#skllger

               skellige. oh, how she used to LOVE this place. the kindness of its people, their simplicity... so different from the constant LIES and scheming she would have to deal with in cintra. but now, a DECADE has passed. cintra no longer existed, that feeling turned into something BITTERSWEET. now, it reminded her of her HUSBAND. the one who had given his life for her, falling heroically in the battle of MARNADAL. 

              she remembered it so vividly, as if it was yesterday. it was so QUICK, so sudden. one second he was still fighting BRAVELY, and the other... she would never forget the sight of an ARROW sticking out of his head, nor would she EVER forget the face of the man who held the BOW. back then, she had no time to MOURN. so now there she was, in skellige once more. to FINALLY pay respects to her beloved’s grave. ashen hair hidden under a hood, she could NOT be recognised as the lioness - the ard rhena. no one could know. entering the fault, she expected to see TWO coffins. one with the body of her husband, and one, EMPTY. waiting for her never recovered corpse. 

          she was too tired, or maybe she was not CAREFUL enough. whatever it was, a pyke of the infantry made it right past her armour and BETWEEN the ribs. a nasty wound, and deep too, seeping blood to an EXCESS. they couldn’t hold for much longer, she knew, and yet GUILT still remained, that they had to pull back so SOON, that a warrior as strong and valuable as eist had to step off the battlefield to ESCORT her away. 

@skllger

@skllger + five times our muses kissed.

          FIRST TIME.

          “ marry me. “ the knight pleaded, and calanthe couldn’t stop her lips from CURLING up in a smile. she’s seen men lose their HEADS for her before, as much as a glance at her beautiful face ENOUGH for them to go mad, like rabid dogs, but this..? “ tuirseach, we’ve known each other for a DAY. “ she reminded him, eyebrows raised HIGH in an expression of amusement. but the islander only shook her head, and in a surge of sudden BOLDNESS, he gripped her shoulders, their lips connecting in a kiss that MIGHT just have been the most pleasant one calanthe had EVER experienced. “ i know. and i can’t live without you. “

          SECOND TIME.

          the KISS is long and passionate, her moan swallowed by him as they both reach the peak of ECSTASY, and with a loud sigh, she falls next to him, a cascade of silver hair COVERING the sheets and the pillow. HEATED bodies cool off next to each other, her pale skin in contrast with his SWARTHY tan, as the tips of his thick fingers brush against her side, goosebumbs summoned so EASILY. “ marry me. “ he murmurs, and she cannot contain a giggle, turning her back on him, allowing him to WRAP her in his strong arms. 

          THIRD TIME.

          “ calanthe. marry me. “ this time, she LAUGHS, shaking her head. he still doesn’t understand. he STILL doesn’t get it. “ eist. listen to me, you lovestruck FOOL. “ she demanded, her voice suddenly harsh, emerald green eyes narrowed and ANGRY. she was out of patience. “ you are no KING material. you are a sailor. a pirate. you’ll sail off into the SUNSET the first chance you’ll get, and plough the first port city WHORE. “ but the man only shook his head, taking her hands, his deep blue eyes staring at her with such SINCERITY. “ my calanthe… since i have met you, i haven’t even LOOKED at another woman. i could not. i want no title. no crown. i just want YOU. “ silence fell between them, for a minute, two, three… before the queen threw her arms around his neck, lips pressed against his with such HUNGER. 

          FOURTH TIME.

          “ you may kiss the bride. “ the words SOUNDED, and this time, calanthe’s heart pounded with happiness when she heard them. her HUSBAND. a man she loved so deeply, so completely. humming into his lips, she lets a TEAR escape her eye, because for the first time she feels FREE. she made her own choice. she chose her own HAPPINESS. and from now on, she would always do so. 

          FIFTH TIME. 

@skllger​ said:               “ sleep, my love. i’ll keep the nightmares away.  ”  

                    fingers tangled in ashen grey hair, calanthe shakes her head, tears collecting at the tip of her nose and sinking into the sheets of their royal bed. he couldn’t keep those nightmares away, no one could. 

                    she’s been cursed with them ever since she could remember, perhaps a cruel twist of fate, or perhaps a part of her own mother’s curse passed onto her with the blood that they shared.