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hs-is-loml · 2 years

Text

Bound. (a.t)

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Targaryen!Fem!Reader (minor oc descriptions)

Summary: you didn't realize when you stood beside aemond during the night when he lost his eye would solidify your stance in the war.

Warnings: death, murder, angst, fluff between aemond and reader, betrothals, incestual relationship uncle/niece, little family drama (UNEDITED)

a/n: i wanted to get this out before i watched episode ten later. which will determine whether or not i write a part two to this.

word count: 5.5k

all translations of high valyrian come from google! english translations are in parentheses!!

masterlist - as i am yours (part two)

It was always a deep regret in your heart that you could do anything to save his eye during the fight. He never held any resentment towards you though as you stood by your place to his side. You could never fight against your siblings, and Aemond knew that. Though he continued to taunt them, you stood quietly next to him not meeting anyone’s eye.

You could recall that night so vividly. The chaos of everything. The questioning of who was right and who was wrong. Trying to decide whether you made the right choice of standing next to your betrothed in his defense. Your family might hate you now, but you got a family out of it in more ways than one.

FLASHBACK

“Aemond, this is worrying to me,” you expressed your concern as you both made your way toward Vhagar to see if Aemond could claim her.

She was a free dragon as of the death of your Aunt/Stepmother Lady Laena Velaryon, and no one has yet to take claim of her more so bond with her. You knew that your half-sister would be furious at the revelation that Aemond was to be the next rider of Vhagar. In all honesty in your mind, it was her fault thinking no one would want to claim the most powerful/largest dragon in the realm.

You knew that you were the creation of an affair between your mother Rhaenyra and your biological father Daemon. Everyone knew you were with your hair being as bright as snow and bold violet eyes with your fair complexion. Though you were legitimized by the King himself, so no one dared ever call you a bastard to your face.

Ser Laenor was also your father who raised you and brought you up. You loved him as a father and knew how hard his sister’s death hurt him. You two would visit them on dragon back with Seasmoke and Silverwing allowing you to get to know your biological father and half-sisters. Daemon had a hard way to show that he cared for someone, but you were his jewel.

He would teach you more complex High Valyrian and teach you about your ancestors. Always telling you that it was important for you to me in the knowledge of those before you when you were to take the throne. Which made Baela and Rhaena envious of the favoring of their father towards you.

Though Daemon cared for you as his daughter when you visited him, he did not pay any mind to you outside of it. Always so hot and cold. Never allowing himself to get too attached to anyone. Making you more in favor of your stepfather Laenor. Who taught you how to swim on the shores of Driftmark, unbraided your hair before saying goodnight, taught you the basics of bonding with a dragon, and took you on rides with Seasmoke when you were too little to ride Silverwing.

“There is nothing to worry about, and I would never let anything happen to you,” Aemond reassured you taking your hand as the two of you got closer to Vhagar.

“Aemond be careful, I will not lose my betrothed over a dragon claim,” you squeezed his hand before letting go allowing him to approach the large she-dragon.

“Dohaeras! Dohaeras, Vhagar! Lykiri! Lykiri!” Aemond shouted to the dragon as Vhagar growled in his presence. (Serve! Serve, Vhagar! Calm down!) “Lykiri.”

You watched in anticipation, scared for Aemond’s life. To your relief, Vhagar seemed to be accepting Aemond as she allowed him to climb to her back.

“Soves! Dohaeras, Vhagar! Soves!” he yelled out commands to the dragon. (Fly! Serve, Vhagar! Fly!)

As Vhagar and Aemond took flight, you waited for his return watching the beautiful dragon’s wings spread amongst the sky. It seemed like an eternity before you saw them rearing back to where you awaited. Vhagar landed with a loud grunt letting Aemond climb back down on her wing.

“I knew you were always meant for amazing things,” you admitted to Aemond as continued to bond with Vhagar. He put his forehead to rest against the dragon’s cheek.

“Come here.”

“Aemond, you must be joking,” you nervously let out, staying in your place.

“Come here, love. She won’t hurt you, I promise,” Aemond said as he reached out his hand to you, beckoning you to come closer.

“Rytsas, Vhagar,” you greeted the dragon, taking Aemond’s hand, and staying close to his side. (Hello, Vhagar)

Aemond took your hand in his grasp and laid your palm against Vhagar’s cheek which radiated heat. Vhagar purred at the attention both you and Aemond were giving her. You enjoyed this moment shared between the three of you. You leaned your head against Aemond’s shoulder looking up at him as he relished in the fact he finally had his own dragon.

“Maybe when we get back home we can take Vhagar and Silverwing on a ride together,” he suggested as you two made your way back inside the High Tide.

“It’s him,” they gasped at the sight of Aemond and you.

“It’s me,” Aemond mocked.

“Vhagar is my mother's dragon.”

“Your mother's dead. And Vhagar has a new rider now,” Aemond stated in arrogance.

“She was mine to claim.”

“Then you should've claimed her!” Aemond shouted in thinning patience. You stood behind him keeping your head down as your siblings continued to yell and argue with your betrothed.

“Y/N, come here,” Jace commanded to you as he saw Aemond shield you from them.

“Jacaerys, you do not command her to do anything unless it is of her free will,” Aemond defended you as your siblings looked at you with disgust for siding with their “enemy.”

The chaos surrounding you came with the overwhelming feeling of guilt of not knowing who to stand by and defend. Causing you to be frozen in your place as they started to fight. You saw punches getting thrown around and how they all ganged up on Aemond.

“Baela, Jacaerys, stop it,” you shouted as you saw them go against Aemond. “Aemond, no!” you continued as you saw Lucerys’ nose bleed profusely from Aemond’s hit.

You were paying so much attention to them that you didn’t see Rhaena coming up to you ready to strike. You only realized when you felt the slap against your cheek.

“How dare you stand next to him instead of your family,” she yelled at you in disappointment. “Father will be so disappointed in you,” she said as if it seemed like you cared so much about your parents’ approval.

Everything seemed to slow down as you heard Aemond yell in pain, you turned in a hurry to try and attend to Aemond. That’s when you saw Lucerys holding a blade and you felt yourself sink down to your knees beside Aemond taking his head on your lap.

“What have you done?!” you shouted at them. “A disgrace upon all of you,” you cursed them cradling Aemond and trying to do your best to comfort him.

Aemond continued to groan in pain as you ripped a portion of your cloak to help stop the bleeding in his eye. The others continued to scream at you and Aemond which you paid no mind to.

“CEASE THIS AT ONCE!” Ser Harrold came rushing in separating your siblings from you and Aemond.

“GET AWAY!” you screamed as you noticed them quieting down but unmoving.

“My Prince, my Prince. Let me see,” Ser Harrold approached you two. “Gods be good.”

You stayed by Aemond’s side as the maesters attended to his wounded eye. You held his hand as they stitched it together, feeling him squeeze your hand when the pain got too much for him. You stayed quiet as both families argued against each other. You noticed the look your mother gave you when she saw that you had not taken the side of your siblings.

Daemon stayed to the side watching the situation play out. Your grandfather continued to demand answers as he shouted amongst the room.

“I will have the truth of what happened. My sweet granddaughter, tell your grandsire how did this happen?” the King turned to you asking for an explanation of the situation.

“Due to the death of my Aunt Lady Laena, Vhagar was left unattended and unclaimed by a rider since. Aemond and I went down to see her and to see if Aemond could bond with her which he did. As we made our way back inside the castle, we were stopped by my siblings and cousins, and they argued with Aemond about Vhagar. In my honest opinion, no one truly claims a dragon they just bond with them as a rider, so making Rhaena's claim of Aemond stealing Vhagar from her false as she should not have waited so long to bond with Vhagar,” you started to retell the story to the King who listened closely to your words. “I did not want to fight against my betrothed or my siblings and cousins but I stayed alongside Aemond. The fight broke out between all of them when Baela threw the first punch against Aemond. I did not participate in the fight until Rhaena struck a slap against me while throwing insults towards my loyalty. I was too late to see the blade held by Lucerys and to save Aemond from the attack. It was an unfair fight as it was majorly the four of them against Aemond,” you told your grandfather letting a tear fall on the reddened cheek of yours as you look at Aemond and raised your hand to caress Aemond’s nonaffected cheek.

Your mother, Rhaenrya looked at you with repulse as you finished retelling the incident. She never realized the actual bond between you and Aemond as she only ever thought of it as you acting for your duty to the throne.

“Now how is it you are the only one to ever speak the truth? Thank you, granddaughter,” Viserys said as he laid a hand on your shoulder as he passed by you.

“Oh my sweet child,” Alicent came to you and brought you into her arms in a tight squeeze. “Thank you for being with Aemond,” she whispered into your ear as she let go to attend to Aemond more.

A couple of days had passed and you did not leave Aemond’s side for most of it. You noticed himself trying to distance himself from you and knowing it stemmed from the scar that was now embedded upon his face. He was scared of you feeling disgusted by his new appearance. You were quick to reassure him that you still kept the same feelings for him regardless of how he looked.

You were with Queen Alicent and Aemond in his chambers when the news was broken to you by Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys that your stepfather was found dead. You were holding a vase ready to set it down beside Aemond’s bedside table. Upon hearing the news you froze and the vase slipped out of your hands shattering on the ground where you fell to your knees. You felt small shards of glass against your skin, but it couldn’t compare to the pain you felt in your heart for the loss.

“Dear child, come here,” Rhaenys said with tears in her eyes as she approached you and signaled you to stand up from the broken glass. You felt stuck. Once again.

“Y/n?” Aemond questioned from his bed. He got out of the covers and carefully stepped around the glass and brought you to sit on the bed. You were silent as tears gushed from your eyes.

“How?” you managed to say through your growing sobs. Rhaenys and Corlys came to your side as Alicent and Aemond nodded to them as they walked out of the room out of respect.

“His body was found burned in the fireplace of the hall,” Corlys told you taking the space to your left and Rhaenys took the spot on your right. You were staying down on your bloodied dress and trembling hands.

“I never got to tell him how much I loved him,” you cried which had Rhaenys pulling you to her chest in a hug as you gripped her sides letting your anguish out. Corlys wrapped his arm around Rhaenys moving you to let yourself lean against the both of them.

“He knew. He always loved you and was so proud of how you have grown. Always talking about your accomplishments and the adventures you both took visiting around the realms,” Rhaenys admitted to you softly relishing in the fond memories of her son.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized to both of them.

“For what, granddaughter?” Lord Corlys asked letting his hand run through your hair.

“We all know that I am not my father’s actual daughter, but do know the love and respect I held for him in my heart as he raised me as his own,” you told them in honesty but afraid to look meet their eyes you kept your head down.

“Y/n, you are his daughter through and through. He cherished you more than anything in the world and we will always accept you as our own,” Rhaenys pulled your head up to meet her gaze and more tears filled your eyes at the love and acceptance given to you at this moment.

“You hold the memories of him. You are his legacy,” Corlys confirmed to you.

END OF FLASHBACK

“Darling, your mother, and her family are coming back here to petition for the claim of Driftmark in days' time,” Alicent snapped you out of your thoughts which caused you to snap your attention to her setting your cup of tea down on the table.

“Is there a reason I was not made aware sooner?” you asked her with anxiousness crawling inside you.

“I saw no reason to worry you and the raven only arrived last evening,” she replied leaning forward to place her hand on top of yours. “It will be okay.”

“I have not spoken to them since that day all those years ago,” you admitted aloud.

After the night when you stood by Aemond’s side to explain to your grandfather about the incident, your mother and your entire family turned their back on you. Which only allowed you to keep in contact with your grandparents Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys whether it was you traveling back to High Tide with Silverwing, Aemond, and Vhagar or them coming to the Red Keep to see one another.

You did not even attend the wedding between your mother and your biological father still upset about the ending of your step-father. You learned to figure out that it was in the hands of your mother and her newlywed husband. You grew to resent them as they took the person who raised you, loved you for who you truly were, and never wanted to change you.

You stayed at Driftmark until you got sick of the ocean air, and left to return back to the capital. You were welcomed with open arms by everyone but your own family that took their stay in Dragonstone. Your time in Red Keep allowed you to be with Aemond and spent time with your grandfather until he got bedridden a couple moons ago.

“May I be excused, my Queen?” you asked.

“Of course,” she smiled at you, removing her hand and allowing you to stand and exit her chambers.

You walked in the halls of the Keep stuck in your own thoughts and worries about what is to come soon. Knowing that it could never be calm with your families. You found yourself near your shared chambers with Aemond and knocked with the hope he was in the room. Unless he was on the training grounds with Ser Cole.

“Yes?” you heard from inside the room.

“It is only me,” you said loud enough for him to hear you as well.

“Well do come in,” it was quiet but loud enough for you to open the door enough to let you slip in and shut it behind you. “Has something happened?”

Aemond notices the look on your face and knows that you are drowning in some sorrows. He gets up from his chair near the fireplace to go to you and takes your hands to lead you to the bed to sit. Both of you sit along the side of the bed, but you are staring at your intertwined hands while he stares at you. He removes one of his hands from your and raises it to your chin to lift your head up towards him. Meeting eye to eye he nods to encourage you to tell him your thoughts.

“My mother and her family are coming back to the Keep,” you muttered looking around the room trying to not meet his eye.

“Is she to bring all of them?” he scoffed at the thought of them being here.

“Yes, I assume so. She still has Jace and Luke, but I think she has another two in addition with Daemon and not to forget about Baela and Rhaena,” you answered as you thought about the family they had created without you.

“Well, we must prepare ourselves for the upcoming days,” he suggested as he let his fingers play with the sapphire betrothal ring the was worn on your left hand.

“I do not want them here.”

“No one does, My love.”

“They cannot come barging into our lives again just because they got bored of theirs,” you whine in frustration.

“They are pesky little things,” he spat which made you giggle at the tone of his voice. In which he grinned at the sound of your laughs.

You stood beside Aemond next to Aegon as the petition of Vaemond Velaryon was to be heard for who was to be the next Lord of the Tides. You felt the glares from your siblings as you stood alongside the Greens. With your emerald green dress with black lacing and your body adorned in jewels, they could not stand the sight of you standing tall with them.

Though they had no right to any opinions they create of you, that did not stop them from frowning at the conjoined hands of you and the prince to your left. It was a constant reminder for them of the night everything changed. As you did not take their side after Lucerys wrongly slashed Aemond’s face.

“I am Lord Corlys's closest kin, his own blood. The true, unimpeachable blood of House Velaryon runs through my veins,” Vaemond stated to Otto Hightower who sat upon the King’s throne. As you have gotten along with the rest of the family, the Hand of the King was one person you would always dislike.

“As it does in my sons, the offspring of Laenor Velaryon,” Rhaenrya said which made you scoff loudly at the statement. “If you cared so much about your house's blood, Ser Vaemond, you would not be so bold as to supplant its rightful heir. No, you only speak for yourself and for your own ambition,” she added on.

“You will have a chance to make your own petition, Princess Rhaenyra,” Queen Alicent said from her place near you towards your mother.

“Do Ser Vaemond the courtesy of allowing his to be heard,” you continued for the Queen. Rhaenrya snaps her attention to you with sorrow-filled eyes in hearing your voice for the first time in years. Her eyes travel down to the grasp you held onto Aemond’s hand and arm.

“What do you know of Velaryon blood, Princess? I could cut my veins and show it to you and you still wouldn't recognize it,” Vaemond scowled at Rhaenrya. “I humbly put myself before you as my brother's successor to be the Lord of Driftmark and Lord of the Tides.

“Princess Rhaenyra, you may now speak for your son, Jacaerys Velaryon.”

“If I am to grace this farce with some answer, I will start by reminding the court that nearly 20 years ago, in this very…” your mother started.

“King Viserys of House Targaryen, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm,” as your grandfather King Viserys arrives near the doors.

“I will sit on the throne today,” he breathes heavily. The King limps his way toward the throne before stopping to take in a heaving breath. “I said I’m fine.”

It broke your heart to see the man you called grandfather slowly wither away to bones. The continuation of his walk does not go any further as he drops his crown as leans over his cane. You removed yourself from Aemond’s side and made your way to your beloved grandfather.

“Grandfather, here,” you pick up the crown from the floor and offer your arm out to him to try and lead him to the throne easier.

“Thank you, my child,” as he takes a seat on the throne.

“My King,” you bowed your head to him as you placed the crown back on his head.

Making your way down the steps seeing everyone’s shocked faces at the King getting out of his bed rest and his granddaughter for helping him. You made your way back over to the Greens with Alicent stopping you with her arm before you were able to reach Aemond.

“Thank you,” she smiled at you softly.

“I must... admit... my confusion,” the King starts off with coughs. “I do not understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession. The only one present who might offer keener insight into Lord Corlys's wishes is Princess Rhaenys.”

“Indeed, Your Grace. It was ever my husband’s will that Driftmark would be passed through Ser Laenor’s daughter, Y/n, but in the circumstance that she is the next heir of the Iron Throne after her mother it would be passed to Ser Laenor’s trueborn son… Jacaerys Velaryon,” Princess Rhaenys told to King as she glanced at you slightly giving you a tight-lipped smile. “His mind never changed. Nor did my support of him. As a matter of fact, Princess Rhaenyra has just informed me of her desire to marry her sons Jace and Luke to Lord Corlys's granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena. A proposal to which I heartily agree.”

“Well, the matter is settled. Again,” Viserys said. “I hereby reaffirm Prince Jacaerys of House Velaryon as heir to Driftmark, the Driftwood Throne, and the next Lord of the Tides. As well as the next change of succession.”

The crowd gasps at the statement of the king. Alicent looks to her father in gleaming hope. Aemond and you look at each other afraid for the words that might be said next as if Aegon were to be crowned heir. Rhaenyra and Daemon look at each other in worry.

“I hereby state a decree whereupon my death the Iron Throne and Crown are passed onto my son Prince Aemond Targaryen and my granddaughter, his betrothed Princess Y/N Targaryen,” Viserys stated to the crowd. “For they are the next heirs to the Iron Throne,” as he looked at you and his son with a smile.

There is an uproar with the crown and attending council members in the change of succession. Cheers were heard all around the room except for your mother and family. Alicent turns to you and Aemond with a bright smile on her face. She takes your face in her hands and tilts your head down to place a kiss on your forehead.

“You will make an amazing queen, Sweetling,” she told you as she placed a hand on your shoulder giving it a tight squeeze. “You, my son will be a brilliant king,” shifting her attention to Aemond.

“Oh thank the seven hells, it was not me,” you hear Aegon from beside you with a grin on his face which you poked at his side with a small giggle.

“Father, what is the meaning of this?!” your mother shouts from her place to the King.

“It is my wish you do not receive the crown, daughter,” the King said bluntly.

“You break the law... and centuries of tradition to install your daughter as heir then now your second son and granddaughter,” Vaemond spat at the King. “Yet you dare tell me who deserves to inherit the name Velaryon. No. I will not allow it.”

“Allow it?” Viserys scoffed at the claim. “Do not forget yourself, Vaemond.”

“That is no true Velaryon, and certainly no nephew of mine.”

“Aemond and Y/N are of my kin and as well as Lucerys is my true-born grandson. And you... are no more than the second son of Driftmark,” your grandfather defended.

“You may run your house as you see fit, but you will not decide the future of mine. My house survived the Doom and a thousand tribulations besides. And gods be damned I will not see it ended on the account of this,” Vaemond shouted. “Her children are…”

“Say it,” Daemon said from beside Rhaenyra as Aemond pulled you behind him as he glared at Vaemond.

“BASTARDS! And she IS A WHORE. Not to mention the ward you had taken under your house,” Vaemond yelled loudly in the room allowing every person to hear his words.

“I will have your tongue for that,” Viserys countered.

“WHO ARE YOU TO SPEAK AGAINST MY BETROTHED?” Aemond shouted in anger leaving your side.

“Maybe she will end up like her moth-” as Aemond took ahold of Vaemond’s neck dragging him out to the courtyard.

Everyone followed in suit with you running out after Aemond in front of everyone. Even the king who was moved to a chair carried by guards was in attendance to see what his son will do. Alicent grabbed ahold of your hand preventing you from getting too close. Rhaenyra looked at Alicent in envy at the relationship between you and the Queen.

“VHAGAR!” Aemond yelled out to the sky awaiting his dragon. “I shall feed you to my dragon for your vile insults towards the heir.”

“You are not even the king yet,” Vaemond spat blood on Aemond’s boots.

“Ipradagon zirȳla, Vhagar!” Aemond commanded which had the large she-dragon pop her head into the courtyard and snatch Vaemond up in one piece. (Eat him, Vhagar)

“Well done, my son,” Viserys said from his chair proud at his son’s defense of his beloved granddaughter.

“ANYONE ELSE THAT MISSPEAKS A WORD AGAINST PRINCESS Y/N WILL BE BURNED ALIVE BY VHAGAR!” Aemond shouts to the crowd.

“This is an occasion for celebration, it seems,” Viserys started. “My grandsons, Jace and Luke, will marry their cousins, Baela and Rhaena, further strengthening the bond between our houses. As well as our new crowned heirs my sweet granddaughter Y/N and my son Aemond. A toast to the young Princes and their betrothed.”

“Thank you, father,” Aemond thanked Viserys while taking your hand from under the table.

“It seems that we will be planning your wedding sooner than we thought, Darling,” Alicent said from her seat next to the King. You were seated next to Aemond alongside Helaena.

“Of course!” you beamed.

“It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table. The faces most dear to me in all the world yet grown so distant from each other in the years past,” Viserys told around the table as he took off the golden mask from his face. “My own face is no longer a handsome one if indeed it ever was. But tonight I wish you to see me as I am. Not just a king but your father. Your brother. Your husband and your grandsire. Who may not, it seems to walk for much longer among you. Let us no longer hold ill feelings in our hearts. The crown cannot stand strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided. But set aside your grievances. If not for the sake of the crown then for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly.”

“To you grandfather, King Viserys Targaryen, first of his name,” you said standing up from your seat and raising a glass.

“To King Viserys!”

“I wish to raise my cup to Her Grace, the Queen. I love my father. But I must admit that no one has stood more loyally by his side than his good wife. She has tended to him with unfailing devotion, love, and honor. And for that, she has my gratitude and my apology,” Rhaenyra toasts to Alicent.

“Your graciousness moves me deeply, Princess. We are both mothers and we love our children. We have more in common than we sometimes allow. I raise my cup to you and to your house. For our children will make fine King and Queen,” Alicent smiled warmly to you and Aemond before turning back to Rhaenyra for the toast.

“To Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond. We have not seen each other in years, but I have fond memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we may yet be friends and allies as Prince Aemond marries my dear sister. To you and your family's good health, dear uncles,” Jace remarked after he had slammed his fists onto the table from what Aegon muttered to him and Baela.

“I would like to say a few words. I would like to toast to Baela and Rhaena. They'll be married soon. It isn't so bad. Mostly he just ignores you except sometimes when he's drunk,” Helaena rose from the seat next to you. “Unless of course they are anything like how Aemond is to Y/n who worships the ground she walks on,” she finished with an airy laugh as you gaped at her wording with wide eyes.

“In speaks of her, this one goes to my daughter, who will ascend the crown and throne as well as her betrothed my nephew. For you shall have a long life and take the throne that you have taken from your mother,” Daemon mocked as he stood from his seat raising a glass to you.

“You are no father of mine. And I did not take anything from anyone. Aemond and I will allow the kingdoms to grow and prosper instead of you and Rhaenyra taking it for your own selfish reasons and burning it to the ground,” you announced as you slammed your hands on the table.

“Brother, it was upon my wish it was given to them,” Viserys told his younger brother.

“You are a disgrace to me,” Rhaenyra shouted at you.

“You murdered my father. It is you who is a disgrace to the Targaryen name!” you argued back with rising anger at the thought of the two people who planned your father’s murder to be standing in the same room as you.

Rhaenyra opened her mouth to say something but it closed with silence filling the room as tension surrounded the air. Viserys coughs loudly before groaning at the pain in his head making Alicent call the guards to take him back to his chambers. Aemond guides you to sit back down in your seat. Otto smirks at the obvious split between you and your so-called family. Aegon smirks at the entire situation. Daemon frowns at the result of this dinner.

“I believe it is best if we end dinner now,” Alicent spoke out.

“Are you okay, My love?” you heard from behind you as you took out the pins holding up your hair.

“Of course,” you replied.

Aemond remove your hand from your hair and replaced them with his own as he started to carefully unbraid your hair. Though it was a normal occurrence that Aemond undid your hair, it never seemed to stop the warm feeling you would get when he did.

“It is you who deserves to sit on the throne the most.”

“We will share it.”

“My love, it belongs to you, a true Targaryen.”

“Please do not mention my heritage as of now,” you groaned at the mention which made Aemond laugh at the thought of the dinner that just happened.

“In days' time we will be married,” Aemond said as he took your hand to motion you to stand.

“We shall be bound till our last breath,” rising from your seat to stand in front of him.

“I would never want it any other way,” pressing his lips against yours.

#aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen #aemond x reader #aemond targaryen x you #house of the dragon #aemond targaryen fanfic #hotd x reader #hotd fanfic #reader insert #daemon targaryen #rhaenyra targaryen

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aphroditelovesu · 2 months

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Hi! I don't know if you are taking any requests, if you don't, just ignore this

Can you do headcanons of platonic yandere hannibal (2013 TV show) with a darling that looks like abigail hobbs? Can you add will Graham as well? Thank you!

<33

❝ 🍽 — lady l: I should have posted this yesterday but it ended up not being possible as a practical class in the laboratory, but here it is! I hope you like it, anon. Forgive me for any mistakes and good reading!! ❤️🥰

❝tw: obsessive and possessive behavior, manipulation, kidnapping, forced cannibalism and mention of death.

❝🔎pairing: platonic yandere!hannigram x gender neutral!reader.

After everything that had happened between them and Abigail, Hannibal and Will had no plans on trying to care for someone else anytime soon, if ever. They were starting their life together after Red Dragon and in a calm place where there was no danger of being found by the FBI when they met you.

When Hannibal and Will first met you, they initially kept a cautious distance. Still reeling from the events with Abigail, they were reluctant to make room for someone else in their lives. However, over time, you proved to be a comforting and intriguing presence. It didn't help that you remembered her in some ways. Maybe it was your looks or your personality, but they couldn't help but find it refreshing and bizarre at the same time how much you reminded them of her.

As the days passed, you showed a unique understanding of the complexities of the human mind, something that fascinated them deeply. Your calm presence and ability to adapt to your surroundings intrigued them. Will felt comfortable around you, something few people had the ability to do and Hannibal found himself drawn to the way you thought more and more.

Your presence brought a sense of normalcy to them, something they had long lost. You brought a good feeling to them, something they had lost along the way. It was Hannibal who convinced Will to "adopt", to bring you to live with them. Will, although a little reluctant to take you away from your family, eventually accepted. That was how you became part of their family and they had no intention of letting you go.

Hannibal was the one who brought you in and Will covered for him. Although they wanted to make you part of their twisted family in a "normal" way, plans quickly changed. The initial plans were to get close to you and manipulate you, make you hate your family so that you would realize that they were the only ones who could truly care for you.

But when it became clear that you didn't seem to respond to the manipulations, they decided to take another course of action. During one night when you were walking alone, much to their disapproval, Hannibal quickly knocked you out and brought you with him. You would finally be safe with them. Will placed you on the bed prepared for you, covering you as he tended to your sleep.

You would have to accept your place quickly or there will be consequences. Hannibal is a psychiatrist, he knows that what they did can inflict trauma on you and he will be patient with you for as long as you need, but if you are too stubborn or don't respond to the mandatory therapy he will give you, he is not against using other means to make you accept your place.

Hannibal will try to be patient with you and he will, will tolerate stubbornness to a certain extent, as he understands that it may be due to the stress of being taken away from your old life, but if you are too stubborn and even rude, he will have to teach you good manners. Hannibal does not tolerate rude people at all.

Will is more compassionate towards you, he knows and understands that it may be difficult for you to accept this new reality, so he will try to be understanding with you and he is. Will will always be by your side and although it seems like a kind action to him, in reality it becomes overwhelming. There will be no privacy, because he wants to be close to you and he believes he is helping you by not letting go of you.

He will try to cheer you up, spoiling you and even making you escape punishments that Hannibal might try to apply to you. Will is no saint, but he cares about you, a lot, and he doesn't want to see you hurt, whether physically or emotionally, so he will try to help you as much as he can. But he has his limits and if you don't cooperate, Will won't interfere with Hannibal's punishments.

As the days passed, you found yourself trapped in this new reality, surrounded by Hannibal and Will, each with their own motivations and methods. Hannibal, with his sharp and manipulative mind, tried to shape your perception of the world and your own identity, while Will, with his peculiar empathy, sought to comfort you amid the chaos that had become your life. It wouldn't be long before you gave in to Hannibal's manipulations, he'll be sure of that.

They like to think that they are great parents to you, better than your family ever was. Hannibal and Will love to spoil you and take care of you, the former being the one who buys you the most material things and the latter being quite clingy. Do you want something absurdly expensive and ridiculous? You got it, but only if you are a good child to them.

You will follow the Hannibal diet and there are no arguments about it. If you are vegetarian or vegan, however, he will not force you to eat meat but he will try to induce you to do so. He might cook separate portions for you, but there's disappointment evident on his face. But if you eat meat, you will try his favorite delicacy, lamb. Will isn't exactly the biggest fan of Hannibal's eating habits, but he has no problem eating and is pleased to see you eat. It makes you more close to them when you eat human flesh, you know?

They are extremely overprotective and possessive of you and will not tolerate potential love interests. Hannibal doesn't believe there is anyone good enough for you and Will hates the idea of you being taken from them. Friends they can tolerate, but only if they are thoroughly analyzed by them and if they are a good influence on you.

Any injury that would be inflicted on you by someone, even if it is a chipped nail, will not be treated lightly. Hannibal will make sure whoever dared to hurt you is dealt with slowly and painfully and perhaps served to you later and Will will stay by your side, comforting you. No one can hurt you, no one other than them.

Once you became their child, someone they truly cared about, you would be doomed. They may care for you and even love you in their twisted way, but in the end, you will truly find yourself trapped. Hannibal and Will believe that the best way to take care of you is to keep you trapped, safe with them. And you can't run away because they will catch you and if that happens, you will never see the light of day again.

It's in your best interest to get used to them, to your new family. Hannibal has no problem breaking you down for this and Will will be there to pick up the pieces. After all, family always takes care of each other, right?

#nbc hannibal #hannibal #yandere hannibal #hannibal nbc #yandere hannibal lecter #yandere platonic hannibal lecter #yandere hannibal lecter x reader #yandere will graham #yandere platonic will graham #yandere will graham x reader #yandere hannigram #yandere hannigram x reader #yandere platonic hannigram #hannigram x reader #hannibal lecter x reader #will graham x reader #platonic yandere #yandere headcanons #headcanons

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bene-darkmans · 10 months

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the R+L=J reveal doesn’t matter to me anymore I’m Team the Jon Snow Psychological Stew that will be Ned Stark’s lookalike at Winterfell with the Catelyn Tully lookalike and feral red-haired Rickon in his father’s house where he never felt he belonged has his Stark impostor complex validated

"If you kill a man, and never mean t', he's just as dead," Ygritte said stubbornly. Jon had never met anyone so stubborn, except maybe for his little sister Arya. Is she still my sister? he wondered. Was she ever? He had never truly been a Stark, only Lord Eddard's motherless bastard, with no more place at Winterfell than Theon Greyjoy. And even that he'd lost. When a man of the Night's Watch said his words, he put aside his old family and joined a new one, but Jon Snow had lost those brothers too.

Every morning they had trained together, since they were big enough to walk; Snow and Stark, spinning and slashing about the wards of Winterfell, shouting and laughing, sometimes crying when there was no one else to see. They were not little boys when they fought, but knights and mighty heroes. "I'm Prince Aemon the Dragonknight," Jon would call out, and Robb would shout back, "Well, I'm Florian the Fool." Or Robb would say, "I'm the Young Dragon," and Jon would reply, "I'm Ser Ryam Redwyne."

That morning he called it first. "I'm Lord of Winterfell!" he cried, as he had a hundred times before. Only this time, this time, Robb had answered, "You can't be Lord of Winterfell, you're bastard-born. My lady mother says you can't ever be the Lord of Winterfell."

I thought I had forgotten that. Jon could taste blood in his mouth, from the blow he'd taken.

In the end Halder and Horse had to pull him away from Iron Emmett, one man on either arm. The ranger sat on the ground dazed, his shield half in splinters, the visor of his helm knocked askew, and his sword six yards away. "Jon, enough," Halder was shouting, "he's down, you disarmed him. Enough!"

Not being Ned’s son will hurt, not being Robb or Arya’s brother? That’s going to destroy his sense of identity more than anything else.

#jon snow #awow #winds of winter #asoiaf #r+l=j #robb stark #house stark #arya strak #king in the north #aegon vi targaryen #faegon #young griff

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earenwen-leafwhisper · 1 year

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Request Aemond Targaryen x chubby reader

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x chubby female reader

Abstract : Just Aemond being smitten by his futur wife

Disclaimer: this is the first time I write for Aemond so he can be a litle out of character. ( I’m watching House of the dragon again, so if I write for Aemond again, I’d probably write more easily) and English is not my mother tongue.

Aemond had always lived in the shadow, the shadow of the Tragaryen family and the shadow of his brother who would ascend the throne. He liked to think that it would satisfy him throughout his life. Although he found that Aegon would not make a good king, he would never be even if he forced himself.

Aemond always felt the most Targaryen, having had to fight harder than Aegon to whom everything was already due. He rode Vhaegar the greatest dragon living in Westeros, learned High Valyrian and so many other things.

He did not think that something could be missing, something so simple and complex at the same time. Once he became an adult, he understood it.

As the state of health of Viserys deteriorated and succession approached, the weight of alliances was to be tested, alliances led by force were not the most enduring, but those of more solemn unions lasted longer.

Missives had been sent to the noble and less noble houses furthest from the capital, those which had through the houses more important view imposed the choice of Rhaenyra as their queen. In his messages, he talked about marriage, whether it was with Aemond or one of the children of Aegon if the descendants of the houses were too young for a marriage. They would stop at nothing to secure Aegon’s ascension to the throne.

Several messengers had come to express the disagreements of the families they served. Other families, the less noble and most inclined to alliances had made the way.

For several months, young and old women, different from each other, were presented. Alicent ordered Aemond to be courteous with them, to be the most pleasant. Thing on the other side, the same instructions don’t last to be asked. One of the first lady was so intimidated by the prince that she dared not look at him, another much older than him had already married, and told him about her own first marriage rather than trying to get to know the prince.

The days were passing, the number of ladys was getting smaller and smaller, Aemond was tired of all this masquerade. The last one on the list, it was an update of the lover who was shaken by the very moment when they were alone, jumping around his neck, he had to fight to take her down and order a knight to take her out.

The same evening, a small carriage, simple, arrived in the courtyard of the castle, a small coat of arms Y/h/c was painted there. The members of the Y/h/n family, not wanting to disturb the royal family at such a late hour, asked to be taken to their quarters and only to warn them to arrive.

At the same time the Targaryens, took the meal in «family» so to speak, Viserys rested time although badly in his room, Aegon was drunk, Haelan in his own thoughts. Alicent worried about the future of his children, Otto spoke to a servant who had arrived a few minutes before. To finish Aemond, turned to the slightest suspicious noise, the image of the hysterical young woman came back to him and a chill crossed his back.

It was not until the next day that Aemond was freed from this fear. When he met Lady Y/n Y/h/n.

Their first encounters were framed by their respective mothers. The young woman’s mother was one of Alicent’s lady in waiting when she was pregnant with Aegon. Aemond posting back, looking with her purple eye Y/n, how, she remained silent watching their mothers talk. A sweet smile on his lips, he surprised himself to look away when she looked at him, his heart pulsating.

Y/n approached Aemond, neither too quickly nor too slowly or fearing to be in his presence, she was natural.

“It seems to me we haven’t introduced ourselves yet.” Y/n spoke in a soft voice, like when one person was talking to another scared.

Aemond looked at her from the corner of his eye, it was rare that anyone spoke to him in this way, his own mother had not used her tone of voice for as long as he remembered.

«I am Y/n of the house Y/h/n» She nodded slightly.

“Aemond…”

“I hope this day goes well.”

Aemond was astonished that the round young woman was gentle with him, looking at him even in «the eyes» and did not seem to be disturbed by the vision of his scar.

They sat in one of the corners of the room, chatting, Y/n asked him what he liked, what he thought of castle life, she was interested in him, and every question he answered Aemond asked Y/n the same question, or one that looked like it. He enjoyed learning about the young woman’s life.

The day passed quickly, too quickly for them. Aemond offered to escort Y/n, something in him didn’t want them to leave so quickly. He wondered when the door to Y/n’s room closed before him, what happened to him.

The more time passed, the more he found himself dreaming of the young woman, of wanting to be at her side. Every morning, he found her in the gardens, greeting her, at the time of the meals their mothers had made them sit next to each other. Aegon was happy to make fun of his brother, of how he behaved in the presence of Y/n. Aemond tried to remain calm in front of his brother, but Aegon’s taunting towards the weight of the young woman boiled Aemond’s blood. Aegon did not spank him with the intention of hurting the young woman, from the little he had seen her and talked with her, he had learned that royalty did not interest her, that she had come, because it was an opportunity for their mothers to see each other again. If he was teasing Y/n, it was to annoy Aemond.

More than once Aemond had found himself clenched fists, watching Aegon with his one eye. If they weren’t brothers, Aemond wouldn’t have been so held up.

It took only a month for their future marriage to be announced, ensuring a covenant that Alicent welcomed with open arms. For the house Y/h/n although native of Westeros it was established far from the continent since the conquest of Aegon the conqueror, having their own fleet of ship, marching and war, their own army. Relations between Westeros and this family remained courteous through their exchange of goods. But if a war were declared nothing would have prevented the whim of a future queen or king to want to conquer their lands. Now with the future marriage of Aemond and Y/n, this uncertain future became clearer.

Everyone liked to say that of the two future spouses, the most nervous was Aemond.

He had never felt such emotions in the presence of anyone. The only cloud on the horizon was not due to Y/n, but to himself.

Several months had passed, their bonds were forged from the hardest of metals.

Aemond was on Vhagar’s back that night, trying as much as he could to persuade him not to think about it. But Y/n had never seen a dragon since arrived, Aemond had asked Y/n to wait for him near the area where Vhagar was resting.

He came out of this trance when he felt Vhagar preparing to land. When he looked towards the ground, he saw Y/n with a guard, they were waiting in the background, the young chubby women, looking towards the sky. If he could be by his side at that time, he would see his eyes peeled and gleaming with the dragon’s vision.

At the moment when Aemond landed on the ground and saw Y/n a weight on his shoulders gone. Vhagar looked at his dragon boat, before observing the young woman. She uttered a dull roar, as if she had understood why Aemond was so nervous.

The guard left for the Red Keep, the moment he saw the two future spouses going off arguing among themselves, not paying any attention to him. Or even ordering him anything.

Y/n had placed his arm around Aemond’s, resting his head on his shoulder, they walked in silence, observing the starry sky. Aemond sighed, stopping their steps.

“Y/n… I didn’t tell you everything about myself”

“It’s nothing, we all have our little secrets.” Y/n was trying to comfort the young prince.

“Mine is not the size of a dragon.”

Y/n was intrigued, she calmly waited for Aemond to find his words. She put her free hand on Aemond’s chest, smiling gently.

He did not understand how Y/n, the sweet and busty lady, could accept to marry him. How she could make him feel both strong and weak, weak in the face of this fear that she would reject him for his missing eye.

“When I first rode Vhagar… that night I lost my eye.”

“Your mother is vaguely alluding.” Y/n’s voice was just a whisper.

“I fought with my nephews, after the insults…I had my eye punctured during our fight.” Aemond put his hand on his eye patch. “Since…I….”

Y/n put his hands on Aemond’s.

“You don’t have to do Aemond, you’ll do it when you’re sure.”

“I’d feel better if you knew everything.”

He removed his eye cover, revealing the stone placed on the spot of his missing eye, he closed his valid eye. Waiting for the reaction of Y/n, hoping that she would not react like the other young women of the court, although in his heart he knew that she was different in many ways.

Y/n observed the Sapphire, bursts of light passed through it and bounced, she could see the faint reflection of the stars. She stepped back, observing the face of Aemond, how his lips were pinched, how the smile he wore beside him was faded. She placed her hand on Aemond’s left cheek, caressing the contour of her scar with her thumb.

“You are so beautyfull.” His voice was just a whisper.

Aemond thought he had imagined, but when he felt Y/n’s lips resting on his cheek he opened his eye, looking at her surprised, stunned.

“It only increases my love for you.”

"Do you love me?" Aemond was surprised.

“Of course, idiot, I would never have agreed to join you if I didn’t.” She laughs, not to make fun of him, but of this situation.

Aemond stared at her, feeling light for the first time in his life. He smiled and kissed her. It was not a gentle, light kiss that anyone would imagine. But a kiss filled with frustration, envy and love, when their lips are connected, their teeth didn’t hit each other hard enough to hurt them.

If Aemond was sure of anything in his life, it is that he would do anything for her, if he should take the throne in her brother’s place he would make her his queen. Nothing and no one could separate them.

#request #First try #aemond x reader #Aemon targaryen x reader #Aemond x chubby reader #Aemond Targaryen x chubby reader #House of the dragon x reader

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vampire-wizard-solidarity · 4 months

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im thinking abt totk and skyward sword… in both games u have a beloved female character trapped in the past who needs to deliver a message to our hero in the future and so she makes a dire sacrifice in order to see this through… only when impa did it i actually felt something… AND they had the stones to make her sacrifice permanent (ie impa not only grows into an old woman but straight up dies at the end. or turns into dust at least. potato-potahto). there r just so many moments in totk that echo those in previous games without understanding why those story beats work. anyways the cringefail totk vs the chad skyward sword

so true!!

also part of the reason skyward sword works is it’s a much tighter story. it’s focused thematically and in terms of character, unlike totk which is all over the place with a ton of characters none of whom get any development despite supposedly playing large roles in the story and taking up enough screen time for you to be annoyed with the fact that you’re sitting through the same exact cutscene four times.

and on the topic of impa and zelda as parallel story beats in terms of time travel – impa’s sacrifice has something to say. she could technically just tell link everything he needs to know in the future, she could just time travel to said future and orchestrate events from there as her younger self (as she does), she could explain things to link directly – but she doesn’t, and that’s because of characterization. firstly, the reason she stays at the temple until she’s an old lady instead of just using time travel again is because she’s a devoted servant of the goddess: she’s not just there to wait for link (or zelda), she’s there to watch over the temple, too, she’s a religious servant not just for this one time, she doesn’t just serve link and zelda, she serves the goddess in all her forms.

secondly, the reason she doesn’t tell link everything is because she believes he needs to prove himself. this is another layered part of her characterization: we see her different relationships to other characters, with added complexity of the fact that we see two versions of her react to link: young impa at first regards him with derision, a distaste and harsh judgement of the fact that he’s not ready, he hasn’t proved himself as someone with enough power and skill to protect zelda. old impa similarly believes he isn’t ready yet, however her attitude in this belief is much more that of a wise old lady who kindly wants to see him mature, out of a belief in fate and worthiness coming with time. she won’t give him answers, however she will help him find them.

so, when these characterizations combine in her death it’s tragic but also beautiful: the reason she ultimately dies is because her duty has been fulfilled, and she believes that she is not fated to continue existing in this time, as her prime has passed and her jobs are done, she goes with the dignity of a wise servant.

zelda’s sacrifice, however. firstly it completely disregards one of her defining traits: her curiosity and love of research. rauru literally says that becoming a dragon is a last ditch effort and he believes that before that they must research and understand her power, at which zelda lights up, and yet we never actually see her attempt any of this research or mastering of her power. she seemingly becomes more powerful between cutscenes, yes, however there’s never a scene of her actually training, or trying to do any sort of research or brainstorming solutions. we were simply not shown that she’s exhausted every other option, we were not shown her use one of her strengths (her curiosity and intelligence) to solve the problem, she went with the first solution provided to her.

what does this do to her characterization? shows she’s devoted to link? she’s willing to sacrifice herself to save everyone? cool, nice. ignore all her complex characterization from botw to make her a typical perfect female character defined by her dedication to the male hero. thanks.

this kind of sacrifice could’ve worked hypothetically - if we were shown, for example, her trying and exhausting every other option it would’ve given this story beat a sense of desperation, tragedy (botw hits a similar beat). instead it’s just. underbaked.

it’s only made worse by the fact that the sacrifice is pointless in the grander scheme of things. you literally do not need the master sword to defeat ganon. skyward sword never had to encounter difficulties marrying its gameplay to its story because of its staunch linearity, and botw just? wasn’t stupid? like idk making zelda’s sacrifice be actually vital to the story and defeating the villain is such an easy task the only way i can explain this is the devs were dumb as rocks in trying to marry a more classic epic story with botw’s non-linear structure. like. the fact that you can just ignore all of that and defeat the villain anyway really undermines the story beat doesn’t it. in botw ignoring the main story and gunning it straight for the villain doesn’t really undermine the story, it just makes you see it through a different lens: zelda asks “do you really remember me?” and your genuine answer is “no”. isn’t that cool? isn’t that impactful in its own right?

totk just couldn’t reconcile any of its multitude of elements in a coherent manner. it’s just bad. it’s so shit i’m sorry i cannot write totk posts without devolving into a blubbering mess of “fuck shit fuck”

#ask #loz #botw #totk #sksw #breath of the wild #tears of the kingdom #skyward sword #legend of zelda #totk critical #i love skyward sword <3

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one-winged-dreams · 5 months

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Fucking LEAPS out of bed because I'm like 80% sure an actual old god just visited me in my dreams to try to romance me because I have NEVER felt that kind of love for someone in a dream EVER.

under cut for length

Like, in the dream, I was moving somewhere far away, to a different country, even, I think? And I went through the whole process of saying goodbye to my family, and then it cut to me looking around the, admittedly kind of spooky, new apartment complex I was living in. And I found a courtyard that was a liiitle bit neglected, but, like, in a maybe a couple months at the most kind of neglected.

There was this little vent-looking thing under the curb, and when I sat down on one of the benches for a while this black smoke started pouring out of it and a HORRIFIC fucking huge creature started pulling itself out, which looked very frantic because he was a BIG LONG MOTHERFUCKER.

He had like, a canine-ADJACENT (bc idk how to fuck to describe what kind of creature that skull looked like it was from) face, and then a fluffy mane with a couple eyes clustered around where the floof overtook the bone. And he was REALLY long. Like, not serpent-long but waaay longer than anything with that particular body shape should be. It was like a dragon body but with black fur of varying lengths. Also, he had a tail that was like, very out of focus in a really reality-warping sort of way, and eye-like shapes would flicker in and out.

And it was, by all means, the most terrifying sight I had ever seen in my goddamn life but there was no way I was gonna run past him so I just kind of sat there horrified and then like

He stopped thrashing about and started more DEXTROUSLY pulling himself out of the vent and telling me to not be scared, I was the prettiest thing he'd ever seen and there was no way he couldn't at least TRY to talk to me, seriously, I'm a god, don't you want to talk to a god?

But not at all in like a duplicitous or fae-trickery or anything way, it was legit like he was trying to rizz me up lmfao. And I was fucking STUNNED into being like "Are you serious?" "Absolutely, yes. Please, just sit with me for a little bit, I know I'm not easy on the eyes but you are SO beautiful."

And we talked and I was like "Oh my god he is actually really super hot, we are entering the monster fucker zone." and he was CUTE too. Definitely just some dude trying to slide into a pretty boy's dms. And then he went on about how he was just trying to see what sad motherfucker was making the vibes for his burial ground all mopey and then was like "WAHEY" and started trying to come onto me without even thinking about the semantics.

"Ohhh, I see how it is. You DEFINITELY already have a crush on me."

And I was embarrassed and hiding my face and blushing and saying that he was cute and I couldn't help it and he was very much pleased with this, saying "Good luck getting rid of me now, I'll romance you if it's the last thing I do." and then left

And there were several montages of us just being together and getting to know each other.

In one of them, I got confused and tried to open the wrong apartment door, and some drunk lady in her mid-20s came out and started yelling at me, and then tried HITTING on me. But then I felt this arm around my shoulder and look up to see this OBSCENELY tall super handsome goth dude smirk and be like "He's taken, thanks," and spin me around and escort me back to my apartment.

And in time it took me to put my stuff away and be like "Are you serious? Thanks, though," he was lounging on the couch in this very monstrous, like, half-human-half-god-form appearance, and I was blushing SO hard over it.

"Of course, I wasn't gonna let that slide."

And then we started CUDDLING on the couch, and I was extremely flustered but SO happy, and that was the part where I had never felt so in love with someone in my dreams before, and I was talking to him like "I want to take a few more steps," and he looked at me and was like "You don't have enough life in you right now for that, you're gonna have to wait a little more." "Are you really pay walling me right now?" "Just think of it as one of those pay-to-read so much per day romance webtoons."

And then after I expressed my disappointment, I woke up.

I don't remember him ever SAYING his name, but I know for a fact that it was Akingraeux

Idk man, I'm STILL flustered over it. You ever meet an elder god so thirsty for you that you can't NOT fall in love with him?

anyway

maybe

i'll do something with this

👉👈

#uhhhh that was long but goddamn #i'm feeling some type of way #the reveries of my mind

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kicktwine · 8 months

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Oh hey! Welcome to stormblood :D! So, how are your overall opinions of Heavensward now that you're one the cusp of new expansion?

Hello hello! /bow

I liked it!! I liked it quite a lot I think, but I definitely think the best parts were about the dragons (the first half of base expansion with Ysayle and then 3.2-3 with Nidhogg and Hraesvelgr and Estinien) (I got sad when we left Ysayle :( ) — which, admittedly, is probably because I really love dragons. But it’s also I think structured more engagingly, I was really interested in what everyone had to say and react to. I think I stopped to talk to almost everyone anytime I could, and I really want to remember to look at item descriptions because they have TEXT in them and sometimes they’re FUNNY.. The dungeons got progressively cooler too :D

I wasn’t quite as interested in the allagans this time (or the pope I kept forgetting about him— to be honest the ishgardian half of the story was really interesting as it contributed to the whole of the story, I love how the writers are handling the complexity of human conflict and rage thus far, but I found that chasing down the pope at the end took quite a while because we also had the scions stuff in there too, which was more interesting, and I think the amount of interest just conflicted with the pacing. If I look at Heavensward without the post patch quests it has very odd pacing but with them it’s perfectly fine.) (but also the — what’sit the whale primal trial — I’ve heard is disliked but I found it really really fascinating when I did it for the first time! Maybe because it’s novel) (and also while I LOVE the hand that gives the rose, I cannot get behind unbending steel. I can’t tell if people are joking when they say it’s one of the best songs. I don’t… like it, it sounds goofy to me), but that’s also just because Azys Lla is, all offense to allag, butt ugly?? The Crystal Tower is so pretty how did you create this narsty place. Bring me back to G’raha. I also think the interjections with the Ul’dahn syndicate early on were hit or miss entirely, sometimes very satisfying and investing and sometimes I just… I don’t like the wizard lady or her wizard hat.

anyways, Hilda is my new friend, I like her. I, um, don’t think I got as attached to haurchefant as many others did, but I appreciate how well-written a good death scene is, I do. And I really felt like we got to see way more (and deeper and better-articulated) character personality and interaction than we did in arr! I liked that!!! We had little flavor text jokes everywhere! I like my friends tataru and alphinaud and although I will have to decline Aymeric’s request for a date, I would love to hang out. I will be going on a date with Vidofnir. I want to see more of where dragons actually, like, live.

also both the “final battles” were very very cool. Like immensely cool I think I legit cackled to myself a couple times (hraesvelgr’s eye being one of them) thank u dragons everyone say thank you dragons. Also everyone say thank you to soken and uematsu. And the cinematic animators. And the fight designers. And

and — I’m not sure where post-heavensward stops and pre-stormblood begins, but I assume it ends with nidhogg and starts with the warriors of darkness? in that case I’ll hold my opinions of pre-stormblood since I’m not done. bless it for having alisaie leveilleur. goodnight

#gah I still haven’t gotten all the aether currents. Gah #play game #ask #anon #heavensward #heavensward spoilers #ffxiv #ffxiv spoilers #Also thank you to everyone who let me watch cutscenes and yell about revelations and things in party chat while in a dungeon!#i tend not to be talkative unless something happens in the story and then I have to comment on the cutscene. I hope it was funny and not #annoying somehow. even tho sometimes i took damage to type #anyways. Overall very positive feelings about heavensward! Im never allowed to look at media the same since getting a media related degree #but I’d love to do some of these dungeons again

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jokey05 · 17 days

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I don't know about DC's Dragon ladies being more complex in the 90s. That's when Shiva got on that "corrupt white heroes" kick starting with Chuck Dixon and when Jade nuked Qurac.

Sorry, my bad, I meant the 90s as in older comics, I chose that period because it's the middle ground for me in comics before the Great Edginess that came in the early 2000s. And yes, I still think that while very badly written, they were way more complex. Like I felt they at least were doing their own thing, instead now they ( Talia, Shiva, Shado, Chesh ect) are like the same character in different font. Most of the time in the modern comics they are just the ex/baby mama to go to when in needing of something "morally grey". And like they took their motivation, ideals and backstories and thrown them together. Shiva absolutely didn't want to be a mother and was way more on the side of good in her firts appearances, yet now she always loved Cass and lived in Asia, even if she was from Detroit (let's not talk about the whole David thing and how people treat it as consensual) , Talia who was in medical school and wasn't raised as an assasin is now the world deadliest woman. Shado, Who wanted to be a mother and raise her child in private, I think she was retired, basically turned into a Jade2.0.

Actually I think they all basically became Jade. Like the backstory was hers before. The struggle between her morals, wanting to live with her child but also being a danger, being raised as a weapon, all that was hers, but in modern comics all seems copypaste for these ladies. I think it is starting to get to Rose Wilson too. Like in a few years you will read how Lilith trained her to climb mountains since she was three.

Anyway, sorry for the long post, but I love my ladies so much, even with their messed up stories, and the modern narrative of "let's ignore everything this character has gone through in the past because I need them as a prop for one of the batboys" is really pissing me off.

#jade nguyen #talia al ghul #shado #lady shiva #sandra woosan #lian harper #rose wilson #dc comics

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strangest-loser · 2 years

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Thorns of War ~ Aemond Targaryen X Stark! OC

MASTERLIST

Prologue

Aemond Targaryen and Rheyanna Stark have been betrothed since the birth of the young northern rose to her father Rickon Stark, Warden of The North. They grew up apart, communicating only through letters, but when the young prince usurps the fierce and mighty Vhagar and loses an eye over it, Rheyanna’s Dire wolf Raksha comes to the young prince’s defence, nearly wounding Lucerys in the process, and she has a choice to make. Honour the pledge that her father made to bend the knee to Rhaenyra or honour the marriage she was promised to Aemond.

The halls of Winterfell were supposed to be silent that night, on any other night the last of the servants would be finished their duties, the guards would be diligently standing watch and Lord Rickon Stark would be in his chambers with his wife Lady Gilliane, pregnant with her third child now after their sons Cregan and Benjen. However, on this night there was no silence bleeding through the cold stone walls of the keep, there were rushing footsteps and hushed whispers, orders to move faster were drowned out by the strained cries and screams of the Lady Stark, for you see, Lady Gillane Stark was in labour with her third child, but the baby was coming too soon.

The pacing footsteps of Rickon Stark were quickly replicated by two pairs of smaller pacing feet following in his lead, all three Stark men anxious for news of the baby, or the mother, or anything, it had been hours now. No one was keeping track of the time but after what felt like an eternity the doors to the lords chambers burst open and the maester emerged looking relieved. “A daughter my lord,” he spoke with a drop of mirth in his voice, “Small and early, but healthy.” One would never have guessed that the news the maester had relayed was true. No cries rang through the room, the babe made no sound, the only way her father truly knew she was alive was the elated smile his wife wore as she held her little girl. Rickon let his strong hands caress his wife’s shoulders, an attempt to let her know how proud of her he was for enduring the complex labour and looked over her shoulders to gaze at the baby that was gazing back at him. Strong grey irises focused on the lords aging and greying features, the Stark eyes were accompanied by the brown hair of her ancestors as well as a healthy scarlet flush to the snow-white cheeks, she didn’t cry, the little lady didn’t have to, she merely observed the new world around her with careful, wise eyes. The silence began to fall across the keep of Winterfell as Lord and Lady Stark cuddled their children, a silence that was pierced by the cry of a wolf in the distance.

The following afternoon in the keep of Kings Landing, Queen Alicent Hightower sat fireside stroking the hair from the eyes of her baby Aemond, and Aegon and Helaena played at her feet. The doors burst open to reveal her husband, King Viserys smiling at his family while clutching a letter, the direwolf sigil decorating the broken wax seal. Words were not exchanged by the monarchs as Viserys handed off the letter to his wife in favour of picking up his oldest son.

‘Announcing to his majesty King Viserys I the birth of Lady Rheyanna Stark, Daughter of Lord Rickon Stark, Warden of The North.’

Alicent didn’t bother to read the rest, for she already knew the meaning of this letter and the gleeful look in the eyes of her husband. She simply sighed softly and smiled turning her gaze back to the babe in her arms, Prince Aemond Targaryen having not even reached his first name day was now betrothed to the Lady Rheyanna, The Northern Rose.

I’m back with some cheeky House of The Dragon content as this man has a choke hold on me and has ruined my life. Rheyanna’s direwolf Raksha is named after the wolf from the jungle book, this will make more sense in further chapters.

#aemond the kinslayer #aemond targaryen #aemond x y/n #aemond x reader #house of the dragon #stark oc

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poorshadowspaintedqueens · 4 months

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(Slightly Late) 2023 Fic Roundup Post

Like it says on the tin, about 24 hours late, but I wanted to wait until Yuletide reveals were up, since 3/4 of my fic output happened in the last two weeks of December.

Due to a case of writer's block that I just couldn't shake for most of the year, I finished only four fics in 2023 and made barely any progress on any WIPs. That being said, I did manage to write about 15k words of a separate book project that I am horrendously behind on, so there's that. Hopefully I can do more of both this year.

One standalone fic written for a Valentine's Day exchange:

The heart is an organ of fire (House of the Dragon, M) - How Rhaenyra Targaryen arrived at her sister-in-law’s funeral with one husband and left with another. Written for @crossingwinter.

***

And three for Yuletide:

A Wedding in Firenta for @iberiandoctor (Guy Gavriel Kay, A Brightness Long Ago) - “Was our last encounter at the Sardi wedding? Piero’s older son, in Firenta?” “Were you there? I forget.” The other man smiled. “No, you don’t,” he said.

Over the past year, I have been trying to catch up on various authors who have written new things that I missed. Thus, I ended up reading three new-to-me books by one of my all-time favourite authors, Guy Gavriel Kay. I had only read the first in the series when @iberiandoctor's prompt turned up on the Yuletide list and I took it on impulse, hoping to make myself write something. And I succeeded, go me!

***

The New Galatea for @edwardianspinsteraunt (My Fair Lady) - Eliza Doolittle departs. Henry Higgins tries to move on. Freddy Eynsford-Hill succeeds.

Every now and again, my brain tells me I want to do something with My Fair Lady. I don't know how old I was when I first saw it, but I have incredibly clear memories of dancing around as a 3-4 year old singing "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," and feeling very close to Eliza at least as far as her love for chocolates was concerned. But the ending never sat well with me. Higgins got off too easy. And while I wanted to write an enormous reworking that grappled with an Eliza whose family came from India and thus added another layer of complexity to the class dynamics already at work, I didn't have time for that, so I stuck to fixing the ending and restricted myself to a few oblique hints.

***

Pandora's Mirror for@chthonic-cassandra (Penny Dreadful) - Hecate Poole’s history was one of betrayal and blood, but her end, at least, would be her own.

I have been long overdue for a rewatch of Penny Dreadful and came across this prompt before I had time to start it. I am now 3 episodes into Season 2 and already have a small list of things I wish I'd done slightly differently in the fic, but I'm very pleased with how it turned out given how long it had been since I'd last watched the show. Hecate is one of those characters who spends a lot of time on the sidelines, at least in the first half of S2, before her own internal conflicts come to the fore, and I really enjoyed exploring what her history might have looked like.

#yuletide #fanfiction #house of the dragon #my fair lady #penny dreadful #guy gavriel kay

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eveenstar · 1 year

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Hello!! Glad to see new people in the fandoms (just saw the post abt GOT and house of the dragon)

Can I please request a soft scenario with Jon snow? He's angsty about being a bastard and the reader comforts him with hugs and kisses, saying how important he is to her and in general, that he's doing great and him being a bastard doesn't matter. Just fluff, seeing him happy is just so heartwarming idk

If you accept the request, thank you and know that i appreciate your work <3

Hello there! <3 Soooo happy you requested for Jon! I feel like we're in desperate need of more Jon content. This got a bit longer than I planned it to be but I hope you like it! Last year (when I first got introduced to GOT) I told myself I wouldn't write for the fandom because the characters were too complex but yelp, here I am.

Tags/Warnings: Angst, secret marriage, reader is referred to as a noble lady but you can imagine what house she belongs to. There might be some inconsistencies since it's been a year since I last saw the show so my bad!

The door slowly creaks open. The night had long ago fallen in Castle Black. Jon could barely make out the silhouette of the beautiful woman laying on the bed. He closes the door with a soft thud and his cloak falls to the floor.

There's a dark gloom over his face as he makes his way towards the bed - the one he'd often find empty up until a few months ago. Now, a beautiful young woman lays in it most of the nights, but not all, it was too much of a risk to have anyone suspicious of their marriage.

Jon pulls a chair over to her side of the bed, and he sits down. At first, he doesn't say anything as he doesn't want to disturb his wife's much needed rest, and also because Jon himself has no idea of what to say.

As if sensing her husband's troubled mind, (Y/N) rolls over in bed and looks at Jon with tired eyes and a sleepy smile, going as far as reaching for his hand to pull him into bed - when her invitation is left hanging, she realises something is wrong. "What's the matter, my love?"

The question is left out in the open for a few seconds before Jon looks away at the fireplace, as if pondering whether he should sleep off his feelings or admit them to his lady wife.

"I know that you're tired - but I need to talk to you, (Y/N). It's about our marriage." Jon begins, his tone heavy with worry.

The young woman slowly sits up and rubs off the sleep off of her eyes. "What about our marriage?"

"What I meant to say is..." Another pause, one that sends (Y/N)'s heart racing. He seems a bit anxious about what he's about to say - but he also seems resolute about doing so. That doesn't stop him from looking away. "You deserve better. A better...husband."

There it is, the truth. His wife's gaze hardens in worry, mind racing over everything they've been through so far. It didn't take her too long to put two and two together, and her gaze softened as did her voice.

"Because you're a bastard?" (Y/N) asks a question with the answer already in mind.

"Because you're a noble lady, (Y/N)," A forced smile plays in the corners of Jon's lips as he says this. He's always wondered how he managed to marry her at all, due to their differences. He looks down at the floor for a few long moments, his heart heavy. "And I am a bastard."

A soft sigh leaves her, "Jon..." She takes his head in her hands, gently cupping his cheeks. "You know I couldn't care less about your bastard status."

"I know, (Y/N)," He looks up at her as (Y/N) takes his face in her hands and cups his cheeks. He smiles at her - but this time it's not forced, but a genuine smile that's laced with both sadness and admiration. "I know. I just... I'm putting you at risk. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You could easily marry into a proper house with a good lord."

(Y/N) shakes her head in disbelief, as she has done the last time they had this discussion - which was the day they secretly married.

"Are you forgetting I am also married to you? I knew the risks when we said our vows." Her voice is stern, but her gaze is full of understanding and love. "We will be alright."

"Do you really believe that, (Y/N?" Jon asks quietly - though there's a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "I broke my vows for us. You're a noble who married a bastard of the Night's Watch - if the truth comes out one day-"

"I don't care what the realm thinks of our relationship." (Y/N) looks into his eyes, "No one will hurt you as long as I'm around." (Y/N)'s thumbs caress the sides of his cheek. "What brought up all this, hmm?"

Jon meets (Y/N)'s eyes, and he takes a deep breath. If he could - if the world was kind - he'd lean against his wife's touch and never leave. No more Night's Watch, no more wars, no more fighting... just her.

"I married you. You're a nobleborn, and I'm just a bastard. When I look at you..." Jon takes another deep breath, his voice a bit heavier with emotion. "...you make me wish that I was better."

"You think you're just a bastard?" There's a hint of sorrow in her voice as she repeats Jon's words. The lady was well aware of Jon's thoughts about being a bastard and also his tendency to pretend he had made his peace with it, but she knew the man she married. Hells, she might even know him better than she knows herself.

"Isn't that what I am?" Jon asks quietly. He looks at (Y/N) again as if he was looking for reassurance. "I'm not a Stark, not by name. I don't have any titles, like all of the other men in this world. I don't have a family name - just Snow. I'm just a bastard (Y/N)."

She sighs with a frown in her features. (Y/N) hates when she hears her husband speaking so low of himself, something she's been trying hard to correct.

Jon avoids her gaze altogether as he continues to speak. Though he can admit he feels like there's been a weight taken off of his shoulders as he does so. "Eddard raised me with many ideals - honour, honesty, loyalty. He taught me the customs of the North and about the history of our family. But he never talked about being a... well, a bastard, my love. He never told me how to deal with it... how to be a... to know that you don't belong."

"Mmm." (Y/N) hums, acknowledging his words. She pushes a few strands of his hair out of his face. "And yet you're far more honourable than any of them." Another smile plays in her lips, "I would take you over any trueborn man any day."

Jon's heart flutters at her words, yet he continues to look down at the floor, shaking his head in what could be resignation. "You can be honest with me, my love. You can tell me that you've always wanted a trueborn husband and not a bastard of the North."

"All I want is you." (Y/N) replies, "You're the one I want to wake up with," She rests her forehead against his, "Is that too much to ask for?'

Jon's eyes are filled with remorse as he gains the courage to finally look at his wife's face and takes in her features as a breath of fresh air. If the world was truly just and fair, he would deserve her. He just wished that the pain he had to go through in this world - the pain of feeling like he had to prove himself over and over again - would go away. He wished that he could truly be better so that he could one day be the man that (Y/N) deserves to be married to.

"Now, why don't you come to bed? Tomorrow I'll make you a family cake recipe." (Y/N) adds with a playful smile as she pats the side next to her in bed.

His wife's smile is enough to convince Jon, as it had always been. It was with a smile that he fell in love with her, and it was also with a smile that she convinced him to marry her. Jon climbs into the bed and wraps an arm around her.

"Yes, I would love that."

Jon has been a part of the Night's Watch for years - but it's only here, now, that he finally feels at home for the first time ever since he arrived at the Wall. If the Gods are fair, Jon and (Y/N) will go live to her family's homestead, far, far away from the problems of the Seven Kingdoms.

#fun fact this was originally written for my oc #jon snow x reader #jon snow #game of thrones #game of thrones x reader #game of thrones x you #jon snow x you

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the-ninja-legacy-whip · 9 months

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After Garmadon gets purified, what's everyone's reactions to him? I'm pretty sure lots of people are going to be confused, and the general public's not going to be too happy about him obviously, but what does the Order of Ouroborous think of him? Do they want to arrrest him? Do they know Koko and Gaarmadon are married, or will they learn it later on? Speaking of the Order of Ourobouros, how, when, why were they formed? Also is the order of Ourobourous allies with the Ninja, or are there going be... let's say 'conflicts of interest' between the order and the ninja.....mhmhmmmm so excited for more order of ourobourus crumbs!

After Garmadon gets purified, what's everyone's reactions to him?: Conflicted. Goes for...just about everyone.

What does the Order of Ouroboros think of him? Do they want to arrest him? - It's also complicated, given the...history. But, they currently do want him in chains given that he is actively trying to destroy cities, take over the world, and annihilate teenagers lmao

(And there's the whole thing about him wanting to reintroduce the Elemental Compass back to the public, freeing the truth yadda yadda...but, too bad that is currently the Order's number one duty to not let happen. ...And then there's Koko's complex feelings on that.)

Do they know Koko and Garmadon are married, or will they learn it later on? - OH DONT WORRY THEY ARE WELL AWARE

Speaking of the Order of Ourobouros, how, when, why were they formed? - Spoilers (but we learn this very very very VERY early in S2)

Also is the order of Ourobourous allies with the Ninja, or are there going be... let's say 'conflicts of interest' between the order and the ninja..... - Definitely Conflicts of Interest...but they have their moments of allyship. Especially once Lady Iron Dragon drags herself into the middle of it all.

mhmhmmmm so excited for more order of ourobourus crumbs!: Crumbs? They're about to be half the plot! Y'all bout to get yourself a whole loaf!

#wu: patience...#jay voice: never heard of it #wu: please don't paraphrase my mom #ninjago #the lego ninjago movie #tlnm #info tag #book 3 #order of the ouroboros #lord garmadon #koko garmadon

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lairofdragonagelore · 1 year

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Andrastian Design: Tapestry and Tryptich

Even though there is tapestry of each cultural group all over DAI, it’s common to associate tapestry with Ferelden mainly. In game we mostly find in Ferelden houses some of these Tapestries, that like the Stained Glasses of the Chantry, narrate the story of Andraste.

The main reason why I assume these are Ferelden-made is basically because, 1) we find them always inside houses and castles of Ferelden, and 2) by analysing their frame, they are associated with the Ferelden Wyvern.

The frame

Fist of all, let’s see the details of the frame: They are decorated with a beautiful colourful complex set of patterns: dots, geometrical lines, circles, swirls, half-circles, and star-like figures compound it.

On the top corners we find two different kind of owls.

Owls have always been part of Ferelden design because they belong to their alamari heritage, given the important role that the Lady of the Skies [represented as an owl too] have in the alamarri/avvar religion. Since they are also quite close to spirits, I would not be surprised if these owls are also a link to the Elvhenan [we know that a curious pair of birds can be found in the Hidden Armoury [Elven mountain ruins] and there are many owls in Skyhold [specially in the front gates and in the basement library that may or may not be related to the ancient elvhen presence in it] as well as in the Inverted Ward.

In the lower part of the frame, we find a Ferelden Wyvern, which are represented in several places throughout DAI. They are related to a non-official folktale of Andraste that we find in one of the books of World of Thedas. The tale is quite meaningless and shallow [more details in Crestwood]. This detail is the main reason why I think these tapestry are strongly Ferelden made.

The Story of Andraste

1-Unknown Event

The first of all these tapestries is the one most difficult for me to understand. Based on the Chant of Light, it may represent the dark times alamarri were living; most of their territories were invaded by Tevinter, their resources were stolen and their people were kidnapped and turned into slaves. These strange harpy creatures may be a rare representation of Tevinter preying on Alamarri [it’s very strange since Tevinter is always represented with a snake or a dragon]

On the other hand, we see two bridges and a big elevated structure that makes me remember Ostagar, which was a Tevinter structure to keep the Chasind away from the invaded regions of Ferelden.

Another interpretation is that this may represent the Golden City of the Maker, desecrated with the entrance of the Magisters. We have to remember that Andraste’s Tale comes half a century after the end of the First Blight. Still, it’s a weird representation since it’s not a floating city in the air, but a fortress in an island, with access through bridges, and there is water bellow.

We also know that by that time, Andraste called the Alamarri gods for help, but they remained silent [meaning, neither the Lady of the Sky, nor Korth, nor Hakkon answered her] and this scene may represent the despair that such situation may have caused.

Finally, as a last interpretation, this structure may be Kinloch Hold, where the current circle of Magi of Ferelden is located. The original construction was built by the Avvar with some help from dwarves. It served as a fortress and a watchtower and was long considered impregnable until the Tevinter Imperium drove the Avvar from it in a brutal campaign. Maybe this image represents Kinloch Hold but surrounded by harpies and despair due to the lack of answer of the gods while the avvar were attacked by the Tevinter forces.

In any case, I can’t totally trust 100% any of these interpretation. The drawing is very strange for the lore we were given.

2- The Maker speaks to Andraste

Without the answer of her gods, Andraste roamed the forest of Ferelden until the Maker appeared. Here we can see once more the figure of a man, without face, covered from toe to head, only wearing a crown. He is presented with a glow of green and golden, making his connection to the Fade a bit subtler in this drawing than in the Stained Glasses.

His veil has a pattern of what I think it’s a rose or a flower with vines, but sadly it’s not easy to see the details. I could not find a better quality image for a decent zoom-in.

Over him, we see the moon with three borders, and I can’t avoid making a connection with the murals of Solas [Murals in DAI] where the Veil is represented with thick borders. This is very curious because in the other tapestries the moon appears like a normal element in the drawing, so this representation emphasises to the Player [not to the people inside Thedas] that there may be some special relationship with the moon. It’s also worth noting that the moon has a yellow/golden border same as the figure of the Maker, and golden decorations are usually related to godhood [at least inside the elvhenan context].

This scene represents the verses of Andraste 1 [Chant of Light - Part 1] where the Maker claims that the world has forgotten him, and invites Andraste to join him to the Golden City and leave the sorrow behind, but Andraste asks him to forgive humanity. He accepts, promising his return if his children listen to her.

3- With Maferath, Andraste leads the Exalted March against Tevinter

Here, Andraste and Maferath lead an Exalted March against Tevinter in order to spread the word of the Maker and stop Tevinter oppression all over the alamarri lands. We see in this tapestry several alamarri warriors using a shield with the symbol of the Sun and hilts with wolf/mabari shapes. Again, the mabari is a Ferelden icon, while the Avvar prefer the wolf, since it’s an animal of freedom and not tamed as the hound [A Plea from the Warrior to the Spirits]. Depending on how we perceive the alamari around Andraste, this hilt can be also a subtle elvhen symbol of rebellion. I insist in relating the Avvar/alamari with the elvhen simply because their perception of the world of the spirits gave them similar wisdom than the Elvhenan.

Andraste is also wearing her typical one-spiked crown. Behind her we can see Maferath. She and Maferath wear a common element: a series of golden tiles around their chest or veil to emphasise the link they have: they are the leaders guided by divine words in this “divine” march against Tevinter.

Also, notice how different the moon is represented in this tapestry in comparison with the previous one.

4- Andraste fights in Tevinter territory

This seems to be a depiction of a battle close to Minrathous. The background shows typical Tevinter buildings. On the left side of the tapestry we can see Tevinter warriors being killed by arrows [probably a subtle calling of Shartan presence], while Andraste, as a [superheroe] warrior, jumps in the air.

Behind her, we see a lightning and a dark cloud, suggesting three potential things: when we read about the role of Shartan and the elves, their contribution is usually described as the responsible for creating “dark clouds of arrows that fall upon the enemy”.

The other interpretation, more andrastian, is that the Maker presence is there, helping them in battle. Finally, in the last interpretation, this cloud may be a representation of Andraste’s magical powers [in DAO we have the icon of Tempest looking similar to this: clouds and lightnings]. There is a glowing circle behind her face similar to the moon in the previous tapestry. These details may reinforce the idea of Andraste as a prophet of the Maker, or as a mage [specially if we read about her childhood with that strange episode of her half-sister dying in a fire, in the middle of the forest, implying that Andraste may have lost control of potential magical powers or was possessed by some spirit; the interpretations of this vague episode can go wild].

On the right side of the tapestry, I can see a statue that I suspect is of Nevarran origin [Egyptian-like design], meaning this battle may have been close to the borders of Tevinter and Nevarra.

Again, like in the post of Stained Glasses, I don’t find a particular group of verses where Andraste narrates her movement across Ferelden, the Waking Sea, and Nevarra to attack Tevinter lands. The closest verse to this action is in Shartan Verses [Chant of Light - Part 2] but also historical battles are implied in Hymns and Transfigurations [Chant of Light - Part 1] where Andraste prays to the Maker before heading to combat. It is curious that there is no verses about the “travelling” part of Andraste and her armies, not even when crossing the Waking Sea and Nevarra in which land there are some tales going on as we saw in Emprise du Lion: Pools of the Sun with her supposed Nevarran disciple/lover Hector. In fact, in this local tale, the event of the betrayal is placed there, in Nevarra and not in front of Miranthous ready to lay a siege [hence my complete confusion about where exactly this betrayal happened, and if any siege to Miranthous truly happened].

5- Andraste is handed over to Tevinter

In this scene we see when Maferath hands over Andraste to Tevinter. Since in the previous tapestry we see hints of Nevarra, and then we have this tapestry of the betrayal, we can assume that the tapestries narrate Andraste’s story in a way that makes Hector easy to be included [check Emprise du Lion: Pools of the Sun], while the Stained Glasses seem to remove any presence of Nevarra in her story. But the Stained Glasses have the presence of Shartan, which has been completely erased in these tapestries, making me suspect that maybe these tapestries keep the tale of Andraste with a strong Ferelden vision, probably closer to the most ancient versions of her tales [likely before the Long Walk of the free elves to the Dales, time when the tale of Shartan appears as we saw in The Chantry and the Mythology of the Chant of Light].

Here, we see Andraste being held by two Tevinter guys who look very evil. Like in the Stained Glasses, Havard is not here either. According to the Chant of Light, The Aegis Havard was supposed to be here, and unable to fight his Lord Maferath as well as to hand Andraste over to Tevinter, he puts himself in between Andraste and the evil Tevinter and ends up deadly wounded [Chant of Light - Part 2].

In the shadows, representing the secret arrangement, we see Maferath giving a handshake to Archon Hessarian.

Behind them, a snake passes by: it has the tip of the tail golden, continues black, and then it turns out white. I’m not so sure if this means the transition of Archon Hessarian, from worshipping Old Gods, to kill Andraste, and then repent and became an Andrastian follower himself.

In the background, we see more Tevinter buildings with “evil” red glowing windows.

The moon has a similar style to the one we saw in the tapestry with the Maker, but its borders are smudged. The colours seem to be the same ones but desaturated and muddy.

I’m not sure if this represents some “lack of presence of divinity” since Andraste’s golden tiles are also hidden below her hair, giving the idea that the Maker abandoned her. She is not wearing her typical one-spiked crown either.

This tapestry represents the verse of Apotheosis 1 [Chant of Light - Part 2].

6- Andraste is killed

In the next tapestry we see the public execution of Andraste in a pyre. The background shows Tevinter buildings, suggesting this is Minrathous.

On the left we see Havard, the avvar warrior who is wearing a klimt-yellow robe. He is looking down, lamenting this situation. He is not “deadly wounded” as the Chant says. It seems that in this Ferelden version, Havard never was in the moment Maferath hands over Andraste, so he appears safe and sound at the moment of her execution.

Close to Havard, we see a woman, kneeling as she cries, that maybe is Justinia, the original one. I guess this because it makes not much sense to add a random woman in this scene; all the characters present in this image have a relevance in the story of Andraste.

There is also a Tevinter man in black robes who also seems sad about this execution [Is this Trefir? the Archon’s slave who left Tevinter carrying the Sword of Mercy and was supposed to found the Blades of Hessarian?, more details in “The Chantry and the Mythology of the Chant of Light”]. I’m surprised of seeing another “sad Tevinter” considering this is made by Ferelden and one would expect a more anti-tevinter propaganda.

In the centre we see Archon Hessarian, wearing a white robe, the same white that Andraste. This is very unusual given the typical dark outfit of the high hierarchy in Tevinter, so I’m inclined to interpret his figure here as “a purification” that the Archon experienced when he killed Andraste out of Mercy. If Andraste was purified by fire, the Archon was so by his merciful act. Again, a veeery rare representation of Tevinters, specially coming from a Ferelden source. As the Chant claims, he is sinking his sword in Andraste’s heart to give her a merciful death.

In the pyre, Andraste’s bleeds to death, tingeing her hair of red too. she still wears a minimal line of golden tiles.

On the right side of the tapestry, we see Maferath, leaving the scene with some facial gesture of regret, while holding in his hand a crown, that may represent the Maker, as if “he removed the Maker influence in this story”, or more likely, to “recover” his leadership of the alamarri.

I think this crown has one longer spike, so it may be Andraste’s crown, but it’s not the same crown that Andraste uses in previous tapestries, so the interpretation is a bit more loosely. Ferelden art depicts Andrates’ crown in very different ways.

The verse that this tapestry represents is Apotheosis 2 [Chant of Light - Part 2].

7- Andraste ascends

Here we see the ascension of Andraste to the Maker’s side. Also, notice that this tapestry shows a normal moon too.

The background displays two tree, one of them looking a bit like a thorny vine. There is a sky full of stars. An intense white light wraps her and makes her raise. She is wearing white, implying how the fire purified her. Below her, we see Maferath and Archon Hessarian, surprised.

The verse represented in this image is the last part of Apotheosis 2 [Chant of Light - Part 2].

8-Havard takes Andraste’s ashes

In the last tapestry, we see Havard, wearing this iconic klimt-yellow robe, carrying Andraste’s ashes in the night, leaving Miranthous/Tevinter. We will know later that he went to the Frostback Mountains to build Haven, founding the Temple of Andraste that later will be developed into the Disciples of Andraste.

The verse represented in this image is the last part of Apotheosis 2, [Chant of Light - Part 2], even though it is curious that the Chant claims that Havard was healed by the ashes of Andraste, while we see in the tapestries that he was not even hurt. It’s also curious he looks more like a mage [yellow robe and staff] than an avvar warrior.

Many of these tapestries, including this one, display small lines of green in the scenery as if it were mist, but they give an eerie feeling to the drawing, almost a subtle Fade-y effect.

The Orlesian Triptych

Why do we assume this is Orlesian? Simple: it’s not only over elaborated, it has a Quincunx design in it [more details below] which is present in the Orlesian design of rugs,

and has the typical triangular face of Orlais, that may represent Andraste [we find it in many sculptures of Orlais], Celene or Drakon’s Heraldry. I cannot point out exactly who is this triangular face, but all these options look reasonable in my opinion.

The Orlesian triptych is focused on the execution of Andraste and her later ascension.

At the top we see three iconic symbols in circles: in the centre, below the Orlesian face [or Drakon’s heraldry, I never know], we find a circle depicting the Golden City. At the right side, the typical icon of the six snakes with that little polygon in the middle, which used to be the typical symbol to represent Tevinter in a more “arcane” way [ check Nation Art: Tevinter].

On the left side, we find a simplification of a Ferelden symbol we found in Nation Art: Ferelden, which shows a face crying. I assume this is a representation of Andaste’s face in a Ferelden style or a vestige of a Sun-based religion before the alamarri trinity religion.

As apparently Orlesian design implies, the triptych shows the 3/4 of a Quincunx, completing the fourth circle on Andraste’s heart. Therefore, the middle of the complete Quincunx would show the face of Andraste wearing her typical spiked crown. The Quincunx has been quite a repetitive element in DAO, being forgotten in later games. In DAI we only see it in Solas’ Tarot Card, and in some Orlesian designs that are seen in the concept art but not inside the game so far I’ve seen.

Below the Ferelden symbol, we see Maferath. He is wearing a crown of three spikes, a bit squared. He can’t see the light that Andraste radiates. Ironically, he is drawn in a more darker and evil way than the Archon, which is surprising for me, since Orlais did not show a strong negative sentiment towards Maferath as Ferelden does [in the Hinterlands, we see in very raw sculptures the strong rejection that Ferelden has towards him in general]. Instead, I was expecting Orlais, headquarters of the Chantry religion, to be more negative towards Tevinter because their Imperial Church.

Below the symbol of Tevinter, Archon Hessarian looks at Andraste, unbothered by the radiance, ready to use the sword as we can see his hand ready, close to the hilt of the sword at his waist. A white snake is surrounding him, probably as a symbol of his change of heart that gave him some level of “cleansing”.

The two panels are separated by a sword that lays over the burning body of Andraste: this is the Sword of Mercy that we see in many other pieces of art. Curiously, it’s the same sword that the Tevinter Warrior holds in the statues Female Kossith/ Desire demon /Tevinter Warrior which decorate the columns of the Imperial Highway. This makes me suspect, in combination with such a positive view over Tevinter elements, that maybe this triptych is older than i expected, maybe older than the Schism of the Chantry. However, we have no information to confirm or debunk it, sadly.

When we open the Triptych, we can see Andraste, purified [wearing white] and the sun behind her.

This figure is a copy of the tapestry of the ascension of Andraste: I mean, from a design point of view, the designer copy-pasted the same Andraste and altered it a bit, meaning that one of these pieces of art if the copy of the other.

On the left, we see the Ferelden side: Maferath is kneeling down, defeated, regretful, with his crown on his lap.

The Chantry hierarchy can be easily seen here represented by the three people lamenting Andraste’s death and looking down at Masferath: Sister/Brother and revered Mother.

Beside Andraste, we see the “white” Divine, the Divine with main residence in Orlais.

On the right, we have the Tevinter side, mirroring the left side: we see that Archon Hessarian is on the ground, regretful, in similar position to Maferath. He, as well as Maferath, wears a red cord in his head that was not present in Maferath’s head in the previous image. I don’t know what it could mean, since it stands out a lot in the drawing of dark and white colours.

Behind him, we see a group of Tevinters that I assume belong to the hierarchy of the Imperial Chantry. Just by the outfit, we can see a magister, and probably a Revered Father and a sister.

I assume this one marked in the image is the magister simply because he wears similar to the Magister Erasthenes that we meet in Orlais: Shrine of Dumat.

Beside Andraste, if I’m not mistaken, we can see the “Black” Divine, the imperial Divine. The curious helm he uses reminds me a lot of the mysterious symbol we found in Hinterlands: The Unknown Ruin.

Now, this Triptych is astonishing and mega-surprising for the presence of the Imperial Chantry in equality to the Orlesian Chantry, “Black” Divine included, since he’s considered a “false” divine. So, I think that this triptych, usually seen in Orlesian places, is quite subversive. I’m sad we don’t have much information about who painted it and when, because, again, to place the Imperial church in the same level than the orlesian Chantry, mirroring it no less, it’s very, very strange.

#andraste #andrastian design #maferath #hessarian #archon hessarian #chantry #chant of light #sword of mercy #ferelden design #Ferelden Wyvern #owl #Quincunx #the sun symbol

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