Courage, Dear Heart.

***keep scrolling if you don't want major Onyx Storm Spoilers***

*Onyx Storm Spoilers*

The Missing 12 hours: 

“Violet,” a voice says, “Violet, please, you have to wake up.” There is desperation in that voice. 

“Wake. Up.” 

My eyes fly open. Garrick is carrying me. His eyes search my own as he practically runs with me in his arms. 

“What are we-” 

“There isn’t much time to explain. We are on to plan B.” 

“What?” I croak, “Plan B?” 

I don’t know of a plan B. My body is on fire. My left arm hangs uselessly at my side and every movement sends jolts of pain through my ruined body. 

“Tairn?”

“I am ahead, Silver One.”

His voice is flat, almost devoid of any emotion. I look forward to see that we are passing Draithus and almost at the coastline. There is no sound of battle anymore. It is eerily quiet. 

Tairn is there amongst a few other dragons I can’t make out from this far. 

“Garrick, what exactly is going on?” I don’t dare ask him to put me down because I’m certain I would not make it to the beach where we are headed on my own. 

“They will explain soon,” he answers, his own voice gruff. 

I reach for the bond with Xaden and find a black, impenetrable wall of ice there. No. 

“What’s happening?” I ask Tairn, my heart threatening to beat right out of my chest as we draw near and I see Sgaeyl, Molvic, Glane, Chradh, and Cuir standing in a line and behind them is an armada of ships with the insignia of Unnbriel, the isle of the goddess Dunne. 

I gasp when I see Xaden turn towards us. He does not approach when he sees me. Aaric and Imogen stand beside him, and Bodhi is behind them, his expression bleak. A body lays at their feet and I peer down, seeing the red robes and tanned skin beneath. The Maven from Xaden’s dreams. 

Why haven’t they killed him?

Garrick sets me on my feet ten feet away from Xaden and my heart sinks when I see the red veins extending around his reddened eyes. I knew what he had done the moment I saw his shadows covering the entire city, but seeing it makes my knees weak, I lean into Garrick when I see that Xaden does not approach me. 

“You are injured,” Xaden states. 

“I will be fine, what is going on?” I ask, searching his eyes for any sign of the man I love. 

Aaric steps forward then, blocking Xaden from my line of sight. 

He clears his throat, blood drips from his lip, “Things didn’t go as planned today,” he states. 

“Clearly,” my response is dry as I hold his gaze, his green eyes bright. Someone paddles in a rowboat to shore from one of the large ships in the ocean beyond. 

Aaric turns toward Imogen, who stands back from it all, a haunted look on her face. “Do you have the medical supply kit?” he asks. 

Wordlessly, Imogen brings a pack to Aaric and sets it on the ground where she kneels and begins removing wraps, a splint, and ointments. She pats the ground and I take her cue and sit so she and Aaric can patch me up. 

Once I’m seated, Xaden approaches and kneels down on one knee. I grit my teeth as Imogen sets my left arm and begins to apply the splint, wrapping it tightly. Aaric steps away.

I look at Xaden and breathe a sigh of relief. This close, I can see the amber flecks in his eyes remain, he looks at me with concern and…love. 

“I’m sorry,” he states, holding my gaze, “I wish things were…different.”

“Xaden, please stop being cryptic, tell me what’s going on? I can help.” 

“I know, love, I’m counting on it.”

What? 

“Tairn?”

“These words must come from The Dark One.”

Xaden reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box that looks like it could be for jewelry and my confusion only heightens. Power begins to burn under my skin as I look around me again, at all of the somber eyes on me. 

“Silver One, you must remain calm for this to work.”

Xaden opens the box and presents it to me. It’s a gold ring with a large gem, a gem I recognize to be from his fathers sword. 

“What are you–”

“Marry me,” he says, not a question. 

I gasp, “This is hardly the time for a wedding proposal, please let me in.” 

I bang on the mental pathway to his mind, and a crack opens up. 

“I’m sorry Violence, this is the only way.” 

“The only way for what?”

“For Tyrrendor to remain under the control of someone I trust, for me to keep you safe once I’m gone.”

“No.” I say, regretting the pain that it causes to cross his face when I say it.

“Yes,” he says instantly. 

He continues, his shadows caressing my thoughts, “It isn’t just me anymore.” He shifts his weight, giving me a clear view of Bodhi who remains standing a few feet away, his eyes almost glazed…and red rimmed.  

“Bodhi is venin?” I ask Tairn to confirm, not wanting to believe it. 

“Unfortunately, yes.” 

Okay. My mind reels. 

I speak aloud so all of our group can hear, “Where are you going to go?” 

“To the Isles for now, to search for a cure, then further where magic was present in the smaller isles, where we cannot do any harm,” Xaden states, his voice devoid of hope. He’s saying what he knows I want to hear. 

The boat reaches the shore and the white haired high priestess steps off with the assistance of one of the massive men we fought off when seeking their favor, her wrinkled eyes finding me immediately. 

She smiles at me, “So, you used the dagger and prevailed just as I said you would.” My gaze snaps to Aaric then, and he shrugs. We will have a discussion on that later. 

“I– how did you know?” 

She approaches just as Imogen finishes wrapping my arm and I stand, but Xaden remains kneeling before me, waiting. 

“I knew, because you are god-touched, but not dedicated. What you are is a mystery to us all,” she says, and my ears begin to ring.  

I look to the priestess, and she looks at me as if she is proud, as if she knows me, “I have your certificate of marriage here, all you need to do is say yes and the ceremony will begin,” she states casually, as if this hasn’t just been sprung on me. 

“Violet, it’s the only way. Please,” Xaden pleads below me and I look back down at him. My heart begins to break as I take him in. My joints protest as I drop to my knees before him and place my good hand on his face. He flinches at my touch, but does not pull away. I can almost see the war occuring inside of him for control, and I know what I have to do. 

“Yes,” I say, and lean forward to place a soft kiss on his lips before he can stop me. He doesn’t stop me though, instead he gently pulls me closer to him and slides the ring on my left finger, careful not to move my splinted arm. 

“I love you,” he says down the bond.

“I love you Xaden, more than anything, nothing could ever make me stop. I will do whatever you need me to.” 

“I don’t deserve you.” 

“You deserve so much more than this. I wish–”

“Wishing isn’t going to get us anywhere good, love. Let’s go get married,” he says for all to hear. There is no cheering though, no elation at this decision, because this is his goodbye, his final wish, his only way to continue protecting us all. 

The sun is setting and the priestess stands with her back to the crashing waves, waiting for us. Xaden stands and reaches for my hand. I take his and let him gently pull me to my feet. This is not a soulless man. There is still hope.  

Garrick and Imogen stand to one side, while Bodhi and Aaric are on the other. Aaric nods encouragingly as we pass him by, but the others are somber as we take our places in front of the priestess, facing each other. 

I hold onto Xaden’s hand, not allowing him to let me go for a single second until he walks out of my life, possibly for good. I soak him in, his dark hair framed by the orange fading sun, his tan skin is healthy and strong. He watches me like he will never see me again, the anguish in his red eyes is a constant throb in my chest. 

The priestess breaks the silence, “We gather here today with four witnesses to join these two together in a sacred marriage,” she says, and my eyes remain on Xaden’s as she talks. 

He squeezes my hand, “I wish this could be different, I had planned for it to be so different.” 

“I would marry you anywhere, anyday, Xaden.” 

The priestess cuts through our thoughts and I fight to cling to his openness, “Do you, Xaden Riorson, take Violet Sorrengail to be your wife, until Malek takes you?” 

“Forever, yes” Xaden says. 

“And do you, Violet Sorrengail, take Xaden Riorson to be your husband, until Malek takes you?” 

“Always, yes,” I say. 

The priestess reaches out and pushes us closer to one another, so that we are a breath away from a kiss, “By right as the high priestess of the temple of Dunne, goddess of war, I join you together today as husband and wife, and as the Duke and Duchess of Tyrrendor, may every war you fight together be conquered with triumph and hope.” 

Xaden smiles at me, a real smile, and I return his sentiment, elated to be linked to him in any way possible and unwilling to allow this moment to be stolen from us by the cruelty of this world. The priestess steps back and lifts her hands, gesturing us toward one another, “Please, seal this union with a sacred kiss.” 

Xaden slips one hand behind my neck and the other around my waist and shocks me when he swings me into a dip as he crushes his lips into my own. This kiss consumes me and everyone and everything falls away, and it’s just us. I breathe him in, letting our lips linger before he swings me back up to him far too soon, pulling away and wrapping his arms around me in an embrace I wish I could pause time to remain in. I wrap my good arm around him tightly. A tear streams down my cheek as he pulls away to look at me. He reaches up to swipe the tear off my cheek and we turn to face the others. 

Imogen has tears rimming her eyes, and Garrick has his arm over her shoulder. Aaric looks on with contentment and Bodhi appears to be happy for us, a little light in his eyes as he watches his cousin experience what little joy is left for them. 

Just like that, the ceremony is over. We are married. I keep my hand in Xaden’s as Aaric explains that the Empyrean agreed to relinquish six eggs to the high priestess so long as they leave us 20,000 troops and continuous support as needed. They also require that some of our own dragons go with the eggs to ensure their safety and monitoring. Evidently that would mean Sgaeyl and Bodhi’s dragon, Cuir. Nice cover. 

Xaden pulls me aside as the others work with the people of Unnbriel to transfer the eggs to the ships and, apparently, the knocked out body of Xaden’s Maven. 

“You aren’t going to like this, but as of today, I will be a known turned Venin and wanted criminal throughout the entire continent.” 

“We can convince them otherwise,” I say with resolve. 

“In order to protect this alliance and keep others from finding me or Bodhi, we must protect your mind.” 

“No,” I say, backing up a step away from him, “Don’t take this memory from me, please Xaden.” 

“If there was any other solution, or way to exonerate you as a conspirator then we would do it, but again, this is the only way. Imogen will take your memories as soon as we leave and you will have our marriage certificate in your pocket.” 

“I don’t want–” I begin to say, but he pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist. 

“You are the joy of my life, the reason I continue to exist, and I will do everything I can to get back to you, Violet. I am sorry I am placing this burden on you, but I trust you more than anyone else on this earth. I know you can do this,” he says, pulling back just enough that his eyes search mine as more tears threaten to spill. 

“I– okay,” I say, unwilling to fight with him anymore. This is happening. 

“I will be with you through it all, Silver One,” Tairn says gently. 

“Wait,” I say, “How will Tairn and Sgaeyl see each other if we can’t?” I ask Xaden, his arms still wrapped around my waist. 

Sgaeyl chimes in then, “This matter is between me and my mate,” she says sharply, no room for reply. I look at Xaden but he shakes his head. Before I can even turn to look at Tairn, I feel a whip like lash in my mind and both of us drop to our knees in the sand. Tairn releases a painful roar and then bares his teeth at Sgaeyl. 

“She broke their mating bond,” Xaden breathes, his words sounding just as shocked as my thoughts as he stands again, helping me back to my feet. Tairn’s agony threatens to knock me out and I quickly wall off his emotions. 

“ I am here,” I say down our bond, but he has blocked me out as he seems to be having a heated conversation with Sgaeyl who backs away towards the water, holding her head high. 

“There isn’t much time,” Xaden says, pulling my attention back to him. The sun has set and darkness envelopes us all as the others wrap up their arrangements, and for a moment, I can’t see the veins surrounding Xaden’s eyes, and everything feels like it could be a nightmare I will wake up from. 

“Aaric and Garrick are going with us for now, but they will return.” 

“Why?” I ask. 

“Alliances are needed for Tyrrendor, Garrick can travel more easily than others. Aaric has seen many things and has his own agenda.” 

My mind is tired of the constant earth shattering information. I look over to Imogen, who will soon be my only companion and the person who will take away all of this knowledge. 

Xaden stares at me as I fight to keep myself standing. None of this feels real. How can it be real? My heart is being ripped out and will soon fly away from me and I may never have it in my chest again. Power heats my blood as Tairn mourns down the beach. He is broken. 

“Violet, I can’t–your power is too tempting, I’m sorry,” he takes a step back away from me, his eyes filled with agony. 

I don’t move. I force a smirk to my lips and square my shoulders. 

“It’s okay, I can let you…go,” I say, the lie sliding from my lips with an ease that I hope sounds convincing. 

Xaden takes another step back away from me. I test the bond, but it’s not open anymore. Nothing but solid black ice is there now. 

“I love you,” he says, “I will always love you, my wife,” he begins to turn away, his shoulders slumping in defeat. My heart races as I watch him walk towards Sgaeyl, who waits at the water's edge. 

My feet begin moving on their own, running. I crash into his back and wrap my arms around his abdomen, tears now flowing freely and soaking the back of his leathers.  

“I love you too, husband,” I whisper against his back. He tenses but does not turn. I release him, not wanting to tempt him any further as tension ripples off of him. 

He doesn’t turn back as he reaches and mounts Sgaeyl. Bodhi, Aaric, and Garrick follow suit right behind him. 

I watch them turn to specks on the skyline and my knees finally give. I crash onto the shoreline and waves begin to soak my knees, and a sob escapes from my chest. My skin burns and lightning strikes over the water beyond the armada of ships over and over, lighting up the night sky, but there is no sight of them. 

They’re gone. 

He’s gone. 

Gentle footsteps sound behind me, and then a figure kneels into the oncoming waves next to me. 

Imogen. 

She says nothing, only watches the sky next to me as we watch our very hearts fly away from us. 

“It’s time,” she says.

“I’m not ready,” I reply, my voice scratchy from the sorrow within that desperately wants to break loose. 

“They will be looking for us soon,” she states, her voice still flat. She looks over at Tairn, who has not said a word, who still stands at the water's edge watching the sky. 

“Can your dragon manage to fly you back to Aretia?”

I stare at him. 

“Can you fly us home?”

“Which home?” he asks me, his voice uncharacteristically weak in my mind. 

“The only one we have at this time,” I say gently, “ I am here, I am with you.” 

“You are the only reason I now remain,” he states. 

“Let’s go.” 

Imogen watches me, her dragon approaching us both, “We are going to be okay, and so are they.” 

I look one last time to the blank skyline.

“Will I ever get these memories back?” 

She studies me briefly, “Yes, but I don’t know if you’ll want to, Violet.” 

She doesn’t believe they will ever return, then. 

“Time to get the Duchess of Aretia home,” she says, reaching for my face. 

“Time to put on the performance of our lives,” I agree. 

Day 87

Special thanks to @senlinyuwrites for providing me with the inspiration. The flashbacks will forever be my favorite part or Manacled

Final sketch from the Manacled Flashbacks.

You can watch them all here

“I've been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night;

Rowan gazed out across the endless ocean from the bustling docks. The strong smell of jasmine entered his nostrils and every hair on his body stood as he turned, scanning every person, breathing in desperately, hoping to breathe in more of that scent that so mercilessly burned every memory of his fireheart inside of his mind. It was not her though, only a woman wearing a similar perfume, and he knew that before even looking. He knew that she would not show up out of nowhere anymore, never ceasing to surprise and please him. He knew that he would not feel her fire burning against his wind for some time, if ever. He had to admit to himself alone that he had no idea how he would save his queen. His fireheart, locked in the dark.

Lines by lovely @meabhd

I just added Rowan’s tats!

Sorry to bother you, but if Crowley and Aziraphale have both spent (I assume) a considerable amount of time in London, why do they have such different accents? Is it because they have spent time in other different places or is it simply because Crowley is a demon and Aziraphale an angel?

Thank you.

Brit: “Which one?”

Non-British writer: “She had an English accent.”

Brit: “*Which one??*”

Non-British writer: “She had a British accent.”

Brit: “WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT???”

Non-European writer: “She had a European accent.”

*****

The following clips are all from Irish sources, not foreign voice or accent coaches.

Here’s an overview of the accents of Ireland by Cork actor & comedian Niall Tóibín:

Here’s author Frankie Gaffney on his own inner-city Dublin accent, with a bit of analysis about its grammar:

Here’s a gentleman demonstrating the Cork accent -  indeed, several Cork accents - on “The Late Late Show”:

Here’s Kenneth Branagh on a much more recent “Late Late Show”, using his original Belfast accent; the prompt question is from Ryan Tubridy, whose accent is suburban Dublin (Booterstown, 7km / 4.5 miles south and coastward of city centre).

Finally, here are a couple of farmers from rural Co. Kerry (both are speaking English, though heavily overlaid with accent, intonation and pacing).

Jeff Brunswick’s YouTube comment transcribes both:

Mikey Joe: “Possibly a night (when) like there’d be a full moon like, on (such) a night it should be bright out and anyone could go up in the mountains with a light, sure. Well there was 35 sheep missing like, and the lambs and everything, the sheep, count out a nice bit of money like (as in the thief would be able to after selling the sheep). (What are we to) be doing about it? Nothing.”

Richie: “I’m missing about 10 ewes. It’s not all that difficult, all you’ve got to do is have a good dog. Have a good dog and go at night. Some moonshine night, just with a dog around them, put them on a trailer and walk them and then probably somebody else to pick them up. Whoever is doing it knows what he is doing.

*****

There’s no such thing as an English / Scottish / French / German / Italian / American, etc., etc. accent; they’re all far, far more regional. And that’s before all the difference usages of vocabulary, dialect and idiom begin. :->

Something to bear in mind when writing characters who have them.

The reunion we all NEEDED: a fanfic

Wenzhi & Xingyin Reunion

I woke to the familiar sounds of the cloud district, the chatter of street vendors and children running in the streets below my window were a familiar comfort over the past two years.

I yearned to go to Wenzhi and spend the day with him—but he still did not know me as he once did—his mortal form keeping him from the memories and life we had once planned. Still, we spent much of our time together. Wenzhi had an important role in this town, and it kept him busy. It did not stop us from forming a new bond—one that I knew all too well and one that he felt was familiar, but couldn’t quite place why. A warm, powerful aura approached my door and I shot to my feet to greet the familiar presence. I opened the door after throwing on a lavender robe—and there was Liwei, emperor of the celestial kingdom and one of my dearest friends. He looked me over once and then gave me a small smile. He wore a plain blank robe, his appearance muted by enchantment. “Xingyin, you look well.”

“I am. Is everything okay? I wasn’t expecting you.” I stared, unease filling my chest at all of the possibilities for his visit.

“I come with a gift, one that is well deserved.” He reached into his pocket then and pulled out a small bottle with a golden cap. The elixir of immortality. I gasped, shocked at how quickly he made a second vial. I was expecting to wait a decade.

“Liwei, I wish there was a way for me to thank you for this gift.” I took the elixir with care— my spirits as high as they had ever been.

“You are my friend, and we don’t keep track of these things.” He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. A familiar ache formed at the sight of him as I threw my arms around him. “Anything you need—I’m there. You know how to find me.” I pulled away then, looking into his eyes I saw some of the light return.

“Go. Be happy.” He said as he turned to leave. I spoke before thinking, “I want you to be happy too Liwei. Love again.” He turned back to look at me, his aura not fitting in with the dark wooden hallways of my small home. Even now—he could see how happy I was with a simple life. Before I could say another word he was gone. I listened as his cloud whisked him away—back to the celestial kingdom.

I rushed back into my room, tying a cream belt around my waist, pulling my hair into a knot on my head before heading to Wenzhi. I couldn’t stand the thought of somehow losing this elixir that would bring him back to me—back to immortality. My heart raced as I knocked on his front door. A woman answered, his sister, her round face alight at the sight of me. “He’s gone to work already, you may be able to catch him walking through the forest trail.” Without another word I dashed to the path I had come to know so well. As I left the noises of the town and entered the silence of the green forest, I saw him. He walked up ahead, his strides long and purposeful. He wore an azure robe tied with a black sash—I had grown to care deeply for this mortal. I reached him quietly and fell into step with him. He slowed when he saw me, but did not stop as we trekked deeper into the trees.

“Xingyin? I didn’t expect you to be joining me this morning.” He smiled even then, his eyes bright and glad to see me. I took his hand in mine and beckoned him to follow me off trail. “Where are we going? I was just heading into the office to get an early start.” He questioned. I looked at him then. “There’s something you must know. I haven’t told you simply because i didn’t know how long it would be before I could tell you this—but now I can.” We stopped at the rivers edge, the rush of the water music to my ears as we sat on a large boulder, bringing back vivid memories of another time in another land.

Wenzhi looked at me in question—I took his hands in my own. “We didn’t meet for the first time two years ago. I would sit here and explain everything to you now but it would be more simple for me to give you this,” I pulled the elixir out and held it before him. He cocked his head to the side, staring into the vial. “Is this a prank, Xingyin? What could you mean?”

“ I mean you are a fierce immortal from the cloud realm. You fought unfathomable battles by my side…and you saved me.” Tears filled my eyes as he looked at me, his mouth twitching a bit at my words. “I’ll do this because I trust you, but if it kills me I will haunt your dreams.” He stated, swallowing the contents of the vial to the last drop. Flashes of memories of my father Hoiyi taking the same elixir as an old and frail mortal filled my mind. This would work. It had to.

Wenzhi doubled over, coughing violently. I grabbed his shoulders, feeling his form change as I held onto him. He was on his knees before the river, his features rippling painfully, his face solemn as he changed. Suddenly I felt his cool, dark aura wash over me. He stayed there on his knees, staring at the water for what felt like a thousand moments. I stood beside him, waiting. The air seemed to shift as he looked up at me, slowly. He was wholly changed—the captain I had met all those years ago returned to me. I choked back a sob at the sight of the man I loved and his own eyes filled with tears as he grinned at me. “Hi.” I half choked out as he looked me up and down—his face filled with disbelief before wrapping me in his arms. I locked my hands around his neck as he placed a kiss on my neck. I pulled back to look at him. “Xingyin.” He said, my name like honey on his lips as he kissed me, softly at first. I traced my hands over his back, his arms, his chest as we fell into the grass. I rolled onto my side, keeping our hands interlaced as I brushed some of his unbound hair from his face.

“Now, it’s time we talked about your self sacrificial choices that led us here.” I spoke with authority and at that he shook his head.

“If it hadn’t been me, it would’ve been you and I was never going to let that happen.” He said, his face grave. He sat up, pulling me close to his side. I laid my head on his shoulder, feeling at ease for the first time in a very long time. “Xingyin, thank you. I need to know if you will forgive me for how I hurt you? I want to start anew.” My heart cracked at his question. I had forgiven him so long ago, long before he sacrificed his life for my own.

I stood then, pulling him up with me. We faced one another, “Wenzhi, I forgive you. Now, will you still have me? Will you journey this life and the next by my side fighting great evil and experiencing great joy as well?” I looked into his eyes—they seemed to shine like stars.

“I’ll never be able to tell you no, as long as we both live. I loved you then, and I still love you now.” He kissed me again, passion in his eyes.

We spoke of the past, his mortal life, the goodbyes that would be said here before we headed back to the cloud wall, and then the celestial kingdom.