heathen

ACT I — sanctus

“the saint”

prologue (07/14/2024):

Synopsis: Serra Tully, the only daughter of acting Lord Elmo Tully, comes to an agreement to betroth his daughter to heir of Raventree’s Blackwood, Beniicot Blackwood

1.6k words

pt i (07/17/2024):

Synopsis: Lady Tully and Kermit travel to Raventree to reunite with a long-time family acquaintance amidst finalizing the details of the pending nuptials with Lord Blackwood.

6.6k words

pt ii (07/26/2024)

Synopsis: Elmo and Oscar Tully arrive at House Blackwood to be debriefed on the finalized terms of Serra’s and Benjicot’s betrothal. Tensions among the houses rise as Serra receives support from her father and yields to giving Benjicot a chance. As their engagement is announced to the other houses, news of murders in King’s Landing highlights the broader conflict looming over them. (Contains sexual content, i.e. male masturbation)

9k words

pt iii (08/02/2024)

6.2k words

syn: news of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen's murder rocks the Seven Kingdoms, intensifying tensions at Raventree Hall. Benjicot urges immediate action against House Bracken, while Samwell advises caution. Serra seeks solace in the godswood amidst growing unease. With the wedding approaching, diplomatic tensions rise as troop movements near their borders escalate, casting a shadow over Benjicot and Serra's impending union

pt iv (08/06/2024)

7k words

syn: Amidst growing turmoil, Elmo Tully works to forge alliances with old rivals. As wedding planning forges ahead, storm clouds gather over Raventree Hall. Guests arrive for the betrothal feast with hidden anxieties, while Serra and Benjicot struggle to find common ground to ensure their marriage's success. Benjicot's olive branch to Serra offers some hope, despite her doubts. The families celebrate amid rising tensions and news from King’s Landing implicating Rhaenyra in Prince Jaehaerys’s murder. Lord Samwell hears of the Brackens crossing their borders and finally cracks underneath the pressure of his council.

pt v (08/13/2024)

7.1k words

syn: The Brackens retaliate and send their own men to the frontline and into Blackwood territory four days to the wedding, causing some concerns amongst the members of the Blackwood house. Benjicot impulsively takes things into his own hands and mistakenly escalates things. 

pt vi (08/18/2024)

10.1k words

syn: Two days to the wedding and the risk of more bloodshed looms at the boundaries between Brackens and Blackwoods as the council encounter a bump following Benjicot’s actions.

Serra begins to hear rumors around the castle of the impending battle and word from King’s Landing regarding an army of Aegon’s that is making its way along the western shore and targeting the houses on his behalf. Serra approaches her father again regarding the matter amidst finalizing wedding plans and finds comfort and friendship in another Blackwood. (Contains sexually suggestive content, i.e. making out and heavy petting)

pt vii (08/25/2024)

17.5k words

syn: On the morning of the much-anticipated wedding, the feud between the Brackens and Blackwoods comes to a head, leaving everyone on edge. Benjicot ends his first day as a husband as the acting Lord of Raventree, as Samwell heads to the Redfork to confront the Brackens despite Benjicot's eagerness to go on his houses' behalf. Despite the ongoing Battle of the Burning Mill, Serra and Benjicot celebrate a successful wedding. (Contains NSFW 18+ content, i.e. smut)

pt viii (09/06/2024)

8.4K words

syn: Serra and Benjicot's newly-wed bliss is interrupted by news from the Battle of Burning Mill, leaving Raventree in a state of grief amidst changes. Serra attempts to comfort Benjicot and better understand him in the early days of marriage. (Contains sexually suggestive content)

ACT II — heres

“the heir”

pt ix (09/23/2024)

syn: A year after the wedding of House Tully and House Blackwood (130 AC) -- in the aftermath of the Battle by the Lakeshore, the Dance of Dragons continues to rage on. Benjicot returns home and confides in his wife about the horrors of war as he prepares for another return to the battlefield and makes a plea to Rhaenyra.

pt x (07/12/25)

syn: Benjicot breaks his promise to Serra, all in an effort to defend his family's honour and ends up face to face with an old familiar face.

pt xi (date tba)

“I look ridiculous,” she shouted from the bathroom, tugging up the low back of her dress as Andrew’s head popped in the doorway.

He took her in for a moment, watching his eyes scan her in the reflection of the mirror before his mouth turned upside down, “you look beautiful,” he replied with such ease it made her pause.

“It’s not too much, is it?” She asked with a sigh.

The dress was simple—mid-shin length, strapless, and plain black, paired with black kitten heels with an ascot that was sheer and fell behind her shoulders. She didn’t want to draw too much attention to herself, but just enough to support him on his big night. His team had arranged a final dinner prior to seniors night, celebrating yet another successful season and to bid their seniors one final goodbye before the term wrapped up, and although their relationship was still relatively new, Andrew had invited her along to a team event for the first time.

She turned to look over her shoulder at him as he reached out and touched her shoulder, stepping up behind her and pressing a kiss to her temple, “You look beautiful. You look perfect,” he reassured against her hair, “stop fussing, okay?” He softly said.

She looked up at him and flashed a small smile—shy and bashful under his gaze before she hesitantly nodded, “okay,” she replied.

She lingered in front of the mirror for a second longer after he stepped back, her fingers smoothing over the fabric at her waist again—once, twice—like she might find something out of place if she looked hard enough.

Nothing changed.

Still the same dress.

Still the same girl looking back at her.

Just… different somehow.

“Hey,” Andrew said softly from behind her, and she caught his reflection again as he leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed loosely over his chest. “You ready?”

She exhaled, nodding quickly, even if she didn’t fully feel it yet. “Yeah—yeah, I just—”

Her hand lifted, gesturing vaguely to herself.

He smiled, pushing himself off the frame and stepping back into the room, grabbing his keys from the dresser. “You look amazing,” he repeated, like it was the simplest truth in the world.

She let out a small breath through her nose, her shoulders easing just slightly.

“Okay,” she said again, quieter this time.

The walk to the car was short, but the cool evening air did little to settle the nervous energy sitting in her chest.

Her heels clicked softly against the pavement, the sound too loud in her ears, too noticeable. She kept one hand wrapped lightly around the edge of her scarf, holding it in place against the breeze as Andrew walked just ahead of her, unlocking the car with a soft chirp.

He moved around to her side without thinking, opening the passenger door and stepping back to let her in.

“Careful,” he said, one hand hovering near her arm as she ducked into the seat.

She smiled up at him, small and grateful. “Thank you.”

“Always,” he replied easily, closing the door once she was settled.

The car ride started quiet.

Not uncomfortable—just… filled with the hum of the engine and the low sound of music playing from the speakers, something soft and unintrusive.

She sat with her hands folded loosely in her lap at first, thumbs brushing together absentmindedly as she stared out the window, watching the campus pass by in a blur of dim lights and familiar buildings.

Her stomach twisted slightly.

Not dread.

Just nerves.

Andrew glanced over at her at a red light, one hand resting loosely on the steering wheel. “You okay?”

She blinked, turning her head toward him quickly, like she’d been caught somewhere else.

“Yeah,” she said, a little too fast, before softening, “I’m just… thinking.”

He hummed, nodding once. “About?”

She hesitated.

Then shrugged, her gaze dropping briefly to her hands. “I don’t know… it’s just—your whole team is gonna be there,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “I don’t really know anyone.”

Andrew’s expression softened immediately.

He reached over, his hand finding hers without looking, fingers curling around it easily like it belonged there.

“You know me,” he said simply.

Her lips curved slightly despite herself.

“Yeah,” she murmured.

“And they’re gonna love you,” he added, squeezing her hand once for emphasis. “Seriously. I’ve been talking about you nonstop.”

Her head turned toward him again, eyes widening just a little. “Andrew—”

“What?” he laughed lightly, glancing at her before looking back at the road. “I have.”

She shook her head, a shy smile pulling at her lips as she ducked her chin slightly. “That’s worse,” she muttered under her breath.

He grinned. “Relax. You’ll be fine.”

She wanted to believe him. And part of her did.

But another part—the quieter, more uncertain part—wondered what fine actually meant.

If it meant fitting in.

If it meant being liked.

If it meant being enough in a room full of people who already belonged to each other.

Andrew lifted her hand again, pressing a quick kiss to her knuckles before resting it back on her lap.

The gesture was easy. Familiar.

Reassuring.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” he said.

She nodded, more to herself than to him this time, her fingers curling slightly where his had just been.

By the time they pulled into the restaurant parking lot, the building buzzed with soft light spilling out through the windows, silhouettes moving inside—people already gathered, already settled.

Her stomach flipped again.

“Ready?” Andrew asked, turning the engine off and glancing over at her.

She inhaled slowly, steadying herself, before reaching for the door handle.

“Yeah,” she said, even if her voice was quieter than before.

He stepped out first, moving around the front of the car to open her door again, offering his hand to help her out.

She took it, her fingers slipping into his as she stepped onto the pavement.

“Stay close, yeah?” he said lightly, looping her arm through his as he guided her toward the entrance.

She nodded, holding onto him just a little tighter as they walked inside.

And just like that—

The quiet, steady world she’d been standing in shifted.

Voices.

Laughter.

Eyes turning toward them.

“This is my girlfriend that I told you about,” Andrew explained from the edge of their seats, still standing as his peers looked up at them with wide, curious eyes.

Ethan moved first, standing and extending a hand across the table to shake her hand after a pause; she let out a soft laugh as he smiled, “Nice to meet you. Ethan,” he said.

“Y/N,” she replied.

Her gaze scanned the table as a series of names were placed to faces, his teammates introducing themselves one by one along their end of the table. Andrew gently touched her waist as the boys greeted her, signalling her to sit as he pulled out her chair for her and gently tucked her chair in once she was seated. Her head twisted to thank him as he moved, kissing her head and sitting down beside her, her right hand being mindlessly taken into his.

Another hand extended across the table as she settled, her eyes following its arm to the face of a younger man, blue eyes and a soft smile on his face, “I’m Nick,” he said.

“Ah—yeah, Moldy,” Andrew added to her right, squeezing her hand and looking between the two of them, “We call him Moldy, one of my closest friends,” he teased, snickering as Nick shot him a nose scrunch and head shake.

She reached forward with her free hand to shake his, his hand enveloping hers; warm and firm as he turned his attention back to her, “Nice to meet you,” she softly said.

His hand withdrew from hers, his head tilting slightly as the conversation around the table had resumed, “What are you in school for? Are you here at UMich or?”

“Education studies at Mich, yeah,” she replied.

Andrew lifted her hand to press a kiss to her knuckles, looking at Nick, “She’s focusing on early childhood—primary education,” he proudly boasted as their hands were lowered back to her knee.

Nick glanced over at him and nodded slowly, eyebrows raising, “That’s awesome. Have you worked with kids before?”

She offered a crooked smile, unable to contain it as she glanced at Andrew and shrugged, “I worked with a couple summer camps for girls in my teens. I got a job at a daycare not too far from campus,” she explained.

Nick smiled, “and you like it I assume?”

“Oh, I love it,” she gushed, giddy at the thought of her students who adored her and clung to her whenever she worked, “I love working with the pre-school and kindergarten ages, they’re so fascinating.”

Her voice softened as she spoke, the words coming easier now, more fluid—less careful than before. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, her fingers loosening in Andrew’s grasp as she leaned forward just a touch without realizing it.

“They’re just… so honest,” she continued, a quiet laugh slipping out, “like if they’re upset, you know immediately. If they’re happy, they show it. There’s no pretending with them.”

Nick’s gaze didn’t leave her face.

There was something in the way she spoke—animated but still gentle, like she was holding the words carefully as she let them out—that held his attention longer than he meant it to.

“Yeah,” he murmured after a beat, nodding slowly, “that’s… kinda rare.”

Her eyes flicked back to his at that, something small and surprised in her expression—like she hadn’t expected him to understand what she meant.

Andrew squeezed her hand lightly beside her, drawing her attention back to him as he chuckled, “She talks about them all the time,” he said, glancing between the two of them. “Says they’re better than most adults.”

She huffed a soft laugh, her shoulders lifting in a small shrug, “I didn’t say that—”

“You definitely implied it,” he teased, nudging her knee gently under the table.

She smiled, ducking her head slightly, the heat rising faintly to her cheeks.

Across from her, Nick let out a quiet breath of amusement, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair, one arm slinging loosely over the backrest.

“I get it,” he said simply.

And for some reason, that landed differently.

Dinner carried on around them—plates shifting, glasses clinking, voices overlapping in easy familiarity. Stories from the season were tossed across the table, laughter following closely behind as teammates interrupted one another, correcting details or exaggerating them further.

Y/N listened more than she spoke, her gaze moving between faces, slowly placing personalities to the names she’d been given earlier. She laughed when it felt right, nodded along, occasionally adding something small when Andrew pulled her into the conversation.

But every so often—

Her attention drifted.

Back across the table.

To him.

Nick wasn’t loud. Not in the way some of the others were. He didn’t fight for space in the conversation, didn’t try to dominate it.

He listened.

Reacted.

Smiled at the right moments.

And every now and then—

He looked at her.

Not long enough for it to be obvious.

Not short enough for it to go unnoticed.

She caught it once.

Mid-conversation, as Andrew was recounting something that had the table erupting in laughter, her eyes lifted—and there he was.

Already looking.

His gaze didn’t dart away immediately.

Instead, it lingered just a second longer than expected, like he’d been caught in something he hadn’t realized he was doing.

Her breath hitched—barely noticeable, even to herself.

Then he smiled.

Small. Easy.

And looked away.

She turned back to Andrew, nodding along to something he said, but her thoughts didn’t settle as easily as before.

There was a strange lightness in her chest.

Or maybe it was weight.

She couldn’t quite tell.

At some point, Andrew’s thumb began tracing absent patterns over the back of her hand—mindless, familiar. She shifted slightly closer to him in her chair, her shoulder brushing his arm as she leaned in, grounding herself in the warmth of his presence.

This was real.

This was good.

This was hers.

“Another round?” someone called from down the table.

A chorus of agreement followed, chairs scraping lightly as a few of the boys stood to grab drinks. The energy shifted again—looser now, louder, the kind of atmosphere that came with the end of something meaningful.

Y/N reached for her glass, taking a small sip as she glanced down at the table, letting her eyes rest for a moment.

When she looked back up—

Nick was watching her again.

This time, he didn’t look away first.

It wasn’t intense.

It wasn’t obvious.

But there was something there—curiosity, maybe. Or recognition.

Like he’d noticed something in her that he hadn’t expected to.

She offered a small smile. Polite. Soft.

He returned it just as easily.

And then someone said his name, and the moment dissolved as quickly as it had formed.

By the time the night began to wind down, the table had thinned, conversations splitting into smaller groups as goodbyes started to circle.

Andrew stood beside her, stretching slightly as he reached for his jacket.

“Ready?” he asked, glancing down at her.

She nodded, gathering her purse from the back of her chair, smoothing the fabric of her dress instinctively as she stood.

Her gaze drifted once more across the table.

Nick was already looking at her.

And this time—

She looked away first as they turned to follow the group filtering outside into the cool night air.

As they stepped outside and into the parking lot, Andrew released her hand to bid his teammates a goodnight, exchanging handshakes as Y/N dug through her purse behind him to make sure she had brought her house keys; her head down for a moment.

“Hey,” a voice said, approaching her.

She lifted her head, finding Nick stood a few feet away with his hands in his pockets and offering that same smile she’d become well accustomed to at dinner. She smiled, letting out a surprised breath, “Hi.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, letting out a soft laugh, “I just wanted to come say it was nice meeting you tonight,” Nick added, pulling one hand from his pocket to gesture as he spoke.

“No, you’re good— just…was distracted,” she said, her nose scrunching briefly before she nodded, “Yeah, you too. I think I’ve seen you around on campus before but—

“Never actually met directly?” He finished, the pair letting out a shared laugh.

“No, I don’t think so, yeah…” she breathed out, sliding her purse back onto her shoulder.

“I meant to ask, you’re not from Michigan, are you?” He asked, his tone curious.

“Canadian, no— I’m uh— from a small place. Brantford,” she explained, shaking her head, “Ontario.”

“Oh, yeah, I’ve been there before. It’s not too far from Mississauga,” he pointed out, snapping his fingers like he’d just connected the dots.

She smiled—easy and polite—a dimple in her right cheek catching his attention as her eyes lit up, “Yeah. Mississauga, huh?”

“Born and raised unfortunately,” he answered, rolling his eyes playfully and earning a smooth laugh from her.

“Guess that’s why we get along so well then, huh? Canadians gotta stick together,” she teased, her voice lowering at the end of her sentence like it was some sort of secret between them.

He grinned, “Oh totally, especially in today’s climate.”

She laughed again, the wind picking up briefly and blowing across the parking lot—the scarf that was loosely around her shoulders slid with the breeze, falling from her arm as she let out a soft ‘oh!’

Nick moved quickly, stepping forward until he was a couple inches away to catch the fabric before it hit the ground, knocking into her as she bent to try and catch it at the same time. Her knee bumped his, her left hand on his shoulder as he stood upright and shook it off in case any dirt had gotten on it, her light laughter filling his ears, "Nice reflexes,” she said.

His cheeks heated, letting out a choked laugh, “Hockey player,” he joked.

He smoothed out the scarf, catching her eye before he reluctantly held it out to her; her smile bright as she accepted it, sliding from his shoulder to take the accessory back, “thank you.”

The pair shared a glance, the silence stretching out a few moments before Andrew’s voice broke the silence. Her head turned to find him walking back to her side, “This guy bothering you?” He teased, his hand ringing the small of her back as he grinned at his teammate.

“No, not at all,” she replied, leaning into his shoulder and smiling up at her boyfriend.

“Good,” he replied, as Nick shoved his opposite shoulder gently with a snort, “It was good seeing you tonight, man. We’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?” Andrew replied.

Nick’s gaze flickered to Y/N for a moment, curious, “are you coming to the game tomorrow night?” He asked.

She turned her attention to him, smiling, “of course.”

“Oh, cool,” Nick quickly replied, nodding as she and Andrew looped arms, “well, maybe I’ll see you around?” He politely said, extending his hand once again for a final handshake.

She hesitated, lips parting to say something but stopping and smiling softly instead after a moment. She shook his hand, “Yeah, it was lovely meeting you, Nick.”

“Get some sleep, alright?” Andrew said, using his free hand to clap his friend on the shoulder as his girlfriend slid her hand back, “need you in good shape for tomorrow,” he teased.

“You know it,” Nick replied, nodding and shoving his hand back into his pocket as his gaze lingered; watching as the couple quietly chatted amongst themselves for a second before turning in the direction of Andrew’s car. His eyes followed them, chewing his bottom lip as they withdrew, Y/N’s head turning once they were a few feet away to flash him another final smile and wave of her free hand.

It was dramatic maybe—Y/N had always had a flare for theatrics, she knew that. But as Nick returned the smile, a hand lifting to wave goodbye, her chest tightened and her face warmed. The thought of a small version of them, with his eyes and that same smile flashed in her head as she and Andrew approached the passenger side door; a life that could have been, with a farm house and a white picket fence.

Not that she wasn’t grateful and fortunate for Andrew as he helped her into the car—who wouldn’t be? But she couldn’t help but find herself thinking back to Nick. She had no reason to yearn for more—she was happy, but didn’t stop her from wanting.

Her hand reached out to stop Andrew just as he reached to close her door behind her, catching the lapel of his suit, “hey,” she softly said.

Andrew stopped, coming to lean into the door as he looked at her, a hand on the top of the car as he tilted his head, “what’s up?” He asked.

Her hand lifted, bringing his chin between her thumb and forefinger to bring him forward to press a soft kiss to his mouth before she brushed his cheek with her palm, “I just wanted to say I love you, you know.”