Of Caer Ligualid

Gisela. Wife of Uhtred, mother of Uhtred, Judas, and Stiorra. Her dark eyes drew in the admiration of many, but they hid more than just a wise mind and the wit of a woman. They held a sorrow few could understand, one that went deeper than the loss of a father and brother 

[nxtawitch]

Muse’s Aesthetics  !!

                         BOLD any which apply to your muse!                        Remember to REPOST! Feel free to add to the list!

[ COLORS ] red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. lavender. copper. turquoise. amber. magenta. midnight. jade green. neon yellow. neon green. tan.

[ ELEMENTS ] fire. ice. water. air. earth. metal. spirit. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. [ BODY ] claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canine. acne. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. fur. feathers. scales. webs. eyes. hands. tongue. sweat. tears. feline. chubby-faced. curvy. short. tall. busty. normal height. muscular. makeup. piercing. tattoos. dimples. plastic surgery. dyed hair. painted nails. amputation. 

[ WEAPONS ] fists. brass knuckles. sword. dagger. spear. arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knifes. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. claws. razors. fighting fans. 

[ MATERIALS ] gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. opal. topaz. jade. agate. bismuth. geodes. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. faux fur. lace. leather. silk. satin. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. granite. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. fool’s gold. fossils. sea glass. 

[ NATURE ] grass. leaves. pine trees. maple trees. palm trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. lavender. lilies. hibiscus. petals. thorns. seeds. vines. roots. hay. sand. rocks. flowers. ocean. river. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. swamps. rainforest. petrichor. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. shooting stars. rainbows. auroras. fjords. canyons. floods. droughts. thunderstorms. tornadoes. hurricanes. tsunamis. volcanoes. earthquakes. blizzards. meteors. constellations. comets. planets. seashells. driftwood. 

[ ANIMALS ] lions. tigers. bears. wolves. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. spiders. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. zebras. giraffes. cats. dogs. bunnies. cows. sheep. pigs. goats. frogs. snails. praying mantises. butterflies. bees. wasps. crows. ravens. parrots. peacocks. mice. rats. hamsters. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. phoenix. dragons. foxes. llamas. camels. 

[FOODS/DRINKS ] sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. kombucha. spices. herbs. apple. orange. lemon. lime. cherry. pineapple. strawberry. watermelon. cranberry. bananas. mango. coconut. pomegranate. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. cakes. desserts. chocolate. vanilla. hazelnut. peppermint. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. popcorn. pretzels. soda. burgers. burritos. pizza. pasta. ambrosia. lasagna. peanut butter. curry. bacon. soup. cheese. avocado. 

[ HOBBIES ] music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. thievery. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. cosplay. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. electronics. technology. blogging. vlogging. cameras. video cameras. video games. computer. phone. movies. theatre. libraries. books. magazines. cds. records. vinyls. cassettes. piano. violin. guitar. electronic guitar. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. bells. sitar. keyboard. drums. percussion. marching band. drama. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. climbing. running. partying. 

[ STYLE ] lingerie. armor. cape. dress. tunic. vest. blazer. shirt. boots. sneakers. slip-ons. sandals. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. shorts. skirt. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. tie. watches. glasses. sun glasses. visor. eye contacts. makeup. bowties. canes. bows. 

[ MUSIC ] rock. pop. jazz. rap. r&b. hip-hop. funk. alternative. classical. trance. dubstep. edm. ebm. hardstyle. blues. latin. k-pop. j-pop. ambient. new age. metal. world fusion. dancehall. reggae. soca. punk. ska. singer-songwriter. folk. country. bluegrass. swing. opera. show tunes. a capella. minimalist. avant-garde. new wave. disco. baroque. symphonic metal. soundtrack. vaporwave. glitch. house. chillout. psychedelic rock. post-rock. cabaret. trip-hop. easy listening. trap. nightcore. indie. grunge. contemporary. black metal. metalcore. emo. screamo. rockabilly. parody. industrial. electro pop. 

[ MISC ] balloons. bubbles. fireworks. reflections. cityscape. cathedral. mosque. light. dark. candles. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. family. friends. assistants. co-workers. partner. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. kisses. lies. angels. demons. fairies. elves. gnomes. 

Tagged by: @bloodofthefates​

Tagging: Anyone! 

[vhsmeme]

* character headcanons

clothing style.

before - bed routine. 

eating habits.

concept of home and family. 

hobbies. 

fighting style.

what calms your muse down after a bad day?

talk about one person your muse loves.

ways your muse says i love you.

describe your muse’s laugh. 

what items can be found in your muse’s pockets? 

talk about your muse’s most prized possession(s).

describe your muse’s walk. 

talk about your muse’s accent.

describe your muse’s smile. 

how often does your muse get sick?

does your muse know when to rest, or do they push themselves?

does your muse snore? sleeptalk? sleepwalk?

the thing(s) your muse thinks about before falling asleep.

is your muse a fitful or a quiet sleeper?

your muse’s thoughts on cops and other authority figures.

skills and special talents. 

disabilities or illnesses. 

habits and mannerisms.

introvert or extrovert.

religious or non - religious.

verbal or non - verbal communication.

something your muse could never forgive.

something that makes your muse smile.

something that scares your muse.

something that gives your muse hope.

how your muse responds to being helped / taken care of.

how your muse responds to unconditional love.

how your muse responds to danger.

how your muse responds to stress.  

how your muse responds to anger.

did your muse grow up too fast?

[nxtawitch]

nykrose​:

“Hmph.” Were he to notice the newly painted gaze, he might have found it an improvement. But he did not. The ruins of the Romans were just that; ruins, alien ones. They meant nothing to him. Perhaps, one day, he might try to understand.

Perhaps not.

“Wealth is measured in horses, not in pots.” Not in feeble brides, either, but what part of this did not sound foolish? The man must deserve this slight, for a pot to worry him so.

“Not for anything?” He hinted at a grin, eyes lit with mischief. It seemed watching the opponent writhe with envy was reward enough for the work. He could understand that.

“Wealth is measured in many things. How many ells of vaðmál do you earn per year?” A dark brow raised. Her own wealth was shown in silver chains and beads of clear glass, rare and imported from beyond rome, if merchants were to be trusted. They rarely were, but they had earned adoration from ladies at the last feast she’d attended, no matter their origin. 

Her smile had a devilish edge, with a smart, stubborn gleam in her eye. “Not even if he stormed the hall to take it by force.” Though there would be no way for her to fight with experience, there were reasons the lord’s dog called her a bitch. Gisela merely pretended not to hear it, though if she alerted her husband to the insult, there would be far more problems for the man than wanting a vase.  

[holyisthenameofmyruthlessaxe]

“Girls are cruelest to themselves,” observes Anne Carson in “The Glass Essay,” her brilliant long poem about the ravages of female anger, loneliness, grief, and desire, giving us as poetic adage what any number of other fields give us as statistic. But girls can be very good at something else. They can be good at exposing the cruelties of others.

The Art of Cruelty: A Reckoning; ‘Everything is Nice’ by Maggie Nelson

[nxtawitch]

Stiorra: You can't make me! I'm descended from Woden!

Gisela: Well, Odin hung from a tree for a week with a spear in his side for knowledge, you can eat your vegetables.

Stiorra: I'll take the spear

[nxtawitch]

    “Cerdic?” Gisela called again, quieter now. “Cerdic, if you’re trying to startle me to get back at Uhtred, so help me I will—” The trees at the base of the hill parted before her, and she was met with a much closer city than she remembered. The walls her husband had repaired from the roman base were gone. Instead, closely packed, taller buildings of brick, wattle, and daub stood. This was not her Lundene. 

     Although every inch of her screamed to turn back and see if the hill might take her back, curiosity drew her towards the city. It was much larger—and louder—than the Lundene she’d left behind, sped along by streets much more filled with people than she recalled. Everyone dressed strangely. Women topped their hair with mushroom caps and had bodies shaped into impossibly inhuman cones, like a fir flipped upside down. At the hips, the cones flared out sharper and wider than Gisela had seen before, even on the least endowed women in the streets. Men’s coats puffed out their chests like ducks, with many who were far too young gone prematurely grey with strange, rolled hair. And the hose— the hose —hugged the calves and ankles tighter than even the most careful wrap of winnegas.

This amazing art of Gisela and Rupert was commissioned from @veramax-art for my Outlander verse! I definitely recommend checking them out! 

[nxtawitch]

So November is coming, and I think I’m going to be focusing primarily on my schoolwork and the cursed crossover for NaNo. I’m going to give a heads up on lower activity here and on my other blogs, especially since I want to get back to updating that fic come December. 

[lifeinpoetry]

And isn’t love like that?—a shift / of attention the heart demands, a refocusing.

— Michael Torres, from “Horses,” An Incomplete List of Names (via lifeinpoetry)

[nxtawitch]

nykrose​:

“Depends on the man.” A pot of that size would be far from practical, but neither were egos in similar proportion. Such lengths could not surprise him. He leaned a hip against the hewn frame of the door, eyes watching with interest for all that the rest of him portrayed. Long, plaited hair betrayed that he was no Saxon. That did nothing to explain his confusion. Then, again, he did not know the man who would be so offended by a newly polished vase.

“How?” Was it possible that, today, he would learn new ways of causing strife?

Her rival was certainly the type of man to compensate that much. Already Gisela had noted his dog, Aldhelm, sniffing around as she uncovered mosaics and breathed life into the fading paint on the marble walls. This pot, something that could be removed from the home, would be the last straw. She carefully brushed on more of the pattern, filling in where time had washed things away in a manner less noticeable than the timber filling in where marble had crumbled. While her skin prickled at the oddness of her companion--not quite a Saxon, but not quite Dane, either--her long-laid plan was too prominent in her mind. 

“This fellow wishes to possess things to elevate his status. He lives in the old palace, parades his new bride about even though her health is not strong, and dresses in expensive finery. But the roman vases in the palace are dust or shattered, while this is restored to...as close as I can achieve to its former glory.” Her smile was sheepish, as she looked back at the face she’d attempted to bring back to life, thoroughly cross-eyed. “And so, he’ll want to have it, but I’ll never give it to him.” 

[nxtawitch]

[ refill ]  your muse refilling mine’s glass for them .  (ivar)

nonsexual acts of dominance

“Thank you.” The lady murmured, though she waited to reach for the cup. Caution was what had kept her alive for so long, and Gisela expected another interrogation. Or taunts, with the youthful confidence of the Dane she sat with. She was nearly the same age, of course, but necessity had demanded a woman from her far too early. Only unbound hair and an empty home kept her from truly crossing that point between maidenhood and womanhood. Her dark eyes looked into his, her brows pulling together ever so slightly, searching for any hidden motive. Nothing was just a drink. 

Her nimble fingers wrapped around the stoneware, finding comfort in the elegant curve of the vessel, the etched designs around the neck. Slowly, she raised it to her lips and, with one final glance around for evidence of danger, tasted the drink. It was sickly sweet, only a few days into its brew. Yeast still filled it with bubbles, coating her mouth with the slightest tingling sensation. Through thinned lips, Gisela said, “It’s...quite nice.” 

[lifeinpoetry]

Loneliness has made me a coward. / My memories forget about me. / The good ones have died or disappeared.

— Jessica Abughattas, from “Haute Bohème,” Strip: Poems (via lifeinpoetry)

[nxtawitch]

name :   Faye birthday :    march 23rd  zodiac sign :    aries/pisces depending on whether you accept the new or old version  height :    5′6″  hobbies :   writing, hiking, sewing, spinning, nålbinding, filming, cooking, stabbing my friends (consensually) and brewing favourite colour :    lilac, although most of my wardrobe is leaning towards blue, yellow, and earth tones  favourite book :    fiction wise, I love returning to Sword Song whenever I can. It’s nearly falling apart I’ve read it so many times. Academically I love Cloth and Clothing in Early Anglo-Saxon England. Obviously the terminology is out of date, but it has wonderful data on textiles and jewelry distributions in english graves from the Migration Era, which makes my fiber geek knees weak. It’s an expensive book, but I’ll gladly share a pirated pdf since my friends sail the high seas last film / show :   Barbarians (2020) on netflix. Some things hurt a lot, like furs worn fur out or some of the peplos patterns, but latin!!! onscreen! and also the Romans being shown as a colonizing force with the latin used to emphasize this!! A scythian knot! I only just started though.  inspiration :    early medieval history,      sagas and supporting evidence,      obviously TLK (though I will make fun of Cornwell as is my right as a woman who studies history),      spite. story behind url :    so Gisela has all the makings of a witch ( spinning whenever she’s delivering bad news, of course the runesticks, and the accusation of being the Whore of Babylon, which in medieval catholicism is really more of a worldly woman than a literal whore ) but when all is said and done, she’s the ideal early medieval housewife and a bridge between Saxon and Dane, Christian and Not in the story spun by Bernard Cornwell. While in the time she’s a cunning woman, I wouldn’t call her a witch in the sense Skade is; Gisela doesn’t flaunt the magic she believes herself to have. Thus, notawitch. But that was taken so I added an x 

tagged by :    @valravvn ! tagging : @tothedevilsshow @astormofagirl @aelfred and anyone else who wants to! 

[nxtawitch]

It runs in the family"

The king’s visit was not unexpected, given the trouble caused by her husband but a week earlier. What she had not expected was for him to find her here, bundled up in a blanket while she waited to pull in the fish for dinner. Hild had reminded her of lent, when her originally planned meat could not be eaten. And so, fish it was, while the pork went back to the pantry. “I used to skip stones while watching my father clean his ships, back in Cumbria.” The lady smiled, her long fingers going for the rope that held her trap, “I always feel a little closer to home, here.” 

[nxtawitch]

helreginn​:

Hel waited for acknowledgement of her request and thankfully took the arm that was offered. As they walked away, she very covertly lowered her free hand and pulled it just behind her back. She made a gesture almost like she was going to make a fist but never got that bare before her fingers stilled in a sharp bend. The ceaseless entities intended to follow but they found their feet would not carry them as though they had stood too long in wet earth and it had dried and trapped them there. She relinquished a tiny, shaky sigh of relief as they got further and further from their unrelenting voices. The reprieve of soft grass blowing in dull wind and far distant voices was like a cool wet cloth to her forehead. Such relief. Hel nodded her head briefly and offered Gisela a grateful smile, “It does. Thank you.” Hel chuckled softly, “I appreciate your understanding. I do genuinely want to hear it, though. All that you have to say is interesting to me.” She lowered herself down and leaned her back against the tree as she deftly brushed out the skirt of her dress. She again looked at her companion with an assuring smile, “I am sure that I might listen better now.” 

Her head tilted, Gisela tried to summon the beginning of whatever anecdote she’d been telling. It was a challenge, with all the anxieties of her future swirling about more than usual. Ah, right. “There’s a spot near here, an old roman fort. Filled with ghosts, so they say.” The dark-haired woman smiled, “My brother and the other children would always go at night, trying to see them. Couldn’t be called a man without spending a night there, at least to their standards.” Dark eyes rolled, even then finding the various trials invented by youths to be ridiculous. As a grown woman now, they were even sillier. Who could fear ghosts, when the living were far more tangible and dangerous? Gisela remained blissfully unaware of the source of her companion’s original discomfort. Fate was what she knew, not the voices of other entities. “My father used to hate it, since we were all running into Strath Clota land, but I think he enjoyed the curiosity that we showed, always going to the ruins of giants instead of starting fights or, in Guthred’s case, wenching.”

[nxtawitch]

[ calm ]

‘Just breathe’  

It seemed impossible, the world splitting in two as it was. Her heart long-broken over this moment, it was all Gisela could do to scream, “No!” But this time there was no Guthred to claw towards, this time no Eadred to steal away her precious sticks and crack them in a flame. No, her entire body was aflame with pain, destroyed by its own creation. 

“No!” Gisela growled again, and then a wave of nothingness washed over her. The pain was gone, but so was the air in her lungs. She was beyond her body, watching her maids realize what had come to pass. They rushed not to save her; for she was beyond helping. Too much blood gone from an already frail body was her undoing, but they hoped to save the child. Gisela doubted they would. The sticks had only told of three, and those three stars were already living, distracted in the other room by the golden lady.

Her neck was finally freed of the invisible noose that was present since she’d first cast the sticks to see her fate. Everything was stillness and cold, her skin covered with gooseflesh. Was it still her skin? Her body felt separate from what she was aware of, and dark eyes looked into eternity, wide and glassy. Eternity stared back, in a visage much more comforting than she’d ever pictured. 

“I don’t want to go.” 

[odinsbane-a]

KILL  THE  KING  !!  For  all  the  treason  he  concealed  in  DECEIT   © / ©

[devotedecay]

❥      NON - SEXUAL   ACTS   OF   DOMINANCE . 

feel free to edit or elaborate as you please .   ( add  ‘ reverse ‘  to your message if you’d like to see how my muse would perform the action ) . otherwise , send in one of these for my muse’s reaction to   …

[ lit ]  your muse lighting a cigarette , spliff , etc. for mine . 

[ order ]  your muse ordering for mine at a restaurant or bar .

[ guide ]  your muse putting a hand on mine’s back to lead them .

[ pay ]  your muse paying for mine at a store , bar , restaurant , etc . ( you can specify where or for what . )

[ open ]  your muse opening a door for mine .

[ dry ]  your muse drying mine off with a towel after a shower , bath , swimming , etc . 

[ instruct ]  your muse giving mine instructions / telling them what to do . 

[ groom ]  your muse adjusting mine’s appearance , such as straightening a tie , fixing their hair , or buttoning their shirt for them , etc . 

[ direct ]  your muse taking mine by the chin and telling them to look yours in the eye .

[ disagree ]  your muse sternly telling mine  ‘ no ‘ .

[ rest ]  your muse resting their arm over mine’s shoulder / s .

[ clean ]  your muse cleaning a smudge of something off mine’s cheek , forehead , etc .   feel free to specify what and how . 

[ answer ]  your muse answering a question meant for mine . 

[ coat ]   your muse holds mine’s coat out for them while they put it on .

[ pilot ]  your muse taking mine by the arm , hand , shoulder , etc . to lead them . 

[ stare ]  your muse staring mine down . 

[ placement ]  your muse telling mine to sit down .

[ teach ]  your muse taking control of mine’s hand , arm , hips , etc . to make sure they do something correctly .  

[ patience ]  your muse telling mine to be patient .

[ tears ]  your muse wiping away mine’s tears .

[ swat ]  your muse swatting mine’s hand away from something they’re not supposed to touch .  

[ jewelry  ]  your muse clasping a piece of jewelry for mine , such as a necklace , or earrings . 

[ enough ]  your muse commanding mine to stop talking . 

[ retrieve ]  your muse requesting or ordering mine to retrieve them something .

[ invite ]  your muse inviting mine to sit on their lap .

[ lean ]  your muse inviting mine to lean into their side while they’re sitting or laying together . 

[ calm ]   your muse telling mine to  ‘ just breathe ‘ .

[ scold ]  your muse scolding mine for something .

[ comfort ]  your muse pulling mine into a reassuring hug .

[ approval ]  your muse complimenting mine on a choice they’ve made .

[ beckon ]  your muse beckoning mine to them without speaking . 

[ laces ]  your muse lacing , tying , or zipping something for mine , such as shoes , a dress , or a jacket , etc .

[ stay ]  your muse telling mine to stay in the car . 

[ defend ]  your muse defending mine’s reputation , dignity , or safety for them . 

[ feed ]  your muse feeding mine something , feel free to specify what .

[ volume ]  your muse demanding mine speak louder .

[ read ]  your muse reading something to mine .

[ refill ]  your muse refilling mine’s glass for them . 

[ possessive ]  your muse resting their hand on mine’s leg or the small of their back while they’re sitting beside each other .