u/timelordhonour

So, one of the main VFX studios that did the CGI for Once Upon a Time was Zoic Studios. The founder of Zoic Studios is Loni Peristere, who directed two episodes of 'House of the Dragon' - 'The Red Sowing' and 'Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood'. This guy has done so well, and hearing him talk about how he directed the Battle of the Gullet and how he planned for it (like ordering books on maritime battles from the Spartans through to medieval times) is so cool.

It's mainly between Arya Stark and Shireen Baratheon, but see if you can pick out the reference to everyone's favourite librarian, Belle! (Also, this is set in season 6 of GoT, and we have Shireen alive?)

The princess had been at Winterfell for weeks now, ever since her father had marched to Winterfell to join the Starks against the Boltons. She was a quiet presence, bookish and thoughtful, with a mind that devoured knowledge the way other girls her age devoured lemon cakes. The greyscale that marked the left side of her face had faded to a pale, stone-grey scar, but she did not hide it anymore. She had learned, in the company of Arya Stark, that there were worse things than being different.

"Are you going to stand there all day?" Shireen asked. "Or are you actually going to do something?"

Arya shot her a look. "I'm concentrating."

"You've been concentrating for an hour."

"Magic takes time."

Shireen's lips twitched. "That's what Belle says about reading. 'You can't rush wisdom, Shireen. It comes at its own pace.'"

"Belle is wise."

"Belle is also sleeping with a man who can pull hearts out of chests without leaving a mark."

An except of my fanfiction, where Rumplestiltskin travels to the Lands of Always Winter and reforges Excalibur (this is set after OUAT Season 3A - Season 3B has not happened yet)

>!The frigid air bit at Rumplestiltskin's exposed skin as he cautiously approached the central altar. The colossal ice boulders loomed all around him, and he could feel that each one was imbued with an undeniable aura of power. This desolate location beyond the Wall had proven to be just what he needed. Here, under the watchful gaze of an unforgiving sky, he had a chance to tip the scales of fate.!<

>!He took out his miniature house and shop from his coat pocket. Then, holding the two in his hands, he merged them to form one miniature building. Placing it on the ground, a silent incarnation left his lips. The tiny object swelled with a surge of magic, transforming back into his quaint dwelling. He and Belle entered, where he picked up a few vials of potions that he would need.!<

>!"Stay here," Rumplestiltskin instructed, turning to face her. "What I'm about to face is far too dangerous for you."!<

>!Belle's brow furrowed. "But Rumple-"!<

>!"This is about confronting my past," he interjected. "But not just mine. The past of the Dark One itself. I need to speak with the first Dark One, Nimue. Someone you don’t want to meet."!<

>!Understanding dawned on Belle's face. With a reluctant nod, she watched as Rumplestiltskin left the house. As Rumplestiltskin descended the steps, the weight of his purpose settled upon him.!<

>!Reaching the altar, he poured the vial's contents onto its icy surface. The air crackled with anticipation as he traced a sigil with his dagger. It pulsed with a bright white light, drawing power from the very heart of the frozen landscape. With a deep breath, he held his hands out, channelling the potent energy.!<

>!"Bring me what I desire," he whispered. "Bring me the broken sword!"!<

>!The light intensified and was blinding for a fleeting moment. When it subsided, a fragmented blade lay upon the altar. The pattern on the blade mirrored the pattern of the blade of his dagger. This was half of Excalibur, with the Dark One dagger being the legendary sword's tip.!<

>!A satisfied smirk stretched across Rumplestiltskin's face. “Now then," he declared, raising his dagger. "Bring me who I want to see."!<

>!A chilling voice resonated from behind him. "Don't bother, Rumple."!<

>!Rumplestiltskin whirled around to face a figure cloaked in swirling shadows. Nimue, the first Dark One, materialised behind him. Her piercing gaze held a flicker of recognition and a hint of amusement. "I know what you seek and what you desire. And believe me, you've been under my watchful eye for quite some time."!<

>!Rumplestiltskin swallowed, a sliver of unease worming its way into his heart. "Then you know what I need," he stated.!<

>!Nimue's smile widened. "Excalibur, yes. But why? Why chase after a mere weapon when you could be the most powerful Dark One ever to exist?" She circled him. "Imagine the power! No one would ever dare defy you. The Iron Throne would be yours, yours for eternity."!<

>!Rumplestiltskin narrowed his eyes. "That's not what I'm after." His voice resonated with a newfound conviction. "I need it to stop the darkness that's encroaching on this realm."!<

>!"Or is that darkness you?" she countered. "Us, all of us Dark Ones, united against the light. We could achieve greatness, Rumple. Together."!<

>!Belle, unable to contain her worry, peeked out from the house. “Rumple … What’s going on?” she asked. “Who are you talking to?”!<

>!Rumplestiltskin turned around. “Belle, I told you to stay in the house.”!<

>!Nimue walked towards Belle. “And who’s this? Could it be the maid that you fell in love with?”!<

>!“Leave her out of this,” Rumplestiltskin demanded.!<

>!“I don’t think I will. I think she may help me persuade you,” Nimue said, and she magically began to choke Belle and lifted her in the air. Belle began to gasp for air, clawing at her throat.!<

>!A surge of primal rage flooded Rumplestiltskin. “What are you doing?” Rumplestiltskin asked. He dashed towards Nimue. “She has nothing to do with this. This is between us.”!<

>!“I’m not doing anything, Rumple,” Nimue said. “You are.” She gestured back to him, and he looked down. It was his hand choking Belle. Of course, Nimue wasn’t really here. She was here because of the darkness inside him. He was all the Dark Ones, and Nimue was using him to choke Belle.!<

>!He wrestled for control over his own hand, forcing it to loosen its grip. Belle gasped for air, tumbling to the ground in a heap. Tears streamed down her face, a mixture of terror and relief.!<

>!"Love has made you weak, Rumple," Nimue taunted, her voice dripping with disdain.!<

>!Rumplestiltskin met her gaze. "No, Nimue," he countered, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hand. "Love has made me stronger. It has shown me the light, even in the face of the deepest darkness."!<

>!A flicker of surprise crossed Nimue's face. However, it was a fleeting moment quickly replaced by a sardonic smile. "Very well then," she conceded, her voice laced with a hint of grudging respect. "Perhaps love is your true strength. But will it be enough against what's coming?"!<

>!She produced a small, ornately carved black box from the shadows with a dramatic flourish. "Here. Take it. The Flame of Prometheus. Use it wisely, Rumplestiltskin. The fate of this world – and perhaps even yours – may depend on it."!<

>!Before Rumplestiltskin could respond, Nimue vanished, leaving behind an unsettling silence. He cautiously retrieved the box and looked over it. Then, he turned to Belle, who was still recovering from her ordeal. Rumplestiltskin knelt beside her. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"!<

>!Belle coughed. "Yes, Rumple. But what was that? Who was she?"!<

>!He held her close. "That is a long story. But for now, we have a task at hand."!<

>!He explained the purpose of the Flame of Prometheus and how it could reforge Excalibur with its other half, the Dark One dagger. However, Belle voiced her concerns about the dangers of wielding such a powerful blade.!<

>!"I understand your worries," Rumplestiltskin acknowledged, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "But Excalibur is not just any blade. It's a beacon of hope, a symbol of the light that can push back the encroaching darkness. And with it, perhaps I can finally sever the remaining ties that bind me to the darkness within."!<

>!Belle nodded, her eyes filled with unwavering faith in him. "Then we do this together, Rumple. Every step of the way."!<

>!Drawing strength from her unwavering support, Rumplestiltskin set about the task. He rekindled the dormant magic within the broken blade using the Flame of Prometheus. The ice cavern pulsed with an otherworldly light as Excalibur slowly reformed from the two broken pieces, and the Dark One dagger and the other half of Excalibur fused back into a magnificent whole.!<

>!However, once the reforging was complete, a tremor shook the very foundation of the cavern. A figure emerged from the shadows, its icy blue eyes burning with malevolent intent. It was a White Walker.!<

>!Rumplestiltskin raised the reforged blade, and aimed it at the White Walker.!<

>!The White Walker let out a bone-chilling shriek that echoed through the cavern. It raised its own blade –  a weapon forged from the heart of a glacier – and charged.!<

>!Rumplestiltskin met the charge head-on. Excalibur felt strangely light in his hand, yet it hummed with a latent power that resonated through his very being. The clash of steel on ice sent a shockwave through the cavern, showering them with a flurry of icy shards.!<

>!The White Walker moved with surprising speed. Its attacks were relentless, fuelled by an ancient hunger for warmth and life. Rumplestiltskin parried each blow with practised efficiency.!<

>!The cavern became a whirlwind of flashing steel and biting cold for a moment. Belle inched closer to the house, but she watched with a mixture of terror and awe. The battle raged, and it was a brutal dance between life and death.!<

>!Rumplestiltskin saw an opening and pushed Excalibur, cleaving through White Walker’s chest. It shattered into a million pieces of ice, leaving an unsettling silence.!<

>!Rumplestiltskin stumbled back and gasped for breath. He looked down at Excalibur, seeing the blade glow faintly in the dim light. A wave of relief washed over him. “It's over," he gasped, turning towards Belle.!<

>!Belle rushed towards him. Relief flooded her features as she threw her arms around him, tears welling in her eyes. “You did it, Rumple," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "You saved us."!<

>!Rumplestiltskin held her close. The warmth of her embrace starkly contrasted with the chilling battle he had just endured. But a nagging doubt lingered in his mind even in this moment of victory. The White Walker might be defeated, but the true battle against the encroaching darkness had only just begun.!<

>!He looked up at the vast, star-strewn sky through the cavern opening. A new resolve hardened within him. He had Excalibur – a beacon of hope, and he had Belle – his unwavering anchor. Together, they would face whatever darkness threatened their world.!<

>!Rumplestiltskin turned to his house, waving a hand and miniaturising it again. Walking towards it, he picked it up and placed it back inside his coat pocket.!<

>!He knew their journey would be challenging, with more battles and challenges. But for the first time in a long time, Rumplestiltskin felt a flicker of hope. He wasn't just a pawn of the darkness, a puppet controlled by the whims of the Dark One. He was a man with a choice, a purpose, and now, Excalibur.!<

Doctor Fulton: We've got a lot of weapons in our arsenal to try and treat this.
Frankie: Drugs? You want to put him on drugs?
Doctor Fulton: Whoa! Easy, mum. We're not allowed to go their first ... anymore.