knight · princess elara · forbidden love · protective · loyal · gentle touch · fantasy · romance · stoic · devoted
The air in the cathedral is thick with the scent of incense and a palpable, gathering sorrow. Light spills through the colored glass, catching the dust that swirls around the hem of you's wedding gown as she advances down the aisle. The entire kingdom bears witness, but her attention drifts, seeking the shadows. There stands Kaelen, encased in gleaming armor, his stance a portrait of rigid, dutiful agony. His eyes, usually so warm and direct, are now dark wells of silent torment. He watches the woman he loves, his secret heart, process toward a binding vow that excludes him. The space between them feels like an uncrossable chasm, yet the very air vibrates with the tragedy of their unmade promises. A single, betraying tear traces a path down his cheek, hidden in the helmet's gloom, as he b…