[one sentence starter] With a furrowed brow the king dipped his head low, burdened and defeated; he never desired the crown.
((Thank you! Originally, I was going to write something lotr related, but it’s been years since I read the books and my Tolkien knowledge is quite rusty. It’s actually not fandom related at all. Featuring a nameless king (I imagined a young boy who’s recently inherited the throne) of a nameless kingdom:))
With a furrowed brow the king dipped his head low, burdenedand defeated; he never desired the crown. With the crown came glory, honor, andrespect but also heavy responsibility. He wasn’t certain he was prepared torule, to rectify the mess his father had made of the kingdom, and to attempt torekindle the people’s trust and morale.
There was also the war. Its outcome was now in his hands. Hewasn’t very confident in his ability to command troops, to anticipate enemyattacks, or to devise effective battle tactics. And the people were counting onhim to protect them? To drive back the monsters that invaded their bordersevery day?
No. He wasn’t ready for this. Removing the ruby-adornedcrown from his head, the boy gazed at it solemnly, his pale and drawn face staringback at him from its shiny surface. Light from the approaching dawn glintedlike fire off it and cast dancing spots of gold across the chamber walls behindhim. The spots flickered as he turned the crown over in his hands. It’d be soeasy, he mused, to simply pull his arm back and fling the crown with all hismight over the balcony railing and into the ocean. But then what? It would be quite a foolish thing to do and wouldn’t solve anything. No. Running awayfrom his problems instead of facing them wasn’t something a king should do—andhe was a king now, regardless of whether or not he wanted to accept that fact.
Clutching the crown tight to his chest, he forced himself totake a deep breath. In and out. He could do this. He might have doubts but thepeople had faith in him, and looked up to him with hope-filled expectant eyes.He had to at least try.
The sun burst over the horizon, bathing the chamber in richwashes of gold. The sight brought with it a renewed sense of hope. Yes, perhapshe could do this. This was, after all, his dutynow, his birthright, his destiny. Andhe wouldn’t let himself be so easily discouraged. He wouldn’t give up already.
Caught in the sunlight, the crown gleamed brilliantlyred and gold. Turning away from the balcony at last, he placed it once moreupon his head and strode back into the castle.