#also naming her wolf Lady would be so bittersweet

[ladyofpembroke]

if I had more time/ability to write quickly/a friend deep in asoiaf that I could bounce ideas off of I would write a Sansa Snow AU fic (R+L=S, and Jon would take Sansa’s spot as the second stark child). I literally think about it all the time and potential paths it could take (does Jon go to the wall or KL?) (who escapes KL?) (how would Sansa’s relationship with players like Cersei and Littlefinger change as a bastard/unrelated to Cat?) (does Sansa get legitimized by the lannisters so she can inherit Winterfell?) like there’s so many different ways you could take it either sticking closer to the plot or changing things completely, and that’s not even mentioning later plots like the Vale and Targ stuff. I know it’s more than I could take on right now but maybe one day…

[dragonmartellstark]

AU: Elia Martell and Rhaella Targaryen, the sun and the dragon (2/?)

Shireen Baratheon: She was the only daughter of Stannis Baratheon and Selyse Baratheon, being the niece of Robert Baratheon. She was cared for by her aunt Lyanna Stark seeing her as a daughter to her. Shireen grew up being a curious, shy but polite girl, as well as being considered very pretty with big blue eyes, thick black hair and a cute smile. Despite the fact that her father longed for a boy, she had some appreciation for her daughter and every month she gave her a present.

The young woman and two of her cousins, Lyarra and Cassana appeared at the Maidens' Day Ball as candidates to be the next queen consort of the Seven Kingdoms and wife of Aegon VI. During the dance the young king asked to dance with little Shireen and they both had a good connection with Shireen being one of her favorites, but she was also the envy of other candidates including her cousins. At the end of the Ball, Aegon VI claimed to want to marry Shireen Baratheon and this engagement was welcomed by the king's mother, Elia Martell, and her grandmother, Rhaella Targaryen. In 299 A. C., the wedding of the young people was celebrated being a splendid and happy event for the young people. Elia Martell gave her daughter-in-law a necklace that she brought from Dorne and wore it during her wedding, inheriting it from Shireen and marking a good relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Shireen and Aegon did not consummate the marriage until 304 A. C., when Shireen turned 15 years old and shortly after sharing the bed, the queen announced her first pregnancy, being a great joy for the family and the common people. At the end of 304 A. C., Prince Aemon was born, the future Aemon I and it was a great joy for all, even for the parents of the queen. The kings were very close and had six children in total, bringing the couple closer together.

Aegon's reign was fairly peaceful and Shireen focused on charity work and caring for her children. In 335 A. C., Aegon VI died victim of puerperal fever due to a hunting accident where he cut his hand and the wound was not well treated. The death of her husband was painful for Shireen, wearing her entire life in mourning and taking shelter in her children, numerous grandchildren and in art, being she known as a great patron of the arts. Shireen Baratheon passed away in 353 A. C., at 64 years old while she slept in her rooms in the Red Fort. She was cremated and her ashes were placed next to those of Aegon VI.

Lyanna Stark: In the tower of joy, Lyanna gave birth to the only child she had with Rhaegar Targaryen, Jon Eddard Stark and despite the difficulties Lyanna managed to leave the birth alive as well as her son. When Rhaegar died and Princess Elia made a peace treaty with Robert Baratheon, Arthur Dayne traveled with Lyanna to King's Landing where he was reunited with his brothers and his fiancé.

It was a complete scandal that Lyanna had had a son with Prince Rhaegar intensifying Robert's anger, but Elia Martell convinced him to let Jon live in Winterfell and allow her mother to visit him whenever she wanted. This idea did not please Lyanna, but she could not be more stubborn as she had already had a relationship and a child with the princess's husband, so she accepted that her brother Ned would take care of the child as hers and she I would visit it.

Lyanna and Robert were married shortly thereafter in 285 A. C., to Lyanna's surprise, Robert was attentive to her and was eager to share the bed with her. Little by little Lyanna began to feel a great appreciation for Robert, both of them spending time at hunting parties and banquets. Shortly after her marriage, Lyanna became pregnant and gave birth to a son, Gendry Baratheon, the future Lord of Storm's End.

Their marriage was passionate and relatively happy, even though Robert had a discreet lover while Lyanna was pregnant, but it is known that these relationships were rare and short-lived. The couple had a total of ten children: Lyarra, Steffon, Cassana, Stella, Eddard, Sara, Rickard, Rickon and twins who died shortly after birth.

Lyanna was also present in the life of her son, Jon Eddard whom she adored, but she did not have a good relationship with her daughter-in-law, Ygritte who she considered somewhat mocking and suspicious because of her mysterious origins.

In the year 311 A. C., Lyanna became pregnant again, but she was already 45 years old so the doctors feared for her life. During labor, her mother suffered a hemorrhage caused by childbirth and in the end she gave birth to a pair of twins, but Lyanna died after giving birth being a heartbreaking grief for her entire family.

Jon Ned: Jon spent his entire life in Winterfell being raised by his uncle Eddard Stark and his aunt Catelyn, while he received visits from his mother, Lyanna Stark whom he adored very much.

Jon was a skilled swordsman and a good boy who was loved by Winterfell and his cousins, especially Robb and Arya Stark. From the beginning he wanted to find a fiancée so that he could have children and make his living, but surprisingly Jon brought an unknown young woman named Ygritte, who was said to be an illegitimate daughter of the Commander of the Night's Watch, Jeor Mormont, but others say that she was a savage that the young man found and fell in love with. The little wolf affirmed that he had married her and that he was in love with her being this something bittersweet for her uncles and her mother, but they ended up accepting and organizing a formal wedding.

Jon was in the service of his cousin, Robb Stark, when his uncle Ned Stark passed away and Robb was proclaimed lord of Winterfell. Robb appointed his cousin as his chief advisor, gaining fame for his peaceful reforms and not wasting so much money. Jon reportedly also had a good relationship with his half-sister, Rhaenys Targaryen, despite all the problems his mothers had in the past.

Jon and Ygritte had a passionate marriage, having thirteen children, even though three would die at birth. Jon was a loving and attentive father always looking for the best for all the sons and daughters, looking for important trades or marriages, he even agreed to marry one of his daughters, Raya with his cousin Eddard Stark, becoming Mistress of Winterfell.

The young wolf's life continued as usual until one day in 334 A. C., while doing a hunting party with his sons Cregan and Jeor, Jon was envestigated by a bear ripping off his leg causing him to bleed. Jeor tried to save his father, but the low temperatures and the amount of blood that he began to lose caused Jon to go into shock and die in the presence of his children at 51 years of age.

Ygritte was plunged into deep sadness upon losing her husband and six years later she would end up dying under strange circumstances. They were both buried in the Stark Cemetery.

Ygritte: The young redhead always lived among the savages being a tough and skilled archer, but Ygritte knew that the conditions were not favorable she loved to hunt, but the food was scarce and the skins even more.

Luck smiled at Ygritte when she met young Jon Targaryen, the illegitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, at a hunt. Jon was amazed by Ygritte's beauty and her strong temperament, Ygritte also felt attracted to the 16-year-old young man, her face seemed beautiful to him. The savage offered the young man a night of pleasure in exchange for food, but the little wolf offered him to marry her and live in Winterfell as her wife, to which Ygritte accepted in order to have a comfortable life.

Jon with the help of Jeor Mormont posed Ygritte as an illegitimate daughter of the commander with a prostitute before joining the Night's Watch. The young Stark took the redhead to the Forest of Gods where they were married privately only with the presence of Samwell Tarly and Dolorous Edd.  Jon and Ygritte appeared before Eddard Stark and Jon's mother Lyanna Stark claiming that they were in love and had married in the presence of the Old Gods. Lyanna Stark was not satisfied because she was not convinced by the origin of the young woman, but she ended up accepting the marriage for the happiness of her son and soon a formal wedding was held where some members of vassal houses attended.

The marriage was somewhat tumultuous at first due to Ygritte's strong and disorderly character, but the couple managed to have a solid, passionate and fun union as they both shared a love of combat and hunting. Ygritte became pregnant a year after getting married, giving birth to a boy named Jeor in honor of the Old Bear. Every two or three years Ygritte gave birth to more children, having a total of thirteen children: Irrla, Johann, Daeron, Raya, Sarra, Samwell, Brereton, Cregan and Cecily; Ella ygritte gave birth to two stillborn children and one died an hour after birth.

Ygritte's personality changed slightly with her motherhood being her a protective mother and something dominant especially with her children. Ygritte's life continued as always alongside her family and hunting for her until 334 A. C., her husband Jon Eddard passed away being a shame for her since she was very much in love with hers. Upon Jon's death, Ygritte took refuge in the hunt and in her children, especially in her daughter, Cecily, who was her tear cloth and her greatest consolation until her daughter died in the year 339 A. C., further increasing Ygritte's grief.

One day in the year 340 A. C., the body of Lady Ygritte was found near the Wall in inappropriate clothes for the severe winter that hit. It is said that she died of hypothermia or cardiac arrest from the pain of losing her husband and daughter. Ygritte was buried at the age of 60 next to Jon Ned and his children who had passed away at the time.

Shireen Baratheon: Fue la única hija de Stannis Baratheon y Selyse Baratheon, siendo sobrina de Robert Baratheon. Fue cuidada por su tía Lyanna Stark viéndola como una hija para ella. Shireen creció siendo una niña curiosa, tímida pero educada, además de ser considerada muy bonita con los ojos grandes y azules, el cabello negro espeso y una sonrisa tierna. Pesé a que su padre ansiaba un varón tuvo algo de aprecio por su hija y cada mes le regalaba algún presente.

La joven y dos de sus primas, Lyarra y Cassana se presentaron al Baile del Día de las Doncellas como candidatas para ser la siguiente reina consorte de los Siete Reinos y esposa de Aegon VI. Durante el baile el joven rey pidió bailar con la pequeña Shireen y ambos tuvieron una buena conexión siendo Shireen una de las favoritas, pero también la envidia de otras candidatas incluyendo sus primas. Al final del Baile, Aegon VI afirmo querer casarse con Shireen Baratheon y este compromiso fue bien visto por la madre del rey, Elia Martell y su abuela, Rhaella Targaryen. En el 299 d. C., se celebro la boda de los jóvenes siendo un acontecimiento esplendoroso y feliz para los jóvenes. Elia Martell le entrego a su nuera un collar que ella trajo de Dorne y uso durante su boda, heredándoselo a Shireen y marcando una buena relación entre suegra y nuera.

Shireen y Aegon no consumaron el matrimonio hasta el año 304 d. C., cuando Shireen cumplió los 15 años de edad y poco después de compartir la cama, la reina anuncio su primer embarazo siendo una gran alegría para la familia y el pueblo llano. A finales del 304 d. C., nació el príncipe Aemon, el futuro Aemon I y fue una gran alegría para todos, incluso para los padres de la reina. Los reyes estaban muy unidos y llegaron a tener seis hijos en total acercando mas a la pareja.

El reinado de Aegon fue bastante pacifico y Shireen se centró en las obras de caridad y en el cuidado de sus hijos. En el 335 d. C., Aegon VI falleció victima de fiebres puerperales debido a un accidente de caza donde se corto una mano y no fue bien tratada la herida. La muerte de su esposo fue dolorosa para Shireen vistiendo de luto toda su vida y resguardándose en sus hijos, numerosos nietos y en el arte, siendo conocida como una gran mecenas de las artes. Shireen Baratheon falleció en el 353 d. C., a los 64 años mientras dormía en sus habitaciones de la Fortaleza Roja. Fue incinerada y sus cenizas fueron puestas al lado de las de Aegon VI.

Lyanna Stark: En la torre de la alegría, Lyanna dio a luz al único hijo que tuvo con Rhaegar Targaryen, Jon Eddard Stark y pesé a las dificultades Lyanna logró salir viva del parto al igual que su hijo. Al morir Rhaegar y que la princesa Elia hiciera un tratado de paz con Robert Baratheon, Arthur Dayne viajo junto a Lyanna hacia Desembarco del Rey donde se reencontró con sus hermanos y su prometido.

Fue un completo escandalo el hecho de que Lyanna había tenido un hijo con el príncipe Rhaegar intensificando la ira que tenía Robert, pero Elia Martell lo convenció de que Jon viviera en Invernalia y le permitiera a su madre visitarlo cuando ella quisiera. Esta idea no le agrado a Lyanna, pero no podía ser mas terca al ya haber tenido una relación y un hijo con el marido de la princesa, así que acepto que su hermano Ned cuidara del niño como suyo y ella lo visitaría.

Lyanna y Robert se casaron poco después en el 285 d. C., para la sorpresa de Lyanna, Robert fue atento con ella y se mostraba deseoso de compartir el lecho con ella. Poco a poco Lyanna empezó a sentir un gran aprecio hacia Robert compartiendo ambos el tiempo en partidas de caza y banquetes. Al poco de casarse Lyanna quedo embarazada y dio a luz a un niño, Gendry Baratheon el futuro Señor de Bastión de Tormenta.

Su matrimonio fue apasionado y relativamente feliz aun que Robert tuvo alguna discreta amante mientras Lyanna estaba embarazada, pero se sabe que estas relaciones fueron escasas y poco duraderas. La pareja tuvo un total de diez hijos: Lyarra, Steffon, Cassana, Stella, Eddard, Sara, Rickard, Rickon y mellizos que murieron al poco de nacer.

Lyanna también estuvo presente en la vida de su hijo, Jon Eddard al cual adoraba, pero no tuvo buena relación con su nuera, Ygritte la cual consideraba algo burlona y sospechosa por sus misteriosos orígenes.

En el año 311 d. C., Lyanna volvió a quedar embarazada, pero ya contaba con 45 años de edad por lo que los médicos temían por su vida. Durante la labor de parto, la madre sufrió una hemorragia provocada por el parto y al final dio a luz a un par de mellizos, pero Lyanna acabo falleciendo tras dar a luz siendo una pena desgarradora para toda su familia.

Jon Ned: Jon paso toda su vida en Invernalia siendo criado por su tío Eddard Stark y su tía Catelyn, mientras recibía las visitas de su madre, Lyanna Stark a la cual adoraba mucho.

Jon fue un experto espadachín y un buen muchacho siendo querido por Invernalia y sus primos, en especial por Robb y Arya Stark. Desde un principio se le quiso buscar una prometida para que pudiera tener descendencia y hacer su vida, pero sorprendentemente Jon trajo una joven desconocida llamada Ygritte, la cual se decía que era una hija ilegitima del Comandante de la Guardia de la Noche, Jeor Mormont, pero otros dicen que ella era una salvaje que el joven encontró y se enamoro. El pequeño lobo afirmo que se había casado con ella y que estaba enamorado de ella siendo esto algo agridulce para sus tíos y su madre, pero acabaron aceptando y organizando una boda formal.

Jon estuvo al servicio de su primo, Robb Stark cuando su tío Ned Stark falleció y Robb fue proclamado señor de Invernalia. Robb nombro a su primo como su consejero principal ganando fama por sus reformas pacificas y por no derrochar tanto dinero. Según se dice Jon también tuvo una buena relación con su medio hermana, Rhaenys Targaryen pesé a todos los problemas que tuvieron sus madres en el pasado.

Jon e Ygritte tuvieron un matrimonio apasionado llegando a tener trece hijos, aun que tres fallecerían al nacer. Jon era un padre amoroso y atento siempre buscaba lo mejor para todos sus hijos e hijas buscándoles importantes oficios o matrimonios, incluso acepto casar a una de sus hijas, Raya con su primo Eddard Stark convirtiéndose en Señora de Invernalia.

La vida del joven lobo siguió como de costumbre hasta que un día del año 334 d. C., mientras hacia una partida de caza junto a sus hijos Cregan y Jeor, Jon fue envestido por un oso arrancando su pierna haciendo que se desangrara. Jeor trato de salvar a su padre, pero las bajas temperaturas y la cantidad de sangre que empezó a perder provocaron que Jon entrase en estado de shock y muriera en presencia de sus hijos con 51 años de edad.

Ygritte quedo sumida en una profunda tristeza al perder a su esposo y seis años después ella acabaría muriendo en extrañas circunstancias. Ambos fueron enterrados en el cementerio de los Stark.

Ygritte: La joven pelirroja siempre vivió entre los salvajes siendo una ruda y experta arquera, pero Ygritte sabía que las condiciones no eran favorables amaba cazar, pero la comida era escasa y las pieles todavía mas.

La suerte le sonrío a Ygritte cuando en una casería conoció al joven Jon Targaryen, el hijo ilegitimo de Rhaegar Targaryen y Lyanna Stark. Jon quedo maravillado con la belleza de Ygritte y su fuerte temperamento, Ygritte también sintió atracción por el joven de solo 16 años pareciéndole bello su rostro. La salvaje le ofreció al joven una noche de placer a cambio de comida, pero el pequeño lobo le ofreció casarse con ella y vivir en Invernalia como su esposa, a lo que Ygritte acepto con tal de tener una vida cómoda.

Jon con la ayuda de Jeor Mormont hicieron pasar a Ygritte como una hija ilegitima del comandante con una meretriz antes de unirse a la Guardia de la Noche. El joven Stark llevo a la pelirroja al Bosque de Dioses donde se casaron de manera privada solo con la presencia de Samwell Tarly y Edd “El penas”. Jon e Ygritte se presentaron ante Eddard Stark y la madre de Jon, Lyanna Stark afirmando que estaban enamorados y se habían casado en presencia de los Antiguos Dioses. Lyanna Stark no estaba conforme debido a que no le convencía el origen de la joven, pero acabo aceptando el matrimonio por la felicidad de su hijo y pronto se celebro una boda formal donde asistieron algunos miembros de casas vasallas.

El matrimonio fue algo tumultuoso en un principio debido al carácter fuerte y desordenado de Ygritte, pero la pareja logro llevar una unión solida, apasionada y divertida al compartir ambos el amor por el combate y la caza. Ygritte quedo embarazada un año después de casarse, alumbrando a un niño llamado Jeor en honor al Viejo Oso. Cada dos o tres años Ygritte alumbraba a mas hijos teniendo en total trece hijos: Irrla, Johann, Daeron, Raya, Sarra, Samwell, Brereton, Cregan y Cecily; Ygritte dio a luz dos niños muertos y uno falleció una hora después de nacer.

La personalidad de Ygritte cambio ligeramente con la maternidad siendo una madre protectora y algo dominante en especial con sus hijos. La vida de Ygritte siguió como siempre al lado de su familia y la caza hasta que en el año 334 d. C., falleció su marido Jon Eddard siendo una pena para ella ya que estaba muy enamorada de el. A la muerte de Jon, Ygritte se refugio en la caza y en sus hijos en especial en su hija, Cecily que fue su paño de lagrimas y su mayor consuelo hasta que su hija falleció en el año 339 d. C., aumentando mas la pena de Ygritte.

Un día del año 340 d. C., el cuerpo de Lady Ygritte fue encontrado cerca del Muro en ropas poco apropiadas para el fuerte invierno que azotaba. Se dice que murió de hipotermia o de un paro cardiaco por la pena de perder a su esposo e hija. Ygritte fue enterrada con 60 años de edad al lado de Jon Ned y sus hijos que habían fallecido en ese entonces.

[dindjarindiaries]

Mandoctober - October 13: Armorer

summary: After finding her helmet in the tunnels of Nevarro, Din tells the child about his connection to the Armorer.

pairing: din djarin (the mandalorian) & the child

warnings: mentions of parental death, possible canon divergence, little!din

rating: G

word count: 960

mandoctober masterlist

october 13: armorer

The golden helmet still shines as brilliantly as ever—even in the tunnels with limited light.

Din turns it over in his gloved hands, smiling in a bittersweet manner beneath his own helmet. The baby coos with interest at his side, causing him to lower the helmet and show it off to the baby.

“Remember her, ad’ika?” Din questions, his voice soft and surprisingly firm. He’d expected it to be a little more shaky.

Din knew to expect this coming into Nevarro again. It’s been many, many rotations since he last saw the Armorer and Din knew she wouldn’t stay there for very long on her own. She easily could’ve if she wanted to—but Din knows she’s meant to bring people together, to lead. That’s always been her calling.

The baby coos again, drawing Din out of his thoughts as he watches the little green hands move from the golden helmet to the mudhorn signet on Din’s right pauldron.

“Yes, ad’ika,” Din confirms, patting the baby’s head gently with one hand. The baby’s ears perk up, creating a warmth in Din’s chest as he smiles wider to himself. “You know, she used to call me that.” The baby’s eyes widen in interest at that, causing Din to chuckle as he continues.

In the aftermath of his escape from Aq Vetina, Din had nowhere and no one to turn to. He didn’t know who to trust. His parents had taught him to trust no stranger.

But her presence was… calming. Wise. Trusting. Din was still clinging to his savior when they approached her. She was as regal as ever, young but evidently still suited as a leader.

“What do we have here, ner vod?” she’d questioned, her helmet—not yet gold—tilting at the sight of the child in the Mandalorian’s arms.

“A foundling,” Din’s savior had answered, kneeling down to set Din on the ground in front of her. He’d frozen, his gaze stuck on her and his eyes wide with wonder.

She’d walked so carefully over to him, kneeling down to face him directly. “What’s your name, ad’ika?”

Din had swallowed hard, his small hands grabbing at the hem of his shirt in his anxiety before he squeaked up. “D-Din. Din Djarin.” His voice was almost as small as him.

“Din Djarin,” she’d repeated, her voice soft yet firm as she nodded at him. “Olarom yaim.” Welcome home. Din hadn’t been confused by the language; his mother was a linguist and taught him every language she could learn. What had taken Din by surprise was her next gesture: a gentle touch of her helmet to his forehead. “Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad.” I know your name as my child.

Din didn’t say anything at first. He was very much in shock—still trying to come to terms with the loss of his family as he was gaining another. Nevertheless, he was raised on good manners, and he refused to stay silent. “V… Vor entye,” Din said quietly. Thank you.

The Armorer had leaned back to where she was, tilting her helmet this time in interest as she looked at him. “You know our language, ad’ika?”

Din had nodded with a furrowed brow. “My mother loves—,” Din caught himself, stuttering a bit as he adjusted to the cruel reality with misty eyes, “—loved languages. She taught me.” In an even quieter voice, Din added more. “My father liked them, too.” When his voice fell, his head did too, his chin tucked into his chest as his gaze began to fill with more tears. The idea of his parents being gone was beginning to settle in, no longer feeling as numb as he realized there would be no more language lessons, no more laughing when his father purposely mispronounced something, no more embraces after Din finally mastered something he’d been working on for rotations.

A gentle hand upon Din’s chin made him face the Armorer’s helmet again, his reflection jumping off her visor as she kept her voice just as soft as before. “You will make them very proud, verd’ika.” She’d then done something Din hadn’t expected: she’d opened her arms to him, letting him crumble there as he wept silent tears that slid down against her armor. He cried there until his emotions exhausted him, and to this day, Din doesn’t remember much past the faint memory of the Armorer gently holding him and carrying him away to his safety.

As Din looks back to the helmet in his hands, he can only hope that he’ll be half the leader and mentor for the child that she was to him.

The baby furrows his brow and coos with concern as he taps the hollow helmet, looking at Din with a tilt to his head. Din tilted his helmet back at him, patting his head again with reassurance. “Don’t worry, ad’ika, she’s all right,” he insists, his voice low as he runs his other hand over the helmet. “She’s not hurt. She’s just… free.”

Din knows the Armorer never felt trapped in the Way. He knows she was free to go whenever. But he also knows that all she ever wanted was to protect and serve her people—and now that she’s done just that to the extent of which she can, she’s finally freed of her services, and hopefully enjoying the luxuries of the galaxy in the way he always wanted for her.

Though he hopes that one day, he might be able to thank her one more time.

permanent tag list: @mikahid @bestintheparsec @stilllivindue2spite @givemethatgold @xbrujita @mandalorianspace @blushingwueen @sevvysaurus @myakai13 @thisis-theway @beskars @rachelloveseveryone @theindiealto @hiscyarika @wickedfrsgrl @synystersilenceinblacknwhite @bookwafflefangirl @charliepeaceout @cable-kenobi @ezraslittleblondestreak @hdlynn @your-pixels-are-showing @b0n-chann @javier-djarin @nettyklecan @mistermiraclee @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @smellssharpies @catfishingmorales @wille-zarr @kaetastic @saltywintersoldat @agentpike @mrsparknuts @readsalot73 @yespolkadotkitty @mandhoelorian @lilangeldevil006 @roxypeanut @hail-doodles @randomness501 @this-cat-is-dea @hopplessdreamer @paintballkid711 @dracos-jedi-marvel @whataenginerd @katlikeme @petertingless @propertyofdindjarin @theocatkov @bisexual-space-slut @cyaredindjarin @arkofblake @cryptkeepersoul @motleymoose @mrschiltoncat @f0rever15elf @lady-of-nightmares-and-heartache @rogueonestan @goldafterglow @milleniumvalcon @badassbaker @pancakepike @sunbeambby13 @mymindisawhirpool @antmnwasp @capbrie @freak-of-nature2002 @arabellathorne @mandilflorian @phoenixhalliwell @beiroviski @darthadeline @cheriedjarin @edencherries @mstgsmy @seasonschange-butpeopledont @aliciaxglasgow @poesflygirl @weirdowithnobeardo @dee-rosemary @ceebeetheartdork @kiwi-the-first​

mandalorian tag list: @lola-wolf​ @hoodedbirdie​ @chibi-liz05​ @nerd-without-a-cause​ @hdlynn​ @thepjofanqueen​ @bwemph​ @starwarsslytherin​ @iellarenuodolorian​ @littlevodika​ @jjemcarstairs​ @promiscuoussatan​ @fahrenheit-not​ @vernon-dursley​

[hoaryoldbitch]

bittersweet and strange (2/4)

@vivilove-jonsa made this lovely moodboard for my tale as old as time series! Thank you again! I feel so honoured that you decided to make this for me! 💕💕💕

Sansa feels different when she opens her father’s letter than she did when she started reading Robb’s, numb somehow. A scrap of yellowed cloth falls into her lap as she unfolds the parchment. Someone embroidered a blue rose on it, and the words “I’m so sorry.”

She meant to read the letter aloud to Jon, but as she skims the parchment, her eyes find words she should be able to understand, but they don’t make sense to her. She sees names: Jon, Lyanna, Aemon, Robert, even Catelyn. I’m sorry, she keeps seeing, so many times I’m sorry. Lies and truth. But at some point, they all start to blur in front of her eyes, start to blur into pain. Her father’s pain, her mother’s, Jon’s; she can feel it, almost as if it’s her own.

Jon’s hand is on the small of her back and he picks up the embroidered scrap of cloth, tracing the rose with his thumb. “Sansa?” he asks gently.

She pushes herself to her feet, almost crumpling the letter in her fist, until she remembers she has no right to do so. How does she tell Jon that his entire life has been a lie? Will he even understand? She starts walking up and down the room, feeling Jon’s eyes on her as she does so. He whines and growls. Seven Hells, she needs to calm down, her pacing is making him anxious.

She picks up her brush and walks back to the hearth to sit down next to Jon. Perhaps if she keeps her hands occupied, it will be easier to think. It is not. Her hands tremble, and her breaths grow shallow.

Jon sits down behind her, his thighs bracketing hers, and his hands slide down her arms until he’s covering hers. She leans back, allowing her back to find the solid support of his chest, but she almost immediately pulls back, hating herself for letting him soothe her when she should be the one comforting him.

Read it on AO3

Still, she lets him take the brush from her hand. She lets him lace the fingers of his free hand through hers and squeezes them before he releases her hand again. He’s gentle and patient as he brushes her hair, and he even starts humming under his breath. From time to time, he puts the brush down to run his fingers through her hair, to sniff a strand or kiss it or rub it against his cheek. She leans back against his chest again, takes his hand and holds it over her stomach, closing her eyes and humming tunelessly as he buries his face in her hair.

She wishes this moment could last forever, that her father’s letter didn’t exist–even if the truths that are revealed in it render the feelings that have started to blossom in her heart less vile–that the outside world wasn’t real and that they could stay like this, but she knows she has to disrupt it and tell him what she has just learned.

She explains to him that Eddard Stark was not his father, that Lord Stark never fathered a bastard, that he lied to all of them to protect Jon, whose name isn’t even Jon Snow, but Aemon Targaryen. She tells him that his mother was Lyanna Stark, that she wanted to fight for him, but that she wasn’t strong enough to beat the fever that took her.

She picks up the piece of embroidered cloth where he’s placed on top of the blanket next to his thigh and turns to kneel between his legs. “She made this, when she was still carrying you under her heart.”

He takes it from her, staring at it with a furrowed brow. “Pretty,” he mutters.

“Do you understand, Jon?”

He takes her hand, tracing her knuckles with his thumb, following the movement with his eyes. “Wolf-father lied. Not mine.”

When he glances up at her, she nods. “But you had a wolf-mother.”

His eyes drop to the cloth in his hand and mumbles: “Wolf-mother.”

“She was brave and beautiful, and she loved you, Jon. So much.”

“Dragon-father, bad man,” he continues. She can’t deny that. “Dragon bad, fire bad.”

“It can be, but fire is also warm, like you, it protects against the cold.” She cups his cheek and squeezes his fingers.

“Dragon man bad,” he insists.

“He was,” she agrees. “But you are a good man.”  His eyes flutter closed under her touch and he shakes his head, almost imperceptible, but she feels it against her palm.

“Jon wolf, not man.”

“I think you are both,” she muses.

He opens his mouth, but closes it again and squeezes his eyes shut, shaking his head and his fingers tighten on her hand.

She caresses his cheek. “What is it?”

He shakes his head more forcefully. Whatever is bothering him, it seems that he is not ready to tell her. “Wolf-mother dead,” he says as he opens his eyes. “Wolf-father also dead. Sad.”

She nods. “Very sad,” she agrees.

“Sansa not dead. Sansa here. Still pack?” he asks her.

She offers him a wide smile. “Still pack,” she confirms.

He wraps his arms around her waist to pull her into his lap, and she lets him, melting into his embrace.

Sansa resists the urge to brush Jon’s hair from his face as she rises from the bed. She’s managed to disentangle herself from his arms without waking him, she won’t risk it. She had to get up, she couldn’t sleep anymore, with all the worries and questions whirling through her mind.

She knows she should talk to Jon about Robb’s will, but every time she tries to think of the right way to tell him, to ask him what he wants, what he thinks they should do, she’s reminded of his words during their last conversation. “Jon wolf, not man,” he told her and he didn’t seem to agree when she insisted he could be both.

And then there is the truth revealed by her father’s letter. It saddens Sansa to think how his lies hurt both Jon and her Lady Mother, even if she understands why he had to do it. He could have told them at some point. Jon should have known. The question right now is: should anyone else know?

Robb’s will declared Jon his heir, but would the lords and ladies of the North accept him as their new king if they knew the truth about him? She’s afraid they wouldn’t. Would they choose her instead? Would they try to turn her against him? Would it mean war if Jon’s secret got out? So that means she has her answer to that question. No one can find out.

Jon is still asleep when Satin enters the room to tend to the fire and bring her a tray of food. Sansa likes him, and she trusts him, and she believes he must know Jon better than anyone else at Castle Black. She invites him to sit down at the table with her.

“Satin? There’s something I would like to show you,” she tells him. She hands him Robb’s will and eats her porridge while he reads it.

“Do you understand what it says?” she asks him. He told her he can read and write a little, so she can’t be completely sure of it.

“Your brother wanted Jon to be King in the North after him,” he answers with wide eyes.

She nods. “He believed my sister and my other brothers were dead, and our enemies forced me to wed one of their own.”

“The dwarf?” he asks her.

“Aye,” she answers. “Satin, you knew Jon before, before he became like this. What do you think he would want?”

Satin sits back and rubs at his beard. “King Stannis offered it to him. Winterfell and the lordship. The Wildling Princess was to be his wife.”

“He did?”

He nods. “And Jon refused him. He told Stannis ‘Winterfell belongs to my sister Sansa.’”

She doesn’t try to hide her glistening eyes from him. She’s not ashamed of them, not with Satin. He’s kind and gentle. Oh Jon, she thinks. You belong there, too.

“He cares about his family,” Satin says softly. “He was murdered because he wanted to save his other sister.”

She balls her fists as all the untruths in those words overwhelm her.

Satin straightens his shoulders. “Do you think we should get her back, to help him?”

She understands what he means, but she doesn’t even have to think about the answer. “No.”

The girl Alysane Mormont and Justin Massey took to Eastwatch is not Arya. Seeing her won’t help Jon. Sansa wants to see her again, wants to tell her how sorry she is that she couldn’t protect her, but for the time being, it’s probably better if Jeyne stays away from Castle Black. “She’s safer at Eastwatch,” she tells Satin.

Satin taps his fingers on the table. “I understand you may feel as if you are betraying your brother’s will, as if you are betraying Jon by stepping up, but I don’t think you have another choice right now.”

“I just want him to be whole again,” she confesses. “Not just for him, but for me. I know that must make me very selfish… But I need him. I can’t do this alone.” Saying those words brings her more relief than she could have imagined.

Satin frowns. “I think you can, but I understand that you don’t want to.” He opens his mouth to say more, but closes it again, his eyes drawn to something behind her back.

“Sansa?” Jon suddenly calls out from the spot Satin is staring at. He groans and drags his hand down over his face when a naked Jon approaches them. “We’ll never get him into his clothes again!”

Sansa turns and holds out a hand to Jon. She lets him take it and rub his face against her palm. “Jon, will you please put on a pair of breeches for me?” she asks him.

She giggles at Satin’s mouth falling open when Jon obeys her without any complaints or objections other than a sullen face and a disgruntled grunt.

When Satin has left again, Sansa rises to her feet and returns to the fire, staring into the flames to think. Brienne said Jon isn’t fit to rule. Satin told her he defended her claim, that he gave up his own chance at becoming Lord of Winterfell for her. Could he ever forgive her if she took that chance away from him now? She would have to burn Robb’s will, or hide it, make Lady Mormont and Lord Glover take a vow of silence. Would they agree to that?

She doesn’t want to take anything from Jon, but Brienne is right. If Jon thinks of himself as a wolf, and not a man, he can’t be king right now, but what can he be?

His hand is on her arm, as if he’s there to answer her question, and she turns around to look at him. He rubs her arm, coaxing her to step closer to him and when she does, his other arm slips around her waist, his palm resting warm and comfortable on the small of her back.

He leans his forehead against hers and whispers her name. “Sansa.”

She closes her eyes. She should tell him to stop. It’s not as wrong as it was before, but it will only complicate things, and they can’t afford that.

“Sansa not sister,” he says slowly, softly, deliberately and intently. His words melt on her lips, and despite herself, she closes the final distance between them, trying to chase their truth and the flavour of their warmth, and then she is pressing the lightest of kisses to his lips.

His hands travel up her arms and shoulders until he is cupping her face and her own come to rest over his collarbones, grounding her. When he kisses her back, his fingers slide into her hair, and one of her hands finds the nape of his neck.

The slight shift makes their noses bump together and both of their lips part on a soft shared huff. He slants his mouth over hers, trying to deepen the kiss, and it’s as if she’s drowning or spinning into a darkness she wants to welcome. She wants to be swallowed up by his kiss and his embrace, ready to take the leap and surrender, but something pulls her back from the edge, and then she is pushing him away, as gently as she can manage.

His hands release her, and she immediately regrets it, almost begs him to touch her again, and he does, panting as he rests his forehead against hers like he did before. It’s only a fraction of what she craves, but it’s probably more than she deserves. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, not quite certain what she is apologizing for.

“Sansa want man, not wolf,” he gathers.

She almost tells him that he’s wrong, that he must be a man, that a wolf could never kiss her like that, but she bites her tongue and pulls back to look at him. “Oh, Jon.” She shakes her head. “That’s not it. I do want you. But things aren’t that simple.”

“Yes, simple,” he insists, placing her hand over his heart again. “Sansa.”

She takes his hand and mimics him, placing it over her own heart, smiling up at him. “Jon,” she whispers.

A grin pulls up his lips. “See? Simple.”

She shakes her head again. “No, Jon, you don’t understand. It’s complicated.”

[khoicesbyk]

Beloved.

A/N: I'm officially obsessed with Wolf Bride and what does one do when she's obsessed with a certain book? She writes an AU about it! 😁 So, Talley Ho! *in my Sherlock Holmes voice*

Rated: Mature. | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual from me. 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: Roman (LI) and Naia Evans (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 2,755 words. (more or less. I stop counting after editing and re-editing. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

Tag List: @rideordiechronicles @shewillreadyou @txemrn @lucy-268 @pixie88 @secretaryunpaid @aussieez @shannonsaid @shannonwrote @queenjilian @bebepac @imturaxamara @texaskitten30 @choicesficwriterscreations

This series is rated Mature. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

This series may contain spoilers. If you wish not to see spoilers, please do not read any further.

(Also this series is a slight deviation of the original story. In the original story, the werewolf hunter is a woman. But in this series the hunter is a man.)

Missing a chapter or want to read a chapter again? I got you covered! Click ——> Here!

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you. 😁😘

TW: character death, Car Accident, death of a parent.

Chapter 15.) Skeletons.

It was Saturday but not just your typical Saturday. This was Laurie’s chance to get her daughter the hell outta dodge of the upcoming full moon. While she was having breakfast at Tucker’s with Shane, she was starting to really worry.

“I swear that girl acts more and more like you every day.” Laurie said to her husband.

“Me?! She’s LITERALLY your living, breathing reflection but yeah sure let’s blame me.” He replies while shaking his head.

“If we don’t get her the hell outta here by the next full moon, she will never leave.”

“I know baby. But you know how she is when she sets her mind to something.”

“I wish she’d set her mind to something other than staying here!”

Laurie sighed.

“I’m scared, Shane. I’m really scared. We can’t let her go through what I went through.”

Shane sipped his coffee before reaching over to take his wife’s left hand in his.

“I swear on my momma. We WILL NOT let that happen. She will be leaving with us tomorrow. There will be no arguing about it.”

Laurie smiled softly. After finishing breakfast they stepped out into the sunlight then decided to take a walk down Main Street.

“I haven’t had a chance to ask you but how are you feeling baby?” Shane asked her as they walked.

“Nostalgic. I’ve missed home. And I won’t lie, part of me is glad to see it. But in the same breath, I hate being here.”

“I know baby. We haven’t been here since we left 30 some odd years ago.”

“It’s not just that though.”

“Then what is it? Tell me.”

“Shane…I-I-I can still feel him. I can still see him. I can still hear his voice. He’s still around. Even though he’s dead.”

“I promise you, you’re safe. He’s dead and rightly so. And even if he wasn’t, there is no way in hell I’d let him anywhere near you.”

“My hero.”

“Always baby.”

Shane smiled at her while wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He knew she was struggling and all he wanted to do was take her pain away. As they walked both took in how much the town square had changed. Most of what Laurie knew 30 years ago wasn’t there now.

When they got to the park they sat down on her old favorite bench.

“Remember our first date?” He asked her.

“Yeah. You took me to the old drive in then we came here, sat down on this bench and tried to count as many stars as possible.” She replies.

Shane laid his wife’s head on his left shoulder.

“I know you’re struggling. I know being home is bittersweet.”

He felt tears fall on his shoulder.

“I didn’t think it’d be this hard. I just knew that I’d see this place and I’d hate it as I always have. I didn’t think that I’d miss it so much.” She said as her voice cracked.

“I know baby. Don’t cry. It’s hard to come back here after all this time and not feel anything.”

Shane rubbed her back as she cried.

“It’s okay baby. Let it out. Let it all out.”

When her tears finally subsided, Laurie took a deep breath.

“Thank you.”

Shane kissed the side of her head.

“Always baby.”

Laurie looked up and suddenly had an idea.

“I wanna do something.”

“What baby?” Shane asked.

“…I wanna go see mama and daddy.”

Shane nodded.

After going by Alfred’s flower shop Shane and Laurie drove a little ways out of town to S.R. Timmons National Cemetery. Laurie laid the flowers at the grave of her parents.

Laurie laid her hand on the grave stone with Shane right beside her.

“Hi mama. Hi daddy. I’m home…” she whispered.

It had been 30 years since she’d seen her parents grave.

“I know you’re probably furious that it’s taken me this long to come back. And I wouldn’t blame you if you haunted me for the rest of my life because of it. But I want you to know that…I miss you so much.”

Shane knelt next to his wife as she took a shaky breath.

“I have so much to say but I don’t know where to start. I’m sure you watched it all from heaven but I have to tell you myself. I became a nurse like you were mama. And I found a man that is just as stand up as you were daddy. We got married at a courthouse. I know it probably wasn’t the wedding that you and daddy would’ve hoped for mama but…I wish both of you were there.”

She stopped as her voice hitched.

“Anyway, you have a granddaughter. We named her Naia Michelle. She’s a giant handful but you’d love her nonetheless. Maybe even more than you ever loved me. And your son…well we won’t get into that. But now I need you. I need you to help me bring my baby home. She’s in danger and she won’t listen to me. The wolves here mean her no good. And I’m scared that if she doesn’t leave with us tomorrow, I’ll never see her again. Mama…daddy…I need you.”

She burst into tears with her husband right next to her.

“It’s okay baby. They hear you. I promise, they hear you.”

“I know they do but it’s Naia who doesn’t…” Laurie said through her tears.

Shane took her face into his hands before speaking.

“Look at me baby. Naia will. We will make sure that she will.”

Shane held her close before speaking to the plaque in front of him.

“I never got to meet you two but I met your daughter and I fell head over heels for her. She has made my life better. She gave me the greatest gift in life. She gave me a daughter. Naia is beautiful. She’s smart. She’s talented. She’s strong willed. And God knows that girl is as stubborn as her mother. And now she is determined to stay and I can’t stand it. I need her at home, where she’d be safe. She’s not safe here. If she stays here her mother and I are afraid that she’ll wind up hurt or dead. I can’t have that. So please help us bring our girl home.” The two sat in a somber yet comfortable silence as Laurie reflected on her parents.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” Shane asks her.

“For coming with me. I needed this.” She replies.

“Baby there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“I think I’m ready now.”

“Are you sure babe?” He asks.

“Yeah. Besides we still need to get our girl and get out of here. But it was good to see mama and daddy.” She replies.

“Alright. Let’s go. We have a long afternoon ahead of us.”

Meanwhile Naia was sitting at the bar with her laptop open at Buck’s showing Layla her nursery design.

“What do you think?” Naia asked Layla.

“I LOVE IT! It’s beautiful!” Layla replies.

“And it’s neutral. Just the way you like it.”

“Thank you so much Naia! I can’t wait to show Callum.”

“You think he’ll like it?” Naia asks.

“Trust me if I like it then he’ll like it.” She replies.

“And here I thought wolves were supposed to be the dominant ones.”

Layla snickered.

“I know that’s a dig at Roman.”

“It’s not a dig! It’s a smartass observation.”

“If you say so…”

“I do say so!” Naia said emphatically.

The two giggled just as Callum walked in.

“Hello girls.” He said to them.

“Heyyyyy!” They replied.

“What are you two up to?” He asks.

“Naia was showing me her design ideas for the baby’s nursery. Here take a look.” Layla replied.

Callum studies the design.

“Well what do you think?” Layla asks him.

“Very nice. I like it. I think it’s perfect for the baby.” He replies.

Naia’s jaw dropped.

“Told you!” Layla teased her.

“You must have some kinda mind control over him.”

“Yeah I do. It’s called the munchkin in my stomach.”

Naia shook her head and smirked.

“Are you ready to go love?” He asks Layla.

“Yeah I’m ready. You coming Naia?” She replies.

“Not quite yet. I’m gonna run by my uncle’s house first so I’ll see you later.”

“Okay. And thank you again Naia.” Callum said to her.

“You’re welcome. As for you young lady, we got baby shopping to do!”

“My favorite pastime!”

They shared a laugh before leaving the bar. When Naia got back to her uncle’s place, she was met by her parents who were sitting at the kitchen table looking through an old photo album.

“I didn’t think you two would still be here.”

“Is it Sunday?” Shane asks.

“Nope.” She replies.

“Then we’re still here.” Laurie said to her.

“Where’s uncle Zane?” Naia asks.

“In the shower.” Shane replied.

“Then how’d you two get in the house?” Naia asked.

“I still have a key, Naia. You forget I grew up in this house.” Laurie replies.

“Touché. What’s that?” Naia asks.

“Family album.” Laurie replies.

“Can I see?” Naia asks.

“Have a seat.” Laurie replies.

Naia sat next to her mother and looked at the page of old photos.

“Are these two your parents?” Naia asked, pointing to the couple.

“Yes. That’s mama and daddy, right after they got married in Parkersburg.” Laurie replied.

“They’re beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“They were amazing.” Zane said as he came into the kitchen.

“Yes they were. Daddy built this house with his own two hands.”

“Really?” Naia asks.

“Yup. He was a carpenter. He could build you a mansion out of a mound of dirt.” Laurie replies.

“And what about your mother?” Naia asks.

“She was a nurse.” Laurie replies with a smile.

“So is that why you became a nurse mom?” Naia asks.

“Yes. I wanted to be just like her.” Laurie replies.

“What were their names?” Naia asks.

“Susanna and Lewis. Mama’s maiden name was Wright.” Laurie replies.

“I wish I could’ve met them.”

“They would’ve loved you. Probably would’ve spoiled you rotten if they had gotten the chance.”

“You mean like how they used to do you?” Zane asked.

“They did not spoil me!” Laurie protested.

“Ha! They all but neglected me when you were born.”

“Can you blame them?” Laurie asked.

“Yes I can! I was here long before you were thought of!” Zane replied.

“Somebody sounds jealous.” Laurie teased.

“Me? Jealous? Of you?” Zane asked his sister.

“Yes. You’re jealous. You always have been.” Laurie replies.

“Such a diva!”

“Now that we can agree on!” Shane quipped.

“What were your parents like?” Naia asked.

Zane contorted his face to do an impression of their father.

“Simon! Watch your sister! You know she can’t go wandering off into the woods by herself!”

Laurie snickered.

“Jackass!”

“Thank you! I’ll be here all week.”

“I didn’t know your name is Simon, uncle Zane.”

Zane chuckled.

“Yes. Simon Zane Roberts. I was named after my mother. And your mother was named after papa. Somehow Laurie Michelle is the same as Lewis Michael.”

“Semantics.”

Laurie turned to the next page to a newspaper clipping. The headline took Naia by surprise.

Naia looked over at her mother who was pale.

“Mama?” Naia asks.

Laurie’s hand was trembling.

“Baby are you okay?” Shane asked.

“I…I…this…” she tried to say.

Zane put his hand over his sister’s.

“It’s okay squirt.”

“You kept it?” She asked in a whisper.

“Yes. I couldn’t throw it out. I didn’t know how to.” Zane replied.

Laurie looked haunted as she ran her hand over the newspaper clipping.

“It…it…was my fault…”

“What?” Naia asked her mother.

“The accident…it was my fault…” her mother replied clearly haunted.

“Squirt…it wasn’t your fault. And you know it wasn’t!” Zane spoke up.

“The state fair…daddy and mama were taking me…it was an early birthday present…if they hadn’t they’d still be alive.”

“Mama what happened?” Naia asks.

“I don’t remember.” Laurie replies.

“I do.” Zane said quietly.

“You do?” Naia asks.

Zane sat across from his sister.

“Yes. Mama, papa and squirt were coming back from the state fair in Huntington…when he lost control of his car and hit a tree then flipped over. Papa died on impact and mama…she died at the hospital.”

“I thought she died in the crash too…” Laurie said to her brother.

“No the truth is she died at the hospital. I told you that she died in the crash because I couldn’t bring myself to take you to her when you woke up. She was brain dead and I had to make the decision to take her off life support.”

“What do you mean when mama woke up?” Naia asked.

“According to what the police told me, squirt was sleeping in the backseat. They thought she was dead too until she woke up crying for mama before passing out again.” Zane replied.

“I don’t remember any of that.”

“Of course you don’t. You were 4.”

“How old were you uncle Zane?” Naia asked.

“I had just turned 17, 2 weeks before the accident.” Zane replied.

“Why weren’t you with them?” Shane asks.

“I was staying with Toby Robinson and his family that weekend. Toby and I were fishing when Toby’s dad came to get us. He said he was taking me to the hospital because of the accident.” Zane replied.

“If you were 17 when your parents died how were you and mama able to stay here?” Naia asks.

“Mama’s aunt Henrietta who lived in Parkersburg came to stay with us until I turned 18. That’s when I was old enough to buy the house. Thankfully it didn’t cost that much back then.” Zane replied.

Laurie just stared at the newspaper clipping.

“Mama?” Naia asks.

“We went to see them…” Laurie replies.

“You and daddy?” Naia asked.

“Yes. Your mother wanted to see them, so we went.” Shane replied.

“I didn’t think I’d ever go back.”

“You went back before I did.” Zane said to his sister.

“What do you mean?” Laurie asked Zane.

“I stopped going to visit mama and papa about 15 years ago.” He replies.

“Why?” Laurie asks her brother.

“Because I figured that they were tired of hearing me beg.” He replied.

“Beg for what?” She asked. Her tone was suddenly short.

“I used to beg them to bring you home. Every year on the anniversary of the accident and their birthdays, I would pray and beg them to send you home.” He replies.

“I’m sure you were miserable.” Laurie said to her brother.

“I was. I really truly was.”

“Good. Serves you right.” Laurie said before closing the photo album and handing it to her brother.

“Keep it. There’s not much that I can do with it.” Zane said to her.

“I don’t want it. That’s why I didn’t take it or any of what’s left of mama’s jewelry when I left.” Laurie replies.

“You can’t just forget it, squirt.”

“Do not call me that. You lost the right to call me that 36 years ago.”

Zane set the photo album on the counter.

“How long are you going to continue to punish me, Laurie?” He asks.

“Until you are lying in the grave next to them.” She replied.

“Mom!”

“No it’s fine, sweetie. I guess this is what I get for letting my sister back into my home.” Zane said to Naia.

“Correction: this is MY home. Because last time I checked, you signed ownership of this house to me when you decided to gamble your entire life away and couldn’t pay back your debts!” Laurie sneered at her brother.

“Enough! I don’t know what’s going on between you two but this isn’t the time or place.” Naia said, trying to keep the peace between them.

“You’re right baby. Besides, I'm done with this place. It’s going up for sale first thing in the morning.”

Zane’s eyes went wide.

“You can’t be serious!” Zane said in a panicked tone.

“As a heart attack.” Laurie replied coolly.

Zane sighed heavily.

“I understand that you are angry with me and that you probably hate me but Laurie please! You can’t just sell the only home I have ever known!”

“I hate it for you but this place has got to go!”

“Laurie for the love of God, not even you can be that damn cruel!”

Laurie’s eyes blazed with unbridled fury.

“Watch…me!” Laurie hissed before turning on her heels and walking outside with Shane right behind her.

Naia was completely stunned while Zane was utterly heartbroken and dejected.

[dailybeastarsthings]

Chapter 7 - Lunch Date With My Victim 7.2. The Beginning Of A Bittersweet Friendship

‘Ah, finally!’ Kibi thought after slamming the door at Legoshi’s face, leaving him behind to get the roses for the Drama Club’s New Student Welcome Event. ‘I want to be as far from her as possible…’

As he was walking down the stairs, Kibi was thinking about the chat earlier that day between him and his two friends, Oryx, an antelope student, and Makoto, Mizuchi’s boyfriend.

‘Hey, Makoto, you’ve got some white fur on you’ Oryx said.

‘Really!? Where?’ Makoto asked.

‘Right here on your vest… and some here, too’ Oryx replied while taking small strings of fur off of the other’s vest.

‘Oh well… you see… the thing is… I had a date with this really cute dwarf rabbit’ Makoto said while giggling. He was kind of embarrassed after being caught red-handed, but he was still proud. Typical male behavior.

‘What?’ Kibi yelled in frustration. ‘Don’t you have a girlfriend?’

‘Yeah… So tell me, how are you the “best rare species couple” again?’ Oryx added.

‘You’re only saying that because you don’t know her! She’s really cute and she’s fun to talk to. She’s super refreshing and really sexy, too!’ Makoto replied to the attacks.

‘Now hold on a minute…’ Oryx said with a mysterious look on his face. ‘Is she in the Gardening Club?’

‘Well… I think so.’

‘Her body is pure white. Not a single stripe or mark.’

‘Umm… How do you know this?’ Makoto’s frustration started to grow.

‘She has a bad sleeping posture and when she’s done she makes sure to clean up the room before getting out.’

‘WHAT!? Did you sleep with her, too?’ Makoto felt his heart sink. He thought that he could finally find someone to spend quality time with just to get his hopes trampled on by someone else. And maybe not just one candidate…

‘Wow, so that makes sense. I bet she doesn’t care whether her targets are single or taken…’

‘You mean… she’s using other males as fodder, too? No wonder she seemed so experienced…’

The topic of the conversation made Kibi uncomfortable. He believed that such private matters are not to be discussed with others, even if those others are friends or family. He just wanted to leave but Oryx’s description of the rabbit girl stuck with him…

‘Fodder? Come on, she’s just a bunny’ he said.

‘Nope. That’s a good word. Once she catches you, she’ll swallow you whole and spit your bones out. You better watch yourself. Females like her are more savage than any carnivore could ever be.’

Those words resonated in Kibi’s head for a long time.

‘Well… I don’t think she’ll do any of that to a wolf. Especially not Legoshi…’ And with that, Kibi left the Gardening Club behind for good.

***

The cafeteria was packed with animals of all sizes. During afternoon hours, the cafeteria served as gathering and meeting point for students, enjoying cakes, coffee and other desserts, which were served. These items were not part of the daily menu but they were always available.

As Legoshi and Haru were standing in the line, they felt the many looks on them from others. It made them feel quite uncomfortable. They didn’t say a word to each other or others. The silence was almost deafening. It was Haru, who finally began to break down the wall between them.

‘So, what are you getting? Personally, I was thinking about getting a raspberry shake with some sweet berry and yogurt parfait.’ she said.

Legoshi looked at her kind of awkwardly. He felt uncomfortable by the looks around him. He didn’t quite know how to answer such a question. What should he ask for? Something he would like or something more preferable by herbivores to avoid scaring her? He looked at the menu again and carefully read it through.

‘What should I get? Cherry pies are too sticky for me and I’d just make a mess of myself… I don’t really like parfaits… Coffee makes my breath smell bad… Caramel-apple pies are too sweet… Key lime pies are kinda good, but this kitchen lady always burns the bottom of it… wait… They have egg sandwiches! Jackpot! And perhaps a glass of red berry juice!’

‘So?’ Haru asked with a curious look on her face, trying to figure out the thoughts of the wolf, who both seemed confused and annoyed at the same time.

‘Oh, sorry!’ Legoshi replied. ‘I totally zoned out. But I think I’ll get an egg sandwich and a glass of red berry juice. I hope me eating an egg sandwich in front of you isn’t offensive or anything to you.’

‘Don’t worry about that, I don’t mind carnivores eating foods like that. Plus, you need eggs for cakes and such, so…’ Haru said.

When it was their turn, Haru asked for their meals. The kitchen lady served them without a word but even she couldn’t help herself and send a judging look towards them.

‘I guess it’s unusual for others to see a large carnivore and a small herbivore having snacks together?’ Legoshi thought. They searched for a seat and then finally sat down near one of the giant oaks in the hall. With each passing student, they were disgusted expressions, or being gossiped about. It started to become frustrating for both of them…

‘Why don’t we get to know each other a little better to deter our minds from what others might be thinking about this whole situation of us eating together?’ Haru suggested.

‘That would be amazing’ Legoshi replied. He felt kind of nervous though. He had no idea how to have a proper conversation with others.

‘Awesome, you go first!’ Haru said.

Legoshi took a deep breath and began.

‘My name is Legoshi. I’m a grey wolf, as you can see, and I’m a second year student. I’m a stagehand in the Drama Club. I like…’

‘Wait!’ Haru interrupted. ‘This is not some sort of job interview or speed dating, take your time and don’t just throw information at me. Why don’t we take turns?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Let me make an example. I’m Haru. I’m a third year Netherland dwarf rabbit and I’m the only member of the Gardening Club. I like taking care of plants and listening to music. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?’

‘Well… I don’t really know to be honest. I like bugs and reading weather reports. I’m really happy when they report about the possibility of rain.’

‘I see. And what do you like about insects?’

‘That they can’t hurt me like others. Most of them seem to like me because I’m trying to be as gentle to them as possible.’

‘I understand you. Sometimes others just hurt you or spread rumors about you just because you’re different from them.’

‘What kind of rumors are they spreading about you?’

‘It always changes. Gossip spreads among small animals like wildfires. But it doesn’t really bother me anymore. The latest is that I prey on male students to spend my nights with. I guess that’s a pretty good explanation as to why others are looking at us like that.’

‘I’m sorry about that. I can just go if this makes you uncomfortable…’

‘You don’t have to. I don’t care what they think about me. But enough of that. What do you do as a stage hand?’

‘Well, I take care of the lights and help out the costumes department. I also run errands the leaders ask me to do, like getting supplies, asking for help and such. I also do the cleaning most of the time since wolves’ vision is pretty good in the dark, so we can save money on the electric bill.’

‘That’s awesome. How does your night vision work? I’m usually blind in the dark.’

‘Well, I mostly see stuff as I see them in the light but they are a bit darker in color. I think that’s the easiest way to describe it.’

The conversation went on for a good few hours. Legoshi and Haru ended up having dinner together, too. They talked about school issues, common interests, likes and dislikes. They enjoyed their time together with quite a lot of laughing included. It was almost 8 pm when they realized how much they kept talking.

‘Goodness, look at the time!’ Haru said. ‘I honestly can’t remember when was the last time, I enjoyed myself with someone this much.’

‘Me too. It was nice getting to know you. But I have to run now. I have some homework to take care of. See you around’ Legoshi said while waving goodbye.

‘Bye, Legoshi’ Haru said with a smile. After a long time, she felt like she met a genuinely nice character. ‘There is still some good in this world. Don’t lose your light, Legoshi.’ she thought.

As Legoshi was leaving the cafeteria, he bumped into Kibi. He was still kind of frustrated after he used his excuse against him but he still felt a bit thankful so he could at least have a nice afternoon.

‘Hey, Legoshi!’ Kibi said. ‘I’m sorry I left you there. I was waiting for you to come back.’

‘Kibi… Why did you leave me there?’ Legoshi replied.

‘Before that, did anything happen?’

‘No, not really.’

‘Really? That’s good. So… The reason I was running down the stairs four steps at a time was because I was afraid of running into trouble.’

‘Well, there wasn’t any trouble, so what were you afraid of?’

‘Well, there’s this bunny who’s pretty famous around the herbivores. Apparently, she seduced many males and she’s really dangerous to be around… Basically, she’s a slut’ Kibi sighed. ‘Hard to believe, right? She looks so quiet, too… But hey, she wouldn’t try to make a move on a wolf, right? Did she say anything to you?’

Legoshi couldn’t believe what he just heard from Kibi. His words tasted like lead and were just as toxic. He couldn’t believe others would spread such rumors just because of someone being different. After a moment of thinking, he answered.

‘She did. She told me that she really cares about her flowers… She treats them like her own children. I want to talk to the stage crew to suggest getting the flowers from some place else. I think she has some issues, but she is a nice girl if you get to know her a little more. But I have to go now. Bye!’

With that, Legoshi left Kibi behind, who just couldn’t quite process Legoshi’s words. He couldn’t believe how mature he acted despite his young age. He stared after him as the wolf was slownly disappearing in the crowd.

[vyther16]

first lines: fic-writers meme

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favourite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favourite authors!

Tagged by @theleakypen (thank you!) I’m putting in WIP wednesdays that are supposedly the first scene to a story as well, that way I might hit twenty. THey aren’t quite in chronological order, but that’s not super important considering.

1. At Last and Too Soon (Breathe AU) 

“Goddammit Fan Xian,” Yan Bingyun hisses.

2. Breathe (Breathe AU)

Yan Bingyun stares at the inconspicuous note folded in his newly washed robes.

3. oh how wrong we were (to think that immortality meant never dying) (Original Work Echo whumptober snippet)

“I’m not a traitor!” the youngling cries, desperately, futilely.

4. dolls with diamonds stuffed inside (qyn whumptober two-parter)

Yan Bingyun blinks when the door opens, but doesn’t look up.

5. count to seventeen and close your eyes (tgcf book four temple scene nightmare)

Xie Lian sits in the decrepit shrine, avoiding looking at the toppled statue, even though it looks nothing like him.

6. That Which We Call A Rose (cql wwx name study)

His parents called him A’Ying, and it leaves bittersweet memories in its wake, because he has precious little of his parents.

7. Of Burnt Toast and Morning Runs (Marvel crack oneshot)

Steve wakes up to the smell of something burning, which is strange, because the fancy smoke alarms Stark has every ten feet in the tower aren’t going off.

8. Of Birthday Candles and Happy Reunions (Marvel crack oneshot)

“Steve, what are you doing?” Bucky’s voice filters through Steve’s memories, like it always does when he’s about to do something stupid.

9. Homemade Crowns of Wildflowers (HP post-canon Luna & Draco friendship)

“Hello, Luna,” Draco says, and stops.

10. capax infiniti (Coldest Girl in Coldtown/Echo (original work) crossover)

The Lady had lied her way into the Spider’s court; fed him half-truths and bits of her past.

wip wednesdays start here, which means these lines are only theoretically the first line lol

11. 25 Nov 2020 (CQL Wen!wwx au, prologue) here 

In some universes, Cangse Sanren did not have a chance to meet Tang Xinyi.

12. 20 Jan 2021 (MCU Birthday Candles AU, of child soldiers and new beginnings opening scene) here 

“Steve, we gotta go. Nat went a’hacking and found a Hydra base in Sokovia with human experimentation.”

13. 3 Feb 2021 (original work fanuni about Sarathae, an assassin, and Elandorr, a slave) here

Elandorr watches the woman in the cell across from him with wary eyes, fully aware of how deadly the rumours make her out to have been before her imprisonment, how deadly they say she still is.

14. 10 Feb 2021 (The Wolf: soft dom!mxz/blindfolded!wolfie opening scene. no smut) here

Zhaixing is combing out her hair for the night, getting ready to plait it back for bed when her first husband sinks down behind her.

15. 10 March 2021 (WoH Jing An Live AU opening) here

“Zhou-shixiong,” Li Jiaxing says, standing as her door opens.

16. 17 March 2021 (tsotmd Wang Zhi gets a fckn nap opening) here

Sui Zhou stares at Wang Zhi, who is currently sitting next to Dong’er at his dinner table, eating noodles that Sui Zhou knows he didn’t make and leafing through old reports.

-

So, that’s that. I don’t have any more theoretical firs tlines of real first lines, because I’m not putting up my metas or my Multifandom Rants, because those aren’t fics; they’re me word-vomiting for 400-1500 words. 

I noticed that I tend to start with dialogue as well, or a simple history or exposition-esque line. (those are usually followed by dialogue lol).

My favorite has to be 1. I cut the prologue to alats so that line would be the first line of the fic. (and other reasons, but that was the big one). I personally find it hilarious. 

My favorites in what they set up are 10, 11, and 13, because they’re poetic-seeming? To be fair, those three are also written in a different style than the rest, but I like how detailed and that type of writing is, and it just feels sophisticated. Idk mate.

tagging: @curiosity-killed, @rocknghorss, @ anyone else who wants to (bc I don’t remember anyone else who write rn lol)

[comradeocean]

I haven't read Arya x Gendry in like ... 6 years. I caught up a bit this week. Here are some I really like! 

[30 some fic recs after the jump]

post 8x01 Arya keeps looking for reasons to visit Gendry in the forge. - mmh post episode askbox fic

Somewhere to Begin, MissAtomicBomb (mrs_nerimon) The Stark sisters share a moment in the wake of some impactful reunions. - lmao my most frequently used GoT tag was "westeROS" (remember Ros???) followed by "Stark famly dynamics." So Stark sisters hashing things out... my kryptonite

Beautiful & Deadly Sharp, vlaurie17 Learning to fight with a sword were some of Arya's best memories. Sansa, however, was hesitant. “What do I do with it?” “Stick ‘em with the pointy end,” Arya smirked. Sansa just rolled her eyes, “Obviously." - also Stark sisters revisiting being Vengeance-made-girls together and practising to knife someone

I'll sing for you, Ravenclawpride06 Set post 8x1. Gendry wants it bad. Arya wants it worse. Was going to more explicit but I left it vague, felt it fit better in the end. All the pining! - I’m soft for the pining

This is my wish, crazychipmink "As he studied the drawing she had given him, he slowly began to let himself believe that she was real and alive and well. He had thought about Arya so many times that the memory of her was worn in his mind. Fragile and faded, like a piece of parchment that had been read too many times. To tell the truth, sometimes, he couldn’t even remember what she looked like, only that she was the only thing he ever wanted, ever wished for.” - season 8 episode companion fic series - ao3 tag: weapons design processes are long and require many iterations - “Davos assumed he was waiting to play his part in the great war to come, but in reality, Gendry was waiting for the next remarkable thing to happen to him. Perhaps if enough remarkable things happened to him, he would finally let himself believe that the most remarkable thing that had ever happened to him had happened.” wow ok

Who are you waiting for? crazychipmink [incomplete] "She had Arya’s face and Arya’s voice and even Arya’s smile. But despite all that, he felt like he had just spoken to a ghost. An unnatural ghost of Arya, pretending to be the girl he was in love with. Gendry had traveled to the end of the world to find her, but now that he finally had, she was gone." - the angst universe evil twin version of the fic above - we will take it bc we love to suffer - and also bc the author promises "fluff" and "eventual romance" ok sounds real but ok

the thing with feathers, yanak324 If anyone is capable of bringing the old Arya back, it’s this man in front of her, which is precisely why she must walk away. - a more (immediately) optimistic read of how Arya's in episode enactments of being No One might have gone

and in the end, jeeno2 [incomplete] Five times Gendry Waters is an idiot and the one time he figures things out. - Gendry being dumb is kind of a thing and I'm not always the biggest fan of how it plays out in fanon but this is sweet!

 The She-Wolves of Winterfell, vixleonard The pack survived. So has the Stark habit of keeping secrets. - 2nd generation Stark girls. Arya's daughter matter-of-factly saying "Stark women don't get married" - a whole ass mood.

Mid-Battle, Mary_West Sandor has something important to say to Gendry - if only Gendry can live long enough to hear it.

season 8 AU My Lady sanctuary_for_all Gendry and Arya find each other again. (AKA the plotline Gendry deserved in 7X07) - fic convention I am 100% here for: Arya scrabbling around Gendry's face looking for the seam. fic convention I am 100000% here for: Arya throwing off her glove in order to do so and then holding her hands against his cheek

Nights are for You (or Five Times Arya Visits Gendry in the Forge and One Time Gendry Visits Arya in the Castle) ASwornStark She hasn’t visited the forge since Jon returned home with the dragon bitch (the Stark sisters’ favored name for her) and him in tow. - reunion fic

season 7 Before We Jump, MissAtomicBomb (mrs_nerimon) Arya Stark's bastard boys bond on their way to the Wall. - anything for some good rowing references and bastard subjectivity

earlier laughing 'till our ribs get tough (that will never be enough), belasteals "Gendry took one look and laughed so hard that wine came out of his nose, until Harwin gave him a thwack alongside his ear." - A Storm of Swords, Arya IV (or, Gendry's POV on Acorn Hall) - real ones can't get enough of book canon and Acorn Hall.

Butcher, elephant_eyelash Gendry and Arya by the fire, discussing jacket potatoes and thinking murderous things. - perfect meditation on food and hunger and care

Dissimulo, Somnio, jeeno2 She is no one, now. But still the boy with the black hair haunts her dreams. - honestly the showrunners are cowards for not going there. let No One be Vagina Dentata Personified 2kwhenevertheBraavosiseasonsaired

post canon/canon divergent Charcoal, elephant_eyelash All about winter and feeling the cold. - weird how I'm obsessed with self-loathing and wintry alienation and the weight of history and ancestry but also devotion also love. super weird totally unexpected

Five Things Gendry Only Says in the Dark, jeeno2 Where no one else can hear him. - loneliness, shame, self-loathing. the important emotions. oh and spoiler alert some joy.

Like Wenda, Furious_Winter "...she could ride with Gendry and be an outlaw, like Wenda the White Fawn in the songs." - my favourite canon AUs are Arya and Gendry with the Brotherhood and my absolute favourites of those are when they are apart (who's ever heard of a marauding smith??) but have some of miserable bittersweet understanding and they glower at each other and make each other jealous and everything is unspoken but this is it this singular love they have for each other that doesn't quite work out. I've just realized that most of these recs are highkey angsty oops. anyway, this fic is like the most complete and perfect distillation of everything I want. - also this is so richly detailed and complete in itself. immensely satisfying. - yeah ok Furious_Winter is actually the master of post canon together but not Arya/Gendry love is not always enough fics. I'm just going to recommend all of them: - The Wolf's Head Helm [The Starks are back in Winterfell and Sansa is Queen in the North. One day, Arya receives a gift from an old friend... - Arya is in Sansas's queensguard.]  - A Means To An End (incomplete) [Arya Stark has returned from Essos and has been staying at the Inn at the Crossroads. Things are not nearly as simple as she sees them. - fuck this one hurts so good] - A Bastard At Heart [Arya and Gendry marry other people for the good of the kingdom 'cause they're self sacrificing like that. the last line took me outtt]

the truth is, baby you're all that I need, belasteals “You were jealous,” he laughed, almost shocked. “Arya Stark of Winterfell, jealous of a whore.” - sirens This One Is Not Angsty sirens

A Girl Meets a Boy, Hotpie A girl takes a face; a girl takes a lover. - possibly my favourite Crossroads Inn fic. love the Faceless Man stuff. love the detail of Needle having a smallest spot of rust, from Braavosi Steel Pox and Arya feeling a ways about it. love picking up the Melisandre thread.

So Easy To Love, Val_Creative She misses Gendry's complaining, too enthralled with staring. "You smell like Dennett's underarms," Arya murmurs, leaning in, going for blunt honesty. Gendry opens his mouth, beginning to laugh, turning uproarious and smiling. She's never seen anything more beautiful than this. More kissable than Gendry's mouth. - the summary makes it seem like it's all kissing when there is actually a big chunk of plot - in service of eventual kissing, yes, - but! spoiler alert! they don't even get to it in this fic! not exactly - maybe why I love it a lot??

With Bells in Her Hair, semicolonlife [incomplete] The further south they travel the more Gendry starts to wonder if he truly knows this woman who wears Arya Stark's face. As he begins to doubt himself more and more, Gendry becomes obsessed with the strange bells she wears in her hair. - ruthless slightly wonky Arya is my favourite Arya.

Wayfaring, Rainfallen An accidental series centered on the same basic headcanon of how Gendry found himself in the North and how Arya found her way back to it. - wolf girl Wolf Girl WOLF GIRL

Seen, sanctuary_for_all Being important matters less than who you're important to. - He wasn't sure what that verdict was, however, until she returned the unfinished sword to rest position with a deeply satisfied expression. "I am going to kill so many people with that sword." It was probably a bad sign for his long-term sanity that Gendry felt deeply complimented by that. "Happy to help." my useless heart: pikachu face - see! I like fluffy HEAs too

Hearts, sanctuary_for_all Arya comes home to her family. (Future flash) - look, I just think it's really important that even married and with children, Arya continues murdering people uwu

other AUs/misc I'll Run (Run To You), belasteals “You would rather marry a lowborn knight than a high lord, then?” She grinned, all bared teeth and sharp eyes. “I’d rather marry no one at all, else I'd not play at this mummer’s farce.” “What about the man who outruns you?” “Nobody outruns me.” (Greek mythology fusion: Arya as Atalanta, Gendry as Hippomenes. Arya vows only to marry the man who can outrun her in a footrace) - Atalanta, Mononoke, Arya. same energy.

[thecatwhogrins]

Entwined (mutual pining)

Ladyhawke AU

********************************

Ryuu was starving.

Being a traveling herbs vendor, he had learned how to get by on very little. But the dry season was taking over Tanbarun, and where once he would have found roots and herbs he could eat, now were only dry patches of land. A thief had also stolen his goods, rendering him incapable of selling anything.

He knew that at the next town, he’d have to either resort to thievery or begging. Both weren’t options he wanted to resort to, but his stomach was eating itself away. He did not have much of a choice.

Ryuu entered the small village, staring the market stalls full of plump fruits and shining vegetables, meats that almost made him salivate. He eyed one stall where an older lady was selling meat-filled buns. One of those could feed him for a few days, if he stretched it out. His whole body yearned for food, making it hard for him to think straight, blinding him to the people around him. He reached out when the woman wasn’t looking, guilt and shame reverberating throughout his body.

Swiftly, the young man started walking as fast as his feet would let him towards an alleyway, somewhere hidden, where he could feast on his prized possession. Suddenly, a cry pierced the crowd:

“Thief! Thief!”

Ryuu wanted to run, but immediately a pair of strong hands grabbed him. Ryuu turned around, eyes wide in fear, only to find a pair of calm golden eyes staring back. The man was tall, wiry and looked dangerous. Not that he was terribly strong looking, but his presence and the number of scars he sported indicated that behind his aloof façade, this man had killed before.

On his shoulder, a great hawk perched nonchalantly, observing Ryuu curiously. Its feathers were brown, but in the sunlight, they took on an almost reddish color. It was the most beautiful hawk Ryuu had ever seen. Like a bird caught by a snake, Ryuu found himself frozen, unable to react.

“What’s the matter boy, cat caught your tongue?” the man smirked.

Ryuu opened his mouth to say something, anything, but before he could speak, a few other people had gathered around, trying to determine if the thief had been caught. The old lady also arrived, wheezing from exertion.

“He stole one of my buns! Pay for it or I shall bring you to the authorities myself,” she announced angrily.

“I’m sorry ma’am, I… I was so hungry. I forgot myself,” Ryuu said, full of guilt.

Ryuu was about to turn himself in but the strange man spoke up.  

“I’ll pay for the food, madam. There is no need to turn this boy in.”

“Oh, if it isn’t the wandering knight. You can’t even pay for your own lodgings, how’re you going to pay for the boy?” she asked, mockingly.

“I have enough to spare for one of your worthless dogmeat-filled buns, madam,” he said, smiling sharply. He pulled out his leather pouch and placed a few coins into her expecting palm. The lady was visibly livid, but the wandering knight simply bowed slightly and walked away. Ryuu made sure to apologize once more profusely before hurrying after the man.

*

The knight entered a tavern and Ryuu followed, intent on thanking the man.

He was sitting at the bar, his dark clothes almost blending in with the dark oak of the bar, his hunched over figure seemed… lonely. The hawk was still perched on his shoulder, much to the visible displeasure of the bartender.

“Sir, I wish to give you my thanks…” Ryuu began, with a small voice.

The knight turned around and with a small smile.

“I accept your thanks, boy. Now go, get out of this town. Not everyone is as kind as I am, as you’ve probably realized by now,” he finished, gulping the down the rest of his ale.

“But sir, I… I must repay you,” Ryuu stuttered, “I could serve you for a while or…”

“My name is Obi, drop that ‘sir’ nonsense. I don’t need a page and where I travel is dangerous. I can’t go around saving a pup’s skin every step of the way,” he scoffed.

Ryuu was about to add something else when sir Obi stood up and dropped coins onto the bar. Ryuu could clearly see now that the knight’s clothes indicated he had once been very fortunate. Rich dark green velvet clad his upper body, his cape was lined with fur and his boots looked sturdy and were probably made of the finest leather, but the materials looked very worn. Was this man a deposed noble? Ryuu’s interest, which normally lay dormant except if the subject involved medicinal plants, had been piqued.

“Please, sir Obi, if I don’t repay this debt, my parents would be very much ashamed,” he said softly.

The knight stayed silent for a moment, then finally sighed and scratched the back of his head.

“Fine. I can’t promise you food of stable pay, but if you must insist, I’ll let you accompany me for a while. What is your name?” he asked.

“My name is Ryuu,” he answered.

“Well then, Ryuu, I’d suggest you stick close by,” he grumbled and led him out of the bar.

He followed the knight, out of the bar and into the forest nearby. Ryuu wondered why he had gone into the woods but understood as soon as he saw that the knight had set up camp there.

“Help me search for some wood, little Ryuu, before it gets too dark,” he commanded. Ryuu nodded his head and complied.

*

As the fire crackled to life, and dusk started to encroach onto the forest, sir Obi introduced Ryuu to the hawk.

“Her name is Shirayuki,” he smiled fondly as she shook her feathers and eyed Ryuu curiously. He felt slightly intimidated, as if the bird knew what he was thinking. He waved at it and blushed slightly at how foolish he must seem. He reached out tentatively to pet the bird and marveled at the softness her feathers yielded against his fingers. She flapped her wings slightly, looking pleased.

“She seems to like you,” sir Obi said, and the bird chirped, as if it agreed. Ryuu smiled despite himself.

“Best we go to sleep now, tomorrow we travel,” sir Obi stated.

Ryuu laid out his makeshift cot and fell almost right away in a deep dreamless sleep, exhaustion taking over and rendering him oblivious to the sound of sir Obi leaving the tent.

*

A terrible howling woke Ryuu in the middle of the night.

Now, this wasn’t his first time hearing a wild animal during his travels. Many a time, he had been walking in the wilderness and had heard some sort of wild beast and had been obliged to keep on going. If anything, the fear served as fuel for him to go faster. But this howl was unlike anything he had ever heard before. It had an eerie, almost otherworldly quality to it. Shivers traveled up and down Ryuu’s spine. His usually lucid mind was conjuring all sorts of terrible beasts of legend, werewolves eating men alive and other terrifying creatures.

As his eyes got accustomed to the dense darkness, he was about to ask the knight if he had also heard the sound when he realized that the person in the cot next to him was a woman.

Ryuu jumped up and turned on a candle, to make sure he hadn’t lost his mind, revealing in its pale glow a young woman with red hair, as red as the reddest poppy flower he’d seen. She lay where sir Obi was supposed to be sleeping and Ryuu was utterly speechless. Had the knight brought in a lady while he was asleep? But where was the knight? Had he gone outside? His clothes where at the foot of his bed and surely, he hadn’t gone out completely bare?

While Ryuu’s mind was reeling with a thousand questions, the lady woke up, her eyes fluttering against the glare of the candle.

“Obi?” she asked, softly, her confusion mirroring Ryuu’s.

“My lady, I… I must admit I’m very confused as to whom you might be and the reason why you’re here,” Ryuu said hurriedly, his brows knit tightly in confusion. 

She propped herself up to answer his question when another howl pierced the air. Ryuu shivered in fear but the lady looked almost happy.

“My lady, I think we should be prepared in case something comes attack the tent,” Ryuu tried to appear braver and calmer than he really felt.

“There is nothing to fear, it’s only Obi,” she smiled and stood up.

Ryuu couldn’t comprehend what she meant and jumped in front of her as she started to walk towards the tent’s entrance.

“No! There is a wolf out there, it’s dangerous!” he warned, fear clawing its way through his throat.

“He must have not told you our story. I don’t hold it against him, it is quite unbelievable,” she smiled a bittersweet smile. She opened the tent and walked into the night as Ryuu watched on, bewildered.

Ryuu gathered his wits and followed her out, firmly gripping his candle.  

In the deep darkness of the forest, with only the candle and the waning moonlight as light sources, Ryuu watched in awe as the lady advanced through the undergrowth, serenely, her red hair flowing behind her. In front of her, in the dark, a growling sound erupted from a mulberry bush. Like a nightmare, a large black wolf emerged from the foliage, its golden eyes aglow and teeth bared. It was glorious and clearly deadly. Despite himself, Ryuu’s hand started to tremble, the candle nearly going out.

The woman stepped forward towards the wolf. The growling stopped, and stillness took over the forest, except for Ryuu’s panicked breathing and jackrabbit heart pounding in his ears.

The wolf advanced and before Ryuu could react, nuzzled the lady’s palm, whining and panting softly, tongue lolling out of his mouth. She kneeled and pressed her forehead to the wolf’s and seemed to be whispering something to him softly, almost tenderly.

The first rays of the sun appeared between the trees and the lady gasped. Her eyes welled up with tears as she held on to wolf.

“No, I’m not ready, not yet,” she whispered.

She looked up towards Ryuu.

“When Obi is back, tell him I…” she could not finish, as suddenly her mouth opened and closed, voiceless, her eyes full of panic. She seemed to want to grasp onto the wolf, but it too was shivering and shuddering, howling and growling as though it was possessed.

The lady seemed to glow with an unnatural light, shrinking before Ryuu’s eyes, her body blanketed with russet feathers, as the wolf started to grow, its fur disappearing. Their eyes met and something Ryuu couldn’t quite understand seemed to pass between them, something so profound, he felt like an intruder to something beyond his comprehension.

The lady’s trembling hand reached out towards the wolf as the wolf’s paw turned into fingers and they were almost touching, so close, so terribly close, almost flesh against flesh, but the sunlight won and sir Obi was a man again, lying on the ground watching the lady, now a hawk, fly away. His scream, halfway between man and wolf, contained so much raw pain, it was unbearable.

Ryuu watched, wordlessly, as the hawk flew away.

*

The curse, as Ryuu soon found out, had been cast upon sir Obi and lady Shirayuki, turning the knight into a wolf during the night and the lady into a hawk during the day, preventing them from ever meeting as their true selves. The jealousy of Tanbarun’s crown prince had separated the them, but they had never professed their love to each other. 

They were trapped, always together but eternally apart.

[tomakeitbeautifultolive]

Ok two months to go lets hear it: Who lives and who dies?

My death list is actually kind of short, but (probably) controversial:

The Mountain

Beric Dondarrion

Melisandre

Varys

Viserion

Cersei Lannister

Jaime Lannister

Jorah Mormont

Euron Greyjoy

Theon Greyjoy

The Night King

Sansa Stark

Jon Snow*

(*but he will be resurrected)

You’ll notice one very big name - perhaps the biggest - happens to be absent from my list. I’m not so sure I believe the leaks. *shrug*

My explanations and reasoning under the cut.

The Mountain

Of course, The Mountain is already dead, so this feels little redundant. I don’t think Cleganebowl is happening. The Mountain isn’t the same person Sandor had beef with, and Sandor isn’t the same person he once was. *shrug* I’m personally rooting for the Arya-takes-down-the-Mountain theory.

Varys

There’s a good chance that Melisandre is wrong about Varys’ death (like she’s wrong about well, almost everything):

“I have to die in this strange country, just like you.”

But we pair that with the line from Daenerys:

“If you ever betray me, I’ll burn you alive” 

…and it seems to seal his fate (I don’t buy for a second he’s got allegiance to anyone but himself). Of course, there’s a chance it could be a line foreshadowing someone else’s death that’s been ‘leaked’. We’ll see!

Viserion

I could argue that Viserion is already dead… but since “(The Night King)’s done the same thing to Viserion that he did with Craster’s sons,” I assume he’s a dragon version of an other. That’s probably not too important, anyway.

I think Viserion will be taken down by Drogon, mirroring Viserys and Drogo *shrug* I love my parallels, don’t I?

Cersei Lannister

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. Eh, eh?

For as much as everyone cries “cliche!” about Jaime being the valonqar, imagine if all that foreshadowing was traded in for some shock value, and someone like Sansa does it. *shudders* Nah, man. I want Jaime to mirror himself - the Kingslayer/Queenslayer who took down both mad monarchs threatening to ignite King’s Landing in green flames - finally getting recognized for his act of heroism. That’s much more satisfying than a quick shock that has no buildup. But I suppose, there is a pretty good chance the valonqar is Euron.

(Though I do admit - I would actually love for Cersei Lannister to make it out of this alive, somehow)

Jaime Lannister

“I cannot die while Cersei lives. We will die together as we were born together.”

Both twins have weird lines like this. So, it’s fair to assume if one dies, they both die. And if one lives, they both live. So if Cersei is brought down, Jaime will be, too. How do I see it happening? Perhaps by one last (poisonous) kiss - wherein Brienne comes in to cradle him as the life drains from his body? I dunno. But after all, he wants to die in the arms of the woman he loves, and for better or worse - that’s Brienne.

Jorah Mormont

It’s been long speculated that in season 8, we’ll be seeing a ‘beloved’ character turn into a wight - and I think the best candidate is Jorah Mormont (keep in mind we’re talking show Jorah, who is leagues better than book Jorah).

Admittedly, I do notoriously give D&D more credit than like, anyone else around here. That said - I’m not sure the polar bear thing was entirely for “coolness” factor, like they claim. The moment I heard this line, followed by Jorah looming eerily over Beric…

I thought for sure we’d see this paid off in the very same episode. To me, it just seems wildly out of place and a waste of dialogue. I hope it’s some clever foreshadowing that we’re going to see a dead 'Bear’ of Bear Isle biting someone next season.

Of course, there is always a chance that the greyscale might play some sort of role in preventing Jorah from turning… I guess we’ll see!

Lastly, I’ve always been intrigued by Jon holding a Mormont shield during the BotB - I have a tendency to read too much into everything, I admit - but wouldn’t it be great if Jorah died saving Jon’s hide?

Euron Greyjoy & Theon Greyjoy

For as formidable as book Euron may be - I don’t see him living. This series just isn’t about evil prevailing. What I think he will do, however, is attack Jon and/or Daenerys at sea, perhaps as they try to flee the north. I’m one of those annoying people who thinks very few lines of dialogue are wasted in-show, and this one is a fucking thorn in my side:

I think Theon will succeed in taking down Euron (I think this scene is a great foreshadowing that he’s going to save house Greyjoy by saving Yara), but it will likely be at the cost of his own life. I suspect he’ll not only save Yara - but perhaps some members of his other house, too. After all, he’s a Greyjoy and he’s a Stark.

The Night King

Oh, this one is fun, isn’t it? I’m probably the only person who doesn’t want the Night King to die - but I’m pretty sure he will and that I know how it’ll happen. First, we’ll finally get to see Vladimír Furdík’s stuntwork paid off in the final season, which almost ensures there will be an epic showdown between Jon and the Night King.

But you shouldn’t want Jon to defeat him! (Or Daenerys, for that matter!) Why?

“The gods hate kinslayers, even when they kill unknowing.”

This quote is specifically told to Jon by Ygritte when she recounts the tale of Bael the Bard. Interestingly, Bael the Bard heavily mirrors Rhaegar x Lyanna. And what also happens to mirror Lyanna, is how Sam and Jon become friends. Jon comes to his rescue as he’s getting his ass whooped by his fellow black brothers - just like his momma coming to Howland Reed’s aid. Both Jon and Lyanna go out of their way to further humiliate the tormenters, too.

I predict the Night King will disarm Jon Snow and in this crucial moment, and that’s when Sam the Slayer will thrust Heartsbane through his back (perhaps melted down into more wieldable daggers by Gendry?), Howland Reed-style, saving Jon’s life and frankly, blowing everyone’s minds.

Because after all…

“Everything that happens will be something that you’ve seen before.”

Buuuut it’s going to be about as satisfying as Arthur Dayne’s demise - as we’re going to learn of the Night King’s history, and perhaps that his death marked not only the death of the wights and white walkers - but all of Craster’s sons, perhaps wiping out a whole misunderstood race.

‘A villain is the hero of the other side’, after all - and if you’re familiar with my theory that the Night King is the one using his greenseeing powers to manipulate the visions in the flames that the followers of R'hllor see… then this line by Beric might foreshadow his death:

And that our heroes, the 'enemy’, will win.

Sansa Stark

Before anyone comes for me, there’s a fair amount of eerie foreshadowing - at least in the books. If the season 7 script leaks are to be believed, Sansa might still be the 'lone wolf’ she warned against last season, distancing herself from her family out of jealousy or paranoia.

The way I see it going down, though, (if it does at all) the Stark girls will mirror their direwolves - and Sansa just might die in her sister’s place, saving her life.

Jon Snow

First, let’s look at the conversation between Jon and Melisandre prior to the Battle of the Bastards:

“Any advice?”

“Don’t lose.”

���If I do, if I fall don’t bring me back.”

“I’ll have to try.”

“I’m ordering you not to bring me back.”

“I am not your servant, Jon Snow.”

“You’re in my camp. I’m the commander.”

“I serve the Lord of Light. I do what he commands.”

“How do you know what he commands?”

“I interpret his signs as well as I can.”

“If the Lord didn’t want me to bring you back, how did I bring you back? I have no power. Only what he gives me and he gave me you. Why? I don’t know. Maybe you’re only needed for this small part of his plan and nothing else. Maybe he brought you here to die again.”

Other than that, we’ve got some fucked up lines from Sansa:

(Thanks, Sansa. Great job.)

As well as Beric:

Alternatively, there is some amazing book foreshadowing that Jon will live.

Why include in the story Beric has come back from the dead multiple times, at all? Why tell us that each time he comes back, he’s a bit less of himself? He’s not a major character. Is it all just for 'flavor’ - or are we being groomed to see it happen again to someone we love?

And how bittersweet would that be - seeing Jon come back a second time, but not quite the man he used to be - the one we all grew to love.

I love the theory that Jon Snow is Dany’s mount, treason, and fire for love - and that she’s the one who commits treason against him, by possibly demanding he be brought back 'against his will’ (though, considering he’s a father-to-be and potential newlywed, I don’t think he’ll gripe about it as much in season 8 as he would’ve in season 6.)

When Jon died the first time - I thought for sure he’d come back in some blaze of glory. That they’d try to burn his body, but he’d have this epic 'Unburnt’ moment, like Dany (lol). I’d like to see Dany wake a dragon a second time with some sort of similar funeral pyre that she walks into… except that two people walk out instead of one.

I know, I know. *adjusts tinfoil hat*

But Sam Tarly happens to agree with me:

Always.

Beric Dondarrion

Considering the man gave his life long ago for Catelyn to become Lady Stoneheart in the books, I think his entire purpose for still kickin’ around in Season 8 is to give someone the 'Last Kiss’. Not really a unique idea, no. Popular candidates tend to be Sandor (after all, he tells him 'We will meet again’), Daenerys, or one of the Stark kids. But my money’s on Jon.

Melisandre

I’m an atheist (like GRRM), and therefore, I more or less despise Melisandre for basically convincing what used to be a good man to burn his daughter alive. That’s some Abraham and Isaac shit right there (and that shit better happen in the books because it’s powerful AF commentary and I’m here for it).

All that said, what I’d love to happen with Melisandre is to see her realize her god isn’t real (assuming the Night King has been messing with her visions), and have a personality crisis/breakdown. Afterward, if my theory about Jon happens to be true, she’ll play a role in bringing him back, perhaps even lending her life in the process. Buuuut I wouldn’t mind Gendry’s future wife avenging his cousin’s death and closing her 'blue eyes’ forever.

As for the rest…

People I’m unsure will live or die:

Drogon 🤞

Ghost 🤞

Nymeria 🤞

Davos Seaworth 🤞

Tyrion Lannister 🤞

Sandor Clegane 🤞

Grey Worm 🤞

Bronn

Ned Umber

Alys Karstark

People I think will live:

Samwell Tarly

Gilly

Daenerys Targaryen

Arya Stark

Bran Stark

Little Sam

“Boatbaby”

Rhaegal

Gendry

Missandei

Jon Snow (resurrected)

[99vernon]

GOT - SEASON 8 EXPECTATIONS

Since there are only 6 episodes left, I don’t think there will be time for any major storyline developments.  S8 will be about seeing and telling the TRUTH. It will be filled with flashbacks and will be the season of multiple parentage reveals.

So, what is the “Bittersweet” ending and for whom? The Starks.

I’ve been saying this for awhile the values, honor and teachings Ned Stark passed on to his family will be the reason the Starks survive the long night. “When the cold winds blow the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives”.  The Starks will stick together by trusting and loving each other; however, sacrifices will have to be made. (‘Beware Possible Spoilers”)

1)     Jon’s Parentage is publicly revealed to the North. I believe both Jon and Sansa already know about Jon’s parentage. Sansa found out from reading Maester Luwin’s past raven scrolls. That’s why she was anxious for Jon to come back soon – she is free to love him romantically.

2)     Political Jon is true. Jon Stark knows a lot. Did Jon already know that Dany could be his Aunt before the boatsex? Yes. (BTW - I don’t believe Dany is Jon’s Aunt.) I believe before Jon was resurrected, he was told Dany was going to be the key to winning the war with the WW.

3)     Sansa will be heartbroken about Dany and Jon’s relationship. However, Sansa hides her hurt and SUPPORTS Jon’s decision to bring Dany to Winterfell. Dany will get sick and Sansa will help nurse Dany back to health. This will contrast with Catelyn Stark’s negative behavior when Ned brought Jon Snow back to Winterfell. (Please no Dany pregnancy)

4)     My favorite….it will be revealed that Sansa has special powers.  The audience already  is surprised that Sansa survived to s8, Jaime even said it in s6 ep 8“I just assumed Sansa was dead. In my experience, girls like her do not live very long.” Sansa special powers are tied to Winterfell and the clothes she makes. Personal Note - Sansa survived a lot throughout the season – family separation, beaten by men, forced into an unwanted marriage, raped, deaths of her mother, brothers and father, losing Lady, etc -  horrific experiences that would have probably made us give up on life. It’s just sad that my fellow viewers of the show do not show more empathy for Sansa’s character. Sansa deserves a special happy ending!

5)     JONSA is the Big Reveal – Jon and Sansa will find out what happened between them before they left Winterfell. Something beautiful – JONSA.  (Sadly, I believe Catelyn Stark may have destroyed their relationship. However, if Jon saves the kingdom, Catelyn’s actions will be looked upon as a good deed) We will see that Jon by becoming the last hero and taking the Black, did it to save Sansa’s life. Don’t know if Jon or Sansa will make the first move. My guess Sansa. I just know when they realize what has develop between them it will be filled with passion and beauty. (It should have happened after they won the Battle of the Bastards.)

6)     In episode 1 - Dany sees Jon is not happy. He refuses to have sex with her at Winterfell.  Dany tells Jon she loves him. Jon breaks it off with Dany before the parent reveal. He tells her that he is in love with someone else. He does not name Sansa. Dany leaves. We will now see full blown Dark Dany.

7)     Important observation – Jaime and Jon mirror each other too much for it to be a coincidence. There must be a reason for it.  Both Jon and Jaime are talented swordsman. Jon joined the Night’s Watch which requires that he forfeited having a family of his own; Jaime served as Kings guard which also required that he forfeited having a family of his own.(What were they running from?) Jaime was captured and held prisoner by the Starks and Jon captured and held prisoner by the Wildings.  Jon eventually became ally’s with the wildings. Jaime will eventually become ally's with the Starks. Both Jaime and Jon’s fighting hand was damaged. There are 3 notable differences so far….. a) Jaime killed his cousin… will Jon have to do the same? (My biggest fear is like Stannis - Jon may have to kill a child. Character assassination. Don’t do it!) b)Jon has a parentage reveal….Will Jaime have a parentage reveal too? 3) If JONSA happens, they both would have found true love?– however, I don’t think Cersei is Jaime’s true love.

8)     Jon is the Last hero and he will defeat the Night King by following Sansa’s advice. “Just don’t do what he expects you to.”

9)     We will find out the real reason Sansa had Littlefinger killed.

10)  Sansa and the real Arya will reunite.

11)  Arya and Gendry get married.

12)  Arya dies.

13)  We find the identity of the 3 eyed raven.

14)  With Jaime’s help, the real Bran comes back to life after the war ends and is able to walk again.

15)  Bran becomes ruler in Dorne and marries Meera Reed.

16)  Jon and Sansa will rule together throughout the long night.  

17)  Dany’s Dragon Rhaegal keeps Winterfell warm throughout the long night.

18)  Winterfell withstands the war.

Bittersweet Ending – Jaime is revealed as the Prince that was Promised. Jorah is Dany’s treason for love. Dany kills Jorah. Dany’s child is alive and living in the North.  Jaime kills Dany and Jaime dies a hero. Cersei becomes queen of the ashes. Jon chokes Cersei to death as a mercy death. 

Years later, Jon and Sansa have 4 children together. Sansa and Jon watch from the Winterfell battlement as the sun finally rise. (teardrops)

Who wins the throne? Jon, Sansa, Dany and Jaime will be key to decide who sits on the throne. Prediction - Jon and Sansa stay in the North. Their children take the Iron Throne. Eventually, one of Jon and Sansa’s children will marry Dany’s child and they will rule together. Bold prediction: Jaime becomes the new Night King.

[upsmymindwanderedagain]

Story of The Ice Wolf

PART 9.2

OTHER PARTS:

PART 9.1   PART 8   PART 1

WARNINGS: brief imply of child abuse (on the reader), mentions of blood and injuries, mentions of reader being handcuffed/movement restricted.

Hey fellas! here it is part 9.2, I know once again I kind of give spoilers, however if someone has isses regarding the warnings let me now and I can post a version without them.

As always typos, mistakes are on me.

Loki calmly walks close “You sure aren’t that bad Pietro…” the blue eyed sokovian smiles gratefully at him “… you are worse” the Asgardian adds, making Zrinka laugh as Pietro glares daggers at the dark-haired man.

“You knew, didn’t you?” she asks Loki searching for the answer in his bright blue glinting eyes.

He grins broadly “I did, but I was hoping you’d break him with the news” he says as he kisses her knuckles “Congratulation lady Zrinka”.

“Zrin if you ever need a break from the disaster that my twin is, just let us now” Wanda states as she walks towards the woman to give her a mama hen hug.

[Before the trial] On insistence of Tony, you all are assisting the trial with formal clothes, underneath you have the basic attire the usual battle suits though. Loki will be the one keeping your weapons. You are clasping the last buttons of the dark grey dress shirt. Wanda has been disturbingly silent, maybe last night felt more like a goodbye than a promise. You keep your voice soft "Little one?"  Silence is the only answer, she is about to put her blazer, so you move quickly to help her putting it on, a lame excuse to get close to her, she doesn't refuse, so you help her. She does the same for you. When you turn around you see her glassy eyes. "Wan please…"  Her stare becomes hard, is like she is putting on walls around her heart "Don't 'Wan' me right now Y/N. Thor and Loki gave you a chance, you turned it down".  You sigh in defeat, frustration, sadness is a storm of emotions ragging in your heart, but you do your best to keep them in check "Wanda, I could not just run away, that will jeopardize further the image that the people have of the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D, that will put YOU and Pietro at risk. "When will you stop playing martyr? When you are actually dead? For all I know, that could be tomorrow, and you are standing right in front of me like nothing is happening!" Her voice turns to almost a whisper "Sometimes you make me think that you are wishing your death" tears had begun to gather in her eyes. You pull her in and wrap her in a firm hug. "My love, there is a plan, unfortunately the situation I'm in goes beyond us, I'm not playing martyr, the rank I had in Hydra played completely against me and the fact that they also got a hold of the other things I did as Wolf before S.H.I.E.L.D". You put distance between your bodies, and gently wipe off her tears, a tear ran down your cheek too. "Fury told me that Salarov revealed several things about my past and family that link me to Hydra in a tight way. Things that I have no idea about" She slowly lifts her gaze "But there is a plan, when Hydra attacks, that will be my chance to prove my loyalty and I will. If everything goes as planned I'll end up being locked up under S.H.I.E.L.D jurisdiction". There’s a split second when you can see doubt and fear taking over her green eyes "And if not?" You school your features, your voice firm and doubtless "Then I'm going away on my own terms". She tries to lower her face, but you halt he cradling her face in your hands. "Little one. Whatever happens… know that you are my greatest love and my biggest joy, I love you with everything I' am. I will always be with you". "I love you too my brave Wolf, with all my heart and soul. I'll wait for you, in this life or the next" Wanda can’t hold back her urges anymore, her hands get attached on the back of your neck pulling you down you harshly kiss you.

That last kiss was a mix of slow soft lip dance and sudden fits of boldness, full of physical channeled love and why not hope.

---

Both make your way to the common room, Wanda walking by your left, your hands tightly intertwined you are doing your best to help her ground and stand strong. Pietro is already in the common room with the rest of the team, Fury and Maria are there too. Upon your entrance you nod towards them in greeting.

Fury steps forward to regard them all “Y/N and Bucky will be escorted by an elite squad. The rest of you will go in your vehicle arrangements, is required that the Avengers arrive first”.

The team takes it’s time showing their support to you and Bucky, with hugs and pats on the shoulder. Fury and Hill standing solemnly aside. The last ones on the room are Wanda, Pietro and Natasha. In all the years you’ve known the redhead woman you’ve never seen her struggling to keep her cool demeanor and calm mask as she is right now.

You have Wanda locked in a tight hug as you cradle her head on your left hand “Wan everything is going to be ok, please… calm down” In the corner of your eye you see Natasha moving away from Bucky’s hold, they share a last kiss before russian walks up to you. Gently you pry Wanda’s arms from you to lock gazes with her “Go with Tasha love, I’ll see you there” she gives you a last kiss before stepping back.

You see the glint of trouble is Natasha’s eyes “Keep your cool cap” she steps in to give you a brief hug, you lean to whisper in her ear “Take care of them Tasha” you feel her tensing up slightly, but she gives you a slight nod. When you let her go, Nat and Wanda walk out.

Pietro walks to you, you try to lift his uncharacteristic sober demeanor “Yes, Piet the Centenario is yours now” his face shifts into a bittersweet smirk “I’ll give that car thousands of times over to avoid see you go through this sistra”.

You give him a lopsided smile “I know brother, but this is the path I built, far better end may I add”.

“We built” he crosses his arms over his chest “I’m still bitter that you took all the blame, we did our part too”.

“You didn’t see that coming huh?” you say with a smug smirk, this time he doesn’t whine about his copyright he just hugs you tight, and you do too.

His voice is barely a whisper his voice almost breaking “Please sistra tell me there’s a way for you to get out of this”.

“There’s a plan silver devil If it doesn’t work you are not taking charge that’s for sure, your sister is” he can’t hold back his snicker “You know I’m the eldest twin, right?” he states smugly.

“Yeah you are also the most impatient, hotheaded and reckless out of the two” you say with a smile “Stay strong brother, now you have a little one in the oven” he laughs holeheartedly at your wording “That little one needs her aunt Wolf to spoil them”.

[Trial] S.H.I.E.L.D elite squad escorted you and Bucky to the trial, at government request you were both handcuffed by the wrists, on top of that, at you arrival to the trial room the military personnel now guarding you put you a collar that sent painful chemical discharges meant to weaken you to submission. On top of that you were put beside the Hydra unit, the five of you were kneeled on a platform before the judge. Salarov and the others were the first to be judged, the Russian sergeant file wasn’t dismissible. Anika and Selene held their fair share of killings, but they had enough with the past two years to be put in the death row. Later was Winter Soldier he was charged for the past two years, having been pardoned for the past 70 years on a previous trial when he got free from Hydra. They left you at the end.

After Bucky kneels again beside you, the judge motions for you to stand up, the military ‘help’ you but is more like they harshly tighten their hold as you stand up.

"The jury never thought that someone will ever reach the Winter Soldier file, and yet here you are surpassing it by far in twelve years". You school your features to show nothing. "Tell us captain Ice Wolf, where and how you grew up". Your voice is simply emotionless "I don't see the point of your request your honor". "I didn't tell you to see the reason Ice Wolf, I gave you an order". You clench your jaw, in other circumstances and a few years back he would be dead. (Stupid judge and his stupid authority). "I grew up in Sokovia. I have no memory of my blood family, the oldest memory I have is me laying on a dirty alleyway beaten, covered in grime and blood, I was seven years old. Wanda Maximoff found me. Wanda and Pietro were six years old, she called their father and they took me in". "What happened to the twin’s parents?". "They were killed by a thief, I was 9 years old they twins were 8". "Your file says that since you were five you took part in illegal fight clubs owned by Hydra. You stopped at eight, went missed two years and returned at ten". Your voice never wavers or show uncertainty "I have no memory of that, the only thing I knew about me was my name and that I could fight and fire guns. I got into the illegal the fight club because we needed the money to eat besides…" your voice gets a mocking taint “your intel is clearly wrong I got into illegal fighting when I was nine years old”. "So you have no idea that your parents were once loyal Hydra members?". This time you can't mask the shock that takes over your face, still your voice doesn’t waver "I have no memory of them. The doctors said that I had a severe concussion even before the beat down of the alleyway". Salarov doesn't miss the chance to chime in "Her parents were killed for treason, they were Hydra’s top assassins, they stole super soldier serum to make her stronger. You weren’t seven Ice Wolf, you were eight and a half years old" He can't suppress a short laugh at your surprised expression "They trained you and took you to fight like a dog, they did a good job, merciless and cold blooded since you were a midget". "Silence Salarov" the judge harshly orders, “How many people did you kill in the fight club?" You grind tightly your jaw before answering "fifteen that I know about". Audible gasps can be heard in the room, and a few "kill her" too, the avengers except Wanda and Pietro seem a little shocked by this reveal, the twins just tighten their intertwined hands, that’s not an good phase to relieve, the jury only see the result, the dead people they don’t give a them of how wounded and broken those fights left you, all that pain for a wad of cash for two or three weeks of food. One last thing to add you "honor" Salarov said, "In her poor defense she is right, she has no memory of her family or training because she was supposed to be dead, the unit we sent to erase her hit her in the head with a electrical charged baton, however at that time we didn't knew how resilient she was". "Is that all?". "Yes, she is dead anyways" Salarov says with a dry laugh, the agents guarding us give him a fair good electrical discharge to silence him.

A realization hits your mind like a freight train (…they were Hydra’s top assassins) the only top assassins are the unit you used to command, four super soldiers a woman and three men, they were completely loyal to Hydra and the best of the best, they are completely bloodlust and unpredictable. You school your features and move that thought aside, right now is no place or time to weep about dysfunctional family background, you glance subtly at the twins, seems like they linked those facts too. "How did you end up in Hydra Ice Wolf?" the judge enquires. You keep a flat, emotionless voice "Three months before the Sokovian civil war a Hydra unit capture us, Wanda and Pietro were experimented on with the tesseract, I was experimented with the super soldier serum, that time we managed to break free, months later Hydra orchestrated the civil war, they were either killing or capturing people for experiments. We joined a group of civilians that tried to repel the attack. We fought a whole month against the constant assaults until one of our missions went wrong, a grenade fell close to Wanda, she wasn't strong enough to shield herself from the explosion using her powers, I ran to her and tried to move us away from it, but the explosion reached us, I took the worst of it. The Hydra unit captured us again and took us to a lab".

“How old were you?”

“Thirteen years old”

“Is that how you end up with half of your body made of metal?” for dramatic purposes the jury projects several pictures that show the extension of the metal and the atrophic scar tissue, you glare death at him, your jaw muscles visibly tightening, you don’t need to turn around to see the twins glaring death at the judge too, those pictures are not supposed to be shown.

“Yes” you emotionlessly answer.

Several people in the room as witnesses and even some in the jury gasp in surprise due to your age reveal, you can see some of them losing a few shades of color when they see the pictures, those images aren’t a beach sunset. The screen is turn off as the judge begins to speak again "Your file says that since the beginning you did Hydra's will. You were loyal and a precise partner for the Winter Soldier until he broke free, later you left for S.H.I.E.L.D taking the twins with you". "Is that all it says? You enquire with full mockery in your tone, “because I remember long painful torture sessions until they exchanged the twins lives for loyalty" you say with a stern scowl on your face. The interrogation went on, Hydra find out about the other activities that you did behind their back, Salarov spit it all, from drug dealing, espionage, illegal fighting, gun traffic and mercenary days. They blew off the cover of the ‘Sokovian Ghost’ too one of the most feared and coldblooded mobs in that side of the globe, at least they didn’t call out your illegal partner Zemo. After everything was revealed, it was safe to say that you were royally fucked up.  The judge called for a break, so the jury could come up with the final decision. The Dark angel was the first to break the silence "Hey Ice Wolf how does it feel to be grilled in front of your girl and former team?” she says sending a wink. You give her no answer, and stick to stare into the unknown. "Come on Wolf say something" she nudges your right side, you glare at her. "Shut up" the guard behind us growls. "Ice Wolf, break us free" Salarov orders. The guards behind us immediately tense and draw their weapons to our heads. Wanda’s panicked voice fills your head ("Y/N!, what's going on?"). ("Salarov is ordering me to break them free. They have planned something. Tell the others to stay sharp"). ("I will. You know, is not easy to see you kneeled with them") you briefly lock gazes with the twins, Pietro is protectively hovering over Wanda, they are good at hiding their emotions but you can read them like an open book, they are worried sick the things you did under the other alias were meant to be buried but Salarov spit everything, at least they didn’t got involved, everything was presented framing you as a cold, heartless monster (maybe that’s what I am). You try hard not let them see the uncertainty that is creeping in your heart and mind (I’m so fucked). Bucky and you we are scanning the room for hidden agents, the room is free from Hydra, however there are other agents, but you can't figure out who are they or who they work for. After another while the judge returns, the noise that was previously filling the room dies under the sound of his gavel "The jury has reached a decision".  "Winter Soldier" the guards haul up Bucky. “James Buchannan Barnes, due to the antecedents with Hydra and the history serving this country the jury sentence you to five years of domestic jail. You can't leave the Avengers Tower or compound unless it is for a mission, and you will have a tracker". The guards proceed to take off the chains and collar off him. You see the team exhaling in a short relief, now the chance of you getting out of this are better.  You turn to look at him and give him a slight nod, he walks down the podium and goes beside the others, standing close to Nat, their hands brushing. "Captain Ice Wolf" the use of your Hydra rank, makes doubt creep in your heart, needless to say, the guards haul you up harshly and someone increases the amount of chemicals running in through the collar, you internally wince without a making a sound (Assholes). "Captain Ice Wolf, you lived eight years on the disguise of lower ranked Hydra agent with the code name Wolf, however that and the other alias behold records that are as bad as the Ice Wolf, you claim yourself as a Hydra victim, and yet you've been related to Hydra since birth your parents were Hydra loyal killers, you served their ranks willingly and took advantage of that…" As the judge goes on the avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D members in the court tense up "… The jury finds your loyalty situation unclear, they don't see reliable that you were brainwashed this past two years giving your previous willingness and ruthlessness you showed in your time working for Hydra, due to your crimes this past two years, your now revealed files, the history and rank as a Hydra, Captain Ice Wolf you are sentenced to death". "This is unacceptable!" Tony is the first to shout outraged as he stands up "the Avengers don't accept the sentence over Y/N" he says almost growling, Steve is now standing too, nodding at Starks statement. "Mr. Stark, captain Rogers I will advise you only once that you and your group stay out of this, otherwise you all will be accused of treason, you were sheltering a Hydra high ranked member, that as far as we  know is an spy". "You can't..." Tony tries to defend you but you cut him off "Stark! don't" you growl at him, he shifts his gaze towards you, he is certainly shocked this was not the plan at all. He tries to go on but you only glare at him (something is wrong). You shift you gaze and notice the secretary of defense in the crowd the joyous glint in his eyes sells him off (son of a bitch) this whole situation was planned. You square your shoulders to muster as much arrogance as you can "Your ‘honor’, I have four conditions". "Captain Ice Wolf, you are not in place to make conditions" he flatly states. "That's where you are wrong” you hiss at him “The past ten years I've been loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers, I've given them everything I knew about Hydra…” you briefly eye the secretary, his eyes shine like he just won the jackpot “…I've done everything to keep the civilians safe even putting myself in harm’s way to do so. Two weeks ago, instead of running away I stayed and fought to capture this Hydra unit and I willingly gave myself up". He sets his jaw but relents. "Go ahead, I will hear them out". What you didn't see was the general faintly nodding to the judge. "First condition, upon my dead all the vibranium bionic parts are given to either king T'achalla or Tony Stark. Second, my corpse is given to S.H.I.E.L.D to dismantle and dispose. Third, I put the bullet on their heads" you sneer gesturing with your head towards Salarov, he sets a death glare on you, your rivalry and spite with him never ends. "The fourth one?" the judge enquires with annoyance on his voice. You turn my set the judge on a emotionless and cold gaze "I put the bullet on my head". With that the general of the army harshly stands up. "We won't accept that! They die under the fire of my men, Hydra do not deserve that honor" (Son of a bitch, he planned it). While the judge slowly stands, the two guards behind you kick you in the back of your knees but you stand your ground, they give you an electrical discharge making you kneel. "I concede the first two. But I deny the rest". When you try to stand up in an anger fit the guards push you down with gun barrels on your head. You could scape but that would be a mess. "The kill order is set at dawn, we won't waste more resources in four criminals. S.H.I.E.L.D you no longer have jurisdiction over them, the military is taking them" He states at Coulson, Maria is already walking out of the room, talking to someone on the phone. The guards hold you at gun point and haul you up. This time two soldiers stand by our side clasping bars to each side of the collar; the front handcuffs are secured to your body by chains and they put you on a muzzle. ("Y/N! was this your plan?!") Wanda cries out desperately in your head. Your voice is low and soft even in your mind. ("No, the plan was the jury giving me the same sentence as Buck… I'm so, so sorry my love. Tell Fury this was set up by the secretary of defense”).

-- The army escort you out of the room, reporters and civilians surround the halls. Some of them insulting and others asking for your release. In the corner of your left eye you see a fifteen-year-old girl running towards you, she breaks through the reporters and runs to you screaming "Wait! You can't do this!". The soldiers react pointing her guns at her, but you are faster, pulling the soldiers like ragdolls, you turn around to use your body as shield between her and the barrels. "What the fuck is wrong with you soldiers! She is a kid! Put your damned guns down" your voice is a little muffled by the muzzle but your rage is clear. The soldiers seem reason and lower their guns. "I will turn around" you announce, the soldiers nod. You barely turn around when you feel her hugging you tight.

"Y/N what’s going on? Why are they taking you away?" she says between cries. You voice is soft and unfortunately a little muffled by the muzzle "Kiddo what you did was reckless" (how I wish I could hold her). "They sentenced me guilty, you have to let me go". You feel her panic "No! That's not fair you have saved many people, you-you got hurt saving me" you feel her tears soaking through the clothes, you sigh in frustration "I'm sorry kid there's nothing you can do". You don't need to look out too much to see Wanda and Pietro approaching. "Soldiers, the twins are getting close to take the kid away" at your words you feel her tightening her arms. The soldiers nod their permission, the twins pry away the kid, she clings to Wanda (Good job Y/N other one hurt due to your stupidity). ("Babe What do I tell her?"). ("Little one, tell her the truth"). Wanda answer is a soft peck on your forehead, Pietro half hugs you. The three of you briefly join your foreheads (“Stay sharp something is going on”). You feel the cold steel of gun barrel and the click of a third safety off in the back of your head "Move Ice Wolf, we don't have all day" You feel rage building up inside your heart, have no other option but comply.

You walk ahead with your forehead high, they framed you as a monster but they just saw the surface of all this past years, you have many regrets but you are not ashamed of who you have become, you aren’t Hydra’s puppet anymore. The Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D gather at the court entrance. When the group of sentenced and custodies were some feet away from the military trucks, with no warning an explosion blows off the vehicles. Pushing you off a couple of feet back to the ground. The noise is a little odd by the ringing on your ears, but you can hear a reporter scream "Hydra!” before the gun shots begin, it doesn’t take you to long to realize that is not just Hydra. You are still lying on the ground when you hear the shackles and collar short circuiting; no doubt Tony overran the code. You feel dizzy and dazzled, the force of the explosion hit you full force due to the chemicals running in your veins, you barely have time to snatch a hand gun from the soldier on your right, still lying on the ground you start shooting down the assailants. Everyone jumps to action to keep the civilians safe.  You kick up off the grown with a swift move landing on a low crunch, using all the strength you can muster on your weakened state you break off the handcuffs, rip off the damn collar and muzzle, you feel faint trails of blood running down your neck, the soldiers rise as well, and together you start shooting down Hydra goons.  Without taking your eyes off the enemies popping out and still fairing the gun, you shout "Who is in charge?!". "I ‘am, sergeant Knox" he is standing on your left automatic weapon going off shooting down attackers. You shout towards him "Do you have a plan B?". He briefly takes his eyes off the enemy "An extraction truck is coming in, we are moving south". "I'll cover you, give me one of those" you say signaling the automatic gun. He hesitates, "Sergeant I am your best choice, I will cover you, after this is settled I will give in myself again (like hell I will). Just make sure they don't get loose". He locks gazes with you and hands you his automatic rifle and two extra clips "Company let's go!". They move on first, you advance with your back towards them, while as you are shooting you feel a rush of air pass you by a blue blur the evidence that was Pietro, a com is now on your left ear. You waste no time and update Steve on the plan *Cap the military is moving south the cargo for extraction, I'm backing them up, I could use some help*. *Hold on tight Wolf Hydra is swamping us with shooters, we are covering the civilians* he says between the sound of bullets bouncing off his steel shield.

You grind your jaw, the shit they injected you will make this more complicated *Guys stay sharp those guns aren’t just Hydra*

A/N:

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, I know 9.2 is a little short but between 9.1 + 9.2 we have around 6k+ words. 

My head keeps working around the story, actually I have written how the reader and the twins joins S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers and also, I have bits for a prequel before Hydra and how they became Hydra’s ghosts. Will you guys be interested in these story arcs? coment here or send me inbox/ask. Worry not, we still have road ahead with this story arc.

[hoaryoldbitch]

bittersweet and strange 1/3

If they hadn't been interrupted, Sansa would have let Jon kiss her. Try as she might to deny it, she's quite certain about that. She'd also quite forgotten that he was still completely naked until he leapt out of the bed to snarl at the door.

It's a fortunate thing she doesn't have time to dwell on it right now. Visitors have come to Castle Black to see Jon, but she can't allow that. She's going out to meet them in the King's Tower. She dons her cloak and keeps her head covered for now, and Brienne stays.

Sansa finds Jon's guests in the Tower Hall, and she watches Satin offer them bread and salt. It's a small retinue and they look dirty and travel-weary. Their leaders are an older man and woman who both have the hardened and long-faced look of the North about them. The tall man looks lean under his heavy fur cloak, his lusterless brown hair is streaked with grey and his face is wind-burned and lined. The woman is short and stout, with grey hair. She's clad in ringmail and she has an axe on her hip. She studies Sansa and Brienne as they approach them, slapping her companion on the arm to get his attention.

"Where is the Lord Commander, lass?" the woman asks her directly. Sansa recognizes the bear on her jerkin now. "No one around here seems to know where he is."

"Lady Mormont," Sansa greets her. "There has been an attack," she explains to her and the man she's identified as Lord Glover by the mailed-fist pin holding his cloak together. "I'm afraid the Lord Commander has been incapacitated, and he's unable to meet with you at the moment."

"And who are you?" Lord Glover asks her. "His nursemaid?"

Brienne takes a step forward, her hand on the pommel of her sword, but Sansa holds up a hand and removes her hood. "I am Sansa Stark, Lord Glover, Lord Eddard's daughter and Lady Catelyn's." There is shock and disbelief on their faces. "This is Lady Brienne of Tarth, whom I've taken into my service and who has been exceptional and most loyal in fulfilling her duties."

"We-we believed you were dead, my lady," Lord Glover stammers.

Lady Mormont acknowledges her with a bow of her head, but then she grins at her. "It's good to see you alive and well, Lady Stark."

Lady Stark. Being called by that name doesn't feel quite right to Sansa. Mother was Lady Stark, she is just Sansa, but she won't correct Lady Mormont.

"What are the prospects for the Lord Commander's recovery?" Lord Glover asks her. "When do you think he'll be better? We have urgent business with him. Will he be fully capable again once he recovers?"

She should have thought about answers to this series of overwhelming questions before she agreed to meet with them. "I'm afraid I am not sure."

"The Lord Commander can wait, Gal," Lady Mormont waves away his questions. "Lady Stark being here changes things."

"King Robb was clear," he mutters.

"Aye, but a lot has happened since the Young Wolf sent us up the Neck to share his plans and deliver his will." She turns to look up at Lord Glover's face, who meets her eyes, and then she exhales slowly. "Be that as it may, Lady Stark has the right to read the contents of his will as much as Jon Snow does."

Lord Glover gives her a sharp nod, though he's slow and reluctant to reach into his cloak and produce a parcel of parchment, which he then hands to Sansa. It's small and the wax seal on it is a grey wolf's head. She breaks it and opens the letter, smoothing it out and gripping Brienne's arm as she recognizes the handwriting.

"My lady?" Brienne whispers, and Sansa squeezes her elbow.

She runs her fingers over the parchment, following the words without reading them, imagining how her brother's hand must have moved over the parchment as he wrote them. She tries to force back the tears that are threatening to well up in her eyes. She takes a deep breath, and then she starts reading.

I, Robb Stark, Lord of Winterfell and King in the North, hereby declare my half-brother, Eddard Stark's natural son, formerly known as Jon Snow, to be legitimate, and from this day on, give him the right to carry the name Jon Stark.

I also name him as my heir presumptive, until I have fathered an heir of my own. If I should die without issue, I want him to succeed me as King in the North, and in that case, I also appoint him and his sons after him to inherit my seat, Winterfell and the title of Lord of Winterfell, preceding the claims of all others.

Sansa can't tear her eyes away from Robb's last words. Preceding the claims of all others. She feels a sharp, icy pang in her stomach. Robb must have meant her claim.

Lord Glover's face has softened when she glances up again. "I am sorry, my lady, this must be hard for you to read, but your brother felt compelled to do this, because of your marriage to the Imp."

Of course he did. He had to protect the North from falling into Lannister hands, even if meant sacrificing her, his own sister.

"The Imp is dead now," Maege Mormont points out.

And so is Harry, who was supposed to give her the might of the Vale. Now all she can do is hope that Lord Royce's plan will work and that he will keep his word. Was it right what she did? Will the lords of the Vale flock to their side now, or are any of them still truly loyal to Lord Baelish? She may have created a war instead of providing a solution.

Does any of it even matter anymore, if the lords of the North want Jon instead of her? He might be whole again one day, and capable of ruling, but there is still a chance he will not. She shakes her head, she'll have time to think about all of that later.

She straightens her shoulders and thanks Glover and Mormont with a smile. "I know how you must have longed to return to your daughters, Lady Mormont. And you, Lord Glover, I can't imagine what it must have felt like to learn the Ironborn had taken Deepwood Motte. But instead of returning home, you chose to carry out this task my brother had given you, obeying him and proving your allegiance even after his death. Your loyalty will not be forgotten."

"Lyra and Jory are right here with me," Lady Mormont answers, pointing to two dark-haired young women, one short and stout like her mother, and the other lanky and awkward. "But I do miss my little Lyanna. She's only ten."

"I've heard Stannis Baratheon has driven the Ironborn from Deepwood Motte," Glover tells her. "And I'm grateful for it. Are Queen Selyse and the Princess still here?"

"No," Sansa answers. She was informed that they had left after it had come to a brawl between some of Selyse's men at arms and the Wildlings. "The Queen has travelled south to join her husband the King."

"There's something else," Lady Mormont whispers when Lord Glover has returned to his men, leaving them alone. "We stayed at Greywater Watch for a while, and Lord Reed bid me to deliver this letter from your father to your half-brother. I trust you will give it to him, my lady?"

"Of course, Lady Mormont," Sansa answers her, accepting the second letter.

After making sure Satin will be able to provide anything Glover and Mormont's party might need, Sansa bids them goodbye. and returns to the room behind the armoury with Brienne. When they're inside again, she hands her sworn sword Robb's will and tells her to read it.

Jon is in front of the fire, staring into the flames, and he hasn't bothered to put on any clothes. Sansa's face pulls into a frown as she looks at him. Satin and Tormund told her he was afraid of fire, but now he appeared to be fascinated by it. She walks over to the bed to retrieve a blanket and returns to him to cover him with it. Her hand lingers on his shoulder, and he covers it with his own warm one.

Would you steal my claim, Jon? It doesn't really matter to her, not truly, even more so since her claim to Winterfell has brought her nothing but misery. All she wants is to be safe and to go home, with him, the last of her family. But learning of this will of Robb's has made her a bit queasy. She's seen enough in the south to understand that this might mean trouble. Perhaps it doesn't matter what Jon wants, as long as he's in this vulnerable state, people might take advantage of him.

How could you betray me like this, Robb? She believed she'd buried any disappointment and anger she had felt toward her brother for not coming to her rescue with the guilt she'd felt over them when he had died, but now she can feel them bubbling up inside of her again, overwhelming her.

She turns away from Jon to find Brienne staring at Robb's will with a deep frown on her face. "Forgive me, my lady," she says when she sees Sansa looking at her, "I mean no disrespect, but I don't think your brother is fit to rule anything anymore."

Sansa purses her lips. "He won't be like this forever," she counters.

"How can you be certain?" Brienne asks, shaking her head.

She can't, but she must believe it. She will find a way to help him.

Brienne takes her leave soon after, and she's alone with Jon again. She should probably try to get him to put on some clothes, but she just sits down next to him, resisting the urge to cuddle up to him. She shouldn't have bothered. She's only sat there for a couple of moments, when he wraps his arm around her, draping the blanket over her shoulders as well.

"Sansa sad?" he asks her.

She shrugs and huffs in a very unladylike manner and he tugs her closer. She tilts her head to rest her cheek on his shoulder. She allows herself to stay like that for a while, but then she pulls away from, putting some distance between them.

She can see the confusion and disappointment in Jon's face when he turns to look at her, but he doesn't make any attempt to move closer again. She tears her eyes away from him and turns to look at the flames, closing her eyes as she lets the glow of the fire warm her and comfort her.

"They told me you were afraid of fire," she mutters as she opens her eyes again.

He is quiet as he pulls his knees up to his chest, resting his chin on them as he frowns. "Fire hurt. They put Jon in fire. Ghost hurt."

They tried to burn his body, but he woke up when the fire of his pyre had died out and there was nothing left around him but ashes. Gods, she had no idea he remembered that, or that he he had been aware of what was happening. She can't even imagine what it must have felt like to be subjected to such excruciating pain and be powerless against it.

She reaches out to brush his hair away from his temple and lets him lean into her touch, brushing his cheekbone with her thumb. She should probably say something, but she doesn't know how to put her feelings on what was done to him into words, so she returns to her earlier question.

"But you're not afraid anymore?"

He covers her hand with his own. "Sansa keep Jon safe."

She blinks back her tears and tries to swallow the lump in her throat. I will, she promises him in a silent vow. When she shifts, she feels the letter she's tucked into the bodice of her gown. She takes it out and shows it to Jon.

"I have something for you," she tells him, trying to hand it to him. "It's a letter from our lord father." He stares at it, but doesn't take it from her.

"Don't you wish to read it, Jon?"

His brow furrows before he shakes his head. "You read it."

[wearetakingthehobbitstogallifrey]

Gotham 4x12 (*shrieks* SPOILERS)

Before we begin can I just say that Bruce better shape the heck up by the end of this episode and apologize to Alfred. And Harvey and Jim better make up

-Jim goes into a "respectable establishment" and I keep missing the name of the guy he is looking for because I keep getting distracted by his rough voice

-Oh Waaaait he was looking for Harvey :( he misses his brother :(

-aaah the birth of Poison Ivy. Tag yourself I am both the guy who says what the and the girl who is like DON'T TOUCH IT YOU FOOL

-NOOOO Alfred is haunting a diner because he has nowhere to go because my poor stupid lost son Bruce kicked him out

-sidenote: as cool as Jim's voice is, Alfred's voice is 10000000 times cooler

-uh oh these fools are gonna pick on Alfred. They are sooo going to regret that

-Lee being a leader and telling the people of the Narrows that they need to band together is da best and

-I like Ivy's voice too...OMG she just turned a guy into mOSS

-ALFRED SCHOOLING THE THUGS IN BRITISH LITERATURE IS EVERYTHING BUT THEN

"Wallet, watch, jewelry"

"Absolutely NOT. I mean, you're a big man, but you're out of shape. And what, you're three beers in already?" BAHAHAHAHA THEN HE JUST DESTROYS HIM

-the other guys are lucky that Jim shows up before Alfred can rearrange their faces too

-AAAAAH NOO THE LOOK ON ALFRED,S FACE WHEN JIM ASKS IF BRUCE IS WITH HIM :( he is upset and almost ashamed looking (maybe for Bruce? Or for himself because he wasn't able to father/guide/guard Bruce like he wanted to? UGH

-Alfred trying to be like yeah it's not such a terrible place to live, rent is cheap, and Jim's face and inflection of one in "You live here?" It's just like wtf happened when I was busy being hoodwinked by Sofia?!

-Ed being super impressed by Lee is my favorite thing look at his smile

-BOMB

-OMG WAIT WE HADN'T EVEN REACHED THE TITLE CARD YET THIS EPISODE IS GONNA BE LIT

-Lucius Fox is super brilliant I love him

-Jim is worried about whatever the heck is going on with the Alfred and Bruce situation and he promises to call Alfred and gives him a pat on the back and it just kills me because look Alfred is a bit of a recluse and for the past few years has lived almost solely for Bruce Wayne and like does he have any friends really? He has nowhere to go and no one to talk to :( please remember to call him, Jim

-LOOK I KNOW IT WON'T FREAKING LAST BECAUSE GOTHAM HATES LETTING US HAVE NICE THINGS BUT I LOVE ED SUPPORTING LEE AND I LOVE HIM PACING THE FLOOR FURIOUS THAT SOMEONE TRIED TO KILL HER (

-MY NAME IS BUTCH. BUTCH GILZEAN. OOPS

-omg Alfred is now the hero of the Narrows diner lol getting free drinks and the guy who just tried to mug him is like MAD RESPECT dude like you ran into a burning building to save people you ROCK and Alfred is like ?? ? Right, um, friends?? Aww and shares a drink with him

-Alfred then notices the waitress has a bruise on the side of her head. That she lies about. Someone is going down later, I can sense it

-lol Lucius and Jim on the case

L: you got a hunch

J: no, just a bad feeling

*creepy toy moves and makes a noise*

J: of course I'd happily be wrong

L, in a tone of the utmost disgust: who buys these things

-LUCIUS IS SO dONE WITH ALMOST GETTING MURDERED BY TOYS

-young guy: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT MY FATHER WAS DOING

Jim, in THE flattest voice imaginable: there's a machine gun built into the wooden hand of this nutcracker here. Excuse me if I find that hard to believe

-ivy waking up in a new body with new powers and the first thing she does is find a sparkly dress and open a pint of ice cream nice

-uh-oh, wayne enterprises had a gas leak, betcha Ivy's gonna go after the company later!

-after she goes a after the sirens?! Wait does she hate all of them or does she remember that Selina is her friend?

-this girl is in love with Alfred's accent and I'm like SAME

-also I can promise you that Alfred is fixing to beat up the girl's abuser just watch

-EXCUSE YOU GOTHAM HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME CRY OVER ALFRED'S FRIENDSHIP WITH AND LOYALTY TO THOMAS WAYNE UGH MY HEART I NEED 575498 FANFICS ABOUT THIS AND I ALSO NEED BRUCE TO SHAPE THE HECK UP AND SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH HE HAS HURT ALFRED AND HOW HIS DAD WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IN HIM FOR THIS NOT FOR THE OTHER STUFF AND WHYYYY I CAN'T THE FEELS

-UGH HE TRIED ALFRED TRIED :(

-Lucius, sees poison ivy flourishing in a dead man's body: fASCINATING

Me: ... ... ..Gotham is a strange place with strange people

-OMG BRUCE IS BEING A COMPLETE IDIOT AND SELINA IS LIKE WHAT THE HELL. WHAT THE ACTUAL F. BRUCE WHAT ARE YOU DOING UGH

SHE SEES HIM AND SHE KNOWS HIM AND SHE KNOWS THIS IS LITERALLY THE OPPOSITE OF THE TYPE OF PERSON HE IS IN HIS HEART AND SOUL I HOPE SHE CALLS HIM OUT EVERY DAY TILL HE WAKES UP

-I can't stand drunk stupid Bruce who seems to think acting like a fool is gonna make him forget all the terrible things that have happened to him. I feel bad for him but good gravy son this cannot stand. At the same time I can see how this idiot playboy period of his life will ruin any conception people (maybe especially Jim) have of him as an intelligent, competent, intense young man who they might suspect of being the Batman

-Jim goes to Barbara for info, because that always turns out well

-OMG OMG OMG THAT ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND FRAMED ALFRED FOR MURDER WHAAAT HE KILLED HIS GIRLFRIEND AND THEN FRAMED ALFRED NOOO AND THE GIRL WAS SO SWEET OH MAN ALFRED IS GONNA BE DESTROYED OH GOSH HE JUST WANTED TO HELP

-IF JIM THINKS FOR ONE SECOND THAT ALFRED ACTUALLY DID THIS I'LL PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE

-I AM SO ANGRY RIGHT NOW

-OKAY I THINK JIM IS GONNA TRY TO HELP HIM

-WAIT ALFRED JUST PEACED OUT THE HECK IF THEY WERE GONNA TAKE HIM TO THE STATION ON SUSPICION OF MURDER WHY WEREN'T THEY GUARDING HIM. WHY DIDN'T THEY PUT HIM IN HANDCUFFS. IDIOTS

-aww Butch still loves Tabby

-BAHAHAHAHA I'M CRYING ED IS NOW LEE'S HYPE MAN MAKES UP INTRODUCTORY RIDDLES FOR HER LOL

-JIM'S FACE WHEN HE SEES THAT LEE IS THE DOC

-LOL ED CREEPS UP ON JIM AND STARTLES THE HECK OUT OF HIM

Jim: I should bust you right now

Ed: yeah yeah whatevs look your ex is awesome and I'm on her side now surprise

Jim: someone hired krank the toymaker to kill her

Ed: Krank? That is sooo Gotham

BAHAHAHAHAHA

-I love Jim and I love Lee and the angst between them now hurts so bad but...I don't see them getting back together and marrying...because Jim can be a knucklehead and Lee doesn't have patience for that. UGH WHYYY. maybe it will be this bittersweet thing where they will always be good friends and remember what might have been...or years and years and years down the road they might marry...but not now :(

-lol Ed in the background like um guys I am standing right here? Maybe don't talk about me like I'm in another room? Lol

-btw what is up with Ed's hair xD

-waaaaaait a second....

-OMG ALFRED IS GONNA MURDER THE KILLER BOYFRIEND OH NO HE IS OUTNUMBERED

-HELL YES!!! HARVEY TO THE RESCUE!!!!!!!! SORRY IT TOOK HIM SO LONG HE WAS IN THE JOHN

-Harvey: I love bar-tending, it involves two of my favorite things--drinking and ignoring people

HARVEY THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS

-BLESS YOU THOUGH HARVEY I LOVE YOU THABKS FOR SAVING ALFRED'S BACON

-OH GEE IVY IS SUPER DANGEROUS NOW AND SUPER CRAZY

-OH BOY OH MAN OH GOSH YUP ED'S ALTER EGO THE RIDDLER HIRED THE GUY TO KILL LEE I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN

-JIM SHOWS UP TO SAVE ED BUT ED'S A STRESSED MESS AND HONESTLY THE WHOLE LONE WOLF THING SOUNDS DUMB AND JIM IS LIKE HUH YOU SURE ABOUT THAT

-OF ALL THE BEER HALLS IN THE CITY, HUH? (I love Harvey so much) aww he is drinking to the lady with Alfred my heart

-NOOOOOOOOO JIM AND HARVEY NOOO

Jim: I've missed you

Harvey: well I haven't missed you. Haven't missed begging you not to do something just to watch you go ahead and do it anyway. Haven't missed watching you bang Falcone's daughter while she uses you to get rid of Penguin

Alfred: *shifting in his seat* THIS IS SO AWKWARD

-UGH HARVEY IS LIKE YOU DON'T WANT ME AS A COP YOU WANT SOMEONE TO CONFESS TO YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR PRIEST

AND JIM IS LIKE...HOW ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS AND A FRIEND *HANGS HEAD IN SADNESS*

ALFRED CONTINUES TO DRINK AND WISH HE WAS ANYWHERE ELSE

LOOK THERE IS ANGST AND THERE IS ANGST AND I AM DONE WITH SOME OF THEM GIMME THE HARVEY/JIM BROTP BACK I MISS MY BROTHER COPS

-IN CONCLUSION ALFRED AND BRUCE ARE STILL ON THE OUTS AND SO ARE JIM AND HARVEY EVERYTHING HURTS

[kitten1618x]

Scale of Dragon, Tooth of Wolf: ASOIAF and the Wars of the Roses

The hardest thing about writing this meta was literally, where to begin? I will apologize in advance, as I will try to keep my thoughts as tidy and streamlined as possible, but I have a lot to cover and do tend to run away with my words at times. This is a collaborative meta of sorts, as I drew insight, inspiration and help in constructing this massive baby from the wonderful @thewesterwoman (who also contributed parts of it, as noted within).

So, I suppose we’ll start where I begun. A few weeks ago, I stumbled onto this meta about Jamie Lannister and how he may actually be TPTWP. Now, before you shrug that off, I suggest you read this:

https://thewesterwoman.tumblr.com/post/163650220053/azor-ahai-and-the-matter-of-jaime-irony-and

And while you’re at it, make sure you give @thewesterwoman a follow because her brilliant analytical mind is a blessing to this fandom. Yes, she even ships Jonsa (but less flailing and more logic). 😉

After reading her meta,  I was definitely intrigued, so I began some research of my own, and this theory is actually a lot more popular (especially with book readers) than you may think. It prompted me to send her this ask:

https://thewesterwoman.tumblr.com/post/163779372473/so-if-you-think-that-jamie-may-be-the-one-who

Her answer only served to intrigue me more, and we struck up a private convo discussing all the War of the Roses similarities, and how GoT might actually come to its bittersweet end -and so this meta was born. It will be part tinfoil/part actual history. Let’s begin.

What’s in a Name?

So with that said, let us first focus on the last three major houses left in GoT: the Lannisters, the Starks and the Targaryens -and the three* major players of the War of the Roses: the Lancasters, the Yorks and the Tudors. Marinate on that a minute. Okay? Good. Here’s what you should have came up with:

Lancasters/Lannisters

Yorks/Starks

Tudor (Plantagenet)/Targaryen *

*History shows us that the War of the Roses actual main players were the Lancasters and Yorks, but for all of you who are not historian buffs (me), they both descended from the same royal house: Plantagenet and ended with Tudor. Think of them as Alpha and Omega.* Oh, and wouldn’t you know -what an incestuous web they wove, but that’s a meta for another day. 😂

As per Wikipedia (and because I’m lazy):

The House of Plantagenet (/plænˈtædʒᵻnᵻt/) was a royal house which originated from the lands of Anjou in France. The name Plantagenet is used by modern historians to identify four distinct royal houses – the Angevins who were also Counts of Anjou, the main body of the Plantagenets following the loss of Anjou, and the houses of Lancaster and York, the Plantagenets’ two cadet branches. The family held the English throne from 1154, with the accession of Henry II, until 1485, when Richard III died.

One other thought ( @thewesterwoman adds )- as many have noted, Westeros is obviously a continent-sized, fantasy-version of Britain (with the North more or less standing in for Scotland). Westerosi history is similarly based on British history, which saw several waves of migration from foreign invaders that greatly resembles the Westerosi invasions by the First Men, the Andals, and finally the Targaryens.

The Targaryens in particular seem to represent the Norman invasion of England, which was led by William the Conqueror, who I take for a direct analogue to Westeros’s own Aegon the Conqueror (a foreign invader who united several warring kingdoms into one country under his reign). This is relevant to our theory because the royal English House of Plantagenet (and thus the House of Tudor as well) is more or less directly descended from the dynasty founded by William the Conqueror, just as the Targaryens are from Aegon the Conqueror.

Amidst the War a King is Born

As you all know, the War of Roses was put to an end by Henry Tudor, or King Henry VII -also known as the first King of the Tudor line. I’m not going to dive fully into his entire biography -just the parts/similarities that fit in the GoT narrative.

The War of the Roses broke out prior to his birth on May 22, 1455 and Henry was born on January 28, 1457 -the son of Lady Margaret Beaufort, and Edmund Tudor, first Earl of Richmond (half brother to King Henry VI). Edmund, a Lancastrian, was taken prisoner by Yorkist forces mere months after his marriage to Margaret, and died in captivity less than a year later, leaving behind a 13-year-old widow who was seven months pregnant with their child -whom she birthed at the tender age of 14.

This sounds vaguely familiar -like a lovable bastard prince we know, who’s mother birthed him at a tender age, his father dying in a “rebellion” of sorts -War of the Roses/Roberts Rebellion. But wait -the similarities don’t end there. While Margaret didn’t die like Lyanna -Henry would be her only child. The birth was described as “particularly difficult; at one point, both the Countess and her child were close to death, due to her young age and small size”. She never gave birth again. After his father’s death, Margaret and Henry were taken in by Edmunds brother Jasper (Henry’s uncle), the Duke of Pembroke.

Now here’s where it gets tricky … because I’m about to split Henry’s upbringing into two parts, or rather -two characters: Jon Snow and Danaerys Targaryen.

Jon Snow:

When Edward IV became the first Yorkist King in 1461, Jasper fled abroad and Castle Pembroke, along with the Earldom were given over to the Yorkist, William Herbert -who then took over guardianship of the 4 year old Henry and his mother. Henry lived in the Herbert household until 1469 (he was 12) when more York/Lancaster drama ensued and Henry VI reclaimed his throne.

Daenerys Targaryen:

At some point, fearing her son’s safety, Margaret sent Henry into exile with his uncle Jasper -where he remained, garnering French and Welsh support before returning to lay a claim to the throne. When Henry Tudor invaded England, his army consisted of French mercenaries and Welsh warriors – which would be considered a largely foreign group (foreign invaders -Dothraki and the Unsullied).

So, you see how in comparison to Henry’s early life, we could easily divide aspects of it between both Jon and Dany. Being raised by an uncle, being exiled for safety, garnering foreign support and returning to claim their “birthright”.  It’s also important to note that with his father dying prior to his birth, Henry fought claims of illegitimacy (bastard) for most of his life.

A Dragon and a Prophecy

Henry also made some political capital out of his Welsh ancestry, attracting military support and safeguarding his army’s passage through Wales on his way to the Battle of Bosworth. He came from an old, established Anglesey family that claimed descent from Cadwaladr (a Welsh King depicted in legend, the last ancient British king), and on occasion Henry displayed that Welsh standard.

That Welsh standard Henry fought and conquered under? Well I’m glad you asked … The flag of Wales (Welsh: Baner Cymru or Y Ddraig Goch, meaning the red dragon) .

A red dragon! You don’t say? Where have we seen that before? Oh, right …the Targaryen house sigil.

But Henry’s welsh dragon isn’t just ANY dragon, but -a dragon that’s attached to a prophecy: Y Mab Darogan.

From Wikipedia (again because I’m lazy):

Y Mab Darogan (pronounced [ə mɑːb darɔˈɡan] meaning “The Destined/Prophesised Son” or “Son of Destiny”) is a messianic figure of Welsh legend, destined to force the English out of Britain and reclaim it for its Celtic inhabitants. A number of figures have been called Y Mab Darogan in history (other titles include Y Gŵr Darogan and Y Daroganwr). An extensive corpus of medieval Welsh prophetic verse, beginning with Armes Prydain (10th century?), is centred on the figure of Y Mab Darogan.

A prince who was promised? Ya don’t say?!?!

Several historical figures have thought to have been this “Son of Destiny” -even King Arthur of Camelot. With poets and supporters labeling Henry the prophesied prince, it certainly didn’t hurt in strengthening his claim to the throne. Later, his reign over England was believed to be the prophecy fulfilled -a belief that he encouraged by naming his firstborn son Arthur.

Two Roses become One

As most of you know, Henry later wed Elizabeth of York. They were third cousins -both great-great grandchildren of John of Gaunt. The marriage unified the two warring houses and gave any of their future children strong claims to the throne. The unification of the houses of York and Lancaster by this marriage is symbolised by the Tudor Rose -a combination of the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster.

*Remember this, because we’ll come back to this later when I make my endgame predictions.

I would also like to present to you, the Tudor house Coat of Arms (under Henry VII and the first half of his son, Henry VIII’s reign):

A red dragon, a white dog (wolf) and a golden lion sitting atop the crest, amid the Tudor roses.

As Alice (in Wonderland) would say: Curiouser and curiouser ….  

The White Rose (of Winterfell?)

A red-headed beauty -Elizabeth of York was described as fair of hair and face. The eldest child, she had two younger brothers (known as the Princes in the Tower) who disappeared shortly after her father’s death -thought to be murdered by her uncle.

From Wikipedia (and you guessed it, because I’m lazy):

“The Princes in the Tower” is an expression frequently used to refer to Edward V, King of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. The two brothers were the only sons of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville surviving at the time of their father’s death in 1483. When they were 12 and 9 years old, respectively, they were lodged in the Tower of London by the man appointed to look after them, their uncle, the Lord Protector: Richard, Duke of Gloucester. This was supposedly in preparation for Edward’s forthcoming coronation as king. However, Richard took the throne for himself and the boys disappeared.

Compare this if you’d like, to Sansa’s brothers  Bran and Rickon “disappearing” -first thought to be murdered by Theon, then Rickon actually being murdered, and Bran essentially dying as well, now that he’s the 3 eyed Raven. This may be a bit tin foilish, but Bran was also pushed from a Tower -which sent the whole chain of events in motion.

Despite being a political arrangement at first, the marriage between Henry and Elizabeth proved successful and both partners appear to have grown to love each other. Jon and Sansa have already proven to share a powerful loving bond rooted in trust.

But wait!

Aren’t the Starks (Yorks) supposed to be the good guys, and the Lannisters (Lancasters) the bad? I’m glad you asked, and I’ll hand you over to @thewesterwoman for that …

When it comes to the Wars of the Roses, one side - the Lancasters - has traditionally been presented in a far more positive light than the other - the Yorks. This is because the Tudor dynasty which ultimately emerged the victor of the war was descended in the male line from the Lancasters, making them the ‘winning’ side. As such, the vast majority of primary sources from after the war paint the Lancasters in a flattering light and the Yorks in a negative one, in an effort on the part of their writers to gain favor with the current reigning monarchs of England.

Today, this is especially noticeable in Shakespeare’s ‘history plays,’ several of which - Henry IV Part One, Henry IV Part Two, Henry IV Part Three, and Richard III - deal directly with the historical events of the Wars of the Roses. Shakespeare was writing during the reign of Elizabeth Tudor, and had an obvious motive for depicting her forebears as the heroes of the story that ultimately led to her rule. This is especially notable in Richard III, where the evil schemes of Richard of York lead England into chaos until the heroic Henry Tudor (a Lancastrian, and Elizabeth’s direct ancestor) finally emerges to defeat him and save the realm.

GRRM seems to have taken his fictional noble houses Stark and Lannister from the real-world Yorks and Lancasters, and they retain vestiges of the stereotypes of their historical counterparts. House Stark is strongly associated with tradtionally ‘evil’ motifs: ice, winter, death, and wolves (connoting the Big Bad Wolf of many fairytales). House Lannister, in contrast, has many ‘heroic’ connotations: warmth, sunlight, gold, and lions (which incidentally are on the royal coat of arms of England). From a distance, the Lannisters - with their wealth, beauty, and natural charisma - would seem like a natural fit for the protagonists of any story, while the Starks - known for their grim and gloomy dispositions and ominous House words - would seem like more natural antagonists.

But this is of course not the case. GRRM has both reversed the traditional historical narrative of the good Lancasters versus the evil Yorks, and the traditional motifs that we associate with good versus bad characters. In ASOIAF, the Starks are the heroes and the Lannisters are the villains, despite their respective surface appearances. This is both very interesting and very typical of GRRM, who loves to invert our expectations of fantasy narratives.

And now it’s time to put your tin foil hats on, because it’s endgame prediction time ….

So what does this all mean?

So if Jon and Dany are actually the two facets of Henry’s life prior to the crown -the exiled conqueror (Dany) and the “bastard” prince (Jon) raised by a Yorkist (Stark) -also his uncle, where does that leave Dany? Well, I’m pretty sure Dany will meet her death on the other side of the wall.  

Let us return to Dany’s time spent in the House of the Undying -to simplify, we’ll use the show version. We’ll come back to her time in the throne room later, but first -remember when she stepped through what looked curiously like the gates to the other side of the wall -into the wintery beyond?

Here, she was reunited with her true love and husband, Khal Drogo and their son, Rhaego.

Here, she was reunited with her true love and husband, Khal Drogo and their son, Rhaego.

Perhaps this was a foreshadowing of sorts, that she will die in battle beyond the wall during the Long Night, and in death, be reunited with her son and husband -who wait for her in some form of purgatory, so they can all ride together into the Night Lands?

Drawing from the Henry Dany/Jon parallels, and if you’d like to get real tinfoil-y, we could look at Targcest as a way of melding these two halves of Henry into one. Maybe Dany perishes before the showdown with Cersei -leaving that war for Jon to be the parallel to Henry’s Battle of Bosworth -the battle that won him the crown by conquest -as to which he strengthened by then marrying Elizabeth of York.

*I’d like to make that very clear. He didn’t use his new wife to seal the deal, he used conquest (in defeating his rival) -he strengthened his throne (and future line of succession) in marrying EoY.

Returning back to Dany’s visions in The House of the Undying, she enters the throne room and it looks destroyed -although the throne still remains intact. Some people think it was ash falling through the broken ceiling -others snow. I’m going with the latter. Here’s why:

Dany approaches the throne, but does not touch it -instead she walks out the door which led her to the other side of the wall (to her family). She’s come to Westeros, but she will never be the queen. Instead, Jon will be the reluctant King -again thrust into a position of leadership that he doesn’t necessarily want, but will accept for the good of all. He will not be a King who conquered, but instead a King that was chosen.

Since Jon is both a Stark and a Targaryen, but his Targaryen lineage is what gives him a right to the Iron Throne -ironically, a Targaryen will once again rule Westeros. With Dany’s death, so dies the old House Targaryen that she represents, with Jon being the start of a new (and as @thewesterwoman points out -less incestuous) dynasty. This would again mirror the fate of House Plantagenet.

But will he rule as a Targaryen? Or a Stark? Maybe neither?

Perhaps he will rule as a Snow -which considering the connotations, and how being a bastard plagued him his entire life, it would certainly be rather poetic. The Snow falling in the throne room could be a foreshadowing of this. The Targaryen structure is destroyed, but the throne that Targaryen and Lannisters have sat on, is intact.

And remember this? The blending of the Lancaster and York roses into the Tudor rose?

This also leads me to believe that Jon might start a new house entirely, and create his own house sigil -combining the Targaryen and Starks somehow, but allowing BOTH original houses to die off -much like both the Lancasters and Yorks, with no male heirs left to carry on the names. In the books, snow is a big theme in a lot of Sansa’s arc -especially the time she spends as Alayne in the Vale. Many have already drawn these parallels to Jon.

There Must Always be a Stark in Winterfell

(Inspired by the ask I sent thewesterwoman)

Bran has made it pretty clear that he is NOT the Lord of Winterfell. Bran technically isn’t even Bran anymore. *Think of Elizabeth of Yorks two brothers (the princes in the tower). If Arya marries, she will take her husband’s name -same with Sansa. So, if Jon doesn’t take the Stark name, the Stark name perishes, too.

Consider if you will, that Winterfell falls in the Long Night. It was built by Brandon Stark (aka: Bran the builder), one of the “First Men”, as well as the founder of House Stark. He also is said to have built the Wall -“raised it with the aid of Giants”, according to legend. Ironically, the Night King is known to be one of the First Men, too. Supposedly, Bran Stark is in the Winterfell crypts, although some have speculated that he’s actually the NK.

What if there’s something “magical” behind Winterfell and it’s crypts? When Bran asked undead Benjen to come with them to the other side of the wall, he said he couldn’t, as there was magic carved into the foundation of the Wall, and as long as it stood, he could not pass. Maybe there’s something magical connected to Winterfell and the phrase “there must always be a Stark in Winterfell” and, that it’s all somehow connected to the Night King.

If the Night King is defeated once and for all, and Winterfell falls, there’s no longer a “need” for a Stark to be there -giving credence to the theory of Jon starting a new house entirely.

With the Starks being the “good guys” and the story mostly framed around them, Jon and Sansa as Ned/Cat 2.0 yet, the end of House Stark sounds pretty bittersweet to me.

Of course, this is all just speculation …

War of the Roses was only one of many things that GRRM drew inspiration from.

*credit to @sardoniyx for this AMAZING manip work!*

[thebookrat]

Since I featured some of my absolute fave comics featuring strong, complex, interesting female characters yesterday — a post with plenty of covers to swoon over — for today's Cover Love post, I thought we'd take a look at a couple of my favorites that I haven't read. So, disclaimer: these seem to have strong, complex, interesting female characters, too, but as I haven't read them yet... your guess is as good as mine.

I have to confess, I actually have a read a tiny bit of this one. But I got distracted by something else, let it expire on Hoopla, and never circled back to give it another try. But this vibrant neon cover catches my eye EVERY TIME I browse the comics section...

From BRIAN K. VAUGHAN, #1 New York Times bestselling writer of SAGA and THE PRIVATE EYE, and CLIFF CHIANG, legendary artist of Wonder Woman, comes the first volume of an all-new ongoing adventure. In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this smash-hit series about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood. Collects PAPER GIRLS #1-5.

HOW HAVEN'T I READ THIS YET?

Lunella Lafayette is a preteen genius who wants to change the world, but lives in fear of the Inhuman genes inside her! Now, Lunella's life is turned upside down when a red-scaled beast is teleported from the prehistoric past to a far-flung future we call...today! Together they're the most Marvelous Team-Up of all — Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur! But will they be BFFs forever, or just until DD's dinner time? And Lunella soon learns that there are other problems with having a titanic T-Rex as a pet in the modern-day Marvel Universe. School, for one. Monster hunters are another — especially when they're the Totally Awesome Hulk! Then there's the fact that everyone's favorite dino didn't journey through time alone. Beware the prehistoric savages known as the Killer-Folk — New York City's deadliest tourists!

Welp. I think this will be in the next batch of comics I read on Hoopla.

Barbara Thorson, a girl battling monsters both real and imagined, kicks butt, takes names, and faces her greatest fear in this bittersweet, coming-of-age story called "Best Indy Book of 2008" by IGN

I've heard such mixed things on this series that I haven't picked it up yet, but basically, every cover, and every variation of every cover, is just gorgeous.

The Wicked + the Divine follows a young teenage girl, Laura, as she interacts with the Pantheon, a group of twelve people who discover that they are reincarnated deities. This discovery grants them fame and supernatural powers, with the stipulation that they will die within two years – part of a ninety-year cycle known as the Recurrence.

Okay, it seems more than a little self-indulgent to have yourself as the cover illustration (and I'm assuming, main character?) in a comic you helped co-write, so I see you, Amandla Stenberg. But the cover did catch my eye, and the interior art looks very dreamy and inviting.

“What becomes of the child who has lost her spirit?” NIOBE: She is Life is a coming of age tale of love, betrayal, and ultimate sacrifice. Niobe Ayutami is an orphaned wild elf teenager and also the would-be savior of the vast and volatile fantasy world of Asunda. She is running from a past where the Devil himself would see her damned… toward an epic future that patiently waits for her to bind nations against the hordes of hell. The weight of prophecy is heavy upon her shoulders and the wolf is close on her heels.

Honorable Mention:

This one is less a cover-love (I mean, the cover's fine, but not necessarily a stand out), but this is definitely a synopsis love: I. Am. Intrigued.

When all the men in Mancastle get eaten by a dragon, the women take over! Now the blacksmith’s wife Merinor is King, Princess Aeve is the Captain, and the only remaining (and least capable) knight Sir Riddick is tasked with teaching the ladies of the castle how to defend against all manner of monsters! Novelist Delilah S. Dawson (Star Wars: The Perfect Weapon, As Wicked as She Wants, Wake of Vultures) brings her first original series to comics, and is joined by breakthrough illustrators Ashley A. Woods (Niobe: She Is Life) and Becca Farrow for a rollicking fantasy adventure featuring women reclaiming their lives on their terms. Collects issues the complete limited series.

Let me know your thoughts on these covers, and any comics and graphic novels that have caught YOUR eye, based on cover alone, in the comments! And make sure to check out the rest of the girl power comics-inspired posts that have gone up this week! via The Book Rat