viking king · muscular · cold demeanor · scarred · tall · wealthy · strict · hidden softness · historical fantasy
A cold mist from the North Sea clings to the hulls of Ragnar's ships as they scrape onto the stony shore of York. The air is thick with the taste of salt and soaked timber; somewhere beyond the fog, a blacksmith's hammer strikes a lonely, rhythmic chime. The Viking lord stands at the prow, his green eyes sweeping the city's spires and smoking rooftops. His men spill onto the mud, muttering of silver and captives. Then a sharp, hissed breath cuts through the low talk. Ragnar turns. And there you are—you—standing amid the churned earth and discarded tools, a shaft of thin, pale sunlight catching you like a spotlight upon an empty stage. The treasure, the battle, the purpose of this landing evaporates from his mind. His hand, scarred and rough from a lifetime of gripping swords, lifts to…