#;;will

[ellievswann]

location: in stonehelm during will's trip around the stormlands for his investigation on the king's taxes

@malcontentswanns

the halls of stonehelm felt quieter than ellie remembered, though perhaps that was simply the weight of the all that was happening. she closed the heavy door to arthur’s chambers gently behind her, the click of the latch echoing in the stillness. leaning back against the cool wood, ellie pressed her lips together, willing herself to breathe steadily. the sight of their eldest brother lying so still, his once unshakable presence diminished by the relentless grip of illness, always struck her harder than she’d anticipated.

her hands brushed the folds of her gown, as though smoothing the fabric might smooth the knot of emotion tangled in her chest. she couldn’t let herself crumble. not here, not now. arthur needed strength around him, and will… well, will carried enough weight on his shoulders already.

she straightened, schooling her features into the composed expression she’d perfected in court, before stepping away from the door. though she hadnt realized will was already there. the sight of him was grounding, and for a moment, ellie felt the slightest relief. if anyone understood how hard it was to shoulder the burdens of duty and family, it was will. but then a feeling of guilt that perhaps he had seen her, she didnt need to add another thing onto his plate for him to worry about.

"will," she greeted, her tone light, though she clasped her hands tightly to keep them from trembling. "i wasn’t expecting to see you just now. are you leaving soon? off to another meeting with the lords, i assume?"

she moved closer, her gaze lingering on him. "you’ve been running yourself ragged these past weeks, traveling to every corner of the stormlands for these…taxes." there was a faint edge to her words—just enough to show her disapproval of the crown’s treatment of their home, though she kept her tone carefully measured. "you’ll wear yourself thin if you keep this up."

she tilted her head, giving him a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “if you’re leaving again, at least let us have dinner first. you might be hand of the king, but you’re still my brother, and i’d rather not have to explain to mother and father why you’ve collapsed from exhaustion.” her words were light, teasing, but the concern behind them was unmistakable.

[ellievswann]

@malcontentswanns

where and when: right before the trip down to the westerlands for the celebrations. set after the conversation ellie and max had where he revealed he knows the secret that the oldest swann brother is in very poor health

it had been a few days since the small gathering that had ellie had encountering max celtigar once again. despite her efforts to keep her distance, he seemed to constantly worm his way into her space. she found herself speaking with him repeatedly, much to her chagrin. however, she knew she had to put her foot down. avoiding him should have been simple, considering his disdain for anyone from the stormlands. yet, they always seemed to end up in conversation. there was only so much avoiding someone could do before they just came off as rude

however this last conversation he managed to get under her skin once with something much closer to home. something she thought they had managed to keep a secret from most of the court. that was until they had a recent visitor to their home. she hated to think it.

ellie rapped lightly on the door of her brother's study, knowing he was busy preparing for their trip to the westerlands. he was always working on something new, something for the king or other people of the kingdom. she watched how much her brother worked. she was thankful that their new queen had taken her on as a lady in waiting, which allowed her to stay within the court without needing to bug will so much. despite her reluctance to interrupt him, this matter was too important to ignore.

"will," she called out to him, seeking his attention.

"why does maximus celtigar know about our brother?" ellie asked, her voice tinged with tension as she crossed her arms defensively. she felt uncomfortable knowing that someone like max had information about their family's private affairs, especially when they were working so diligently to keep everything under wraps until will could assume the role that would be passed down to him eventually. it was no longer a question of if but when, and they all knew it.

"god, that man is infuriating."

[ellievswann]

a peak into the letter written by ellie to her brother

@malcontentswanns

[ellievswann]

location: will swanns chambers in highgarden

@malcontentswanns

ellie's eyes glanced over the letter in her hands, her mind going a million places at once. thinking of all the outcomes that could come from this letter. but only one settled in her mind as the strongest possibility. one that she was sure will did not wish to hear at this moment but one that they needed to discuss. making her way to her brother's chambers, she kept the letter in hand. as she entered in the room, she dismissed the guards there with a simple wave of the hand and a quick "leave us." once they were gone she glanced back to her brother. "i've received news from our good sister. unfortunately, the child she was carrying..." she paused, frowning. "he is gone. she has miscarried earlier this month. it seems her health has taken a toll from this."

[ellievswann]

location: stormland’s estate, dorne

@malcontentswanns

lady nadia estermont is missing.

the advisors words sent a shockwave through her system. ellie had believed the advisor was simply here to deliver a message from their father not tell her…that. missing? missing how? she could not say she had an extremely close relationship with the lady but she knew someone who did

“does he know?” she asked, cutting the advisor off. the man stutter over his words, unsure what exactly to say. “does my brother already know?” she asked again, standing up from her seat. the man barely got out a yes before ellie was in a rush to get out the door. the sounds of the advisor calling her back was growing distant as she hurried to find her brother.

he already knew. gods help him. he must be a complete wreck, and she was no where around to help him. 

the lady of stonehelm picked up her pace, running as fast as she could towards her brothers room. screw decorum in that moment when her brother may need her. reaching his study, her hands gripped the doorframe to stop her momentum from running. she practically fell into the room to see will there.

there was a look on his face that she wished to never have to see. heartbreak. utter heartbreak.

“will….” what was there to say? she rushed forward to pull her brother into a tight hug.

[ellievswann]

location: barrowtown

@malcontentswanns​

traveling this far north was not something ellie had ever imagined herself doing, or at least not under these circumstances. there was a beauty to it all though. the storm still had yet to stop it seemed however today the snow was not falling quite as hard as other days. who knows when the snow would let up like this again so she desperately wanted to get outside even just for a little bit. when will mentioned he was going out near the riverbeds, ellie jumped at the chance to accompany him there. bundling up the best she could, she still felt the sting of cold biting at her.

following behind her brother as they neared the riverbanks her mind wandered to various poems she had read about the snowy north. she could picture the book in her head.

parent’s library. fourth shelf. eight book down. red cover, gold letter. page eight.

the poem described the falling snow like ladies dancing in the court. it was a beautiful poem, maybe a little on the nose but still beautiful. looking up at the dancing snow flakes for a moment, her eyes wandered back to her brother who seemed like he was eagerly looking for something. “are we looking for something in particular out here?” ellie asked, calling over to her brother who was a little ahead of her. “or are we just taking a stroll through the snow together?” she smiled. “i can help search if i know what we are looking for.” reaching down she picked up the first rock she saw, no idea if it was special in any ways.

[georgiehastings-blog]

––@willxtorres

“–yeah, hold on, I’m coming.” Georgie tossed the washcloth down, blood soaking in as she stood and went to the door. It had been a long night. She’d lost count of how many berserkers she’d taken out with her brother before the sun came up. Lenny wasn’t around but Georgie had a key, living between her sister’s and her brother’s places upon returning to town. She opened the door, giving Will a tired look, moving aside to let him in. “Don’t look so worried, Torres– you’d think I’d been in actual danger.” A poor attempt at a joke, certainly, but one she couldn’t help but make otherwise she’d dwell on the lives lost today. Because berserker or not, they’d been wolves first.

[troublemakers-ltd-blog]

@noblestilinski, @childrenofslumber, @bornofthedawn, @beautifulspare, @carrymyobituxry, @blindingsunshine & anyone else I missed in the verse!

“Aw, c’mon now. That’s bloody stupid and ya know it.” Will sighed, shoving his hands into his front pockets. “Why would anyone go out into the forbidden forest at night?” He could think of a few reasons, but he didn’t want them to.