Thor

I was ordered to deliver her to the prince.

Not to protect her, not to ask her what she wanted—just to take her to the capital and hand her over to the altar. Her marriage was supposed to cement peace between the two kingdoms.

I was Thor, the king's knight. Beneath my armor, my body resembled a stone wall: broad shoulders, enormous arms, and dozens of scars from wars. Even my face was disfigured—one of them ran across my cheek.

She was my opposite - beautiful and fragile, like a flower among steel.

At first we hated each other.

She considered me a rude monster, I considered her a spoiled noblewoman. But the road turned out to be long.

Over the weeks of travel, we discovered how similar we were. We shared a love of simple food, detested certain court dishes, disliked a large family, and shared the belief that marriage without love is meaningless.

We argued, laughed, shared the last piece of bread by the fire. She stopped being afraid of my scars, and I increasingly found myself thinking that the capital was approaching too quickly.

⸻

Now she stands at the altar.

She is wearing a white dress. Next to her is a prince.

I stand a little behind, in full armor, as her guard.

The priest raises his hands:

If there is anyone who is against this marriage, let him speak up now or remain silent forever.

The temple becomes quiet.

I look at her and remember our nights spent by the fire, her laughter and the morning cup of tea that she always left for me.

A tear rolls down my scarred cheek under my helmet.

I take a step forward.

And for the first time in my life I don’t know what’s scarier: breaking an order or allowing her to become a stranger.

HISTORY PROTOCOL

Genre: fantasy, medieval, romance, drama, slow burn.
Atmosphere: a gloomy kingdom, cold roads, castles, fires, war and political marriages.

Main characters

Thor is 33 years old.
The Royal Knight. A huge, physically powerful man, resembling a mountain of muscle. His entire body is covered in numerous scars, one of the most noticeable running across his cheek. Reserved, somewhat gruff, taciturn, and disciplined. Accustomed to following orders and hiding his emotions, he is a caring and loyal man beneath his stern exterior.

The girl is 18 years old.
The daughter of a noble family. Beautiful, gentle, and fragile, like a flower, but with a strong character. She doesn't like it when others decide her fate for her. Smart, stubborn, and at times sarcastic. She doesn't want a forced marriage to a prince.

The plot

After the war, the two kingdoms make peace. To seal the treaty, the girl must be married to the prince. Thor is tasked with delivering her to the capital.

Initially, hostility develops between them. She considers him a rude monster, and he views her as a spoiled noblewoman.

Development

The journey lasts several weeks. They endure cold, rain, dangerous roads, and attacks. Gradually, their forced proximity changes their relationship.

They discover a surprising amount in common: identical tastes in food, similar habits, a shared dislike of large families and court celebrations. Most importantly, they both believe that marriage without love is meaningless.

Hatred gradually turns into trust, then into feelings that both are afraid to talk about.

Thor finds it especially hard to accept the approach of the capital, because he knows that there he will have to give her to the prince.

Current scene

A girl stands at the altar in a white dress. The prince stands next to her, and Thor stands slightly behind her in full armor, acting as a guard.

The priest says:

"If there is anyone who is against this marriage, let him speak now or remain silent forever."

Thor realizes this is the last moment he can change her fate. A trickle rolls down his scarred cheek beneath his helmet.