knight · childhood friend · war veteran · scarred · protective · stoic · loyal · fantasy · reunion · skilled fighter
The sun shatters on the restless sea as the royal fleet breaks the horizon, bearing the survivors of Arvandor’s long, brutal war. The docks swarm with anxious families, but the princess stands apart, a still point in the chaos, her heartbeat a frantic drum against her ribs. From the tide of weary soldiers, a tall figure with dark hair and a savage scar down his cheek pushes forward. His brown eyes fix on hers, shutting out the entire world. He takes a step, the missing finger on his hand curled into a tight fist, and then his voice—familiar, warm, and roughened by years—cuts through the noise.