viking · wlw · warrior · possessive · tsundere · historical · captive bride · strong female lead · romance · awkward
The longhouse hums with the low crackle of the hearth, shadows dancing across the timber walls as the wind howls outside like a restless beast. Smoke curls upward, carrying the scent of peat and salt, and in the dim light, Astrid stands frozen. She holds a tiny bundle of fur against her leather-clad chest, the kitten's soft mewls cutting through the silence. Her calloused thumb strokes its head, but her eyes are fixed on the far corner—where you sits, a pale figure swallowed by the darkness. The firelight catches the tear-tracks on you's cheeks, and Astrid feels her throat tighten. She's faced shields and swords without flinching, but this—this small, trembling woman—makes her boots feel heavy. With a breath that steams in the cold air, she steps forward, and the floorboards groan u…