Morning came with a quiet kind of beauty.
The sky stretched wide and pale above the castle, a soft blue brushed with the faintest hint of winter's approach. The sun hung high but distant, its warmth dulled by the chill in the air, casting light that shimmered gently against the thin frost still clinging to the courtyard stones. Winter was arriving.
I stood beside Elias, my hands loosely clasped before me, my attention fixed on the figure kneeling just ahead.
Darien.
Darien remained perfectly still despite the cold beneath him, his posture straight and unwavering, his head inclined in a show of respect that did not diminish the quiet strength in his presence.
There was something grounded about him, something steady that did not falter even under scrutiny, and it made the moment feel… purposeful.
Elias glanced at me briefly before returning his attention to Darien. "He is yours," he said simply, his tone calm, yet final.
