then let them come

I’m not sure who you asked about that tbqh either bc I stalk all the comments on ODR HAHAHAHAH buuuuut I think it may have been Lizzy????  Either way, I remember that you more or less said Rowena would have her family over frequently to keep a close eye.  Keep your friends close and your enemies closer - especially when they also double as your family, amirite ;DDDDD  Anyway, Avelina would def show up to everything she’s invited to and put on a good face.  I feel like, for one thing, you can’t really turn down the queen, but for another she doesn’t want to draw undue attention and she’s ~biding her time before she can consolidate her power and strike.  I should also warn you that Avelina is paranoid and kinda borderline unhinged (what a family, I know) and I love her but…yeah.  You’ve been warned ;DDDDD

Avelina is only a little older than Rowena.  Avelina is 39 and Rowena’s 34, so yeah.  I think Rowena’s mom, Elianora, also was the closest thing Avelina had to a mom (since her own mother died in childbirth) and I know she grew up as though she were a sibling to Arthur (Lizzy’s Sean Bean) so yeah I can see the three of them (and Rowena’s late twin brother, Theodoric, so four) all growing up like siblings or close cousins or such, potentially?????  And yeah. 

I think there was still weirdness and resentment, even back then when things were theoretically better hahahaha bc Avelina (39) was the eldest and technically the aunt to each of them.  Then it was Arthur (37) followed by the twins (34).  They were all of royal lineage and yet Theodoric (at the time) was destined to be king; Rowena was a princess; Arthur would be a Duke…and then there was Avelina.  She’d be a lady, probably a Warden’s lady or, when they were kids, she was promised to Rowena’s Godiva uncle, Alexandir (38) which she RAILED AGAINST and yeahhhh Avelina’s been digging her own grave since she was a child I s2g.

Anyway, I think Avelina felt that inequality deeply, esp bc she ~wasn’t one of the cousins and she didn’t have a mom, she had a sister.  Her father was TERRIBLE since the death of his wife and resented Avelina for killing her, so the closest she had to a real dad was Arthur’s father.  And so she was kind of borrowing other people’s parents but she wasn’t really there’s and her destiny was so unsure and I basically think Avelina’s felt scared and alone all her life.

OKKKKKKKK, so now to take everything I’ve told you and blow it up ;DDDD  Jk, jk.  But now I’m gonna deal with Avelina as a threat.

So I told you know how I was just saying Avelina feels scared and alone?  She’s like an animal backed into a corner, meaning she sees her only option as striking back.  Now, Avelina Beaumont was born Avelina Arrington.  Her father was the Duke of Fain and, according to the Old Ways, the rightful king.  The Arringtons’ words are We Are the First bc they are the Kings of Old, so they have the most ancient claim on the throne. 

According to the ~Old Ways, the Arringtons are the rightful rulers of Aragoth and, like the English throne (up until recently), the crown passes to the eldest male.  So, after Avelina’s father, her brother, and then her brother’s son (Arthur) would rule.  If they were all dead, it would go to Arthur’s sister, Cordelia.  If Cordelia was dead, it would go to the Elianora’s (having exhausted the male line), meaning Rowena (since Theodoric is conveniently dead), then to Helena, and next to Avelina.  That’s quite a few graves to dig, but Avelina still has a legitimate claim to the throne in her own right and that makes her a threat to anyone ahead of her. 

So, right now, Rowena is ruling on her rights as a Godiva (ruling as her father’s heir, that is - not her mother’s - though there are those who might argue that Alexandir is Droyn’s rightful heir, which is part of why Rowena would probably sleep easier with him dead), since she passed the law permitting female inheritance, but there are still those who believe in the Old Ways and would like to see Arthur Arrington on the throne.

Now, Avelina secretly plans to dethrone Rowena is favor of Avelina’s firstborn, Lynessa - which is the goal of #TeamBeaumont (which consists of Avelina Beaumont, Lynessa Beaumont, Dmitrei Massard, and v recently Romayne Vitalis).  Now, she ~could go through and off all those people (which I honestly wouldn’t put past her), or she could wed Lynessa to Arthur and pool all the interest in the various branches of the Arrington claim to rise up against Rowena. 

Remember I mentioned that Cassius let Charles live, unaware that Charles had three dragon eggs?  Well, one (of those eggs hatched for Charles’ nephew, Roran DeGrey; another) was spirited away by Dezod, who used dark magic to unnaturally bind the dragon inside to Rob Barret.  Since Rob isn’t his ~true Rider, the dragon’s weak and sickly, but a dragon notwithstanding, and Avelina’s ally, Dmitrei Massard, has access to that dragon, given his connections in the South, etc.  Avelina, herself, is also secretly learning dark magic for Rowena’s fellow student, Safira.

In addition, Avelina has three daughters.  She’s marrying Lynessa, first, to Jon Valles, who has a large standing army and has just inherited Fontaine, as well, making him both powerful and wealthy, and also has holdings in the North.  In addition, she’s sent Celia to the South to marry the Warden of the South there.  Not to mention the support of the Southern Isles, courtesy Romayne to whom she’s promised Evie.  In the East, as Arringtons, they have both Fain and Beaumont.  In the West, Lynessa’s paternal cousin is the Warden and would, hopefully, side with his cousin rather than Rowena.  Plus, there are other lords, such as the Warden in the North, who are v dedicated to the Old Ways and could probably be counted on to rise up in support, as well, of an Arrington cause.

tl;dr: Rowena has a royal claim; Rowena has a dragon; Rowena has dark magic; Rowena has wealth; Rowena has an army Team Beaumont has a royal claim; Team Beaumont has a dragon; Team Beaumont has dark magic; Team Beaumont has wealth; Team Beaumont has an army

SHE WAS ENGAGED TO ALEX?!?!?! WELL THAT WOULD’VE BEEN A FUN TIME. (don’t the play sibs in game of thrones? ahahaha. well that’s fun times.) but oh man. i kind of need a childhood fic of those four BECAUSE WOW THAT SOUNDS SO INTERESTING. i think rowena was starting to be dark even then?? so maybe as a child she decided she was “better than all these people” and decided then and there that she wanted to be queen because none of the rest of them were ~worthy?? *snorts* rowena godiva, actually spoiled brat child princess. ... those words aren’t in the right order but you get the idea??

AND AVELINA BORROWING FAMILY FROM OTHER PEOPLE. I HAVE NEVER WANTED TO HUG HER MORE??? LIKE ACTUAL OW. and probs none of the cousins even helped?? wow. so it’s like you people brought your terrible family relationships on yourselves. *points finger at entire royal family* (not that half of them care but still, haha)

anyway, so rowena basically stole the throne??? and if rowena weren’t queen then after helena, it would be avelina? (did i read that right??) so basically avelina is kind of traveling the same type of road that rowena traveled to obtain the throne? except avelina is doing it for lynessa? wow that’s interesting.

and now moving on to riders. so did dezod tie the dragon to rob for avelina (or maybe not her specifically but her uses in mind?)?? or did it just conveniently happen that way so now avelina has a ~kind of rider at her disposal? (and wouldn’t the dragon being sick be, um, a huge problem?? O.O)

EVIE WAS PROMISED TO ROMAYNE?!?! ahahaha. well that’s going to work out?? but oh wow. so avelina is basically marrying off everyone in her family to gain power, status and property?? ahhhh. well that’s super interesting. good plan, avelina. rowena probs wouldn’t even notice. she doesn’t much care about the marriages of peasants (even if they are family).

anyway, wow. that is quite a threat. though most of this hasn’t come to pass yet?? all the marriages are still in the works and has avelina started her training with safira yet?? but wow. teambeaumont be going places, haha. so hmm. i honestly think rowena has never trusted avelina but i don’t think she believes she’s *too much* of a threat. otherwise she’d probably be trying to actively kill her off like she does alex?? though, actually, rowena actively tries to kill off alex because he’s a much bigger threat, right?? whereas avelina would basically have to overthrow rowena and kill helena to be next in line, right?

Anyway, she’s never wanted to be Queen herself and doesn’t care that Rowena has the throne. She sees the crown as an idle pursuit (magic is true power). Still, Dezod seems to approve of Rowena more than Safira (although with Rowena I’m pretty sure he talks up Safira b/c he’s nice like that) and Safira can’t understand why (she also doesn’t realize that he’s manipulating her and she just needs to stop worrying about how Dezód thinks or wants and just do her own thing but old habits and all). 

Anyway, so Avelina wants to take the throne from Rowena for her daughter, but to do that, she needs dark magic to compete, so Safira is going to teach her and I think she might even back them eventually b/c taking down Rowena should prove that she is the stronger one but I think she’s gonna see what kind of a student Avelina is before she commits to that. 

I think her end game is actually to defeat Rowena, but she’s sure that she must be more powerful than she is since Dezód seems to prefer her and so Safira’s gonna try to gather her own strength before she tries that. 

ahem, anyway, so i was just telling kate that i think rowena might hate safira because she believes that she’s ~beyond her level. like rowena is queen and thinks that she’s the better sorceress. and if she knows that safira just wants to please dezod, well, she’d be all over that because she considers that a major weakness. (like i feel like rowena feels that dezod has served his purpose in her life and basically can’t understand why safira still has such a strong attachment to him???)

and i also told kate that i think rowena might eventually try to dethrone dezod as most powerful sorcerer? because i feel like rowena wants AAAAAAAAAAALL the power and basically won’t stop until there’s no one more powerful and yeah.

sooo if rowena knew avelina went to safira to learn magic she would TOTALLY want to be a fly on that wall because wow. i’m sure avelina is a wonderful student and safira an even better teacher. ha. haha. (wow rowena. that wasn’t nice.) though headcanon that avelina does accidentally turn rowena into a llama. or a cat. that’s a story i’d read/write, hahaha.

anyway, YES PLEASE THEIR CONVOS ARE A THING THAT I NEEEEED. though i feel like rowena might feel like she’s already won so anytime safira shows up she’ll be like “*points to crown* your arguement is invalid” though i totes could see her disguising herself as an old hag or something and, like, going to spy on safira and then if safira basically slams the door her face, transforming back and throwing an apple up in the air while leaning up against the wall and going “so i see you’re still living in this shack. if you’ll excuse me, i’ll be going back to my paLACE WITH MY SERVANTS.” *flips entire cloak in her wake* because money is power the way a loaded gun is power-- okay wow now i slipped into chuck quotes. APPARENTLY I CAN’T WRITE MY OWN STUFF TODAY. I HAVE TO BORROW FROM EVERYONE ELSE.

Ok, yeah, so like…Ok, Eragon and Star Wars share alot of plot similarities bc ~The Hero’s Journey~ so imma jump over to Star Wars and hope that helps clarify things???  Alrighty, so think of Dragon Riders as Jedi and dragons as The Force.  Basically, they’re an army outside the king/queen’s jurisdiction who’s mission is one of justice and peace keeping.  They’re like the Night’s Watch: “the shield that guards the realms of men.”  But, basically, the idea is that the Jedi/Dragon Riders represent the ~people and answer to ~the Force/the gods/morality and NOT any given ruler, which is always a dangerous prospect to any power-hungry ruler. 

ANYWAY.  In this case, Cassius is Anakin/Darth Vader and Rowena is the Emperor.  If there’s a standing army who is there to protect the people you propose to rule with an iron fist, you wanna knock that out so that you can do what you want, unchecked.  So, yeah, they def would’ve helped her keep the peace, but they would’ve been just as likely to challenge her and overthrow her in favor of, say, Alexandir or Helena, once she proved herself to be a bad ruler, soooo I mean it probs ultimately served her, regardless?  I FEEL LIKE IM BABBLING AND NOT MAKING SENSE AND AKLDJFKLDJSAKLFJKLDJSAFKJDS I HAVE ALOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT THIS TROPE CAN YOU TELL LAKDJFKLJSDAKJFLKJSDAKJLFKSDJAFJK

(I also think that, in ODR canon, there may be a historical precedent for Dragon Riders removing unfit rulers????  But that’s a question for Lizzy?????  I think I had Dezod ~a thousand years ago~ summon the Dragon Riders to depose a king or something asp I don’t remember)

WOOOOOOOOW THAT GOT HELLA LONG TINA I’M SOOOOO SORRY ALKDSFJKLJDSKLFJLKJDSAKLFJDSAJFJK

OMG THIS TWISTED RELATIONSHIP THO LAJSDFLKJDSKLAFJK <33333  Ok, so like Dezod’s kinda like, “you do you,” about her being queen like it’s not really that impressive to him but it’s caused alot of chaos so he likes that but he also is like, “You guys both failed me,” *points at Rowena and Safira*  He gets B O R E D and he like basically wanted to train them to be his ultimate nemeses but Rowena got distracted trying to be queen and Safira got distracted trying to be his lap dog and Dezod is like ????????????  WHERE DID I GO WRONG ????????: http://dezoddestriksyon.tumblr.com/post/105965718495 at them both. But he kinda makes the best of it idk.  Like, he knows Roran DeGrey is destined to kill him a la that prophecy but he’d really like it to be Rowena and/or Safira bc he set that in motion and them killing him and drinking his blood to become to the next great dark sorcerer would actually be his proudest moment (not that he would EVER admit any part of that)

Dezod: Life hack - if you want it, you’ll never have it!

I feel like Dezod is actually v selective about who he actually trains, himself (probs part of why he passed off Avelina to Safira).   Dezod is the sort who, knowing what your weakness is, will exploit it and never fulfill you, so he’ll talk up Safira to Rowena big time and just sort of go “ehhh” about anything Rowena to Rowena if she craves his approval, (which means he won’t let her have that satisfaction).  In a way, he thinks he’s doing her a favor bc he believes that staying hungry often equates to staying alive, yknow?  But also he just plain enjoys watching the fallout ngl

He feels that competition between his pupils keeps things fresh and entertaining and gives him something to do.  Like Dmitrei, he’s primarily interested in the ~game.  To him, life is a huge chessboard and he’s essentially playing against himself bc he has no equals, in his own opinion (also no other immortals except chaos: chaos is his only friend).  The closest thing to other players are Rowena and Safira and he hopes w time they’ll get to his level, so that he can spend his time destroying them (yeahhhhh fun life goals).  If life is his chessboard, they’re the opposing kings and Roran is probs Safira’s queen in some weird awk twist of fate, given that scenario… ;DDDDD  So, anyway, he pits his pupils against each other, testing for weaknesses and hoping they’ll rip the hearts out of one another while he watches. I think he also hopes Rowena rips Roran’s heart out and feeds it to his dragon bc he’s worried that Roran’s destiny will come back to bite Dezod, himself, so there’s that.

okay so WOW DEZOD. WAY TO MAKE ROWENA DO YOUR DIRTY WORK. but actually it did help her a bit in the long run so that ~kind of makes it better. because wow. i have a feeling rowena would’ve been dethroned long ago if the riders were still around. hahahahaha. she’s actually terrible, wow.

alsooo, another question. did dezod turn safira and rowena against each other out right or did he do it more subtly? like planting the seeds of doubt here and there so they didn’t really notice but eventually began to hate each other?? or did he, like, outright pit them against each other?? and i feel like i had a point to asking that but now i can’t remember it, haha. if it was outright though, rowena has that deeeeeeeeep need to win things *waves madly to entire kingdom* so that DEFINITELY could be one of the things that did drive her to be queen. (besides that fact that she just REALLY wanted to be queen because power, haha) but i think rowena is less interested in pleasing dezod (because, in the end, he was just there to serve a purpose too) and more interested in controlling EVERYONE. because money power glory. (thank you lana)

so i honestly could see rowena being the type to, eventually, turn on dezod. because honestly i think rowena is all kinds of vain and probs thinks herself strong enough to defeat dezod. (probs not right now but maybe she’s working on it?? maybe cassius is helping too and, like, she wants to be the most powerful sorceress because then she thinks she will TRULY be invincible and she knows the only way she’ll ever do that is by killing dezod?? plus i feel like she knows the havoc he wreaks in her kingdom to some extent and probs actually hates him but can’t get rid of him yet?? BUT WOW GOT SO OFF TOPIC. I WAS TRYING TO ASK IF CASSIUS WOULD BE DOWN WITH HELPING WITH THIS AND IF THIS PLAN IS COOL WITH YOU BECAUSE I CAN HELP DEZOD GET WHAT HE WANTS AND I KIND OF LIKE THIS PLAN. also i love that you’re aaaaaaaaaaaall the characters and if i want to run something by you involving another character, i cAN USUALLY JUST ASK IT IN THE SAME COMMENT, muhahahahaha)

... okay what was i saying (excUSE YOU TANGENTS)

oh yeah rowena thinks she’s all that jazz. basically she likes to surround herself with people she feels that she can control and who will just endlessly worship her and help her make others worship her (LOOKING AT YOU CASSIUS) and dezod doesn’t fit that description AT ALL so i really could see her being the type who would end up turning on him. maybe a loooooooong way down the line but i could totes see it happening. because dezod is all powerful and that’s the kind of power she wants. .... i think i just realized that rowena is actually jealous of dezod. wow. this is new. (also maybe why she hates safira. she believes she’s “beneath her” since she considers herself closer to dezod’s level than safiras?)

also “they used to shout my name, now they whisper it” rowena wants people to adore her but i think she also wants people to fear her because it means they’re easier to control. and is rowena’s middle name power because it should be. ... maybe she’ll have it legally changed, haha.

hmm. i had another question. what was it? (DON’T YOU LOVE HOW I TALK TO MYSELF IN MY COMMENTS TO YOU) oh yeah, who exactly is on rowena’s council?? i know dezod, cassius, alex and romayne’s partycrashing but i’m a little fuzzy on everyone else?

“Be careful, my prince, I do not think this Aragothi Queen takes well to demands.” 

Romanye turned to look back at his friend from over his shoulder, “Ah, but it’s not a demand, it’s a request,” He replied, giving a confident smirk. “And your lack of faith in me is rather unsettling. Have I not charmed every woman I’ve ever desired?” 

“She’s not like other women, Your Highness.“ 

“And I am not like other men.” 

He had come, officially, from the Southern Islands to bend the knee to his new Queen, but truthfully there was another purpose. He wanted his rightful place as ruler of his home. He did not like this pale faced Aragothi lord who Queen Rowena Godiva had made warden there. 

He had already pledged his allegiance in public, but he had requested a private audience with the queen which had been (much to his friend and advisor’s surprise) granted. 

The great Aragothi hall that had been filled with life and warmth only that afternoon, was not empty and felt cold. Seated upon her throne, the Queen looked as though she was made of stone. Still, she was beautiful despite her hard edges. Romayne wondered if she ever smiled. 

He bowed before her, “Your Grace. The tales of your beauty reached even the Southern Islands and I am pleased to say that they have not been exaggerated. If anything, quite the opposite.” He gave her a mischievous smile and straightened. 

No matter how much the constant chatter of her people made her head ache.

She longed for a kingdom filled with quiet people who would care for themselves, love her eternally and want for naught. Instead, her hall filled with beggars of the worst sort.

“Send the next one in,” she ordered with a sigh.

This one, at least, wasn’t bad on the eyes. He bowed low and loosed his tongue, the commendations flowing from him as the river rushes to meet the sea. Rowena merely nodded her acknowledgement, her eyes retaining their ever present hard edge.

“Ask what you will,” she countered, her gaze never leaving him as her right curled below her chin, bracing it upon her arm. “I, however, shall make not promises to grant your request.”

Ok, so here’s a thing I made about the two royal families of Aragoth.  *Hopefully* this will be helpful: http://quillington.tumblr.com/post/106284508847/rowena-godiva-sovereign-of-the-aragothi-and-the

OMG YASSS this kingdom is COMPLETELY out of control hahahaha there’s soooo much to take in okie dokie

So you’d have to ask Lizzy for the ~details, but here’s my understanding of the Aragothi political climate.  *puts on glasses and some red lipstick*  Rowena’s parents, Droyn Godiva and Elianora Arrington, married to end a civil war that had been raging through Aragoth for, like, a century or more.  House Arrington’s words are “We Are the First,” bc they’re the kings of old, but House Godiva’s are “By Valor and Arms” bc they’re the strongest.  Asp, the two Houses began warring for the throne.  A la the War of the Roses, sometimes a Godiva would beat down the opposition and take the crown; other times an Arrington would take it and rule.  

Eventually, Droyn Godiva came to the throne.  Like Henry VII, when he ended the war, he married the eldest Arrington girl, (Elianora Arrington,) to settle both ancient claims, as their children (Theodoric, Rowena, and Helena) would be both Godiva and Arrington by blood.  It was basically meant to end war in Aragoth.  Obv, that didn’t work out quite as planned bc Rowena killed her brother and then like 90% of her remaining family but yknow ;DDD 

Avelina is Queen Elianora’s baby sister and thus Rowena’s maternal aunt.  Just like Elianora, Avelina has the Blood of the First flowing through her veins, which make her royal and also a hella desirable bride (and also hella dangerous to Rowena but that’s another story).  As a result, Avelina was married to a very wealthy nobleman, Cecyl Beaumont.  Cecyl was his father’s only son and so he has a castle in/around the capitol (which I creatively called Castle Beaumont HAHAHAHA) where Avelina raised her three daughters: Lynessa, Evie, and Celia (who, as a result of being Avelina’s kids, ALSO all have royal blood).  Cecyl died soon after Celia’s birth and so everything went to Avelina, according to Aragothi law and (ding ding ding) that handy law Rowena had put in place, allowing women to inherit.

tl;dr: Everything Avelina has came from 1) her heritage as sister and descendant of rulers, 2) a wealthy, dead husband, and 3) that handy-dandy law Rowena passed.  So, Rowena didn’t give her a place, but she gave her the ability to HAVE a place?????????  If that counts?????  Hahahah

okay so if these two kind of live on ajoining grounds and such?? so how often would they see each other? semi-frequently??? also who did i ask about the dinner parties with the beaumonts? (I’M GETTING LOST IN MY OWN COMMENTS NOW, YESH) i know it was either you or lizzy. or maybe both??

well anyway, i’m definitely thinking these two would be anything but the best of friends. i think you said they’re pretty close to the same age?? (or did i dream that?) so maybe their childhood had a lot to do with the way they interact now?

Ok, so this is my new character, Adela, so basically UNLIMITED OPTIONS.  Adela is Avelina’s sister-in-law so like…pseudo aunt-in-law to Rowena, I guess???????  Much more importantly, though, she’s the mother and Regent of the four year old Warden of the West.  (Wardens in this are not unlike Wardens in ASoIaF/GoT  So, if Rowena’s the President, Adela’s kid is like, the governor or something hahaha idk but there are four Wardens - one for the four directions - and they basically rule over that part of the country under Rowena????)  Tbh, she doesn’t really care about ruling?????  But she’s still theoretically pr powerful.  She’s in the capitol to attend her niece/Rowena’s cousin, Lynessa Beaumont’s, wedding.

so i don’t know what we really want to do with the relationship between these two now. rowena still employs jon though because, wow, SO MANY ENEMIES STORMING ROWENA’S CASTLE. and now i think she’d definitely know that jon is marrying lynessa so she might be like “WHY WOULD ANYONE MARRY THAT FILTH?!?!” and basically be a little amused??

but maybe because lysander is so wholly in her favor, she’s invited him to the palace or something to “thank him for his kind words” (but really to make sure he keeps casting her in a good light and to keep up appearances that she’s “good”. not that she cares but, well, i have a feeling rowena does all kiiiiiiiinds of seemingly kind things just to keep people in her pocket, haha)

unless she met all the riders personally before having them executed which i don’t think she did. she doesn’t really like to see people she believes to be her servants (so basically everyone) personally unless she’s, like, ~angry with them or something. so she probably doesn’t know A THING about charles’s existence.

... though i have a feeling she’s going to, haha. and be sUPER ANGRY WITH CASSIUS. buuuuut. i had a thought. maybe she did see him once with will. and then when she finally meets him later she puts the pieces together and is like YOU??!?!?!?! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD. *roars like a dragon because that’s secretly where rowena got her temperament* haha.

*ahem* so, anyway, dezód is on rowena’s council?? is that right?? because hmmm. i’m not entirely sure how rowena would react to him now. on one hand i feel like because rowena is queen that means she got what she wanted so she’d feel like she has no use of him anymore?? but if he’s around a lot she could also be like his ~star pupil and still want to impress him with all that she’s achieved??

but, anywayz, oh man. poor cassius. he was so totally double crossed by rowena. *facepalm* do you think he has any feelings for her now?? because if he does, i could totes see rowena STILL using that against him. like if it worked once, of course it’ll work again??? and like touching his face and calling him my love and things when she wants him to do things for her?? so like still continuing to manipulate him even though she knows he’s loyal??