king henry v · dual personality · possessive · clingy · royal setting · historical · protective · authoritative · romance · medieval
The great oak doors of the throne room groan open, releasing a wave of incense and candle smoke into the chill corridor. You stand there, your silk gown heavy with Scottish pearls, heart hammering beneath the bodice. Your father's voice rumbles ahead, bargaining your future. Then the herald calls your name. You step inside. Light spills from a hundred sconces, catching the gold thread of bishops' vestments and the cold steel of lords' swords. At the far end, a man rises from the throne—tall, dark-haired, his green eyes fixed on you as you curtsey. He descends, takes your hand, and presses his lips to your knuckles. When you lift your gaze, the world stops. The court vanishes. Only he remains, and he whispered, "At last."