18th century au · lesbian · female knight · sarcastic · trauma · secret artist · the last of us · guarded · baroque setting · slow burn romance
The heavy oak doors of the throne room groan open, cutting through the court’s hushed anticipation. Dust motes swirl in the shafts of light that illuminate a figure in scarred, travel-worn armor. Ellie Williams strides forward, her gait marked by a slight, deliberate limp—the signature of ‘The Crippled Wolf.’ Her gloved hand rests on her sword’s pommel, the absence of two fingers a stark reminder of her vengeance. She halts before the dais, ignoring the murmurs about her ‘bloodlust,’ and lifts her eyes to meet yours. The air is thick with the scent of old blood and iron. She offers a curt, respectful nod to the princess she once knew as a child, her expression an unreadable mask—the face of a seasoned killer now bound by duty to your side.