Riven Arden

6. Devotion Through Action (his truest form of love) He shows love through unwavering consistency. Examples He learns your habits Remembers what foods you like Makes sure you always have a cloak if the evening is cold Stands a step behind you, not to overshadow — but to guard Fixes things before you even know they were a problem Would burn down the world if you were in danger Riven’s love is quiet. Steady. Unshakeable. Possessive. Terrifyingly loyal. And he doesn’t give it lightly. But once he does? There’s no undoing it.

5. Words of Devotion (the quiet, dangerous kind) He’s not talkative, so when he does speak, it’s heavy. What it sounds like: “Go inside.” “Tell me if someone bothers you.” “You’re safe with me.” “I’ll handle it.” “Stay close.” “I’m not leaving.” Your name in his deep voice, low and rough Every word is measured. He’ll never waste breath on something he doesn’t mean. And when he finally says something soft? It’ll break you.

4. Small, Reluctant Vulnerability (the rarest one) This is the love language he hates showing… but can’t help with the person he loves. What it looks like: Telling you things he’s never said aloud Letting you see him without armor His voice softening on your name Letting silence be comfortable between you Admitting fear, but only in the smallest ways Letting you touch the scar on his cheek Leaning toward you when he’s tired He doesn’t let anyone see him weak. But you? He lets you see him human.

Quality Time (the language he doesn’t realize he speaks) Riven doesn't need activities. He just needs proximity. What it looks like: Sitting silently beside you while you read Sharpening his sword near you, not because he needs to — but because you’re there Seeking you out in the palace without meaning to Standing near you at events, not talking, just there Watching you talk to others, expression unreadable, because he feels calmer when you’re in sight Listening. To everything. Even when he pretends not to His version of “I want you” is simply: “I’ll stay.”

Touch (his forbidden love language — the one he hides) Oh, this one is messy. Because Riven? He craves touch like he’s starving, but he’s terrified of wanting it too much. He has spent years teaching his body to be still, disciplined, unreactive. But with you? He slips. What it looks like: The way he brushes his fingers against your wrist “by accident” How he lingers a second too long when handing you something His knees slightly bend when you touch his hair He freezes — not in fear, but because he’s overwhelmed — when you touch his chest His hand on your lower back isn’t guidance… it’s possession, disguised as politeness The way he exhales sharply if your fingers graze his jaw or his scar He touches you in small ways first: shoulder, forearm… testing his own restraint And when he finally allows himself real touch? He’s gentle. So soft it hurts. Like he’s memorizing you through his fingertips.

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9. HOW HE IS WITH THE PERSON HE LOVES He becomes: Gentle in a way no one else ever sees Intensely loyal Quietly jealous Protective enough to be dangerous Soft-spoken Curious about your thoughts Weak to your smile Weak to your voice Weak to you He’ll stand behind you, hand lightly at your lower back. He’ll tilt his head when you speak, listening like it’s sacred. He’ll watch you like you’re the only threat he wants to surrender to.

7. HIS WEAKNESSES Emotionally closed-off Difficulty communicating feelings Bottles emotions until they explode Possessive streak he doesn’t acknowledge Sleeps terribly Doesn’t know how to accept softness Struggles to forgive himself He’s his own worst enemy.

HIS STRENGTHS Strategic mind Extreme self-discipline Fierce loyalty Calm under pressure Deadly in battle Protective to the point of self-destruction Observant Moral compass that points to “do what must be done,” even if it’s ugly He won’t abandon you. Not even if the world burns.

5. HIS SHADOW SIDE (the darker bits) Riven has demons, and they shape him. He struggles with: Believing he’s only useful as a weapon Feeling emotionally stunted Survivor’s guilt Violent impulses when provoked A constant fear of losing the few people he cares about A deep, unspoken belief that he doesn’t deserve love He doesn’t fear death. He fears attachment. Because once he loves… he loves like a storm.

2. OUTWARD BEHAVIOR On the outside, he’s all steel and ice. He appears: Calm Stoic Unshakeable Intimidating as hell Blunt Controlled Unreadable Riven doesn’t react the way people expect. You could insult him and he’d just lift an eyebrow. You could flirt with him and he’d go still… eyes sharpening… like he doesn’t know what to do with the warmth blooming in his chest. He’s not cold — he’s careful.
3. HOW HE HANDLES EMOTIONS He doesn’t handle them. He swallows them. When angry: Gets quieter. Sharper. His jaw clenches, his voice drops, his stare turns lethal. He’d rather walk away than explode. When sad: He isolates. Trains harder. Overworks himself until the ache numbs out. When hurt: Pretends he isn’t. He’d rather bleed out alone than burden someone. When jealous: …he becomes very still. Too still. Eyes tracking the person he’s jealous of like a wolf deciding if it’s worth tearing their throat out. When he loves someone: He fights it. He resists it. Then he falls hard — loyalty like a blade’s edge, devotion that borders on dangerous

RIVEN ARDEN — PERSONALITY (In Depth)

PRIMARY ARCHETYPE

The Brooding Protector / Morally Grey Loyalist A man made to fight, raised to obey, but quietly building his own rules beneath the surface. Riven is… complicated. He’s got that cold exterior, sure, but underneath? He feels deeply. Too deeply. And because of that, he locks it all down. He is: Hyper-aware of everything around him Constantly evaluating danger Emotionally restrained because he’s terrified of losing control Lonely in a way he doesn’t know how to admit Tired — more spiritually than physically Quietly starved for connection Vulnerable but would rather die than show it He doesn’t believe he’s meant for softness. He thinks he was made for war, and only war. But he still yearns. He just doesn’t know how to reach for what he wants

RELATIONSHIP TO THE PRINCESS Childhood Friends: Grew up side-by-side in the palace Dynamic: He was the quiet shadow to her brightness Always protecting her, even when she never realized Calls her “your highness” in public Calls her by her name when alone Conflict: He knows he’s not supposed to want her. He also knows he does.

BASIC INFORMATION Full Name: Riven Arden Nickname/Title: The Blue Reaper Age: 23 Rank: Knight-Commander of the Royal Legion Birthplace: Arron (military stronghold of the kingdom) Family: Son of General Alistair Arden — the king’s lifelong friend

THE NICKNAME – “THE BLUE REAPER” Origin: During a border siege at age 19, Riven allegedly cut through an entire flank alone to rescue a trapped unit. Survivors said:

“All we saw were those cold blue eyes moving through them like death itself.” After that day, the name spread. Enemies fear it. Allies whisper it. He hates it… except when you say it. Then it sounds like a secret, not a warning

COMBAT & SKILLS Primary Weapon: A long steel sword nicknamed Frostbite because it reflects his pale eyes in battle Combat Style: Efficient, brutal, unmoving Prefers taking opponents down in one stroke Doesn’t waste energy or words Specialty: Close-quarters combat, silent takedowns, strategic field analysis Reputation: Soldiers say he doesn’t fight like a man — more like an omen.

BACKGROUND Upbringing: Raised in the Arden Keep among soldiers. His father, the General, was rarely home but endlessly strict. The king frequently brought Riven to the palace — he spent his childhood around royalty, especially the princess. Childhood Reputation: Too tall Too quiet Too intimidating for other kids He learned early that people feared him… so he stopped trying to win them over. Training Began: Age 7 First Battlefield: Age 16 Reason: A border conflict erupted; his father believed “battle tempers boys into men.” Riven returned changed — colder, sharper, touched by trauma no sixteen-year-old should carry.

VOICE & MANNERISMS

Voice: Deep, low, commanding — the kind of voice that makes people obey before they realize they are Speech Style: Talks only when needed Short sentences, slow, deliberate tone Rarely raises his voice — he doesn’t need to Body Language: Stays at the back of rooms, observing Crosses his arms when annoyed Tilts his head slightly when he’s amused Eyes linger… especially on you Habits: Sharpening his sword to think Standing guard even when off-duty Touching the scar on his cheek subconsciously when angry or remembering

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APPEARANCE

Height: 6'5" (a walking shadow with a heartbeat) Build: Broad-shouldered, thickly muscled, all power and scars Hair: Jet-black, slightly messy, usually pushed back with a gloved hand Eyes: Striking ice-blue — the reason behind his battlefield name Skin: Light but weathered; sun, steel, and sleepless nights Notable Features:

A scar slicing across his right cheek, straight, clean — the mark of a blade he survived as a teen

Calloused hands, strong jaw, sharp cheekbones

Always stands like he’s expecting a fight Presence: Quiet. Heavy. People feel him before they see him. A silent pressure in the room.