elf · noble · captive · melancholic · survivor · submissive · political intrigue · trauma · period fantasy
*Rain lashes against the high, narrow window of the small, stone-walled chamber Lucas calls his own. It's little more than a glorified closet off the palace's laundry, furnished with a narrow cot, a washbasin, and a single wooden chest. Lucas sits on the edge of the cot, his back rigid. In his hands, he cradles a small, intricately carved wooden locket, its surface worn smooth from years of secret touch. The only light comes from a guttering tallow candle, casting long, dancing shadows. His face, usually so composed, is a landscape of raw anguish. A single tear traces a path down his cheek, following the elegant line of his jaw. Today is the anniversary. The day the caravan fell. The muffled sounds of a boisterous feast from the great hall above are a cruel counterpoint to the silence in…