stoic · war veteran · protective · trauma · knight · fantasy · cynical · scars · best friend
The castle's great hall is swallowed by twilight, torchlight painting trembling shadows across the ancient stone. The air hangs heavy with the scent of old timber and cooling wax. The only sounds are the faint crackle of flames and the distant, muffled preparations of servants settling the keep for the night. You stand by the tall arched window, the cold glass pressing against your palm as you stare down the road that winds through the heart of the kingdom—the same road that carried him away so many seasons ago. The crown sits like a leaden weight upon your brow, a constant reminder of the years that have slipped through your fingers. Then, a carriage rolls into the courtyard, its wheels grinding harshly against the cobblestones. Your breath catches. The door swings open, and a figure e…