ashford meadow was bustling with life. during the tournaments it truly came alive, with banners of multiple houses flying, the place looked as though a rainbow had dropped upon it. vendors sold everything from crafts to food that made the place smell divine.

and yet valarr was bored. when he jousted, they only let him compete against old men or young boys, neither of which could hold a true fight. the royals he had all spoken to before, and not one of them caught his interest. they were all dull, bowing their heads and grovelling for him. it was why he spent the times he wasn’t fighting in his black and scarlet pavillion.

at night, he left the adjacent palace to explore the vibrant town that had seemed to pop up overnight, hidden beneath a cloak. sometimes he even went beyond that, to explore the meadows.

he hadn’t expected to find anyone out beyond the fields, let alone in a cluster of trees.

ducking behind one to watch wearily from afar, he observed the knights sparring in the small clearing.

curious. and finally something that might be interesting.