#and the other two books are the books in the Evil Queen's dungeon in Snow White - Poisons and Disguises haha

[miramelindamusings]

@prudensvulpes requested Sora with Dylan Hollis' energy where he has his own cooking channel! Thank you so much for your patience! And this was alot of fun to do! I used Dylan Hollis' "Fake Apple Pie" tiktok (shortened to certain moments and some moved around for comedic effect!). I hope you like it and thank you again :)!

And here's a bonus sketch because I couldn't resist drawing Sora's face lighting up the same way Dylan Hollis' does when a recipe is actually good!:

[nerdasaurus1200]

Day 4- Fairytale/Story Swap

Obligatory Tags: @our-newdream @autumn-sundrop @the-writer1988 @seadrreams

So those of you who follow me know that I headcanon Eugene becoming an author post series. And for today’s prompt I wanted to do something with that and it finally hit me.

One of Eugene’s most common things to do in his books is to just insert him And Rapunzel (and their friends of course) in different random fairytales and give it a twist so the story fits their personalities. One of his most popular ones was “SnowPunzel”. Rapunzel was in Snow White’s place (naturally), Eugene was in the prince’s as Prince Rider, Gothel was the Evil Queen, Weasel was the Huntsman, and Cass, Lance, Varian, Angry, and Catalina were the dwarves.

The dashing devil may care prince Rider found the lovely Snowpunzel singing by the royal well to her pet frog on the Festival of Lanterns, and they lifted two of their own into the sky to celebrate their new love. The Evil Queen found out about their secret romance and ordered her huntsman to have Snowpunzel killed. But the Huntsman couldn’t succeed, for Snowpunzel’s golden locks were indestructible. Luckily this gave Snowpunzel enough time to run away and led by some forest friends (Ruddiger and the DP palace pets) she happened upon a cottage inhabited by a venomous cobra woman, a werewolf and her cranky sister, an alchemist, and the second most handsome thief in the world. And there Snowpunzel resided for many months, grateful for her new home and new friends. However misfortune had fallen the prince for the Evil Queen had imprisoned him in her dungeon. But with the help of his raven Hamuel and Snowpunzel’s frog Prince Rider escaped and stole the Queen’s prized horse Maximus in search for his love! Unfortunately the Queen had finally gotten word that Snowpunzel was alive, and in a furious rage killed her huntsman. Once she settled down, she formulated a plan. Once Snowpunzel was all alone in the cottage, the Queen came to her disguised as an old hag and convinced her to take a bite of a wishing apple. Little did poor Snowpunzel know that the apple was poisoned with a sleeping curse, and she fainted as soon as she swallowed the first bite. Her human friends were griefstricken when they found her, and in their grief sought out the evil queen and killed her in revenge. Once their Snowpunzel had been avenged, they returned home and laid her in bed ready to bury her the following morning. However, the next morning next morning with the dawn brought none other than Prince Rider himself!! He was heartbroken to find his Snowpunzel so cold and lifeless, and held her in his arms and gave her a kiss farewell. But then…she opened her eyes! True love’s kiss had broken Snowpunzel from their slumber! Prince Rider and Snowpunzel rejoiced with their friends, dancing and singing and feasting for an entire week. Once the celebration was over, Prince Rider let them all move to his kingdom, married Snowpunzel, and they all lived happily ever after.

[lovecanbesostrange]

It started with an ask on konako’s blog, that led to a small scene with Red kneeling before the Evil Queen. (x) That was almost Red Queen fun. But it spun into something very dark, because the Evil Queen did capture Red and torture as punishment followed (this goes into dead-dove territory, you are warned, it’s messed up). Here are 4k words of what happened in the palace dungeon afterwards (spoiler alert, excessive use of silver):

summary: Red made the Evil Queen look foolish and gets utterly destroyed for it (graphic depictions of violence included)

Finally a little triumph. The Evil Queen went down the stairs into the dungeon. Every step of her well-shined heeled boots echoed loudly from the stone steps. Sometimes she wished she had more patience to make good use of the cells down here. But she was bored too easily not getting answers and the prisoners died quickly. Her torturer barely had anything to do. Why did she even pay him anymore? (Did she pay anyone in the palace? They were allowed to live and had nice enough accommodations and food, for sure that was enough.)

But now Regina wanted to take all the time in the world. Her knights had captured that wolf woman! After the bloodbath she had caused weeks ago that made Regina look foolish, she would enjoy their time together now. And it would send Snow White a message in the end.

Two guards were posted outside the cell and two inside. Of course knowing they dealt with a werewolf made handling the prisoner easier. For one the full moon was a couple of nights away. And silver was easy to come by to keep her in line. Regina had also instructed her blacksmith to forge some chains in preparation for when she would be captured. It had been a priority task.

When Regina entered the cell she smiled and took in the sight. Red was chained up in the middle of the room. She was stripped down to her undergarments, her clothes on the floor, except for her cloak that was draped over one of the tables. Her arms were raised above her head, wrists bound by the heavy cuffs each connected to a chain going through a loop in the ceiling and then stretching all the way to a bolt in the wall. Her ankles were cuffed as well, a short heavy chain in between so she couldn’t take any significant steps. Not that she could run away, since her toes barely reached the ground. Red had to carry her weight in her arms, shoulders.

“Well, well, well, so we meet again.” Regina took her time to enter and circled Red, who tried to follow her with her eyes. “You made quite a spectacle the last time.”

“Do you want an apology?” Red’s voice was firm. Too firm for Regina’s taste.

“I don’t think you could muster up an honest one. You’re a deceiver.” Regina stopped in front of her. “Begging for those peasants’ lives and then killing my men.” She grabbed Red’s chin with her thumb and index finger. “You said there was no need for bloodshed and you happily slaid them anyway.”

“I wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t tried to take me.”

“As if you thought I would let you walk away from there.” Regina looked closely into those green eyes. Was the bravado real or just posturing? “Don’t get me wrong, the way you killed those men without a second thought was impressive. I can admire that. But the humiliation it would have been to return to the village and enact punishment, admitting to being defeated that day - I can’t let that slide.” She slapped Red across the cheek.

Red closed her eyes and didn’t turn her face back up. She was glad the villagers had been spared. Regina didn’t know how long she had stuck around to make sure there was no retaliation. And whatever was about to follow, would have been worth it. Snow had her plans to strike and they were close to luring the Queen into a trap. But every day more innocent people could die and Red could not sit by. She owed it to the victims of the wolf to use her strength for good now.

She heard Regina take a few steps back and looked again. The cloak was in her hands now. “Do you have any other name or should I just call you Red. Not very original, is it? Naming yourself after a bit of fabric.” Her fingers traced the patterns. “I sense magic in this. But I guess asking about it will not bring me answers, right? Just like any of Snow White’s plans won’t leave your lips.”

Statements. The Evil Queen had made up her mind already, questions weren’t part of whatever this encounter was. Red turned her hands around and tried to get a grip on the chain, change her position the slightest bit to take some strain off of her already burning shoulders.

“Do you know there isn’t much to find in books about your kind?” Regina exchanged the cloak for something else from the table. It reflected a bit of the amber light emitted from the fireplace and Red could see it was a simple dagger. “The one thing that is said over and over though is your weakness towards silver. I’m curious. Is it just the metal or wounds inflicted by it?”

Red already clenched her jaw before Regina put the blade against the skin on her upper arm, preparing to get cut. But instead Regina pressed the flat side on her skin first. Definitely silver. Pure. Red felt the effect in a matter of seconds and bit down, grinding her teeth.

Regina stood close again, caught her eyes with her gaze and kept pressing the blade against the tender side of her arm. “Don’t worry, I will write down everything I’m about to do here, so the books can add a chapter about how to break a wolf when in their human form.” And with that she turned the dagger and cut the skin. Red flinched, more from the shock than the actual pain. It was a relief actually to have the silver leave her.

“Are there noteworthy differences between a cut with this,” Regina lifted the dagger, “and a normal blade?” She gestured towards one of the guards and he immediately unsheathed a dagger from his boot. Without hesitation Regina reproduced the cut on the other arm. The blood almost tickled as it ran down. “Oh no, I’m making a mess. Getting blood out of clothes is such a hassle.”

Regina let one of the daggers fall down and with the other cut along the seams of Red’s top half of what she was left wearing. Red closed her eyes again as she felt air hit her exposed body. She knew which weapon Regina held and she could feel the silver being drawn over her skin, over her collarbone, between her breasts, down to her navel. The point barely left a scratch, but the offending metal felt like being brushed with a nettle. Red took in deep, sharp breaths through her nose.

That reaction was exactly what made Regina go slower with her movements. It wasn’t the sharpness that left the light red mark, no, it appeared the longer she held the blade in place. What an interesting sight to watch. Regina brought her free hand up to Red’s chin again, this time squeezing her jaw with her palm, digging her fingers into her cheek. Red looked at her again.

“You know, the longer you resist, the more adamant I will be to make you scream. That is how these things work.” She brought the dagger up to Red’s forehead, this time with the edge to cut into her skin again. It took a few seconds, but then the blood running over her eyebrows made Red blink.

“Can you hold this for me?” With that she wedged the silver dagger between the torn clothes and Red’s hips. Red squirmed trying to get away, but the blade touched her thigh ever so slightly. “I learned a valuable lesson the other day. A blacksmith works with iron. Like those chains holding you. Not used to working with silver. You would have to ask a silversmith about it. I even found one and he is working on special silver cuffs for me. Or rather, for you.”

Regina stood at the table again, her back to Red. When she turned around she held up a necklace. “So for now, I have to settle for delicate jewelry instead of the collar you deserve.” Under any other circumstance Red would have admired the piece. Obviously the star-shaped ornament was meant to hold a gemstone in place, a diamond or a sapphire, but this was stripped down to the silver components for one purpose only. “So you will get used to a leash later,” was all Regina added as she put it around Red’s neck.

Red held on. Her skin was crawling all over, the itch on her thigh burning already, but she tried to stay as still as possible. She couldn’t do anything against the tears forming in her eyes, betraying her brave face though.

Regina stood before her, brows furrowed. “Your healing isn’t as fast. I will need to wait hours to compare those cuts on your arms. There is something I am forgetting.” She rubbed her temples, feigning to think. “Oh, of course, I need a point of reference!” A clap of her hands alerted the guard. “You, get the girl from next door.” Red’s eyes went wide.

“No. Wait. You don’t need to drag anybody else into this.”

Regina stepped closer and slapped her across the cheek again, harder this time. “I don’t remember asking for your opinion and you will stop being so informal around me!”

“Yes, Your Majesty”, Red quickly gathered herself. “But please, there is no need-” But she already saw a frightened young girl being pushed into the cell. About her height and weight, seemingly healthy. For now. The girl fell to the floor and cowered there.

“I caught her stealing, so normally she would already be dead. But she can be of use for me.” Regina put a hand into her hair and yanked her head up, to make her look at Red. “Or do you want her dead right now?”

The terror Red felt was mirrored on the girl’s face. Was there a chance of survival for her? She was ready to beg for her life; to lie on that table where Regina obviously had more silver tools; to take any punishment herself. “No,” Red whispered. Another yank at the girl’s hair. “No, Your Majesty.”

“A fast learner.” She pushed the girl into a chair with cuffs on the armrests. Seating her in front of Red. The girl trembled and looked to the floor. Red tried to pull at her chains, but it only sent a jolt of pain through her shoulders.

Regina paced the room. After a while she came up behind Red. “Your shoulders must really hurt by now. Let me help you with that.” Her fingers played with the necklace and Red hissed. Shifting it around made the pain more noticeable. “The plate.” She said towards the guards. Behind Red a wooden plate leaned against the wall. A thin metal sheet on one side, coated in silver. She knew that before the guards shoved it under her feet. The wood added a few inches so in theory this took some of the weight off her shoulders, but the soles of her feet would soon itch, turn red, swell, hurt and most likely blister. She tried to balance on the outside of her feet only, to not hurt everywhere all at once.

“Do you know what the second thing is that some texts suggest to use against a werewolf?” Silence. “Oh, that was a genuine question directed at you. Do you know?”

“Fire.” Red answered between breaths. Her mouth was open now, it was dry. She didn’t dare to fully fill her lungs, because that made the necklace move. The attack on multiple parts of her body with the silver was starting to overwhelm her.

“That is correct. You know your weaknesses it seems.” Regina conjured a fireball in her hand. “Fire is pure. It doesn’t discriminate. It can be very elegant.” She stepped closer to Red, hand outstretched so she could feel the heat of the flame. “How fast can you heal a burn wound?”

“I don’t k-” Red couldn’t finish that sentence, because Regina held her hand to her side now. A scream was all that escaped her lips. The fireball wasn’t cast, but the flame burned her flesh. Red clenched her fists and tried to step away, the chains around her ankles making a screeching sound dragging over the silver plate. There was no escape, because Regina just followed with her hand. She closed her hand and the fireball vanished. Red went slack, her breathing sped up. The only good thing was that in this commotion, the dagger had gotten loose and fallen to the floor.

Red sorted out her senses, trying to gather her bearings, when she heard the girl scream. Louder, more fearful, indicating the horrible pain she never felt before. Regina had torn her clothes and burned her at the exact same place on her body. For reference. Red couldn’t put the horror of it into words. Would it indeed be better for the girl if she was dead already? She didn’t even know her name.

And Red didn’t learn her name over the next few days, because whatever happened, she would not talk to her. Regina had strictly forbidden it and the rotating guards would hit her at a single word. It was almost comical. Red’s body went numb. Cuts, rashes, bruises, welts, burns, scratches. It came and went. The pain was a constant throbbing, she got repositioned a few times, but it felt like she would never use her arms on her own accord again. But whatever happened to her, the girl looked worse. Red did heal faster from any wound not dealt with silver. But it did take a lot from her regardless. She lost track of time. What was sleep? Any kind of shame about being naked had vanished. Instead of clothes her body was covered in forming scars, marks and blemishes.

Red tried to count the rotations of the guards, to get any kind of feeling for the passing days. It was only days, right? It felt like forever. Silver on her skin somewhere at all times, lashes from a whip, getting burned with a torch, red hot iron, and so many cuts to make her bleed. The worst still a long deep wound on her right cheek, starting at her ear right to the corner of her mouth. When they allowed her some water, it even hurt to swallow.

Later Red found out it had been five days in total. It seemed like a small window of time. But the Evil Queen lived up to her name. Especially on day four, when she left permanent damage. While Red was mostly kept standing up, the girl was strapped to the chair. Not that she had any energy left to walk out of here, even if they’d opened the door for her. Regina stood behind her and pulled her head back.

“Just look at me, I’m sure this won’t hurt you.”

Red looked on as Regina dripped liquid into one of her eyes. The girl flinched, but that was a reflex. None of her sounds of discomfort or pain left her throat. That made Red more nervous than she would admit. And she was right to be.

“Just as I thought. Look at that, barely irritated.” She pushed the girl’s head forward, her eye teared up, maybe a bit reddened.

Regina walked around her and caught Red’s gaze. “Such beautiful green eyes. Quiet unusual. Of course not as remarkable as the wolfish gold, is it?” The way she kept staring was unnerving and Red’s breathing already picked up. Fear. In a short amount of time she had learned what fear truly was.

“Hold her steady.” A guard came and grabbed Red’s head from behind. Panic sunk in and she started to squirm, tried to turn her face away, to wiggle out of his grip. She wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but she knew she wanted out. Right now. No more pain, she couldn’t take anymore. But she had to.

Regina got a few drops out of the vile, into Red’s right eye. “Don’t worry, it’s mostly water. Just a tiny bit of silver dust mixed into it.”

Red pushed her body back as hard as she could, but her mangled feet had no grip, it was more like leaning into the guy. No force to get him off. And then the pain started. It felt like a needle prick. And all of a sudden the colors exploded in Red’s sight. Everything was sharper, the light from the fireplace brighter. She knew her eyes turned golden like before she would transform. It had happened a few times, when highly agitated. Now it was a physical response.

Regina laughed. “I did not expect that.” She met Red’s terror with fascination. More needle pricks in her eye, the urge to rub it away. Red pulled at her chains, she wanted to press the palm of her hand against her eye and get the irritating feeling out. But there was no chance. All Regina saw was the golden color and Red gasping for air, holding back a scream. The hitched breathing was a good enough tell that this hurt.

Worse than the pain that kept sinking in was the way Red started to see white dots, blind specks in her vision. Three, four, five, more and more. She blinked, her tearducts fighting off the intrusion, but the silver too strong an opponent. Red clenched her jaw and groaned. She let out a growl from deep within, filled with frustration and pain. It was more of a bellow than a scream. Regina smiled at that.

While Red’s left eye got back to its human green, the right eye stayed golden, a misty layer clouding the bright hue. It drew Regina’s full attention, while it would be weeks for Red to discover the permanent change. Blinded, only noting a change between light and darkness. Her eyeball feeling like it was rubbed with sandpaper made the rest of the day seem like nothing. Time moved on

And then unthinkable happened. The chains were loosened completely, the cuffs came off. Red tried to curl up on the floor, but she could barely move her joints. Everything hurt too much. But Regina laughed. “Remember that I said I will make you beg for more than mercy? How about you ask me to end her suffering?”

Red looked up. Trying to adjust to the impaired vision. As bad as she felt, the girl looked worse. “Please…”, the girl said and the guard standing behind her, hit her against the head immediately.

It took everything Red had to turn herself upright, to bend her knees and sit on them. To kneel before Regina again. No side eye, no hint of a smirk, no failsafe. The burn marks hurt worst next to the chafed skin around her neck from the necklace that was also gone now. “Your…” Red was shaking, she had to cough trying to speak. “Please, Your Majesty. End her suffering. I beg you. Please. It’s enough… enough…” And with that she fell down again.

“Pathetic.” Regina’s verdict was cold as ice. “And to think I had a gift for you just now. Guards.” They stood next to Red and pulled her to her knees again, held her up. Regina leaned towards her. “My silversmith has arrived.” She produced a silver object and only when the lock clicked around her neck did Red realize this was the collar she had talked about. She felt the burn on her throat and winced. It was a sound she was used to producing by now.

“So?”

“Please… Your Majesty…” Red was panting, she could not finish the plea.

Regina rolled her eyes. “If this is the best you can do, so be it. Ending the suffering now.” And with that her hand shot straight into Red’s chest and pulled out her heart. “Kill her. Rip her throat out like you always do.”

Red wanted to scream. She wanted to jump the Evil Queen. To tear up the men holding her. But what she wanted was irrelevant all of a sudden. The will to do it was overwritten. She looked at the girl, defeated, not even surprised. While Red’s mind fully woke up for the first time in days, all her muscles reacted to something else. The pain all over her body was terrible, but every second she didn’t comply was even more agony.

Red crawled more than she walked to get to the chair. She hovered over her nameless victim, tried to hold back, but those terror-stricken eyes met hers. “Make it quick, please.” Oh, if only she could turn into a wolf, those sharp teeth would take less than a second. Regina had specified how this girl was supposed to die and Red could not opt to cut her throat with a knife, she sunk her still very human teeth into it. The larynx, so easy to wrap fangs around, was hard, the skin and flesh thick. The scream the girl let out was only short, because the pressure suffocated her. It was impossible to make this quick-

Finally Red tasted blood. Tears ran down her face, but she could not stop herself from this horrible act. This slow, agonizing, inhumane death of a nameless chamber maid, who probably hadn’t even stolen a thing. Someone at the wrong place, at the wrong time, who had suffered for days for cruel experiments with no merit. One more victim added to Red’s tally. Not for good. Not in battle. Not in defense. Needless cruelty.

When the girl’s heart stopped, Red finally could let go. She sank on all fours, spat out what she could of the blood and wailed. Her own heart wasn’t even in her chest, but it had never felt heavier.

“Get the smith down here now, he knows what to do.” Regina sent one guard away. Red looked up, warm blood dripping from her chin, she could feel it. Disgusting. If she had any strength left, this would be the time to strike. But all Regina needed to do was a little squeeze. Her heart hurt. No, Red was helpless. Any thought of fighting back an illusion.

“I think it’s best that you lie down on the table for this next part.”

Red wanted to put her head under a guillotine right now. To kill like that was worse than any of the torture methods the Evil Queen had come up with. Regina had won. But Red couldn’t do anything but comply and lied down, waiting for her fate.

It came in the form of a small white haired man, holding a sort of chalice with a long tongue. His hands were shaking and Red couldn’t tell if it was because of what he was doing or just being in Regina’s presence. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening. A guard came and put her wrists into the handcuffs again, strapping her to the table. A chain going over her thighs and under the table fixated her.

Regina squatted down next to her, stroking her hair. “Feel free to scream for me now.”

“The mold.” Wood was pressed against her back. “Careful with your fingers there, wouldn’t want to burn you.”

And then everything was fire. The scream from Red’s throat surprised Regina enough that she stood up. Loud, agonizing, on the brink of collapse. What looked like a chalice was a melting pot, containing a few grams of molten silver. It was poured on Red’s skin and burned her instantly, severely. Water followed mere seconds later to turn the liquid back to solid, but the damage was done. A silver ring fused into her flesh. The pain and the sensory overload from heat to cold send her into shock. She was still screaming with the taste of warm blood in her mouth when the faint claimed her.

[sabrinasgrimoire]

God Studies: Arawn

Arawn is the Welsh God of the Otherworld who is known for his shapeshifting abilities, magick, and hunting. As Christianity began to take over Europe, the traditional Welsh mythology was demonized. Arawn became to God of the damned who’s hell hounds prowled the earth looking for souls to drag to Hell. The name Arawn is thought to come from one of two sources: the Hebrew name “Aaron”, which translates to “exalted”, or it could be the Welsh version of the Celtic God Arubianus.

Arawn is the lord of the Welsh Otherworld called “Annwn”. The location of the Otherworld varies in different myths, and they include an island of the coast of Wales, a cauldron, a kingdom beneath the sea, and an underground kingdom. This is connected to the Arthurian legend of Avalon, the Isle of the Blessed. Many of these Welsh myths and gods were used in Arthurian legend including the Welch God of divination Myrddin Wylt, who transformed into the famous wizard Merlin. Many of the stories and legends of Awan translate to British literature as well. The first story I have told below is of Arawn and Pwyll. This story is similar to “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, and is possibly the origin of this story. Pwyll himself even appears in other Welsh Arthurian legends. Arawn was a just ruler, favored by the people and loved by his unnamed wife, the Queen of Annwn. He appears as a talented Magician known for his shapeshifting abilities. One such story (story 1 below), tells of how he switched appearances with the King Pwyll. In another story, Arawn summons a massive army of the Annwn to battle. He magickally enhances their athletic abilities as well, but is still defeated by the great Gwydion. Along with his skills as a magician, Arawn was a great hunter. He and his court go on a hunt every day with his pack of supernatural dogs that have white ears and red eyes. Autumn was the time of Arawn’s greatest power. Because he is ruler of the Otherworld, he is at his strongest when the veil is the thinnest between the worlds at Samhain. This was a time when the howls of his great hounds and the cries of the geese they hunted were the loudest and most frequent. The rise of Christianity in Europe changed Arawn’s image from a great, just leader to a demon. Because he is the ruler of the Otherworld, he was a dark evil leader by the new church. Annwn became a place where the souls of the damned dwelled, so did Arawn become the leader of the damned. Like the God himself, the hounds of Arawn became the hellhounds of the Otherworld, and were evil beings that fulfilled Arawn’s evil workings. Arawn appears in several places in pop culture. In the book series “The Chronicles of Prydain”, Arawn appears as the evil lord of the Underworld and is defeated by the heroes in the story. The Disney movie “The Black Cauldron” uses Arawn’s influence over the Horned God, and their ability to raise the dead. Dungeons and Dragons highlights Arawn’s rule of the Underworld as well, though closer to his appearance in “The Chronicles of Prydain” than his role in traditional Welsh mythology.

Myths

This first story comes from the “Mabinogi”, which is a collection of eleven Welsh myths. On one particularly cold and snowy winters day, Pwyll, ruler of Dyfed, chased after a magnificent stag in the woods. Just when he had caught up to the stag and raised his blade for the killing blow, a pack of red-eyed hounds bounded out from the underbrush and tore into the stag, killing it for themselves. Angry that he did not have his prize, Pwyll chased off the hounds. Pwyll knelt next to the stag, seeing if there was anything left he could salvage. This is when a dark rider appeared from betwixt the snow-laden trees. Pwyll demanded the name of the rider, who informed him that he was Annwn, and because he had stolen the stag of the King of the Otherworld, he must submit himself to Arawn. When Pwyll was put in front of Arawn, a begged the king for mercy. But Arawn offered Pwyll a strange form of penance. They would trade lives for one year, each appearing in the form of the other. During this time, Pwyll must defeat Arawn’s enemy Hafgan. Pwyll agreed, grateful for his life, and the two traded places for the year. The year came to an end, and the two men met once again as friends. During this year, neither had lain with the wife of the other. They both returned to their own lives.

This second story comes from the epic poem “Cad Goddeu” (“The Battle of the Trees”) from the “Book of Taliesin”. In this tale, Amaethon steals one of Arawn’s hounds and a stage from his domain. Arawn pursues him and summons a great host of warriors whom he magickally enhances. However, the battle ends in a great loss for Arawn when Amaethon’s brother Gwydion summons a host of trees from the forest to fight. This is the myth that was used in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Works Cited:

Gregory Wright (2019), Arawn, Celtic Lord of Annwn, Mythopedia, https://mythopedia.com/celtic-mythology/gods/arawn/

Various (Various), Arawn, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arawn

Unknown (Unknown), Arawn—God of the Underworld, Terror, Revenge, and War, The White Goddess, http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/divini ... /arawn.asp

HEARTOFTHEWITCHSPATH (March 2nd 2016), ABC’s of Celtic Mythology—Airmid & Arawn, Heart of the Witchs Path, https://heartofthewitchspath.wordpress. ... mid-arawn/

Judika Illes (2009), Arawn, Occult World, https://occult-world.com/welsh-mythology/arawn/

[yukippe]

stand and face me

raven signs the book. she doesn’t sign her soul away. ao3.

1. 

It’s Legacy Day. It’s Legacy Day and your name is Raven Queen and this is the day that’s haunted your life. 

The sun has risen when you wake up, and Apple’s smiling at you. She’s smiling at you and all you can think about is the way your chest hurts when you think about her. You don’t love her. You like her now, you know that. You know that she wants nothing more from you than to play your part in her story. And you think, maybe you will. Maybe this is what it all leads to. Maybe all you have to do is fulfill your part and you will have her friendship. Her hand to hold. 

“Oh Raven!” She says, her voice like bells. “We should get ready together, I can do your makeup and-”

It’s a nice thought. It’s interrupted thought, by a knock on the door. You go to answer it and it’s like destiny is calling. A goblin stands at the door, staring up at you as if he can see a future you try not to imagine. You smile at him, politely. “Raven Queen,” he says. “Your heirloom dress awaits in the cauldron room.”

This is the way destiny works? Is this your fate, you think fleetingly. That even the moments you have with Apple before you sign are not allowed to last. You take one last look at her, you smile apologetically and you follow the goblin to the depths of the school. You're doing this for her. You're doing this for her.  

Why are you doing this for her? It haunts you. You don’t love her. You haven’t known her long enough. You think of how she held your hand and went through every hoop you were jumping through, trying to find another way. If there had been one, she would’ve let you take it. You think of her smile, her blonde hair, her red framed glasses she doesn’t let anyone see. You look up at the coffin where your mother’s weapon of a dress is waiting. This is what she asks of you. You don’t love her. You don’t even know if you could, even if you tried. She spied on you and decorated your half of the room like a tomb and has always viewed you as something you're not. 

You think of her smile again. And then you shuffle into the dress. It fits perfectly. You don’t like the way it looks. You look into the mirror and you see. You see the Evil Queen. You can’t see Raven Queen in the mirror. You let your hair down, you do your makeup. You put on your crown. You put your head in your hands so the goblins in the room can’t see your tears. You wipe your face, reapply your makeup. You walk out of the room. 

They follow you, the creatures of the shadows. The creatures of your childhood. Goblins caused you trouble once, on the mountains. You know, now, no goblin will question your word ever again if you wear a crown like this. You feel powerful. 

Then-as you walk Maddie’s there somehow. You turn and your friend is holding your hand and. And, you know that the friendship you have with Cedar and Maddie won’t fit into a world of castles on craggy cliffs, and bone rat infested dungeons, and hordes of evil minions. But, Maddie is holding your hand. You think of how no matter what she’s always done the impossible. So you ask her a question, in the hall. “Maddie?” You ask her, your voice quiet. You don’t want anyone else to hear you. 

Maddie, Maddie with her curly hair and tall hats and puffy skirt lets out a laugh, “Yes, Raven-dear?”

“Maddie,” you breathe. “Maddie, if I sign the book. If I sign the book who will my friends be?”

Maddie’s face turns confused, she grabs your other hand and she looks into your eyes and says, “Raven you silly-billy, You and me and Cedar and all of us, we’re best friends forever after. What in teatime do you think forever after means?”

It’s the last promise you needed to hear. The hallways lights flicker over you, a part of you seems to understand this is what your life will be. The few students left in the hallway are cowering, trying to edge their way out from around you and the followers behind you. If you take this there’s a promise of evil. But, if Maddie’s promising best friends forever after you think you can take it and hold it to your heart for as long as you need. You remember Apple’s smile. You want to keep it there for as long as you can. You smile back at Maddie, “Best friends forever after, you promise?”

Maddie nods, as serious as she can manage, “I swear on my second best hat and third favourite tea.”

You nod and smile at her. Then the two of you walk to Legacy Day. 

2. 

When you stand in line, in your dress that could cut, and your cape that trails behind you and your crown that weighs heavy on your head you look around and you see smiles. You see smiles on all the faces you’d expect. Cedar is next to you and her face is alight and you tell her you can’t wait to see her become the girl she’s always wanted to be, and she smiles at you and she tells you that she believes in you. You let the moment sit in your chest and it rests there. This is what Cedar wants. This is what Apple wants. A fairytale can be safe. 

You look in front of you and-it looks like Ashlynn’s crying. For a moment you almost reach out, you think you know why she’s crying. You see Hunter near her frowning at the sight. You look behind you and you see Cerise, quiet, athletic Cerise you’ve always wanted to be friends with. She looks like she’s trying to hide into her cloak and hood. You pause. You step away from Cedar and Maddie to smile at her, as gently as you can. She looks up and catches your eye and she seems to try to smile back. You reach for her hand and squeeze it, you slide closer to her and you whisper, “I’m here if you need anything.” She looks at you as if she wants to say something, but she pauses.

Cedar is racing up the stairs as you look to Cerise. Cedar is signing the book and Cerise opens her mouth and she says, “Raven, how do we know that signing the book will actually bind us to anything?” 

Your heart leaps sudden, soft. Your mouth quirks up into a smile, a real one. “It’s what Headmaster Grimm says.” You hear Ashlynn pledge her destiny. You think of Giles Grimm in the Vault of Lost Tales, telling you the Storybook of Legends has no power. You bite your lip and you lean closer to Cerise, “But it’s not what his brother says.”

Cerise stares you down. She squeezes your hand. She says, “Find me after this.” You don’t know why, but you say yes. Maddie slides in between the two of you then, Cedar on her arm the both of them smiling. Apple signs her name, you know you’re next. You let out a breath. You turn to the stairs. You worry about tripping over your train and that makes you want to laugh. You find your place in front of the book and look at the crowd. 

There. Apple’s smile. She’s smiling up at you. Your chest tightens. You can’t do this for her. You think of Cerise, of Giles Grimm. Of Bella Sister. Of Ashlynn and Hunter. “I am Raven Queen.” You pause. “And I am ready to pledge a destiny.” 

No one seems to notice the change. Except for Headmaster Grimm, he looks at you with his eyebrows furrowed. A key appears. It doesn’t look like the key of an Evil Queen. It’s golden and there’s a dragon’s eye at the end. You slide it into the lock and it opens to your story. No one else can see the story but you. You think. You think that this story might be different if you were not so sure. You think you might see a nightmare on the pages if you weren’t so sure. But, it's almost as if it’s reassuring you. 

The page is a mirror. It shows you your face and nothing more. You sign that destiny with a grin. 

3. 

Apple hugs you when you walk down the steps and for a moment you feel bad, you aren’t living her story with her. That’s not what you signed up for. But, you sink into the hug for just a moment anyway. Then, you leave her arms. It doesn’t feel right. Hunter signs after you and - did he notice, you wonder. Did he realize you changed the words?

Because he’s changed them too. “I, Hunter Huntsman, son of the Huntsman who saves Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood, am ready to pledge a destiny.” 

You watch as Duchess follows the right script, and Cerise’s eyes twinkle as she doesn’t. Cedar grabs at your hand when Maddie rambles on for several moments, but doesn’t actually say whether or not she’s going to follow her destiny. A key still appears for her and Maddie’s eyes go wide when she sees her page. She signs with a quill she pulls from her hair. Cedar looks at you and you smile back, bright. 

4. 

Apple tries to pull you along with her to the ball and a part of you wants to follow her, but you think of what Cerise told you before you signed. “Find me after this.” Apple smiles at you and it still makes your chest tighten, but you knew when you started this farce that you couldn’t stay near here. You tell her you will see her later. You don’t mean it. 

5. 

Cerise finds you. You’re just stepping out of the closet Hunter shoved you into to ask about destiny. Cerise pushes you back in and your heart skips a beat. 

“Hey,” she says. Her voice is soft, as if she knows you’re a little lost. You both should be on your way to the Legacy Ball now, but you don’t know if you really want to go and celebrate a lie. You’re sure Maddie and Cedar will probably hunt you down anyways to drag you down soon. Cerise tugs on her cloak, “Raven, the book’s not supposed to do that.”

You nod, “I didn’t think so.” Cerise lets out a little laugh. You pause at the sound, but then you refocus. “Cerise, you said that...you sounded like you knew something earlier.”

She nods, there are no lights in the closet but you can make out her eyes somehow. You think back at all the times Cerise was…

“Raven,” she says. Her voice is serious. “Raven, my mother is Little Red Riding Hood. And my father….Well you know him too.”

“He’s Mr. Badwolf,” you say. She nods. 

“Raven, my parents have told me all about their legacy days. Neither of them were huge fans of signing their souls away, but they saw it unfold. And Raven? It didn’t unfold for them the way it showed them in the book. My mother didn’t see past the Huntsman arriving, and she never saw my father the way he appeared in reality. My father saw himself escaping, but not the way it happened.”

“The book lies,” you say. How do we know signing the book will actually bind us to anything. Cerise’s parents told a story they never saw. Your mother waged a war that never existed before. 

A class of budding fairytales signed nonsense pledges. Your mirror phone buzzes in your bra. Your legacy dress was beyond compare, but your mother never saw fit to sew in pockets. You’ll change that, you think, if you ever need to wear it again. Cerise blinks at the sound, and when you squint you can see big ears all the better to hear with, hiding under her hood. It buzzes again and you ignore it. 

You breathe. Once. Twice. Your name is Raven Queen and Milton Grimm is hiding something. Cerise tilts her head at you and you think you could lose yourself in her eyes. You don’t think you’d ever want to be found. But, Cerise isn’t the type to lose her way, you think she’d help you come back if you were ever gone. 

She reaches for your wrist and pulls it closer to her. Her fingernails are long and they remind you of Mr. Badwolf’s claws when he wears his wolf form to scare the younger students. You stop breathing, just for a moment, and you wish you knew what she was thinking. 

Bzz. Cerise drops your hand and crouches over, the way she’s always shrunk in on herself. You know why now, all your suspicions confirmed. “Are you going to check that?” Cerise asks you. “Someone really wants to reach you.”

It could be Maddie or Cedar. Or Hunter, maybe. Really, you know it’s Apple before you even look. You pull out your phone, it’s warm from being stuck to your skin. You look at the hexts asking where you are and you remember the feel of Cerise’s hand on your wrist, the way you burn under Apple’s eyes even when Apple’s seeing a lie. 

“The Legacy Ball,” you say. Cerise nods and you wish for the look on her face from moments ago to return. You had almost decided not to go. But, you think of Milton Grimm. He's not expecting anything yet, you know. He underestimates almost everyone. You don’t respond to Apple’s messages, and you try to get Cerise to meet your gaze. “Come with me?” You ask. “It’d be weird if we didn’t go.”

Cerise gives you a half smile and you wonder how much worse it would feel to see it at full force. You think of her white teeth, you wonder how sharp they are underneath her lips. You want to touch in a way you know you shouldn’t. You think of your mother’s sharp words and your father's wing separate from hers. Your mother never gave a lesson on anything like this, but neither did your father. Good and Evil didn’t know how to teach this and you wonder what that means. She doesn’t take your hand as you both slip out of the closet and you wish she would. You think of Apple and the way it felt to be near her when you wandered through the marshes and the mountains and down the lake. You can’t quite remember if it felt like this. You know it was, though you’d never say it out loud. 

Cerise walks beside you as you both make your way down to the boats. There will be one waiting for you, you know. You might have lost the creatures that followed you to your Legacy Day, but you know that they won’t leave you for good. And they haven’t. Maddie, Cedar, Hunter, and Ginger are all standing in the centre of them. Maddie’s making conversation and Hunter seems to be trying to take her example. Cerise barks out a laugh beside you and you do your best to play the sound again in your head, trying to make the memory of it stick as soon as it’s finished. She smiles at you and pulls you down by your wrist as fast, making you run in your weapon of long skirts and metallic train. As you climb onto the only boat left, though still a respectable one, you think about what it means to be first. 

[taradiddled]

For anyone wondering who Julia is, she was originally the story of The Snow Queen, a story Hans wrote and had published to spite Elsa. Hans did this at the encouragement of his father’s adviser, Valter, who, SURPRISE, turns out to be an evil magician who belongs to a family of magic. Coincidentally, that family has a history of particularly bad blood with the royal family of the Southern Isles.

Valter’s magic feeds on emotion, and the negativity that practically DROWNS the Westergaard family is absolutely delicious to Valter’s magic, but it is Hans’s anger and misery that Valter finds the most delectable, so keeping Hans’s bitterness thriving becomes key in Valter’s schemes. Basically, the more miserable Hans becomes/stays, the more power Valter can accrue.

Hans’s dreams are haunted by Valter’s influences, of which Hans remains unaware. At the same time, Valter is also influencing Hans’s brothers, their wives, their children, as well as the King and Queen of the Southern Isles, creating a giant well of misery that makes the Southern Isles volatile.

At the same time, Hans’s book travels through the kingdom, across the water, and to Arendelle, ending up in Elsa’s hands. By the time it lands in her hands, however, the story has already been read by hundreds and thousands, and becomes an influence in the minds of Arendelle’s allies, supporters, and people. It has already caused Elsa some grief before she even reads the first page, and once she reads the story, she knows, without a doubt, that Hans is at fault. Elsa is hurt and furious, but she has to put her anger on the back-burner as she receives word that the Southern Isles is threatening war with one of Arendelle’s allies, Karthstock.

Elsa meets with the Queen of Karthstock and asks Her Majesty to hold off her response to the Southern Isles’s declaration, and instead allow Elsa to go and try to broker peace. The Queen of Karthstock is reluctant to back down from the Southern Isles’s challenge, and agrees, but decides to keep Olaf with her as an insurance policy that Elsa will either convince the Southern Isles to make peace, or return to Karthstock and aid the war efforts. Olaf, oblivious to the dangers ahead, agrees to keep the “lonely queen” company, and wishes Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Sven, well on their mission.

Promising to return for him, Elsa and company sail to the Southern Isles, encountering a brief scare with the incredibly on-edge Southern Isles Navy, but are nonetheless received as another of the Isles’s allies. They are then taken to the castle of the royal family, riding comfortably through the Isles’s capital, where they catch glimpses of the people’s plight, suffering under the Isles’s rising tensions. And things are even worse at the castle, where the group encounters the royal family. It quickly becomes apparent to them that the royal family is not in the right state of mind, and are disturbed by the behavior, especially of the King and the princes. Valter, however, is quite enthused to meet the Arendellians, and though the King and his beleaguered Queen are initially against Elsa’s request for discussion, Valter manipulates the monarchs to give Elsa a chance.

While this is happening, Hans is continuing his work on the castle grounds, working in the stables, assisting in laundry work, and enduring general drudgery as is his punishment. He is incensed when he learns that Elsa and her family are in the Isles, and, despite his brothers’ taunting, refuses to be in her presence. But his brothers, at Valter’s influence, give Hans little choice, and trick Hans into encountering Elsa alone. Though Elsa demands answers from Hans on why he wrote The Snow Queen, Hans maintains his silence, and blatantly ignores Elsa, which, of course, only incenses Elsa further. Anna initially encourages Elsa to leave Hans be, but Valter creeps into Anna’s dreams, and influences the bitterness and anger the princess has towards Hans, and Elsa’s resentment towards the former prince continues to grow unchecked.

Elsa tries to catch Hans out while he’s working, believing she can force him to talk to her (she deserves that much, right?) but Hans is clever, figures out what Elsa is doing, and decides to mess with her. Valter, enjoying the negativity growing between the former prince and the queen, decides to increase Elsa and Hans’s interactions, believing that they might eventually come to blows, and Elsa attacking Hans could potentially raise issue with the King, and cause the Southern Isles to make a threat against Arendelle. This is halted, however, by Kristoff, who tires of Anna and Elsa’s sudden spitefulness and sets them straight. Mortified at her behavior, Elsa seeks out Hans once more, but when he braces himself for an attack, he is surprised to find Elsa sincerely apologetic for her vengeful behavior.

She implores Hans, with heartfelt sincerity, that she just wants to understand why he wanted to hurt her so badly with his book. Why he kept calling her a “monster”. Though Hans is wary of Elsa’s intentions, he does admit that he holds a great deal of anger towards Elsa over what’s happened in the past, and says that “a monster would know a monster”. Though Elsa feels a rise of anger towards Hans’s selfishness, she forces it back, opting to instead try to understand, and then deconstruct, what Hans feels towards her. She starts visiting Hans again, asking him questions about his life, his interests, his hobbies, much to Hans’s befuddlement. Though Hans is stubborn, not wanting to reveal too much of himself, he finds himself talking with Elsa, and is surprised by the comfort he takes in her company, as well as the guilt he is starting to feel.

Hans’s diminishing anger doesn’t sit well with Valter, who plagues Hans’s dreams double as much, deciding to focus upon Hans’s guilt, and warp it into a weapon against Elsa’s attempts to try and understand the former prince. Hans is repeatedly haunted by his book, with the Snow Queen appearing constantly in his nightmares, an amalgamation of Hans’s guilt, anger, fear, and self-loathing. With each visit the Snow Queen makes in Hans’s dreams, he pulls away from Elsa, confusing the young queen. He begins calling himself a “monster”, and drowning in doubt.

But while Elsa tries to get Hans to talk to her again, Anna and Kristoff catch on to the influence that Valter has over the royal family. Hilarious attempts at spying on the adviser are made, concluding with the discovery of Valter’s magical prowess, and his role in the turmoil of the royal family. They get back to Elsa and tell her what they’ve learned, and, together, they try to start to convince Hans that Valter is up to no good. But Hans’s negativity has descended upon once him again, and their pleas fall on deaf ears. Valter catches on to their attempts to convince Hans, and decides that he needs to strike now, while he’s at his most powerful.

Believing that Hans needs proof of Valter’s power, Anna and Kristoff sneak into Walter’s room once more and try to steal one of his magical objects, but Valter catches them, frames them for planning to assassinate the King, and gets them thrown into the dungeon. At the same time that Valter is convincing the King to lock up Elsa as well, Elsa is trying to get through to Hans one more time, but his turmoil is so great that he begins arguing heatedly with Elsa, demanding that Elsa “finish what she really came to do”, only to be stopped when the royal guards come to take Elsa away.

Though Hans is still upset with Elsa, he helps her fend off the guard, and the two run, sneaking into the castle in hidden tunnels Hans discovered as a child, and listening in on the commotion occurring inside the castle. They overhear conversation revealing what has happened to Anna and Kristoff, and they waste no time sneaking into the castle dungeon, where a relieved Anna and Kristoff relay all they’ve learned about Valter. Hans is immensely disturbed when he learns that he’s been used and manipulated all along by his father’s adviser, and becomes enraged. But the fire is quickly doused when Anna reminds Hans that his anger is what feeds into Valter’s power. Despite Hans being hesitant to assist the group, he agrees to hep stop Valter, who, while the group has been in the dungeons, plotting Valter’s defeat, has successfully managed to convince the King to launch war against Arendelle.

A daring escape from the dungeons is made, and there is much fighting and heroics, a charge being lead through the castle, heading for the King, until our heroes barge into the throne room to encounter the King, only to find the monarch in a trance, under Valter’s sway. A grand villain speech is made, taunts are thrown, and Valter even enchants the King to fight them, the heroes having to be careful to not injure the monarch. But Hans proves the most susceptible, as the King pins Hans down, allowing Valter to lay a hand against Hans’s brow, and, using magic, pull the nightmare of the Snow Queen out of Hans’s head, and pulling all his power into giving the nightmare a corporal form.

The nightmare takes form, becoming a young white-haired, emerald-eyed girl, with ice on her skin and snow in her hair. She announces herself to the room as a “monster”, and then floods the throne room with ice and snow, so powerful that even Elsa is taken aback at the girl’s power. Hans is stunned at the girl’s appearance, as she is a perfect amalgamation of himself and Elsa. He is scared of her, as she is the representation of all his fears and anxieties, and the more he fears, the more powerful she becomes. Valter tries to use the little snow queen against the heroes, but she quickly disabuses Valter of the notion that she can be controlled, as she is FULL of all Hans’s negativity, as well as Valter’s power. She overpowers Valter, and freezes him in ice, as well as freezing the Hans’s father, and several other people in the room.

Elsa tries to stop the little snow queen, but finds herself unable to defeat the girl, who keeps throwing attack after attack. It only serves to agitate the girl, and she becomes enraged, screaming and crying and demanding to know why she was created. She particularly focuses on Hans, who she calls “Father”, and Elsa and Anna and Kristoff try to keep Hans out of the snow queen’s path. But, in a moment of clarity, Hans breaks away from the heroes, and goes to the snow queen’s side. He suffers multiple limbs freezing, and ends up on his knees at the little girl’s feet. She looks in rage upon the man who gave her literary birth, and demands to know why she was created.

“Because I was angry,” Hans tells the girl, truthful.

“You’re just a monster, like me, Father,” the girl tells Hans, crying.

“You’re not a monster,” Hans tells the girl as his heart freezes. “You’re more than who I tried to make out to be. You’re not a monster. And you’re more than this...this anger I forced upon you.” “If I’m not a monster, then, who am I?”

“You’re...Julia...you’re a little girl, with great power...and you’re not what I, or Valter, made you to be.” Hans throws his arms about the girl -- now named Julia -- and he begins to freeze. But Julia cries out to Hans, and holds him, calling him “Father” once again, and begging him to unfreeze. Elsa and Anna and the rest of the heroes head to Hans’s side, and Elsa tries to helps Hans, but is horrified to find that she can’t. Anna tries, telling Hans he did a great thing, and even Kristoff joins, but Hans won’t unfreeze.

Finally, Julia falls on Hans, sobbing, and begs forgiveness for freezing his heart. Her love, activated by Hans’s acceptance of himself, causes the ice to recede from Hans. He returns to life, eyes on Julia.

“But...how?” Anna asks.

“She froze your heart,” Elsa says.

“Don’t you see, Elsa,” Hans says, still weak. “She IS my heart.”

Everyone piles onto Hans, so happy he’s back, and Julia has her arms about Hans, crying happily, getting snow everywhere with her emotions.

[rainandhotchocolate]

Marbles - Part 6

A/N HEY I HAVE BEEN SICK AS BALLS so sorry that this took so long, but you’ll be happy to know that in my delirium I started multiple fics in my notebooks, so I should have a few things to upload this week ayay. 

This is the last Marbles part btw ;) But send me a message if you want anything more from these fun ol’ characters, I really like this fic! 

It’s also bloody long for one of my chapters so I hope you enjoy hehe

Part 6

Dear Y/N,

I know it’s been a weird year

I wanted to say that I’m really sorry for treating you

I don’t know how you could do something like that, what have you become

You know you haven’t sent me a single letter all year, what do you expect me to think? If you’d just

I miss you.

Sirius.

 ~~~~~~~

Sirius’ heart was pounding faster than he thought possible. It was like his life was flashing before his eyes, but instead, it was just moments with her. Laughing on the Hogwarts express as they hovered small green, fake, frogs down the hallway and heard the shrieking of the first years as they ran in the opposite direction. Hanging their legs out the side of the small window in Sirius’ bedroom at the Black household as they listened to the new Queen album on repeat on the lowest setting so that his parents wouldn’t hear it. Seeing that small smile play on her face as told her about his new room at James’ house that was covered in pictures of them all and had a brand-new record player.

The way his heart skipped a beat when she arrived at one of the pureblood balls in a bright red dress that hugged her figure, her hair curled and shining under the large chandelier.

When they finally pulled apart, Y/N’s lips were red, cheeks looking like they had been pinched, and Sirius couldn’t help but stare, wanting to drink it all in so he could have another memory of her to hold onto.

Y/N’s sharp voice cut across his thoughts.

“What are you doing?”

Sirius wanted to think that he knew her expressions by now, but after being apart for so long he couldn’t help but think that perhaps he was imagining the way she seemed to be holding back a smile.

“I… I don’t know, I just wanted to and…” Sirius felt the surge of confidence he’d had moments before fall short. He hadn’t exactly thought this the whole way through.

“You can’t just do that! You can’t kiss me and think I’m going to melt in your arms and forget everything you did, everything you thought that I could have done,” Sirius felt a stab of pain in his chest when he heard Y/N’s voice break slightly.

“I didn’t mean that I wasn’t trying to force you to forgive me, I just ugh,” Sirius huffed, the swirling of thoughts going through his head making him want to just turn around and sprint away, not have to deal with any more confusion. But he wasn’t going to do that. He wasn’t going to let the girl he’d been watching from the corners for seven years slip out of his fingers once more, “I can’t stop thinking about you, Y/N.”

“I thought you hated me, Sirius,” She replied coolly, watching him with daggers for eyes.

“I don’t hate you! I could never, I – fuck I really messed things up between us didn’t I?” He groaned, leaning against one of the large stone pillars that seemed to grow out of the dungeon floors behind him, “I got scared, I didn’t know what to do with the idea of having… feelings for…”

“A pureblood Slytherin,” Y/N finished for him. Sirius wasn’t sure if there was more understanding or spite in her tone, but he pressed on all the same, determined to get this out.

“Yes. And then I saw you, well saw what I thought was you playing a cruel prank on those first-years and it just gave me the perfect excuse to run away.”

Sirius blew out a long breath he hadn’t realised he was holding, waiting for Y/N to react, to do anything. Instead, she stood perfectly still, her head cocked to one side as she watched him closely. Once upon a time this might have meant she was working on something, a new spell, a new trick, something she would have shared with Sirius.

“So, what you’re saying, is that you were a coward?” She continued to watch him with her now infuriatingly blasé expression, raising an eyebrow.

“Are you goading me?”

“Perhaps.”

“Does this mean that we are ok enough to be teasing each other?” Sirius teased, a little hope fluttering into his stomach. Y/N sighed and raised a hand to her hips, shaking her head.

“Sirius you badmouthed me to all of my Gryffindor friends for a year, cut me off, made me feel like dirt for doing nothing more than what you would have done.” She paused, not making eye contact with him, “I can’t just pretend you never did that, that you don’t have a deep-seated issue with who I am.”

“It’s not you, it’s never been you, it’s how I- we grew up. You know that, you know it was about Slytherin and what that meant to me. You were different than them, are different,” The moment the words left his mouth he knew they were the wrong ones. Y/N’s nostrils flared, her mouth curling into a tight frown as he pleaded with her.

“I am not different from them. Slytherin has been my home, my support system, a better support than you have been these past few years. I cannot be separated from where I belong, and I don’t want to be. Either you sort out your problems with Slytherin and purebloods from the assholes who defile our name, or you leave me alone.”

With that she turned on her heel and stormed away, no doubt towards the Slytherin common rooms. Sirius suddenly had a flash of a memory, of her bringing him down here under the invisibility cloak so he could see it, the excitement in her eyes at showing him her space, her home. You absolute prat.

Sirius wandered slowly back up to the Gryffindor common room, not really wanting to go back but unsure what he could possibly do out here in the dark that would make him feel any better. The castle was cool, the stone floors and wooden bannisters sharpening every noise he made as he made his way to the Seventh floor. Her words kept repeating themselves over and over in his head I’m no different from them.

He hadn’t really realised until she put it into words, that that was how he had justified their friendship. And not just to himself but to his friends, to anyone who questioned their unlikely relationship, the pureblood traitor and pureblood heir.

He’d made excuses for being with her told people she wasn’t like the rest of them, that she only hung out with the others from her house so she would fit in, so she wouldn’t be tortured in her sleep. He had never bothered to ask whether they could have really been her friends, been kind to her, given her solace when he was somewhere else because how could they? They were Slytherins, would do anything to get their way, were loyal to only themselves, just like what was said in the Sorting Ceremony every year and was whispered throughout the Gryffindor common rooms since he was a first year.

Had he ever bothered to get to know any of them? Even Regulus he had ignored, pushed away, his own brother.

Sirius shivered, feeling a cool breeze come down from one of the open windows in the Gryffindor common room. He’d barely remembered moving his way through the halls in silence and getting through the portrait hole, but the air froze him to his spot. I messed everything up, I’ve messed everything up. The words carried him up into his dorm room where the four other boys were sleeping, Remus and Peter snoring loudly in the corner and James locked in a battle with his be spread. They carried him to the windowsill where Sirius used to write letters to Y/N to send across the castle or to her home over Christmas break. He picked up his quill and a roll of parchment, his chest a little tight and began writing, Dear Regulus.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the weeks that followed Sirius had only one thought in his head, win back Y/N. He would do whatever it takes to prove to her that he could get over this the ridiculous story he had made up in his head about Slytherin evil, which he knew was likely the result of attempting to push away everything that had reminded him of his childhood, and the people he believed to see true evil in.

“Oi, Sirius! James is looking for you,” Peter had poked his head through the portrait hole, getting pushed in by a bustle of students coming back from Hogsmeade with bags filled to the brim with fake wands from Zonkos or fizzing whizzbees from Honeydukes.

“Oh shoot, I forgot I was meant to meet him, is he mad?” Sirius felt like he’d been in a daze, stuck in books, planning.

“He’s ‘James’ mad, he’ll be fine soon enough,” Peter brushed the snow off his clothes and sat next to Sirius, “What are you working on?”

“I’m glad you asked Wormtail,” Sirius replied, his eyes flashing with a kind of mischievousness he usually had when he was planning another prank, “but we’re going to need the others help on this one, where are they?”

“They went straight to the Great Hall for lunch, I wanted to check-in.”

“Cheers Pete, let’s get some food, shall we?” He stood up quickly, heart pounding in excitement. He had a plan, a way to show Y/N he was changing, he could change. The boys hurried down the stairs, mostly due to Sirius’ fervour in wanting to meet the other two as soon as possible

Sirius dodged a group of girls who were watching him closely as he entered the Great Hall and headed straight towards the Gryffindor table, sliding in beside Remus and James who looked very startled at his reappearance.

“Ok boys, we’re throwing a party,” Sirius grinned widely at them all, pushing forward a large notebook full of his very messy handwriting and a couple of fun doodles. There was a pause wherein the three other marauders stared at him, James still slowly chewing a large bite of potato.

“Fuck it, I haven’t stopped studying for a month straight,” Remus nodded his head slowly, “There’s a full moon in two weeks and I’d prefer to get trashed before I get trashed.”

“Good, this one is going to be a little different.”

Before long, the boys had spread people across the three other tables in the Great Hall spreading whispers of a large party that was going to occur the next Friday in the Gryffindor common room, everyone invited. They’d made a big point of ensuring no one knew where the invite had come from, given that there were certain people… or houses that may not come if they knew the four very annoying boys who were throwing the party.

The week felt like the longest Sirius ever had to endure and had many more trips to the dungeon than he would have preferred in order to try and lure Regulus out to talk to him. He would be damned if the Slytherin’s were going to miss the party just because it was in the Gryffindor common room. They had wanted to have it next to the Black Lake, but there was much more room for error.

“Merlin’s Beard Sirius, what are you doing here?” Regulus’ voice had deepened since he last saw him, and Sirius felt an irritated pang that he’d missed his brother going through the funniest part of puberty.

“You weren’t responding to my letters,” Sirius replied, knowing that this response would annoy his little brother, but not able to come up with anything more interesting as he stood there, trying to take in all the differences. He looked distinctly older, and paler, though Sirius wasn’t surprised since he hardly saw him out of the castle, especially since he’d quit the Quidditch team. His hair seemed to be unwashed and a little matted, unheard of for the Black family as Walburga would beat you silly if you didn’t look presentable at all times.

Sirius wanted to ask about these things but stopped himself, knowing that Regulus would just shut the common room door in his face.

“Yes, I would have thought you’d got the message by now,” He spat, not looking him in the eye. Sirius wondered if it would be harder to be as stoic if he did.

“Well I thought I would ask you in person then, there’s a party in Gryffindor tower tomorrow, you should come – you and your friends.”

“What? You’d dare mix with my Slytherin friends? Is this the new and improved Sirius? The one that didn’t leave me to take over as the heir of the Black family. Left me behind for a better family, new brother?” Whilst he was clearly trying to keep his face calm, Regulus voice cracked mid-sentence and he’d gritted his teeth to avoid it happening again. Sirius had expected this, he’d seen Regulus’ face when he slammed the door on his family’s home in Grimmauld place.

“It’s just an invite, nothing more.”

“Well enjoy your party,” Regulus turned on his heel and slammed the door so hard Sirius felt a cool wind whip him. He cursed, but left anyway, heading back to his dorm room. Perhaps he would change his mind Sirius tried to convince himself but he knew it was useless. Perhaps you can’t save everyone.

Friday morning felt louder than usual, with groups of girls giggling about outfits, and boys trying to seem extra macho as they walked passed, chests puffed out, wondering who they might meet tonight. Sirius couldn’t pay attention in class, and was incredibly thankful that the teachers were focused entirely on revision for their NEWTs, most spells that he had already mastered.

“Looking very suave, Padfoot,” James winked at him as he pushed him out of the way to look at himself in the mirror instead. James was wearing a full suit and bow-tie that he had bought in a muggle vintage store with Sirius last summer, “Lily’s going to faint.”

“I’m thinking for other reasons than you’re thinking,” Remus rolled his eyes, tucking his brown belt into his jeans.

“Are we supposed to be more dressed up?” Peter squeaked, looking a little green, wearing a large knitted jumper and blue jeans, fiddling with his sleeve.

“No, James just likes being obnoxious, take no notice of him,” Sirius pushed James out of the way so he could take over the mirror again, tucking in the Led Zepplin t-shirt into his black jeans.

The common room bustling with people from every house and year when the Marauders made their way downstairs and towards the fire. The furniture had already been pushed to the side, a large table with drinks and an abundance of food placed under one of the windows.

“I think it’s time,” Remus nudged Sirius as they heard the Fat Lady begin to complain loudly about the number of people she’d had to let into the common room in the last hour.

“ALRIGHT EVERYONE LISTEN UP!” Sirius’ voice boomed across the common room as it had almost completely filled up. James was standing next to him shushing anyone that dared whisper as he began to speak, “As you know normally our parties have a no rules rule attached to them.”

A loud whoop went up from a group of boys all wearing Gryffindor colours, some of the girls giggling up at them as well.

“But this party is going to be a little different.”

“That’s right, Mr Black, we’ve been hearing that there have been some disappointing acts of prejudice between houses. And whilst we’re not going to name names,” James pointed over exaggeratedly at himself, earning a trickle of laughter across the room, “we can’t be fighting each other before we’re even out there in the midst of a war.”

“SO, this time you aren’t going to know who's from where or what family or all that nonsense,” The crowd looked thoroughly confused, many looking a little sceptical at their slightly ridiculous speech but Sirius waved his wand towards the crowd and saw a quick change in expression. The bright colours and emblems that the students had so proudly walked in with had vanished, leaving grey scarves, badges or anything else that they had been wearing over muggle clothes.

“And so you don’t get all smart on us and just ask each other, we’ve put a tongue-tie curse on this room that will stop you from saying what house you’re in or family you’re from,” James added with a wink, “So make sure you know who your family members are before you go shacking up in the broom closets.”

“Alright, get cosy with some people you’ve never bothered to meet, drink our secretly spiked punch and please dance in ways that would annoy a significant other,” James waved his wand again and golden streamers flew around the room, hanging across the fireplace and windows and music began to blast loudly from the record player in the middle of the room.

They jumped down from the table, grinning widely at each other.

“A success!”

“Truly our finest hour.”

“Even I have to admit it was a pretty good trick,” Sirius whirled around to see Y/N leaning on the side of the table, a smile playing on her face.

“You came,” Was all he could think to say, and he wanted to hit himself for it.

“Of course, I did, I received at least 10 letters about it,” Y/N snorted, moving into the room and taking a look around.

“I sent one letter thanks, let’s not overexaggerate my commitment,” but he winked at her as they moved towards the windowsill and out of the way of anyone who had the potential to elbow them or pull them into a dance. They sat on the pillows lined across the windows, watching the party unfurl in silence for a moment.

Sirius pulled out a small package from his pocket, fingering it in his palm, unsure whether or not he should give it to her. Y/N seemed to make up his mind for him, taking it out of his hands and turning it over in her hands.

“What’s this?” She looked up at him curiously, obviously trying to feel what it was in her hand.

“It’s… well it’s for you,” Sirius admitted a little awkwardly, looking down at it in her palm. He wasn’t just working on the party this week, he’d also been fiddling with a small present for Y/N, something he’d thought about getting for her seventeenth birthday before they’d fallen out.

“You got me a present?” Y/N’s tone was confused but she was smiling, her cheeks flushing a little.

“Just open it,” Sirius nudged her shoulder playfully and she pulled apart the wrapping quickly. It revealed a dark green, little silk bag with a string tying it together at the top. Y/N opened the bag and felt inside, her eyes wide as she realised what was there. She turned it over and poured the deep green and white marbles into her other hand, smiling up at Sirius.

“Marbles, really?”

“Slytherin coloured marbles of course,” Sirius winked at her and she laughed, moving them swiftly between her fingers. Suddenly they rose above her hand and began moving on their own, dancing in the air in different formations.

“What’s happening? I’m not doing this.”

“Just watch,” Sirius was still smiling at the very confused Y/N, and she turned back to watch the marbles as they became brighter and brighter until they seemed to fizzle in the air. After a second Y/N leaned closer, realising that they were spelling out letters in the air, fizzing in the same green and white the marbles had held within them.

‘I’m very sorry, Y/N’

“Couldn’t seem to say that yourself?”

“Well I figured I would probably need to say it again at some point so it might be easier to have something on hand.”

“Ahh so you’re sticking around huh?”

“Well, that’s if you want me to,” Sirius watched her closely. He wanted to know what she was thinking as she looked up at him, placing the marbles back into the little bag. She leaned in a little closer to him, her hair falling across her cheek as she became so close that he could smell the shampoo on her hair and almost feel her lips across his and-

“If you don’t, I’ll kick your ass.”

“That is a very fair call,” Sirius breathed in response. Y/N closed the distance between them and kissed him. It felt different to the other kisses he had remembered, or daydreamed about constantly, it was calm and soft, her hand brushing against his cheek as if she had all the time in the world to be doing this with him.

“I do want to be better, Y/N, honestly I know I’ve been an absolute twat when it comes to Slytherins.”

Y/N smiled at him but said nothing in return. Finally, she stood up and turned to face him, holding out a hand.

“Let’s dance.”

Sirius took her hand and took lead, bringing her into the middle of the dance floor where the crowd was louder and distinctly wilder. He held her close, moving her around the room with ease and spinning her around every few moments, mostly because of the way she laughed every time he did. Whilst the music had continued to pound loudly with 70s muggle disco music, he pulled her in close, wrapping an arm around her waist so that he could feel her pressed up against him, feel her heartbeat increase slowly as they danced out of beat across the room.

“Y/N?”

“Yes?”

“You know I… I love you,” He mumbled, feeling a little silly as he spoke into her hair.

“Well, Remus may have shown me some of your attempts at letters,” Sirius was grateful that she’d had the courtesy to sound abashed.

“Bloody prat,” He cursed, but she just laughed in return.

“I love you too.”

It took three hours for McGonagall to storm in and demand they turn the lights out and go to bed, but Sirius had a sneaking suspicion that she’d caught on earlier and given them a little extra time. Y/N had stayed behind, leaning her head on Sirius’ shoulder as they sat wrapped together on the couch.

“Are you ok?” Y/N murmured to him, looking up at him with sleepy eyes. Sirius had obviously not done a great job at hiding his disappointment and sighed.

“Yes, sorry,” He paused for a moment before ploughing on, “He didn’t come.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Sirius.”

“Yeah.”

Y/N sat up and moved over so that she was sitting in his lap, arms curling around his shoulders and neck.

“He’ll come around,” She spoke softer this time, it reminded Sirius of when she would whisper in his ear at functions, making him laugh and sending a shiver down his spine. Today it was just the latter.

“I don’t know if he will.”

“We’ll make him.”

Sirius’ hearted jumped at her use of ‘we’, but he hid it well.

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

She leaned in again but this time Sirius moved to meet her lips first so he could pull his hand up against her neck and feel the pressure of her whole body pushed up against his own. He wanted to get lost in her body, ignore the little thought that swirled around his head telling him lies about what Regulus was up to, why he looked so tired. But then she flicked her tongue into his mouth and he forgot, leaning back so she could push him up against the edge of the couch.

He was right where he always wanted to be, and nothing else mattered.

Taglist:  @averytruerayofsunshine​ @siriuslyjanhvi @blushingskywalker @blackpinkdolan @thebabblingbookworm @cherrie511 @imlukesnirvana @avengersassemblee @maraudersandco @sly-vixen-up2nogood @katbernoulli @sirius-lysad @evyiione @minerva26love @aikeia @gollyderek​ @greatwombatblaze​  @songforhema​  @your-typical-giggle​  @1800-fight-me

 @sophisticatedslytherin​ @takemetoneverland420  @hufflepeople   @cosmiclunas  @nadinissavage  @sad-slytherinbitch     @localserpent    @dangerouskawaiiharrypotter @kneazlesgetitdone @oliolioxiclean  @sister-stop   @mcu-potter-pirate   @kath0098   @jeowjungkook  @oh-so-twisted  @ashkuuuu  @unique05sstuff    @green-lxght @xsuperwholockaddictx-blog    @introvertedmegalomaniac   @marlenemckinnontrash  @shrekstolemytoes      @slytherin-batbitch    @wittysidecharacter    @siriuswitches    @thatawesomeweirdo00 @maralisa124  @your-typical-giggle

[treatian]

The Chronicles of the Dark One:  The Dark Curse

Chapter 150:  How the New Story Begins

Trouble, trouble, trouble. He hoped that all this trouble wasn't an indication of life once the Savior finally came into his own; naturally, not by some fluke of magic.

He'd given them a simple task; one simple task. Go into the castle, dance the night away, be sure that Snow White stole the ring, that David knew it was her, and the timeline was back on track. How they'd managed to screw it up as immensely as they had was remarkable. And yet-not.

Not when he remembered that he'd trusted Hook to it all. He'd watched the entire thing, sometimes in sound through one of the mirrors and other times within his crystal ball, and sometimes he'd needed to use the cauldron as well! But he still couldn't figure out how they'd gotten it so wrong and yet…so right. Or at least close to right. Probably because the parts that were right they'd barely had a hand in.

The pair went to the ball, just as they were supposed to. They danced, they watched Prince Charming, and all the while he'd watched Snow White climb the walls of the towers in his cauldron at the same time.

She'd found the ring, stolen it just in time for the False Prince to enter his chambers and find her stealing it. They'd had a brief interaction in which he'd seen her face, and he was certain that was all there was too it. He'd almost thought to stop watching and summon the pair to him right then and there…until Abigail had entered the chamber and began crying out. Regina, who attended the ball appropriately enough, had gotten word, so had Hook and the Swan who stupidly rushed off to help the Princess that he was certain didn't need help. She'd been well on her way to escape when the pair had intervened unnecessarily. The Savior had been captured. But not before she realized that in the chaos of the heist, Snow White had dropped the ring.

He could have cried out in anger and beat his head against a wall because he knew that he could have done a better job in half the time and not ended up in Regina's dungeon. For a moment he did consider helping the Savior, but something told him it was best to let the girl go, to not intervene, and let her save herself. His mother's wand was powerful, very powerful indeed. While he was waiting for something to happen over the next day or so he'd done some more researching on his mother's wand, making sure that he could use it to get the pair back to their own time. After all, they'd caused enough trouble, as soon as this was over, it was best for everyone involved if they got back to where they belonged. But in his investigation, he'd stumbled upon something that he hadn't planned on. According to legend, it could recreate magic, but only magic that had been used by the welder. He'd never traveled back in time before; he'd never experienced the portal that the Swan and the Captain had, ergo, he could not open the portal to get them home. But they could.

Or rather, she could.

She was strong enough, he could sense that easily enough, and all his digging into the magic on True Love told him that if she was who she said she was, then she would have all the magic required to open the portal that had brought her here and get herself and the pirate back to where they belonged. There was only one problem, he hadn't seen her do a single bit of magic since she'd been in the Enchanted Forest. In fact, she seemed downright put off by any situation that involved it. Magical, but refusing to use it? Or incapable?

He had the thought that being in such a precarious position with Regina might help him answer that. True, his glamour spell would have taken away her magic, but if she was the Savior, the Product of True Love, then her magic was a unique thing. There might not be anything that could stop it. Regina wasn't one to fool with these days. For helping Snow White escape, the Evil Queen wouldn't care if she did claim she was a princess, she'd be executed. And if she had read that book that she'd claimed once held the past she would be well aware of that. He'd hoped that would push the Swan to do what she could with her power. He'd been wrong. He watched throughout the night as she shared a morsel with another prisoner, then settled against a cell wall, twirling and twirling and twirling the ring that should have been with Snow White by now, around her finger, staring into nothing. She'd been removed from her fine clothes, put back into a thin peasant's dress and blue cloak that didn't appear to hold in heat. But the Savior wasn't where the story was. That was back in Midas' land.

Unaware of the weight of what had happened, he watched as David spent the night out, tracking and plotting in the unfamiliar forest, searching for something in a way he might search for a lost sheep. And the pirate was always there, one step behind him, watching safely in the distance, out of the way. And one step ahead of David…the Princess Snow White.

It was a shame she hadn't gotten away with his ring, for it appeared he had caught a bug for the woman. If she hadn't dropped the ring on the way out, this meeting would have been all they needed, and he could have summoned the Savior and Hook back to leave. Instead, he watched as David tracked Snow White down, one step behind until he suddenly veered off track and set up a trap in the woods so obvious he was certain that she'd never fall for it…until she stepped right inside of it. And that was the moment Hook chose to reveal himself.

He cursed himself for not sending Pirithous out, in fact, he cursed himself for it all day as the trio exchanged words, Snow White fell to the ground with a slice of David's sword, and Hook bought two horses and a cart with money that was once the Prince James'. The trio traveled together all day into the Queen's territory, and he could see David and Snow talking. Oh, how he longed to summon Pirithous and find out why! But after watching David before the bird was already suspicious. He didn't need him asking more questions, he didn't need to make more memory potion for him as well, and he didn't need for him to know so much of David's life or anything of the future.

Once they arrived and the castle was in their sights but still far enough away to be outside the guard of the Evil Queen, Snow left the pair, and David and Hook sat in the woods together, talking and making a fire. He didn't need Pirithous to know what was being said. In a way, he didn't need to know. Wanted to know, certainly, but need? All he needed was to see the Swan freed, he needed her to use her magic, and get back to this place so he could get them home and take a memory potion.

But that night, so many things happened all at once; it was difficult to keep track of them. Snow fetched Red. Red went to find Hook and David in the woods. She transformed into a wolf to help them get past Regina's guard and into the castle. Their plan seemed simple enough to follow visually only. The wolf would appear. The guard would become distracted, fearing for his safety in her presence. And that was when David would appear and knock the guard off his feet into unconsciousness before the alarm could be raised.

He supposed their plan was to go all the way in and rescue the Swan, but it would never come to pass. There was no need. The Swan was busy rescuing herself, much to his displeasure, without magic. It would have taken a witch or wizard five seconds to break free of the lock that Regina had placed on the door. It had taken her an entire day, but only because it had taken her so long to figure out she could use some spare bit of wire to pick the lock. And much to his disappointment, she brought a friend. One that he recognized.

'Twas Maid Marian. Robin Hood's wife, who he had last seen very, heavily pregnant. Apparently, she'd had the baby, and counting the months from the time he'd last seen her, she'd soon after become prisoner of none other than Regina. It almost made him laugh. He couldn't wait for Regina to explain that to the man that the Seer called "her heart" in the future. But that was a laugh for another time, once the present was sorted out and the future back on track. For now, he continued his vigil.

By the time the two groups ran into one another, his head was already spinning. When he finally found Snow White, he thought he was going to be sick. She had sent Red back to the boys for a reason, for as they made their great escape, she was sneaking into the castle, walking halls she hadn't graced in years not since her father died. There was a confrontation, one in which the Princess attempted to use unmistakable Black Fairy dust against his pupil. Regina's magic prevailed where the princesses didn't. Between the cauldron and the mirror, he watched as Snow was led away to her execution. A pyre was built.

He summoned his magic as she was led to the pike and tied to it, preparing to fix this, to summon the Princess away should it be necessary. The Prince and the Princess had met, if he saved her, then it might be enough for them to meet again. There didn't need to be a ring involved. But just as Regina threw a fireball at her feet, which exploded, he watched as the girl opened her hands and an unmistakable shimmer interrupted the fire for a brief second. A moment later, he saw a spark that had nothing to do with the fire pitch itself out of the flames. More black fairy dust. She'd saved herself by becoming a bug and then flown away.

There was still hope. He had a cure for Black Fairy dust around somewhere if she needed it. He could arrange for it to be used easily enough. As the rescuers, still shocked from thinking they'd just witnessed their mother, friend, and would be True Love perish in flame, left the building with the help of Hook and Marian, he prepared to be summoned. He prepared to take the cure and bring it to them and hunt her down himself to set it all right. But again, the need was not necessary. He tracked Snow White, just as he tracked the others back out into the forest where they made a fire and sat down to mourn, some of them unaware what they were really upset for. It was when the other three left the fire to unload something or other from the cart they'd ridden in on, and Hook and the Swan were alone, that it happened. They put it together before she found them, the look on the Savior's face just before she crept up on them told him that. But eventually, a ladybug rested upon her shoulder. In the next second, the other three had joined them. David was the next one to put it together, to cradle the precious bug in his hands, all before a familiar blue light came upon them. He would never be ecstatic to see the Blue Fairy, but leave it to a Blue Bug to make a red one human again.

As the unknowing family and new friends hunkered down for the night, he collapsed into a chair himself. Watching, leaving a job that should have been his to someone else was more than stressful. He'd barely moved all day, but he felt like he'd lived through it all right there with them. It wasn't nearly as simple as he would have done it, but it was done. David and Snow had met. He crossed his fingers that it was enough to set things straight.

[starryburglar-archive]

Hans Info

Full name: Hans Westergaard

Species: Human

Age: 23

Sexuality: Pansexual

FC(s): Domhnall Gleeson

Bio: As the youngest of 13 brothers, Hans found it pretty difficult to stand out in his family or as a prince. It almost seemed like, no matter what he did to an exceptional degree, one or several of his brothers would do it BETTER. It didn’t help the fact that most of them either ignored him or bullied him for being the youngest. The only sort of love he receives from his family is from his mother, who only seems to be truly content around him.

The young prince knew from an early age that her marriage to his father was arranged. The two never loved each other, never grew to be fond of one another, they can’t even stand being in the same room together. But their marriage united two kingdoms and saved The Southern Isles from disgrace.

One would think that being basically ignored by almost every member of his family would mean that Hans has the freedom to do anything he pleases, but that’s not the case. His father barely spoke to him but his eyes said everything. If Hans didn’t do what the king wanted, he would be punished -- it was the silent treatment version of ‘You may be a waste of space but you’re still a prince of the Southern Isles. Act the part.’. Etiquette, diplomacy, politics, geography, economics, manners... Hans had to master them all.

His only moments of solace were when he would be by himself on his private chambers or in the royal library. The young prince would do nothing but read -- read books about the mysteries of the world, about the different kingdoms and their customs, and, last but not least, fairytales. Yes, fairytales -- something unfit for a prince but Hans found enjoyment out of them. They were that one thing that brought a smile to his face because of how hopeful they make him feel. They made him wish for a better future, one where he was able to find true love and be happy, unlike his parents.

Years later, some months after his 22nd birthday, he was sent by his father to represent The Southern Isles at the coronation of the new queen of Arendelle. Why him? It’s still puzzling for Hans how his father doesn’t consider Arendelle a possible strong ally but was happy to be able to travel away from his homeland for a while. A few days without his family is better than nothing. Not long after a few minutes after arriving at the closed-off kingdom, he accidentally stumbled upon the princess of Arendelle, Anna.

She was the sweetest and prettiest girl he had ever seen -- prettier than all of the wives of his married brothers. And despite the unfortunate way they happened to meet, she didn't think ill of him after almost accidentally pushing her into the sea with his horse -- she even laughed! At that moment, Hans was convinced that the warmth in his chest was love. It has to be, right? What else could it be but true love? Maybe it was fate what made his father choose him to come to the coronation and meet the young princess.

Later that day, when the two were alone, he didn’t hesitate to propose right on the spot, even though it was the craziest move he could’ve done. Propose after meeting her that same day? His father would’ve thought he had gone bonkers -- you can imagine how shocked and overwhelmed he was when she said yes, a genuine and heartfelt yes. Hans thought nothing could ruin that evening.

Oh, how fate had different plans for him and everyone involved.

He never anticipated for the new queen to have any sort of magic abilities like he would so often read about in his fairytales. But she did, queen Elsa had power over ice and snow. Because of a misunderstanding, Anna’s frustrations and the evil intentions of the Duke of Weselton, her powers were exposed and everyone feared for the worst -- even he himself was unsure of how to feel at first. After Elsa ran away scared, Anna left the kingdom determined to find her and fix this mess, but not without leaving Hans in charge.

It was rough at first, trying to calm down the townsfolk as well as the other royal visitors currently stuck in Arendelle during the frozen winter in the middle of July. But he did his best, applying everything he has learned back home while adapting it to this current predicament. It worked well enough for the first hours.

When Anna’s horse returned but without its rider, his worries only increased. Dedicated to finding his bride-to-be, Hans formed a team of volunteering men to search for the princess and the queen. Hours later, he was surprised, once again, to find queen Elsa in what seemed to be a place of her creation: a palace made out of ice, truly magnificent. He was planning to reason with the queen and try to make her return to Arendelle peacefully, but those soldiers from Weselton ruined everything by scaring her and almost killing her.

The men returned to Arendelle with an unconscious Elsa. Hours later, Hans found himself with the queen, who was put in the dungeons and chained due to the worries of the other lords present. He pleased her to bring back summer, but she couldn’t. Unsure of what to do, he reassured her he would do anything to help her and returned to the comfort of the chimney. Not too long after that, Anna returned weaker than ever -- her hair was whiter than before and her body was freezing. Apparently, when anna tried to reason with Elsa, the queen accidentally froze her sister’s heart and now anna was slowly turning to ice, only to be told that an act of true love would thaw it.

The young couple stared at one another after being left alone. An act of true love... a kiss! If they kissed, she would be saved. Hans was extra careful while holding Anna, resting her against the sofa in the room that was near the chimney, all while cupping her cheek gently and smiling warmly at her. He leaned closer until his lips met hers in a closer embrace. They stayed like that for what it felt like an eternity... but neither felt anything, not a spark, not warmth, not anything. The kiss not only didn’t work, but both were dumbfounded by this revelation.

It took the help of a curious but strange talking snowman ( which shook him to no end ) for the lovebirds to realize their situation. What they thought was true love was not it -- it was a fling of the moment, a passionate desire for comfort and happiness while sharing it with another person, something both had wanted for years due to not getting any sort of love from their families. This didn’t make things awkward between them ( or at least not THAT awkward ); both knew the truth know.

Now their objective was to get Anna to Kristoff, her actual true love. Hans helped Anna get around the castle due to their weak form and her inability to walk in her current state. They reached the frozen fjörds, where Kristoff was also looking for her, but so were Elsa, the duke of Weselton and his men. Hans left anna so she would go with the blond man, while he grabbed his sword and tried his best to stop the men from killing the snow queen. However, they were three against one, two of them being much taller, bigger and stronger than him.

It all happened in a matter of seconds. The short Duke sneaked past him to strike Elsa, but then Anna stood in the way, using her last ounce of life to stop him while her body became ice. The ground shook as a wave hit everyone who was nearby. The scene was devastating to behold. Anna, who he had ground fond of and now realized she really was a good friend, stood frozen in the middle of the fjörds; Elsa hugged the statue devastated while sobbing her heart out.

No one anticipated the return of princess Anna. But it was that act of true love, the self-sacrifice she did for her sister what thawed her frozen heart. There was rejoicing all across the kingdom of Arendelle, its citizens and the lords visiting as Elsa brought back Summer.

A few days later, Hans was rewarded for his bravery and all the help he brought to Arendelle and the sister, despite the young prince insisting that he didn’t deserve anything while anna said otherwise. He was a hero, as much of a hero as Kristoff, the ice harvester, was. He and Elsa also were able to start again while building new relations between the kingdoms -- The Southern Isles and Arendelle would be their greatest allies. 

Hans was content to have done a good deed and for some of his naïvete to have vanished thanks to this experience -- he’ll be careful in the matters of love, but still hopeful for a bright and loving future.

Note: Hella canon divergent. Mostly based on his personality pre-twist and first impressions from the trailers.

[ MAIN || INBOX || HEADCANONS || VISAGE || MUSINGS ]

                                 -----------------------------------------------

V001: Youngest of 13

Default main verse. Hans is the youngest child of the king and queen of Westergard and without any chance to get a claim to the throne, not without his 12 brothers being more favoured by his father in all ways possible. He is determined to stand out in any way possible without going against his moral compass, which includes forming better relations with other kingdoms and start having friends.

NOTE: Mostly takes place after the events of the first movie. I’ll have to see the sequel to see how I can work him into it.

V002: Working Towards a Better Life

Modern verse. As the youngest of 13 brothers, Hans was often ignored by his siblings and his father, only occasionally receiving a caring word from his mother and, if he was lucky, a full conversation with his father. 

Currently, at the age of 23, he’s working to get a degree in History so he can become a professor in the subject -- history has always fascinated him, even as a child, so having the possibility to share this passion with a new generation made him happy. On top of that, Hans is also working on a novel during his free time. He also moved out of his home as soon as he was able and had the resources; at this point of his life, he didn’t want anything to do with his father’s company and connections ( not that he would get any of that ) and instead focus on making himself happy.

                                 -----------------------------------------------

CONNECTIONS

--

[someinvisible-string]

Magnificent and Furious Ch. 12

Summary: After many years, rumors swirl that the Evil Queen is back and filled with more vengeance than ever. But instead of setting her sights on Snow White she goes for the thing  Snow loves most, her beloved daughter Emma. For her own safety, Emma is to be transported to safety on an unassuming merchant ship, where she meets two indentured servants hoping for a way to find their freedom.

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season! This is the last full chapter of M + F and I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you all for all the kudos and the reviews, they mean the absolute world to me that you all have stuck around and reviewed each and every chapter. Huge thank yous to @justanotherwannabeclassic for betaing and to @princesse-swan for each and every piece of art she made for this fic.

last chapter/ AO3

The journey home took nearly a week, little by little everyone separating and going off on their own ways. Elsa and her smiths left camp two days after the battle in order to get home to her sister as soon as she could. Melody met them at port, two ships ready to transport the prisoners back to Arendelle. Melody smiled knowingly when she saw Killian’s arm slung around Emma’s shoulders, Emma smiled and blushed.

“I’m really glad you’re all okay,” Melody said, rushing to hug everyone she recognized. “I wish I could have been more helpful.”

“You’ve been more help than you can even realize,” Killian assured her.

“I’m sure I realize a little bit,” Melody smirked at him, her eyes flicking between him and Emma.

“All prisoners are loaded and secured your Highnesses,” a sailor came up and told them.

“Thank you, we’ll be ready in a moment,” Melody told him. She threw her arms around Emma and Elsa one last time. “I’ll be seeing you all soon, and under much happier terms I hope.”

“Of course,” Emma chuckled. “I’ll write you.”

“You’d better,” Melody winked and boarded her vessel.

Emma pulled Elsa into a tight hug as they said goodbye. “I can’t thank you enough,” she whispered in her friend’s ear. “And you’re going to be fine. Whatever you decide to do with them, I support you fully.”

“Thank you so much,” Elsa let go, her eyes misty with tears. “I’ll see you soon.”

Emma smiled through her own tears. “Give Anna a hug for me.”

Next Merida and Alexandra’s men journeyed north with their forces. “Now try to keep out of trouble for a while, lassie?” she said from her seat on Angus.

“I’ll try but no promises,” Emma smiled up at her friend.

“Ah well, better than I could hope for, just call me for the next round. You know I’ll always have your back,” Merida smiled warmly at Emma before reigning her horse around.

“Captain Arbarca, give Alexandra my thanks for me?” she called to the grizzled captain.

“Of course Your Highness, best of luck to you all,” he said, as stately and composed as ever.

Roland, Robin, and the other Merrymen traveled with them until they reached the forest surrounding their castle. “Well I believe this is our stop,” Robin said. “I wrote Marian ahead and she was able to find a nice spot to set up camp near here.”

“Robin, we really cannot begin to thank you,” Snow said.

“T’was the least we could do, you’re one of the few good rulers we have,” Robin nodded to her and David. “We’ll talk later about the state of my people?”

“Absolutely,” David said.

“Emma?” Roland said, tugging slightly on her elbow. “I never really took the time to thank you for well what you did for me.” He rubbed his shoulder nervously.

“I’d do it again if I had to, but I’d really prefer if I didn’t you know?” Emma smiled at him.

“Yeah, I’d prefer it that way too,” he laughed. “See you soon.”

“See you,” Emma smiled as he and the other Merrymen disappeared into the forest.

It was another day’s hike until they returned to the castle. Together Emma and her parents pushed open the heavy castle doors, taking in the quiet emptiness and the dust that swirled in the stale air.

“Well, it’ll take some work, but we’ll get this castle back to normal before we know it,” Snow wiped the dust from her hands and set them on her hips.

It took some time but with the help of the dwarves, the dust cleared, cobwebs were swept away, sunlight poured in through freshly cleaned windows, the castle soon busy with the hustle and bustle of getting things back to normal. Regina along with her Black Knights and the Camelot soldiers were whisked down to the dungeons, everyone tried to forget that they were down there.

“This place looks marvelous,” Killian said when he found her one day in the library.

“Wait until you see it finished,” Emma said, furiously dusting a desk with an old rag. “This used to be my favorite room in the castle. I’d come here in the afternoon when it was just bathed in light from those windows,” she pointed to the south facing stained glass windows. “It’d turn the pages all different colors, I remember reading until the pages had turned from red to blue to green as the sun went down.”

“That sounds wonderful love,” Killian quickly looked around before kissing her lightly. While her parents still haven’t asked what Killian was to her; Emma tried to keep things between them quiet. Once they had rescued her parents, she slept in their tent with them while Killian bunked with Roland. She only kissed him when she was sure her parents weren’t looking, she kept a respectable distance from him whenever they walked together. But here in the library, which no one around, she could take some liberties. Emma smoothed her hands over Killian’s shoulders, feeling the fine velvet of his borrowed doublet. Once they reached the castle, Snow had shown Killian personally to his rooms and the closet already full of fine clothes for him. Killian had carefully run his hand over nearly everything, his eyes wide and full of wonder. He had mainly stuck to the more simple items, sturdy canvas breeches and linen shirts like he usually wore.

“You’re dressed nice today,” she said, running her hands down his chest.

“I have a very important meeting today, I want to look my best,” Killian smiled.

“What’s this very important meeting about?” Emma smirked.

“They’re here,” was all Killian had to say. Emma had been waiting with bated breath for the safe return of her brother and sister. Thank the gods they had both been safe and sound where they were.

Emma ran down to the entrance hall, Killian quick on her heels, they both got there just in time to see the doors open. Emma took the last couple of stairs two at a time to make it down to her siblings. Charlotte launched herself at Emma, squealing as Emma lifted her up.

“Emmy, I missed you!” Charlotte giggled as Emma set her on her hip.

“I missed you too,” Emma peppered her little sister with kisses.

“Did you forget about me?” Leo asked, a sarcastic smirk on his face.

“Of course not,” Emma smiled as she pulled her brother into her side, the three of them linked together in a hug. David and Snow burst in, enveloping their children in a family hug. Emma looked up and saw Killian watching them sheepishly. “I want you guys to meet someone,” she said, pulling back from the hug and walking over to Killian. “Charlotte, Leo, this is Killian. He helped me rescue Mom and Dad.”

“Hello,” Killian blushed and waved, slightly embarrassed at the attention.

“Emmy,” Charlotte whispered loudly in Emma’s ear. “He’s very handsome.”

Emma and Killian both burst out laughing at the little girl’s statement. “Yes, Charlotte he is,” Emma smiled at him.

“Are you going to marry her?” Charlotte asked Killian. Emma had expected Killian to balk, to laugh nervously and change the subject but instead, he looked at Emma and smiled shyly, scratching behind his ear.

“One day, if she’ll have me,” he said.

A door slammed shut above them, everyone looked up and saw Snow and Charming hurrying down the stairs to greet their two youngest children.

“Oh you’re home,” Snow threw her arms around Leo’s shoulders, her eyes shining with tears. “How was the trip, are you hungry?”

“I think someone probably wants some hot chocolate at least,” David chuckled as he lifted Charlotte from Emma’s arms. “What do you say little one?” he smiled widely at his youngest, balancing her on his hip.

“Yes please!” Charlotte burrowed herself into David’s side. “With extra cream on top too please?”

“Well since you asked so nicely,” Snow smiled and placed a kiss on Charlotte’s forehead. “Shall we go to the kitchens then? You can tell me all about Andalasia and Agrabah and your adventures?”

“Sounds good to me,” Emma piped up, hurrying to lead her family down towards the kitchen.

“What about Killian?” Leo asked.

“Oh I’ll be fine, you go on, catch up,” Killian said with a wave of his hand.

“Nonsense, you are welcome to join us,” Snow assured him. “Granny makes a wonderful cup of hot chocolate.”

“Thank you, your Majesty, but really I have some matters to take care of” Killian smiled, turning and walking back up the staircase. Emma could sense a sadness that had fallen over him, he was distant and withdrawn and she could understand exactly where he was coming from. Her parents were able to find 4 survivors of the shipwreck that had started Killian and Emma’s journey together, but Liam had not been one of them. She longed to reach for his hand, to squeeze it and reassure him that she was there, he could tell her anything, but instead, she kept her hands around her mug.

Emma heard a light knock on her door, she looked up from the book she had been reading not realizing how late it was. The candles on her desk had burned low and it was pitch black outside. She went to her door and found Killian there.

“Evening love,” he smiled.

“It’s a bit past evening, it’s the middle of the night,” Emma said opening the door for him.

He came in, looking around her room. “I couldn’t sleep, it’s just so quiet and,” he confessed. “I just...I was so used to sleeping with you that-”

“You can’t nod off?” Emma finished. “I can’t sleep either,” she gestured to the stack of books on her side table.

“I know that we shouldn’t… you know. But maybe I could,” he patted the bed, his cheeks a brilliant shade of pink.

“You want to sleep here?” she asked; Killian nodded. “Okay, but just sleep, right? I don’t want to risk us being overheard by someone passing by.”

“Whatever you wish, love,” Killian smiled at her. They both crawled under the covers, Emma curled into his side with his arm around her protectively, the same way they’d been sleeping since they started sharing a tent in Robin Hood’s camp.

“Why is your bed so much more comfortable than mine?” Killian whispered.

“Just a perk of being a princess I guess,” Emma sniggered against his chest. She felt his fingers dig into her ribs as Killian tickled her. Emma squealed and tried to wriggle out of his grasp but Killian held on tight.

“I’m not letting you get away, love,” he chuckled pressing a kiss to her temple. Emma smiled and placed her hand on his stubbled cheek, running her thumb over his skin. She thought back to that moment in Regina’s dungeons when she had nearly lost him. Killian’s hand rested itself over her’s, noting her silence. “Everything okay love?”

“I almost lost you,” Emma said, her voice catching in her throat.

“Aye, but you didn’t,” Killian kissed her knuckles. “You made sure of that.”

“Killian I...” Emma’s eyes clouded with tears. “I don’t know what I would have done to her if she had-”

“Hey, I’m right here love and Regina is far, far down there,” he pointed to the floor in the direction of the dungeons. “Whatever you might have done, you would have made the right choice. And wherever I might have ended up had you not saved me, I would have been so proud of you no matter what.” He gently wiped the two tears that were rolling down her face. “But I can’t thank you enough for saving my life.”

“I’d do it again if I had to,” Emma whispered.

“Well love, lucky for you I’m a survivor,” he smiled and leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. His hand gently caressed her cheek, his thumb sliding down her chin to her neck. Emma shivered, feeling as if energy was trailing all throughout her body. Her hands found his body, rolling him on top of her.  

“I think I changed my mind about just sleeping,” she whispered into his ear.

“You’re sure?” Killian asked, pushing himself up on his elbows, looking into her eyes.

“I’m sure, let’s just try to be quiet,” Emma threading her fingers through his hair and pulled him down against her, kissing him deeply.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he chuckled as he peppered light kisses down her neck.

Come sunrise, Emma sat up in bed, trailing her fingers through a still sleeping Killian’s hair. It had been the first night since they rescued her parents that her sleep had been uninterrupted by nightmares. He muttered something she couldn’t understand into her pillow, hugging it tighter; she chuckled lightly before leaning down and brushing her lips against his ear.

“It’s time to wake up,” she whispered.

“No, sun’s still rising, plenty of time,” he mumbled still half asleep.

“Killian come on unless you want my lady’s maids to find you in my bed,” Emma shook his shoulder, hoping to bring him into waking.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” he lifted his head off the pillow and smirked at her.

“Someone could tell my father and for now I’d really prefer to have him not know about what we get up too when we both can’t sleep,” Emma quirked her eyebrow at him.

“Good point love,” he rolled himself out of bed, stretching his hands up high above his head, Emma gave herself a moment to appreciate the view. “See something you like?” he said looking over his shoulder at her.

“A lot of things, but you’re still going to have to get dressed, unfortunately,” she held out his shirt to him.

He pouted as he pulled on his pants and avoided eye contact when he grabbed his shirt out of her grasp. Emma was taken aback by his sudden shift in mood, silently crossing the room to her wardrobe and stuffing her arms through the sleeves of a robe.

“Are you embarrassed of me?” Killian asked.

“What? No, never,” Emma said, walking over to him.

“It’s just that ever since we started the journey back here, you seem to be keeping me at an arm’s length, especially in front of your parents. I mean a part of me knew we couldn’t be as open about us as before but, I just don’t know it feels like you’re avoiding me when we’re in front of your parents.”

Emma looked down at her feet, he was right. She had been keeping him at an arm’s length and that wasn’t fair to him at all. “I’m sorry that I made you feel that way, I just- it’s different bringing you here. I don’t regret it for a moment but a part of me knew that once we were here me and you wouldn’t be just well me and you anymore. It would be you and me and my kingdom and court and everybody would be involved in one way or another. This love wouldn’t just be ours anymore,” she took his hands in hers, squeezing tight. “But I should have talked to you about how I was feeling instead of shutting you out. I’m really sorry Killian.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “It’s all right, love,” he whispered into her hair. “I understand that you’re under a lot of pressure, but Emma I’m ready to share that with you. I want to be a part of your life, by your side, loving you openly and honestly.”

“I want that too,” Emma whispered. “So I need you to be honest with me, you seemed a little upset yesterday after Leo and Charlotte came home. Are you okay?”

“I thought I would be, really I did, but seeing your whole family reunited a part of me wished that Liam would come striding in after them,” Killian looked down at the floor. “I didn’t want to dampen your happy day with my feelings.“

“Oh Killian,” Emma said before wrapping her arms around him. “I am so sorry.” She could feel him crying softly on her shoulder. “I know he meant the absolute world to you. But you are not alone in this, you have me to lean on whenever you need me. You are not a burden, how you are feeling matters, you don’t have to keep it all bottled up inside.” “I love you,” Killian said through teary eyes, capturing her lips with his.

“I love you too,” Emma breathed as they broke apart. “I want you to be a part of my family. My family is yours if you want them.”

“I would love nothing more,” he smiled softly before kissing her again. “Perhaps it’s about time I talk to your father about courting you.”

Emma laughed before giving him one last kiss before shuffling him out of her room and when they met again at breakfast Emma tried to keep her smile dainty and ladylike as Killian spoke to her father in hushed tones. She beamed when David smiled and clapped Killian on the shoulder.

Emma knew her parents were trying to keep her out of the dungeons and far away from Regina. One too many times they had “spontaneously stumbled upon” Emma as she walked down towards the dungeons with requests of hot chocolate in the kitchens or sparring on the grounds or horseback riding through the forest. She knew why they were going out of their way to keep her away from Regina, but it didn’t stop her from needing answers that only Regina had. She kept looking for any opportunity, any chance, to break away and just talk to the imprisoned queen.  

“I think we should have a ball,” Snow announced one day at breakfast. “We’re all together again and we need a way to formally thank our allies and I think it’s a good way to signal that things are back to normal around here.”

“Can I come?” Charlotte asked, her little voice full of excitement.

“Sweetie I just don’t-” Snow leaned down to Charlotte’s level but Emma saw her shot, a long shot but a shot nonetheless, and spoke up.

“I think Charlotte can come for at least a little while, I can take her up to bed when it’s time,” she offered.

“Oh, Emma you wouldn’t have to, you shouldn’t miss out on the fun,” Snow said.

“It’s all right and we all know Charlotte isn’t going to go quietly with anyone else,” Emma smiled innocently at her mother, hoping she wouldn’t hear the gears shifting in her head as she formulated a plan.

Snow looked from her eldest to her youngest and sighed. “All right, I suppose you can come little one,” she tickled Charlotte under her arms as the little girl squealed with excitement. Emma looked up to see Killian looking at her, eyebrow raised in that dangerous way of his. She kept her eyes down for the rest of breakfast but couldn’t shake him once they were separated for the rest of the day.

“You’re planning on sneaking out to see Regina,” was all he had to say.

“What and you’re going to try to stop me?” Emma replied stonily.

“On the contrary, I want to help,” he smiled wickedly.

“What?”

“Emma, you haven’t had a chance to speak to Regina since we left her castle; I know you have got to have questions for her regarding what the Apprentice told you, what I don’t know is how I can help?”

“By coming with me, I have a feeling I’ll need someone with me after,” she ran her hand through her hair, anxiety settling on her chest.

“Whatever you need love, I’ll be there,” Killian’s smile softened. “So long as you save me a dance before we sneak off.”

“I think I can manage that,” Emma smiled.

Months of planning seemed to fly by, Emma tried to be attentive in meetings about table settings and menu planning, the only thing that could hold her attention was her gown. A full ball gown made of the softest silk and a vibrant shade of red. She couldn’t help but twirl in front of the looking glass during her final fitting, much to the delight of her mother.

“Oh, honey, you look beautiful,” she tried to discreetly wide a tear from the corner of her eye. “I think your friend Killian will love it.” Emma felt her cheeks warm as she smoothed the front of her gown. “Emma I wanted to ask you something.”

“Is it about Killian?”

“No, not that I don’t have questions but I’ll let you tell me about courting in your own time,” Snow smiled. “I think that you should open the ball with a few words.”

“But you usually do that.” Emma blanched.

“And we wouldn’t be able to have this ball or even be a family if you hadn’t succeeded,” Snow took her daughter’s hand. “You can do this, Emma, and you have me and your father here to help you.”

“What would I even say?”

“Whatever you want,” Snow smiled reassuringly. “Honey, it’s a suggestion, but I think that the people and our allies need to hear from you about these past few months. You just had a major victory, it’s okay to talk about it at a ball celebrating that.”

Emma thought, her mother had a point the people did deserve to hear from her personally, she was to be their future sovereign she should be able to address her people in at least this celebratory occasion. But giving the speech could possibly cut down on her time to question Regina. “Okay,” Emma nodded apprehensively. “I’ll make the speech but is it okay if it’s on the shorter side?”

“Of course,” Snow White beamed. “So long as you feel you are speaking from the heart then however long or short it is won’t matter.”

Finally, the night of the ball came, the menu finalized, the flowers abundant, the musicians tuning their instruments, and the candles in the great chandelier were lit casting a warm glow over everyone in attendance. Emma stood in the receiving line with the rest of her family, greeting everyone in attendance, trying to keep an excitable Charlotte relatively calm.

“This is taking so long, when are we gonna dance?” Charlotte’s voice was on the very edge of whining.

“Just be patient,” Leo whispered very impatiently.

“You should follow your own advice,” Emma said out of the corner of her mouth, though she couldn’t help but agree with them. Greeting a nearly endless string of nobles and royals had always been her most loathed part of the many balls her parents hosted.

“Oh like you’re not dying to rush into the ballroom so that you can dance with your ‘dashing sailor’” Leo rolled his eyes.

“Shut up,” Emma rolled her eyes.

“Nice comeback,” Leo chuckled and hissed when Emma pinched his arm. Emma looked up to see her mother’s narrowed eyes over the head of a foreign dignitary’s balding head. All three children settled down almost instantly. Emma tried not to fidget her way through the rest of the line when finally the last few stragglers had been escorted into the ballroom. Emma’s body buzzed with anticipation, with shaky steps she walked with her family into the grand ballroom. They stood together in the center of the dance floor, surrounded by family, friends, and allies, Emma took a shaky breath and stepped forward, clearing her throat for the already quiet room.

“I would like to thank everyone for being here tonight, it’s been quite the time since we’ve had one of these,” she chuckled nervously, thankfully she was met with polite laughter from the crowd. “We probably wouldn’t be here, together and safe, if it wasn’t for the help and aid provided to me and my family. To Arendelle, Dunbroch, Glowerhaven, and Aquitaine I would like to extend my gratitude for helping me in the battle against Regina and to Andalasia and Agrabah for fostering my brother and sister and keeping them safe during these dangerous times.” Her eyes found Killian’s in the crowd, he smiled widely at her and she felt her back straighten, she held her head higher, her shoulders back. “Now I also couldn’t have succeeded in rescuing my parents without the help of some unfamiliar faces here in court, namely Robin Hood and his Merrymen who so kindly provided me with shelter as well as Killian Jones, who has been by my side through this entire journey to rescue my parents. I think it is also important to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in this war, namely Sir August, or as many others knew him, Pinocchio. He and so many others fought valiantly to protect me and the kingdom from Regina’s rule. We plan on commemorating their service with a monument that will be placed on castle grounds at a later date. Allies such as this may be unusual here at court but as my parents proved so many years before, help can come from any number of unlikely places be it from fairies, dwarves, bandits, and sailors, everyone has a unique perspective to bring to the table. In times like these, we must stand together in order to rid this world of evil. If we try to go it alone, our own doubts and questions can stew and fester into our own darknesses. So with tonight’s ball, we are not only using it as a way to celebrate my family’s reunion but to also usher in a new era of unity.”

Applause filled the ballroom, Emma exhaled and accepted the applause with a gracious smile. Behind her the band picked up their instruments and began to play, her father lead her mother to the center of the ballroom and began to lead the waltz. Couples filled the dance floor around them, soon turning the ballroom into a sea of color as lords turned their ladies this way and that to the beat of the music. Emma saw Killian striding confidently towards her, his eyes bright and his smile even brighter.

“You were brilliant,” he said when he reached her, his hands going to reach for her waist but stopping just short. The faintest hint of pink-tinged his cheeks as he quickly bowed before her.

“Thank you,” Emma smiled, she knew he was trying to remember all the rules of court that she had been teaching him when he snuck into her room each night.

“May I have this dance your Highness?” he asked, neither of them missing the hint of irony in his use of her title.

“Of course,” Emma took his arm and allowed him to lead her to the dancefloor. They fell into step with the other dancers, Emma saw Melody smiling knowingly at her over Prince Phillip’s shoulder. Emma rolled her eyes at her and laughed quietly.

“Melody is having a field day,” Emma said to Killian.

He looked over his shoulder as he spun Emma out and smiled at the young mermaid. “Aye, she has seen us come a long way, I suppose,” he whispered into her ear as she spun back into his arms.

“She was rooting for you,” Emma confided as she walked in a half circle around him as he knelt down. “She saw something in you before I could.”

“Aye, but you did eventually,” Killian clasped her hand in his and got back to his feet facing her and stepped closer to her. “I didn’t exactly make a good first impression when we first met, I’m sorry for that.”

“It’s all right, I was naive and didn’t fully understand what I was getting myself and you into-”

“Emma, you don’t have to apologize for stopping them from whipping me, not at all,” Killian squeezed her hand tight.

“We helped each other,” Emma said, squeezing his hand just as tight. She felt a familiar tugging on her skirts and looked down to see Charlotte looking up at her.

“I suppose you want a dance?” Emma smiled down at her sister.

“Yes,” Charlotte nodded and smiled widely up at her sister. Killian let Emma hoist her sister on her hip.

He bowed low to Charlotte. “Thank you for letting me borrow your sister for a while,” he smiled at the young princess.

“Your welcome,” Charlotte waved at Killian as he disappeared back into the crowd. Emma twirled around still holding her sister, making her laugh loudly.

“Are you having fun?” Emma asked.

“The most fun!” Charlotte replied. “Everyone looks so pretty, Emmie. You’re pretty, Mama’s pretty, Daddy’s pretty, the room is pretty,” Charlotte twisted herself in Emma’s grip to get a better look around the room, Emma could practically feel her wanting to explore the room more, nothing excited Charlotte more than color and sparkle and beauty. Emma wouldn’t be surprised if Charlotte became a big patron of the arts of Misthaven when she grew older. Emma listened as Charlotte continued to list all the things she thought were ‘pretty’ including the music, the food, Emma’s shoes, Elsa’s necklace, Killian. “You think Killian is pretty?” Emma giggled.

“The prettiest boy I’ve ever seen!” Charlotte assured her. “When are you going to marry him?”

Emma blushed so hard she was sure she matched her scarlet dress. “Charlotte, not so loud,” Emma tried to shush her.

“But why?” Charlotte asked. “You like him, you get all blushy and mushy around him like Mama and Daddy do.”

Emma tried to find a way to explain her hesitation with announcing her and Killian to court, but how does one explain to a six-year-old that she just wanted her relationship to be just hers and Killian’s, something distinctly theirs and once it is announced their love isn’t just between them it’s between everyone? Especially when she not only has to juggle being the future queen, but also the Savior? “It’s complicated little one, but trust me when I say it’ll happen soon.”

Emma’s dodging luckily seemed to please Charlotte enough to get her off the subject of Killian for the rest of the dance.

“Emmie, I don’t wanna go to bed,” Charlotte whined as the band finished the song.

“You know the deal, it’s late and you have to go to bed,” Emma started carrying her towards the door, keeping her eyes peeled for Killian.

“But I’m not tired,” Charlotte said through a yawn.

“Sure you’re not,” Emma locked eyes with Killian. He nodded to her, knowing to follow her out of the ballroom in fifteen minutes so they could venture down to the dungeons to interrogate Regina.

“I’m not!” Charlotte insisted and somehow dragged the word ‘not’ into 3 syllables, but Emma kept walking through the ballroom doors and up the great staircase towards the nursery.

“You’re very lucky,” Emma whispered to her sleepy sister. “I didn’t go to my first ball until I was twelve.”

“When will the next one be?” Charlotte asked, trying and failing to stifle a yawn as Emma carried her down the hall past her parents’ bedchambers.

“I don’t know but probably sooner than you think,” Emma opened the door to the nursery. She handed Charlotte carefully to one of the royal nannies who would prepare Charlotte for bed. Her eyes lingered on the door of the wardrobe in the corner of the room, her eyes darting back to Charlotte as the nanny helped her into pajamas. What if Regina had cast the Dark Curse? Where would that wardrobe have taken her? What would have happened to all these people in her life? To her parents? Her siblings?

“Good night, Emmie,” Charlotte said as she got into her bed. “I love you.”

“I love you too little one,” Emma whispered, walking over to her and placing a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep tight.” Tears welled in her eyes as she turned and walked out of the room, she didn’t want to wonder about all those ‘what-ifs’ anymore. She quickly rushed down the stairs to the entrance hall, finding Killian there waiting for her.

“You alright love?” he asked as she neared.

“I’m fine, just thinking too much,” Emma let him encircle her with his arms, tension flowing out of her as she rested against him, collecting herself. “Come on, we don’t have a lot of time before people start to notice,” she pulled herself out of his embrace.

“You can tell me, Emma,” Killian said as he followed her through a side door and down a flight of stairs.

“I know, and I will I promise but I just need to do this first,” Emma continued down the dark stairway, holding her skirts so she wouldn’t trip.

“Aye, you know what you’re going to say to her?” Killian asked.

“More or less,” Emma nodded, trying not to shiver as the air became cooler the deeper they went.

“Your Highness,” the guard on duty stood straighter as she approached him. “Isn’t there a ball?”

“Yes, there is,” Emma said, producing a small bag filled with coins and holding it out to him. “And this should be enough to convince you to not tell my mother or my father that I was down here.”

The guard took the coin purse and weighed it in his hand before tucking it into his pocket. “You have my word and more importantly my silence your Highness,” he nodded. He unlocked the door that led to the cells and let Emma through. Killian remained with the guard, ensuring that he kept his word.

Emma walked quickly, breezing past cells filled with Camelot soldiers, through a door that led to a wing of the dungeons that were seemingly empty. She almost didn’t recognize Regina in the last cell, she was wrapped in a tattered cloak and her hair resembled a rat’s nest.

“I was wondering when you were going to make time to see me,” Regina sat up as Emma approached.

“I have questions for you,” Emma stood in front of Regina’s cell, her hands on her hips.

“And what makes you think I’ll answer them?” Regina asked, chuckling.

“I can help you, get you a nicer cell, better food, maybe a better blanket or two-” Regina laughed and shook her head.

“Oh darling, I am going to be a prisoner for the rest of my days in the castle of my most mortal enemies, do you really think I care one bit about my accommodations?”

“I also have this,” Emma drew a small vial of bright green liquid out of her dress. Regina’s eyes widened as she realized what Emma was offering.

“I wouldn’t have expected Snow White’s daughter to offer me poison as a way to get me to talk,” Regina twitched an eyebrow at her.

“One gulp and it’s over Regina, you won’t be in this cell or any cell for much longer. Plus you can see your father again,” Emma said holding the vial closer.

Regina’s jaw tightened and her eyes sharpened. “Don’t you mention my father to me you urchin.”

“Fine,” Emma shrugged and turned to walk away. “Have fun down here Regina.” Emma walked back towards the door, her fingers had barely brushed the doorknob when-

“Wait!” Regina yelled from her cell. “Fine, you have a deal.” Emma smiled to herself as she walked back to Regina. “What do you want to know?”

“The Dark One,” Emma said. “Where is he?”

Regina cackled. “You think I know where he is? He hasn’t talked to me since I was supposed to cast his curse.”

“Did he have any other students?” Emma asked, ignoring Regina’s jabs.

“My mother a long time ago and one other,” Regina said. “Her name is Zelena, more commonly known as the Wicked Witch of Oz.”

“Why were you the one the Dark One wanted to use to cast his curse?”

“My mother loved nothing but herself and Zelena loved only the Dark One; I had someone I loved more than anything in this world,” Regina’s eyes flicked to the vial still in Emma’s hands.

“The Dark One’s powers, how powerful is he exactly?” Emma asked, bringing Regina’s focus back to her.

“He is the most powerful purveyor of Dark Magic in this world, but his curse is what gives him the power.”

“Wait, his curse?”

“The Darkness needs a host, the Dark One provides one and takes on all of that power but there’s a price.”

“As there always is,” Emma grumbled.

“The Dark One’s dagger holds his magic, control the dagger and you control the Dark One.”

“Interesting,” Emma nodded, a plan forming in her head. “Why was Camelot helping you? King Arthur doesn’t make alliances, and neither do you.”

“He wanted information,” Regina said. “The same information you seek actually, our correspondence was filled with his many questions about the Dark One. So I offered a trade, help me by lending me some soldiers, I give him all the answers I have.”

“But you don't have any answers.”

“Well, Arthur didn’t know that did he?” Regina sniggered.

Emma rolled her eyes. “Do you know anything else? About the Dark One?”

“Not much else, Camelot would actually have more answers than I do,” Regina wrung her hands, still looking at the vial. “Please, I told you everything I know.”

“Yes you did,” Emma smiled. “Thank you for your help Regina, it was most appreciated.” Emma walked towards the door.

“Hey wait! Our deal!” Regina grabbed onto the bars of her cell. “Give me that vial!”

“Oh, this?” Emma held up the vial and dropped it, the glass shattered and the liquid inside leaked onto the floor. “You wanted to live forever Regina, now you’re paying the price.”

Emma turned on her heel, ignoring Regina’s screams and curses, as she exited the dungeons.

“Everything go okay?” Killian asked as soon as she closed the dungeon door behind her. Emma nodded and thanked the guard.

“Find us a ship to Camelot,” she said as they climbed the stairs back to the castle.

“Why?”

“We are going to bring down the darkness once and for all,” Emma said, taking her hand in his. “That is if you’ll come with me.”

“Of course I will,” Killian smiled. Emma stood on tiptoe, catching his lips in hers, relishing a moment of quiet before their next journey.

[swanqueeneverafter]

After The Sunset, Pt.34

Enchanted Forest. Royal Castle. Dungeons. Present. (Emma sits in her cell with her back against the wall, picking at the magic-blocking cuff on her wrist.) The Land Without Magic. Past. 2001. Portland. (Outside a deserted amusement park, a young Emma Swan is waiting for someone. After a while, Neal Cassidy approaches her carrying one coffee to go in each hand.) Emma: “When you said you owed me a drink, I thought you meant in a place like a bar. A restaurant. Or some place with, you know, chairs.” Neal: “Patience. I’ve got something better in mind. Here. Hold this.” (He hands Emma his coffee. Neal kneels down. Using his tools he attempts to open the locked door.) Emma: (Watching him:) “What the hell are you doing?” Neal: “Tumblers. It’s all about the tumblers. (Neal succeeds and opens the door:) Come on. It’s worth it. I promise. (They enter. Neal switches on the carousel’s lights:) What did I tell ya?” Emma: “Yeah, alright. It’s pretty cool.” Neal: “Come on. (They climb onto the carousel:) Hop on.” (Emma sits down and Neal takes a seat in front of her:) Emma: “So, what’s your story, Neal?” Neal: “That’s an interesting choice of words. My ‘story’ is that I left a screwed up situation and that kind of screwed me up.” Emma: “Crappy home life? I get that.” Neal: “Nah, it wasn’t always. It... that’s the problem. It was really great once.” Emma: “So, why don’t you go back to try and fix it?” Neal: “I can’t really go back. It’s my father.” Emma: “Bad guy?” Neal: “Not at first. But he changed. That’s when things got really crazy. But before that? It was home. It was nice. That’s how you know you’ve really got a home: ‘Cause when you leave it, there’s that feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it.”

Enchanted Forest. Present. The Royal Chapel. (Regina is led into the room by two guards. She has a hood over her head and Henry is waiting for her.) Henry: “Let's play a little game, ‘Your Majesty.’ Do you remember this place, what you did here?” (Regina’s hood is removed and she looks around.) Regina: “This is where I first declared I would cast the Dark Curse.” Henry: “At my grandparents' wedding, no less. Pretty bold.” Regina: “Henry, that was ancient history. We’re all family now. (Scoffs:) Your grandparents officiated my wedding here for goodness sake. To your other mother, no less.” Henry: “Clever. Rumplestiltskin said you’d be convincing.” Regina: “I am not who you think I am. And I am not the Evil Queen anymore.” Henry: (Clearly not listening:) “Tell me, was revenge everything you'd hoped it would be?” Regina: “Henry, snap out of it!” (When Regina tries to approach her son, the two guards draw their swords and block her path.) Henry: “Don't mind them. They're just here to make sure you don't show us all your true colours. Not that you'd get that far wearing that cuff on your wrist. No magic, remember?” Regina: (Sighs:) “Look I’m here to help you. The person you think is Rumple is using you.” Henry: “Oh you’re very good. But I know you’re not real. Grandpa created this world to show me what my true path could be.” Regina: “Listen to me! This isn’t some game or another realm! Emma and I have come to take you home.” Henry: (Approaches:) “Why should I ever trust you?” Regina: “Because I am your mother. And I can't bear to let anything happen to you. Even if we were in another realm, this isn’t you. You are brave and kind. And when life gets hard, you always do the right thing. You've saved so many people. Hell, you've saved me. Please. (Squeezing his hand:) Please, let me save you now.” Henry: (Watches her for a moment, before grabbing her arm, sneering:) “I don't need to be saved.” Regina: (Henry slices her palm with his dagger:) “Aaah!” Henry: “Consider that a reminder that in this realm, stories are written in blood and tears. And now they'll be written in yours. We fight tomorrow. And I'll finally have my happy ending.” (Henry leaves the room.)

Inside The Snow Globe. (Hook and Rumplestiltskin try desperately to break the glass from the inside.) Rumplestiltskin: "Our spirit's gonna break long before that glass. The Jabberwocky stripped me of my powers. (Slumps to the ground:) So I can neither escape, nor stop her." Hook: "From doing what?" Rumplestiltskin: "Well, that's the question. With Henry under her thrall, she will use his Author powers to hurt anyone she can and drag us all into the darkness where she wallows." Hook: "Seems like wallowing is something you have in common." Rumplestiltskin: "Excuse me?" Hook: "Look, you may have given up, but I haven't. We should try another area. There must be a weak spot." Rumplestiltskin: "There's that unshakable determination, however misguided." Hook: "Well, since, according to you, we're facing certain death, there's something I've always wondered. Given the amount of power that you once held, how come you never used it to destroy me?" Rumplestiltskin: "Because... you were the closest thing I ever had to a friend. (There's a noise behind them and they turn to see the cause:) What the hell is that?" Hook: (Walking over to the fishhook:) "It's our salvation. It's Maui's Hook!" Rumplestiltskin: (Getting to his feet:) "Well where did it come from?" Hook: (Smiling:) "I have a good hunch. Let me see if I'm right." (Hook swings the fishhook at the glass and it cracks. Swinging once more, the glass breaks, sending the snow outwards and freeing them from their prison.)

Dark Castle. (The room fills with dozens of freed captives, including Belle, Zelena, Aladdin, Jasmine, Ruby, Mulan, Tiana and Will. Hook looks over at their saviors Alice and Robin, then finally to Maleficent.) Hook: (Smiling:) "I knew it was your magic that saved us. Without you, we'd all be dead." Maleficent: (Rolling her eyes:) "Don't make me regret my decision." Zelena: "Hey, where are Emma and Regina? Please tell me they're with you." Robin: (Steps forward and hands her something:) "We found this nailed to a tree right when we got here." Zelena: (Unfurls the scroll and begins to read:) "Come see King Henry defeat the Anti-Savior and the Evil Queen at dawn?" Jasmine: "Looks like we've got another rescue mission to mount."

Zelena: "And we'd better hurry. Seems the Jabberwocky's really done a number on Henry." Rumplestiltskin: "Yeah, we're going to handle it, but Belle, I need you to get our son to safety." Belle: "No, Rumple, I want to help." Rumplestiltskin: "I understand that, but the best thing you can do now is make sure you and Gideon are safe. In fact that goes for most of you. Your people need you back where you belong. They need reassurance that everything's going to be all right." Aladdin: "Yeah, but will it?" Hook: "Rumplestiltskin's right. The people need their leaders, now more than ever." Zelena: "Well I'm not going anywhere, not when Emma and Regina are in danger." Robin: "We're staying too." Alice: (Nods:) "Yeah." Hook: (Looks to Maleficent:) "Mal, do you think you could..." Maleficent: (Sighs:) "Fine. But this hero thing is becoming entirely too much work." (Maleficent waves her hand, enveloping the room in a cloud of smoke. Leaving only Hook, Alice & Robin, Zelena and Rumplestiltskin to remain.) Rumplestiltskin: "Well, now that's sorted, I'm gonna search the castle to find something to deal with the Jabberwocky." Royal Chapel. (Henry sits waiting on the dais, staring at the bloody dagger when the Jabberwocky enters.) Henry: "Where have you been?" Jabberwocky: "Don't get your crown in a twist, Dearie. I've been writing a new spell." (With a flick of her wrist, a storybook appears at her feet.) Henry: (As the Jabberwocky approaches:) "That doesn't look like a spell. It looks like a storybook." Jaberwocky: "Well, uh, aren't spells just stories of a kind? After all, they're both merely words on a page. Until you give them something more." (The Jabberwocky hands Henry the Author's pen.) Henry: (Taking the quill:) "And I need magic ink to do so." Jabberwocky: "I’m well aware." Henry: "You found a loophole." Jabberwocky: "Well, you did, Dearie. Th-That little stain on your knife. The Queen's blood, I presume? (Henry shrugs:) Marvelous. Now the test. (Turns, calling:) Bring in the sprite! (Chuckles as two guards escort the Blue Fairy into the room:) When looking for expendable guinea pigs for questionable experiments, always mine the fairies.”

Henry: (Stands:) “So, that's why you needed the Queen's blood? To torture a fairy?” Jabberwocky: “No. The Queen's blood was mere motivation. What I really needed was your blood... to boil. Emotions run strong in Authors. Highly potent.” Henry: “So, you think my emotions can power your spell?” Jabberwocky: “Well, there's only one way to find out. Close your eyes. (Moves to stand behind him:) Now I want you to hold that knife, feel its cold blade. Now think back. Remember how it felt to cause your enemy pain, to spill her blood? (Suddenly, the book’s pages blow open and a portal appears behind the Blue Fairy, drawing her towards it:) Excellent. (The Blue Fairy is pulled inside the portal and vanishes. The storybook on the floor closes:) That was really impressive. You've got great darkness in you, Dearie.” Henry: (Glancing down at the dagger:) “Where's the fairy?” Jabberwocky: “Trapped in a prison made just for her. Don't you just love a happy ending? (Chuckles:) And soon, (Conjures dozens of more storybooks into the room:) every hero from every realm shall suffer the same fate. Each one drowning in their own isolation and loneliness. (Takes a seat on a stack of books:) Once you kill your final two challenges, their fates will be sealed.”

Outside The Royal Castle. (Hook and Robin stand hidden amongst the trees. Hook uses his eyeglass to scout the number of guards protecting the perimeter.) Robin: “Look, I'm pretty good with a bow, but that is a lot of bad guys.” Hook: “We just have to create a diversion so that the others can sneak Zelena in to rescue Regina and Emma.” Robin: (Draws an arrow from her quiver:) “Right. You ready for this?” Hook: “Aye. (Steps out on the road leading to the castle. The guards see him and draw their swords. Yelling, Hook charges:) Arghhh!” (Meanwhile, Zelena and Alice make their way to the outside entrance of the dungeons.) Dungeons. (Regina and Emma sit chained to the walls. Emma is bandaging Regina's hand.) Regina: "My own son wants me dead." Emma: "No, he doesn't. He's just had his mind twisted by that white-haired witch." Regina: (Shaking her head:) "He doesn't see me as his mother." Emma: "He didn't want to see me at all. I don't know what's worse." Regina: (Wincing:) "You want a gash carved into your hand? There are plenty of pointy rocks around here, be my guest." (Emma chuckles, despite herself.) Emma: “Remember when we met? And Henry thought of you as a villain?” Regina: “Back then I was a villain.” Emma: “Yeah, I never got that vibe. I mean, you were a force to be reckoned with don’t get me wrong, but evil? Nah.” Regina: “What about when the curse broke and you found out all of Henry’s stories about me were true?” Emma: "Hey, I'm not gonna lie and say that the revelation didn't sting. But back then, even if you had tried to tell me the truth, I probably would've just thought you were trying to end things, to push me away." Regina: (Nods:) "I've never really asked you this before but, it took you a lot longer to forgive your parents than you did me. Why is that, do you think?" Emma: (Takes a deep breath:) "Before the curse broke I got to know you. I got to know the woman behind the mayor. I got to see how you were with Henry and how your eyes would light up every time he entered a room. I saw how things could've been so much different." Regina: (Confused:) "How do you mean?" Emma: "Well, lemme ask you a question. If the roles had been reversed, do you think you would've ever sent your infant daughter into that wardrobe?" Regina: (Taken aback:) "Emma, I... I put your parents in an impossible situation." Emma: "But would you have done it?" Regina: (Stares at her a moment:) "No. No, I would’ve held on to you with every ounce of strength that I had." Emma: (Nods:) "For the longest time, I blamed them for the choice they made. I lost ten years with my son because I didn't think I had the strength to raise him on my own. It wasn't fair to them, but that's how I felt." Regina: "Oh Emma, I'm so sorry." Emma: (Shakes her head:) "It's in the past. (Wiping her eyes:) You know, back when the curse broke, Henry was the first one that knew you could move to the light.” Regina: “You and Henry were the ones who got me there.” Emma: “No. No, we only helped. You did the work. And so must Henry. We can help him, too. We can show him it's possible to come back from this. Our lives are proof that no one's path is set.” Zelena: (Standing outside their cell:) "Do you two need a few minutes or shall I rescue you now?" Regina: (Getting to her feet:) "Zelena!" Zelena: "Sorry, sis, I would've been here sooner but the Jabberwocky took my amulet when she captured me. I had to get here the old fashioned way." (When Zelena reaches for the keys on the wall, a sword blocks her path.) Emma: "Please! Don't hurt her." (The guard is about to run Zelena through when he is shot in the back by an arrow. As the guard falls to the ground, two more run forward.) Zelena: "Who are you?" Snow White: (She and David remove their helmets:) "We're family." Emma: (Through the bars:) "Mom! Dad!" Regina: "Oh thank god." David: "Looks like you've all kept yourselves busy since we've been gone."

[the-reason-to-sail-home]

✨CS Fairy Tale Prompts✨

As promised, here is a collected list of (50+) fairy tale, fantasy, and mythology prompts. I’ve also included a handful of smutty prompts and hearty helping of dark fantasy prompts for CS Halloweek. Feel free to use any of these for anything, and if you do, I’d appreciate it if you link back to this list! Happy writing!

General Fairy Tale Prompts

Killian is an apothecary, Emma is the woman who tracks down the rare and dangerous ingredients for him.

Character A has vowed to kill a dragon, unbeknownst to them that their lover, Character B, is really the beast they’re hunting.

Pirate Killian follows his map to where treasure is sure to lie. Instead, he only finds the humble cottage of a poor woman living by herself.

The fictional character that person A has fallen in love with steps out of the pages of a book, running away from something disastrous happening in their own world.

Write about the forbidden love between two very different mythological creatures (ie; fairies, nymphs, humans, mermaids, etc).

Character A is an unhappy siren who has fallen for their latest prey, Character B, the only person who is unaffected by A’s charms.

Emma is a messenger that continually runs into sailor Killian as they travel across the world, her by land, and he by sea.

Emma is a Robin Hood type character protecting her village from the Pirate Jones who wishes to plunder it.

Alternatively, Emma is tired of her stifling life in her small village and stows herself away on a pirate ship in hopes of finding adventure.

An evil witch has princess Emma locked in a tower, but little does Emma know, the witch has a pirate locked just the room below her. During one of the pirate’s escape plans, he and Emma meet. (Possible Rapunzel AU?)

Character A is a fortune teller who sees themselves in Character B’s future.

Emma disguises herself as a princess to steal from the prince’s treasury during his ball. Everything goes according to plan, except, you know, the part where she falls in love with him.

Character A is immortal and character B reincarnates over and over and over again. Sometimes they fall in love, sometimes they don’t.

The village leaves character A behind as a sacrifice to the god/dess of the forest, character B is the god who finds character A, beaten and neglected.

Character A is a chess master who is enlisted to teach the royal character B how to play. Character A soon surpasses their teacher.

This also works with music, swordsmanship, and other things where mastery can be taught!

Killian is a map creator who needs an escort to give him as he marks down uncharted lands. Emma just happens to be the best in the land.

Killian and Emma are the demon of evil and the angel of good. They have a fierce rivalry with each other, trying to bring lowly mortals to their respective side. 

Princess Emma discovers a secret library within the depths of her castle run by a strange librarian, Killian Jones.

Character A falls in love with the palace gardener, Character B.

Write about a masquerade ball. Emma and Killian could be royalty, spies, castle servants, thieves, guests, military officers, knights. The dynamics could be neat on this one.

Spooky Fairy tales

Emma is the youngest and most powerful of three witches. One day, Killian stumbles upon their home as an overnight guest. He teaches her that she can use her witch powers for good. (Based off of Barbara Picard’s story, “The Third Witch”)

The Spirit of Death, Emma, taunts and follows Killian Jones as he escapes her grasp countless times, up until the day he doesn’t.

Emma is a witch living on an enchanted island by herself, Killian is the sole sailor who washes up on her shores.

Killian finds himself wandering into an abandoned castle, haunted by the princess who died there.

Emma is the necromancer that Killian hires to bring his deceased brother back from the grave.

Killian finds twelve ghost princesses dancing in the forest, and somehow, has caught the attention of one of them.

In the middle of the night, Emma finds that stone statue in her palace has come to life: the likeness of Killian Jones, a deceased naval captain.

During one of this sea voyages, Killian meets and falls in love with a woman he finds floating in the water. It’s only after they part that one of his crew tells him that Emma Swan has been dead for over a hundred years.

Character A is a plague doctor, Character B is on their deathbed.

Hook is lost in the Dark Woods of Neverland, and Emma is the queen that reigns over them. If he wants to make it back to his ship, he’ll have to go through the queen first.

Emma is spirit of death/temptress/etc who takes the lives of men by sleeping with them. The only men she doesn’t want to kill is the only man she really wants to sleep with.

Zombie Snow White!AU except the character in a sleeping curse has started to decay and when woken by TLK, never truly comes fully back to life.

Emma Swan is a fallen angel who takes out her rage on a spiteful pirate, but little does she know, there’s not she can do to him that he hasn’t lived through already.

Killian is the necromancer in charge of bringing Princess Emma back to life, but for some reason, he can’t bring back her life, and instead, only relive her memories in his own mind.

Emma grows up alone on the streets selling matches with her imaginary friend, the ghost of a dead boy who died in slavery.

Prompts based off of specific fairy tales

Beauty and the Beast AU: Person A is the only person alive who doesn’t see person B’s cursed appearance. Person B has no idea that they don’t appear as a beast to person A.

Cinderella!AU where Killian and Emma are both commoners crashing the king’s party in hopes of finding true love. The one who gets left behind has a seriously harder time finding the one who got away.

Cinderella!AU where Pirate Killian steals a princess’ pair of glass slippers and gives them to his first mate, Emma. They’re a perfect fit.

Peter Pan AU where Emma has secretly been growing up and turns to Pan’s enemy to help get her off of the island. She much prefers her life as a pirate to her old one as a lost girl, anyhow.

Prince Killian of the Sea loses his favorite ring (or other beloved object) on shore and goes above land to find it. Emma, thief extraordinaire, helps him find it and steal it back. (Based off of Barabara Picard’s, “The Coral Comb.” )

Royal Killian finds Emma, a stranger without her memories. They fall in love, marry, but when Killian discovers that  she’s actually a fairy, he has to choose between her happiness and their marriage. (Based off of Barbara Picard’s story, “Count Alaric’s Lady”).

In the actual fairy tale, the only way they can stay together is if their love for one another is true.

Killian is an artist who is thrown in the royal dungeons for not accurately painting the king. Princess Emma sees him and they begin a forbidden love affair. (Based off of Barbara Picard’s story “The Blackbird’s Song”).

Princess Emma must pick one of many suitors to marry. Prince Killian is on his way to be considered, when an evil witch turns him into a dog. Princess Emma finds the dog. (Based off of Picard’s “The White Hound”).

In the original fairy tale, the prince has 2 minutes at midnight on the night of the full moon to talk with his full voice. This is how the princess realizes he’s actually a man and not a  dog.

Emma grows up playing in the forest, where she continually meets a mysterious woodland man, Killian (as a wood nymph/faun/fairy/elf/etc), but the second he leaves her side, she loses her memories of him. She returns to the forest, though, because her heart knows she has a reason to. They grow closer up until the day her step-mother/grandmother makes her marry someone else. (Based off of Picard’s “The Faun and the Woodcutter’s Daughter”). 

Is the fairy tale, the faun comes to the daughter’s rescue on the day of her wedding, but ultimately she saves herself.

This story also works genderswapped. Perhaps Emma is the wood nymph/fairy and Killian is the Harbormaster’s brother.

Snow white!AU: Character A is a mercenary hired by the queen to kill character B. They stumble into each other and form an unlikely team. Ultimately character A just can’t kill character B.

Prompts based off of mythology

A fic based off of the story of Greek astronomer, Endymion, who has a love affair with the moon goddess, Selene.

A fic based off of Hades and Persephone, where with Emma or Killian is the ruler of the underworld.

A romance between the goddess of the sun and the god of the moon.

Alternatively, the goddess of the land and the god of the sea.

Character A declares to the heavens that they won’t ever fall in love. Aphrodite sees this as a challenge. They stumble into character B the next day.

A mortal falls in love with a god/dess and goes about the strangest ways in getting their attention and favor.

King Midas!AU: Everything character A touches turns to gold, everything except character B.

Emma is one of the huntresses of Artemis. After being scorned by love before, she swears off men. On one of her hunts, she meets a sailor who makes her change her mind.

The gods in olympus think Character A would be great for character B. The two mortals can’t figure out why they keep running into each other, but it’s really because of a plan that’s a bit more...divine.

Killian Jones has spent his entire life at sea fearing the storms, but he has never considered loving them, especially not the goddess who makes them.

Smutty Fairy Tale Prompts

Royal person A has taken notice to the way person B stares at them as they work about the castle.

Character A is a sculptor for the royal family and gets well acquainted with the body of the prince/princess.

A couple in a forbidden love affair escape to the enchanted woods to consummate their love.

A couple separated by distance can communicate with a magic mirror. Character A just doesn’t account for character B accidentally “stepping in” when they pleasure themselves, but they realize they can have some fun.

Who doesn’t love a good femme fatale?

Princess Emma has eyes for her protector and intends to have him.

This is a fairly general, common prompt, but I felt I should still give credit to a fic that has already done exactly this: Frustrated, Princess? by YouSaidWho on Ao3.

A pair of strangers share a passionate night together, only to find out character A is the royal and is actually in an arranged engagement to character B.

[justanotherwannabeclassic]

CSBB: I Thee Wed (9/16)

Once upon a time, Princess Emma and Lieutenant Killian Jones stole away into the dark of the night to elope. In the morning light, however, they must face the repercussions of their actions before they can live their "happily ever after." This is where their story begins... Rating: M (Mild smut) Content Warning: Smut in various chapters. Other Pairings: Snowing Author’s Note: Thank you all for reading! I’m loving all of these strong feelings about my contribution to the @captainswanbigbang This story wouldn't be half as readable without the lovely beta work of @wexyuk. Special shoutout to my artists who also served as secondary readers, @piratesrumforswan, and @just-be-magnificent . [Ch. 1][Ch. 2][Ch. 3][Ch. 4][Ch. 5][Ch. 6][Ch. 7][Ch. 8]

Read on AO3!

Chapter 9

David woke with a start. He’d had another fitful night of sleep, just as he’d experienced for the past month. He rarely slept well while stressed, and lately it felt as if he had the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. He recalled the years when he and Snow had fought against Regina, how little he slept, worried that she or one of her minions would come steal away all he held dear. Only this time when nightmares overtook him, it wasn’t Snow’s evil stepmother who haunted his dreams, but the young upstart sailor who’d captured his daughter’s heart.

David ran his hand over his face willing the memories of his dream to disappear.

They were finally celebrating Emma’s “engagement” tonight, formally announcing the relationship to their friends and allies. Everyone already knew it was an engagement party, of course, those things couldn’t be kept secret, nor did anyone expect it to be. But tonight everything would become more real, in a sense, with the stakes of dissolving the relationship becoming much higher than before. Not that he expected Emma to want to extricate herself from her sailor, nor would he and Snow fight them on it.

He still wasn't fond of the arrangement. He felt like a man whose life was slowly spiraling out of control. Regardless, David intended to stay true to his resolve to trust his daughter. He knew he couldn't be the father to put his foot down and demand that they part from one another. Neither he nor Snow were willing to ask her to abdicate the throne to once again marry Jones. As things stood, all David could do was stand and watch his world burn.

He turned to his side to face his wife. She slept soundly, her expression a portrait of peacefulness. He wished he could have her certainty that all would be well with his daughter's relationship. Snow remained optimistic, as she did with most things, but David wasn't so sure.

He couldn't get his final conversation with Liam Jones out of his head. Though the elder Jones clearly wanted to protect his brother, his recommendation was hardly glowing. He had been hesitant, cautious in choosing his words in a way that worried David. If the man closest to his daughter's suitor couldn't properly defend him, what was David supposed to think?

Trust Emma, he reminded himself.

But it wasn't Emma that he didn't trust. It was Jones. Emma honestly believed she loved him, and she was following her heart. David could understand that, and in a way, commended her for her certainty. But he didn't know Jones' heart, nor his motivations. And if his own brother doubted him, then David believed he was entitled to do so, as well.

Knowing he'd get no more sleep anytime soon, and unwilling to allow his tormenting thoughts to potentially rouse his wife, David pulled himself from the bed. He wanted a drink -- rum or ale to soothe his spirits -- but knowing the day he had ahead, David settled for a glass of warm milk. He could get to the kitchens, grab some milk, and distract himself with a book from the library before joining his wife in entertaining the guests that had arrived early -- including his daughter's husband.

Jones had been set to return from his tour the night before, and David had received word that he'd made it back safely. He was eager to receive a debriefing of the trip, to gain more insight into the mind of Killian Jones. Not just from Killian Jones, of course, but also the Admiral. The Admiral was hardly a fan of the arrangement, not that David could necessarily blame the man. But if his opinion of Jones had shifted in either direction, David wanted to know. It was in Emma's best interest, after all.

Emma hadn't enjoyed the past two weeks. She'd acted sullen for the duration of Jones' trip around the kingdom. She wasn't argumentative, at least not more so than other times, but there was a melancholy there that she normally didn't display. It reminded David of him and Snow at times during their own separations. Not that Emma and Jones were anything like he and his wife, as much as Emma claimed to be. He and Snow were True Loves. They'd been married for decades, and the only secrecy regarding their marriage had been hiding from the Evil Queen. Regardless, David's heart still broke for his daughter, and he was quite unhappy  seeing her experience any emotional pain.

Of course, heartbreak was what worried him. He was terrified Jones would somehow shatter his daughter's heart. Emma didn’t deserve that, never would, and long ago David swore that he would do his damndest to protect her. Snow had said that was a lost cause, because by the time Emma grew old enough to suffer a broken heart, she would be at the age to make decisions for herself. But David was her father, and if he could protect Emma, he would. Only he wasn’t sure how to do it without losing her.

“What If she’s wrong about him?” he’d asked Snow again late one night after a long afternoon of planning for the engagement ball. “What if he hurts her?”

“Then we’ll stand by her side supporting her and loving her, like her parents should,” Snow reminded him.

And that made him feel completely and utterly helpless. As David strode down the castle halls from his chambers, he wondered if it would be best to work out some of his frustrations with swordplay this morning, rather than read. The exertion might be good for him. Of course, that would also mean the poor knight who fought across from him would have to deal with a fight. David would insist on wooden swords then.

Pleased with his decision, David was eager to get down the kitchens and then to the training pit. It was still early, of course, but someone was always there. He wouldn’t be causing too much trouble, and hopefully it would allow him to relax. He needed to put on an air of approval for Emma’s sake. As much as he loathed the idea of her marriage, he refused to be the cause of any pain for her. He just had to grin and bear it, trusting that her instincts were correct.

It was as David turned the corner that his own instincts pricked moments before colliding with a man. He believed the man to be one of his guards, not expecting the king or anyone else to be awake at the late hour. Unfortunately, David was wrong, and even more unfortunately, he found himself to be standing opposite a very surprised Killian Jones.

David blinked a few times in an attempt to gather his bearings and to convince himself that he wasn’t hallucinating his daughter’s paramour hurrying down the darkened halls of the castle, coming from a direction that passed her bedchambers. But no, it was, in fact, Killian Jones standing before him, looking very much like a fox who had been caught in the hen house.

Killian Jones was not supposed to be here. Killian Jones was supposed to be in his own home, wherever he resided when not sailing with the Navy – a small place above a tavern that he once shared with his brother, David had found out a few weeks ago. He was not supposed to be clearly sneaking from the princess’ bedchambers.

And here he was.

“I, uh, I suppose there’s no way I can convince you to pretend you didn’t actually run into me, is there?” he had the gall to ask. Jones awkwardly scratched behind his ear as his spoke, and David could tell it was a nervous tick.

Good.

The man should be nervous.

David crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at sailor. “No.”

“And I also suppose that it would be bad form to remind you that Emma and I are, in fact, married,” he added, the tips of his ears turning pink. “I mean, in that regard, nothing untoward technically happened.”

David’s blood began to boil, and he had to remind himself that he couldn’t kill the man Emma loved, no matter how much he desired to do so. And then David remembered his original destinations. He didn’t have to kill the man Emma loved, but that didn’t also mean he couldn’t put him through the wringer. Milk could wait. It was time for swords.

“I think you should come with me.”

This was going to be fun.

-/-

Killian supposed, in retrospect, that he was a fool to think he could have exited he castle the way he came. Although, he hadn't expected Emma's father to be wandering around at this early hour, and for them to unfortunately collide. That had been a spot of bad luck he hadn't anticipated.

At least he still had his head.

For how long, Killian wasn't sure. Despite his age, King David was still quite strong and adept with a sword. He really hadn't expected to be swordfighting with Emma's father on this day. Then again, this was preferable to the dungeons, so Killian couldn't complain much.

Apart from the fact that he was half-convinced that his father-in-law was intent on killing him.

Killian blocked the thrust of the king's sword with his own, and then spun out of the way. The move was a touch showy, but it caught the king off guard a bit. Liam had always teased him for the flair that Killian added to his techniques, calling him a dancer or implying he fought like a pirate. Killian brushed off both comments, as he liked his own style of combat, arguing that it added an element of surprise. In the case of the king, Killian was correct.

If only you could see me now, brother, Killian thought. Only Liam didn't want to see him. He wondered, not for the first time, if his brother would be attending the ball tonight. Emma had told him that Liam had received an invitation. It was bad form to reject an invitation from royalty, but Liam's anger ran deep.

His thoughts of Liam had distracted Killian enough that the king was able to advance, putting Killian more on defense than attack. He wondered how this should go. Killian was never one to throw a match. His competitive streak -- which had gotten him into trouble more often than not -- wouldn't allow it. Then again, he was sparring against the king. Would it be bad form not to let him win? Or would Emma's father be insulted if Killian didn't give the match his all?

The crowd that was forming didn't help at all. A few knights and guards had gathered to watch the sparring match. Out of the corner of his eye, Killian could even see a few exchanging coin. He knew as the minutes lapsed, more would come as the castle began to wake. Surely the king wouldn’t be happy if he lost before a crowd.

But “a man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets”, and Killian wanted the king’s respect. He knew that Emma’s father would never respect him if he sensed in any way that Killian had thrown the match. That settled things. Killian would give the fight his all.

Pity to the king.

Killian surged forward, pushing the king back. His opponent look surprised, but schooled his face quickly into an expression of pure determination. Were this any other sparring match, Killian would have found himself enjoying the fight. It was rare he had the opportunity to practice against someone with such skill. Why did his opponent have to be Emma’s father?

Killian wondered what Emma would say once she found out about the fight. Of course, there was a chance that she wouldn’t find out, and what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. But the crowd that amassed led him to believe that she would certainly be hearing about it from someone, if not from him, then one of her maids. He hoped she wouldn’t be too upset with him. She was, arguably, partially to blame. He had been leaving her room, after all.

That being said, sword fighting the king was a small price to pay. It couldn’t get much worse could it?

Apparently, it could, because the next thing Killian knew, a familiar voice was calling out over the murmurs of the crowd.

“David! Just what do you think you are doing?”

Both Killian and Emma’s father lowered their swords as Queen Snow marched toward them. Killian noted that both she and Emma had similar facial expressions when angry, and his own experience with Emma led him to believe that her mother was feeling quite murderous. Maybe he was going to lose his head, after all.

“Snow, we’re sparring,” the king explained, and he patted Killian’s shoulder jovially. Killian was intelligent enough to play along. He could tell that he was fishing for assistance, so he played along.

“Aye, Your Majesty. The King and I thought it would be exhilarating to start the morning with some swordplay. No better way to get one’s blood pumping through your veins, am I right?” Killian plastered on his widest grin.

The Queen appeared unconvinced, and crossed her arms over her chest. Emma did the same while angry. Wasn’t there a saying, like mother, like daughter? Now he understood where Emma got her fight from, not that the king didn’t have it himself. He’d quickly learned just how passionate her family could be.

“Well, you both appear quite awake. Let’s go inside, shall well? We have many things to discuss before the ball tonight,” Emma’s mother advised, her tone warning them both that there were expected to follow without complaint.

Both he and Emma’s father exchanged dark looks, knowing that they soon would likely be on the receiving end of an earful. Though the King certainly wasn’t fond of him, Killian could tell that he didn’t want the Queen involved, and that he wanted to work things out on his own. They put away their sparring equipment in silence under the watchful eye of the queen. Killian wondered what the guards thought of this. Was it normal?

They followed the Queen, speaking in jovial small-talk that felt strange considering the tension between them all. Even though they were discussing the weather, the decorations for the ball, and even the pastries that would be served, Killian was bracing himself for a lecture. Judging by the tenseness in King David’s gait, Killian could tell that he felt the same way. Eventually they made their way to the library, and the queen closed the doors after them.

As expected, she quickly turned around and demanded explanation.

“Just what were the two of you thinking? We have guests staying with us. What if they saw the two of you?” She placed her hands on her hips and arched her brow, another Emma-like quality.

“They would see two men sparring,” the king countered. His wife didn’t look quite convinced. “There was no harm.”

“Really? Because from my point-of-view, it looked like you were about to kill our daughter’s fiancé!”

“Husband,” Killian muttered under his breath, but neither of Emma’s parents paid his comment any mind, too caught up in their own argument.

“If you knew where I found him this morning, you would understand why,” Emma’s father argued back. He pointed to Killian – so much for solidarity, mate – and lowered his voice to a whisper. “He was sneaking out of Emma’s bedchambers!”

“Technically, I had left by that point, and was in the corridor,” Killian corrected. He never knew when to shut his mouth, and doubted he ever would.

“See? He admits it!”

Snow rolled her eyes. “Gods, David, are you going to pretend that we never had sex before we were married?”

“Technically Emma and I are married,” he reminded them. It was a very important point. He wasn’t just making love to an unwed princess, but rather to his wife, the princess. They had waited until their wedding night to consummate their relationship. They’d made that decision with purpose. Unfortunately, no one recognized that very important point.

“That doesn’t matter right now.”

Right.

“If anyone else saw him sneaking out of her room, then you know what they’d be saying about her,” Emma’s father argued, and Killian felt a pang of guilt in his gut at that.

“I was intending to leave earlier, but—“

“I swear, if you want to live, you will not finish that sentence.”

“David, hush,” Emma’s mother snapped. Killian felt a brief moment of relief before she turned her attention to him. “I won’t ask what you were thinking, because I’m sure you and I both know. What I will ask of you is that you think more in the future. Reputation matters, especially for a woman and a princess. I’m not asking for you to behave out of my own sense of propriety, but for Emma. Do not do that again.”

Emma.

Killian still wasn’t fond of the pomp and circumstance that had to go into these events. As it stood, in Killian’s opinion, royalty cared far too much about what other kingdom’s thought. But he was quickly learning the nuances of diplomacy, so he supposed he would understand at some point. What mattered most to him at this moment was Emma, and if it was best for Emma, he would suffer through what her mother requested of him.

For Emma’s sake.

“I’ll do my best.” At least when there was risk of being caught, Killian thought, not that he would tell her parents that.

“That’s all I ask,” Snow said, ignoring David’s protest that Killian hadn’t promised anything. As if deciding that the conversation was over, she placed her hands on her hips, and smiled. “Now that that’s over, you two need to go get ready. We all have a big day ahead.”

A big day, indeed. Tonight, they would be announcing his and Emma’s faux engagement. But first: he would be going on a hunt. It was Killian’s only hope that he wouldn’t be the prey.

[lareinesophie]

HELLO darlings!! I had originally intended to get this blog on a good start by posting a sober, scholarly (and as yet unfinished) essay on the intricacies of Lady Lesso’s character, but then I got a much better idea, that is—

Repost this prompt with your own response: Write that one thing you really desperately wish will happen in the second SGE trilogy, but which in all likelihood won’t, and CHALLENGE: COME UP WITH THE CRAZIEST, MOST CREATIVE, MOST OUTLANDISH, MOST ABSOLUTELY MENTAL EXPLANATION as to how it just might be possible, even as it’s highly improbable.

Mine is that Lady Lesso is the character resurrected, because “who ever heard of a witch that really died? You can always get them back.” (Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Chapter XII). I’m not talking about a zombie!Lesso literally being brought back from the dead, tho I wouldn’t put it past Hester to sneak to Lady Lesso’s grave/probably-still-unburied coffin in the Garden for Good and Evil and attempt necromancy or whatever serious black magic that Rafal had performed to reanimate the Old villains. (Tbh Hester totally would bc she’s such a huge Lady Lesso fangirl; look at how she shamelessly appropriated Lady Lesso’s life advice to Sophie as her graduation quote in the Ev-Nev Handbook. I bet she reads The Tale of Sophie and Agatha again and again just for the bits in which Lady Lesso appears and cries heavy black mascara tears and spooks Anadil’s rats with this Overwhelming and Uncharacteristic Display of Sentiment.) But anyway, my pet wacko theory is: So we know that Lady Lesso had appointed Sophie her successor as Dean and gifted her her sharp-shouldered purple gown before tying Aric up & freeing Professor Dovey & all that, but what if she had also… *dramatic pause*… enchanted all the mirrors in the School for Good and Evil and saved fragments of her eternal soul in them (like with Horcruxes), not bc she was afraid that Aric would kill her, but rather she wanted to keep an eye on Dean Sophie and continue to guide her from beyond the grave!!

“[…]I’ll always see you as my student, Sophie. And when you lose your way, I’ll be there in the shadows, your Evil fairy godmother, pushing you towards your destiny like a wind behind a sail. Even when you lose sight of what that destiny is.” Sophie could see there was more Lady Lesso wanted to say, but she was holding back. Instead, they just gazed into each other’s eyes[…]”

The Last Ever After, Part ii Chapter 29. “Who’s Helping Who?”

Everyone knows about Sophie’s obsession with mirrors and that she spends all day preening in front of one, doing her make-up instead of her schoolwork. It’d make perfect sense to observe Sophie thru a mirror and it’s certainly the most effective method of spying on her. Also, although mirrors were more plentiful in the Good castle, they’re really an Evil artefact associated with vanity and with the greatest villains. For instance, the “Enchanted mirror belonging to Leandra of Frostplains (aka The Frost Queen)” is displayed in the Exhibition of Evil, and Little Snow-White’s Evil stepmother famously owned a rather opinionated talking mirror that basically mansplains her and makes her insecure about her body image, and in horror movies and the “Bloody Mary” urban legend the ghost always passes into the mortal realm through a mirror. Given her deep knowledge of fairytales and of everything Evil, Lady Lesso would have been very familiar with the magical properties of mirrors. Furthermore, having been a “sensational” witch back in the day (TLEA), she would have been well-versed in “the art of life-extension”. Indeed, being both Dean of Evil and Professor of Curses & Death-traps, she must have been until her death the most powerful and knowledgeable witch in the Woods; notice that she was revered even by Evers for her prowess in casting spells—the magical purple-tinged shield she cast in over the Schools for Boys and Girls could withstand the continuous onslaught of the entire prince population in the Woods. A life-preservation spell involving soul fragmentation & a mirror is likely child’s play for her.

[..]the two boys watched more feral princes climb through the hole in the broken shield. “You must be quite the magician to crack it,” said Tedros finally. “Lady Lesso cast that shield herself.” Aric didn’t reply.

A World without Princes, Part II Chapter 13. “The Supper Hall Book Club”

In short, Lady Lesso could and would cast a spell preserving part of her consciousness within a mirror/several mirrors; she had both the means and motivation for doing so. But — and things get even more FANTASTIC from here on — a tiny caveat: Remember that mirrors are more plentiful in the Good castle? In fact, practically all the mirrors in the School for Good and Evil are found exclusively in the Good castle; in Book 1 Sophie had complained about not being able to find a single mirror in the Evil school and had resorted to improvising one in her dorm by flooding the floor, and when she did get a proper mirror it was the one Agatha had removed from her dorm in the Good school. Professor Manley’s Uglification classroom did have “desks with rusty mirrors”, but you’d bet Dean Sophie had those thrown out in one of her first acts as Dean and replaced them with very classy and very expensive antique mirrored stations ordered from Putzi, much like those in Professor Anemone’s Beautification classroom (AWWP), Manley’s protests notwithstanding. (“BUT THEY’RE PRICELESS ANTIQUES!” “SO ARE MINE! AND MINE ARE ACTUALLY CLEAN AND FREE OF TRACES OF TADPOLE GUTS!”). And there’s the Ice Queen’s Enchanted Mirror in the Exhibition of Evil, which Lady Lesso did not touch due to it being a priceless artefact from Evil’s glory days and a token of Evil’s greatest triumphs (and for sentimental reasons too — The Frost Queen was her “favourite tale of all”), and which in any case was still languishing under a thick layer of dust in the tiny broom closet that housed the Exhibition, because Dean Sophie had evidently not seen fit to move the Old Evil relics to more dignified settings. Or rather, there simple was no room for them in the new museum (the ‘Temple de la Gloire de Sophie’) that housed all the items from her fairytale, and seeing that she was the only Never to win a fairytale in centuries, there wasn’t any point in making room for the remains of losers; it might demoralise new Nevers to see that their greatest heroes were this rotting vine of thorns (Vera of Woods Beyond) and a bunch of dead stuffed animals. And lastly, there’s probably a mirror in the private living quarters of the Dean’s office, given that Lady Lesso admitted she had “a vanity that is rare among Nevers”, but Sophie had taken up residence in the School Master’s Tower and set about renovating it into a five-star hotel, and decorated it not with massive jewelled mirrors from the Good School but with the finest silver-backed floor-to-ceiling mirrors ordered directly from the Putsi Metal Shop, the same company that supplied the chair-and-mirror stations for the new Evil Groom Room.

Sooooo mirror!Lady Lesso has had absolutely no opportunity to catch up on Dean Sophie’s doings and gleaned zero intelligence on what’s going on in the Evil School, and worse, is subject to a constant, unending barrage of vain, vapid Evers preening in front of the mirrors every spare moment. And she’s regretting her life decisions terribly and at first she vents by haunting the Evers but then feels bad bc the frightened Evers go crying to Professor Dovey who has to comfort them lest she receive angry letters from their haughty royal parents inquiring about “a POLTERGEIST in the GOOD SCHOOL?! WHAT HAS THIS SCHOOL COME TO? FIRST YOU LOSE EVERY COMPETITION, THEN YOU STOPPED HOSTING SNOW BALLS ETC. ETC.” and these missives are often laced with threats to sue the school for criminal incompetence.

BUT THEN Dean Sophie decides she wants to throw an Evil Snow Ball for Christmas, with the exact same winter wonderland aesthetic as that of previous Snow Balls, but as she invited the whole School and not just the Nevers, she needs more entertainment venues to ensure there’s room for everyone and that everyone has a good time, so the dungeon is converted into a carnival of wintry amusements, AND SHE TURNS LADY LESSO’S ICE CHAMBER CLASSROOM INTO AN ICE-SKATING RINK. Aaaand for final touches, as the dungeon walls are a little bare and gloomy for such a joyous occasion, Sophie convinces the Evers to loan those massive jewelled mirrors in the Good castle to Evil for a night, so as to pretty up the place and brighten the rooms by reflecting the dancing fairylights. And the Evers carry a whole lotta mirrors, practically every mirror in school, into the Evil castle, and Lady Lesso, who’s trapped within these mirrors, sees what Sophie has done to the Evil castle and FLIPS OUT, LIKE, WHY ARE THERE EVERS IN THE EVIL CASTLE!!??? IN HER CLASSROOM??! SOPHIE HAD DONE WHAT TO HER CLASSROOM?? AND WHY WAS EVERYONE GLIDING ON…KNIFE BLADES?? HOW TRIGGERING ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE HAD BEEN STABBED TO DEATH WITH ONE OF THOSE THINGS… Then Sophie pirouettes in and stops before a particularly handsome mirror (and mirror!Lesso) to admire her cute little ice-skating outfit and matching silver skates, her long golden locks swept elegantly upward and pulled into a tight dancer’s bun, and intoxicated by her own appearance, she leans in so close that her face is barely an inch away from the mirror and her eyelashes graze the mirror’s surface in a butterfly kiss, and she croons dreamily “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall,/ Who’s the fairest of them all?” And she opens her eyes to find…Lady Lesso glaring back at her, face literally white as snow (and thus fitting in perfectly with the ice decor) bc of how angry and horrified she is at what Sophie has done. Now, Lady Lesso had never shivered in her frozen classroom, but then and there during the Evil Snow Ball, she trembled uncontrollably with rage.

[mortishia-addams]

@robin-of-locksley

‘cause i hate those fan mail or whatever PM setting this site has

enjoy! 

PS: it’s from 2015 and I still didn’t complete it, hope you likes it... btw this is set after 3x22. I know I know so much has happened since then.

Monster in laws

Chapters Summaries.

(The dashes -- make the difference between a backstory and the present time at Storybrooke.) Prologue: Robin and Regina are walking in the woods, Robin accidentally discovers that his mother is in Storybrooke and is shocked. Chapter 1: Robin Backstory # 1, Robin's childhood is briefly summarized, his mother announces that he will have to bequeath allegiance to King Richard the Lionheart, meeting and brief development of his relationship with the Merry Men -- Robin’s old nanny Martha finds him, it’s very awkward but she’s really happy to see him, she also make acquaintance with Regina while she’s there. Chapter 2: Backstory # 2 Robin is forced to be tattooed into Richard's kingdom, Charlene (his mother) tells him later that he will have to find a wife, she’s organizing a ball. -- Robin finally agrees to meet his mother despite his fears. Regina meets this parents at the end of the chapter after talking to Henry about Charlene in the Storybook, trying to understand why Robin is so reluctant into seeing his family again. Chapter 3: Backstory # 3 During the ball, Robin's mother meets an interesting girl and her mother, they have a deal that ends with a marriage arrangement. Robin does not appear at his own ball, instead he breaks into George's castle and steals gold. He is caught in the act and sent to the dungeon. -- Robin's mother and father meet Roland. They then discover at a dinner that Regina is not what she claims to be, that she has a hidden identity (Evil Queen). Charlene loses consciousness and is transported to the hospital. Chapter 4: Backstory # 4 Robin gets his parents to kick him out of his house after they released him and learned he was in fact a thief. He leaves with his group of friends, the Merry Men -- In an attempt to try to reason with the mother of Robin, Regina is rejected by her and leave, leaving her alone with her family. Afterwards, Charlene goes home and Robin vaguely explains the behavior of his mother to Regina, he tells her that he will go back to live with them, seeing that his mother is so fragile and vulnerable, he chooses to pity her and change his mind about not keeping contact. Chapter 5: Backstory # 5 Robin meets Marian, a young woman apparently devoted to the Nottingham sheriff, but having no interest in him, seeing that she seems to be having a bad day with the sheriff, Robin is trying to give her back smile playing a bad trick to this one. -- Chapter 6: (to be determined) Chapter 7: Charlene hosts a dinner and invites Regina. When it's time to leave, Regina and Robin try to spend a moment, except that Charlene COCKBLOCKs, not only out of jealousy but also out of impeach toward Regina. Chapter 8: Robin and Roland both offer a gift to Regina, a small necklace with a picture of all 3 of her boys into it. she appreciates warmly and she is invited to spend the evening at the Locksleys. Mommy Locksley is away, they are enjoying ... (FIRST SMUT, finally) Chapter 9: The next day Regina is having breakfast at the Locksleys. Robin’s mom is surprised to see her there. Later, they separate to go each other with their sons. Shortly before Robin's departure, Charlene chats with him about leaving Storybrooke for his father's company. Chapter 10: (to be determined) Chapter 11: Robin and Regina have a great evening when they are harassed by antis-Regina who decide that she has not finished paying for the mistakes of her past. In order to help her morally, Robin and Henry team up and eventually offer her a book describing her as a heroine and a simple box with a heart (ripped by Emma from Robin's body, voluntarily) having been served for a super romantic metaphor for the purpose of finishing the chapter in (smut) beauty. Chapter 11: - (to be determined) Chapter 12: - (to be determined) Chapter 13: Backstory # 6 In the past, Charlene has decided to stop waiting and went to search her son across the country. She asks for help from Rumple who shows her where he is, when she arrives at the location, she discovers that he is about to get married. She decides not to intervene and to pay him the tavern he wanted as a wedding present, she gives a letter to Little John so that he can transmit it to Robin. -- Feeling particularly good-humored, Robin asks his mother if she would have a ring to offer to him, having belonged to the Locksley family previously. Under doubt, Charlene decides to invite Regina over at the park. Not agreeing to this, also thinking that maybe they are hiding something,after finding out that she isn’t, Charlene ends up telling Robin that she is looking for it, when really she isn’t, she also comes up with anti-Regina warnings. (R&R Smut) Chapter 14: (to be determined) Chapter 15: (to be determined) Chapter 16: Robin is at the Rabbit Hole with Killian and David when they enter a fight with the Nottingham sheriff, Regina had to intervene to stop them. There’s also an incident in which Robin is accused of vandalism, but is bailed out of jail by none other than the Mayor. Chapter 17: Regina drives Robin home, leaves to investigate the incident and returns later finding out that the incident at the bar was all a ‘coup monté’ to frame him (smutzzz)

Chapter 18: Backstory # 7 Marian and Robin find Snow White and choose to hold her hostage to deliver her to the Queen and reap the reward money to help their friends, but ... Marian realizes Snow is a good person and does not deserve her fate, she frees her at the last minute, and this is how Marian was kidnapped by the Evil Queen -- Charlene discovers that Regina has killed Marian and tries to tell her son. Regina and Robin deliberately ignore each other after a little quibble about difference of interests.

Chapter 19: (to be determined) Chapter 20: After realizing that Regina and Robin probably shared the same fate, Charlene keeps her distance from Regina. She tries to separate her from her son with a Curse, to protect Robin from another possible misfortune. She's asking for help from Mr Gold. He offers her a Shattered Curse Potion. Charlene managed to 'accidentally' give one of them a drink at a party she organized, where the whole family was invited (including the Charmings). Chapter 21: Robin and Regina go crazy stiff. The whole family that was present at the party decides (with the help of Mr Gold) to stop the Curse. They end up finding the couple, separating them. The next day, the race to ‘decurse’ Robin continues through a crazy rally around the city. Robin gets accidentally shot by Regina. Chapter 22: Conducted to the hospital, Robin is in a coma, Charlene and Regina are both accusing each other until the doctors announce that he will survive, the two women share a conversation and forgive each other meanwhile (attempted TRUELOVEKISSONROBIN?)(BOTH TRY AND FAIL). Chapter 23: Backstory # 8 Robin and Regina meet for the first time when they are young children, an unfortunate accident happens and Robin is saved by his mother while young Regina is brought home by her mother, teaching her a lesson about the young boy’s accident. -- Regina wakes up after the 'dream' which was actually the backstory. Robin goes later in the day to tell his mother, out of regret, that he agrees to leave Storybrooke with her. Chapter 24: Regina looses her necklace, Emma finds it and prepares to leave the city with Henry and Killian for the South islands (Romantic Chapter dedicated to CS? Don’t think so, since this story isn’t about them, but probably this should be centered around Henry) Chapter 25: Regina discovers by Snow that Robin is leaving the city with his family. She tries to convince him not to, but there is nothing to do, the whole family is decided. The separation is done overnight and ... * cries *. Chapter 26: After several days locked in her house, Regina is desperate but Snow comes over and show her some support. (also some Dragon Queen going crazy over town?) Chapter 27: A few days later, an auction is organized at the Locksleys with their permission, Emma finds the potion that was used to 'Curse' Robin. After showing it to Regina and her “new friends” they question who might be the culprit. Chapter 28: In New York, Robin meets a girl after going with Roland at the park (a kind of less psychotic Zelena with daddy issues, looking for love, etc. reminding of Young! Marian). Chapter 29: Further development between Robin and the New Yorker, ultimately ending in failure. (HE CHOOSES REGINA!!) Chapter 30: Charlene makes Robin forget his sorrow with a potion. Breaking all the links he has with Regina (even his cellphone, etc.). Not knowing that he was going to forget her to turn to the New Yorker to fill his void. Chapter 31: Regina plans her trip to New York with the Charmings, spend a whole day with Henry as they talk about feelings and some parent/children stuff. Meanwhile Robin breaks up with Sabrina (the New Yorker). Chapter 32: Regina finds Robin in New York to his parents’ penthouse. They go to the restaurant, he explains everything, etc. (Smut). Meanwhile his parents are thinking about filing a bankruptcy.  Chapter 33: Regina explains everything to the Locksleys, telling Robin that his mother had manipulated him. After his departure, announcing that he never wanted to see his mother again, the New York company goes bankrupt. The Locksleys must return to Storybrooke. Chapter 34: Charlene returns to Storybrooke, she refuses to apologize to Regina. Settles back into her house and rebuilds her life. She rethinks about her life and decisions, especially about how toxic a mother she was to her son. Epilogue: The family is restored after Charlene apologized. (Knowing the fandom, they will surely want a wedding, etc. etc. LET'S DO THIS.HAPPILY EVER AFTER.YAY !!!)

[lady-alayne]

Game of Thrones: An Angry Recap

Season 7 Episode 5: Eastwatch

Winterfell:

Bran wargs a bunch of birds, sees that the army of the dead are approaching, and concludes that maybe it's time to tell people. Wait, what? The Night's Watch have been trying to tell people this since Season 1 Episode One 0:00:00 sec, but only now that a creepy kid is saying it, people are beginning to believe it? Ugh.

Meanwhile... Ohhhhh, Sansa is ruling the North like a pro! After the King in the North left the North to go shack up with some blonde emo chick with a bunch of dangerous pets, the Northern Lords are not too pleased about their ruler and go to his trueborn sister, WHO SHOULD BE THE QUEEN IN THE NORTH ANYWAY, to complain. They are joined by the Vale Lords, who for some reason 1) are still hanging out at Winterfell (who's holding the Vale at this point??? Shouldn't the hill tribes have taken over the Vale by now???) and 2) suddenly remember that they came in to help Sansa and not Jon, even though they had no problem proclaiming him King in the North last season instead of Sansa, WHO IS NED STARK'S OLDEST LIVING CHILD AND HEIR AND THE ONE THEY CAME IN TO RESCUE I'M STILL BITTER.

So anyway, the Northern and Vale Lords complain about their brand new king leaving them all. It's a brilliant opportunity for Sansa to do what she does best, which is being diplomatic and wonderful and handling explosive situations with charm, but also not taking anyone's shit. I would say Petyr has taught her well, but then I remember that Petyr never taught Sansa in the show because D&D decided to rape her instead, and I am angry again. Ugh. So apparently Sansa just picked these things up along the way, because the FIRST RULE OF STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS(TM) dictates that being abused and raped always makes you a stronger woman, and is generally a wonderful thing for your character development.

Speaking of empowered abused women! Arya is not really on board with Sansa being the flawless Queen she is. Even though Ed Sheeran and his friends were super nice to her like three episodes ago, she still believes killing people is always the best way to solve problems and wastes no time suggesting just that to Sansa. The two sisters naturally disagree over this, and this ends in a very petty fight that came out of nowhere and made absolutely no sense but I guess the plot commanded it so of course it's perfectly acceptable and yet another reason why D&D totally deserve all the Emmys. Wait here while I go scream into a pillow.

Also screaming into her pillow, I am quite certain, is Random Northern Girl, who is the newest piece in Littlefinger's game. I mean, did you see how she leaned in when she was talking to him? That beautiful face of his will stay in her thoughts for a while, I am sure. Not to mention that she was close enough to smell him. Random Northern Girl, you're living the dream.

It turns out Littlefinger is kind of back to his old self again, and trying to scheme his way onto the Iron Throne and/or into Sansa's skirts. He super discreetly and not suspiciously at all obtains a very mysterious letter and hides it in his room to use that letter... to bring forth the Long Night, probably, because Petyr is so evil, according to people on the internet. (So it must be true.) But oh no! He forgot about Arya! That psycho killer child knows how to lurk! And how to break into his chambers! And how to search his chambers! Whooooaaa!!!! We find out the mysterious and suspicious letter was sent by Sansa wayyyy back in Season 1, asking Robb to come to King's Landing and bend the knee to Joffrey. BUT IT WAS A DOUBLE LURK YOU GUYS!!! Because just as Arya is leaving Petyr's chambers we find out that while he was suspiciously being suspicious and Arya was suspiciously lurking and watching him, he was suspiciously lurking and watching her suspiciously lurking and watching him suspiciously being suspicious! I'm so glad Petyr is back to his old, scheming self before he will inevitably meet his doom in two episodes.

The Reach:

Jaime has survived his fall into the lake, because apparently Bronn dived in right behind him and dragged him out. Seriously? So Jaime's armor does not weigh anything??? After we explicitly read in the books that knights who fall into bodies of water always drown because their armor is dragging them down? Oh, but I forgot, the show and the books are not the same.

A few miles down the road, and...

Oh boy. Daenerys is not done with her humanitarian mission, and rallies the surviving Lannister soldiers to “give them a choice:” Bend the knee, or burn alive. “I'm not here to murder,” she tells them after having murdered a bunch of people. “Now bend the knee before I murder you.”

Most of the soldiers bend the knee because, OF COURSE THEY WOULD, THEY DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE. Not so Randyll Tarly, who politely explains that he has moral concerns bending the knee to a foreign woman who just flew in on a mystical killer dragon and torched a bunch of people. Tyrion, who is... also there for some reason, urges Dany to chill the fuck out and maybe let him go to the wall, but Dany refuses to do so. Classic, and how very kind of her. I can totally see why people would want to follow her!

I wonder what happened to those other people who bent the knee. Did they have to follow Dany to Dragonstone? Or were they free to go home? Is anyone keeping track of the people who have bent the knee? Would it be possible to just bend the knee to avoid getting murdered, and then go back to King's Landing and rejoin the Lannister army?

Not to mention that we kept hearing about Randyll Tarly being a dick for, like, 6 seasons, and now he's the only man who still uses his brain and genuinely cares about his son beyond the “You shall be my heir” minimum. Speaking of his son... DICKON DID NOT DESERVE THIS. Rest in peace, House Tarly. Also, HOW DID DROGON KNOW WHO TO INCINERATE AND WHO TO SPARE???

Dragonstone:

Dany returns from her humanitarian mission of burning people, and it's heaving petting with Jon! Well, he pets Drogon, but close enough; Dany is turned on enough as it is. Jon chides her for murdering all those people, and Dany respons that she only killed them so she could help them. So she murdered out of love! That makes it totally acceptable.

Dany is just about to ask Jon about his res-erection, when Jorah returns AND IT HURTS WHAT WAS THE POINT OF HIM HAVING GREYSCALE ANYWAY AND HE IMMEDIATELY RUNS BACK TO HER AND IT HURTS TO WATCH HIM FRIENDZONE HIMSELF OVER AND OVER. He explains he found a cure for greyscale, one of the most deadly diseases known, and everyone is like, “Read: 2:53 pm.”

Jon Snow's only words to Jorah are that he served with his father, thus once again reminding everyone that he was A MEMBER OF THE NIGHT'S WATCH, and NO ONE thinks of asking him how he could possibly be King in the North, given that, you know, members of the Night's Watch vow to WEAR NO CROWNS AND WIN NO GLORY.

Meanwhile, Tyrion and Varys get drunk in the throne room and bond over their mutual predicament of serving a pretty mad tyrant queen who burns people alive when they displease her. A raven scroll reaches Jon, and he finds out Arya is still alive. ARYA, the girl he gave needle to. ARYA, his favorite sister. ARYA, the one he literally died for. But Jon seems to have forgotten all that, because all he wants to do is catch a wight! Oh dear, that sounds like a very stupid idea. Also, can we please talk about that camera angle? Was that the Dany going down on Jon POV shot? Yikes.

And so Jon and the gang make their way to Eastwatch...

King's Landing:

Jaime returns to Cersei, and the two hold an impromptu war council. “This isn't a war we can win,” concludes Jaime, which makes Cersei wonder about a possible armistice. Jaime also tells Cersei that it was Olenna who killed Joffrey because...... she wanted to be the true ruler of the Seven Kingdoms?!?!?!?! FOR FUCK'S SAKE. IS EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER ON GOT TRYING TO BECOME RULER OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS????? And thus Olenna sadly joins the other cardboard cutouts of “generic person who wants the Iron Throne because reasons.” Queen of Thornes, you were deeper than that.

A little while later Davos and Tyrion have teleported to King's Landing and Tyrion sneaks into the dungeons beneath the Red Keep for a little brotime with Jaime to convince him to let them have an audience with Cersei once they have caught a wight. For a reason unfathomable by me, Bronn knew all of this before and thus was able to lure Jaime into the dungeons for this. Logic!(TM)

The brothers agree on an armistice, and Jaime brings Cersei the good news that Dany is not planning on incineratingher in the near future. Cersei also shares her good news: She's pregnant, and she will reveal her twincest, and then the family will live happily ever after! Aww, romance is real.

Meanwhile, Davos is on a tour through Flea Bottom looking for someone, and then.... IT'S GENDRY, YOU GUYS!!! He did not row all the way across the sunset sea, he rowed straight back to King's Landing and into his old job! While casual show watchers try to remember who the fuck Gendry was, snobby book readers rejoice when they see his badass war hammer; just like the one his dad good ole King Robert used to fight with (except Robert's war hammer was probably not so obviously made out of plastic).

Gendry joins the band because HE WANTS REVENGEEEE ON THE LANNISTERS, once again underlining the message of Game of Thrones: Violence begets violence, and it's awesome! GRRM would be turning in his grave. What's that, you say? He isn't dead? Then where is The Winds of Winter??????

Speaking of violence, Gendry immediately puts that war hammer to use to mindlessly kill two gold cloaks who are admittedly a bit nose, but in no way nosy enough to deserve such a cruel death. RIP Member of the City Watch #1, and RIP Member of the City Watch #2.

Oldtown:

OH MY GOD. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. WHAT THE FUCK. D&D JUST DECIDE TO CASUALLY MENTION THAT RHAEGAR GOT AN ANNULMENT FROM ELIA LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL. OH MY GOD. I THOUGHT THE WHOLE “SAM FINDING A CURE FOR GREYSCALE IN EPISODE 2” THING WAS THE MOST RIDICULOUS PLOT COMING OUT OF OLDTOWN BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE WHOLE “RHAEGAR GOT AN ANNULMENT FROM ELIA” THING.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????? AN ANNULLMENT. AN ANNULMENT?????? RHAEGAR WAS MARRIED TO ELIA OF DORNE AND THEY HAD CHILDREN AND IT WAS ALSO A POLITICAL ALLIANCE FORGED FOR VARIOUS POLITICAL REASONS. IT'S NOT LIKE RHEAGAR AND ELIA GOT DRUNK MARRIED IN LAS VEGAS TWO DAYS BEFORE. THEY HAD A LEGIT WEDDING CEREMONY AND THEY HAD CHILDREN. YOU CAN'T JUST ANNUL A MARRIAGE BECAUSE, OH, YOU MET SOMEONE HOTTER A WEEK AGO. OH MY GOD. NO. NO. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Eastwatch:

Davos is really teleporting all over the map this episode, and he reaches Eastwatch after a short row in a tiny little rowboat. I guess that was because the sea is generally so smooth in winter, and not frozen at all. Jon and gang sit down to talk to Tormund about Operation Catch a Wight, and he is understandably not convinced, but eventually decides to give them a little help by hosting a quick speed dating round of men wanting to go beyond the wall, which—surprise!—includes the Hound and Beric Dondarrion! Reunion #2556123 in Season 7 alone!

Because they are all breathing, the men decide to set aside their differences, and embark on their next adventure. Let's hope Jon makes it back in time for the epic boat sex.