Lucenoc Mainlands

The mainlands, including the area around the Iristaram Mountains and Manaer Forest. The land spreads as far as Windspur, and shares a border with Archanthul Saravya What was once a mass of small villages has grown into an impressive Kingdom. Lucenoc's King and Queen have given birth to a brilliant young Prince, who is soon to have his marriage arranged to the future Queen. A palace nearly identical to the one in Liwanag has been erected in the center of the mountain range. As a newly developed clan, Lucenoc is weary of it's vulnerability, and chose this location for the safety of it's government.

"Sometimes being royalty isn't all it's cracked up to be..."

There was no recipient to these words, only a speaker. Gersham stood in the courtyard of the Palace, speaking to the shadows of the trees and statues that inhabited it. "I mean, who else has someone -tell- them who they're supposed to marry?" He threw a rock at the wall in frustration. "I bet that doesn't happen in Havyn." Another rock. This one stuck to the wall, on the shadow of the Gazebo for a moment, before shooting back into the young Prince's hand. "I mean, how can mom and dad even live together like that? Knowing that they didn't marry for each other, but out of responsibility?" He threw the rock to the ground and kicked the dirt before taking off.

The prince didn't talk to anyone lately, especially not women. He kept dreaming that he would fall in love with someone, only to discover that he was fated to marry someone else the same day. He never saw the faces of these women, he could simply tell that they weren't the same. The idea of an arranged marriage never bothered him so much until he began having that dream. It haunted him, and it had become his worst fear. The only way he could find to avoid it, was to avoid contact with other people. He didn't leave the Palace. He didn't visit the villages, or the Island. He barely left his room. and when he did it was to get food and take it back to his room. The only place Gersham ever went to spread his legs now was the empty courtyard. He didn't even exchange words with his servants! Life had grown dull, but at least he was safe from the worst pain he could imagine...

Soaring through the clouds; atop a shadowy hunter of the sky: Wer Sjech, The shadow; an Elder Black Dragon, Ignis watched the earth pass below with a heavy hearted sigh, and a deep breath. He had travelled far atop the master's rigid spine: Riding like a king in the comfort of a carriege, and yet his seemingly dreary and dull additude arose from a different place of dread. Searching the countryside; from province to province, from clan to clan: Working outward in circle after circle, he had made no headway, found no clues, heard no tales of anyone suiting his need. Not a single soul deserved the mark of the master, and his teachings of history and mastery over fire would go unknown by those undeserving. So Ignis had been riding; circling every farther away from the center of the lands, in hopes that a single flame in the dark would draw him to his destiny.

Sjech hadnt appeared to mind the journey; his maw happily filled time and time again by wildlife as they rode, and Ignis had never thought to ask the great creature. In truth, he feared the dragon for its strength and speed, but was jealous of its intellect. The beast was no common doormouse; to be trained, taught, tamed, or tortured by men. He; as the dragon had claimed to be a male, was so much more than the simple creatures that lived below. He was a living conduit between the worlds breath and its beating heart of fire. A link between his people and their origins.... and so Ignis treated him as such and obeyed him as if a student obeying a teacher. That was their relationship; neither like father and son, nor like friends, but like master and pupil. Ignis learned all he could absorb from the mighty creature, and his body had hardened over the years through constant tests of strength and cunning.

His scarred form had not worsened in appearance since last he circled through the lands, but his personality seemed more burnt than ever. His heart had been ensnared by a maddening obsession; a goal that only he could accomplish, and beyond all other things he was dedicated to it. So much so, that each failure was like an arrow through his heart. It burned in him longer and longer each time, til the point where he sought to end it all. Sjech had other plans that day, and like a truly wise master, he lifted Ignis up to the sky and began teaching him of the heavens above. Ignis forgot about his woes and his failures as he learned of the cosmic flow, and the more he learned, the more he forgot about the dark pit still looming inside himself.

It wasnt to last however, and as their circle began anew, the cold and bitter bite of fear had begun to break away at the outer surface to the threat of failure. Ignis went from hopeful and determined; nearly overnight, to maddened and obsessed. From watching and waiting; listening and learning, to asking every single person he saw, if they were at all interested. He would ask children and elderly; the rich or the poor, guards and prisoners alike in his search, and yet he would draw no closer to the goal. For that reason alone; constant failure plaguing him, he continued downward into a dark spiral that would leave him so saddened and broken that not even those he cherished in the past would recognize him.

Not even she would recognize him...

As the duo rode; master and apprentice, Ignis thought about her: The only woman he had ever loved; the one who he had lost to his own selfishness and ego. His heart raced in his chest; pounding like a war-drum readying the troops, and his breathing became much sharper and faster. His mind spun with images of her dressed to perfection; clad in armor and preparing for battle, and wearing nothing at all. The thoughts spiraled downward with him; each beautiful melody replaced with a horrible explosion, and as he thought of the last day he had seen her, his heart felt like breaking all over again.

He could see it so clear... As if he were there all over again...

He wept silently as the waves of sorrow sought to uproot him and hurl him down to the earth below. He held himself back from the edge; dangling over the precipice of pure madness with but a hands grip holding him. He couldnt lose it; not yet, not til he had found another disciple. Not even for his own guilt, regret and sorrow could he fail. He had to succeed; to prove to himself, to her, wherever she was, that how he was, did have a purpose. If he failed in his task, it would be as if everyone else was right, and he should have stayed. Stayed...... He should have stayed with her; for her, for himself... and if that were true, then he had made the biggest mistake imaginable.. and he couldnt have done that.

He just knew he had a greater purpose than to be alone in the universe, and the search for another worthy disciple would lead him to it. To whatever it was that took away his life; his hope for happiness, his prospect at a real family.

Sjech picked up on Ignis' rapid heartbeat and his sudden drop in temperature, and with the grace unlike any a man could possess, his great booming voice echoed through the clouds. They shook apart the fear in Ignis' mind with a wave of heat; his inner flame seeming to grow in the presence of the master once more. "Be not weary young fire starter... If there is one out there worthy of my teachings... You will find them" The words echoed in Ignis head, and rolled free of his mouth without sounds. "If there is one out there worthy?" He thought...

The two kept on riding, and though Ignis' mood was beyond dark, Sjech seemed particularly interested. There was something off about the dragon; something Ignis couldnt read or understand, as if the great beast had been waiting for this particular trip. Ignis didnt dare to ask the master directly, and he was much too tired to indirectly weasel an answer out... So instead he brooded upon the dragons seemingly happy additude, and prepared himself for the upcoming venture into civilization... No more circles for the duo; no more spirals outward, this time they would fly down and into each capital city. They would seek out royal permission to hold auditions for any fire clan member residing there... If there was to be no permission; Sjech had no issue with demanding it, and Ignis wasnt about to let himself be refused.

So, drawing into view of the new Lucenoc capital city, Ignis was as prepared as he could be, and Sjech was moving faster than before. Something was there in that city; something Ignis could feel, but he wasnt sure if being hopeful was a good idea anymore.

Gersham's self-alienation had been a big topic around the palace. The King and Queen were concerned, and the help was prone to gossip. The prince was aware of these facts, but concern wasn't something that agreed with him. Not anymore. They could think and say whatever they wanted, but he was doing nothing wrong. In fact, he was preventing it. He was preparing to head back inside and go to his room, when the comfort of a large shadow engulfed his body. For a moment, Prince Gersham forgot his pain and internal struggle, just basking in the cool shadow, but when he looked up at the object that had cast it, his eyes widened.

It was a Dragon! And not a normal one. It was huge! One of those Grand... Dragons... Or something like that. He couldln't recall the name, but he knew that it was a creature of Legend, and that he had never seen one before. Someone from Saravya was flying over Lucenoc territory, and they certainly didn't have any sort of clearance. They would have an escort if they did. After taking in the sight, Gersham shrugged his shoulders, and extended his hand toward the doorknob. It was no concern of his. Not enough to make him leave the palace and speak to someone, at least. But as his hand touched the golded doorknob back into the palace, a vision hit him.

He saw his father's reaction, should he find out that Gersham witnessed such a thing and failed to address it. "You are the future King of Lucenoc! How can you let such an obvious intrusion of our land simply slide like that!?" Rage on his face. He would lecture for hours if the Queen wasn't around to stop him. But the look of disappointment on her face took from the comfort of her rescue. With a heavy sigh, Gersham released the doorknob and closed his eyes. His own shadow then began to twist and contort, until it took the shape of a small rug. Willing the shadow to take solid form, Gersham flew atop it after the Dragon, which had now gained considerable distance. "Stop!"

Gersham picked up speed until he had caught up with, and cut off the man who was obviously from the Fire Clan known for it's Dragons. "You're well outside your territory, Dragon Rider..." The Prince was well known in his own lands, as well as in Siram and Saravya for his markings. He was one of only a handful in history to receive a full body Atra Marking. The invader should know well whom he was speaking to. "Speak your purpose. It could be seen as an act of blatant disrespect, flying so boldly over the capital." His eyes were contorted into a frown, and yet, he didn't appear to be angry. In actuality, it was the sun. It was still broad daylight, and the creature of darkness wasn't fond of flying under the harsh sun.

Even the authority that boasted in his voice was forced. Just enough that his father wouldn't be able to scold him. Gersham was well aware that the fastest way to get from Saravya to Septur Kana or to Siram was to fly over the Iristaram mountains, which now contained a palace that only years ago wasn't there. He didn't feel that the intruder had any ill will toward him or his clan. He only acted out of duty and responsibility. Hopefully their conversation would be short, and he could return to his solitude...

Ignis didnt mind the intrusion upon his thoughts; a welcomed reaction of relief almost became visible on his face, and yet it was not he who would care. His additude was aloof and distant; uncaring of what or who stopped him, so long as he made it to where he was going... but Sjech was not a youngling or in the least bit impressed by mankind. The great creature despised most of them for their disconnection from the true power of the earth, and yet even those who were inclined to resonate with the forces of nature, were often impure and tainted by something. So they too were regarded with a mild hatred and earned no respect from the dragon.

As the other man bore down upon them; riding a shadow-cloth carpet or rug, Ignis patted the soft underside of a scale along the crest of the dragons back, and the beast slowly leveled out. Its wings stretched full; engulfing the sky with a dark silhouette, and with them held aloft, Ignis stepped out casually upon the bridge. The two would not land til they reached the capital, so if the new messenger wished to parley, they would do it in the air.

"I am Dragon Disciple Ignis Dominio... Here on a search for one worthy of the dragon's blessing. I do not come in search of your people, but merely wish to seek out any fire clan kin who may live here" His words were true although his voice carried no weight or energy with it. Ignis had all but expended it when he began warping the air around him in order to balance atop the moving dragons wing.

"Be gone little fly before a real creature of the night sky descends upon you" Sjech interrupted Ignis' little introduction speach with a growling and booming voice. Like an approaching storm, it conjured images of stormclouds gathering; vibrant lightning followed by whispered thunder. The great dragon had no need for permission to fly the skys its kind had called home since before the dawn of men. He would never seek permission from the man who now spoke to them... But Ignis prayed the man would understand. He wished no fight, no conflict, and no anger, but he had no control over the monstrosity's own wrath and pride. If ever the dragon presented a sin beyond that of wrath, Pride would have been the one to witness first. The dragon was not the kind to fall under command, and if not for Ignis, the small man nearby would already have been food.

"I apologize for my rudeness... This is Master Sjech, The shadow, an Elder Black Dragon from the volcanic lands of our people, and he doesnt much care for men... Nor do I have control over that animosity" Ignis spoke a bit clearer; making sure the other man would hear him, but he lowered himself while waiting for an answer, and prepared to slip back onto the dragons back if he needed to.

Gersham Nodded his head in reaction to the man's introduction, and prepared to respond, but was inturrupted The booming voice of the Dragon forced Gersham to take a step back, nearly causing him to lose his balance and fall from the carpet. To prevent this unfortunate fate, he knelt to one knee. Once his balance was attained, he began to stand, but decided against it. Who knew how the Dragon would react the next time. And no matter how advanced he may have been in the arts of Darkness, there was no way he could compare to such an Ancient and powerful creature. Perhaps it would be best that he remained kneeling as he addressed the beast. It would be seen as a sign of respect.

He decided it best to address the one who showed animosity first. "I have no intention of telling you where you are and are not free to roam, Great Dragon. I'm well aware that you have wandered these skies far longer than we humans have inhabited these lands. However, the same does not apply to your passenger. There are laws and policies governing the way we travel within each other's dominions." The Shadow Rider braced himself for another outburst after addressing the Dragon as respectfully as he could.

"Sir Ignis." Gersham began, finally standing to his feet. "Thank you for cooperating. My name is Gersham Colt, Prince of Lucenoc. I have no intention of obstructing your journey to find a student, however I must tell you I don't believe you will find any who originated in your land among these mountains. We're located here to avoid unwarranted contact with outsiders. However perhaps one of the Villages on the flatlands, or even the Island annex may contain the student you seek." With that, he floated out of the Dragon's path, allowing them to continue forward, if they so desired.

Sjech seemed distant; almost lost in his own thoughts, as the reply came to him and shook him from his momentary lapse into self inflicted worlds of memory, and as the feeble voice of the man rolled into the great beasts mind, the creature made a face almost like that of a disgusted sigh... but without the lack-luster sound. He didnt care about their laws or their guidelines, nor did he truly care if they brought an entire army to stop him, but the man whom had addressed him was rather curteous and at least deserved the smallest bit of respect for that. So instead of turning and devouring the small creature, Sjech allowed his rider to reply, as they both continued their path forward through the sky...

Ignis nodded to the man; now known as prince of Lucenoc and sent into memory as such, and as he realized that Sjech wasnt going to make a quick lunch of him a small flicker of laughter found its way onto his features. A momentary smile fell upon his face as he accepted the man's words, and began to adjust the spectrum of his hunt mentally. Out there somewhere, someone was to be picked, and someone was to succeed as a dragon disciple. Ignis just had to find him or her.... However long it took. "I can not say that we will be back.. nor can I say that we wont be... but rest assured, if ever we return again, you shall have a written decree from at least one clan leader... Detailing our search and our goal... Hopefully that will be enough to forego violence between us when none is needed..."

Ignis nodded again; ever so slightly, as his master and companion continued onward. He drew out of earshot; out of range for simple words in return, but he now had a better idea of where to go and where to search. Lucenoc was going to go down into his journal as a land without the fire clan influence, and therefore he would surely end up removing the requirement to search all together.... Thats what he assumed at least...

As for Sjech... Well, Ignis thought the news would dissuade him from his path; move him inward more and allow a search of the small villages nearby, but it did not. The dragon still flew straight; towards the capital with a vigor reserved for youthful drakes and wyverns, and Ignis couldnt help but wonder why the great beast had not strayed. Why had he begun speeding up? What was Sjech looking for? There was no way of telling; of knowing what the beast sought out, and Ignis at that time was just along for the ride. Where they went and how fast they got there, was all up to the master and his glorious black wings.

Her eyes look to the sky and widen ever so greatly, such a grand creature! A dragon flying over head! She only knew of the creatures from lore, and being able to see its wingspan, its underbelly, hearing the boom from voice, its all so amazing. But there is always a rider along with the great creature......he must be too small for Aowen to see with her naked eye. Something was different, there was a shadow rider next to him and the only known shadow riders in this land are the royal family. Could it be the prince in the sky? Or maybe the king? It couldn't be the king because the two riders had not fought..... It has been so long since the prince ventured out of the palace, Aowen actually forgot what the man's face looks like. As the two break ranks, the woman returns to her duty at hand, leaving to get more cloth for her store.

The traveler seemed to have pure intentions. He wanted to be sure that he passed his knowledge on to the next generation before parting this world. Gersham could respect that desire. However he couldn't quite grasp why he would search for this student in the other nations, as opposed to his own, which was where Fire users were born and bred... Perhaps some deeper purpose caused him to travel. Perhaps one day, Gersham would depart on a similar journey. If his position as King didn't confine to him to the castle for the rest of his life...

No matter... He quickly descended back to the Castle, and prepared to return to his chambers. However, one of the Castles servants stopped him en-route. "The King has requested your presence." A roll of the eyes. "What now?" Changing directions, the Prince made his way to the throne room. He never understood that. Who wanted to spend all day sitting in a room with nothing but an overpriced chair? Nothing about their culture seemed to make sense. "What is it, father?" The words streamed from his lips before he made it halfway into the room. His father looked down at the boy with a stern expression. "I have a task for you." The King said simply. Great. Busy work... What now? Another training exercise? Organization of the Guards? His expression must have reflected his annoyance, for the King held up his hand, as if to say this was not negotiable. But the Queen instead spoke up. "I need you to gather some satin sheets from town." She said. This brought a look of shock to the Prince's face.

"There are servants to do that sort of thing." Gersham said, as he turned his back and prepared to retreat to his room. "They have the day off." The King said simply. This turned the Prince's head around once more. "Well Why would you give them the day off if you knew you neede-" He cut himself off. He knew the true purpose behind this errand now. They didn't need satin. They wanted him to get out amongst the people. And they couldn't just force him to leave the castle. He would just find an empty place in the mountains to remove himself from the population. With an inaudible grumble, Gersham left the Throne room and made his way into town.

The best fabric shop in town was in the center of the capital. Their service was quick and precise. A trip to pick up the fabric from there shouldn't take long at all. Gersham looked up at the door only briefly before walking in, and preparing to make this a quick and painles trip.

Aowen calmly walks to the center of the village toward her favorite fabric shop. Her mother had always taken her here to find the best fabrics and this tradition would not be broken for any reason. Yes, the prices are just a bit higher compared to the other shops in town, but the other shops did not have such a variety and quality as this one. This shop could be called her second home if one were to truly think about it, any free time that Aowen had was split between being there or cleaning and reorganizing the shop to make it more appealing to passersby or her regular customers. Though she hated the distance, she loved the time to think and catch up with some of the other villagers she hadn't seen in a while.

Something about Aowen was different, her mind wandered farther than normal. It was still on the grand dragon with his rider and the prince. Even though she had known the prince held the shadow bending powers like all the other males, his was different, almost uncaring of his abilities. Or that's the aura that surrounded him during his conversation in the sky. The dragon held an almost angry or aggravated aura and its rider calm and caring. Such an interesting colour the sky had turned because of the three of them but the prince.....

Her thoughts trail off as she finally snapped out of her trance from the sound of her name being called from one of the neighboring shops. It was her childhood friend looking for something to eat. "How have you been Asyria? It has been a while, I haven't really had the time to come into town. You know the work of a seamstress is never done." The new woman embraces Aowen with a hearty laugh and nod before rambling about how the Aowen works too much and she needs to make time to find a husband and settle down and have a bit of fun with old friends in the process. A soft shake of the Aowen's head dismissed Asyria's words just as Aowen moves to return to her business at hand, giving a hollow promise to return and see Asyria again.

Walking through the neighboring shop's door, back into the daylight, Aowen looks to the sky before turning to head back into the shade. "Hello Damieon! Anything new for me to see? I have been wanting to make something for your daughter as well! When am I going to get the chance to measure her for a fitting?" Soft laughter shakes her petite frame as she walks over to the man standing over a head taller than her. This place held comfort for the woman, comfort and happiness that she couldn't seem to find anywhere else except for her shop.

An exasperated sigh escaped the Prince's lips at he arrived at the front door of the Fabric shop. All he could think about was how useless this trip was. It was busy work. There was no need for fabric, his parents just wanted him to get out and talk to someone other than his own shadow. Perhaps they thought his solitude would take away from his natural social ability? That his influence would somehow fade? It didn't matter. At the end of the day it was all stupid. When he approached the counter, there was one person in front of him. He didn't offer her so much as a look, however. She was a female, after all. She was the reason he had locked himself in the palace. Well, not her specifically, but her kind. Recognizing his face immediately, the shop keeper turned to greet the Prince. "Oh, hello your majesty! What can I do for you today?" The Royal treatment... Even when he was in a rush to get out of this place, Gersham hated it. But in this case, it was advantageous. It could get him back to the Castle faster.

His eyes passed over the woman who stood before him for just a fraction of a second; Fatal mistake. She was gorgeous! His eyes widened ever-so-slightly, before he continued his visual path to the shopkeeper and shook his head. "No, please, help her first. She's been waiting longer. "Back when Gersham enjoyed being out in public, he was quite chivalrous; a habit that he had apparently held on to in the past couple months." He retreated to a far corner of the store and found a place to sit, far from any of the roaming customers. He would wait there until his turn arrived. It wouldn't be too long before the woman had been serviced and was no longer in the store to threaten him...

Her head turns to the left to look over her shoulder as their conversation interrupted by the sudden outburst greeting. It was the prince! Standing right behind her as if he were just a normal person! "Hello your majesty." For some reason, her voice came out in a soft purr as a gentle blush crosses her cheeks. Even though his stature was much higher than her own, he still had manners that most wouldn't think to be found in the higher status.

"Um....oh yes! I just need a few yards of the red, blue, and green satin cloth and six yards of the garnet and sapphire cotton." Her head never returns to Damieon, her eyes trained on the prince as he goes to hide in a corner. He seemed just the same as when she saw him in the sky, uncaring but something else was mixed in now, he seemed slightly agitated. Though she wondered why, she simply turned around to pay for her fabric and return to her shop. "Thank you and do not forget to bring your daughter by for her fitting!" Laughing softly in unison with the shop keeper, she waves gently and begins to walk out the door only to stop and give the prince a shy yet million dollar smile. "It was a pleasure to be graced with your presence your majesty. I hope to see you around the village again." A small bow follows her purred words before she retreats out the door to return to her shop.

The somewhat sultry tone in her voice, and the blush on her cheeks did not go unnoticed by the Prince. They were hints that he was familiar with. They typically indicated attraction. They were things that he had missed about the outside world... "How are you, m'lady?" He returned the greeting, but he wasn't interested in holding a full fledged conversation; Rather, he knew he shouldn't. He waited patiently in his seat as the woman made her order and waited for it to be received. When she offered him a final greeting on the way out the door, he returned her smile. "Pleasure's all mine." He told her, though he had no intention of being seen in town again. He hated being called "Your Majesty." But then, he didn't care much for his name either... It wasn't the name of a Prince.

Once she left, he returned to the counter. "I'd like 200 yards of Black Satin and 200 yards of white please." He all but cleared the store out. But it would surely be worth the store owners wild. Without asking once about the price, he lay a fistful of silver and gold pieces on the counter. This was a gross overpayment, but it made no difference. carrying the fabric on his shadow carpet back to the castle, and dropped it off to his parents. He turned to return to his room, but was quickly stopped. "Wait Gersham." The Queen said. A very annoyed Prince turned to face the Queen."

"What is it, mother?" he asked. "This fabric is for you. You're going to have a suit made. We sent a messenger out to a young seamstress only moments ago. She'll be coming to fit you tomorrow, and get the dimensions. Then she'll be making the suit for you, and coming back again to meet with you and make the necessary alterations." Gersham rolled his eyes. "What do I need a suit for?" The prince asked.

The King spoke up for the first time. "The search for your bride will be beginning soon." He said, his voice strong and bold as always. "Your mother wants you to have something fitting to wear when she is found." His voice softened up upon that statement. Gersham understood now. This whole adventure was their way of letting him know that his time was running out. Without another word, he turned and went to his room. He wouldn't be seen again until morning...

After returning to her shop, Aowen ties her hair into a messy top bun with a pin cushion as a hair tie. Most seamstresses wore their cushions on their wrists, but she was different, for some reason it was more comfortable for her to have one cushion in her hair and another one on her dominant wrist instead of her non-dominant wrist. After placing her glasses on her face and turning to start sewing the suit hanging on the mannequin when a loud knock followed by the sound of her door opening catches her attention.

"We are looking for the one called Aowen, the seamstress! Do you know where she can be found or are you her?" A tall man looks down at the woman's petite frame with a scowl that seemed etched into is normal face. "I am Aowen. How may I be of service?" Standing to her full height, she looks to him with curiosity and fear hiding just below the first emotion. "The King and Queen request your services immediately." The woman looks down to his boots then around to her small shop before giving a slow nod. "I will be there in the morning if that is acceptable. I must close up tonight and make sure that everything is in place before I leave." The man simply nods at her answer before exiting the store.

'It looks like I get to see the prince again. It might just be in passing or just in a portrait but I do get to see him again and sense his uncaring aura that has such a presence it cannot be ignored....' Turning around, she lets her hair back down and replaces her cushions on their place on a small table. Yes, she was excited to see him once more but she was not excited to have to venture to the castle and face the king and queen for whatever job they had in mind for her.

Gersham spent hours in his room in silence. Even the company of his own shadow was undesirable in this moment. He lay on his back, looking up at the ceiling and wondering if he should be relieved. Soon his isolation would be able to end. He would have the wife that was to be assigned to him, and his bad dreams could come to an end. So why didn't he feel like it would be that simple? He was to be measured for a new suit in the morning. That meant that this mystery woman was coming soon.. But it brought him no relief, nor did it add to his frustration. He was truly unsure what he should feel! After a while he fell asleep his his pool of indifference. It seemed in the morning he had to talk to people again... yipee...

By the time Aowen reached the castle, the sun had risen and could be seen for almost three hours. She had over slept by a few minutes but she was able to make it in time without having to worry about disappointing the king and queen. The woman looks to the guard at the gate with a gentle smile before introducing herself as the seamstress Aowen and that the king and queen had summoned her here today. With a short nod to the woman, she is instructed to follow one of the guards to the throne room without another word. Upon entering the throne room, Aowen bows to the two royalties sitting there with an earnest expression. The woman remains in her bowed state until instructed to rise....

The King and Queen were in the throne room bright and early as usual. They only had a few meetings in the morning before they could go off to handle other business. The first few weren't particularly exciting; Three new servants, A prisoner to be sentenced for theft of fruit on the streets. But the next one... Yes, that was the one that excited the Queen. The young Seamstress... yes. "Rise, young one." The Queen said happily, looking down at the young beauty. "We've heard excellent things about your work" Said the King. His voice was more calm and stern than his wife.

"If you'll accept, we have a request for you." He explained. But before he could continue, the Queen took over once more. "We want a new suit made for our son. Everything from Shirt and Tie, down to the jacket and pants. We've collected the materials for you. If you'll take on the task, one of our attendants will escort you to Gersham, where you'll be able to take any measurements you need. It seemed the King and Queen had everything planned out, but what would their son think of all this?

Rising from her state, Aowen keeps her eyes to the ground though her head up high. She did not know how to act in front of the king and queen, the most she knew was how to address them. "I would be honored to take on the task your Majesty and your Highness. I will work harder than I ever have on the Prince Gersham's suit. But if I may be so bold as to ask the occasion I am making it for? Just so I know the proper proportions when measuring for his first fitting?" Her eyes rise just a touch as she looks toward the queen's face with a tiny glimmer of hope before returning her gaze to their feet. Yes, she truly wanted this job, just so that she would be in contact with the Prince more often. But personal reasons would have to be set aside for now. This is business and that is all. Nothing personal can come from this job.

The King didn't see fit to answer the woman's question at first. But when she explained that it was information that would better lead to her being able to do her assigned job effectively, he nodded his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could release the words, the Queen spoke up. "We've begun the search for the Prince's wife." She said. It was clear that she was very excited about all this. The King continued, seeing that the Queen hadn't truly answered the question. "This time next year at the latest, Gersham's bride will be chosen, and there will be a formal meeting between the two. The suit we want you to build is for that occasion." Once he felt he had thoroughly explained he motioned to a nearby servant. "My son is likely still sulking around in his room. The attendant will take you to him." As instructed, the attendant walked to Aowen's side, ready to take her whenever she was ready to go.

Sjech began flying faster and faster as he reached the outskirts of the Lucenoc mainlands: Ignis barely able to hang on as the elder dragon roared and dove through clouds with a ravenous thirst building beneath the sable scales of the dark creature. Whatever the beast was after; whatever the creature sought, Ignis had no idea, and no control now. He hung on for dear life; waiting for the dive to end, as the ground rushed up, and a dizzy feeling crept up his spine. Where they were was unimportant, what they were after was no longer a cause for concern: What concerned Ignis was the speed at which they moved, and the impact they would face should Sjech not divert.

Feet by feet they fell towards the earth and as the rush of wind became too much to hear over, Ignis closed his eyes. Certain death would overcome him soon, he thought back to the one person he had ever cared for, and in that moment, the world seemed to halt its rapid approach. The wind died down and the painful surging in his stomach fell away to a knotted feeling of remorse and confusion. Wherever she was; whatever happened to her, whatever had been, was no more a concern to him: At least it shouldnt have been, and yet there he was on the verge of damnation with her on his mind.

His eyes closed tight against the painful memories; against the love, the lust, the remorse for his actions, as the wind began to scream around him again, and the earth became an all encompassing blanket in which he and Sjech would forever sleep within... Or so he thought... As darkness enveloped the two; rider and master dragon both, his eyes were flung open by curiosity, and before him stretched an unknown and foreign place. A dangerous looking dark cavern system; nearly as wide as a mountain range, and nestled deep within the earth itself.

Some massive crevice between continents, near the ocean beyond: A fissure in the earth. Sjech had narrowly squeezed through a hidden opening, and the two now flew through pure darkness amidst the twisting caves and tunnels carved out by millenia of rain-water and sulfuric acid. Stalagmites and stalagtites rose and fell everywhere: Some as large as a castle spire, and some connected into pillars of shimmering crystals. Everything was so different; so distant looking, so hazardous and beautiful, and in the fading light from the entrance, Ignis could be seen smiling ever so faintly. Wherever they were, he had never been before, and yet his master dragon seemed to know instinctively where to go and how to move in the dark embrace of the earth. The womb of the world seemed to flex and open before them as they flew, and Ignis couldnt help but wish for the vision of his master. If only to admire the glorious surroundings...

Her eyes almost die at the queens words but she remains stone faced as the king explains what the full reason for her job is. "I will make sure that no woman will be able to resist him. I am glad that you have given me so much time to work with him." Her head turns toward the attendant with a gentle smile. "I am ready to go see the prince when you are." The woman steps ever so slightly to the side to give the attendant the necessary room to pass her and lead the way.

How, oh how, her heart wished that it could have been a different reason for the job. Something overtly simple that any seamstress could have done but it had to be this.....but how could she allow her heart to sink into such a despair over a man that she had only met face to face once and at that, his social status ranked beyond above her. The prince is only a wet and wild dream if she honestly wished him to be hers, but that dream is over now, it's time for her to work on the job at hand. His Majesty is only a client and nothing more....

Her thoughts are stopped so abruptly as she notices that the attendant has stopped walking in front of her. A quick mumbled phrase stating that they had finally reached the prince's chambers causes a chill to run her spine ever so quickly before taking a step back to straighten her frame and allow space for the door to open if the prince would choose to answer.

Gersham wasn't a late sleeper. He had been awake for at least an hour, but he hadn't left his room once, except to shower in the attached bathroom, so no one in the halls had seen his face. He sat up in his bed, restless. How long would he have to live like this? Plagued by nightmares of things that should be beautiful and happy. Hiding from the outside worlds as if quarantined for having some sort of plague. Avoiding his mother and father for fear of what they may tell him...

No sooner did the thought cross his mind, did a knock come at Gersham's door. Surely it was one of the servants with a message from his parents. Possibly another errand... Gersham would refuse this time. clad in only a pair of black boxer briefs and an array of Atra Markings that covered his body, the Prince made his way over, and opened the the door, but when he lay eyes on the beauty from the day before, his eyes widened. An attendant was leaving her side. He must have lead her here! That meant she was the seamstress his mother had mentioned!

Shit! The whole time he had been piecing the situation together, he had been standing before the woman, half naked! He opened his mouth to speak, but no words escaped, so he quickly closed the door. He returned a moment later in some grey sweatpants and a black sleeveless T-shirt. "I guess you're the seamstress?" There was a hint of a blush on his face; difficult to hide due to the pale skin that men of Lucenoc carried. He moved to the side to allow the woman in, silently cursing his parents for choosing such an attractive woman to make his clothes. Once she was comfortably in, he closed the door and returned to his seated position on his bed. "So you need to get my measurements?" He asked. His tone was rather cold compared to the day before, unhappiness probably radiated from him. But what could he do other than go with the flow?

Aowen held in a soft gasp with a bitten bottom lip while her eyes took a moment to scan his frame before the door was shut in her face. Yes, his frame was gorgeous, and she would have fun being able to measure and touch his muscular frame but this is just for business. Or that's what she will have to keep remind herself so that she didn't have the urge to turn the measurements into something more.

Nodding softly to his question, she looks at his new clothes with a soft scowl. "I know you're bashful but for the first fitting, I do need you to return to being in only your boxer shorts again. I need you're true proportions, your Majesty." Bowing her head softly before turning around to give him just the smallest amount of privacy to undress. Yes, his blush from his first appearance was still visible in his face but he still held onto the facade that he did not care about anything his parents had planned. "Please stand in the center of your room and alert me when you are ready."

Despite his behavior as of late, Gersham was a social creature by nature. He was excellent at reading body language, and he knew well what it meant when a woman bit her bottom lip as she observed a man's body. This brought a hint of a smile to the man's face, behind the closed door, though it would already have faded by the time he opened up again to let her in. He held his hand up, close to her lips as she addressed him, and shook his head. "Gersham is fine." He said. He hated being called 'Your Majesty.' He didn't even like when the servants addressed him as "Master Gersham." He crossed his arms over his belly to grab the bottom of his shirt and pull it over his head, and then stepped out of his sweatpants once more. "And how may I address you?" He asked as he placed a hand on her shoulder, informing her that he was now prepared to be measured. He hated all of this. Not that he minded having some company after so long, but he would have preferred it be some old hag from the Island instead of this gorgeous woman. He would have preferred it be a suit for a party, instead of some random engagement that he had no say in. But that was the reality of his life. He was guided by train tracks, and there was no way off the rails.

"As you wish Gersham. I am Aowen but you may address me as you like." Turning with a soft nod, she steps closer to him with a curious gaze as she does a quick once around. "I know you don't want me here and I feel like the thought of an arranged marriage is something that one should not be put through."

Lifting his left arm, the woman goes into the little pack hanging from her side and pulls out a pend and notepad along with a measuring tape. Her movements turned silent and quick as she works her way around his top half, raising and lowering his arms to have the correct proportions in every way. Kneeling in front of the man, she moves her headband back a bit more to hold her hair out of her face, she looks up at him. "I need you to stand with your legs shoulder width apart." The woman sits back on her heels as she waits for the man to follow the simple command so that the last few measurements can be completed.