Two
He walks the gardens alone.
The sun is warmupon his flesh but it does little to ease his mind. The Shadow grows in the east, a terrible fate taunting those in the city even as their lords ride out to meet it.
So lost in his thoughts is he that he does not hear others approach. The Warden presents to him a lady, beautiful and poignant, the Shieldmaiden he has only heard whispers of.
She asks for freedom he cannot grant for he has none himself. There is something inside of her that longs to find peace andit captures his attention.
So he grants her freedom from her room and gives her leave to walk the gardens.
He asks for her company in exchange for a window that looks eastward.
She does not deny him.