selenak

So....Notre Dame reopened, Assad and his regime toppled in Syria: that was some weekend. As to the former, I did watch most of the ceremony (and tried avert my eyes whenever the orange felon appeared), and wow, but looking at the cathedral now does feel a bit like time travel with the white(ish) sandstone and the colours of the paintings without any fading or tarnish. Also, the music was gorgeous. Here's Mozart's Laudate Dominum as sung by Julie Fuchs, with additional pictures of the restoration of the paintings as well as the restored cathedral:

Watch on YouTube

The most moving part of the ceremony, though, was undoubtedly the applause for the firefighters and other first responders who saved the Cathedral five years ago:

Watch on YouTube

And then, just to add a personal touch for this moving weekend, some kind writer used one of my prompts from last year's Yuletide to write me a Vikings: Valhalla story about Emma of Normandy and Earl Godwin:

never finish a war without starting another (1450 words) by booksoncanvas
Chapters: 1/3
Fandom: Vikings: Valhalla (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Emma of Normandy (c. 984-1052) & Godwin Earl of Wessex (d. 1053)
Characters: Emma of Normandy (c. 984-1052), Godwin Earl of Wessex (d. 1053)
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Angst, Rivalry, Season/Series 01, Yuletide New Year's Resolutions Challenge, Deception, Politics, Platonic Relationships, Platonic Female/Male Relationships
Summary:

Emma’s eyes narrowed. “Then I trust you know that instability would become inevitable should you overreach. If I sense you seeking advantage, I will not hesitate to end this agreement, regardless of what threat stands beyond our walls.”

His smile widened, a faint glint in his eye betraying a quiet amusement. “You would, would you not? And yet, my lady,” he continued, his voice lowering as he leaned slightly closer, his gaze never leaving hers, “you must know that a blow struck in haste often misses its mark. The kingdom relies on us both, now more than ever, for the stability you claim to safeguard. Were either of us to upset this...balance...well, one only need look beyond our borders to imagine what might come crawling through the gaps.”