#throne of glass lgbt

[witchthewriter]

𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐬/𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞

⤷ female, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!    

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ  

🌿INFP 🍁Gryffindor 📜Neutral Good 🔮 Scorpio Sun, Virgo Moon, Pisces Rising    

SFW 🌷

⭑ Elide would be a very loving and caring partner. She would always want to make sure you’re okay, and comfortable. 

⭑ I think you would have a difficult time getting the true Elide; she’s a fighter, someone who doesn’t give up. She’s also sensitive and learning about herself and the world. 

⭑ I think you would be vulnerable with each other, and always want to protect each other. Even if you aren’t as strong as a man, it wouldn’t matter. Because it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. 

⭑ And the both of you have a lot of fight. 

⭑ Her favourite flower, even though it might not technically be a flower, is lavender. She loves the scent, colour, and shape. 

⭑ Her other favourite scents are vanilla, cinnamon and chamomile. Oh and she loves those within her tea. 

⭑ You always fix each other up if you have dust, a stain etc on your clothing. And if you have something on your face or between your teeth, the other will silently start to fix it. 

⭑ She will always laugh at your jokes even if they aren’t funny...

⭑ I don’t know if caffeine exists in this world/time but if it does then do not ever give it to Elide. She will not be able to sit down, stop talking, stop moving, or thinking. 

⭑ Although she is seemingly sweet and demure, when pushed too far Elide will become a ferocious spitfire. (You’ve never been on the end of it, only once when she took her anger out on you and you guys talked about how that was wrong. You have a very healthy relationship btw). 

⭑ Kinda oblivious to rumours and drama. But will sit and listen if you want to gossip with her 

⭑ She always follows through with her promises, and you’re usually the one saying “but do we have to,” 

⭑ You look after her ankle whenever it starts to ache; getting her a foot rest, hot wheat pack and massage it. 

⭑ Sometimes she feels like a burden, and you nearly cry because you feel the same way. And you guys cry together because both of you love the other so dearly. 

⭑ Can you imagine living in a cute little cottage house full of lavender and potions and a fireplace and a couple animals. And Aelin, Manon, Lysandra and Yrene come over and you guys spend time together. Sometimes getting tipsy and causing a little chaos, or catching up and telling stories. 

⭑ Yrene would absolutely ADORE you! She’d be your closest friend as you have a lot in common. 

⭑ Aelin is busy a lot, but she wanted to meet you because Elide is important to her. She was basically making sure that you would look after her and kinda warned you not to ever hurt her because she’d kill you ... but after that she was cheerful and a good friend. 

⭑ Manon ... oh god ... you were terrified of her. Elide was telling you it would be alright right up until she opened the door to the white-haired witch. 

⭑ All Manon had to do was look into your eyes and your knees felt as if they should bend. But you held your ground, nodded your head once and introduced yourself. 

⭑ She was actually very civil. And it’s because Elide warned her days beforehand with a letter that you’re someone who she wants to marry, and if she does anything remotely intimidating then she’d be very upset. 

⭑ So Manon did her best. But her fingers were never too far from her dagger. 

⭑ Oh and Lysandra already decided that you were a good person based on your smell. It’s a magic thing... 

⭑ Elide loves spending time with you. She is so in love with you, that sometimes it physically hurts her. Everything you do is goddess-like. Even if you’re insecure, Elide wouldn’t understand why. She looks at you and thinks, ‘what did I do to deserve someone so loving?’ 

⭑ And then she came up with the conclusion that her family must have sent you to her. 

⭑ If Elide has to be away before you wake up, she’ll leave notes around the house for you to find. And also feed the cats and dogs so you won’t have to

⭑ Mutual hype-men for one another. Always complimenting and uplifting the other. 

⭑ Relationship Tropes: 

  ✧ Touch Starved x Cannot Stop Touching The Other (works both ways)

  ✧ Battle Couple Even Though One or Both Have a Disability 

  ✧ Would Die For The Other

NSFW🔞minors dni!

⭑ Oh god she would be horny for you so much. Even though she has a seemingly innocent persona, Elide is an adult and wants to do adult activities... 

⭑ The dominance switches; some days she’s the one telling you what to do. And others, you’re the one with her long black hair in your hands, telling her to open her mouth. 

⭑ She loves rough play - smacking your ass, pinching and pulling your nipples, lip biting. At times she draws blood and leaves bruises. 

⭑ I think you two are finding out what you like and don’t like about sex. You’ll both try anything once, and if you don’t like it then the other will never push it. 

⭑ Probably has both Mummy and Daddy kinks; loves it to suck on your nipples and paw at your tits. She likes it when you’re gentle with her and encourage her. But on the flip side - she loves it when you’re commanding and demanding. 

⭑ Elide has probably cried a few times during sex because she’s so overwhelmed with emotion for you. I don’t mean sobbing, just a few tears while you wear kissing her body. You looked up and immediately stopped 

     “What’s wrong? Elide did I do something wrong?” 

She gently shook her head and smiled, “I just love you so much that I think my heart will explode.”

⭑ Quick morning head, where one will go down on the other 

⭑ She loves riding your face

⭑ Oh and I DEFINITELY think she would eat ass

⭑ Aftercare would be heavenly; a hot bath if you’re both not too tired with lavender and chamomile. Cleaning one another’s bodies and peppering each other with light kisses 

#elide lochan #elide lochan headcanons #elide lochan fancast #dating elide lochan would include #elide lochan x reader #queen of shadows #throne of glass #throne of glass fancast #dating would include #would include #witchthewriter #LGBTQIA #LGBT #lgbtqiia+ #queer #queer reader #elide x female reader

[moonah-rose]

I know SJMass target audience is straight girls so I don't get too mad about the lack of representation because I'm here for the fantasy escapism and drama. But doing this tandem read and switching between all these mlw ships that all sound exactly the same really is like overwhelming heteronormativity. Only one book left and I can go back to reading some queer fantasy.

#throne of glass #tower of dawn #empire of storms #lgbt media #sarah j maas

[oblivionsdream]

Have you ever read any Sarah J Mass books? And if so, what are your thoughts? I have not read any of her books and only know there about fairies ( I think), but I am curious if the books have lgbt+ and characters of color in them?

I've read both Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses and I'm going to be honest they weren't my favorite.

I enjoyed the first couple of books in Throne of Glass when I was first reading them but I ended up not being the biggest fan of how things were done and found some aspects problematic. Plenty of other people like them but tbh if you're looking for a diverse read I probably wouldn't pick it up. In ToG there is a brief mention of a character being bi and (SPOILER ALERT- the only black character gets killed in one of the first books to further the MC character arc) and in ACOTAR there are a few characters who are an ambiguous race at best and you only find out one character is LGBTQ+ in the final book during a multi page speech that was just... not well done (also the fact that she's pretty much the only character not to have a love interest is kind of telling). 😬

Also as someone who LOVES faerie stories like Holly Black's I was rather disappointed in this portrayal of fey because they mostly just felt like hot people with pointed ears and some magic.

Unfortunately I don't have any alternative faerie books however if you're looking for diverse fantasy I might perhaps recommend Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (I still desperately need to read book 2), Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, or Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo if you haven't read those. :)

[cataclysmic-catastrophe]

Support your indie author friends (me) 🥹

“Wayward as the Wind” might be for you if:

-you like plots with a lot of moving parts that interweave with eachother

-you enjoy 18th century settings like Black Sails, Outlander, TURN or Harlots

-you like pirates

-you like castles with loads of secret tunnels and passageways

-you like series

-you like books with lgbt characters(book 1 doesn’t feature a ton of romance but there are multiple lgbtq+ characters)

-you enjoy a good slow burn

-you like action scenes and plot twists

-you like books like: Shades of Magic (VE Schwab), Throne of Glass (Sarah J Maas), an Ember in the Ashes (Sabaa Tahir) and Priory of the Orange Tree (Samantha Shannon)

-you like it when the sequels come out soon (summer 2023)

-you like magic systems that unfold slowly instead of infodumping!!

#mine #wayward as the wind #indie author #publishing #writing #indie publishing #corset #fantasy books #fantasy #lgbt fiction #lgbtqa #lgbtq authors #lgbtq artist

[fables-of-vyrria]

╭ ─┉┉┉┉┉─ •❈• ─┉┉┉┉┉─ ╮ ⠀⠀𝐅𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐘𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⇢┆ https://www.vyrria.net ╰ ─┉┉┉┉┉─ •❈• ─┉┉┉┉┉─ ╯

≫─┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉─ •❈• ─┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉─≪

🏹 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐄 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑: ⠀⠀⇢┆ custom lore. ⠀⠀⇢┆ tons of roles and ranks, including high ones! ⠀⠀⇢┆ 12 livable regions and 14 playable races. ⠀⠀⇢┆ original characters. ⠀⠀⇢┆ LGBT+ and POC welcoming. ⠀⠀⇢┆ in-depth character creation. ⠀⠀⇢┆ very active and friendly staff. ⠀⠀⇢┆ optional events to fit your irl schedule and lives.

≫─┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉─ •❈• ─┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉─≪

⚔️ 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐄'𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓: the Fables of Vyrria is a brand new, literate Discord roleplay centered around an original high fantasy world with custom races, lore, and land. much of the inspiration for this roleplay has been derived from other high fantasy content such as The Elder Scrolls, Dungeons & Dragons, and a tad from Throne of Glass. Fables of Vyrria is a primarily slice-of-life roleplay, offering a complete sandbox to create and grow your characters. though we are a relaxed group, understanding that people may have other responsibilities outside of Discord, we also offer frequent events and holiday celebrations to include your character in if you wish to. we pride ourselves on being a highly inclusive group, welcoming any LGBT+ and/or POC individuals with open arms. furthermore, those who are wishing to join our ranks must be 18+ due to the presence of mature and possibly violent themes.

on the sprawling continent of Vyrria lies twelve regions of varying ecosystems, offering an array of beautiful landscapes fit for any character or playstyle. explore the highest peaks of the Spinehorns, blistering cold and uninhabitable, or drink your woes away at one of the bustling taverns found within the shining capital of Summerspire, the world is your character’s oyster. within the continent live fourteen varying playable races, one to fit any storyline or backstory. pair these with any of our playable factions, guilds, or careers and create an enjoyable roleplay experience.

#discord roleplay #discord rp #roleplay #literate rp #fantasy roleplay #the elder scrolls #dungeons and dragons #throne of glass #rp #original character #sandbox rp #custom lore

[thebacklistbook]

Winners Circle - Backlist Book Awards

Best Cover: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

The All-nighter: Tied

Listen to Me - Tess Gerritsen

Death on the Nile - Agatha Christie

The Appeal - Janice Hallett

The WTF Award: The Curly Girl handbook - Michele Bender, Lorraine Massey

Best Diverse Read: Dr. Siri Paiboon series - Colin Cotterill

Most Obvious Plot Twist: The Plot - Jean Korelitz

Villainless: The Martian - Andy Weir

Villainous: Desert Queen - Janet Wallach

Poetically Lit: Citizen: An American Lyric - Claudia Rankine

Wrapped up Tight: Rizzoli & Isles series - Tess Gerritsen

Be Careful! It's Fragile: Desert Queen - Janet Wallach

How about a little Respect: Taste: My Life Through Food - Stanley Tucci

Best in Ship: Fatima Ali and Life; Savor: A Chef's Hunger for More - Fatima Ali

Best in (Friend)ship: Nehemia Ytger and Celaena Sardothien; Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas

Best in Romance: Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon

Burned on my Brain: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman

Best in Sci-fi/ time travel: Blackout/All clear - Connie Willis

Most Emotional Read: What Alice Forgot - Liane Moriarty

Best in Magical Realism: Tied

Midnight Sun - Stephenie Meyer

The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker

You've Got Mail: Let Me Tell You What I Mean - Joan Didion

Best in Fantasy: Tied

The Wheel of Time series - Robert Jordan

Piranesi - Susanna Clarke

Best Debut: Evvie Drake Starts Over - Linda Holmes

Best in Horror: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Best in Dystopia: Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Best in Contemporary: Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan

Best in Non-fiction: Tied

Quackery - Lydia Kang

The Happiest Man Alive - Eddie Jaku

Bibliomaniac - Robin Ince

The Book Came First: A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman

The Movie Came First: My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

Best LGBT+ Rep: Tied

Huntress - Malinda Lo

Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin

Classically Lit: Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Best Worldbuilding: Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs

Best in Humor: Tied

Agent to the Stars - John Scalzi

How Y'all Doin'? - Leslie Jordan

Best in Historical Fiction: Tied

The Lincoln Highway - Amor Towles

Desert Queen - Janet Wallach

Best in Satire: Skipping Christmas - John Grisham

Graphically Lit: Big Panda & Tiny Dragon - James Norbury

The Independence of You: A Camp Without Fire - Ignacio Ramirez Bautista

#Book Reviews

[brittlebonesguy]

hyello ma'am

please answer all of the questions for the book asks :)

love u ❤️❤️

omg I love you. thank you for being the only person who ever send me asks my biggest fan 💕💕

1. book I've read the most times: I reread a lot of books from high school for some reason but I think the main one would be the lunar chronicles

2. top 5 books: I have a real problem with reading books that are just okay and not GREAT so I don't know how to answer this. thst being said I still really like six of crows and also pride and prejudice and Frankenstein <3

3. my favorite genre is either scifi or fantasy

4. section of bookstore I browse: the whole thing, but mainly the fiction and sci/fantasy sections. I I peak in the manga and comic sections

5. I buy books pretty sparingly in recent years. if I do I usually do thriftbooks or barnes and noble because I get gift cards for there

6. I haven't been reading too much the past month but I did just finish a book literally a few hours ago: legendborn. it was actually really good and I hope it ends with a throuple <3. I'm only saying actually because I had to stop reading two other books because I was just having a terrible time with them

7. I've been reading since like late elementary school and have the memory if a goldfish so I have no clue what got me into reading

8. the first book I remember reading would probably be some dr seuss type of shit. I also vividly remember sitting on my moms lap and reading kids books outloud with her but I don't remember what books those are

9. I tend to read fantasy the most

10. I don't really have any guilt with the books I read

11. I like a lot of non fiction but I don't read it too much so I don't have an actual answer for this

12. I really enjoyed Frankenstein in high school! that's pretty much it though

13. I used to have a goodreads but I ended up deleting it and using storygraph instead. I've been using that app since before it had an actual app for androids

14. I don't usually dog ear because I think it's fun to use random things as bookmarks. but i do underline or highlight things in some of my books. the main reason I don't mark up my books is because I get lazy with it so the beginning and end of a book will have lots of comments and the middle is completely barren (ie. my copy of the darkest minds)

15. I guess I'll review legendborn since that's the last thing I read. I was pretty into it from the start and then when the whole king arthur stuff first got introduced I was pretty 🙄 but I liked the main character and was interested in the mystery of her mom so I kept reading and im pretty glad I did. the writing was fun and I liked some of the characters. I think the author wanted me to care about more characters than I did which is my bad but in my defense some of them were really flat and gave me nothing to work with. I also liked how casually gay and non binary people were. this book was kind of littered with lgbt which was nice to see

16. I have fully read 10 books this year. started like 5 other ones and dropped two of them so not too bad

17. I don't really have any children's books to recommend

18. I do like period books, really any time period

19. most disliked popular books: I recently read strange the dreamer and hated it. I'm not sure how popular unearthed by megan spooner and amie kaufman (the starbound series bitches) is but I quite literally hated it. some others right off the dome explanations at the ready if asked: one flew over the cuckoos nest, you, the whole of the throne of glass series (unfinished to this day), anthem by ayn rand, the catcher in the rye

20. there's isn't anything that I look for specifically in books. it's mainly vibes. buy I do mainly go for women authors and if I pick up a man's books I try to gage if he'll be sexist or not

[gra-leitora]

I cried until the soul left the body. 💔❤️‍🩹

(📷: 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵)

#booklr #book photography #books & libraries #reading #bookstagram #libraries #livros #sarah j. maas #throne of glass #lgbt books #booksbooksbooks #trono de vidro #aelin's court #aelin galythinius #rowan x aelin #aelin whitethorn #rowan whitethorn

[escapingtheconstrictingboxes]

Untitled (For Now)

This is a fic I wrote after a lovely anon sent me a request for a fanfic about Chesryn as parents. This is what has happened. 

Tagging: @jennifer2430

Please read my notes which can be found here. These are some things I wrote about my characters because it will give you a better understanding of what I’ve written here. I highly suggest you read them and they will be worth looking at. 

If you can’t click on the ‘keep reading’ link because you’re on mobile or something, just click on my url and I’m pretty sure it’ll take you to my story. 

To help you with the pronouns:

ae/aer/aers/aerself

he/him/his/himself

Without further ado:

Chaol hadn't exactly been happy when his son had announced that he had met someone. When the couple had heard, they had instantly peppered him with questions, pausing in their daily routines they sat Darius down and peppered him with questions. Darius had only laughed and had told them to sit down with him so that he could explain everything. Slowly, Chaol's worry seemed to intensify and yet he calmed down as he saw his son talk about someone named Sylvan. He watched as his son's features softened and his eyes shone, his voice conveying all his emotions.

Now, neither Chaol or Nesryn had been too affected by their son's sexuality. Sure it had come as a shock when Darius had told them with nervous eyes that were on the brink of tears but by the end of the night their son was practically radiating happiness. Everybody else had seemed pretty accepting when he announced it at a family dinner. The proud smiles on the couple's faces had left them aching by the end of the night. They'd even watched as Darius got into a couple of relationships and had comforted him after they had ended. So when Darius started talking about this Sylvan, Chaol hadn't been too shocked to hear about another man entering Darius' life.

Then, things got a little confusing for him and Nesryn. Thankfully, their son had endless patience as he tried to explain how Sylvan wasn't a man. Sylvan had been born as a male but was not a man or a woman didn't like being seen or regarded as either and apparently used pronouns like ae and aer. Chaol and Nesryn had tried to ask him how Sylvan couldn't be a man or a woman and how anyone could possibly know this. Darius had only shrugged and had asked if they could respect Sylvan and accept aers pronouns. Him and Nesryn had exchanged a glance which resulted in them sighing before looking back to their son and finally nodding. The giddy grin on Darius' face had caused a smile on their own faces and the parents had to beg Darius to let go when the hug he gave them was a little too tight.

Later that night, in bed with the blanket of the dark tucked around them both and with each other tucked safely into each other's arms, they discussed about Darius and Sylvan. It seemed that their son was happy with Sylvan and the only real problem appeared to be getting adjusted to the pronouns. Later, the bigger problem (to Chaol at least) had been their age difference.  After Darius' counter point of Chaol and Nesryn's own age difference also being two years apart, Chaol's argument had turned into incoherent grumbles under his breath.

Nesryn had tried to reason with Chaol too, telling him that he was worrying for nothing and that their son was fine. After all, he was the son of two Captains. Chaol had grinned, kissing Nesryn softly before agreeing to tone down the over-protectiveness. After that, the couple had asked when they would get to meet this Sylvan. Darius had admitted that Sylvan had only really talked to him a few times before and the two hadn't really done anything. To which the couple just told Darius to introduce Sylvan to them whenever the time felt right.

Then, three months later, Darius came bursting into the room, shocking both him and Nesryn and almost causing Chaol to drop the dish in his hand. His son was grinning from ear to ear as he told them how Sylvan had asked him to go to the theatre with aer in a week's time. From Aelin's influence, Darius had a large interest in the theatre but had still chosen to follow his parents' paths of becoming a guard. The couple had congratulated Darius with wide smiles and they watched a week later as Darius fretted around the house, changing his attire several times until he finally left when Nesryn pushed him out the door.

Chaol and Nesryn watched with small smiles as Darius came back from dates and small chats in the following two months and then finally asked if Sylvan was ready to meet the two. The next day, Darius had agreed to let the couple meet Sylvan when ae came to pick Darius up for their date tomorrow. Chaol and Nesryn had stared at each other and then at Darius, asking him to go over the pronouns again. The rest of the day was spent in going about their work while lecturing and correcting each other since they didn't want Sylvan to be uncomfortable.

Chaol was surprised the next day when the door rang and he saw Darius' face break into the largest grin. He watched his son run all the way to the front door and followed him with Nesryn's soft laughter trailing behind.  He raised an eyebrow as he turned around the corner to see his son greeting his datemate with a long kiss. Chaol cleared his throat and the couple broke apart immediately. His son was grinning brightly and had his arms happily around Sylvan's middle who was fidgeting and had a light blush on aers freckled cheeks. His eyes zeroed in on the arm that was around Darius and he could see that Sylvan had noticed but held in a slight smile when Sylvan still didn't withdraw the arm.

Chaol's eyes scanned the thin and taller figure, noticing the white hair and opal blue eyes first. The clothing seemed a little ragged but appropriate and Chaol wondered about aers social status. From all the rambling that Darius had done, Chaol had a rough idea of what Sylvan was like.

" Dad, this is my datemate, Sylvan," his son said with a large smile but with a warning in his eyes. Darius then turned to look up at Sylvan with his smile changing slightly as he said, " Sylvan, this is my dad, Chaol Westfall." Chaol softened when he noticed the puff in Darius' chest and then an amused smile appeared on his face when Sylvan looked down at Darius with a soft smile and then back at Chaol with a tinge of fear in aers eyes.

" It's nice to meet you, sir. Dar talks a lot about you," Sylvan said with a polite smile and an extended arm. Chaol grunted at the nickname, an expression of mock severity on his face as he stared at aer for a moment before nodding and took a few steps forward to shake his hand. He made sure to add a little extra strength as he grabbed aers hand and squeezed it one last time while staring aer right in the eyes. Aers smile died slowly and Chaol internally grinned. Good. At least ae was intimidated.

He knew that Darius was rolling his eyes at him as Chaol turned around to walk back to the living room. Darius was used to Chaol's ice at the start of the relationships and knew that he often made his opinion on Darius' partners' visits on the first meeting. Nesryn was a little more lenient and demanded at least one dinner with them until she could form an opinion on anything. But of course, the couple valued Darius' opinion much more and tried to respect his thoughts.

Chaol sat down on a couch and then looked up at couple expectantly and gestured for Sylvan to do the same. Darius looked up at aer with a ridiculous smile as he wrapped his two arms around aers waist and tugged aer closer. Sylvan stumbled slightly closer and the blush on aers face grew as ae bent aers head down to whisper with embarrassment, " Dar, your father is right there."

Darius only grinned and lightly kissed Sylvan on the lips and said, " Sit with my dad. I'll just change my shirt and do my hair."

Chaol looked at Darius and asked teasingly, " Again?"

He grinned slightly when his son blushed as he walked out of the room. " Not in front of aer, dad!"

Chaol held back a chuckle and he turned back to face Sylvan and his smile faded away at the sight of aers beaming grin. " Yes?" He asked, his face once more turning into it's fearsome mask.

He watched aers smile drop as ae began to fidget after taking a seat opposite Chaol and then nervously said, " I just didn't know that Dar...ius uses my pronouns at his home too. I wasn't even sure if you knew about me."

Chaol raised an eyebrow and glared slightly at aer as he asked, " Are you suggesting that my son is disrespectful of people's wishes?"

Ae began to fluster, opening and closing aers mouth several times before Nesryn entered the room with a tray of her new batch of cinnamon and ginger cookies. She placed the tray down on the coffee table in the middle and took a seat while gesturing for Sylvan to take one.

" You know that's not what Sylvan meant to say," Nesryn said with a stern tone but with amusement dancing in her eyes. Chaol suppressed a grin as he loosely wrapped an arm around her waist.

Nesryn turned back to face Sylvan and watched aer pick up a cookie and bite half of it off in one go. " These are amazing, ma'am," Sylvan groaned happily with aers eyes closed in bliss and finished the other half immediately. Ae went to grab another one but then paused and then looked at Nesryn nervously with those big wide eyes, the cheerfulness in aers voice disappearing. " May I have another one?" ae asked after a moment, his hand slowly withdrawing.

Chaol knew the woman was on aers side the moment she said, " Please don't call me ‘ma'am’ and of course. Take the whole tray if you want, Sylvan." Sylvan flashed both of them a wide smile before literally picking up the whole tray and placed it on his lap.

Chaol tried not grumble when he saw aer devours the cookies at an alarming rate and instead tightened his grip on Nesryn's waist. Compliments poured out aers lips as half the cookies disappeared almost instantly. Nesryn looked up at Chaol with a small smile and then quietly said, " Don't worry. There's another batch in the kitchen." He sighed slightly and nodded before focusing on Sylvan. He studied aers clothes and then studied the way ae ate. Chaol opened his mouth to comment on it but in that moment Darius had decided to enter the room.

Darius had entered, buttoning the last button of the shirt he had finally chosen to wear as he stepped into the room and Chaol noticed how his son's focus instantly went to Sylvan before going to them. He held back a grin and watched as Darius walked over to sit beside aer and then stared curiously. " Why do you have mom's tray of cookies?" He asked as he wrapped an arm around Sylvan the same way Chaol did with Nesryn.

" Mrs. Westfall said it'd be okay. You want some?" Ae asked after swallowing another cookie. Ae looked over at Nesryn and grinned again. " Thank you so much, Mrs. Westfall. The last time I ate something like this was when Dar brought the cake on his birthday last month," ae said with a cheery grin before passing a couple of cookies over to Darius as ae spoke. Darius was kind enough to give one of his to Chaol and he grinned at his son in thanks.

" I remember that," Darius said with a wide smile. " I gave you the first slice."

Chaol could see the guilt in Sylvan's eyes when ae realised that ae hadn't given out the cookies aerself. Before ae could say anything, Nesryn broke the silence by asking, " What do you mean? You haven't had anything like this to eat in the past month?"

Aers smile died slightly and he took a small bite of a cookie as ae thought about aers answer. " I live alone, Mrs.Westfall. I work two small jobs to keep my small apartment and to manage everything else. Cookies don't really come up in the shopping list," ae said with small sad smile.

" Why?" Chaol asked, raising an eyebrow, softening a little but didn't let it show on his face. His question earned him an elbow in the gut from Nesryn while Darius threw him a glare before turning to his datemate.

Darius instantly looked up at Sylvan while placing a hand on his arm and said, " You don't have to say anything if you don't want to, Sylv."

Ae shook aers head, finishing off a cookie and then said with a small smile, " It's fine, Dar. It isn't anything to be embarrassed about." Ae then looked over to the couple and when ae spoke, aers voice had dropped lower. " My mother kicked me out of the house. I came out to her last year and she didn't take it well. She refused to use my pronouns and we fought a lot about all of it. It got to a point where she just packed up my bags and left them outside the house."  

When the family noticed how the mood had dropped and aers eyes had gotten distant, Darius slowly removed the tray from Sylvan's lap but still handed aer a cookie to pull him back to the present. Sylvan seemed to snap out of whatever trance ae had been pulled into and gave the couple a small smile before leaning slightly into Darius, who instantly pulled aer closer by the waist.

Chaol's heart gave a slight twist as Sylvan looked at the both of them and said, " Sorry. I didn't mean to say so much on the first meeting."

" No, Sylvan. I was the one who asked the question. You were simply giving an honest answer," Chaol said, letting some sincerity enter his voice and expression. Ae seemed to understand the apology and smiled in acknowledgement.

There was a pause until, " What about your father?" Nesryn asked tentatively with worried eyes.

Sylvan smiled with more energy as ae sat up properly and said, " During all the arguments, my father stayed silent. A few months after being kicked out, he'd found an apartment and bought for me. Told me to move in the day after and I could fend for myself after that."

" And after that?" Chaol asked, pulled into Sylvan's story and world.

" I haven't seen him much since. And now I live in my home with two jobs and hopefully a bright career ahead," he said with a small smile.

" Career?" Nesryn asked. The couple already knew about aers ambitions from all the rambling Darius had done but they still wanted to hear it from Sylvan aerself.

The sudden smile that appeared on aers face eased the ache in Chaol's heart slightly. " Oh, I'm a dancer. I'm attending the academy in the city."

" The academy?" Nesryn asked with slight awe in her voice. They both had known that ae was a dancer but to know that ae was that skilled..." Florine's Academy?" She asked again.

Sylvan grinned and nodded with excitement. " Yes, I've been there from a very young age. It's might as well be a second home. The headmistress even let me stay in the building before I got the apartment."

" And you'll be performing on stage?" Nesryn asked with a small smile.

Sylvan again nodded with a wider grin and eyes that shone with something Chaol couldn't pinpoint. " I'll be doing it soon enough. It hasn't been determined but I have been told that I have a chance to be in the next tour. " Darius looked up at Sylvan with excitement even in his eyes and pulled ae even closer by the middle. Sylvan blushed a red that covered his whole face but didn't move away from Darius.

Chaol held back from grinning even more and then said, " How long would you be gone for?"

Sylvan shrugged and said with a tilted head, " It depends. Usually just a few months but sometimes it lasts longer." Darius didn't seem to care that he would be away from Sylvan if their relationship lasted that long and this time Chaol couldn’t hold back a grin.

Chaol stood up, pulling Nesryn up with him and signalling the end of their conversation. Darius and Sylvan followed and Chaol led them all back to the front door. Him and Nesryn looked at each other, not caring if their son and datemate were there. A hundred thoughts and emotions seemed to flow between them before both of them smiled. Chaol looked back at the couple to see nervous expressions on the both of them and noticed how tightly they were gripping each other's hand. Chaol walked up to Sylvan and watched as aers expression turned more and more fearful.

" I think you're good for my son, Sylvan," he started off and Sylvan's face grew with hope. " You seem like a good kid and I can tell that you have a bright future in front of you. I trust you enough to be happy that you’re with my son. Above all, you make Darius happy and that's what matters the most."

" So you approve of Sylv?" Darius asked with wide eyes and giddy smile. Chaol nodded and then grunted when both of them pulled him into a tight hug. They gave him a grateful expression when they pulled back with a step.

Nesryn laughed then, a sound that Chaol still found beautiful to this day. She took a step forward and stood in front of Sylvan. She slowly took aers hand and held it gently with both of her own and looked up and into aers eyes. " Sylvan, I agree with my husband and I'm more than happy for you to be with my son," she said with a smile. " I also understand that the Academy is your second home. But I would like you to consider this house to be your third home as well." Chaol could have sworn there were tears in aers eyes as ae nodded and squeezed Nesryn's hand.

" Of course, Mrs.Westfall," ae said. " Thank you. I’ve never experienced so much kindness in one day before."

Darius came to wrap an arm around Sylvan's waist and pulled aer closer as Nesryn stepped back to Chaol's side. " Well, you'll be getting a lot more of it with my family. Dad is just a ray of sunshine once you get to know him," Darius said with a mischievous smile and looked at him.

Chaol rolled his eyes with a smile playing on his lips. "Don’t you two need to get going?" He asked.

The two of them nodded and Chaol watched with a pleased expression as Darius and Sylvan exited the house and down the street. He turned to face Nesryn once his son and his datemate had turned the corner and tugged her closer by wrapping his arms around her waist. She took a step forward and sighed slightly as Chaol bent down to touch her forehead with his own.

" That went well, don't you think?" She murmured as her arms went around Chaol, eyes closing. Chaol hummed in agreement. " They seem happy with each other."

" Let's hope they stay happy," he murmured, his own eyes closing.

Nesryn's eyes flew open and she looked at him with a teasing grin. " I've never heard you say that before about any of the others," she said, a hand now cupping his face.

Chaol leaned into the hand with a peaceful sigh and murmured, " There's a first time for everything, Nes."

" You really like this one, don't you?" She asked with a grin that was slowly growing on her face. When Chaol didn't respond she laughed and said, " You really do like Sylvan!"

He opened his eyes and sighed again. " With all that Darius has been saying about aer in the past few months, I wanted to see if our son was correct. And he was. Ae sounds like what Dar has been talking about. So yes, as much as I don't want to say it, I do like Sylvan." Nesryn grinned up at him with the bright eyes that Chaol had fallen in love with all those years ago. She pulled him down by his collar and kissed him, trying to convey all that she could.

"I never thought I’d see the day when Chaol would actually approve of someone that Darius brought in," she teased him when they pulled apart. Chaol rolled his eyes and placed a light kiss on her collarbone. Nesryn laughed lightly again and started pulling him back towards the couch, ready to spend the rest of the day with him and to await the return of Darius and to fill the house with the feeling of home that the two of them loved to cherish.

And that marks the end of my first ever fanfic. I hope you liked it and feedback is always appreciated! Also, please let me know of any mistakes I’ve made in the pronouns department.

#syrius??? #would their ship name be syrius? #chaol and nesryn #chaol and nesryn fanfiction #chaol and nesryn fanfic #chesryn fanfiction #chaosryn fanfiction #chaosryn #darius and sylvan #darius and sylvan fanfiction #tog #throne of glass #throne of glass fanfiction #lgbt #throne of glass lgbt

[magixqueenie]

I don't care what you say. I don't care about anyone's opinion. I'm sorry but you can't convince me that Manon Blackbeak is straight. No. Nope. Nada. That woman is so gay. I cannot even understand how SJM didn't see it. She wrote her.

Manon is a raging lesbian.

There. I've said it.

And I'll go further. Elide is not straight either. Well, nor is Aelin, or Dorian, or Fenrys, or Chaol, or Lysandra, etc, etc, etc, but that's a whole other argument. But if you say you didn't see the tension between Elide x Manon then maybe we read different books. Idk. But there's no way either of them are straight.

I thought they were going to be canon. I did.

And I think Manon's relationship with Dorian is forced and icky. I can barely read them nowadays.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

#malide #throne of glass #manon blackbeak #elide lochan #manon x elide #lgbtq #lgbt #sarah j maas #ya fantasy #yes i’m ranting #idc tho #i want them to be canon #sjm critical #sjm #kingdom of ash #empire of storms #book rant

[jordeliablackstairs]

List of LGBTQ+ characters in Sarah J Maas books

Might include spoilers! Read at your own risk.

Throne of Glass series:

• Aedion is bisexual.

• The Blackbeak Matron was lesbian (only took female witches for lovers)

• Emrys (his mate was a male called Malakai).

• Hasar (her lover was called Rania).

• Kaya and Thea from The Thirteen (they were lovers).

A Court of Thorns and Roses series:

• Helion is bisexual.

• Mor is bisexual.

• Nephelle (she was married to a female, one of Drakon's generals).

• Thesan (his lover is a male, the Captain of the Peregryn army).

Crescent City series:

• Fury and Juniper (they are a couple)

• Isaiah is gay.

If I missed any please let me know and I’ll add it :)

#sarah j maas #throne of glass #a court of thorns and roses #acotar #tog #lgbtq #lgbt #crescent city

[oldbooklady]

Colossal Bisexual issue:

Trying to decipher whether Manon or Dorian is more attractive and nearly passing out in the process.

#manorian #bisexual #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbtq positivity #lgbtqa #gay #manon x dorian #manon blackbeak #dorian #dorian havilliard #sarah j maas #throne of glass #tog #acotar #acomaf #acowar #a court of thorns and roses

[callowaycobalts]

endless list of characters || evangeline samos

“I am different from what my world demands I be. And I am not worse for it.”

#evangeline samos #red queen #broken throne #war storm #glass sword #king's cage #victoria aveyard #ya quotes #ya literature #ya literature quotes #myedit #books #book quotes #book edit #young adult literature #young adult #ya #ya lit #lgbt characters #endlesslists #edit #booklr

[awalkingtalkingcandytragedy]

So it has come to my attention that my favorite characters exist almost exclusively at the intersection of QUEER AS FUCK and LIZARD

#nonbinary #nb #gay #lesbian #lgbt #she ra 2019 #spop #double trouble #spop double trouble #rwby #ilia amitola #rwby ilia #elsa #frozen #frozen 2 #manon blackbeak #throne of glass #i couldnt find a picture of thea and kaya blackbeak but let's be real #all of the thirteen and the witches in general #were very gay

[tardigraded20]

fictional people raised my expectations of a partner

me

#fandoms #reading #qoutes #Relatable #lgbt #lgbtq #relatable qoutes #percy jackson #sarah j. maas #a court of thorns and roses #throne of glass #harry potter #shadowhunters #shadow and bone #six of crows

[elane-in-the-shadows]

Red Queen Fan Fiction - Red Huntress Epilogue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Find this on Wattpad and on AO3

A/N: Finally, it is done. Hope you like it. It’s implied in the text but to make it clear from the start, this takes place about 4,5 years after War Storm/Broken Throne. Light smut ensues.

It was pure instinct that made her jump over the root before stumbling. Farley realized it only in passing hindsight, just in time to prepare for the next root. Her heart raced; fear sweat broke out on her back as she thought on what a Silver greeny tracker could do with the roots – with her. She wanted to run faster, despite her body weakened from weeks in lakelander captivity and all the obstacles in the path. The darkness deepening in the twilight forest with its roots, uneven ground, frequent stones and her thin slippers unsuitable for of all of that. She panted in exasperation. The general called Huntress had become a hunted – an irony she’d chewed on throughout her whole captivity.

She couldn’t stop, had to get away with the chance given her by Scarlet Guard operatives before the Cygnets and their lackeys caught up on her – speed and cunning were essential. But she was on their terrain, a favoured park on the way to a palace where Princess Iris expected to interrogate Farley.

Or so she’d thought. Yet her planning retorts to her captor suddenly had to change to escape tactics. Maybe her due reward for slightly hoping to be ransomed at the meeting – even a highly ranked general like Farley wasn’t worth paying every price for to the Guard; perhaps her talents were precisely why better was expected of her.

That would just smell of the colonel, she concluded. She snorted and gasped as she leaped over another hole in the track.

She considered eschewing the paths completely but her trail would stay visible as much if she went through the bushes growing in patterns deceptively wild. The path and the surrounding woods seemed so peaceful, quiet apart from the birdsongs. Well, that was a relief, to not hear from any trackers yet. They shouldn’t even know she was gone at this point. From the map her helper had showed her briefly, she couldn’t be far from the river where a boat waited for her. For now, she didn’t hear the water’s waves.

A part of her was flustered at the idea of travelling water when a Cygnet could be near. Now her pulse throbbed louder and louder in her ears, dimming the sounds of the landscape along with her ragged breaths. She couldn’t keep up this pace for much longer but she accelerated for a last sprint. The next slope, she’d risk to throw herself down and roll off to gain a few precious seconds. She jumped.

The impact hurt, still, but that pain she could deal with. Harder it was to get up at all, making her rue the stupid move. She wasn’t thinking straight. She rose with a groan, biting her lips raw until she reached the denser trees she’d seen on the map and which promised the river mere meters away –

Stepping into the boat and starting its motor came almost close to a loved one’s – Clara’s! – embrace.

The boat trip was a well-needed break still dominated by creeping anxiety. Farley’s fingers tapped nervously, her legs shivered from exhaustion, cold, and hunger. Her prison clothes weren’t made to withstand a spring night outside. Too bad she was alone on the boat, unable to hide and leave another to steer. At least the area grew somewhat familiar; she could navigate through difficult and into defensive spots, right into the bog in a forest close by.

She didn’t like to step off there; because she feared what a nymph could do with a bog, but also for the reason why the place was familiar, and the memories it woke.

Fingernails cut into palms. She would keep running, wouldn’t she? She had no time for sad memories.

When the river flowed into the bog’s lake, she was ready. She prepared to let the boat sink and dove into the water, to hide her tracks before she’d cross the bog to the village beyond.

Her helper, a Guard operative dressed as a lakelander escort, had not given her detailed instructions. Awed by his mission to free the general, he’d flashed the map to Farley and mentioned some keywords of the plan before wishing her luck as she sneaked out of the running transport.

Farley hoped he’d escape, too, as she shuddered in a ditch. Wet and dirty, her only comfort was to be hidden this way as she waited for another Guard operative to come and save her. It amused her, oddly, to be saved and picked up like this, but she couldn’t run anymore this night, not in her state. She needed a transport and those were – still – rare in this area of the northern Lakelands.

She knew this very well. She’d grown up around here.

Though not in this pretty, newer village. There could be wealthier farmers in possessions of vehicles. She wasn’t sure she was able to steal one but she could look and try at least. Better to move than freeze in the ditch.

It took another five minutes before she’d gathered the strength to rise despite the fresh wave of pain.

Closer to civilisation, she approached slowly and carefully under the traitorous moonlight. It was a different kind of peaceful than the park, apart from more dangers to herself. She’d crawl before someone saw her but she noticed no one, not even lights in the houses. Could she be so lucky to find an empty village?

Reaching a house with an orchard, she made a decision to search for food and maybe clothes as well. She rushed a few paces, then held on to a tree blooming white.

Bloom meant no fruit, she concluded with regret.

The next second, she heard steps.

She shifted against the tree and glimpsed for the person. Ten meters away, there was a woman, moonlight illuminating the curves of her face.

Farley’s heart ached in a way that, in this moment, had nothing to do with escape, fear, or war. She saw a ghost from the past and longed for nothing but to go to her to fall into her arms.

How could she? Her fingers pinched into tree bark. This detour was a mistake, and now the woman came closer while she, Farley, should run –

It was too late. Even though it was but a sigh, she heard Giselle’s whispered “Diana” all too well.

Giselle knocked on the bathroom door, entering after a muttered “’kay”. Inside, she leaned against the door, as if startled by Diana sitting on the edge of the bathtub. She’d known Diana would be here. And yet. It was her demeanour, so unlike from Giselle’s expectations and assumptions. Clad in a borrowed nightgown, Diana barely looked up. She was weary, almost scared, and sunk into herself as if petrified by a weight on her shoulders.

Giselle swallowed, her heart fluttering. Diana resembled the girl from ten years ago but also not – she was the Red General, the huntress of Silvers, the hero of justice. An image full of confidence that Giselle had glimpsed in broadcasts and newspapers, strange and stunning but ultimately leaving an impression superimposing the memories of the girl Giselle had loved.

The Diana in her mind had become both, the same and not the same, a true, yet also warped reflection. The same applied to the woman sitting before her.

Giselle didn’t know her but wanted to. She also doubted she ever could know her. Confused in this storm of emotions, “how?” was the only word she managed to utter.

Diana’s lips moved, her shoulders lifting and sagging again, too exhausted to reply without preparing herself.

“… I … I was captured,” she said at last. “By lakelander soldiers. This night, I’ve escaped during a transfer.” She swallowed, haunted by the memory. Or to give Giselle a moment to let that sink in, a moment Giselle definitely needed. She could only think how that explained the mess Diana was in right now.

“Someone helped me,” Diana went on, “but they could only offer me a chance to run.” She raised a hand to gesture yet soon lowered it again as she began to sway. “So I ran, through the park, to the river. A boat was provided and then I came to the bog.”

“Our bog.” Giselle stated. The words stuck her breath in her throat when Diana looked up and met her eyes for the first time since Giselle joined her in the room.

“Yes,” Diana breathed. Pain burned in her eyes, probably from her recent ordeals, possibly from the meaning of the bog bordering the forest with the lake that grew after the late King Orrec flooded Sieverling, their former home village.

“I found my way through, barely. Thus, I’m glad you let me clean somewhat. I don’t want to bother – endanger – you further. They’ll search for me, my enemies, I mean. My allies too.”

She paused as Giselle sidled away from her post at the door, her skirts swinging, and sat down in front of her. Giselle could feel how Diana drank in her sight and rejoiced in it. Now it was her who captivated Diana with a glance.

“You aren’t a bother,” Giselle said. Diana lifted her eyebrows, but Giselle meant it. It was like fate, a dream, and Diana an apparition on a feast day. It was one, actually, and while her parents and brother went to celebrate with the congregation in the next village, Giselle stayed back to take care of the farm and animals. It’d fitted her to be alone, to avoid Ushio, the woman with whom Giselle didn’t know where she stood.

When she’d seen Diana on the edge of the orchard, under the trees blooming white in the moonlight, she thought Diana wasn’t real at first. She’d been frozen at the sight of her love from the past. She could’ve gone away, doing nothing and leaving Diana to her own devices, like people long divided. But yearning boiled in her blood. So long. It’d been so long, and so often she’d asked herself, what had torn them apart? Diana had been gone like a flash; would she ever return? Giselle hadn’t dared believe it, even more so as she learned of Diana’s shocking career in the Scarlet Guard – until the Red General stood before her and Giselle both wanted to touch her and to scream at her. 

That feeling hadn't vanished one bit, even as she suppressed either option. “I’ve been waiting for you,” she said with earnest.

Diana startled, reading as much in Giselle as she’d intended. How well Diana understood her. With time, Giselle had grasped in turn. The rumours of rebels, the Cygnets’ brutal revenge. Diana alive, yet away, while her home was destroyed. The young woman wanted for insurrection in Norta who soon stood right next to Mare Barrow, the Calore princes and the leaders of foreign nations. Diana had chosen her path and she hadn’t trusted Giselle to follow, no, not even to tell her about it, and so broke their hearts instead.

It was also what angered Giselle, what a part of her resented to this day: Diana had been right. Giselle would never have joined her in the Scarlet Guard or any other rebellion and Diana hadn’t even needed to ask or hear an answer. Already back then, she’d anticipated Giselle’s position with the same calculation that brought her to the top of Scarlet Guard’s revolution.

Diana grimaced to produce a pained smile. “You must hate me.”

“Hate? Please.”

“But you aren’t happy.”

Giselle bit her lip. “I haven’t felt much of your deals and victories.” She shrugged. “It’s the same, really. People are conscripted while the lords and lieges feed on their cruel whims. Your Scarlet Guard may have started here, your successes are elsewhere.”

Diana shifted, reaching out for Giselle’s shoulder with her gaze pinning Giselle’s face. “I came to change that.”

By getting caught? The remark got lost under the focus of the blue eyes piercing her. “Then I wish you luck,” Giselle replied instead, rolling her shoulder to shake Diana’s hand off, out of reflex rather than aversion as the rush through her, caused by Diana’s touch, spoke of a very different reaction. Hot blood flowed into her head and she gathered her fingers in her lap, kneading them to stop the tingling urge to reach for Diana.

She looked away, Diana did too.

“That’s good to know,” said Diana. “That my – the Guard’s – actions wouldn’t be unwanted.”

Giselle snorted. “If you only know this now, you would’ve done it anyway.”

The fleeting moment of calm vanished as Diana’s head spun to her once more. No need to meet her eyes, mere awareness of Diana’s watch set her on edge. “Yes, we would,” Diana began. “We … it isn’t an option to leave the Lakelands as they are, not while the developments are so uncertain, and things could swing back any time. Montfort learned this the hard way. We need to create a new situation everywhere – “

“Because your plan includes more chaos until everyone follows your lead?”

“What, do you prefer the lead that is now?” Diana snapped.

“Show me better.” Unfazed, Giselle stared up at Diana, returning the feeling of bathing in her looks as her throat bobbed, her chest heaved. She wanted to rile her up. To challenge Diana and get under her skin, because steering her into heated talking seemed the best way to lead her out of the frozen stupor, to break the cocky shell of protection against lingering pain and fear.

Diana’s quivering lips, fumbling for words, and her lids fighting not to blink betrayed how true the jab hit. Deep down, Diana had to have doubts, questioning how her strategies could tip over into overbearing. Until she swallowed, reshaping her face into a mask of conviction. “We were quite successful so far.”

 A harsh laugh escaped Giselle’s throat, a laugh shifting into true amusement as Diana fell in. “You’re rude,” said Giselle, trying to stop herself.

Diana cackled deeper, an audible relaxing. When she found Giselle’s eyes, a sudden spark lit her up that gave Giselle a rush of relief.

She’ll get up again.

“I guess that’s my job,” said Diana, still looking at her. “When someone needs to be barked at, threatened, or … worse, General Farley is called.” She quieted, growing serious again.

Averting her eyes, Giselle inclined her head. It was the obvious, almost infamous attribute of Red General, but to hear it stated, spoken of in a joking manner, was a different thing entirely. It came too close to the rift between them, the rift of now and the past.

Giselle balled her fists in her lap. See in which dangers those calls brought you, she thought. You’ve barely escaped captivity. She lifted her gaze to find Diana’s, unintendedly. She blinked, and blood rushed to her cheeks. Flustered, she said, “then your Guard could’ve returned the favour. Made a better plan to save you.”

Diana tilted her head as if puzzled by the idea. Then she laughed out loud. “I suppose you’re right,” she muttered. “I thought the same.”

Giselle was unsure whether to be angered or amused as well. Diana’s life, filled with dark humour to get by, was really beyond her.

Diana cleared her throat with a smirk and straightened herself. “That’s why I should be on the move already,” she said. “It’s enough if a bad plan endangers me –”

Putting a hand on her knees, Giselle stopped her from rising. Eyes met and locked, both shy and determined. “No,” Giselle insisted quietly. Her pulse fastened. Louder, she said, “what’s the point? So you can sleep in a ditch?”

“Giselle –”

“Is there anybody waiting for you, out there? Now? Because I am –”

I’ve been waiting for you. She swallowed before repeating the words that threatened to rise with quite a different intonation, quite a different meaning right now.

Typically, Diana seemed to hear the unsaid words nonetheless. Her mien softened which, added to the marks of her recent ordeals, revealed a vulnerability that had little to do with a rebel general and more with the girl from ten years ago. A sight for Giselle alone?

“One could almost think,” Diana said carefully, “you don’t want me to go.” She covered Giselle’s hand with her own and then, as if pulled by strings that were in truth inside of her, impossibly slow, Giselle sat up into a kneeling position so their faces met at the same level.

Her hand burned under Diana’s touch while the other … in no time at all, it was up to brush Diana’s scarred cheek ever-so-slightly.

Her lips opened, millimeters away from Diana’s. She couldn’t ask, couldn’t put the desire in words for fear to break the spell and so the moment lasted an eternity, her body speaking for her, until Diana answered, letting go of her armour to lean into Giselle’s cupped hand.

Giselle’s eyelashes fluttered one last time before she was kissing her. At first, there was only the chapped skin of Diana’s lips, and the softness beneath giving in, a softness that felt like a hit as it blurred every thought but leaning closer, wanting to get closer still. Yet while yearning flooded her, she unravelled the deepest parts of Diana’s rigidness only bit by bit.

Diana’s reciprocation woke slowly. A hand squeezing Giselle’s. The other reaching for her waist. Her mouth moving in synch with every small shift of Giselle’s as if they relied on each other to breathe.

It wasn’t air that enlivened Giselle though it was as much energizing, rushing wildly into her face, her cheeks, down her neck and into her upper body. Desire tingled in her arms as her fingers travelled from Diana’s cheek to her jawline into her hair, short but curly, still tangled but mostly clean now. It shivered in her kneeling legs, bracketing Diana’s, and throbbed between her thighs.

She felt goose bumps on Diana’s skin as she stroked her thigh, shoving up the nightgown; she shuddered as Diana deepened the kiss with a moan of pure hunger. Diana pulled her closer and Giselle cried out of joy. With a sharp breath, her mouth left Diana’s to nuzzle her jawline. She tried to speak, to murmur a propose to go on but she didn’t know how; nor did she grasped how they finally rose from the rim of the bathtub.

They stood, hugging, kissing, tucking at hair and clothes. Diana’s hands moved to her sides, her fingers drawing circles into the skin between waist and hips. Instantly, Giselle let her hips sway and felt for Diana’s waist in turn. She loved the dips of a woman’s waist, no matter her size, loved touching there and being touched there herself.

This night really was a dream, wasn’t it? A twist of fate in the person of a gorgeous woman.

It made her pause, to break away and stroke Diana’s short curls. She was in need of help, probably in shock. Would she even think of sex?

Diana blinked in question.

Giselle swallowed. “Do you want … more?” she managed at last, her fingers in Diana’s hair twitching nervously.

Diana lowered her eyes and closed them. In the dim light, Giselle believed she was blushing, and that it would end here, with her ruing ever bringing it up. The lack of reply was embarrassing – until a low sound rose, both sigh and chuckle. Diana’s eyes shone in the dark, like a flash, before another kiss grabbed all her attention.

Now, that was enough of an answer and still Diana hugged her tighter and whispered an almost inaudible “absolutely” into Giselle’s ear.

If Giselle’s desire had sobered slightly, Diana’s made up for it. That Giselle wore more clothes than her became suddenly unbearable and Diana urged to remove them. Four hands fumbled to get rid of Giselle’s bodice so Diana could keep squeezing into her flesh, fingers travelling from waist to navel to breasts.

The last of their clothes were gone, shed on the floor, as they stumbled into Giselle’s bedroom. It still smelled of fire though the coals had long burned down, so only the same pale moonlight that made the blooming cherry trees shine illuminated the room and the two women. The smell of lilac bouquets and the wooden roof filled the air, along with the scent of their bodies holding close. Diana had used their good soap, Giselle noticed, but she had her own smell as well, one Giselle was unable to describe yet found all the more enticing, the mixed fragrances of home, nature and the strange-but-not woman in her arms, in her bed, under her.

Bare to each other, they could only look, very much like the first time they’d made out. Eleven years had passed and left their marks. They’d become adults and changed and while they couldn’t see each other’s souls and shadows lay between them, there was plenty to read. Giselle had grown out of the delicate girl and filled out, rounded by curves and lean muscles; Diana’s body revealed her life as a soldier. Scars in more places than Giselle dared to count, broad and strong in shoulders, back and arms; yet also soft, with a curve to her tummy, large breasts, wide hips and big thighs.

Thighs Giselle moved for first when she was unsure where to start, checking the firm top side, then grinning as her hand travelled to the softer inside and coaxed a deep moan from Diana with a squeeze. She laughed, bending over to brush quick kisses over Diana’s lips, collarbone, nipples and stomach, before taking one last breathe, before going down on her.

As usual, Giselle woke at dawn. To her, the red sky of sunrise wasn’t a symbol for the fight for equality but marked the beginning of her farm duties. She yawned, and yet, instead of getting up, she lingered, hugging Diana from behind, marvelling at how the coppery light, both warm and cold, illuminated Diana’s back, accentuating the sharp lines of her shoulders and bringing out new shades in her hair.

Giselle chewed on her lip with longing. She wished this moment to last. She knew the dream was over. Sighing, her fingers glided over Diana’s skin, then she leaned forward and kissed a dimple in her shoulder before she sat up. Those would be her only tries to wake Diana, she decided. She didn’t like to leave her behind, but Diana appeared so peaceful, so much in need of rest Giselle didn’t want to interrupt it. If Diana scolded her for that later on – she wasn’t exactly scared of it. Without trying to stay especially quiet, she rose to pick up her clothes, washed and dressed herself, and then went out to look after the animals.

An hour later, hair pinned up and humming a tune, Giselle prepared breakfast and tea, considering which brew Diana would enjoy or if she should use the last bit of cocoa powder, saved as it was so expensive and hard to get. Her family would brunch over in the next village after helping out there, to arrive home at lunch, probably. Finishing the cocoa in their absence left her with a tad of guilt but this was the special occasion she’d saved it for, wasn’t it? Yet what if Diana didn’t even like –

Giselle lost the thought as loud steps approached the kitchen, just to stop at the door. “Morning!” Giselle greeted over her shoulder. And startled as she beheld Diana.

She’d cut her hair – buzzed it all off to millimeters of yellow stubble. She must’ve found the shaver along with the baggy knitted jacket of Giselle’s father she wore now. Together with the rumpled clothes from last night, her outfit stood at odds with the rather military demeanour Diana displayed as she strode into the kitchen.

A grin got stuck in Giselle’s throat. It was too confusing, a façade. The buzzcut didn’t make her look like a soldier, it stressed the raw state she tried to hide.

“Good morning too,” Diana said with smile as she sat down. She rubbed her head and winked. “Surprised? Just been fed up with the hair mess lately”.

Because it reminded her of her prison. Giselle was aghast as Diana’s smile widened, only to look even more fake as fuck. Diana wouldn’t give in to pity herself, but would she acknowledge when she needed to give in for a break? Yet if Diana wanted to appear good-humoured, who was Giselle to pull her down? Maybe that worked best for her.

Giselle cleared her throat, forcing her own smile and asked which food and tea Diana would like. Though answering gratefully and decidedly, as well as inquiring about Giselle’s family in turn, Diana picked at her plate as they faced each other at the table.

Giselle tried not to watch her, letting Diana take her time – to get accustomed to or rejoice in homemade food after whatever she was granted in captivity –, but she also couldn’t help glimpsing at her, the fingers both nimble and shaky, her face so intense in its details.

It didn’t work. Diana noticed, of course, catching her glances and pinning Giselle with stares of her own. Giselle breathed heavily, tucking at hair still in perfect order. It was all so awkward. Deep down, she hadn’t expected otherwise; it was the nature of one-night-stands, and whatever they’d been once, Diana and Giselle had been estranged for ten years.

Diana put down her knife with a loud clack, startling Giselle. Quickly recovered, Giselle chuckled. “You don’t have to stab anyone here,” she jested.

“You don’t know that,” retorted Diana, taking Giselle aback. Diana faltered. Her gaze, burning one moment, dimmed the next. “I’m … sorry. I shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t have stayed so you might have to stab one of my trackers …” She trailed off, losing focus.

Was she talking about more than leading Silvers here? Did she ... regret their night together? Giselle grinded her teeth, not wanting to believe it. Diana had wanted it, craved it, as if to overwrite the weeks in captivity and reclaim herself. At least, that was how Giselle understood her. If Diana needed that, she wouldn’t feel used for it when she could hardly keep her eyes and hands off her.

Still, desire could never bridge the unchanged gulfs between them – or could it?

She balled her fists, nails pressing sharply into her flesh. Was distance all that defined them? If so, their intimacy didn’t matter – had not, and never would - and Giselle found she couldn’t stand that thought. She couldn’t see Diana as a stranger about to leave and to be forgotten like their meeting had no impact and they no feelings to share.

She loosened her fists and reached for Diana’s hand, grasping trembling fingers that calmed at the union.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Giselle said softly. “Glad that you’ve escaped, glad to see you again … and happy to be there for you.” She paused to catch a few breaths. “We’re not exchanging gifts in a bargain, Diana, we’re …” But she didn’t know what they were. Friends or lovers, those terms were past and potential but not the truth. She gulped. “I’m with you,” she said instead, though it still felt like too much when Giselle didn’t fight at her side.

Diana seemed not to register that detail. She looked like she’d cry, her pretends gone for good. Giselle squeezed her hand, only to let go as Diana pulled her hand back to cover her face. Sure, Diana might look like would cry or was about to break, but she would do neither.

After a long moment, Diana’s hands met in front of her face, forming a triangle, like a shield – or a blade? – holding her apart from Giselle while revealing her red-rimmed, shiny eyes. “I want to see my daughter again,” she muttered, choking on the words layered with a yearning vaster than she could articulate. It was so strong. It swallowed her. It was a sea Giselle couldn’t even begin to grasp.

She needed more than a few seconds to understand. A daughter. Diana had a child. Was that the reason why she rued last night? Another parent to her child? A lover she’d betrayed?

Giselle felt slightly sick. There it was, the proof of the oceans between her and Diana’s life. Giselle hadn’t considered Diana having a child, having hardly considered having one herself. Children would be such a conscious choice for her, and the partner she might have one day, she’d delayed the idea until she would meet that woman and might know whether they wanted a child together.

Had Diana thought long about this? Or did it “happen” to her? Did she have a partner? How was it like? How and why did she hide the fact of her daughter from the public? The questions urged to be asked but she shut down their needling and cleared her throat. “How old is your daughter?” she said instead, carefully polite, not over-curious.

Yet Diana appeared even more aghast. Fuck.

“I … don’t know.” Diana cackled once and harshly, then covered her face with her hands again. “What day is it? If it’s May … she could be four … or already five …”

It was May 17th. Giselle swallowed a sigh. Diana had missed her own birthday as well, but it wasn’t the one she cared for. Of course she didn’t. Giselle imagined the child looking forward to the birthday, wishing for her mother to spend it with her, or maybe just her mother returning to her would’ve been the greatest present.

Diana, obviously, hadn’t intended to break her daughter’s heart like that.

Giselle reached out for Diana’s hand on her face. It shivered, even as Giselle held on tighter and tighter, like a buoy. She felt the tears on Diana’s face as Diana suppressed sobs and finally squeezed back.

They lingered in the moment. Giselle wished to keep cupping Diana’s cheek. To be close and intimate, physically and in their hearts, so at last, Diana would trust Giselle to be there for her.

But she had been there for her ten years ago, hadn’t she? She hadn’t done anything wrong; they were just too different.

Just minutes after deciding to find common ground, it showed itself to be a hard, difficult search.

“Hey,” she said softly, caressing Diana’s cheek. “It’s okay now. You’ll meet soon, I’m sure.”

Though appearing less sure, Diana calmed.

Why doesn’t she agree? Giselle thought. Would the Scarlet Guard tell her to do something ‘more important’ than seeing her child?

Irked by the idea in the face of Diana’s sorrow, she asked, “so, do you recommend it to me?” Her tone was decidedly cheerful. “Having a child?”

According to the abrupt change of topic, Diana’s eyes widened in utter confusion, making Giselle successful in lifting her spirit. Soon, Diana’s featured softened again, almost into another person’s. “Yes,” she breathed dreamily. “It’s … wonderful.” She sounded surprised by her own awe. “I didn’t know how much I’d love her. It’s incredible. To see Clara grow and become this cool person and imagine we’d made her … but we didn’t, not really. She’s making herself, and …” She paused, kneading her fingers with Giselle’s.

A whiff of sadness flashed as Diana looked down for a second, all serious when she lifted her gaze again. “I didn’t know how afraid she’d make me either. Every day, sometimes more, sometimes less. I fear failing her. I fear losing her, and nothing could break me but that.” She slapped on the table for emphasis. “Nothing.”

Not even losing her war, she meant.

Diana blinked, her eyes examining the room for the first time like she only woke up this moment for real. “Because I’ve lost everyone else,” she added. “She’s the only love I’ve left.”

Her head spun, now straight on Giselle, just staring at her. Her fingers moved slowly towards Giselle’s other hand, taking it at last. “Apart from you,” Diana said. “You’re still there.”

After you left me, Giselle thought, a sob rising in her throat.

Diana inched closer until their foreheads touched. “Or not,” Diana whispered. “I am the one coming back this time. To you. To Clara. Even to Mare and Calore.” She chuckled at the last two.

Now Giselle sobbed for real. Reading between the lines, it didn’t sound like Clara had another parent. And “Clara” itself – it was Diana’s mother’s name, another person they’d lost.

Back when King Orrec flooded Sieverling, Giselle had also lost friends and a home. She’s left the village, but not for forever as Diana had – she’d wanted to visit and stay close to the people who had welcomed and helped her family. Instead, everyone was killed, leaving nothing but ruins and a boggy forest.

Where the tragedy had motivated Diana to fight, it had been all the reminder Giselle had needed to be grateful for her new home and to stay in line.

Giselle grabbed Diana’s hand tightly. So hard they both winced. She pulled away to find Diana’s eyes. “So do come back,” Giselle urged her. “First to your daughter, to Clara, and then … to me.” She breathed heavily. Diana, with her cropped hair, her blushed face and sparkling blue eyes, still looked so young, not like a nightmare to Silvers. Yet she was all that, and more.

Giselle let go their joined hands, brushing Diana’s cheek once again. Quieter now, she said, “come back with Clara. Show her where you come from.”

She yearned to kiss Diana again, pull her close and never let go. It shouldn’t be. When Diana would go, these hours would truly seem like a dream, with her shorn hair left in the bin the only proof of her visit. Giselle couldn’t ask for more, but she could ask this.

Diana nodded and kissed Giselle’s brow. “I promise you,” she whispered and these three words were maybe even more intimate than the night before. “I’ll come back. To you, and for the rest of the Lakelands.”

A/N 2: Okay but while Farley was a captive, Mare and Cal took care of Clara which may or may not have played a role in them having children too. A possible future spin-off.

@elliemarchetti @lilyharvord @evangeline-of-montfort @goldfincheli @percelain-doll @gamer670 @sxfik @yjlover @scxrletguardsdawn @maudthebookeater @mareshmallow @petergrantkavinsky @farleydiana

#red queen #victoria aveyard #diana farley #clara farley-barrow #red queen fan fiction #red queen fanfiction #war storm #broken throne spoilers #Broken Throne #glass sword #king's cage #lgbt+ #farley #general farley #captain farley #red huntress #red huntress epilogue #landscape is again based on areas i've been to #wasn't sure if is should explain the hair thing #in the end i decided explaining would make it more angsty >__<