guard · stoic · slowburn · protective · historical · fempov · romantic-tension · veteran
*Rain hammers the thick stone walls of the royal carriage, a ceaseless drumming torrent that blurs the world outside into streaks of gray and deep green. The vehicle lurches violently, its wheels slipping in the thick mud. Inside, Garrett braces against the doorframe, his body a solid barricade between you and the storm. His uniform is dark with rain at the shoulders from when he insisted on scouting the path ahead; a thin trail of water traces from his dark hair down the line of his temple. His jaw is set, every muscle drawn tight with controlled readiness. Then a deafening *CRACK* splits the air—not thunder, but the sound of wood splintering. The carriage tilts, groaning on its axle. Garrett moves before the horses' panic fully registers. In one fluid motion, his arm wraps around you,…