you see weird and prophetic dreams every night that send you messages through riddles
there are secret places, doors, tunnels all around waiting for someone to find them
there are infinite mysteries for you to solve (a secret society in a jazz bar)
you somehow always find yourself on some weird side quest (trading a cigarette for an ancient treasure map)
you recieve messages and signs from everywhere (finding a tarot card on the ground for example)
the community is connected and close
the city has lots of lore, rumors, legends, secrets, abandoned districts. you can uncover stories about the cities mysterious past, hidden families, secret events, and mysterious figures
you are really connected to the moon (your mood and life events depend on the phases of the moon) maybe you can even talk to her
people see you in their dreams
its always blue/golden hour
you can predict the future/your tarot readings are always on point
youre always finding hidden/cool things (secret paths, four leaf clovers)
your eyes have a slight hint of an unnatural color
there are many indie photographers and filmmakers in the city and you can often be a part of their projects
many things in the world are based on escoteric practises like astrology. people believe in it / dont judge anyone for believing in it
you see weird and prophetic dreams every night that send you messages through riddles
there are secret places, doors, tunnels all around waiting for someone to find them
there are infinite mysteries for you to solve (a secret society in a jazz bar)
you somehow always find yourself on some weird side quest (trading a cigarette for an ancient treasure map)
you recieve messages and signs from everywhere (finding a tarot card on the ground for example)
the community is connected and close
the city has lots of lore, rumors, legends, secrets, abandoned districts. you can uncover stories about the cities mysterious past, hidden families, secret events, and mysterious figures
you are really connected to the moon (your mood and life events depend on the phases of the moon) maybe you can even talk to her
people see you in their dreams
its always blue/golden hour
you can predict the future/your tarot readings are always on point
youre always finding hidden/cool things (secret paths, four leaf clovers)
your eyes have a slight hint of an unnatural color
there are many indie photographers and filmmakers in the city and you can often be a part of their projects
many things in the world are based on escoteric practises like astrology. people believe in it / dont judge anyone for believing in it
I was inspired by a few posts I had seen over the years about people shifting with their eyes open/by blinking. So I decided to make a subliminal with this concept.
I made it using very extreme language. "Reality melting, breaking and bending right before my eyes." Or "I shift so fast it scares me." Guess what? It did scare me. So be careful what you wish for.
I edited a video along with it to kind of show myself the process of shifting with every blink because I can't visualise or see things in my head at all. I'm a beginner at editing so the first one ended up looking kind of bad. I decided to try again the next day.
I ended up re-hashing the subliminal as well and adding more affirmations. Then, as I was editing the newer version of the video, I took a break and shifted. I wasn't even wearing headphones while editing so the fact that it still worked is kind of crazy to me.
I actually didn't think it would work so fast and so... crazily? I was talking to my mom while eating dinner and I blinked and I was in a whole different place, I panicked SO HARD and came back the next blink. I was back in front of my mom and she saw my mouth wide open in shock and asked what was wrong.
I think I shifted to my Frieren Reality. I haven't even tried to shift there before. I saw a column in front of me and the sun shining behind it. I was in my Palace since I am an Empress in that DR.
It felt and looked more real than this reality. Probably because I have perfect vision there which I don't have here, even my glasses (which I always neglect to wear) don't make my vision as clear as it was there.
I used to think that it would be so cool to shift extremely fast but boy was I scared when it actually happened. It's actually so jarring. I'm still shaking and my heart is beating so fast even an hour afterwards.
I actually can't gatekeep this so I am gonna link it here for anyone who wants to use it. Please don't mind my choppy editing. Also I added my s/o and some of my realities in the video because I thought that I would be the only one watching it so I am kind of embarrassed to be adding it here but the subliminal is too good to hide.
it's finals season for me, which naturally means i'm doing everything but studying. so, today, when i was taking a study break, i was suddenly struck by an idea: what if i just hypnotized myself to shift? if it works in movies, it might as well work in real life!
i pulled up a hypnosis spiral video, muted it, put on my noise canceling headphones, and just watched it. for 30 minutes, i sat there and did nothing but watch the spiral on my screen, sometimes crossing my eyes, sometimes spacing out, sometimes really focusing on the center, and through it all, i just kept doing shifting robotic affirmations, like "i can shift on command," "i trust in my ability to shift," "i am a master shifter," etc.
the first 15 minutes honestly just flew by as i kept affirming, i thought it'd been at most 5 minutes, but when i checked, triple that time had already passed. around that mark, i started to get really bored, so i just doubled down on my affirmations, still watching my screen ceaselessly.
around 5 minutes later (20 minutes into just watching the hypnosis video on my screen in silence), my brain began to feel muffled? i don't even know how else to describe it, it just sort of began to feel uncomfortable, and then it went really quiet, and all i could hear were my affirmations in my head.
when those 30 minutes were up, i felt like i'd been in such a trance, i got a little bit startled, even. i'm not sure if it's because of the visual stimulus, but it was easier to completely focus on my affirmations without getting distracted or having my thoughts drift, so if you sometimes struggle with focusing on robotic affirming and you have some time to spare, i definitely recommend this! i might start doing it every night before bed when i'm already sleepy :)
Now let's take this a just take this a tinyyy bit further.
At night, when you're lying in bed, thousands of thoughts pass through your mind. Memories, worries, plans, dreams, emotions, could be your dr, could be the thought of getting into the void, all of them appear before you in your mind.
But if you can notice your thoughts, then your thoughts have become the observed.
And if your thoughts are being observed, then there must be something doing the observing
In that exact moment, your thoughts and the observer cannot be the same thing.
The same idea applies to your body,
You can look at your hands. You can see your face in a mirror. You can notice your heartbeat, your emotions, and even your personality changing over time, you cannot be the observed if you are observing yet here you are observing yourself
If you can observe all of these things, then are you really any of them?
Who is the one that is aware of them?
Imagine a mirror somehow became conscious and tried to see itself,it might think that it is what it reflects and not the one reflecting it yk? the mirror is not its reflections, it is not the image the object the tree the person standing infront of it, it is the one reflecting the images
Likewise,
Think of your mind as containing many "reflections"
Thoughts
Emotions
Memories
Desires
Fears
These mental states keep changing. minute to minute If they constantly changing, can they really be what you fundamentally are?
or are they just reflections appearing within awareness?
"I notice that I'm anxious."
there are 2 things happening here, your anxiety is present and there's something else aware of the anxiety
The anxiety is the reflection here
The awareness is the mirror
The awareness doesn't become anxious
It just notices the anxiety
Just like how a mirror doesn't become a tree when a tree appears in it.
The anxiety is the reflection and the awareness is the mirrorhe awareness doesn't become anxious.
It notices anxiety.
Just like a mirror doesn't become a tree when a tree appears in it.
What is the observer then?
the double split experiment in quantum physics says the same things. without an observer light behaves as a wave and with an observer light behaves as a particles which means that the presence of an observer affects reality
reality does not exist until you observe it
so then if you exist who is observing you?
which points to a realization that you are not in this universe you are the universe, you are the consciousness that the universe stems from,it runs from and one day will end from. you are shiva,vishnu as well as brahma. this is why jesus in the bible has said god is within you. its very important you do not become egoistical about this however, this knowledge will serve its true purpose once you completely disregard the ego
the advait vedanta a thousand years ago called this aham brahmasmi
subiminal masterlist, from a girl who gets results from subs within the day
i want to start this off by saying, this post is going to be a huge wall of links, if you already have a good sub routine and or playlist then you dont really need to read this but if you want more subliminal recs then this is for sure for u. now, onto the subs.
first things first. this subliminal routine,
thats it, this is the best thing ever i will preach it till the day i die.
now my favourite sub has to be this one,
best sub ever it literally doe everything and baejin cafe in general is a great sub maker.
for self concept subliminals i would reccomend this subliminal
this came out like a day ago and a moot already got resultsss its so good
for manifestation abilities in general this is the sub i would reccomend
for looks i would reccomend opias whole account
subliminal maker ୨୧
for paid requests → email me [email protected] / opialicious on ig – prices start from 4$ ୨୧
🎀 check out my
i have gotten so many results from their subs, theyve also made a shifting sub, manifestation sub, everything theyre just so great in general.
now for shifting subliminals id reccomend slade
best shifting sub ever istg
if you want a sub with music for like listening throughout the day then i would reccomend this sub
ive shifted with this, it has good music and in general luv it.
metanois magical potions...
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
SO GOOD. 64 quadrillion affs???? HUHUHH luv them
and thats it. those are all my fave subs and sub creators i hope u will get results with these subs if you use them anyways ily all
Pairing: Tiger Hybrid!Sukuna x fem!Deer Hybrid!Reader
Somehow, grumpy, difficult Sukuna becomes friends with you— a ray of sunshine back in kindergarten. From then on, you were inseparable, always dragging him around the playground. It takes him until the last year of high school to realize he’s been in love with you. Just when everything seems perfect, society sees the love as repulsive and dangerous. The world is unkind, stomping both of you until it causes the breakup neither of you truly wanted. And yet, like a cruel joke, you both happen to attend the same college. So naturally, you fall back into what you’ve always done best: being together. It’s fine. You’re friends… really! But after loving each other for so long—can you stay just friends?
Context: College AU, Yearning, Childhood best friends to lovers (to ex and friends again), Diversion w/ herbivores and carnivores, Forbidden love, Grumpy x Sunshine, Teenage romance, loss of virginity, Breakup, Flashbacks, Drunk confession? Fluff/Angst/Eventual Smut, Rut/Heat, Fwb? Knotting, Reader is a Chital deer (they have prementant white spots!) Size difference, Happy ending
Part 1: Puppy love
Still thinking about how many parts will be added but thinking about 7 (but longer parts_
A/N: Im superrr exicted to write this series (and listening to sad music while writing (ah so excited!)) but fr, I'm really looking forward to it.
currently working on part 2!
I couldnt find the artist :(, ill update this if i do tho
pairing: bf!fratkuna x f!reader
cw: cussing, mentions of smoking, possessiveness and control, little bit of stalker behavior, slightly suggestive (if you squint)
art credits: @/su2kuna on twitter
Sukuna masterlist
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who hardlaunched you on his instagram out of the blue one day, proudly showing you off. no one expected it or understood how you two ended up together, but he didn't care. the only thing that mattered to him was everyone knowing you were his.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who also feels the need to regularly remind you you're his. whether it's making sure he leaves marks on the most noticeable spots on your body, or just in the way he speaks, he makes it very clear. it's always "my girl" or "my woman".
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who doesn't care how revealing your outfit is. he can fight, and he will (he was looking for an excuse to, anyway).
"are you sure this is okay? I kinda feel like it's too much," you stare at yourself in the mirror.
"if you don't want to wear it, then don't." he groans, growing impatient. "but you look hot."
"I know. I just... don't want to receive unwanted attention, you know? some people have no shame."
"that's why you're hesitating?" he sneers. "woman, I'll beat the shit out of anyone who looks at you wrong. so wear what you want." he stands up, and gets his keys out of his pockets. "hurry up, we're already late."
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who refuses to let you walk or take the bus anywhere. and it's been that way even before you officially started dating. he'll show up right outside campus when your classes are over, unapologetically blasting his music through the speakers of his sports car. you always scold him for embarrassing you in front of other people, but you still appreciate it.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who can't even fathom you spending a cent of your own money. it just doesn't make sense to him, at all. he has his card registered on your amazon account and doordash, and pays for your netflix, amazon prime and anything else you might use. he'll never tell you how turned on he gets when he receives a notification from his bank alerting him a big purchase was made with his card.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who knows all your passwords, emails, and accounts. he even made a spare of the key to your dorm, without you knowing. he's not being a creep, he's just making sure he's prepared in case anything happens. (can you tell he likes being in control?)
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who won't quit smoking for you (sorry). but he does stop doing it in front of you. and considering the fact that he's always with you, he might as well have quit.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who you get into petty fights and arguments with on the daily. he never says sorry, it's just not in him to do so. but he will try to apologize in different ways.
"I brought you food. eat." he holds the bag of takeout in front of you as soon as you open the door.
you frown, and move to close the door again. "I'm not hungry."
he's quick to place his foot in the way. "just take the food. I know you're hungry."
"I'm still mad at you, Sukuna." you give up on trying to get him to leave, and instead cross your arms.
"you think I don't know that?" he clicks his tongue and looks away. "don't go quiet on me. yell at me, insult me, hit me. I don't care." he finally looks down at you again. "... just don't leave."
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who acts like he hates it whenever you beg him to do tiktok trends with you, but always goes along with it. he loves scrolling through your account and watching them on repeat whenever it's late at night and you're not with him. (probably from his alt account no one knows about so you won't know he stalked your profile)
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who keeps getting cuteness aggression from you. it doesn't matter what you look like, what your mood is, or where the two of you are. if he quietly stares at you too long, he will end up sinking his sharp canines into your cheek, or licking the side of your neck.
"ow— what the hell is your problem??" you pull away in shock and lift a hand to touch the spot he just bit.
"quit complaining. it's your fault you look edible." he stares back at you with a straight face.
"edible? you're a cannibal now?"
he rolls his eyes and groans, moving closer. "get back here I wasn't done."
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who's always touching you. his chin on the top of your head, his palm resting over your ass, his lips always pressed against your neck or ear, his large fingers carding through your hair.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who loves manhandling you. he loves the fact it highlights how strong he is. (which is why I think he'd love it even more if he was with a bigger woman). the amount of times he just picked you up and threw you over his shoulder mid-argument is ridiculous. he's rough with it, but never to the point of hurting you.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who loooves ragebaiting you. he will keep playing with your hair until you lose your mind. he will make sure your favorite snacks are on the top shelf just to get you to ask him for help, only for him to end up refusing (he eventually helps). he will randomly come up behind you, wrapping his firm palm around your neck and squeezing whenever you're peacefully scrolling on your phone and laugh at the gagging sound that escapes you. he will close containers right after opening them for you.
the lid comes off with a resounding 'pop', and your eyes light up. "okay, thank you—" you don't even have the time to grab the jar before he closes it again, and seals it shut tighter than before.
you look up at him, bewildered. he's already staring at you with that nasty smirk he always wore around you.
"my bad," he mutters, amused, but makes no move to open the jar again.
"you son of a bitch." you glare, and he immediately barks out a laugh.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who snores really loud in his sleep. so loud in fact, that you've forced him to sleep in a separate room on a couple occasions where it got really bad. when you first found out he snored, it was funny, and you enjoyed recording him while he was asleep to use the videos as blackmail. but now that you two were dating and you had to endure it almost every night? yeah, not so funny anymore.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who has a really high pain tolerance and doesn't even flinch when you gnaw on his bicep. he just flexes harder, caging your head with his arms. specifically asks you not to bite on his tattoos so he can actually see the bite marks.
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who used to like keeping his hair short (slightly overgrown buzzcut), but started leaving it longer for you.
"don't cut it too short," you say right after he tells you about his upcoming hair appointment.
he raises an eyebrow. "why?"
"i like having something to grab onto." you shrug, and keep your eyes trained on the tv.
he freezes for a moment, and his eyes widen, before he smirks. "... you're a fucking freak you know that?"
you grab a nearby pillow and slam it against his face. "don't act like you're any better."
ᯓ★ bf!fratkuna who has told you multiple times breaking up with him is not an option. he'll say it not only during or after a fight, but even in quiet moments where you two are just laying in his bed. it's kinda cute. after all, he sounded like a pouty and clingy puppy.
Sukuna masterlist
a/n: this turned out way longer than intended but I just kept getting ideas lol...
Building off of this, especially the ragebaiting part–
-
Imagine you've had a long day and you're making dinner and you ask him for help opening a jar and he pulls that shit and your expression just freaking crumbles.
Your lip starts to wobble and your head droops forward slightly and sukuna just freezes like 'Oh shit'
He's all like "hey, hey, it was just a joke, see? I'll open it again, its no big deal- cmon, don't cry-" but you just turn away from him and cover your face as you sob and he spends the next hour consoling you.
I feel like he wouldn't try to rage bait you again after that lmfao
i am not a buddhist nor a Hindu myself. I am a practicing Orthodox Christian. But when it comes to searching for shifting /loa /manifesting /spiritualism? i'll take whatever i can find. Now look, these ancient teachings don't have a magic wand that says "lets just jump in there" ,but they do have a pretty powerful "shortcuts" that will instantly plunge the mind into that void. Specifically, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, the esoteric branch of Hinduism, offers 112 different methods for instantly stopping the mind and pushing it into that void.
First of all, ''the space between two breathes'' (Kumbhaka) In buddhism and hinduism, the greatest secret is that microscopic moment when one breath ends but another doesn't begin. That moment is when you disconnect from this world. And yeah it has an easy way.. breathe in, breathe out. Stop at the exact second u exhale. Focus on the silence that occurs when your lungs are empty. That void is actually your shifting gateway. The longer you prolong those seconds, the more your physical body begins to fade away. And oh, also, be careful and start SLOW. Cause If u do it incorrectly or forcefully, you may experience dizziness, stress, or even fainting...
Second thing ive found is.. "Neither this nor that" (Advaita Vedanta) That is the fastest way to eliminate the mind (the logical left lobe of ur brain). In shifting, every time you say, "i am this, i am here," you are anchored to that reality. Lie down in bed and say to everything that crosses your mind that; Is your body tingling? "nope that's not me." or did you hear a sound? "that's not me." did a thought come to ur mind? "that's not me." Basically reject everything until nothing remains. That remaining pure "awareness" is the void itself... What remains? According to Vedanta, the unchanging, observing pure awareness. That is, the inner, "observing thing." They call it Atman, and surprisingly, it is said to be the same as Brahman. So, individual self = universal reality. Non duality? it's easy to understand, but quite difficult to live with. cause the mind is constantly addicted to labeling itself, saying "this is who i am, this is what i am." it's like stripping the mind bare, leaving it completely exposed. You shed layers upon layers. And the human ego doesn't exactly love that, mind you...
Now ''Dharana'', think of the discipline of The Hierophant card. Instead of dividin the mind into a thousand pieces, confining it to a single point allows reality to break...Close your eyes and focus only on that point between your eyebrows,aka the 3rd eye, or just a single white spot in your mind. Think of nothing else. After a while, the mind will give a "system error" and throw you back into that single point, into the void. Dharana, in yoga, means concentration. But not at the level of "alrigh i put my phone down and focused for 5 minutes." It means literally fixing your mind on a single object. Thr rule is lowkey simple.. If the mind wanders, u bring it back. If it wanders again, you bring it back again. ''Dharana'' focus, ''Dhyana'' uninterrupted flow, meditation; ''Samadhi'' complete union, dissolution of the sense of "self"....
The easiest way to do this is actually to "stop searching." Theres a saying in buddhism that "as long as you keep searching, you won't find, because the seeker is what she seeks." You think shifting is about going somewhere "out there," but these teachings say, "Youre already everywhere, you just choose to focus on this body." Stop "trying to go." Try relinquishing this reality as if you were already there. By releasing the energy of the 4 Pentacles aka the holding on energy, and 9 Wands, in your cards, and simply "being" like The Sun, that door will open by itself.
‧˚꒰ reasons to be extremely powerful in your dr ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
(so you can stop using the same old excuse of coming from a powerful family) cr: @blu-e3
𝜗ৎ 01. Your predecessor—the only being left with that ability—asked you to carry on the legacy of that technique, and the only way to do so is by bestowing the power of the old user upon an ordinary human. Not only do you possess strong technique, but you also have the knowledge and battle experience of an entire legacy.
𝜗ৎ 02. You were born as an ordinary human, but after spending so much time with someone insanely powerful (a mentor, a friend, etc), something inside you was triggered on its own thanks to the constant unconscious energy they radiated. (bleach inspired)
𝜗ৎ 03. You were “killed” by a weapon imbued with energy—but in reality, you were just extremely lucky and came out only wounded; the immense energy transmitted was unconsciously channeled to the best carrier/recipient—it seems you had more potential than the original user.
𝜗ৎ 04. You accidentally stepped into something mid-transition (a form changing, energy transferring) and instead of it completing or rejecting you, the process stalled and wrapped around you, leaving you stuck as a living “in-between” state where you’re not one thing or another but both at once. (again, bleach inspired lowkey)
𝜗ৎ 05. You lived your whole life as the average person you were, until you found yourself in an extreme situation and remembered. You remembered everything.
For some reason, your mind had blocked the fact that you possessed that kind of power, but now it all made sense, and you knew exactly how to use it.
𝜗ৎ 06. You were blessed by fate upon finding a centuries-old relic—all the energy accumulated in that object (through some seal or technique) suddenly exploded the instant it sensed your hostility during a tense moment, and you immediately absorbed it.
𝜗ৎ 07. You made a pact with a deity or another being as an experiment/in a life or death situation, offering your body in exchange for absolute power—the compatibility was so absolute that you were no longer just a vessel, but the living embodiment (while still retaining your will, personality, etc.)
the idea of ysiraena being some dark and mysterious being was a warped perception, especially after her death. twisted by the annals of history and distorted by bitter men who couldn't reach immortality through her blood.
truth was the saint liked lighter clothes, liked to seem the innocent nymph chosen by the gods despite the gaping, yawning, hunger beneath her doll like face. she wanted to be good. she tried to be good, even though wickedness called to her in every moment.
she liked being revered, worshipped performing blessings and stopping droughts just by her tears. she liked the holy temples performing seances, tending to the sick and performing feats of magick effortlessly that would otherwise take other maegi years to even do.
but fate and prophecy would never allow her to be anything more than the mother of evil. mother of monsters.
I wanted to ask, do you have any scenarios or ideas for idol shows/competitions that are like i-land, produce 101, boys planet ect
Like how some groups are cursted through those shows, any ideas for something of that sort maybe?
I hope you have a wonderful day!
‧˚꒰ things to script for idol shows ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
𝜗ৎ 01. Whether voting is done online and 100% by fan votes or by competent judges, everything is conducted fairly. Also, the participants or the production team don't make anyone look bad on purpose so that they get voted out.
𝜗ৎ 02. The judges are not resentful idols or people who need their 15 minutes of fame; they genuinely want to (and do) help the contestants—when they give feedback, their advice is clear, specific, and actionable, rather than vague.
𝜗ৎ 03. Routines aren't deadly; although there is an organized schedule for different things (such as meals and practices), they aren't so strict that you don't have any free time.
𝜗ৎ 04. If your main role is as a rapper, they will give you opportunities to showcase that skill since its more polished (and the same goes for all positions)—although you have to train all your skills, when it comes to giving a decisive performance, they give each person a role that suits their greatest talent.
𝜗ৎ 05. (if you live there like in i-land) Everything is genuinely comfortable: the beds are pleasant to sleep in, the sofas are plush, and the chairs don't hurt your butt.
𝜗ৎ 06. Whenever a new mission song drops, you can memorize the melody and lyrics in one listen, leaving you free to focus entirely on performance, interpretation, and stage presence.
𝜗ৎ 07. Your voice and stamina stay stable throughout intense filming schedules, avoiding the burnout that often hits contestants mid-season.
𝜗ৎ 08. Even if there are 100 participants in the same show, each and every one of them is intellectually and emotionally competent: they know when to hand over a role, they don't throw tantrums because they want to be center, etc.
im so sorry this took this long :( i was browsing through asks and for some reason yours popped up only today—i didn't want to write any scenarios because the ideas i had were too cliché and boring lol, so I hope these extras are what you were looking for <3
Overview: The woman who lingers by Dunk's side catches the eye of not one, not two, but three Targaryen princes. Chaos ensues. Eyes linger. Propositions are made.
Dunk with a young and pretty healer who joins him on the roads, the woman having been brought into his life by Ser Arlan after he sought her help to treat a nasty wound from a bar fight. Then he'd suggested that she join them, and so, with a longing to see the world, the three of them travelled together in the year before Ser Arlan's death. Now she and Dunk continued ahead on the road to the tourney at Ashford, with her taking on the responsibility of helping cook their meals and mend his clothes. She takes care of the little squire they'd picked up along the way too, his small body cuddling up into hers as they sleep under the stars. Dunk is prone to a spate of small injuries and ailments that she gladly treats, applying salves gently and dressing his wounds as he blushes sheepishly. Dunk finds himself feeling warm and fuzzy inside every time she speaks to him, touches him, and holds his biceps as he lifts her down from her horse. With the kind, warm smiles she gives him, he thinks she might feel the same, and he longs for her in a way he knows is not proper.
All is well and peaceful until they arrive at the tourney - that is when everything goes majorly wrong. She and Egg went to the puppet show, only for it to end with the revelation of Egg's parentage and a beaten and bruised prince, and one shocked and imprisoned hedge knight. Unfortunately for Dunk, he misses the way Aerion's eyes linger hungrily on the woman who tends to his little brother, her arms wrapping him up tightly as he shakes.
Dunk is taken to speak with Baelor, Egg acting as squire and his companion is brought to the chambers as well at the request of the little prince. Egg hopes that she could tell his uncle that it was all Aerion's fault and the whole situation would blow over. Again, in his panic and confusion, Dunk misses the slow and appreciative gaze that Baelor gives the woman, even as she stands in a plain woollen dress. Egg doesn't. His uncle looks at her the same way his brother Daeron looks at wine - eager and hungry. It was unlike him, and yet so characteristic of a hot-blooded Targaryen.
Once they're brought to the council, another fresh set of eyes lies upon her. Maekar rolls his eyes at the sight of the towering hedge knight, but can't help but lean forward to look upon the woman standing close by the door. A low grunt escapes him - she's pretty. Far prettier than any woman he's seen recently. He wouldn't mind seeing her up close.
Then it's proposed - a trial of seven. Dunk needs six other champions to fight beside him to prove his innocence.
"Unless..." Aerion mutters lowly. Dunk's head perks up as he lets himself feel a small sliver of hope.
"Unless, my prince?"
"Unless you give me your pretty wife," Aerion suggests tauntingly, barely able to hide his lust. The heads of all in the room snap to the young prince incredulously. Baelor eyes his nephew silently for a moment before turning his attention to the woman who came in with the hedge knight.
Dunk is the first to speak after a long pause. "...My wife, my prince? I don't have a wife."
It's Maekar who speaks this time, pointing at the women, "Then who is she?"
"She is my... she's a skilled healer. She joined Ser Arlan and I on our journey but a year ago."
Aerion hums, pleased. "That is even better, for you will have no problem handing her over. Either way, if you do not, I will have her in the end."
Dunk pauses, his body filling with fear and trepidation, but he knows he cannot just give her away to such a man. He was a knight now and he was to protect the innocent. And she? She was the most innocent of all in his eyes - a healer for the wounded for god's sake! She had no part in this, and would not suffer for his impulsiveness. So he refuses.
"No. I will fight. You say I need six other men?"
Baelor stiffens imperceptibly, his teeth grinding in silent anger. And yet he nods, reciting the rules of the trial and wishing luck to the hedge knight begrudgingly.
"Good night, pretty dove," calls Aerion as Dunk's companion turns to leave the room with Dunk. The three men watch as she and Dunk turn, her wide eyes staring back at him in fright before hurrying away. It's silent for a moment before Aerion sighs and crushes another nut under his blade.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, you insolent boy?" Maekar suddenly questions, eyes burning into the side of his son's head.
"I just thought she might prefer the comforts of a royal tent to sleeping under the stars, Father," the prince mumbled lowly, tone seeping with ire. Maekar went to respond; however, the sight of his brother calling his guards into the room made him pause. Neither of the blonde princes could hear what was being said, until Baelor turned around with a solemn expression on his features.
"I have commanded the guards to ensure the hedge knight does not manage to gather the required number of men for his cause."
Aerion and Maekar freeze, wide-eyed expressions meeting that of the good and honourable Prince of Dragonstone. The room falls silent once more as each prince ponders the weight of his words. If he could not gather enough knights to fight for his cause, he would be found guilty and executed. It would leave his pretty healer alone. Alone and without protection. A woman alone could scarcely refuse an offer from a prince of the realm, could she? She would stand no chance against three of them.
I'm not really sure what this is but I needed to get this idea out of my head. The idea of Dark!Baelor feeds my soul!!
summary: valarr has always been wary of his soon to be wife. but after darkness strikes ashford, she shines a light.
valarr targayren x witch!fem!reader
w.c: 3.9k
c.w: reader is a follower of r'hllor, resurrection, coldish reader, valarr likes his bethrothed more than he lets on, hurt/comfort ? idk how else to tag it, minor spoilers for next weeks ep, making up lord of light bullshit, not proofread!
a.n: when i was sobbing my heart out over baelor but then here comes head homo lyonel in the preview looking fine as fuck
Valarr has always had mixed feelings about his betrothed.
whenever they met, albeit it these meetings were scarce, he thought she was nice. she was kind, respectful, smart, every time they met he had almost forgotten why he was wary of her in the first place.
yet every single time she reminded him why he tended to keep his distance during his visits. she was a witch, one who practiced all sorts of magic to further her knowledge and strength. she was the daughter of an important man in tyrosh which was enough for his father to agree to the two of them married.
she traveled to westeros at least once a year, sometimes she came to dragonstone, sometimes she went to kings landing, it simply depended on where he was at that time even if his father was not there.
this year however she was not in dragonstone or kings landing but instead she was in ashford. she always came to westeros around the same time every year, but this year due to the tourney valarr thought her visit would be postponed and he almost thanked the gods. yet the gods were not so merciful as she still made the trip out. his father informed him this would be last time traveling to westeros as she would be permanently moving to dragonstone. she had arrived to ashford two days after him after dropping off your stuff at dragonstone.
it was obvious you had no idea what was going on. the atmosphere was so tense. many a squire and servant almost bumped into you as you walked by. the clouds completely covered the sky leaving a thick fog over the land. the ground was muddy, full of foot and horse prints, if you were not watching your step you would have slipped. you had thought this was supposed to be a happy affair to celebrate some lord's daughter but if you did not know any better you would have thought this was someone's funeral.
you did not even announce yourself once you saw the man you were looking for. he looked grimmer than the men sitting on their horses."my lady i am sorry you had to arrive to such a grim sight." he ceased his pacing as soon as you arrived though it was obvious on his face he was worried. he was wearing what you liked to call his princely uniform, though you would never tell him that, he tried his best to shot you a polite smile though it dropped rather quickly as that worried look struck his face once more. "did something happen my prince? things are rather frightened out there."
he gives you the run down of the situation. ser duncan had attacked prince aerion after aerion attacked a puppeteer during her show. prince daeron has also accused ser duncan of kidnapping his younger brother prince aegon. now aerion had demanded a trial of seven. "trial of seven?" your face was laced with confusion as you stared at him. you were a follower of r'hllor, the lord of light, you had no spent much time studying the seven. valarr was not a very devote follower so you had never saw the need.
he ended up explaining to you the basics. there was the accused and the accuser. each had to find six other champions to defend each side. whoever won or was still alive by the end was declared innocent while the other party remained guilty. yet there was something still bothering you. "you would not be so upset if things were so simple." valarr takes a deep breath like he's trying to compose himself. "my father came to ask me for my armor. he intends to take the side of ser duncan."
you reach out and grab his shoulders, turning his body to face yours. he could not hide the shock on his face as you wrapped your arms around his body pulling him into a deep hug. you remember your mentor telling you that when her children were feeling unwell she would give them a hug and make her body warm so they would relax. clearly she was right as you felt his whole body relax out of the very tense state it had been in. he lets out a content sigh as he leans his head to lay against the bare neck of your skin.
you did not really understand the logic of it. if an innocent man could only get weak men to defend himself but the guilty man could get the strongest fighters how was that fair? how could the gods judge something like that? "if ser duncan is innocent there will be no reason for the gods to punish your father."
that clearly had been the wrong thing to say as he quickly tenses up, pulling away from you just as quickly. your brows furrow at the almost furious look on his face. "well I'm very thankful for your kind words my lady but i should be off." he stormed off, headed towards the stands were he would watch the joust. a frown grows on your face as you watch him leave. you were just trying to be nice, it was true if he had explained it correctly, if ser duncan was innocent what reason was there for prince baelor to die?
"my lady if i may speak?" you whip your head to one of the servants who had been standing around. 'how long was he even there?' you don't bother to voice your thoughts out loud before you nod. the man, whose name you don't know, ends up telling you about the last trial of seven where everyone but his ancestor maegor had died. "so he's worried about his father dying.." "yes my lady."
he ends up saying no more, simply bowing before walking off. you end up realizing there were also a couple more servants in the room who walked out as well leaving just you. you had not intended to be rude, yet that always seemed to be the case when speaking to him. you should go and try to find him.
nothing terrible will happen you are certain of it.
—
prince baelor was dead.
you had found out when after the battle men had rushed towards you, no not you valarr to inform him of what had happened to his father. you barely remember the aftermath, it was so chaotic you did not even get to see the look on valarrs face until a bit later where he seemed perfectly fine.
the room was quiet, cold. the only sounds that could be hear were the sounds of grinding in a mortar while the tyroshi witch grinding up what seemed to be a potion. maekar so lost in his grief did not even seem to mind the lady was in the room while he was dealing out aerions punishment, lys was far too close to tyrosh for your liking you decide you'll send word to your father later to not allow him in should he end up making his way there.
with the potion you had been making finished and a quick prayer to r'hllor you will end up needing it, you slip it into the pocket of your robe. you manage to slip out the room as maekar and the hedge knight begin to speak to each other faintly hearing the talk of kinslaying. being a kinslayer did not matter much to you yet it seemed to be very taboo in westeros, maekar in particular seemed rather distraught about it. you make a mental note to keep your past family relations a secret.
it got even quieter the further into the halls you went. you freeze upon the sight of valarr leaning over a desk in an empty room. you could hear the faint sniffles as his shoulders shake. he was so composed earlier when speaking to the men of lord ashford on how to properly set up a funeral and where they would burn baelors body. he looked like the exact description of a great prince. yet now he looked just as he should, a young man crying for his father.
with a few steps towards him you stare at his back from the doorway. you consider walking over to him and offering him some comfort. maybe you could try hugging him again. yet all you do is turn your back and walk out the room. you knew all you would do is just make him upset like you always seemed to. you were unaware of the eyes that had turned to watch you leave, wishing you had stayed and held him.
the servants who were preparing the princes body for the burning both looked alarm at your entrance to the room before bowing their heads. "i would just like to offer the prince a private prayer in honor of my lord if that is acceptable." neither of them can refuse you as you are now to be the next queen so they end up backing away, giving you a moment with the prince. his eyes were closed, you were happy to see they had closed up the wound on the back of his head so you would not have to do it. one of the men almost stop you as you reach a knife up to cut a small chunk out of his hair but do not dare make a move, too nervous of what you would do.
your hands press together and you begin to speak to your lord in high valyrian. you did not know if it was even going to work but it was like there was a calling in your body to try. you were so sure baelor was a figure the world needed and your lord would recognize that.
it took you seven tries. its almost comical, the number. but the crowned princes eyes shoot open and he takes a deep breath in. one of the servants passes out.
maekar stops speaking as soon as shouts of his name flood his ears. all eyes are locked onto the door before it even had opened. everyone had gathered in the main hall, assuming the ceremony would happen soon since they had been working on the prince body long enough. the door slams open and everyone stares at the man who looked so pale it was like he saw a ghost.
"what is it boy?" today was the last day maekar wanted any sort of nonsense certainly not from some servant boy. "prince baelor…" the room went deadly still as the boy took a deep breath like he couldn't even say it. "he's alive." every single person stood up from their chairs, other than daeron who was bound to his chair from his foot injury, in shock. "what in the hells are you talking about boy."
"the tyroshi lady witch," valarr sucks in a noticeable deep breath, "she came in and um she did a ritual a couple of times then he woke up." maekar without another word stormed out of the room and off to find baelor. everyone in the room paused for a shocked moment before rushing after him. daeron simply stared after them, the vision of dunk with a dead dragon flooding his mind, the vision suddenly catches fire and burns away in his mind as if it was never there at all.
when maekar opens the door he does not even know what to expect, but he does not expect you to be applying a salve to some of his brothers wounds, his dead brother, who was sitting up looking very alive. "why so pale maekar? you look like you've seen a ghost."
one of the servants call out lord ashfords name as he faints, managing to catch him before he falls. everyone else was seemingly frozen in place except you, who was taking care of baelor still without even looking at the group, and valarr who hesitantly took a few steps towards his father.
"my boy.." baelor's hand lifted to reach out to him and valarr practically fell into his fathers arms, sobbing while his father strokes his back just like he did when he was younger. "its okay my boy its okay. I'm okay." maekar looks to the back of baelors head and gasps as he sees the wound is gone. "my savior gave me a potion which closed the wound."
baelor gives you a fond look as valarr lifts his head from his father to stare at you. he could barely believe it. you did not even look surprised. "the potion was only able to slightly heal it, you'll need to drink it regularly and have the salve i am giving you applied daily until your other wounds heal."
baelor assures you he will while valarr continues to stare at you in wonder. he notices you're holding onto chunks of hair and only then does he notice the big bald spots in his fathers head. there were seven different spots clearly sloppily cut out of his head, the cut work worse in different areas, you must have been getting desperate at some point.
"how is this even possible?" duncan must have meant to say it in his head but he had spoken aloud. everyone in the room was thankful someone finally asked the question on everyone's mind. you kept your back turned as you continued to mix up more salve. it takes you a minute to speak as if you do not know how to put your thoughts together.
"my lord is very merciful. he knew today was never meant to be his final day." everyone in the room had hundreds of more questions to ask but you simply move to leave the room without another glance. "it is time for my prayer. good day." they all watch you leave. valarr can hear someone lightly as if they should stop you but baelor raises his hand in rejection.
duncan begins to sob, holding his hand to his mouth to quiet himself. baelor sighs and stands up, rejecting the help offered to him. "lets have this conversation else where shall we? its rather cold in here." unable to refuse him the room clears out all walking slowly to ensure baelor was following them, baelor lingered behind a bit his eyes on valarr who looked conflicted. "there's somewhere else you should be than here boy."
valarr's face contorted even more, he wanted to see you. more than anything. "but father…" he also did not wish to leave his father not right now. baelor however made the decision for him. "you should speak to her. she can answer your questions better than i."
you end up stumbling back into the room where daeron was sitting all alone. he had not even touched the wine in which was brought to his side. too lost in his thoughts, mumbling to himself. "how is this even possible.. my dreams they always.." daeron can barely believe it. the visions that had haunted his life, the vision in which in encouraged him to lie on an innocent mans name, had not come to pass. "your dream did come true. do not begin to doubt your powers now. i simply corrected it after the deed was done." when you finally look at him he sees the familiar haunted look in your eyes that stare back at him in the mirror.
"do not dwell on it." you say nothing more as place your stuff down and turn out the room. daeron is once again left alone with his thoughts. he thinks of a dream he had many years back. you were surrounded by fire looking as peaceful as ever with your eyes closed, cradling a dead dragon in your hands before the dragon opened its eyes. he had never thought much of it but now he was pondering it. maybe it was truly about baelor but if you could bring a man back to life maybe you could bring back the dragons.
valarr finds you outside sitting alone in front of a fire, your hands clasp together while you spoke a prayer in valyrian. he approached you slowly. you do not even acknowledge him as he sits down next to you. he is not close enough to where he is touching you. yet he is still close enough to where you must notice is presence.
he simply sits in silence, the sound of your voice soothing him as all his emotions of the day washed away. he would have to ask you what you were saying at a later date. he has a lot he should be saying to you. he does not say anything even as you grow completely quiet. he only speaks when you speak. "you can ask me whatever you wish to. i will answer you with complete honesty."
there are so many things he wished to say in this moment. so many emotions he wished to express. questions he needed to ask but he could only express one thing in that moment. "why?" you do not answer, simply hum curiously encouraging him to further explain himself. "why did you go through all the effort? the man servant said you must have done the ritual seven times before it worked." one of them had mentioned it in passing when he told them he was looking for you. the servant looked quite pale.
you don't hesitate to answer him, "you were upset earlier when you thought he was going to die so i decided to at least try my best to bring him back. if he did not wake up after that last attempt i was going to give up."
he's stunned into silence. "for me?" it comes out meeker than he intended it to. you never said anything you did not mean even if the other court ladies or men would find it offensive so he knew you were being very serious when you had said that.
"who else?" he is over come with so many emotions. regret for any of his prior words, grief for a death that did not come, and a new overwhelming emotion blooming in his chest he could not put a name on, a feeling that began to ache as you looking into his eyes. "i am sorry."
he laughs uncomfortably. scratching at his neck in the hopes of the lump growing there to leave. "whatever for?" the look on your face is so sorrowful/ you have no reason to be sorrowful. you had done more for him than you probably even realized. "i was rude to you earlier. i am sorry."
he racks his head around trying to remember what you were talking about, the day so chaotic his memories are all jumbled up. he suddenly remember your earlier conversation and his chest hurts even more. "do not say you are sorry. it is i who.." his words are so strained, his hand crawls up to grip at his chest. your face turns into one of shock as you lightly say his name. there was so many words that needed to be spoke. so much air to be cleared between you.
yet you say nothing. you reach over and grab the hand on his chest. the two of you stay like that for a few moments as your eyes do all the talking. the fire lightly cracks in front of you, your eyes glowed in the fire. he realizes he had never truly taken the time to look at you. you were truly beautiful. "let us start over." your hands lace together as it almost seems like fire grows larger at your union. you glance at it for a moment before looking back at valarr. "i would like nothing more."
there is no need to look back when there is a long future ahead for the two of you, for now you can simply try again. it is not long before a guard comes to summon you, he stands as far away from you as possible. valarr finds himself opening his mouth to comment but you simply tug him along with you as you walk back to the castle. "i am a blood mage. i have always been one. these people simply now see me for who i am."
"but you saved him." "yes. but all they see is i brought a dead man back to life. even if they like him… that scares people." he does not comment any more not wishes to argue with you. he finds himself furious but holds his tongue. they should be throwing themselves at your feet and thanking you.
the two of you enter the main hall hand in hand. baelor sits at the head as if nothing had even happened. a smile on his face as he sees the two of you. maekar and lord ashford look pale, the lord even had one of his men fanning him. baelor summons his son to his side, valarr hesitates to leave you but you lightly push him towards his father nodding reassuringly at him.
once he finally takes his place baelor begins to speak. "you have done the realm a great service. you have my eternal thanks." you simply shrug not even a smile finds its way to your face, "ill be by your room tomorrow with the salve and the potion for you to drink." baelor laughs, the smile on his face remaining, "anything you wish for you shall have."
you look thoughtful for a few moments, the room is quiet as they all await for you to speak again.
"I'd like to be married in the way of my lord your grace. that is all."
baelor looks confused for a moment before he speaks, "ah you mean with the fire pit? yes of course consider it done. but you know, you are free to ask for anything else."
"i already have anything else i could want my lord." your eyes flicker for a moment to valarr but your gaze returns to the crowned prince. baelor catches the look and his grin grows even larger, "I'm sure you do." valarr looks away as his father turns to his, his ears beginning to burn.
baelor stands with a light groan, "I do not know about anyone else but i am starving. let us go eat." baelor looks to his brother and holds out his hand to help him up, maekar hesitates looking between his brothers face and hand before grabbing it and standing. they must have had a very long and needed conversation after you had left. "there are a lot of people who wish to speak to you you know?"
valarr immediately finds himself back at your side as you groan, a deep frown finds its way on to your face, this was the last thing you wanted. valarr grabs your hand once more and your face softens as you two stare at each other. there was a long road ahead but the doors that had been locked shut had finally opened for the two of you and there was a whole other world on the other side.
it wouldn't be a quick process. your personalities, your cultures, your lifestyles, your beliefs, you two would continue to clash. yet valarr finds himself believe things will all work out when he feels the warmth in your palm.
Summary: The royal couple continues to bond as their wedding approaches, but a jealous cousin attempts to ruin their day for his own enjoyment.
Word count: 2k
Warnings: Aerion being an annoying cunt, mild verbal harassment and leering, one (1) unwanted (and unfinished) sexual innuendo.
A/N: sorry that this is a short chapter, but fear not, I’m already working on chapter four, the wedding!
To be honest, I never intended for this to be a series. I will also be leaving for a three-month backpacking trip next week. (Hope the AO3 curse doesn’t get me 🤪 *knock on wood*) Because of this, I am unsure how much longer this series will be or when I might be able to write (and have inspiration for) anything beyond part 4. Just thought I’d give a heads up! Whoever actually read all of this, you get a kiss on the forehead 💋
Cross-posted on AO3 (registered users only).
After their reconciliation in the Godswood, Valarr had made a habit of coming by her chambers in the early afternoon. After the first few days, he only had to offer his arm to her in greeting, and she happily took a hold of his strong arm before he led them out.
Their private time in the Godswood brought her some much-needed peace, now that her mornings were filled with the hectic planning that was required for a royal wedding. Dress fittings, the practicing of her words, and questions about colors, beading, veils and other nonsensical things took up most of her mornings. She had grown quite bored of it, in truth, but the prospect of their walks at the end of it always lifted her spirits.
She had grown rather fond of the Young Prince since their meeting. He was always more than cordial towards her, and he had been asking her many questions during their walks. What was her childhood like, what did she enjoy doing the most, what kind of books did she like to read?
His interest intrigued her, as she was not accustomed to this sort of curiosity from her suitors. Usually, they could only find it within themselves to talk her ears off about their own skills and accomplishments, with not a single meaningful question aimed at her. Perhaps it is because he had never truly been her suitor, only her betrothed, but regardless of the reasoning, she much appreciated his curious and kind nature. It filled her chest with an unfamiliar warmth and always managed to bring a smile to her face.
She found it quite hard to believe that, after all these years of dreading her wedding like a death sentence, that she was now… honestly delighted to become his bride. She no longer feared cruel treatment or cold disinterest, as he had already proven to her thoroughly that he was not that kind of man. If she had known it could be like this, she may not have spend all those years in fear of her fate.
"How do you feel about tomorrow, gevie?" He asked gently, pulling her out of her train of thought. She still did not quite know what that word meant, but judging by the gentle smile on his face, she did not imagine it to be an insult.
She smiled up at him and squeezed his arm while replying, "I am still quite nervous, truthfully, but I believe it is the good sort of nerves."
He gave her a thoughtful hum before patting her hand in reassurance. The feeling of his hand on hers always made her feel as though butterflies were trapped in her stomach.
"You are not the only one, my love, I assure you."
He had started calling her that the day after their first heart-to-heart. Even after nearly a week of his near-constant flattery, it had not seized to make her heart flutter and to make heat rise to her face, every time he used such words of affection.
They walked out of the Red Keep arm-in-arm in comfortable silence, while her mind drifted to the upcoming nuptials. What perhaps brought her the most anxiety, was the thought of the near-constant attention on her. Lords from all over the Realm would travel to King's Landing to witness her wedding to Prince Baelor's eldest son. They would undoubtedly judge her every move, and quickly determine that their own daughters might be a much better match for the Young Prince.
Her nerves regarding the inevitable scrutiny seemed to pale in comparison to her fears for the bedding ceremony, however. At every wedding she had attended, it had been the worst part of the night to witness. The Lords, aided by the wine they drank, seemed to lose all propriety at the call for the bedding. The fear in the eyes of her sisters at their own respective weddings had been burned into her mind for all eternity, and it was not an image she could let go of easily.
She contemplated her words for a few moments, wishing to address her growing unease with her Prince. They had walked down the stairs and entered the Great Yard, when she finally found the words. Before she could speak up, however, she saw Prince Aerion approach them, which made her tense up immediately. Her betrothed reacted similarly, stopping them in their tracks while his face became closed-off and his stance defensive.
"Good afternoon, my sweet cousin-to-be," he said smugly to her, ignoring her betrothed by her side completely. He gave her a measured once-over, eyes purposefully lingering on her hips and chest before slowly rising to her face. It did not even appear like he did it out of any particular interest, but merely to rile her – or Valarr – up. Despite her attempt at restraint, knowing he was looking for a reaction, anger rose in her at his vulgar gaze.
"Hello, Your Grace," she said coldly. She could not wait for the wedding to be over, if only so that she could address him by his name instead of his title, as etiquette unfortunately required of her. She would not have him bring her down to his level, no matter how tempting it was.
Ever since Aerion had seen his cousin walking the halls with his betrothed, arm-in-arm with adoring looks on both their faces, he had seemingly made it his mission to make their lives miserable. Two nights past, he had even cornered her after dinner and attempted to interrogate her about her maidenhood, and whether she thought Valarr was enough of a dragon for her.
Her anger had taken over then, and she likely would have been accused of treason by Aerion for the words she wished to speak, had Valarr not spotted them and led her away, a deadly stare aimed at Aerion. Since then, Valarr had made sure to walk her to and from her chambers every time, regardless of the time of day or any further duties he might have. She also noticed that one of the Kingsguards seemed to trail her constantly afterwards.
She had never cursed in front of her betrothed before then, but when they reached her chambers, he was made well-aware of her vocabulary on that front. It had made a broad smile spread across his face, and he had informed her the sailors in the ports might want to learn a curse word or two from her. When she tried to bashfully apologize for her unladylike behavior, he had not allowed her to, simply insisting it amused him greatly and that he was glad she felt comfortable enough around him to speak her mind freely.
After that alteration, Valarr had explained to her that Aerion had an unexplained, deep-rooted hatred for Valarr since childhood. It was likely rooted in his jealousy of Valarr's important position in the family as the second in line, though it seemed Aerion had many more unresolved issues that had very little to do with Valarr. She had nodded solemnly at that. She had been well-aware of his cousin's reputation, after all, which is what had almost scared her over the wall. She would not let Aerion scare her away again.
After her curt acknowledgement of him, she simply continued to stare at him, almost daring him to say anything else. Valarr did the same, fire burning in his eyes at his cousin's presence. When Aerion did not seem go get any further response from either of you, he let out an almost bored sigh and rolled his eyes. That gesture seemed to indicate to Valarr that the conversation was over, and he took a firm hold of her arm again to guide her onward, towards the gardens.
Aerion clearly did not like that, and so he suddenly spoke up again, stepping in their path. "Now, wait just a moment. You know, I was just discussing something with the other knights in the training yard," he gave a pointed look to Valarr, as if to silently mock him for his absence during their manly activities. "Please tell me there will be a proper bedding ceremony tomorrow? Because we would all love nothing more than to–"
Valarr interrupted him before Aerion finish his vulgar sentence. Anger burned in his veins at Aerion's words.
"Careful, cousin. You are not insulting some squire or servant. You are addressing my soon-to-be wife, and your future Queen. It would be in your own best interest to learn to hold your tongue in the future. Insult her again, and I will have to duel you to defend her honor, and we both know you will not win that fight."
She had never seen Valarr so angry. His tone was harsh and frigid, the threat heavy in the air. Despite their similar statures, it seemed in that moment like Valarr towered over his cousin in pure rage.
She had expected Aerion to lash out, be it physically or verbally, at his cousin's words. She was not sure what it was, but the sight of something or someone behind them seemed to wipe the smirk off of Aerion's face more than Valarr's threat did. She did not dare turn around to see what it was, but she suspected one of King Daeron's sons had made an appearance. She knew that Aerion only behaved himself if his father or sometimes Prince Baelor were present. The notion had amused her when she first heard of it, but now it only came as a silent relief .
Aerion's gaze had gone cold, and he only gave her and Valarr a quick look before silently retreating back to the training yard. His only response seemed to be that his hand hovered over the sword hanging on his hip.
Once Aerion was out of earshot, she let out a small, shaky breath. She was not frightened of him, not truly. She knew him to be cruel and a coward, but he had not yet dared to actually harm a member of the royal family as far as she knew. If he did, even he could not escape the consequences for that, or so she hoped. It was not quite a comfort, but it was enough for now.
At the sound of her shaky breath, Valarr immediately turns to her. He holds both of her hands in his, bringing them to his lips for a quick, comforting kiss. He looks her deep in the eye, worry evident in his gaze as he speaks.
"I am truly sorry you had to witness that, my love. I will personally ensure that he leaves for Summerhall immediately after the wedding. After that, you will scarcely have to see him again. I promise you, he will never harm or insult you again for as long as I live."
She gave him a weak smile, her dismay already leaving her at the sight of his gentle adoration. How did she get so lucky?
"Thank you, m-" he gave a playfully disapproving look before she could even finish saying his title, "Valarr. You have nothing to apologize for. He is a pest, and a disgrace to your family. He craves attention, so he tries to provoke us because we have something he does not."
He eyed her curiously, taking a slight step closer to lean in conspiratorially. "And what would that be, my lady?"
Love, she almost thought, though she pushed the thought away as soon as it arrived. It was a silly thought, and it was much too soon, she knew.
"A happy betrothal," is what she settled on. "Not to mention that you have the approval and love of your father, which he quite clearly lacks. You are everything he wishes he was, but cannot be."
His eyes twinkled brightly at her, as they often did. The affection was clear on his face as he reached out his hand to gently touch her cheek. She leaned into his touch silently, reveling in the warmth of his palm. The blood of the dragon really did run hotter than most, and the early spring air was still touched with a chill, so his touch was a relief.
"You… are far too kind to me, my lady."
"No such thing," she insisted with a smile, "I only speak the truth."
He just continued to gaze at her lovingly, before slowly taking her arm again, urging them on towards their beloved Godswood.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Again, I’m working on part 4 and will publish it sometime in the coming days, but starting next week the updates will be less frequent and may stop entirely when I run out of inspiration! (I will also be writing solely on my phone, so if the lay-out suddenly turns to shit, that will be why.)
Please let me know (through a comment, ask or dm) if you want to be (un)tagged for the next part! Those already on the list, will remain unless requested otherwise (so that people don't have to keep asking).
