Hello all, this is my first story so please feel welcome to leave suggestions on how I can improve. Thanks for reading. :)
Chapter 1: On the Edge of Destiny
Arthur Rivers, his cloak flapping behind him in the cool morning breeze, could feel the weight of every step as his horse's hooves struck the earth. His journey northward had been long, the narrow roads winding through ancient forests, their thick branches forming a canopy of shadows overhead. Every village he passed seemed emptier than the last, filled with whispered rumors of an Andal host sweeping across the land. Even the fields of grain, golden under the sun, felt ominous, as if they might be cut down by war just as easily as they could be harvested.
Arthur's mind churned with unease. Five-and-ten years old, and yet the weight of his bloodline—both Mudd and Andal—felt heavier than the sword at his side. He was the son of King Tristifer IV, the Hammer of Justice, a man whose name was whispered with reverence across the Riverlands. But he was also the son of an Andal woman, a fact that made him a stranger in both worlds. His father's people never fully trusted him; his mother's kin saw him as the embodiment of their conquest. It was a precarious tightrope, and Arthur had walked it for as long as he could remember.
Yet now, everything had changed. His father, the Hammer of Justice, was dead—slain on the battlefield by the Andal invaders under Armistead Vance and his coalition of six kings. His brother, King Tristifer V, was rallying what remained of their people to face the Andal menace. Arthur had been summoned to join them, to prove his loyalty not only to his brother but to a land that seemed to reject him at every turn.
Tom, a soldier loyal to House Mudd, rode beside Arthur in silence. The man had served with Arthur's father, earning scars and victories along the way, and while there was a sense of protection between them, the bond felt strained. Arthur knew why. Tom was fiercely loyal to the Old Gods, just as his father had been, and Arthur's worship of the Seven—a faith passed down to him by his Andal mother—made him a figure of suspicion. There was no brotherhood between them, just an uneasy alliance forced by duty.
As they approached the camp, the smell of wood, smoke and leather filled the air. The army of King Tristifer V sprawled across the valley like a great beast, banners flapping in the wind—banners of ancient houses that had fought for the Riverlands for generations. Arthur felt a tightness in his chest as he saw them. These were his people, but he was also an outsider here.
Tom broke the silence as they neared the camp's perimeter. "They'll test you, boy," he muttered, his eyes scanning the soldiers gathered around the fires. "Don't think they'll care much for who your father was. All they'll see is your Andal blood."
Arthur clenched his jaw. He had heard these words before, but now they felt heavier, weighted by the approach of battle. "I'm not here to prove my blood," he replied quietly. "I'm here to fight."
So what did you guys think of the first chapter, I know there isn't a lot of action yet but the next two chapters are going to remedy that so don't worry.