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forlorn-crows · 2 months

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Just wanted to say I absolutely LOVE Lady of the Lake and I've reread it so many times that I should be lowkey ashamed haha BUT

I'm also very curious about Nyneve's interactions with other ghouls like Delta or Dew. How did Dew find her?

You can absolutely take this as an opportunity to ramble about it if you want :)

okay so. i admit that technically the ghoul i call Water in my fic i guess is Delta? im terribly bad at tracking who's who in the water ghoul 'lore'. but Terzo called his bass player before Mist 'Water' so thats what i went with. so please call him whatever you'd like lmao.

for anyone who needs a refresher, this is sort of all i've established about Nyneve's past interactions w/ghouls or otherwise:

Uh, how long has it been? Since you’ve met a ghoul, I mean. Rain isn’t sure what to do with himself—what to do with his hands, his limbs, any of it. He dangles in front of her like a worm on a lure, and he supposes he is one, in a way. A slice of life outside the murky waters she inhabits. But he knows he’d be her catch of the day, not the other way around.

Many years, Nyvene says wistfully. I can sense those who venture into the water at any depth, as well as those close to the shore. But the ones who seem most closely aligned to you have never traveled as far as yourself. They were surface dwellers. Rain gives her a confused look. Not all are drawn to the depths, and that is perfectly fine for a being such as myself. But I did begin to wonder who would come next.

Dew had been telling the truth, then. Who was before me?

His name was simply Water. He was quite robust in his search, perhaps a little impatient. But he was kind to me. So I cannot fault him too much. She seems wistful, reminiscent. Rain realizes he doesn’t know much about the water ghouls before him and Dewdrop, let alone any of the ghouls that came before their current pack.

How many before him?

Many, she says simply.

Rain swallows, more bubbles escaping his gills. How, uh—how old are you, exactly?

Hm, age is a funny thing. That can’t be good. I have existed for a long time, longer than your congregation.

So, we didn’t, um, create you?

No, my child. Though, the dark magick running more frequently through these lands has been . . . refreshing, to put it simply.

You’ve always been here? In this lake, I mean.

Well, as long as I can remember, yes. She chuckles.

so, you'll notice, and as a gentle reminder, Dew and Mist did not interact with her. to me, they are not a deep-water alignment as Rain is. that's not to say Dew never meets her. because he does. but he didn't interact with her prior to Rain.

i think water ghouls, and ghouls/demons in general, have more specified alignments within the elements they are 'made' of/from. just water itself can be saltwater, freshwater, deep sea, rivers/streams, storms, ice, and things of the like.

so not all of them will have desired to go to the bottom of the lake (i think its pretty deep, think some of the deeper american great lakes depth despite its overall size). the elder ghouls may have passed down the knowledge about her, and some, like Water i think, dont. maybe theyre a little selfish about her, feel like theyve been 'chosen' and that everyone else should have to discover her too. with Water (again, Delta, w/e), it was turbulent with the new summonings, the changing of ghouls and even elements. there simply wasnt time to be like 'oh yeah also theres a big tentacle lady in the lake if you want to have a fun time' you know? not his fault.

so Nyneve's def had a relationship with many a ghoul, but it hasnt been linear. it hasnt all been water ghouls either, but i think the interaction of other elements has come and gone throughout time. i havent decided if any of the 'more recent' ghouls beyond the others mentioned have met her, or just know of her.

certainly there'd be urban legends passed around amongst humans that live in the surrounding areas, so they may have heard about something in passing. esp if any of those humans happened to become siblings of the church. but humans that do know of her have never truly known who she is, and mainly just call her varelse, creature. a monster.

the poem at the end you may have noticed uses her real name, Nyneve. so we can assume someone more personally familiar with her wrote it. scribbled it in some tome somewhere about local myths and legends, or historical drafts about the abbey itself.

she's very mysterious and not even i know everything about her, haha! dark magick gone rougue, some creature that crawled up from the depths, or something created by some long forgotten god.

all this to say, Rain had to introduce Dew to Nyneve. once he got over the fact that he'd have to tell everyone else about her, considering hed come home with sucker marks all over with no real logical explanation. i think Mountain is the first one he tells, but Dew is the first one he introduces.

i really appreciate that you enjoy LOTL so much; apologies for taking a little bit to answer this, but thanks for stopping by xx

if you havent already read about Nyneve and Rain, and this sparks your interest, you can do so here:

⋆｡˚🪼🫧˚｡⋆｡˚🪼🫧˚｡⋆｡˚🪼🫧˚｡⋆｡˚🪼🫧˚｡⋆｡˚🪼🫧˚｡⋆｡˚🪼🫧˚｡⋆｡˚🪼⋆

#ask #anon #lady of the lake #rain ghoul #water ghoul #delta ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #ghoul ocs #(not really but thats my general tag so far)

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athamad · 8 months

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Arthurian ask: What is YOUR headcanon about the Lady/Ladies of the Lake? Like, was she bien a human or not, how many Ladies are there, her/their names, personalities, religious role (or lack thereof) relationship with the other main power players in the story (Merlin, Morgan, Arthur), which one does each thing: owing Excalibur, raising Lancelot, learbing from Merlin, killing him, the whole poisoned apple thing, carrying Arthur to Avalon alongside Morgan, getting Excalibur back... it's like, many authors, storytellers & filmmakers have given different answers to these questions, and that's why Bernard Cornwell's terryfing yet alluring Nimue is so different from Persia Woolley's lovely Nimue, or Tennyson's evil Vivien or the majestic screen portrayals of Anjelica Houston or Miranda Richardson. Thx

They're just nymph-like women in my opinion(Nimue already has many parallels with Thetis). I feel like there are many ladies of the lake (l hc Lancelot had 3 moms) because Vivien having so many names is just... Stupid. My headcanons are: Vivien looks like a woman in her 60s-70s, was the First Lady of the lake and is the murderer of Merlin, Nimue looks like a woman in her 30s and is the one who gives Excalibur to Arthur and is the mother of Lancelot with two other ladies, l feel like all the ladies helped Morgan out while carrying Arthur to Avalon, cause you know, they helped him and stuff... So basically, Vivien: the bad one but the first Lady, Nimue: The better one, that's it.

#arthurian #arthurian mythology #arthurian legend #arthurian literature #arthuriana #king arthur #arthur pendragon #morgana la fey #merlin #excalibur #lady of the lake #nimue #vivien #anon ask #ask response #ask #anon

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lumism · 2 years

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elmax or ronance as damie 👁️

YES i made a post about the ronance version once (with will and el as miles and flora) but elmax omg! except that would mean that mike dies😔 in a ronance version though, i think instead of steve or jon dying it also works if nancy got engaged to steve, but barb is in love with her and she basically tells comphet lesbian nancy that it's ok to stop pretending; but it results in a fight and barb getting out of that car and.... well. and then nancy breaks off her engagement and comes to bly to fight her demons (homosexuality)

#nancy survives bc she takes one look at the lady of the lake and then shoots her with her gun #anyways >:-) i am making a moodboard now #ronance #anon #snail mail #txt

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hanzajesthanza · 2 years

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Sending for the “thoughts on __” ask meme! Dunno if you've written about this before, but what are your thoughts on Geralt's and Cahir's relationship?

overall: cahir is the lancer of the five-man band, a foil to geralt, the leader. geralt's bitter age is contrasted with cahir's naive youth. we can even see it in their white/black hair. they both initially wished to do good and be heroic, as geralt wanted to save people from monsters (see voice of reason part 4) and cahir wanted to win honor for and defend his family (see lady of the lake chapter 9) but they quickly learned this world is not one for a hero.

they both embody nobility and are two different inversions of the idea of a 'knight in shining armor' - this is even more apparant when geralt is knighted by queen meve, and also they arrive in toussaint and geralt begins to spend time with reynart.

in baptism of fire: i love their rocky, difficult relationship. i love how bloodthirsty and antagonistic geralt is towards cahir throughout the book because of how they become 'brothers in arms' (as in the dire straits song, as quoted by sapkowski at the beginning of the book) in the end. but it makes me love geralt for his defense of ciri, still seeing cahir as a threat to her, holding her nightmares against him, because of how much he loves his daughter, he wants to absolutely wring cahir's neck with both his hands, when he speaks of him he grits his teeth so much that sparks fly, and when he spits, it hisses! (as milva describes him in chapter 5).

but geralt's inability to kill cahir reminds me of how sensitive and tied to humanity geralt is at his core, because despite his own hatred for cahir, he cannot bring himself to kill him... he, who is, after all, just a terrified young man himself not more than twenty-five! i love that in the fish soup scene in chapter 5, cahir offers geralt a knife from his boot in order to peel the vegetables, and geralt has no choice but to accept. it's symbolic of their broader situation, and also - it's just funny.

in the end they hold the bridge over the yaruga together, united... that scene and its prose is utterly gorgeous. and again - brothers in arms!

additionally, i think it's amusing how cahir is greatly amazed by geralt's ability to deflect arrows, as he defends dandelion:

in tower of the swallow: i'm not a fan (to put it mildly) of how cahir reveals that he's attracted to ciri... and that somehow, this is put within a bonding moment between geralt and cahir. i won't go into depth now about why i dislike this, i wrote this post a long time ago but a tl;dr is that cahir already has more than enough character motivation to join the company, become loyal to ciri, renounce nilfgaardian allegience, etc., 'turn towards the light,' as it were. he doesn't have to be in romantic love with her to do any of these things, he's already a complete character with depth!... and moreover... it's creepy :)! don't be in love with a child you kidnapped at the age of 11-12!

otherwise... getting that out of the way... i love how their relationship develops over the tower of the swallow. i initially felt like, and sometimes still do feel like, the climax of chapter 7 of baptism of fire felt so final and absolute of a united company that any distrust between them should have already been eliminated by this point and that sapkowski was padding for time by creating more drama... but the storytelling which resulted from it was enjoyable and beautiful, so i don't care. also, to argue with myself, it's not really implausible, because we know how much geralt loves ciri, and it's only expected that he would hold a grudge and wariness against cahir until he could be absolutely certain of his loyalty.

i love how geralt flies into a pointless rage against schirru, how angouleme has to call his name to get him to stop, and the trouble they land in because of geralt's unbridled seething, seeing red, hatred against any who dare harm ciri... ring a bell? and because of his lack of restraint, cahir is injured terribly and he has to look out for him. and it would have been so easy for geralt to kill him, or even kill him and lie about it to the rest of the company - sorry guys, cahir died of shock and fever, whoopsies... but what kind of person would that have made geralt? the thought did not even cross his mind, despite threatening his life without condition in the previous book, and accusing him of treachery just a chapter ago. it blends with the themes of humility and sacrifice of tower of the swallow - what's more humble than tending to the life of someone you just accused of being your enemy?

i love how cahir talks about his fear during the massacre of cintra. after all, it was his first time seeing war, as well, and he was groomed into soldierhood... confessing that a soldier does not question orders, he had no idea why they wanted a princess... it blends so, so well with the fact that earlier in chapter 6, we learn that the local banditry have teamed with the nilfgaardian invaders, the colorful piecemeal armor and black armor forming one wall - we learn that banditry and the state are not dissimilar at all, actively functioning as one! and it blends well with angouleme also being a defector, being from banditry, nightingale's hanza...!

he describes how he was not a hero, how he almost lost his mind and broke under pressure, that they found him running around senselessly crying like a wolf until his superiors tied him up. that he was not a winner over the loss of ciri. no one won. no one wins in war.

in lady of the lake: i love how cahir comes to toussaint and begins to, within the company, speak a little bit of his own and venture from his carefully constructed soldier's script. in baptism of fire, he "remains tactfully silent," he often does not speak in order to avoid geralt's ire, and he is polite, really only contributing in the broader company when he has a way to demonstrate his intelligence and worth. but in lady of the lake, he speaks out, he acts like... a normal young man. you can practically hear his eyeroll when he comments in chapter 3 that they must tell geralt, when he's not busy, when he tells geralt to his face "look who's talking!" when geralt comments that they've been idle in toussaint for too long. he's truly become part of the company, interjecting before the malheur pass that the horse tracks are probably that of an ibex, or moufflon... before angouleme mocks him in an absolutely siblinglike manner that he is a moufflon himself!

they really grow with one another and the trajectory of their character arcs cannot be imagined without one another. the company without cahir would not be a company, and geralt would not have had to face the repercussions of his character flaws. cahir on his own would not have survived, much less become a different person with completely challenged and changed morals and allegiences.

can y'all send some asks that are like “thoughts on __” (ask meme)

#c: cahir #c: geralt #the witcher books #ask #anon #book: baptism of fire #book: tower of the swallow #book: lady of the lake #ask memes

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lake-lady · 2 years

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Ngl seeing your selfies sure made me thing "That's a lake lady alright". Idk what it is about you but yeah anyway say hi to Merlin for me.

Lmao thank you...my only goal is to look like a watery sorceress

#asks #asks answered #anon #lady of the lake #lake lady

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theredandwhiteknight-if · 2 years

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Whoops ! 😬 I misread that part on the Arthur post (this was from the “are they supernatural” anon) although the welsh did consider Arthur the red dragon……

Ah, kk! Yeah, there definitely can be arguments for Arthur, Guinevere and other characters being supernatural, especially in Welsh sources. One of the oldest Arthurian texts (and I think the oldest Arthurian narrative) has a lot of interaction between Arthur and the otherworld and giants and such.

One version (I believe it’s part of the Welsh triads) has one of the Guineveres (there are several Guineveres. It’s complicated) be the daughter of a giant (Gogyrfan I believe was his name) which I thought was cool. It influenced me to always imagine Guinevere as tall (not Galehaut tall since I still go with her usual human father but still tall). Kay has magic in the Welsh sources. And then there’s Gawain’s sun powers which he just kind of has.

#anon #ask stuff #red and white knight if #obviously leaving Morgan Merlin and the lake ladies out of the list #since they’re almost always supernatural

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anamericangirl · 2 years

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Stop forcing your breeding kink on other people. It's disgusting and inappropriate for children.

oh hey @lake-lady

Stop forcing death on babies just because you want to have sex without taking any personal responsibility for the life you accept the risk of creating. It's selfish and it kills people.

#anon #answered #lake-lady

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fawnnbinary · 2 years

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I have a little pile of asks I want to answer with doodles but alas, dishes time :P

#miles.txt #in particular one from virga abt kaer morhen having kittens on the premises #and one from sf anon about joey using the cupid outfit I draw Jask in for a TAD album which just 🧑‍🍳💋#for now I'm gonna start Lady of The Lake and wash some dishes and then shower then we'll se where we're at for art skdjghskgjh

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lemonhemlock · 1 year

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https://twitter.com/fleshfeel/status/1612351711410290688?t=pprl0hbf33DZfPa4_31hwQ&s=19

BESTIE LOOK

#/now/ you're talking #visenya's avatars fusing her inheritance back together in a conscious act of self-destruction #aemond as the lady of the lake #dark sister as excalibur's dark mirror #passed over to prince aemon the dragonknight #grrm should have had aemon dive deep within the waters and recover dark sister from aemond's eye socket himself #the daemon-aemond-aemon pipeline #aemond targaryen #prince aemon the dragonknight #daemon targaryen #ask #anon

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twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat · 17 days

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https://www.tumblr.com/twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat/747649612579471360/imagine-going-to-the-doctors-and-having-shoko-as?source=share

imagine that, yeah, but like shoko as some sort of a healer/witch/herbalist/etc. in like an arthurian legend kind of au

HEAVY BREATHING .

anon you can’t just casually say ”shoko arthuriana au” and NOT expect me to go insane…… WITH THAT BEING SAID i thinkkkk shoko should be :3 the lady of the lake . it just makes sense to me. suguru is lancelot obv. and satoru is king arthur……

it might be kinda fun to write an arthurian au where reader is guinevere…….. hhhh this is gonna rot in my brain all day oh no T_T

#the arthuriana is one of my Biggest hyperfixations #ANON IF YOU WANNA READ A RLLY GOOD ARTHURIAN INTERPRETATION. my biggest rec is erskine’s ”galahad” :3 it fucks.#the reason i’m so obsessed w knights is almost entirely bc of how much i love the arthuriana… and my own take on it #(shoutout fate/stay night for dragging me into it by the ankles)#anyway this kinda deviated from healer shoko bUT LIKE. you have to admit she’d make a great lady of the lake #i was thinking of morgan at first and i think that’d work too…..#but lady of the lake!shoko mentoring lancelot!sugu is sooooo special 2 me #ask tag ✩

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yostresswritinggirl · 1 year

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Hello mother i have returned from hell and have successfully survived hell month, I passed 3 out of the 4 major exams with high marks (i curse physics for being so stupidly hard) and successfully defended the first half of our thesis.

I'm too brain dead rn to even brain rot properly 💀 but that doesn't stop me from drawing brain rots/hc's I've had for a while. So i present my poorly drawn art that kept me sane over the week.

1st one

Idk how lore accurate this is but i couldn't resist drawing it and im dying with this hc of little tighnari seeing an aranara and excitedly telling his parents about it (also is this technically albedo's hairstyle? Yes yes it is but idc if i can't have his fluffy hair in game i will never stop drawing it over and over again on other characters - a bitter albedo main)

2nd one

There's also this one, it was supposed to be alhaitham during his time as an akademiya scholar but i couldn't resist the urge and turned it into su, which i mean technically is him from another universe and who is the greener version of him.

(I cant add the pics directly since tumblr says ✨no✨ so ig there's finally a use for my 5 year old devianart acc that i did not use and has just been collecting dusts all these years until now)

- Lady in the lake anon

Lady in the lake is out of containment lesgooo! Congrats on the defense and 3/4 exams passed, get proper rest and give your brain a rest, but HOLY CRAP

YOUR ART, THEY'RE SO GODDAMN ADORABLE *also that nostalgia whiplash upon realizing it was on DeviantArt* THEY'RE BABY, I WANNA HOLD THEM GENTLY IN MY HANDS, I'M A WEAKLING BUT A PROUD ONE

*shakes you* Don't hesitate to share your art here ever, they are blessings like golden meteors in Teyvat *sobs in hands* Now if only I can art too hmghngnf

#lady in the lake anon #genshin impact #tighnari #alhaitham #su?#exile.goblet #fanart #submissions

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forlorn-crows · 1 month

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YESS MORE NYNEVE !!!

ONE DAY!!

i want to explore her origin story a little more, dive into that. maybe a prequel eventually??

#ask #lady of the lake #anon #do NOT hold me to that #but its something i think abt sometimes

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captain-camille · 2 months

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_ 𝐀 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧 _

‣ Jack Sparrow x f!reader

‣ requested by anon ‣ 4,2k words

‣ After the ruthless pirate Captain Connor kidnapped you; a mermaid, your situation seems hopeless. Until another outlaw appears who has a score to settle with Connor and ends up freeing you along the way. Destiny or not - there is a connection quickly forming between you...

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 18+ yn got kidnapped and treated badly, violence, mention of injuries/blood, language

Slowly, the distant gunshots faded to peaceful twitter and rustling of an insular rainforest. The Sinister Lady was lost to the firepower of another ship; a huge vessel with imposing black sails.

Captain Connor was cursing a pirate named Jack Sparrow when less and less of his prized possession was seen above the water surface.

The reason for the crew's obvious fear of this man, whoever he was, was beyond you. However, you overheard two men whispering about a chart Connor had stolen some months ago.

Much to your chagrin your abductor's new plan was to shake off Jack Sparrow in the uncharted part of this island. By foot.

The men who had been holding you hostage for over two months after your violent abduction in Whitecap Bay didn't care in the slightest that you were used to a tail, not legs.

A faint sigh of destiny told you that there was no use in running from the man who was coming for the crew of miscreants around you.

But could dying today really be worse than constantly awaiting death?

You raked your neck to get a last glimpse of the unfamiliar ship before the path would be peppered with bushes and Ramón trees.

“You! Sea whore!“ the first mate suddenly barked at you, yanking at the rough metal chain that was locked around your wrists.

Blood was smeared on your skin from how sharp the metal was. Your legs hurt from how far they had already made you walk.

Not daring to look him in the eye, you simply lowered your head. The consequences for misbehaving were ugly.

“Not tha' hard“ he muttered in a disgusting slur. “Ne'er slow down, or else I put a bullet in ye pre'y head“.

Resilience was weighing down on you like a barely comforting blanket. But you knew there was no use of resistance.

You had tried.

Another filthy pirate caught up with the first mate, exchanging glances of egotism with him.

“Ye know, I'll get meself a whole lotta wenches with all tha coins from sellin'er“ he growled, showing off his rotting, black teeth in the process.

A cold sensation of repulsion and woe cascaded down your spine, reminding you that your buyer could be even worse. Vertebra by vertebra.

Your skin began to burn with every minute you spent separated from the sea. Any water.

Oh, how you missed surging through the vast ocean.

But, frankly, you did not miss any of your sisters after they had left you behind with Connor. Most likely they thought you were dead by now.

That is if they were still thinking about you at all.

Every step was exhausting as you were still getting used to walking on your legs, let alone climbing. A painful hiss of surprise escaped your lips as a sharp stone pierced your right foot.

Immediately, the Captain stormed towards you, fury and annoyance written all over his wrinkly face.

“Wha' a sissy, you are. Pull in them hideous fangs and shut it!“ the man growled, spitting on the moist ground only a few inches from where you stood.

You were already tensing, awaiting a rough, painful pull on the chains but your legs were fast enough to keep up.

Coercion seemed to have been a potent teacher after all.

Finally, the seemingly endless topical forest around you broke apart and revealed a small glade with a lake. You could't help but allow a wistful sigh at the sight.

Your home.

“Now we hope Sparrow drops followin' us in 'ere and we can continue head south for Port Felice on tha morrow“ Captain Connor announced earning a collective “Aye“ from his crew.

“I shall spare you the trouble of hopin' then, eh?“ a foreign, male voice echoed from behind a tall bush.

Connor's men rapidly drew their pistols and swords, eyes frantically searching for the voice's source.

Must be Jack Sparrow, you concluded, unsure of what to expect before a strange yet handsome looking man emerged from the greens.

His dark eyes, underlined in black, were trained on Connor and his first mate. He overlooked you sitting on the mossy ground.

“Sparrow“ Captain Connor growled through gnashing teeth.

You were sure there was unease sparkling through his bitter gaze. After Sparrow just sunk his ship the default hostility of Connor's gaze wouldn't suffice.

“I'd tell yer men to stop threatenin' me, if I were you“ the man with brown dreadlocks and a tricorn hat suggested, leaning closer to Connor in a provocative way.

With so many weapons pointed at him, he did not seem to feel threatened in the slightest. Fearless, even.

If you were to die, maybe you would at least be able to watch this disgusting men around you bite the stranger pirate's bullet first.

Sparrow backed up again, now circling the two men in charge of the Sinister Lady's crew instead. “Luckily and conveniently, I happen to be me. Not you“ he added with a finger pointing at Connor then to himself, the perilous tone gone.

You fought the urge to giggle at the asynchrony of his words and gesture. After two months stripped of any joy, you felt an instant connection to the airy pirate.

“Lower yer weapons, damnit“. Connor finally gave the order, his honor clearly at stake.

A satisfied grin spread on Sparrow's handsome face when he clapped his hands together and rubbed them.

Weirdly, he was oozing pure dominance in the loose and relaxed way he composed himself. He was almost comfortable in this precarious situation.

Connor squinted his eyes at the man who had many colorful beads and silver charms woven within his braids.

“C'mon, what 'bout an accord? What do ye want?“.

You cocked your head slightly, confused by the way the usually so frigid and irreverent Captain acted in Sparrow's presence.

It pained you to know that he was somehow tamable and you had failed to do so all this time.

On the other hand, a shiver spread on your human thighs at the thought of what this Jack Sparrow must be capable of if a man like Connor obeyed him.

“The real question is; what do I not want? Right, Master Gibbs?“ Jack purred.

Another man, a little smaller with grey hair and chops, stepped out of the opaque ticket of the rainforest.

He scrutinized the crowd and eventually spotted you on the ground.

Your pupils widened at the unexpected eye contact before you tore them off him in a demure way - reluctant submissiveness that slaps, rusty chains and nights in the brig had taught you.

“Aye, cap'n“ the man, Master Gibbs, verbally agreed before you could feel his narrowed gaze on you once again.

“And wha' be it you don' want?“ Connor shot back, clearly growing impatient while his opponent seemed to revel in it even more.

“Me charts in the hands of another, you cowardly scallywag“ Jack finally dropped the playful façade again, his hand resting on the handle of his sword.

Connor swallowed behind a stone-like expression.

So all this was indeed about a chart... It must lead to some kind of fortune or riches, you thought, recalling the many treasures you were familiar with.

Only you would never tell a man about them. It was sister's law that a mermaid was to die rather than reveal the mysteries of the sea.

But were you still to obey their laws now that you were on your own?

“Tough! Went down with our ship ye sunk“ the first mate interfered, hatred dripping from his words like spit.

Jack just raised a brow, looking the man up and down like he was a bleating goat.

Once again you caught yourself at the brink of smiling.

“Who be you?“ he inquired, nodding in his direction with no urge to actually approach him.

Connor's head quickly turned to his first mate who was now overridden by his own boldness and approaching Jack with a bad idea.

“Tha one to tell ye bilge-sucking self that we don't have what ye want“ he began, a slur in his drunken voice “Send us to Davy Jones' locka or leave“.

Jack cocked his head, fingers twisting his mustache, as if considering what the man had just proposed.

“Meh... Am not leavin' just like that, says I-ahh“ the pirate Captain noted but his declaration ended in a huff when the first mate lunged at him.

You flinched, squeezing your eyes shut. Such kind of scenario wasn't new to you by now.

“Mother's love, Jack!“ Gibbs produced a pistol from his belt and didn't hesitate a second to shoot the wanton first mate.

Another shot rumbled through the rainforest, men were shouting and grunting.

At this point you were covering your ears with your hands, keeping your knees close to your chest. Chained and weakened outside your element, there was nothing you could do about the chaos anyway.

However, when the chains around your wrists began to rattle and draw blood again, you finally dared to look up.

Connor glared at you with painful defeat in his eyes. “Get up, beastie“ he snapped, his arm extending, ready to slap you across the face if you didn't obey fast enough.

But his arm got pulled down by Jack who appeared on Connor's side and was looking at you with what seemed like mesmerization.

And sorrow.

“I said release her not beat 'er“ Sparrow whispered in the Captain's ear, his deep tone an unmistakable threat. It set Connor's mouth in a hard line.

You stayed silent, not knowing if you were expected to say something while stunned by the prospect of the foreign pirate's words.

Did he mean it?

But why?

Mister Gibbs emerged from behind Jack, a rusty key ring in his rough hands.

“Human trafficking, the worst of sins it be“ he muttered when gently taking your wrists and sinking a big, black key in the lock of your chains.

Connor's face was twisted by many emotions, most of them shades of disarray and disgust. “She a monster. A whore of tha seas. No human“ he spat.

Gibbs frowned at the man's cruel words, their nature fueling his doing.

*click*

You couldn't suppress the beam of relief that spread on your face when the heavy chains slid from your hurt wrists for good.

“Ahhh“ Jack cooed, leaning down to catch your lowered gaze and giving you an equally gleeful smirk beneath raised brows “I tell ye what she is, mate“ he straightened his spine again, dragging your invested gaze up with him.

All the fear in your system evaporated.

“A gorgeous creature. And not deserving of yer wheelin' and dealin', savvy?“.

“Thank you, Mister Sparrow“ were the first cautious words you addressed to the mercurial yet friendly-looking pirate.

His smile became a crunched grimace, his pointer raised. “It's Captain, if you please“.

A silent 'oh' fled from your lips.

You didn't know what to do or say. But his gravelly chuckle at your confusion signaled that he had not taken any insult.

To your right Connor spread his arms, sighing.

“I did wha' ye asked. Now let us go“ he complained, his authority crumbling before the eyes of his crew.

Gibbs nudged Jack's side, his eyes mentioning to the trail where they initially came from.

“Actually, I don’t. And settin' her free was just what the high-up people call common courtesy“ Jack sauntered past Connor, his head high, savoring his honorable, non-piratey act.

But you didn't fail to see a hint of pain in his extravagant display.

Was he hurt? The smell of blood told you yes.

“You, missy“ he suddenly called out to you, his dark eyes crawling all over your human body, squinting at the many bruises “Remember this as the day that Captain Jack Sparrow saved a mermaid“.

The charming pirate winked before gesturing to the lake. An invitation to take your freedom back.

At first, your steps were hesitant as you weaved past the crew members that had treated you like shit for the past two months. Nevertheless, enthusiasm was quick to infiltrate your veins when the sparkling water surface came closer.

You looked back one last time, seeing how Jack Sparrow offered you a warm smile of farewell before resigning to deal with Connor.

“What'r ye waitin' for, lass? The lake leads to the ocean through tunnels beneath“ Gibbs ripped your attention from the man whose husky voice would linger in your mind.

“You have my eternal gratitude“.

And with a quick dive you were gone.

The water felt like heaven's sweetest redemption engulfing your dried out body. Replaced by your tail, the unfamiliar sensation of having legs vanished.

It wasn't that you disliked them, but the circumstance of learning to walk could have been more pleasant.

Eventually, you got yourself back; your essence and courage.

What Jack did to those men didn't bother you in the least. Whether he killed them or let them live to return to your furious buyer without a mermaid...

They were pure evil. So were your sisters but never you.

Gibbs was right.

You ended up in a coral reef after swimming through narrow underwater tunnels that were carved in the islands volcanic landmass.

With your tail flailing and pushing your upper body above the surface, you looked around only to spot the ship with black sails half a mile away.

The sight of your bold rescuer and Master Gibbs in a dinghy made you smile. Him and his crew were returning to their ship.

You wondered where they would head next... what adventures this mysterious man had lived and was yet to have.

Curiosity got the better of you so you dived down, rapidly making your way to the longboat.

At least you would like to thank him one last time. It was more than in order after only hell knew what tribulations he had saved you from.

“Captain Sparrow?“ you gingerly called out for him, not wanting to startle the men to death.

“Aye?“ you heard his taken-aback question, seeing him turn and twist his upper body to find you; the source of this dulcet mermaid voice.

It made you laugh. Freely, now that no one would harm you again.

A member of his crew, missing one eye, poked Jack's arm and pointed out to where you floated in between gentle waves.

The pirate Captain's handsome face lit up with the same wide grin as it did after he had told Gibbs to unchain you.

“I see, haven't returned to yer sisters yet. Why's that?“ he queried, gold teeth reflecting the Caribbean sun's evening light.

“Have not“ you smiled, swimming closer and gripping the rim of the dinghy to keep yourself steady “I wanted to thank you again. Properly. For saving my life“.

The pirate gave a quick chuckle, waving off as if it was nothing.

To you it was everything.

Jack gently lifted your right hand from the wood, hoisting it to his lips and pressing a kiss to your wet skin. His lips were surprisingly soft and the beard tickled.

You giggled, enjoying his playful chivalry.

“Me, I'm a bad man, Missy. But a monster I'd be if I let an innocent, pretty woman suffer“.

Your giggle became a genuine beam. Fleeting was the worry what he might think of your fangs.

Master Gibbs cleared his throat, earning a slightly annoyed look of 'not now' by his Captain, whose gaze flickered back to you.

Another man, chubby with a few long, thin hair pushed Gibbs to the side as he spoke up “Don't let yerself be charmed by 'er, Cap'n. She's a mermaid!“.

The worried man's voice was filled with scepsis, still he awkwardly tried to shoot you a polite smile across the lines. It reminded you that no matter Jack's behavior, you were still to earn the crew's trust.

“Is there a way I could return the favor of saving me?“ you asked the Captain, your face twisted in guilt.

Jack disliked the way this emotion weighed heavy on your stunning face. But he couldn't think of something, so he remained silent.

A rare thing to happen for the witty Captain, as Gibbs realized.

Carefully, your tail began to flap and you pushed the dinghy towards the imposing, dark pirate vessel.

“Whoa! What's that?!“ it blurted out of one of the crewman, whose grip around the edges of the boat clawed.

It only spared them a bit of muscle power but it was the first 'helpful' thing your nervous mind came up with.

The Captain, who had his fingers playing with his braided beard, thinking, now pointed at the chubby man, calling him out.

“See?“ he began with a victorious shrug of his shoulders “Not vicious at all“.

Another quiet chuckle left your lips at his quirky nature.

Jack Sparrow seemed anything but a bad man.

As you arrived at the stern of the ship where the lines were cast for the crew to climb back up, Jack signaled them to go on.

“All hands, weigh anchor!! Get 'er ready to make way“ his commandeering tone sent an interesting ripple down your scales.

He turned his attention back to you, naturally making you smile again.

“Ye know, lass, there ain't no debt to be paid or anything. Mark me words“ he noted, his dark, mysterious eyes dwelling on your soft gaze.

Your mouth opened, but closed again as you reconsidered.

The Captain watched you intently, the corners of his eyes crinkled more and more with every second of looking at your face framed by wet, wavy hair.

“What about the chart you so desired?“ you ended up asking, the idea of you searching the wreck for him spreading in your keen mind.

But Jack shook his head, the charms and pearls in his dreadlocks jingling.

“Lassie, the ship exploded when we attacked. The chart's burnt to nothin' but ashes“.

The excitement of doing him a favor sunk at his words, dragging the corners of your mouth along.

Suddenly, you felt the back of Jack's hand grazing your cheek. Your eyes shot up. The memories of being mistreated were too fresh for your instincts not to be alerted.

However, the rough hand stilled, an unspoken ask for consent in the pirate Captain's underlined eyes.

You granted him a smile, weirdly relishing in the sensation of his touch. So different to what you were used to by now.

So... good.

“Believe you me, it be satisfaction enough to know that this rat Connor will be returnin' to Blackbeard empty-handed, savvy?“ he snickered, ignoring the stinging in his hand.

Not really listening to his words, you slowly found yourself the one who was enchanted.

But then there was this smell again...

Your nostrils flared as you realized it was his hand that had been cut by Connor's nasty first mate. Bastard. It reminded you of the times he had slapped or yanked you like a doll.

Without Sparrow you would have just given up any hope someday.

Just speaking what was on your mind at that moment, you softly took his hand in yours.

“It would mean the world to me if I could return the favor of saving me“ you explained, eyes trained on the deep, bleeding cut in Sparrow's palm.

“You've proven I can trust you with my live even though I am, -was, no one to you“.

The pirate let you examine his wound, not feeling the slightest urge to pull away.

On the surface of his mind it vexed him how vulnerable he allowed himself to be with you, given he barely knew anything about you other than what you were.

But deep down he felt a blooming connection; trust as you said.

“Aye? Ye think me trusty?".

Slowly, giving him time to adjust to the burn of salt water in an open wound, you guided his hand to dip into the ocean.

With brows furrowed, mouth agape, Jack watched what you did as if spellbound.

“Yes...“ you affirmed, joy dancing across your heart when Jack's eyes sparkled at the sight of his wound now gone. “I have nowhere to go anyway. My sisters have betrayed me so they surely won't miss me“.

As you set his hand free, the pirate's pupils quickly narrowed on his wet palm, twisted it in the rays of sunlight as if the wound could be hidden by an inconvenient shadow.

“Wha' ?“.

“It's truly gone, Jack“ you giggled, not realizing how you had impulsively addressed him.

But he did, guiding his attention back to you and wearing a flirty smirk.

Maybe it was the right thing to give in to your request, he thought, admiring the way the entire beauty of the ocean laid within your smile.

“Well...“ he began to propose, standing up on the somewhat rickety dinghy to offer you his healed hand “if yer so keen on squarin', bonny, what say you to joinin' me crew for a while?“.

Almost reflexively, you accepted his hand.

The allure of a new, fresh start spread in your system when the Captain intertwined your fingers with his.

“I owe you after all, Captain Sparrow“ you grinned.

He gave a light-hearted chuckle before throwing his head back and shouting for his crew to haul the lines.

You let out an unbridled cry of joy as Jack pulled you in his arms and the crew hauled the two of you on board in a swift, fast move.

When the absence of water began to take it's toll on your body, you panicked in realization of your impending state of undress.

“I got ye, wait“ the Captain murmured when he set you down and slid his brown jacket off, revealing a loose white shirt that complimented his tanned torso.

The jacket was long enough to cover you all the way to your knees and had golden buttons to close it with. So very unlike the mere rags Connor had given you.

“Thank you“.

“Anytime. We still need to fetch ye a dress or somethin'. Master Gibbs?“ he called out only to be startled by his first mate already lingering close.

A conflicted look settled on his face as he stared at you through squinted eyes.

Then, he leaned over to Jack, voice lowered “Cap'n, ye know it's frightful bad-“

“Nonsense!“ the Captain promptly cut him off, patting his back with vigor.

“It's only bad luck if ye believe in trifles such as luck, and see bad in the lass in question but, as things look, firstly, am not enough a fool to buy into luck and, secondly-“ he interrupted his wordy excuse and gestured to you with a wink “don't tell me yer eyesight has worsened 'cause she's just a darlin'.“

Although, his winding, quick speech prompted confusion, you couldn't stop your lips from smiling.

This man was unlike anyone you had ever encountered; witty, affectionate and yet erratic.

You were already enraptured by his nature.

Out of the blue, the Captain turned on his heels to face you anew, eyes narrowed. “Missy, do you have a name?“ he queried in a low tone to which you hesitantly shook your head.

Names were uncommon among your sisters.

However, before shame could overtake your expression, Jack's face lit up with an idea.

“Oi! You lousy landlubbers-“ he called out to his crew, the authority infusing his voice with a rasp “Welcome Bonny as she'll be sailin' with us for a while“.

“AYE“ the crew quickly echoed back.

Many pairs of excited eyes rested on you, heads nodding appreciatively what you returned with a shy but positive smile.

Absentmindedly stepping back, you felt Jack's warm hand ghosting the small of your back, the other one already tight on the wheel.

With a sigh of relief and the bright feeling of security, you leaned in, accepting his gentle grip on your waist. His protectiveness was incredibly pacifying.

Looking back it the extraordinary Captain, you saw his gold teeth flash in a proud grin before he spoke up again.

“And no one's touchin' her. She's mine, savvy?“.

Feeling hot blood rush into your cheeks, you instinctively let your weight shift backwards until your back rested against his chest.

“We shall see about that, Captain“ you snickered, already feeling the ocean breeze blow your hair as the Black Pearl gained speed.

Unbeknownst to you, a playful pout reigned over Jack's face before it got replaced with the pure thrill of anticipation.

Hunger for the yet-to-be-found and yet-to-be-done.

It was even more intense this time with you by his side; a wondrous, genuine soul who trusted him just so.

After all the bad and lawless he had done, he was still a good man.

After all the bad and dull you had endured, a spirit of adventure was still in you.

A spirit you never thought you carried but there you were, settling a debt with Captain Jack Sparrow.

You began to hope it would take you a lifetime.

The many charms in his hair chimed when he leant down to your level, his mouth a mere inch from your ear. “Ever heard of the Amulet of Ponce de Léon's wife?“ his husky voice asked, eyes shifting from the horizon to you.

Sliding him a knowing, lively glance, you curled your lips up before they parted and whispered “I have, Captain. What do you want to know?“.

“First, I wan' ye to know that for you, it's just Jack...“

Off to stranger tides... Thank you for reading my hearties ❤︎

tags: @holdmytesseract @mochie85 @socksracoon10 @goldencherriess @chronicallybubbly @kcd15 @always-on-hiatus @groovyqueer

#jack sparrow x reader #potc #potc x reader #jack sparrow fic #jack sparrow x y/n #jack sparrow #pirates of the caribbean #captain jack sparrow #fanfiction #18+#thank you so much💗

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frost-queen · 11 months

Text

Shattered dreams (Reader!sister & Bridgerton Siblings)

Requested by: anon Forever tag:@missmelodramatic, @merlin-dahlia, @alex--awesome--22 @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers, @merlieve, @queen-of-books, @glimmering-darling-dolly@denkisclown, @wildieflower, @meyocoko, @bubblybrianna, @justanothercoco@subjecta13-thefangirl, @m-rae23, @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @swampthing07,@melsunshine, @goldenmoonbeam, @freyathehuntress

Summary: You are debuted (around Eloise's age) and have met someone in secret. Unaware to any of your brothers. One faithful day they find out that someone is trying to hurt you for 'not listening & not being a good wife to be'. Hearing of this your brothers boil with anger and come to your aid.

The weather was nice, a soft breeze cooling the warming spring season. You took a deep breath, taking it all in. Spring was your favorite season after all. Not too hot, not too cold. Flowers blooming, birds singing and ducks enjoying their ponds. From afar you could already see the lake. Boats set on them to take a tour. Colin noticed your eagerness tapping you on your hand. – “Would you like a tour around the lake sister?” – he asked with a smile. He knew just how much you’d like that.

You formed a smile, holding your hand on his arm. – “Perhaps later.” – you answered. Colin furrowed his brows a bit confused. Why you wanted to wait stunned him. To be fair you wanted to take a tour on the boats, just with that someone special. With Hubert so to speak. You met him a few balls ago. None of your relatives aware of the meeting.

You were absolutely smitten with him. He’d be the one to save you. To care and comfort himself over you till he drew his last breath. You didn’t know why you kept it a secret. Perhaps because the encounter was so secretive and unproper by any standards set up by the ton you perhaps feared it.

Looking around you wondered where he is. Eyes slowly widening when your gaze met with his from afar. Your heart leaped and fluttered. He slightly motioned with his head for you to come and see him. You couldn’t hide the giddy smile on your lips. Slowly removing your arm from around your brother Colin’s. Colin frowned. – “I must ask mama something.”- you lied before he could question your intentions.

He nodded, turning his posture to Benedict and Eloise who were in a deep conversation. Colin over-heard their conversation, sighing loud with an eye roll. They were so headstrong in bickering about nonsense. You made your way over the green fields, keeping a close eye on your siblings behind you. You didn’t want any of them to see where you were heading. Taking several detours between small gatherings, you hoped to blend in and possible disappear from their eye.

The secrecy send a thrill through your body. Excitement bubbling up in your stomach. You gasped, turning sharply around with your back to them after spotting mama with Anthony. They were chatting with Miss Edwina and Lady Danbury. Anthony looking as if he’d rather chew off his own foot then be present any longer. It made you chuckle a bit at the idea.

You moved further, closer to the lake with your back kept towards them. Dipping through a gathering you hoped to blend in. Some ladies gave you a nasty look for suddenly joining in as if you were to eavesdrop or steal their possible suitor from them. You shook your head at them, letting them know that were not your intentions. You moved on nearing the lake. By the lake you looked confused around. Was he not here? Hearing loud a psst made you jump out of your skin. By your left, lurking behind a tree he stood.

You glanced barely over your shoulder before heading over to him. Hubert took you by your hand, pulling you closer to him. – “Miss Y/n.” – he said kissing your hand. You smiled lovestruck and flattered by the gesture. – “I have counted the days till I’d meet you again.” – he whispered. His compliment warmed your heart if he would’ve asked for your hand you would’ve accepted it within a heartbeat. You looked behind you to the lake. – “Shall… shall we go for a tour?” – you asked eager to go round the lake.

Hubert smiled leaving a kiss higher up your arm. You smiled a bit uneasy hoping no one had seen it as it was against standards. – “As the lady pleases.” – Hubert spoke. He offered you his arm as you took it. Hubert and you came in sight, making your way over to the lake. You kept your head down not wanting any of your siblings to recognize you.

You got on the platform. A boat waiting for you to get on. Hubert got in first. You smiled waiting for him to take your hand and help you down when he didn’t. He just sat himself down staring at the other side of the lake. You smiled sheepishly, lifting a bit of your skirt up. Foot dangling in the air, finding balance to set it down. The boat wobbled a bit when your foot touched the boat. – “Hurry up will you.” – Hubert said with a hastened wave. His comment made you stare stunned at him for a brief second.

Without thinking much further about it, you got onto the boat. Hubert took the oars, rowing the boat away. You took a deep breath, enjoying the ride. He rowed the boat further away from the mainland and out of sight. – “Is it not a lovely day My lord?” – you asked to stir up a conversation. His face made a ‘meh’ expression making you regret your question. – “My lord is everything…” – you started wanting to ask about his sudden mood when he stopped rowing. You blinked perplex when he threw the oars to you.

You caught them, staring confused at them. – “My lord… I do not understand…” – you said, looking back up to him. – “I am tired!” – he hissed out. – “Why don’t you row!” – he insisted upon. Your eyes widened at his request. – “Row… my lord?” – you repeated wanting to be sure you understood. – “Yes!” – he called out bothered. – “I spoke clear didn’t I or is your head filled with novelty nonsense?” – he said loudly startling you.

You quickly shook your head. – “Then start rowing.” – he insisted rubbing his shoulder as if it was sore. You nodded obedient with a nervous swallow. You set the oars in the water, giving it a turn. One oar plopped up from the water, splashing the boat a bit. It made you lose your balance a bit, nearly falling forwards. Hubert caught some water, wiping his vest with disgust. – “Apologies My lord.” – you quickly said. – “I shall do my best.” – you set the oar right, giving it another go. After a few failed attempts you found a steady pace to row the boat.

It didn’t took you long to start huffing and puffing at the weight you needed to row. His and yours. To be honest you weren’t that strong compared to Hubert. – “Can you not go a bit faster?” – he spoke with annoyance. You huffed loud, muscles soring up. – “Yes my lord.” – you obliged like a good girl. You started rowing faster and harder, feeling it immediately in your muscles. A pair in another boat raised their eyebrows at you.

Gritting your teeth you pushed through to row the boat around. – “My lord are … you enjoying … the view?” – you asked out of breath. Cheeks flashing with heat from the work-out. He remained silent, haunting the boat ride with it. Clenching your jaw, you felt yourself weaken with rows. Wondering why he was making you do this labor? You felt the wood roughen your palms.

Biting your lip, you tried to keep in any tears. It was so obvious to anyone he was making you do the labor he should be doing. It didn’t even seem to care him. Suddenly the idea of Hubert was very different. From someone you thought would be yours truly, he sure made you do work hard for it. You were slowing down, unable to keep up with it. Your muscles were so sore it used up a lot of effort to even move them. – “Why are you slowing down? Keep it up girl!” – he made clear.

His words stinging like a sharp knife in your heart. Looking up, you blinked rapidly to stop yourself from crying. – “Yes my lord.” – you replied softly. You groaned quietly rowing harder. Putting more work to your labor. Out of breath, you needed to use both hands to push one oar to make the turn. Grabbing the other one once more, you rowed back. – “My lord… are… are you rested well enough?” – you asked hinting to him to take over. He shook his head. Barely lifting a finger in assisting you. Your shoulders slouched with sadness.

Hardening your expression there even boiled some anger towards him. If this was how married life with him would be, you didn’t want it. Him making you do all the work while he enjoys your torture. You kept rowing as the mainland got in view. The colorful tents overtowering the ton. Hearing their laugher carry over with the wind it made you even angrier.

On the mainland looked Anthony briefly up, eyelashes fluttering to be certain it was you he saw on the lake. His eye narrowed trying to focus on you. – “Mama.” – Anthony said without adverting his eyes from you. Violet stopped talking to Lady Danbury, acknowledging her son. – “Is that Y/n on the lake?” – he wondered wanting to be certain. Violet turned her head. – “Why yes she is.” – she answered with smile. – “With a lord.” – she expressed giddy. Anthony’s eyes widened Violet tapped him on the chest.

“Do you know the lord? What is his name?” – she wanted to know. – “I don’t know.” – Anthony replied slightly worried. His eyes widened even more silencing his mother from asking any more questions, seeing you row. His expression hardened with anger. – “He’s making her row!” – he blurted out angered. He looked back, putting his fingers in his mouth to whistle loud. Colin and Benedict looked his way. Anthony called them over with one firm motion of his head. Colin and Benedict didn’t waste another second, hurrying over to his side.

He pointed at you on the lake. – “That little liar.” – Colin cursed out, clenching his hand. Anthony looked confused with a sharp edge to it at him. – “She told me she needed to ask mama a question.” – Colin filled in. – “Clearly she didn’t.” – Anthony bit back bothered. – “Why is she rowing?” – Benedict questioned. – “Shouldn’t he be rowing? Why is he making her do the labor?” – it didn’t sit right with him. – “I’m going to end this.” – Anthony said heading towards the lake. Benedict and Colin hurrying behind him.

On the lake Hubert put you to a stop. You exhaled loud and exhausted. Perhaps a bit too loud. You offered him the oars, smiling at his gratitude of taking over your task. You furrowed your brows when he pushed the oar down. He came closer making you wary. – “What are you acting upon my lord?” – you wondered. He forced himself onto you, making you push him off. It clearly didn’t set with him. – “Do you not love me?” – he asked or rather demanded.

His question baffled you. – “If you want to become a good wife you’ll listen to me!” – he said coming closer again. – “No!” – you called out, battling him away as he tried to force a kiss on you once more. – “I am just showing you my love!” – he yelled getting angry. – “It isn’t love if you force me!” – you yelled back kicking him against the knee. He groaned in pain, holding his knee.

You crawled further up the boat, wondering how you’d get out of this situation. Heck you’d jump out of this boat if it meant escaping him. Hubert rose standing tall. He grabbed you by your arm, yanking on it. – “ A good wife does as she is told.” – he rose his hand ready to strike you.

Anthony was boiling with rage already undoing one shoe of his to jump in the water. Benedict stopped a pair from getting in a boat so they could get in. Colin calling out your name from afar. You gasped seeing his hand go down ready to hurt you. Looking away, you kicked your foot up out of instinct. You felt his chest under your shoe followed by a splash. Opening your eyes, you stared at an empty boat. You crawled over to the other side, looking over the edge. Hubert resurfacing as he spewed out some water. – “Good thing we aren’t married yet!” – you shouted at him.

You grabbed the oars, finding the last bit of strength of yours to row back to shore. Out of breath you reached the platform. Anthony and Benedict hoisted you up from the boat, wrapping their arms around you. – “Where is he? Who is he?” – Benedict called out angered. You cried against your brothers chest. – “I am sorry… I thought he was the one, but he is not. He was so commanding all of the sudden. Making me row, the silence, the insults…” – you cried out.

Anthony hugged you tighter. Hubert swam to the platform as Colin stepped away to let him get up on it. – “Look what you did!” – he shouted with a stern finger at you. Benedict puffed his chest up. He pushed Hubert hard, sending him back into the water. – “If I see you near my sister one more time I’ll make you scream for mercy!” – Benedict threatened.

Anthony handed you over to Colin who comforted you. Hubert came climbing up the platform once more, chest laying on the edge ready to push himself up. Anthony lowered himself smiling angrily. He pushed Hubert back by his forehead, sending him back down.

“You are lucky there are witnesses or I wouldn’t be so well-mannered!” – Anthony called out. Hubert staid in the water afraid to get out and be plunged back by any of your brothers. Your brothers and you left returning to mama. – “Thank you.” – you told them. – “Family is always a priority. First and upmost.” – Anthony answered.

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