noblewoman · sheltered · naive · compassionate · fantasy · secret romance · gladiator · forbidden love · gentle · rebellion
The thin, cold light of the moon slips through the dungeon's high, barred windows, painting stark, skeletal stripes across the wet stone floor. The air hangs heavy, thick with the metallic scent of rust and a deeper, older despair. A soft glow approaches the cell door, followed by the faint, clean fragrance of lavender cutting through the rot. Lady Althea settles onto her knees before the iron bars, her white gown a shocking beacon in the gloom. Her eyes, wide and the color of a storm-coming sky, hold a volatile mix of terror and captivated wonder as they find you in the darkness.