends, admiring Zephyr and his constant protection. I just find it really funny that Zephyr would spend so much time to win them over and prove his humanity, when in his kingdom humans aren't valued at all, civility and control seen as weakening of natural power and his new influential friends would only find out how much Zephyr had to hold back, including his amazingly powerful demonic shadow and how delicate and gentle he had to be towards them, how much consideration and respect he showed for being from a culture that would tear them apart and celebrate it.

Kingdom AU

The second idea is a crossover between two of my wips - Tears of Iron and 5th Magic. It's the Kingdom AU I have been developing before and that came up now since I started reading Ember blade. Great fantasy book about the clash of cultures and about society split over succumbing and integrating with their oppressors and their dictatorship or not. This reminds me so much of the premise of Kingdon AU, where Zephyr is half from the emotionally charged magical Aural kingdom, while his mother comes from the strickt orderly empire waging war at them. Zephyr would be later send to his homeland as a spy to assassinate the young emperor, only to partly sympathise with him and find his loyalties and worldviews questioned, for seeing the benefit of both approaches, while also wanting to convince the emperor of the horribleness of his mission to conquer. What I like about this one is the show of split societies, the culture clash and how it feels to be part of two worlds.

Thanks for the awesome question!^^

[meadow-dusk]

Do you think you could do the lyric ask for Music from Big Pink by The Band? :3

thanks for bringing me out of my comfort zone with this one! 😊

1// Tears of Rage And now the heart is filled with gold / As if it was a purse / But, oh, what kind of love is this / Which goes from bad to worse?

2// To Kingdon Come I been sitting in here for so darn long / Waitin' for the end to come along / Holy roaster on the brink / Take a choice, swim or sink

3// In a Station Isn't everybody dreaming? Then the voice I hear is real / Out of all the idle scheming / Can't we have something to feel?

4// Caledonia Mission The watchman covers me with his remedy / I can't see and it's hard to feel / I think his magic might be real

5// The Weight I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man" / He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can."

6// We Can Talk But I'd rather be burned in Canada / Than to freeze here in the South

7// Long Black Veil The judge said "Son, what is your alibi? / If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die"

8// Chest Fever Now she drinks from the bitter cup / I'm trying to get her to give it up

9// Lonesome Suzie I guess just watching you / Has made me lonesome too / Why don't we get together? What else can we do?

10// This Wheel's on Fire If your memory serves you well / I was going to confiscate your lace And wrap it up in a sailor's knot and hide it in your case

11/ I Shall Be Released Yet I swear I see my reflection / Somewhere so high above this wall

[cesarfilhotv]

Em meu castelo de sonhos, imaginei um mundo encantado com muita magia. Mas a maior delas, a Rainha e a Princesa, tinha que ser mais que especiais. Vocês se transformaram em verdadeiras bençãos de Deus, em minha vida real. Muito obrigado, @elainemickely & @luma.cesar por serem exatamente quem vocês são! Com vocês, tudo fica melhor e sou muito mais feliz. Parabéns pelo #DiaInternacionalDaMulher e por todos os outros dias do calendário!!! Vocês escrevem a minha história de maneira mais encantadora do que eu poderia um dia imaginar. Amo vocês mais que tudo!!! Agradeço a Deus, todos os dias, pela família que nos deu de presente. Salve #8deMarço!!! Viva as mulheres!!! #ElaineMickely #LumaCesar (em Magic Kingdon Disney World) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cphwz_0u63x/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lifelisalove]

Two snacks I can't stop thinking about from WDW

Two snacks I can’t stop thinking about from WDW

[sylhea-raemi]

What are the cookie run whales I'm so confused

I reeeaaalllyyy don't think I'm the right person to ask that, as I would not be able to answer that correctly since I only just started playing ovenbreak literally just days ago