shieldmaiden

Erin DeVries, First Shield of the Guardians. RP account for The Kingdoms / Loved by Lilah

[midnightxraine]

becwinger​

Erin had been warned of someone coming too close by the guard that had followed her. A simple movement of a head, a sign only they could understand. She had almost expected an attack - which would have been a little bit surprising, given they were in the tavern - but when the ale splashed across her sleeve she let out a sigh. Drunken fools. She’d take enemies over those any day. 

“There is no need to worry”, she moved her arm away from his, sensing her shadows react in the same heartbeat. A thief. How interesting. 

The little thread of magic that had connected her to her purse had been ripped in two and for a moment she considered dragging him all the way to the gallows, for the disrespect of trying to steal from her. But time was of the essence in these days and she simply had none to spare for criminals. “My dress will surely recover from this”, she did not return his smile, “But I would prefer if you were to return the amulett hidden between those coins to me. It is not to be tempered with.” To underline her words she drew upon the dark corners of the room, letting a tiny bit of shadow swirl between strands of her hair.

Nicholas smiled. His face or words never faltered. He was already turning away when she spoke again. Proud that he had gotten away with his crime. Although his smile faded when he was addressed once again, his eyes glancing over the stranger. His dark eyes glanced at her features, suddenly darker… there was something different and he had lived in the Outlands long enough to recognise a magic user when he saw one. He stepped back, holding out the coin purse once again. “I think if you had an amulet my friend it left you long ago.” He half smiled, his eyes flicking to the coin purse. “I don’t want any quarrels, my lady. A simple mistake.” He held the coins out to her. “I hope I did not offend.” 

[becwinger]

“You are quick with your senses”, she replied and then - for the first time in a ling time - a small smile wandered across her features. It was fast, disappeared as soon as it came. But it had been there. Of course the amulet was not hidden in plain side, she was not stupid after all. But she was interested in finding out how he knew. Magic? Unlikely. The guardians were usually fast in finding whoever showed even the smallest inkling of something inhumane. “Thank you, I am sure this will save us both some trouble.” And then, without thinking about it further she added: “You don’t per chance do this very often?” Erin was desperate, she needed to find any sign of the king. And if she had to climb into the darkest holes of the capital to do so, she was more than willing to even ask the criminals for help.

[becwinger]

aggiemelwyn·:

That was an oddly long speech, but Aggie’s limited experience with nobility, guardians, or anyone of that sort was pretty limited. Yet, it seemed to match what experience she did have. Still, her lips stayed tight until the speech was over. “The window pots, miss.” Her eyes glanced down towards the basket of tools in her hands, held above her knee where thin skirts were already blemished with a rich color of dirt from kneeling in the gardens outside. She wasn’t summoned to the palace often and found it unnecessarily tedious given the size of the grounds. Private clients at least listened on how to best care for their plants. But the word around was that Aggie Melwyn had a special ‘touch’ and who was she to deny the extra coin. “Seems they need some extra doing.”

Erin had grown up in the mountains, surrounded by the beautiful brutality of nature. She had seen trees older than the kingdom, mountains that were forged before mankind walked upon the earth. And now she was here, in this men-made castle, surrounded by nature in its most distilled and tamped form. She hated it. “I could not care less about these pots”, she admitted with a shrug, “There are more important matters at hand.” The fate of them all, their king... She chased those thoughts away, they were nothing that should be shared with a stranger. “But yes, go ahead”, the guardian mentioned towards the window, her shadows retreating, “I will not stop you from doing what needs to be done. We all have our gifts, our place.” And then, because she simply could not help herself: “I have not seen you here before though, please be so kind and share your name with me. Lady...?”

[becwinger]

ladyxdorothea​:

Dorothea often knew more than she let anyone to believe, she read almost every waking hour. She listened. Even when she was quiet, she was taking note of so much around her. “Hmm, I remember stories of the guardians,” she replied, walking slowly closer. “I am visiting with my father. I was hoping if possible, to see the library.”

“There are indeed many stories about us”, clasping her hands in front of her chest Erin considered giving the woman a small smile. But that thought was quickly abandoned. She knew that most of those stories were intimidating, had planted some of them herself, and she was not in the mood to rectify that situation. “The library? Then I fear you have taken a wrong turn, once or twice. You will forgive me, but we are no longer at ease with people walking freely around the castle grounds. Surely you can understand as much. But I can accompany you, if you wish? Show you the way maybe? Lady...?”

[becwinger]

“The guardians have always kept their doors open to those in need”, her voice rand between the stones of the hall, speaking a simple half-truth. The guardians kept their doors open to those loyal to the king, willing to serve him. “But in the last days we have been forced to draw our attention elsewhere. So I fear that I will not have time for you, unless you bring news that are of use to me.” She turned away from the fireplace to face the visitor. “So what brings you to the palace today?”

[becwinger]

midnightxraine​:

Nicholas’ chest collided with the person before him. He laughed, flashing a charming smile and one hand touching the person’s arm politely. His other was busy reaching into their pocket. It had been a while since he had resorted to petty crime. But with the guardians sniffing around after the disappearance of the king he didn’t want to risk being caught talking the older lords into giving him investment gold. 

“Sorry, i didn’t see you there. I didn’t spill anything on you did i?” He brushed his own chest, directing attention towards him.

Erin had been warned of someone coming too close by the guard that had followed her. A simple movement of a head, a sign only they could understand. She had almost expected an attack - which would have been a little bit surprising, given they were in the tavern - but when the ale splashed across her sleeve she let out a sigh. Drunken fools. She’d take enemies over those any day. 

“There is no need to worry”, she moved her arm away from his, sensing her shadows react in the same heartbeat. A thief. How interesting. 

The little thread of magic that had connected her to her purse had been ripped in two and for a moment she considered dragging him all the way to the gallows, for the disrespect of trying to steal from her. But time was of the essence in these days and she simply had none to spare for criminals. “My dress will surely recover from this”, she did not return his smile, “But I would prefer if you were to return the amulett hidden between those coins to me. It is not to be tempered with.” To underline her words she drew upon the dark corners of the room, letting a tiny bit of shadow swirl between strands of her hair.

[becwinger]

Erin DeVries - Shield of the King 

Erin is a 41 year old woman born in Harrowmont. She was a willful child, as stoic and unconquerable as the rocky mountain region she called her home, always out on another adventure, climbing higher and higher until the earth beneath her hands and the sky above her head was all encompassing. The day her powers first emerged was the day she was forced to leave all this behind. The warmth of her family, the freedom of her home. She had to exchange it for the walls of the capitol, the rigid rules of the guardians. 

And the child of Earth and Wind became a woman made of Stone. 

She was loyal to the king, of course. As loyal as the land itself. This loyalty was drilled into her since the day she became a guardian, grew around her like armour until she was as steadfast as a shield. 

She was well talented, not only in the use of her magic but also when it came to swordsmanship and tactic. A born soldier more than eager to follow every command, as this gave her the security she desperately needed, far from home. Over the years she grew further and further away from the free child she had once been, until those around her began to joke that she was indeed a stature made off of stone, never blinking, never laughing.

A perfect soldier, born to be a leader. 

When she was 30 the former leader of the guardians died and to her own surprise this prestigious role was given to Erin. A titel she bore with pride and honor, eager to step into the shoes of those that had come before her. Protecting her king filled her every waking moment, every thought, every worry. He was the realm, he was the land. He needed to survive. 

And now he is gone and the once steadfast mountain that is Erin DeVries is shaking to its very core. She has failed, she cannot forgive herself for this. She will not stop, never, until those responsible tremble before her as she now trembles at night, worrying. Always worrying.

tbc.

[peachygifs]

rosamund  pike  in  the  wheel  of  time     /     by  clicking  here,  using  my  directory,  or  following  the  source  link,  you  will  find  one  hundred  and  ninety  eight  (  198  )  gifs  from  episodes  7-8,  bringing  the  show’s  total  to  854.  all  gifs  are  made  from  scratch  and  should  not  be  edited  without  asking  first.  please  like  and  reblog  if  you  found  these  helpful  or  plan  to  use  them.

please  note  that  the  first  two  dozen  or  so  gifs  on  this  page  contain  flashing  gifs  of  firelight,  so  proceed  with  caution.

[lomapacks]

COMMISSION! in the source link, you’ll find THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE gifs of the actress ROSAMUND PIKE in THE WHEEL OF TIME (S01E01-06). all gifs were made by me from scratch, therefore i’d appreciate if they are not edited, redistributed, added to other gif hunts or claimed as someone elses. if you enjoy or plan on using them, please like or reblog the post. if you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee!

[cavillarie]

….simply her!

[becwinger]

this blog is now affiliated with @kingdomxhq everything below this point is archived.

[becwinger]

soothvitri·:

“First time for everything, I suppose,” Savitri drawled. “I’m inclined to say yes, except there is one problem: how will you repay me? In coin, I hope?” If not that, then secrets. Or perhaps a favor down the road. “I must admit that I don’t much care for anything else right now.”

“What other way is there but coin?”, she asked, one corner of her lips turning upwards. Aleera was very aware of the answers, for she had paid throughout all her life in very different currencies. But Brassbridge was a city of cold metal through and through. “But yes, there is coin here in my pocket”, she reached for it, handing the stranger in front of her two golden coins with the Thulian Bear in full roar minted on one side. “It is not Brassbridge money and it is cold to the touch. But it is worth its weight and I prefer that over the lies this city likes to tell.”

[becwinger]

fromtheshadowx​:

Ren laughed gently, taking the glass of wine and slipping it to the princess. She was different then what he had expected when the guild had asked him to approach her, that was for sure. “I trust no one without secrets.” he stated simply, lifting the sweet wine to his lips. “For those without secrets are the ones who do not even know their own truths.” He chuckled, knowing that he was speaking in riddles. “I hear of such things yes, although look around you…” He glanced around the tavern. “I have little interest for politics or the wars of kings. I own a tailor’s shop. All that matters to me is that whoever wins that war… wants to be dressed by me.” He winked, trying to keep the mood lighthearted. He had certain talents he had little interest in advertising out loud in a crowded room. 

She took the glass of wine from him, offering a nod of approval, a silent thank you. Varek had warned her of accepting any food or drink from strangers - after all at least one of her sisters was obssessed with poisons - but she knew if Ren wanted to kill her, she would have been dead already, killed by the guard rushing into their little quarters. Aleera nodded “That is a riddle my step-mother would approve off, I am sure”, she followed his lead and took a sip from her drink, “And I do think you are right to do so, to stay away from that frozen shore and its endless battles. But I cannot do such a thing. I burried too many friends.” The old anger rose again within her and she knew that her thirst for vengeance would not be staunched until she returned to those very shores, with fire and steel. But Aleera bit her lip to keep herself from saying that and instead offered him a smile, “I for one would love to be dressed by you, your seem to have a good eye. And who knows, maybe I will one day make my fortune here and be able to even afford one of your dresses” She laughed again, suddenly remembering that dreadful woman she had met in a similar situation not long ago. “You surely know a few things about the women of this city, don’t you?” Maybe she could trade with him in secrets, at least for a while... 

[becwinger]

herdarkredsouls​:

Zahra was beginning to tire of Brassbridge, of the noise and of people’s sheer delight over the simplest of things. Her eyes narrowed, for a moment glancing over the girl before realising that she was not worth her time. “You are lucky i do not have you removed from where you stand.” She laughed, covering the clear malice of her words with a sweet giggle. Zahra handed the gold directly to her guard, rarely handling money herself. “Oh child… You have no idea who have you have chosen to trifle with.” 

“Oh”, her eyebrows rose in a mocking gesture, “I am not triffling with you, my lady. I am simply having a conversation” Aleera’s eyes travelled from the woman in front of her - who was slowly starting to become rather annoying - to the guard behind the stranger. The only weapon she had with her was the dagger hidden in the folds of her own clothing. And it was a rather big guard. But she was fast, he would not expect the attack at all, or any form of resistance. So she decided it would be worth it. After weeks of hiding she was becoming tired and bored of being careful. “I doubt that the city of Brassbridge makes it so easy to do away with people under the guise of a simple misunderstanding. But then again your Godslayer has always been a little behind this time”, she let her Thulian accent slip into her words, straightening her back, “It is no wonder the gods have turned from this place” Brassbridge was a hub of trade and knowledge, so Aleera knew her statement was disagree-worthy. “I wish you a good day though, surely you need to do a few of the unimportant things this city allows its women to do.”

[becwinger]

fromtheshadowx​:

Ren continued to smile, partly because he wanted to and partly because he wanted to keep his eyes on the prize. He raised a brow, taking the empty glass she had spilt along with his own empty glass. He gestured to get her another drink. “I will not allow it, you are my guest and friend.” He smiled gently. “Who would be looking for you… and more importantly why?” He acted surprised, fishing for his own information. “You know you can trust me… don’t you?”

It was nice of him to call her guest, friend even... She had been so devoid of kindess in the last months - it was hard to remind herself that not all men were kind for good reason and when she had still been no one but her father’s bastard daughter many had tried to woe her with charms and smiles, little gestures, only to get close to the king. So she collected herself, shaking her head slightly. “You know, sir, that is very kind of you. To call me friend, to assure me that I can trust you... But you must allow me a secret or two. What is a woman without those? Especially in a world dominated by men and their kings.” She tried to uphold her joking tone while looking for an answer that would satisfy him without giving away too much of the truth. “You know that Thule was at war, right? I mean, even Brassbridge must have heard of that.”

[becwinger]

 fromtheshadowx​:

Ren smiled, putting on his best charm. As he often did with people of Aleera’s status. “Up North?” He exclaimed in a mocking fashion. “Whatever will we do with people from up north?” he grinned at the young woman. “Was there someone you were looking for?” 

She knew that a smile like this should not make her weak in the knees. He was handsome, yes, but she was not here for romantic conquests and she needed to keep her wits to herself, otherwise there was not much hope of her ever returning to the place she was born to occupy. And so Aleera ignored the flush of her cheeks and instead allowed her own smile to become a little more honest. It had been long, after all, since anyone greeted her with warmth. “They are a treacherous folk, I can tell you that”, she joked, sitting back on her chair again, motioning for him to join her. “There is no one I am looking for, no”, she said it with as much ease as possible but while her lips spoke one truth her heart spoke another and many faces flashed before her eyes. People that had trust her, people that had followed her. Dead people. “I have lost too many to look for those still alive. But I fear someone might even be looking for me.” She lowered her voice at those last words before motioning to the innkeep for another round, “Now let me repay you for that mishap earlier.”

[becwinger]

ladyxlu​:

@fallenstarter​

The young widow spend the majority of her life reading. Her own home was filled with books but her great pleasure was the old library. She was making her way to the city square, enjoying the morning sun and the busy stress that came with people shopping, working and socialising. Her life had changed so much in such a short space of time. Being married so young to an older man, her husband passing and yet, she had more freedom than she ever had.  Though she was stopped in her tracks, glancing around her. “Are… there more guards than usual?” she asked a nearby person.

Aleera did not like what she was hearing, not at all. She had chosen market day to finally leave the tiny inn she had been locked in for days and her feet had dragged her to Valerion’s square all on their own. She stood there, her eyes still fixed on that strange stone lady with a sword and such a fierce look on her face, as she heard the other woman speak. More guards meant more danger and that was the last thing Aleera needed. 

“Really? There are a lot of those arround here today, that is for sure”, she crossed her arms in front of her chest before turning towards the stranger, “Have you any idea what they are here for? I mean this entire market day does not look as if a great danger will befall the city during it. And... they wear the heraldic signs of the king, not the city...”, She tilted her head as she watched a guard pass them by, sword dangling from this side. 

Had her stepmother truly told the dreadful Godslayer of Aleera’s disappereance? Had he spies in Thule? Or was this something entirely different? “My father was obssessed with these symbols, had to learn them all when I was litte. So yes, something seems to be off. I thought the King kept to the capital these days?”

[becwinger]

fromtheshadowx​:

Ren grinned, laughing as the drink went over the floor of the room. “If it was anybody else I think i would be swearing profanities right now.” He wiped the liquid off of his white shirt. “I’m sure I can afford a new dress shirt.” He chuckled, winking as he did. “but never the matter… why are you in such a rush?” 

She had to admit that her heart became a bit lighter, her shoulders less tense, as she realised who she was talking to. Aleera had not met many people in Brassbridge yet - She and Varek were quite unsure if they wanted to keep a low profile or openly campaign for Aleera’s quest to regain her throne. Of course, she was in favour of the later. And Ren had been more than welcoming, he surely made this dark town a bit brighter for her. 

“It is market day, after all, is it not?”, she gave him a smile, unsure if she truly wanted to unload her sorrows on a man that had only advanced a few steps away from complete stranger. “The entire city seems to be in a rush. There is so many people here, strangers everywhere. I hear even from up North”. And there it was, the problem she had with all of this. Aleera wondered if he would take the bait and maybe tell her if he knew any rumours.