[cerynitiis]

MUSE, sing of the nymph with the amber eyes and lips like roses, sing of elaphia of keryneia, cursed by artemis, loved by hermes. MUSE, sing of the girl whose blood runs gold with ichor. MUSE, sing of the girl who bears herakles' scars. sing of elaphia of keryneia, who earned a goddess' wrath independent and original greek myth character, based on the myth of the ceryneian hind, written by anne ( she / her, 29 ). modern, fantasy, asoiaf and got verses site. aesthetic. meme tag.

[cerynitiis]

.

[edenmemes]

asoiaf: a feast for crows starters

❝ i’m sorry that i never trusted you. i don’t know how to do that any more. ❞ ❝ you make it difficult for a man to swallow his anger. ❞ ❝ history is a wheel, for the nature of man is fundamentally unchanging. what has happened before will perforce happen again. ❞ ❝ the worst isn’t done. the worst is just beginning, and there are no happy endings. ❞ ❝ words are like arrows. once loosed, you cannot call them back. ❞ ❝ you are a lioness, and it is for all the lesser beasts to fear you. ❞ ❝ anger is better than tears, better than grief, better than guilt. ❞ ❝ kind? how boring that would be. i aspire to be wicked. ❞ ❝ sometimes there is no happy choice, only one less grievous than the others. ❞ ❝ when i make a jest i smile. do you see me smiling? do you hear laughter? ❞ ❝ beauty can sometimes mask deadly danger. ❞ ❝ i know what a burden you bear. you should let me share the load. ❞ ❝ you would be wise to not take me lightly…and wiser still not to make of me a foe. ❞ ❝ i need to sleep, but fear to dream. ❞ ❝ i do not doubt that kindness and mercy and forgiveness can still be found somewhere in this kingdom, but do not look for them here. ❞ ❝ no fight is hopeless till it has been fought. ❞ ❝ open your eyes and look about you. the kingdom is in ruins. ❞ ❝ my hand is hungry for a sword. i need to kill someone. ❞ ❝ it does no good to speak of roads not taken. ❞ ❝ i begin to think that all your words of love were lies. ❞ ❝ i pray that i never offend you. you are terrible when roused. ❞ ❝ a sweet face oft hides a sinner’s heart. ❞ ❝ when i am with you, i…i can scarcely think. you are all i ever dreamt of. ❞ ❝ i used to be someone, but now i’m not. ❞ ❝ suffering is everywhere…and grief and death. ❞ ❝ you ought to be pleading for my forgiveness rather than seeking to provoke me further. ❞ ❝ i have been here the whole time, waiting for you to come to me. ❞ ❝ no one who wears a crown is ever safe. ❞ ❝ i have touched more men that i can count. some with my lips, more with my axe. ❞ ❝ i love you too, but you’re a fool. a beautiful golden fool. ❞ ❝ i have been despised by better men than you. ❞ ❝ i never wanted to see half the things i’ve seen, and i’ve never seen half the things i wanted to. ❞ ❝ that man is as useless as nipples on a breastplate. ❞ ❝ sometimes there is no happy choice. only one less grievous than the others. ❞ ❝ most have been forgotten. most deserve to be forgotten. ❞ ❝ heroes will always be remembered. the best. the best and the worst. and a few who were a bit of both. ❞ ❝ we all dream of things we cannot have. ❞ ❝ i do not know who we are, if truth be told, nor where we might be going. i only know the road is dark. ❞ ❝ you lie. worse, you lie poorly. ❞ ❝ do you even know what honor is? ❞ ❝ this is not real. this is another bad dream, and soon i’ll wake. ❞ ❝ the rain feels good against my face. it feels like tears. ❞ ❝ i need you as i have never needed you before. ❞ ❝ there is no shame in being afraid, only in showing your fear. ❞ ❝ it is a good thing that i thrive on chaos. ❞ ❝ the times grow ever more interesting, and when the times are interesting you can never have too many swords. ❞ ❝ curses are only in songs and stories. ❞ ❝ you will forgive me if i am suspicious, but the times are troubled. ❞ ❝ fear cuts deeper than swords. ❞ ❝ be grateful that i have more honor than some. ❞ ❝ you do turn a pretty shade of pink when you blush. ❞ ❝ you would do well to ride with me. the roads are perilous. ❞ ❝ some doors are best left closed. ❞ ❝ it does no good to speak of things no man can change. ❞ ❝ why won’t they leave us be? we never did them any harm. ❞ ❝ i cannot die yet. there is something i still need to do. ❞ ❝ it’s time you told me the rest of your plan, don’t you think? ❞ ❝ every man should lose a battle in his youth, so he does not lose a war when he is old. ❞ ❝ words are wind. they cannot hurt you. let them wash over you. ❞ ❝ you are not the only one with wounds. ❞ ❝ when the cold wind blows the lone wolf dies and the pack survives. ❞ ❝ i will teach them what it means to put a lion in a cage. ❞ ❝ better to mock the game than to play and lose. ❞ ❝ knowledge is a weapon. ❞ ❝ you know me. if you want sweet words, look elsewhere. ❞ ❝ you reckless fool. what do you think you’re doing? ❞ ❝ you’ll be safe here. no one will know where you are but me. ❞ ❝ sorcery comes at a cost. ❞ ❝ i have never taken kindly to chastisement, as any number of dead men could tell you. ❞ ❝ so you’re brave as well as beautiful. ❞ ❝ this will cause more trouble than you know, i fear. ❞ ❝ will you throw your life away for pride? ❞ ❝ the crows will feast upon us all if you go on this way. ❞ ❝ our time together is at an end, i fear. ❞ ❝ spare me your japes, i have no taste for them. ❞ ❝ war makes monsters of us all. ❞ ❝ you cannot eat love, nor buy a horse with it, nor warm your halls on a cold night. ❞ ❝ i have a hole where my heart should be. ❞ ❝ i thank you, but i have no need of your protection. ❞ ❝ trust is earned. like gold. ❞ ❝ a lie is not so bad if it is kindly meant. ❞ ❝ far be it from me to question the word of such an honorable person. ❞ ❝ i will bring the head of any man who would betray you. ❞ ❝ noble words, but words are easy. deeds are hard. ❞ ❝ my father is very good at doing nothing. he calls it thinking. ❞ ❝ if you do not go, i will spend the rest of my life wondering what might have happened if i had. ❞ ❝ the sea is never weary. i must be as tireless. ❞ ❝ it’s strength that’s needed here, not chivalry. ❞ ❝ i did not come to you for comfort. ❞ ❝ you see the wonders that can be worked with lies and gold? ❞ ❝ an age of wonder and terror will soon be upon us, an age for gods and heroes. ❞ ❝ a ruler gets no rest. ❞ ❝ if you share your plans with no one, no one can betray you. ❞ ❝ i have a confession. ours was no chance encounter. ❞ ❝ you have your mother’s eyes. honest eyes, and innocent. ❞ ❝ am i still a thief if i put it back and no one ever knows? ❞ ❝ i am weak and full of sin, and scorn is more than i deserve. ❞ ❝ when have i provoked any man…unduly? ❞ ❝ i have never met a man i didn’t provoke, you should know that well enough by now. ❞ ❝ that’s a cold suspicious look if i ever saw one. ❞ ❝ you’ve faced more things this past year than most men face in a lifetime. ❞ ❝ there is a difference between fear and caution. ❞ ❝ it is my look they will flinch from, my frown they must fear. ❞ ❝ you have been disappointing me for years. ❞ ❝ why? tell me that. tell me why. ❞ ❝ i am surrounded by enemies and imbeciles. ❞ ❝ go back. turn away. there is nothing here for you. ❞ ❝ you would do well to omit ‘must’ from any speech directed at me. ❞ ❝ a bad dream. did i scream? i’m sorry. ❞ ❝ i will not be afraid. i will not let them see my fear. ❞ ❝ you will never know how sick it makes me to see you. you will never know how much i despise you. ❞ ❝ i have seen terrible things in my time. ❞ ❝ only a fool makes threats he’s not prepared to carry out. ❞ ❝ stay with me. i do not want to sleep alone. ❞ ❝ sometimes it is best to study a game before you attempt to play it. ❞ ❝ why, do what you always do. do nothing. ❞ ❝ no man ever truly knows what he can do unless he dares to leap. ❞ ❝ what you meant does not matter. only what you did. ❞ ❝ is there any more that you would care to tell me? ❞ ❝ i can’t command you to be brave, but i can command you to hide your fears. ❞ ❝ tell me something useful. tell me of our enemy. ❞ ❝ go away. you are not welcome here. ❞ ❝ these are such fearful times. some nights i can hardly sleep, for fear. ❞ ❝ some wounds do not show. ❞ ❝ i have never looked upon you as a rival, even for a moment. ❞ ❝ go home. you have a home, which is more than many can say in these dark days. ❞ ❝ play me for a fool, and you will die screaming. you are aware of that, i trust? ❞ ❝ you must be more dangerous than you look. ❞ ❝ tell me. i want to know all of it, from the beginning to the end. ❞ ❝ i see you are as lovely as the tales. ❞ ❝ your hands are shaking. they would rather be caressing me, i think. ❞ ❝ dry those tears. have you ever seen a lion weep? ❞ ❝ come! come kill me, if you can. ❞ ❝ i never knew what love could be, yet now…i am afraid. ❞ ❝ the enemy of my enemy is my friend. ❞ ❝ young men are overbold, and think only of the glory of battle and never of its dangers. ❞ ❝ you are weary and sick of heart, that’s plain to see. ❞ ❝ some doors are best left closed. ❞ ❝ the world is full of horrors. you can fight them, or laugh at them, or look without seeing. ❞ ❝ i was wondering. are you drunk, or merely stupid? ❞ ❝ does it hurt so much? is there aught i can do to ease your pain? ❞ ❝ what i want is none of your concern. ❞ ❝ this must end, for your sake as well as mine. ❞ ❝ glory is good, but gold is better. ❞ ❝ please tell me who you are, and why you’re following me. ❞ ❝ many a man will drown in those eyes. ❞ ❝ the best lies have some truth in them…to give them flavor, as it were. ❞ ❝ what are you looking for? your destiny? your death? ❞ ❝ love can make a fool of any man. ❞ ❝ may i stay a while? i feel that we should talk. ❞ ❝ is that a beard, or did you forget to wash the dirt off your face? ❞ ❝ i’ll hear the truth, or you’ll wear chains. ❞ ❝ if you love me, do not leave me. ❞ ❝ only madmen fight wars they cannot win. ❞ ❝ you have a strange look in your eyes. are you unwell? ❞ ❝ last night, i had a dreadful dream. ❞ ❝ you have to help me. where am i to go? what will i do? ❞ ❝ i warn you, i am out of patience. ❞

[petalsprompts]

𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒; 𝙽𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙻 𝚀𝚄𝙾𝚃𝙴𝚂 𝙱𝚈 𝙶𝙴𝙾𝚁𝙶𝙴 𝚁.𝚁. 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙸𝙽.

change  pronouns,  tenses  and  other  details  as  deemed  necessary. &  please  specify  muse  when  sending  to  a  mumu. slightly edited wording for roleplaying purposes.

My  skin  has  turned  to  porcelain,  to  ivory,  to  steel.

Any  act  can  be  a  prayer,  if  done  as  well  as  we  are  able.

A  man  who  hates  music  can’t  be  trusted,  I  always  say.

Has  my  tale  turned  you  speechless?  Come,  curse  me  or  kiss  me  or  call  me  a  liar.  Something.

A  bag  of  gold  buys  a  man's  silence  for  a  while,  but  a  well-placed  arrow  buys  it  forever.

If  I  am  a  monster,  perhaps  you  should  speak  more  softly  to  me,  then.  Monsters  are  dangerous  beasts,  and  just  now  kings  seem  to  be  dying  like  flies.

Every  man  must  die,  [NAME].  But  first  he  must  live.

You're  mine.  Mine,  as  I'm  yours.

[NAME]  fought  valiantly,  [NAME]  fought  nobly,  [NAME]  fought  honorably.  And  [NAME] died.

Old  stories  are  like  old  friends  You  have  to  visit  them  from  time  to  time.

You  were  made  to  be  kissed,  often  and  well.

Half-truths  are  worth  more  than  outright  lies.

Some  battles  are  won  with  swords  and  spears,  others  with  quills  and  ravens.

Soon  comes  the  cold,  and  the  night  that  never  ends.

Always  keep  your  foes  confused.  If  they  are  never  certain  who  you  are  or  what  you  want,  they  cannot  know  what  you  are  like  to  do  next.

They’ve  never  seen  a  battle,  they’ve  never  seen  a  man  die,  they  know  nothing. 

Madness  and  greatness  are  two  sides  of  the  same  coin. 

Only  lies  offend  me,  never  honest  counsel.

Woman?  Is  that  meant  to  insult  me?  I  would  return  the  slap,  if  I  took  you  for  a  man.

We  look  up  at  the  same  stars  and  see  such  different  things.

I  crossed  a  thousand  leagues  to  come  to  you,  and  lost  the  best  part  of  me  along  the  way.  Don't  tell  me  to  leave.

I've  lost  a  hand,  a  father,  a  son,  a  sister,  and  a  lover,  and  soon  enough  I  will  lose  a  brother.  And  yet  they  keep  telling  me  my  family  won  this  war.

All  these  kings  would  do  a  deal  better  if  they  would  put  down  their  swords  and  listen  to  their  mothers.

I  must  be  strong.  I  must  have  fire  in  my  eyes  when  I  face  them,  not  tears.

Why  ask  for  truth  if  you  close  your  ears  to  it?

There  is  a  savage  beast  in  every  man,  and  when  you  hand  that  man  a  sword  or  spear  and  send  him  forth  to  war,  the  beast  stirs.

Always  keep  your  foes  confused.  If  they  are  never  certain  who  you  are  or  what  you  want,  they  cannot  know  what  you  are  like  to  do  next.

If  you  love  me  all  so  much,  why  are  you  still  dressed?

There's  been  no  one.  Only  you.

Why  do  the  Gods  make  kings  and  queens  if  not  to  protect  the  ones  who  can't  protect  themselves?

Explain  to  me  why  it  is  more  noble  to  kill  ten  thousand  men  in  battle  than  a  dozen  at  dinner.

We're  all  just  songs  in  the  end.  If  we  are  lucky.

All  men  are  fools,  if  truth  be  told,  but  the  ones  in  motley  are  more  amusing  than  ones  with  crowns.

[petalsprompts]

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐃 / 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐒; 𝙿𝚃. 𝟸.

a  collection  of  scenarios  &  interactions  appropriate  for  period/medieval  rp.  specify  muse  where  needed, add "FIRST" if this would be their first time interacting, and switch sender/receiver to change roles. + part one.

[  broken  solace  ]  the  sender,  searching  for  a  quiet  area,  accidentally  disturbs  the  receiver  in  their  own  moment  of  solace.

[  get  off  the  road!  ]  the  sender  knows  that  some  bandits/thieves  are  coming  down  the  road,  and  drags  the  receiver  into  the  nearby  brush  to  protect  them.

[  slippery  slope  ]  winter  setting!  the  sender  grabs  onto  the  receiver's  arm  to  avoid  losing  their  balance  on  an  icy  patch  of  ground.

[  wild  berries  ]  our  muses  run  into  each  other  whilst  one,  or  both,  are  picking  wild  berries.

[  lost  my  way  ]  the  sender  spots  the  receiver,  who  seems  lost,  and  approaches  to  ask  if  they  need  help  finding  their  way.

[  STOP  !  ]  the  receiver  hears  the  sender's  voice  yell  out,  warning  the  receiver  that  they  are  about  to  step  into  an  animal  trap  sender  has  set.

[  mistaken  identity  ]  the  sender  approaches  the  receiver,  about  to  start  a  conversation,  before  stopping  and  saying,  "oh, i'm sorry,  i  thought  you  were  someone  else..."

[  can  you  reach  that?  ]  the  shorter  of  our  two  muses  asks  the  taller  to  reach  a  piece  of  fruit  from  a  tree,  or  something  from  a  higher  shelf,  etc.

[  work  for  food  /  board  ]  the  sender  asks  the  receiver  if  they  can  work  for  a  hot  meal  and  a  place  to  sleep  for  the  night.

[  ripped  and  torn  ]  the  receiver  has  a  torn  garment,  and  the  sender  offers  to  stitch/repair  it  for  them.

[  hottest  day  yet  ]  the  sender  strips  of  their  clothes  and  is  enjoying  a  swim  to  cool  off,  after  a  moment  they  realise  they  are  not  alone  when  they  spot  the  receiver.

[  a  storm  on  the  horizon  ]  dark  clouds  roll  in,  the  wind  picks  up,  and  the  receiver  hears  a  knock  at  their  door.  the  sender  is  there,  asking  for  shelter  as  the  rain  begins.

[  follow  the  smoke  ]  the  sender  follows  the  sight/smell  of  smoke,  worried  a  fire  may  threaten  them,  and  instead  comes  across  the  campsite  of  the  receiver.

[poohsources]

🐝  *  ―  𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑨𝑭𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺. (  some might be a bit suggestive.  )

❛  careful, or we're never getting out of this bed.  ❜

❛  you're making it very hard to leave.  ❜

❛  who said i wanted this to just be a casual one-time thing?  ❜

❛  you looked peaceful, so i didn't want to wake you just yet.  ❜

❛  don't get up yet.  ❜

❛  sorry, i didn't mean to fall asleep on you after.  ❜

❛  we should probably talk about what happened.  ❜

❛  can we not ruin this by talking yet?  ❜

❛  i could get used to waking up like this.  ❜

❛  i thought you'd be gone before i woke up.  ❜

❛  don't look at me like that unless you want a round two.  ❜

❛  you're trouble first thing in the morning.  ❜

❛  no need to act shy now, I saw more than that last night.  ❜

❛  you're blushing again.  ❜

❛  i think the neighbors may have heard us.  ❜

❛  it's only awkward if you make it awkward.  ❜

❛  i don't know what's gotten into me last night; i don't usually do this.  ❜

❛  i should probably go now ... unless you want me to stay.  ❜

❛  please don't say this was a mistake.  ❜

❛  we crossed a line last night.  ❜

❛  well, i guess this does complicate things.  ❜

❛  i don't want to pretend this didn't happen.  ❜

❛  are you sore?  ❜

❛  i think my shirt is still somewhere in the hallway.  ❜

❛  how did your clothes end up over there?  ❜

❛  i remember you were very eager to get them off.  ❜

❛  i think i have some scratches on my back.  ❜

❛  i got worried when i woke up, and you weren't there anymore.  ❜

❛  i don't want this to be just one night.  ❜

❛  please tell me you don't regret it.  ❜

❛  last night meant something to me.  ❜

❛  this changes everything, doesn't it?  ❜

❛  were you trying to leave without saying goodbye?  ❜

❛  like you even remember what happened last night ...  ❜

❛  you might want to cover that before anyone sees.  ❜

❛  i didn't hear you complaining last night.  ❜

❛  i liked seeing that side of you.  ❜

❛  you took care of me last night. let me return the favor.  ❜

❛  i think i'm in trouble because i want this again.  ❜

❛  i wanted you last night, and i still want you today.  ❜

[rpclefairy]

growing closer.

prompts for characters getting to know each other.

“i don't think you realize how much people notice you.”

“you don't seem particularly trusting. then again, maybe neither am i.”

“you have a habit of appearing at interesting moments.”

“you strike me as someone who trusts their gut. am i wrong?”

“i've noticed you always leave before everyone else.”

“i think you enjoy keeping people guessing.”

“you seem restless.”

“it's strange how you can be surrounded by people and still feel alone.”

“have i ever told you that you're difficult to read?”

“you look like you haven't slept.”

“you know this place well enough that i'm starting to wonder if you've always lived here.”

“do you ever worry about the kind of person you're becoming?”

“i've known a lot of people. none of them were quite like you.”

“i can't decide whether people truly change, or if they just become better at hiding parts of themselves.”

“i had the strangest dream last night. do you remember yours when you wake up?”

“the more i get to know you, the more i keep noticing little similarities between the two of us.”

“i didn't realize you'd remember that.”

“most people seem uncomfortable with silence. i never minded it much.”

“you seem to know more than you're saying.”

“you seem comfortable on your own. i wonder if that's the same thing as never feeling lonely.”

“do you always look this serious?”

“you're easier to talk to than i expected.”

“i've always thought trust is harder to earn than people pretend.”

“you always seem to be watching.”

“i think you've been avoiding me.”

“you're not at all what i thought you would be.”

“whenever i ignore my instincts, i end up regretting it. what about you?”

“i wasn't expecting to run into you again.”

“i can't tell if you're someone who enjoys solitude or just tolerates it.”

“i know it sounds childish, but i can't help believing some people are meant to find one another.”

“you make a terrible liar.”

“you don't strike me as the sort of person people forget.”

“i think people underestimate you.”

“i can't decide whether you're charming or frustrating.”

“i don't think i've seen you smile before.”

“i wasn't sure you'd come.”

“it's a little strange. i think i've started looking forward to seeing you.”

“sometimes i wonder if we ever really know anyone.”

“you're surprisingly good company.”

“i think most people would like to believe they're good. i'm not sure it's always that simple.”

“i think being truly understood is a far rarer thing than people realize.”

“i don't usually tell people this...”

“you make that look easy.”

[cerynitiis]

kissing the swell of your lover's breast. - cregan.

SHE EXPECTED VERY LITTLE WHEN SHE CAME TO WINTERFELL. she knew she would likely find her new home strange and cold, and that it might take a while for her husband, the grieving widower, to warm to her. she had not expected there to be love. yet the castle was full of it now: the love she held for the north and its raw beauty, for sweet rickon, who had become the apple of her eye, and perhaps above all for cregan. she had come to adore his gravity and quiet demeanor, appreciate the care he held for each of his subjects, whether kin or lords or smallfolk, and admire his determination and courage. indeed, she dearly loved every facet of him, and though she did not dare assume it as fact, she frequently caught herself thinking he must have grown fond of her too, especially after their prolonged separation. they shared a bed every night at least, ( and sometimes in the mornings as well ). elia has long since stopped sleeping in her own quarters: it seemed a hassle to have to wander from her rooms to his bed and vice versa every time, and more importantly, she no longer desired to spend the night alone, much preferring to drift to sleep in the safe warmth of his arms.

she is startled from her reveries by the warmth of his touch. cregan kisses the swell of her breast, a tender gesture that never fails to stir something in her. she sweeps her fingers through his dark hair in response, and looks down at him with a thoughtful, soft gaze. it is a marvel he can make himself feel so light, when his broad frame and weight could easily crush her; it must require quite some effort on his part. " careful, " she says, a small smile finding her lips. she briefly wonders if he has already noticed; surely he must have realized that she hasn't bled in a while. she has suspected herself for some weeks, after she missed her first month, had felt herself tire easily, and the smell of stew had suddenly made her feel sick. it was only out of fear of being wrong that she has waited to tell him at all. " they feel more sensitive as of late. "

@thygraves for cregan

[cerynitiis]

almost done with all the memes in my inbox, you know what this means

[cerynitiis]

kissing your lover lazily first thing in the morning. - cregan.

the cry of a rooster, morning light filtering through the slits of the wooden shutters. despite the heavy blankets and pelts she can feel the cold of the passing night nipping at her feet. elia utters a soft noise of protest, not quite ready to face the day yet. she buries her head back into her pillows, eyes shut firmly, cheek pressed hard against the fabric as she attempts to will herself back into sleep. she knows it is a lost battle. the household is already awake; she can hear the footsteps from servant girls as they go from room to room, lighting the hearths, hushed chattering of maids waiting outside their door to dress her, and the shouting of someone in the yard, as well as the wildly irritating rattle of wheelbarrows being rolled over the frozen, uneven ground.

the second groan of protest turns into a soft laugh when she feels her husband stir, then move closer elia cranks one eye open, groans again and halfheartedly tries to roll away when she realizes he is already fully awake, always is before her. no sooner has she turned around, however, or she is dragged back into cregan's warm embrace. she peers over her shoulder at him ( his gentle, beautiful face ), feigning indignation when they both know how much she enjoys this game — they play it near every morning. " mhmm, " is all she utters. he kisses her then, before she can wish him a good morning, a kiss that is warm, and lazy, and still tastes of sleep. she leans, no, melts into it, half - turned in his arms, hips pushed back against him. only after a minute does she pull away. by then mirth dances in green eyes. she grins as she splays a hand over his face. " tsk. don't get me started before the day has even begun. there's about a thousand matters that require our attention, petitions from some of the smallfolk in winter town, the counting and distribution of grain, household administration ... "

@thygraves for cregan

[birthdaysentiment]

CAMILA MORRONE as CAMILA DUNNE Daisy Jones & The Six (2023) | Track 2-6

[thygraves]

the path was barred before he could truly feel the relief of dismissing her ━━ until she once more stood before him with drawn courage. PERSISTENCE. he had already begun to suspect it was the only thing about her that had place within his house... and his straight spined stride halted without visible irritation, though neither did it soften when he let his gaze fall upon her. ( the breeze toyed with the loose strands of silver that framed his face, ) carrying with it the sweetness of roses he had long lost interest in attempting to appreciate. how have i wronged you? ...silence answers first. not solely because he wished to punish her with it; but because, for perhaps the first time since highgarden's gates had opened to receive him, she asks him a question pulled directly from her heart. NO FORMALITIES, NOR SNEERED INSULTS THAT HE DESERVED [ ... ] merely a girl rejected time and time again, asking her soon husband to produce an offense. he has plenty.

but it is not so simple to explain that she is the face of a change that he cannot bear. that the future prepared for him since birth no longer exists.

❛❛ you are spoilt. naive and sheltered ━━ and i have little patience to instruct a girl on what it is to be a wife. no, most do not hold affection for their husbands. ❜❜ had his own father loved his mother? HE THINKS, PERHAPS, HE HAD ONCE. but illness had taken her before nuada was old enough to remember even the sound of her laughter [ ... ] lord balor loved house silverlance most. and nuala... nuala had never needed words to understand her brother. ( affection had never been part of the lessons, ) duty had. everything else was deemed a luxury. he has never truly seen a marriage built upon such a thing.

❛❛ my father believes our house survives by opening its gates. i believe it survives by remembering why they were closed. ❜❜ his voice remained measured ━━ but something quieter had crept beneath it... NOT GRIEF, NO. but the discipline that came after grief had been lived with that it becomes indistinguishable from breathing. ( his head inclines as that hardened gaze bore into her, ) bowing just slightly to her level while both hands rested atop the pommel of his sword hanging from hip [ ... ] unsure where to put them when they wish only to grasp her head and shake away the nonsense. ❛❛ you are not my punishment, my lady━ but you are proof that i have lost. ❜❜

[cerynitiis]

planted firmly in his path, chin lifted and shoulders straight, elia allows the insults to wash over her. only a faint glistening in soft eyes gives away that she's been stung. spoilt. naive. sheltered. the accusation is worse for its truth. highgarden has always been her haven ( and she has never left its grounds ), one that offered only comforts. her childhood had been pleasant. like most noble children she had seen little of her parents; her father had been a proud and vain man, one far too busy with the pleasure of tourneys to meddle with the education of his young daughters, and her mother had reared one child after another, spending what time she had between births ensuring highgarden's household was in order. but there had been a dozen governesses and teachers to fuss over her daily. she was raised to play the harp and sing, perfect every dance, to embroider and weave; to be a maiden like those of stories old, all with the purpose of pleasing her future husband. BUT THE SEVEN WHO ARE ONE LIKE TO TOY WITH FATE. all that work, all those dreams she'd held, and now she is to marry a man who could not care less for her proficiency in the court of roses; who, by his own account, despises all she represents.

you are not my punishment, my lady. but you are proof that i have lost. though she feels the words should drive her anger, the rage and irritation she has felt since meeting him, the fight in her slowly dissipates instead. elia meets his hard stare, silent ( at last ). she considers giving in, if only to create something between them resembling harmony; becoming a statue, still and cold, and living for duty alone. but there is something there underneath the words, something she can't quite put her finger on. head tilts, step taken closer to examine him ( at the risk of irritating him more ). briefly, gaze darts to his lips, then to his violet eyes again.

" you care deeply for your family, my lord, " she finally responds. her tone is surprisingly gentle. around them birds flit from hedge to hedge, looking for caterpillars, their cheerful twittering filling the air. " i am not sorry for who i am. but i am sorry i cannot provide the future you wish. " she offers an arm, a truce of sorts, for him to take. " i suppose affection is too great an ask. but i do not wish for there to be discord between us either. perhaps you and i may ... start over ? i see your house is important to you ... soon it will be my house too, and the house of our children. i would like to learn more of it, so that i may serve it to the best of my ability. will you be patient with a spoilt, naive, and sheltered girl, and tell her of your histories ? "

[cerynitiis]

[   KNEEL   ]     ,     sender  gets  down  on  one  knee. - cregan.

WHAT POWER BUT LOVE is capable of bringing a lord to his knees ? cregan stark lowers himself to her level, a tree bending to the wind, a wolf bowing to the lamb. his tall, broad frame sinks to wooden floors as though in worship, as though she is his queen rather than lady, the object of his prayers instead of a mere mortal. she watches and trembles. the gesture is so reverent, so loving that she does not know what to do with herself. after a sweet moment's hesitation, gentle hands come to cup his cheeks, lifting his face so that their gazes meet. the orange of the flickering fire is reflected in his eyes, grey as the winter skies outside, grey as the storm clouds that gather. the warm glow of the hearth lights his skin too, breathing life into otherwise pale cheeks, crowning his dark hair. her heart gives a fragile thrum. she arches forward, curtain of chestnut hair falling over her shoulders, shielding both of them from the world, nose affectionately brushing his. there is but a brief pause before she closes the distance between them and kisses him, deeply, desire on the tip of her tongue.

forehead remains tipped to his when lips finally part. she nudges her nose against his once more. " my lord. " it has become an affectionate nickname. another kiss follows, more chaste this time, succeeded by a small smile. " and what have i done, to deserve such affection from you this night ? "

@thygraves for cregan

[thygraves]

rickon does not need telling twice. the little lord gives a delighted cry that echoes across the yard with her encouragement, as if he'd been anxiously awaiting permission ━━ because he had... because as wild and mischievous as the three year old was, he was relatively well behaved under the right circumstances. now he's all unsteady boots and clumsy limbs coddled in warm layers as he tears through the snow toward the great black destrier [ ... ] CREGAN HAS BARELY SWUNG ONE LEG OVER THE SADDLE, before he is dropping the last few feet to the ground. ( months on the road has wedged itself into his bones, ) yet any ache that threatened him is forgotten the instant a tiny body collides with his legs. there is a low chuckle deep in his throat before he even realizes he's laughing, as he crouches down into frozen mud to properly greet the boy at his level. A GLOVED HAND DISAPPEARS INTO SOFT DARK HAIR━ affection disguised as inspection while grey gaze sweeps over his son. ( round cheeks soft and pink from the cold, ) but happy and well cared for... that's all that matters.

❛❛ you've grown. ❜❜ it's gruffed with almost offended disbelief as he effortlessly scoops rickon into his arms, lifting the boy high enough that delighted giggles spill between them. HE PRESSES A KISS ATOP HIS HEAD. once. twice. thrice as if to make up for every mile that had separated them... ❛❛ i leave you for a handful of moons and you've decided to become a proper young lord without my leave. ❜❜ rickon protests something terribly important [ ... ] words tumbling over one another in the hurried way only children still learning possess ━━ and cregan listens as though every mangled sentence was worthy of a maester's careful recording. ( only after it concedes does he look up, ) only then does he truly see @cerynitiis.

⊱ ░ CONTINUED.

SHE HAD ALWAYS BEEN BEAUTIFUL. when they first wed, he had admired her in the detached manner one admired fresh snowfall upon the hot springs; or moonlight upon the glass gardens. ( something lovely, ) something deserving of gentleness. this was different. now she is standing exactly where he had left her four months ago, and yet she seems impossibly changed ━━ because now he knows what it is to search for that face amongst strangers and never find it... at some point between arra's passing and taking leave to march his men south, he had thought he'd made peace with the idea of having already experienced his great love [ ... ] UNTIL HE FOUND HIMSELF MISSING ELIA WHILE SLEEPING IN TENTS AND IN CASTLES NOT HIS OWN. her, more than winterfell. her, more than the godswood. her, more than the crackling hearth in his solar... rickon wriggles insistently until little boots find the ground once more ━━ and whatever careful greeting cregan had rehearsed upon the kingsroad disappears with the wind when she kisses him in between a choked sob that made his chest ache with something too akin to guilt...

❛❛ aye. ❜❜ he breathes out with thick mist as forehead briefly presses to hers [ ... ] simple, yet heavy while still in the presence of others. it meant : i know. it meant that the letters hadn't been enough; that he'd thought of her every damned night. HE PULLS BACK JUST ENOUGH, gloved fingers gently grasping her chin as he examines her the same he'd done his son. ( winter caresses her own reddened cheeks, ) as wetness gathered in lashes and snow soft as lace dusted her hair... he'd kiss it all away, proper, soon enough. ❛❛ you've tended my home and kept my boy fed, ❜❜ the most natural and important praise that could be offered ━━ yet so sparse from the lord. the corners of his lips twitched into a small smile as thumb and forefinger affectionately pinched; head dipping just slightly to murmur to her as he releases her chin. ❛❛ good wife. ❜❜

[cerynitiis]

soft sound of lips parting, shared breaths fogging the air. cregan tips his head against hers briefly — an unusually tender gesture — then leans back, gloved fingers gently seizing her chin. she remains obediently and perfectly still while he examines her ( what he is looking for and what he will find, she doesn't know ), unrest quieting now that she has him close, making way for the slightest hint of regret for the outward display of emotion; a southron habit unbefitting of a northern wife. still her heart gives a soft squeeze when he speaks, and she realizes once again how much she's missed the sound of his gruff voice, his specific northern brogue. you've tended my home and kept my boy fed ... good wife. rare and high praise from the wolf, accompanied by an affectionate, playful pinch, a smile playing on his lips. the scarce compliment warms her cheeks, and causes a brief hitch in her breath. were it not for the crowd gathered in the snow to greet him, or for young rickon at their feet, she would have wasted no time in dragging him to his rooms and learning the taste of his mouth once more.

" as well i could, my lord, " elia replies with a smile of her own. she indulges in one last act of wifely affection, nudging her nose against his. then she puts some small distance between them, and becomes the lady of winterfell again. loving gaze falls to rickon, his sweet pink face and lovely dark hair, the color of his father's. she cannot resist picking him up once more, though he is becoming heavy quickly now, growing far too fast for her liking. it takes some effort to lift him ( a delighted strained groan as she does, exaggerated to pretend he is heavier and larger than he is ). a dozen kisses are playfully rained on his apple - cheeks, each more enthusiastic than the last, heart soaring with each giggle she manages to lure from him. she spoils him rotten. cannot help it, though everyone, from his septa to the steward to the maids, scolds her for it ( with smiles nonetheless, while they themselves ruffle his hair and pinch his cheeks and stuff his pockets with candied fruits ). she has adored the boy since their first meeting, an endearment that has since grown into a deep and motherly devotion, especially in the absence of his lord father. " fed a little too well, i almost think ! soon he will outgrow me, and you, and the castle itself, and the sky. he'll be bigger than a giant. "

another look shared, her gaze lingering perhaps a moment too long on the gentle grey eyes of her husband ( a color she had once thought stern ). then it falls to his snow - dusted woolen cloak, the white drops caught in his dark hair, and she recalls the cold touch of his lips. " your father must be weary and cold from his long journey, " she tells rickon, affectionately tapping the boy's upturned nose. " what do you say we get him inside, in front of the hearth ? the cook has prepared stew and warmed the wine. and ... i know someone else waiting inside has missed him very much. " a small miracle the direwolf hasn't come bounding through the thick doors, in fact, though she could hear the whining and scratching from here, broken up by a few barks of protests; it was only because she feared spooking the horses that elia had left the loyal beast inside at all.

[harritudur]

illustrations by Artus Scheiner

very Henry VII & Elizabeth of York vibes so i had to share 👑🐉💮

[cerynitiis]

a kiss while being reunited after a long time. - cregan.

winter fell softly. snowflakes flurry down, dusting the damp ground with their white like a silk cover. it was silent, absent the sound of feet scuffing the snow to keep warm, AS THOUGH THE WHOLE NORTH HELD ITS BREATH IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS LORD'S RETURN. elia casts an anxious glance at the heavy grey sky, instinctively holding little rickon closer to her, hand rubbing his back to warm him. though they had been told numerous times by the steward to wait inside where it was more pleasant, cold seemed a rather small price to pay to see cregan again. any fault she may have found with her husband before has been long forgotten, replaced instead with a deep yearning and affection. she had dreamt of him nightly, read his letters with rapt attention, wept unashamedly on those evenings when no raven came. countless hours were spent writing back with news of winterfell and his son, letters written by faint candlelight in his rooms — she refused to sleep in her own bed, preferring instead to lay her head on his pillows.

the long - awaited noise of horses nickering in the cold, the sound of their hooves dragging through slurry snow. there is a thick swallow when she catches sight of him at last, set upon his steed like a prince. the sinking sense of relief almost breaks her. she clings onto those last strands of decorum and sets rickon down gently, kneels next to him, caring not that her velvet dress drags through the mud. " go on, " she whispers encouragingly in his ear. " greet your father. "

fingers fidget. she waits as her station demands, poised and proud and tall, lovely and pale as the snow itself. flakes have made their home in her hair, woven like pearls in the chestnut, glistening where they have begun to melt. " my lord, " she starts when he approaches, meaning to curtsy, to lower her eyes, to inform him on the state of his home, but all sense is lost to her when she meets his gaze. what good are manners, what use old customs ? a sudden, gasped sob wrangles itself from her lips. she picks up her heavy skirts and strides towards him, collides with his broad frame and closes the final distance between their lips. his are cold but pliant, and taste of the salt of her own tears. she pulls away again and again to ensure he truly is there, trembling hands touching his face and shoulders and chest; she has dreamt of this moment so often it seems a mirage. there are a thousand things she could say, a thousand things she wishes to ask him. but the moment finds her wordless entirely; instead she draws in a shuddering breath and nudges her nose against his. she will kill the man who tears him from her now. " i have missed you terribly, " she manages finally, her voice low enough that only he may hear.

@thygraves for cregan

[cerynitiis]

"you hate me. i tolerate you. it will suffice." - nuada <3

it has been three weeks since their wedding. they have seen little of each other outside of their bedroom, spoken even less. any hope by their families that they may become fond of each other after that first night has been quickly snuffed out. to outsiders it would seem the marriage is doomed to fail. the truth of the matter is more complicated. for reasons unbeknownst to either of them, the two proud lovers are drawn to each other almost every night. the visits are not borne from love: they share no tenderness, no deep conversation, not even a gentle touch. rather there rages an almost furious, insatiable desire that frightens her to her core. it is as though the more he ignores her by day, the worse she yearns for him at night; equally as though every passing glower or glare from her stirs something deep within him.

she rolls out of his bed, immediately reaches for the linen shift on the floor. as ever, she refuses to look at him, as ever, she feels ashamed that she came to his door, and as ever, she says, " i should not have come. " though usually silence reigns thick between them, nuada replies this time. you hate me. i tolerate you. it will suffice.

she starts at the sound of his voice and turns around. eyes linger on him, sprawled in his kingly bed, the sheets, a wrinkled mess from their lovemaking ( if one could call it that ), barely covering him. she dislikes how seeing him like that makes her feel. " i do not hate you, " is all she returns. she picks up her heavy velvet nightgown, pulls it around her slight frame. " but you are right. it will suffice. "