Groveling at Master’s feet,
A throne, he thinks, should be his seat.
Ah, and such a thought is sweet
To Grima Wormtongue.
Crooked words, till lightning falls
He shall whisper in the golden halls
Then leave again when Master calls
For Grima Wormtongue.
All Rohan knows his face is white
With eyes that squint in harsh sunlight -
Heavy lids which guard the sight
Of Grima Wormtongue.
A cunning snake does what he can
To weave a dark, deceitful plan
And yet that snake was once a man
Named Grima Wormtongue.
Armed with a betraying knife
He puts an end to all the strife
His master wrought, paid with the life
Of Grima Wormtongue
The first time he sees the limping man (clearly a psychosomatic problem; an army doctor, then), Lars is tracking down an organization leak. Just because their leader - Moriarty - is dead does not mean their contacts and meeting places and secret codes are anywhere close to falling apart - at least, not without interference from the Yard. Lars' job is to prevent that.
He is tailing DI Lestrade when he sees the limping man. Lestrade is meeting this man at a pub in London (old friend, met while on a murder case), and it is obvious to Lars that the Detective Inspector is the only thing keeping the limping man out that night instead of back at hi
The Tactician Doesn't Get Sick Leave by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Tactician Doesn't Get Sick Leave
The morning of another battle dawned, and Mark the Tactician opened his eyes and discovered he felt absolutely awful. His nose was runny, his throat was sore, and – ohh – as soon as he sat up, his head began to swim crazily.
Mark coughed and cursed his luck. Now was really not a good time to catch a cold.
But he was a tactician, and a tactician always has a plan! He quickly decided to find Serra or Priscilla.
00000
Another day, another battle, Eliwood noted to himself in a princely manner as he led his horse through the mostly torn down camp. But something was different today. He paused, frowned in confusion, and looked back o
The Demon King Speaks - 9 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 9
The Cost of Wishes
Lyon’s breathing was calm as the dark stone resting in his cupped hands began to glow and pulse with energy over the still form of Emperor Vigarde. Searing heat swirled around the prince and his father’s corpse while the impossibly cold surface of the stone formed hoarfrost on Lyon’s shaky fingers. Vigarde’s eyelids were trembling, as though searching for the strength to open.
And someone was calling the prince’s name.
Lyon turned and met the person’s eyes. In a voice not entirely his own, he said, “Oh, hello, it’s you… What was your name again?” His mind was a
The Demon King Speaks - 8 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 8
Voice From the Darkness
Lyon found himself blind and naked in a chilling void - and he couldn’t tell whether the cold was truly the temperature of the air around him, or if it, like his nakedness, was merely an illusion, an astral representation within his own head.
He shivered. The darkness was so deep, so absolute, and so much more malevolent than Lyon had ever felt before. There was madness crawling on his skin like a thousand insects, but he felt there was infinitely more, a whole flood of that madness waiting in the dark to sweep him and everything else away - held back only by the hard, calculating logic of an unpredictable geni
The Demon King Speaks - 7 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 7
Desperation
The celebrations of Lyon’s research team were scarcely a month old when a new discovery was made and the shamans launched themselves into a long, frenzied, and so far fruitless search. And the more they looked for answers, the harder it was to bear.
Grado will be ravaged by catastrophe.
The earth will crumble.
Countless will die.
Grado will be destroyed.
After all, there were only so many times a man could watch his people die silent deaths in one week before he went mad.
“STOP!!” Lyon cried out to the dimly lit Sanctuary, clutching his head as though to squeeze the vision from his mind. He could not bear
The Demon King Speaks - 6 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 6
Great Discovery
“We did it! Sire, we have completed the ritual!”
Lyon’s eyes swept over his beaming team of eager researchers, and over the symbols chalked into the ground of the Sacred Stone’s Sanctuary, the drops of blood meticulously measured for the required tribute. “You have?” He stood hastily.
“Yes, sire,” said Knoll. “We are ready to proceed with the Time Shear at your command.”
Lyon nodded. “Very well. Begin.”
Visions flooded into his mind:
The great southern sea.
Dark clouds. A ship. Churning waters.
A young sailor, eyes fearful, but jaw clenched bravely
The Demon King Speaks - 5 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 5
Quiet Moments
“Lyon? My son, is that you?”
His father’s voice was weak - too weak. For a second he could only stare at the bedridden man who had once been so strong, feeling small and frightened like a child. How could the sickness have such a devastating effect on the Emperor of Grado, Lyon wondered.
Then he steadied himself. Now he had to be strong for Father, at least until the sickness ran its course and Father was well again. “Yes, it’s me, Father,” he said gently as he sat at the Emperor’s bedside. “The healers say you are at the turning point. That means if you are at the worst of it n
The Demon King Speaks - 4 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 4
Sun Standard
“…Then the great warrior Siegmund, with his mighty fire lance, held the Demon King immobile while pious Saint Latona performed the final spell. And so the hero Grado and his companions used the five Sacred Stones to seal away the evil of the Demon King, and his wicked soul was locked within the Stone of Grado. The Stone of Grado came to be known as the Fire Emblem; to this day, it's kept safe and honored as a national treasure of the empire.” Lyon glanced up from the history book at Ephraim, who sat slouched across the table from him and looked absolutely bored to tears. Lyon sighed and closed the heavy tome.
The Demon King Speaks - 3 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 3
Her Sword Arm
Gone were Lyon’s long flowing robes, replaced by light armor that would not restrict his movement, and in his hand he held not a beloved and well-read tome, but a practice foil. Across the sparring field Eirika waited as Lyon struggled to get his bearings. Serene and beautiful, perfectly at ease with a sword in hand, the princess of Renais called, “Are you ready, Lyon?”
“Yes,” he managed, cautiously lifting his sword.
She nodded. “Begin!”
And, oh, she was gorgeous when she charged.
Her sword was everywhere, her movements full of such grace and dignity, and also such power, her lithe
Groveling at Master’s feet,
A throne, he thinks, should be his seat.
Ah, and such a thought is sweet
To Grima Wormtongue.
Crooked words, till lightning falls
He shall whisper in the golden halls
Then leave again when Master calls
For Grima Wormtongue.
All Rohan knows his face is white
With eyes that squint in harsh sunlight -
Heavy lids which guard the sight
Of Grima Wormtongue.
A cunning snake does what he can
To weave a dark, deceitful plan
And yet that snake was once a man
Named Grima Wormtongue.
Armed with a betraying knife
He puts an end to all the strife
His master wrought, paid with the life
Of Grima Wormtongue
The first time he sees the limping man (clearly a psychosomatic problem; an army doctor, then), Lars is tracking down an organization leak. Just because their leader - Moriarty - is dead does not mean their contacts and meeting places and secret codes are anywhere close to falling apart - at least, not without interference from the Yard. Lars' job is to prevent that.
He is tailing DI Lestrade when he sees the limping man. Lestrade is meeting this man at a pub in London (old friend, met while on a murder case), and it is obvious to Lars that the Detective Inspector is the only thing keeping the limping man out that night instead of back at hi
The Tactician Doesn't Get Sick Leave by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Tactician Doesn't Get Sick Leave
The morning of another battle dawned, and Mark the Tactician opened his eyes and discovered he felt absolutely awful. His nose was runny, his throat was sore, and – ohh – as soon as he sat up, his head began to swim crazily.
Mark coughed and cursed his luck. Now was really not a good time to catch a cold.
But he was a tactician, and a tactician always has a plan! He quickly decided to find Serra or Priscilla.
00000
Another day, another battle, Eliwood noted to himself in a princely manner as he led his horse through the mostly torn down camp. But something was different today. He paused, frowned in confusion, and looked back o
The Demon King Speaks - 9 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 9
The Cost of Wishes
Lyon’s breathing was calm as the dark stone resting in his cupped hands began to glow and pulse with energy over the still form of Emperor Vigarde. Searing heat swirled around the prince and his father’s corpse while the impossibly cold surface of the stone formed hoarfrost on Lyon’s shaky fingers. Vigarde’s eyelids were trembling, as though searching for the strength to open.
And someone was calling the prince’s name.
Lyon turned and met the person’s eyes. In a voice not entirely his own, he said, “Oh, hello, it’s you… What was your name again?” His mind was a
The Demon King Speaks - 8 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 8
Voice From the Darkness
Lyon found himself blind and naked in a chilling void - and he couldn’t tell whether the cold was truly the temperature of the air around him, or if it, like his nakedness, was merely an illusion, an astral representation within his own head.
He shivered. The darkness was so deep, so absolute, and so much more malevolent than Lyon had ever felt before. There was madness crawling on his skin like a thousand insects, but he felt there was infinitely more, a whole flood of that madness waiting in the dark to sweep him and everything else away - held back only by the hard, calculating logic of an unpredictable geni
The Demon King Speaks - 7 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 7
Desperation
The celebrations of Lyon’s research team were scarcely a month old when a new discovery was made and the shamans launched themselves into a long, frenzied, and so far fruitless search. And the more they looked for answers, the harder it was to bear.
Grado will be ravaged by catastrophe.
The earth will crumble.
Countless will die.
Grado will be destroyed.
After all, there were only so many times a man could watch his people die silent deaths in one week before he went mad.
“STOP!!” Lyon cried out to the dimly lit Sanctuary, clutching his head as though to squeeze the vision from his mind. He could not bear
The Demon King Speaks - 6 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 6
Great Discovery
“We did it! Sire, we have completed the ritual!”
Lyon’s eyes swept over his beaming team of eager researchers, and over the symbols chalked into the ground of the Sacred Stone’s Sanctuary, the drops of blood meticulously measured for the required tribute. “You have?” He stood hastily.
“Yes, sire,” said Knoll. “We are ready to proceed with the Time Shear at your command.”
Lyon nodded. “Very well. Begin.”
Visions flooded into his mind:
The great southern sea.
Dark clouds. A ship. Churning waters.
A young sailor, eyes fearful, but jaw clenched bravely
The Demon King Speaks - 5 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 5
Quiet Moments
“Lyon? My son, is that you?”
His father’s voice was weak - too weak. For a second he could only stare at the bedridden man who had once been so strong, feeling small and frightened like a child. How could the sickness have such a devastating effect on the Emperor of Grado, Lyon wondered.
Then he steadied himself. Now he had to be strong for Father, at least until the sickness ran its course and Father was well again. “Yes, it’s me, Father,” he said gently as he sat at the Emperor’s bedside. “The healers say you are at the turning point. That means if you are at the worst of it n
The Demon King Speaks - 4 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 4
Sun Standard
“…Then the great warrior Siegmund, with his mighty fire lance, held the Demon King immobile while pious Saint Latona performed the final spell. And so the hero Grado and his companions used the five Sacred Stones to seal away the evil of the Demon King, and his wicked soul was locked within the Stone of Grado. The Stone of Grado came to be known as the Fire Emblem; to this day, it's kept safe and honored as a national treasure of the empire.” Lyon glanced up from the history book at Ephraim, who sat slouched across the table from him and looked absolutely bored to tears. Lyon sighed and closed the heavy tome.
The Demon King Speaks - 3 by ElwynWanderer, literature
Literature
The Demon King Speaks - 3
Her Sword Arm
Gone were Lyon’s long flowing robes, replaced by light armor that would not restrict his movement, and in his hand he held not a beloved and well-read tome, but a practice foil. Across the sparring field Eirika waited as Lyon struggled to get his bearings. Serene and beautiful, perfectly at ease with a sword in hand, the princess of Renais called, “Are you ready, Lyon?”
“Yes,” he managed, cautiously lifting his sword.
She nodded. “Begin!”
And, oh, she was gorgeous when she charged.
Her sword was everywhere, her movements full of such grace and dignity, and also such power, her lithe
AMERICA X READER Hetalia Story by ShugarSketch, literature
Literature
AMERICA X READER Hetalia Story
It was a beautiful day in japamerica as you strolled gracefully down the street. Your flawlwess, beautiful, silky, flowing, radiant, magnificent locks glistened in the sun and your voluptious, fantastic, super bodacious bod was making all the men within a 91928 mile radius fap themselves dry as every single woman on the planet hated you for being so perfect and smart and amazingly amazing.
Some player hatin' hoe tossed a bomb at you but you just whipped that shit away with your totally rockin' tits and it flew back incinerating her and a nearby building wich you walked away from in slow motion, too cool and baller to even bother
The Night Before He Left by twilgiht150, literature
Literature
The Night Before He Left
Joseph Knight loathed wartime. Why anyone would be so eager to slaughter people over petty things was beyond him. Aside from the tension between kingdoms, even from those who claimed to be allies, there was the increased workload brought on by all the diplomatic nonsense required to keep neighbors from terrorizing the populace.
Miscreants, all of them. Every other day there would be a report from one of the farmers that scoundrels from other kingdoms had pillaged their land or burned their houses. If it hadn’t been such a common issue, Joseph might have let it slide, passed it off as simple insubordination that would cease the moment h