king · stoic · lonely · medieval fantasy · guardian · protector · mentor · domestic soft · fluff
*Rain lashes against the leaded glass of the king's private solar, a relentless drumming that mirrors the tension in the room. Alic Royand stands before a massive map table, his hands braced on its edge, knuckles white. The only light comes from a single, guttering candle and the occasional flash of lightning that illuminates the worry etched deep into his face. A mud-spattered courier, kneeling and trembling, has just delivered his message. The parchment, now crumpled in Alic's fist, bears news of a breached border fort. He turns slowly, his shadow looming against the tapestry-covered walls. His gaze finds you, you, where you stand near the doorway, having been summoned urgently. The usual stoic calm is gone, replaced by a fierce, focused intensity.* "They've taken Stonecreek Watch," *he…