#Platinum Party at the Palace

[twstgarden]

❀ ❝ 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿'𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 ❞

━ malleus draconia x gn! reader (reader can be yuu and/or your oc) ━ it was malleus' birthday and you planned to surprise him with a gift you've made with your own hands. (f/n means first name)

this work may contain spoilers for chapter 7, diasomnia’s arc.

do not steal or translate without my permission.

it was another hectic day for malleus. though he was not in the briar valley palace being overwhelmed with plans for his birthday, he was still busy in night raven college. lilia was in the room with him, smiling at the fae as he greeted, “happy birthday, malleus! come, the guests await.”

the diasomnia dormitory head followed his guardian’s request, trailing behind him as they both went to the lounge. the celebration was splendid, to say the least. he received gifts and was greeted by students he never personally interacted with before – though they were steps away from him while delivering their greetings.

the platinum outfit he wore for this year’s birthday theme made him stand out – quite so, as he is the birthday boy. the interview was something he enjoyed as well; having deuce as his interviewer made it even more pleasant.

 the celebration was nearing its end, and while he was grateful, he cannot help but feel as if something is missing. his eyes wandered around the lounge, looking for a certain person but to no avail. lilia, who stood beside him, intuitively knew who he was looking for, merely smiling, and not saying anything.

once the celebration ended, the rest of the guests returned to their respective rooms and dorms, leaving only lilia, silver, and sebek in the lounge with malleus, sorting through the gifts. while doing so, the young fae’s gaze landed on a green envelope, opening the letter as he did not recall who handed it to him.

‘to my dearest,

pleasant salutations, my love. today marks the day of your birth, and i am more than happy to wish you a happy birthday. thank you for the beautiful memories you have made with me, and i hope we can continue to make more memories together.

you might wonder about my whereabouts throughout the whole party. in all honesty, i was preparing your gift. once you have received this letter, it is time for you to take a moment to indulge in my present made for you and only you.

let us put you to a test. search for an item that fits the description i underlined. good luck!

amongst the thorny bushes, i remain bright and romantic.

forever yours, f/n l/n’

a smile ghosted over malleus’ lips, chuckling to himself as he was intrigued by your behaviour. you would go as far as putting him to a test and sending him out on a scavenger hunt, searching for objects with nothing but riddles as a clue.

“how amusing,” spoke malleus with that amused smile on his face, “quite creative, however.” lilia peeked at the letter before chuckling and gently patting his shoulder, “what are you waiting for? time is ticking!”

and with that, malleus went around the dormitory in search of something that stayed bright and romantic amongst the thorny bushes. he has gotten his first clue. thorny bushes must mean the location is in the garden of diasomnia, no? however, they do have flower bushes and whatnot, so what exactly is he supposed to find?

still, he went to the dormitory garden, eyeing all the colourful bushes before his eyes landed on the thorn bushes nearby. nothing seemed out of place, but as he stepped closer, a glowing red rose hid within the bush.

“ah, is this the item i’m supposed to find?” mumbled malleus as he quickly grabbed the rose, the thorns not pricking him as he used his magic to avoid damage. upon contact, the rose glowed even more before disappearing into thin air, and what came in replacement was a quick reveal of the words, ‘turn around.’

and so, he did. the young fae turned around with a puzzled expression before his eyes landed on you standing there with a smile. how did he not notice you? surely, he could have heard your footsteps, no? his puzzled expression morphed into a shocked one before he smiled at you, noticing your arms tucked behind you as if you were hiding something.

“and what are you hiding, dearest?” asked the male with a smug smile.

“oh, nothing~” you replied, “close your eyes.”

malleus raised a brow, eyeing you for a moment before complying with your request, closing his eyes without another word as he waited for your action. he heard a soft twinkle as you spoke, “okay, you can open them…”

once he opened his eyes, you stood with your arms out, a snow globe rested on your palm as the miniature scenery had two dragons that look identical, but one seemed to be a baby dragon holding an ice cream cone. his eyes widened as you held it out to him with a shy smile, “i made this for you…”

made?

“made?” asked malleus. you nodded as you avoided his gaze, thinking he might not like it as you mumbled a response, “yes, i don’t have much to offer, but i am skilled with arts and crafts…” you eyed the snow globe again, shaking it a little to make it snow with a soft twinkle.

malleus smiled softly as he watched you shake the globe before gently grabbing it from you, looking at it closely as he realised the dragon looks like him. “a personalised snow globe… thank you, f/n…”

“happy birthday, malleus,” you greeted with a smile, the same smile that he had always loved, the same smile that brightened his lonely days, the same smile that greets him every morning. his eyes stayed on you as he looked at you like a lovestruck puppy, wishing for this moment to never end.

an eternity with you and those he holds dear is all that he asks for.

© twstgarden 2023 || please do not steal, translate without my permission, or use this to train a.i.

[hexed-padlock]

Hi. As requested by a few people, here’s a fic of my AU/Headcanon where Tav killed Strahd but keeps it a secret from the party. I’m planning a few different scenarios of the reveal, but here’s the first (and most serious). Next ones are gonna embody the original premise more. Couldn’t get this scene out of my head though. Also a bit of Astarion x Tav here.

Takes place as you meet Cazador, where he starts mocking Astarion.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

“Do the cattle not know you?”

They were below the Palace, facing Cazador as he readies the ritual for his Ascension. 200 years of torment and this is where it all ends. Here and now.

Astarion tenses, seconds from lunging. This was his tormentor, the bastard who robbed him of his freedom, the monster who destroyed thousands of lives. A vampire hundreds have tried and failed to kill.

The room grows colder as Cazador continues to humiliate, to mock, to belittle.

Astarion’s jaw clenches and-

Tav laughs, loud and mocking. They’ve barely reacted thus far, and the sudden noise catches everyone off guard. Their eyes glint, one natural and the other burning with fiery, infernal magic.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t take you seriously anymore. You truly are pathetic.” Tav taunts, head tilting as a lazy smirk crawls onto their face.

Cazador’s own mocking grin turns down into a sharp frown as he finally turns his attention to Tav. “Just what makes you think you can speak to me that way? You’re nothing more than a lamb led to slaughter. Cattle to be consumed. An animal at best.”

“Are all vampires this delusional?” Tav voices the question to no one in particular. Cazador seethes, and the party tenses.

What was Tav doing? Were they insane?!

Astarion moves to grab Tav as they take a couple steps forward, but misses as they smoothly sidestep away from his grasp.

Tav pulls out a sword hilt from the pouch on their hip, testing it’s weight in their hand absentmindedly. The party never understood the significance of this old sword hilt. Sure, it was beautiful, made of an elegant platinum, but it has long since lost it’s blade. Dammon once offered to forge it a new blade but Tav politely declined.

“I’ve met another vampire before you. He was always prattling on and on about being all powerful, lord of the night… something something.” Tav pauses to shift the sword hilt to their left hand. Slowly, deliberately, Tav locks eyes with Cazador (pointedly ignoring their party). “He’s dead now, of course.”

For a moment, Cazador pauses, before the same mocking grin returns. “A spawn is hardly considered a vampire. Though perhaps to you, worm, you see no difference.” Cazador then begins speaking slowly, as if communicating with a child or an animal. The mocking grin grows. “Allow me to enlighten you-“

“I never said ‘spawn’,” Tav cuts off Cazador. “Maybe your old age is finally getting to you, leech.”

Tav shifts the sword hilt back to their dominant hand, subtly maneuvering the hilt into a proper grip. “Maybe you’ve heard of him. His name eludes me. Forgive me, but it’s been a few years. I think it starts with an S.”

All the while, the party is flabbergasted. Sure, they’ve seen Tav do some questionable things over the past few months such as walk straight into a goblin camp, lick some spider meat, and even taunt Mizora—but this is a new level of insane.

Astarion tries to get their partner to stop, because for the love of everything, shut up. He’s never seen Cazador this mad before. Sure, they’ve survived some pretty dangerous situations before, but taunting a vampire lord is madness. However, each time he tries to move or speak, his voice dies in his throat. He’s terrified, he’s rooted on the spot. He’s afraid of Cazador yes, but he’s even more afraid for Tav. The brilliant, shining light of his life. The one person who showed him kindness, love. He’s afraid of Cazador, but he’s more scared of losing them.

Before Astarion could try to intervene again, he feels Tav send a wave of reassurance through the tadpole. They glance back at him for a moment, narrowed eyes softening, before turning once more to face Cazador.

Tav hums for a couple seconds as they pause to think. “Samael? No. Maybe it was Seraph?” They huff for a bit as they make a show of wracking their mind for the name. “Aha! I remember now.”

They brace for combat and the Sunsword answers its wielders call.

Tav’s smirk turns into a cold sneer. Their eyes glow as the hilt in their hand erupts in a fiery plume, a blade of radiant light now burning in the darkness. “It was Strahd.”

————————

Idk… if anyone wants to be notified of a new fic in this AU/series you can let me know?

Anyway, next these will all be independent of each other. Each will be an alternate take on the reveal.

I haven’t written anything besides D&D backstories in literal years so please forgive me if this is rather rough. Always open to constructive criticism.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

One more thing I forgot to post re: Eugenie vs the Sussexes.

During the Platinum Jubilee when the Sussexes were doing the most to try to get pictures with the other royals or even to get them to Frogmore for LilD’s birthday, Eugenie would have been their natural and easy target ally.

Instead the Sussexes made a very public play for the Philips/ Tindalls. All the cousins were in the same room at Horse Guards, but the Sussexes were photographed variously with the junior Philips/ Tindalls and The Duke of Kent. The few Long lens pics into the room showed that no one was talking to Meghan or Harold except for one pic of Harold with Kent.

Then the Sussexes leave Horse Guards presumably to return to Frogmore, and miss the flypast. Eugenie posts lots of pics from the flypast which show that Zara, Beatrice are with her on a rooftop at SJP.

Later that afternoon/ early evening Zara, Mike, Beatrice, Edo, Jack and Eugenie are papped coming out of a London restaurant following group lunch, which Mike later revealed involved all the royal cousins+ spouses who weren’t on the balcony. Only the Sussexes don’t attend because they’d gone back to Frogmore. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10896165/Mike-Tindall-reveals-outstanding-cousins-lunch-Harry-Meghan-didnt-attend.html

The next day the Sussexes put out PR about a birthday party for LilD which they claim was attended by the Philips/ Tindalls and their children, but the two families were very visibly at the races most of that day and the distance between locations to attend both events would have been impossible especially as the Philips/ Tindall families had booked London hotels for Jubilee weekend and centred all their activities in/ around London give or take afew miles outside it. 

***********

I do remember these well. 

I don’t think Harry and Meghan not being in Eugenie’s Trooping video (remember how pissed everyone got at her because Wolfie’s face was visible, when Beatrice and Edo hadn’t been showing his face? ah, good times) is because of the falling out. I think it was just the logistics the Queen/Charles had put in place for handling the Sussexes. It was implied that Harry and Meghan were only invited to the official ceremonial events, and once something ended, they were herded back to their car and sent home to FrogCott to wait for tomorrow’s event. So what happened at the service of thanksgiving (where they left in a car that took them to FrogCott while everyone else bussed over to the guildhall for the reception) is what happened after Trooping: everyone else was carriaged/bussed back to Buckingham while the Sussexes were sent home and then all the cousins decided to go out for lunch.

Supposedly that’s why they left early  - they were upset by how closely they were being controlled by palace handlers regarding the events, but knew they couldn’t complain (publicly at least) because they needed the optics of being with Lili for her first birthday so they could use the public spotlight to pressure the BRF into giving them the Lilibet Meets Lilibet photo.

Also it has been alleged that Anne was livid the Sussexes got the photo ops they did with her grandchildren. I have also heard that Autumn and Zara were upset too, which is allegedly why they bailed on the birthday party after promising to go (I’m not sure I believe this one because Zara absolutely would’ve already had plans with her family for the weekend). I think what really happened with the birthday party is Harry invited them, they said “we’ll let you know,” which the Sussexes interpreted as “yes” and thus all the PR.

[jamdoughnutmagician]

Teenage Dreams (13 going on 30 AU) - part 4

Eddie Munson x reader

<- previous part Next Part ->

Word Count:2, 361

SERIES MASTERLIST

Masterlist // Eddie Munson Masterlist

*dividers by @saradika-graphics

You make your way to party at The Palace, where the music is blaring and people are already milling about with cocktails in hand, dancing and talking. A sea of glitzy party dresses and only slightly less-than formal dress shirts surround you. You reach out to take one of the small canapés off a nearby waiter as he swerves past you with his tray held aloft. 

Squeezing your way past bodies of sweaty dancers, you perk up when you spot Nancy leaning back against the bar

“Hey Nance!” You wave to her as you get closer. 

“Hey girly, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to show up!” she smiles pulling you into a hug. “Get this girl a piña colada, please.” she orders to the bartender before turning back to you. 

“So what have you been up to?” you ask

“Ugh, I’ve desperately been trying to avoid Micheal. Y’know he’s already tried to grab my ass twice tonight?” she groans, rolling her eyes and taking a large sip of her drink. 

“There you two are!” Michael calls out as he strides his way over to where you and Nancy are. “It’s 11.00 and already people are leaving. This party is turning out to be a total disaster! I need you girls to fix it!” and with that he struts off with a huff.

“If we’re going to get through this evening, we’re going to need a little bit more liquid encouragement.” she grins before turning to the bartender. “Two shots of tequila please.”

The bartender pours you each a shot and Nancy is all too quick to slam the shot glass back, and then looks to you where you were waiting hesitantly with the small glass in-between your fingers.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Down the hatch.”

You flick the shot glass back, wincing when the alcohol burns your tongue. That shot definitely did not go down as smoothly as your piña colada.

Both you and Nancy go back to sipping your respective cocktails as you weave through the dwindling numbers of party-goers.

“Speaking of total disasters..” Nancy scoffs, nodding her head towards a woman wearing a form-fitting navy dress, with her platinum blonde hair styled into soft curls. “What on earth is she doing here?”  

“What? Who is it, Nance?”

“That’s Missy Harper, Diamond Magazine’s editor in chief, and she’s heading our way.”

Missy saunters over to you, her curls bouncing with every step.

“Hey girls, how are things going with your little magazine? I know it must be so hard living in Diamond Magazine’s shadow all the time.” she quips with a sneer as she sips her cocktail.

“Is that the best you can do, Missy, really? Are you really that desperate for a scoop that you had to scout out at our party?”

“Ooh fighting talk from Nancy Wheeler, I’m so scared.” Missy replies sarcastically. “You know, you might want to consider saving those witty remarks for your magazine, honey. It might be beneficial for you to just rename your whole magazine to something more fitting, like Poison, or Pitiful, whatever sounds more pathetic.” she finishes with a false smile.

You weren’t going to stand for that kind of slander, and with one more than enough liquid encouragement in your system, your mouth was working a lot faster than your brain.

“You are rude and mean and sloppy and frizzy and I don’t like you at all.” you say proudly, with a snappy edge to your voice.

“Well, luckily, I don’t care about being liked, I just care about winning.” and with that Missy was gone.

You move around the party for a little while longer, happily sticking by Nancy’s side.

“Uh-oh Nance, watch your ass, here comes trouble. Michael’s coming over.” you warn her, as you see your boss coming over to you.

“I thought I told you girls to fix this party? So why am I still seeing people running for the exit like there’s a fire on the dance floor.” Michael snips.

“Well maybe it’s the music?” you pipe up. “I mean, this isn’t anything to dance to. If you played something that people liked, then you might actually see people staying to enjoy the party.”

“You can play whatever music you want, as long as it gets what’s left of my party guests out on that dance floor.”

You totter over to the dj booth on wobbly legs, high-heels and slightly tipsy is not a good combo as it turns out, asking the dj very politely to play a very special request that would have everyone up and dancing in no time.

The sounds of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ soon start to pour out from the dj’s speakers. Thriller was still cool, right? God you hoped so, because it was the only song you could think of to liven up the party. Although your confidence in your song choice starts to waver as you look out to all the party-goers who are giving you confused expressions, Nancy and Micheal are both hiding their embarrassment behind their hands.

Well, you’ve only got one choice now. To commit to the bit.

Tentatively you step into the middle of the now empty dance floor, the bright lights shining down on you, and do the only dance that you knew off by heart. The Thriller dance that you and Eddie had spent so many times perfecting as kids. The moves coming back to you like muscle memory. A zombie-like twitch of the neck, hands waving above your head, a pop of the hips in time with the music.

You continue to dance, feeling more awkward as time goes by but then you spot your saving grace in the crowd of people. 

“Eddie!!” you call him over. “Dance with me!”

Everyone in the party turns to look at him, and suddenly his cheeks are flushing with a warm pink.

“Nu-uh, I don’t think so. I’m not doing this.” he vehemently refutes, but it’s too late. You’re rushing over to him and dragging by the hand to join you on the dance floor.

“Come on, just like when we were kids, remember?”

“Yeah, like 15 years ago! Come on, this is crazy!”

You start to dance to the music, and give Eddie those desperately pleading eyes that he used to fall for everytime, and soon he’s joining in with you. Following your every move, matching you step for step in the very familiar dance routine.

In a surprise turn of events, everyone else gets up to join you and Eddie on the dance floor, easily catching on to the iconic dance moves. Even managing to get both your uptight boss, Michael, and the less-than dance inclined, Nancy up on the floor. Gleeful screaming whoops, and laughs echo out amongst the music as the party livens up.

 Catching himself in the brightly coloured lights, Eddie stops when he sees your face, suddenly remembering where he was and what he was doing.

“I’m sorry, I’ve got to go.” 

“Eddie, wait!” but it’s too late, he’s pulling away from the crowd and leaving the party.

You’re catching up with Nancy, filing out from a classy bar after a few drinks after work.

As you step out onto the street your eyes land on the man who you had found in your apartment when you had first woken up as a thirty year-old woman. His tall stature illuminated underneath the warm street lights.

“Oh my god, it’s the naked dude from my apartment.” you gasp.

“Well I’m not surprised he was naked in your apartment, he is your boyfriend after all.” Nancy laughs.

“Hey, sweetcheeks!” the man smiles broadly as he makes his way over to you, placing a slightly too wet kiss to your cheek.

“Hey, you..too..” you cringe slyly trying to wipe away the sliver of slobber he left on your cheek. Just as you’re quietly wiping your cheek with the sleeve of your shirt you spot an all too familiar bounce of long dark curls.

“Hey Eddie!!” 

He turns around at the mention of his name, walking over to where you, Nancy and your boyfriend (if you could call him that?) were. You can’t help the confusion that falls across your face when you see a petite woman with soft strawberry blonde curls following behind him.

“So what are you doing here, Eddie?”

“Oh, I’m just out here doing some shopping with my…uh..fianceé.” Eddie says, draping his arm around the smaller woman. “Y/n, this is Chrissy.”

Chrissy extends a welcoming handshake to you.

“I’ve heard all about meeting his blast from the past, it was really sweet of you to stop by and say hello.” Chrissy smiles.

“If anyone’s the sweet one, it’s Eddie. I mean, I don’t know what i’d’ve done without him” you nod, looking down, not daring to look into Eddie’s soft brown eyes. “So, how did you two meet?”

“Oh, well I was just unwinding with a quick drink after work. I work as a cheerleading coach at a school just outside the city, and our eyes met across the bar.” Chrissy smiles as she recounts her first meeting with Eddie.

“Yeah I was packing up all the equipment after playing a small gig there, and we just got to talking.” Eddie explains.

“Actually, Edward, and I have been talking about finally getting away from the big city, maybe moving upstate to somewhere quiet.”

“You’re moving?” you say, not quite able to hide the little crack in your voice as you speak.

“Well, we haven’t really…we we’re just.. discussing it..” Eddie trails off. “Anyway, enough about me, what about you huh? Looks like things are going alright for you.” Eddie says nodding towards the man towering behind you.

“Oh yes, Eddie, this is my boyfriend…” you trail off, realising that you didn’t even know this guy’s name.

“Hey man, I’m Kurt Decker. It’s always nice to meet one of Y/n’s friends” he says, extending a hand  towards Eddie.

“It’s fine dude, you don’t have to be so humble about it, you’re like one of the best baseball players ever.” Eddie laughs as he shakes Kurt’s hand.

“Well, you know I always love to meet my fans.” Kurt laughs heartily. 

There’s an awkward silence that falls between the groups, 

“Well, uh..I guess we should probably get going.” Eddie says, pulling his leather jacket closer to his body. “It was nice to meet you guys.”

“It was nice meeting you too, man.” Kurt says with a pat on Eddie’s back.

And with that, Eddie walked off with Chrissy by his side, disappearing down the dark city streets.

“Hey Nance, you don’t mind if I steal my girl away from you for the rest of the night do you?” Kurt asks, draping his arm over your shoulder.

“Not at all, she’s all yours. I’ll see you guys later, enjoy your night.” Nancy winks, leaving you all alone with your boyfriend.

“So, babe, I was thinking I could take you back to my place and we could have a little fun together? How does that sound to you?” Kurt smirks, raising his eyebrows at you eagerly.

Yeah. That sounds like fun.

 You find yourself in Kurt’s apartment, abhorrently boyish in its decor, with dark stone-grey walls, matching dark leather furniture and baseball memorabilia littering the floating shelves on his wall. Everything about this space seemed nothing short of a bachelor pad, distinctly missing that delicate feminine touch.

“I just couldn’t wait any longer baby, I had to see you.” Kurt murmurs in your ear, placing sloppy open-mouthed kisses to your neck and shoulders as he comes up behind you.

You pull away from him to sit on the couch, but naturally he follows you to sit right beside you, his hand resting on the material of your dress covering your thigh as his lips continue to kiss upwards, pecking against your cheek.

You can’t help the giggle that slips from your lips as you try to gently push him away from you.

“Okay, okay, I know what you need” Kurt says as he gets up from the couch, and flicks the remote control to his stereo. “You’re in need of one of my very special, very raunchy strip teases.”

Oh no.

Kurt begins to slowly strip his clothes off, whilst swaying his hips to the seductive music pouring through the stereo.

No, no no. Where were you supposed to look? 

You try to avert your eyes as he peels off his t-shirt and flings it your way, quickly you flick it off  your lap with a yelp. Desperately you grab a cushion to hide behind, foolishly thinking that you would be safe behind there.

You carefully peek from behind the safety of your tightly clutched cushion only to see that Kurt is digging his thumbs into the waistband of his jeans, and beginning to tug them down his legs until the only thing he’s wearing is a pair of tighty-whities.

“No. No, you put that thing away right now” You cry, keeping your eyes anywhere but the scene in front of you.  

You fling the cushion in your hands at Kurt, quickly using that as your chance to flee. Grabbing your bag you make a dash for the door.

This wasn’t happening. No way.

As you make your way out of your apartment on your way to work, you run into Stacy, the young girl who lived in your apartment building.

“I’m telling you, Stacy, it was awful, he was just dancing around in his undies.” you grimace with a shudder.

“That’s boys for you, they’re all stupid.” she sighs. “The ones that you like, never like you back, and the ones who are left are all idiots.”

“Well, Stacy, you just have to fight for what you want. Always remember, love is a battlefield.” you tell her.

“Those are some really deep words.” Stacy nods along to your advice.

“And don’t you forget it. Have fun at school, Stace!”  you wave her goodbye from the passenger-side window of your car, and head off to whatever was waiting for you at work.

@paybacksawitch @penguinsandpotterheads @mrsjellymunson

@ali-r3n @aphrogeneias @eddiesxangel

@munsonology @onegirlmanytales @xxbimbobunnyxx

@optimisticallygarbage @nailbatanddungeon

[kitmarlowe]

Platinum Jubilee: Party at the Palace wins Memorable Moment (Audience Award) at the BAFTA Television Awards 2023

[l-itraklies]

Little Elf

Warnings: none

Pairing: no specific but Thorin x reader, Kili x reader and Fili x reader

Part 1 of ???

Words: 1008

Narrators POV.

Running through the dark forest, she could hear the laughter of her brothers on her tail. "Y/N!" She heard her brother Bucca announce. "Mana, otorno?" She replied ("What, brother?"). Stepping on the branches of trees and jumping to the next, each hanging over the only path into the city. "Come back!" Algar, her oldest brother replied. She landed on a rather larger branch and crouched as low as she could. She pulled an arrow out of her leather quiver, pulling it through the bow. She drew her bow back and swiftly let it go. She was hitting the tree right above one of their heads, leading them away.

She let out a light chuckle before whistling calling her horse, Álváró, to her. The sound of hooves approached her, and she slipped through the branches onto the back of him.

Meanwhile

Thorin and his party (pre-Bilbo), made their way to the gates of the elven city of Lindon. "Thorin, must we keep going?" Bomber complained, "We haven't stopped since breakfast!". Thorin sent him a glare sharp enough to cut stone, sending a fearful shiver to the dwarf. "The wizard says there is someone we need here," he stated bluntly and quite rude if you ask bomber. “It is true” Gandalf announced to them.  A crack came from the trees outside of the path. "Uncle?" Kili muttered, "Yah hear that?" The company listened closely, but the noise did not repeat. "No, lad!" His brother responded cheerfully.

As they neared the entrance of the city a tall stone wall appeared, covered in embellishments. On the top sat guards undisturbed by the dwarves. The gates began to open far before they reached the wall. "Can they see us?" Ori questioned, then the sound of hooves came running. On a jet-black horse road, a beautiful elf had long platinum hair as smooth as fine silk on its back.  She road straight through the party, bursting with pure euphoria and laughter. Gasps of amazement emerged from the group as she rode straight through the gates. She whipped her legs off the horse and hopping down, she turned toward the gate.

A silver crown lay on her forehead, despite her dirtied and ragged clothes. She wore a blue blouse and a grey corset that cinched in around her waist. a small dagger was stowed in the corset and she carried her bow across her chest. Her hair was half braided and the rest was left untouched. "Let them in!" She announced.

"Who request entry to Lindon?" One guard announced

Thorin stepped off his pony responding, "Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the mountain!" The rest of the dwarves follow him and step off their ponies. "Y/n, daughter of Merila queen of Lindon," she said lightly, bowing, her brother's road through the gates mad with rage. "We have guests brothers."

Kili's POV.

She looked as if she was a dream, angelic yet reckless looking. "... and my brother Kili," Fili said interrupting my thoughts. I gave a warm smile, "At your service." She smiled walking up to us all slowly. "Not necessary," she hummed with a bright smile. she stretched out her hands. Her smile turned to a look of confusion. "What is it?" I asked. "I'll take your things," she replied. "We have none," Balin answered. "oh-" her smile returned as she began to walk towards the palace when a tall elf, with red hair, emerged. "Y/n what is the meaning of this noise?" he said.

Narrators POV.

The elf was the king, Angrethor. "Well, they are dwarves," Y/n replied, "they seek your company." Though, she was the queen's daughter she was not the king's, and would not address him as such. "Fine"

Later

Y/n stood in a long pale green dress, that flared at her knees, and had a sweaty heart neckline revealing an emerald medallion around her neck. The room was lively there were elves dancing to the music, eating, and laughing. Except for the company, they sat at a separate table, slowly eating in a brooding manner. “Thorin?” came a voice from behind them, it was the princess, they all noticed her rather shorter frame, for elves and most dwarves as well. “Aye,” he replied, grimacing. “The king will see you now,” she hummed. “Very well,” he growled getting up. 

Thorins POV.

As we walked into the king’s quarters, the company laughed and belched behind me. “Quiet,” I hissed, whipping my head back. “Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the mountain, was it?” the king said, he did not seem remotely like the princess. His hair was as red as blood, his eyes were black instead of green. “Why is it you seek my company?” He questioned. “We wish the Pirncess, to join our company and quest to reclaim the lonely mountain, our home, from the dragon,” Balin explained, the princess was not in the room only the three princes and the king. “I reject, she is to be married,” he responded, “but you may stay as long as you please.” Suddenly the doors burst open, revealing the princess.

 “How dare you! I am not to be married, you have no power over me FALSE KING!” She yelled stomping toward the king red with rage. 

“I am your king and you will obey.” He said calmly

“What does she mean?” Dwalin questioned, to which the company just shook their heads.

Narrators POV.

Y/n lay in her bed, dried tears down her cheeks. She fiddled with her tiara in her hands. She wore her riding clothes, and she had daggers tucked into her boots and her quiver was filled with arrows and her short sword was freshly sharpened. The door squeaked open, and she thought it to be one of her brothers or palace caretakers. She threw a dagger toward the door just missing it and it dug into the wall beside the door. “Woah, ye almost took an ear off princess,” Bofur said from behind the door. “Sorry" Bofur stood by the bed, taking small breaths. "Would you join us?" he said, slightly quiet. "That false king is not my father, you know." she said, ignoring him, "My father was a dwarf, he served Thror and Thrain, to the day he was killed by orcs. and my mother,... killed by her own people for love, she was the true queen." Bofur stood there shocked, he couldn't believe what he'd heard. "Yes," she said looking up at him, "I will help you reclaim the mountain." The rest of the party walked in laughing, gloating, and throwing bags of coins at each other. "Bets will get you nowhere, dwarves."

"We know, little elf," Thorin said jokingly

[thepastisalreadywritten]

What does Paddington have to do with the Queen?

It can all be traced back to 1986, when Michael Bond wrote Paddington At The Palace.

In the story, Paddington Bear goes to Buckingham Palace, waves a Union Jack flag, gets to see the Queen’s Guard, and even supposedly spots Queen Elizabeth II herself through a window.

Paddington would visit the palace again in 2006, this time for a pantomime called The Queen’s Handbag, which took place as part of the children’s party at the palace as part of the Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations.

The most recent collaboration came this year as part of a tribute for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (2022). 

In a comedy sketch to launch her televised Jubilee concert, Paddington and Queen Elizabeth II sit down in Buckingham Palace together, sharing afternoon tea, some bear-induced clumsy chaos, and naturally, marmalade sandwiches.

Now considered one of the most memorable parts of the Jubilee celebrations, the video has just over 10.2 million views on YouTube.

“It used to be said that millions of people had dreams in which they had tea with the Queen,” remarked Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the writer of the sketch, after the Queen’s passing.

“Even our dream life is going to have to change. Watching her have tea with Paddington will have to do instead.”

This wasn’t Paddington’s only appearance during the Platinum celebrations.

Artist Eleanor Tomlinson created an image of the Queen holding hands with Paddington, alongside one of the Queen’s corgis, as they walk through what looks like the aftermath of a Jubilee street party.

This image has now become synonymous with the Queen’s passing, with the picture circulating widely with various heartfelt captions and even being turned into commemorative tattoos. 

https://www.stylist.co.uk/entertainment/queen-elizabeth-ii-paddington-bear-connection/707799

🤍💜🤍

[charlotte-of-wales]

more news on Royal Week in Scotland:

Monday 3rd July: the traditional Ceremony of the Keys will take place on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse to mark the start of Royal Week. In the evening, HM will attend a reception on board the Royal Yacht Britannia to mark 25 years since her arrival in Edinburgh.

Tuesday 4th July: the King will view the Jubilee Gates at the entrance to Abbey Yard, Palace of Holyroodhouse, marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Their Majesties joined by the Princess Royal will later host guests at a garden party to celebrate the coronation year.

Wednesday 5th July: His Majesty will hold an Investiture at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Her Majesty will meet weavers at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh. Later, the King, accompanied by the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, will be presented with the Honours of Scotland at a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles, following processions on the Royal Mile.

Thursday 6th July, the King and Queen will visit the Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor centre in Galashiels. TM will tour the Lochcarron of Scotland weaving mill before finishing Royal Week in Selkirk, where they will visit the marketplace and watch a performance of “Casting of the Colours”. The Duke of Edinburgh will host The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards Celebration at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Thursday 6th July. HRH will also visit the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh.

The Princess Royal will carry out engagements during Royal Week. HRH’s programme will include a visit to Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust Limited, Strathcarron Hospice and the University of Edinburgh.

ps: according to Hello Magazine: "William & Kate have a jam-packed schedule with official engagements. [They] will be in attendance for various events."

[jedi-princess-kestis]

Chapter 1.

Warnings: Normal Star Wars fighting, maybe a swear word, slight mention of death and flashbacks. I think that's it.

Word count: 6k

The halls of Naboo were as beautiful as the stories told. Gold lined the pillars and walls, marble stone arches and walkways filled the spaces. Plants of many kinds and shapes lined the walls on the outside while the inside had many paintings and statues as its decor. The heels of shoes clicked on the marble floor, the rustle of fabrics as they walked filling the space in the Palace. A young woman with platinum white hair and gray/ blue eyes walked down the halls with her escorts. She was about 5'6, but her power spoke volumes. She was the Princess of Alderaan, the adopted daughter of Bail and Breha Organa. At the age of 18 she was on a diplomatic mission to the world of Naboo, by request of her Father, to ask the queen to come back to Alderaan for an important meeting.

The girl's dress was a soft pale purple with gold embroidery all over it that fell into a long cloak down her back with gold patterns. Her hair was pulled up into a smooth high ponytail that fell into long curls and braids, a golden leaf crown wrapping around the back of her head under the ponytail to the top, spreading out on the top of her head like a cap. Golden earrings with amethyst gems dangled delicately from her ears, and small amethyst studs were in the next piercing up. A small delicate chain sat around the base of her collarbone, a beautiful yellow crystal wrapped in golden swirls and leaves hung from the chain. Golden 1 inch heels graced her feet, the soft click of her footfalls filling her ears.

As her and her party walked towards the grand doors of the Queen's Throne Room, the guard nodded his head to her in respect before pushing open the door. Giving him a nod of thanks, she stepped through the threshold and walked down the pale blue rug towards the throne. Queen Tamrina Paldalli was a young queen at 23, tall and slender with bright brown eyes and golden hair. Her face was painted white, the customary red dots the only spots of color on her face. Her hair was twisted and pinned in elaborate ways, framing her face. Her headdress sitting just so upon her hair. A heavy looking gown of red and orange draped across her body, showing her figure in the right places.

"Princess Ari, what a delight!" Queen Tamrina called out as the younger women stopped a few feet away and curtsied low before the queen. Even though she had heard this name for six years now instead of her true name, Moaria, it still felt strange.

"Your Majesty. It is an honor." Moaria spoke with a soft tone, her voice seeming to float on air. She stood up straight, a regal composure all to be seen. Years of royal training and tradition embedded in her bones. "I come with an invitation from the Royal Family of Alderaan. My Father asks for Your Majesty to join him to honor the new moon on the day of High Tide and feast with us as the honored guest." She delivered her message with pose and grace. She saw a flash of understanding in the Queen's eyes, before she gave a bow of her head.

"I would be honored to join you back to the palace of Alderaan, Princess Ari. Thank you."

Ari tipped her head, letting her shoulders relax a bit. The hard part was over now. She delivered her father's coded message to Tamrina, now she just had to travel back with the Queen to her home world. Glancing back up Moaria noticed for the first time a young man standing in the shadows behind the Queen's throne. A hood from his poncho was pulled up over his head, the shadows casting onto his facing making it hard to see his eyes, only his nose and lips visible to the light. His face was clean shaved, and a high collar came up his neck. His black poncho covered his torso down to his knees. His hands rested in front of him, clasped together. Dark brown pants clinged to his legs and calf high black boots. He was calm and quiet, but didn't seem like a threat. She pulled her gaze away from the man and looked back to Tamrina. The Queen of Naboo waved her hand to a Handmaiden who came to stand at the base of the throne.

"Please bring some tea to the balcony, I wish to catch up with my guest in privacy." The court bowed to the Queen, and her handmaidens left as well as the guards. All but the young man. He remained tucked in the corner unmoving.

"Your Majesty…" Moaria spoke softly, dipping her head towards the young man. Tamrina glanced towards him and smiled, looking back at the Princess.

"Have no fear, he is a trusted guard… and a friend to us." She answered, emphasizing the last word. Moaria understood this meant he was loyal to the Queen, to her Father, and the republic they still believed in. Casting one last look at the guard her Father had in no doubt planned to have there all along, she followed the queen out to the balcony, away from any who may overhear them that supported the Empire. Moaria knew for years her Father and Mother still hoped for a chance for the Republic to return, and supplied Rebel ceils all over the galaxy with much needed things. But she had been kept from it all, tucked away with Leia from the eyes of the Empire and Vader. It wasn't until recently when her Father called upon her to deliver this message to Naboo, in hopes the Queen could help give information about the Emperor that could help with the fighting, since he was from this world. She has no clue how Bail had found out Tamrina was against all the Empire stood for, but she was happy for it. To have an ally close in age. Once they were seated out on the balcony, the handmaid brought them tea and a cookie like biscuits before bowing and going back to the throne room. The young guard stayed within eyesight, but never close enough to hear them speak in a normal tone. For some reason his presence made Moaria feel calmer about her first mission off world alone.

"So Ari, now that you are 18, is the Senator letting you take part in more missions and more…. Diplomatic meeting for him?" Tamrina asked as she slipped on her tea. The white haired girl took her cup in her hand but didn't sip from it, instead she let the warmth bleed into her hands as she looked out over the courtyard. She let out a soft sigh and looked back at the Queen.

"Father has his reasons for keeping me from being in the light, same as my sister. We both know how dangerous this galaxy can be."

"You more than Leia ever could."

Casting a glance at the Queen she wondered just how much she really knew about her past, how she became the daughter of such an important family. "Yes you could say that, Your Majesty. But Father has spoken more of Me, more of the work he does, the importance of it. He has started to ask me to be a part of it in ways." She smiled at her friend, "Like now, being here." She finished off before taking a sip of the warm liquid. She say the cup back down on the table and leaned back against her chair back, letting the warm summer wind blow across her face.

"I love Alderaan, the mountains and how untouched the planet seems." Moaria spoke up after a moment of silence, "but here it is so warm. The wind doesn't carry such a bite to it. I wish we had warmer winds like this back home."

"Yes, we are truly blessed to have such wonderful weather here on Naboo, but I must say I am always so jealous that you get to see snow on your mountain tops. I've never seen it snow on Naboo before." Tamrina answered back, as she sat her cup down, looking to her left to glance towards the lake country to the car north. "No matter where we go in this Galaxy we will always wish to have something that someone else has, but in the end we still love the place we call home the most." A smile graced her whitened lips as she turned back to Moaria

Moaria was about to speak when the sound of a ship racing across the sky broke the silence around them, making her look up towards the sky. A sleek black ship was heading for the landing pad and as Ari watched it she felt a dark and deep pit in her stomach. She glanced at the Queen who's face held a look of worry.

"Are you expecting more company today, Your Majesty?" Moaria asked with a slight shake to her voice. Queen Tamrina shook her head side to side softly.

"No." Was all she said.

This made Moaria feel even worse. The dark pit in her stomach grew as she glanced towards the landing pad and saw Stromtroppers walking the path towards the palace. Behind them, clad in black armor, was an Inquisitor. The Fourth Brother.

She stopped breathing for a moment, unsure what her next move should be. The very reason her and Leia were kept away from the rest of the Galaxy now was marching towards her, with no escape in sight as his ship blocked the path to her's.

"No matter what happens, stay silent, blend into the shadows and let me handle this Ari." Queen Tamrina said in a hushed tone before getting up from her seat and making a quick pace for the throne room. Glancing at the young man who had stayed in the shadows, she waved for him to come forward. As he approached, Moaria could see the hint of a scar on the bridge of his nose, and a small scar on his lower lip, but his eyes still remained hidden by the shadows of his hood. Turning to look at the Queen she felt her push something into her hand. "Take this. If something happens open it and save the people." Moaria looked down and saw a small silver disk, before shoving it into her dress pocket. Tamrina's words ringing in her ears as she tried to understand what was happening.

"Protect her at all cost." Tamrina spoke to him in a regal tone. With a nod of his head, he grabbed Moaria's hand and pulled her away from the queen, more towards the back of the throne room, behind the throne where the Handmaides would stand and stood in front of her slightly. Her own handmaid came rushing into the room, her pale green and purple dress swirling around her feet as she made her way over to Moaria. The look of fear in her eyes was enough to make Moaria swollen hard. Palace guards came into the room, and stood near the Queen, as well as two of her handmaidens.

"What is the Fourth Brother doing here?" Moaria asked quietly. The man in front of her stiffened slightly, but she focused on the Queen.

"Because he found out about Me." Was all the Queen said before the doors to the throne room were pushed open, slamming against the walls. Moaria watched in fear as the black cladded man entered the room.

"What is the meaning of this Fourth Brother?! The Queen has an appointm- Ah!" The Royal Advisor spoke to the Inquisitor before he was picked up by the Force and thrown against the nearby wall, sliding down it unconscious. Moaria let out a silent gasp, and the hooded guard in front of her laid a hand on her arm, pushing her farther behind him. She felt a surge of warmth spread through her arm at his touch but she pushed it aside as the Inquisitor got closer to the Queen.

"And to what do I owe this disrespectful entrance into my palace?" Tamrina answered in a tone that demanded respect. "Will the Empire approve of this?"

The Inquisitor walked up to her, stopping a few feet from Tamrina. "The Emperor sent me. He knows you have been dealing with… Rebels… and is disappointed in you, Your Majesty." The rapsy, unhuman voice came through the helmet of the Fourth Brother. He stepped closer, getting his face close to the Queen's. "And he knows you have been harboring a Jedi among you." The snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting filled the quiet room. The Queen was unmoving, her face hard as stone as she looked into the black and red armour of the Inquisitor.

"Your accusations are false. There is no Jedi here. Naboo is a part of the Galactic Empire. You dare challenge its Queen?"

An evil laugh cracked through the mask, a shake of his head as he brought his blade up close to Tamrina's face. Moaria felt the hand on her arm tighten, seeming to sense her need to save her friend, keeping her in place behind him, tight against his back. He was taller than her, about 5'10, and he blocked most of her view, but she peered around his shoulder, to see what was happening. His poncho smells of pine, earthy with a smoky finish. Small burn holes and frayed tears covered the garment, yet it was still soft against her skin.

"You disgrace the Empire with your treason, Your Majesty. And you shall pay." The Fourth Brother hissed before swinging his blade in the air. Moaria gasped as a bright green blade met the blade of the Inquisitor. She watched as the Queen held the lightsaber in her hands, the green glow on her white painted face.

"Well now… what a surprise!" The Fourth Brother and Queen Tamrina took swings at each other, their blades hissing and popping as they hit each other. Tamrina was fast with her lightsaber, keeping up with the Inquisitor. She raised her hand, using the Force to push the Inquisitor back, his boots sliding against the marble floor. The sound of a ship flying close to the balcony of the palace filled the air as the road of lightsabers clashing together once again sounded.

"More radicals!" The stormtrooper near the door called out as the ramp to the ship opened at the balcony, a tall slender woman with white hair pulled up into a bun and face markings came into view. She was wearing a red shirt, black jacket, black pants with a red stripe down them and black knee high boots. Green light shined from her fingertips as she jumped from the ramp to the balcony floor.

Moaria felt a panic rise in her chest as the grip on her arm tightened. The hooded man turned and faced her, his green eyes now visible being so close. She tried to pull her arm free from his grip, panic taking over her body. "Let go of me!" She cried out as she started to pull her towards the balcony doors. She looked back over her shoulder towards Tamrina, watching as she still dualed with the Inquisitor. She watched as she hit him enough to send him backwards a few steps, before she turned to face Moaria.

"Ari!" She cried out as she reached out a hand for the Princess. "Ari run!" Was all she said before gasping out in pain. Her eyes grew wide as she looked down to see the blood red blade of the Inquisitor's lightsaber coming through her stomach.

"No!" Moaria screamed as she pulled her arm free from the hooded guard. She felt a surge of power flow through her veins, the stormtroopers who had been injured in a fight with the women with the face markings screaming out in pain, their bodies shaking in their armor. The Inquisitor grabbed his head, shaking it as though the sound of her cries hurt his ears. Right as he looked up, the hooded guard jumped in front of Moaria and threw his hood back, his bright red hair catching the sunlight that filtered in through the windows. In a blink of an eye a lightsaber with a brilliant blue blade landed in his hands.

"Jedi Scum." The Fourth Brother spit out as he pulled his blade from the dead Queen and charged forward.

"Get the Princess on the ship, we need her alive!" The red head yelled to his partner as he raised his blade to block the blow from the Fourth Brother. He flicked his wrist and pushed Moaria backwards into the arms of the woman who grabbed her and in a poof of green smoke, they disappeared and landed on the ramp of the ship. Moaria watched as the redhead fought against the Fourth Brother, his lightsaber now pulled apart into two blades of blue light that twisted and twirled with the red striking and hitting against each blow. She looked to the left a bit and saw the lifeless face of the Queen. A woman she had called a friend, a woman she trusted, only to realize she never really knew who she really was. She was pulled from her thoughts as she was yanked inside of the ship, the redhead jumping into the ramp as he threw one of his sabers at the Fourth Brother, and called it back with the Force after it hit his red blade.

"Come M'lady!" The woman said with an accent as she pulled her farther into the ship as the boy jumped inside and slammed his hand against the panel on the wall to shut the ramp.

"Greez, let's get out of here!" He called out breathlessly as he shut off his twin blades and put them back together to hang at his side. The ship snapped to life, taking off quickly towards the sky. "My Lady, are you okay?" His voice called out to Moaria. It was smooth like honey, with a slight boyish tone to it, and hints of deeper raspy undertones in some of his words. She looked up at him, her breath still coming out in fast puffs. She leaned against the table that was in the middle of the ship as her balance became shaky as the ship went into hyperspace. "Princess Ari?"

"I think she is in a bit of shock, Cal." An older feminine voice said from behind Moaria. She turned to see a darker skinned woman with short curly black hair walk from the cockpit. "Why don't you sit down Your Highness, and rest for a moment." Moaria nodded and sat down on the leather sofa behind the table, keeping her eyes on the stranger before her. Her hands shook in her lap, flashbacks to six years ago creeping into her mind's eye. The smell of burning flesh, the sounds of lightsabers clashing and hissing as screams filled the air so thickly it made it hard to breathe. Pain. Pain she never felt before flooding every inch of her body and soul as everything she knew came crashing down around her.

With a shake of her head she pushed those thoughts down, far down into the very corner of her mind and locked eyes with the redheaded man. "Who are you? What is happening?" She asked in a shaking voice, once much softer than she had intended. The man took a few steps close and sat down on the other side of the sofa. Seeing him without his hood up, she realized the scar on his nose went onto his right cheek, then faded and a few inches later started again on his lower cheek and went down his neck under his ear. He had a small scar that cut into his right eyebrow as well as the small scar on his bottom lip. His hair was cut shorter on the sides, and slightly longer in the top, but pushed back. His skin on his face was pale with some freckles.

"I'm Cal Kestis. Jedi Knight.", He then turned to his crew and pointed out each one as he spoke their names. "That's Greez Dritus, Cere Junda, and Merrin." He turned back to face the Princess, her eyes searching the room and people around her. "My Lady, we are taking you somewhere safe-".

"You will take me home!" Moaria roared as she jumped up from her seat, looking at the man, Cal, with fire in her eyes. "Or am I to be a hostage? Is that the plan?" She held herself tall, her voice no longer shaken and scared. Cal jumped up with his hands in front of him, as if he was trying to approach a scared animal.

"What? No!" He said in surprise. "My Lady, your father sent us to protect you in case something like this did happen. We are not your enemy here."

The taller woman, Cere, stepped forward and placed a hand on Cal's shoulder. She patted his shoulder and he sat down, still looking up at Moaria like a puppy. The older woman approached the Princess and looked her right in the eyes. "We are taking you somewhere you know. Somewhere your father told us to. You will see him there and he will explain everything." Her voice was firm, a tone Moaria remembered from her past. Something was both comforting and heartbreaking about the familiarity of it. Pushing the thought down she looked at the crew before her. The Latero stood closest to the cockpit, his arms folded over his fat and fluffy torso. Next closest to him was the white haired woman with the face markings. A Nightsister. She was thin, but the muscles showed through the sleeves of her shirt. Then stood Cere. She held herself proud, yet there was a cold, sad look behind her eyes. Then stood Cal, a handsome young man with his fiery copper hair and scars, but he had the eyes of someone who had seen things before his time. Survivor's eyes. The same eyes she saw in the mirror each morning.

Before she could say anything, the scanners started to beep and the ship started to slow down. "Take some seat, we are coming out of hyperspace." Greez said as he made his way back to the cockpit, Cere not far behind. Moaria sat back down and smoothed out the silk of her dress. She tried to smooth down any flyaway hair that may have gone astray during the ordeal. She watched as the stars stopped zooming past the window in a blur of light and Polis Massa came into few. She felt her body stiffen upon seeing the asteroid planet. Six years ago her life changed forever after seeing this place. She saw the base sitting on the rocky surface and the ship docked on its landing pad.

Her Father's ship.

A sigh of relief at seeing some familiar after everything that happened over the past hour overtook her body. All she wanted was to have her father hold her and tell her all was well. But she knew that was just a fairytale wish, today was anything but fine.

The Mantis, as she learned the ship was called, landed on the pad next to her Father's ship and the ramp slowly made its way down. With quick and airy steps, her dress swirling and blowing around her legs, she made her way down the ramp and threw the long hall of the base in search of Bail Organa. Her heels clicked against the floor, flashbacks and memories threatening to fill her mind with each passing step down these halls. Moaria was about to make a right turn down the hall when she slammed into a strong body. She didn't get a chance to look up to see who it was when arms went around her immediately. The soft tickle of his beard, the strong arms that held her, she knew it was her Father.

"Oh my dear sweet child." He breathed against her forehead as he pulled her closer. She wrapped her arms around his back, laying her head on his shoulder as her body finally gave out. "Easy, Daughter. Let's go sit down." Pulling back slightly to guide her down the hallway to the conference room. Looking over his shoulder, Bail saw the crew of the Mantis and nodded for them to follow. She leaned on her Father as he guided her to one of the chairs and sat down beside her. Looking up, Moaria finally saw the room they had gone into. The same room she had stepped into six years ago. The room she became Ari Organa, and left Moaria Hollbir behind.

"Father…" her voice cracking as she tried to hold back all the emotions she felt deep inside her chest. "Did you know? About Tamrina?" Her blue eyes held back the tears that threatened to spill over. She watched as he rubbed his chin, his eyes holding a sad and soulful look to them. They had both seen so much since the fall of the Republic. They had to endure so much over the last few years.

"Yes, I knew she was Force Sensitive. It was why she was so helpful to the cause. She knew the risks, same as any of us what going up against the Empire could mean." His voice was heavy, as he rubbed his chin. Moaria slumped back into her seat, her regal composure slipping as she had no energy to keep up appearances. She looked over at the group of people who brought her here. Cere didn't seem surprised at all by the news, but Cal seemed to still be shocked like she was. Merrin was harder to read, and Greez wasn't looking up at anyone. "Her death is unfortunate though, beyond just the loss of her life. She had important information on the Empire that she found on a trip to Coruscant, one that we may have desperately needed." Bail continued as he leaned back in his seat.

"What information?" Cal's voice spoke up for the first time since being in the ship. Moaria liked the sound of his voice, with the boyish undertones coming through. She looked over at him and met his eyes, a slight redness spreading across his pale cheeks. Turning back to her father she remembered the small flat silver disk that had gotten shoved in her dress pocket. Slipping her hand into her pocket she ignored her Father's answer to Cal as she looked down at the small disk in her hand. Tamrina risked and gave her life for this disk, knowing she would die as she shoved the disk into her hand. So many emotions filled her body as she held that disk in her hands. Parts of her she had shut off after the fall of the Republic started to stir. It was like something within the disk called to her. Still looking down at the disk she spoke up.

"Is this what she was to bring to Alderaan?" Moaria held the disk higher for the others to see. Bail turned back to face his daughter, and his eyes grew wide as he saw what lay in her hand.

"Where did you get that?" He asked. She looked up at him, still feeling that energy running through her body.

"'Open it and save the people.' That's what she told me right before she told Cal to protect me at all cost and the Fourth Brother took her life." She looked at Cal and then back to her Father. "There is so much unanswered Father. Why was I not told there was going to be a Jedi there to protect me? Why are we here… in this place? What was Tamrina hiding on this disk?" Handing the disk to her father she watched his eyes for answers. She watched as his brows crinkled, the worry lines framing his face as he was deep in thought. Standing up he walked to the head of the table and pushed a button, the door sealing itself and the blinds of the windows sliding down, the room growing darker. Slipping the disk into the box at the end of the table, a holo popped up bright blue in the center of the table.

"Your answers lay here. Tamrina heard of a plan, one that the Emperor himself was looking into. Knowing what Queen Tamrina was, I felt it unsafe to send you to her without a backup plan. So I reached out to friends in the cause and they told me about Cal and his crew. I wanted to make sure if something like this happened I could get you out of there, before the Empire got ahold of you." Bail went on to explain as he walked back to his seat beside Maoria. Cere stood up pointing to the Holo, Moaria saw something she didn't ever expect.

"Ilum wasn't the only Kyber Crystal planet?" Cere spoke up as she read the Holo. Looking closer at the Holo, Moaria saw the name of a planet she had never heard of before: Neonarro.

"I've never seen nor heard of this planet or its people before." Spoke Cal as he took a closer look.

"Especially being a Kyber planet, why didn't the Jedi ever talk about a second world to harvest Crystals?" Pointed out Cere as she rubbed her chin. Moaria had to agree with the former Jedi. This place wasn't one anyone had been told about growing up or hearing star pilots talk about. So where was this place? Looking farther at the Holo she saw a smaller amount of writing that seemed to call to her. Leaning forward she saw texts talking about the center part of the planet…. And her people. The words called to her, like a small tug on a string that was wrapped around her soul. Something about the world seemed familiar yet so foreign at the same time.

"This place isn't on a starmaps. It's a lost world, out in the far corners of frontier space. No one has really traveled there since the Old Republic days. All maps and hyperspace lanes have been lost to history to this world." Bail spoke as he read more into Neonarro. "But it must be important if Tamrina took this information from the Empire and got it into our hands."

Moaria kept looking at the Holo, going over the texts and imagines of the planet. Standing up she took a few steps to the left, looking at it from a different angle. That's when she spotted something on a different line in the texts. "Here! It's something about a Jedi Temple."

Cal stood up and walked over to where she was standing. "The one on Coruscant?"

"No, it's an older one, from the Old Republic times. It's somewhere in the Keneda System, in the Outer Rim." She pointed to the small Holomap below the texts. Pulling it up closer there were thirteen worlds marked in the Keneda System. Only two had been checked off. "Whatever this Temple is, they have only looked at two of them. There must be a map or a clue on how to find this lost world."

"We already know the Empire is taking all the Kyber Crystals they can. They took Ilum. If they find another world full of crystals… What could stop them from doing something terrible to this Galaxy?" Cere whispered as her eyes got a far away look to them. The room grew quiet as they all looked at the Holo. Emotions were running rampant, the idea of a lost world and people, the Empire on the hunt, and the death of the Queen was a lot to deal with. Maoria read over the texts about the hidden Jedi Temple again, something about it called to her, like a lost friend reaching out.

"We have to find this Temple and Neonarro before the Empire does." She broke the silence after sometime, looking at each pair of eyes in the room. "If we don't, the fate of the Galaxy might forever be sealed into the hands of the Empire."

"That, my Daughter." Bail said with a look in his eyes, "Is why we are here, and not back on Alderaan." Sliding the Holo to the side a new Holo pulled up, but this time with Moaria's picture on it. "The Empire believes you were taken hostage and are being held for ransom. This was plan B had we needed it. Which now we do." Moaria was confused upon hearing this. She had no clue what Bail could mean. Why was her being held hostage important for the Empire to think was true?

"Father, why must the Empire think I am being held hostage? And by who?"

"Saw Gerrera. The Emperor was sent a message by Saw saying that you were taking on Naboo for the death of the Queen. Because of this, the Empire will have its eyes on Saw and Me."

"So now I just what? Hide in the shadows, away from my home until you find someone to find this lost temple?" Moaria asked, a slight sharpness to her tongue. Bail only gave her a look, one that was stern, unwavering. One that looked her so deep into the eyes she felt as though he looked into the very pit of her soul.

"No. This Galaxy needs someone. It needs more than just a few Jedi and Rebels to bring it back from her knees with the spark of hope. It needs a burning light." He took her hands as he leaned closer to her as he spoke the last four words. "It needs Moaria Hollbir." A chill ran through her body as the forbidden name was spoken out loud. A name that came with so many memories. A name that last spoken out loud a young girl's life has been taken from all she had known and turned into a new one.

"Who is Maoria Hollbir?" Cal asked in a soft tone, his head cocked slightly to the side as he tried to understand what was happening. Moaria looked back at her father before letting go of his hands and turning to face the group before her. With a deep breath she closed her eyes and fully opened herself up to the Force after years of hiding in its shadows to protect herself. A soft glow of light, like flickering gold, flowed over her body, her snow-white hair that fell to her thighs slowly turned into soft honey brown hair that fell to her elbows. A dusting of freckles fell over the bridge of her nose. As she opened her eyes they went from blue to a soft cocoa brown. The crew of the Mantis gasped at her transformation. Merrin and Greez seemed to not believe their eyes, Cere held a look that seemed both surprised yet calm, as though she had known but wasn't sure. Cal's was a look of wonder, as though he had just seen something so pretty turn into something so beautiful before his eyes, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. She looked back to Bail briefly who gave her a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes, before looking back at the crew. With a strong voice she answered his question.

"I am."

Masterlist

Taglist: @cellythefloshie @teokka @starfish-locks DM or comment if you want to be added to the list!

[littlemuoi]

My 30 years protecting the Queen: dry humour, heartfelt gifts and travelling the world by Hugo Daniel (September 17th 2022)

Taking in the beauty of a misty Scottish moor amid the bustle of a Balmoral grouse shoot, the royal protection officer Dick Griffin turned to check on his charge, the Queen, only to get the shock of his life.

It was September 1995 and, at first glance, the then 69-year-old monarch had disappeared. As he searched anxiously through the thick fog, he finally caught sight of her — lying flat on the ground, a dead grouse beside her.

“Because it was so foggy we couldn’t see [that the grouse had] hit her in the chest,” Griffin said. “You can imagine the velocity of something like that falling down to the ground — it just flattened her completely. So I had to get her up and discreetly brush all the feathers and plumes away from her. She was shaken up and badly bruised.”

The equerry who had shot the bird was understandably embarrassed. “But then [they] saw the funny side of it, because the Queen saw the funny side of it. She said, ‘What an odd thing to happen’.”

Griffin, 71, shared his memories of more than 30 years as a protection officer for the royal family over a cup of coffee in a Pret a Manger near Buckingham Palace. His son, Gareth, 42, is a uniformed firearms officer and was on duty at the palace when the Queen’s coffin arrived there on Tuesday evening.

Since her death, a news clip from the Platinum Jubilee has re-emerged in which Griffin revealed how, during a walk on the Balmoral estate, the Queen posed for a photo with two American tourists who did not recognise her.

He said he was glad the story had been a “comfort” to people, with many reposting it and calling it their “favourite Queen story”. He described her as a “remarkable, caring, wonderful person”.

Griffin, who had been due to have lunch with the Queen next month, will attend the smaller, more personal committal service at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel tomorrow after the funeral at Westminster Abbey. He says all seven police officers who worked for the monarch have been invited.

Griffin now gives talks about his career to raise money for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex air ambulance.

His three decades with the royals began in 1982 as part of a team that reorganised palace security after Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom. After that, he was assigned to act as Prince Edward’s protection officer at Cambridge University from 1983 to 1986. He worked on assignment for Prince Philip for 13 years until 1999 and then for the Queen until he retired in 2013.

He travelled with the Queen and Prince Philip to 161 countries. “Often you were in the car with them, just chatting away. She would ask about my family and all my marathon running. Once I went to South Africa to do the Comrades marathon, which is 55 miles, and you had a chip on your shoe so people could follow you at home. She got one of her footmen in front of a computer for ten hours to follow me, to see how I was getting on. The footman wasn’t too impressed.”

When Griffin’s running club in Bromley, southeast London, held a party to celebrate his 100th marathon, the Queen marked the occasion with a letter, showing her wry sense of humour. In it, she jokes: “We are delighted that your employers allow you sufficient time to train for, and take part in, such events.”

At his first meeting with the Queen and Prince Philip in 1983 at Windsor Castle, a week before he went to Cambridge with Edward, the couple were keen to learn about the background of the man who would be guarding their youngest child.

“We were sitting on lovely chairs and the staff were giving us coffee and the Queen said to me, ‘Can you tell Philip and me what you used to do before you came to royalty protection?’

“It was probably a question I’d prefer they’d not asked, because my job for the past six years had been [at Scotland Yard’s obscene publications branch policing] prostitution, the brothels, the sex shops and pornographic cinemas.

“The Queen said, ‘Good gracious, Mr Griffin. What on earth does Edward need a police officer with your qualifications for?’ and, before I could answer, Prince Philip said, ‘I don’t know. But they can have some wonderful parties at Cambridge.’

“That was my first experience of Prince Philip and his one-liners.”

The next time Griffin met the Queen, he remembers her sitting on the floor of the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle to watch a private performance of a play that Edward and friends had originally performed at Cambridge, in which Griffin had a cameo role.

The roof was leaking. “Water was landing on top of the Queen’s head. She was all dressed up, having just come from dinner. Several members of the household offered her a seat, but she said ‘that’s not necessary’ and sat on the floor in the aisle and put a programme over her head to keep dry.

“That was one of my first impressions of the Queen, and I just thought, ‘What an amazing lady.’”

Griffin’s three-decade career as protection officer spanned security threats ranging from the IRA to Isis.

“Of course with Islamic terrorism and suicide bombers, we had to really ramp things up,” he said. “But nothing fazed the Queen and Prince Philip. We’d try to encourage them sometimes not to be so open on walkabouts, but nothing would change her.”

He was in the car with the Queen on the day two months after 9/11 when an American Airlines flight crashed in Queens, New York. It would turn out to be an accident, but there were fears at first that it was terrorism-related.

“I was bringing the Queen back from Windsor Castle and my mobile phone rang and it was my son. I spoke to Gareth and he said there might be another terrorist attack.

“I told the Queen, and then, five minutes later, Tony Blair rings up to brief the Queen, and I always remember her saying, ‘Yes, prime minister, I know. My policeman’s son has just phoned to tell me.’”

In 2005 Griffin’s first grandchild, Joshua, was born and the Queen insisted on meeting him.

“She said to me in the car one day, ‘For the last nine months, all you’ve talked about is how excited you are about being a grandfather, and now your grandson has been born, you haven’t even bothered to introduce me.’ So I had to arrange a date and time so the Queen could have a cuddle. She was thrilled.”

He saw her love for her own grandchildren, too. For Christmas in 2010, Griffin and the other protection officers decided to give the Queen a wind-up clockwork duck that played music and laid an egg every 30 seconds, something they had found at a flea market on a recent state visit to the United Arab Emirates.

“My wife wrapped it up all beautifully with ribbons and gave it to the equerry to present it to the Queen on Christmas Day. We got this beautiful letter from the Queen saying how much she enjoyed it and Edward’s son, James, had so much fun playing with it.”

In the letter, the Queen wrote: “To the PPOs, many thanks for the unusual Christmas present from you all. It certainly livened things up and little James’s face was a picture when the duck laid her eggs! Thanks for making us laugh.”

When Griffin retired, in 2013, the Queen gave him the best gift of all. She had paid for him to have a retirement party in the state department at the palace, with 200 guests, and at eight o’clock she joined the party, with Prince Philip and the Earl of Wessex.

“That was the biggest present she could give me,” he said.

[princesscatherinemiddleton]

The Princess of Wales' Year in Review: June

June 2nd - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis attended Trooping the Colour, the first engagement of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. While William participated in the parade, Catherine and the children rode in a carriage with The Duchess of Cornwall. The five Cambridges joined the other working royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a flypast June 3rd - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined members of the royal family at a National Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in St Paul’s Cathedral. They then attended a reception given by the Lord Mayor of London at Guildhall. During the day, Catherine visited her patronage, Evelina London, to meet with children and families who would be unable to participate in the jubilee celebrations otherwise June 4th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte visited Cardiff Castle, and watched a practice of a later 'jubilee concert'. They also later attended the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee June 5th - Kensington Palace released photographs of Catherine, George, Charlotte, and Louis baking cakes for the Big Jubilee Lunch. Later that morning, William and Catherine made an unexpected visited at the Kensington Memorial Garden street party. That afternoon, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis attended the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, before joining the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and HM The Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the finale of the Platinum Jubilee June 7th - The Duchess of Cambridge, in her role as Patron of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, held a video meeting with Professor Eamon McCrory, Dr Alain Grégoire, and Kelly Beaver. In the same role, she then held an Early Years Meeting. Finally, she received Lady Pinsent, Trustee of the Royal Foundation June 8th - The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited Little Village June 13th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a Chapter of the Most Noble Order of the Garter June 14th - The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance UK, held a video meeting with Dr Alain Gregoire, Luciana Berger and Laura Seebohm. Later, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Grenfell Tower Five Year Memorial Service June 16th - The Duchess of Cambridge, joint Patron of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, hosted a Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood Meeting June 17th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended Day 4 of the Royal Ascot June 21st - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, joint Patrons of the Royal Foundation of The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, held a video meeting with Lord Hague, Simon Patterson and Amanda Berry. Catherine later held an Early Years Meeting, in the same role. The Duchess of Cambridge also released a statement in honour of Children's Hospice Week June 22nd - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Brixton House Theatre. They then attended the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument at Waterloo Railway Station June 23rd - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge undertook an away day in Cambridge. The couple first visited the Fitzwilliam Museum, where they unveiled a new portrait of themselves, painted by Jamie Coreth. Afterwards, they visited the Milton branch of the East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH is a Patronage for the Duchess of Cambridge). They then visited Jimmy’s Cambridge, a community-based charity focusing on homelessness. Finally, the couple attended Cambridgeshire County Day at Newmarket July Course June 24th - Kensington Palace released photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge visiting army bases in November 2021 in honour of Armed Forces Day

[world-of-wales]

─ •✧ WILLIAM'S YEAR IN REVIEW : JUNE ✧• ─

1 JUNE - William attended the Senior Colonels' Conference and Dinner at Clarence House.

2 JUNE - William took part in The Queen's Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade along with other members of the Royal Family at which The Queen's Colour of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards was trooped. On the conclusion of the Parade, they rode back to Buckingham Palace where he appeared on the Balcony along with Catherine and their children to witness a fly-past marking the Queen’s official Birthday. In the evening, William was present at the lighting of the National Beacon at Buckingham Palace to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee.

3 JUNE - William and Catherine attended the National Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee in St. Paul's Cathedral. After the Service, they a attended Reception at Guildhall given by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation.

4 JUNE - William and Catherine along with George and Charlotte visited Cardiff Castle where were received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan (Mrs. Morfudd Meredith). Later they attended the Platinum Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace.

5 JUNE - William and Catherine attended the Platinum Jubilee Street Party at Kensington before attending the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in the Mall. They later appeared on the Buckingham Palace Balcony along with their three children.

7 JUNE - William held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on The Queen's behalf.

8 JUNE - William was spotted selling the Big Issue Magazine in London.

13 JUNE - William and Catherine attended the Order of The Garter Service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.

14 JUNE - William attended a Duchy of Cornwall Meeting at 10 Buckingham Gate. Afterwards, he attended the Grenfell Tower Five Year Memorial Service along with Catherine.

15 JUNE - William visited the Lionesses team at St. George's Park ahead of the European Championship where he was received by Mr. James Leavesley (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire).

16 JUNE - He held a United for Wildlife Meeting at Kensington Palace.

17 JUNE - William and Catherine attended Day Four of Royal Ascot.

19 JUNE - Kensington Palace released a new photograph for Father's Day featuring William with his three children.

21 JUNE - A special issue of the Big Isuue magazine was released to mark William's 40th Birthday. He also visited Dave Martin, the Big Issue seller with whom he sold the magazines in London earlier in the month. William and Catherine held a Meeting with the Lord Hague of Richmond, Mr. Simon Patterson and Ms. Amanda Berry (Chairman, Vice-Chairman & Chief Executive, The Royal Foundation) via video link.

22 JUNE - William and Catherine visited Brixton House Theatre where they were received by Mr. Christopher Wellbelove (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London). Afterwards, Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir Kenneth Olisa) recieved them as they attended the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument at Waterloo Railway Station.

23 JUNE - William and Catherine spent their day carrying out engagements in Cambridgeshire. First, they were received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire (Mrs. Julie Spence) as they visited Fitzwilliam Museum where their first joint portrait was unveiled. Afterwards, they visited East Anglia Children's Hospice - Milton where they were received by Mr. Benjamyn Damazer (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire). Subsequently they were received by Mrs. Caroline Bewes (Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire) at Jimmy's Cambridge. Later Williama and Catherine spent their time at the first-ever Cambridgeshire County Day at Newmarket July Course.

24 JUNE - William held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

About the Coronation: Proof that Harry went straight to the airport

Guess whose surly scowl isn't in the BBC's coronation documentary!

Around the 70-minute mark, there are scenes of the royal processions returning to Buckingham Palace to a warm welcome and great cheers from the extended families and close friends. Take a look at who was there...

The lady in blue in front of Princess Michael and the lady in a white coat both look famliar to me, but I'm having trouble placing them. I believe the young man hovering over Mike's right shoulder is Earl Snowdon/David Linley's son (Princess Margaret's grandson), but I'm not sure so he didn't get a nametag.

Update! (12/29/23) The lady in blue is Sophie Tollemache, wife of Edward Tollemache, who I believe is the man to her right that's cut off in the image. Edward is one of Charles's godsons and Edward and Sophie's son Ralph (in the foreground above, with the blue arrow aross his head) is one of Charles's pageboys. The reason she is familiar to me is because of her dress. It is by Beulah London and is the same dress that Beatrice wore to the Platinum Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving (which Sophie Winkleman wore in fuchsia and which The Princess of Wales also has in blush and with short sleeves.)

That's Mike Tindall with the medals on his chest standing next to Jack. You can't see it well, but Eugenie is the dark blue feathers blocked from the camera by the page boys and Zara is the light blue hat with blonde hair in the back.

Now, you know if the Sussexes knew the royals were filming a documentary for the coronation, Harry would've pushed himself to be front and center of everyone, and he probably would've stepped out to greet his darling papa with a hug and a kiss for the camera. I mean, the guy didn't push through chairs at the Commonwealth Service for nothing!

So, many thanks to the BBC for finally putting to bed the "when did Harry really leave for the airport" speculation. After all, there were competing narratives at the time of the coronation:

Harry's PR: Harry went to Buckingham Palace to see his father and have lunch with everyone, then he went to the airport.

Royal Reporters: Harry left for the airport immediately after the coronation service.

(Meghan co-signed with Harry's PR but then once the royal reporters began writing that Harry left immediately after the service, she started putting out 'Harry left immediately after the service to be home for Archie's birthday party' PR.)

Now we know. The royal reporters' version is correct. Harry went straight to the airport from Westminster Abbey.

[prismatica-the-strange]

I'll Forgive Your Sins | I Knew This Was a Dream, It Was Too Good to be True

Warnings: 18+, angst, happy-ish ending

Queen Tatiana learns of Krynn's unique abilities and insists she be introduced to the court (The Italics are meant to signify her speaking Falrosen)

Word Count: 2.8k

We Intertwined by The Hush Sound | Picrew Link | Dividers by @saradika

Genya grimaces, waving her thumb over Krynn's lips, removing the red hue she's applied.

"Try a more blush-y color," She suggests, and she nods.

"You're so pale even pastels seem dark on you."

Krynn laughs in agreement, flicking her bangs from her eyes.

There's a knock at the door, she calls for them to come in, and David does, holding a garment bag.

"This is a gift from General Kirigan," He says, "He had me work on it specifically for you."

He hooks it on the door of the wardrobe, pulls open the bag, and there hangs a stark white kefta with silver trim, unlike any she's seen before.

"David, it's beautiful," Genya compliments, taking the words directly from Krynn's mouth.

It reminds her of her days on Falros, shrouded in white dresses with flowing sleeves. She'd grown accustomed to the purple of her Durast classification, but as Genya helps her slide the garment on, she feels like herself again.

She fastens it and turns to see the back in the mirror, her heart melting.

Embroidered in silver up the spine is a beautiful tree with white gold leaves that grow up over her shoulder. Silvery, barbed vines twist around the cuffs and up her forearms, and more grace the lower hem and middle front.

"And this," David hands her a chunk of unshaped metal, "He said he hoped you would make something to match."

"Platinum?" She gasps, "I'll see what I can do."

Two platinum roses are pinned to the collar of her kefta, connected by a delicate thorned chain as she starts up the steps of the grand palace.

She's grateful to David for accompanying her this far, under Kirigan's order or not, without him she'd have no clue where to go.

He leads her to the garden where the party is gathered for her demonstration.

It's then that she realizes she has no idea what she's doing. She's not sure what she had expected from this engagement, but it surely wasn't this. The gowns, the music, the nobility, none of it is like anything like the celebrations she's attended on Falros. And next to the warm off-whites and golds of the palace filagree, she stands out like a bright eyesore.

She freezes, dandelions sprouting at her feet and David looks at her confused.

"Krynn? Are you okay?"

From his place near the royals, Kirigan notices Krynn standing still and rigid beneath the large stone archway leading to the gardens.

He quickly excuses himself and makes his way over to her.

"I'll take it from here, David."

She looks up at him over David's shoulder.

The durast nods and scurries off.

Aleksander offers her his arm, leading her back inside when she gladly takes it.

"What's the matter, my love?"

"I just need a moment," She says quietly and he turns to face her, taking her hands in his, "I haven't been the center of attention like this in... a very long time.'

She'd hidden herself away on the mainland for the express purpose of not being noticed like this.

His finger curls beneath her chin, tilting it up to look at him, "You look breathtaking."

By his side, she looks perfect.

"I'm surprised David was able to hide it from me for so long, this must've taken ages."

He chuckles, "The kefta suits you well, but I'd hardly noticed it."

"Aleksander," She scoffs.

"Was that not what you wanted to hear?" He teases, "Yes, David did a marvelous job, the kefta looks stunning on you. And this..."

His fingers lift the platinum chain, "Is a beautiful piece."

"You like it?" She asks, fingers grazing his when she moves to lightly touch it, "I nearly made them moonflowers, but I thought the roses better fit the thorns."

Someone in the garden laughs boisterously, stealing both of their attention.

"I think we should rejoin the party."

"Are you ready?"

"If I'm with you," She admits, "I am."

Her words fill him with pride and he leans down to press his lips to hers. The kiss instills a confidence in her she'd been lacking that evening and she's grateful for it.

"There is one thing," He says, "Regarding your introduction."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you've told me Falros isn't your real surname and I can't exactly introduce you to the court and royal family as merely 'Krynn'."

"Right... I doubt my full title would have any sway here."

He gently cups her cheek, thumb running across her jaw. He has no idea what she's talking about, "Title?"

She hesitates, "Krynnl'ntfryce of Falros, daughter of Falros, mortal avatar of the Mother Goddess Falros."

She only lies a little, stretching the truth as far as the term 'mortal' is concerned.

"Mother goddess?... Yes, well Queen Tatiana would never stand somebody outshining her as a goddess," He chuckles. He's lived too long to believe in such things as gods and saints, "I'll take care of it."

He holds out his arm for her, leaning over and kissing the side of her head when she hooks her hand in the crook of his elbow, "Just remember, they may be looking at you, but this is all about the power they think they control."

All eyes are on them as they step back out to the busy garden. Arm-in-arm in a beautiful harmony of dark and light.

He lets her go for a brief moment to address the royals before turning back to her, his hand on the small of her back, "May I present, Krynnl'ntfryce, Daughter of Falros."

She bows her head, going rigid when Tatiana blurts out a small laugh.

"She's not quite what I expected," Her smile smug and self-important, "I mean no offense, dear, but you're honestly a bit off-putting. Those eyes."

Even Aleksander ruffles at that and is about to rebut her words when Krynn steps in.

Biting her tongue to keep from spitting harsh words back she smiles gracefully, "Anyone woman would pale in comparison to you, my queen."

"Oh!"

"She's not Ravkan," King Pyotr comments in shock at her accent.

"No, my king," Her accent thicker than normal, bringing a more melodic bounce to her voice, "But I have been honored to call such a wonderful country home for the past year."

She offers them another curt bow before Aleksander leads her away.

"Well done," He murmurs.

"Damned vulture should learn to hold her tongue," She seethes in Falrosen, the same benevolent smile on her lips, "That is how your sovereigns treat your gifted?"

"I know," He moves her into place, fingers grazing her chin, "But keep speaking to them as you just did and you will soon be their favorite Grisha."

"Those pigs don't deserve to favor me," She snickers, the words like a song in her mother tongue.

"Pay them no mind," He shushes, brushing her hair from her eyes, "Besides, what is a sovereign to a goddess?"

He steps away to address the crowd.

"May I introduce you all to Krynnl'ntfryce, our first and only Na'turek'i," He motions to her with an outspread arm and the garden goes quiet.

She balls her fists for a moment, looking down at the bare patch of earth at her feet.

The silence turns to murmurs when she flicks back the front flaps of her kefta and kneels down, burying her fingers in the loose dirt.

People begin to gasp when a sapling begins to sprout, growing taller and maturing there before their eyes as though years have passed.

She stands, fingers flourishing, and with everyone so distracted by the growing cherry tree Aleksander's gaze trails back to Krynn to find her eyes flitting around the royal family.

A line of Silverbark trees grow behind them, their branches intertwining as vines of Firefly Blossoms bloom in the shimmering twisted boughs.

More vines appear, around columns and up the back of chairs, bright white moonflowers coming to life around them.

With the cherry tree at her desired size she brushes away whatever dirt is sticking to her skin and lets her hands fall to her sides, her chin raised with a proud smile.

It's then that people start to notice the Silverbarks full of bioluminescent flowers, shocked gasps, and applause erupting around her.

Aleksander moves to offer her his hand but he feels a tug on his arm. He looks down to see two moonflower vines wound around it, one with black flowers, the other with white, tethering him there.

He turns when a hand rests on his shoulder, smiling softly at the sight of Krynn by his side again.

He scans the area, motioning to his far arm. She squeaks and waves her hand, the stems snapping, "Sorry."

He stops her when she goes to remove the flowers, pressing her hands back against his extended elbow.

"That was w-"

"Absolutely spectacular!" King Pyotr exclaims, interrupting their moment, "We'll never need to rely on farmers and random weather patterns again!"

Krynn bristles at his words, unable to hold back, "And what of the people who rely on their crop sales to the palace?"

"What of them?"

"I'm sure we'll all have much to discuss at a later date," Aleksander cuts in at her scathing look, "But for now, Tsar, why don't we all enjoy the festivities?"

"Calm down, love," He whispers as they walk away.

"You would let that disgusting creature rule you?" She hisses in Falrosen, venom in every word.

"You know I can't understand you when you talk like that," He reminds her and she pulls him to a hidden alcove.

"I said I won't do it!" She spits, "I won't, Aleksander. Not only would it be an unbearable strain on me, but it is cruel to the people he's meant to be ruling and I- I want no part in it. I simply won't do it."

"And I would never ask it of you," He assures her. His hands hold hers warmly, "Let me deal with the king. You merely need to enjoy your night."

She looks at him completely dumbfounded before she scoffs and shakes her head, pulling her hands from his.

"This is exactly why I left Falros," She mutters just loud enough for him to hear as she walks away.

He feels his shadows begin to creep up the walls of the Grand Palace. Is that a threat?

His gaze follows her as she graciously smiles at and mingles with power-hungry nobles. She acts well beyond her years like she's been doing this since the day she was born. Yet he can see a melancholy look behind her eyes as though she thinks no one understands whatever hidden pain and longing she's harboring.

She wants to scream. She knew this was all too good to be true. Another leader that wants to exploit her gifts for his own gain. Why is it her responsibility to feed some royal's kingdom? Is it not enough that she fights alongside its soldiers?

"Thank you," She nods, smiling wide at another empty compliment.

Her chest hurts, a dull ache deep in her heart that she hasn't felt since she first arrived in Ketterdam.

She doesn't want their adoration. Doesn't want their worship. All she covets is their respect, but instead, she feels like she's drowning, just as she had been on Falros.

She's nearly finished a round of mindless chatter and politics when she feels Aleksander's presence approach her.

"General," She acknowledges coldly, the frozen edge of it cutting his heart. He grips her upper arm as tight as possible without seeming suspicious.

"Can you come with me, please?"

Without waiting for an answer he drags her inside, far from any curious ears.

"Did I do something to horribly offend you?" He asks and it's the last thing it takes for her to snap.

"You parade me around like a prized dog in a shiny new collar," She yanks the platinum chain off and throws it on the floor, tugging at the collar of her kefta, and berating him in Falrosen, "I am insulted by your sovereigns, perform miracles for them, and you brush away my concerns as if I'm an ignorant child, yet you don't understand why I am upset? Yes, I am offended. You have offended me, your people have offended me, and your sovereigns have offended me!"

He's confused and taken aback at her outburst.

"My love-" He tries to brush away the hair that had fallen in her face but she slaps his hand away.

"Don't! I have never been so insulted in my life and I won't be made the fool here, Aleksander."

He watches her storm away, back to the Little Palace, leaving him to make excuses for her sudden absence.

She won't speak to him beyond a simple greeting when they meet around others and, despite his best efforts, she won't see him.

She doesn't wear her new kefta, so when she is seen it's when she's in purple.

Presents begin to show up at her door, expensive trinkets and jewelry, that are later returned to him crumpled and melted.

When that doesn't work, he tries a new approach. She won't eat with the others, taking her meals in her room.

So he has the cooks send up special meals, delicacies that don't get returned and he thinks she may be warming back up to the thought of him.

Two weeks of her cold shoulder is more than he can bear.

He knocks lightly on her door, surprised when she actually opens it.

"General Kirigan," She greets, eyes downcast and voice quiet.

"May I come in?"

She steps back to let him enter and he notices she seems more fidgety than normal.

"I think it's time we finally talk about what happened that night in the Palace Gardens."

She nods, still not looking at him, back pressed against the now-shut door.

He takes in the room. Dandelion puffs have pushed their way up between the floorboards, and wildflowers peak out from every other crack and crevice they can find.

Vines have started growing from where her fingers meet the door.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry," She whispers, "I acted childish and immature. I..."

He steps closer head craning his neck to get a better view of her face.

"I was scared..."

He straightens, shoulders squaring, and he grips her chin, lifting her face for him to see.

"Scared of what?" Had one of the nobles said something to her? Threatened her?

She turns her head, his fingers lingering, "And I was angry-"

"Scare of what?" He repeats, forcing her to look at him.

"Don't patronize me, Aleksander!" She snaps, pulling away from him.

"I may have acted childish but that doesn't mean I'm some innocent, ignorant toddler who needs your protection!" She looks at him with distaste, "You brushed off my concerns at the party too!"

"That was never my intention," He argues.

"And everyone there treating me like I'm some new toy for them to fawn over!" Some of the floorboards crack when roots start to push through them, "Every time someone finds out about what I can do I cease being a person and suddenly become a commodity!"

She continues to rant in Falrosen, the roots splintering and growing thicker, the room shaking until he takes her wrist and tugs her into his arms.

With his chest firmly pressed against her back and his fingers tightly weaved with hers she shudders, folding in on herself and taking him with her. The room steadies and the roots slow to a stop.

"It's like I can't breathe. Like... like I'm being buried alive." She cries, "Aleksander I can't do this again. I don't want to be... I'm so afraid I'll lose myself this time."

"Whatever you are scared of becoming I'll pull you back," He promises, "I'll be your tether."

"Don't let me drown," She whimpers and he kisses the side of her head.

"Never."

He can almost hear his mother now, criticizing him for falling for another mortal girl. Calling him a fool for loving someone who will die before he can even blink, but he needs this. Needs her.

She grounds him, makes him whole, drives him to insanity.

She's everything. Like a brilliant light that keeps him from fully succumbing to his shadows.

He moves to bring her over to the bed but stops when he feels the familiar tug of moonflower vines, holding them both in place. He watches as they continue to grow, wrapping around them and entangling them together.

"I'm sorry," She breathes. He holds her tighter when she tries to let go and wave them away.

"Leave them," He says, lowering them both to the floor and pulling her onto his lap. He kisses her temple and down her cheek to softly kiss her lips.

He nearly loses himself in the feel of them, warm and willing, becoming re-addicted to the taste, sweet and floral.

She pulls away, but only just, their noses bumping and their lips still brushing.

"I'll fix this later," She mumbles, running her hand across the ruined floor, "But for now just hold me."

[thiziri]

Do you know where I could watch the Platinum Party at the Palace full concert?

Yeah, you can watch it here

[catulhu333]

D&D Demon Lords and Warhammer Chaos Gods - Lolth and Slaanesh

(trigger warning: mature themes and topics)

Another, perhaps less obvious similarity is between Lolth and Slaanesh, and how Lolth possibly in part inspired the Prince of Pleasure (and even maybe got some inspiration in return).

Lolth, in her first appearance in 1978's "D3 Vault of the Drow" module, was hinted to have a connection to excess, including debauchery but also excessive ambitions. In the same module, drow society in the city state of described as: "The main ways of this ancient and depraved city are thronged with as unlikely a mixture of creatures as can be imagined. Green cloaked Illithids and Kuo-Toans rub shoulders with Dark Elves. Ghosts and ghouls roam freely, and an occasional shadow or vampire will be seen. Bugbears and troglodytes are common, as are other various servants and slaves of the Drow (dwarves, goblins, half-orcs, humans, and orcs are sometimes free inhabitants of the place). All are pale from dwelling in the sunless Vault. Trolls slink by evillooking men wearing the green garb. None are disturbed to pass a lesser demon or succubus, a night hag or mezzodaemon. These crowds part hurriedly for Noble Drow riding nightmares or the more powerful demons or nycadaemons (see special section at the end), but those of the Dark Elves with pack lizards must slowly force their way through traffic. Beggars of all sorts are seen, and half-Drow thieves, pimps, and harlots are as common as the enslaved human and elven prostitutes displayed before certain establishments."

"The tiers and dungeons of Erelhei-Cinlu reek of debauchery and decadence, and the city's inhabitants are degenerate and effete. (Those with any promise and ability are brought out of the place to serve the fighting societies, merchant clans or noble houses. The rest are left to wallow in the sinkhole of absolute depravity which is Erelhei-Cinlu.) The most popular places in the city are the gambling dens, bordellos, taverns, drug saloons, and even less savory shops along the two main streets. The back streets and alleyways too boast of brothels, poison shops, bars, and torture parlors. Unspeakable things transpire where the evil and jaded creatures seek pleasure, pain, excitement, or arcane knowledge, and sometimes these seekers find they are victims."

Succubi are also noted to be most probable to appear out of fiends in the city streets, even one Silussa, having an role along with her lover, the drow vampire Belgos. As detailed in the sequel module, "Queen of the Demonweb Pits", succubi are specifically mentioned among Lolth's servants in the Palace of Lolth.

While the city's decadence and debauchery aren't directly stated as connected to the worship of Lolth, it is suggested to be the case, especially in how the temple of Lolth is described as having: "An obscene tapestry at the rear of the temple screens a pair of double doors which lead to the lower level of the place."

"2) The bed chamber of the High Priestess is as lewdly and evilly decorated as the outer room. There are no spider tapestries here, merely opulent furnishings, including various jeweled objects of great value (13 items with a worth of 1,000-8,000 g.p each)—including a strange platinum rune set with black opals (if it is touched a nycadaemon is summoned, and it will expect something altogether different than the party of adventurers, so it will immediately attack!). 3) Behind the secret door is a cell wherein is chained an insane human of great strength (9th level fighter; H.P.: 73; 18/81 strength, 11 intelligence, 9 wisdom, 16 dexterity, 18 constitution; 17 charisma) kept here by Charinida for whatever purposes please her at the time. There are several whips and torture instruments on one wall, and near them is a gag and a ring of invisibility. Note that the prisoner is bound to the east wall where the secret entrance to room 4) is."

Lolth's (probable) depiction on the cover (by Keith Parkinson) of the 1986 compilation of the Giants, Drow modules, the supermodule Queen of the Spiders, might had inspired John Blanche's depiction of Slaanesh in 1988's "Realms of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness":

The positions of the two are even very similar, if mirrored

Slaanesh is also described to look (to mortals) as golden haired, and in combination with this picture, fair-skinned, which seems less similar to Lolth...except how she appeared in the 3rd episode of the 1983 Dungeons and Dragons cartoon "The Hall of Bones", were she appeared exactly with those physical traits, in her human or elven form:

Along with the succubi, it's also worth mentioning Lolth is probably named and based in part on Lilith. Especially that the Hebrew form of the name Lilith, discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls, was Liloth, Liliyyot or Liliyyoth.

Lolth's name is also curiously influential here. It's notable it was often misspelled by players and fans as "Lloth" since her debut, this even finding it's way to official sourcebooks and novels set in Forgotten Realms (first in the 1988 novel "The Crystal Shard" by R.A. Salvatore, but especially in 2nd edition (1989-2000)). It was in the same edition, clarified as an alternate spelling, mostly used in the city states of Menzoberanzan and Uluitur (and often on the suffrace above them). But in the first edition, and original 1986 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay sourcebook (and it's reprints), we are introduced to a mysterious divinity of hedonism worshipped once by elves, Meneloth:

"•THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ELVES• Largely untouched by the collapse of the interdimensional gateways, the Elves in their island Kingdoms continued to prosper. Their already considerable knowledge of Old Slann magic allowed them to control and direct many of the new entities. From amongst these beings, the Elves chose several benign creatures and cultivated their worship, including the hedonistic creature they call Meneloth."

Meneloth was for years thought to be somehow connected to Slaanesh, either as an alias or a Daemon Prince or Greater Daemon serving them, something this passage vaguely implies seeing Meneloth's connection to Chaos, elves and hedonism. The only "semi-official" confirmation of Meneloth's identity, is from a 2004 pulication for a French Warhammer Fanzine "le Grimoire" "Warhammer : Chaos - Les Terres Du Nord" (but one on which worked official Warhammer writers/creators: Alfred Nuñez Jr. and Anthony Ragan. As well as Stephan Foulc, but he only worked on official Warhammer stuff after this books publication):

Or Google Translated: "Slaanesh is the Prince of Chaos, the Power of Chaos dedicated to the pursuit of hedonistic pleasures. He is the Master of Pleasures, lord of excess. He reigns in a vast palace lavishly arranged in the void, where his favored servants cover the ground indulging in all perverse forms of carnal pleasure before his divinely graceful and ravishing eyes. He is represented by the peoples of the North in the form of an oversized albino serpent named Loesh. He is also worshiped by the elves as Meneloth."

Here is also mentioned the name of Slaanesh- "Loesh", also connected to a related alias, "Loeth", both similar to the "Lloth" spelling of Lolth's name. Or even more so to another spelling mentioned in 1991's "Drow of the Underdark, "Loethe".

In her appearances in D3 Vault of the Drow, 1980 Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits, 1980 Deities and Demigods and 1981 Fiendish Folio, Lolth was described as having 66 hitpoints (though it might had been meant 166 after D3 (as Gary Gygax described the appearance of Lolth there later as an "avatar), but 1 was lost in latter publications). Still, note that later Slaanesh' number was noted to be 6.

Also, in 1987's Manual of Planes, Lolth's realm is in on both on the 65th and 66th layers of the Abyss (and she is ultimately more associated with the 66th layer).

A very early depiction of a Warhammer female dark elf - "Forces of Fantasy" 1984. Note what seems like pitch black skin (like of a drow from D&D), and the the large spider symbol, akin to symbols of Lolth drow wear in D&D. It's notable in very early Warhammer lore, before 4th edition (1992), dark elves worshiped the Chaos Gods (with Khaine and Khorne being seen respectively as the elven and human names/aspects of the Blood God - as described in 1988 White Dwarf #108), especially Slaanesh. This artwork was also basis for the figurine described officially as the "Witch-Queen of Dark Elves", a seemingly a very early version of Morathi

Lolth, as stated above, is worshiped and closely connected to drow/dark elves, being their main deity. She was also described in some sources as worshiped also by other "depraved elves", something she desires somewhat secretly from her drow worshipers, to expand (along with worship among humans, which is also present).

Lolth, in her demonic form, "Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits", 1980. Also used in 1991 "Drow of the Underdark"

Her connection to elves, was first expanded in the original, 1980 "Deities & Demigods" sourcebook, were she was, in a legend described there, involved in the very creation of elves, as well indication she started out as something other, and fallen into demonhood, when describing the chief deity of the elves, Corellon Larethian:

"The god is also mighty in battle, and is said to have personally banished such demons as Lolth from the sunlit Upperworld. Elven lore states that the race of elves sprang from the drops of blood Corellon shed in this epic battle."

It implying Lolth has a connection to darker side of the elves, due to having a hand in their creation. And indeed, multiple instances of the drow origin, states Lolth sowed corruption in elven hearts, causing the origin of the dark elves (or alternately, corruption/fall of dark elves into drow elves).

(Latter descriptions of this legend, have Corellon Larethian's blood being spilt in his battle with the king of the orcish gods (and his brother) Gruumsh, and from this blood (and mixed with the tears of the moon goddess, Sehanine Moonbow), rose elves, while from blood of Gruumsh spilled by Corellon, orcs. Though even other versions, describe elves and orcs existing even before this event.)

Lolth's archenemy, Corellon Larethian, might also be an inspiration for Slaanesh, seeing as far as the very same 1980 Deities & Demigods book, he is described:

"Corellon Larethian represents the highest ideals of elvenkind: "he" is skilled in all the arts and crafts, and is the patron of music, poetry, and magic. Corellon is alternately male or female, both or neither."

Corellon is a highly benevolent figure compared to Slaanesh (described as Chaotic Good), if not without a darker side described in some later lore (2nd edition and latter).

Like Lolth is seemingly inspired by Lilith, Corellon Larethian appears to be inspired in part by Adam - both the physical Adam, as ancestor of humanity (and who, in some Jewish writings, is described as a hermaphrodite before the creation of Eve from his rib; the rib, due to it's ambiguous meaning in Hebrew, probably originally meant "other side" or "other half"); and the divine model and oversoul of humanity (and manifestation of the Abrahamic God to a degree), Adam Kadmon, also described as a hempahrodite. Adam Kadmon is not a Biblical figure, but from Jewish (originally), as well as Christian and Gnostic mysticism. His name might be in part derived from an alternate name of Adam Kadmon - Adam Elyon. Corellon - Cor Ellon - Cor Elyon (Elyon is also one of God's names).

The battle of Corellon Larethian and Lolth. The Complete Book of Elves, 1993

Other elven gods though - the pantheon being called "Seldarine" - are also described as malleable in terms of sex and gender - first in 1980s Dragon #62 (their proper debut) 2 elven deities were described as such - Labelas Enoreth (god of longlivety, time and history) and Hanali Celanil (goddess of love, romance, beauty, fine art, artisans and artists), and in 1992's "Monster Mythology" all of the Seldarine were described as having malleable sex and gender (if there is one their appear/are represented more often as). Lolth was described in 2nd edition as a fallen member of the Seldarine in 1994's "Planes of Chaos" (if being, arguably, implied being such since 1980 Deities & Demigods). So despite her misandry, sharing the sex and gender malleable nature of the Seldarine. Though so do demons in general, as I wrote in my post about Graz'zt and Slaanesh, and it's notable as I mentioned in my other post, Lolth's was not always portrayed as a misandrist, and some modern publications do imply her misandry is at least partially "performative".

As expanded in 1998's "Demihuman Deities", and even more in the same year's novel "Evermeet: Island of Elves" by Elaine Cunningham, Lolth was originally Araushnee, the lesser elven goddess of destiny and artisans, and wife and lover of Corellon Larethian (adding a further layer to their status as each others nemesis), that was cast out and transformed into a demon after an attempted murderous coup, and several other attempts at Corellon's life, and attempts to replace him. The artisan part of her portfolio was curiously taken over by the mentioned above Hanali Celanil.

4th edition depiction of Corellon's and Lolth's battle. Dragon #394, 2010

As I mentioned above, Lolth, despite sexuality, lust, desire decadence or debauchery usually not being described as part of her divine portfolio, Lolth is described as beings deeply connected to lusts and desires, as well excess. In 2nd editions 1991's "Drow of the Underdark" (this and other details, repeated in "Demihuman Deities"), Lolth's avatar was described as basically having a seduction attack, like a succubus (or akin to Slaanesh supernatural charm that seduce anyone), and some other interesting details, like being implied to be amorous to a degree towards mortals, regardless of gender:

"Even more, Lolth enjoys corrupting elves and humans to her service. In drow form, her direct physical embrace can act as a charm person (save at -4) on a human or demi-human of either sex. She customarily leaves a poisonous spider to aid, guard, and keep watch on those who personally serve her, and gives them any one magical item that she possesses or one magical item that she possesses or can seize. Lolth can appear kind, rendering aid to those she fancies —but she really cares only for herself; her favor and aid can never be relied on."

"She enjoys the company of spiders of all sorts; when in drow form, she often clothes herself entirely in clinging spiders."

Lolth, clothed only in spiders, webs and her crown, surrounded by most members of the Dark Seldarine. "Demihuman Deities", 1998

Demihuman Deities also gives, I think for the first time, one of Lolth's titles the "Mother of Lusts".

Lolth's drow form, clothed in what either seems like chitinous armor/clothing, and some spiders crawling on her, or her clothes/armor are are conglomeration and/or merging of various arthropods, including centipedes. "Faiths and Pantheons", 2002

3rd edition also describes Lolth as having access, and giving access to the Lust Domain (along with the Envy, Pride and Wrath Domains) in the 2004 "Seven Deadly Domains" article in Dragon #323 (also stated in 2005's "Spell Compedium").

Lolth's demon form, as described in 3rd edition, murdering curbstomping "fighting" some elves. Note the 6 antennae on her head, as well as having 6 eyes. "Complete Divine", 2004

Lolth is also noted to value incredibly personal ambitions, and courage to do anything to fulfill it. This is why she "forgives" worshipers breaking her rules in pursuit of ambitions (if they aren't caught or get away with it) and even a number of priestesses, that for personal ambition, betray her, and worship her son and enemy, Vhaeraun, if they return to her in pursuit of her ambitions, and even giving them powers during their betrayal, like was with Shakti Hunzrin. And as was with the mentioned in my Graz'zt post Eclavdra, as described in 2006 "Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss" returning to Lolth after betraying her to the worship and service of the Elder Elemental God and Graz'zt (both great enemies of Lolth), explaining to the demon godess she done it in pursuit of her ambition, and recognizing Lolth as the superior master among all of them, was rewarded the position of the highest priestess of Lolth in the whole multiverse, and later (in 4th edition), Lolth even gifted her with a level of divinity.

In general, even Lolth encouraging a level of betrayal among drow (what makes many compare her to Tzeentch), can all be seen as a form of excess (and seeking to fulfill ambitions at all cost), liking her even more to Slaanesh.

A (kinda) more erotic and well, weird version of Lolth (or her avatar) in her demonic form, torturing an elf. "The Book of Vile Darkness", 2002

And in Ravenloft, in the Domain of Dread, Lolth's aspect there, the Spider Queen (as described in 2004's Ravenloft Gazetter V), does have hedonism as part of divine portfolio, and it as a crux of her worshipers dogma among Shadow Elves (pretty much entirely) from the Unseelie court. Their dogma being: "Pleasure is the only goal worth pursuing, and it must be sought ceaselessly and without thought for the consequences. Take what you want. Other people do not matter; they exist only as objects of or hurdles to your satisfaction. If they are hurdles, they must be dealt with harshly, and dealing with them is itself a source of pleasure. Murder, deception, hatred and pain are all art forms, and the Spider Queen favors those who master them. Spiders, who live only for themselves and kill their mates once satisfied, are the perfect animals. You must be as selfish, deceptive and sadistic as they are. The Spider Queen helps those who help themselves."

The Shadow Prince (and the ruler) of the Unseelie Court of the Shadow Elves, Loht, while being evil (though not monstrously so), also is against and roots out the worship of the Spider Queen, like Malekith, the Witch-king of Dark Elves in Warhammer is towards the worship of Slaanesh among Dark Elves. (These details were first mentioned in the 1997 "Domains of Dread" Ravenloft campaign setting and 1998 "The Shadow Rift" module).

Lolth, cocooning her victim. Lolth, Spider Queen Magic: The Gathering card, "Adventures in the Forgotten Realms" expansion, 2021

Though as opposed to Slaanesh, Lolth is one of, if not the powerful demon lord since second edition, specifically 1995 "Monstrous Compendium - Planescape Appendix II", were Graz'zt (who was discussed earlier) and Demogorgon (holder of the title of the "Prince of (all) Demons" (and technically the strongest of demons), both at least to a degree, fear Lolth: "Even a demipower such as Demogorgon or Graz’zt prefers not to aggravate the Spider Queen needlessly, and interfering with Lolth’s handmaidens is a quick way to draw her attention."

There is some caveat to this, and certain Demon Lords are implied to be possibly/potentially even superior to Lolth (the Pale Night) in their full power, or if they gain (Demogorgon), or regain (Obox-Ob) their full power. And Lolth is usually not interested in ruling the Abyss, her focus more being on the Material Plane.

While Slaanesh is usually the weakest of the 4 Chaos Gods (if still more powerful than everything else), but since at least the 1997 5th Edition Warhammer Armies: Realm of Chaos, it is stated Slaanesh in time will probably become the most powerful Chaos God.

Lolth is also served by Type III Demons (later known known as Glabrezu), even having a closer connection since start.

Lolth (in drow form, in the middle) along with a Type III demon/Glabrezu (on the left) and Type II Demon/Hezrou (on the right). Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits, 1980

As even from the start, not only they were among her minions, in Vault of the Drow there was a Lolthite artifact, the Demon Staff, that allowed a Priestess of Lolth to transform into a Glabrezu.

Why this is is important? Well Type III demons/Glabrezu very probably were an inspiration for Warhammer's Keepers of Secrets:

Artwork of a Glabrezu/Type III demon from the original 1977 Monster Manual

Artworks of Keepers of Secrets from "Realms of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness". This design is the closest to Glabrezu (if less canine and depending on Daemon, more goat-like or bovine), though later designs also retain a certain similarity

Glabrezu are powerful (physical and magically) and manipulative demons, that corrupt mortals. In canon compared and contrasted to succubi, who pray on lust, Glabrezu pray on desire for power in all forms of it. Later lore curiously further connects Glabrezu and Lolth, and her worship. As first detailed in the 1990 Homeland novel by R.A. Salvatore, Drow have a ritualistic initiation orgy as form of Lolth worship - the Ceremony of Graduation/Day of Graduation (itself a further similarity between Lolth and Slaanesh worship), were the graduating students engage in sex with each other. Demons might also be summoned (and also engage in the orgy), including more often than sometimes a Glabrezu

A drow priestess summoning a Glabrezu, from the 2012 "Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue"

In 3rd edition, it was further specified this is one of the occasions were a Draegloth (a child of a drow priestess and Glabrezu) could be conceived.

3rd edition artwork of a Draegloth from 2001 "Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn"

A (male) Draegloth restraining an elf, 4th Edition Monster Manual 3, 2010

A less monstrous female Draegloth, an idea from 4th edition (originally there was not much sexual dimorphism between males and female Draegloths). Notice similarities similarities to contemporary 2006 depictions of Keepers of Secrets, as seen bellow. 2008 "Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide"

The Keper of Secrets Zarakynel, 2006 Imperial Armour Update

Another notable (even most notable) species of demons that serve Lolth, are the Yochlol, also known as "Lolth’s handmaidens".

Yochlol, fighting adventures, in both their "true" amorphous, eight-tentacled form (left) and giant spider form (right). Q1 Queen of of the Demonweb Pits, 1980

Yochlol are notable as having several forms - the two seen on the illustration (amorphous and giant spider), gaseous one, and of a female humanoid form (almost always of a highly attractive drow, other elven form, or human form) that can be changed. In their first appearance in 1980 Queen of the Demon Web Pits, they used their form as beautiful women in silken gowns, to try to fool and manipulate the player characters.

1991 "Drow of the Underdark" expands quite a lot about them. It reveals they can near perfectly hide their alignment (morality) (even from alignment detecting spells), and that they are fully devoted to Lolth, as opposed to more mercenary nature of most demons in D&D. They are also described there as being able to seduce mortals very well, but also stated to often actually love their mortal lovers (if rather selfishly), and avenge them if they are killed.

The Yochlols origin is fully described/revealed in 2006's "Fiendish Codex I: The Hordes of the Abyss", stating Lolth created the first Yochlol by severely modifying succubi, essentially making them a succubi species, if one fully loyal to Lolth, with different abilities. Lolth though most commonly now creates new Yochlol from souls of her deceased priestesses, or by transforming weaker demons. As well still having normal succubi serving her.

Yochlol, shifting between it's amorphous and drow forms. "Demon Queen's Enclave", 2008

There were some hints of it before - their abilities and tactics being similar to a succubus' in D&D, or succubi-like. In first edition, the Yochlol's gaseous form, being a equivalent of the succubus' ethereal form, Domination of Succubus' Charm Person. The above mentioned "Monstrous Compendium - Planescape Appendix II", expanded on Yochlol tactics and abilities, stating that Yochlol often first "uses its beauty and charm to beguile its opponents". It also gave the Yochlol a Charm Person ability along Domination, as well as an interesting psionic ability - "Attraction" - that "creates an overwhelming attraction to a particular person or thing - be it an item, creature, action, or event".

4th Edition's Monster Manual II from 2009, also gave Yochlol the "Seductive Glare", ability that can Charm an opponent, further exploring the similarity between Succubi and them.

Again, this is a one heck of a long post. To think I originally wanted to make this and the post about Graz'zt one ^^; I also considered posting first the possible inspirations for Tzeentch by Fraz-Urb'luu and Pazuzu, but this one was already partially finished.

[EDIT]

Corrected some mistakes, and expanded on two subjects (another official in-universe spelling/form of Lolth's name that could inspire Slaanesh' names and on Yochlol).