NationStates Jolt Archive

The Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar, Vinyatírion

As the Lord General walked away from the group to return to the table of the summit, Ambassador Kayla Harmone was left with the Archduke Atheril of the the Sacred Sindarin Empire of Aelosia. The had each been doing their own share of subtle flirtation during the conversation which had taken place, agreeing that Kayla would lead the Iuthian delegate in talks between Iuthia and Aelosia.

Meanwhile in the background the summit taking place in Vinyatírion was preparing to get back on course, however, Kayla had no intentions on remaining in the conference for any longer as her presence would no longer be needed.

Across from her stood the charming Archduke, Atheril. An elven noble who had shown his generosity by offering Martian land to her as a gift, an interesting move as normally one would expect flowers. Taking a moment to examine him, she concidered his regal face, sky blue eyes and dark black hair. His figure was well kept, though in itself it wasn't much to Kayla, many Iuthians were used to the idea of keeping fit for yourself.

"I don't suppose you're government minds if we duck out of the rest of the conference? I would like to spend some time to discuss our future arrangements." she offered, in a relaxed voice.

"I do believe we have already enough representatives. My voice isn't needed", answered Atheril, "Anyway I have the authority to do as I please, unless my Queen says otherwise, and she's not going to say anything", explained the elf almost chuckling with the last word.

"Shall we take a walk outside here?. I have heard wonders about the gardens of this palace, although I haven't had the chance to see them by myself. A marvel of the new world, someone said...", he continued looking around, offering his arm to Kayla to follow the strict manner protocol of Aelosia. "Let's leave this place now, then".

Kayla smiled as Atheril accepted the proposal to leave and then offered his arm in the fashion one would expect from a gentleman. Kayla, accepted it without so much as a second though, the cloth from her Kimono's sleeve rubbing against the mans arm as she took hold.

"It would be my pleasure... Archduke." Kayla was finding the word a little to be a little bit of a barrier, once they had made it further along the hall a distance away from the conference she sought to do what should could to tackle it.

"Now that we are alone, I don't suppose it would dishonor your title at all if we were to drop the formality? I find it easier to relax when I don't have to worry about accidently damaging reputation over something such as in slip in formality."

"No need for formalities indeed, although maybe you could find some of the aelosian social customs and expressions a bit formal. We're not exactly a informal bunch, as you might say it", said Atheril letting a slight smile form in his features.

"My title hasn't anything to do with it, it is just that we are raised to respect and treat others as we want to be respected and treated, that's why we usually tend to behave in a very formal and respectful way", he continued. "But with you, I'll try to behave as free of formalism as I can, My Lady".

"So, I guess we are here to discuss something related to the friendship that your nation and my fiefdom are going to share in the future?, or are we here trying to speak about...something else?", he asked in a tone of voice as mischievous as it was mysterious.

Kayla smiled in a playful manner as the pair walked into the gardens of the palace, Atheril arm held in Kayla's soft touch. "I don't think either subject is mutually exclusive. Afterall, if I close this offering well it's likely the Lord General would prefer that I deal with matters on Mars personally... our interests in the Red Planet partly comes down to the will to improve our relations with both the Sacred Sindarin Empire of Aelosia and many other nations colonising Mars"

The gardens themselves made for a almost magical environment, carefully well kept by Menelmacari gardeners the exotic flowers gave the smell of a eternal springtime, very suiting for an empire of Elves who never aged. The spectrum of colours on display amazed Kayla, at home they didn't appreciate the work put into a place like this... they were a very practicle people. Kayla however had gotten out of Iuthia and had enjoyed many different cultures around the world with her job. The conference centre in Feminany was fresh on her mind... as were the expereinces she enjoyed during her stay. Without thinking she let out a happy sigh, times like that would likely never be repeated, not with the loss of Elisa Day.

Only a moment had passed, thankfully her sigh fit quite well into the enviroment and probably would go unnoticed, she continued with business and pleasure.

"How about we start with friendship." she continued in a pleasant voice. Unlike her first statement she was no longer playful, instead she seemed simply happy, her voice smooth and calm. "I'd like to get to know you better; you represent your people, I represent mine. How better to learn about one anothers nations then to learn about the man they chose to become Aelosia incarnate..."

She had returned to playful again, her smile slightly suggestive of her interests in the tall elven man.

Atheril took the sigh of the woman as maybe some kind of peasure expression regarding the beautiful environment, that with no doubt was worth of the admiration of any living being, at least those who cared about excellency and beauty.

"Friendship is wonderful, although your offer arrives a little late. At the moment you left that chamber with me I already considered you a friend, and I would like to keep considering you that in the near future. So, Kayla. What would you like to know?. Just ask me, and your question will be answered, as is the right of any interesting Lady. You can have both the secrets of the Archduke of the D'nan House and the Sacred Sindarin Empire of Aelosia unveiled for you, if you ask the right questions", said Atheril returning the smile to Kayla, taking a little walk through the Menelmacari gardens, taking enough distraction to apprecciate the craftmanship of the gardeners that built such elegant, delicate and wondrous place.

Expecting the woman to hesitate about the matter of the questions, he added "We aelosian are isolated people, and our private affairs are kept with high secret. Yet we allow ourselves to make exceptions in certain cases, when we believe it is our destiny to do so. I have decided, as is my right as Agaraglareb, to tell and show those secrets to you. A good opportunity you have now", in the voice of the Archduke a light tone of encouragement echoed through his words.

Kayla smiled, stopping just before a bed of roses and looking out further into the gardens. Funny how your mind leaves you just when you need it... now that Atheril had given her a chance to learn more about him her mind went blank, not sure what would be proper for a moment. Professionally it was rarely that she didn't know what to say... however this wasn't just in the line of duty anymore as the lines between business and pleasure became blurred.

"Yes... friendship is wonderful, though I was thinking of something a little more..." she only paused for a moment before continuing where the man left off.

"So tell me, Atheril, what is you life like on Mars? How can we improve it for both you and Aesolia?". Kayla turned back to the Archduke, looking him in the eyes, her head tilted ever so slightly.

"Mars is just a rock. a red rock filled with sand", said Atheril with a serious tone of voice. "We live under our domes, by millions, yet we haven't been able to turn that land into something we really like. The military effort of the Aelosian colonies has forbidden us to improve the conditions of both the landscape and the environment".

"As a way to see it, you could think of our colonies there as huge military bases with the population necessary to establish a war economy that suffice to maintain them", said Atheril, suddenly a smile appearing in his lips. "Someone back in Aelosia suggested that you Iuthians would love such a place, everything militarized and disciplined, explaining that your own society was similar".

"Basicly, we need both a strong ally over there, and we need people who can adapt and improvise in the middle of an extreme disciplined situation. At least that is what the Everqueen thinks. I just believe you are wonderful people, although my opinion is biased, mostly because I tend to judge all Iuthians by your image", said Atheril smiling.

"Is that all?. I thought you would have more deep questions...", he asked, a mischievous expression in his stare.

Feeling that she was missing an opportunity, Kayla tried to get herself back on form as mixing business with pleasure was affecting her overall concentration on. It would be better to focus on one and deal with the other later... given that she figured that business could wait and that it hinged on the pleasure, she wasn't about to give Atheril the cold shoulder... perhaps, however, she over compensated in her next actions.

"Deeper questions? Yes, though I've always felt I could learn more through experiencing it myself..." she moved closer to Atheril, standing close beside him looking out towards the gardens around them. "Tell me Atheril, would it be improper for me to ask if you would like me by your side on Mars? Or would that be unprofessional?"

She blushed at the question, not meaning to be so forward, however it would at the very least get it out in the open so she could stop dancing around the fact.

Atheril opened his eyes wide, a single drop of sweat sliding down his forehead, laying just above his fine eyebrow before he spoke again, answering the woman's question. "That's a good question, I must recognize, and yet I believe we already are in the personal level of a conversation, my lady, So that cannot be considered unprofessional", he said, a well-hidden yet latent tremble on his voice as he was entirely taken by surprise by the honest and straightforward question of the Iuthian delegate.

He recovered pretty fast, and in a feeling of noblesse obligeé, he decided to be entirely honest with her, as with no doubt she was quite able to read through his own gests and attitudes. "Well, to be quite frank, I wouldn't be disturbed by that, Lady Kayla. I would be astonished if I ever know someone more charming, smart, intelligent and perfect for that place than you. your company, and otherwise close location, would be a blessing for me, if that ever can be attained".

"Even more, to release my spirit of the burden that for some time have been tormeting it, I would say that nothing would be more perfect for me, and that have a place in my most desired dreams. nothing could make me happier than you being near there in Mars", he continued, fixing his deep stare in Kayla's eyes again.

Kayla listened, her eyes glazing over from the man's sweet words. Unlike many of the men she entertained, Atheril's body language suggested he really meant it... of course, the man had spent alot of time on that Red Planet, it could probably do funny things to the mind, but it didn't change the mans sincerity. Slightly embarrassed, her face started to blush and Kayla could feel the warmth raising.

Taking the initiative, Kayla simply put her arms around him, tilted her head slightly and moved in for a light kiss on the lips, hoping to both silence and encourage him. She didn't break eye contact once.

If her previous words had astonished Atheril, her following actions really caught him by surprise. Sindarin elves were already a contemplative people in the dawn of their culture and civilization, and centuries in their isolated and secluded Craftworld enviroment made them to create really strict rules and norms of social behavior. Having eternal life to spend creating, building and developing relationships, in most of their social interactions improvisation, creativity and spontaneous shows of affection and emotional of otherwise desires were inexistent.

After the first second of surprise as her lips approached his own, the first reaction that flowed like a wild creek through Atheril's veins was an intense and paralyzing fear, a creeping terror that made him pale and trembling, a panic that he hadn't felt, not even in the hardest battlefields of Mars during the Tyranid Wars. Soon the panic submitted to a warm feeling of satisfaction as he felt her arms around him, and he started to feel happy for the first time in some time. Of course, this was the first true show of affection for him since his sister left and never returned a century and a half ago.

Of course, that doesn't mean that he didn't have any contact with women since that, but both in the cold and boring meetings and balls of the aelosian nobility and the contact with the Ladies of the Evening that were supplied to the Mars garrisons from time to time lacked both sincerity and honest, simple affection and emotional charge. Kayla wasn't the first woman in Atheril's life, but with no doubt she was the first one to win a place in his heart.

Atheril returned the kiss softly, caressing with a smooth touch her lips with his own, placing her hands also over her back, although he feared for the reaction of the woman at the alien, strangely cold and glossy touch of the wraithbone of his armoured gloves. Her warmth was an interesting contrast to his own pale and cold features, yet her intentions soon retrieved both the warmth and the color to his features, as he felt how Kayla was sharing herself with him in such an intimate moment.

On the contary, Kayla herself had long history of relationships, though pretty much every single one of them had been short, occasionally energetic but overall incomplete romances, it wasn't anything as simple as not being physically satisfied as many of the men, and on one occasion women, were very capable in those departments. Instead her problems were more complex, perhaps Kayla felt she wasn't able to fully commit herself to a relationship... perhaps she was waiting for the right person to come along, it was all a mystery to her. Eitherway her relations rarely lasted for a long time.

Now however she was willing to give it another shot, Atheril was sweet in his shy innocence, a lifetime of reserved emotions and controlled environments had formed this polite man, indoctrinating him to a life of emotional caution. As a leader this man would undoubtably be bold and dynamic, seizing the initiative to control and resolve a combat situation to his liking. Men like Atheril would be very hard to find in Iuthia, he was... unique. Of course, as men and elves go, Atheril was a very attractive man. His noble features and his sleek physique made him all the more handsome, afterall men in positions of power like Atheril had to keep in shape in order to stay sharp.

Now in one anothers arms, the pairs gentle embrace continued for what seemed like an eternity. Kayla could feel to cool touch of the wraithbone on the back of her kimono. A light chill went down her spine, though she didn't react to it, instead keeping to the warmth of Atheril's lips. It was a touching moment for her as it was clear from Atherils reaction that this wasn't just a bit of fun, it meant alot to him and Kayla wasn't about to let him down.

The moment passed and Kayla pulled out a fraction to look deep into Atherils lightning bolt blue eyes. Perhaps... she thought. Perhaps.

Atheril let himself enjoy the moment, in the long and forgotten way of the sindarin people, savoring each sensation, each second, each feeling. He let his mind go blank, pushing aside any thoughts that could disturb the joy and fulfillment of the moment.

He didn't know how many time passed like that, united to Kayla and trying to give her everything he had in his spirit, his mind, and perhaps his soul if the mystics of his race were right. He was travelling to some place else, to another dimension, to another time, but still with her, trying to push himself out to fill her as she was filling him, trying to give everything away.

Finally, his thoughts returned to his mind, after the moment passed. Maybe it was minutes, maybe it was seconds, maybe it was just a brief kiss, maybe it was a long one, he hadn't a way to know it. He looked at Kayla, breaking the kiss that was uniting them and stared into her eyes. Well, just for that, a fiefdom is a small pay. A shame I am not an Emperor to give the pay this is worth, his mind whispered to him, trying to avoid the feelings of insecurity about Kayla's impression about him.

Breaking eye contact, Kayla simply rested in Atherils armed, her head resting on the cool, rigid wraithbone shoulder-plate, her long hazel hair reached down the back of her kimono past her shoulders. Softly, Kayla spoke, her tone nothing but soothing and comforting as her training came into effect.

"You shouldn't worry so much, my dear Atheril... everything will be just fine." Resting for several moments, Kayla wondered about Elven love lifes for a moment. In Iuthia everyone was pretty much the same, regardless of race, Iuthia's social engineering was being reinforced with each generation. A common saying went 'Work hard, live long and enjoy life." a simple saying, but then again many Iuthians were simple people with simple motivations. Many Iuthians didn't care how someone enjoyed their life so long as it wasn't interfering with others joy for life... some of the ideas which passed for morals in Iuthia would almost shock more conservative nations, still, it was what many of them wanted. Kayla, on the other hand has tasted many foriegn ideas and cultures, she concidered herself to be a little more developed, but my no means better... she enjoyed their simple look on life and where possible she tried to apply it where she could.

Now as Atheril supported her body in a loving fashion, Kayla couldn't say for sure where it would be leading... but that never really mattered to her, she was Iuthian and with that came the simple logic; enjoy it while you can... and she intended to enjoy every minute of it.