#hamareth

[twitchtips]

Here's my piece for the 2025 TUC Fan Zine, Set In Stone (@underlandchronicleszine)! It was an honor to be invited to contribute and so fun to work on this project with everyone. Thank you to Hawktalon (@rainbow-squirrels-7) for illustrating, to Rey (@overandunderland) for beta reading, and to all the mods for making this zine happen!

what light through yonder window breaks

Mareth doesn't give Hamnet time to react before explaining, "I hope you do not mind celebrating your birthday a month early. I feared we might not get another chance to be alone like this before then, and I assume you plan to spend the actual day with your family, as it is Judith's birthday as well, and… What is it?" Hamnet stares at him. "You made me a cake?"

Rating: Teen

Relationship: Hamnet/Mareth

Characters: Hamnet, Mareth, Original Shiner Character(s), Andromeda, Hamnet's Bond

Additional Tags: Pre-Canon, Established Relationship, Hamnet POV, Canon Compliant, Secret Relationship, Illustrations, Fluff, it's like if The Underland Chronicles was a rom-com

Summary: On a secret picnic date outside the city, Hamnet and Mareth find themselves stranded without light. AKA, the story behind what Mareth said in Prophecy of Bane about the shiners: "These two are not as bad as some others I have traveled with. I once saw a pair try to fight to the death over a piece of cake."

Read on AO3 (Words: 6,166)

[cutter-kirby]

I think hamareth could make a killer “I would fall in love with you again” thing if they weren’t too doomed to even see each other again

[aldoodles]

surprise smooch

[deliver-the-light]

My sister had her baby last month and I’ve had baby fever SO bad ever since. Drawing some Hamareth+Luxa cuteness because otherwise I might combust. I’m finally gonna meet my niece in a couple weeks!

Hamnet & Judith are waiting for her husband to be done with yet another planning meeting. She’s doing her best from distracting Hamnet from the report he’s supposed to be finishing for the briefing.

Mareth sewed that little bat and you can’t convince me otherwise. I headcannon that he’s always bugging Hamnet to go get her from Judith. He wants a few of those wiggly stinky things of their own, when the mess with Gorger is over.

Hamnet and Luxa on the beach looking for crystals. Her first time outside of Regalia.

Luxa and Hamnet doing some pre-workout stretching. Ughhh baby yoga. It’s fine, I’m not crying.

LOVE the newborn snuggles. One nice thing about being in the upper military is that Hamnet is housed in the palace and can always get a snuggle whenever he wants— especially after a long day.

—

I had a really tough week and it’s been nice to focus on these in the evening instead of scrolling. I’m still trying to nail down the style i want to draw them in, but I’m getting close :)

I’ve got a few more ideas for happy scenes, but WAY more angst coming up.

[deliver-the-light]

some romantic Hamareth for your troubles. I’m really enjoying designing some clothing options for Regalians. I’m thinking they’re in their mid to late 20’s here. (Before Luxa is born) 1. Dancing at the royal wedding. 2. Post workout makeout sesh.

3. Hamnet is very protective, especially after a close call. Mareth is still loopy from the meds and is happy to be pampered.

4. All that hair has a cost. I headcanon that Hamnet has crazy bedhead. He also doesn’t appreciate when Mareth has to get up earlier than him.

+swords! I headcanon Hamnet to be more lithe and quick, so he’s probably good at the same kind of acrobatic fighting that Luxa is, so I gave him the same type of sword that she uses. Mareth is a freaking tank and has a longsword.

[twitchtips]

when sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions

"Someday will come a time when Solovet does not hold such power over us." The mere mention of her name makes Mareth go cold. The day after Hamnet was confined, Judith made Mareth promise not to confront Solovet again. She said she wouldn't be able to bear it if he got locked up too. Mareth doesn't reply, but Judith goes on anyway. "She reigns at present because the war demands it of her, demands it of us." Judith puts a finger in Luxa's hand, and the baby squeezes it. "But lately I have been trying to imagine an Underland without need of her. An Underland in which my daughter may reign without relying on figures such as Solovet." Mareth isn't sure such a thing is even possible. It's hard to imagine—even harder to believe in. "We must have hope," Judith tells him. "We must allow ourselves to dream of a happy future." When Mareth finally speaks, he does so with a wry grin. "It is almost as if Vikus himself is in the room with us."

Rating: Mature

Relationship: Hamnet/Mareth

Characters: Mareth, Hamnet, Andromeda, Perdita, Solovet, Vikus, Hamnet's Bond, Perdita's Bond, Judith, Luxa's Father, Nerissa, Hazard, Background & Cameo Characters, Original Characters

Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Pre-Canon, Mareth POV, Friends to Lovers, Getting Together, The Jungle, The Dungeon, The Garden of the Hesperides, Abusive Parents, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Character Death, Angst, Secret Relationship

Summary: Thirteen years before Gregor arrives in the Underland, Mareth joins the Regalian army.

Read on AO3: Part 2 / The Dungeon / Chapter 6 (Words: 5,575)

[twitchtips]

Hamareth moodboard

[prophecyofgray]

"[hazard]'s a nice kid," said gregor. "so was his father," said mareth sadly. Yeah okay there was some faggotry there