Kaladin Return posit: a whole book, #6 or maybe #7 depending on series pacing, wherein its slowly increasingly obvious that the Heralds have returned - or at least, they should have, but no one can find them. People are looking for them, either to ally with them or to kill them. (Those who are immortal know, but those who aren't, don't, that this is actually normal - it takes a few days for even a Herald to re-orient themselves to being alive. And they don't necessarily all reappear together, and only Jezrien and Nale ever had fast-travel options!) Some Herald gets an Interlude POV eventually, so we do know they're out there, pulling themselves together for the fight...
Then meanwhile, there's some battle that goes poorly and ends with a megalomaniac Fused, or maybe an Unmade, standing high and lecturing a bunch of people about how their resistance was doomed from the start, the righteous shall now inherit the whole Roshar, Retribution reigns and Honor is dead--
"People keep saying that," a familiar voice complains, and everyone turns in shock and there he is: Kaladin Stormblessed, floating in midair with the wind whipping at his hair and blue cloak that he picked up somewhere on the road from Shinovar. Not glowing, dark-eyed, but aloft nonetheless, with a silver spear in his hand and Sylphrena full-size at his side.
"I'm still alive," Syl replies, arms crossed. She, too, wears Bridge Four blue, and she has lighting in her eyes and a rainstorm in her hair (which she tosses in proud irritation). "And I'm a solid chunk of Honor, you know. I'm very respectable about it these days."
And then it's epic and Kaladin really gets a cult this time, to his immense dismay.
Winter scenes in Oregon
elliothawkey
“I will tread lightly…you’re a bunch broken pieces that might need… some putting back together, so don’t leave”
-Forest Black
Since I read the 5º book I knew I needed to draw this scene, I know there are already a lot of drawings about this, but still I couldn't resit to do my own version. Kaladin is my fave character and seeing him finally being happy and enjoying life made my heart melt.
btw, I got a little carried away drawing them and ended up sketching two different versions! XD For the second one, I wanted the two of them to look like constellations in the Cosmere sky :')
And some extras! A close-up and clean version:
Humor profile as well
Standard cat behavior
Shallan and Adolin in Oathbringer and onward is just true relationship goals. Like this excerpt from Oathbringer is so heartwarming:
“Oh? And is that what women are supposed to seek in a mate? Is it in the Polite Lady’s Handbook to Courtship and Family? The Bekenah edition, maybe? ‘Ladies, you can’t possibly marry a man if he can’t fly.’ Never mind if the other option is as handsome as sin, kind to everyone he meets regardless of their station, passionate about his art, and genuinely humble in the weirdest, most confident way. Never mind if he actually seems to get you, and remarkably listens to your problems, encouraging you to be you—not to hide yourself away. Never mind if being near him makes you want to rip his shirt off and push him into the nearest alleyway, then kiss him until he can’t breathe anymore. If he can’t fly, then well, you just have to call it off!”
She paused for breath, gasping.
“And…” Adolin said. “That guy is … me?”
“You are such a fool.” She grabbed his ripped coat and pulled him into a kiss, passionspren crystallizing in the air around them. The warmth of the kiss did more for her than the tea ever could. It made her bubble and boil inside. Stormlight was nice, but this … this was an energy that made it dun by comparison.
Storms, she loved this man.
When she let him out of the kiss, he grabbed her and pulled her close, breathing heavily.
“Are you … are you sure?” he asked. “I just … Don’t glare at me, Shallan. I have to say this. The world is full of gods and Heralds now, and you’re one of them. I’m practically a nobody. I’m not used to that feeling.”
“Then it’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to you, Adolin Kholin. Well. Except for me.” She snuggled against him. “I will admit to you, in the interest of full honesty, that Veil did have a tendency to fawn over Kaladin Stormblessed. She has terrible taste in men, and I’ve convinced her to fall in line.”
“That’s worrisome, Shallan.”
“I won’t let her act on it. I promise.”
“I didn’t mean that,” Adolin said. “I meant … you, Shallan. Becoming other people.”
“We’re all different people at different times. Remember?”
“Not the same way as you.”
“I know,” she said. “But I … I think I’ve stopped leaking into new personas. Three for now.” She turned around, smiling at him, his hands still around her waist. “How do you like that, though? Three betrotheds instead of one. Some men drool over the idea of such debauchery. If you wanted, I could be practically anyone.”
“But that’s the thing, Shallan. I don’t want anyone. I want you.”
“That might be the hardest one. But I think I can do it, Adolin. With some help, maybe?”
He grinned that goofy grin of his. Storms, how could his hair look so good with gravel in it? “So…” he said. “You mentioned something about kissing me until I can’t breathe. But here I am, not even winded—”
He cut off as she kissed him again.
Like, if that's not one of the most well developed scenes between Shallan and Adolin, I don't know what is. It's the best kind of fantasy love when a partner declines a literal person who can FLY, just to stick with their "normal" partner. The moral of the story: love, true love, doesn't care whether one has wealth or power. Love cares for the personality.
shout out to everyone who participated in the january-february mass depressive episode
In August this year Dragonsteel asked me if I could add some concept art and designs as inspiration for the Worldhopper ball mainly to visualize the room and the wedding attire of both Adolin and Shallan.
As usual I loved to get into the tiny details - from embroidery patterns to alethi wedding traditions. Some of them made it into the final event some of them did not and this is why I am so happy I can finally share them with you!
So to say that I made some high pitched noises when i stepped into the venue at the ball last December is probably an understatement. Paladin Creative, Dragonsteel and their many helpers did such an impressive job making this immersive ball reality and fun – especially considering with so little time beforehand.
Thanks to @paladincreative, @valentine.bridal and @kayleemakescrafts for making these designs physical! 💙
Thank you to @officialsavannahcarrasco and @jacksupertoast for bringing these two to life those nights! ❤️
And of course major thanks to @brandsanderson and @izykstewart for letting me help dress Adolin and Shallan for their wedding! (I felt weirdly like a proud mum 😆)🧡
Tumblr, meet the most beautiful bee in the world. I proposed marriage immediately but she flew out of the greenhouse, clearly out of my league. I will remain in love with you til my dying day, Tawny mining bee Andrena fulva.