#source: Excalibur (2019)

[sugarbear2001]

Gambit in a maid dress and kitty ears??

[tomoleary]

Mike Del Mundo "Jubilee Chews Bubble Gum" Excalibur #1 (2019) Source

[anavatazes]

Surprise?

You know how you look at something and it gives you inspiration and then a friend says something and it gives you even more inspiration? Yeah, I was hit by the Mack Truck of inspiration. 

Visual inspiration: https://www.tumblr.com/shierak-inavva/777787662668070912/watched-the-prequels-tonight-and-took-some?source=share

My lovely friend Maedlin is to blame for this: She woke up from the sleep Apocalypse put her in… and she’s pregnant

She doesn’t know yet… so… Love you, Mae! 

Anywho, this takes place at early stages of Krakoa and the beginning of Excalibur (2019). And yes, this takes place in the same world as Decisions. 

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

Surprise?

Krakoa

Newly formed independent island nation

The celebrations were loud, joyous, and bright. The entire island of Krakoa was alive with the energy of a people who were finally free to be themselves. Free to live. Free to express. The Quiet Council made it official: Krakoa was now home to all mutants and a sovereign nation.

All the hard work that he, Charles, and secretly, Moira had done, had seen fruition. It was a good kind of tired Magnus felt as he flew toward the coast, returning home to the House of M from watching the celebrations with Charles. He stepped inside to find Rogue waiting for him. “I trust you haven't been waiting long?”

“Nah. Celebrated with some of the others. I knew you would be with the Council and then with Charles. We can have ours now…” With that said, the silky, green robe she wore fell to the ground, revealing the body he cherished so much and so often. 

“Ah…um…”, he was at war with himself. Indulge now and talk later, or talk now?

Rogue smiled sweetly, seductively making her way to her lover. “Loss for words? Been awhile since that happened. Do me a favor? Lose the uniform, and Ah'll make ya lose more than words,” her kneeling before him, the words, the sound of her voice…

Now! “Rogue, my darling, we should talk before we proceed any further, no matter how tempting having you on your knees before me may be,” helping her up gently, Magnus wraps them both up in his cape, kissing her deeply to assuage her of any possible discontent.  

“What is it?” 

“During the Council meeting we discussed having laws, and one of the laws I think we should take under serious consideration, but only if you feel ready.” He wasn't sure if he was ready for this. It had been how long since Utopia?

“Magnus, I need to know what it is, so we can discuss it.” Rogue was growing impatient. When she was in a certain mood, her patience wore thin. 

“Come, let us discuss this in our chambers,” Magnus picks her up, still cocooned in his cape. 

She settles into his chest, reaching her arms around his neck. “Sounds serious,” she hums.

The man known as Magneto relishes in the feel of the woman in his arms, as he traverses their new home. His longest relationship since his wife Magda, Rogue meant everything to him. They'd been through so much together, their relationship tested and tried, and they survived. They both saw Krakoa as a means of not just a new beginning for their people, but for them as well. Their first night here, after hours of lovemaking under the moonlight, Rogue asked him to marry her. Of course he said yes. How could he say anything else? It was difficult to deny her.

Once inside their chambers, he ever so carefully rests them on the bed, facing each other. She reaches up, removes his helmet, which he takes with his powers, depositing it with his other helmets nearby. Smiling up at him, she takes a hand, running it through his hair, massaging his scalp. “So, what're we discussin’, sugah?”

“I know that we haven't discussed this in quite some time, my dear. And now may not be the right time. You may also decide that you don't wish to.”

Rogue places two fingers on his lips to shush him. “Magnus, I heard a rumor goin’ round that a law was passed to make more mutants. Is this true?”

She didn't remove her fingers, so he nodded.

“You want to discuss with me the possibility of us havin’ a baby?” She takes away her hand.

“Only if you feel ready, my love. It has been some time since we lost Irene, and we both agreed when the time was right, and we could ensure your safety to help aid in the prevention of another…” this time Rogue cut him off with a powerful and meaningful kiss, pressing her full length into his body. 

It ended in small, light pecks, with them grinning at each other. “Magnus?”

“Yes, Anna?”

“I want to have a baby.”

He had to replay her words in his mind a few times before responding, “You are certain?”

“Baby, I have you, we have Krakoa, our home, our family, our friends, we're engaged, and it's not like I'm up for any of the teams any time soon, as I'm helping the youngsters with their powers. So… let's have a baby!” Rogue forces him onto his back, straddling and kissing Magnus. 

He finally obliges her earlier request and loses his uniform. 

*******

Over the years of being together, Magneto had allowed himself to play guinea pig to Rogue testing some of the limits of her abilities. This increased her confidence not only in her powers and their applications, strengths, and limitations, but also her self-confidence. He trusted her implicitly, and never doubted her. This, in turn, had an unexpected side effect that neither could have predicted. 

Magnus’ control over the electromagnetic sphere allowed him to zero in on her unique magnetic signature, and pinpoint her exact location on the planet with almost no error. If he wanted to, he could open a wormhole, and be with her in minutes, as opposed to the time it would take to fly. 

As they practiced with Rogue's abilities, however, they soon discovered that they could sense each other in a new way. First it was across the room, then across the Citadel. If they concentrated enough, they could sense the others’ emotions. With more practice it came with ease. Magnus sent for Emma Frost.

Emma explained that they were developing some sort of Psychic Rapport with one another, though she doubted they'd ever be able to communicate with each other through it. The telepath couldn't explain it fully, but it was linked to Rogue's powers, to how often she absorbed him. They were content with that explanation, and used this to their advantage when it came to battles and other sensitive situations. 

Today, though, Magneto was present at the Quiet Council, impatiently waiting for the day to be over. It had been weeks since he and Rogue had started trying for a baby, and nothing yet. He wanted to get her back to their chambers and keep her there until one of their attempts succeeded. She did remind him that she wasn't fertile right now and these things take time, but neither minded the practice. Instead he was here, listening to Shaw and Sinister drone on about nonsensical bullshit, and Rogue was spending the day visiting with Gambit, who had freshly arrived on the island.

He was tempted to place his helmet back on his head, and feign being awake. But Charles and Emma both would give him an earful, like last time. Just as he thought Apocalypse was a lucky asshole for bowing out of Council business today on other, more important business, Magneto paused. Normally he felt a calming love through his link with Rogue. It helped to keep him calm and to not give into his anger as he wanted to do so often in the past. 

Without warning, and to everyone's alarm, he slammed his helmet on, reached an arm out, opening a small wormhole, causing even Krakoa to cry out, and he vanished. Charles and Emma look at each other terrified, knowing just what would elicit such a reaction out of the Master of Magnetism. 

*****

Gambit was furious! Rogue agreed to help the monster to save Betsy, touched the damned portal, and then the portal started to grab her! He felt like he was moving in sludge, and was unable to help her. Soon she was encased inside a coffin and Apocalypse seemed happy with the results. If the feeling in the air was any indication, he wasn't going to be happy for long. Remy felt the static electricity charging in the air. “You better release her before HE gets here!” 

“Rogue cannot be released yet,” Apocalypse didn't spare him a glance. “What do you mean, ‘HE’?”

“He means ME!” 

Magneto floated before the closing wormhole, the air crackling with charged energy and magnetic particles. The look of anger that flashed across his face hadn't been seen in a long time. Apocalypse felt himself being lifted off the ground, and for once, being powerless to stop it. The others formed a protective guard around Rogue's body. 

“What is the meaning of this, Erik?” He asks calmly. 

"Release her, or discover for yourself,” Magneto spit out the words. Spreading open his right fist, Apocalypse's body begins to pull as though it has figures at each limb. 

Try as he might, Apocalypse cannot break free. “You have been holding back, Magneto. This is new.” 

“You'll be more impressed once I've disintegrated your atoms to nothing. Now, release Rogue!”

“Erik! Stop!” 

The voice belonging to Elizabeth Braddock, newly anointed Captain Britain, gives him pause. 

“This is not going to help Rogue, nor is it going to help Otherworld. Put him down.” 

Stealing a glance at Rogue, Magnus is torn. The love he cherished, trapped in a coffin, unable to feel her, the only thing telling him she was still alive was her electromagnetic signature. His baser instincts were screaming at him to end the ancient mutant before him, and then refuse to allow them to resurrect him permanently. He needed his Anna Marie to keep the world at bay. It was already threatening to come crashing down. 

He felt a gentle hand on his arm, and heard, “Father?”

It was Lorna. His youngest. His baby. The one he tried to protect and give the life he and her older siblings never had. When did she arrive? Emma was now next to Rogue. Charles was at the entrance. 

“He needs to release her, Lorna.”

“I know, Father. But he can't do anything if you're killing him.”

“He better release her.” Magnus feels his daughter embrace him, and he sighs. Rogue would be so upset with him for losing control like that. He releases Apocalypse, and the ancient one falls unceremoniously to the ground. Trinity is the only one present who goes to check on him. 

Lorna leads her father to the ground, gently, and over to where Rogue is. Placing his hand upon the coffin-like box, he resigns himself to failure. He failed to protect her. He felt Lorna squeeze his arm, knowing exactly what he was thinking without needing to read his mind. He also knew it would upset Rogue that he would think that way. But it was something that he developed ever since her miscarriage, and they'd lost Irene. It was haunting him more now, because they were trying for a baby. Krakoa was supposed to be safe. And…

“This island nation is supposed to be safe for our people, Apocalypse. We aren't supposed to worry or fear about attacks from our own people while here. What the fuck were you doing that would cause Rogue to feel such terror?” He never looked away from his heart as he spoke. His voice never wavered. 

“Something is wrong in Otherworld and we were on our way to help Ms. Braddock. Something was wrong with the gate. Rogue's unique ability helped to fix it, and then the gate broke.” Apocalypse answered. 

Gambit spit on the ground, “Non! Dat not all dere is! You knew dis would happen. You knew!”

There was more back and forth, but calmer heads finally prevailed. It was decided that Kate Pryde would take Betsy, Gambit, Jubilee, Apocalypse, and Rogue's body with Magneto to England so they can travel to Otherworld there. It was determined that though Apocalypse had a hand in whatever happened to Rogue, the destruction of the gate on the other side may have had a hand, as well as whatever Morgan LeFay may have done to it. 

Magneto purposely ignored Apocalypse during the journey, not wishing to encourage his own anger to rise again. Emma Frost also strongly suggested to Apocalypse to leave Erik alone, that to antagonize him in any way would be a mistake, as he's already proven he's held back all these years. Apocalypse left Magneto to meditate next to Rogue. Gambit and Kate were the only ones who seemed to even to want to bother him at all, making sure he was taking care of himself. 

********

This whole being in England and Otherworld, it was exhausting. He wanted to destroy Apocalypse permanently and be done with it. The urge was becoming more difficult to pass up. The calls with the children were somewhat helpful in distracting him during the downtime. Emma would converse with him telepathically to help put his mind at ease. Things he couldn't confide with Charles about, he could with Emma. Emma had proven herself indispensable to him and Rogue as a couple's therapist, and then as his therapist. 

It was Emma who had alerted Lorna that her father had gone off the deep end when Rogue had been encased into this box. Emma suggested he go along with them, knowing that he would've been next to impossible to deal with otherwise. She'd helped him conquer most of his demons. The rest Rogue helped him keep at bay until he was ready to face them. 

“Erik? You eat yet?” Gambit asked, already knowing the man didn't. He handed him a bowl and spoon. 

“Gumbo?”

“Is good fer all growing mutants,” Remy winked, sitting down, across from him. 

Magnus hadn't kept a Kosher diet since he was a child, before the camps, and decided that he probably wouldn't ever be able to return to that part of his heritage. Not with the things that Rogue and Gambit both could do with shrimp and pork. There were other reasons, but gumbo was a favorite meal that his Cajun friend made. Rogue would often make pulled pork when they would gather with the children. He couldn't bear the thought of telling her he couldn't eat that delicious meal anymore. 

The two ate in silence for a few moments, as they often did when Remy would bring him food back from Krakoa. 

“What news from home?” Magnus missed the home he built with Rogue so much. They'd only had it for a few weeks when things were disturbed. Not quite two whole months yet. The plans they made. When Krakoa caught word of their trying for a baby, the island sent Doug to ask where they wanted the baby's room, and a room near their chambers had been growing ever since. It was almost done. 

“Quiet.” Remy answered, taking a healthy scoop of his gumbo. After swallowing, he smiles. “Ran into a mutual friend o’ours.”

“Oh?” He wasn't sure if this was good or not. Remy looked mischievous. There was a fifty-fifty chance of it going either way. 

“Yup. Dey have ‘perience wit Otherworld and telepathy. Dey talk to Rogue, maybe see dey help some.” 

Magnus smiled into his bowl. Rachel. Remy talked to Rachel. She had finally made her way to Krakoa and Remy had hunted her down. Rachel still kept in touch with Rogue and he knew that the telepath would be there soon, just not exactly. This was perfect news. Betsy didn't want to invade Rogue's mind for whatever reason, but Rachel, she would do it. And she was familiar with the magics and goings on with Otherworld to be able to offer Rogue assistance. He should have his Anna Marie back soon. He just needed to give Rachel the time she needed to help Rogue. 

*****

She was back. She was blue. And her uniform didn't fit anymore. She woke up from the sleep Apocalypse put her in… and she's pregnant? Rogue didn't know how far along, but far enough to be showing. How long had she been asleep? Oh god! Magnus! Where was he? At that thought, the familiar arms and cape made their way around her, lips pressing against hers. He had her, as always. She could hear the world around them, the whoops and hollers of their friends, but as it was whenever Magnus enveloped them in his cape, it always sounded so far away. It was just them. 

The feeling of his hand on her protruding belly, and the look in his eyes, looking for confirmation. “I guess we're pregnant, Magnus!” She whispered excitedly. 

Capturing her lips in a great kiss welcoming her back, he tried to pour all of his feelings into it. He had her back! Rogue was back and pregnant! He wasn't sure how she was so far along right now, perhaps mid-pregnancy? But once they return to Krakoa, he would have Joshua look her and the baby over and ensure they were both well. Right now? Right now he wanted to hold them and be grateful and in love. 

*****

Once the mess in England and Otherworld was taken care of, Emma Frost met them at a suspiciously empty gate at Krakoa. Betsy had been kind enough to find clothes for Rogue to wear, courtesy of Meggan. But, she and Magnus still weren't sure how they felt about all of this, and really needed to see Joshua, or Elixir, as soon as they could. Emma had an emerald green bundle in her arms, handing it to Rogue. 

“I wasn't expecting to give this to you so soon, but it'll help keep prying eyes away,” Emma explained. 

Rogue unfurled it, revealing a beautiful hooded robe, that appeared to be adjustable around the chest and midsection. “Oh, Emma. I love it.”

Emma and Magnus helped her into it, as Emma explained, “As the fiancée of a Quiet Council member, and a mother-to-be, we can't have you looking dreadful, or being uncomfortable. It's set up so you can also nurse baby, if you so choose, in complete secrecy and/or comfort. But we'll finish going over what else this can do after you see Joshua.”

Taking Magnus’ hand in hers, the couple follow Emma. She leads them to the healing gardens, where Joshua is waiting for them. Helping Rogue up onto the exam table, the young mutant known as Elixir stares at Rogue for a moment. 

“May I?” He asks permission to touch her belly. When Rogue nods her head, he carefully rests his hands on either side of her stomach. Closing his eyes, he takes a breath. Then he smiles. Opening his eyes, Joshua removes his hands. “I have good news and I have good news.” 

“Don't hold back, better tell us the good news!” Rogue was excited. Earlier she expressed some concern to Magnus that something could be wrong with the baby because of the influence of the magic of Otherworld. He agreed with her. They were both certain that if anything were wrong with the baby at all, Joshua would be able to tell. Betsy had already confirmed it was not an Otherworld child. 

“Well, you and baby are both healthy. I cannot find anything wrong with either of you,” Joshua almost covered his ears at the whoop of joy that Rogue released, and made way for Magneto to embrace her. “Once you two are done celebrating, I can tell you how far along you are, and even the sex of the baby, if you want.” 

“Do you want to know what we're having, Rogue? We haven't had time to discuss, well, anything!” Magneto was so happy, he didn't really care. That part was all new to him anyway. When Magda had Anya, the technology hadn't existed, and he didn't even know what mutants were. He hadn't been able to be there for the twins or Lorna. This one would be different. 

“Yes! It'll be easier to plan everything out! Unless you have any objections?”

“None. This part is new for me.” 

“This is all new to me.”

He kisses her. 

Emma clears her throat.

“Sorry, jus’ a little excited is all,” Rogue blushes. “Go ahead with it all, Joshua.”

“Ok, I place you at 20 weeks, so about 4 months. That is based on the size and weight of the baby, the size of the placenta and a few other things. Like I said, the baby is perfectly healthy, has a strong cardio system, and everything. We can get you set up with a midwife to help guide you through the rest of the pregnancy. And congratulations, you're having a boy!”

******

“Why didn’t you tell me you were trying for a baby?” Mystique sat with Rogue at an outdoor cafe, enjoying a light lunch in the beautiful Krakoan weather. 

“Well, because we wanted to wait and see if we were gonna get pregnant and then if the baby was gonna stay. Didn’t wanna get nobody’s hopes up, Mama,” Rogue takes a sip of her tea. 

“I should end Apocalypse for what he did to you.”

“Get in line. And ‘sides, I already killed him once for it,” the two laugh.

“You need to stop being so helpful, now that you’re pregnant and going to be a mother. You missed out on the first few months of your pregnancy because of it.”

Rogue merely rolls her eyes at that. “You know I ain’t gonna stop doing that. Be more cautious, yeah, but it's who I am, and you know it.”

“He’s still treating you well?”

Laughing, Rogue shakes her head, “You really still on ‘bout that? Lord, Mama. He worships the ground I walk on, and ever since the baby, he’s gotten worse!”

“A mother can worry, Rogue. You are going to know what that feels like now. You may claim his family as yours,” Mystique points out, “but it's different when it's your own.”

“It’s not like I had a hand in raisin’ any of Magnus’ kids. They came all grown, and we were all friends anyway.”

“And they’re all older than you…” “Now, just stop right there, young lady!” Rogue gets frustrated with her mother. “You are how much older than Sabertooth, yet you had his son?”

“Don’t remind me.” Mystique takes a calming breath. “I’m sorry. I’m letting a small tiff between myself, Erik, and Charles get in the way of our time together. We need to celebrate, not allow squabbles interfere with such joyous news.” As she took Rogue’s hand to squeeze it reassuringly, the shapechanging mutant was never more grateful for the gloves she wore as a barrier between her and her daughter. If Rogue found out about the ‘squabble’, it would ruin her happiness, and, at least for now, Mystique didn’t have the heart to do it. 

******

“Can't you leave the broodmare at home, Magneto?” Sinister sneered at Magneto and Rogue from in the Council Chambers. Rogue took her fiancé's arm causing him to look at her.

“Don't give him the satisfaction, dear.” She was wearing her emerald green robes from Emma, and was just visiting for a moment while the Council was on recess. At eight months, Rogue was now on leave from teaching the children, finding herself with more spare time. 

“Just a little strangulation?”

“No. He's not worth the energy.”

She was right. Of course. He didn't need to look over at Charles to know he was agreeing with her. The two often ganged up on him when Sinister reared his ugly head. Or when Shaw would dare speak. Or Apocalypse would breathe. Especially then. Apocalypse was still someone that neither he or Rogue would have much to do with. 

Apocalypse returned that energy by giving them a wide berth. He explained to Emma that had he known that Rogue was pregnant, he wouldn't have involved her at all. Emma rolled her eyes at him. 

Rogue had a feeling from what remained of his memories that he was full of it. “Not supposed to be a late one, right, hon?” 

Taking Rogue's hand and kissing it, Magnus replies, “No, it's not. Just more of the daily droll. I will be home in time for the children and Thomas.” His family. His three older children and his grandson, Thomas. They all agreed with Rogue so far along in the pregnancy that leaving Krakoa was not safe, so they tried to make dinner a regular thing here, at the House of M. Many Mutants were still uneasy around Wanda due to M Day, but Rogue made it perfectly clear that she wasn't against bashing some heads in if they denied Magneto time with his daughter. When Wanda arrived, she would head straight to her father's home, and not dally at all. 

“All right. Just don't make me pull the Thomas card. I know he's your favorite,” Rogue winks at him. 

******

“I want to draw you,” he blurted out one lazy afternoon. Rogue lounged on their bed, leafing through a kosher recipe book. Billy and Teddy were actually going to make Family Meal and she was determined to have more variety available. 

“You haven't wanted to do that in forever, Sugah. Why now?” So focused on her task, Rogue didn't see the contentment on his face.

“You just look so… amazing on our bed, carrying our child, searching for recipes that Billy said you didn't have to. I merely wish to capture it, in one of the best mediums I know to show off your exquisiteness.” As he spoke, Magnus opened the leather-bound sketch book Wanda had gifted him. 

“Oh you!” Rogue beamed, having missed seeing this side of him. Being so busy with Krakoa, he didn't often indulge in his hobbies. She would find Magnus relaxing to a glass of wine, and reports from one of the Captains, some investments, or government records. The list went on. Rarely would he read one of his books, or just listen to his music. 

So they spent the rest of the afternoon discussing recipes and drawing. 

******

Magneto found himself arguing with Shaw, again. It had become a regular event at the Quiet Council meetings. Sinister sat there, bemused as ever at the display. Charles rested his chin on his arm, knowing his old friend was more anxious about Rogue’s impending birth than he was about disagreeing with Sebastian Shaw on principle. The other members were occupying themselves with other things while the tirade continued. 

Emma, however, was the first to notice that Erik had grown silent mid-sentence. “Erik?”

“I believe it’s time,” he looked Emma straight in her eyes. 

Surprise displayed on her face as she stood up, while simultaneously reaching out to Rogue’s mind, walked over to Erik, who seemed to be paralyzed. “I believe you are right. Come on, let’s get you to her and the baby.”

Mechanically, Magneto took Emma’s hand. How long had it been since Anya’s birth? At that time it was unheard of for men to be present at the birth. He’d been at work when Magda had given birth, and only found out when he arrived home. Rogue insisted he was going to be present, and he never argued. He wanted this. So why was Emma having to guide him along like a lost child? 

You are in shock, Erik. Emma spoke softly in his mind as they walked to the House of M. Kurt had offered to teleport them, but she shook that off. Didn’t need the father-to-be to lose his stomach. Perhaps he’d wake up out of his stupor enough to fly them there. Kurt, ever the loving brother, did his duty and stuck by their side to assist should they need it. His sister had a feeling her man would react this way. 

She isn’t due for another month… he thought. 

It’s real. Lorna is with her at home, with Ariel, the midwife you both picked out, and Joshua is on standby. All that is missing, is you. 

At that, Magneto shook his head, looked at both Emma and Kurt, the shell shocked look disappearing and his demeanor changing to serious. Without warning, he lifted them into the air, carrying them to the House of M. 

Mystique watched from a distance as they flew off. Sighing heavily and sadly, she began the walk to the House of M. A place she may not find a very warm welcome. 

******

All was quiet at the House of M, while it's inhabitants finally slept. Well, most of them. Lorna had stopped by to check on her father, Rogue, and new little brother, Jakob. They were passed out on their gigantic bed, little Jakob sucking madly on his fist in between them. Careful not to wake the new parents, Lorna used her powers to lift her brother up and over to her. Cradling him close and taking him into the nearby nursery, Lorna decides to spend some time with her little brother and let the others sleep. If he's hungry, she'll wake Rogue. 

Entranced by his big sister and the rocking motion, Jakob stares up at Lorna. She smiles down at him, kissing his forehead. “Hey, little man. I thought you would still be sleeping with your grand entrance into the world,” she chuckles. “You are definitely one of us. Showing up almost a month early, and having to be as dramatic about it as possible, huh?” Sitting down in the rocking chair, Lorna continues rocking him. Having been with Rogue during some of the midwife visits, Lorna knew that the birth could take a long time as first babies could. Little Jakob, on the other hand, had other plans. Rogue’s entire labor lasted hours, with the baby arriving with a powerful set of lungs. Her father commented that was definitely one of his, already screaming at him. 

“Good thing Father has a sense of humor about this stuff. At least now. With your Mommy, he's changed a lot, for the better. Your Mommy has helped piece our family together. I don't think we'll ever be perfect, but I like that we aren't dysfunctional anymore. That we do things together now. That we have a relationship with him. And you are lucky. You will get to grow up with him. Something none of us have been able to do. Something that I think we are a little envious of, but after we found out the truth, it turns out he didn't have a choice.” 

“At least with the twins, he didn't. With me, he made an impossible choice. He said it was one he would make again if it meant keeping me safe. I guess I can forgive him for that. So, don't you dare squander the time you have with the old man, you hear me?” Lorna reaches down to kiss her baby brother, again, seeing he fell back asleep. 

Standing up slowly, Lorna turns and sees her father standing in the doorway, his cheeks wet with tears. “If I could have had my way, my sweet daughter, I would have had all three of you with me the entire time.”

“I know. And I would have loved that. But you did what you thought was best. And, I can't be angry with you anymore about that.” 

The man once known as Max Eisenhardt embraces his two youngest children, little Jakob protesting for a second. “It means a lot to me to hear you say that, Lorna.”

“I mean every word, Father.”

*******

[queer-ragnelle]

to make changes to a story or to criticize it you have to first understand and respect it. arthurian legend exists on a wide spectrum the scope of which cannot be overstated. that’s not an excuse. try to interpret the deeper themes behind the layers of sometimes uncomfortable medieval subject matter anyway.

insofar as retellings go, merlin characterization varies wildly and i like many of them—from mary stewart’s asexual sweet thoughtful dad type to t. h. white’s silly weirdo old man to phyllis ann karr’s creepy inhuman predator type. i just need to be narratively convinced of it.

the movie sword of lancelot (1963) had a dagonet that told fun rhymes and offered worldly advice. king arthur (2004) dagonet was a stoic warrior with two lines of dialogue in the entire film and didn’t smile once. guess which film understood the material it drew from better and utilized the character in a meaningful way.

comprehension and respect is what sets john boorman’s excalibur (1981) at the top and leaves cursed (2020) wallowing at the bottom of the barrel. i’m not watching bc i heard the legendary sword excalibur was going to be on screen—i’m watching bc i want to become emotionally invested in a cleverly written character with lofty goals and interesting flaws wielding it. i want to root for them, imperfect though they be. but their faults have to be an intentional and thoughtful writing choice, not a result of poor planning on the creator’s part, and not an attempt to “fix” the medieval material and market to as broad an audience as possible. great king bad husband arthur succeeds where girlboss nimue fails.

i don’t want arthurian legend to suffer as greek mythology has suffered. i don’t want any of it watered down for modern sensibilities but neither do i want game of thrones 2. i don’t claim to be the final judge of what a “good” or “bad” arthurian adaptation is by any means. i like all of them! but i have read enough medieval literature and modern retellings and watched every film and show and documentary on the subject i can find, so i’m coming from that angle when i say a successful adaptation of medieval stories should act as a continuation of tradition. that can only be achieved when one considers the merit of the story above all else. capitalism will try to strangle it but we can’t let that happen. palatability or edginess for the sake of being palatable or edgy has no place in mythology and literary tradition.

all good stories are balanced, and the only way to be balanced is to admire the original stories and appreciate them for what they are, products of their time though they may be, and determine what the most compelling story you can tell with that material is. then write it down without any agenda in mind. it’s an art, not a science. so in the wake of booktok trends and weaksauce fantasy adaptations the likes of witcher (2019) and rings of power (2022) created by people who don’t like or understand the source material besieging our feeds, let’s create something beautiful. go forth and make stuff. gay knights and gay rights.

[xprojectrpg]

This Day in X-Project - January 31

PHASE 2

2015: Amanda posts to announce she’s created an area of remembrance for M-Day in an alcove with a stone that has a flame inside it magicked to never go out. Wanda emails Cammie and Jubilee asking to be reimbursed for having to work in a coffee shop all day the day before. Amanda emails the Phase 1 survivors to tell them about the remembrance area she set up. Jean and Warren finally go on their date and Jean learns more about Worthington Industries. Topaz texts Hope A. telling her she has wine. Cecilia posts asking that whoever stole her wine and left her money leave a note next time instead. Laurie posts to inform everyone she is taking Doug for dinner. The Foundation for Genetic Purity in Brownsville, NY collapses in such a way as to baffle authorities. Angelo posts asking if the building collapsed on its own. Adrienne posts to announce that she and Kane are away at the Plaza for the weekend and that she won’t be returning to the mansion afterwards, choosing to stay at her penthouse in the city instead. Julian goes to find Doreen to discuss the death of Monkey Joe.

2016: Operation: Mutant Massacre: Wade provides updates on the Morlock investigation on xp_teams about the Carlysle Medical Center, which is linked to the phone obtained from Sabretooth by X-Factor. The Two Sided Coin of Ambition: X-Factor starts looking into who might benefit from the information stolen from Keller Industries.

2017: Bobby texts Warren asking for help with cheering up Miles. Hope A. meets her father for a meal and they reconnect. Bobby leaves a birthday cake and a stack of visual novels for Miles.

2018: Maya takes over the music room with heavy metal to help her study. Angelica posts a philosophical question about Groundhog Day. Clea talks to Amanda about not talking to her parents about her birth “family” and finds out Snow Valley needs reception help.

2019: Clint expresses his frustration at the impact the government shutdown has had on his scientist contacts’ projects.

2020: Laurie announces she’s about to start her night shift rotation in the ER. Celeste Cuckoo emails Marie-Ange about the Ship of Theseus. Natasha lets people know that Clint has left for an unknown amount of time.

2021:

2022:

2023: Forge e-mails eXcalibur brainstorming ideas for portal containment. Marie-Ange pulls a copy of The Kirby-style Emperor card and needs an explanation.

2024: Finally released from the medlab, Arthur and Haller have a talk about Arthur's previous actions. Stephen posts an update for the medlab. Clarice shares a picture, not missing winter in New York in the slightest. Sam meets Shatterstar and they spar. Following this, Sam emails Kyle and Alani to ask to be involved with the GenX training. Sam texts Clint to tell him about his spar. Amanda uses Kevin S. as a source to help heal Darcy's hand. Liam finds Jessie settling in, and they chat.

[foodandbeverages]

Food Dehydrators Market Earnings Margins, Value Of Production & Consumption Demand Figures 2021 to 2031

The food dehydrator market (Marché des déshydrateurs alimentaires) was experiencing significant growth due to increasing consumer interest in healthier food preservation methods and the rising popularity of homemade snacks. A food dehydrator is an appliance designed to remove moisture from food items, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, and meats, through a drying process, which helps extend their shelf life while retaining most of their nutrients and flavors.

According to a newly released report on the global food dehydrators market by FMI estimates that in 2031, the global market for food dehydrators is expected to reach USD 3,761 Million. In 2021, the market was estimated at USD 2,028 Million. If these projections are correct, the market would grow at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2021 to 2031.

Asia Pacific and North America are expected to emerge as lucrative markets for food dehydrators besides Europe. In terms of end use, the food dehydrators market can be classified into industrial, commercial, residential, and others. Of these, industrial will lead the global market on account of the rising demand from the food and beverages sector.

According to the report, the rising demand for food with longer shelf-life will stoke growth in the market. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the market, covering key growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, and prevailing trends. It uses unique research methods to offer the most accurate analysis of the market.

Information Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/food-dehydrators-market

It includes in-depth insights into the food dehydrator market. Some of these are:

The estimated value of the market was at US$ 1600 Mn in 2019. Through the course of the report’s forecast period, the market is exhibited to show a steady pace of growth.

Regionally, Europe emerged as a key market for food dehydrator.

Asia Pacific and North America will remain steady as key markets for food dehydrators.

Industrial segment expected to show growth at the highest rate of growth among end users over the forecast period.

Key players are likely to focus on expanding their product portfolio to stay relevant in the market.

Demand for Food with Improved Shelf-life Will Boost Growth

The rising demand for food with longer shelf-life is one of the chief growth drivers of the market. Dehydrating food is one of the best technologies to enhance food shelf-life and preserve it for a longer period. The method has gained popularity because it helps in reducing food wastage. As a result of this, food dehydration also is a preferred technology for preserving unconsumed food among government and non-government organizations.

Who is Winning?

Some of the leading players operating in the food dehydrators market are Excalibur Dehydrator, Koolatron Corporation, NESCO, National Presto Industries, Inc., Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., Lem Products Holding LLC, Tribest Corporation, The Sausage Maker, Inc., NutriChef Kitchen, LLC, Buffalo Appliances, STX International, Avantco Equipment, Vitality4Life Pty Limited, Aroma Housewares Company, and  Gourmia.

As a result of increasing competition, food dehydrator manufacturers are focusing on expanding their product portfolio and improving existing technologies. Furthermore, they are using innovation to use different sources of energy to make food dehydration process more eco-friendly and reduce cost of production.

Market Segmentation

The global Food Dehydrators market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present complete market intelligence to readers.

Technology

Vertical Airflow

Horizontal Airflow

End Use

Industrial

Commercial

Residential

Other End-Uses

Energy Source

Electricity

Biofuel

Solar

Others

Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Oceania

MEA

[rabbitcruiser]

Las Vegas Strip, NV (No. 2)

On a daily basis, there are tens of thousands of pedestrians walking along the Strip at any one time. As of 2019, the daily number of pedestrians on the Strip is approximately 50,000.

Concerning pedestrian safety and to help alleviate traffic congestion at popular intersections, several pedestrian footbridges were erected in 1990s and the first was the Tropicana – Las Vegas Boulevard footbridge. Some feature designs that match the theme of the nearby resorts. Additional footbridges have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard. The footbridges include:

Veer Towers:. Connects Veer Towers, Waldorf Astoria, and Crystals Shopping Center

Park MGM and T-Mobile Arena Park: Connects MGM and Showcase Mall

Planet Hollywood: Connects Planet Hollywood, CityCenter, Crystals Shopping Center, and The Cosmopolitan.

Spring Mountain Road and Las Vegas Blvd. Corner: Connects Treasure Island, the Wynn, Fashion Show Mall, and The Venetian

Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Blvd. Corner: Connects Bally's, Flamingo, Bellagio, and Caesars Palace

Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Ave Corner. Connects the MGM Grand, New York-New York, Excalibur, and Tropicana

There has been negative feedback from pedestrians about the elevated crosswalks due to need to walk as much as a quarter-mile to reach an intersection to cross the street and to then walk back some distance on the other side of the street to get to their desired destinations.

After a driver drove into pedestrians on the sidewalk in front of Paris Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood in December 2015, 800 bollards began to be installed on Las Vegas Blvd. starting in 2017. The construction of the bollards resulted in the removal of 49 of the 82 stars of the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. In 2019, the bollards on Las Vegas Blvd. were shortened due to feedback from drivers that the bollards were obstructing street views. 283 of the 4,500 bollards will be shortened from 54 inches to 36 inches. The shortened bollards line 20 different driveways.

Studies conducted by Clark County in 2012 and 2015 identified issues with congestion. The studies resulted in $5 million of improvements, including LED lights, ADA ramps, containment fencing, widening sidewalks, and removing permanent obstructions, such as signs, signposts, trash cans, and fire hydrants. The studies also identified non-permanent obstructions causing congestion, such as street performers, vendors, handbillers, signholders, and illegal street gambling. Modifications to non-obstruction zones and increased enforcement were implemented in order to reduce congestion.

Source: Wikipedia

[616rogue]

rogue icons.

source: excalibur (2019), by tini howard and marcus to.

(⚠️) please, like or reblog if you’re going to use or save any of these resources. explicit credit is not necessary, but appreciated.

[marvellfashion]

Comic: Excalibur (2019)

Source: Marvel Comics

[roguearchives]

Rogue in the variant cover of Excalibur (2019) #22, illustrated by Felipe Massafera.

Source: Unknown Comics.

[badmusesedits]

In the source link you will find:

06 icons of Jubilation Lee aka Jubilee, in Excalibur (2019) #18 as drawn by Marcus To, for a total of 198 icons at the time of posting.

Things to note when playing/casting this character:  Chinese-American

Icons are sized 150x150px and they are free, there is a ko-fi link on my blog if you want to support what I do. The source link points to all my icons to date for this comic character. They are sorted by comics issue.

Please share this post if you use. You can edit, resize, but do not repost as your own work! I also ask that you don’t resize them under 100x100px for accessibility.

[maaarine]

MBTI & Celebs Gabriel Byrne: INFJ

“Gabriel James Byrne (born 12 May 1950) is an Irish actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, cultural ambassador, audiobook narrator and author. (…)

For his performance in HBO's American drama In Treatment (2008–2010) in the role of Paul Weston, one of his most identifiable roles, he won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for two Emmy Awards and two Satellite Awards.

He starred in many films, including: Excalibur (1981), Miller's Crossing (1990), The Usual Suspects (1995), Stigmata (1999), End of Days (1999),

Spider (2002), Jindabyne (2006), Vampire Academy (2014), The 33 (2015), and Hereditary (2018), and co-wrote The Last of the High Kings (1996).

Byrne has also produced several films, including the Academy Award–nominated In the Name of the Father (1993). In 2019, he starred in a TV series adaptation of War of the Worlds.”

Sources: video, wiki/Gabriel_Byrne. Screencaps: transcript. Mentioned: Leonard Cohen.

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Until the Stars Are All Alight–Ch. 11: Concerning Merry Men

Hello, and welcome to my entry for the Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 2019!  This au combines two story ideas I’ve wanted to explore for a while. 1. What if CS existed in a Tolkien-esque, LOTR world? 2. What would have happened if it was Killian rather than Neal that Emma ran into when she was stealing the bug?  Huge thank you to my beta, @blackwidownat2814​​, to @clockadile​​ for the amazing story and chapter art, to @kmomof4​​ and @cssns​​ for putting this event together, and to the ladies in the CSSNS chat who have helped me think through this story.  If all goes well, I should be posting every Tuesday, and the story will have approximately 18 chapters plus the prologue and epilogue.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Summary: CS Lord of the Rings au: When Emma Swan steals a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, she has no idea it will lead her toward an adventure filled with danger and intrigue, sacrifice and a love stronger than anything she could imagine.  Tasked with bringing the Savior home, the elf, Killian Jones of Misthaven travels to the Land Without Magic.  Can he convince Emma to fulfill her destiny before the Dark One regains power and takes over all of the Enchanted Forest?

Rating:  T

Word Count: 5735

Other Chapters: (prologue) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (epilogue) 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Enchanted Forest, 21 years ago

“Merry Men are a peaceful people, lovers of nature and the simple things in life.  They revere justice and kindness above all, but they are more than capable of defending themselves vigorously when called upon to do so,” Liam explained to his company of knights as they made their way toward Nottingham Forest.  “They are a race of hobbits, but you’ll find them far different from the hobbits with which you are familiar.  In appearance they are nearly indistinguishable from human men and women, yet they are blessed with the longer life-span of the hobbit.  Legend has it, the ancestors of the Merry Men intermarried with elves, which would explain their differences to others within their species.”

Liam droned on and on, but Killian couldn’t focus on his brother’s lecture.

In truth, he was still reeling over all the events of the last few months.  He remembered the first time he sailed as a young lad.  The feeling of vertigo, of being just slightly off balance until he got his sea legs under him, was something he’d never forget.  It was what he was feeling now.

How did one wrap his mind around being at the center of a prophecy like this?  The Savior would save their kingdom and their entire world with his help.  What help was he to give her?  How was he to provide this aid if he didn’t even know what it was?  What if he failed?  The thought of being the hope of an entire civilization hung heavily on him.

And then there was the other task with which he, Liam and the other knights had been tasked.  Killian felt the broken sword knock his leg from beneath his coat where he had hidden it.  It was an awesome and overwhelming responsibility the Jones brothers had been given.

The Misthaven counsel had wrestled for some time with the logistical problems they faced in the wake of the Dark One’s impending curse.  How were they to seal the portal they created for Queen Snow and her unborn baby if Excalibur went with them to the Land Without Magic?  How were they to keep the blade safe if it wasn’t sent with the royals?

Ultimately, it was a question of Liam’s that led to the solution.

“Your Highnesses, Merlin, what would happen if the sword was broken?” Liam asked.

“Broken?” King David asked.  “I’m sorry, I don’t follow.”

Liam turned toward Merlin.  “You told us the sword is the source of the Dark One’s power.  If we were to destroy the blade, would that also destroy his power?”

Merlin was silent, thoughtful for a long moment, but then he shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s not so simple.  The sword can be broken, yes, but it cannot be destroyed, at least not without paying the heaviest of prices.”

The fellowship seemed clearly downcast at that revelation, but suddenly Merlin gasped.

“Perhaps, Captain Jones,” he said, “you have inadvertently stumbled upon a solution after all.  No, breaking the sword cannot destroy the Dark One’s power, but it can weaken it.  Each portion of the sword would contain but part of the power.  The Dark One would need to obtain both halves in order to retake his power.”

“Would one portion alone have sufficient power to open and seal a portal to the Land Without Magic?” Snow asked.  

“Aye,” Merlin said.  “It would be more risky, but I believe it could be managed.  What are your thoughts, Your Highness?”

Snow stood with difficulty due to her rapidly expanding midsection.  Turning to look at each member of the council around the table in turn, Snow continued excitedly.  “Don’t you see?  Wherever the sword is, we risk the Dark One or his minions taking it back by force, but if we break it, we have the ability to make it even more difficult to obtain.  Send one portion to the Land Without Magic with Emma and me, and send the other...somewhere else.  I know not where.  That way, even if the Dark One finds and takes one portion, the other is still secreted away from him.”

With a portion of the sword still within the Enchanted Forest, even if it wasn’t physically at hand, Merlin would be capable of using the remainder to open and seal the portal before sending it through with the queen and unborn princess.

It was a good plan, the entire council agreed on that, and it was what led the Jones brothers and a hand-selected small group of knights to make the journey they were currently making.

The council had decided that the larger portion of the sword would be taken by the Jones brothers to Nottingham Forest, the home of the Merry Men.  It would be safe there, out of the curse’s purview.  The Jones brothers and their chosen band would escape the curse, and thus retain their memories.  They’d be capable of protecting the broken sword, and they’d be ready to assist Queen Snow and Princess Emma when the time to break the curse and defeat the Dark One drew near.

“But why Nottingham Forest?” August asked as they continued their journey.  “Why Merry Men?  I’d barely even heard of them before this plan was devised.”

“Don’t you see?” Liam asked excitedly.  “It’s the beautiful genius of the plan.  The Dark One understands only power, control.  It makes him a formidable adversary, but it may also prove to be his weakness.  The Dark One will dismiss the Merry Men as small, powerless, as far from a threat to him and his rule as one can find.  Nottingham Forest, the whole of Nottingham shire, is not beyond the Dark One’s reach, but it will be the last place he will expect the resistance to be found.”

“Liam’s right,” Killian said.  “Arrogance will be the Dark One’s downfall, arrogance and greed.  There is no better place to bide our time.”

Liam gave him a grateful look.  “Thank you, Killian. I appreciate your support.”

“Don’t you know, brother?” Killian said, “I’d follow you to the ends of the earth.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nottingham Forest, around 21 years ago

Robin Hood grinned as Friar Tuck, the man of the hour, stood up in front of the assembly to begin what was sure to be a long speech.  Beside him, his wife tutted, muttering under her breath about windbags boring her to death.  Robin’s grin widened.

When his first wife, Marian, passed away five years ago, just after the birth of their only child, Roland, Robin had fallen into a deep pit of melancholy, believing he’d never be truly happy again, but as so often happens, little by little he’d found reasons to smile again--listening to his infant son’s laugh, watching Roland take his first steps, the camaraderie he held with his merry men, the peace and serenity of their life in the shire.

Bad things happened.  Such was life, but those bad things didn’t have to define one’s life.  There was still plenty of happiness out there for anyone who wanted to pursue it.

Never had he felt this philosophy more strongly than the day he met Regina.  An elf from the land of Misthaven, Regina had been quite powerful, but power corrupts, and Regina had been far less than content with the life she’d led.

She wanted to be queen.

She’d held a particular animosity toward the then crown princess, Snow White, due to a tragedy Snow had unwittingly set into motion when she was but a child.  Regina had been filled with a hatred and malice fueled by pain. To that end, she’d attempted a coup upon the king of Misthaven--a coup that she’d had every intention of being fatal to the young princess.

Regina had been foiled in her attempt, and while some within the court of Misthaven had advocated for her death as a result, in the end the king had been merciful, merely banishing her from Misthaven.

For years, decades even, Regina had wandered the land aimlessly, but three years ago, she’d come upon the shire of Nottingham Forest.  The Merry Men had been understandably wary of the elf, her reputation preceded her, after all, and her sharp tongue and ready insults did not do much to win her friends.

But from the first, Robin saw something more in her.  She’d been a villain, there was no denying, and she had her faults still, but what being among them--elf, man or hobbit alike--could claim to be fully blameless?  Underneath her prickly exterior, Robin could discern a good heart, a capacity to love and protect fiercely.  Perhaps if she was given a bit of grace, even she could turn her life around.

To that end, Robin Hood had offered Regina a place in the shire.  Robin grinned thinking of her initial skepticism at his offer.  She’d maintained they smelled of forest and asked if they bathed with pine cones.

Always ready with a quip or a snarky remark, was his Regina.

Robin hadn’t pushed, letting the offer stand, yet letting her make her own decision on whether or not she would remain with them.

In the end, Robin believed it was Roland, naught but a toddler at the time, who had won Regina over.  She’d been good with the lad from the very start, and he clearly adored her.  In fact, in a bit of a blow to his ego, “‘Gina” had been Roland’s first word.  Regina had since confessed to him that she was unable to bear children, but that in her heart was a hole she suspected would never be filled without a child of her own.

And so Regina had stayed, slowly becoming an accepted and even respected member of their community.

Robin had far more than respected her.  In a far shorter time than he would have expected, he fell deeply, passionately in love with her.  One year to the day after she’d appeared in Nottingham Forest, Regina and Robin were wed, the ceremony performed by none other than Friar Tuck himself, the man in whose honor they held their party this evening.

“My dear Merry Men,” Friar Tuck began.  

“Hey!” came the yell from someone in the crowd.

“And women,” Tuck amended with a good natured grin, “Today is my one-hundred and eleventh birthday!”

A tremendous cheer erupted from the crowd.  As hobbits, the Merry Men lived far shorter lives than the elves.  Still, one hundred eleven was quite the ripe old age for one within their company.

“Alas!” Tuck continued, “Eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits.”

Another cheer, even more enthusiastic than the first.

“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like,” Tuck went on, a twinkle in his eye, “and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”

There was quiet among the assembly as they attempted to work out just what he’d said, but to his side, Regina snorted a laugh, clearly appreciating the complicated insult.

Robin put an arm around his wife, keeping an eye on his son as he played with a group of children a few feet away, as Tuck continued, seeming to only be at the beginning of this year’s birthday speech.

It had been a tremendous celebration so far.  There had been feasting, music, dancing, even a few fireworks.  The Merry Men were always ready for a good celebration, and none was as elaborate or enjoyable as those thrown in honor of their friar’s birthday.

Robin was settling in, preparing for a long speech, when suddenly he was approached by Mulan, whose turn it was tonight to stand guard.  She wore a troubled expression, and Robin was immediately on his guard.

“Is something amiss, Mulan?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” she said, “a company of elven knights approaches.” She paused for a moment, glancing at Regina. “They bear the crest of Misthaven.”

Regina gasped, and Robin felt his heart pound.  Aside from Regina, no resident of Misthaven had ever approached their camp.  What could they possibly want?

“They’re after me,” Regina said, a grim set to her mouth.  “Will I never be free of the label of villain?  I knew it was too good to be true that they’d leave me in peace.”

Robin grabbed his bow and got to his feet. “A villain you may have been but you are a villain no more.  You are my wife, and I will fight for you to my dying breath.”

“I’m more than capable of defending myself against a few elven knights,” Regina retorted, “but even so, I appreciate your help.”

“What are your orders, sir?” Mulan asked.

Robin thought for a moment.  It was a situation that must be dealt with, but he didn’t wish to disturb the party or escalate any more than was necessary.

“Stay here,” Robin said finally.  “You and Merida continue to guard the camp, but don’t alert our soldiers to the potential threat unless I give you the signal.”

Mulan nodded.  “As you wish.”

“And what do you propose we do?” Regina asked as Mulan stepped away.

“See what they want, to begin,” Robin said, asking Little John to keep an eye on Roland and then walking in the direction Mulan had indicated.  Grim expression firmly in place, Regina followed him, ready, Robin knew, to let the fireballs fly should the situation warrant it.

Robin and Regina made their way quickly but quietly to the borders of Nottingham Forest where Mulan had directed them.  As reported, a small company--maybe fifteen knights--were awaiting him.  Robin’s first instinct upon seeing them was to relax.  Something about the way the knights held themselves, the fact that none of them were currently holding weapons, the pleasant, almost friendly expressions on their faces made Robin believe whatever brought the knights to their border did not bode them any immediate harm.

Robin turned toward the man in front, the one who appeared to be the leader.  “You’ve reached the borders of my land, Sherwood Forest,” he said.  “We are a peaceful people who like to keep to ourselves, but if you’ve come in peace, you’re welcome.”

The leader stepped forward and nodded to him.  “We do indeed come in peace.  I am Captain Liam Jones of Misthaven. This is my brother Lieutenant Killian Jones along with a company of our men.  If I’m not mistaken, I’m addressing Robin Hood?”

“You are,” Robin said slowly, a bit taken aback at the fact this soldier seemed to already know him.

“And your wife needs no introduction,” Captain Jones said, bowing toward Regina. “Regina, it has been a long time.”

At his side, Regina bristled, and Robin could feel the restless energy in her.  “I’ve stuck to the terms of my banishment,” she said through clenched teeth.  “Queen Snow has no right to send her goons to attack me!”

The younger Jones brother seemed to bristle at the insult, stepping forward and reaching for his sword, but the captain stopped him with a hand to his arm.  “Killian, let me handle this,” he said softly to his brother.

Killian Jones looked on the point of arguing, but finally stepped back in deference to his brother’s--and commander’s--order.

“I assure you, my lady,” Captain Jones said with a placating motion of the hand, “we have no intention of doing any such thing.  Queen Snow is well aware of your adherence to her father’s orders.  She knows how far you’ve come in turning your life around, and she wishes you well.”

Robin felt Regina relax at his side.

“I’m most glad to hear it,” Robin said, “but if you’ve not come for my wife, what brings you to Sherwood Forest?”

“A matter of utmost urgency, a matter that affects not only Misthaven, but the whole of the Enchanted Forest.”

Captain Jones gestured to his brother, and the lieutenant pulled a wavy, ornately carved broken sword from his scabbard.

“Excalibur!” Regina breathed.

“Indeed,” Captain Jones nodded.

“Why is it here? Why is it broken? What is going on back in Misthaven?” Regina demanded, stepping forward to look more closely at the blade, “And why does it bear the Dark One’s name?”

“All will be revealed,” the captain said, “but suffice it to say we are all in grave danger should this sword fall into the wrong hands.”

Robin was silent for a moment before stepping forward.  “Perhaps we’d best adjourn to my tent.  It appears we have a lot to discuss.”

An hour later Captain Liam and Lieutenant Killian emerged from Robin and Regina’s tent, approached their waiting men, and gave orders to begin making camp.  Back in the tent, Regina gave Robin  a troubled look.  “Are you sure we’re doing the right thing allowing them to stay here with the sword?” she asked.

“Truth be told,” Robin answered, “I don’t know for sure, but I believe so.  They made a hell of a case.  Their presence, and especially that of the sword, might increase our danger, but as they said, if Rumplestiltskin gets the dagger, our entire world is doomed.”

Regina frowned, a look that used to strike terror in the elves of Misthaven.  “If Rumplestiltskin even tries, I’ll make him wish he’d never been born.”

Robin laughed, leaning down to kiss his wife.  “I believe you would, my love.  I believe you would.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Land Without Magic, present day

Killian landed with a thud onto the forest floor.  He got to his feet, rubbing the elbow that had landed on a tree root.  Surely there was a better way to travel between realms.

Killian looked around, wondering where exactly he’d landed this time.  Portals between realms were fickle things.  One was capable of directing them to a particular realm, even a general area within a realm.  One was not, however, capable of directing a portal to an exact location.

Seeing nothing but forest all around him, Killian simply began walking.  He hoped the portal hadn’t taken him too far from his apartment, but there was no way to know for sure.

At any rate, the walk would do him good.  He knew what he wanted--Emma.  He wanted a life with her, years, decades living at her side, loving her.  He wanted that wee son he’d seen in his vision, perhaps other sons and daughters.  And aye, he wanted to persuade her to believe, to return with him to their native land and defeat the Dark One once and for all, but in the future he would be more judicious in the way he dealt with the subject.  In retrospect, it was probably unwise the way he threw it all at her at once.  It was more than anyone could have accepted.

Aye, he knew what he wanted, but how to get it was far more of an issue.  There was no doubt they’d ended things on bad terms.  She’d thought he was lying to her outrageously to drive her away.  She’d thought he was merely playing with her.

The anger in her eyes as she left had wounded him, but far, far worse was the pain behind the anger.  It tore at his heart to think of all of the bloody fools who had mistreated her, taken her for granted, disappointed her.  That she thought he was among their number was perhaps understandable, but it was also agonizing.  She deserved to be loved, cherished, adored, not because she was the Princess of Misthaven, but because of the kind, loving, passionate, determined woman she was.

But in order to treat her that way--and show her just how much she deserved such treatment--he had to find her first, and once he’d accomplished that, he had to convince her to give him another chance, to trust him.

Killian feared it would be quite the formidable task.

Finally finding a break in the forest, Killian stepped out into the clearing and smiled.  He recognized the stretch of road he’d found.  It was, in fact, the very same stretch of road he’d found upon his first entrance into this land.  Not five feet away was the spot Mr. Smee had almost hit him with his automobile.  He had no more than two or three miles to travel before he reached his apartment.  Likely he’d reach his destination before the sun had fully set.

Killian trekked on at a leisurely pace, giving himself time to think about the first problem at hand--how to find Emma.  He’d need the help of someone who knew this land better than he did.  Perhaps he’d contact Mr. Smee tonight.  He’d been quite helpful in the past.  Maybe he’d contact the bail bonds company for which Swan worked.  

As his mind churned out ideas, ways to tackle his most pressing problems, the walk went by quickly, and before he knew it, he’d reached his apartment complex.  

The first thing Killian noticed upon opening his door was the fact that his lights were on.  The second was a mug half filled with cocoa on the counter.

He was not alone.

“Hello?” he called out, hands balling into fists, prepared for the fight that would ensue should the intruder have malintent. “Who’s here, and what are you doing in my bloody apartment?”

There was a flurry of activity from the lofted bedroom above, and then suddenly she was there at the top of the stairs.  She looked like an angel with her soft curls falling down her back onto her white sweater. 

“Swan!” he breathed, heart leaping and tears coming to his eyes.

She stood still at the top of the stairs for a moment, but then suddenly she smiled, rushing into his open arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Three days.

It had been three days since Emma’s fight with Killian, and in that time he’d yet to return home.

At first Emma thought Killian simply needed space, a chance to be alone and process all that had happened between them, but as the hours and then the days ticked by, she rapidly became more and more concerned.

Not only had Killian never returned to their apartment, he’d never even returned to work.  She’d checked with the harbormaster on the second day of Killian’s absence, and even the grizzled old man had seemed concerned when she told him she hadn’t seen him in days.

No matter what had happened between Emma and him, Killian would never just fail to show up at work.  He was far too conscientious for that.  

What if something had happened to him?  What if he’d been so upset about their fight he'd been reckless, and his inattention had resulted in injury...or worse? What if he was lying dead in some ditch somewhere and no one had found him?  

With every terrible scenario Emma imagined, her fear and nearly crippling anxiety increased.  Oh God, what if he died and the last thing he remembered of her was that fight?  What if he died thinking she hated him and never wanted to see him again?

Emma sat down on her bed in the loft, forcing herself to take slow, deep breaths.  No matter what had happened or where he was, she wouldn’t be of any use to him if she gave in to panic.

But it was so hard to keep that panic at bay!  She’d hardly just sat idly at home waiting for his return.  She’d already done everything she could think of to find him.  She’d called Smee, asked him to keep an eye out.  She’d used some of her coworkers and connections at work. In a desperate moment, she’d even called the nearby hospitals to see if a John Doe matching Killian’s description had been brought in.

Nothing.

It was as though he’d disappeared off the face of the planet.  What the hell could have happened to him?

She pulled on her favorite white sweater in preparation to hit the pavement once again tonight.  It was a chilly evening, and she knew she would need all the warmth she could get.

Emma had just finished tying the laces on her boots when she heard a key in the lock.

“God please let it be him,” she murmured, “please, please let it be him.”

“Hello?  Who’s here, and what are you doing in my bloody apartment?”

Emma jumped to her feet and rushed to the top of the stairs as tears of relief rushed to her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.  It was him!  He was finally back!  She paused for a moment to take him in as he looked up at her in awe, a hushed “Swan!” issuing from his lips, and then she was running down the stairs, propelling herself into his arms.  

She could no more keep her tears at bay than she could stop the soft pitter-patter of the rain that had only just begun to hit the window.  He was back!  He was alive!  By all appearances he was well!

Emma clung to him so tightly he was probably finding it hard to breath, but far from complaining, he seemed to hold her just as tightly.  Her tears soaked his jacket, and his fell on her head.  She had a thousand questions about where he’d been, what he’d done, whether he’d forgive her for their last fight, but for long moments, none of it mattered.  All that mattered was that he was back and in her arms.

She loved him.  Gods how she loved him!  It didn’t matter what insane crap they had to work through, she knew one thing for sure: she would never leave him again.  Never.

Finally, after long moments, they pulled away far enough to look at each other.

“Emma, you’re here,” he said softly, reverently, bringing up one hand to hook a strand of hair behind her ear and cup her face.  “I thought you’d be gone.  I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again.”

“I’m sorry Killian!” she said, feeling another rush of tears.  “I...I freaked out and ran.  It’s what I do, but it took me only a few hours to I realize I missed you.  I’m sorry!”

He smiled tenderly at her as he continued caressing her face.  “You’ve nothing to apologize for Swan.  I know how my revelation must have sounded to you.  Your concern was justified.”

Emma frowned at his mention of his “revelation”.  What he’d told her...it was freaking crazy.  No way it could be true.

Killian seemed to notice her change in demeanor.  “You still don’t believe me?”

Her troubled eyes sought his.  “How can I Killian?  Elves, magic, other realms?  It’s nonsense, fairy tales.  How could I possibly believe that?”

Killian sighed, dropping his eyes for a moment, before looking back at her.  “Surely you can see I’m not lying to you, Emma.”

Her inner lie detector remained resolutely silent, but still… “Just because you believe something, doesn’t mean it’s true.”

“Just because you don’t understand something, doesn’t mean it’s false,” he countered.

She was silent for a moment, her unease increasing with the return to the topic that had led to their fight in the first place.  Finally she cupped his face in her hands, bringing his forehead down to rest against hers. “Can we just drop it for now?” she asked.  “It’s just...it’s just too much for me.  I can’t believe like you want me to, but I don’t want to fight again.”

It took him a long time to answer.  She could feel the tension in him, and for a moment, she feared he’d insist on continuing with this insane conversation, but finally he relaxed, smiling gently at her.  “As you wish, love.”

Love

She knew it was an everyday figure of speech for him, but she could sense when he said it to her, it was something more.  He meant it.

And suddenly Emma wanted to say it to him again, wanted to never stop saying it, wanted to never stop this thing that was between them.

“I love you,” she said.

His smile grew.  “Aye, just as I love you, my Swan.”

“No,” She said, struggling to put her thoughts into words.  “I mean I really, really love you.  This feeling...it’s so big, so all encompassing.  I’ve never imagined something like this before.”

She saw something leap in his eyes.  Hope? Joy? Understanding? 

“I think perhaps the phrase you’re looking for is True Love,” he said.  In the way he said it, she knew it was a big, monumental thing to him.

“Yeah, true love,” she answered.  “I truly love you.”

“Swan, you’ve no idea how beautiful those words sound,” he said, pulling her into his arms once again.  “I truly love you too.”

Suddenly Emma knew what she had to do.  It was insane, it was too soon, it was...well, it was one of the last things she’d ever expect herself to do, but it was right.

Emma stepped back, taking both of his hands in hers.  “Killian, I know this is crazy.  I mean we’ve only known each other a few months, and we just had a fight that nearly ended our relationship, but I know I want to be with you. Forever.  Look, if this is too sudden or too soon or whatever, I get it, and you don’t have to feel like you have to answer the way I want.  I mean, obviously.  It’s your choice as much as it’s mine, and I don’t want to, you know, make presumptions--”

“Yes,” he said firmly, a look of such love and hope on his face, it made the tears rush to her eyes for what felt like the millionth time that day.

Emma laughed.  “I haven’t even asked you a question yet.”

“I don’t care,” he said, squeezing her hands, “whatever the question is; my answer’s yes.”

She gave him a mock frown.  “Nuh-uh, buddy.   That’s not the way this works.  You’ve gotta let me ask the question before you give me an answer.”

He laughed.  “Very well, Swan, get on with the asking, then.”

Emma took a deep breath, waiting for the fear to come.  This was a big step she was taking, after all, a really big step.  But the fear never came, only a sense that this was the best, most right thing she’d ever done.

“Killian, will you marry me?”

A tear fell from his eye as his smile turned infinitely tender.

“Aye, my love,” he said.  “Of course I’ll marry you.”

Her joy and relief swelled, and the smile on her face was so wide it hurt the corners of her mouth.  “Good.”

He waited a second, and then his grin became mischievous.  “Now, may I kiss my fiancee already?”

“What do you think?” she asked.

Killian surged forward, taking her lips in what Emma could only call an epic kiss. It was magical, beautiful, electric.

And the strangest thing happened as soon as their lips connected.  Emma felt this massive surge of energy, like a shockwave or something, starting at their joined lips and rapidly expanding in every direction.  It was like nothing she’d ever experienced.

“What was that?” Emma asked as they finally pulled away.

He looked wrecked, awed, so happy he was near to exploding with it.  “That, my darling Swan, was True Love.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Misthaven, present day

Storybrooke was still, silent, the same as it ever was, day in and day out.  The residents, cursed as they were, found nothing odd or unusual about this.  They simply went about their day as always.

Suddenly a shockwave, tinged with all the colors of the rainbow spread throughout the town, and everyone it hit suddenly gasped, eyes truly opened for the first time in two decades.

In Granny’s diner, Snow White, who for decades had believed herself to be Mary Margaret Blanchard, leapt to her feet  and rushed out the door, knowing only one thing:  She had to find David.

There he was, running toward her just as quickly.  They met in the middle of the main street of town, clasped in each other's arms, and the kiss that followed was nothing short of cataclysmic.  When they finally pulled apart, David had tears in his eyes.

“She did it, Snow,” he breathed.  “She broke the curse.”

 Notes:

--Sorry again for the long delay between chapters, but at least I gave you some significant good moments to make up for it, right?

--I know better than to make promises, but I’m hoping to get into a better writing routine starting this week!  My story for CSSNS 2020 drops this week, so now I have two WIPs to try my best not to get hopelessly behind on.  If all goes well, I’ll write for an hour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on this story, and every Tuesday and Thursday on the new one. (The new story is titled “More Than All the Jewels in the Realm”, and is kind of a time travel, soul mates story if you want to check it out.)

--So the Merry Men in my story are obviously my version of hobbits.  As Liam mentioned, they aren’t small like hobbits though.  You should imagine them as they appear in canon.  Friar Tuck borrows Bilbo’s speech from the very beginning of the LOTR books/movies (how could I pass up the “I know half as many of you….” line? It’s classic! Lol.), but that’s as far as the correlation goes with this story.  Friar Tuck is essentially like any random hobbit of the Shire in LOTR.

--This story is obviously inspired by OUAT, but it’s lore is not completely the same.  Emma was able to break the curse before her 28th birthday (she’s 20 or 21 in this story).  It’s the defeat of Rumple that’s prophesied for her 28th birthday.

--Up next: the conclusion of the flashbacks (although the story as a whole still has a good 8 or 9 chapters left).  Rumple casts the curse--after having to pay a huge price--and David sends newborn Emma through the portal.  In Misthaven at the present time, the elves, now awake from the curse, have to figure out their next move.  Back in the Land Without Magic, Emma and Killian get to live a little domestic bliss.  They’ve earned it, wouldn’t you say?

                                                                                   NEXT CHAPTER -->

[xprojectrpg]

This Day in X-Project - September 8

2015: Nica posts her first day reactions to school. Lorna emails Adrienne about taking time off to go to California with Alex. Tabitha posts asking how she gets a new passport to travel to another country. Alison texts Clarice asking her to teleport Tabitha to Alison’s room. Wade texts Adrienne about setting up a Hallowe’en costume party. Bas texts Clea and Maya about ideas for Clea’s birthday the next day. Amadeus posts about not being able to test out of math and science. Alison posts to xp_generation_x reminding the students to use her alias in school since Tabitha forgot.

2016: Maya makes a journal entry asking whether she should join the drama club. Reed comes to get a physical, and Cecilia tries to be patient. Sooraya emails Rogue to see if she’ll accompany her to a spiritual group she may join.

2017: Green-Eyed Monster: Alex lets X-Factor and the science types know that the source of the pendants has been tracked down, but there is still a lot more of the poison emerald somewhere out there.

2018: Rogue goes out and loses her phone and wallet, and Julian comes to the rescue.

2019:

2020: Alison is offended by Maroon 5's new single.

2021: Laurie emails “The List” to let them know that Namor is shirtless down by the lake.

2022: Operation: Apalachin: The Maggia War is over, and some surprising winners have emerged. Felicia sneaks into Wanda's room, following her return. Maya and Darcy catch up by the pool and talk about guys.

2023: Alani updates the eXcalibur team that the wormhole has made a connection. Jean and Garrison get hot dogs in Central Park.

[foodandbeverages]

Food Dehydrators Market Size 2021 Global Industry Share, Top Players, Opportunities And Forecast To 2031

The food dehydrator market was experiencing significant growth due to increasing consumer interest in healthier food preservation methods and the rising popularity of homemade snacks. A food dehydrator is an appliance designed to remove moisture from food items, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, and meats, through a drying process, which helps extend their shelf life while retaining most of their nutrients and flavors.

According to a newly released report on the global food dehydrators market by FMI estimates that in 2031, the global market for food dehydrators is expected to reach US$ 3,761 Mn. In 2021, the market was estimated at US$ 2,028 Mn. If these projections are correct, the market would grow at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2021 to 2031.

Asia Pacific and North America are expected to emerge as lucrative markets for food dehydrators besides Europe. In terms of end use, the food dehydrators market can be classified into industrial, commercial, residential, and others. Of these, industrial will lead the global market on account of the rising demand from the food and beverages sector.

According to the report, the rising demand for food with longer shelf-life will stoke growth in the market. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the market, covering key growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, and prevailing trends. It uses unique research methods to offer the most accurate analysis of the market.

Information Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/food-dehydrators-market

It includes in-depth insights into the food dehydrator market. Some of these are:

The estimated value of the market was at US$ 1600 Mn in 2019. Through the course of the report’s forecast period, the market is exhibited to show a steady pace of growth.

Regionally, Europe emerged as a key market for food dehydrator.

Asia Pacific and North America will remain steady as key markets for food dehydrators.

Industrial segment expected to show growth at the highest rate of growth among end users over the forecast period.

Key players are likely to focus on expanding their product portfolio to stay relevant in the market.

Demand for Food with Improved Shelf-life Will Boost Growth

The rising demand for food with longer shelf-life is one of the chief growth drivers of the market. Dehydrating food is one of the best technologies to enhance food shelf-life and preserve it for a longer period. The method has gained popularity because it helps in reducing food wastage. As a result of this, food dehydration also is a preferred technology for preserving unconsumed food among government and non-government organizations.

Who is Winning?

Some of the leading players operating in the food dehydrators market are Excalibur Dehydrator, Koolatron Corporation, NESCO, National Presto Industries, Inc., Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., Lem Products Holding LLC, Tribest Corporation, The Sausage Maker, Inc., NutriChef Kitchen, LLC, Buffalo Appliances, STX International, Avantco Equipment, Vitality4Life Pty Limited, Aroma Housewares Company, and  Gourmia.

As a result of increasing competition, food dehydrator manufacturers are focusing on expanding their product portfolio and improving existing technologies. Furthermore, they are using innovation to use different sources of energy to make food dehydration process more eco-friendly and reduce cost of production.

Market Segmentation

The global Food Dehydrators market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present complete market intelligence to readers.

Technology

Vertical Airflow

Horizontal Airflow

End Use

Industrial

Commercial

Residential

Other End-Uses

Energy Source

Electricity

Biofuel

Solar

Others

Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Oceania

MEA

[libris46]

Essays & Books on Arthurian Legend in Television and Movies - updated

‘A Queen out of Place: Dark Fantastic Dreaming and the Spacetime Politics of Gwen in BBC’s Merlin’ in. The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games. By Ebony Elizabeth Thomas. EBSCO Publishing : Ebook collection accessed 21/7/2019 

Araeph. ‘The Triumph of Uther Pendragon: a Thesis’. [Essay] http://archiveofourown.org/works/1126297/chapters/2270852

Bradford, Claire and Hutton, Rebecca ‘Female Protagonists in Arthurian Television for the Young.’ In Middle Ages in Popular Culture: Medievalism and Culture ed, by Helen Young.

Brennan, Joseph “You could Shame the Great Arthur Himself”: A Queer Reading of Lancelot from BBC’s Merlin with Respect to the Character in Malory, White and Bradley’.  Arthuriana. Vol 25 no. 2 July 2015, p 20

Brennan, Joseph ‘“You gave me no choice”: A queer reading of Mordred’s journey to villainy and struggle for identity in BBC’s Merlin’. Refactory: a journal of entertainment and media . Oct 7, 2015 http://refractory.unimelb.edu.au/2015/10/07/brennan/

Briand, Cedric “Kaamelot’s Paradox: Lancelot between Subjugation and Individuation. Arthuriana. 25 (1) , 2015, p 22

Brown, Molly ‘King Arthur and the Knights of the Postmodern Fable : Folding the Dead. In Middle Ages in Popular Culture: Medievalism and Culture. Ed by Helen Young

Bruckheimer Make Boom with the ‘Real” King Arthur (2004) Michael Livingstonhttps://www.tor.com/2018/06/28/bruckheimer-make-boom-with-the-real-king-arthur-2004/

Chandler, Erin. ‘Pendragons at the Chopping Block: Elements of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in the BBC’s Merlin’. Arthuriana 25(1) 2015 p 101 

Edwards, Jennifer C. ‘Casting, Plotting and Enchanting: Arthurian Women in Starz’s Camelot and BBC’s Merlin’. Arthuriana. 25 (1) 2015 p 57

Elliott, A. B. R.. (2011). ‘The Charm of the (Re)making: Problems of Arthurian Television Serialization. Arthuriana’, 21(4), 53–67. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23238232

Elmes, Melissa Ridly. ‘Episodic Arthur Merlin, Camelot and the Visual Modernization of the Medieval Literary Romance Tradition’ In  ‘The Middle Ages on Television’. Ed by. Meriem Pages and Karolyn Kinane. McFarland & Co, Nth Carolina,USA,  2015

Feinstein, Sandy. ‘Are you kidding? King Arthur and the Knights of Justice In  ‘The Middle Ages on Television’. Ed by. Meriem Pages and Karolyn Kinane. McFarland & Co, Nth Carolina,USA,  2015

Foster, Tara. ‘Arthur and Guenievre: The Royal Couple in Kamelott’ ‘The Middle Ages on Television’. Ed by. Meriem Pages and Karolyn Kinane. McFarland & Co, Nth Carolina,USA, 2015

Foster, Tara & Sherman, John ‘King Arthur in the Twenty-First Century: Kaamelot, BBC’s Merlin and Starz’s Camelo’t. Arthuriana  25 ( 1) 2015 p 3

Foster, Tara ‘Kaamelot’s Global Fifth Century’ Arthuriana 25 (1) 2015, p 5

Foster, Tara ‘Ne cherchez pas la femme : The Women of Kaamelott. In  ‘The Middle Ages on Television’. Ed by. Meriem Pages and Karolyn Kinane. McFarland & Co, Nth Carolina,USA, 2015

Foster, Tara ‘Kaamelott: A new French Arthurian Tradition” in Arthurian Literature XXXI ed by Elizabeth Archibald and David F. Johnson, Boydell & Brewer, UK,  Nov 2014

George, Michal W. ‘Television’s Male Gaze:  The Male Perspective in TNT’s Mists of Avalon’ In  ‘The Middle Ages on Television’. Ed by. Meriem Pages and Karolyn Kinane. McFarland & Co, Nth Carolina,USA, 2015

Gebhardt, Torben R. ‘Homosexuality in Television Medievalism’ In  ‘The Middle Ages on Television’. Ed by. Meriem Pages and Karolyn Kinane. McFarland & Co, Nth Carolina,USA, 2015

Howley, Ann F. ‘Arthur and Adaptation’ Arthuriana Vol 25 no. 4 (2015)

Manea, Dragos ‘The Shadow Upon the Screen: Merlin (2008-2012) and the Matter of Britain . University of Bucharest Review.  Vol 3 no 2 (New series) 2013 https://www.academia.edu/5226875/The_Shadow_upon_the_Screen_Merlin_2008-2012_and_the_Matter_of_Britain

MacCurdy, Marian “Bitch or Goddess: Polarized Images of Women in Arthurian Literature and Films” Platte Valley Review, 18 (1990) 3-24

Mediavilla, Cindy “From ‘Unthinking Steroetype’  to Fearless Antagonist: The Evolution of Morgan le Fay on Television’. Arthuriana 25 (1) 2015 p 44

Meredith, Elysse T. ‘Gendering Morals, Magic and Medievalism in the BBC’s Merlin In  ‘The Middle Ages on Television’. Ed by. Meriem Pages and Karolyn Kinane. McFarland & Co, Nth Carolina,USA, 2015

Nygard, Ingrid. ‘The Arthurian Legend on the Small Screen’ Starz Camelot and BBC’s Merlin.[Thesis] University of Oslo, November 2013

http://www.medievalists.net/2014/05/01/arthurian-legend-small-screen-starz-camelot-bbcs-merlin/

Purdon, Liam O and Blanc, Robert. ‘Hollywood’s Myopic Medievalism: Excalibur and Malory’s Morte d’Arthur. In Popular Arthurian Traditions, ed Sally Slocum, Bowling Green State University Press, 1992

Saul, MaryLynn ‘Powerful Witches or Weak Damsels: Female Characters in Arthurian Films’ Popular Culture Review Vol 21, no 1 Winter 2010 p 75-85

Sempler, Philippa ‘Camelot must come before all else”: Fantasy and Family in the BBC Merlin” in Medieval Afterlives in Contemporary Culture. Ed Gail Ashton. Bloomsbury, London, 2015

Sherman, Jon. ‘Source, Authority, and Audience in the BBC’s Merlin. Arthuriana  25 (1) 2015, p 82

Stock, Lorraine K. ‘Re-inventing an Iconic moment: Sword in the Stone in Films and Television. Arthuriana Vol 25 no. 4 (2015)

Swank, Kris . ‘Black and Liminal in Camelot’. Pima Community College, 2012

https://www.academia.edu/2494445/_Black_in_Camelot_Race_and_Ethnicity_in_Arthurian_Legend

Tollerton, David C.  ‘Multiculturism, Diversity, and Religious Tolerance in Modern Britain and the BBC’s Merlin. Arthuriana. 25 ( 1) p 113

Wymer, Kathyrn. ‘A Quest for the Black Knight: Casting People of Color in Arthurian Film and Television  http://www.medievalists.net/2019/01/a-quest-for-the-black-knight-casting-people-of-color-in-arthurian-film-and-television/

 Books:

Aronstein, Susan ‘Hollywood Knights: Arthurian Cinema and the politics of nostalgia, Palgrave MacMillan, 2005 (Arthurian and Courtly Cultures)

Bubar Rich, Janet ‘Exploring Guinevere’s Search for Authenticity in the Arthurian Romances: The Thousand-Year Quest of a Mythic Woman to Find Her Historical Embodiment in Film and Literature’ Edwin Mellen, 2012

Harty, Kevin J ‘Cinema Arthuriana: Twenty Essays, Rev Ed, MacFarland, 2002

Harty, Kevin J ‘King Arthur on Film’ McFarland, 1999

Lagorio, Valeria M & Leake Day, Mildred ‘King Arthur Through the Ages’ Garland, 1990

Lupack, Barbara Tepa ‘Adapting the Arthurian Legends for Children: Essays on Arthurian Juvenilia’ Palgrave MacMillan, 2016 (Arthurian and Courtly Cultures)

Olton, Bert ‘Arthurian Legends on Film and Television

Salda, Michael N ‘Arthurian Animation: A Study of Cartoon Camelots in Film and Television’

Ulmand, Rebecca A & Ulmand, Samual J ‘The Use of Arthurian Legend in Hollywood Film: From Conneticut Yankees to Fisher Kings’ (Bibliographies and Indexes in American History)  Greenwood Press 1996