#st. edward's throne

[royalty-nobility]

The Coronation of King Edward VII (1841-1910)

Artist: Laurits Regner Tuxen (Danish, 1853-1927)

Date: 1904

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Royal Collection Trust, London, United Kingdom

Description

King Edward VII is seated in Coronation robes on St Edward's throne; he wears the Imperial State Crown, and holds a sceptre in each hand; The Archbishop of Canterbury holds an extended scroll in his right hand.

[queer-book-character-tournament]

Characters, book, and author names under the cut

Damianos (“Damen”) of Akielos/Laurent of Vere - Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Rhy Maresh/Alucard Emery - Shades of Magic by V. E. Schwab

Addam Saint Nicholas/Rune Saint John - The Tarot Sequence by K. D. Edwards

Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard - All For The Game by Nora Sakavic

[thepastisalreadywritten]

What is the Order of the Garter and who are the members in the Windsor Castle procession?

By Emily Ferguson, Royal Editor

17 June 2024

xxx

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Thrones

The throne is probably one of the first images that pops into your head when you think of royalty. It is that enduring symbol that is just as much apart of the monarchy as the crowns and the ceremonies. But what do we need to know about thrones?

What are thrones?

A throne is a chair at the end of the day - or a bench, if you're economising. it is where the monarch sits. It is the monarch's chair. When speaking of the throne, it is only the monarch's seat you're talking about. Yes, a consort might sit next to the monarch on something that looks like a throne and it may be called a throne but it actual fact, it is a chair. This is confusing, isn't it? Think of it this way: a chair is a chair until it isn't. The throne is a ceremonial chair used in ceremonies. It can be used during audiences, during investitures, coronations of course and during ceremonies at court such as debuts.

Who gets a throne?

The throne is only occupied by the monarch. Like I said above, sometimes the consort sits next to the monarch but this is not really a throne. It does not have the same status as the throne next to it. There will be a throne for the consort at their coronation if they have one and one at the place. Princes and Princesses would not have their own throne but they might sit in one if they are sent out on a duty by the monarch. Think of the throne has the boss's desk. Nobody - nobody - should ever sit on the throne unless it is the monarch even jokingly.

How many thrones is too many thrones?

There are usually multiple thrones at the monarch's disposal. There is the throne they are crowned on, usually purely ceremonial and they never really sit on it again afterward like St Edward's Chair. Every palace would have a throne room, this is usually where the main events of the palace take place and there is usually a throne for the monarch to sit on while they preside over the event. There even maybe a throne at a governmental building where the monarch can sit during the proceedings. In fiction of course, you can play fast and loose with the rules around thrones but generally a monarch will have two or three thrones.

Designing a throne

These are not your run of the mill Ikea chairs bought off the shelf. These chairs are symbols and if your monarch is to make a statement, they need a fine ass seat to do it from. St Edward's Chair is battered and defaced but it's age and history speak for itself. The Takht-e Padeshah of Persia is the same story. The Silver Throne of Sweden is flashy. The Peacock throne is the height of luxury. The Takamikura and Chrysanthemum Throne are ancient and stand for tradition. Thrones are usually decked out with carved wood or moulded metal, there might be jewels or fine inlay or upholstered in the finest fabrics, embroidered with monograms or the royal crests or perhaps it is made of some fantastical element that is super rare and makes it even more special.

Throne Room

Like I said above, within the palace there is a room where the throne resides. This is where the most ceremonial events are held, where the monarch will meet dignitaries, visiting royals, hold royal audiences and oversee the debuts. The throne will sit on dais, which is a raised platform. It gives the monarch a little more lift so they can look down on what's going on. There may even be a canopy, an awning that hangs over the throne. In the throne room, the consort may also have a throne.

[destielaureversebb]

“The Spectre on the Fourth Floor" 

Author: EllenofOz @ellen-of-oz Artist: @thestarsmakemedream-art

Rating: Explicit Archive warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Length: 29,821 words Tags: Alternate Universe - Historical, Alternate Universe - Edwardian, Ghosts Relationships: Dean/Castiel

Summary: It is a new century, King Edward is newly sat upon the throne, and Mrs Kate Winchester and her sons are invited to join the Shurley family to stay at their seaside home at St-Leonards-on-Sea.

Dean Winchester is reacquainted with Castiel, the youngest son of Lord Shurley, but as the two of them become closer, they are disturbed by strange noises and unexplained movements on the fourth floor of the house on Warrior Square.

Link to Fic | Link to Art

[dailytudors]

FRANCES GREY, DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK, MOTHER OF A QUEEN

Born Frances Brandon, named after St. Francis of Assisi but also in honour of the King of France, Francis I, who was once the stepson-in-law of her mother and who had granted the marriage of her parents. Daughter of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor, Princess of England and Dowager Queen of France, she was the eldest daughter of her parents' union and after the death of her brother their eldest child. Sister to Eleanor Clifford, later Countess of Cumberland. She had two full brothers one elder and one younger, who did not reach adulthood. By her father, she had four half-siblings, like her full brothers her younger brothers did not reach adulthood. Granddaughter of Henry VII, King of England and Elizabeth of York, Queen of England. Making her the niece of Henry VIII, King of England and per the Act of Succession 1536 the first person in line for the English throne outside of her uncle's marriages, as her mother's heirs took precedence over her Scottish cousins who were through her aunt - the elder of Henry VII's daughters - Margaret, Queen of Scotland's line. Her first marriage was to Henry Grey, initially Marquess of Dorset who later acceded the Dukedom of Suffolk after her father's death. Henry Grey was related through their common ancestress Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England, Henry through Elizabeth's first marriage and Frances through her second. Her second husband was Adrian Stokes, the Master of the Horse to her cousin Mary I. Mother to Jane Grey, Queen of England for nine days (technically thirteen if you take the date of the death of Edward VI) who was made heir by Edward VI brushing over Frances's own claim. Also, the mother to Katherine Grey and Mary Grey, who at times during Elizabeth I's reign were considered viable heirs by the court. She had a loving relationship with her stepmother Catherine Willoughby and socialized in the same circles, including the protestant circles of her uncle's latter reign and her cousin Edward's reign. Beloved friend to her Aunt by marriage Catherine Parr, Queen of England who was also a good friend of her stepmother. Friend to her cousin Mary I, even after Mary had put her Husband, Daughter and son-in-law to death. Mary, Frances and their cousin - through their aunt Margaret, Queen of Scotland - Margaret Douglas were all close in age and brought up in the court of Henry VIII. Mary ended up on the throne, with Frances being the mother of a Queen and Margaret being the mother of a King Consort of Scotland and later the grandmother of James I, King of England.

[Anna Chancellor as Lady France Grey, in Amazon Prime's My Lady Jane]

[ginandoldlace]

On May 6, 2023 King Charles III was anointed and crowned on the coronation chair. Commissioned in 1297 by King Edward I, it was created to receive the Stone of Destiny that the monarch brought back from Scotland. Essentially made of oak, and Gothic-style, the throne is one of the most precious and oldest pieces of furniture to retain its original function. The coronation chair is on display in St George's Chapel, in the west end of Westminster Abbey.

[drachenwiki]

A lot of the time when you read about African dragons online, people talk about cryptids like the Kongamato, Mokele-Mbembe or the Das-Adder. Most of these creatures, while originating in local folklore or mythology, have been warped beyond recognition by European accounts and in many cases are also not particularily dragon-like aside from being reptilian and sometimes being associated with water.

So for this African History Month, I decided to do a series of posts about African mythical creatures that actually are very similar to dragon myths and probably have a common origin or are at least connected through mutual influences.

The first such dragon is Arwë (also known as Wainaba). This giant serpent is said to have been worshipped in Ethiopia before king Ezana of Axum embraced Christianity in the 4th century.

According to legend, a stranger came to Arwë's land and met a woman who cried because her daughter was about to be sacrificed to the dragon. The stranger asked her for a white lamb and the juice of the poisonous Euphorbia tree. Then he offers the lamb and juice to Arwë, who is poisoned and dies. The people of Ethiopia make the man their king, and after his reign he is followed on the throne by his daughter, the Queen of Sheba. With king Solomon she becomes the mother of Menelik I., the first historical king of Ethiopia.

There are many alternative versions of the tale. In one of them, the stranger is a wizard who fires flame from his palms to kill the serpent, while in another version one of the seven saints of Ethiopia, Abba Mentelit, kills the dragon with his cross.

In the versions of the story that include human sacrifices, one can clearly see parallels to the legend of St. George, who was and still is a very popular saint in Ethiopia.

Sources:

Edward Ullendorff (1956), The Contribution of South Semitics to Hebrew Lexicography, Vetus Testamentum, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1515723

Ernst Hammerschmidt (1965), Jewish Elements in the Cult of the Ethiopian Church, Journal of Ethiopian Studies, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1515723

Dorothea McEwan (2007), Sebetat: the Many Lives and Deaths of a Monster, Journal of Ethiopian Studies, https://www.jstor.org/stable/41988222

How Makeda Visited Jerusalem, and How Menelik Became King in Anthonia C. Kalu (2007), The Rienner Anthology of African Literature, Lynne Rienner Publishers, ISBN 9781588264916

Andrea Manzo (2014), Snakes and Sacrifices: Tentative Insights into the Pre-Christian Ethiopian Religion, Aethiopica, Vol. 17, https://doi.org/10.15460/aethiopica.17.1.737, ISSN 2194-4024

Wainaba, the Serpent Ruler, Oxford Reference

Enno Littmann (1904), The Legend of the Queen of Sheba in the Tradition of Axum, BiblioLife (2009), ISBN 978-1103925988

[portraitsofsaints]

Happy Feast Day

Saint Edward the Confessor

1003-1066

Feast Day: October 13

Patronage: difficult marriages, separated spouses, English royal family. Kings.

Saint Edward the Confessor was England’s first Anglo-Saxon and only King to be canonized. This beloved King regained his throne at 40 in which during his reign there was almost an unbroken peace. He repulsed invasions, helped restore the King of Scotland’s throne, was generous to the poor, had a deep piety, purity, and love for God. His touch had the power to heal. St. Peter’s Church at Westminster Abby was built during his reign. He’s represented holding a ring he once offered to St. John disguised as a beggar. In 1163, St. Thomas Becket interred his incorrupt body to Westminster Abbey.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. (website)

[scotianostra]

On March 16th 1309 King Robert the Bruce convened his first parliament, at St Andrews.

After the Declaration of the Clergy in February the King was starting to establish himself as the recognised Monarch of Scotland, this was a significant point in his reign.

By 1306, when Robert I seized the throne, there might have been some expectation that the prominent role for the community of the realm in the government of the kingdom that had arisen since 1286 would continue. Yet no king voluntarily accepts limits upon his powers, and Robert I restored royal authority, removing the ability of the community to play a significant role in the formulation of parliamentary acts. The king used the rhetoric of community and parliamentary authority that had evolved since 1286 to give his actions a façade of broad support that they often did not have. Parliament became a tool for creating documents designed to validate and augment the king’s authority by the public display of support for his kingship.

I’ve said it before, most recently with the post in February on the Declaration of the Clergy, these were tools used to send a message to England that the Scots were functioning normally, propaganda tools. The same tools are still being used nowadays, only in a modern way, you just have to look Ukraine and President Zelenskyy, with his daily updates and speaking at other countries parliaments via video links, he is sending out a message to the Russians that Ukraine is still functioning, much in the same way Scotland let other countries know that we continued to repel the English Usurpers, Edward I’s death two years before must have been encouraging for Bruce, Longshanks son was certainly not a warrior like his father. The most famous piece of propaganda we sent out was The Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, although the first of note from Scotland was The Lübeck letter in 1297.

The Bruce was still trying to unite the Scots against their common enemy, the meeting of parliament, therefore, was a useful means of engineering declarations of support for the king, or of manipulating collective decision-making. At this time, the Scottish magnates sent a letter to King Philip IV of France in response to his request for assistance in a crusade. The Scots replied expressing their support for Bruce as king, reminding Philip of Scotland’s devastation by war, and promised help when peace was achieved.

The letter reads:

“Letters: by the magnates of Scotland to Philip IV, king of France.

To the most Christian and triumphant prince and reverend lord the lord Philip [IV] by the grace of God illustrious king of the French, William, earl of Ross, Malcolm, earl of Lennox, William, [earl of Suther]land, and the communities of the earldoms of Fife, Menteith, Mar, Buchan and Caithness, the heirs of which are in ward, likewise the communities of all the other earldoms of the kingdom of Scotland [except]† [D]unbar; Edward de Bruce, lord of Galloway, James the steward of Scotland, Alexander de Argyll, Donald de Islay, John de Menteith, Hugh, the son and heir of the earl [of Ross]†, Gilbert de Hay, constable of Scotland, Robert de Keith, marischal of Scotland, Thomas Randolph, lord of Nithsdale, James, lord of Douglas, Alexander de Lindsay, Alexander de [Fraser], [William] Wiseman, David de Barclay, Robert Boyd, barons; and also all of Argyll and the Hebrides and the inhabitants of all the kingdom of Scotland recognising the fealty of the lord Robert by the grace of God king of Scotland, all [… … ….] Your credence having been revealed to us in writing, and having been fully understood [by us], in the full parliament of our lord the king solemnly held not long ago at the city of St Andrews, impressed upon our minds the joyfulness of [your] devot[ion] [… … ….] For we conclude that your majesty’s mind is devoutly disposed to take on the business of the Holy Land, to prosecute which all followers of the Christian faith justly ought to strive and with humble devotion incline their hearts [… … …,] we saw that it was contained [in your letter] that your royal grace considers and calls to mind the treaties between the kingdoms of France and Scotland, made long ago and confirmed; also the losses, harms and injuries which the inhabitants of the kingdom [… … …] have suffered in many ways hitherto. The particular and special affection which, in that credence, you say you have towards the person of our lord Robert by the grace of God king [of Scots … …] [whom] justice and truth and the grace of the King of Kings has raised up as our prince and leader, cheers our hearts above all else. We therefore noting, with heartfelt feelings, the aforesaid, as we are bound in duty to do [… … …] [?commend] your right royal devotion towards the business of the Holy Land, and for the affection which you have towards our lord the king, and we return thanks as best we can to your majesty for restoring the liberties and rights of the kingdom of Scotland, praying to God that ‘by the bowels of mercy of Jesus Christ’ that you may bring to fulfilment the devout purpose which you have conceived in your mind, trough our Lord’s inspiration in relation to the aforesaid, with holy desire, and efficacious eagerness and a safe outcome. May your royal majesty deign to take note, with pious mind, that in the exaltation of Christian princes the name of Christ is extolled and the Catholic faith strengthened. If, therefore, the standing of our lord [the king whom] we say unanimously is [… … …], is exalted and the kingdom of Scotland returns to its former free condition, the tempests of war having been quelled and secure peace having been granted, then your royal highness will be able to have as supporters to achieve the end of your desire, the service of God, and to come to your help, not only our lord the king aforesaid, but also the inhabitants of his kingdom as best they are able. And as [evidence of] the aforesaid things [… …] clearly these letters sealed by our seals were commanded to be sent patent to your highness. Written and given at the city of St Andrews in Scotland 16 March 1308 [1309] and in the third year of our lord King Robert’s [reign].

I know it’s not an easy read, but I have taken this straight from the web page of The Records of the Parliament of Scotland here https://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1309/2 . Check the side bar for more records from 1308, when an assembly was held and William, earl of Ross, recorded his act of homage to Robert I before an assembly of prelates and nobles.

The second photo is a Letter by the magnates of Scotland regarding the right of King Robert I to the Crown of Scotland, 16 March 1309, an extract reads:

… we see it contained that royal gratitude reflects on and brings back to mind the alliances formerly existing and maintained between the kingdoms of France and Scotland and the losses, sufferings and trials which the inhabitants of the kingdom have hitherto so much endured. Our minds are cheered, above all, by the extraordinary and peculiar affection which… you say you have for the person of lord Robert, by the grace of God our lord king, who has been raised up as our leader and prince by right and truth and by the justice and grace of the King of Kings. We therefore… [?commend] your royal devotion for the affairs of the holy land… and for the regard you have towards our lord king, and we return all the thanks we can to your royal majesty for the restoration of the liberties and rights of the kingdom of Scotland.

… If therefore… the kingdom of Scotland [be] restored to its original liberty, the storms of war extinguished, the security of peace granted… your highness may have at power not only our lord the king aforesaid but also the inhabitants of his realm.

[foundtherightwords]

Knight Shift

Pairing: Hellcheer

Summary: Desperate for a job, Eddie takes on the night shift at a remote convenience store in Hawkins while also preparing for his side gig as a historical reenactor. Everything is fine until the night a robbery goes wrong and a pretty EMT shows up...

Chrissy, who moved to Hawkins two years ago and now works as an EMT, is trying her best to prove herself. So when a call comes in for an attempted robbery at a convenience store, she doesn't shy away from it. Little does she know the night will bring more surprises than she expects.  

Word count: 4.6k

Warnings: very brief mentions of violence and vomit

A/N: A surprise Valentine's Day fic! I wasn't planning to write anything for Valentine's, but then I saw this post and thought it sounded like a situation Eddie would get into, and then I looked into the Society for Creative Anachronism and thought it sounded fascinating (it also helped that I'm in the middle of my Hellcheer medieval AU), so I wrote this in 2 days!

I took some of the wording from the post itself. The quote at the beginning was taken from an actual Middle Kingdom newsletter (Hawkins, being in Indiana, would be part of this Kingdom). The flyer was my own creation though.

Troubles are brewing in the Middle Kingdom. In the canton of Hawk's Inn, the disgraced knight Sir Edward the Banished returns to his home with the hope of reclaiming his honor and restoring his good name. Will the people of Hawk's Inn, who had turned their backs on Edward years ago due to a youthful mistake, embrace their son once more, or will they turn him away for good?

***

A Royal Greeting from your Sovereigns, King Alaric and Queen Richilde: Exciting Adventures Ahead!

Greetings, noble subjects of the Middle Kingdom,

As we usher in the new year, Her Majesty and I are filled with excitement and anticipation in what lies ahead for Our kingdom. It is a privilege to sit upon the thrones of this mighty realm, and We look forward to sharing many adventures and moments of joy with you all in the coming months.

... We have much to look forward to in the coming weeks and months! We are particularly eager for St. Valentine's Day, when Our Canton of Hawk's Inn/Barony of Roane (Feb 10th) will host the Tournament of Chivalry. This event, now in its 25th year, highlights the true celebration of honor, skill, and valor - qualities that Our kingdom holds in the highest regard. We are looking forward to seeing a great turnout, with many returning knights and combatants (and some new faces!) from across the kingdom coming together to showcase their prowess in the lists. This will be a day of mutual respect showcasing the high ideals that make the Middle Kingdom such a noble place....

- February 1990 issue of THE PALE,

the official newsletter of the Middle Kingdom,

Society for Creative Anachronism

***

"Nobody wants to work the night shift," said Rick, the store manager, as he ushered Eddie into the dingy closet that served as his office.

"We're in the middle of bumfuck nowhere, and every couple of weeks, some drunk or punk or junkie—hey, that rhymes!—would try to rob us. They don't get much—not that there's a lot to get, and insurance usually covers it—but it's a bit of a hassle. Think you can handle it?"

"I've worked as a barback at The Hideout," said Eddie. "I think I can handle a few drunks."

"Don't forget the punks and the junkies!" Rick exclaimed, clearly pleased with his joke. He grinned at Eddie, showing off a mouthful of teeth that wouldn't look out of place being unearthed in an archaeological dig. "So, you want the job?"

Eddie sighed. So far, Rick hadn't done much to sell him on the job's positive qualities, but Eddie was desperate, and Rick knew it. Anyone who applied for the night shift at a convenience store on the outskirts of a small town in Indiana has to be.

"Yeah, I want the job," Eddie said.

"Great!" Rick clapped his hands with relief and pulled out a contract from his desk. "Say, you from 'round here?" he said, as Eddie was filling out the form.

Eddie looked up suspiciously, as he always did whenever someone mentioned his past. Still, if Rick had to ask, that meant he didn't know Eddie or his family history. "Why did you ask?"

"It's just that we don't get a lot of new people here. Only drifters. This ain't a place for people to come and stay."

"Tell me about it." Eddie rubbed his eyes. "I grew up here. I left a few years ago for college, and now I'm back."

"Why?"

"My uncle was in an accident and couldn't work anymore, so I'm taking care of him." Eddie slid the contract across the table toward Rick. If Rick cared to find out, he could look up the Munson name and discover all the unsavory stories surrounding it—though none directly tied to Eddie. But somehow Eddie didn't think Rick would care.

"That's nice of you," Rick said. "So you used to work at The Hideout, eh?" he continued, nostalgia clouding his eyes for a moment. "I'd wasted a few years of my twenties there. Why'd you quit?"

"I didn't," said Eddie. "It got closed down." Hence his desperation. He needed the money, but he didn't qualify for student loans, and Wayne's disability check could only stretch so far. Just a few more months until he got his teacher's certificate and a better job—or at least one that didn't involve him dealing with robbers once every two weeks.

Rick put the form away without even looking at it. "Right!" he said, pushing back from the desk. "Let me show you around."

Eddie hung back, a little hesitant. "I got one question," he said.

Rick looked wary. "Which is—?"

Eddie lifted the hem of his shirt out of his jeans. "This isn't going to be a problem, is it?"

Rick's eyes popped. "What the hell is that?!"

"Chainmail. You know, like armor."

Rick looked from the chainmail under Eddie's shirt to Eddie's face, then back to the chainmail. Eddie could almost see the regret forming in the manager's mind. Clearly, he thought he'd hired some freak. "It's not some medical or"—here Rick glanced around and dropped his voice—"kinky thing, is it?"

Eddie had to laugh. "No. I'm a member of this historical reenactment group. You know the Society for Creative Anachronism? We recreate medieval tournaments, battles, and—" Eddie noticed Rick's eyes had started taking on the glazed look most people would get when he told them about the SCA, so he cleared his throat and continued, "Anyway, I'm training to be a knight, so I'm wearing this around just to get used to its weight."

The SCA had been one of the few reasons that made Eddie's return to Hawkins bearable. He'd thought he was done with the shitty place for good, but when Wayne got hurt... well, he had no choice. It wasn't like he was making big bucks with his history degree in Chicago anyway. To discover that the SCA had built up such an active presence in the area since he left had been a pleasant surprise, and it was nice to go to their fighters' practice a few times a week, to forget about his problems, to be Edward the Banished and not Eddie "the Freak" Munson.

"I can put my uniform shirt over it," now he said to Rick. "It doesn't show at all—see?" He dropped his shirt again to demonstrate.

Still staring at the shirt, Rick took a pack of nicotine gum out of his pocket and popped one in his mouth, chewing. Now he was the desperate one. He needed a night clerk. Could he accept one that seemed... a little weird?

In the end, Eddie's willingness to work nights trumped his taste in medieval attire.

"Make sure it doesn't show, OK?" Rick said.

Edd nodded, breathing in relief. "You bet."

Rick extended a hand with nicotine-stained fingers—the gum didn't seem to be helping—toward Eddie. "Then welcome aboard. Or however you say it in old-timey English."

Eddie smiled as he shook Rick's hand. "I'm pretty sure they say 'Welcome' too." He was going to mention that the word originated from the Old English phrase "ƿil cuma", which meant "a desired guest", but he decided this was enough medieval history for the night.

For all of Rick's warnings, Eddie's first month at the store went by without incidents. Sure, there was the promised trio of drunks, punks, and junkies, but they were harmless. Eddie even let a few of them sleep off their high or drunkenness in the bathroom until it was safe for them to go home. Rick wouldn't like it, but what Rick didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Most of the time, it was just lost drivers needing direction or the occasional horny teenager too embarrassed to buy condoms close to home. Eddie grew to like the quiet and used the time to read, do his homework, or draw up sketches for his D&D campaigns.

So that night, when a guy in a hoodie came into the store, Eddie thought nothing of it. It was a cold night, so the hood pulled low over the head was nothing suspicious, and Hoodie Guy looked no twitchier or shiftier than the average night shift customer. After a minute or two browsing the shelves, he went up to the counter and pointed to the glass case behind Eddie, asking for a pack of Marlboro.

Eddie put down the battered copy of Herodotus's History that he was reading, marking the page with an SCA flyer, and turned to get the pack.

"No, not that one, the red one," said Hoodie Guy.

With a sigh, Eddie reached a little higher for the pack the guy was pointing out.

Thump! Something—or someone—hit him between his shoulder blades, almost knocking him into the case. Eddie whirled around. Hoodie Guy was hanging with half his torso over the counter, his arm outstretched.

"What the hell, man?!" Eddie said, scowling. "Did you just hit me?"

An astonishing change came over Hoodie Guy. His face under the hood went ash gray, his mouth dropped open, and his eyes bulged in their sockets before rolling into the back of his head, as the guy slid off the counter and onto the floor, out cold.

Eddie looked over the counter at the unconscious man, nonplussed. Rick had been adamant that Eddie was not to budge from the counter, never, not under any circumstances—except for maybe a fire. You never know when an apparently unconscious or otherwise helpless man may be an attempt to distract and rob. So now Eddie just stood and waited, while the chainmail bit uncomfortably into his shoulders.

A minute, two minutes passed by, and then three, then four. Hoodie Guy remained on the floor, unmoving. Shit. He could be playing a game of chicken and waiting for Eddie to make a mistake, or something really was wrong with him. And either way...

"They don't pay me enough to deal with this, you know," Eddie said, even though he wasn't sure if Hoodie Guy could hear him or not. Then, with an exasperated huff, he went into the manager's office, picked up the phone, and dialed 911.

***

"Nobody wants to work the night shift," Chrissy's supervisor, Powell, had told her the day she joined the Hawkins EMS team. "We're a quiet town, but with all the woods and farmland around here, there's a lot of ground to cover. You may have to drive miles out of town because a farmer is having a heart attack, or some kids are messing around and get into an accident in the Quarry or on Lover's Lake. That's happened before, you know," he'd added ominously. "Think you can handle it?"

"Oh yes, sir," Chrissy had said with what she'd hoped was a confident smile. "I've seen all sorts of injuries during my time on the cheer squad and as a lifeguard in high school."

But Powell had looked skeptical, and so did the rest of the team. Chrissy didn't blame them. A city girl, coming to this small town in the middle of nowhere, all on her own—she knew what they thought of her. She knew they all thought she was running away from something, and she would come running back to her old life the moment things got tough. Well, they weren't wrong about the running away part, but she'd be damned if she came back to Chicago, back to the perfect little life her mom and her ex-boyfriend had planned for her. No, Chrissy had come to Hawkins to live her own life, and she would not quit.

And so in the past two years, she'd kept her head down and worked, worked, worked. She took double shifts back to back without complaint, she volunteered for the night shift that nobody wanted, and she was first in line when there was a bad pileup on the highway or a chemical leak at the nearby research lab. Anything to prove herself.

"They've pushed the night shift on us again," said her partner and driver, Joyce, when Chrissy reported to the station that night. "That's four in a row this week."

"I don't mind," Chrissy said.

"You should!" said Joyce. "Just because you're the only single gal on the team doesn't mean that you don't want an evening to yourself. We all have lives outside of this job."

She didn't, not really, but Chrissy refrained from saying that. She only pointed out, "You're single."

"Yes, but I'm nearly fifty and my boys are grown, so it doesn't count, does it?" Joyce smiled to soften her words.

"Does that mean that when I get a boyfriend, I'll get to work the day shift?" Chrissy said, half-joking.

"You get that boyfriend, and we'll see."

Joyce was the team mother, and as such, she saw it as her responsibility to look out for Chrissy. Chrissy smiled back at the older woman, though a little doubtfully. Joyce was right. She'd been so focused on working and saving up that she hardly had any time for herself, not to mention that the pickings of eligible young men in Hawkins were awfully slim. Then she chided herself for thinking of such frivolous things when there were more serious matters at hand.

A call came in, disrupting her thoughts. "Male, in his 30s, loss of consciousness," said the dispatcher. "Joyce, Chrissy, you're up."

The address was a convenience store just off the highway. As they drove up, Chrissy's heart faltered a little. It was one of those 24/7 places that looked like something out of a horror film, with the harsh neon lights always on, shining down on a sad selection of snacks and soft drinks. Now those lights were also shining on a man stretched out on the floor in front of the counter, and on the clerk standing behind the counter with a mystified look on his face.

Joyce checked on the unconscious man, whose vitals seemed to be stable. They moved him onto the gurney, and while Joyce called it in, Chrissy went up to the counter to talk to the clerk. She couldn't help noticing he was quite nice-looking, the clerk. When she first came in, focused as she had been on the patient, she'd only seen a shock of shoulder-length dark hair and a tall, rather intimidating silhouette. Upon closer inspection, the hair turned out to be soft curls framing a handsome face with nice, kind eyes, and the silhouette was still tall, but in a comforting rather than intimidating way. He wouldn't look out of place riding a white horse on the cover of a Harlequin romance. Perhaps not as muscular as those cover models, but still...

No. She was here to do her job, not to ogle some guy, no matter how cute he was. Chrissy took a deep breath and asked the clerk what had happened exactly.

"Well," the clerk began. His name tag, she noticed, said Eddie. "He just came in, looked around, came up to the counter, and asked for this specific pack of cigarettes, so I turned to get them—"

He turned as he spoke to show her his movement. Chrissy caught a glimpse of his back and thought she, too, was going to pass out.

Sticking out from his back, between his shoulder blades, was a knife.

"Oh my God!" she breathed out, gripping the edge of the counter. The clerk, Eddie, started to turn back to her, and Chrissy remembered her training. "Don't move!" she shouted. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'm OK," the clerk said, sounding confused. "What?"

"Just—don't move."

She vaulted over the counter and ran up to him. There was no blood on his back or on the knife. But how was this guy still walking about and talking?! She carefully felt along his back and recoiled. Something hard yet flexible—like scales—moved under his shirt.

"What the hell are you wearing?!" she said, her training forgotten again.

"A chainmail shirt," said Eddie the clerk, like it was the most normal thing in the world. "I have to get used to the weight, so I wear it a lot. Why? Is something wrong?"

"You have a knife in your back!"

He twisted his head around and tried to see the knife, but as it was lodged between his shoulder blades, it was clear he couldn't.

"Uh... no, I don't?" he said. "I mean, I don't feel hurt? He only, like, punched me or something. There's no knife back there—I mean, I'd know if there was a knife back there, right?"

"I can assure you, there is most definitely a knife in your back," said Chrissy, trying to keep calm. What the hell was taking Joyce so long? "Keep still, I'm going to pull it out."

Although she knew one must never pull a knife out of a stab wound, this was a special case, and until the knife was removed, she could not assess how serious the injury was. Bracing one hand against his shoulder, she yanked at the knife with the other. It was stuck more firmly than she expected, and the sensation—oh God! She'd never felt anything like it. Somehow, the worst broken bones she'd had to set never felt as gross as wrenching a knife out of what she believed was flesh. The grating sound of the blade sent shivers up her arm and down her spine, and suddenly and unceremoniously, she bent over and threw up.

"What on Earth is happening here?" Joyce exclaimed as she came into the store and took in the scene—Chrissy leaning over the counter with her dinner splattered on the ground in front of her, and Eddie the clerk running back from the bathroom with a wad of paper towels. Some he handed to Chrissy, the rest he spread over the mess Chrissy had just made. Then Joyce caught sight of the knife still quivering on Eddie's back and her eyes widened. "Young man, there's—"

"Yes, yes, I know, there's a knife in my back," Eddie said impatiently. "I'm perfectly all right, unlike Miss"—he peered at Chrissy's nametag—"Cunningham here, so could you take care of her please?"

"No, I'm all right too," Chrissy said, even though she was dying of shame on the inside. In her two years as an EMT, she'd prided herself on never losing her nerves, yet now, faced with a knife—there wasn't even any blood!—and she was as squeamish as a trainee, her arms turning into noodles. "Please, Joyce, see to his back—"

Joyce calmly walked over to Eddie and, in one swift move, yanked the knife out.

"You should really be more careful," she said, handing it to Eddie.

"It's not mine! It belongs to the guy you have in your ambulance out there."

Joyce rolled her eyes. "Great, now it's an assault and robbery too? I'm going to have to report this." She went outside again.

Chrissy wiped her mouth with the paper towel. "Thank you," she said to Eddie.

"Are you sure you're OK?" he asked. "Do you want some water, or maybe some ginger ale? I find that helps a lot with an upset stomach."

Chrissy shook her head. "No, it's fine. I'm fine."

"Well, I'm having one." He grabbed a can of Vernor's from the nearby case and handed Chrissy one as well. "I'd much rather have a beer, but I'm not allowed to drink on the clock."

"I'm not either." Still, Chrissy took the can of ginger ale gratefully. "Let me clean up this mess for you," she said, indicating the pile of paper towels, but Eddie gently pushed her back.

"No, no, that's my job," he said. "You do your job, and I do mine."

Chrissy pressed the can of ginger ale to her face, hoping to cool off some of the blood burning beneath her skin. "I'm so sorry," she said.

"Why?" Eddie's voice was gentle.

"I came here to take care of you, and now you're taking care of me."

"Hey, we all have our bad days," Eddie said with a shrug.

Something in the way he said it sent a new wave of confidence coursing through her. She wasn't a failure just because she threw up once in front of a patient. Straightening up, Chrissy tried to gather any remnants of professionalism she still had. "I'm going to need to examine your back," she said.

"Do we have to?" Eddie said. "I don't feel any pain or anything."

Chrissy gave him her best imitation of Joyce's "mom" look. He relented and pulled off his uniform shirt. She wasn't sure what to expect, but underneath he was wearing a chainmail shirt, an actual chainmail shirt, like in those medieval movies. And it was heavy. Together, they got it off him, and even before Chrissy removed the linen shirt underneath, she knew he wasn't badly injured—no one who had a stab wound in his back could move his arms and shoulders so freely—but she was nothing if not thorough. Eddie turned his back to her, and a very nice back it was too, lean but sturdy—somehow the word lithesome snuck its way into her mind. Focus, Chrissy.

She found a small cut from where the tip of the knife had nicked him. That was probably why she had such a hard time pulling out the knife—it had been caught in the riveted links of the chainmail, not his flesh, thank God. She cleaned the cut and put a Band-Aid on it, just in case.

"May I ask why you're wearing chainmail?" she said. "Does the store get robbed so much that you have to wear protective armor?"

Eddie chuckled at her attempt at a joke. "No, I'm training to be a knight. I'm with this medieval reenactment group."

Chrissy almost laughed. Here she was, imagining that Eddie wouldn't look out of place as a knight in shining armor, and he was one!

"I think I've seen them around. Is it like a Renaissance Faire thing?"

"Not quite. Those are more for entertainment, while we're more focused on education and the study of medieval life. But some events are open to the public too. Actually"—he reached toward a book on the counter, pulled out a flyer being used as a bookmark, and handed it to her—"here's one next Saturday that I'm attending."

Chrissy looked at the flyer. In old-timey font, it said:

The canton of Hawk's Inn

In the Barony of Roane

Hereby cordially invites you to

ST. VALENTINE'S DAY TOURNAMENT OF CHIVALRY

February 10th, 1990 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Site: Starcourt Convention Center, Lot No. 4281, 10 Old Highway 77, Hawkins, Indiana

Fee: Adult Registration $10.00, ADULT MEMBER $5.00,

Minors 6 to 17 $2.00, Children 5 & Under Free

Family Cap $20 Member (2 Adults, 3 children 6-17) – additional $5 per Non-Member Adult

This was accompanied by a woodcut print of two knights jousting.

Eddie explained, sounding a bit embarrassed, "I'm studying to be a history teacher."

"That's great!" And, perhaps because he had been so open to her, she added, "I'm saving up for nursing school." She had never told anyone this, afraid of jinxing it, afraid of being seen as a loser if she couldn't achieve it, yet somehow, she had no problem sharing it with this strange, funny guy she'd just met.

"To our future success then," said Eddie, raising his can of ginger ale in a toast.

Laughing, Chrissy raised hers in return before drinking deeply, the sweet, spicy soda warming her up. "This explains why the guy fainted," she continued, returning to the subject as Eddie put his chainmail back on. "Not every day the man you just stabbed turns around and yells at you with the knife still in his back."

"It's good to know that my chainmail works at least," Eddie said with a grin. A dimple flashed on his cheek, making Chrissy's heart thump in her chest. Then, just as quickly, the dimple disappeared as he turned serious again. "What's going to happen to him?" he asked, indicating the ambulance outside.

"We're going to report the incident, and the police will probably want a word with him."

"Is that necessary?"

Chrissy stared at him. "He tried to stab you."

He shrugged again. "But I'm fine. Guy's probably just desperate. I mean, you have to be, to rob a place like this. Like I said, we all have bad days. If you could leave out the stabbing part in your report—it's too difficult to explain anyway."

"That's very kind of you," Chrissy said in wonder.

Eddie looked a little abashed. "Don't let the people at the tournament hear you say that," he said. "I'm trying to create this dark, mysterious persona for my knight character."

"Well, perhaps you can be a dark and mysterious knight who actually turns out to be kind to those who know you."

Her words seemed to have hit him unexpectedly, and there was an emotional gleam in his eyes as he looked at her. He really does have nice eyes, she thought. Large and round, like a puppy's, fringed by long lashes, dark brown under the harsh neon light, but she bet that in sunlight, they would be a warm amber...

With her impeccable timing, Joyce chose that moment to enter the store, with the knife still in her hand.

"Well, the guy woke up," she said. "Hypoglycemia. As for the stabbing"—she waved the knife—"he's very sorry and he won't do it again. What do you say, Chrissy, shall we give him some glucose tablets and let him go?"

Chrissy and Eddie glanced at each other, sharing a conspiratory smile. Eddie's dimple dipped and rose again, and Chrissy's stomach fluttered in a way that had nothing to do with its recent emission.

As she and Joyce prepared to leave, Chrissy tried to give the flyer back to Eddie, but he pushed it back toward her.

"You should come and see us," Eddie said. "We don't fight with real weapons, but it can be a lot of fun."

Was he asking her out? Despite what Joyce had said, Chrissy had had her fair share of guys hitting on her while on the job, and she could always turn them down with a sharp word or two. With Eddie though, she found that she didn't mind, and the thought made her feel a little shy.

When she said nothing, Eddie continued, sounding rather flustered, "If you don't want to, that's fine." He continued in a rush, with the air of someone taking a leap of faith, "But I'm here every night, so if you ever have a craving for discount jerky or chips or ginger ale, I'm at your service."

Chrissy looked at the flyer in her hand and looked again into his smiling brown eyes and his dimples. If he had taken a leap of faith, why couldn't she?

"Maybe I'll see you at the tournament," she said, tucking the flyer into her jacket.

If Joyce noticed Chrissy smiling to herself as she climbed into the ambulance, she made no comment on it. She only looked in the rearview mirror, at the reflection of Eddie standing at the store entrance to watch them drive away, with the same smile on his face. Joyce watched the two kids with their private smiles as if their secret were not open for the whole world to see, and, remembering a time when she was just as young and foolish and hopeful, she smiled to herself as well.

Perhaps the night shift was not so bad after all.

THE END

[whencyclopedia]

Aethelred the Unready

Aethelred II, also known as Aethelred the Unready, was king of the English from 978-1013 and 1014-1016. His long reign was initially stable, but Viking attacks on England escalated from the 990s onward. Viking incursions eventually grew so serious that England struggled to mount effective resistance, and Aethelred was briefly overthrown by the Danish king Swein Forkbeard in 1013.

Aethelred reclaimed his kingdom following Swein’s death in early 1014, and the “second reign” of Aethelred saw more effective military campaigns against the Vikings but also high levels of disunity and suspicion at Aethelred’s court. The king died in 1016 and passed along the Viking struggle to his son Edmund II. Aethelred reigned for nearly 38 years – longer than any other king of England before the Norman Conquest.

Aethelred’s infamous nickname, the Unready, does not actually refer to him being unprepared. It is an Old English pun that mocks Aethelred’s given name, which meant “Noble Counsel.” The Old English word unraed meant “bad counsel” and was a way to note the irony that a king named “Noble Counsel” struggled to maintain the loyalty of the English nobility. As the English language evolved, unraed was corrupted into unready, even though Aethelred the Ill-Advised would be a more accurate translation.

Path to the Throne & Early Reign

Aethelred was born sometime between 966 and 968 in a recently united England. He was the son of King Edgar (r. 959-975) and Queen Aelfthryth. Edgar was arguably the first king to see England remain one stable, coherent kingdom for an extended length of time, as his three predecessors had seen England fragment back into smaller kingdoms at one time or another. However, when Edgar died in 975, England once more found itself bitterly divided and possibly on the brink of splintering again. Edgar had died with three surviving children, each from a different mother. The English nobles managed to preserve the unity of their kingdom by eventually agreeing that the eldest child, the teenage Edward, should be the next king. Evidently not everyone was pleased with this arrangement, and Edward was assassinated in 978, just three years into his reign.

After Edward’s murder, Aethelred was the only surviving son of Edgar, ascending to the throne at somewhere between ten and twelve years old. Aethelred’s mother Aelfthryth and his influential tutor, Bishop Aethelwold, were among the most prominent figures at the young king’s court. When Bishop Aethelwold died in 984, King Aethelred began to exert more influence. Aethelred expelled his mother from court and began surrounding himself with new appointees rather than relying on the old guard. He married Aelfgifu of York around this time as well, and they soon had several children, including the future King Edmund II.

A few small Viking raids were launched against England in the 980s, and The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that these fleets often amounted to no more than a handful of ships. Local English forces sometimes took care of them on their own, such as when a group of Vikings was defeated in Devon, according to The Life of St. Oswald. Sometimes the Vikings disappeared for years at a time, such as from 983 to 987, when no attacks were recorded at all. In spite of isolated raids, Aethelred ruled over a stable and wealthy kingdom in the 980s, free to focus on assembling his own core of advisors and asserting his newfound authority.

Viking Age Trade Routes in North-West Europe

Brianann MacAmhlaidh (CC BY-SA)

Continue reading...

[wessexroyalfamily]

End of Chapter One

I hope to have Chapter 2 up sometime by the beginning of April (hopefully 😅). Chapter 2 will kick off in the Spring, about three or four months after the events of Chapter 1.

Thanks for all that have read and been engage!

Individual Parts linking below the cut!

Part 1 : Reception at Warminster Military College to honor graduates

Part 2 : Prince Richard graduates from Warminster Military College

Part 3 : Reception at Warminster Military College hosted by the Queen

Part 4 : The family gathers for dinner at Fogmorre Castle, while Richard goes out to celebrate with his military buddies

Part 5 : Richard returns back to Hyde Park Lodge to an upset Winnie

Part 6 : The family gather for Prince Thomas' birthday at the Queen's home, Claremont House

Part 7 : The family talk to Richard about increasing his role within the family, despite his resistance to the idea

Part 8 : Queen Anne II and Prince Christian, The Earl of Gloucester end the night at Claremont House discussing the best way forward with Richard

Part 9 : Richard spends the day with Winnie at Hyde Park Lodge, and he learns some life changing news for himself and his family

Part 10 : A staff member interrupts Queen Anne II and Prince Christian, The Earl of Gloucester to give them some upsetting news

Part 11 : Government officials discuss their concerns with Edward St. Andrews, The Duke of Worcester and the current Chancellor of the Kingdom

Three Reflections of Death

Reflection One : Anne meets with the Chancellor to discuss plans for her trip to Chester and the state funeral of Ranulf III

Reflection Two : William and Elizabeth upset that they won't be attending the funeral in Chester and Elizabeth is more upset at who is replacing them

Reflection Three : Richard seems to be upset with more than just having to pack for a last minute trip?

Part 12 : William watches the news coverage of the royal family arriving in Chester

Part 13 : Richard's uncle, Prince George, tries to comfort his nephew while they watch Christian take his oath

Part 14 : Funeral procession of Ranulf III

Part 15 : Richard finally sees his mother, Princess Margaret, again, but their reunion doesn't go how Margaret plans

Part 16 : Richard finds comfort in an old friend ... first name Jack and last name Daniels. Sadly it ends up getting him into quite the mess

Part 17 : Government is worried, the Chancellor is FREAKING OUT and the Queen is still out of the country, can William handle it ALL?

Part 18 : Christian has conversation with Richard about his antics

Part 19 : Only Winnie can make Richard feel better, even when he doesn't deserve her support . .. uhh-ohh is that a camera I see?

Part 20 : Richard gets chewed out by his grandfather, Christian, and calls the boys in to help cheer him up

Part 21 : Elizabeth is over giving Richard chances, while William knows abandoning the heir to the throne won't make anything better

Part 22 : The royals host the last garden party of the summer while the Queen is still abroad in Chester

Part 23 : The Queen meets with the Chancellor to discuss fall engagements and the ever pressing Chester question

Part 24 : FALL IS HERE! And Winnie goes on a coffee date with one of her friends and of course they talk all about Richard

Part 25 : Queen Anne II meets with a few members of her Chancellery (Privy Council) to discuss how the monarchy should approach the Chester question

Part 26 : It's family day at Elton College, the preparatory boarding school attended by Prince Thomas

Part 27 : William's always been a sucker for his kids, and leaving for their last engagement in Wessex before he and Elizabeth head on their week long tour of the Duchy of Rutland makes it hard to say goodbye

Part 28 : William and Elizabeth meet with the Chancellor to discuss their upcoming tour, Elizabeth leaves the meeting less that impressed

Part 29 : William and Elizabeth arrive in Rutland for their Week Long Tour

Part 30 : Elizabeth meets with her sister Louisa, The Dowager Duchess of Rutland to kick off the tour

Part 31 : A reception held in honor of William and Elizabeth

Part 32 : Elizabeth meets privately with her sister Louisa

Part 33 : Elizabeth calls the Chancellor . . . but does William know?

Part 34 : The Duke of Rutland holds a formal banquet at the Ducal Palace, but all does not end well for William and Elizabeth

Part 35 : Winnie drops some big truth on Richard, while he still grapples with royal life

Part 36 : Elizabeth and William arrive at Woodstock Palace for investiture day

Part 37 : Investiture day goes off without a hitch, but now William and Elizabeth must face Queen Anne II and Prince Christian

Part 38 : Richard grapples with what Winnie's news means for him and his family

Part 39 : the Royals gather at the War Memorial for Remembrance Day

Part 40 : Richard tells his close friend Thomas von Greville the . . . good news?

Part 41 : The Fall Day of Thanks celebrations being as members of the Royal Family prepare to leave Woodstock Palace for Winchester Cathedral. Part 41 is separated into two post (for second half click here)

Part 42 : The Crown Prince William meets with the Chancellor on his way into Winchester Cathedral

Part 43 : Royals gather back at Woodstock Palace for a banquet in honor of the Fall Day of Thanks

Part 44 : Winnie talks to her mom to get advice on what to say when she meets up with Richard tomorrow

Part 45 : Richard and Winnie meet at the Art Institute

Part 46 : A reception is held at Woodstock Palace, William and Elizabeth attend and William's brother notices the growing tension between the two

Part 47 : William pulls out the romance to mend his marriage

Part 48 : Queen Anne and Christian, The Earl of Gloucester arrive at Fogmorre Castle to celebrate the holiday season with family

Part 49 : Margaret arrives at Fogmorre Castle and of course Elizabeth is the first person she runs into

Part 50 : Richard's brother Prince Thomas, runs into him while Richard is taking some alone time in the family private drawing room

Part 51 Part A and Part B : The family and invited guests celebrate the holidays at a formal party hosted by the Queen at Fogmorre Castle, Richard drops from earth shattering news

Part 52 : The Queen's Holiday Broadcast announces big changes for the royal family

Part 53 : The royal family attend at holiday service at Carnarvon Chapel and great members of the public who have come to see the royals in person

Part 54 : The royals meet together to discuss hot to tackle their biggest problem yet

Part 55: Winnie learns of two options she has from Edward St. Andrew’s, neither of which she’s thrilled about

[fireofthestars]

I just finished reading The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards. Urban Fantasy. First person PoV. M/M romance and very inclusive. Almost all sexualities, identities and ethnic background are in here. There is a 'found family' if you like that. This is the first arc of a nine book series. It's already planned, so apparently we won't have a Song of Ice and Fire thing happen.

Atlantis has fallen and has 'moved' to Nantucket. The main character, Rune, who along with his human bodyguard/companion, Brand, are the sole survivors of the fall of his father's Sun Court. A magical psychic link bound Rune and Brand as infants. Brand always knows where Rune is, and if he is in distress or danger. They cannot, however, read each other's minds.

After the fall of his father's court, Rune and Brand sought refuge with his father's friend, Lord Tower, who employs them. They do...'jobs' for him. Assignments. Jobs that require Rune's magic and Brand's expertise. This goes on for ten years and after that, the two move out on their own with a housekeeper named Queenie (who is not what she seems, but we don't know what she is yet) but they still work for the Tower from time to time. Rune and Brand's relationship is so much fun. Snarking, bantering, just like brothers. It's basically the heart of the books. Many people 'ship' them but I don't. I love this friendship. Queer Platonic relationships are a real thing (Klune had one in his Green Creek series). I hope it stays that way.

This universe names the cards after the Atlantean Courts, not vice versa.

One such job for Lord Tower is rescuing The Tower's godson, Addam St. Nicholas. Rune is actually the one who 'rescues' him and it's an inverse of rescuing the Princess. Addam is beautiful, noble and calls Rune 'Hero' and finds Rune attractive. Rune is smitten with Addam, but is unsure of the relationship for several reasons. One, he is demisexual, and the other is when his father's throne fell, he was a victim of SA. Descriptions are in the past and just enough detail to show how graphic it was, so be aware! After an initial intimate encounter (awkward, but consensual) Addam agrees to take things slow. Any scenes between the two of them are mostly non-sexual intimacy, such as kissing, cuddling, and fade to black. We know when they're by themselves, they're doing 'something' but we're not told exactly what it is they're doing. Brand calls it 'getting cozy.' This establishes the main 'trio' of the trilogy. Brand is okay with Addam, which was unusual because in the past he always chased Rune's suitors away, usually because he could tell they were up to no good, but he can sense that Addam is a good guy who will have Rune's best interest at heart. Over the course of the books, the three of them form their own unique bond.

I like to think of gritty, blunt, realistic Brand representing the way things are, and noble, altruistic Addam representing the way things should be!

As the series goes on, the trio accumulate a found family. It includes Aadam's younger brother Quin, whom he raised and is a prophet (and is Ace), Max, who was part of a trade, and three relatives of Rune's, The Dawncreek family, which consists Layne, who is gender fluid, Anna who has has powerful magic whom Rune designates as his heir, little Corbie who formed a magical bond with a prehistoric rhinoceros, (you read that correctly) and their Guardian, Corinne who was a companion to their late father and is now Anna's companion. The Dawncreek Family have Native American ancestry. Yay representation!

Oh, can't forget Ciaran. He's fabulous, and a good friend to Rune and his 'family'.

The magic system is interesting. Apparently, all Atlantians are magical, but some are more powerful than others. They can store magical spells in devices called sigils. The more sigils you have, the better and never lose them, because creating them is a lost art. However, they can be given away or taken by conquest.

Some want Rune, Brand and Addam in a poly relationship. I'm not against it, just really like the idea of an actual QP. Oh, apparently Brand is aro? Addam is poly?

There is a mystery box arc to the entire trilogy. Who caused the fall of the Sun Court and why was Rune assaulted? Over this trilogy, we get 'some' answers and hints and we learn Rune is an unreliable narrator.

It's also the first part of a nine book series. Read it. If you like urban fantasy, m/m romance, lots of representation, this is it.

[destielaureversebb]

Coming soon for the @destielaureversebb: “The Spectre on the Fourth Floor” 

Author: EllenofOz @ellen-of-oz Artist: Gemma @thestarsmakemedream-art

Rating: Explicit Archive warnings: None Length: 15,000 words Tags:  Alternate Universe - Historical, Alternate Universe - Edwardian, Ghosts, mentions of period-accurate homophobia, seaside holiday Relationships: Dean/Castiel

Summary:  

It is a new century, King Edward is newly sat upon the throne, and Mrs Kate Winchester and her sons are invited to join the Shurley family to stay at their seaside home at St-Leonards-on-Sea. 

Dean Winchester is reacquainted with Castiel, the youngest son of Lord Shurley, but as the two of them become closer, they are disturbed by strange noises and unexplained movements on the fourth floor of the house on Warrior Square.

Excerpt: 

Castiel awoke suddenly, a clattering startling him. No light showed past the curtains of his room, and the sounds of his family in the living rooms below had fallen silent.

He closed his eyes, letting himself drift back towards sleep, when a shuffling sound above him made him snap them open once more. He sat up, peering upwards, as the sound of something being dragged across the floor set his mental alarm bells ringing. 

The rooms upstairs were never used—as far as he knew, Michael or his father stored old books and such up there. Were they being burgled?

The dragging sound stopped just as abruptly as it had begun, and silence descended once more. 

Then, footsteps, distinct, slow, and heading towards the stairwell just down the hall from Castiel’s room. 

He swung his legs around to find his soft slippers on the floor, and grabbed his robe from where he had discarded it before going to bed. He crept over to open his door a crack, peering out into the gloom in the hallway beyond. The stairwell leading up to the fourth floor was only a few feet away, and he could not see any light shining from above nor below. 

Should he go back into his room for a light? The lamp he’d brought to bed was on his nightstand, but could he find a match to light it again in the dark? The electric lights in the hall would be sure to wake everyone if he turned them on.

A scrape and a thump from upstairs shook him from his indecision. If they were really being robbed, it would be better to surprise the thief in the act, rather than announce himself coming upstairs. He crept up the stairs, and froze near the turn at more scraping, turning around to look up into nothing but darkness. Heart thundering, he stepped further up and stopped again at the open door into the fourth floor.

Posting date:  March 24, 2025

[charlotte-of-wales]

Happy 89th birthday to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent!

Born 9 October 1935, Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick is the elder son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, a grandson of George V, a nephew of Edward VIII and George VI, a and first cousin of Elizabeth II. Edward's mother was also a first cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort of Elizabeth II, making him both a second cousin and first cousin once removed to Charles III. He is 41st in the line of succession to the British throne.

Prince Edward began his education at Ludgrove, a preparatory school in Berkshire, before going on to Eton College and then Le Rosey in Switzerland. After school he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He graduated from Sandhurst in 1955, as a second lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys, the beginning of a military career which lasted over 20 years.

On 25 August 1942, Prince Edward's father, the Duke of Kent, was killed when his plane crashed in bad weather in Caithness. Prince Edward, at six years old, succeeded his father as Duke of Kent, Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick. He has held the title of Duke of Kent for over 82 years, making him the longest-serving duke in British history.

At York Minster on 8 June 1961 the Duke of Kent married Katharine Worsley, and couple have three children: George, Earl of St Andrews (62), Lady Helen Taylor, (60), and Lord Nicholas Windsor (54).

The Duke of Kent performed engagements on behalf of his cousin, the Queen, for over 50 years. He also acted as Counsellor of State during periods of the Queen's absence abroad. Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Kent became the oldest living descendent of King George V, and the last surviving descendent born in George V's lifetime.