#marydragon

[shalottpress]

Trouble the Water Series by @themarydragon

Calm Waters Run Deep and The Quiet River Rages (along with the oneshot Remember the Spring) by @themarydragon are some of the first BotW fanfictions I encountered. The series just encapsulates Zelda’s POV during the series and these stories are cannon to me. I have reread this series multiple times and now can do so with these hardcover beauties.

These binds were heavily inspired by Taylor Swift and I went hard on the 'Zelda's Version' theme. For the covers I used the Midnights album cover as my initial design inspiration with the font and art combinations. For the typeset chapter headings I used the 'Taylors Version' font and line drawings of lilies to evoke silent princesses. I used lyrics from The Prophecy/The Archer for Calm Waters Run Deep as these are very pre-calamity Zelda coded to me, and then Sparks Fly/Peace for The Quiet River Rages as these really aligned with Zelda after she leaves the castle. These came together really beautifully in my mind and I love the final result.

I knew I wanted to do printed covers with art of Zelda on the cover and was looking for ages. The text blocks have been languishing on my shelf waiting for their covers to come since December 2024. When @eerna posted the amazing and thematically perfect before and after art I fell in love with the art and once I had permission to use the art, I couldn't make these covers fast enough. I am so glad I waited to make these covers. (So many thanks to @eerna for letting me use her gorgeous art in my covers once again!)

In terms of mistakes, casing as always was a bit of a nightmare. I had issues with my guillotine when I cut one of the text block slightly on the diagonal, rounded the spine and then had to unround the spine and fix my fuck up which I hope to never have to do again. It was better than printing a new text block but my gosh the stress. I also realised when I was uploading this I have used @themarydragon's Tumblr handle for the cover rather than MaryDragon which is her ao3 handle and used all inside of the books, but at this point I am going to have to live with that mistake!

Huge thanks to @themarydragon for giving me permission to bind these fanfics and to edit my copies to be editions that uses UK spelling!

More pictures and a video below the cut.

[ao3coversdotjpeg]

Of Fear and Lyrium by MaryDragon | Higgins' Song by MaryDragon

The story of Evelyn Trevelyan, thief, and reluctant Herald of Andraste. POV shifts between Evelyn and Cullen. Creation of (what I hope are) more believable motivations for Cullen and Evelyn's relationship. While closely following the events of DA:I, there are some alterations from canon in conversations, architecture, and chronology. Minor original characters. Expansion of known relationships and referral to relationships in DA:O and DA2. Will get mildly smutty. Also, SPOILERS.

—

"The Inquisition is made up of people," Cullen had told her. He hadn't needed to; Evelyn definitely knew. A view of the events of Inquisition through the soldiers and servants who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to the War of the Breach. Main character is Higgins, a Fereldan man-at-arms who is brought to Haven by Fate but stays out of Faith. Features predominantly Original Characters and their interactions with the Inquisition Inner Circle.

Image source: Cross Hilt Sword, Bladesmith Blade signed by Clemens Horn German, 1600–1625; Century Library

[quotablefanfiction]

“I need a way to express my discontent with the sword,” I told him when he woke for the last time, a short while before dawn. “I don’t have the proper vocabulary yet.” “Tell it you think it’s a fucking asshole,” he counseled. I nodded. “Yes. That feels satisfactory.” I turned to the blade that gleamed in the twilight. “You, dear sword, are a fucking asshole.”

Zelda is working on expanding her vocabulary (chp. 3)

The Quiet River Rages by MaryDragon (AO3) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Explicit – Link/Zelda #Eventual Happy Ending #I swear to God #Post-Canon #PTSD #Memory Loss #Anger #Unreliable Narrator #POV First Person #POV Zelda #Dreams and Nightmares

A thematic successor to Part 1, Calm Waters Run Deep. Picks up where Part 2 ended, “Do you really remember me?” Runs through the ‘true’ ending and goes a short time past. First-person POV, Zelda. Do not HAVE to read the rest of the series but you’ll lose some flavor and miss references. * Fair warning: this has become surprisingly autobiographical. I am pulling from my personal experience of trying to build a relationship with someone who has PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, and memory loss. (spoiler: we’ve been together 11 years and are happy as pigs in shit) My experience is not universal, and this is not meant to be a definitive look at PTSD, trauma, or the recovery process. If this sounds like it might be triggering to you, please keep scrolling.

Tagged characters have speaking parts. **Explicit rating for chapter 11.**

Part 3 of Trouble the Water series (AO3)

Note: This is a restricted story and requires an AO3 account in order to read

[lord-covfefe]

feelings while reading chapter 5 of the quiet river rages by @themarydragon

the chapter in case you are not yet blessed 

[quotablefanfiction]

“Link left all our gear here, one hundred years ago, in our ill-fated flight to the Castle. You kept his tunic safe all this time. Please, Impa… for the love of Hylia herself, please tell me you have my clothes. If nothing else, I would commit atrocities to have my boots back.”

Zelda wants to wear anything that isn’t the ritual dress (chp. 3)

The Quiet River Rages by MaryDragon (AO3) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Explicit – Link/Zelda #Eventual Happy Ending #I swear to God #Post-Canon #PTSD #Memory Loss #Anger #Unreliable Narrator #POV First Person #POV Zelda #Dreams and Nightmares

A thematic successor to Part 1, Calm Waters Run Deep. Picks up where Part 2 ended, “Do you really remember me?” Runs through the ‘true’ ending and goes a short time past. First-person POV, Zelda. Do not HAVE to read the rest of the series but you’ll lose some flavor and miss references. * Fair warning: this has become surprisingly autobiographical. I am pulling from my personal experience of trying to build a relationship with someone who has PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, and memory loss. (spoiler: we’ve been together 11 years and are happy as pigs in shit) My experience is not universal, and this is not meant to be a definitive look at PTSD, trauma, or the recovery process. If this sounds like it might be triggering to you, please keep scrolling.

Tagged characters have speaking parts. **Explicit rating for chapter 11.**

Part 3 of Trouble the Water series (AO3)

Note: This is a restricted story and requires an AO3 account in order to read

[quotablefanfiction]

“No, don’t you worry about me. I can rest easy, but it won’t be today. Tomorrow is always another day, but today, I am young again.” “Avoid mirrors,” Link counseled, and Impa slapped one knee as she laughed.

Impa is young at heart (chp. 3)

The Quiet River Rages by MaryDragon (AO3) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Explicit – Link/Zelda #Eventual Happy Ending #I swear to God #Post-Canon #PTSD #Memory Loss #Anger #Unreliable Narrator #POV First Person #POV Zelda #Dreams and Nightmares

A thematic successor to Part 1, Calm Waters Run Deep. Picks up where Part 2 ended, “Do you really remember me?” Runs through the ‘true’ ending and goes a short time past. First-person POV, Zelda. Do not HAVE to read the rest of the series but you’ll lose some flavor and miss references. * Fair warning: this has become surprisingly autobiographical. I am pulling from my personal experience of trying to build a relationship with someone who has PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, and memory loss. (spoiler: we’ve been together 11 years and are happy as pigs in shit) My experience is not universal, and this is not meant to be a definitive look at PTSD, trauma, or the recovery process. If this sounds like it might be triggering to you, please keep scrolling.

Tagged characters have speaking parts. **Explicit rating for chapter 11.**

Part 3 of Trouble the Water series (AO3)

Note: This is a restricted story and requires an AO3 account in order to read

[swingsdown]

this chapter...pains me...so much...they love each other...ow///ow....he’s not going to....remember /dies a soft death

[swingsdown]

dtobes231 replied to your post: i’ve moved on consider me a trash botw blog now my...

OMG WHAT FIC

Calm Waters Run Deep (linked)! It’s amazing and the best thing that I’ve read for BotW (and I’ve gone through every...single...fic..that focuses on Link and Zelda for the botw universe on both ao3 and ffn lmao). Spot on characterization, good writing, the perfect balance of pain and softness. I love it so much. ;__;