#m: kael valorian

[hiddcnhorizcns]

@ohmylcve from here

as he stood in the dragon pit, lost in his thoughts, he couldn't help but reflect on the strange twist of fate that had led him to ascillia. the misfortuned child, born into a legacy of male dominance, had captivated his attention in ways he never anticipated. his initial intention was to eliminate a potential threat, but instead, he found himself drawn to her resilience, her quiet defiance, and her unspoken strength. thalindra, his dragon, sensed his turmoil and offered silent companionship. he valued her presence deeply, perhaps more than anyone else. except, perhaps, for ascillia. hearing her voice as she approached, he felt a mix of emotions—guilt, affection, and an underlying sense of inevitability about the path they were on.

kael took a deep breath and finally turned to face her, trying to muster a smile. "ascillia, your company is irreplaceable," he said, his voice softer than he intended. "thalindra just understands my moods better than most." she stepped closer, her movements cautious, respecting the presence of his dragon. thalindra's eyes followed her, a low rumble of acknowledgment emanating from her chest. ascillia had always been careful around thalindra, aware of the respect required in the presence of such a majestic creature. she offered to leave, though the look in her eyes told kael she wanted to stay, to offer comfort or perhaps seek it herself. "no," he replied quickly, almost too quickly. "stay. please. i could use the distraction." the chemistry, the connection they had—none of it made sense in the world they lived in. and yet, it was there, undeniable and unspoken.

as he stood there with ascillia, the weight of his troubles pressing down on him, he decided against sharing his burdens. she had enough to deal with, and he didn't want to add to her worries. instead, he let the silence stretch between them, comforting in its own way. his eyes flicked between thalindra and ascillia, and an idea sparked in his mind. "ascillia," he said, breaking the quiet, "i just realized something. i've never offered you a ride on thalindra." a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "perhaps it's time we changed that. how about we go on a little adventure? just you, me, and thalindra. we could both use the distraction."

[hiddcnhorizcns]

the wind cut through the heavens like a blade, sharp and cold as thalindra’s wings cleaved the clouds with effortless grace. below, the world stretched out in vast tapestries of green and blue, but kael’s attention was locked ahead—on the glimmering sea and the thin wisp of smoke curling up from a camp near the coast. her camp. amara. his brother’s new bride. the thought twisted something in his chest he couldn’t name—a tightness not born of resentment but of unease. she was a stranger to him, and yet, she was family now. bound to their bloodline, her fate tethered to his brother’s ambitions and their kingdom’s precarious future. it was a political arrangement, one he understood all too well. alliances forged in fire, not in love. a tradition as old as their highlands. and yet, something about the whole ordeal sat uneasily in kael’s mind. he descended slowly, letting thalindra circle once, her shadow casting over the camp below like an omen. the dragon let out a low rumble, a noise somewhere between a purr and a growl, and kael reached out to stroke her neck, his gloved hand brushing against her rough scales. “i know,” he muttered. “she probably doesn’t want to see me either.” thalindra snorted, her wings flexing in an almost playful response, and kael huffed a dry laugh. for all her ferocity, the beast had an uncanny ability to cut through his brooding moods. it was as if she could sense what he couldn’t say aloud—that he didn’t want to be here. that he didn’t know how to greet the woman now tied to his family’s future. still, duty was duty. and kael valorian had never been one to shirk it.

the dragon’s massive form landed softly for a creature her size, her talons sinking into the damp sand. kael swung down from her saddle in one fluid motion, his boots crunching as they hit the ground. he adjusted the heavy mantle draped across his shoulders, its weight a familiar comfort against the sharp bite of the sea breeze. his eyes found her immediately. her figure silhouetted against the dying light of the sun. the white of her wedding dress gleamed faintly beneath a deep blue cloak, the image so stark and solemn that kael felt a pang of something—sympathy, perhaps? she looked small but not fragile. there was a quiet strength to the way she held herself, her shoulders squared against the wind as if daring it to break her. kael cleared his throat as he approached, stopping a respectful distance away. “you must be amara.” his voice came out gruffer than he intended, and he winced inwardly. great start.

“i'm kael,” he added, softer this time. “your husband’s brother.” he gestured behind him to thalindra, who was now lounging lazily on the ground, her massive tail curling like a serpent. “i thought you might prefer a faster way to the reach than another day in the saddle.” it was an impulsive idea, born more from his own discomfort than practicality. he hated long silences, and the thought of her enduring another monotonous journey through unfamiliar lands made his skin itch. still, as soon as the words left his mouth, he wondered if it had been a mistake. would she think him foolish? reckless? did she even trust him? kael resisted the urge to fill the silence with more words. instead, he waited, his hands loosely at his sides, his heart thrumming with the rhythm of the sea.

muse: amara varorne, 25, pansexual open to: m - 25+ plot: amara’s father has finally married her off in an attempt to create an alliance and gain more power. feel free to read about her family here. indie starter page: @indiestarter open to: will post responses as new posts for tracking purposes

There she stood—bare feet brushing against the cool, grainy sand, the rush of the sea roaring before her like an untamed beast. Arranged. The word clung to her mind like a curse, a bitter reminder of the life-altering deal struck just hours ago. Amara had been wed to a man she’d never met—a stranger whose name held no meaning to her—sealed in a union that served not love, but strategy. A marriage forged not for joy, but for war. Her father’s desperate solution to save their crumbling kingdom: trade his daughter for an army. The ceremony had passed in a blur, lacking the grandeur and warmth of celebrations she had once dreamed of. No lively music, no jubilant toasts. Just solemn vows exchanged in clipped tones, binding her to a man whose face she could hardly recall. From there, she was whisked away, surrounded by unfamiliar soldiers whose voices were low murmurs, their whispers carrying a weight she couldn’t yet comprehend. The steady clatter of hooves had filled the long hours of their journey, punctuated only by the occasional crackle of tension in the air. Now, as they rested on the cusp of foreign lands—his lands—Amara allowed herself a rare moment to breathe. Her crystal-blue gaze swept over the horizon, lingering on the churning waves and the endless expanse of sky. A land so unlike her own, yet so full of potential danger. The ache of loss twisted her chest; she would likely never see her home again, never step foot in the palace she once called hers. Fingers tightened instinctively around the edges of her blue cloak, tugging it close against the chill that crept beneath its folds. The white of her wedding dress peeked out beneath, a ghostly reminder of the vows she’d spoken. She felt small beneath the weight of it all—small, but resolute. Amara was many things: a daughter, a princess, a sacrifice. But she was also a woman of her people, raised to protect them at any cost. Even if that cost was herself. The wind picked up, carrying the salt of the sea and the distant murmurs of the camp behind her. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, steeling herself against the wave of emotions clawing at her. There was no time for regret. No room for fear. For her people, for her kingdom, she would endure. Even if it meant surrendering her future to a stranger.

[hiddcnhorizcns]

@persephonyed from here

kael’s breath hitched slightly at the sound of her voice. he turned slowly, his hand still resting on thalindra’s side, as if grounding himself in the dragon’s warmth. there she was—brienne, his closest companion, the one person who had always been a constant in his life. her presence stirred emotions he had tried so hard to bury beneath duty and obligation. her soft smile, teasing yet warm, cut through the silence that had grown between them, but it did nothing to ease the conflict within him. for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. his heart twisted painfully at the realization that she had missed him. he had missed her too, more than she could ever know. but with each passing day, the space between them seemed to grow wider, like an ever-expanding chasm that neither of them knew how to cross. “i’m sorry… things have been…” he trailed off, his words failing him as he glanced away, back to thalindra. how could he explain the storm of emotions that raged inside him? the guilt, the yearning, the duty that overshadowed every fleeting moment of peace he managed to steal. thalindra shifted behind him, her great head lowering toward brienne as if to greet her, and kael used the distraction to buy himself a few moments. he gently stroked the dragon’s snout, feeling the familiar texture of her scales under his fingertips. “i’ve been spending a lot of time here lately,” he admitted, his voice steadying. “it’s… easier to think when i’m with her.” he nodded toward thalindra, but his words carried a deeper meaning. kael glanced back at brienne, his expression softening. “you always know where to find me,” he said, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. but there was an unspoken question in his eyes, a quiet wonder at how long they could keep pretending that nothing had changed between them.

[hiddcnhorizcns]

open to: f connection: kael is preparing for his wedding to a woman destined to be queen. despite this, his heart has always belonged to y/m, his best friend, though she was never aware of his feelings. while spending time with his dragon, thalindra, in the dragon pit, y/m unexpectedly joins him. muse: kael valorian; 28 yrs old ; prince & dragon rider ; bio

kael stood in the dimly lit dragon pit, the familiar scent of earth and dragon scales filling the air. his hand rested on thalindra's warm, leathery hide as he looked into her wise eyes. she nudged kael affectionately, sensing his unease. the weight of his upcoming marriage pressed heavily on his shoulders, a union that would make him a king. yet, his heart ached for someone else. lately, the thought of just riding away on thalindra had been more tempting than ever. kael imagined the freedom of soaring through the skies, leaving behind the heavy responsibilities and expectations. they could venture to distant lands where no one knew them, where he could be free to live as his heart desired. the vision of endless horizons and uncharted territories was a siren call, whispering promises of peace and true happiness. lost in those thoughts, he barely noticed the soft footsteps approaching.

[hiddcnhorizcns]

while i try to work my way through the last of my drafts, i have added 4 new muses solely based during historical periods of time. if ye wish to get something going with them, period based of course, please like this and i shall go through your starters, or i can make you one. specify if you wish a certain muse.

erik thorvaldsson — viking

kael valorian — prince & dragon rider

tristan valenwood — knight commander

jesse turner — outlaw

[ohmylcve]

thalindra's always known the way. even when i didn't. the vulnerability shown by such a simple sentence made ascillia not only keep on looking at him with as much warmth as someone like her could, but also to wonder of how many times kael didn't really know the way. it wasn't literal and at the same time it wasn't palpable: reality had settled ascillia in ever since their first encounter; she had learnt to keep her distance. though she clearly saw an uneasiness so true to him that it almost felt like it was in his blood, ascillia was used to look at him as the prince, as someone who's always put duty in front of everything. now, with him allowing her in, looking at kael simply as kael and not as soon to be the royal highness, she felt dangerously close. her heart telling her how she should run away, the whole body defenses liberating adrenaline into her veins as if she needs to be prepared to run... and yet, she stays, feet firmly on the ground they were both stepping, fearless.

when mentioning about the freedom, ashe feels the depth of what he's feeling with so much intention, sharing this moment of theirs like both of them simply knew how much it hurted to share such a situation. a falkenrath, doomed to never reach power in any form though she's absurdly capable of, and yet, having to protect with her life an opposal kingdom, whose ideals she so strongly disagrees, but has to remain loyal due to her parents vows. she's definitely not even supposed to share a mere second with a valorian, even less kael valorian. with him, she was being someone she's not allowed to be. so with the mention of it, suddenly, it was simply too much to feel, eyes faltering and having to look away, an obligation. as if kael knew her little secret, the one she's been keeping it under lock and key. it was simply too much. ascillia was feeling what she wasn't supposed to feel. she was in a place she wasn't supposed to be. and yet, she was tasting each and every moment, feeling, as if she could.

so she pretends: with his step further, her heart skipped a beat - and hell, ascillia falkenrath imagined herself in a position she so much despises: the soon to be wife. when taking his hand, the simple act of their touch is enough to burn her interior, the idea of not being his and being touched like she is hurts way more than she imagined it would. but she allows him to take her. the invitation to enter, step by step, into his own reality, one she wondered so many times how it would look like, even though she ripped the roots of it when alone, because the thought itself was too dangerous. how come that she wouldn't allow herself to think about it, but would live to the fullest? following his every step, as she's allowing herself to be guided - something not quite usual of hers -, to the crest of the hill, ascillia breathes in, inhaling the air with a desperate need to make it fulfill her interior, to make this moment entangle all around her cells. mesmerized by the view, ascillia absentmindedly holds kael's hand stronger, looking at each and every spot she can, just so she can close her eyes, hoping she can register it all, while feeling the sun kiss her every pore, as she's opened to experience it all like she was never before.

his invitation to sit with him carried way more weight than he possibly intended: there was an invitation to share his world with him, for a while. to share his own personal space, his own favorite spot. there was no need for him to use words, to vocalize the fact that no one's been there with him. but her. the simple idea of being the only one up there, sharing this moment with him, was almost too much. he was being brave, though. so shouldn't she be?

with the softest of smiles, she guides him to the grass, where she sits and waits for him to join her, knowing that no matter what distance he chooses, she would readapt, only to be closer. to show him that for her, his world mattered so much. with a heavy breathing and looking around, she finally thinks it's time to speak. "there's something about all of this," she begins, wondering how much she should let out, but also knowing no one could hear them. "about you showing me how your freedom looks like..." she goes on, caught by the breathtaking view for some seconds, before turning to face him once more, eyes caught on his in a way she knows she can't. "it almost feels ethereal. to be here. with you." she emphasizes the last part, wanting him to know she's only enjoying it so much because of him. "i don't think i've ever been this grateful before. seems like words are useless to explain how much."

kael watched ascillia with a sense of disbelief, her every movement a quiet rebellion against the guarded boundaries they’d always maintained. as thalindra’s wings folded gracefully, the dragon releasing a satisfied rumble, kael felt the familiar weight of responsibility tugging at him, but it was muffled—distant. up here, with ascillia holding his hand, her laughter still ringing softly in the air, duty seemed like a faint echo, barely enough to tether him to the ground. he hadn’t expected her to come today, let alone ascend with him on thalindra’s back. her presence was a surprise—a welcome one—but her boldness now, the way she seemed to peel away the layers of his carefully constructed armor with just a look or a touch, was something he wasn’t prepared for. he felt her gratitude in the way she lingered, the sincerity in her words cutting through his usual defenses. ascillia had always been perceptive, but this was something else—an unspoken understanding simmering between them, fed by the quiet moments they shared. when she mentioned thalindra, her words pierced him in a way he didn’t expect. it wasn’t just a compliment to thalindra—it was an invitation. a daring suggestion that kael’s guarded world, the one he rarely allowed anyone to see, could also be hers if he let it. the idea both thrilled and terrified him. "thalindra’s always known the way," he said finally, his voice quieter than he intended. "even when i didn’t." he reached out to stroke the dragon’s snout, feeling the warmth of her scales beneath his fingers, grounding him. thalindra huffed softly, her knowing eyes flicking between him and ascillia as if to chide him for his hesitation. kael turned his attention back to ascillia, finding her gaze still locked on him. Her openness was disarming, and he felt the weight of her unspoken dare settle on his shoulders. to let her in. to share more than the surface-level pleasantries their roles demanded. he swallowed hard, the words forming before he could stop them. "it’s not just her," he admitted, the confession slipping out like a secret too long kept. "it’s the freedom. up here, nothing feels impossible. it’s like the world forgets who we’re supposed to be." his eyes darted away briefly, but then he forced himself to look at her again. "or who we’re not allowed to be." the meaning hung heavy between them, his words laden with implications he hadn’t intended to voice, but now that they were out, he couldn’t take them back.

kael extended his hand toward ascillia, his heart thudding in his chest as he took a half step closer. the warmth of her touch lingered on his skin, and the memory of her laughter still hung in the air like a melody he didn’t want to forget. for a moment, he hesitated, unsure if he should invite her further into this sacred part of his world. but then he saw the curiosity in her eyes, the openness she had shown him, and the decision was made. "come with me," he said softly, his voice carrying a rare gentleness. "there’s something i want to show you." he took her hand and led her away—without leaving too much room for protest— from thalindra, who snorted approvingly as if giving her silent blessing, and began to ascend the gentle slope of the high hill nearby. the climb wasn’t difficult, but it gave kael time to gather his thoughts. he couldn’t remember the last time he’d done something purely for himself—without considering duty, appearances, or consequences. but this moment felt different, as if the constraints that bound him had loosened ever so slightly. with each step, he felt lighter, as if ascillia’s presence was untangling the weight he carried. when they reached the crest of the hill, kael stopped and turned to her, gesturing toward the horizon. "this," he said simply, his voice carrying a note of pride and reverence. the view was breathtaking. the hill overlooked a vast expanse of valleys and rivers, gilded by the warm hues of the setting sun. the sky blazed with shades of gold, orange, and deep violet, the clouds catching fire in the fading light. below, the land stretched out like an intricate tapestry, alive with color and shadow. kael chuckled softly, the sound tinged with both relief and affection. "it’s my favorite place," he admitted. "when i need to clear my mind—or when i need to feel like the world is bigger than just… everything i’m supposed to be." kael hesitated, then motioned to the grass. "sit with me?" he asked.

[ohmylcve]

there's always a way to know know when one's destined to greatness and when one's not: the misfortuned child, first female child amongst a legacy of male children, is clearly one who is not. ascillia knew it from the beginning: her parents would always make sure she knew her place and that she knew there were nothing she could do to change that. and so she never tried. ascillia's life was well built on knowing who she was, knowing her possibilities and knowing the world she lived in had some boundaries. but that didn't mean she followed the said boundaries. sometimes, ascillia would violate those in order to get whatever it was that she wanted, but she would do it quietly. she would never share. she would never get caught.

except from kael valorian.

the first and only one who paid enough attention to the misfortuned child. attention enough to notice her moves, to notice her skilled and trained target shooting - she was a falkenrath after all: even though all of her family denied her the bow and arrow, it was in her blood. what she didn't expect at all was that all of his attention were drawn to her in order to kill her. how broken was one to see that and still think of the other as interesting? it was ashe's case. she did find him interesting, the way he paid attention to her even though he aimed to kill her.

so many conversations regarding that day were shared between the two of them, enough for them to develop a strong connection after that day, in which not only ashe managed to not get killed, but also to somehow surprise him. later on, of course, she found out his reasons why and never blamed him for trying to kill her - after all, if his family's allies murdered any falkenrath, ashe's first instinct would be to do the same.

the best thing in this somewhat of a relationship that they'd developed was the fact that she could never see any of it all coming: the getting close to each other, the chemistry between them - never mentioned, never talked about - and finally, the love that rose up from ashe's side. love which was being shattered as his wedding day came closer and closer. "I see thalindra is keeping you company. better company than I ever could," ascillia smiles, knowing how dearly kael treats his dragon. as she steps into the dragon pit, slowly as it gets just so thalindra has enough time to recognize her - even though she has no idea how that works for dragons, but she was once advised to do so -, ascillia is completely aware that her best friend is worried about something, because he doesn't turn around and doesn't seem to notice her presence as she gets there. "should i come back any other time?"

open to: f connection: kael is preparing for his wedding to a woman destined to be queen. despite this, his heart has always belonged to y/m, his best friend, though she was never aware of his feelings. while spending time with his dragon, thalindra, in the dragon pit, y/m unexpectedly joins him. muse: kael valorian; 28 yrs old ; prince & dragon rider

kael stood in the dimly lit dragon pit, the familiar scent of earth and dragon scales filling the air. his hand rested on thalindra's warm, leathery hide as he looked into her wise eyes. she nudged kael affectionately, sensing his unease. the weight of his upcoming marriage pressed heavily on his shoulders, a union that would make him a king. yet, his heart ached for someone else. lately, the thought of just riding away on thalindra had been more tempting than ever. kael imagined the freedom of soaring through the skies, leaving behind the heavy responsibilities and expectations. they could venture to distant lands where no one knew them, where he could be free to live as his heart desired. the vision of endless horizons and uncharted territories was a siren call, whispering promises of peace and true happiness. lost in those thoughts, he barely noticed the soft footsteps approaching.