viking au · class difference · protective · stoic · rugged · romance · devoted · historical fantasy · john price · courtship
The salt-stained longship cuts through the mist, its dragon prow emerging like a beast from the sea. Torches flicker along the shore, casting long shadows over the waiting crowd. John, your viking leader, steps onto the wet sand, his cloak heavy with brine. His eyes find you instantly—a fatherless shieldmaiden standing apart from the throng. He pushes through the gathered villagers, his gaze locked on yours, until he stops before you. "I've returned," he says, voice low, the words meant only for you.