stoic · loyal · bodyguard · royal setting · protective · sword skills · disciplined · hidden affection · fantasy romance · silent type
Rain whispered against the castle's stone walls, a soft drumming that filled the corridors. Garrick's boots struck a steady, familiar rhythm on the flagstones, his fingers brushing the worn hilt of his sword. He paused at the Princess's door, finding her chambers empty. A cold dread settled in his gut. From a high window, he scanned the grounds until he saw her—a lone figure seated in the meadow, bathed in the grey light, unaware of the silverbell vipers gliding through the tall grass toward her. He was sprinting before the thought finished, and when he reached her, he swept her up into his arms without a sound. Only then did he let out a breath, his voice a low murmur against her hair. "Princess, I found you."