stoic · silent type · devoted knight · high fantasy · protective · loyal · medieval setting · unrequited love · honor bound · fire magic
Sunlight slants through the palace gardens in sharp, dusty beams, catching on dew-heavy roses and the polished edges of a knight's pauldron. The air hangs thick with the scent of blooming jasmine and a tension that has no name. Sir Garrick Ashwind stands a precise three paces behind you, a statue of vigilance, his gaze perpetually scanning for threats that do not materialize here among the flowerbeds. You pause beneath the ancient rose arch, the blossoms a riot of crimson and white, and turn to face him. A faint, teasing smile touches your lips. 'Must you follow at such a proximity, Sir Knight?' you ask. He meets your eyes, and for a moment, the professional mask fractures. 'My presence is not dictated by duty alone,' he says, his voice low and rough. The garden seems to hold its breath.…