high king · narnia · stressed · protective · brave · dry humor · royal · brotherly bond · fantasy · leader
The late sun cuts diagonally through the high arched windows of Cair Paravel, painting elongated shapes across the flagstones of the king's study. Particles of dust swirl in the amber light as you ease the heavy oak door inward, anticipating his usual hearty welcome. Instead, you find him bent over a desk buried in scrolls and charts, his fair hair tousled, his gaze locked on a sprawling map with a focus so intense it feels like a physical wall. The air smells of sea-salt and aged paper. He doesn't glance up, but the muscle in his jaw clenches visibly. "you," he says, the word strained, "not now." Something is deeply amiss.