Ka-2731: ♥✧ Vhaegar

Vhaegar is an extremely judgemental character - especially towards those he does not know. He is secretive and aloof, not giving off more information than required of him and is obvious about using intimidation tactics to keep others out of his business. Vhaegar cares not for stuck up, superior personalities - especially from the noblility - and quickly becomes frustrated and annoyed at their complete lack of compassion for the commoners whom they serve. He is a brutish, domineering man with a temper that fits his lineage - a black dragon who has no qualms with bearing his tooth and fang to dominate someone standing aginst him. He is fiercely loyal to his mate, Damaris, and their family, willing to go to the ends of the earth for their protection and safety. Vhaegar would fly to hell and back for them, threatening anyone in his path who would seek to belittle or tear them down. He has a soft spot for his family, naturally, only letting down his guard when with them and showing his affection in return with small gestures of compassion and warmth.

Months ago i painted him as the dragon - never once did I imagine he was a shining knight the entire time

Vhaegar’s beginning starts long before any modern historical records. No mention of his existence lies within the castle walls of the King’s hold, nor do any records of his knighthood ring within the minds of anyone currently in residency in the village. His existence, currently, is an enigma. The mysterious obsidian knight entered the kingdom’s borders with nary a forewarning - no trumpet rang to announce his arrival, no battalion of loyal warriors served under his command… Bewildering all who laid eyes upon him the day he stepped foot in the gathering hall, Vhaegar spoke not a word to anyone and yet his presence was as foreboding as the dark clouds appearing before a summer storm - swift and full of fury and thunder and lightning.

The fondest memories Vhaegar still holds of his past are of gliding through the clouds - particularly at dusk. Nothing called to him more than the touch of his wingspan skimming through the cumulus clouds, causing their fragile particles to spray all around him like mist. And it was in moments like this that his dark figure could be made out on the horizon, striking fear in all who resided in the kingdom. They didn’t know, of course, that Vhaegar would do them no harm - not for the time being, anyway. It was natural for those of little true knowledge of the kingdom’s history to know that the dragons who roamed the skies were their protectors, not their enemies.

He was not entirely a mortal man, either, before entering the stronghold of the kingdom that day. Only through prayer and, perhaps, a bit of magic did he abandon his former corporeal body for that of a simple knight. What was it that persuaded this warrior to abandon his scales and fang and wings for a life shackled to the earth?

Well, love, of course.

The memory of her arrival was imprinted into his mind. Vhaegar could not forget how such a small, fragile thing was thrust into the brink of danger and peril by the very people she should have been able to trust. He did not know then why the king abandoned his daughter, the princess, in the old abandoned castle he called his home - nor did he care, really. The sounds of her wails and pleas bounced off the stone walls of the hollow hallway and reached not their ears nor their hearts. Cast aside, for one reason or another, and expected to die in the maw of a dragon.

Vhaegar had a reputation, after all, for being quite a fearsome beast in appearance.

But, the princess need not fear. Vhaegar had no intention to eat her.

He had every intention to protect her.

From that day on he made it his calling. Though the princess lived in fear for a time she soon abandoned her worries in favor of satiating her curiosity. The castle was hers now, after all, and was the home of her forefathers before her before the construction of the royal family’s current home. It was filled with books, trinkets and instruments to enjoy to her heart's content. That and, of course, him. And though she did live with the knowledge danger was always close by, the princess never once worried the black dragon who patrolled her castle walls would harm her.

Vhaegar made good to his unspoken promise to her by scaring off unwanted guests, man or beast, and fighting for her safety with the neighboring dragons who looked for an easy meal. He would spend nights together at her side listening to her read through her tomes, practice music or dance for his amusement. Most nights she fell asleep at his side, abandoning her plush bed in favor for sleeping on his warm scales.

Vhaegar was content to live his life this way, forever, until her dying breath. That is, until years later into her adulthood her brother returned to claim her for his own selfish desires. While he fought long and hard to pry her from her captors he was bested, bloodied and battleworn in the now destroyed stone remnants of their home.

But he was not defeated.

Determination and, naturally, magical forces of fate granted him a new body and a new life - one which he was ready to give to her service and her’s alone. Joining her under the guise of a lone, obsidian knight, Vhaegar made his new home in the castle, continuing to protect his princess once more with sword rather than fang. There they lived their life, for a time. Vhaegar the ever present black knight, stoic and portent as ever acting as the Princess’s personal royal guard as she grew and blossomed into the wonderful, feisty and caring woman she is today. Until their betrayal, of course, thrusting them into this new land.

He even, perhaps foolishly, followed her through the portal to Solaria after her bitter betrayal. And as foreign and frightening as this new world may be, Vhaegar oddly finds it more satisfying than their home back in the kingdom. With the freedom to pursue their own interests, love and family he sees no desire to return to Damaris’s corrupt family. He would never share his feelings with her, though, and would follow his mate to the ends of the earth for her happiness should it require that. He misses nothing of that life, in fact, and would much rather spend his days in Manabane raising their ever growing family.

If he could change anything, however, it would be to return home and seek revenge on those who cursed them to this place - those who betrayed his mate and broke her heart.

That, in spite of his desire to remain in Solaria, is something that eats away at him.

Their errors cannot be forgiven. And, for the sake of his daughter’s and their inheritance, he wants them to see their homeland.

But first they’d have to find a way out of Solaria.