#her cloack...

[jewishcissiekj]

I'm gonna throw up I love this page so fucking much (Republic #60)

[inthiskingdomwewillendure]

Eowyns armor in 4k

[snudootchaikovsky]

I SHOULD BE WRITING ANALASIS ON ALLUSOONS RN BUT I CAN'T EVEN SPELL

[pageofheartdj]

Sooo some new/old/changed hcs for Jenny and Vee xD

Since we have Raph and Mikey with did-like system and Leo and Donnie are insomniacs I’ve decided to bestow them on sisters too xD

Jenny would be on team Raph|Mikey because of her Jessica alter-ego. (like to think that Jenny is more laid-back xD)

Venus would be on Leo|Donnie team because you can’t live peaceful and restful life with Big Mama xD

Also. I like to think she named herself. And she picked ‘Venus’ because she is ALSO into stage magic.

[maikeplenzke]

An older drawing of Vin from Mistborn (which was written by Brandon Sanderson.) I know her cloack is black and all, but I wanted it to be...misty.👅 (EDIT: Apparently it's indeed grey and I just forgot.)

[agalychnisspranneusroseus]

Every aspect of toad culture* being determined by a power struggle in interpersonal relationships, often along the lines of age and rank. Marriage not being an exception. In toad culture, you don't "get married" with your partner. You take a spouse. Marriage (and amplexus, the amphibian equivalent to s3x) is not something you share with someone but something you do to someone. This process often takes place through conquest and coercion in the most extreme cases, but more often than not, marriages are arranged between families, especially for toads without connection to the Towers. Tower toads often take non-tower toad spouses.

A way to symbolize this violent act during the marriage ceremony is to place a flower crown on your new spouse's head, or a fur-lined cloack around their shoulders, in a way that represents bringing them under your protection, or treating them as something delicate and helpless. It's not like there isn't a romantic aspect - placing flowers on someone can also mean they are beloved. There is this conflicting web of symbolisms that heavily depends on context and personal interpretation. The important part is that the toad taking is the one to place something protectively on their spouse, but the one being taken can't do the same.

Anyway, when Sasha, Anne and Marcy get married, Sasha weaves flower crowns for her new wives herself, picking them personally from Braddock's old abandoned garden, and then crowns them in the tall halls of the Southern Toad Tower, before the eyes of all of Frog Valley, the lords of the Eastern and Northern towers and the Archmasters of the great Newt Houses that had priorized their oaths of fealty to Princess Marcy over their vows to King Andrias, and chose to side with the Towers in the war for the Shark Tooth Crown. But no one crowns Sasha. She has a crown of her own already, as Lord of all toads, annoited by the Warhammer and the ghost of Saint Barrel himself.

* by this I mean the hegemonic ideology. Obviously, in real life, no toad fully subscribes to how "toads are supposed to be". Percy and Braddock are a lot softer and more sensitive than most toads. Grime is strong but he's kind of a loser. Sasha has too much of a heart.

[thedeafprophet]

Carnival at Midnight for Josie

Carnival at Midnight: What vices can lead your character into a sticky situation? (This doesn’t have to be substances or scandal. Maybe they’re an adrenaline junkie or gambler.)

Vices, vices... now that's an interesting question for our dear Professor Ashwood. I think she would be inclined to raise an eye at such a matter- she is not one to overly prefer the bottle, nor someone who takes to matters of gambling or substances, beyond perhaps a bit too much caffine.

But, well, we know vices can be different and far more personalized than that. Her vices may be cloacked in academic rigor and proclaimed neccesity, but that doesnt mean theyre removed from the burden they are.

She is, forever, in pursuit of her curosity. She will sacrifice sleep, stability, and safety all in the pursuit of hypothesis. She cannot let go of a question until it is answered - and she will cause destruction in her path of trying.

So to is her vice of the need for control - not a bad thing on the surface, an understand means to her ends, but even the best intent can become destructive. The need for control, over her enviroment, over her work, over her self and her routines.... it can become all consuming, the paths she must walk, to the point that it becomes a sabotage, rather than a help. When an aim to perfect becomes a result of isolation, that is when it falls into a vice.

ask game from here

[qelflinq]

the sexiest part of having a vampire best friend who is also sort of your girlfriend, in my opinion- is when you lowkey have to hide her from everybody cause they humans they wouldn’t understand plus she can’t be in the sun and she’s super awkward around ppl cause she wears all black and has crazy bangs and sharp teeth (and a cloack some times?) .& everyone would want to kill her with pitch forks when they find out:/ so it’s sexy that she’s ur dangerous and scary secret and more powerful and could kill u for bloods BUT also u gotta protect her lowkey (from the sun but also from TOWNSFOLK)

[anon16783]

chapter seven : i will avenge defeat

aaravos x moon guardian reader (fem)

+ callum x rayla

(not canonically correct, please read the other chapters or this will make zero sense)

-> it’s been like nearly two months since i’ve last updated so i’m not sure if anyone will even read/care about this lol 🥲 but it’s just so hard to finish stories,,,

(click here for masterlist)

<< prev // next >>

—

everyone shared a look of furrowed eyebrows and questioning glances. “you’re not the moon guardian ..?”

the lady stepped forwards to reveal shining bright hair of red that minicked flames with a glint of maliciousness in her eyes.

the queen’s advisor.

“all this time you thought she was me?” the advisor raised her hand and pointed at the mysterious lady, “remove your hood.”

as the woman clung tighter to her cloack she scanned the room under the shadow of the darkness, she saw aaravos. his eyes shone with something she’d grown foreign to, something she believed was gone forever.

from her cloack she removed a staff with runes carved all over.

“no-“ the queen tried to grab her but it was too late.

a flash of blue spread across the sky and a pull attempted to bring the frayed sides back together, the queen’s old advisor reacted swiftly -artfully leaping across the room. but instead of aiming for the advisor, the woman pointed the staff at the sky. the advisor and queen’s eyes widened.

in a brisk manner, her staff was pulled from her grip and split into half, the advisor turned to her, raised her hand and chanted an indecipherable rune. the woman’s cloack disintegrated into ashes revealing her true persona.

“my love-“ aaravos started to walk towards her but was forcibly pushed back by an invisible field.

“come to avenge your defeat, have you?”

the moon guardian lunged towards the advisor briskly, artfully doging the multitude of spells headed her way -heading straight for the circlet. but to no avail. as she neared closer, the advisor strengthened, absorbing the power from each attack the moon guardian would curse.

“we need to help her!” rayla was searching for an opportunity, knives in hand.

“magic.” the queen and aarvos shared a glance, “can you do it? young one?”

all eyes shifted to callum while he staggered at the attention. “i can try.”

but in the midst of the conversation the moon guardian was rendered powerless, knocked unconscious, bruised, and battered. she fell with noticeable scars.

“you weren’t able to avenge defeat.”

[purplecladmerchant]

Things about elle:

Her ear-feathers are longer than Corbeau's. She can emote with them.

She's a dancer.

She have to transform into bipedal animals or partial bipedal animals or would be pretty useless. Mostly wild shape into birds, since the cloack give her wings despite not having arms.

Her other option is wild shape just part of her body. Partial transformations are painful, but as a hexblood her pain threshold is higher than expected. The deformation of bones and the middle stages of it are hard to deal, but would do on battle.

She have movement, expression and certain comfort with her "prosthetic" (magic feathery cloack) but no grip or fine motions.

Originally trained as a Monk, got the druidic powers from the blood.

[candies-and-sparkles]

Introductory Post:

Heya! Livvy Sonden here, The Black Swans Physician, and you may know me better as Physic, the mardi-gras eye mask-wearing physician. I use she/her pronouns. I've been asked by the Black Swan to join this app called "Tumblr", and apparently, other members are here too. Free candy for everyone! My tags are: #physicwho, #livvytalks, #livvy sonden Okay, here are the other people you should know about: The people who might as well be my kids:

precious moonlark: @therealsophieelizabethfoster only good sencen: @keefe--sencen hurlfest vacker: @fitzroy-avery-vacker and @fitz-avery-vacker the amazing vanisher im proud of: @sparkles-make-anything-better strong technopath: @dex-the-smart-one

Prentice's son: @flasher-boi-endal emo boy: @tam-shade-song and @tam-song-the-shade the girl who saved atlantis: @linh--song the arson girlboss: @shut-up-i-will-burn-you the girl who helped save the alicorns or smt idk: @im-just-cooler idk her but shes in this too now yay more danger: @the-only-maruca-chebota jensi the amazing guy: @jensi-babbles-lots Fiesty girl: @amy-rose-foster

The triplets I stan: @lexicle-the-third @rex-dizzneeeeeeee @bexisthecoolest My questionable fellow adults: my fellow physician: @elwin-at-your-service / @elwin-h3slege

Alden vacker: @alden-dedrick-vacker

my def-not-ex-husband quinlin: @quinlin-sonden

the fragile as a bomb beauty: @edaline--ruwen

the okay principle: @magnatetheleto

failed parent no.1: @thebestsencen

ORGANISATIONS:

The Council: @thecouncil-official

councillor moron: @bronte-the-inflictor

councillor rosy-cheeks: @oralie-pretty-in-pink councillor prosthetic leg: @councillor-terik

my favorite library: @eternalialibrary-official

the school not the glowing fungus: @foxfire-official

exillium: @exillium

the matchmaking office that gave me a failed relationship: @the-official-matchmaking-office

Black Swan: @black-swan-official

Squall: @the-prettiest-ice-cube

Mr.Forkle: @norwegian-trickster-god

Blur: @blurrieidentities

Neverseen: @neverseen-official

failed vacker: @alvar-not-vacker

failed parent no.2: @lady-gisela

psionipath i hate: @ruy-tonio-ignis

telepathic disgrace: @gethen-inar-ondsinn-neverseen

i have mixed opinions about her: @your-black-cloacked-bestie

council disgrace: @fintan-pyren

dead shade: @umber-the-dead-shade

Bodyguards and pets

Ogre-Girlboss: @hunkyhairs-backup

Sandor: @igowhereyougo

Silveny: @therarestprattlespin

Greyfell: @greyfell-the-horse

Lord iggy: @iggy-the-imp

Princess purryfins: @adorablevenom Feel free to message or tag me! my ask box are always open! :) let me know if i missed someone!

[nrilliree]

Alicent's sons could have a long and good life. They might have had any life at all if they hadn't died in the name of their mother and grandfather's greed. @ By becoming a member of the Sworn Brotherhood of the Kingsguard they are sworn for life and are forbidden from owning land, taking a wife, or fathering children.

Good life, yeah. To give up all their birth privileges and live like rats.

Well, that would be a life where they had to have some responsibilities instead of... well, nothing. Even a maester can have a good and riotous life. Ask Grand Maester Pycelle, he'd come to an agreement with Aegon...

But let's be serious. They could have had a life, even a good one. But they didn't have it. Instead, they all died at the age of twenty. It was worth it?

And oh yes, definitely. Such White Cloacks are downright rats and beggars...

They had no inheritance. None of them would inherit anything, because it was not theirs. Dragonstone and the Iron Throne belonged to Rhaenyra and her sons. Aegon and Aemond could only live at their favor and pocket. Aemond could get married and live at the mercy of his father-in-law. (Daeron the same, if he even exists here). Even if Aegon became king, Aemond and Daeron would still have nothing. As a maester or kingsguard, they would have anything - a purpose and a place. But they didn't earn anything. It was easier to steal what didn't belong to them.

[amethistempress]

POURING RAIN :

a song of ice and fire | asoiaf

"Argella had pervade with hate as if it was an armor and wasnt willing to give it away. Hate was what made her still stand, during that hours where she was nothing but silence.

All Durrandon carry the storm inside themselves, her father was used to say, and it destroyed them."

* Where the last storm queen looses her realm.

Prologue:

- 1. Ruins.

Even if she tried, wouldn't had been able to sleep.

Argella had got used to unsettled dreams and nightmares, to wake up at the wolf's hour haunted by the thunder' rumble, making her teeth shake. And didn't mattered how much she close the curtains, the dossels, her rooms always were invaded by purple and blue and sometimes white blinding lights. When a child, yet so far of representing human silhouettes or portraits in her sporadic adventures with watered paints, that was the favourite theme of her scribbles: the rain, the lightnings, the destruction that come after it.

The parchments, now unmade by plunder, had become similar to her complexion. Stains and bolts in every colour of the sky, from the twilight to dawn, snaking throught pale forearms and waist, marking heels, wrists, feet and hands with indelible scars. Argella brought in the skin the scarlet of chains when they asked her the consent for a non-consented marriage.

All Durrandon carry the storm inside themselves, her father used to say. Since before their crowns and cloaks, their glories and defeats, the fury ran in that veins: the fury of the sky, fury of their gods, intoxicating them as a poison.

She had said "yes", even with the far echo of memory whispering that vows made at the tip of a sword were not valid. Baratheon had not aimed her a blade, but there still was the threat, underneath his armor. It would remain here by the time he stayed - in his camp, in her lands, in her castle. And the echo of life she owned - she had owned - also distanced itself, so far away from touch. Felt it run like rainwater by hands and fingers. There was no other reply than "yes".

They allowed her to return at her rooms after that, as if it was a favour, an honour. As if she hadn't became a spoil of war after her lord father's death and desertion. Maybe, if she could convince herself that were her own mistakes leading her into fail and fall, would fell less rage, die a little less inside. She couldn't. Scenarios of an honourable defeat in the hands of fire - because roasted bones keep no memories of crowns -, oh, she missed that possibility as missed the father's laugh. A desperate, hopeless, insane death, after her last blow, the only she could aim in the new dinasty of dragon-kings by taking the life of it's lieutenant during the nuptials, was also tempting. One knife was all needed, one knife and the targaryen' bastard would precede her in the seven hells. Just a man he was, in the end. With one knife, Orys would become part of her retinue in the afterlife.

The sun has died, and she wouldn't be able.

She knew it even when the reasoning inside herself seemed as broken as her body. Even wrapping in hate and in the wool dress he provided her hurt, even if the cold hurt more. The cold, the scorn, the learning of how far men goes in their cruelty, everything hurts. 

He had asked her how far they had gone. As if undress her as a whore was not enought. She didn't gave him the satisfaction of a response, of the certainty that he would receive a damsel bride. Was that the only concern of the warrior, after all: don't receive a defective coin. Even when he served tempered wine and his own soup, when wrapped her with a cloack of itchy wool.

Argella had pervade with hate as if it was an armor, and wasn't willing to give it away. Hate was the only thing that made het still stand, during that hours where she was nothing but silence.

All Durrandon carry the storm inside themselves, her father used to say, and were destroyed for it.

What did life mean when there was nothing left to hold on to? What meant death, when there was no one to mourn in it?

Argella said the wrong word, "yes", out of hunger - of life, of how she was and of how she could had been -, of fear and pain. She crossed the sallons that once had belonged to her with a promise in the ears and the remembrance of chains in body. Did not glanced its ruins.

[nevereverthem]

TVD reflection :

I have a question, I mean, two questions :

-> How did Kai know that Bonnie and Damon were in the prison world ?

I mean, technically Kai was sent to a prison world by his family. So I suppose that when he got sent to the prison world he was sent to the same place he was in beforehand. Like, he kind of disappeared then reappeared at his family place but without anyone around, I guess. There is no way he would have appeared at the Salvatore place because that makes no sense. So how did he know ? Like did he feel it ? Can he feel he's not alone anymore and he just followed that feeling and then he finally spotted them somewhere ? I mean that's weird but that would be a thing if his witchy senses were able to tell him he wasn't alone. And it would make sense that Damon and Bonnie didn't feel it in the first place. Because the were sent to a prison world together so they were already sensing each other presence so why not.

And you cannot just tell me that Kai was traveling around because he has nothing else to do and he just bumped into them like from a distance. I know TV shows are made of coincidences, because without that, there's a lot of things that would never happen. But that's too much of a coincidence ! He's spent almost 2 decades in that place. He could be anywhere on the globe ! And you want me to think he would be traveling to Mystic Falls at the exact moment Bonnie and Damon happen to appear ? Don't fuck with coincidences please, make it make sense a little bit.

The other thing that's bugging me is :

How did they never feel that Kai was here ?

I mean, if Bonnie didn't feel it, okay why not. But Damon ? He is supposed to feel things, feel that people are here, thanks to his vampire senses. And you cannot tell me that Kai was using a cloacking spell ! He's not supposed to have any magic. He has magic in the sense that he is a siphon, but with nothing to siphon from, he cannot use magic. Even if before being sent to the prison word he had a bit of magic in his system because he had siphoned someone just before.... It's been 18 years. 18 years later you're not going to tell me he still has that magic in him. And clearly he doesn't, because the whole point of when he meets Damon and Bonnie for real is that he's doing that awful thing to Damon in order for Bonnie to get her magic back by triggering it ! Because he NEEDS her to have her magic back ! So technically he cannot have used a cloacking spell. So when he was spying on Damon and Bonnie, Damon is supposed to have sensed him ! So that doesn't make any sense ! Surew I like the thing about the cross words puzzle, but it does not make any sense that they did not spot him anywhere before. Even if he was hiding in the house, spying on them.... I don't know like, if Bonnie didn't spot him okay right again why not. But still, Damon is supposed to know he's here ! Supposed to feel his presence. At least he would have heard his heart beating or his blood pumping in his veins !

Kai couldn't use a cloacking spell because he didn't have the powers to do it at the moment and even if he was hiding to spy on them, Damon should have been able to sense him !

There sure is a way to explain this and they should have done it because that bugs me.

Maybe I am missing something. Maybe it has been explained in the show and I don't remember. Or it has been explained by the writers.

Please enlighten me !

I am going crazy.

Thank you.

❤️💀❤️💀❤️

[pendragon-of-chaos]

If requests are open can i request NNT Arthur and a vigilante (I believe is the word not sure) s/o who helps protect the town people secretly and maybe one night they randomly bump into each other on the way home and Arthur’s starts getting suspicious on what’s going on thank you and have a nice day!

I started this as a small scenario but it ended up being a little longer than the usual ones. I also thought I wouldn't be able to write something that pleased me, but I think it ended being better than what I thought. Hope you like it!

Small scenario: Arthur Pendragon with a fem!secret vigilante S/O:

"Have you heard the rumours about that one vigilante??? Who do you think they are? I wish I could talk to them some day, they seem soooo cool! Maybe I should be a vigilante too... Well, I am already a knight, but having a secret identity sounds fun too! What do you think??"

It was a sunny morning. Arthur and Y/N were enjoying a break eating some sweets, sitting on a table while talking about the latest news.

"I've heard about it. Seems like they are already quite popular within Camelot, aren't they?"

"Indeed! Specially within the knights. I've heard they are placing bets on who is the one behind that mask"

"Really? And who do they think is the responsible of all this?"

"There are different opinions, no one seems to agree with just one, so I can't really speak for them." Arthur shrugged his shoulders while taking one of the freshly baked buns on the table in front of him. "As for me, I don't agree with them either. I don't know, but my instinct says that the responsible isn't one of the knights... It's just a feeling". He took a bite and smiled at (Y/N) "If you ever have any clue you must tell me, ok?"

"Of course, I'll do my best to help you discover the secret identity of that vigilante, don't worry"

----

"His instincts sure are good" - (Y/N) sighed deeply, looking at the dark streets from the top of a poorly illuminated roof, making sure no one could see her - "I'm careful enough to not leave behind any sort of information that could uncover me and he still reaches that conclusion; guess I'll need to be even more cautious just in case..."

She looked back to the streets for a couple minutes, until a suspicious acting shadow figure entered an alley in between some houses. It emerged from time to time, looking to both sides of the street, and hiding again; until a pair of drunk men made their way past the entrance

"What a good night huh?" - The shadow appeared behind them. It looked like a big strong man by his silhouette. Not that his strength mattered versus those two people which weren't even able to mantain their balance, even less when he pulled out of his coat a bright dagger - "Now, give me all you got in your pockets if you don't want to end up worse than you already are"

Overcome by panic, the two men leaned on each other trying to not fall down, clumsily looking for their pockets and throwing everything their hands touched in them

"Y-Yeah sir, just leave us alone damn it! We didn't do anything"

"Just make sure to shut your mouth about this. You went home with no money because you spent it all on drinking, right?" Laughing, the robber walked towards them in an intimidating way - "Get out of my sight, scumb-AGH"

He turned around quickly, hand in his nape, rubbing to ease the pain of the sudden hit which came out of nowhere. In front of him, another figure covered in black stood still

"Going for the easy targets I see. Such a shame that you wasted your time waiting for them to pass by, I've seen it all". A pair of hands appeared under the cloack, ready to take care of the criminal in front of them

He wasted no time and, knife in hand, lunged towards (Y/N), who didn't move an inch. She was ready to counter attack, until a few feet away from her he appeared, behind the criminal, in less than the blink of an eye.

"I got him!"

A familiar orange-haired boy stopped the attack by skillfully positioning his sword blade near the criminal's neck in one second, and then disarmed him in the next one, sheathing his sword and laying him on the ground

"Arthur! I can-!!!" (Y/N) shut her mouth while everything happened. If she talked more than neccesary Arthur would discover her. She was also impressed with his abilities. She had seen him training but never using his skills in a real situation. The king looked back at her, still restraining his hands behind his back

"We'll take him to the castle's dungeons for the night and tomorrow morning the knights will take care of him. I'll gladly accept yor help with this task"

(Y/N) nodded in afirmation, and with a simple hand movement a pair of handcuffs appeared on the criminal's wrists.

"Much better!" - Smiling, Arthur got up from him, helping him to stand up - "Now let's head to the castle"

He looked back to were (Y/N) was standing, inviting her to come with him, but there was nobody to be seen there.

----

It was morning once again. (Y/N) was sitting at the table as she always does, having breakfast, when she heard the doors opening

"Hey hey, I've got something to tell you!"

Arthur took a sit next to her quickly, smiling excited to talk with her.

"Hmm? What is it Arthur?"

"I crossed paths yesterday night with the vigilante!"

"Oh really?" - (Y/N) put on her best confused face to not arouse any more suspicions - "How did you even manage to find them? What did exactly happen?"

"I went outside the kingdom yesterday, searching for some materials that Merlin asked me to find. It was more difficult than what I thought so I returned to Camelot late at night. While I was walking down the street I saw how a man tried to rob other two, and then the vigilante appeared to help them. But as a King I can't stand idly by when something like this happens, that's why I went to help them too! It was pretty easy, and I hoped I could talk to them after having the situation controlled, but they disappeared when I wasn't looking"

"Wow... I'm happy for you, but it sounds like in the end you didn't get to know who was behind the mask"

"I guess so, but at least now I have new clues. Listen, I think that the secret vigilante must be near our age judging by its appearance and movements, and they also know how to use magic. That reduces the number of potential people by a lot... Oh! And by their voice I think it might be a woman? But everything happened so fast, I'm not even sure. If I had a few more minutes I'm sure I could have gotten more information"

"Just a few seconds and he got all of that from me" (Y/N) thought to herself - "That's a lot considering you said everything happened fast"

"Right..." - Arthur looked directly at (Y/N) for a few seconds - "one more thing, didn't Merlin show you some time ago those magical spheres that makes you disappear if you use them?"

"...Are you insinuating that I am the vigilante?"

"Just a possibility, my instinct tells me you might know more than you tell me"

[kitty--white]

@tolkienocweek Day 6 - Some cute kids in the background of The Hobbit fix-it AU

'I will come back', promised Alba before leaving. Again.

'You've said that already', scowled Gary.

'And I came back, right?' She squatted down to look in his eyes directly. 'Don't I always do what I promised?'

'Always', mumbled Gary and gripped sister's hand. Yola was silent and he was feeling that she's trying to not burst into tears.

'Maybe, you should stay', offered Thorin.

'Maybe you should shut up', snapped out Alba. 'I won't left you there without healer'.

'But you've defeated the dragon, right?' Asked Yola shyly.

'Yes. And a lot of people will know about it very soon. And some of them might want to get unattended gold. A big battle is about to start. I have to protect my friends and our town. And aunt Wiga will look after you.'

They promised to be sane and listen aunt Wiga, who was so old that she was forgetting everything and falling asleep in the middle of a talk, so, it was more like they were looking after her. The next day they spent by the window, looking at men of Lake Town walking past aunt's house armed with what they could find. At night Yola cried anyway and Gary had to calm her down.

'Everything could be much worse', said he. 'Alba said that Smaug was going to burn all of us and the whole town.'

Yola stopped crying and started to hiccup of fear.

'I mean... if they defeated even him then we have nothing to worry about!' It sounded a bit falsely, after all Smaug was alone and now the whole army of orcs is going to attack Erebor.

'What if she won't return?' Yola sniffed. 'Like dad, and uncle, and Bren.'

'She promised to return, you've heard, right?'

'But sometimes you just can't do what you promised.'

Gary shaked his head.

'No. Not she. Not Alba. She can everything and she always does what she promised. And she loves us. Do you remember what she said - that we're her?'

Alba said that not to them, and didn't even know they were listening, but that means it was truth for sure, right?

One evening, four or five days after Alba, Thorin and their friends' second departure to Erebor, Yola went up to Gary, hugged him tightly and whispered: 'I won't leave you. If we'll stay alone I'll take care of you'.

Gary swallowed a lump in his throat, hugged sister back and said: 'No. I will take care of you. I'm older.'

'For six minutes!'

'No matter! I'll take care of you.'

'Maybe... maybe, let's take care of each other? Together?'

'Yes. Yes, I like it. Hey, you know what?'

'What?'

'I'm lucky to have such a smart sister.'

The next morning he woke Yola up by loud scream: 'They're back! They're alive!'

'They' included Alba, Thorin, Mr. Baggins and giant eagle who looked not very happy to be in this exact place and this exact time. All four settled down in the courtyard, dusted with the first snow that had fallen overnight. With indistinct but happy screams Gary and Yola ran to Alba and were hugged by her right hand. Instead of the left one she had en empty sleeve knotted near the elbow.

'What's with your hand?' Yola rounded her eyes.

Alba waved aside: 'I was fighting with a huge evil orc. He cut off my hand, but while I was talking his teeth out, Thorin came in time and killed him.'

'Cool!' the twins exhaled in unison.

'See?' Alba elbowed Thorin in the side, which made him wince - bandages on his chest were visible from under the cloack. 'You're the only one who's mad because of my hand.'

'I think, he's not the only one', said Mr. Baggins rubbing his bandaged head.

'Yeah. When my mother will learn that I lost hand and almost died, she'll kill me, then you,' she elbowed Thorin again, 'then Gandalf, and then, probably, me one more time. But you know what? Before dealing with this I'm going to sleep for forty eight hours. At least.'

With those words Alba walked to the house, carelessly waving her empty sleeve.

'Don't worry,' said Yola. 'She won't let anybody kill you.'

Thorin laughed: 'Yeah, I've already understood it yesterday'.