Metallica one shots and headcannons

A knight's vow- (James Hetfield one shot)

The grand hall of Castle Aldric hummed with the sound of celebration. Noble guests and knights from every corner of the kingdom filled the space, their laughter mingling with the music played by the royal musicians. Yet, despite the joy around me, my mind was elsewhere. My eyes continually found their way to Sir James Hetfield.

He was standing near the hearth with the other knights, his broad shoulders set against the flickering firelight. Tall, powerful, and exuding an aura of strength, he commanded the attention of everyone around him. It wasn't just his physical presence that drew me in. It was the way his gaze seemed to always find mine across the crowded room. It happened without fail every time we were in the same space — a glance that lingered just a little too long, a silent connection that I had tried to ignore for months.

I had always felt there was something between us. At first, I thought it was simply my imagination. After all, he was Sir James Hetfield, the most revered knight in the kingdom, beloved by all the noblewomen. Why would someone like him even glance my way, let alone give me the kind of attention that made my heart flutter every time he looked in my direction?

But tonight, something felt different. The subtle smiles and fleeting glances seemed to carry more weight than usual. My heart raced with the unspoken possibility that maybe, just maybe, he felt the same way about me.

"You've been staring at Sir James all night," my father's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. I looked at him in surprise.

"Father, I wasn't—"

"You don't have to pretend," King Aldric said, his eyes twinkling with a knowing smile. "I've been watching you both. It's clear to anyone paying attention that Sir James cares for you."

My breath caught in my throat. "Father, I don't—"

"Don't be coy with me, Y/N," my father chuckled softly. "I see the way he watches you. And you—well, your heart is far from indifferent to him."

I blushed, not knowing what to say. I had long suspected that there was something more between us, but hearing my father speak of it so plainly made it seem too real, too impossible. Sir James had long been the kingdom's hero, and I was the princess. Our lives had always been kept apart by duty, and the idea that such a man could truly care for me beyond my title seemed too far-fetched to believe.

"I know what you're thinking," my father said, his voice lowering with the weight of his words. "You think it can't be true, that someone like Sir James, a knight of such renown, could have feelings for you. But you're wrong. He's been loyal to this kingdom, to me, for years. But the loyalty he holds for you goes deeper than any oath he has sworn. He loves you, Y/N."

My heart hammered in my chest. Could it be true? Did James really... love me? The thought felt like both a dream and a nightmare. What would that mean for us? What would it mean for the kingdom?

"I know what you must be thinking," King Aldric continued, as if reading my mind. "But I've seen it in the way he watches you when he thinks no one is looking. He is a man of honor, Y/N. And he's been waiting for the right moment to ask for your hand. The only thing left is for him to gather the courage to speak to me about it. And when he does, you have my blessing."