#Natural Herbs Lite | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

vigorliterxcbdgummyofficial · 2 years

Text

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies REVIEWS SPAM & LEGIT PRICE GIVEAWAYS OFFERS!

➢Product Name — Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

➢Main Benefits — Increased Penis Length & Girth

Enhance Sex Drive & Libido

Increase Testosterone

Achieve Bigger & Harder Erection

Longer Sexual Staying Power

Improves the sensitivity of Orgasm

➢ Composition — Natural Organic Compound

➢ Side-Effects—NA

➢ Rating: —⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

➢ Availability — Online

➢ Where to Buy - Click Here to Rush Your Order from the Official Website

✅Visit The Official Website To Get Your Bottle Now✅

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies��- Every man desires dependable and long-lasting performance. Unfortunately, the aging process has a negative impact on their sexual well-being, leaving them sexually low and feeble. As a result, people become physically and sexually exhausted in order to perform at their best, and they seek for healthy and potent vitamins to restore their sexual well-being. Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies are all-natural and potent oral gummies that are designed to improve bedroom performance and sexual well-being.

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies are a natural cure for sexual issues because they restore performance as well as excitability in bed. The mixture increases testosterone production in the body, restoring optimal sexual balance as well as endurance and stamina for long-term activity. The gummies are also beneficial in promoting healthy blood circulation, which aids in the achievement of firmer and longer-lasting erections.

What To Know About Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies are all-natural male enhancement gummies that help men improve their performance in the bedroom. The gummies are the best CBD solution for male support. These Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies Reviewsare critical for resolving and advancing men's health. Any man can quickly begin to perform without difficulty.

You will appreciate the benefits of this male enhancement treatment after using it for a few days. You can use the CBD solution to help with erections. This male enhancement gummy solution can assist you in satisfying your beloved. The gummies even help you to intensify your orgasms and delight your spouse with firmer erections with increased penis size and girth. To gain fulfilling sexual advantages, the gummies must be consumed in the suggested quantities.

What Is The Working Procedure Of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Before consuming the gummies, users are always curious about how the supplement works. According to our study and analysis, the gummies act in a natural way to restore your health and sexual performance. The gummies are made up of a healthy and potent blend of herbs and clinically authorised ingredients that act in a unique way to restore your sexual well-being and performance while preventing age-related sexual decreases and weariness. The gummies aim to restore and raise testosterone production in the body. It is the male support hormone that helps to regulate physical performance and endurance, as well as sexual well-being and stamina. As a result, it reduces weariness and aging-related reductions while also assisting you in achieving higher levels of arousal and sexual drive.

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies(EXCLUSIVE OFFER) Click Here to View Pricing & Availability of These Gummies

Which Ingredients Are Present In Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Tribulus Terrestris Extract: This is a herbal component that has been clinically proven to raise the body's healthy testosterone levels. It aids in the stimulation of luteinizing hormone production as well as the increase of testosterone levels in the body for good biological functioning and regulation. It also increases the strength of your erections and makes you sexually and physically stronger, allowing you to perform better in bed.

L-Arginine: is a chemical that aids in the stimulation of your body's nitric oxide levels as well as the increase of blood circulation. The increased circulation of blood aids in the proper functioning of the gentile region. It helps to make your erections stronger and longer, as well as increase the size and girth of your penis during sexual practices. It can even help with ED and premature ejaculations.

Saw Palmetto Berry: This is a fruit extract that has been approved for increasing testosterone levels and sexual well-being. It helps to increase sexual desires and libido levels, as well as sexual stamina, allowing you to perform for extended periods of time without feeling tired. It also provides your body with important nutrients that boost your libido and sexual drive.

Eurycoma Longifolia Extract: This chemical aids in the natural treatment of erectile dysfunction while also increasing sexual drive and male fertility rate. It is also recognised to improve male athletic performance. It decreases extra fat cells throughout the body while improving muscle development results.

The Science Behind Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies is a libido enhancer that helps individuals with sexual problems regain their bedroom prowess. It uses herbs and nutrients supported by several studies to boost sex drive, enhance stamina, increase lean muscle mass, and lower performance anxiety.

One of the ingredients included in the supplement is Eurycoma Longifolia. According to studies, the potent herb helps elevate testosterone levels in the body. A study published in the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition showed that upon ingestion, Tongkat Ali or LongJack helps improve sexual desire, increase lean muscle mass, and support sexual performance.

(OFFICIAL SITE) Click Here To Order Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies From The Official Website & Get Lowest Price Online

In addition, the testosterone booster uses L-Arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a molecule that, according to the Journal of Clinical Hypertension[3], helps boost blood circulation in the body. It might also help reduce performance anxiety and allow for better ejaculation control.

However, the manufacturer of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies does not offer any clinical trials or scientific proof that backs the supplement’s claims as a whole.

What Are The Benefits Of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummiescontain herbal ingredients supported by scientific studies.

It might help increase bedroom performance, enhance sexual stamina, and boost libido.

It might help promote testosterone production in the body.

The male enhancement product might bolster energy levels and boost sexual desire.

It might help improve blood circulation to the penis.

The testosterone booster might help reduce performance anxiety and alleviate stress levels.

It might help reduce premature ejaculation issues and allow you to have better ejaculation control.

The product might help improve sexual mood, increase lean muscle mass, and support muscle development.

[Special Offer]Click here to Order now with 50% Discount

Mention Some Of The Essential Advantages Of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

There are numerous highlights of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies that are worth mentioning. It not only improves overall well-being, but it also improves sexual performance. The following are some of the main highlights of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies.

Improved Testosterone: It is the herbal and clinically approved gummies that can restore the body's healthy testosterone production. It is the critical hormone needed to restore male sexual well-being and biological processes. It also aids in the development of endurance and stamina for optimal performance.

Increased Blood Circulation: The gummies are believed to increase blood circulation in the penile region. It has a complex blend of chemicals that improve blood flow and increase sexual desires and libido levels. Increased circulation helps to restore sexual capability and erections, allowing you to have powerful erections and orgasms.

Maximum Pleasure: Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies help you maximise your pleasure by reducing testosterone deficiency. It aids in the reduction of stress and anxiety, as well as improving sleep quality. It allows you to offer your best performance while also assisting you in maintaining your sexual well-being.

Enhances Erection Quality: In addition to expanding the size and girth of your penis, Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies work to improve the quality and firmness of your erection. It enables you to have multiple strong orgasms as well as firmer and longer-lasting erections. It heightens your arousals and increases the sexual session.

Treats Erectile Dysfunction: The gummy aids in the natural treatment of erectile dysfunction. The formula boosts your confidence, allowing you to perform at your best. Furthermore, the supplement addresses the fundamental cause of ED and improves your body's erectile responses.

Clinically Approved Ingredients: Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies are made with clinically approved ingredients that have been shown to enhance your sexual life without producing any unwanted side effects. It aids in the enjoyment of your sexual life and naturally restores the equilibrium of your erections and ejaculations.

Pros

In a survey, 90% of users had a harder erection within just 7 days of using Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies.

86% of users experienced better performance in the bedroom within the first week.

Imagine a massive increase in blood flow in the male organ in less than 7 days

95% of users experienced an incredible increase in their testosterone level within a week.

Guaranteed to boost sex drive and libido

90% of users have reported enhanced sexual pleasure within the first 7 days.

Boosts Confidence, and self-esteem and improves satisfaction

Gives you explosive orgasms

Better staying power and recovery times

Makes you satisfy your partner to the fullest

Customers are not required to sign up for an auto-shipping delivery plan

Cons

Stock is sometimes low due to high consumer demand

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies is only available to purchase online

MUST SEE: Click Here to Order This Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies For The Best Price Available!

How To Consume Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

The formula's daily dosage is two gummies in the morning and evening. Users must take one gummy in the morning and one gummy before going to bed. To stay hydrated, the gummies must be taken with water. Furthermore, for the gummies to be successful, they must be taken on a consistent basis for at least three months. Users must take the gummies for at least 30 days without missing a dose. To avoid overdose, the doses must be ingested under the guidance of a doctor.

Customer’s Feedback On Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

According to one client, Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies are a genuine and potent cure for treating ED at its source. After one month of use, his sexual arousal levels, desires, and erectile responses have been restored, and he is now capable of performing at his top.

How To Order Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

With a few clicks, you may order your package from the official website. Just pay the shipping fees and pick up your packaging right away. Try it out for 15 days before committing to the full monthly subscription. Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies are only accessible online, and they keep your information private, so you don't have to worry about confidentiality.

Final Words

Consuming Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies can help men improve their physical health significantly. Guys might use them to boost their performance in order to satisfy their female friends. A person might live a more hale and hearty physical existence with the help of these Gummies. Try Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies right now to solve your male enhancement performance and bedroom problems. Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies is a tried-and-true remedy that aids in the enhancement of male muscular building outcomes and permits them to remain active.

RELATED TAGS:-

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummies

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesPrice

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesBuy

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesOffer

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesOrder

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesresult

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesBenefits

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesIngredients

(OFFICIAL SITE) Click Here To Order Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies From The Official Website & Get Lowest Price Online

#Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

0 notes

vigorliterxcbdgummiesworld · 2 years

Text

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies Reviews – Is It Scam Or Legit?

➢Product Name — Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

➢Main Benefits — Increased Penis Length & Girth

Enhance Sex Drive & Libido

Increase Testosterone

Achieve Bigger & Harder Erection

Longer Sexual Staying Power

Improves the sensitivity of Orgasm

➢ Composition — Natural Organic Compound

➢ Side-Effects—NA

➢ Rating: —⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

➢ Availability — Online

➢ Where to Buy - Click Here to Rush Your Order from the Official Website

✅Visit The Official Website To Get Your Bottle Now✅

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies - Every man desires dependable and long-lasting performance. Unfortunately, the aging process has a negative impact on their sexual well-being, leaving them sexually low and feeble. As a result, people become physically and sexually exhausted in order to perform at their best, and they seek for healthy and potent vitamins to restore their sexual well-being. Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies are all-natural and potent oral gummies that are designed to improve bedroom performance and sexual well-being.

What To Know About Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies are all-natural male enhancement gummies that help men improve their performance in the bedroom. The gummies are the best CBD solution for male support. These Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies Reviews are critical for resolving and advancing men's health. Any man can quickly begin to perform without difficulty.

What Is The Working Procedure Of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies(EXCLUSIVE OFFER) Click Here to View Pricing & Availability of These Gummies

Which Ingredients Are Present In Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

The Science Behind Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

(OFFICIAL SITE) Click Here To Order Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies From The Official Website & Get Lowest Price Online

However, the manufacturer of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies does not offer any clinical trials or scientific proof that backs the supplement’s claims as a whole.

What Are The Benefits Of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies contain herbal ingredients supported by scientific studies.

It might help increase bedroom performance, enhance sexual stamina, and boost libido.

It might help promote testosterone production in the body.

The male enhancement product might bolster energy levels and boost sexual desire.

It might help improve blood circulation to the penis.

The testosterone booster might help reduce performance anxiety and alleviate stress levels.

It might help reduce premature ejaculation issues and allow you to have better ejaculation control.

The product might help improve sexual mood, increase lean muscle mass, and support muscle development.

[Special Offer]Click here to Order now with 50% Discount

Mention Some Of The Essential Advantages Of Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

Pros

In a survey, 90% of users had a harder erection within just 7 days of using Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies.

86% of users experienced better performance in the bedroom within the first week.

Imagine a massive increase in blood flow in the male organ in less than 7 days

95% of users experienced an incredible increase in their testosterone level within a week.

Guaranteed to boost sex drive and libido

90% of users have reported enhanced sexual pleasure within the first 7 days.

Boosts Confidence, and self-esteem and improves satisfaction

Gives you explosive orgasms

Better staying power and recovery times

Makes you satisfy your partner to the fullest

Customers are not required to sign up for an auto-shipping delivery plan

Cons

Stock is sometimes low due to high consumer demand

Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies is only available to purchase online

MUST SEE: Click Here to Order This Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies For The Best Price Available!

How To Consume Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Customer’s Feedback On Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies

How To Order Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies?

Final Words

RELATED TAGS:-

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummies

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesPrice

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesBuy

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesOffer

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesOrder

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesresult

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesBenefits

#VigorLiteRXCBDGummiesIngredients

(OFFICIAL SITE) Click Here To Order Vigor Lite RX CBD Gummies From The Official Website & Get Lowest Price Online

#health

1 note · View note

urduhindipoetry · 2 years

Text

So Sweet Stevia Powder Sugar Free Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener For Diabetes (Pack of 2) (250gm Each)

Price: (as of – Details) Stevia;Health;Stevia Drops;Healthy;Tea;Coffee;Supplement;Diabetes;Leaf;Sachets;So Sweet;Herb;Substitute;Powder;Sugar Free;Lite;Ultra;Erythritol;Xylitol;Erythritol Sugarfree;Xylitol Sugarfree Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 21 x 18 x 4 cm; 500 Grams Date First Available ‏ : ‎ 19 September 2015 Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Herboveda India ASIN ‏ : ‎…

View On WordPress

#stevia drop

0 notes

thegrandstoreofficial · 2 years

Text

Where to Buy Beer Online in South Africa

Beer drinking is deeply ingrained in South African culture since many centuries. It’s a must-have drink for all kinds of ceremonies, celebrations and social gatherings. Traditional beer brewing is considered a form of art and has remained popular to this day even after the advent of commercial beer breweries. Beer accounts for about 56% of the total alcohol consumption in South Africa, out of which a significant number of people prefer to buy alcohol online.

Being the largest producer and consumer of beer on the African continent, South Africa has a huge variety of great tasting beer to choose from. While lager beer is the most popular beer type in South Africa, many small breweries are experimenting and producing different types of beer, particularly in the past 2-3 decades. Some breweries offer beer tours too that showcase the uniqueness of their brewing process and allow people to try out their beer samples.

Other than imported beer brands like Heineken and Guinness, most major beer brands are owned and brewed by South African Breweries (SAB). Castle Lager and other Castle beer variants from SAB such as Castle Double Malt beer, Castle Lite and Castle Milk Stout containing lactose, a milk-based sugar are considered amongst the most popular beers of South Africa. Other beer brands that are quite popular here are Hansa Pilsener, Amstel and Windhoek. While strong beers are considered more popular with the older generation. Castle Lite is fast growing in popularity amongst the health conscious youth who are buying more low/ zero alcohol beers.

To attract consumers seeking variety and new and unique experiences in beer drinking, breweries keep innovating their beers in terms of formulation and flavour. Volume-wise, flavoured beer is the second most consumed beer type after Lager Beer in South Africa. Varying notes of apple, citrus, spices, herbs and chocolate flavours are used in different combinations to attract and produce these beers. For example, the Bone Crusher from Darling Cellars is infused with aromatic notes of candy along with hints of citrus fruits as well as coriander and clove spices.

Other beer types available in South Africa are ale, stout, wheat beer etc. Ale is usually darker and has a higher alcohol concentration than lager along with an intense flavour of hops and a complex slightly spicy or fruity flavour. The sweetness of malted barley in ale is balanced by the bitterness of hops. Ale is brewed using yeast that rises on top of the brewing vessel during fermentation. Stout beer can be identified by its dark colour and has a sweet full-bodied complex flavour. Wheat beer is made up of at least 50% wheat grains, pale in colour and tastes very refreshing and light. It usually has low to medium alcohol content and doesn’t have much bitterness.

Craft beer is made using no artificial additives or preservatives and is all natural. It is brewed slowly with care with ingredients such as hops, malt, barley, yeast etc. Many breweries develop their original taste of craft beer by experimenting with the wonderful local ingredients available such as sorghum grain, oats and other millets. People who want to try out more variety and sophistication in beer, rather than go for the full strength traditional beers, are preferring craft beer. Craft beer is often slightly more expensive than other beers.

A lot of beer festivals take place around different parts of the country to showcase the finest beer. You can either go to these festivals or go bar hopping for beer tasting. While many supermarkets and stores do sell beer, you may not find them available at all times. Online liquor stores like The Grand Store are open 24 hours, 7 days a week and offers a wide range of beers, be it imported or local at great prices. Speaking of prices, in comparison to the rest of the world, beer in South Africa is quite reasonably priced.

Some of the beers available at The Grand Store include:

Amstel

Budweiser

Castle

CBC

Darling Cellars

Guinness

Hansa

Royal Dutch

Stella Artois

Windhoek

Woodstock Brewery

If you would just like to enjoy a cold beer alone on a relaxed holiday, or with a few people along with your braai, you can choose to buy in singles. If you want to serve guests at larger gatherings like parties and events, you can choose to buy in bulk packs. Whatever may be the occasion, beer is a wonderful drink to foster some great camaraderie. It’s no wonder that South Africans consider beer to be the country’s unofficial national drink, more so around the sporting season.

Shop beers online from The Grand Store and get them delivered right up to your doorstep on time without any hassles. So, wait no more and get ready to place your order right now www.grandstore.co.za

#shop wines online #wines online #shop whiskey online #whiskey #beers online #beers #rum #vodka #gin #shop beers online #shop alcohol online

0 notes

bbeerbrand · 2 years

Text

The Complete Guide To Most Popular Beer In World & What You Need To Know

With over 3,000 brands of beer available in the world today, it can be hard to find your favorite. In this guide, we have compiled a list of the 25 most popular beers in the world and what you need to know about each one.

Introduction: What Is The Most Popular Beer In World?

No one knows exactly how many beers are consumed in the world each year. Most people drink beer to get drunk. These popular beers have a low alcohol content and they taste great.

A recent survey conducted by YouGov has shown that Budweiser is the most popular beer in the world, followed by Heineken and Corona Extra.

What Are The Different Types Of Beer Brands?

Abeer is a drinkmade from the natural process of fermentation of the starch sugars in malted cereal grains

Beer is a fermented malt beverage that contains water, hops, yeast and barley. The fermentation process gives beer its unique flavor and aroma.

Types of Beer Brands:

Beer brands come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. There are the big name beer companies that have been around for centuries and have conquered the market with their tried and true recipes, as well as smaller, more local breweries with fresh ideas. . There are also the more niche beer brands that offer something different, like a well-known herb or spice to give their brews a unique flavor. What Are The Different Types Of Beer Brands? Types of Beer Brands Beer brands come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. There are the big name beer companies that have been around for centuries and have conquered the market.

The Top 10 Most Popular Beer Brands In The World

The world of beer is constantly changing, with new brands and styles popping up every day. Popular beer brands like Budweiser are some of the staples in your fridge. But there’s plenty of room — and your beer budget — for new brews. But with choices comes confusion, especially with so many different types of beers out there. What do you order when you’re at a bar? Is it better to ask questions first, or just go with your gut? We’ve got the answers to these questions and more in this simple guide.

10. Heineken

Heineken is the world’s most popular beer. It is one of thetop 10 brands in the world and it has a long history of being one of the best beersin America. Heineken was founded by Gerard Adriaan Heineken in 1864 and it is now owned by Heineken International.

9. Coors Light

Coors Light is a notable light lager from Coors. It goes back to 1978 with their iconic mountain motif that includes two peaks. It was first brewed in the US by the Coors Brewing Company.

Some parts of the U.S. Are currently producing Miller, including Colorado, Georgia, Virginia, and Milwaukee. Miller Lite is a light-bodied American-style lager with a moderately high alcohol content. It was first brewed by inventor and brewmaster Jacob Leinenkugel in 1842 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

8. Stella Artois

The Stella Artois brewery was founded in 1926 by a Belgian brewer called Sebastian Artois. The company is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium.

7. Bud Light

The beer’s popularity led to its name becoming a genericized trademark, meaning that anyone can use the Bud Light’s name on their products without paying royalties to Anheuser-Busch.

6. SKOL

Of all the beers sold in the world, Skol is 5th. The beer is well-known for its trademark bottle label, which depicts a fox leaping across the German word “Skol” It’s brewed in the Czech Republic by Pilsner Urquell.

Dragon Glassware Beer Glasses, Clear Double Wall Insulated Pub Mugs, Upside Down Design, Holds One Full Beer Bottle, Freezable…

ByDragon Glassware

$24.99

Rated 4.6 out of 5 by 3293 reviewers on Amazon.com

Buy Now

5. Tsingtao

Tsingtao Breweries have 15% of China’s beer market.It owns Qingdao Brewery. The Germans sourced the Laoshan spring water, used their traditional brewing methods and made a Pilsner.

4. Amstel Gold Dutch

The brewery was originally located on Kalverstraat but it is now located on Zurenborgstraat. Its best-selling product is Amstel Light. Its best-selling product is Amstel Light.

3. Budweiser

Budweiser, the American beer, is one of the most popular beers around the world. In 2017, Budweiser sold 49.2 million hectoliters worldwide. Budweiser isn’t the most popular in the US.

2. Corona Extra Lime

Corona Extra is a Mexican beer that has been the most popular in Mexico for over two decades.Corona Extra is a Mexican beer that has been the most popular in Mexico for over two decades.

1. Snow

It’s true that Snow, the world’s most popular beer is made in China. This lager originally hails from Shenyang city and was named for its creamy white head! China’s Snow beer has doubled the amount of Budweiser drunk worldwide, selling over 101 million hectoliters in 2017.

To Read More:

Biotox Gold $79/Bottle + FREE Shipping!

Click Here to Burn your Belly Fat Easily:

0 notes

catz4ever · 3 years

Text

"Edge of Darkness"

Brother Day and Reader Fanfic

Chapter 10: "Allies and Enemies"

As promised, here is the next chapter!

*No warnings this time around!*

*As always, I happily welcome any thoughts you may have about this story so feel free to comment below or message me about this chapter!*

@omg-hellgirl @coopsgirl @purplerainiris @0chemicalwaste0 @billyblackbirdrusso @bang-kim-bap @briefgalaxycat @bellevox @lafleurose @designfailure56 @curiouswildi @icarus-waxenwings @monmonuwu @etherealoscar @werewolfhybrid @potato-dragons @pigilene @gedebe @clementine-starling @levikra @sannunah28 @yuiyuuji

CHAPTER TEN: ALLIES AND ENEMIES

Once the rays of the sun gradually shone through the windows of your room, you could feel its warmth. Still resting your head on the waste basket, you could smell the vomit left over from the persistent nausea during the night. It immediately made you sick and you heaved downwards, unable to release any bile from your empty stomach. You got up and began to search your store of herbs and medicines for anything that would help ease the urge to get sick.

For several minutes you searched to no avail, repeatedly fighting the urge to throw up again as waves of nausea plagued your stomach. Finally, you found some peppermint leaves. Grinding the leaves in a small bowl, you added some hot water you had heating on the small stove next to your table. Immediately the strong scent of mint filled the air and you breathed in the steam deeply, instantly giving your sour stomach some relief. Making the crumbled leaves into a green paste, you added a small amount of oil and poured the substance into a small vial to carry with you.

Thankful that you felt well enough to function, you dressed yourself for the day and prepared to head to the kitchens to find something lite to eat. On your way down the hall, you spotted Mal and Dawn sitting at a small table in Dawn's room. They had a book spread open on the table and Mal seemed to be teaching Dawn what the words were in sign language. You knocked on the door frame and Dawn smiled over at you, welcoming you in with his hand. Mal was distracted so you snuck up behind him and tickled his sides, making him jump. He giggled and turned to you, signing your name with joy. 'Its good to see you too, Mal', you gestured back to him. Dawn laughed along with the both of you and pointed to the book they were reading together.

"He's been teaching me most of this morning. I think I have some of the basics down," said Dawn proudly. You turned to Mal and asked 'how well is he catching on?'. Mal giggled and signed "he needs more practice" by pointing his right finger and making a fist with his left and brushing his fist against his pointed finger. He smiled at Dawn and you winked at him as you laughed. Signing your sentences for Mal, you turned and spoke to Dawn.

"It appears our expert thinks you're a bit rusty still. This form of communication is difficult, but if you're consistent, I'm sure it will become second nature," you said, causing Dawn to chuckle.

"I'm trying my hardest. I'm lucky to have such a good teacher," he said kindly to the boy. After translating for him, Mal signed his reply.

"He says you're a good student. He is happy to teach someone so willing and patient," you said with a smile. Feeling your stomach churn slightly, you saw a fresh loaf of bread on the table and cut a small slice for yourself. Thankfully, the I'll feeling vanished as you swallowed a piece of the bread you had bitten off. Mal seemed to notice the grimace on your face and asked 'are you ok?' Pointing both of your fingers at each other, you rotated your hands around each other near your stomach and told him 'my stomach hurts'. With a concerned frown he asked if you were sick. You smiled and signed 'im ok. It's probably something I ate. Didn't agree with me'. Dawn reached across the table and touched your arm gently.

"Did you want me to inform Day? Perhaps the cook prepared some expired food. We can have the kitchen inspected if that's the case," Dawn offered, a small smile on his face. You shook your head.

"No. It's ok. No one else seems to be affected. I don't want him to worry about me, he has enough on his plate already. Besides, it's a lot better than it was during the night," you explained, picking up Mal and putting him on your lap. Mal grabbed a small piece of the bread loaf for himself and ate happily. There were several small toy spaceships made of wood and various puzzles scattered on the floor around you.

"These were mine when I was a young child," Dawn explained,"I thought Mal might enjoy some of them as much as I did."

"It seems he already is," you said as the boy picked up one of the spaceships and moved it around with his arm, pretending it was flying. You and Dawn laughed at the sight and looked at one another. Dawn's face changed to one of concern and worry.

"What is it?" you asked, setting Mal back down on the ground, leaving him to play with the other toys in the room.

"A source in communication with our fleet that left for Thespis informed us that the silent Invictus was indeed a trap. The units sent out didn't make it. They were completely destroyed," he said, a somber expression on his lips. Your heart sank as you heard him deliver the news.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. At least the entire fleet wasn't dispatched, Empire was wise in his choice to only send a portion of them," you replied, trying to force a smile out of him.

"Do you think they will attack here, Doctor?" he asked, his voice almost shaking.

"It's hard to tell. There are already Anacreonian radicals on the streets of Trantor, that much is certain after the university bombing," you said, watching Mal fidget with one of Dawn's puzzles," they have been bold in their attempts to get the Empire's attention."

"Luckily Trantor is well-protected. Hopefully this won't trigger an intergalactic war," he said in response.

"That is my hope. War is terrible and I'd hate for you to witness its horror and bloodshed," you replied.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to turn this conversation into such a dull and depressing subject," he said, smiling over at Mal.

"No need to apologize Dawn, these things must be discussed. But if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try to find something my stomach will tolerate besides bread," you said and walked over to Mal. 'ill see you later. Be good for Dawn," you signed to him. The boy grinned and told you 'i will, I promise!' before bringing one of the ships over to Dawn to join him in his pretend battle. You waved and exited the room, making your way towards the kitchens.

Walking down the hall, you passed the main courtroom and could hear Day speaking to the council. You quickened your pace, not wanting to eavesdrop on the meeting taking place. As you walked, you noticed that the halls of the palace weren't as busy as they usually were. Not a servant could be found transporting laundry or tending to the cleaning duties in the numerous rooms. You assumed it was just one of those random moments during the day when the corridors were empty. Upon entering the kitchen you nearly tripped over one of the cooks, sprawled out on the floor, unconscious. Immediately you knelt down and checked for a pulse, and thankfully, he was still alive. You noticed a small charred burn mark on the back of his neck where someone had used a stun beam to knock him out. Glancing down the kitchen, you saw the rest of the staff were also on the ground.

Realizing there was something more serious going on, your heart began to race. Still on the ground next to the cook, you frantically thought about what to do. Suddenly, one of the back kitchen doors swung open, and a stunned Esme stumbled into the room, not wearing her typical handmaid attire. Although her appearance threw you off, you were happy to see a familiar face, not lying unconscious on the floor.

“My lady, what are you doing here?” she asked, with a surprisingly calm tone.

“I haven't been feeling well and came here to find something to settle my stomach. We need to get these staff members medical attention,” you said as you stood up, your back to Esme.

“I'm sure they're fine,” she answered, the accent of her voice abruptly changing to a familiar gruff drone. Your eyes widened and you could feel your heart beating out of your chest.

“Empire must be informed that the palace is being infiltrated,” you said, slowly glancing to the side.

“Oh I assure you, he will know soon enough,” Esme replied, and you could hear the charge of a blaster weapon behind you. Without turning your head, you shot your eyes around the room, looking for something to defend yourself with.

“You...this was all you wasn't it?” you asked, voice trembling. Esme chuckled maniacally behind you.

“I am deeply flattered doctor, but I cannot take all of the credit for this beautifully executed ambush,” she replied. You could hear her walking up slowly behind you, stepping over the staff members scattered on the kitchen floor.

“You're Anacreonian, aren't you?” you asked, trying to buy some time, but already knowing the answer.

“Very clever,” she said mockingly, “Raise your arms and turn around, slowly.”

You obeyed and carefully turned to face her, a hateful grin spread across her lips. Her eyes seemed darker and her pupils were dilated, savage and fueled with adrenaline, ready to fire off her weapon at any second.

“How could you do this? I trusted you!” you said, almost yelling. feeling tears fill your eyes, “I don't understand...from the beginning you were there for me...you were the closest thing I had to a friend...”

“What can I say? I played my part well. I must admit, I did feel guilty for my deceptive behavior at first. I felt sorry for you. Taken from your home, no family, a strange new planet, forced to be a prisoner in this palace. I even considered asking you to join our cause. Your skill as a physician is unmatched, which would have been very useful. But your compassion for those less deserving makes you weak,” she said, titling her head in amusement.

“What are you talking about?” you asked, feeling the anger grow in your chest.

“Oh come now doctor, you know exactly what I'm referring to. Or have you forgotten?” she snapped back at you. You stood there in silence, holding back the tears still gathering in your eyes. “Don't you remember the early hours of that morning when Empire fell deathly ill? Racing to his chambers, all of your medical gear in hand? You were so quick to answer that foolish boy's cry for help, you didn't even stop to consider all of the wrong the emperor had done to you. I was hoping that perhaps you would come to your senses and leave him to painfully waste away, allowing the fever to end his miserable life. What a fool I was to believe you could make a logical choice.”

“It's my civic duty as a doctor to honor my pledge to tend to those in need of my help. I was taught that every human life is worth saving,” you said back to her. You could see her grimace and she brought her gun to the side of your head.

“You think he's as human as you and I?! Need I remind you that his Imperial line is responsible for the mass genocide of half of my planet's people!? Are you so blinded by your fondness of him that you cannot see the true monster the empire has become?,” she said back to you.

“I merely took pity on him. I'm merely a doctor under his employ,” you replied. She removed the weapon from your head and looked you up and down, a sly grin on her face.

“My dear Dr. Sterling, you and I both know that's not entirely true, don't we? ” she said, tilting her head playfully and winking one of her eyelids.

“I'm not sure what you're playing at,” you replied.

“Don't worry, your little secret is safe with me. Although you could stand to be a touch more discrete,” she mocked, smiling at you and chuckling to herself.

“What are you talking about?” you asked nervously.

“During the standoff in the square, that tender moment you shared together........And you thought nobody saw it,” she said, chuckling to herself and shaking her head. She seemed amused at your surprised response to her statement.

“You were there?” you replied.

“Yes I was there. In fact, after I ignited the explosives, I set up a sniping post on one of the towers across the street to wait for the emperor,” she said, “I knew the attack would inevitably draw him out. But I did not expect to see his beloved doctor climbing through the rubble.”

“You're responsible for the massacre at the university?! THERE WERE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN INSIDE!!” you screamed at her, “Revenge always comes with a price.”

“Collateral damage is a part of war. It never bothered the empire when they bombed my home, why should I care if his citizens suffer the same fate?” she said cruelly to you.

“So that's it then, your plan is to wage war on the entire galaxy in an act of revenge, inciting more violence,” you said.

“More or less. It's no more than they deserve. Believe me, I had planned to assassinate the emperor that night, but you changed my mind,” she said.

“Changed your mind?” you said to her.

“Indeed you did. You see, when I saw him kiss you the way he did, I came to realize that perhaps I could approach the situation differently. I now have the leverage I need to sway the tide in my favor,” she said stroking the side of your face.

“Leverage for what?” you replied, turning your face away from her.

“Your precious emperor has two of my men in his custody. I will offer your safe return in exchange for their release. I also require the entry codes for the cloning chamber. The time has come to end this delusion of power and bring the dynasty to its knees. If he refuses, I end you in front of him in the same manner you so brutally slaughtered our commander in the square,” she explained, putting her weapon back in its holster.

“You're a monster,” you said angrily.

“I'm afraid you're sorely mistaken, my dear. The real monster is the man you share your bed with,' Esme said, raising her eyebrows, “Tell me, I've always been curious. Is he good lover?”

Out of anger, you quickly grabbed one of the sharper knives on the counter next to you and lunged at her. She easily blocked your blow, and struck you to the ground, your nose bleeding. You felt two men lift you to your feet and place a pair of cuffs on your wrists, securing your arms behind you. She smirked at you and shook her head.

“Rayla, Rayla, Rayla... I thought we were friends? And you choose to pull a knife on me. So high strung and spirited. I can see why the Emperor likes you so much,” she mocked, tucking your hair behind your ears, “try anything of that nature again, and I won't hesitate to force this blade into your skull.”

“You wouldn't dare. You may have tried to kill me before, but now it is pointless, you'll lose your leverage,” you said snidely back to her. You did not forget how the wine had tasted off that night. With all Esme was telling you, it made sense that she would try to murder you quietly.

“Kill you? I have never tried to kill you before. Although I must confess there were several occasions I had fantasized about ending you after discovering your little love affair with that murderous tyrant,” she replied.

“You did something with my wine glass, tampered with it the night I had dinner with the three brothers. Don't deny it,” you explained to her, convinced it would urge her to tell the truth.

“I have never had access to the imperial kitchen before today. Poisoning my enemies is not my preferred choice of action when it comes to revenge. I'd rather my actions be memorable and visible to the public eye. I do not know what malady is plaguing your stomach, but I can assure you I have nothing to do with it. As you said, I would lose my bargaining leverage if you were dead. You are his only weakness and I plan to use that against him,” she replied. Her response surprised you, and you shifted around uneasily in the soldier's grasp. Esme picked up the knife you had tried to stab her with and carefully slid her finger down the blade, admiring it's sharpness.

“That's enough conversation for now. Let's pay your lover a little visit, shall we?” she said to you, nodding at her guards to push you forward, “Don't worry, I won't kill him in front of you. I'm not that cold.”

Walking down the empty corridor to the doors of the main courtroom, Esme kept her eyes on you, her gun firmly in her grasp. As you stopped in front of the double doors, you saw the guards on the ground, blood pooling from their heads. Inside, you could hear the last few council members talking as they prepared to leave. Without warning, she fired on the handle lock to the room and kicked the doors open. Day, who was currently speaking with Obrecht, spun around quickly as Esme approached him, leaving you in the shadows so he couldn't see you were there.

“Many apologies for the abrupt interruption, Empire. I have a proposition for you,” she said.

“Esme?....What is this? Bold of you to assume forced entry will grant you an audience with me. Arrest her,” replied Day, an angry look of betrayal on his face. As the emperor raised his arm, you could hear the guards in the courtroom, charge up their phasers and point them in her direction. She stopped in the middle of the room and laughed, raising her hand in the air.

“Now, Now, Empire I would perhaps try to think things through before you act, the situation is a little more delicate than you are aware of,” she said, snapping her fingers, signaling the guards to push you into the light. As soon as he saw you, Day's eyes immediately glistened, his mouth open in disbelief and fear.

“Rayla....” he said, and started to move towards you. You caught his gaze and lost control of the tears you were holding in, starting to cry.

“I'm sorry...,”you replied, struggling to speak through the sobs coming from your mouth.

“Please...don't harm her. Let her go...,” he pleaded, his voice shaking.

“You really are fond of her aren't you? I will, but first, I would like something in return, if you'll hear me speak,” she said, glaring at him. He quickly lowered his arm, and the guards, set down their weapons.

“What do you want from me?” he asked, walking up to her.

“There are two Anacreonians in your custody, I would like them returned, alive and unharmed to me,” she said to him, “I'm offering your precious doctor in exchange for their safe release.”

“Seems like an unfair trade to me. My doctor for two of your men. You can do better than that,” replied Day, smirking at her.

“Perhaps you're right, maybe we should even the odds. I'd hate to be dishonorable in my offer. Bring the boy,” she ordered. Out of the corner, another man stepped forward, with a struggling Mal in cuffs. You could hear Day gasp as he turned and saw Esme's second half of the leverage. Completely horrified that she would endanger a child for her own personal gain, you lashed out.

“MAL! NO! He's just a boy, he doesn't understand! LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS!” you screamed, fighting against the guards holding your arms. Continuing to pull on your restraints, the guards struggled to keep you in place. Suddenly, Esme took her blaster and fired a shot into the ceiling, silencing your screams. The sharp loud noise momentarily startled you and you could sense that the arrival of your torturous hallucinations were not far behind. You began to shiver, trying to focus on keeping the visions at bay. Unable to sign to Mal to give him any form of comfort, you stood there helpless. She walked up to you and took your chin in her grasp.

“Shhhhh, we're trying to have a civilized conversation. I hate being interrupted,” she said meanly to you, aggressively throwing your chin down. When she turned back to the emperor, you looked over at Mal and moved your lips slowly so he could read them 'it's ok', you said. His face was covered in tears and you could see how scared he was. Every inch of you wanted to rush Esme, taking out your anger on her in every violent way possible.

“Does this seem like a better trade? You deliver my men to me safely, and in exchange, I return your lover and the deaf boy,” she said, fixing one of the latches on her weapon.

“Done,” said Day quickly.

“Ah, ah, ah, you didn't let me finish. There's a catch to this whole agreement. You must bequeath me the codes to your cloning chamber and relinquish your title as emperor,” she added, smirking.

“And what use to you have for those codes if I give them to you?” he asked tilting his head in curiosity.

“If you must know, I plan to end the genetic dynasty permanently. Make your choice Empire, you're running out of time,” said Esme, “The longer you delay, the tighter my grip gets on this trigger...someone may get hurt.”

She fired once again into the air, hitting one of the pillars, sending small pieces of stone to the floor below next to you. Curling his lips into a worried frown, Day was speechless and completely dumbfounded.

“You know I cannot do what you ask of me. I am not in possession of the codes,” he explained. She smiled at him and shook her head and let out a long exasperated exhale. She turned her arm in Mal's direction and pulled the trigger, firing a shot into his side. The boy collapsed on the floor, unconscious. You screamed in horror as he fell and used every bit of strength you had to fight the guards so you could get to him.

“Perhaps you don't understand the gravity of the situation, Empire,” she said, and walked back to where you stood, taking you in her firm grasp, and dragged you in front of the emperor. She pushed you to your knees in front of him and pointed her weapon at the side of your temple. You looked up into his deep green eyes as he glanced down at you, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

“Let's try again, shall we? Your prisoners and the imperial codes, in exchange for her life,” she said, a cruel grin on her lips. The emperor paused for a moment, fighting the tears that continued to gather in his eyes. Esme suddenly fired into the air, in between you and Day, frightening you so badly that you began to panic and closed your eyes, weeping to yourself.

“I'm losing patience, Empire. I will not ask again,” she threatened, grabbing you by your hair, pulling your head back.

“Enough!...I will give you what you request,” said Day, raising his hand and snapping his fingers, “bring the Anacreonians.”

“Yes Empire,” said Obrecht and he turned to the back of the room, nodding to a group of soldiers who brought Esme's comrades forward.

“You see? That wasn't so difficult was it, now?” she said, chuckling to herself. The Anacreonians, still shrouded were presented to her, their cuffs now removed.

“Release her to me and you can have the codes and your men back,” ordered Day, a stern look on his face.

“Unshroud them. I need to ensure that they were truly unharmed in your care,” she replied to him, still gripping tightly to your hair. Day nodded and raised his arm, signaling for his guards to disengage the shroud helmet and bring them into the light. You opened your eyes slightly to observe the exchange and noticed something off about the two prisoners in front of you. Day's expression was less worried, and more calm, as if he was aware of something no one else in the room was privy to.

“Is this satisfactory enough for you?” asked Day, holding out an open palm to the two prisoners standing next to him.

“Indeed it is. But I'll be needing those codes,” she said.

“As you wish,” he replied, motioning over to Demerzel. She handed him a small device with a touchscreen. He placed his palm on the screen and it readily scanned his fingerprints, granting him access. Demerzel slowly walked over to where you both were in the middle of the room and held up the screen to Esme.

“All imperial code access has been granted to you by Cleon XIII, Anacreonian. To accept this transfer, please place your palm in the middle of the screen,” she said, offering the device for her to touch.

“I gladly accept,” she said smugly, “thank you for your cooperation, Empire.” Handing her phaser to one of the guards behind you, she placed her hand on the device, still holding tightly to the locks of your hair tangled in between her fingers.

“No....thank you...,” said Day with a cruel look of satisfaction.

“For what? You've just surrendered your entire legacy to me,” she replied.

As soon as she released her palm from the computer, the two men you thought were the prisoners, quickly dissolved as the particles of the life-like projection faded. Esme shot a surprised and bewildered look at Day as she watched the emperor's illusion shut off.

“For signing as a witness on their death warrants,” replied Day, tilting his head to the side. You could hear the two men who previously restrained you, fall to the ground as imperial guards knocked them unconscious and seized their weapons, along with Esme's phaser. On the other side of the room, Obrecht shoved the real prisoners onto their knees and walked over to the emperor, handing him a blaster. Day took the weapon in his hand and with two quick flashes of red light, fired shots into their heads, ending the men's lives instantly as he pulled the trigger. Esme screamed in horror and looked around for her weapon that she had foolishly handed off. In her anger, she quickly wrapped her arm around your neck, and squeezed tightly, cutting off your air supply.

“Come any closer and I'll kill her...this whore of yours,” she said threateningly, showing her teeth in a furious rage. Day nervously stepped back, but held the blaster steadily in her direction. You began to feel faint and prepared for the demise that was inevitably coming. Before you lost consciousness, you felt her arm loosen and release its grip as she fell to the floor. Still on the ground gasping for breath, you turned to see Dusk, a smoking stun blaster in his hand. Day let out a heavy and grateful sigh of relief and ran over to where you lay. Before his younger brother reached you, Dusk offered his arm and pulled you to your feet.

"Are you alright my dear?" he asked you tenderly, placing his hand on your shoulder.

"Brother Dusk? Why did you…?" you asked.

"You are a great many things to my Brother Dr. Sterling, but a whore is not one of them," he said, a kind smile on his face.

"I'm not sure what you mean, Empire," you replied, confused.

"It's alright, Day explained everything to me," he said.

"Explained everything?," you asked. You turned and looked at Day, who nodded and smiled.

"Yes. He's expressed to me how he feels about you and according to him, you share these same affections in return. I know we've had our differences in the past, but I will not stand in the way of my brother's happiness," he replied.

"You...you're ok with it? My memory has been untouched since the beginning" you said in disbelief. He stepped in closer to you and spoke so only you could hear.

"I am. As long as you keep your nose out of imperial politics, I see no problem with your current intimate involvement with my Brother. If you adhere to my request, there is no reason to rob you of your memories with him," he said, leaning in close to your ear.

"I….I don't know what to say….I am most grateful. I don't know how to thank you," you said, feeling tears fill your eyes.

"You can express your thanks by forgiving me for treating you so poorly since your arrival on Trantor," he said, tilting his head.

"Of course, Empire. But saving my life is repayment enough," you said, bowing your head in reverence.

"Excellent. I believe at last, we finally understand one another, doctor," he said smiling. You turned to the emperor and quickly ran up to him, wrapping him in a warm embrace. You could feel his large hand pull your head close to his chest as he happily held you in response. Suddenly, you looked up at him, a worried look in your eyes.

"Mal…," you said and frantically freed yourself from Day to run over to the small boy. He lay there lifeless but his chest was still moving up and down as he breathed. You checked the boy's side to inspect the severity of his wound. He was bleeding slightly, but the heat of the blast had partially cauterized the opening. While you were applying pressure, Mal slowly opened his eyes and looked up at you. You brought a closed fist to your chest and moved it in a circular motion to say 'im sorry.' He smiled and signed back to you 'doesnt even hurt'. Holding back tears, you laughed and said 'you are a very brave little boy''. Taking Mal into your arms you glanced to your side and saw Day kneel next to you.

"He's lucky. If she had aimed any higher, she would have killed him," you said to Day. His eyes were glistening and you could tell he felt responsible.

"I'm guessing you'll want to keep watch over him while he heals," he said, looking at you fondly. You nodded.

"How did you know?" you asked, teasing him.

"Lucky guess," he teased back and helped you stand as you held Mal close in your arms. He placed his hand on your back and looked over at Obrecht.

"Shadow Master. Please make arrangements to have several guards posted at my doors for the rest of the day and into the night. The doctor will tend to our young friend in my chambers. You are also entrusted with the protection and security of the imperial family until all of the participants in this infiltration are weeded out and disposed of," said Day sternly.

"On my honor, Empire," Obrecht said in response, and bowed. A line of soldiers followed him as he began to walk out of the room. Day stopped his shadow master and leaned into his ear.

"How is Dawn?" Day asked with a concerned tone.

"He is stable, Empire. I have the medics working on him now," replied Obrecht.

"Thank you. I'll be around to check on him once I get Rayla and the boy safely secured. Make sure the traitor is locked up under maximum security," he said and turned back to you. Obrecht resumed walking and placed cuffs on the unconscious Anacreonian on the floor where she lay. Lifting Esme over his shoulder, he exited the room, a group of soldiers following closely behind. The emperor's personal guards lined up on either side of you and Day, and escorted you to his chamber doors. Once inside, he helped you make sure Mal was comfortable in his bed. You removed the boy's bloody shirt and began to carefully clean the wound with a warm cloth. He winced as you touched the cloth to his skin, and slightly opened his eyes.

You applied the antiseptic pen to the opening and sanitized the injury. Taking some clean linen, you wrapped Mal's waist, making sure the opening was completely covered. Day leaned on one of the bed posts and watched you work with his arms crossed, a small smile on his face as he admired your skill. You signed to Mal and told him 'you need to rest now. Get some sleep' he gestured back to you a weak 'ok' with one hand. You made your way through the maze of flowing fabric that surrounded Day's bed and took the Emperor's hand. He led you to the balcony and faced you, placing his hand tenderly on your cheek. Tears began to fall down his face and he shyly smiled at you.

"Rayla...I...I'm so sorry… all this time I had her care for you, putting you in danger...I…," he said through muffled sobs. You looked up at him kindly, your own eyes starting to water. You began to gently wipe the tears from his skin.

"Shhh...none of this is your fault. She fooled all of us, even me. How could you have known?" you said softly to him, weaving your hands through his hair. He took a hold of your hand and kissed your palm.

"I nearly lost you today. I don't ever want to feel that fear again," he said, leaning down to your lips. He pressed his mouth to yours and kissed you, holding your body close to his chest. For a moment you pulled away and smiled at him.

"You won't, I promise. I'm safe in my emperor's arms. No one would dare harm me now," you said, winking at him.

"That's because no one threatens the emperor's woman and gets away with it," said Day, smirking at you. He let out a small laugh and lifted you into his arms and off of the floor. His mouth opened as he began to kiss you more passionately and desperately. He carried you with one hand holding your legs and the other wrapped around your back, his hand tightly holding your shoulder. You had both of your hands woven in his dusty brown hair, ruffling it fiercely as he kissed you. Eventually he sat down with you on his lap on one of the large day beds near the balcony. Your passionate kisses began to gradually slow down until they became soft and gentle. He held you there in his arms and looked deeply into your eyes.

"I need to go check on Dawn. He was injured on his way to warn us about Esme's treachery. If it wasn't for him, you might not have made it. I promise I will return. In the meantime, make sure you eat," he said. He lifted you to your feet and led you over to a tray that had been placed on one of the tables. He opened the lid to reveal a warm bowl of stew.

"I was informed of your unruly stomach earlier today. The cook thought some soup would ease your discomfort. Please eat. I will return within the hour," he said to you, handing you a spoon.

"Thank you. It's improved throughout the day but I'm sure this will help greatly, Empire," you replied and kissed him on the cheek before he turned to leave. When the door closed you cautiously brought a spoonful of broth to your lips and immediately felt relief as the hot liquid filled your stomach. Finishing your soup you dressed for bed and walked over to Day's bed where Mal was sleeping. You carefully crawled into bed next to him and checked the bandages, making sure he didn't bleed through. A little over an hour later, you heard the door open as Day returned. He unbuttoned his robe and discarded it on the floor, leaving his trousers on. He walked quietly over to the bed and climbed under the sheets behind you and pressed his bare chest into your back. Reaching across your side, he wrapped his flexed arm around you and turned your head slowly to face him. Kissing you gently on the lips, he softly caressed the side of your face.

"Goodnight," he whispered into your ear. Before drifting off to sleep, he planted sweet kisses along your neckline. You laughed quietly and faced him, placing your hands on his chest. He held you close to him, and as he did, you shifted slightly at the surprising tenderness of your chest.

"You alright?," he asked.

"I'm okay. Just a little jumpy after what happened today," you said to him, ignoring the mysterious pain.

"I can imagine," he replied and softly kissed your forehead.

"I didn't know your long chats with Dusk this past week were about us," you said.

"I figured I should explain everything to him before he found out on his own. Besides, I figured his approval of you would ease some of the tension," he explained, his eyes reflecting the dim light of the candles in the room.

"It has and I am most grateful you were able to calm his concerns about me," you said. Pressing your lips to his tenderly.

"It will take some time for him to get comfortable and used to the idea, but I promise he will come around," Day replied and happily returned a kiss in response. He held you close and you stared at each other longingly until your eyes grew heavy with exhaustion. Mal's tiny breaths quietly resounded in the background and you grinned as you felt Day's toned chest flex under your fingertips as he fell into a deep sleep. With his arms around you and the guards outside the door, you felt safe enough to give in to your body's need to rest. Tucking your head under his chin, you gradually fell asleep in his arms.

#lee pace #brother day #foundation #foundation apple tv #edgeofdarkness #trantoriandream

34 notes · View notes

samwisethewitch · 3 years

Text

Water Magic by Lilith Dorsey review for the #SeaWitchReadingChallenge

This is the book I read for the first challenge prompt: “Read a book about the element of water and its use in magic.” This is the first book in the Elements of Witchcraft series, a new series focusing on the four classical elements and their role in modern witchcraft.

I flew through this book -- I’m moving this week and working, so I didn’t expect to have much time to read, but I finished it in three days! It’s very easy to read, and I was able to download the audiobook from Scribd to listen to while I was packing. (Although, if you decide to get the audiobook, be aware that there are some truly atrocious mispronunciations.)

Pros

I love the diversity, especially in the mythology sections. Dorsey includes water-related myths from several cultures we don’t often see represented in books about witchcraft, including African cultures and several Native American nations. She also talks about the use of water in several different magic systems, from New Orleans Voodoo to La Regla Lucumi to Thelema.

I love how American this book is. That may sound weird, but a lot of books on witchcraft focus on a European brand of magic (often influenced by Wicca), even if the author is American. I like that Lilith Dorsey bases her practice in American folk magic and isn’t afraid to say so. It really makes this book stand out from all of the Wicca-lite witchcraft books Llewellyn usually publishes.

The sections on herbs and botanicals was very well researched and covered plants I don’t see in a lot of other books. Again, the influence of American folk magic and African Traditional Religions is very clear here.

While Dorsey does talk about closed traditions like New Orleans Voodoo and La Regla Lucumi, she makes it clear that people looking to engage with these traditions need to do so by finding a qualified teacher and pursuing initiation. We love to see authors who don’t encourage appropriation of closed religions.

Overall, I felt like this was a really solid and well-rounded introduction to the water element and its use in modern witchcraft.

Cons

The section on mythology contained some information that, while not technically inaccurate, was misleading or taken out of context. I mainly noticed this with the Norse and Irish mythology since that’s what I’ve studied the most, but I wouldn’t be surprised if other pantheons got the same treatment. This book perpetuates some modern misconceptions that don’t have a basis in the historic material, such as the Morrigan being a water goddess.

While I think Dorsey does a good idea of respecting the closed nature of African Traditional Religions, she treats elements of open and semi-closed religions as up for grabs. For example, she encourages readers to use holy water in spells -- and if you’re uncomfortable using Catholic holy water, she suggests using Hindu holy water from the Ganges River. This rubbed me the wrong way. If you are not Hindu, you have no reason to use Hindu sacred items in your witchcraft. Taking religious elements out of context and using them for a totally different purpose is still disrespectful, even if that religion is not closed.

Dorsey encourages readers to dispose of leftover spell components, like crystals, by throwing them into a body of running water. While I realize that there is a historical precedent for this, it’s 2021 and we know better than to pollute our water sources. Please do not throw things in rivers and streams. You can rinse the item in the running water to cleanse it and then take it with you, and it will have the same metaphysical effect without the pollution.

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Do I recommend? Yes

For a more in-depth review, check out my reading vlog on YouTube!

#SeaWitchReadingChallenge #sea witch reading challenge #sea witch #witch books #witchblr #lilith dorsey #mine

118 notes · View notes

urduhindipoetry · 2 years

Text

So Sweet Stevia Powder 100 gm Sugar Free 100% Natural Sweetener (Pack of 10)

Price: (as of – Details) Stevia;Health;Stevia Drops;Healthy;Tea;Coffee;Supplement;Diabetes;Leaf;Sachets;So Sweet;Herb;Substitute;Powder;Sugar Free;Lite;Ultra;Erythritol;Xylitol;Erythritol Sugarfree;Xylitol Sugarfree Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 21 x 18 x 13 cm; 1.2 Kilograms Date First Available ‏ : ‎ 6 August 2018 Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Herboveda India ASIN ‏ :…

View On WordPress

#stevia drop

0 notes

ophelia-avalon · 3 years

Text

Book review: The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Went to a bookshop for the first time in ages recently and spotted The Green Witch (in the German translation). After having seen pictures all over social media I decided to check it out. Here are some of my thoughts.

I would say it is a mixed bag: The Green Witch works well as a practical guide. But it does not have the depth of a comprehensive introduction to witchcraft.

You’ll find:

How to build a nature-based witchcraft practice

How to work with nature as an urban witch

Energy work exercises: how to connect to nature, the elements and specific plants

Tips on how to incorporate magic into gardening, cooking and crafting, with spells, recipes and herbal remedies

Correspondences for crystals, trees, flowers, fruits and herbs

The spells in this book are all very generic: for harmony, health, love, luck, peace, prosperity and protection. There is nothing wrong with that but if you are looking for a book that teaches you how to craft more specific spells, you might be disappointed.

Similarly, Murphy-Hiscock’s green witchcraft is very modern – ‘Wicca lite’ you might say. Leaving out the obvious religious bits about the God and Goddess but otherwise very close to the works of Wiccan authors like Doreen Valiente or Scott Cunningham (which Murphy-Hiscock both cites as sources, among others).

I found this a bit weird, considering that Murphy-Hiscock spends a huge chunk of the introduction explaining that green witchcraft and Wicca are not synonymous. Don’t get me wrong: I like her emphasis on witchcraft as a practice that can be paired with almost any religious belief – but was a bit disappointed how very apparent the Wiccan influence was in the rest of the book. So if you want to learn more about specific folk magic practices, this might not be the book you are looking for.

There was also the questionable tip of washing your crystals to cleanse them (without a note that some might dissolve in water) and no guidance on how to actually use the essential oil mixtures topically (diluted in a carrier oil).

Another thing that squicked me while reading: The suggestion to imagine nature’s energy as a green fog, which reminded me a lot of cartoon villains and their odorous concoctions :D

Apart from that, however, I think it was a good read. As you can see from the picture, I marked quite a few passages with things I want to incorporate in my grimoire or exercises that I want to try once I have a bit more time.

#book review #witchy book review #witchy books #the green witch #mine

11 notes · View notes

narrans · 3 years

Text

The Poisoned Fey | Chapter 1 | The Poisoner’s Apprentice

It was dark; not yet dawn, but there was no better time to rise on a northern fall morning. Rothrem was completely still on these mornings. No birds or creatures of the Hhatu Strip disturbed the air as it chilled before winter. Never were there insects saturating the air with their swarming forms. The mammals were either preparing their seasonal migration or hibernation, not that they were too much of an issue in the first place. It was mornings like this that Tal’el woke especially early to begin his work.

Tal’el turned over under his sheets, inhaling deeply as he stretched and clung the warmth around him. He reached out to the candle at his bedside table and grabbed the wick. Even in his dazed state of early consciousness, he was able to focus his mind enough to produce a small flame in the palm of his hand and lite the tip of the candle.

The light in his room slowly grew from dark to dim, and continued to glow brighter as the flame danced on the wick. The room itself was simple in its design and decoration, needing only enough room for his bed and a bedside table. There were a few shelves along the wall for his books and a curtain covering a small closet where he changed and stored his clothes.

The rest of his home echoed the simplicity of his bedroom. There was a table and two chairs, an area for cooking, a washroom, and numerous bookshelves lining every wall. There was only one place not completely concealed with books, and that was a place with a cushioned inset bench next to a window. The wooden floor revealed the spirals of the interior tree

Tal’el sat up and threw his sheets off of him. Rarely did he dedicate an exorbitant amount of time on his appearance. He knew that he was required, by station, to dress appropriately and did so accordingly. Still, he did so willingly. He pulled on a pair of thick brown leather pants and a simple white shirt along with his working vest and a coat. He fitted these things over his faintly tinted green, dragonfly like wings before running his fingers through his dark brown hair tipped in white in the back and slinging his pack over his shoulder.

He unlocked his door and opened it, the early morning air immediately saturating his senses. The poisoner’s apprentice inhaled deeply, his wing tips fluttering in anticipation. Successfully clinging to the bark of the tree and locking the door behind him, Tal’el pushed off of the tree and went into a free fall for several seconds. His heart leapt into his throat and the breath caught in his lungs. It was exhilarating.

The wind whipped through his hair and across his wings before he sprung into action. Wings beating furiously, Tal’el barely grazed the tall grass clumps at the base of the oak tree as he curved sharply and flew barely a foot above the ground. He passed by the grove and the gathering places. The trees of the community rustled, their dying leaves chattering like teeth with the chilling breeze. In no time, Tal’el reached his final destination, a very large black oak tree. He turned his attention upward, his wings naturally propelling him up to the top of the tree.

Years ago, before Tal’el’s mentor was even an apprentice himself, a decision was made to keep the poisoner’s place near the tops of the tree. Though it seemed counter to logic, the decision was backed by many. There was an instance when many powerful land tremors shook loose several potions and poisons from the shelves and storage places. They shattered and leaked into the roots of the tree, killing it within minutes. The tree uprooted and many in the Sprite community were injured and a few were killed because of this incident. After many discussions, placing the poisoner’s place at the top of the trees gave time to evacuate the tree should another incident occur. The place was also reinforced with spells of protection. No such incident occurred again, but the poisoner’s place remained at the tree’s top.

Tal’el arrived, fluttering near the entrance before landing and folding his wings against his back. Wafting heat greeted him as did the smell of dried or drying herbs and minerals and stones. There were a few quartz like crystals at the entrance which, upon contact with Tal’el’s hand, illuminated the workspace.

The space itself was rather large, the entire interior of the tree’s diameter in fact. There were several brewing tables along the edges of the walls filled with beakers and bottles. There were also a two mixing benches in the center of the room with scales for weighing and measuring. There were also mortars and pestles of varying sizes hanging aloft on hooks by wash basins. Also along the ceiling and other free spaces between the drying herbs and stacked stones were dozens of journals and books bound by sturdy leaves and fine, thin leathers.

To Tal’el, the sight was a pleasant one. He remembered his first day working with his mentor, and nothing had really changed within this space nearly thirteen years later. The moment of nostalgia was brief as the senior apprentice placed his belongings in their rightful place in a small cupboard at the back of the room and slid his leather apron over his head. Tal’el also retrieved a set of protective goggles made of precisely forged glass before retrieving his own journal and beginning his work.

Hours of undisturbed work filled his mind. There was a rhythm to his work. Selecting the correct herbs. Grinding, chopping, squeezing them for each concoction. There was a list of various requests and orders from the Boarder Guards, the ones who protected the Sprite villages such as Rothrem against exterior forces and intruders. Boarder Guards from many villages sent word to the Poison Master of Rothrem since there were so few true Poison Masters in the area. Simple potions such as venom and anti-venom to coat the tips of arrows and spears. Poisons to make predators ill. Any number of things to help keep the Sprite villages safe from intruders.

It wasn’t until the two suns, Targarius and Una, were cresting over the horizon that there was additional sound in the poisoner’s place. Without turning, it was clear who it was – the Poison Master himself, Drake Woodsand.

The elder Sprite, Drake Woodsand, had deep set crevasses in his brow and cheeks, giving him a kind of wise look if he didn’t have a semi-permanent scowl creasing his features. His silvery hair, which was slicked back, still possessed flecks of red at the tips near the base of his skull. His shoulders were often drawn forward as he worked, and this generally persisted as he walked or flew about Rothrem. His dragonfly like wings were a misty grey like a fog filled morning and glowed similarly as he landed and tucked them against his back.

He said nothing as he entered and grunted in partial acknowledgment of Tal’el and his work. Drake set he things into a separate cupboard, placed the apron over his head, and perched a pair of spectacles onto his nose as he began stripping some flowers and separating the interior stems, scraping the insides and placing the viscous material into jars. The sounds of the knife pressed into the flesh of the plant and scraping against the rim of the jar combined to the natural noise of the bubbling and mixing.

They worked in silence until well past midday until a messenger arrived with a sealed note. Naturally, Drake took the note from the girl and sent her away with a brisk but polite nod. She smiled, returned the nod, which was exponentially friendlier than his, and fluttered away with her bag of messages. Tal’el, who hadn’t looked up from his beakers of anti-venom, finally reached a pausing point and set down his tools and removed his goggles. His bright green eyes picked up on his mentor’s behaviors over the years, and this was no exception.

“Can you believe this?” Drake grumbled after taring open the seal and skimming the note, his gravely voice blending with his tenor timbre. Tal’el stretched, arching his back and flaring his wings before standing and walking toward Drake. The apprentice knew he would need to see for himself if he wanted the straight-forward answer.

“What is it?” Tal’el asked habitually as he extended his hand just in time for Drake to slap the note into his outstretched hand.

“As if we didn’t have enough to do around here,” grumbled Drake, who slipped into an overexaggerated impression of whomever wrote the note. “‘Excuse me, but would you be so kind as to lend us twenty vials of your most potent anti-venom.’ Really! I mean, what are they doing with the vials we send? Are they getting hurt on purpose? Provoking snakes and the sort just to earn the queen’s fool pendant? I just want to go out there and see how they are pouring through anti-venom like this. You know, maybe if they used their wings and stayed off of the ground, they wouldn’t need the anti-venom. ‘Oh. How fascinating. I didn’t think of that.’”

Tal’el felt a smirk curl onto his face, his head shaking from side to side at Drake’s continued grumbling as his eyes traced over the scrolling Sylvan letters. Indeed, it was another request for anti-venom from not one, not two, but three villages. It was a massive request which was not to be taken lightly. Instantly, Tal’el’s mind worked at lightening speed and his pondering mind began asking questions.

“It’s the cold season,” Tal’el muttered to himself. There’s no way the villages should be using this much anti-venom unless they’re stockpiling. The venomous creatures should be preparing to hibernate and sleep the winter away. New recruits? Creating a tolerance to the venom and requiring vials as a precaution? Or have they noticed something and are hesitant to say anything. “It is a hefty request, but nothing we can’t handle. I’ve been working on harvesting the insides of our Eclipta Pros for some time. Keeping them dried for too long…”

“Naturally dries them out and they’re at peak potency now,” finished Drake, his heterochromatic eyes flaring with energy. “Don’t quote me while I’m standing right here boy. I’m old, not dead.” Tal’el nodded an apology. The elder Fey, despite working with Tal’el for just over ten years, had earned every right in calling him boy; and Tal’el knew better than to quote his mentor. Still, his jest seemed to be taken in good favor as Drake shuffled to the nearest bench to retrieve his tools. Tal’el wordlessly set himself to the task of retrieving the sealed jars of scraped and boiled Eclipta Pros. He organized the jars by age and size near his workstation while Drake continued to mumble and prepare scrapings from other elements and flowers.

The began to work at simmering other herbs and plant elements to combine with the scrapings and boiled Eclipta Pros in beakers and containers suspended over open flame. The smell, herbal yet neutral, carried through the air for the hours they worked.

It wasn’t until much later in the day, just at the very end when the two suns were preparing to set, when the sound of another pair of fluttering wings grew louder. The impact of two light set feet stepped over the threshold. Tal’el took that moment to glance over his shoulder to see his longtime friend Vin Hollardrel.

The slightly gaunt Sprite, with his coal black eyes, crossed into the Potion Master’s space and bowed politely. He presented himself well and formally, but the smile on his lips and gleam in his eyes told another story entirely. He adorned the armor of a guardsman, which consisted of brown and green leathers and folded leaves reinforced by enchantment. His jet-black hair was cut close to his scalp on either side of his head and slightly longer on the top, which was slightly informal given he was in the Guard.

“Vin, pleasure to see you my friend. How went the day?” asked Tal’el as he poured the remaining contents of the simmering jar he held into another set of vials to complete his work.

“Hasn’t begun yet. I only just woke up, but that’s what happens when you’re assigned to evening patrols,” Vin shrugged while peering through some of the bubbling potions. His coal black eyes were distorted as he blinked at his friend several times. Drake rolled his eyes before retrieving his belongings.

“I am leaving. I will most likely be in tomorrow early to check the vials.” With a curt nod of his head, Drake walked to the ledge and flew away. Tal’el continued to organize and bundle the unused herbs before prompting his friend.

“Evening? This wouldn’t be a consequence of some action you took, would it?” Tal’el knew his friend long enough to understand this was exactly the case; however, coming forth and asking about the circumstances or event directly would be rude. Besides, this allowed Vin to elaborate and spin off into one of his embellished stories as Tal’el tidied up the remaining herbs, and Vin did just that.

The dark-haired Guard began an energetic reenactment of the events that transpired beginning with why he had acquired the infraction to the conversations leading to his inevitable punishment. In Vin’s defense, he was covering for a fellow Guard, but he should have known to tell his superior since they were relying on Vin’s presence to run drills and patrols. Regardless of circumstance, Vin’s story was a way to pass the time as Tal’el successfully packaged the last of the supplies.

Now, at the end of the evening, the two departed from the poisoner’s place at the top of the tree, each going their separate ways. Tal’el watched his friend vanish among the trees. There were a handful of times he wished he had chosen a similar lifestyle, but they were fleeting. The life he currently led tested his mental limits rather than his physical ones. He possessed freedom to experiment and create as necessary while also keeping to a predictable schedule.

There was the expected that came with this position, but also the unexpected. As Tal’el entered his home and placed his belongings in their provided place, the unexpected letter requesting significant amounts of anti-venom peaked his curious mind. Why did they require such a substantial amount? And three different villages simultaneously? He was still unable to answer the question and hadn’t had a chance to compose a letter to inquire why.

Tal’el spent the remainder of his night taking notes on inventory, listing potential necessities, and contemplating theories as to why he was so perplexed about the anti-venom situation. By the end of the evening, he had curled back into his bed, eyes drooping. His bright green eyes stared unfocused at the flickering flame before he brought his hand up by his face and concentrated while closing his hand into a fist. The flame, without so much as a sound, snuffed out and left the Poison Master’s apprentice in the dark abyss of sleep.

Continue | Coming Soon

8 notes · View notes

tracinyad · 4 years

Text

Are Hot Dogs Healthy? and How to Make Much Healthier Options with Hot Dogs?

At a barbecue, a baseball game, or the park, who can resist a mouth-watering hot dog? Hot dogs aren't always the healthiest food, so eating one can make you really feel a little guilt-ridden. Currently, the good news is that you can make healthier choices by understanding which components to stay clear of in your hot dog as well as which buildings to prevent, such as particular sizes of hot dogs. Set healthy hot dogs with certain toppings and dressings and you won't have to feel so negative concerning delighting in one-- plus, there will certainly be wellness advantages if eaten in small amounts!

Thinking About Different Hot Dog Properties

Prevent extra-large hot dogs

Bigger hot dogs suggest more chemicals, preservatives, calories, and salt-- which are all unhealthy in high quantities. Skip any type of pets identified big, bun-length, or stadium-style. They can have up to double the quantity of all the harmful scrap you're attempting to avoid.

Select nitrate-free hot dogs

Nitrate or sodium-nitrate is used to help hot dogs last much longer on food store shelves. But consuming nitrates might boost your danger of cancer, so pick a nitrate-free option for the healthiest hot dogs. Nitrate-free hot dogs are typically plainly classified, usually as "uncured" or "no included nitrates". If you're uncertain whether your canines have nitrates, check the active ingredient listing for "salt nitrite" or "sodium nitrate."

Select natural hot dogs

When it pertains to discovering nitrate-free hot dogs, an organic choice is generally the best wager. The meat in organic pets isn't treated with any questionable antibiotics or hormones either, so you can certainly really feel better regarding eating them. Health food often tastes better as it doesn't contain any kind of hazardous chemicals.

Pay attention to the sodium levels

High salt degrees make many store-bought hot dogs a frightening option. Check the nutrition labels on any kind of bundle you're thinking about, and also avoid brand names with more than 370 milligrams of salt per serving. Be careful with "lite" hot dogs. They have actually often obtained lots of sodium to help boost their flavor.

Consider hot dogs made with turkey or poultry

All-beef hot dogs are certainly traditional, but hot dogs made with turkey or hen are wonderful alternatives.

Check out vegetarian hot dogs

A meatless dog is almost always the victor when it comes to healthy and balanced hot dogs. That's since vegan hot dogs are made from soy healthy protein, so they have actually obtained a great deal much less undesirable fats as well as calories than conventional meat versions. As an included advantage, they don't have hormones and also will have much fewer chemicals. Do not forget the sodium degrees in veggie hot dogs. They're often loaded with salt for extra flavor to offset the absence of meat.

Selecting Healthy And Balanced Additions for Hot Dogs

Use whole-grain buns for the hot dogs

A refined white bun might be the go-to bread choice for a hot dog, yet it includes only carbohydrates with almost no fiber which will be rapidly digested and also spike your blood glucose. White buns are commonly high in sodium as well. Wrap your dog in an entire-grain bun rather than for included fiber as well as other nutrients.

Desire an even much healthier wrapper for your dog? Fold up a lettuce fallen leaf around it for a carb-free alternative. Making use of half a bun or going entirely bun-less completely can make your hot dog an even much healthier meal.

Miss the ketchup and mustard, or select much healthier choices

Ketchup and also mustard are certainly timeless hot dog spices, but they're frequently packed with salt. Adhere to fresh, low-sodium condiments, such as salsa, to add big flavor.

Can not give up your typical hot dog spices? Select low-sodium ketchup, mustard, enjoyment, or sauerkraut to maintain your dog healthy. If making use of catsup be mindful of the sugarcoated. Grab a bottle of sugar-free catsup rather-- it still tastes the same, however, it's much healthier. You can likewise make your own making use of healthy active ingredients.

Top your hot dogs with vegetables

To really make your hot dogs a well-balanced meal, including a lot of fresh veggie garnishes. Go to town cut tomatoes, shredded cabbage, diced avocado, and also cut onions for included crisis and also flavor. Or you can add some delicious warmth with cut jalapeno or banana peppers. Desire much more extreme flavor? Mix some fresh natural herbs and also seasonings, such as cumin, cilantro, or scallions, right into your vegetable toppings.

#healthy food #eating well #hot dogs #vegetables #calories

1 note · View note

opossum-in-cat-disguise · 5 years

Note

I feel like if anyone is going to know this it might be you because your bio talks about tea or maybe your follows, I absolutely love tea but caffeine hurts my stomach and gives me bad cramps, is there any tea that is lite on caffeine or is that crazy?

Hi! Thanks for your question :)

Generally, and depending on how severe your adversity to caffeine is, you should avoid black and green teas. This might also include white tea [as I said it depends on how high doses of caffeine you react to.]

All teas from the tea plant have caffeine in them and through a longer oxidation process, higher temperature of the steeping water and a longer amount of time steeping the tea, caffeine levels in tea increase.

So, a few tips:

-Avoid black, green and white tea.

-Rooibos tea is naturally caffeine-free since it comes from a different plant, which does not contain caffeine.

-Invest in dried herbs and flowers and make your own tea blends. A lot of tea blends in stores are generally made with black/green tea and flavouring.

Traditional Indian chai is made with black tea as well as spices. But you can easily skip out on the black tea.

Recipe for an herbal Masala chai:

[About one serving]

Cinnamon, a stick or 3-4 pinches of pulverised cinnamon.

Cardamon, lightly crush 4 pods of green Cardamon. [Alternatively, 5-6 pinches of Cardamon].

Fennel seeds, whole or pulverised. 4-5 pinches

Ginger, 3 thin slices of fresh ginger, powder: 3-4 pinches.

Cloves, 6 pieces.

Star anise, 1 piece.

Honey/Sweetener, 1-2 teaspoons honey. Adjust based on personal preference.

Milk, any type.

Add the ingredients to a pot and simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes [~20 min.]

I hope my answer was of help to you :)

#ask #tea #teablr #my recipe #chai #tea recipe

12 notes · View notes

a-d-curtis · 5 years

Text

Trust - Kataang Week 2019

A/N: As you can see, these all seem to exist in their own separate worlds. In the last one, Aang and Katara were married young; in this one, they are still not married. But that’s the beauty of fanfiction, right? Anyway, hope you enjoy.

……….

Katara was pretty used to the way women looked at her boyfriend by now.

Aang had always been cute: big expressive eyes in an almost cherubic face. But in the last few years he had definitely moved from the “adorable” phase of childhood and even through the “everyone-goes-through-it” phase of early adolescence to now being a very attractive young man. Katara definitely appreciated what Aang had grown into, and in a smug sort of way, self-congratulated herself on her “foresight” to snag him when he was still so young and awkward (although that choice had really had very little to do with “snagging” him, and everything to do with having fallen in love with her best friend.) But even she would admit to herself that the fact that he was such a looker now was satisfying.

Aang had a very distinct look – from his shaved head to his uniquely air nomad facial features (which now equated to one-of-a-kind), to his orange and yellow robes and his blatant blue full-body tattoos – everything about him was exotic and striking. It was pretty much impossible for Aang to go anywhere in public without being recognized. Even when he did try to “cover up” to blend in, that generally led to strange clothing (hard to cover hands and foreheads up nonchalantly) and something about it bothered him; he didn’t like doing it. Sometimes it beat being mobbed, but most of the time Aang just went through life as himself, which came with the natural consequence of too much attention.

Katara knew that Aang was gregarious and enjoyed meeting new people. But sometimes it did get pretty annoying to deal with her boyfriend being continually fawned over by fan-girls. Aang, for his part, was often oblivious; when he did catch on that a girl was into him, he instantly got awkward, self-conscious, and a bit bumbling.

Katara considered herself a much better gauge for flirtatious behavior than Aang. Even now at nearly seventeen, Aang often erred on the side of guileless and overly trusting; probably since his view of the world was similar to the way that he himself behaved. He was pretty guileless, so his natural assumption was that everyone else was as well. Even after years of political meetings and debates, Aang’s basic MO was to be transparent and honest. He wasn’t stupid (as a boy he hadbe manipulated and pawned in the political arena by conniving leaders with forked-tongues and personal agendas, but since then he had wizened up and learned to stand his ground); however, he still opted for openness and sincerity in his own dealings. And being a bit shrewder in politics did not necessarily translate directly into social and romantic arenas. And when it came to women, Aang could be infuriatingly naive sometimes.

Like the time last year when the daughter of their host in a small village inland from the foggy swamp had waited for Aang in Appa’s stable. When he came to feed Appa, the girl started untying her sash and taking off her robe. And what had Aang’s response been? “Oh, I didn’t know you were changing in here… I’ll just go then…” Katara had dropped her head into her hand in exasperation when he told her about it. Aang, what were you, raised by monks in an all-male monastery or something?

Or like right now, how Aang sat surrounded by three very forward, uppity Ba Sing Se noble girls; the girls were dressed to the hilt, but with the way they were leaning into him, they looked like they were not committed to staying so… Katara huffed as she approached their table at the outdoor café. She and Aang had both donned Earth Kingdom green, in an effort to blend in just a little. But Aang had not worn a hat, and even if he had, he was likely to be discovered anyway.

As Katara approached the table with two small bowls of soy sauce and vinegar in her hands, she saw that one of the girls was in her seat. Her blood started to simmer as she shouldered her way to the table, setting down the sauce bowls.

“Oh hi, Katara! Girls this is my girlfriend, Katara! Katara, this is Qing, FengFeng and Miling.”

The girls smiled, regarding Katara with veiled distain, looking her up and down before tossing their heads and turning their giggling attention back to Aang.

“Your girlfriend, huh?” one of them said.

“We’ve heard so much about you... Katara, was it?” the one sitting in her seat spoke with a fake smile and sickly sweet voice. “I didn’t realize you two were stilltogether.” She said the word “still” like it was some great annoyance.

Katara matched her tone, the two understanding each other perfectly, “Yeah, we are stilltogether. And you three are interrupting our date.” Then with an even sweeter voice, “Now run along now!”

The girls huffed and shuffled to leave, telling Aang how “happy they were to meet him!” and how they “hoped to run into him again sometime soon!”, touching his arms, and one of them even running her hands along his shoulders as they jingled away.

Aang rubbed the back of his neck as Katara sat down, “You didn’t have to be so rude to them, Katara…”

Katara’s jaw set, “well you didn’t have to be so nice.”

“They just said they wanted to thank me for ending the war. You know how that kind of thanks makes me uncomfortable, but it would be ungracious not to hear them out. Besides, I think they were just being friendly.”

“Uh-huh. Right. And what about that girl last night? What was it she asked you? Where exactlyyour tattoos go?Aang, don’t be naïve. These women all have ulterior motives.”

Aang blushed, “yeah, thanks for rescuing me last night. I was afraid she was going to ask to see them next…”

“See them? Aang, come on, she wanted a whole brail tour.”

Aang sunk deeper in his seat, his whole face turning red. “Katara! Why would you assume that?!”

“Aang, I just don’t get it. These girls hound you all the time. Would it kill you to just tell them to back off?”

“I don’t think they mean anything by it. They’re just curious. I don’t want to offend anyone…”

Katara grunted in disbelief. Aang was the ultimate people-pleaser: way too polite and worried about causing disagreements. This went beyond the Air Nomad cultural principle of pacifism; this came down to Aang’s own personality. He cringed at conflict and was always quick to step in as a peacemaker. Even when it came to women who threw themselves at him with varying degrees of blatancy, Aang had been known to go to ridiculous efforts to avoid confrontation with them rather than deal with it head-on.

“They are notjust curious, Aang. They are flirting with you! I don’t want to be the jealous girlfriend here, but come on! One of us has got to have her head screwed on strait!”

Aang somehow managed to look simultaneously disbelieving and guilty. But then his expression shifted to a wicked smirk. “You think Idon’t get it? But what about you? What about how guys are picking up on you all the timeand you act like you don’t even know its happening? Seriously, Katara, talk about calling the tea-kettle black!”

“That rarely ever happens. And besides, they don’t mean anything by it.”

Aang hooted in disbelief, “What?! How can you even saythat? What about just this morning in the market on our walk over here? I let go of your hand for one minute and the vulture-wasps descended!”

“Aang, I was shopping. Its their job to wait on me – they want me to buy their wares.”

“Uh-huh. Now who’s naive? That one guy didn’t have to stand there stroking your hand just to help you put on a bracelet.”

Katara looked a little shocked, “Aang! He was just doing his job; and besides, he was way too old for me.”

“Doesn’t matter. He was hitting on you. And not even subtly. Man, Katara, I can’t believe you couldn’t see that!”

Katara sat puzzled for a moment as Aang continued.

“All I have to do is look around; guys are checking you out all the time. I know I can’t really blame them (I mean, who wouldn’t? You’re gorgeous, Katara!), but it still bugs me. I want to tear their eyes off you and tell them to stop thinking what they’re thinking.”

“And how do you know what they’re thinking? You’re just getting worked up over nothing.”

“Believe me, Katara, I know what they’re thinking.” Then he looked away shyly, a guilty blush rising to his ears.

Katara melted a little. Aang was so adorable when he was jealous. Katara reached out her hand, placing it on his. He turned his palm up to meld with hers, bringing her hand up to his lips for a moment; an air of sobriety falling between them.

Katara ducked her head to catch his eye. “But none of that matters. We trust each other, Sweetie.”

Aang looked at her, more intensity in his eyes than she expected, “I trust you. Its themI don’t trust...”

“Exactly!” Katara jumped on this, “That’s exactly how I feel when I see these grasping women swooping down on you, while you act completely non-the-wiser!” She blew out a forceful breath, “and with this separation coming up… I just… I don’t know.” She struggled to put her feelings into words, “I guess I just can’t help but feel… apprehensive.”

Tomorrow morning Katara would be leaving Ba Sing Se for the South Pole. The ten-year anniversary of her mother’s death was coming up, and in the Water Tribe, that was a ceremonial year. All the loved ones of the deceased needed to gather for Ten Days of Remembrance, each day being specified with specific activities for honoring the dead. The final evening, the closest family members would convene in the tent of the Shaman who would lite incenses made from special herbs and perform the Final Ritual. People were sometimes known to see the souls of their deceased loved ones on this special night. But it was believed that after this ten-year milestone, the soul finally left this world for good, never to visit again. This was an important and sacred ritual, and she needed to be there – for her Dad, but also for herself.

Aang had to stay here in Ba Sing Se. The new Fire Nation Ambassador had figuratively burned a slew of political bridges in the Earth Kingdom, offending nearly everyone in King Kuei’s advisory cabinet. The woman meant well, and she wasn’t wrong in her opinions actually; but she was brash and outspoken, and like her element, pretty hotheaded. Things had gotten so heated in the last meeting that Aang had sent for Iroh to come from his teashop to talk some sense into his Nation’s ambassador and try to smooth over some bristling Earth Kingdom egos. As much as he didn’t like it, his life was not his own, and he simply could not leave Ba Sing Se right now. And frankly, he was over due for a scheduled meeting with Zuko in the Fire Nation as well; so as soon as he felt that the tenuous situation here was safe enough to leave, he would go directly there. So any thoughts of going to the South Pole with Katara were doubly out.

So the two of them were looking at anywhere from a month to two months away from one another. They had not spent this much time apart since… well since before they met.

Aang squeezed her hand, “Yeah, I feel apprehensive too. I hate being away from you, Katara.” Aang picked up his stool and brought it around the table, so the two could sit closer, his knees flanking hers as they sat facing one another. “But I don’t want you to worry about me and… other girls. That’s just ludicrous! You know you’re the only girl for me, Sweetie.”

Katara grasped both of his hands, looking at them as she placed them in her lap, “I know. I trust you, really, I do. I guess… I guess I would just feel a little better if you didn’t, I don’t know, let them flirt with you like that. I don’t like it when I’m here, but… I mean what will they be like when I’m not here to chase them away?!”

Aang brought his hand up to her face in affection. “What can I do to make you feel better?”

A sly smile crept up to Katara’s mouth, “you could try using firebending to make yourself hot so they can’t touch you…”

“Make myself hot…?” Aang asked incredulously.

“No! I mean you’re already hot… (that’s kind of the problem…) No, what I meant is make your body hotter so that…” Katara groaned as she dug herself deeper in this faux pas. “That doesn’t sound right! I mean, just… just burn them if they touch you! Or, heat up your skin so they burn their hands if they touch you… or something…” she trailed off lamely.

Aang laughed right out loud. Clearly amused by Katara’s mis-speech implying that somehow “being hotter” would help with his lady problems. “You want me to start burning people…? If they flirt with me…?”

Eventually Katara laughed too, admitting that her idea was ridiculous. But her feelings were genuine and she wanted to communicate that with Aang. “Ok, so no need to… burn anyone. But Aang can you really try to be a little more direct with these girls? Yes, they are being way too forward, and you aren’t exactly inviting them to hit on you, but… well, you aren’t exactly discouragingthem either…”

Aang sat back a little, stunned that Katara felt that way. Katara spoke again, “I mean, think about this in reverse, Aang. If I had been sitting there and three handsome guys were hovering around me when you went for sauces… how would youfeel?”

Aang sat for a moment, eyebrows drawn as he contemplating that.

Katara went on, “and how about if they were putting their hands on me like those girls did with you?”

Aang answered immediately, “I’d be steaming.” Then cocking a smile, “Most likely literally.”

“See! Well that’s how I feel!”

Aang looked at her again, kindness emanating from him, “I’m sorry, Katara. I hadn’t thought about it like that, from yourpoint of view. I don’t like them flirting with me either, but I just don’t want to offend anyone…” He took her hands in his again, “but I guess I amoffending someone when I let it happen. I’m offending you, and you’re the last person I want to hurt, Katara!”

“Aang, I know you are loyal to me, and I trust you. But I don’t like feeling jealous, and I do think there are things you could do to lessen the problem.”

“Okay. I’ll be better. I’ll be more upfront in discouraging women who hit on me.” Aang looked at her with a crooked smile, “and what about you? If I’m supposed to burn these girls, does that mean you have to freeze the guys that hit on you?” Aang added cheekily.

Katara laughed, and Aang added, “Then when we are finally back together after this time away from one another we can compare casualty-counts; sound fair?”

“Deal!”

………....

A/N: Anyone else feel like Aang is a little oblivious to girls flirting with him? We saw it in the show a little, and even more in the comics. I think that Katara would have a problem with this (and you can’t really blame her too much, right?)

Anyway, please leave me your thoughts!

#kataangweek #aang #katara #kataang #ALTA #avatar #avatar the last airbender #jealousy

33 notes · View notes