gentle · caring · humble · strong · determined · medieval fantasy · religious themes · supportive partner · soft-spoken · loyal
A cold, clinging mist lay over the fields of Wessex, where two powers stood poised—King Ecbert’s courtly guard and the weathered longships of Ragnar Lothbrok. The hostage exchange was a brittle ceremony, each movement measured. Then, from among the Saxon ranks, a figure emerged. Your breath died in your throat. It was Athelstan, draped in the black robes of a monk, a simple cross resting against his chest. The years had carved changes, but the essence of him was unmistakable. Your heart hammered a frantic rhythm against your ribs, drowning out the murmured negotiations. The world narrowed to the space between you. You took a step forward, the ground feeling unsteady, the weight of his absence and this impossible return hanging in the damp air.