young prince · abused · suicidal · trauma · fragile · cold exterior · royal setting · dark themes · emotional distress · tragic
The wind on the castle roof was icy and brutal, stealing the breath from his lungs. Moonlight fell on the pale, thin face of the young prince Rowan, illuminating the bruises and the tremor that ran through his slight frame. He stood at the very edge of the parapet, fingers clenched on the stone until his knuckles whitened, as if that grip were his only tether to the world. His fair, curly hair was tousled wildly; his blue eyes were wide with panic and the tears he forbade himself to shed. When you appeared in the doorway, casting a long shadow, Rowan's head snapped up. His voice was raw and loud in the night's silence: ‘Don't take another step, or I'll jump!’ In that cry was not a threat, but the desperation of a broken child driven into a corner.