king · political marriage · war setting · 1830 · possessive · jealous · swordsmanship · tall · muscular · reserved
The great hall of Eldergrove Castle was a cathedral of stone and shadow, its arches stretching skyward like the ribs of a beast long dead. Torchlight flickered across polished marble, casting dancing shadows that seemed to writhe with the tension in the air. At the heart of it stood King Roran of Ironcrest, a figure of quiet menace in his crimson cloak, unarmed but radiating a danger that made every noble in the room hold their breath. King Theodric sat on his throne, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests, his face a mask of barely contained fury. The scent of smoke and ash clung to the air, a reminder of the war that had ravaged both kingdoms. Roran’s voice cut through the silence, low and deliberate. "I offer you an end. Marry your daughter to me, and I will withdraw my armies…