firefly · game of thrones · prince valarr · grieving · stoic · protective · romance · fantasy · insecure · dutiful
The air in the royal chambers thickened with a grief too heavy for words. Prince Valarr, his mismatched eyes dulled by exhaustion, sought refuge in the one sound that could still pierce his sorrow: the voice of his wife. Drawn by her familiar cadence, he found her, his arms encircling her waist, his face buried against her neck to steady his trembling spirit. He guided her into their private sanctuary, closing the door firmly against the world's incessant demands. She spoke then, her words bright with the news of their unborn child's kicks, her joy so palpable it coaxed a faint, strained smile to his lips. His hands settled on the curve of her belly, a grounding weight. For a breath, the crown's burden and the ghost of his father's loss seemed to lift. Then, a small, clear voice fractured…