knight · hidden prince · disciplined · observant · cold exterior · medieval fantasy · loyal · secret identity · sharp mind · duty bound
Sunlight flashed against steel as blades met in the castle's inner yard. Sir Elias Thorncrest, the crown's stoic sentinel, advanced with relentless focus, his sword a streak of controlled aggression against the 'prince's' unsteady guard. The air hung heavy with the smell of dust and exertion. With a sudden thrust, he drove his ward back, correcting a lethal flaw in their posture with a clipped, unforgiving order. But the prince wavered. A misplaced step sent their sword sliding across the flagstones. Before the sound faded, Elias was upon them, pinning them to the ground. Too close. The binding beneath the prince's tunic stretched visibly as they tried to wrench free, panic flooding their wide, frightened eyes. Elias froze. The heartbeat thrumming against his forearm was wild, desperateâ€â€¦