#project heart

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Intro: Worthy of a King

ABOUT

Genre: Fantasy romance POV: Third-person limited, dual-pov Themes and tropes: Friends to lovers, love vs. duty, not becoming your parents and the repercussions thereof, self-worth and standing in your own way

CHARACTERS

Aneiric - Prince heir to the throne of the island kingdoms, about to be betrothed Bran - captain of the Queen's Guard, Aneiric's longtime companion and closest friend, definitely not in love with him Aenoreine - Queen of the Island Kingdoms, occasionally moonlighting as Aneiric's mother Cenwyn - one of Aneiric's suitors, generally considers himself to be a waste of space, hopeless romantic Perild - one of Aneiric's suitors, pragmatist at heart

SUMMARY

Aneiric’s life has always been simple: Good drink, good company, and the constant disappointment of the lordship council of the island kingdoms and his queen mother hanging over his head. That is, until his mother decides to abdicate her throne and install him as a figurehead in her stead. With unrest brewing in the kingdom and a tourney for his hand in marriage taking all of his attention, Aneiric has to decide what it means to rule. And if the faithful captain of his guard is truly a man worthy of a king.

Welcome to the Islands I A (very bad) Introduction I Meet the Prince I Meet the Captain I Tag I Pinterest Board

STATUS: Complete WORD COUNT: 102.503 READ IT ON AO3

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This scene is so simple and pointless so why is it so difficult to write

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Out of Context Line Tag

I was tagged by @revenantlore here and @writernopal here. Thank you both for the tag!

This is a bit from the most recent chapter in draft 2 of WoaK.

Cenwyn’s hands fell away as he laughed, thinly. “I’ve never been coddled a day in my life, captain.” He took a step towards Bran. “I will make myself worth this, I swear.”

Tagging (no pressure): @xenascribbles, @reininginthefirewriting, @koala2all and @writinglittlebeasts

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Guess what I've been spending my Sunday on ... ;)

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OC in Three Tag

@anyablackwood tagged me to do this - yay. :)

I admit I tend to focus on Aneiric a lot when I talk about WoaK, so why don't we do this one for the other main character of this story for once? Bran, I love you, I'm sorry!

Rules: Post 3 pictures that represent your OC plus the source

[The first picture is from a Charlie Hunnam photoshoot for EW ; the other two pictures are from Unsplash]

Tagging @writernopal, @fayeiswriting and @malimaywrite - if you all want to do it, of course. :)

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Coffee Break Tag Game

Thanks for the tag, @anyablackwood!

Time for your characters to take a break from all the things they're going through and have a bit of bonding time(?) with coffee and/or other drinks that bring a sense of comfort. If they stay at home, who would make the drinks ready? Or, where would they be able to order a coffee or a tea? Would they go in a coffee shop or would they go somewhere else? Would there be any interesting conversations happening or would there be awkward silence? Who would be the first to leave?

Aneiric sank deeper into his chair. Outside, the weather had turned from chilly to downright dreadful. Winter was bearing down on them, and it was bearing down hard. He stretched his feet a little closer to the fire. While the flames crackled merrily, he always felt like the chill never quite left him in the darkest months of the year.

“Trying to make this harder?”

He fluttered his eyes open at Bran’s voice. The man was looking down at his legs, expression half amused, pot in hand. Aneiric obediently drew his legs back so he could hang it over the fire. The honey-sweet aroma of mead and spices filled the air.

“Wouldn’t dare, my dear captain.” He groaned as another gust of snow hammered against the windows, almost begging for them to break. “Is it me, or has winter gotten worse?”

Bran slowly stirred the pot as the mead within heated up. The flames threw flickering shadows over his face, making his brows stand out in dark relief. “It’s you,” he replied, almost absent-mindedly, and pre-empted Aneiric’s offended sputtering, “but it has gotten worse. It’ll be a hard season.”

Aneiric grimaced. Hard storm seasons were becoming worryingly common. He took the tankard Bran handed him with a grateful smile, warming his hands on it and breathing in the heady scent. This was, perhaps, one of the few perks of winter. He looked up when Bran stood with a grunt.

“Drink with me,” he implored before Bran could turn towards the door.

Bran’s brows rose. “I’m on duty,” he said. Always that same tired argument. Aneiric usually respected it, but he was in no mood for drinking alone tonight.

“Please?” He watched as Bran rolled his eyes. “Just this once?” He tried a smile. Bran wasn’t easy to persuade, not when he didn’t want to be. “Indulge me?”

His heavy sigh might sound like defeat. To Aneiric, it felt like sweet victory as Bran turned to fill a tankard for himself.

“Just this once,” he said and settled into the chair beside Aneiric’s. Aneiric raised his tankard with a grin. They both knew it was a lie.

Gently Tagging @janec23, @writernopal, @mjparkerwriting and anyone else that wants to write some cozy coffee time tonight!

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Last Line Tag

Hi, hello, I'm alive. Some real life stuff has been occupying my brain a lot, sorry for going quiet for a bit there. But I want to get back into the swing of things so badly. I figured why not start with a little tag game, and @writernopal very kindly tagged me in a Last Line Tag a while ago, so here we are.

I'm getting to the juicy parts of Worthy of a King, so this is a bit that's not too spoilery. You don't get more context because reasons.

Bran looked up at the jab, but the Sparrow stilled entirely. An expression flickered over their face, there and gone and impossible to interpret. There was a knife in their hand, he noticed suddenly, one they must usually keep secured in their sleeve. A pinprick of blood welled where they pressed their ring finger against the edge. “Majesty,” they said heavily, “I have sworn an oath to you, and to this family. I serve that oath. I admit that I failed, gravely, but you insult me if you truly believe there was intent behind it.”

I'm leaving the tag open, because if any of you want to share some recent updates with me, please feel free to post some excerpts and tag me in them! I feel so out of the loop right now.

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Chapter 12 Snippet

Chapter 12 (formerly 13) is done, so have a celebratory and not too spoilery snippet in celebration!

Her mouth twisted. “Yes. I realize it will take some time for you to adjust to your new position. I shouldn’t expect you to take to it immediately. Only this will be no easy task.” No easy task indeed. He looked at her. What would she say to the little creature that was even now sitting in his pocket? Would she dismiss it like she’d dismissed the efforts it had taken to procure it? Like she’d dismissed the council’s dislike for him again and again and thrown him to the wolves without second thought? “I won’t be the ruler you are, mother,” he said. It was an echo of Bran’s words, words that he didn’t half-believe himself. He could feel them hanging heavy in the air between them. “Aneiric,” she admonished. When he met her eyes, he saw steel. They stared at each other in silence. Predictably, he was the first to blink. “You must conduct yourself as a king should.” I will, he wanted to say. I don’t know what that means. “Is this about Bran again?” Aenoreine sighed. She seemed suddenly weary. “The captain,” she said, and the word took on a little of a hiss, “is not the only issue at hand.” She turned her gaze to the fire. “Although, I sometimes think he brings out the worst in you.” Aneiric laughed. He couldn’t help it. Tides, but if Bran ever heard those words … “Mother, that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard all day.” She turned her head back towards him, piqued. “If anything, I bring out the worst in him. He’s …” Warmth. Security. The deep rumble of a welcome voice Aneiric thought of before he fell asleep. “A shining example of a knight, really. Loyal, disciplined, honest, steadfast –” And he was saying too much again. “But since the captain isn’t the issue, was there anything else?”