S T O R Y
Seren was raised from birth to become a great knight - coming from a military family, and with a father who was renowned within the ranks of the Royal Guard, Seren's path had always been carved out for him, whether he liked it or not. It wasn't anything he really resented, however -- it was the only life he ever knew, spending most of his childhood training for the opportunity. It is an honour, after all, to serve the King.
Perhaps due to his dedication, he quickly shot up the ranks, starting at an admittedly already inflated position due to his heritage, and continually climbing. War was hell, but - it was what he was made for -- and the sudden promotion to castle guard was disarming to him, after he had begun becoming accustomed to the battlefields. Still, it was an honour, after all, to guard the Prince-
However, something peculiar happened while guarding the man - the prince actually expressed an interest in Seren. Seren didn't know how to take this - he had always been a vehicle for someone's else's goals, or simply another body to throw onto a pile - when the Prince asked questions such as what's your favourite ice cream? he simply had no idea how to respond. A strange feeling bloomed in his heart - the urge to protect the young Prince only got stronger - he wanted to... hold the man close...
You could imagine the inner turmoil, then, when he discovered not only was the Prince bethrothed, but had also been courting with another princess. The Princess, a stranger from a far-off land, challenged him to a duel. Seren, with all his conflicting emotions, was ready to lay down his life to defend whatever strange claim he had to the Prince, but - despite his best efforts, he was defeated. He awaited a swift and earned death, only to have his expectations subverted when she offered his hand instead.
"If he wants both of us, he can have us," she said. "But not in the way that he wants."
Defiance? It seemed unheard of to him. But once he had returned to the young Prince, standing behind the strange, foreign princess, he found a new urge had nestled itself beside his urge to hold and protect and cherish the man.
And it was the urge to smash his smug little face in.
