normalize killing anyone that slightly annoys you

@theartofmadeline
Aqua Utopia|海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
will byers stan first human second
No title available
Stranger Things
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda

if i look back, i am lost
Jules of Nature

Discoholic 🪩
No title available
Today's Document

tannertan36
Sade Olutola
YOU ARE THE REASON
Not today Justin
dirt enthusiast
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Peter Solarz

JVL

Andulka
seen from Germany

seen from Türkiye

seen from Russia
seen from Lithuania
seen from United States

seen from Lithuania

seen from Malaysia

seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Lithuania

seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Lithuania
seen from Bangladesh

seen from Brazil
seen from United States

seen from Italy
seen from Austria
seen from Ukraine
seen from Australia
@avelinabeaumont
normalize killing anyone that slightly annoys you
Avelina telling her baby girls stories as children of conquered dragons, powerful women, and lands lain low by those worthy to take them is making me damn emotional ESP since I know that’s what she did to distract them the night of the Purge and I WASNT PREPARED
003: Avelina Beaumont
How I feel about this character: i have a…complicated relationship w avelina which is unsurprising when you consider that it’s, well, avelina and kate aa i mean ;DDD avelina is def one of my fav characters to play. i adore her histrionics, her ambitions, how she overestimates herself and underestimates others, how blinded and self-deceiving she is as a form of self-preservation. for these reasons, though, she is a terrible person and i also hate her and honestly would never want to inflict her on anyone for real hahahaha but i adore her, in my own weird way, and i find her fascinating and also fun to write. there are a lot of things i know about avelina that idk if they’ll ever show up in her pov (and since they’re secrets held in her heart i doubt they’ll pop up anywhere else), like the fact that she was deeply in love with a dragon rider (possibly will degrey) who never returned her affections and was born too lowly for her to ever allow herself to ~acknowledge her feelings bc of that fierce arrington pride or the fact that, more than anything, what she has always wanted is to be queen and acknowledged as a true arrington by all, but she can’t even admit this desire to herself. avelina overcompensates for feeling like she’s never been good enough by pretending she’s too good????? but she’s an expert self-deceiver (see: blaming alexandir godiva for everything, ever - she’s smart and deep, deep down she knows no one person can possibly do all that but she ~wants to believe it so she does - she doesn’t want to believe there is any arrington culpability in all this bc her arrington blood is all she really has). in a lot of ways, avelina is a v sad figure but she’s also bad bc she puts everything off on her children and calls it their best interest and equally shunts all bad off onto her enemies, whether they are actually guilty or not. she’d do anything to defend her own twisted worldview bc it’s the one thing that keeps her feeling justified. she honestly loves them more than anything in this world - herself included - but she doesn’t truly stop to consider their best interest or what they ~want bc she’s so locked into this course by her own past that she can’t see past it. she will die - and take all of aragoth with her, if she must - pursuing this goal, if that’s what it takes.
All the people I ship romantically with this character: no one i wouldn’t wish avelina on anyone tbqh and avelina would never truly be happy w anyone bc no real person can ~actually live up to the ideals she believes in and she, herself, certainly can’t. but some things i can potentially see happening/honorable mentions are: alexandir godiva, romayne vitalis (lol ngl avelina’s def attracted to him but she won’t admit that to herself bc it’s inconventient smh), she might try to seduce jesper dalmas asp to get him off lynessa’s back but he’d reject her #whoops, and her dragon rider whoever he was hahaha her one true love though is ofc wine ;D
My non-romantic OTP for this character: it’s a tie between alexandir/avelina and dmitrei/avelina - i mean, in a v twisted way hahaha neither of them are good for each other, i just love their dynamics and find them fascinating and fun
My unpopular opinion about this character: im not really sure???? i guess that avelina does everything out of vulnerability, rather than strength???? though she’s fairly good at disguising that ~for the most part~ she’s actually a sad, scared little child underneath it all. im not sure that’s an unpopular opinion but it’s def her most closely guarded secret (whether or not she’s ~actually good at keeping that secret - at least to those who see her actually expressing real human emotion - is still up for debate though ;D)
One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: oooh omg i have so many thoughts for avelina!!!! i can see things going in so many different directions!!!! so i def don’t want to impress limitations on things at alllll hahahaha but i feel like she and dmitrei are going to have to turn and fight each other and lbr avelina might be the daughter of kings but that’s not a war she’s winning hahahaha anyway, whether by dmitrei’s hand or not, i def don’t see avelina making it through this. i can potentially see her taking her own life or accidentally doing it by trying too much w her magic. like, the point is, she’s a goner ;DDD but not before she looses all her children in one way or another and probably, eventually, everything else. avelina will always overestimate her own abilities and i think that, one way or another, will be her downfall. i also think her arc is gonna be the union of the magical plotlines and political plotlines which imo is really exciting esp since she’s so wildly unstable. i think a part of her will be obsessed w the power just as she’s always been obsessed w the power of her own royal blood.
My OTP: avelina/wine ;D
My OT3: tragedy/avelina/wine???? i mean, honestly i don’t really ship avelina at all hahhaha the most significant ~group in her life is probs #teambeaumont
“Remember? What Papa called us.”
Carry On | Helena & Avelina
helenagodiva
Helena did not know what to say.
She had been told time and again that she looked very much like her mother and while that generally pleased her to hear, at this moment, she wished she didn’t. Her aunt was grieving the abrupt loss of her new son, and when she looked up from the very spot where he had been murdered, she saw the ghost of her murdered sister.
Helena did not know her aunt well: she had only been eight years old when she’d left the capital. But she knew that she was strong. She had suffered so much loss in her lifetime: her parents, her sister, her brother, her husband, her father-in-law, her nephew … the list went on and on and.
And now, her new son-in-last must be added to it.
She knew that some losses must be greater than others. She knew her mother was among them. She and her mother were fourteen years apart and since Avelina’s mother died when birthing her, Elianora had been both mother and sister to Avelina. Helena imagined for a moment losing her own sister and her heart ached for her aunt.
As though she had read her mind, Avelina announced all that she had lost, aloud. She was so overwhelmed by how much her aunt and cousin had both suffered, that she felt like crying for them.
Helena drew her aunt into an embrace. “I’m so sorry,” she said, “I’m so sorry for all of it.”
It was silly, she realized, to think this way, but she had thought upon returning to the capital that the horrible times were behind them all. They had all laid witness to one of the most horrible events in all of Aragoth’s history, but under her sister’s care, certainly there would be great times again! But no sooner had she returned, had her cousin’s happy marriage been ruined by the murder of her husband! And Helena’s own uncle and Evie’s betrothed was thought to have done it!
She stepped back from her aunt, “Have you heard anything?” She asked, “Are they quite sure that it was my uncle? How could he have done such a thing!” It was true that Helena barely knew him, having only hazy memories of him from when she was a child, but he was her father’s own brother! And he was the best of men and he had only ever had good things to say of Alexandir.
Avelina was surprised, shocked even, by the quick display of affection, the trusting way that Helena locked Avelina - nearly a stranger to her - into an embrace when she thought of her pain. Avelina wanted to cringe away. She feared what even the faintest touch of intimacy with this girl might mean. After all, there was every chance that someday, for Lynessa’s sake, Helena Godiva would have to die, but Avelina had not been so embraced by anyone in a long, long time - longer than she cared to remember - and she found herself returning it, despite her own will, as though taken hold of my some mad impulse that belonged to another. Helena was warm and Avelina had been cold for a very long time.
When she drew away, Avelina flicked away the threatening tears quickly, shook her head. “Don’t mind me, child. I am grown weary with care, you see, and silly - much too easy for a grown woman and mother alone to do.” She laughed, humorlessly. “I hope you will not be so for long.” She touched her niece’s arm. “Good things happen in the Imperial City, too, I promise you. It is merely that your coming coincided with a most unfortuitous event. Happiness will come again before long,” assured Avelina, envisioning Lynessa crowned. “You will see.”
She spoke of Alexandir and Avelina glanced suddenly down. Braiding her arm through Helena’s, she strolled through the Hall of the Gods, listlessly. “These are heavy tidings, indeed, it seems I must bear. Helena, dear, has...has no one at all warned you of him?” She looked into Helena’s eyes with genuine concern, wondering what a thing it must be to grow up under the pretense of Alexandir Godiva’s goodness. It was a thing to her unthinkable.
“Sweet girl,” commented Avelina, softly, running a hand through Helena’s flaxen curls. She dropped the hand to Helena’s wrist. “Come,” she said. “Sit with me. I suppose it is time you learned the sad truth about your uncle,” she began, pausing to compose her words, her thoughts. “I hope you will believe me when I tell you that our deception was meant to safeguard your own wellbeing, your sweet innocence.” She smiled softly, sadly. “But I fear, instead, we have wronged you.”
Avelina sat on one of the benches in the hall, waited for Helena to occupy the spot beside her. “Power, as you may know, is a heady thing,” she said, slowly, uncomfortably. Avelina did not know where to begin with a secret as immense as this one: where to at once rip away the tapestry and where, instead, to take it down stitch-by-stitch. “Some, like your parents, wield it most beautifully. Others...” Avelina’s voice trailed off, she looked away. She paused, returned her gaze. “Perhaps, sweet girl, you might tell me what you do know of your uncle and then I shall know better how to begin?”
Echoes in Rain | Avelina & Celia
celiabeaumont
“I’m not afraid,” She promised, resting a hand on her mother’s. “I’m more resolved to go now, then I was before.” But not for the reasons you believe. Her head had been full of silly fantasies of what life would be like when she had last left; but now she would go knowing exactly what sort of life she would be marrying into. It wasn’t at all what she had once dreamed of – but in many ways, she supposed, it was better. She could bring about some positive change to the people of Aragoth, where once she might have been content to sit by blindly and do nothing, enjoying her home and comforts and not giving a second thought to the condition of the rest of the world.
“Loys is … “ She stopped. She’d lied to her mother before; this was far from the first time. She used to sneak out in the late hours of the night to meet Cordelia in the passageways that connected Fain and Ravenwood when she should have been in bed. She once told her mother that she had only been in the library when once she went to check on her and found that she was not there. But she had never lied to her mother about something like this. But she knew that she could not reveal to her that the Loys she thought she knew, had been James all along … not when she was so fixed against him.
One day soon, she would find out the truth. Celia knew it would not be long before her mother made her way south to visit her and her new husband … and when she did, she would see from the first that Loys was not (and could not!) be the man Celia had once been so eager to marry. The truth would come one day but … for now … Celia felt it best to say as little as possible.
“… Loys is worth a hundred trips to the South and back,” She said, glowing with happiness. She didn’t realize that as she spoke, she’d been thinking of James to make her lie sound convincing.
“Yes, perhaps,” Celia replied. She didn’t want to quickly dismiss the idea but, In truth, she had no intention of wedding Loys here. From what James had told her of him, she doubted he would care to make the trip North, even if she did. But she knew that she would not be able to make her mother agree to the match if she met him beforehand.
“No!” Celia broke away from her mother’s embrace when she questioned if Celia had developed feelings for James. “I certainly have not! He is the most … frustrating man I have ever met! And I’m happy to be free of him …. only … despite his many, many flaws, he was promised something for my safe return and I believe he should have it.”
She wasn’t sure what fate was in store for James, but she knew it could not be a pleasant one. She had had some hope that she might be able to persuade her mother, but now knowing that she wished to turn him over to the Queen, herself, all hope of saving him felt lost. “You would give him to Rowena?” She asked, “I – “ She stopped, realizing that she was about to say much more than she meant to. She did not mean to tell her mother anything of what she had seen or learnt concerning her cousin on the road. She realized that her mother must know (she could not be as blind to it as she had once been!) but she also knew that she did not know where her mother stood and for the first time in her life, she felt as though she could not trust her.
“– I suppose you are right. We should leave this up to her to judge.” She said, sinking into the chair opposite her mother. Even as she spoke calmly and even toned, her mind was already racing. She knew that being left to Rowena’s judgements was as good as a death sentence for someone like James. Even if she had little of intention of something quite so severe, if he was given a trial and allowed to speak, she knew that he would easily, with only a word and a look, infuriate her cousin. If his only way to freedom was death, then he would have to leave before it got him. But how would he manage that?
Celia shook her head, still in disbelief, “So it is true? You were to let that horrible man marry Lynessa? I am glad he is dead! Could you not see what he was? Could you not see what he would have done to her? What he must have already done to her? I cannot believe that Lynessa would mourn the loss of such a man! He – “ She shuddered, even know, thinking of the last time she spoken with him; how his dead eyes had looked her over and sent a chill down her spine. If it was true, Alexandir seemed more friend to their family than Avelina, herself, was! She had almost said as much to her mother, before stopping herself.
“No man in all of Aragoth deserved Lynessa but he was surely the last among them.”
Desperately, Avelina wished that her child’s answer had been different, but she would proud of her, all the same. That boldness spoke to her upright character as an Arrington and Avelina’s lips turned upwards into a sad smile. Avelina leaned her brow against Celia’s affectionately. “I am so proud of you, my darling girl.” Avelina pulled back, brushed her fingers through Celia’s auburn locks. “My sweet Celia, my brave Celia. If that is what you want, then that is how we all shall proceed, but know that your mother would have for you only that which you desire. You need decide nothing now.” She said this meaning that she would not consider her choice made up until at least a week, hence. She was proud, deeply proud of her daughter’s courage, but she feared the girl was pushing herself too hard.
Carefully, Avelina watched Celia’s face, it’s golden glow of happiness as she spoke of the man she loved, the way her eyes seemed to dance, the bloom of her cheeks...and Avelina realized that Celia knew now a joy Avelina had known only once, a one whose taste had turned to ash upon her lips...to learn that the dragonrider she had once thought to love had preferred another - a peasant! - and then only to be so savagely murdered...but he had been kind when he rejected her, steady blue eyes, warm hand clasping hers, his lips pressed to her fingertips when he left...Avelina’s tears had been almost happy, for all the sorrow, to have ever held his undivided attention at all.
And now Celia sat before her glowing with happiness and ready to risk everything - even her life - for the chance of such a love returned. Avelina ached and prayed that the gods would not be so cruel to the child as once they had been to the mother. Hastily, she kissed her daughter’s hand and then released it. Yes, yes, if Will DeGrey had only returned her passion, Avelina liked to think she should have abandoned everything for the chance of him, had he asked it. But then, where would she be, now?
Rising, Avelina went to the fireside, held her hands out over the roaring flames. She listened to the crackle of lightning outside and was glad of the warmth around them. To ask was to feel dread seeping up and over her, choked into her throat. She feared, yes, feared what Celia had seen. Surely as Rowena must fear it, so did her mother. How now to shield her from the truth? “What was it like?” she asked, very quietly, not turning to look at Celia. “Aragoth?”
Avelina turned back abruptly to face her daughter at the sound of her outburst. “I am very glad of it,” she replied, heavily, scooping up a glass of wine with one hand, fingers fluttering over the stem with a note of tender familiarity. “The thief deserves no more of your thoughts than already given. I know that the time passed between you must have been difficult to bear and, I assure you, you need never think of him, again.” She hoped that her daughter would leave it at that. “He will have what is coming to him.”
However little pity Avelina had in her heart for James Garin and his crimes, Rowena had even less of mercy. His shoulders would be made lighter of his head. It was as good as done, already, even if Avelina should ask now for mercy. But she would not. She did not want it. She wanted all the world to see what became of those who brought ill upon her daughters. She wanted them to see, and she wanted them to tremble.
“Trust in your cousin,” assured Avelina, soothingly, coming to massage one of Celia’s shoulders with her free hand. “Our Queen knows best,” she said, thinking of Lynessa. “She will care most tenderly for us all. You need never fear again, now that you are home. You are safe.”
Avelina came back around and sank into the chair opposite Celia again so that she might look into her eyes. Placing her chalice on a table beside her carelessly, Avelina leaned forward urgently and took both Celia’s hands in her own.
“Listen to me, now, child. Hateful as the idea was to us all, I assure you that I would never willingly have allowed any harm to come to any of you. This is what Lynessa desired above all else. But, now that he is dead, I wish never to hear you speak so of his memory, again. Do you understand? There are those malcontents who are unsatisfied with the Queen’s justice and do not wholly believe that it was the Duke of Raimbeaucourt who murdered him. They search idly for another murderer and people who are foolish enough as not to believe that Alexandir was guilty may also be foolish enough as to believe that anyone who spits vitriol upon Jon was guilty of his murder - even if that person was miles away at the time of his death. I fear, my darling, you return to the Imperial City in a time of fear and suspicion. Things are not, now, as they were when you left and we must all be careful of what we say.”
Avelina planted a kiss on her daughters hands, released them, and straigthened. “You know that, myself, had no love of Jon Valles, but his love for your sister and hers for him was so great as to defy all understanding. I have come to the conclusion that I will never to my satisfaction understand the connection they shared, but I truly did not believe he would do her harm or else I should never have allowed their union to proceed. It is true that he did not deserve her, but who ever would? As it is,” Avelina rested her head against the back of her chair, closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, sitting up. “Jon Valles is dead and Lynessa’s grief is most acute. She suffers piteously. I know your strong distaste for the man and, you will recall, it is a distaste I share, but...it will do Lynessa no good to hear such words bandied about his memory. We must, instead, try to focus on the positives, on the one positive, rather, which was his great love for her. Only these memories seem to serve as balms upon her wounds.”
“You’re losing the people!”
“You need to go.” Dmitrei Massard x Lynessa Beaumont
Lynessa barely heardhim, her chest heaving and teeth gritted as the blood dripped slowly from herfingertips.
“My lady, I insist.You must leave. I will take care of this. We cannot risk what we have built byhaving you locked away or executed for this.”
His hand locked aroundher bicep, fingers pressing in deep. The fire raged within her again as thelioness roared in her heart and anger roiled through her veins.
“You do not touch aqueen.” She hissed, turning her stare upon Dmitrei and yanking her arm from hisgrasp. “I am your mistress, I am the most high, I have been chosen by the godswhen they crowned me with blood the day I was ripped from my mother’s womb. You…Are not to touch me ever again. Or it will be your blood upon my hands the nexttime.”
The man took a stepback from Lynessa, a smirk upon his lips and a crook of his eyebrow as heglanced at the prone body upon the ground.
“I do not doubt yourfire or the strength of your threat, my lady. If anything, you have shown quitea lot more fire in your belly than I ever would have expected, and based uponyour lineage, I knew there was no world in which you would truly be weak. Butthis….” He gestured to the corpse once more. “This is far beyond anything Icould even believe you capable of.”
“It was necessary.”Lynessa snapped quickly. Already she could feel doubt creeping into her heart.Already she felt the cool hand of fate gripping her heart in her chest. “It… Itwas necessary. It needed to be done. She could not be allowed to continue on.She would have kept me from the life I wanted to live and the way I wished to liveit had I let her breathe a moment longer.” Her voice was frantic as the wordspoured out of her, bloodied hands shaking and wringing themselves together aswide blue eyes stared down at the blood-red body of the woman on the floor.
Slowly, Dmitrei cameup just behind Lynessa, a hand settling gently upon her waist as he leanedforward to whisper in her ear. “You’re right. This was necessary. She had yourlove murdered before your very eyes. She needed to suffer as you had suffered.Perhaps she would have even grown jealous of your victory once you had ascendedto the throne she had prepared for you. Would have struck you down as well totake your place. She may have bred you and molded you for this world but whoknows if she truly wished to see you within its clutches. ”
Lynessa swallowed thelump forming in her throat, beginning to choke back tears as she finally beganto realize the true enormity of what had been done.
“Mother…” She croakedout, fat tears rolling down her blood-stained cheeks. “Oh Mother, what have Idone?” The princess fell to her knees, wrapping herself around theslowly-cooling body of the woman who had done everything for her in the world.The one she had destroyed in all but a true fit of passionate despair.
“My lady… truly, youneed to go. We’ll survive this together. I promise you.”
His words curledaround her like a snake, whispering assurances in her ear and leading her backto her own chambers to wash herself of the damning evidence and await what theworld would do when they learned of the gruesome murder of Avelina Beaumont.
Margaery Tyrell face appreciation.
Joffrey is dead, Myrcella’s been sold like livestock, and now you want to ship me off to Highgarden and steal my boy. My last boy. Margaery will dig her claws in, you will dig your claws in and you’ll fight over him like beasts until you rip him apart.
Solace | Avelina & Arthur
arthurarrington
No one in the world knew him better than his aunt. It still felt silly to think of her as such. They’d grown up more like cousins or brother and sister than aunt and nephew. There was a time when she was his closest friend. He still had fond memories of them, as children, exploring the forests surrounding Fain and reading tales of the Dragonriders of old. But that was a long, long time ago, and they’d since grown up.
He was convinced, then, that he wore his mask well. She took his concern to be for others, when it was primarily for himself. What he didn’t realize, was that she had a mask of her own, which she wore better than he ever could.
“Yes,” He said, wearily. “I am comforted, however, that Valles, at least, was able to leave you in the hands of his capable men. I’m sure you have taken precautions to keep them around you and your daughters at all times? I have done the same with Cordelia. Alexandir may be safely behind bars, but as he succeeded, others may try their hand.”
He looked up at her then and offered a smile of encouragement, “But no matter. It may be easy to kill a Valles, but impossible to kill an Arrington.” As he spoke, he could not help but think of the last time an Arrington was murdered. It was not ten feet from where they now stood, just passed the closed doors.
“She is strong,” Arthur said, “I don’t think it will be possible to ever erase the pain and suffering she’s endured, but … I do think that if anyone can overcome such a terrible thing, it would be her. She is, after all, as much an Arrington as she is a Beaumont.” He paused, “I do not wish to speak ill of the dead but … I must agree that I had no love for Jon.” He was the worst of men. “I wish she did not know the pains of his loss, but I hope that she will one day will be happy with a man who may better deserve her.”
He nodded. “It is true that I never got on well with him,” He admitted. (Although, truthfully, his dislike had stemmed from the suspicion that Alexandir knew what Arthur had done to keep his head, rather than anything that Alexandir had ever said or done). “But I did not think him capable of such a thing. But you had always known what he was truly like, didn’t you? I was wrong not to have trusted your judgement in this. Perhaps Valles might still be alive if everyone had exercised more caution against the Duke.”
He thought he was playing her, now. Not that she needed encouragement in this matter (he was certain that she would blame Alexandir Godiva for every ill in Aragoth if she could), but the more she and Lynessa both were convinced of this, the more certain he was that Alexandir would take the fall for his crimes.
Avelina nodded slowly. “Rest assured, I have,” she replied, remembering her guards just outside these doors. She knew Arthur was in no mood to try anything against her just now (unless she gave him a reason to, which she would not). Still, it brought her comfort to imagine her guards dragging him off of her, beating him, dragging him to his doom...but no, he had still a purpose to perform, first, before he met Rowena’s cold justice. “It gives me great peace of mind to know they are always there, at the ready to defend me and my daughters. Jon gave us that, at least,” she murmured, as though she were sorry about any of this. It had been the purpose, after all, which he had served.
Avelina smiled. “I am very glad to hear it,” she said, squeezing Arthur’s hand. “In times such as these, knowing that one’s family is safe is the greatest comfort of all. “I have no doubt you are right,” she added. “There are always imitators, even if there are none so bold as to do what happened to Jon, there is the matter of that James Garin who stole away my Celia. I have no doubt others will follow in his footsteps.” That threat would, of course, be minimized by the punishment he faced, but one could not be too careful. Particularly when every piece on the board had a role to play. “Still, it is a great comfort to know that both men are already behind bars. At least we need fear nothing from them.”
Avelina knew that many would speak of the deed around Arthur and she needed to know how he would behave. “I am glad they were able to apprehend Alexandir so quickly! Rowena must be commended for her swiftness of action,” she added. “But it does make one wonder...was it an impulse of the moment, or had Alexandir long plotted this outrage? Of course, Jon was never a pleasant fellow and might easily have provoked it at any time...” she shrugged. “What do you think happened to my goodson, that day?”
Nodding, Avelina smiled. “Right you are, dear Arthur,” she said, though they both knew it was a lie. “And we are never stronger than when we stand together,” she said, taking his hand, the same hand that had once cut down her own brother. “What would dare assail a lion’s den?” A dragon, of course, she knew, or another lion. But that did not bear mentioning.
“You have the right of it,” agreed Avelina, thoughtfully. “She is stronger, even than she knows. It occurs to me...would it be possible for Lynessa to stay here with you and Cordelia for a few days? I think a change of scene amongst those she loves might do her a world of good and she is, as you say, every inch the lioness,” she added, allowing her gaze to soak of the lions that adored Fain. Soon, Avelina prayed, she would be Arrington by name also.
Despite everything, Avelina’s knowing smirk was real. It was a vindication - even knowing that Alexandir had not killed Jon Valles - to hear Arthur acknowledge Avelina’s correct judgment in her assessment of Alexandir. After all, they both knew he had not murdered Jon, but Avelina was still right. After all, she was sure Rowena had been his unwitting pawn all along, and it was he who had planted the idea for her to murder Avelina’s siblings. He had not murdered Jon, but he had murdered her family all the same.
“I confess I did,” replied Avelina, gazing off into the distance of her past. “To think, in another life, that hideous fiend might have thought to wed me!” Avelina shook off the shudder that rippled over her and went on. “I do not blame others that they did not see the truth in him, all along. Few had the...dubious benefit of being forced so much into his company as I did. It did not take me long to become acquainted with his true character in such circumstances. It is tragic that his true nature must be unveiled in such a way, but at least it was Valles who learned the truth...and not someone else.”
Perhaps, Arthur said. Valles might still be alive if everyone had exercised more caution against the Duke. She wanted dearly to laugh. He was right, after all: it had simply been the other Duke. But then, who knew that better than Arthur? Suppressing the spike of humor in her spirits, she forced herself to nod sagely. Carefully, she measured her glances towards Arthur so as to evade his direct suspicion. “He fooled everyone. For years, to think a we all sat at table and conversed peaceably with a murderer...I imagine the revelation has shaken all of Aragoth, to be sure.” She shifted gears, wanting to name Raimbeaucourt directly, so as to allay Arthur’s suspicions. “More than ever, I am grateful my Evie was spared the fate of becoming his wife! It is too awful to contemplate!” she paused, speaking the truth: “I confess it, I am glad he is locked away and we all, at last, are safe from his awful machinations!”
So you agree? The Starks are enemies?
#cersei loves tragic accidents
4x01 // 6x03
The Last Dragon | Avelina & Alexandir
alexandirgodiva
On and on and on it went. Round and round, like the incessant drip, drip, dripping of water that he’d been forced to listen to since he arrived here. He’d managed to tune that out and could only hear it when he listened for it. But she was not so easily drowned out. Had he been free, he would have left long ago. Conversing with Avelina Beaumont wasn’t something that was easily done when you had a difference of opinion. She held onto her own with an iron fist and no amount of logic or reason would loosen her grasp. In fact, he doubted that either of those things agreed with her, for she would hold onto it all the more when confronted with the truth.
“Ah, you have found me out!” He said, finally, clasping his hands together, “I’ve tried to hide the truth from you, but it will not do. Yes, yes. You are right. It was all me! From infancy, no – I must go further back – from my very conception– I have plotted all of this! There were few people in this world who have truly loved me and so I decided to have them all murdered. I put my horrible niece on the throne and then shipped myself off to lead a war, something I had no business doing. And then I’ve returned to be so easily put in chains for a crime we both know I did not commit. Yes, yes, all of this was my grand scheme, even this imprisonment, and you see how happy it has all made me.” He paused, “You’ve made one error in your assumptions: I never wanted the crown. Don’t you think I could have gotten it, if I had? I was the heir to the throne when my brother and nephew both died. The crown could have gone to me, if I had fought for it. Rowena took the crown and with it changed the laws of succession: something she had no right to change. If I had truly done all you had said, in pursuit of the crown, do you think I should have given up so easily?”
He laugh aloud at her theory about Aalis Vymont. They both knew he had caught her out and now she was doing her best to cover her tracks, to the point that it was truly absurd. “I must thank you for that.” He said, when he had caught his breathe, “I didn’t think even you were capable of something so truly absurd. Aalis was a baby when she was lost or died. What could she have learned from me in so short a time? And what, exactly, is it that she would have learned from me? And what is it that she has done to be drawn upon as an example by you? Are you quite certain you did not mean to name a different niece of mine?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“In what world? In this world, my lady. You may think you have everyone fooled, but you do not. You see the world as you want to see it, but there are many who can see you for what you are. Our niece is smarter than you and she is far and away more powerful. Take care, Lady Beaumont, for a slight slip of the tongue alone is enough to end you in this empty cell next to my own.” He paused. “There, now I have given you advice which I know you will not take.” He managed a smile, “It is so nice not to be disappointed.”
He could talk and talk and talk, but she would never listen to him. He could throw her a rope while she drowned and she would curse him for trying to hang her.
He snickered at her last comment, “Ah, but you forget too quickly. I am in league with the demon god himself. I have sold my soul to him, and he shall not let me perish yet.”
You have found me out! Avelina’s heart gave a jolt, only to be slapped with the truth of his sardonic tone. Sneering, Avelina looked away from the grotesque little demon she saw in him, gazing blankly towards the slime-slick wall for a span. “Indeed,” she snarled. “Loving you is the most foul crime imaginable, I daresay.”
She jerked back to look at him, again, however as he made his point. Don’t you think I could have gotten it, if I had? Abruptly, Avelina realized she was trembling. For the first time since she had met him, Avelina found herself asking a single, horrific question: had she really been wrong? After all, if there were one thing to be said for Alexandir, it was his devious mind. But no, the moment passed quickly, it was merely that those around machinated also and, more to the point, Alexandir had had other schemes.
“Ridiculous,” she said, spreading her hands as she laughed, releasing pent up energy. “You went campaigning into the South simply to convert them, to raise an army that would be loyal to you, alone. I understand how your mind works,” she said, smiling. She truly believed that, after all. “There are other routes to power,” she said, nodding. “And you’ve always had a taste for bloodshed.” Yes, she was sure: he’d done it all with the express purpose of creating a war, carving up Aragoth. After all, it was the only decent means of distracting a sorceress and her dragon when one had no allies: after all, unlike Avelina, Alexandir was entirely alone in this.
“Oh, but you hadn’t given up, had you? You’ll never give up! I suppose you would have me believe, too, that you had no hand in my family’s death, that you had no hand in convincing Rowena that you should lead an army to the South, of all places, in convincing her again to award you my daughter’s hand upon your return!” Avelina shook her head. “No, no, no, your cunning brought you that far, but justice shall have its day at last. Tell me, did you choose Evie because she was innocent and might thus easily be manipulated into believing all your lies, or was that in fact simply the luck of the draw?”
Neither answer would surprise her, but - though it sounded for all the world like one - it was less a jibe than an actual question. She longed to know how deep the plotting went. For all that she claimed to know his mind, Alexandir baffled her constantly and completely. She paused. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was you who tipped off that horrible thief there of the whereabouts and identity of my Celia,” she added, pointing carelessly towards James Garin. “Just to wound me, and to distract me from helping Evie as I ought in that time, giving you time to indoctrinate her. But you got more than you bargained for, Evie may be her father’s daughter, but she is an Arrington born, and the truth will out. They will all know soon enough.”
Avelina rolled her eyes away as he accused her of absurdity. They both knew the truth of that score and her attempt to cover her own tracks now struck her as an ill effort. Still, such a shield was better than none. The walls had ears in the Imperial City, and Rowena would no doubt be just as glad to be rid of an aunt as she was to be rid of her uncle. “The only niece of yours small enough to be so infantile in action as you could only be an actual infant!” rounded Avelina, though they both knew it was never what she had meant. “As for what she has done, well,” Avelina glanced away and back again. “I hope you will take her example to heart in this and loose your chance at a crown, just as she once did.”
Avelina wished very much to change the subject. “Tell me, why did you murder Jon Valles? Was it because of the all-too public humiliations he inflicted upon you, or simply because you so enjoy power?”
Her heart was hammering in her chest, bouncing off the walls of her ribcage till she felt sick with rage and regret and, yes, even fear. To hear, in this her moment of triumph, Alexandir once again threatening her...Avelina felt ill. She did not conceive of this as a warning, but rather began with an assumption. What horrifying trap has he lain already? At any moment it might spring! Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away as fast as they had come. “Even at the last, your suspicious mind is awork against us! Do you not see that we are together against you and strong than ever, as a family ought to be?” But even Avelina knew this was a lie, and she glanced at the floor, rancid and muddy, and the hems of her fine gown trailed in it. She had not come here to be cowed, she had come her to crow.
Her lips twisted with horror at his last words. “Blasphemy,” she growled, tears once more pricking her eyes. “At last you say words I can believe! But the demon will not protect you forever. He will devour you whole and then shall the world forget the name of Alexandir Godiva.” She linked and unlinked her fingers nervously and looked back towards him with distaste written across her face. “It makes me sick to think that once we might have been wed. But at last, I am safe, and so is my Evie. It is enough. I shall pray to all the gods in thanksgiving!” But still it whispered through her brain, like his threat, and Avelina fought off the impulse to cringe. Words are wind, she told herself, but his words spelled out a storm.
Echoes in Rain | Avelina & Celia
celiabeaumont
She was still determined to return to the South and marry Loys – although for different reasons than she’d had when she’d first left. But how was she to explain everything to her family, now? One day, they would meet Loys Mortain and he would certainly not live up to the description she had once given them. But relieving to her mother how not only had James Garin kidnapped her, but disguised himself as the Warden of the South and then stolen from her, would certainly not help his case.
Perhaps one day, she would tell them – when James was free and far from here – but for now, she would say nothing.
“No, I want to go back to the South,” She said, determined, “As soon as –” Had it not been for James, she would have left as quickly as it could be arranged. But his fate was uncertain and she realized that she could not leave him. “– as soon as I am strong enough.”
Her eyes followed James as he was taken away, “What are they going to do with him?” She asked. “Do you forget, that you gave him your word? Does that mean nothing? Mama, you must pardon him! He should not have taken me, but he meant no harm. He needed the ransom to return to his brother. Wouldn’t have either of us done the same, if we had been in his position? I would do anything to return to you and my sisters.”
She wearily followed her mother inside, eyes scanning over her home – a sight so familiar and yet she felt as though she was seeing it for the first time. She’d never considered the luxuries she was so used to until she was forced to live without them. As soon as they moved into her mother’s chambers, already food and wine was being brought to them. It was a small feast - with all of her favorites. They would hardly eat enough of it to show any sign that they’d eaten at all, before it was cleared away. She thought of the starving mothers and children she’d seen in the towns they’d ridden through and she felt sick.
As soon as she was seated, her mother waited expectantly for her to begin. She knew not how. She could not tell her all – she would not tell her all. Somehow she didn’t trust her enough to bring up all she had seen and all she had been told. It was a new and strange feeling: once she would have said anything to her mother, but now she treaded with care.
“We had only been traveling for three days. I admit I was scared when I woke up and I’d seen what had happened. But even then, I never doubted that I wouldn’t make it home. I was worthless to him if I did not return home unscathed. He treated me as well as he was able, given the circumstances. The first hour or so, my hands were tied, but he freed me from my bonds when I promised not to run. And from there, he led me safely back.”
She said nothing of their stop in the town, or the robbers they’d encountered, or the things he’d taught her to do on the way.
And she dared not to mention the kiss.
Avelina felt an odd shock of regret as Celia expresses her continued desire to return to the South and wed its Warden. Oh, certainly this was a dynastic boon in terms of Lynessa’s hopes, but Avelina realized some frail part of her had longed for Celia to stay with her, instead. “My brave girl,” whispered Avelina, gently touching Celia’s face. In a way, Avelina supposed, Celia was the most courageous of her daughters. After all, unlike Lynessa, she did not know what was coming: only that she must persevere. But then, perhaps that in itself was a blessing, too. Either way, her daughter was exhibiting boldness and, as much as she hated parting with her once again, Avelina was proud.
“Loys must be worth his weight in gold,” she teased softly, tilting her head in an inviting way, arms linked once more with her daughter. “You need fear nothing more. You are safe here and your sister has secured your safety in traveling once more. These new guards are the sharpened warriors of the North, all the way from Valles’ territories. They are crack troops with none to equal them besides Loys’ own most elite forces.”
The North and South both bred survivors. But in the North, these men were stalwart and disciplined. In the South, one was more likely to encounter ill-fated adventurers, such as this Garin character. It was no coincidence that the Godivas had arisen with the rebellious South, while House Arrington found its support in the unflinching North.
“Of course,” soothed Avelina, finding herself relieved. She rubbed her daughter’s back. “All the time in the world is yours. And, if you’d prefer, we might invite Loys here to wed you and return with you, after a time. I understand Lady Mortain is engaged to wed Lord Moran, which will be bringing Loys with some contingent this way in a few months’ time. But naturally, we need make no decisions of that kind today,” she added, quickly, not wishing to place undue pressure on Celia. She had been through much and more already, Avelina was sure.
Avelina turned to Celia with confusion, touching a hand to her heart. The heat of surprise washed over her in a current and she stopped in her tracks to hear her decision questioned by her own daughter. There had been more and more of this of late, unfortunately, first with Evie about Alexandir, now...her own Celia. Avelina forced a smile she often wore when reasoning with the disapproving.
“My own sweetheart,” she said, reaching out and taking her hands, but then a sudden fear clenched her heart. “Surely...surely you have formed no attachment with this,” Avelina cast a glance towards the swearing pirate who, despite being shackled, was punching one of her men in the face. Avelina began to walk again, picking up her pace. “Roguish, unattached thief.” She was grateful to gain the inside of the castle and closed - and bolted - the door behind them. “Whatever has he filled your mind with?” Gathering her daughter to her, Avelina rocked her for a moment, running fingers through her hair. “You must know he is no true friend to us.” Anyone who is not us, she had warned, often. Is against us.
Releasing Celia, she looked into her face. “I am, I assure you, fulfilling just what I told him. I promised that he would get all he deserved for stealing away my daughter. This is the penalty for that, Celia. And, yes, certainly I confess, I made it sound as if I meant a reward rather than a punishment, but I was afraid for your safety, should he begin to think he might gain nothing from the transaction. And, certainly, I could not give him anything. If I did, every young lady who ventured onto the road would be snatched up by some hoodlum looking for gold. This Garin may not have harmed you, but those who emulated him may not have shown so much restraint. That precedent could not be set, lest no lady ever be safe upon the road again. Not you or your sisters or, my own sweet darling, even the Queen, herself! Villainy must never be tolerated.”
Avelina nodded slowly as Celia asked what would be done with him. “I will turn him over to the Queen’s justice, of course,” she replied. “Stealing away one of royal blood is a crime whose punishment must be meted out by your cousin, alone. What that will be...” Avelina shook her head as though she did not know, though that too was misleading. “We will discover soon enough.”
As Celia said she would do the same to return home, Avelina rounded quickly. “I do not believe that you would put another life in jeopardy to do so, which is precisely what this fellow did, both to you and to the men who guarded you. He has displayed a reckless disregard for all others that I find, frankly, disturbing. Avelina sank, emotionally exhausted, into her chair by the fire.
When the servants had poured the wine, Avelina raised a glass to her lips. “My darling, these are troubling times. There is much and more that has happened here which...may not have reached your ears.” Reaching out, Avelina took one of Celia’s hands in her own. “During your absence, both of your sisters became engaged. Lynessa was betrothed to Jon Valles and, at their very wedding...he was ruthlessly murdered by your other sister’s fiancé: Alexandir Godiva. This only goes to prove that the foulest of intents can lurk in hearts that appear for all the world to be good and pure. Who could have suspected?”
Avelina began again. “Lynessa is in such a state, Celia, it is...” Avelina blinked back tears, though in truth they were more of relief for Celia’s situation than any grief for Lynessa’s. “Truly heart-wrenching to witness. In days like these, one may present a fair face but their heart may be blackened with wickedness. For all his mighty deeds, we know now that Alexandir was no true friend of Aragoth’s or ours, though he looked to become a part of our family. Whatever this James character may have said to you,” Avelina glanced away and back again. “We know now that not everyone is to be trusted.”
Touching a hand to her mouth, Avelina shook her head. “Oh, my sweet girl,” she murmured. “You must have been terrified!” It horrified her that any thing should happen to her own daughters and anger blackened her heart. That her own Celia, who brought only joy to those around her, should be thus treated...Avelina wanted to scream.
“Clever girl,” she commented approvingly, squeezing one of Celia’s hands in her own, when she mentioned how she had known he’d not truly harm her. Avelina’s nostrils flared with renewed ire to hear that her daughter had - for whatever span of time - been bound. “That blackguard! Thinking to could cow you, an Arrington! Daring to bind these sweet hands,” Avelina kissed her wrists, where she imagined the ropes must once have been. “My Celia is no man’s captive! Happy am I that you were born to a rich family! I tremble to think what might have happened had he come upon a poor girl with no ransom to offer.”