Someone asked me which skeksis was bound to each gelfling in my Thrabound Hearts AU. Keep in mind these soul tethers are all platonic, not romantic, in nature.
1. SkekSo & Seladon:
The firstborn daughter of All-Maudra Mayrin decided to bind her soul to SkekSo's because an eternal alliance between the rulers would aid in securing the peace between the skeksis and gelfling. SkekSo reluctantly agreed to the binding only after Aughra and SkekBel showed him a vision of his future fate if he continued down his current path.
2. SkekSil and Kira
The Chamberlain was one of the first three skeksis to wear a binding bracelet. He didn't view Kira as a threat and found her rare ability to communicate with animals fascinating.
3. SkekEkt & Gurjin
The Ornamentalist was the first skeksis to claim a soul binding bracelet. SkekEkt shocked everyone further by taking Gurjin the prince of the drenchen clan as her chosen gelfling. Gurjin, who once served as her personal protector during his time as a guard at the castle of the crystal, accepted SkekEkt having previously glimpsed the lonely, insecure artisan beneath the gaudy exterior.
4. SkekLa the Illustrator (SkekLa's OC) & Jen
SkekLa followed SkekSil's example by selecting Jen as her gelfling. His curious, calm demeanor appealed to SkekLa while her reserved nature called to him.
5. SkekOk & Brea
Brea was the second out of the gelfling to bind herself to a skeksis. She insisted on the Scroll-Keeper because she believed him capable of changing for the better and to gain access to the castle library. SkekOk welcomed a soul tether to the inquisitive young princess taking on a fatherly/grandfatherly role in her life.
6. SkekZok & Deet
Deet was quick to sense the fear within the Ritual Master and knew she'd be the one to help him using her link to the sanctuary tree. SkekZok is drawn to Deet's compassion and empathetic nature. He views her as a light in the darkness and sees himself as her protector.
7. SkekAyuk & Naia
The Gourmand chose the drenchen warrior as a way to showcase his loyalty to the Ornamentalist. Ayuk even went so far as to liken Gurjin and Naia (twins) to earrings—"They come in a set, Ekt!" Naia noticed that SkekAyuk was smart, but his lack of self-esteem and self-confidence kept him from voicing his opinion or following his own path, so she befriended and helped him learn how to speak out and make his own decisions instead of just following the crowd.
8. SkekVar & Maudra Fara
SkekVar demanded no less than the best as his bound gelfling and Fara answered the call determined to bring the brutish general to heel. Proud and stubborn, these two eventually realized they work better together than apart and their partnership became less turbulent and more productive as it grew into a formidable friendship focused on the protection of Thra and its inhabitants.
9. SkekTek & Juni
Initially fearful he wouldn't find a gelfling willing to be bonded with him, SkekTek was caught off guard when Juni (the gelfing Brea met while in the Order of Lesser Service) stepped forward to be his tether to the heart of Thra. Outgoing and caring, Juni taught SkekTek how to stand up for himself and also helped him realize he was worth more than just his research or inventions. SkekTek grew increasingly protective of Juni as time passed and she remained by his side regardless of circumstance or situation.
10. SkekYi (SkekLa's OC) & Kylan
The Philosopher and the song-teller both enjoyed learning new things and had inquiring minds. They both had a tendency to play the peacemaker when it came to their peers and found a kindred spirit in each other. Their friendship blossomed quickly and only strengthened over time due to their gentle, easy-going, personalities.
11. SkekBel (my OC) & Rian
The Soothsayer was the one to suggest and present the soul binding bracelets after SkekTek crafted them to Aughra's specifications. She and Rian were initially wary of one another after being tethered, but found common ground in the emotional trauma they'd suffered at the hands of the other skeksis and in their determination to save their people. Their penchant for banter and bickering often requires others to intervene in order to get them back on track, but when things get tough or times get dark and push comes to shove, they are allies and friends who would fight and even die for each other if need be.
Other Allies:
1. SkekGra & UrGoh
The Heretic and Wanderer have no need for a tether because they are already two haves of a whole.
2. The UrRu
The other UrRu sacrifice themselves early on in a desperate attempt to purify the Crystal of Truth, and in doing so, incorporate their lifeforce into Thra's natural cycle effectively severing the tether between them and their specific skeksis counterparts while leaving behind core pieces of their essence necessary for their skeksis counterparts' survival.
The Enemies
1. SkekUng, SkekLach, SkekNa, SkekMal, SkekSa, SkekLi, & SkekShod
While many of the skeksis consented to soul bonds that tethered them directly to the heart of Thra and its restorative energy through willing gelfling companions (emotional support gelfings as SkekVar refers to them), others saw the connection as treason and a betrayal of their supposed superiority. These unbound skeksis fled the crystal castle taking the remnants of the darkening with them in the hopes of using it as a deadly weapon against all the skeksis who chose to tie themselves to the gelfling who are seen as inferior beings in the eyes of the unbound skeksis.
While SkekUng, SkekNa, and SkekLach despise the gelfing and look at them as nothing but fodder or free labor, SkekSa dislikes the idea of someone limiting her or holding her back in any way which is what she believes a gelfling would do if she was tied down to one. SkekMal doesn't believe in the soul tethering's ability to reverse/heal the skeksis' mental and physical decay or that it can be harnessed through a link/connection to creatures as weak as the gelfling. SkekShod just lives purely to spite SkekSo and is intent on killing SkekSo as revenge for the lasting damage SkekSo inflicted upon him after becoming emperor. SkekLi wants to get revenge on the bound skeksis who once mocked him and referred to him as a mere jester despite the fact he once brokered an alliance between the skeksis and arathim.
Disclaimer: Dark Crystal, Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, and all the film/show characters belong to the Jim Henson Company. SkekLa and SkekYi belong to SkekLa. SkekBel belongs to me. If you use any of these characters in fanart or fanfiction, please always remember to credit their creators. Thank you.
