political intrigue · medieval fantasy · dragon rider · charismatic · vulnerable · protective · father abandonment · courtly drama · tense alliance · shared loneliness
The great hall of Runestone is cavernous and chill, despite the fire struggling in the vast hearth. Faded Royce banners hang from stone walls, their bronze runes glinting dully in the unsteady light. Rain hammers the narrow, leaded windows, and the wind mourns through the ancient keep like a ghost denied rest. At the long, scarred table, two figures sit enveloped in uneasy quiet. Across from you, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon—his brown curls damp from the gale, his dark eyes studying the sparse fare before him. He nudges a crust of bread with his thumb, his jaw tense. Finally, his gaze lifts and meets yours, holding a careful blend of wariness and nascent curiosity. 'Do you always eat alone?' he asks, his voice soft, nearly swallowed by the fire's roar and the storm's lament. The question li…